On subject of persistence I am reminded of another story I read. It concerned a man standing before a concert violinist who was practicing with his instrument. The man was amazed. The violinist was so brilliant that he could almost make violin talk. Eventually, violinist stopped playing. He looked at man and said: "Can I help you sir?" The other man said: "The way you play that violin is wonderful. I would be prepared to give up my whole life just to be able to play like that!" The violinist smiled at man and said: "Sir, I did!"

Persistence and determination drove people like Walt Disney and Colonel Harland Sanders and Thomas Edison and Henry Ford and Mother Teresa and countless thousands of others to their own unique achievements.

Set yourself a goal. Get busy. Keep trying. Make things happen.

If you believe in what you are doing and it will help others, keep at it! Keep on keeping on. Use your persistence to join ranks of those who succeed.

Winners persist - they just keep on going long after others give up.

About author: Gary Simpson is Course Co-ordinator for "Life, Journey, Destiny - Personal Development Home Study Course" and author of "How to Stop Wasting Your Life and Start Getting What You Want". His email address is budo@iinet.net.au. The website containing this article and others is located at Motivation & Self Esteem for Success.

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The final obstacle to living easy life, regardless of income or situation, is that we forget we're immortal. We forget that real life, life of our soul, is eternal. My present physical embodiment is only one of many. If I don't get it "right" this time I have other chances. It's like getting an infinite number of tries to make a free throw in basketball. No pressure, just keep shooting until you score.

So do you want an easy life? Well, then choose it. Choose to be at ease with life. Set your goals, declare your intentions, but don't own specific results. Take what life brings to you as your rightful gift, perfect result for you at this time. There was a time when I wanted a promotion to next management level. I saw that as a way to provide more of leadership I could give to more people. But it didn't happen, and that was perfect. You see, with hindsight I saw that brand of leadership I can provide is better suited to level I already held. And what life did bring me was increasing insight and competence in leadership at that level.

Now it isn't always easy to simply choose to be something. Even though that's most straightforward way, if a person isn't used to it, isn't confident it can be done, it can seem impossible. A hint from Lou Tice of The Pacific Institute may help. The next time you're in a set of difficult circumstances, next time life seems very difficult, Lou suggests asking this question, "What would this experience be like for me if life were easy?" If you can see results that would occur if life were easy you'll be close to accepting that reality as a possibility. Once you can visualize yourself in a situation you're well on way to achieving it.

In past I often viewed life as a struggle. And of course, it was because of my belief--just same as if I prayed for life to be a struggle, just same as if I affirmed, "I am a person who struggles with life." So affirm that life is easy. See world around you as a world where life is easy and watch it become easier. And remember that life is eternal. Not everything is riding on your shoulders this one time around.