The 10 Questions to Ask Yourself If You Haven’t Reached a Dream

Written by Carol Dickson-Carr


Continued from page 1

The Encyclopedia of Associations is a goldmine if you’re looking for an association related to your passion. With luck, there will be a local chapter you can contact. You can find that at your local library. To find out more aboutrepparttar Encyclopedia of Associations, visit: http://library.dialog.com/bluesheets/html/bl0114.html. You can also find it at your local public library.

Also, I’m an advocate of reading. A lot. Network, find mentors, have a plan, have someone hold you accountable, avoid distractions, and revisit these ten questions. :) I believe it was Jim Rohn who said, “When your ‘why’ [you want to do or have something] is clear, thenrepparttar 123033 ‘how’ becomes clear.”

6. How is my negative self talk creating emotional blind spots in my ability to "really go for it?"

Because of my many varied interests, I had this self- perception of beingrepparttar 123034 “Jill of all Trades but Mistress of None,” sorepparttar 123035 records that played in my mind were, “No way can I be positioned as an expert.” In talking with others and writing about all that I knew, I realized how much that self-talk was holding me back.

Common statements I’ve heard from some of my former students were: “I’m not good enough.” “I’m too old,” “I’m too young,” “No one will hire me because I’m too fat,” etc. Addressing this involves a different dialogue with yourself and surrounding yourself with positive people who can appreciate your unique gifts. When that negative inner- voice tries to sneak in, try reframing your statements with a more positive spin. For example, “I can’t do this!” could be reframed as, “I just need to practice more. Then I’ll be able to do this.”

7. How does my inability to focus create a "choke point" in my process?

Analysis paralysis can be so debilitating! Take it from someone who suffered from it for years! It seemed to be compounded byrepparttar 123036 fact that I had so many interests that were seemingly unrelated to each other, and especially unrelated torepparttar 123037 degrees I chose to get inrepparttar 123038 name of being practical. Journaling, brainstorming on paper first and then with people I trusted did wonders.

8. How does my upbringing send me messages that "this will never work?"

If people you respect told you it was best to be 100% practical and conventional but your dreams lean towardrepparttar 123039 opposite, then you are probably wondering if you should bother. Or maybe you were less fortunate, and had people who were perpetually negative. It’s hard to thrive in that kind of environment unless you have an amazing amount of inner strength fromrepparttar 123040 get-go. Again, if your center of influence is filled with positive, supportive people rather than negative people, it can make allrepparttar 123041 difference.

9. How is my belief system getting inrepparttar 123042 way?

This ties a lot intorepparttar 123043 upbringing issue,repparttar 123044 negative self-talk, and to some extent,repparttar 123045 fear issue above. I heard a speaker recently say, “A belief gets its strength fromrepparttar 123046 evidence (your life experiences) that supports it.” What starts as an idea can become a conviction.

As an artistically, musically, mathematically inclined eccentric, I got called weird a lot in high school. So one ofrepparttar 123047 beliefs that really stayed with me for years was, “Eccentric people will never fit in.” I now embrace my uniqueness regardless of whatrepparttar 123048 majority believes. What are some ofrepparttar 123049 beliefs that you hold that may be getting in your way?

10. How do I recover when life keeps throwing me curve balls?

Rest! Be kind to—no, SPOIL yourself. If you need to vent, I say go for it, but choose whom you vent to carefully. Not everyone appreciates a good rant. My journal, I’ve found, isrepparttar 123050 safest place to do it. Treat these curve balls as learning experiences, then get right back on that horse and try again.

I heard something that really inspired me from speaker Jim Stovall. He said (paraphrased), “We live up torepparttar 123051 expectations of ourselves or what we allow others to expect of us… That big dream wouldn’t have been put inside you if you didn’t haverepparttar 123052 capacity to do it. Change your life by changing your mind.”

Power-Ed Solutions, Inc. Copyright © 2004 All Rights Reserved



Carol Dickson-Carr a life strategist and social scientist who has researched the human condition for over 13 years. She is also founder of Power-Ed Solutions, Inc., a Leadership Development Company http://managingpersonalresources.com & http://www.power-edsolutionsinc.com


A Student of Your Business

Written by Tony Papajohn


Continued from page 1

It motivates you to try enough new approaches to common situations until you find one that works better thanrepparttar commonly-accepted method.

This commitment pushes you to ask, “Is thisrepparttar 123032 best I can do?” or “What new wrinkle can I add to make this better?” or “What can I learn from this that will make next time easier?”

The essential attitude here is that of a beginner. Not matter how experienced we are in our chosen work, as soon as we think we know it all, we realize we don’t.

Even if we have done a certain work for 20 years, we still find nuances, refinements, and special cases of that work that make us beginners, albeit on a different level.

Whatever you do, be a student of your business.

You will keep getting better and better and it will show.

Copyright 2004 by Tony Papajohn. Tony writes and speaks on success. Subscribe to his free SuccessMotivator e-zine at http://www.successmotivator.com.


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