Just think for a moment:

How many times have you buried our head in sand. Kept focussed on something that was finished, used up, dry.

How many times have you kept travelling on same path, same road through habit even though there is nothing there.

How many times have you decided to change jobs but ensure you look for same type of job. Staying within boundaries you know.

What is it about us that we prefer to stick to boring, frustrating, easy option rather than exert ourselves, apply our minds and go for what we are capable of achieving.

What is it inside us that prefers easy path even though we have to tell lies to ourselves that it is best for us and our families.

What is it that when we are not earning enough we reduce our outgoings, scrape a living and then tell ourselves how lucky we are.

Why do we accept second best?

We often accept second best because we have come to accept it as norm. Often, at some stage in our lives we have had experience of someone important to us constantly criticising our actions, giving us their opinion of where we were going wrong or judging way we look, behave or speak. The result is that we have come to accept these projections as true and embrace them as our natural behaviour.

Do you have an inner voice that says what you: ought, should, must do?

Or does your voice constantly criticise you and tell you that you are not good enough, who do you think you are, that wont work etc.

Instead of accepting labels others have given you and you have attached to yourself listen to and accept your strengths, be open to opportunities that come your way. In a phrase: BE OPEN TO CHANGING YOUR PLANS.

It’s OK to change your plan. I doesn’t matter how many people you have told. In our experience; finding your true potential cannot be found by following advice of others. Neither can it be found by watching and copying behaviours of others. The answer is in you. Listen to your strengths, be open to opportunities that come your way.

Graham and Julie www.desktop-meditation.com

You have spent 30-45 minutes of your day. You have gathered up information required to plan your day, you know what you have to do, and are already planning it in your mind. You don't have to worry about forgetting something important.

4. On a clean sheet of paper, or index cards, prioritize 10 -15 things you intend to accomplish before end of day. Be realistic. You will not be able to do much more than this. From 10-15 highlight 4 or 5 items that are important-but-not urgent and critical to your long term goals. Prioritize these items first, and then follow with remaining items in some sort of order. Put an estimated time to complete each item beside it. At end of day, your review of what got done and actual time it took will be a great education and experience for future planning. With practice, this skill will serve you well.

5. Now do one of your highlighted tasks, preferably one you enjoy.

You have now spent approximately 90 minutes of your day. You have achieved a step towards your 3-5 year plan. (Imagine what a constant daily step towards your goal will produce!) You know how your day will play out (for most part), and you are comfortable knowing you have not missed anything of importance.

If you begin to do important-but-not urgent items on a daily basis, you will find less urgent items surprising you. The feeling and knowledge of achievement will be encouragement for you to continue to strengthen your skills in this area.

There you have two ways to begin your day. Your choice!

Your Coach and online friend,* Miami

Miami Phillips Helping others find their path - and stay on it. www.creativemasterminds.com

Quotation of Week Give me a stock clerk with a goal and I'll give you a man who will make history. Give me a man with no goals and I'll give you a stock clerk. J. C. Penney