Making the Grade ... Learning to pass life's tests with easeWritten by Edward B. Toupin
I abhorred tests in college. I always felt unprepared when I took them. However, when I got them back from my professors, I usually made an A. It was funny that I always felt like I lacked what it took to pass test, yet I always had it. Much like life, it's not task itself, but how you prepare for and undertake that task.For those courses in which I listened and read, I passed test whether I felt good about it or not. For those courses in which I slept, or put aside and never studied, I usually struggled. Those courses that I passed with ease, I found great interest. Those courses in which I struggled, I disliked and found no interest. This is where I began to realize that, I have to focus my efforts on things that mean something to me. I can't focus on unnecessary exercises simply to say, "I did it" and find that there is no satisfaction in result. However, I can work just as hard toward an objective with meaning and "struggle" would not only be worth effort, but lessons are priceless. --- Preparing for Test --- Sometimes everyone feels as though they cannot possibly prepare for what life throws at them. In most circumstances, people are not ready for various challenges. Instead, they decide to simply give up and exist without attempting to tap into their own vast resources. In this way, challenges are kept at bay. However, in process, nothing else in life happens. However, preparation is more of a way of learning how to incrementally handle yourself for when you reach your ultimate goal (i.e., take test.) But, keep in mind that only time that challenges occur is when you're doing something. If you choose to take easy way and simply sit it out, then of course, nothing happens to you because, nothing is happening. Once you get moving, to prepare for any challenges that life hands out to you, learn to take them as a lesson as opposed to a curse. Consider life as classroom and your ultimate vision as completion of a semester with final exam. To reach end of semester with high grades, you have to follow a lesson plan, which is your mission that you must execute to reach your vision. Each night of study and planning is execution of your goals to fulfill your mission. As you can see, life can provide a positive outcome with hard work and a plan of attack to reach your vision.
| | Aim for the Future ... but don't get ulcers waiting for it to happen!Written by Edward B. Toupin
It is always good to aim for a vision, to pursue a goal, and make your dreams come true. However, there's a difference between chasing your dreams and anticipating outcome of dreams. The main idea behind dreaming and pursuing your goals is to provide a sense of direction with positive action. One mistake many people make is that, once they define a vision and set goals, they just sit there and wait for something to happen. They wait for what "will" happen instead of enjoying and participating in what "is" happening. To make fulfilling, don't anticipate future ... live in present and work to attain your dreams of future.--- It'll be great, when ... --- When will it be great? When great event happens? When vision shows itself? The problem is that, when this great expectation comes about, you'll be so frustrated from waiting that you'll miss it. On other hand, by simply sitting there and waiting, event may never happen because you didn't do anything to make it happen. Basically, you were busy waiting instead of busy doing. One of big mistakes that people make is that they live in a world that doesn't yet exist. They make lofty goals and have big dreams then they place all of their feelings, emotions, and being into what they "think" it will be like when their dreams come true. In fact, dream may never come true, or it will change. Perhaps, you will realize that dream you were chasing is not what you wanted in first place. However, you'll never know if you just sit there and wait. As you wait for this spectacular moment to occur, you're missing out on everything that's happening now. You're missing out on life. This is where frustration comes into picture. You know you'll feel different in future, but at this moment, you feel rotten, lost, or disenchanted. Part of reason is because you're betting on something that may never happen. The other reason is that you're not actively doing anything to achieve goals that sit in your future. --- Aim for it, don't anticipate it! --- When you feel that your life is not moving way you want it to, you need to reevaluate your life and set a target. This target is vision of where you want to be, or see yourself, in future. Once you know your vision, you have to establish a mission, or a plan of attack, to reach your vision. Your goals are then steps along mission and actions that you must execute to perform mission successfully.
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