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Little Things to Help You Succeed in Life

succeed, success, life, self knowledgeWhile some people face life-changing events, most of what defines and redefines us as people is not the stuff of big-budget epic movies, but rather the boring, mundane stuff of everyday life.

How can we grab hold of those little things that say so much about who we are -- and use them to move us closer to who we want to be? We have to go through an ongoing process that involves:

1. Discovery

The key to change in your life -- and really, the key to satisfaction as well -- is self-knowledge. Take some time to go over and record the moments that reflect problems you’re dealing with, as well as the moments that are typically “you.” The idea is to see patterns emerge. These patterns will be the grist for your analytical mill in the next stage.

2. Analysis

Look at your inventory of “totally you” moments -- what do they say about who you are? Now, who do you want to be? What’s meaningful for you, what values do you want to realize in your daily life?

3. Intention

At this point, it’s time to think about change: what do you intend to do about all this? The trick here is to be positive, not negative. It’s important that you find the motivation and intention within yourself if you’re to make real change that sticks. Doing things because you know others think they’re what you should do, or worse, to “show them,” might get a short-term shift out of you, but over the long term isn’t likely to be very satisfying -- or self-sustaining.

Personal change is hard, and harder still because there’s so much little stuff going on in our lives that all push and pull us in different directions. Which is precisely why it’s so important to pay attention to the little things, no matter how trivial they might seem.

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Comment on This Article Community Comments (25)
 
 
Posted On Dec 06, 2008

MAKE SURE YOU FOLLOW THROUGH. That's the single best piece of advice I've come across, in terms of being productive and feeling good about yourself. If you don't follow through and complete your goals (within human limits, of course), you set the stage for, obviously, not getting things done, but also lowering your self-esteem. Even if no one else knows, inside yourself you know: once again, I didn't do what I set out to do.

Following through ties in with another quick one-liner: a goal is a dream with a deadline.

And then, here's another favorite tip: break things into achievable chunks. "Build a house" is too tall an order for me. But there are all kinds of small things I can get done.

I know so many people who INTEND, rather than DO. And pretty often, I myself can't get things done quite on time. But I know that one of the most important things is DOING, and COMPLETING, not just intending. (And then, there's figuring out a way to get done the things one wants done, when one hasn't done them.)

Of course, we also need at least semi-realistic goals.

There's so much to this. I appreciate all the little nudges that help me get more done (of what I want to do), with less stress.

This time, also thanks to Note Taking Nerd Numba 2 for his suggestion of The Slight Edge - I like even the title. I haven't read the book, but in addition to the positive evaluation, the title sounds right - it's not about any one thing making all the difference. It's about things adding up - with each slight edge adding to many others.

As for the person who wants unlimited space, my comment is: I'm grateful for the amount of space there is.

Elsa

The Idea Emporium

www.the-idea-emporium.com


 
Elsa
Novice User Novice User, Joined On 10/2008
Elsa  
 
 
 
Posted On Dec 06, 2008

this may help with you succeeding also

a little clip from Brian Tracy--2 minutes

www.eatthatfrogmovie.com


 
feel_good_today
Novice User Novice User, Joined On 1/2008
feel_good_today  
Replied

 
Posted On Dec 06, 2008

That's great, I love Brian Tracey. Learned so much from him. Thanks for sharing that clip.



D. Everly
Novice User Novice User Joined On 3/2008
D. Everly  
 
Posted On Dec 06, 2008

What a great motivational clip!  Everyone needs to take time to watch it.  It certainly changed my day! Thank you for sharing!!!



Islander
Moderator User Moderator User Joined On 3/2007
Islander  
 
Posted On Dec 06, 2008

I love that message! It's on a sign in front of my keyboard! What a great reminder!



1Rustydog
Novice User Novice User Joined On 10/2007
1Rustydog  
 
Posted On Dec 08, 2008

HAHAHAHAHA!  Someone must be trying to tell me something!!  Two different people sent this "eat that frog" link to me late last night (that I read early this morning) and here it is again!  Okay, I'll try to "eat that frog"!  



LLL
Novice User Novice User Joined On 11/2008
LLL  
 
Posted On Dec 09, 2008

That is good. I like it. I have known that sort of thing to be true. I have been trying to get the stuff on my daily list "out of the way" first that is most important. You really do feel good for the rest of the day when you do that.... or you feel guilty the rest of the day for not doing it if you don't !


 
 
 
Posted On Dec 07, 2008

Dear LoriSml,

I am hoping you understand that that includes tolerance.  That includes towards people that don't believe in God that are rooted, happy, and focused.  

As a straight A student in high school, never in trouble, unlike many who did go to church, I was approached by a person at the end of a class.  She asked if I believed in God.  Hedging, knowing the anger or disbelief people deliver when they hear no, I said no.  She said, "But your are so good!".  I never forgot that.

If you know who you are “in Christ”, remember, there are those that really have found who they are in other benevolent ways that don't include your beliefs including the belief of God.  Until that understanding is reached without condescension, are you really “in Christ” with “peace towards man” ?


 
frogger
Novice User Novice User, Joined On 6/2008
frogger  
Replied

srqrebel
Novice User Novice User Joined On 11/2008
srqrebel  
 
Posted On Dec 07, 2008

A hearty AMEN from a fellow atheist at peace with himself and his fellow human beings.



LLL
Novice User Novice User Joined On 11/2008
LLL  
 
Posted On Dec 09, 2008

frogger

Thanks for that. I totally agree.

I went to a religious university, although I was not part of that religion. I saw a lot of hypocritical behaviour in how SOME of them treated other people. (Others there were wonderful people)

At a small gathering in a group I belonged to, I overheard one say to the group leader that so-and-so (who had just converted to their religion) had always seemed like (paraphrased:) "one of them". The leader agreed. This was said just a few feet away from me and I was astonished. My thoughts, mainly afterwards, were ... "does that mean you think your group is better than others?" and "Is that meant as an insult to me ?" along with "What a bunch of hypocrites", since I had personal experience with how some of them acted, including toward me and toward each other.

I told my Mom later about the comment and she was disgusted.

Please note that I do not mean to slam religious people in general. It is more who the person is and how they behave than whether someone is religious or not. However, having some negative experiences does affect the way I see things.... and religions.


 
 
 
Posted On Dec 06, 2008

I know who I am in Christ. I understand why I was created, what my purpose is, and what my purpose will be. Those who do not know these things are the ones who tend to be unrooted, angry, and rudderless.

Life is a gift from God. We need to be thankful in all things.


 
LoriSmi
Apprentice User Apprentice User, Joined On 1/2008
LoriSmi  
Replied

C Ann
Novice User Novice User Joined On 9/2006
C Ann  
 
Posted On Dec 06, 2008

AMEN!



trafficbabe
Novice User Novice User Joined On 12/2008
trafficbabe  
 
Posted On Dec 06, 2008

I give you a hearty Amen, LoriSmi.  Yes, that is why I'm on this earth, too...to glorify God.


 
 
 
Posted On Dec 08, 2008

You may say that Christians are not tolerant or that we need to be tolerant....I see something else:  Jesus Christ (the son of God) did not tolerate sin, but He loved ALL people regardless of their sin because God created us and loves us.  While I may love my fellow man; I do not HAVE to accept what they say and do.  I can disagree, feel free to express what the Word of God says IN LOVE and leave them to the result of their decisions, just as I reap what I sow as well.  Only God can judge the heart of any person-knowing their intent.  


 
debesul
Novice User Novice User, Joined On 3/2007
debesul  
 
 
 
 
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