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| Motivation Information |
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Contemplating Change And Moving Into Action
Do you ever have the sense that there has to be more to life than what you are presently experiencing? Those are the moments in time where you become consciously aware of your problems, and awaken to the possibility that change could occur. Perhaps you've noticed yourself seriously considering making some changes surrounding your food habits or your weight. Possibly you've taken the time to make a mental checklist and noted all the ways that food and/or your weight affects the quality of your life. Your awareness may include some of these insights: - you live on junk food and that doesn't feel good - your energy levels aren't as high as you would like - you crave certain foods or you binge - you are preoccupied with food - you have certain health problems related to food/weight - you are weight affects your ability to move - you are body wouldn't mind some exercise - you are tired of this problem STAGES OF CHANGE James Prochaska*, author of "Changing For Good", calls this the Contemplation Stage of Change. A simple way of viewing this stage, would be the phrase, "I'm not happy, but I'm not sure what to do." There's a sense of wanting a change, but there's also anxiety and fear of failing. People in the contemplation stage are aware of a problem, and also they are undecided about whether or not they want to do anything. This stage is about uncertainty and indecision. Imagine yourself sitting on the fence. In the contemplation stage there is no commitment, and a decision to change has not yet been made. But look! You've brought yourself all the way to the fence itself. How awesome is that!! The word contemplation itself comes from con meaning "to examine carefully," and templar, referring to a period of time. This is a necessary step on the way to creating change. It's a period of time when you allow yourself the grace to examine your situation and be undecided for a period of time. When you are in this stage of sensing change on the horizon, it's helpful to just begin evaluating the many issues surrounding this problem: - attempt to understand the problem and why you have it - wonder about possible solutions - imagine all the wonderful potentials of life without the problem - consider various plans about taking action sometime in the future The Contemplation Stage of Change is an important stage to go through on the way to achieving success. Yet it is common to get seriously stuck here - sometimes for years. Some people remain stuck for the rest of their lives. Even though change is wanted, it's also opposed by a natural resistance to change. Reasons for getting stuck in the Contemplation Stage include: - continuing to think about the problem when the urge for action is felt - searching endlessly for absolute certainty about what caused the problem - waiting for the right time to change - wishful thinking, "I wish this problem would just go away by itself." - wanting guarantees of the outcome ahead of time MOVING FORWARD INTO ACTION If you are considering changing a habit, perhaps something like your eating habits, this is the perfect time to allow yourself to explore situation. Some useful strategies to use in this phase might involve some of the following suggestions: - gather factual information about your situation. - become clear on your own personal reasons for wanting to change. - consider the pros and cons of change vs. no change. - explore how your problem conflicts with your core values. (i.e. you are an honest person but binge secretly.) - list the behaviors you want to change. - take an honest look at the cost of change - what will you need to do to change. - look at the positive future gains that change will bring. - become aware of what you are eating. - collect data about the feelings, thoughts, emotions and/or external events which come before and after your eating behavior happens. - imagine your feelings about yourself and your life in the future, both with and without change. - visualize success. - review different types of support. Taking the time to sort through your thoughts and feelings allows you to reach the next stage, which is . . . Action! And should the moment arise where you feel the call to action, allow yourself the love to follow through. * Prochaska, James; Norcross, John; DiClemente, Carlo. Changing For Good: A Revolutionary Six-Stage Program For Overcoming Bad Habits and Moving Your Life Positively Forward. Avon Books, 1994. POSITIVE NOTES I accept that I am here to learn and grow, and I accept that I am learning and growing. I now create outstanding confidence by repeatedly rehearsing in my mind and imagining the results I want in advance. Dr. Annette Colby, RD
Motivation - Google News |
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Business Management Keep the Channel Open Why do you do what you do? What is your real work in the world, and why is it important to know the answer? Nothing More Than Feelings "How are you Inventing Your Life Today?" the lead story from my last issue of Power & Presence drew comments from several readers. Most of the comments went something like: "I wish I could have the degree of control over my life that you apparently do." 12 Reflections on Personal Responsibility Responsibility means being accountable for what we think, say, and do. Personal responsibility involves working on our own character and skill development rather than blaming others for situations and circumstances. It means choosing to design a life that honors our values and purpose. Break And Move Beyond The Length Of The Chains "Never let fear, procrastination or the longing for approval from others to take possession of your mind, they become self-forged chains." ~ Ty Howard The New Morality In a world where dynamism alters egos and principles in a man every second, where men divest in tenets that secure them from being devout to something natural, where humanity seeks reasons to be ignorant just to feel sly and intelligent we're confronted with issues of morality. We can no longer be satisfied with being truthful incessantly, we can no longer be happy for the sake of empathizing, we can no longer be sympathetic in a world that beseeches us to be methodological, we can no longer be human when the invariable pretension has made us lose our ethicality forever we can only choose to be different moralists altogether. Succinctly we need a new morality. So What Is Your Real Motivation? We are all guilty of wanting to change our circumstances, bettering ourselves and altering our life's plans, but unfortunately a lot of us fail to see the bigger picture. In fact many of us don't even realise that there may be a bigger picture. Anxiety & Panic Make Your Information Work for You Whether you suffer from anxiety and panic attacks or not, there is a lesson in here for everyone. Increase Your Energy! It was only about 18 months ago that I could not even keep up with a 90-year old's energy levels. At my partner's family functions, I often sat with his grandmother who, by the end of the evening, was still lively and chirpy while I was barely able to keep my eyes open. Most evenings I would come home after work, curl into bed with a book and fall asleep. When I woke up I would feel tired and demotivated. I figured I did not have enough time left to do anything interesting, so I would go back to bed. Sometimes I would even fall asleep at the book shop while choosing which books to buy! Ask Your Question Get what You Desire "Questions get answers, advice, opinions, beliefs, impressions, stories, and more questions. Questions are about life, people, careers, achievements, facts, and faith. Ask and learn." - Ruby Bayan What would just the right question be worth to you? There is nothing more effective for bringing deep insight and understanding than a powerful question. You truly can ask questions that create meaningful change in your life. The right questions can lead you toward the things you desire. Questions: Simple words mixed carefully into a phrase with the power to change lives in extraordinary ways. Questions crystallize thought. Powerful questions ask "What, Why, Where, Who, How, and When?" They bring insights, visions, and new perspectives. Lord Byron wrote, "But words are things, and a small drop of ink, falling, like dew, upon a thought produces that which makes thousands, perhaps millions think." Letting Go Of Our Negativity Everyone has something, whether it be a habit, or aspect of their personality, that they wish that they did not have. For me, that something is fear. I am constantly afraid of just about anything you could name...car crashes, meeting new people, tornados, driving in the dark, sleeping with the closet open, public speaking...you name it, I'm probably afraid of it! This is a negative habit, and certainly one I would like to change. Most people can name at least one similar habit or personality trait off the top of their head. Think about it for a moment. What part of yourself would you truly like to be rid of? Now take that part of you, and imagine it disappearing forever. If you want, you can even make it more physical and real by writing that trait down on a piece of paper, then burying it or destroying it. Do We Have Free Will? It is being suggested here that we have only one real choice in life: 10 Common Money And Success Myths Part 2 Here are a few commonly held beliefs, or "myths," that hold many of us back from achieving success... Work, Action, Movement -You Cannot Get Anywhere Without It "You can't get anywhere in anything without work, action, movement..whatever you want to call it." Scott Haines You Can! "There are only two ways of bringing brightness into your world; either change your attitude or open the closed doors of your brain" My Backyard Recipe for Creating an Abundant Life There's a party going on in my backyard. Just beyond the goldfish pond you can hear the low hum coming from the bee ensemble. If you step closer, you can see them dancing on the tops of purple coneflowers dusting themselves in bright orange pollen. They seem intoxicated by the abundance of fragrant flowers. A vast treasure trove, I imagine, to a bee. Finding the Easy Way For the last hour I have been sweating over what I will write about in "Roy Bits." I have been laying in bed trying to conjure up something in my head. After I made my morning pilgrimage to the washroom, I sat down half asleep in front of the computer slumped over my desk with my head resting on folded arms and eyes closed trying to imagine what I would write about. Perseverance As A Virtue "Through perseverance many people win success out of what seemed destined to be certain failure." - Benjamin Disraeli (1804 - 1881) - British Statesman, Prime Minister Your Growing Edge You've probably heard the term "leading edge" used to refer to technology or products that are in front of the curve, that are really advanced. You may have even heard the term "bleeding edge" in this context. I want to talk to you about your personal "leading edge," your growing edge. Challenge Yourself - Stretch Your Boundaries Daily! Many times we fall into a sedentary lifestyle because we fear forward movement. We eventually feel as though we've fallen into a rut and can't seem to escape. However, this is where we tend to forget that part of moving forward in life is to continue challenging yourself and your abilities. The Thrivers Secrets to Success?: It Starts With Your Attitude - Get a Grip and GoŽ! What impact would it have on your professional and personal life if you could learn the secret of successful living known by about 25% of the people? Think about that for a minute and even pause right now and write some thoughts down. How would your life be different if you operated like a "thriver" - a person who thrives and flourishes no matter what life throws at him or her?
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