Tuesday 11 August 2009

Until the Uncomfortable Becomes Your New Comfort Zone

How many times have you heard someone say "I can't do that because I've always done...(something else)". Think of the generations of mineworkers who stubbornly saw no other option when the mines closed.

Sometimes others tell us we cannot do something because we have no previous experience in that field. They laugh at our dreams and try to hold us back. They say it is for our own good to avoid disappointment.

Fred Luster was a steelworker who was laid off. He had always had a knack for cutting hair so he became a barber. He moved into the entire field of personal grooming. From there he built Luster Products, a multimillion-dollar corporation.

What is stopping you from overcoming the unlikely, the impossible? Do you believe that you are not good enough, not clever enough, not able enough or are you just listening to the negative self-talk which is holding you back in your uncomfortable comfort zone?

There will always be obstacles, trials sent to test us eg a failed relationship, illness, financial problems, lack of support but from these we learn more to make us stronger, better equipped for the future. Are you going to allow these temporary setbacks to stop you achieving your potential? Even though you have been hurt before, it is the only way to grow. We all have the capacity to change, to lead meaninful and productive lives by awakening our consciousness. Consciousness is our energy force comprised of our thoughts, feelings and impressions from the outside world.

Find the reasons why you must grow, why you must make the change, why you must achieve. When you go inside and find those reasons, you become stronger.

When you decide that it is time to grow, be prepared for a bumpy ride until the uncomfortable becomes your new level of comfort zone.

©Antonia Harrison 2009 from Personal Development in the 21st Century

Connections: A Ride On The River

I want to share an article from my friend, Jessica McGregor Johnson.


Last weekend found us at the River Limmat in Zurich. It was a lovely day and the river was running quite fast after the recent rains. We had come to float downstream, something many people do in the summer here in Zurich, some with floats or boats and some just like us with just our bodies With more than a little hesitancy we clambered our way down the bank and stepped into the river. The current pulled at our legs and all we could do was jump out into the flow. Immediately it was fun! The river was flowing fast and we floated our way downstream until all too soon we had reached the spot where we had to get out. Like kids we ran up the riverbank and did it all again!

It made me think about how often I have held back from jumping into the flow. How, because I had never done it before, I had stopped myself having a great experience. Only recently on a course I saw myself holding back yet again for fear of the unknown. However just as I had seen many people floating by on the river I knew that what I was holding back from was something that many people had done successfully before me. All I had to do was trust myself and jump in and literally let the flow take me. I did, and in doing so shifted my experience to one of confidence, and I felt very empowered.

I have often said to my clients that if you feel you are pushing the water upstream then you are facing in the wrong direction. Life is not supposed to be that hard. Sure it may be challenging to jump into the river in the first place, but the interesting thing is that once you are in the flow it doesn’t seem so scary because you are moving as fast as it is. It only looks scary when you stand on the edge, wishing you could jump in and not allowing yourself to do so. When I jumped I experienced that there had been nothing to be scared of and the flow has been fun ever since. But, you have to jump! Are you standing on the edge of the bank wishing you could jump in? Take five minutes now to get inspired. Would it be helpful to have a chat about your particular riverbank and see if there is some way you can get the support you need to make that leap? If so drop me a line and we can arrange a time to talk. Saying that I am on holiday until the 18th August but I will be in touch with you as soon as I get back. Happy August.

©2008 Jessica McGregor Johnson

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Antonia Harrison from Personal Development in the 21st Century

Tuesday 4 August 2009

More Discipline Or Regrets Later On?

It takes tremendous discipline to do what others choose not to do. Discipline to turn off the TV and read some material which will help you to grow, teach you new skills or expand your mindset. Discipline to leave a party early because you made a commitment to yourself to wake at a certain hour for meditation and exercise.

It is because of these commitments and promises to yourself that you are growing, seeing changes in yourself, ticking off goals and achievements as you reach them.

You know that to excel in a sport you have to learn the basics, master the techniques and then practice, practice, practice. The winner does not practice until he gets it right. He keeps going until he cannot do it wrong. So it is with any sport, skill, language that is worth learning.

If you make a commitment to be healthy and fit, is it worth starting with a small reachable goal such as walking ten minutes a day? You can build on that, make it a social time with your partner or alone time for yourself and your thoughts.

Remember that one of life’s heaviest burdens is great potential. You know what you want to achieve but only you are stopping you. Only you can step up the discipline.

Byrd Baggett says, "You’re either green and growing or ripe and rotting.” We all need to be growing and learning every day.

Here is another tip from Byrd: the 1/24/30 principle. Identify one habit in the next 24 hours and work on improving it for next 30 days. Just one, don’t aim too high. Experts say it takes 30 days to change a bad habit so if that is true, concentrate on just one habit for 30 days.

Successful people simply do what unsuccessful people won’t do. That’s won’t, not can’t.

When we look back on our life, we can either feel the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. How many people say, "I wish I had my life over. I would..." If you don't want to be one of the people with regrets, then step up your discipline.

Just one simple act every day can transform your life.

If not today, when are you going to start improving that one habit? I encourage you to start improving that one habit today.

© Antonia Harrison 2009 from Personal Development in the 21st Century

Virtual Abundance Expo - Last Chance to Download

I shared with you some of the fantastic content from Lisa Nichols on the Virtual Abundance Expo. Speakers included Jack Canfield, Sir Richard Branson and Bob Proctor.

Today's your last day to obtain all the MP3 recordings and transcripts. Tomorrow the opportunity is lost.

It's your last chance to upgrade to the VIP Pass and get lifetime access to all the world thought leaders and inspirational luminaries we shared on the Virtual Abundance Expo last week.

The Abundance is right there ready for you to grab. Just click the link below:

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If you upgrade now you'll also get instant access to all downloads of all the presentations and Q&A's. So you can take this content with you wherever you like.

Go ahead and upgrade now right here: Virtual Abundance Expo

Antonia Harrison from Personal Development in the 21st Century