THE OBSTACLES IN YOUR LIFE

 

Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up. Keep believing in yourself and your abilities.

Although problems appear to be burdens to us in our lives, they are actually opportunities for growth. In the long run, we really should welcome problems and frustrations for only out of the solutions do we find real growth and happiness.

It’s very hard to put into practice. I know. It’s hard to have a hectic day with two or three major things going wrong and to say to yourself “This is a great chance for me to grow!” Blah!! Now you sound like one of those ‘sunshine’ people who always see the good side of life. Well, you know they are probably right even though most of us would rather not admit it. 

A lot of us even make a life out of avoiding work commitments, stress, almost anything that might “initially” be painful. Have you ever had a job where you worked twice as hard at looking busy as you would’ve if you just actually did something? Sounds funny but I know a lot of folks who have.  Myself included. But after a while, we find ourselves in “No-wheres-ville”, doing nothing with a bunch of other nobodies who are doing nothing too. And before you know it, your life is just a bunch of coulda, woulda, shoulda ...... 

Sooner or later, we all must take the initiative and try to confront the problem. Face a little pain and find out you actually can live through it. It becomes a habit after a while. They say successful people all have one thing in common. They are willing to do what the average person is not. They are willing to take a risk, try to solve a problem or face a difficult decision. And they don’t give in to fear. 

In the book "Attitude is Everything" by Jeff Keller, he states that there are seven ways in which Adversity can serve us, they are:                                                   

1. Adversity gives us perspective. Once you've recovered from a life-threatening illness, a flat tire or a leaky roof doesn't seem  so  troubling anymore. You're able to rise above the petty annoyances of daily living and focus your attention on the truly important things in your life.     

2. Adversity teaches us to be grateful. Through problems and difficulties, especially those which involve loss or deprivation, you develop a deeper  appreciation for many aspects of our life. It's trite but true, you don't usually appreciate something until it's taken away from you. When  you  have no hot water, you suddenly value hot water. Not until you're sick do you cherish good health. The wise person continues to dwell on blessings, even after the period of loss or deprivation  has passed. Remember,   we're always   moving in the direction of our dominant thoughts; therefore, concentrating on what you  have to be grateful for brings even more  good things into your life.  

3. Adversity brings out our hidden potential. After surviving a difficult ordeal or overcoming an obstacle, you emerge emotionally  stronger. Life has tested you and  you were equal to  the task. Then, when the next hurdle appears, you're better  equipped to handle it. Problems and  challenges bring out the best within us we discover abilities we ever knew we possessed. Many of us would never have discovered these talents if life hadn't made us travel over  some bumpy ground. Adversity reveals to you your own strengths and capacities, and beckons you  to develop those qualities even further. 

4. Adversity encourages us to make changes and take action. Most  people cling to  old, familiar patterns regardless of how   boring or painful their lives have  become. It often takes a crisis or a series of difficulties to motivate them to make adjustments. Problems are often life's way of letting you  know that you're off course and need to take corrective action. 

5. Adversity teaches us valuable lessons. Take the example of a failed business venture: The entrepreneur may learn  something that enables him or her to succeed spectacularly on the next venture. 

6. Adversity opens a new  door. A relationship terminates and you go on to a more satisfying relationship. You lose your job and find a better one. In these instances, the "problem" is not a problem at all, but rather an opportunity in disguise. One door in your life has been shut, but there is a better one waiting to be opened.

7. Adversity builds confidence and self-esteem. When you muster all of your courage and determination to overcome  an obstacle, you feel competent and gain confidence. You have a greater feeling of self-worth and you carry these positive feelings into subsequent activities.

Obstacles are the greatest blessings God can give you. They bring out the soul of you. They bring the Infinite Power within you to your help. And anything which acquaints you with the Spirit within you, anything that gives you understanding of the infinite power that lies within you, anything that brings the Holy Spirit into your daily affairs, is worth while no matter what it’s cost.

The Bible states that "when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing." (James 1: 2 - 4)

Although problems appear to be burdens to us in our lives, they are actually opportunities for growth. In the long run, we really should welcome problems and frustrations for only out of the solutions do we find real growth and happiness.

I’ll leave you with this little story I remember from a while ago. In ancient times a King had a boulder placed on a roadway then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the King’s wealthiest merchants came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the King for not keeping the roads clear but did nothing about removing the stone from the way. Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. On approaching the boulder, the peasant put down his load and tried to move the stone. After much pushing and straining he finally succeeded. After he picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse laying on the road where the stone had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the King indicating that the gold was for the person who moved the stone from the roadway. The peasant learned what many others never understood. Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve one’s condition.

So, the next time you suffer a problem or setback in your life don't get discouraged or give up. Don't let problems cloud your attitude window forever. Clear off that cloudy window. You find, after the dust settles, that you can actually see better than you did before. Just remember the words of Napoleon Hill: "Every adversity carries with it the seed of an equivalent or greater benefit". 

Till the next time

Bruce

 

 

 

YOUR MONEY MINDSET

"To be the master of money, you need to be smarter than it. Then money will do as it is told. It will obey you. Instead of being a slave to it, you will be the master of it. That is financial intelligence " Robert Kiyosaki, author Conspiracy of the Rich

Have you ever wondered why money comes so easily to some people, yet others seem to struggle for every penny they earn? The difference between the two types of people often lies in how they think about money and wealth.

How you think about money is the single most important factor that determines whether you are wealthy or not. So, if you want more money in your life it is essential that you develop a Positive Money Mindset.

Your Mindset is the sum total of all your beliefs, values, identity, expectations, attitudes, habits, decisions, opinions and thought patterns about money and what it means to you. Many of our mindsets, are handed down from our families, society, religious authorities and teachers, but we can change our thoughts and mindsets to attract more of whatever it is we want.

If you hold any wrong beliefs about money, or believe that you don't have enough, that thinking can hold you back from ever becoming wealthy. Instead, recognize the power that your thoughts have over the money in your life and embrace it. A good book to read to help you change your mindset about money is Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich. This book explains how your way of thinking can make you wealthy, or keep you from experiencing the riches you desire.

To change your money mindset, you must first recognize that money is not good or bad by itself. It is just a tool. In fact, money is more often used to do good than bad. Think about the wonderful charities that have been able to help people all around the world when they are given large donations of money. Appreciate all the good that money is used for. It is an important part of life and is used to make positive changes in the world. Money should be sought after, not avoided.

Be optimistic about wealth. Money is important in our society. Not having enough can be a very scary thought. But instead of being fearful of money, be optimistic. Visualize yourself having more than enough money to pay your bills and enjoying the finer things in life. What would it feel like to have a certain dollar amount in your bank account? Focus on that image and keep it foremost in your mind.

When you are optimistic about wealth instead of afraid of not having enough, you will be on the path to overcoming adversity and creating wealth. As long as you hold on to negative and incorrect beliefs about money, you will never create the wealth you desire or deserve.

Remove Negative Thoughts.

Recognize that money is abundant. When you were young, you may have been told by your parents that money doesn't grow on trees. If you're holding onto that belief now, your own mindset could be holding you back from attracting money. Money may not grow on trees, but there is an abundant amount of it for everyone, including you. However, if you believe that money is scarce, that belief will keep it far away from you. No wonder we have such a difficult time thinking positively about money!

Many of us are taught to think negatively about money. We're told things like "money is the root of all evil," and you may have even been taught that rich people are greedy and as a result you are subconsciously avoiding wealth and missing out on the great opportunities having money can provide. When someone else has money, don't resent their success. If you have feelings of jealousy, that will only hold you back from achieving your own wealth and success. Instead, be happy for them and remember that there is enough wealth for you too, and your turn will come. Rich people often accumulate their wealth by sharing what they have with others and believing in the idea of abundance.

Giving money away is one way you can develop a positive money mindset. Wanting to hang onto every cent you have is a sign of a stingy mindset and reinforces the idea or scarcity and that there is not enough of it. Giving reinforces the concept of abundance.

By making these changes in how you think about money, you will be on your way to developing a positive money mindset. Once you begin thinking about money in a positive way, you will be on the path to achieving your own wealth.

Wealth Creation Rules to Live By

Here are some wealth creation rules to live by to help you become one of those who will always have more than what you need, instead of someone who never has quite enough.

Be willing to take risks. Realize there is some risk involved in creating wealth, but that anything worth achieving is worth the risk. Some people never experience the fulfillment they crave because they're afraid of failing. Failure isn't something to be feared. Instead of procrastinating and being afraid of failing, plan your actions carefully so you will be prepared no matter what happens.

Take action. Take action where your money is concerned. If you've been waiting for wealth to come along and find you, it's time to start taking action to create wealth instead. If you own a business, be prepared to work harder and offer better services. Take positive steps that will help you create wealth.

Make your money work for you. The wealthy don't keep their money in savings accounts. To protect the money you have and ensure it continues to grow, it should be allocated between conservative investments and some riskier investments. This is one way that the wealthy use money to create more wealth.

If you are in earnest about changing your present condition, click on the link below to see  a small booklet with a concise, definite, results producing plan, with rules, explanations and suggestions.

http://www.bthompson.net/quotationlinks/it_works.pdf