Many people strive to be the best they can be. If you are giving what you do your all, then that should be the testament to what success is for you. We all have certain talents, skills, and strengths and should always use them towards a positive and purposeful goal. When you do that at 100%, then when it comes time to leave this Earth, you will have succeeded.
The best way to always stay at your best is to make sure you have a purpose in which to do that. Most people are living life without a sense of purpose. They may even be in jobs or career that offers them no true purpose. What I’ve found is that people who live life this way, tend not to give it their best effort.
There have even been studies which have shown that people who do volunteer work will give much more effort than people who merely get paid to do the same job. The difference being is a sense of purpose which drives the volunteer’s passion to give it their best.
If you are not living a life of purpose, then find something that would instill that sense into you. Grab it by the horns and go at it 100%. You’ll do much more good in this world by focusing on your purpose and passion. Your goals will be more in line with who you are when they are driven by your purpose. In fact, what you do will bring you more joy and the work you do will seem like play instead.
Coach John Wooden’s cornerstones of his Pyramid of Success are Industriousness and Enthusiasm. That means to work hard at what you enjoy. That way you’ll stimulate the same passion in others. And his definition of success? “Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to become the best of which you are capable.” Doing your best is a big part of that.
Many people are looking for ways to perform at their best – in fitness, sports, business, and their everyday life. While the conventional ways are good – that includes getting into some regular workouts and some mental training – our bodies are looking for something more.
I think back to our ancestors when they had to go out to hunt for food. When they stalked, they didn’t engage in long marathon runs, they would walk and then lie in wait. When their prey (a deer or some other animal) would get close enough, our ancestor would do a full sprint in order to get even closer to throw a spear at or club the animal. Our bodies have not changed much since those days. We need to engage in the same physical activities – just not throwing spears at or clubbing an animal. Our activities when it comes to fitness, should be the best simulations that engage our bodies as it was back then.
High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) is one of the closest fitness training routines that best simulates this. After your warm-up, do an activity (such as a sprint) at full speed and then at a slower pace (walk). Repeat this several times. The full speed can be at 10 seconds to 30 seconds – followed by 10 seconds to 1 minutes of the slower pace. Circuit training can also be done at part of a HIIT routine. Make sure proper form is maintain when doing each exercise at a high speed.
HIIT has shown to improve both cardiovascular and strength endurance. If you were to add a compound training component to each routine – then you’d be better simulating the way our ancestors engaged their muscles. Think of it this way – not only did they sprint, they also carried their weapon (spear, club), and then threw it while sprinting. They even ran at angles many times. Their whole body was involved.
You can some of the same things. For example you can sprint carrying football and then throw it at the end of your sprint. Think of different way to engage your full body. You can do compound circuit training exercises. My friend, Jason Johnson, has designed a circuit training routine that does just that.
Incorporate HIIT into your daily workouts and you’ll see massive results in a short time. You’ll drop bodyfat fast and perform at higher levels in whatever activity you do. Heck, it’ll even help you at your desk job. Feeling and being fitter also helps your mind to think better.
Have fun with this and make sure you get a full medical checkup before starting a HIIT routine and play it safe.
I was on one of my hikes in the Griffith Park area nearest the observatory. During this hike I took in the different aspects of nature. The wild flowers were blooming and a falcon was resting on a branch of a small tree on the side of one of the many hills.
Falcon on a beautiful Day in Griffith Park
The day was only slightly warm and sun was bright. A cool breeze permeated through the canyons. It was a glorious day to be out.
Everyday many people seek to understand who they are why they are doing what they are doing. Sometimes this creates turmoil. We all want more out of life, don’t we?
Yet, in nature we can see what life is all about. Sure, there are struggles. Those are natural struggles. They are the challenges that create growth.
Nature also reminds each of us the true path of being and of life. If you are under constant emotional stress – how is that serving you? Probably not very well. I would suggest you take some time and seek to understand the natural environment around you. From that you will learn about yourself.
Living in these uncertain times is challenging. While most people struggle, you don’t have to. It doesn’t matter where you are right now. It is where you plan on being in the future. And yet, that future depends on where you are mentally in the present.
It will take what is known as self-mastery to move towards where you want to be. That self-mastery includes being mentally ready for both the ups and downs.
So how do you get to self-mastery?
There are many definitions of self-mastery. It’s also known as personal mastery. There is self-mastery of both the mind and the body. Physical fitness and health is important for the mind to work properly. Each person must be able to move through life with good health. It also affects our minds. It’s also the same with your mind. How you think controls how you feel in your physical body.
“A man has to learn that he cannot command things, but that he can command himself; that he cannot coerce the wills of others, but that he can mold and master his own will: and things serve him who serves Truth; people seek guidance of him who is master of himself.” – James Allen
Learning to control yourself through both mind and body is the start of mastering yourself. You can only control yourself which will have an effect on others. L. Michael Hall stated that the “quality of your life is the quality of your representations.” Where you are at, physically and mentally, is what you represent to yourself and the world.
What you bring to each area of your life will have a profound effect on that area. If you are in a state of joy, then joy will be represented in that area. When training for fitness, the state of mind your bring to it will determine the quality of your workout.
Think about your state of mind when engaging in any area of your life. It could be in your work, your relationships, your health, your hobby, and so forth…
To live in self-mastery, bring in the higher state that you want.
Jim Rohn was known as many things: business philosopher, motivational speaker, coach of coaches, and so forth. Yet his greatest asset was that of a mentor. Tony Robbins described Jim Rohn as his very first mentor in motivational speaking. This led him on the road to do the same.
Yesterday, Jim Rohn passed away at the age of 79. I had the privilege of meeting him back in the 90′s for the first time. His teachings affected me many years before that. I realized that I wanted to have the same type of impact on others (though not quite what he had). I remember talking to several top motivational speakers and found out that it was Jim Rohn that helped lead them on the path to do the same (much like Tony Robbins mentioned earlier).
Yes, he will be missed and yet his teaching will live on. Like Napoleon Hill before him, Jim has left a lasting legacy for future generations to learn from. He is now in the heavens knowing that his work will continue here on Earth.
So many people have been elevated to a role model status that when they do something wrong it seems that the people who put them there have been devastated. The idea of having somebody to look up to is important, but not in the way that society has portrayed it. Tiger Woods is a great golfer and that is where modeling him should stay. It can also apply to sports in general.
Tiger Woods made a judgment regarding intimate relationships that was wrong. As a role model in the arena (as well as the moral arena) he should not be placed. We forget that he is simply a human being with all the failing that accompany such. Humans make mistakes – especially when it concerns morality.
Children will get their role models first from their parents. They are a child’s greatest role model. They learn how to have a relationship by watching their parents, not from watching a celebrity. As children grow up, they will look at other role models in which to model.
If they want to do better as a sales person, then they will model the behavior and strategies of the top sales people they can find. If they want to be the best cardiac surgeon, then finding the top one in the field is a way of modeling the way they do what they do.
There are role models in every area of life. Just because a person is the best at what they do in a given area, doesn’t mean they should be a role model in another area. Pick and choose your role models for each area of life you want to succeed in, okay?
As we here in the former colonies celebrate a long-formed tradition known as Thanksgiving Day, I want to say that giving thanks should be an everyday event. Each day we wake up each one of us should celebrate life and all that it has in store for us. The truth is that each day is special and new.
If you have loved ones around, thank them for being a part of your life. In fact, people who give thanks each day live and longer and healthier life than those who don’t. I realize that we live in some hard times. Yet, if you are healthy, you have the ability to move forward. Even those that may have some health problems can live the best day each and every day.
I like the fact that Paula Dean laughed off getting hit by a frozen turkey recently. Much like President Reagan did when he was shot, both of them looked at the humor of the event. I think that today, especially, we should look at any troubles in a different light.
So give thanks for what you have right now and the possibilities of what can happen tomorrow.
There really was an organization in the U.S. Military that the movie, “The Men Who Stare at Goats” is based on. Colonel John Alexander wrote about it in his book – The Warrior’s Edge in which he described how the training went and what each aspect was meant for.
Much of the training came from Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP). Others came from biofeedback and hypnosis. The idea of Remote Viewing and Operation Stargate was a direct result of the psychic spy program. NLP had a major influence in the development of Operation Jedi (named after the Jedi Master in the Star Wars movie).
Here’s a clip of the actual participants describing the ideas behind the movie:
I remember that my mentor and NLP Master Trainer, Dr. Wil Horton, developed a course that is similar to what was in the Jedi Project. Many in the NLP community use Jedi Master techniques that is used to influence others. Dr. Horton finally made available as a home study course his psychic abilities class he taught. Read more here: Click here.
I wish you success as you increase your own mind power.
I read an article recently that stated we need a lot more outdoor time in order to help overcome depression. This is due to the Vitamin D that the sun produces from our cholesterol and the sunlight which also helps in setting our biological clocks.
Another thing about doing things outdoors is that it helps in overall fitness. People tend to move more when they are outside (there’s no sofas). It used to be that people spent more time outside than inside. Now we’ve become addicted to our computers and television.
Doing things outdoors with other people also will bring you closer together. It doesn’t seem that is would because of more space, but it does. Instead of all the distractions from technology, people will spend more time just enjoying the sun and nature (if you happen to be close to a park or live in rural areas).
You’ll even find time to think clearly. Ideas even seem to pop-up when it’s not muddled by television or some other inactivity. Getting active and living it helps the brain. You’ll perform much better in every area of your life.
So get out and enjoy the outdoors today and everyday. Live the active lifestyle.
I can remember years ago watching an episode of The Twilight Zone where the people use science to change the way we look. The emphasis was on perfection. There was no uniqueness, only a duplication of the same.
It seems that many people have given up there authentic self to try to look & act like people they see or hear in the media. Even in the area of professional speaking we see extremely rehearsed speaking. Again, no authenticity.
In order for you to be attractive to other people being your authentic self will truly make that happen. One of my friends, Norma Hollis, is a great exponent of being authentic. Her program on authenticity has been heavily researched by her and taught for many years now. http://www.normahollis.com
Authenticity comes out in the way you speak and the way you act. Many people try to be authentic and genuine, but their attempts is easily picked out as fake if you have the knowledge on what to look for. Many narcissistic people fall into the category. What you want to strive for is talking the way you would talk at home. Will Rogers had that folksy attitude and it showed in the way he talked to everybody, including the way he delivered his speeches. Sure he may have said his umms and ahhs (which are considered no nos in many speech classes), but they worked for him.
I can remember watching the first film the Arnold Schwarzenegger was in back in the 1970′s called Hercules in New York. His voice was dubbed in (because his real voice had that Austrian accent) and it made the movie look fake. That wasn’t Arnold’s voice and it didn’t match his attitude. In later movies, Arnold real voice was included and he made movie history (as well as political history). That’s just another example of being yourself.
In today’s world it seems people want more authentic people. With the advent of YouTube and other web-sharing video hosts, it has become the norm. Take advantage of this as you move forward in your life and your career. Find what fits for you and do it. It will be easier for you and more advantageous.
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