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SPELL SUCCESS IN YOUR LIFE>
"SPELL SUCCESS" E-ZINE - ACTIVATE YOUR LIFE
Spell SUCCESS E-Zine, © 2004, Motivational Magic
by Peter Colwell
ISSUE 4
Welcome to the "Spell SUCCESS" e-newsletter, a primer on
personal and business success topics. Thank you for being a
subscriber and reader. Please feel free to forward this
newsletter to family, friends, and colleagues who are
interested in personal development.
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QUOTE OF THE MONTH:
"If we all did the things we were capable of doing, we
would literally astound ourselves."
THOMAS EDISON
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ARE YOU IN A HOLDING PATTERN?
Yesterday, I celebrated my 29th birthday. For many people,
age 29 (or 39, or even 49, for that matter!) symbolizes not
just the end of a decade, but a mental "holding pattern."
Instead of propelling ourselves forward, some of us would
prefer to stop the aging process, and stay – at least
mentally – where we are. When a colleague asked me recently
how old I was turning, I replied, "Twenty-nine...and
holding!" While I said this jokingly, there is a certain
amount of truth to the notion of wanting to hold onto what
is comfortable and well-known.
When we get too comfortable with the familiar, and shy away
from opportunities to take a risk or make a big change in
our lives, we wind up in what I call "holding patterns."
Some examples of holding patterns might include:
• staying in a job that no longer challenges you
• remaining in a friendship that no longer fulfills you
• avoiding opportunities for travel, promotion, advancement
• procrastinating the completion of an important project
• holding onto possessions that no longer serve you
• attaching yourself to negative thoughts and
self-defeating beliefs
The following are a few ways to activate your life right
now.
BE PROACTIVE ABOUT CHANGE AND OPPORTUNITIES
If you are tired of the same old routine, and need more
intellectual, emotional, or social stimulation in your job,
discuss your needs with your boss, supervisor, etc. If you
are your own boss, consider outsourcing the least
interesting aspects of your business to make time (and make
room in your life) for the more enjoyable – and career
enhancing – tasks.
Opportunities for personal and professional growth are
abundant if you are willing to look for them. Instead of
making excuses for staying in your comfortable “holding
pattern,” branch out and try something new. Take a class.
Learn a new skill. Or refine a skill you already have.
Developing your skills will increase your self-confidence
and enjoyment of life.
CONFRONT LINGERING ISSUES
We often tend to avoid doing the things we dread the most,
such as confronting personal problems. For example, maybe
you have been avoiding dealing with a touchy issue with a
friend or colleague because you fear offending them or
creating conflict. What is worse? Getting things “out in
the open,” or bottling those emotions inside and imploding
in the process? At the very least, communicating openly and
honestly will clear the air and help you move forward. At
the most, you will have strengthened your relationship by
exercising the courage to share your feelings and
re-establish a connection with that person.
STOP THINKING; START DOING
The #1 barrier to success is procrastination, brought about
most often by fear of change. You can have a great,
prize-winning idea – one that could make you rich and
prosperous, one that could revolutionize your life - but if
you never act on your beliefs, you will never experience
the change that you secretly crave. To overcome this
barrier, you must decide to jump into your goal headfirst,
before you have your ducks in a row, before you have it all
figured out, and before you know how everything is going to
turn out.
Ask yourself, “What’s the first step I need to take to
reach my goal?” Then, just do it! Ask questions later.
MAKE ROOM FOR AN UPGRADED LIFE
Sometimes, we get attached to personal possessions, and
clutter up our space with things that no longer serve us.
Letting go of some of these items can help you make room
for new, updated possessions that reflect how you have
grown as a person. Holding on to the past too closely will
prevent you from enjoying the moment, and preparing for an
abundant future.
REPLACE NEGATIVE THOUGHTS WITH POSITIVE, SELF-AFFIRMING
ONES
Spend enough time with people who worry, fret, and sweat
over everything – people who magnify problems and minimize
possibilities – and you will eventually fall into negative
holding patterns. These patterns include: self-doubt,
anxiety, fear, insecurity, and despair. If you are
surrounded by these types of thoughts and feelings on a
daily basis, you must actively and consciously decide to
replace them with positive, self-affirming ones, such as
confidence, love, courage, hope, and conviction.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
If you find yourself circling in a familiar holding
pattern, recognize what is holding you back or keeping you
down, and develop a game plan for breaking that pattern.
Remember:
• Be proactive about change and opportunities.
• Confront lingering issues.
• Stop thinking; start doing.
• Make room for an upgraded life.
• Replace negative thoughts with positive ones.
See you next month!
Peter
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Peter Colwell motivates others to motivate themselves!
Peter is an accomplished speaker and author of Spell
SUCCESS in Your Life, a popular motivational book that has
been published in six languages worldwide. Peter delivers
keynote speeches, seminars, and workshops to corporations,
associations, and nonprofit groups. Peter can be reached at
peter@petercolwell.com or 301-370-2698. For more details
about his book and speeches, visit
http://www.PeterColwell.com.
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