DESIRE

Notice that any self generated action is largely the result of compulsion or desire. While compulsion by its very meaning suggests that there is no alternative and is forceful, desire evokes in our mind a pleasant, willing and positive emotion within us suggesting that the action is something we eagerly look forward to. This is because DESIRE emits from our own ability to Develop Enthusiasm Sustained Interest Renewed Energy. Going to a movie, a party, a picnic gets us excited, enthusiastic and eager whereas attending a lecture or a routine office meeting triggers thoughts of an unpleasant, boring and disagreeable waste of time. Hence it is essential that one needs to generate DESIRE within to make life interesting, to enable you to be proactive and enjoy every moment.

You can generate DESIRE if you see life as an interesting GAME and make a conscious effort to play that game well.

Goal in mind - There must be an objective, a result, a goal that helps one focus. Without a goal we merely meander through life like sheep grazing in the pastures, merely going through the act of eating and sustaining. As human beings we are blessed with greater intellect, imagination and initiative that we need to make use of. This can be done by outlining our goals, visioning the big picture and purposefully striving to attain the goal using all the resources at our command. The goal is the beginning and the focus of any desire.

Attitude is positive – Without a positive attitude we cannot generate self belief. A positive attitude can be generated when one is able to align ones goal, thoughts and actions. The starting point of this is identifying and focusing on the right goal. Focus on what needs to be done and not on what should be avoided. The latter has a negative connotation to begin with and more importantly does not help us focus on one single objective. Then we need to outline the roadmap to reach the goal, the wherewithal required to sustain us in our quest and take a decisive steps to reach out goal. With the right attitude, we begin to subconsciously fill spirit with the desire to succeed.

Motivation is envisioned – Even if know our goal and start with the right attitude, the energy to continue our quest comes from the amount of motivation we can generate within us. The motivation is not merely attaining the goal but must be apportioned into smaller slices of achievements, must include a large dose of self satisfaction, tons of encouragement from the progress made and must include the pioneering path breaking success you have personally enjoyed along the way. Motivation is the oxygen that keeps the desire alive.

Excellence is targeted- Reaching a goal maybe relatively simple. The real achievement is doing it in style. Excellence is the outcome of careful detailing, planning and execution. Excellence is attained when one can improve the existing benchmarks; improvise the current methods and pioneer new techniques along the way. Rarely can one go about achieving a goal all alone. Excellence therefore also includes one’s ability to be a good team player, a dependable team member and a welcome team participant. Excellence make the desire even more personal and appealing.

Once you begin the GAME in dead earnest your will discover your DESIRE and your own ability to Develop Enthusiasm Sustained Interest Renewed Energy

Action Points

1. Think of the latent desires that you had during your school days. The numerous alternative professions you hoped to take upto. The various hobbies and passions that you wished you could indulge in. Do you still retain the DESIRE for it? If yes, what is stopping you from exploring those avenues? Once you have the desire time and money are no impediments; go for gold!
2. Choose from among the following art forms and determine your desire to explore one or more of it

• Painting
• Photography
• Cartooning
• Sculpting
• Dancing
• Classical music
• Doing card tricks
• Magic
• Haiku
• Exotic cooking

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FOCUS

There are two parts that we shall attempt to understand when focusing on FOCUS.

From a micro view point FOCUS is all about Following One Course Until Successful. For almost all of us, it is the micro aspect of focus that we pay more attention to simply because it enables us to see quick results. Studying for exams would be the focus of parents and children especially when the exams are fast approaching. When one studies there is a higher chance that one would be able to do well in the exam and the results would vouch for the same. For this period of study before the exams, it is possible that one has sacrificed TV viewing, movies, social outings so as to ensure that one is following one course viz to study until one has successfully finished the exam papers. It is important to note that there must be this micro focus for every activity we undertake to ensure that we attain the results we seek. This could be as diverse as merely doing our daily chores, organizing a party or relaxing at home. The downside to focus is that, we can get so obsessed with the task on hand, and this is true of corporate executives and professionals in particular, that they are unable to focus on enjoying their free time or family time. So it is essential to balance our focus so that we do not stress ourselves out or pass on the stress to others.  This is possible when we look at the second aspect of focus i.e. the macro aspect of focus.

From a macro view point, FOCUS is all about Following One Clear Useful Strategy. This is not a quick and sudden focus as would perhaps happen when we are suddenly confronted with the need to quickly decide. A long term focus would be in the nature of a planned, purposeful and decisive choice. A student who is keen to better his/ her performance would focus on a clear strategy to improve marks, unlike a student whose sole aim is to do his/ her best by studying at the last moment. The macro focus of the student keen to do well could be on spending more time on the difficult subjects or taking tuition's in subjects that he/ she is weak in and / or preparing to ace the subjects he/ she is strong in. Notice that the strategy chosen is based on macro focus on attaining the end objective, whereas the execution of the plan is based on the micro focus. Similarly from a corporate perspective too strategy is nothing but a macro focus on the way ahead.

While both types of focus are essential, it is the macro focus that is most important in the long run. Remember Steven Covey’s 7 Habits in which he stresses on ‘Begin with the end in mind’. Macro focus is that beginning where the end is visualized first. Another way to understand this is-  macro focus is ‘Doing the right things’ whereas the micro focus is ‘Doing things right’. For the numerous readers of this blog, what is your long term focus as regards the benefits you wish to derive from reading this blog is a key question that will determine how well you use the new learning and benefit from it. Those with a macro focus would identify ways and means to leverage the content and profit from it. E.g. some would want to use it to improve their vocabulary / others would try to learn how the thoughts are expressed in a logical manner / some would just like to get some inspirational insights / some would try to rewrite and rephrase contents in their own words so as to improve their style of writing.

Self motivation is the key to achieving a sharp focus. Unless one is motivated, your approach to any activity would be casual, tardy and in all probability result in a shabby outcome.

Focus on what you want – then focus on how to attain it ; that is when you will be Following One Clear Useful Strategy and then ensure you are Following One Course Until Successful.

Action Points:

• Go to a game center and play a round of bowling to get an idea of how your focus and your actions take time to sync. You could also try to play darts to get a feel of how it takes effort to hit the bulls eye.
• Write down the 9 times table one below the other  – 9 x 1 = 9 till 9 x 10 =90. Now focus on the answers. Do you see an interesting pattern in the answers?
• Can you focus on the following sentence and find the two completely different meanings when you use the correct punctuations. ‘ Woman without her man is a savage’

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You are also invited to visit our Inspirational and Motivational Blog

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HURDLES

The hurdles is a unique event where mans ingenuity to make the staid and boring activity of running more interesting was improvised upon by putting hurdles that participants have to overcome in order to win. However the hurdles event if seen differently actually mimics life; each day that we live largely is routine but when we seek out opportunities they are there in plenty but unfortunately there are apparently too many hurdles to overcome if one has to grab the opportunities. These HURDLES in real life can be seen as Having Unexpected Resistors Demanding Leaps to Ensure Success.

There are numerous lessons that one can learn from the hurdles event. To begin with one must anticipate the hurdles, one must prepare to cross them, one cannot side step them but have to leap over them and finally even if one stumbles at a hurdle it may not necessarily mar ones chances of success. As human beings though, these lessons from the track and field hurdling event is not easily appreciated and put into daily living. If we analyze each learning point we would realize that life’s challenges and hurdles can be managed with relative ease.

Anticipate the hurdles – There is no one in this wide world who can claim to be free of problems, challenges and tensions. It is therefore prudent to stop, pause and reflect on the possible challenges that one will have to encounter along life’s path. By anticipating, we won’t be taken by surprise, we will have some plans to meet the hurdles and more importantly our confidence won’t be dented.

Prepare to cross them – Just like one prepares for an exam without really knowing the questions that will actually come in the question paper, one can work on meeting some challenges that we can anticipate. E.g. if communication in English is a weakness because one has studied in the vernacular, then working on ones English language skills is imperative.

One cannot side step them but have to leap over them – There is an English saying ‘do not bury your head in the sand like and ostrich’ which implies that when confronted with unavoidable troubles do not try to ignore it or run away from it. Just as the hurdlers have to leap over the hurdles one has to confront challenges with daring and fortitude. Here another saying is equally relevant which states ‘ you cannot cross a chasm in two steps’; implying that at times one has to take a risk and make big decisions. E.g. Someone who is an employee could be passionate about a business venture but he / she has to leave behind the security of a fixed salary and possible take a huge income loss before establishing one’s business.

Even if one stumbles at a hurdle it may not necessarily mar ones chances of success.- Even the best hurdles in the world have a bad day in office occasionally, when they stumble over the hurdles. In life we are more prone to stumble off and on for the hurdles are not evenly placed nor the height evenly adjusted as in the track event. Each day brings new, different and intriguing challenges. Keeping motivated each day is perhaps the most commonly experienced challenge for most human beings. Being satisfied is another huge challenge. These are generic challenges but some specific challenges can be a huge hurdle to overcome. The good part of the hurdles is that life gives us many opportunities to fail and get up and retry.  The best part is that the biggest and most challenging hurdles merely require us to overcome our personal inhibitions. The superlative part of the hurdles we have to overcome is that we do not have to prove our ability to anyone but merely find our inner strength and  passion and align it with our goals to overcome them. These HURDLES in real life can then be experienced as Having overcome Unexpected Resistors Demanding Leaps to Ensure Success.

Action Points:

List out the one hurdle that is impeding your success in the following areas of your life

• Your personal life
• Your professional or student life
• Your social life
• Your self development
• Your thought process

Power Act - from http://www.actspot.com/ is focused on -

Powering your Spirit to ACT Now.

You are also invited to visit our inspirational and motivational blog

http://www.actspot.wordpress.com

PUSH

For starters, I PUSHed myself into a corner when I got stuck in the rut called 'Writers Block'. Actually it was tardiness masquerading as Writers Block. You must be wondering what all this is about.

PUSH is Pray Until Something Happens. You would notice that there is a considerable time lag since my previous post and this post and when I grew desperate, I used the PUSH formula. It worked miraculously when a small voice at the back of my head kept telling me louder and louder, Stop Praying and start TYPING!

The secret of PUSH is in your BELIEF – Belief in GOD and Belief in YOUSELF. The miracles in your life happen because you prepare for them. Prayer is the ignition key to your LIFE, but your are the vehicle that needs to go somewhere; so keep yourself mentally, physically and spiritually ready. As the saying goes ‘ Chance favours the prepared wo/man’

PUSH works! It will give you Inspiration but YOU have to get up and do the Perspiration if the PUSH has to take you anywhere.

Action Points

• Ask youself the following questions and pen down your answers in detail
• Am I clear in my mind what I want ?
• Am I prepared to sacrifice something inorder to attain my goals?
• Do I have confidence in myself to achieve what I set out to do?
• How will I best use the PUSH formula?

          Power Act - from www.actspot.com is focused on -

                   Powering your Spirit to ACT Now.