Almost everyone wants to improve their life, job, or current situation, but very few are willing to do the work necessary to facilitate such a change. Often one good idea is the difference between having what you want instead of just continuing to pine and wish for better. However, most people have an aversion to new ideas because the change they can bring is perceived as a threat to their comfort level.
The fear and discomfort created by new ideas is illustrated in part by the fact that most people don’t finish more than a couple of books a year and that the average American watches more than 4 hours of television a day. You need to accept today that your current comfort level will never result in more than you have right now. In order for your life to change you must grow, and in order to grow you must be willing to both embrace new ideas and sacrifice your current comfort level.
Once you can accept that new ideas are the key to discovering a new you, one great way to be exposed to new people, speakers, and ideas is at a motivational or inspirational conference. At such conferences, I have not only been introduced to new ways of thinking and being, but I have met people who are living examples of the benefits of acting upon them. I have met people who are actively creating the change that will transform the nature of our world for the better.
Some of the benefits of motivational and inspirational events are 1) they give you the opportunity to spend some time with people pursuing personal development, 2) the exposure to new ideas, 3) a break from the routine of your life, 4) the opportunity to reflect upon your life’s vision and your priorities, 5) the time and support to plan the next steps in your journey, 6) the opportunity to hear about the challenges that other’s had to overcame in the pursuit of their dreams, and 7) the opportunity to connect with a few select like-minded people with whom you can stay in contact with after the event is over.
There are many more benefits, but the one’s listed above are enough to make it worthwhile for you to commit to attend at least one event a year for the rest of your life. Conferences give you a great opportunity to meet people who can support you in your pursuits by becoming a part of your team and provide ongoing accountability and ideas as you continue to learn and grow.
I have committed to and do attend at least two conferences a year, and I can tell you that the experiences, people, and the ideas I have been exposed to, have proven invaluable to me and that I am a drastically improved person for having had the experiences.
If you really want to change your life, the questions you have to ask yourself are: What am I willing to do that I have never done before? How much is too much to invest in my future? How much will it cost me if I don’t fulfill my dreams? How much does being where I am cost you? How will I feel if I am in the same place 10 years from now?
October 25th, 2007
As we live our lives, we have all had moments where we think we have it all figured out, only to have life throw us a curveball. These moments where things end up differently than we would like are the defining moments of our lives, because these are the moments where we decide the nature of our existence.
We can choose to learn from the experience, blame another for our circumstance, complain about how stuck we are, or use the moment as further proof of how broken or dysfunctional we are. However, the one thing that we all know to be true (if we are honest with ourselves) is that you never get a positive by dwelling in a negative reaction.
So instead of wasting another moment of your life in a pattern of blame, fault, or low self-esteem, start looking at challenges as your opportunity to learn to become more than you already are. If the knowledge and/or beliefs you currently have is not enough to overcome or avoid the recurrence of undesirable situations, then become a new you by learning some new ideas.
Examples:
If you find yourself continuing to have financial difficulties, then maybe you need to start increasing your education in financial matters by reading a book, listening to a podcast, or watching a dvd.
If you are already good at managing your finances, but you need to make more money, then maybe you need to increase your skills related to your job.
If you find that you are great at doing your job, but have poor communication skills, then maybe you should take up public speaking.
Recognize that as you move through life, every lasting and meaningful change you desire requires you to learn and be more than you were before. If who you are were enough to become who you would be, you would already be there. That is not to say that you need to drastically change your beliefs or skills, but it does mean that until you are where you would be, something probably needs to change.
Also, do not take this as a license to be unhappy where you are. You can enjoy where you are, and also have a goal of where you would be. When you go to an amusement park, you can enjoy the bumper cars first and then move on to the rollercoaster without having been unhappy at any point during the trip. You do not have to choose liking one over the other, because you began your trip with the intention to enjoy both, and then you acted accordingly.
Life works the same way. Where you are can always be beautiful if you recognize the beauty within yourself. However, your current moment will never be so beautiful that you cannot also carry within your heart a vision of even greater beauty. It is this vision of greater beauty that many call one’s purpose. In order to pursue one’s purpose, a fundamental truth in life is that all lasting change and success is the outcome of a never ending process of growth, so enjoy who you are and where you are during every step of your journey, but remain mindful that you must also continue to change and grow.
That being said, the challenge that I put before you today (and for the rest of your life, if you so choose) is to dedicate at least 15 minutes a day, each day to read or listen to something or someone that educates, motivates, and inspires you. If you find that you are really enjoying this on a given day, you can spend more time (just watch less tv), but right now I want your firm commitment to 15 minutes more than an uncommitted wish to do more each day.
As you alone define the path that you would follow, you must choose the nature of the material you will learn; but I suggest that you pick material prepared by people who has earned your trust and for whom you have respect. You should also pick people who challenge and encourage you to stretch your current beliefs, so that you can become the best you possible.
As always, if you choose to participate, please comment and let me know what you have done.
Wake up! Life is waiting for you.
Mario 
October 8th, 2007