Getting back up.

Sometimes it seems as if the great dealer in the sky keeps dealing us a dud hand. At times it can be very tempting to just give up and stay down. After all, what's the point? You've failed 100 times right?

Often just getting through the day can be a real test of your character. Life can throw a lot of whammies right in your face, no matter who you are, or where you come from. It can lead to a lot of self doubt.

It takes a lot to keep on getting back up, especially in these hard economic times.

For a whole bucket load of inspiration, watch this video. Then you know that you can do it.



See, it's not how many times you fail that matters - it's how you finish - be like Nick and go for a strong finish!

How to stop believing that the only way rich people got rich is because they got lucky.

Some people are plagued by a belief that rich people only get that way because they are, or got, lucky. Another version is that most rich people inherited their wealth. Or there is this one too: "The only way I'll ever get rich is to win the lottery". This is a good and well used one too: "The boss got rich and owns the company I work for by taking advantage of and ripping off the work force".

These thought trains are all basically the same statements. If you entertain thoughts like the ones above you are making one or both of the following statements:

"Making a profit and/or being rich is evil." and/or

"I am too lazy or ineffective to do what is required to obtain riches, so I will deflect that problem away from myself by trivialising the efforts of others who are not."

Well, actually there is a third. Ever heard these or their many mutations:

"God didn't endow me with what I needed to get there."

"I must have been standing in the wrong queue when the brains were handed out."

All the above self limiting beliefs can be changed. A belief is only a thought repeated with some emotion thrown in for good measure.

But, first of all, let's kill these beliefs with some facts. "Luck" does not exist. By using the word "luck" you are really saying you are in ignorance of all the facts involved in the so-called "luck" event. People win lotteries because (a) they bought a ticket, and, (b) no matter the almost impossible odds, someone must win.

Rich people inherited their wealth. I give you the point that, indeed, people do inherit wealth. But not everybody. And because they inherited it, instead of going through the oftentimes painful method of learning how to earn it, the money is often soon lost. OK, to be fair, one to you, most definitely some people do get rich by inheritance. But, only a very small percentage, and only an even smaller percentage ever hang on to it.

The boss. Let's get this one straight right from now. The boss got and or is getting rich because he took a calculated risk and started/bought a business. He/she has got guts. Try starting to admire these people. Take the time, while you learn to live within your means, to find out how they did it. That's taking positive action so that one day you'll be there too!

You see it is very easy to criticise the efforts of others when you personally lack the wherewithal to do what they are having a good crack at.

Here are some outlook changing statements for you to consider:

Luck does not exist, but effort does.
Rich people employ people.
Rich people create opportunities for others to also get rich.
Rich people, most never publicly acknowledging the fact, endow large sums to very worthy causes.
Rich people, by the act of getting rich, have created methodologies that anyone with the desire can also follow to get rich. Check out your local bookshop.

To finish:

Making a profit and/or being rich is not evil - it is an opportunity to do great things.
Don't be lazy - get up off your backside, switch the TV off, get some information and start making a difference.

If you have the sad idea that you aren't divinely endowed or are a bad queue picker; go to your local library or bookshop, get some auto or biographies of the so called "lucky" people and you will, when you read of their personal trials, very quickly change your opinion.

It is an amazing fact that most rich, and I mean extremely rich people, had very poor, or sometimes no education at all.

What?

You don't have a good education?

Man, how lucky can you get!

How to stop believing that money is the root of all evil.

If you want to look this one up in your Bible, you can find it at 1 Timothy 6:10. Many say it is a very bad misquotation. My Bible certainly doesn't say those exact words. I think that you will find that translations will vary from Bible to Bible.

Anyway, let's nip this one in the bud straight away. If you have been taught in school, Bible class or by your neighborhood preacher that "money is the root of all evil", may I venture to say to you that the person who impressed that upon your mind did an "evil" deed.

And consider for a moment - do you know who made that original statement that is found in the Bible anyway? Sure it's in the Bible, but, as true historical fact, that means very little. I don't want to get into an argument with you about the truthfulness or not of biblical passages, but, it was written a very, very, very, long time ago. It is well known, and even accepted by most mainstream churches, that Biblical passages have been changed and altered many, many times by different translators, scribes, etc. down through time.

OK, enough of those dangerous waters - let's take a different view on this.

What is needed and used to build hospitals? - MONEY!
What is needed and used to build schools? - MONEY!
What is needed and used to fund charities? - MONEY!
What is given to you as exchange for your labour? - MONEY!
What puts food on your table? - MONEY!
What is used as the medium of exchange in our economies to enable us to live fulfilling lives? - MONEY!
What will pay for your retirement one day? - MONEY!

Now, I don't know about you, but, I reckon that hospitals, schools, charities, wages, buying things in shops and one day being able to retire are all good things - not evil at all.

What the basic problem here is a "mis-thinking". What you may have erroneously thought is that money does evil things. Money, all by itself can't do anything. It's just like claiming that "powerful cars kill", or "some roads are dangerous".

When you make statements like the above you have left out the causative factor - PEOPLE.

You see, SOME PEOPLE use money for "evil" or wrong purposes. Or SOME PEOPLE may indulge in wrong acts to obtain money, such as stealing. SOME PEOPLE, who are inadequately trained and are childish in their behaviour, drive powerful cars in a very dangerous manner. There is not a single dangerous road in the entire world. SOME PEOPLE drive on roads in a dangerous manner - they neglect to drive according to conditions.

This physical world we live in is all about people - and how they think.

You can, by good or bad thinking, use the tools in your life for good or bad purposes. Money is just another life tool.

Decide to use your money for good purposes. Look at all the good things around you that money has facilitated the construction of:
The schools
The hospitals
The roads
The very roof over your head!

So the only thing that can make money "evil" in any way, use, shape or form is..........PEOPLE.

All of the wonderful things that surround us and can make yours and others lives extraordinary has all come about by the correct and good use of money.

Make no mistake - the good ALWAYS outweighs the bad.

Only by being wealthy are we truly able to aid the poor.

Always keep uppermost in your mind all the good things that money can, and does do, and........money WILL find you!

How to change from "glass half empty" to "glass half full"

This time we will tackle how to deal with the first feel bad item in the Feel Bad Zone.

When you look at something (opportunity, job to do, etc.) do you consistently see the good in it; or do you see only the bad?

If you are already a glass half full person - congratulations - you are an optimist - well done.

If you believe you are a glass half empty person, then you are considered to be a pessimist by nature. Sorry to hear that!

If you are constantly pessimistic you KNOW that nothing seems to turn out right. Nothing seems to come up to scratch for you.

You are never satisfied. There always seems to be a problem with everything. There is always something wrong with the meal you are served with at ANY restaurant you visit. There's always too much to do - how can you possibly fit it all in? Problems seem to surround you.

I call this sort of behaviour "Perception Deception". It has a lot to do with your attitude. It is simply your interpretation of reality as a working function of your attitude. You see, what you may be seeing as a problem, someone else will see it as an opportunity - you lose!

Your negative (pessimistic) outlook to life may be affecting you in so many ways - financial, health, employment opportunities, family and romance to name just a few.

I'll give you a great example. Did Sir Richard Branson originally think that the idea of getting into the already crowded market of retail music was just too hard, had too much competition, and would probably fail anyway, so why bother? Or did he adopt a glass half full attitude and believed he saw an opportunity to out compete his competition? I guess you know the answer to that one!

THE GOOD NEWS.

The glass half empty attitude to life is just like all attitudes - it is learned, and, as such, it can be unlearned. This attitude, through constant repetition, has also become a bad habit. Bad habits can be broken and be replaced with good habits.

How did you learn it? Most likely by adopting very negative self-talk (negative thinking) at some stage. Also have a good look at your friends, relatives and co-workers that you see on a regular basis - how do they talk and act? Circumstances you say? Sorry, that just won't wash. You are responsible for you. Your attitude to your circumstances is well and truly under your very direct control. The colored glasses that you see yourself and your life through are tinted entirely by YOU!

THE CURE.

Start by constantly monitoring your thoughts. Put simply; are they nice thoughts, or are they horrible, discouraging thoughts? The trick is to start deliberately noticing all the great things that surround you. This is called pivoting your thoughts.

Try making a physical pen and paper list. Writing things down can carry a lot more weight subconsciously. What pleases you? What brings you joy? Why? Where do you like to visit? What wonderful holidays have you had? Write them down. All the GOOD stuff.

Make a list of all the wonderful inventions that have made your life so much easier. Believe it or not, each one of those inventions started as a positive, constructive thought in someones mind.

Positive affirmations are a brilliant way to start. Used daily they help to re-program your thoughts into more positive and constructive channels. Just Google "positive affirmations" and go for it.

The world, yes, your world as well, is crammed full of positive, wonderful things. Good things happen all the time. People get rich everyday. Switch off the television news - they make a living reporting mostly BAD and depressing news. It's nice to be informed - but not overwhelmed.

All journeys start with the first step. I've given you some ideas to start. The rest is now up to you.

Travel well!