Blog - Page 20 of 50 - The Goalden Lady

Dealing With Stress Through Making Progress

Everyone goes through the stress of challenging times. It can take a toll on your mental and physical health. Stress and anxiety can cloud your outlook towards the sound solution you’re looking for.

People will tell you not to worry and to stay hopeful. This may be a good start, but don’t lean on it too much. There’s one thing they won’t encourage you to do.

The Victim Vortex

The unthinkable happens and you instantly begin to stress and go into, “I don’t know what to do,” mode. Without thinking, you begin to panic and everything seems to go downhill.

As you spiral out of control emotionally, you wish there was something that could save you from going deeper and deeper. The only thing that can save you is sleep, or some sort of vice.

This is the path to having a victim mentality. When you think like a victim, you feel like there’s no way out and all you can do is hope that someone will step in and save the day. At some point, you even feel like you deserve to be saved, yet, no one is paying attention.

Having a stress moment happens to everyone at one time or another. Some of us know how to handle it and move on – some of us allow it to carry us into an almost inescapable vortex, where we believe that everyone else owes us.

There’s Still Work To Be Done

As you look to family and friends for support, you’ll get everyone’s sympathy. No one wants to kick you while you’re down and that’s very considerate of them. At the same time, a plan needs to be created for your comeback.

Most people stay in the victim vortex, because it’s safe, even though they aren’t making progress. That type of negative energy is nearly impossible to escape.

On the other hand, it’s nice when everyone is on your side and so understanding. Everyone realizes that it wasn’t your fault and it’s horrible that this even happened to you.

What they don’t tell you is there’s still work to be done. Sitting and waiting for something to change in your favor is not going to cut it. You must get up and be productive. Climb your way out and create a plan, so you’re not caught off guard when it happens again. Something needs to push the train and that something is your effort.

At the time, you may not know what to do, but do something. You don’t know if you’ll run into someone with good information or if you’ll stumble across something on the internet. Attempt new things or go volunteer. You’ll never know where you’ll find your solution if you continue to sit still.

Overall, there’s things you can do, directly or indirectly, to help move the needle. Depending on others to do it for you will only dig you into a deeper hole. Find some courage, make some moves and save yourself!

Less Stress Makes More Progress

If you’re fortunate, you may have that one person who is forward-thinking and wants to push you to be more active towards your situation. That’s the person you need on your team, because they know you can do better and won’t offer pity. It’s difficult to find people who will give you that raw support you really need. Sympathy is nice, but it won’t provide the answer.

Instead of relying on someone else to improve your situation, work on improving it yourself. Having such a positive mindset during a challenging time is hard, but you can get through it.

Give yourself time to feel bad. Get your feelings out and then, get them under control. It may take a day or it may take a week, but give yourself a time frame where you’ll stop the pity party and start being productive.

Time doesn’t wait. One day you’ll look up and it’ll be next year – don’t be in the same place, still feeling sorry for yourself. Your emotions may draw you back every now and then, but have the confidence to pull yourself back into being active.

Most people don’t want to hear about progress when they’re stressed, but you don’t have to be those people. Success favors the bold and if you want to have a fulfilling life, do the things that will get you there. It’s your choice – do you want to stay comfortable, or grow into your greatness?

#BeGoalden

How To Change A Bad Past Into A Bright Future

Judging your future by your past impedes your progress and stifles your potential. If you have control over the possibilities, why not stretch and see how far you can go?

What is holding you back at this moment? Is there something you want to do, but that invisible voice keeps giving you excuses and telling you it’s not possible?

We’ve all experienced the doubts and fear that creeps into our minds, convincing us that it won’t work. All it takes is a few seconds of listening and we decide to play it safe, without even putting forth an effort.

Effort and failure is what carries you to success. Giving up because it didn’t work the last time you tried, is not the way to go – get out of your past and take action towards a better future.

The Past Is Your Teacher

Learning from the past can be a good blueprint for life. There are unfortunate things that happened, which you don’t care to experience anymore. This is helpful when making quick decisions.

Things like not putting your hand on a hot stove, or wearing a seat belt while riding in a car – those things can prevent significant harm or save your life altogether. Because of this, you depend on your past to help you in the future.

All of the various situations you experience in the past can contribute to how you live your life, currently. Some good, some bad, but it’s up to you to determine how it allows you to move forward.

The present is always happening. Your mind is constantly having thoughts and reacting to stimuli. Your past has a tremendous influence on each moment, as it occurs. How does this affect you in your everyday life?

The Past Doesn’t Decide Your Future

Sometimes, you can let your past dictate your present and future. Unconsciously, you can hold your present hostage by reacting with what you know, as opposed to doing something different to change the outcome.

If you had a bad business deal in the past, it doesn’t mean that every business deal will be bad. If you failed a science test, it doesn’t mean that you’ll fail every science test in the future.

Just because something went wrong the first time around doesn’t mean it will go wrong forever, whenever it happens. When it’s in your control to change the outcome, think of how you can adjust the details to make it work.

Turn the hot stove off, instead of touching it. Get past references before doing a business deal. Attempt to study in a different place before the science test. It is your responsibility to build your future by correcting the mistakes of the past.

How Analysis Paralysis Occurs

Analysis paralysis is a real obstacle. It’s when you overthink or consume so much information, you end up not doing anything at all. It’s better to proceed and make a mistake, because you learn what not to do and can make another attempt. Sitting still and not doing anything because of your fear of what might happen, is not effective.

Researching information is necessary for making decisions, but if you give yourself too many options, you’ll end up doing nothing. You’re so full of different choices, you become unable to make a move. The confusion alone becomes the new issue that needs to be conquered.

Realize that consulting with your past has it’s benefits. If anything, it should assist you in moving forward more strategically, putting you in a place to win. The rear view mirror is used to make better decisions, not to see how terribly wrong things might turn out.

It’s also important to note that you shouldn’t live in your past. Get whatever information and logic you need in order to make intentional moves, but don’t get stuck there. Some people will stay in the past a little too long and begin to overthink the outcome and hinder their growth. This is a common path to analysis paralysis.

Intentional Decisions

When thinking through a situation, you normally go back to your own understanding and experience, but your experience isn’t the only way to creating a definite solution.

If you grew up with parents who were drunk all of your life, you can make one of two decisions. Your experience will either teach you to be a drunk parent, or it will teach you that you don’t want to be a drunk parent. You may have experienced it, but it doesn’t mean you have to follow through in that particular way.

Make intentional decisions. Use your past experiences to make calculated moves in the future. It doesn’t make sense to make the same mistakes repeatedly, especially if you know better.

You can change your outlook on life by making forward-thinking choices. Allow your past to guide you, but don’t let it drive you down the same road that leads to nowhere. Let it give you the boost you need to make more intelligent and constructive choices. Everyone has a past – don’t let yours define you.

#BeGoalden

How Being Optimistic Can Expand Your Perspective

Being optimistic is a trait we all can possess. It doesn’t favor the successful or the wealthy. Those that are self-made already had an optimistic view before they became who they are.

Most people think being optimistic is like that goofy friend who is happy about everything, even when nothing is working. That may be true on the surface, but being optimistic entails more than being happy and seeing the bright side of things.

The Optimistic Mind

Even if you don’t have that goofy friend, being optimistic is a useful characteristic to have. When you face complications, you can find a glimmer of light in the darkness and work towards it.

Being optimistic is a mind shift. You can do it, but it’s going to take some effort on your part. When things aren’t going well, the first thing most people do is let it ruin their day. They think there’s nothing else they can do, so they quit. You don’t have to be that easy and give in.

Be optimistic with your thoughts and find an effective way to follow through. Getting frustrated when things don’t go your way, is counterproductive. It doesn’t help to throw it all away – you’re capable of figuring things out. Find the light and take some time to think it through.

Take control and exercise your confidence. Why let everything go if you can do something about it? Life happens, but you can let it happen, or make it happen. No matter how bad things get, you always have a choice in how you respond. Use optimism to your advantage – it’s like having a cheerleader in your corner, telling you that it can work, just don’t give up!

Using Optimism In The Right Way

Optimism allows you to be resilient. If you weren’t optimistic, more than likely, you would stay stuck. Whatever it was that was battling you, has won.

It isn’t only about being goofy-happy, it’s about finding a solution and facing challenges. It gives you the possibility of creating a way out of the shadow. In some cases, the answer is so simple, yet, we tend to overthink, causing us to stop before we even start.

Use it as a strategy. When you’re optimistic, your mind works towards an answer. You begin to see that there is more than one option. Before you know it, you’re making your way through that temporary challenge. After you’ve achieved it, you realize your potential to do more.

Be Optimistic

Your brain has the ability to see past the crowded negative thoughts that race through your mind everyday. Instead of letting obstacles stop you in your path, be forward-thinking and move around them.

It’s good to have an optimistic person on your team. They remind you that there’s a way to open that door. It relieves you of self-defeat and allows for more productivity. The solution is easier to meet if you look at it through optimistic eyes.

You don’t have to have a goofy-happy friend – you can be optimistic yourself. When you find yourself looking away from the issue, look at it with a positive vision. Clear your mind and think it out, one optimistic step at a time.

#BeGoalden

Adversity: How To Get Back Up, When You Fall Down

Things seem to be going along just fine, and then, out of nowhere – you encounter some type of adversity. Life happens and screws up your plans. You’re left wondering what went wrong, among other confusing questions.

As you can see, life doesn’t go according to your plan. There’s no doubt that it stings, but at the same time, you don’t have to sit there and take it. This is simply a new starting point, perhaps even a rebirth, of your life.

Life Happens

When things occur unexpectedly, your first reaction is emotional. Thoughts of guilt and self-pity flood your mind, as you become more and more discouraged.

It doesn’t help that your friends and family are supporting those negative feelings. They pat you on the back and tell you everything will be fine. Some will provide an escape for you – “I knew your boss didn’t like you – that car saw you coming and they still hit you…” They think it’s helping, but actually, it relieves you of the responsibility of having a more positive outlook.

Yes – responsibility. “But it wasn’t my fault…” you say. This may be true, but the responsibility of fixing it and moving on, is yours. No one else can do this for you, so you have to hold yourself accountable, even if you did nothing wrong. You can wait for someone to save you (which some people do), but then, you’d be neglecting the skills you’re about to build to become a better person.

Get away from the chatter and allow yourself some time to think things through. You know how messed up it is – you don’t need others to confirm that for you. After your emotions settle, the next step is to figure out what you’re going to do to gain some ground.

Being overly emotional never helps, even though it’s the first thing most people do. All the whimpering and whining only drags you deeper into a downward spiral of darkness. It doesn’t make the situation any better, but it makes you feel comfortable.

We think of how horrible it was and who to blame because it didn’t work out. It’s easy to point the finger at someone else. How often do we think of it as an opportunity? Not only can you start over the way you want to, but you will strengthen your skills and stretch your abilities as you go.

Facing Adversity

How do you pull through, when it seems everything is working against you? One thing you don’t want to do is work against yourself. When your emotions take over, that’s when you start to play ‘victim’.

That’s not what we’re going to do. History shows that humans are creative and resilient during times of challenge. There are plenty of examples of people who hit rock bottom, only to rise and touch the sky.

It’s been proven – if you’re human, you can do this.

First, go ahead and let your emotions out. Cry, curse, scream – do whatever it is you need to do. It’s not good to hold all of that unworthy, negative energy inside your body. It only leads to more anxiety and stress, which you certainly don’t need right now.

Here’s where it gets tricky – don’t stay in your emotions. Have your emotions, but don’t live there. This is where people get stuck, because they don’t want to face any more adversity than they have to. They stay in those ‘victim’ thoughts, only to never rebound.

Second, make a list of things you need to do in order to move forward and out of your slump. The day can easily get away from you when you don’t have it written down. Checking things off of your list gives you a sense of accomplishment and a new positive perspective on what you are capable of doing.

Third, start moving. Studies show that movement and exercise improves your mood and brain activity. It also helps tremendously with your stress levels. Once you start moving, your brain will turn on and begin generating new ideas. You’ll start to actively think, instead of being stuck in your feelings.

Fourth, take care of your responsibilities. Don’t let everything fall apart, just because of a hiccup in your life. You’re still in control and your obligations don’t stop, so continue to handle them.

The World Still Turns

You can either lay down and take it, or you can stand up and take it. It won’t be the last time you experience adversity, so it’s best to know what to do now, so you can be stronger and handle it better the next time. Be flexible, so you can make your way out of any position, good or bad.

Get used to change. The foundation of your life is still the same, it’s just that the way you’re used to going about it has shifted. There are still things that need to get done and goals that need to be reached. This is the time to build yourself into exactly who you want to be, according to your own personal blueprint.

We all fall. Everyone else thinks they know how to solve your challenges, but you have to trust yourself. Remember that this is your fight and you’re going to win. Listening to suggestions may help, but the final decision is yours.

Adversity forces you to recognize the challenge and adjust to a new way of thinking. You will either forge a new path and become successful, or you’ll sit in the same place (still wondering why), for years to come.

You’re not a tree. Get up and grow to the next level of your life.

#BeGoalden

Being Considerate Is A Standard, Not A Choice

If there’s ever a time to be unselfish, it’s right now. The #coronavirus has told the entire world to take several seats.

The act of being considerate used to be a high standard. People would actually think of someone else before they spoke or act. Today, not so much.

Even before the virus happened, most people had already lost their sense of manners and common respect. There used to be an unwritten rule that everyone would follow when interacting with each other. Now, it seems like it’s every man/woman for himself/herself.

It Costs Nothing To Be Considerate

It’s not hard to be polite. Actually, it should take less effort to be considerate, as opposed to being selfish. You should get a good feeling on the inside from being a nice person. Being nice doesn’t just benefit you, it benefits those around you, as well. Who wants to be around a person with a nasty attitude?

Everyone won’t appreciate your kindness. Some people are just mean for no reason at all. Nothing in the world matters to them, until it affects them on a personal level. Then, they expect sympathy from everyone, when they’ve never shown an ounce of simple courtesy to anyone else.

Life isn’t like that. The Golden Rule has stood the test of time for a reason – treat others the way you want to be treated. When you put out good energy, you receive good energy, in some form or another. Overall, it puts everyone in a good place and allows for a positive perspective.

Even when people aren’t nice to you, keep your peace and continue to be kind. Sometimes, that’s all someone needs, is to be shown some kindness, because they aren’t used to it. We all grew up in different environments, so it can be difficult for some people to accept when someone is being considerate.

Although it may make you upset when someone isn’t nice, it’s a reflection on them, not you. You don’t control them. All you can focus on is your self and how you respond.

Consider This…

Speaking of being considerate, let’s talk about the world’s current situation dealing with the coronavirus pandemic. You may think you don’t make a difference, but every person on every economic level matters in this situation.

Maybe you or someone you know is affected by it. Overall, how does it make you feel? Wouldn’t it be considerate if everyone would settle down and take the necessary precautions to get rid of the virus?

There are people who are ignoring the medical advice being given. Even with most of the stores and restaurants being closed, they still find a way to be defiant by going out, without thinking of the preventive measures that should be taken.

These people are inconsiderate. “You gotta live your life – everyone’s going to die sometime – I’m not staying in the house, I can go wherever I want…” To them, it seems cool, until it happens to someone close to them. Now, they’re begging others to stay inside and stop their activities to decrease the spread of the virus (remember the Golden Rule?).

This is happening to all of us and it’s going to take all of us to stop it. No one ever thought we would be experiencing a pandemic in this day and age. There are people walking around who don’t even know they have it and they’re spreading it, unknowingly. Don’t be a show-off. It’s not to punish you, but to help everyone. Keep yourself safe, so that you’re keeping others safe, too.

We’re in this together, so let’s be considerate of each other. If someone needs help, be kind, but with caution. As of now, it’s the only way we’re going to get through this.

It’s not weak to be considerate and kind. Let’s take one for the team, be responsible with our decisions and take heed to the safety measures that will help us all.

#BeGoalden

What’s The Excuse That’s Been Holding You Back?

Everyday, it’s a different excuse. You’re having a bad hair day, the dog got away or the storm knocked out the internet. Therefore, you won’t take action.

These may be valid reasons as to why you won’t do anything, but in reality, they’re not reasons, they’re excuses.

We can think of many reasons not to do anything productive. Deeper than that, we’ll allow it to make sense, so we won’t feel guilty about not following through. How can we do better?

Time Is Not An Excuse

One of the biggest excuses is not having enough time. We tell ourselves that millionaires are millionaires, because they have all the time in the world. “If I had that kind of time, I’d be rich, too,” we say.

Millionaires may be rich, but with the exception of those who were born rich, what were they doing with their time, prior to being rich? Were they sitting around, talking about why rich people are rich?

This is the part that no one talks about – the late nights and early mornings, making ends meet, putting in time with the kids, keeping up with awkward schedules, etc. For the most part, they were working towards their goals and they never gave up. You’ve heard stories of people who work on their side business for 4 hours, after they came home from working 2 jobs. There’s discipline in that type of work ethic and it pays off.

Remember when you never had the time? Well, it’s up to you to bend it to your benefit and leverage it as much as possible. It’s all the same 24 hours, so if you want it to work out, you have to make it work for you.

Our minds tend to keep us on a schedule of daily habits. If you want to have a chance at reaching your goal, enhance your routine. Stretch, adjust or eliminate the details in your daily pattern. Disrupt your autopilot habits and become more aware of the goal you’re trying to achieve.

You could shorten your time watching television and replace it with creating a plan. Maybe you could research while you eat dinner. Or, you could listen to a podcast while taking a shower.

There are many ways you can make more time – it just takes a little altering to make it work towards your advantage.

It’s Not In Your Control

Everything that happens in life is not controlled by you. If you can accept that simple fact, you’ll save yourself a lot of stress.

Some of us get upset when life happens – we become emotional and start having negative thoughts. Like a child, we have a tantrum and we let it stop us from doing what we planned to do.

Yes, this presents a challenge, but at the same time, you have the ability to think your way through it. There may be a change of plans that have to take place, but it can be done.

Some of the things we tell ourselves is, “It is what it is…” or “I’m not about to do that, just so I can do this…” We make up these ridiculous excuses to justify our laziness. Now, you’ve allowed the situation to hijack your progress.

It’s difficult to get up after being knocked down. It becomes comfortable to stay there, because it’s easier than getting knocked down again. Why even try? Get rid of this excuse – it only puts you on a path to nowhere.

Don’t let the things you’re unable to control, have control over you. Have a ‘can-do’ attitude when things happen unexpectedly. These are the small battles that need to be won, so that you can move closer to your results. It’s not the end, there’s just another way to do it.

How Do You Want This To End?

The easy part of this, is that you get to make the decision on the outcome you want to see. The hard part is, you must consistently get up and take action, if you want to get there.

If you were in a physical fight, it’s natural to defend yourself and fight back, because you want to win. You’re doing your best to prevent yourself from being hurt. It’s the same with accomplishing your goals. When an obstacle hits you, don’t just lay down and take it – get up and take another swing.

Use your mind in the right way. That involves thinking positive thoughts and creating a growth environment for yourself. Instead of lingering on the problem (challenge) at hand, linger on finding a solution. How you respond to a challenge determines if you’ll be successful or not.

Don’t make a convenient excuse – overcome them. Whether you create them or life creates them, don’t let them get in your way. You are more than capable of changing your direction in order to make it happen and win.

#BeGoalden

Control And Preparation: The Conversation No One Wants To Have

It hurts. The world, as we know it, has come to a screeching halt. In times like these, what exactly do you do?

In the middle of the storm, all you can do is your best and prepare for the next time. You know what you’re up against, so start creating that blueprint for times like these, now. Don’t become so submerged in this stage, that you’re unable to think ahead (because it will happen again).

Between losing jobs, being isolated with the little ones and washing your hands, it can be overwhelming. It’s hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Positively speaking, there is a light at the end of the tunnel, but you must prepare for it. Now is the time to work towards the next 8 to 12 years, when this happens again. Put yourself in a position to be better off than you are at this moment.

Mindset

One of the first things you need to realize is that you have control over your own mind. You can easily get swept away emotionally by turning on the television or scrolling through social media. Listening to them, the world ended a week ago.

This is where the rubber hits the road. All of those motivational posts, blogs and podcasts you’ve been reading and listening to should come in handy here.

You may not control what happens, but you can surely control how you respond.

We can sit here and talk about how things aren’t fair and why did this happen and how wrong it was, but that does nothing. You are not a victim, so stop claiming it with your thoughts. It just puts you in a competition of who can win at being the most negative and depressed.

Instead, train your mind to find solutions. Don’t talk about the obstacle, talk about the answer. Even if it doesn’t work, you can always figure out another way. It’s definitely better than sitting on the sidelines, blaming and complaining.

When you make the attempt to do better by seeking solutions, you are going in the right direction. By turning on your light, you’ll start seeing opportunities that are disguised as obstacles. All you have to do is keep moving forward and aiming for the right results.

It may not be your fault, but it’s your responsibility. You can either continue to wait for help, or pick yourself up and move on. You can decide to wallow in tragedy, or put one foot in front of the other and make your way out.

Remember: it’s not a problem – it’s a challenge.

“I feel like everything is working against me – I feel like everyone else has a better life than me – I feel like I don’t know….” At some point, you must put your feelings aside. Don’t let hard times make you second guess your ability and confidence. They’re both still there, they’re just being put to the test.

Feel your feelings, but don’t feel them for too long. Give yourself time to work through your emotions and then pick up and go. The mistake that some people make is living in that unfortunate moment. It may even catch you off guard after you’ve moved on, but don’t stay there. Get it over with (feel it) and then, get over it (what’s next?).

Money

The #coronavirus is hitting the economy from all ends – from big companies, all the way down to the small businesses. Schools have been shut down and leisure time has been significantly limited. It seems like we’re possibly entering into a new normal.

It may sound shallow, but money can solve a lot of challenges. At this time, there are people whose jobs are slowing down into nothing. Some people have already been fired or laid off. Either way, there’s no income to pay for the cost of living.

This is the worst, because the world runs on money. We depend on money to make a living for ourselves. When it disappears without a warning, what do you do? If you aren’t prepared, all you can do is your best at this time.

Once everything starts looking up and you’re able to gain ground, start saving for times like these. This is what you’ve been putting your money aside for – this is what a rainy day looks like.

Living paycheck to paycheck won’t do. Even if the government decides to step in, they won’t move fast enough or provide enough. Somehow, you must save, invest or develop multiple streams of income in order to save yourself in times like these.

When your back is against the wall, you do what you have to do. It’s not a good position to be in, because you don’t have options. Money gives you options and peace of mind, while you’re figuring out your next step. It’s one less thing you’ll have to worry about while transitioning from rock bottom.

Build your fort in times of peace, not war. Trying to put together all of your necessities in the middle of the crisis is too late. During peace, prepare for the unexpected – money isn’t the ultimate savior, but it can take care of a lot of things. It may not save you from getting crushed, but it’ll certainly soften the blow.

Health

Your health is undoubtedly important. Without it, you couldn’t live up to your potential or participate in the world the way you want to.

Why not give yourself the best chance to avoid illness, no matter how big or small it is? Being healthy is one of those things that proves itself within the moment.

When something alarming happens outside, are you prepared to run for your life? When your child wants to play tag, can you keep up? Physical activity promotes a strong body, inside and out. All it takes is a little time and consistent effort.

What about eating the right foods? Do you feel tired after you eat? Does your body have a heavy feeling? The types of food you eat can have an affect on your health, as well.

Staying on the positive side of health is a lifelong practice. You may not feel or see the results instantly, but when that unexpected time comes and you have to perform, you’ll notice. Put yourself in a position to be physically stable at all times, regardless of what happens.

Your body is a magnificent machine. Give yourself a better chance at winning the health battle. Even when you’re not thinking about it, your body is steadily working to fight against illness, disease and other things.

People have overcome the odds when it comes to health scares. You may not have control over what you inherited health-wise, but you can manage as much as you can with a good, daily diet and exercise habits.

Stay Ready

This, too, shall pass. It is a stressful time, but don’t make it worse by crying and worrying – you’ve done enough of that already. It’s not working in your favor, anyway. You still possess the power to get up and be proactive.

Everyone has encountered that bump in the road. Some have stayed there and others have gotten over it. Would you rather become stagnant and live in the dark while the world moves on, or would you rather rise to your potential and create a better situation to take on the worst case scenario?

This information may not be of use to you right now, but it will definitely be useful if you put it into action, in anticipation of the next, ‘world-changing’ event. No one is coming to save you. Start now – the next time something like this happens, you’ll be ready and more prepared to stick it out.

#BeGoalden

You Win Everyday And You Don’t Even Know It

It’s the ultimate goal – everyone wants to win. Sometimes, we neglect the small wins, but those are the ones that move us towards the big wins.

When you don’t notice the little wins, you end up looking to others for confirmation of your worthiness and you lose your way. You become the victim and you want others to tell you that you’re great or acceptable.

You’ve been winning, but you’ve been listening to other people for so long, you don’t see it. Everyone’s wins aren’t the same. Everyday, we slay different dragons to the best of our ability – those are the small wins that we overlook.

Win In Your Mind

The very first rule of winning is don’t give power to what others think or say. This is the easiest way to throw you off of your path and waste valuable time.

The only thing that matters is what you think and how you move. Keep your mind focused on what you’re doing and not on what Sue says about your makeup – that’s not important. Your goals are way more significant than her simple opinion about how you looked today.

Be concerned with how you’re going to make today better than yesterday. People’s judgments are based on their insecurities. They want to shame you, to hide what they think of themselves, so it’s never really about you. Don’t let that doubt bring down your energy.

Fight that negative chatter in your head – it probably came from someone who said something senseless about you and you allowed it to linger. For every negative thought you have, replace it with a positive one.

Someone else’s careless opinions are never more important than what you already know. Have the courage to trust yourself.

A Win Is A Win

Big or small, a win is a win. Recognize the small wins, just like you recognize the big wins. Whether you find a dollar walking down the street, or you hit the lottery for $1,000, a win is a win.

We tend to give the big wins more attention than the small ones. The small wins are what carry us to the big wins. The details are what creates the big picture. If you’re unable to succeed on a small level, it won’t propel you to succeed on a bigger level.

Did the vending machine give you extra chips? That’s a win! Were you able to navigate a four way stop safely? That’s a win! Did a stranger smile at you today? That’s a win!

Why are those little things considered a win? These are wins, because if the vending machine took your money, you would be angry. If you were in an accident at that four way stop, it would ruin your day. A stranger being impolite to you would bother you mentally and destroy your focus.

Find the benefit in those small gains. They occur all the time – you just have to recognize them. It makes your day a little more positive and easier to handle.

What Makes A Winner?

Coming out on the other side of that challenge is what makes you a winner. You could have easily ignored it, or allowed it to become an opportunity for someone else. Instead, you chose to face it and work through it.

When other people are involved, it’s not important if you win first place or third place – you got farther than those who didn’t try at all. Even if it’s fifth place, be proud of the fact that you accomplished what you set out to do. Many people quit before they even start. A winner makes adjustments, while continuing to move forward.

Find your confidence and be your best. There’s always going to be someone with more advantages than you. If you are better than you were before, that’s all that counts. That’s a win!

Stop letting yourself be defined by what others say about you – that’s for losers. Don’t fall into the trap of living up to someone else’s standards of you. You win when you please yourself.

When you win on the inside, you can win on the outside. Start from within and have the courage to make those small wins count. If it helps, write it down and keep your own score card on how well you do throughout the day. When you achieve the little things, it gives you the drive to excel to bigger things.

Bet on yourself, move forward and be the winner that you already are!

#BeGoalden

How Discipline Outweighs Instant Gratification

Discipline is a word that successful people are comfortable with, but for others, it’s a Debbie Downer. Having self-discipline allows you to stay ten steps ahead of those future obstacles and challenges.

It takes discipline to achieve any goal, whether you’re a toddler learning to walk, or an adult getting in shape. It may sound repetitive and boring, but that’s where your achievement lives and if you want it bad enough, you’ll use discipline to get you there.

Instant Gratification

The opposite of being disciplined is indulging in instant gratification. Instant gratification is nothing more than doing what feels good in the moment.

Eating cake feels good in the moment, but if you have too many of those moments, you’ll gain weight, among other things. Once you start noticing the outcome, it’s not so gratifying anymore.

We all want to feel good in every moment, but a lot of times, it doesn’t turn out good in the end. Too much of anything isn’t good for you, so you have to be mindful and consider what’s more beneficial in the long run – eating cake all day and feeling crummy, or replacing it with an apple and feeling vibrant?

Yes, it sounds like a buzz kill, but when you experience the results that you thought were impossible, it feels awesome! Discipline turns some people off because they can’t see an immediate change, but all you need is a strong focus and determination to reach your desired outcome.

The person who decides to save a dollar a day, will benefit more financially down the road, than the one who decides to spend a dollar day. Not only will they be in a better financial position in the future, they will also have developed a mindset of discipline.

Discipline Is A Major Advantage

When your friends want to go out and have a good time every Friday and Saturday night, that’s instant gratification. When you make the choice to stay home and work on your side business, that’s discipline.

Who doesn’t want to have a good time on the weekends? You deserve it, right? Who wants to stay in the house, working on their future all the time?

Spending most of your paycheck as soon as you get it is not the move. It feels good over the weekend, but when Monday comes, you’re back to where you started. Having discipline will take care of that ‘back to rock bottom’ feeling.

Discipline is not sexy. It’s not the fun or hip thing to do. As boring as it seems, it’s the best tool you can use to prepare for the best results of any goal in mind.

Drinking water everyday, or putting money aside for unexpected emergencies can be hard at first, but the more you do it, the easier it becomes. Drinking water for two weeks will show the glow in your skin and the energy in your step. Having money saved for those little emergencies won’t blow your bank account back to zero. Being disciplined is a major advantage.

Discipline Gives The Best Rewards

If you’re not used to making small sacrifices in order to meet your achievements, take it one step at a time. The most important thing to do is start.

You don’t have to save $500 every week – start with $10. You don’t have to start doing cardio an hour a day – start with 10 minutes and build. That’s how you develop discipline and eventually, dominate life.

Discipline gives you the best rewards. No one can be their best without practicing some form of self-control. We all want to live our lives on a beach, not worrying about money or going to a job we hate every morning. In order to do what you want to do, you must do what you have to do. It’s going to take time and a strong, consistent effort, but that’s discipline.

When you master self-discipline, you grant yourself more options and opportunities. Take hold of your future by building your discipline, today.

#BeGoalden

Turn Your Panic Into A Plan

Some things can be an inconvenience, like an unexpected bill or a flat tire. You might complain, get over it and you move on. Every once in a while, we come across a global inconvenience that puts the world on the edge of panic. We know what’s going on, but it feels weird because we don’t know exactly how to react or respond.

With the coronavirus, or COVID-19, its not that easy – we can’t be angry, complain, make a payment and go on with our lives. What started out as a distraction in another land, has turned into a disruption in our own homes.

When Panic Sets In

When we’re not familiar with an obstacle, our first reaction is to panic. There’s no plan, we’ve never seen it happen before and we have no idea where things are going.

We simply panic because we don’t know what to do. When everyone around you is just as afraid as you are, it causes confusion and anxiety. People begin to make up false information and conspiracies. Like the coronavirus, panic is contagious and spreads easily.

You see it when you go grocery shopping and everyone is filling their carts with tons of items and when you turn on the news and it’s plastered all over the television. It’s hard to ignore, so most of us join in, because if everyone else is panicking, something must really be wrong and we don’t want to be the oddball.

That’s how panic works. We see other people stockpiling groceries, so we do it too because we don’t want to be left without. The news keeps spewing statistics that may be close to true, so we allow it to put a halt on our daily lives.

When panic sets in, it causes us to not think for ourselves. We go with the crowd and panic along with them. Yes, the situation needs to be handled, but inviting panic into the equation doesn’t help you or the people around you.

Have A Panic Plan

How can you plan for the impossible? Is there a way to manage your life when life-altering events occur?

When things happen that you aren’t used to, remain calm and think. There’s no need for you to join the panic club and spazz out with everyone else.

Things may be different now – you may have to work from home, practice social distancing or quarantine yourself. These are actions that we’re not used to doing on a regular basis. It can be a scary time, but you still have control over how you respond in these types of situations.

Keep some sort of routine. Things are being done differently now, but that doesn’t mean to stop living your life. You still have goals to reach and obstacles to overcome. New challenges may present themselves during this time, but you want to practice being productive, as opposed to sitting in fear.

Even if you should become ill, you don’t want to just sit there, panic and be sick. You want to do what’s necessary to become healthy again. Taking charge and being worry-free is the first step.

Even though things are changing, stay consistent with your underlying goals. Don’t start making excuses, just because the virus is here. Keep practicing your public speaking, keep up with your diet, keep working on your business, etc. Whatever habits you had before, keep doing them and improving.

One of the most important keys to success is how well you can adapt to change.

Stay In Control

Although things are changing around us, we still have power over our productivity. There may be a global pandemic going on around us, but before you panic along with everyone else, think it through and see what you’re able to do.

Watch just enough news to get information and do your own research – when you have the knowledge, you can plan and respond, accordingly. Don’t watch it all day and allow it to feed your fear of what’s going on. That’s when it becomes worthless and you become paralyzed with panic.

Use your energy to focus on becoming well or doing something worthwhile. Keep or create your routine. Maintaining a sense of normalcy will save time and stress.

When you don’t know what to do, it’s best to do what you know. Don’t sit and panic – keep up your habits and continue moving forward, doing the best you can do.

#BeGoalden