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5 Essential Tips for a Phenomenal 2010
5 Essential Tips for a Phenomenal 2010
To You: Prayers and Blessings for a Happy New Year!
“Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything in perfect harmony.” Colossians 3:14
Happy New Year ~2010 via NASA
Dear Reader: Welcome and Happy New Year! We made it didn’t we? The last decade was one long bumpy ride with peaks and valleys tossed in for good measure. We had barely gotten comfortable with writing the year 2000 when 9/11 took the wind out of our sail. We mourned, regrouped and responded with a focus that brought innovation and a renewed zeal to build successful businesses in finance, real estate, entertainment and a host of other fields. We watched enormous wealth go to a small but growing group of people. We fought two wars, recovered from a recession and started the underpinnings that would lead to another recession.
The internet exploded globally as Google showed up and dominated the online experience. For several years, we had a phenomenal real estate market and business was booming until the market crashed and the rest is recovery history… We shall overcome.
Unemployment figures are still high; health, security and green/sustainability are important growth areas for job-seekers. Social media and affiliate marketing remain part of the new growth industry and every brilliant creative is on the treadmill churning out new ways to connect/ reconnect; via Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Myspace, Plaxo, ActiveRain and more. On a sad note, Michael, Farrah, Brittany, Bernie, Andrew and other loved ones passed away…
So much happened around the world during the last decade; especially in the final months of the year, however, we made it. Praise God! So, let’s reflect for a bit and imagine what might have been if we had pursued a particular path over another ~ or not … and then MOVE on. Reflect, release and get ready to push past fear, embrace your best self and dazzle in this decade.
Whatever our memories, it is time to pull ourselves together and consider a game-plan for the new decade. Where do you wish to be in 5 years? What are you planning to accomplish? Who will you bring along on your journey? By now, you’ve read tons about what to do to make this year great; you’ve probably created a to-do list of your own. Right? The tips below will serve as important support systems/anchors in our lives as we embrace the New Year and follow our hearts to accomplish our dreams. Don’t get stuck on stupid.
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The lamp of the body is the eye…” Matthew 6:21-22
Family: Wishes for another Great Year
FAMILY: Our family is often at the core of every successful endeavor we pursue and they see us as we are. They cajole, criticize, and comfort us through our successes and failures. They upbraid us when we start believing our own positive press and pick us up when the talking heads brutally slam our creative efforts.
Our family is essential to the journey we take and we return to them, again and again, for validation and victory. Miss not the chance to engage yours as you step into your light this 2010. Embrace them, love them back and listen to their exhortations to go for your dreams or to hold back from a reckless decision. Our families know us well. Remember that the word family includes more than the traditional definition of family … It includes all types of supportive configurations we lean on for strength and more. Get to it!
“Keep straight the path of your feet, and all your ways will be sure. Do not turn right or left, keep your feet from evil” Proverbs 4:26-27
Friends: Bloom Like Flowers in 2010
FRIENDS: Our friends are a precious gift from the universe; particularly our true and closest friends. If you’ve lived long enough, you have probably had your share of trusted and conniving friends. We will ignore the latter and focus on the former for 2010. Your friends shower you with grace and joy and champion your efforts to traverse any hardships. So thank them and show you care… Be a true friend back. Pay it forward and make some new ones too. New friends are a joy but keep your old friends close too.
For 2010, acknowledge your friends and honor them openly. Sing their praises and hold them close to your heart – for without true friends we are lost in a sea of sycophants waiting, like vultures, to devour us… Alas, even the famous are not immune. There is an African proverb that says; He who has wealth, has friends but he who has true friends has divine and abundant wealth. Protect the wealth of good friendships with good action and let them know by reciprocating through acts of kindness and goodwill.
“Truly I tell you, if you have faith and not doubt … Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive.” Matthew 21:22
“To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible.” St. Thomas Aquinas”
Faith: Let the Tiger Roar in 2010
FAITH: Our faith carries us through the peaks and valleys of life. Often, we focus on the outward events that impact our lives and forget the still quiet magic that keeps us thriving. Whatever our faith, there is much to be celebrated and to be thankful for this 2010. We made it and we can all create richer, more satisfying lives this year. Believe you can and you will.
Welcome the year with faith and confidence that your good actions will bear good fruit. If you have a faithful practice that brings peace and inspiration into your life, shore it up by visualizing the outcomes you expect and then channel your energy into completing the tasks that will make your goals a reality. When you experience obstacles or difficulties, reflect, release your fears to the ether and trust that a solution is at hand … and so it is. Ask. Believe. Receive
“May he remember all your efforts. May he grant you your heart’s desire, and fulfill all your plans.” Psalm 20:3-4
Focus: Full Moon Bird via Ernest Coleman
FOCUS: As we plan our year ahead, it is important to develop clarity about what we wish to accomplish and why. It takes enormous focus to complete any goal successfully and while we might sometimes fall short of our self-imposed expectations, it is imperative that we refrain from abandoning our goals. Refocus when you slip up and get back to the work you need to do as quickly as possible.
Behind every disappointment is an opportunity for renewed effort and phenomenal success. Don’t give up, simply rein in the mental negative backtalk, and fix your eyes on the price. You are closer than you think and focused action is a powerful way to stay on top this year. As the year progresses and you continue to work diligently on your planned goals, ask yourself the following questions about each goal: What is the singular reason for accomplishing this goal? Is it still relevant? Do I need to shift my focus to a higher purpose?
“The Lord is my strength and shield; my heart is trusting and I am helped; therefore my heart rejoices and with my song I give thanks to him.” Psalm 28:7
Fun: Celebrate the New Year brightly via Dgreetings
FUN: Motivation without mirth is pointless. You owe yourself moments of joy, rest, relaxation and fun. We often forget that our creative juices flow freely when we are at ease; in a state of joyful, blissful relaxation. Find a new hobby or way to uplift your spirits. Take a dance class or singing lessons; learn a new language, a new marketing skill or even take yoga lessons. Add something new to your repertoire; it will make for great conversation and get you re-energized.
Don’t miss any opportunities to hang out with friends and enjoy a good meal. Do listen to great music, read an uplifting book or even watch a movie. Remember to factor in some fun time this year as it will guide you to your muse, and lead you to all those fantastic places where rewards await you; just like you dreamed… Have a fabulous year ~ You deserve to succeed!
What do you think? What essential tips are you adding to your treasure box this year? Do share.
PHOTO CREDITS:
Happy New Year 2010 ~ via NASA
Family:Another Great Year ~ via Free Digital Photo
Friends: Bloom Like Flowers in 2010 ~ via blish Ind Google Images
Faith: Let the Tiger Roar in 2010 ~ Chinese New Year via Google Images
Focus: Full Moon Bird ~ via Ernest Coleman, AP Cincinnati Inquirer
Fun: Celebrate the New Year brightly ~ via D Greetings Google Images
Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
For You:Top Motivational and Mirthful Books to Help Welcome the New Decade
“A capacity and taste for reading gives access to whatever has already been discovered by others.” Abraham Lincoln
Bid the Clouds Adieu and Welcome the New ~ #30 via V Pinke
It seems like only yesterday when the new millennium arrived and everyone was excited about the 1990s being replaced by the 2000s. A new decade is around the corner and we are echoing some of the same sentiments from a decade ago; a new beginning, new numbers to consider on a calendar, this coming decade better make up for the dreadful last one, good riddance to bad rubbish; aka the last decade yada, yada, yada. Whatever our sentiments, a lot happened in the last ten years and many of us are ten years older and wiser for all the hoopla.
Of the many memories I will cherish from the last decade, 9/11 will remain the most powerful and painful. Others revolve around work, family, health, travel, and many learning and growth opportunities. I tried out a few new career paths, I ate and traveled plenty and watched my children grow. I welcomed nieces into my extended family, I said goodbye to a few friends and in-laws, I recuperated from a few health scares, celebrated many birthdays and read a lot…
It is the many days and nights I spent reading/re-reading myriad books that I wish to share with you here. No, I couldn’t possibly share every book I read in the last ten year but yes, I will share a list of many books that I read with either exhilaration or trepidation. Why trepidation? Well, Barbara Ehrenreich’s recent book, Bright-Sided: How the Relentless Promotion of Positive Thinking Has Undermined America, got me thinking about the $9.6 billion self-improvement, motivational and positive psychology industry and how often the message and multitude of voices become one big, blurring cacophony of noise agents battling for the souls of the distressed.
“No matter how busy you may think you are, you must find time for reading, or surrender yourself to self-chosen ignorance.” Confucius
Do we need more Dr. Feel-betters’ telling us to “Seize the Moment Now,” “Change Forever!” and “Go for It”? Maybe not. However, if a good motivational book helps us get off the couch and make one simple change in our finances, health, relationships or our life, then the book has served as a powerful catalyst for positive changes. I agree that we must, sooner or later, move our feet and take concrete action after all those wonderful seminars, workshops, and readings. It would be a shame to read the books and then let that brainpower go to waste while we search for the next elixir of youth, the next great marketing, money making, and motivational scheme – all fodder for the delusional. Read and Act are key terms for the next decade.
The list of books is extensive yet not comprehensive and you may add to it or ignore the authors you find unappealing. I have created five groups of readings: Motivational; Contemporary and Classic, Inspirational; New and Classic, and a Mirthful category. Some authors on the list have detractors who have been quick to point out the errors in their message. Others on the list are perennial favorites, yet another group has either straddled the love/hate divide or quietly gained a following because of the power of their message.
I have included a list of books that made me laugh out loud. Humor is always a good thing as I think motivation without mirth is pointless. I plan to add some personal info on certain authors and books later but for now, let’s kick back and read our way through 2010.
What do you think? Do you have a book or story to share? Have you met any of the authors? Can you tell a particularly pointed story about one of the books? … Please share and I will do same in a future post.
Meanwhile, I wish you all bliss, peace and good hunting in your reading adventures. Enjoy the reading lists below:
“Live as if your were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” Gandhi
Dawn: A Decade or an Illusion? Via V. Pinke
Motivational Contemporary:
The Diamond Cutter: The Buddha on Managing Your Business and Your Life (2000) by Geshe Michael Roach
Rich Dad, Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money–That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not! (2000) by Robert T. Kiyosaki
Business @ the Speed of Thought (2000) by Bill H. Gates
The Essays of Warren Buffett (2001) by Warren E. Buffett
Purple Cow: Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable (2003) by Seth Godin
Your Best Life Now: 7 Steps to Living at Your Full Potential (2004) by Joel Osteen
The One Thing You Need to Know: … About Great Managing, Great Leading, and Sustained Individual Success (2005) by Marcus Buckingham
9 Steps to Financial Freedom, The Courage to Be Rich & The Laws of Money, The Lessons of Life (1997, 2001 & 2005) by Suze Orman
Smart and Simple Financial Strategies for Busy People (2006) by Jane Bryant Quinn
Eat That Frog: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time (2007) by Brian Tracy
Better Than Good: Creating a Life You Can’t Wait to Live by (2007) by Zig Ziglar
50 Prosperity Classics (2008) by Tom Butler-Bowdon
Never Give Up: How I Turned My Biggest Challenges into Success (2008) by Donald J. Trump and Meredith McIver
Crush It!: Why NOW Is the Time to Cash In on Your Passion (2009) Gary Varnerchuk
Career Renegade: How to Make a Great Living Doing What You Love (2009) by Jonathan Fields
Get Off Your “But”: How to End Self-Sabotage and Stand Up for Yourself (2009) by Sean Stephenson
Motivational Classics:
The Richest Man in Babylon (1926) by George S. Clason
How to Win Friends & Influence People (1936) by Dale Carnegie
Think and Grow Rich (1937) by Napoleon Hill
Man’s Search for Meaning (1946) by Viktor Frankl
The Power of Positive Thinking (1952) by Norman Vincent Peale
The Magic of Thinking BIG (1959)by David J. Schwartz
The Greatest Salesman in the World 1968) by Og Mandino
The One Minute Manager (1982) by Kenneth H. Blanchard and Spencer Johnson
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (1989) by Stephen R. Covey
Awaken the Giant Within: How to Take Immediate Control of Your Mental, Emotional, Physical and Financial Destiny! (1992) by Anthony Robbins
Developing the Leader Within You (1993) by John C. Maxwell
Notes from a Friend: A Quick and Simple Guide to Taking Control of Your Life (1995) by Anthony Robbins
Who Moved My Cheese? (1999) by Spencer Johnson
“Reading without reflecting is like eating without digesting.” Edmund Burke
Alten Ost ~ The Earth Awakens and Welcomes Sun or Moon? via V. Pinke
Inspirational New:
Half the Sky (2009) by Nicholas Kristoff and Sheryl WuDunn
Have a Little Faith: A True Story (2009) by Mitch Albom
Bright-Sided: How the Relentless Promotion of Positive Thinking Has Undermined America (2009) by Barbara Ehrenreich
Changing My Mind: Occasional Essays (2009) by Zadie Smith
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope (2009) by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer
The Fifth Agreement: A Practical Guide to Self-Mastery. (2009) by Don Miguel Ruiz, Don Jose Ruiz with Janet Mills
It’s Your Time: Activate Your Faith, Achieve Your Dreams and Increase in God’s Favor. (2009) by Joel Osteen
Showing Up for Life (2009) by Bill Gates, Sr and Mary Ann Mackin
Say You’re One of Them (2009) by Uwem Akpan
The Thing Around Your Neck (2009) by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Inspirational Classics:
Things Fall Apart (1958) by Chinua Achebe
Jagua Nana (1961) by Cyprian Ekwensi
Second Class Citizen (1975) by Buchi Emecheta
A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr. (1990) by James Melvin Washington
Woman at Point Zero (1994) by Nawal El Saadawi
Push/Precious (1996) by Sapphire
The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom, A Toltec Wisdom Book (1997) by Miguel Ruiz
Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life’s Greatest Lesson (1997) by Mitch Albom
The Invitation, The Dance, The Call (1999, 2001 & 2003 books) by Oriah Mountain Dreamer
The Power of Now (1999) by Eckhart Tolle
The Power of Focus (2000) by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, and Les Hewitt
The Power of Patience (2003) by M.J. Ryan
GraceLand: A Novel (2004) by Christopher Abani
A Hand to Guide Me (2005) by Denzel Washington with Daniel Paisner
The Success Principles (2006) by Jack Canfield and Janet Switzer
The Book of Not: A Sequel to Nervous Condition (2006) by Tsitsi Dangarembga
The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) by Chris Gardner
The Secret (2006) by Rhonda Byrne
Outliers: The Story of Success (2008) by Malcolm Gladwell
Lessons on Life: How to Live a Successful Life (2008) by Jim Rohn
“Through literacy you can begin to see the universe. Through music you can reach anybody. Between the two there is you, unstoppable.” Grace Slick
Mirthful ~ as in Funny:
The Tao of Pooh (1983) by Benjamin Hoff
Sex and Sunsets (1987) by Tim Sandlin
Being Happy! (1990) By Andrew Matthews
When I Was Puerto Rican (1993) by Esmeralda Santiago
The Best of Bombeck: At Wit’s End, Just Wait Until You Have Children of Your Own, I Lost Everything in the Post-Natal Depression (1994) by Erma Bombeck
Bridget Jones’s Diary (1996) by Helen Fielding
Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything across Italy, India and Indonesia (2006) by Elizabeth Gilbert
The Get A Life Campaign (2007) by Tyeese Gaines Reid
The Levity Effect: Why it Pays to Lighten Up (2008)by Adrian Gostick and Scott Christopher
The Believers (2009) by Zoë Heller
Larry’s Kidney: Being the True Story of How I Found Myself in China with My Black Sheep Cousin and His Mail-Order Bride, Skirting the Law to Get Him a Transplant—and Save His Life (2009) by Daniel Asa Rose
Angry Conversations with God: A Snarky but Authentic Spiritual Memoir (2009) by Susan E. Isaacs
Official Book Club Selection: A Memoir According to Kathy Griffin (2009) by Kathy Griffin
PHOTO CREDITS:
All Photos via Veronika Pinke
Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
Be Patient: You’re Closer Than You Think…
Be Patient: You’re Closer Than You Think…
“Every beauty and greatness in this world is created by a single thought or emotion… Everything we see today, made by past generations, was, before its appearance, a thought in the mind of a man or an impulse in the heart of a woman.” – Kahlil Gibran
“One Door Closes … Another Opens.” Revelations 3:8
Opportunity: When one door closes, another door opens...
This has been an incredibly challenging year for many people. Whether due to a job or business loss, the death of loved ones or divorce, mental or physical health issues, foreclosure, financial or family difficulties, the end of a friendship or relationship or an array of other distressing events, many of us have had a major upheaval or two; our patience tested.
If we stop for a moment and reflect on the year, I suspect we have all been through or been affected by more than we wish to disclose. It has been difficult, however, through it all we have put one foot in front of the other propelled by a certain inner resolve to push past the heartache and headache; to trust in a greater power or our own inner strength or simply to just not lie down and cave in to the pressure. If you have made it thus far, rejoice in the blessings and share your wisdom with others; every ray of hope we can give another helps us too.
“In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” Martin Luther King, Jr
The Mountainside: Mt Fuji in a moment of magic...
In Joel Osteen’s new book, “It’s Your Time: Activate Your Faith, Achieve Your Dreams and Increase in God’s Favor,” he shares a story about a hiking trip he took awhile ago. A sign up the mountainside suggested it would take 3 hours, Joel was concerned he might not make it all the way up, but another hiker came along and advised him to keep going because as he put it “You’re closer than you think…” Feeling inspired by the encouragement of a fellow hiker, he ambled up the mountainside in 10 minutes.
Yes, he didn’t realize how close he was to his goal. I enjoyed that story because it serves as an important reminder to keep the faith and press on. Indeed, our next opportunity, our next open door is around the corner. Wherever you are in your struggle, know that you are not alone and trust that something better is coming your way.
Frank Rich’s NY Times article on Tiger Woods aptly bids “farewell to a dreadful year and decade…” True. However, while I am glad to see the years 2000-2009 go, I don’t think the new millennium started badly. As the years went by, plagued by one global catastrophe after another, we unwittingly found our collective way up that dreaded path. Through 9/11, the wars, famines, floods, Tsunamis, food and water shortages, Madoff madness and Wall Street debacle, we had some bright moments; Capt Sully, President Obama, the growth of social media and other new technologies, advances in medicine and a growing social consciousness about the need for a sustainable planet where our carbon footprint mattered. This decade hasn’t been a total write-off. The next decade will surely have to make up for the losses with brilliance and abundance… We are all closer to our good fortune, our global re-direct, and it will be better.
“The roads are different; the goal is one. When people reach the goal, all quarrels or disputes that flared along the road are resolved … There all hearts sing in unison.” Rumi
The Early Morning Glow by Haneck...
Recently, I saw the new George Clooney movie “Up in the Air” about a traveling executive whose job entails flying all over the USA helping companies terminate staff; a job I always though was solely handled by HR departments. Clooney’s character is not snarky but the daily grind of sharing bad news leaves him commitment phobic and emotionally distant… The film was equally touching and depressing because it reminded me not only of the strife many are facing today, but also of the loneliness out there for folk who struggle alone in the morass of massive cuts.
Interestingly enough, Kevin Renick who wrote the song “Up in the Air” for the movie, introduces the song at the end of the movie during the credits, sharing that he too is unemployed, and that he hopes they use his song… that made me shed a tear; just the brutal honesty of it … even if it was just used as a tearjerking device; a deliberate conclusion to a sad story.
“Alone, all alone … Nobody, but nobody can make it out here alone.” Maya Angelou
“Giving is better than receiving because giving starts the receiving process.” Jim Rohn
Flight: Time to Go Home by Michael B
As serendipity would have it, Walter Kirn, author of the novel “Up in the Air” wrote a piece – Digital Mistletoe – in today’s New York Times magazine in which he tells a poignant, beautiful tale of his period of loneliness, after his divorce, and how he met his current girlfriend through Facebook; he was saved from the “viral bummer theory” which often is the lot of those who spread their misery through the internet in a desperate attempt to connect with someone, anyone willing to wallow for a moment… We don’t have to make that viral bit part of our story. We can, like Kirn, have a better outcome and not get caught up in the web of our negative thoughts and beliefs.
While I believe that we attract what we believe and become, I also think our circumstances are shaped by far more complex conditions than our belief system. Armed with our DNA, our cultural conditioning and opportunities, we follow a blueprint mapped by our actions and consequences. The one thing we can do is maintain a positive attitude; an attitude of gratitude in all things. Sure, you might question the veracity of my suggestion that positive thoughts can affect outcomes … but imagine the alternative.
Would you rather embrace the darkness and settle for a pity party of regrets? What good would that serve? As Ryan Bingham, the key character in the movie – Up in the Air – says to the audience at his motivational presentation, why carry around a backpack filled with your burdens; your garbage? Let it go..
“To attract attractive people, you must be attractive. To attract powerful people, you must be powerful. To attract committed people, you must be committed. Instead of going to work on them, you go to work on yourself. If you become, you can attract.” Jim Rohn
Faith: Pigeon Point Lighthouse by Mumbley Joe
The hardships have touched me and my friends as well. Dee Dee is a close friend. She works for one of the major airline carriers and while she loves her job and the excitement of regular travel, she has observed how the cuts and furloughs put more pressure on people in her field of work. Esme, another close friend, is a realtor, a writer, and a mom who experienced a devastating loss this year – the death of a beloved child. Luz is in insurance. She is a single mom holding down multiple jobs to make it work and observes the increasing apathy in customers, who saddled by their own business struggles, have little energy to give to hers. Each of my dear friends, in her own way, represents a segment, albeit a growing facet of society, facing the seemingly unending demands of a shifting, sobering world. We have all, directly or indirectly, been impacted by the inevitable challenges of the last several years. I am confident though that things will get better; just like in Murphy’s law, I believe that everything that goes down must eventually pick up…
Yes, we are close to the end of an old year, the beginning of a new year, and the possibility of a breakthrough attracting good things we always wished for or imagined. Don’t give in or give up, you are closer than you think to an infinitely better year. Perhaps, if we can remember that success and failure, pain and pleasure, good and evil are all part of the human condition we might learn to treat ourselves and each other with greater compassion. Be of good cheer…. Exercise patience … the fog will lift and the sun will shine again bringing abundance and blessings to all. We are closer than we think. You are closer than you think.
What do You think? How have you weathered the global storm?
Wishing everyone a Happy Holiday Season; Merry Christmas and much success for the coming year!
PHOTO CREDITS:
Opportunity: Open Door ~ via Google Images
Mt Fuji ~ via Pixdaus
Glow by Haneck ~ via Flickr
Time to Go Home by Michael B ~ via Flickr
Pigeon Point Lighthouse by Mumbley Joe ~ via Flickr
Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
