Expectations we have of ourselves are greatly influenced by the opinions we formulate about ourselves in childhood. We may think of ourselves as capable in some ways and not in others. When we achieve our positive expectations, we think of ourselves as successful.
Success, or “more success,” is interpreted differently by different people. Success may be found in a major accomplishment or in a small act. Success to one person could be a new job. To another it could be saving money and buying a new house. Success could also be improved health or improved appearance, improved family life, or friendships. It could be winning a race, flying a kite, gathering a bouquet of flowers, preparing a gourmet meal, singing a song,
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Posted in: Featured, Self Improvement
Have you ever watched the movie ‘The Wizard of Oz’? I mean really watched it to try and get behind the message conveyed?
When I was a young boy I watched the movie every Christmas and to me at the time it was just a great story about a group of friends going on a fabulous journey together. Each of the friends desired a solution to their own unique problem. Together, they set out on an adventure of a lifetime. The answer to their dreams, or so they thought, would be provided by the great Wizard of Oz.
On their journey they met with many obstacles only to find at the end of their journey, the wizard of Oz was a sham. The person they thought held all the answers was not who they thought he was. However, the key point here is it made little difference to the outcome.They each achieved their dream because of the journey they made together!
The message is clear. No one else can fulfill your dreams for you. Your dreams are achieved through personal growth. The journey you take is the real key to self improvement! And strangely enough, the best way for you to achieve your dreams is by helping others achieve their dreams. This is exactly what Dorothy and her friends did on the road to Oz.
Although our dreams are important and give us hope it is only through personal growth we find true happiness and inner peace. Think about this for a moment. We might be happy to achieve our dreams but how about what we have become on the way? Do we not grow through experience? Are we not better, more confident and happier people by the progress we make? You see, the obstacles we meet and overcome are necessary to our progress and vital to keeping our dreams alive. In turn, the whole process is essential to holding onto your dreams once they have been met. Think of the Lottery. The majority of Lottery winners can’t hold onto their money after they have won it. Why is this? Because, they were not ready to receive it. They haven’t become the person that large amounts of money demands. Even worse, self motivation is very difficult when you’re handed everything you want on a plate!
Going back to the story of the Wizard of Oz you will no doubt remember what each of the characters was after. If you think about it you will realize that a balance of courage, heart or emotional character and knowledge are the things we need to be successful. These are the roots of success and the things that ultimately create the fruits of success. The more we work on them the more successful we will be. To exercise these important attributes we need dreams and the passion to pursue them. You really can’t get anywhere without taking the journey.
Doing something is the real expression of faith. Learning from the actions we take is how we build our knowledge. Walking into something without knowing the outcome is how we build our courage. We train the mind by giving each task our complete focus. The development of empathy rounds off our emotional character.
Personal growth is a product of pursuing our dreams. This is the real reason why dreams are so important!
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Growing up during your teenage years its important to form relationships and make new friends. These friendships can turn into long lasting relationships. Making new friends is important in your younger years and it’s not difficult if you follow these simple rules.
1. Be Yourself!
This is first on the list for a reason, it’s the most important. It is crucial to accept yourself, for who you are! Don’t try to be someone you’re not! We encourage individuality rather than conformity. Be your own person! Discover what you like and dislike and
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Intimacy versus isolation is the next developmental crisis. It is related to unresolved issues around trust or nontrust which begin to surface again between ages eighteen and thirty. “Dare I trust someone enough to be truly intimate, or shall I withdraw and insulate myself instead?” “Am I important enough so that someone will come if I need them?” “Will they accept me as I am with all my unresolved needs?” “If I love other people, will they eventually
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Throughout life our bodies change. In youth, the changes lead to increased strength and development. With aging, the changes often lead to decreased strength. Granted, to some degree, the health and development of our bodies are influenced by genetics. But they are also influenced by accidents, illnesses, and nutrition. Currently there is a widespread and growing cultural awareness of the influence of exercise. Exercise is used to increase bodily well-being and to restructure parts of the body.
There is less awareness that personality structure and restructuring may involve a similar cycle. Some personality traits seem to be genetically determined. Yet it is also clear that personality can be changed through traumatic experiences or training or the daily conditioning that people experience in their homes, schools, workplaces and
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