The Millionaire Mind Support Network™

Chunk-Down that Goal and Get Out of Overwhelm

by Jack Canfield

Sometimes our biggest life goals seem so overwhelming.

We rarely see them as a series of small, achievable tasks, but in reality, breaking down a large goal into smaller tasks—and accomplishing them one at a time—is exactly how any big goal gets achieved.

After you have decided what you really want, with specific deadlines, the next step is to determine all of the individual action steps you will need to take to accomplish your goal.

How to Chunk It Down

There are several ways to figure out the action steps you will need to take to accomplish any goal. One is to consult with people who have already done what you want to do and ask what steps they took. From their experience, they can give you all of the necessary steps as well as advice on what pitfalls to avoid.

Another way is to purchase a book or manual that outlines the process.

Yet another way is to start from the end and look backward. You simply close your eyes and imagine that it is now the future and you have already achieved your goal. Then just look back and see what you had to do to get to where you now are. What was the last thing you did? And then the thing before that, and then the thing before that, until you arrive at the first action you had to start with.

Remember that it is okay not to know how to do something.

It’s okay to ask for guidance and advice from those who do know. Sometimes you can get it free, and sometimes you have to pay for it. Get used to asking, “Can you tell me how to go about…?” and “What would I have to do to…?” and “How did you…?”

Keep researching and asking until you can create a realistic action plan that will get you from where you are to where you want to go.

What will you need to do? How much money will you need to save or raise? What new skills will you need to learn? What resources will you need to mobilize? Who will you need to enroll in your vision? Who will you need to ask for assistance? What new disciplines or habits will you need to build into your life?

Another valuable technique for creating an action plan for your goals is called mind mapping.

How to Use Mind Mapping

Mind mapping is a simple but powerful process for creating a detailed to‑do list for achieving your goal. It lets you determine what information you’ll need to gather, who you’ll need to talk to, what small steps you’ll need to take, how much money you’ll need to earn or raise, which deadlines you’ll need to meet, and so on—for each and every goal.

When I began creating my first educational audio program—a breakthrough goal that led to extraordinary gains for me and my business—I used mind mapping to help me “chunk down” that very large goal into all the individual tasks I would need to complete to produce a finished product.

To mind‑map your own goals, follow these steps as illustrated in the example:

1.) Center circle: In the center circle, jot down the name of your stated goal—in this case, Create an Audio Educational Program.

2.) Outside circles: Next, divide the goal into the major categories of tasks you’ll need to accomplish to achieve the greater goal—in this case, Title, Studio, Topics, Audience, and so on.

3.) Spokes: Then, draw spokes radiating outward from each mini-circle and label each one (such as Write Copy, Color Picture for Back Cover, and Arrange Lunch.)

On a separate line connected to the minicircle, write every single step you’ll need to take. Break down each one of the more detailed task spokes with action items to help you create your master to‑do list.

Next, Make a Daily To‑Do List

Once you’ve completed a mind map for your goal, convert all of the to‑do items into daily action items by listing each one on your daily to‑do lists and committing to a completion date for each one. Then schedule them in the appropriate order into your calendar and do whatever it takes to stay on schedule.

Do First Things First

The goal is to stay on schedule and complete the most important item first. In his excellent book, Eat That Frog! 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time, Brian Tracy reveals not just how to conquer procrastination but also how to prioritize and complete all of your action items.

In his unique system, Brian advises goal‑setters to identify the one to five things you must accomplish on any given day, and then pick the one you absolutely must do first. This becomes your biggest and ugliest frog.

He then suggests you accomplish that task first—in essence, eat that frog first—and, by so doing; make the rest of your day much, much easier. It’s a great strategy. But unfortunately, most of us leave the biggest and ugliest frog for last, hoping it will go away or somehow become easier. It never does. However, when you accomplish your toughest task early in the day, it sets the tone for the rest of your day.

By chunking down your goals, and then taking daily action on them, you create momentum and build your confidence, both of which move you farther and faster toward the achievement of your goals.

Now go take some action!

© 2008 Jack Canfield

* * *

If you missed previous issues of Success Strategies,
I keep an archive of past issues you can always refer to.

---

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE?
You can, as long as you include this complete statement with it: Jack Canfield, America’s #1 Success Coach, is founder of the billion-dollar book brand Chicken Soup for the Soul and a leading authority on Peak Performance and Life Success. If you’re ready to jump-start your life, make more money, and have more fun and joy in all that you do, get your FREE success tips from Jack Canfield now at: www.FreeSuccessStrategies.com

by Jack Canfield

Do you live in a state of mental and physical clutter? Do you have a bunch of unfinished business lurking around every corner?

Incomplete projects, unfinished business, and piles of cluttered messes can weigh you down and take away from the energy you have to move forward toward your goals.

When you don’t complete tasks, you can’t be fully prepared to move into the present, let alone your new future. When your brain is keeping track of all the unfinished business you still have at hand, you simply can’t be effective in embracing new tasks that are in line with your vision.

Old incompletes can show up in your life in lots of different ways… like not having clarity, procrastination, emotional energy blocks and even illness. Blocked energy is wasted, and a build up of that energy can really leave you stymied!

Throw out all the clutter and feel how much easier it is to think! Make a list of areas in your life (both personal and professional) where you have incompletes and messes, then develop a plan to deal with them once and for all. Fix and organize the things that annoy you. Take your final steps in bringing closure to outstanding projects. Make that difficult phone call. Delegate time-wasting tasks that you’ve let build up.

When you free yourself from the mental burden of incompletes and messes, you’ll be AMAZED at how quickly the things you do want in life arrive.

Another area where you’ll find incompletes in your life is in your emotions. Are you holding on to old hurts, resentments, and pain? Just like the physical clutter and incompletes, your energy is being drained by holding on to and reliving past pain and anger.

Remember, you’ll attract whatever feelings you’re experiencing. So, if you’re stuck in revengeful thinking and angered in muck, you can’t possibly be directing energy toward a positive future. You need to let go of the past in order to embrace the future. Letting go involves forgiveness and moving on.

By forgiving you aren’t releasing the other person from their transgression as much as you’re freeing yourself from their transgression. You don’t have to condone their behavior, trust them, or even maintain a relationship with them. However, you DO have to free yourself from the anger, from the pain, and from the resentment once and for all!

When learning to forgive, make sure to complete the cycle. Acknowledge your anger, your pain, and your fear. But also own up to any part you’ve played in allowing it to happen or continue. Make sure to express whatever it was that you wanted from that person, and then see the whole event from the other’s point of view. Allow yourself to wonder what that person was going through and what kind of needs he/she was trying to fulfill at the time.

Finally, let go and move on. Every time you go through this process you’re learning how to avoid letting it happen again!

©2007 Jack Canfield

Are you ’stuck’ in this area?
Send me your most pressing question, then join me for our monthly
‘Ask Jack Canfield’ Tele-Clinic on Wednesday, November 7th!
www.AskJackCanfield.com

If you missed previous issues of Success Strategies,
I keep an archive of past issues you can always refer to.

---

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE?
You can, as long as you include this complete statement with it: Jack Canfield, America’s Success Coach, is the founder and co-creator of the billion-dollar book brand Chicken Soup for the Soul and a leading authority on Peak Performance. If you’re ready to jump-start your life, make more money, and have more fun and joy in all that you do, get your FREE success tips from Jack Canfield now at: www.FreeSuccessStrategies.com

…is the one you give to yourself

“It’s true! Nobody is going to bail anybody out when it comes to your day-to-day life. That’s why you have to take action and seize the moment when something this powerful presents itself.

You must invest in yourself, and your future in a way that nobody on earth can ever take away from you. That is how you permanently change your life for the better.

And there’s absolutely nothing more powerful than tapping into the universal laws of attraction to do it!

Now more than ever, this is the most important step you could possibly take to create the rest of your life the way YOU want it–instead of being pushed around like a pawn on a chessboard.”

When I read these words in my morning e-mail, I knew that I wanted to share them with our Millionaire Mind Support Network™ members.

Many of you have already heard of the Mind Movie Creation Kit. (http://www.mindmovies.com) or perhaps seen some mind movies on YouTube.

“What Do You Want?”

What would your hearts desire look like? T. Harv Eker stressed the importance of Creative Visualization in his book, Secrets of the Millionaire Mind and during our Millionaire Mind Intensive weekend. Metaphysical author, Stuart Wilde, says that the most important question an individual can ask is, “What do I want?”

In a Law of Attraction training session, Wilde went down a row of participants and barked the question, “WHAT DO YOU WANT?” Amazingly, considering the topic of the workshop, only a few people could answer the BIG QUESTION — By the way, I wasn’t one of them.

Wilde’s point, “If you don’t know what you want, How Can You Attract What You Want Into Your Life!”

Personally, clearly defining WHAT I want, and integrating that “burning desire” at a feeling level has been along journey for me. After reading The Secrets of the Millionaire Mind and attending the Millionaire Mind Intensive, I had an “AAHAA” moment.

My personal money blueprint stated, in large block letters, IT IS SELFISH TO THINK OF ONE’S SELF AND ONE’S NEEDS OVER THE NEEDS OF OTHERS.”

Note to self:
“Not only is it important to clearly define what I want, I must identify and disable old programs and beliefs that will sabotage the changes I’m initiating in my life.”

A friend sent me a very inspiring YOUTUBE ‘Mind Move’ and a link to the company that was selling the software to help people make their own personally customized Mind Movies. I was intrigued. Obviously, the concept of visualization is not new — it is absolutely essential to realizing our dreams. You must have a clear picture of where you want to go.

After I had finally defined WHAT I wanted, I found that I simply could not visualize long enough, strongly enough, or consistently enough to attract my BIG DREAM.

One of the key messages of “The Secret” is that we can achieve anything is by “seeing” where we want to go in crystal clear detail. It’s the consistent “visualization” that sets off a cosmic “chain reaction” and actualizes our dreams and intentions. I found the concept of making a personalized Mind Movie to help me develop a focused visualization intriguing…an investment to help kick my millionaire mind mojo into high gear.

I took action — I invested in myself!

Mind Movie is a short 3-minute video filled with powerful affirmations, and emotionally inspiring images. I can choose the images that mean the most to me. By watching this video twice a day I can leveraging the extreme power of the Law of Attraction, get out of the way and allow the universe to bring me the people, and resources required to make my dreams a reality.

Millionaire Minds invest in themselves and grow their dreams.

These are the sample Mind Movies my friend sent me. They were developed by a song writer.

“Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, It Can Achieve “

Napoleon Hill, the author of “Think and Grow Rich”

Part 4

Authors produce compelling publishing projects —
Entrepreneurs market, successfully distribute publishing projects — at a profit

If you don’t actively promote and sell your work, you have a hobby, not a business enterprise.

Author Entrepreneurs, like Joe Vitale and Jack Canfield, certainly write about those topics for which they have a passion. They write about what inspires them and what they think will be helpful to their readers. Joe Vitale, Jack Canfield, Wayne Dyer, and T. Harv Eker KNOW their readership, and understand what will motivate that readership to buy their books.

After my first Millionaire Mind Intensive weekend, I realized I had the research and writing skills to produce viable publishing projects. I also realized that I needed more information as to how to successfully market myself, and my publishing projects, if I wanted to develop residual income streams. In Secrets of the Millionaire Mind, T. Harv Eker tells his readers to find someone who is successful in the field you wish to master and model their behavior.

I signed up for Vitale and Canfield newsletters and marketing lists. I studied how they built interest for their latest projects. I also bought Vitale’s marketing books — I wanted to study an acknowledged “Master of Marketing and Self-Promotion”.

It was time well spent. I want to share a few of those ideas here.

The potential market for a book is a key factor in the decision process for all traditional publishers. If you have ever submitted a manuscript or book proposal to a mainstream publishing house, you are keenly aware of how target market considerations affect the probability of publication.

The issue of “who will by this book” is even more important to self-publishers.
Why? Well, for one thing, it’s your money and investment of time at risk.

From the inception of your publishing project, marketing must be a prime consideration. Before you commit to any print production expenses, you must have a firm marketing budget and implementation plan in place. In fact, your marketing program should start before your project has reached press. Publication promotion should start with the launch of the project.

For some self-published, Author Entrepreneurs the reality of working a marketing plan, hits when they hear the reverse beeper of the delivery truck as it is pulls up to the loading dock — the area formally known as their garage.

Author Entrepreneurs, who do not want to see several thousand unsold books every time they walk through garage, learn to instigate multiple guerrilla promotion techniques.

Having identified your target market…

Brainstorm the various ways you can reach them

As self-confessed folder-freak, I like to organize all my ideas by category. I also index the ideas on my computer. I also know that anal-retentive has a hyphen when used as a modifier, but I digress. Sample categories might consist of: magazines or catalogs your target market might read; press kits that include demographics and pricing; professional or membership organizations to reach your customers; on-line discussion groups; or newsletters. Consider how to effectively use social networking and viral marketing media to promote your publishing projects. Fellow Millionaire Mind Intensive alumnus, Chris Sherrod, whom I consider a ‘peer-mentor, is a social marketing Ninja!

Consider co-ventures; look seriously at premium and cross-promotional ideas. An old friend produced a Graphic Design Basics book. He worked a deal with a newly formed trade association to include his book as a membership premium. His book was great incentive to join an, as yet, untried organization; and the positive word of mouth about his book helped push it to best-seller status. It was an all round win/win situation.

Potential clients are also potential partners. Several years ago I self published a technical manual — The Fundamentals of Desktop Publishing. The book had been developed to support training seminars my company taught through out the United States and Canada. A Fortune 500 executive saw the publication and negotiated a license to publish the manual as an internal training tool. Additionally, a training firm based in Sweden paid for publishing rights, in the UK, Norway and Sweden.

The enthusiastic endorsement of these two nationally recognized organizations, made it easier to sell the next manual.

If you feel that developing information products is a viable path to developing streams of residual income, you have to learn all you can about marketing your product and master the art of self promotion. Treat your publishing projects as you would any other business venture.

You are a money magnet, and your publishing projects are your golden eggs.

I just read Millionaire Mind Intensive grad, Chris Sherrod’s blog about about silence equaling no. It really hit home for me and gave me something to not only think about, but act upon.

As always, Chris has something good to share with his Millionaire Mind family. If you are not getting Chris’ RSS feed, sign up.

http://www.abundanceunlimited.com/articles/silence-is-no/

Share your experience with not speaking up in the comments.

To your prosperity,

Chris Sherrod
founder of Abundance Unlimited
CreateYourOwnRealityNow.com
AbundanceUnlimited.com
P.O.Box 90676
San Antonio, TX 78209

Millionaire Minds Are Entrepreneurial

Many of us left the Millionaire Mind Intensive weekend, KNOWING, that we had to find ways to monetize our existing enterprises, or if we didn’t already own a business, start one. T. Harv Eker and the Peak Potentials trainers all stress the importance of reviewing and using, our personal and profession experiences and expertise, looking for opportunities to solve problems and sell the solutions. For many of us, writing and distributing self published e-Books or printed material based on our passion and purpose seemed like a good first step. Many of you have contacted Nick or myself asking for advise about how to publish your work, so I thought I’d summarize the Author Entrepreneur process in a series of Millionaire Mind Support Network™ Blog entries.

Step 1

Determining the market for your book

If you are moved to consider self-publishing, you are most likely dealing with a book of your heart … a book that you believe in. That makes it harder to step back and consider its position in the market place objectively.

Some are some points to consider in that process.

1. Who are the customers for your book?

2. What is the potential market (how many buyers) for your book?

3. Where are they? How will you reach them? (Internet marketing and website Search Engine Optimization, social networking, print media advertisements, direct mail campaigns, trades shows)

4. How will your publishing project meet the needs of your targeted customers?

5. How will it benefit them?

6. How is your book better than your competition’s…how do you maintain your edge?

7. Will emerging or changing technology affecting your publishing enterprise? How?

8. Have you budgeted for both time and money to market your publication project? Social and viral networks are two specific marketing trends that are being used successfully by Author Entrepreneurs. Both are inexpensive options, however the trade off is a significant investment of time and single-minded purpose. Our good friend and “Peer Mentor” Chris Sherrod is one of the best examples of success through focused intent and a complete commitment to the use of both social and viral networks to promote his work. Are you willing and able to commit the time needed to leverage social networks effectively to market your publications?

The next Millionaire Mind Support Network™ Blog will address Step Two of the Author Entrepreneur Process: Develop a clear description of your author entrepreneur enterprise.

“As you give love out, it’s received and reciprocated–and it grows. That’s the beauty of it. Love is energy. You can feed it to people, and they in turn feed it to others, and eventually it comes back.”

—Hill Harper

When I read this quote, I thought about The Millionaire Mind Support Network™. Just about a year and a half ago, we attended our first Millionaire Mind Intensive, built this website and developed the Millionaire Mind Intensive Directory.

The purpose of the Millionaire Mind Support Network™ Directory™ is to provide a venue for Millionaire Mind Intensive Graduates, to keep in touch with one another, to support each other’s businesses, and to give and receive support for our personal and professional growth.
Personally, I can attest that the support and “peer mentorship” I have received from my fellow Millionaire Mind Intensive has been life changing. I’ve learned that graduates of the Peak Potential courses, “show up — take action, and lead by example.”

Each of us left our Millionaire Mind Intensive experience having been exposed to a new paradigm. We experienced fresh insight into out belief systems — our money blueprints. We were able to identify some of the beliefs that have subtly or blatantly sabotaged our previous efforts to raise our personal financial thermostats. We came away with the understanding that multiple steams of passive and residual income are key to our financial freedom, We know that if we did not have a business, we needed to start one, and if we had one, we needed to restructure it to take full advantage of every opportunity to monetize every result producing activity.

The biggest gift of the Millionaire Mind Intensive experience is the many wonderful, supportive friendships we have developed amongst our fellow MMI participants. We have celebrated each other’s successes, stood in support as we faced challenges and have offered, and received unconditional love.

Attending the Millionaire Mind Intensive was a blessing which has brought positive change in our lives. The fall Millionaire Mind Intensive season has just started. Check the events calendar. Plan to attend again, and bring someone you love. It is the best use of time, energy and love you can give yourself and someone you care about.
Millionaire Minds send and receive loving energy.

“If you aren’t making any mistakes, it’s a sure sign you’re playing it too safe.”

John Maxwell
American author, speaker and leadership expert

I first heard the phase, “the paralysis of perfection” during the Millionaire Mind Intensive program. Our MMI trainer, Doug Nelson, was sharing T. Harv Eker’s theory “That every master was once a disaster”, and the only way to reach excellence is just “Frigin’ do it”, look at the results, adjust the approach and repeat, always looking to improve the process until you get the result you want.

Doug went on to explain that our ego-mind often plays the “got-to-be-perfect” card to keep our money blueprint at it’s current ‘set-point’. When we aim for perfection in everything, at some level, we are unconsciously setting ourselves up for certain failure.

In the book that inspired “The Secret”, The Science of Getting Rich, Wally Wattles addresses the paralysis of perfection. Mr. Wattles advises “efficient” action and suggests, “…to do each day all that we can do WITHOUT hurrying.” Rather than trying to be PERFECT at everything we do, seeking EXCELLENCE is a better objective.

Excellence takes into account our “imperfections.”

There’s only ONE way to express perfection in a particular endeavor and, an infinite number of ways — to be less than perfect.

Doug talked about simply “relaxing into the gap” and to focus on taking action now aiming for consistently excellent results, instead of waiting to action with the “hope” of perfect results ‘someday. In his book Secrets of the Millionaire Mind, T. Harv Eker refers to this as the “Fire, Ready Aim” approach. Releasing the need for perfection and just taking action, right here, right now takes releases the expectation of perfection and allows us approach the project with joy, rather than fear of failure. It is wonderfully liberating to stop expecting that everyone else be perfect, too.

A number of the Millionaire Mind Intensive exercises are design to uncover our hidden belief systems about money and success. Until we are clear about WHAT we want, and WHY we want it, moving out of existing comfort zone will be difficult. I discovered I shared a mind set frequently found in the adult children of alcoholics — my own urge to be “perfect” was actually based in a need to CONTROL everything and everyone in my little world.
Wattles points out, we don’t have to direct the ‘Original Substance’ or control the creative process. In fact, we can’t! We just have to reach clarity about WHAT we really WANT and proceed from there.

Doug Nelson always stresses the importance of constant action. Success is not a sprint, or a grueling marathon — it is a daily, joyful, purposeful walk. Approaching each day with appreciation, taking action, doing the best you can at that given moment and recognizing each success, provides the “gap” to relax into,

Striving for excellence doesn’t beat me over the head every time I make a mistake. I’m able to note the result, make a correction and do better the next time.

I have resigned from a not so exclusive club — the perfection police. Rather than concern myself with what is wrong, I seek to note that which is right

“Expect excellence from yourself in a way that motivates and inspires you, but don’t set yourself up to fail at being perfectly perfect every minute.”

— Loretta LaRoche
Faculty of the Tufts Medical School, Author, Humorist

A good laugh or even a gentle chuckle is good for your health and your wealth

“Perfectionist’s Prayer”

Dear God –

Help me not be a perfectionist. (Did I spell that correctly?)

Help me to relax about insignificant details, beginning tomorrow
at 7:41:23 a.m. EST.

Help me to not try to run everything — but, if You need some
help, please feel free to ask me.

Help me to consider people’s feelings, even if most of them are
hypersensitive.

Help me to take responsibility for the consequences of my
actions, even though they’re usually not my fault.

Help me to be more laid back, and help me to do it exactly right.

Help me to take things more seriously — especially laughter,
parties, and dancing.

Give me patience, and I mean right now!

Help me to finish everything I start

Help me to keep my mind on one thing — oh, look, a bird — at a
time.

Help me to do only what I can, and trust for the rest. And could
I get that in writing?

Keep me open to others’ ideas, misguided though they may be.

Help me follow established procedures. Hey, wait — this is wrong
…

Help me slow down andnotrushthroughwhatido.

Thank you. Amen

Author Unknown

“I am careful not to confuse excellence with perfection.
Excellence I can reach for; perfection is God’s business.”

— Michael J. Fox

I received this message from Millionaire Mind Intensive graduate, Nan Akasha this morning. I found it so profound, I wanted to share it with our Millionaire Mind Support Network™.

Many of you know Nan as Chris Sherrod’s beloved life partner. Those who have been lucky enough to hear her radio and pod casts, attend her classes or read any of her works recognize Nan as loving and wise soul and Law of Attraction Master.

Your Inner Voice is Whispering to you…

Are you listening?

Are you sure?

Put down that coffee, stop reading the news and 10 emails at once…take a deep breath, relax!

There is no rush, there is no goal line for life…

Want to feel peace? Stop arguing with reality!
Want to feel good and calm no matter what is happening?

Accept what is.

No, do not think this means you are giving up,
Don’t believe it means you condone what is,
or even like it, that is not the point….
You can have wants that are different than what you have now…

No, you are not letting go of life…
Just the opposite, you are going to enter and embrace it for the first time!

By not arguing, defending and justifying, you open the door to inner peace.

Not because you are giving up being the creator of your life, no not at all, in fact, you are going to get to feel and experience the real you, your true feelings, mmmmm

Let go of the thoughts that are always shouting
“why me” or “I have worked so long and hard,
I deserve this and why don’t I have it yet”…
let it go, it does not serve you, it makes you feel bad
and it keeps your abundance away, it always will,

Accept what is, and then in that peaceful, non resistant state,
you get to make choices for what you want, with clarity,
calm and power.

Stop arguing with reality…and open yourself to receive!!

Love and light,
Nan

“Millionaire Minds can always earn more because we can always LEARN more.”

If you’d like to learn more about releasing limiting beliefs and empower yourself, Coaching on sale now!

Visit Nan’s other websites:
http://www.bethespiritofmoney.com
http://www.freethepowerinyou.com

You can contact Nan Akasha at:
CreateYourOwnRealityNow.com
AbundanceUnlimited.com
P.O.Box 90676
San Antonio, TX 7820

Millionaire Mind Intensive Graduates, If you have a class, program or product you would like to share with the Millionaire Mind Support Network™ send your information to: members@mymillionairemind.org

Listen To You Inner Voice, Live Well and Prosper

Millionaire Minds Acknowledge and Celebrate EVERY Success

Regular readers of this blog know that I’m a huge fan of Jack Canfield’s work.  I think Jack’s books, “The The Success Principles” and “The Power of Focus” should be required reading for every business owner and anyone considering starting a business and a must have on every Millionaire Mind bookshelf.

The following article appeared in this week’s Success Strategies, Jack’s weekly newsletter. It addresses questions Millionaire Minds are sure to acknowledge and act upon…

Pop Quiz: When was the last time you acknowledged and appreciated yourself?

by Jack Canfield

That’s right: YOU. Not your spouse, not your children, or not your boss, co-workers or friends. Just YOU!

Seriously, think about it.

And if it’s been so long since you last pat yourself on the back, then I want you to take the time right now to acknowledge and appreciate yourself for everything you’ve accomplished today, throughout the year, and in life. Ask yourself: How many times have you succeeded in the past month? The past year? The past 10 years? Are you able to recall your successes as easily as your failures and missteps?

This is not a selfish and egotistical act in the least. By taking the time to stop and appreciate who you are and what you’ve achieved–and perhaps learned through a few mistakes, stumbles and losses–you actually can enhance everything about you. Self-acknowledgment and -appreciation are what give you the insights and awareness to move forward toward higher goals and accomplishments.

In working with top leaders and thought philosophers of our time, I will tell you that among their secrets of success is a regular practice of acknowledging and appreciating what they have. It can offer an oracle into the future because it not only tells you where you are but it also helps clarify where you want to go in life. Whatever that might be. The road then becomes easier to navigate–easier to see from the distance and walk confidently step by step.

Don’t forget to think about big and little accomplishments. Many people under-appreciate the minor things they do successfully every day . And yet they can recall in detail all the times they have failed or made mistakes. That’s because the brain remembers events more easily when they are accompanied by strong emotions.

For example, you might vividly recall a graduation, losing 10 pounds, having a child, winning an award, or landing a highly sought after position. But see if you can identify just as many minor, more subtle successes, such as your intimate conversation with your spouse last night, the re-connection you established with an estranged friend last month, the quality time you were able to spend with your children today, how you checked off all your list of To Dos for the weekend, how you learned a new task at work, or got your kid to school on time.

These may seem like minor acts in the grand scheme of life, but they are what make us feel whole, happy, and accomplished along the journey toward those larger, and much more deeply satisfying moments.

Acknowledging your mistakes also has it pluses, but we often don’t have trouble recalling or mulling over those. The point is, if you don’t acknowledge your successes the same way you acknowledge your mistakes, you’re sure to have a memory full of blunders. And a mind stuffed with negative chatter about the gaffes of life won’t fuel your energy, nor your confidence, creativity, and motivation to keep going.

Consider this, too: if you only remember the mistakes and failures, you won’t be as ready to take risks that will lead to your successes. Build your self-esteem by recalling all the ways you have succeeded and your brain will be filled with images of you making your achievements happen again and again.

Give yourself permission to toot your own horn and don’t wait for anyone to praise you. Here are two suggestions:

1.)Record Your Personal History. Take time to write your achievements down. Start when you were very young and think of all your achievements since then. Don’t just pick the major milestones; write down all the things you take for granted. For example, if you list your college degree, write your appreciation for having the opportunity to go to college and forge friendships that will last a lifetime.

You can also create a log of success every day and review it when you are faced with a new challenge. By writing it all down daily, you’re securing it in your long-term memory and it will become a part of what makes you tick. It can even become a source of positive reminders and affirmations for when you’re feeling down, as well as a personal record of you that becomes your legacy.

2.) Celebrate Yourself with Mementos. Surround yourself with reminders of your successes. Put up pictures, articles, trophies, awards and other pieces that bring your attention to your success. Make your environment speak to you about your achievements. Be proud of them!

By the way, showing appreciation for yourself and accomplishments has many rewards that go far beyond boosting your own self-confidence.

Appreciating yourself is creates a cascading affect–your heightened confidence will spill over into other aspects of your life. Watch what happens when you gain that special trust in yourself. You’ll attract opportunities, experience more fulfilling relationships, and have no trouble reaching loftier goals.

Remember, people like to be around those who have a healthy self-esteem and who are achieving their goals. Commit to acknowledging your achievements and your brain will begin to tell you the truth: that you can do anything!

© 2008 Jack Canfield

Are you “stuck” in this area?
Send me your most pressing question about this topic, then join me for our monthly
“Ask Jack Canfield” Tele-Clinic on September 3rd!
www.AskJackCanfield.com

* * *

If you missed previous issues of Success Strategies,
I keep an archive of past issues you can always refer to.

---

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE?
You can, as long as you include this complete statement with it: Jack Canfield, America’s #1 Success Coach, is founder of the billion-dollar book brand Chicken Soup for the Soul and a leading authority on Peak Performance and Life Success. If you’re ready to jump-start your life, make more money, and have more fun and joy in all that you do, get your FREE success tips from Jack Canfield now at: www.FreeSuccessStrategies.com

Power Principle: Success is a learnable skill