Brief Summary of Jack Canfield's Success Principles

Brief Summary of Jack Canfield's Success Principles

I’ve learned about the success principles from Jack Canfield. In his book “The Success Principles”, Jack Canfield presents the sixty-four principles which, if learned and practiced, can help everyone to realize their goals. The principles that he teaches are timeless. He did not invent them, but collected them from many successful people. He has learned and practiced them himself, and has presented them in his excellent book. He was able to present the great knowledge in a clear and easy to understand way. I’ve chosen and briefly described the ten principles from Canfield’s book which I think are most important.
1) Take100% Responsibility for Your Life The first principle states that there is only one person who is 100% responsible for my life-it is me. This is the first principle of success. If we want to be successful in life, we first have to take total responsibility for our lives. We’re responsible for all our successes and failures, health, relationships, financial situation, our feelings and everything else. It is me who has created the life I am living now so I must take full responsibility for it. If I don’t take full responsibility, I can’t achieve things which are important to me and I can’t re-make my life. To really take 100% responsibility for our lives, we must stop blaming others for our problems and failures. We have created our current situations by our thoughts and activities so there is no reason to blame anybody. We can blame only ourselves, but that is also useless because the past is the past; we can’t change it. But now we can create our future. We have always had the power to do it, but for different reasons we haven’t. Now we can do things differently and get the results we want. This is because of the rule: E+R=0(Event +Response=Outcome). The rule says that every outcome we experience in life (good or bad) is the result of how we responded to the previous events in our lives. We can see that in the same situations people react differently. Some are successful, some are not. We can see that, by responding in a different way, we can get different results. That is why blaming events for our failures are pointless. We must change our responses to the events and then we can get the results we want. We don’t have control over a lot of the events in our lives, but we have control over our responses. We can change our thinking, our behavior, and our communication. We can also change our old habits into the new, better ones. Jack Canfield states that “Everything you experience in life – both internally and externally – is the result of how you have responded to a previous event”. Everything I experience today is the result of the choices I have made in the past. I have control over three things in my life: my thoughts, my visualizations and my actions. So to change my life I need to change my thoughts, my visualizations and my actions to positive ones. If I keep my negative responses from the past I will keep getting the same negative results, so now is the time to stop complaining and blaming others for my bad results and take full responsibility for my life. This principle is the prerequisite to a successful life. It is the basic principle. I personally started with this principle because without this principle I wouldn’t be able to implement the other principles.
2) Principle Believe it’s Possible According to this principle, we are able to achieve whatever our minds can conceive and believe. Jack Canfield explains why our brains work this way and gives some examples but the important conclusion for us is that we must replace all our negative expectations with positive ones, and then our minds will start working to accomplish the outcome we want. People often do not reach their goals, not because they lack required skills, but because they don’t believe they can reach them.
3) Believe In Yourself
This principle is connected with the previous one. I am able to achieve whatever my mind can conceive and believe, so I must believe in myself. If I want to create the great and successful life I desire, I must believe that I can make it happen. I have to believe that I have all the abilities, skills and inner resources to do it. I need to choose to believe that I can achieve whatever I set my mind on. If I think that something is impossible to achieve, I will not do everything necessary to achieve it. If I believe that it is possible for me to achieve something, I will do everything necessary to achieve it. To be successful I need to give up “I can’t”. My brain is able to solve any problems I give it and reach any goals I have, but my negative words and thoughts have a negative and limiting influence on my mind, so I give up all my negative thoughts and words. Jack Canfield gives some examples which prove that belief in you is more important than knowledge, training or schooling. Quite a few very successful people dropped out of college.
4) Release the Brakes According to this principle, most people drive through life with their psychological brakes on. The brakes are negative images about themselves, inaccurate beliefs about reality, guilt and self-doubt. These brakes cancel out people’s good intentions, no matter how hard they try. Successful people release the brakes All our unfounded beliefs are like prison. They don’t allow us to go out and reach our goals, so first we must get out of our self-imposed prisons. The author presents three methods for doing it. They are: a) affirmations and positive self-talk b) creating powerful and compelling new internal images of having, doing and creating what we want c) changing our behavior.
5) See What You Want, Get What You See This principle is about visualization. Visualization is the act of creating compelling and vivid pictures in your mind. Jack Canfield gives a scientific explanation for why visualization works. What is important for me: “Visualization simply makes the brain achieve more”. When I visualize my goals in my mind as already achieved, my subconscious mind will work to turn my visualizations into reality. The author explains the process of visualization and gives a few examples to prove that visualization works. The process is quite simple. I need to close my eyes and see my goals as already achieved. To make the process more powerful I should add sounds, feelings and emotions to my pictures. The emotions are the most important ingredient of visualization. We must enjoy the visualization. It can’t be a chore. Doing visualizations properly we feel happy doing it, and we are creating happy future.
6) Take Action Many people spend time analyzing, planning and organizing but they fail to take action. Successful people also do these things, but they always take action. They are very eager to take action. When I take action things start happen. I have observed that I learn much more quickly while I am in action. Things become clear. The next steps become obvious. The point is: “To be successful, you have to do what successful people do, and successful people are highly action-oriented”. There is no point in being too cautious, because even if I make some mistakes I can learn from them, and can still achieve my goals. If I do not take action because I am too careful or afraid, I will not reach my goals anyway. Taking action brings satisfaction, too.
7) Commit to Constant and Never-Ending Improvement This principle says that if I want to be successful, I must always try to do things better. I must always try to improve, so I need to look at my goals, and I need to find out what I need to improve to achieve them better and faster. Canfield advises making small, achievable steps which we can easily improve. In this way we will not become overwhelmed and discouraged because something seems too difficult to achieve or do. To improve takes time. It does not happen overnight, but if I improve and learn a little bit every day, one day my skills and knowledge will be very useful in my life. 8) Practice Persistence Persistence is one of the most important qualities of successful people. There are always a lot of obstacles in life, so without persistence it is impossible to achieve much. People often quit just before reaching their goals, because they lack persistence. But “If you hang in there long enough, you will eventually reach your goal.” 9) Learn More to Earn More This principle is about learning. The more I learn and the more knowledge I acquire, the more successful I can be. Canfield recommends reducing the time I spend on watching television and using this time for reading. He suggests reading inspirational books, books on psychology, finance, sales, health etc. He also recommends reading biographies of great people. Another way to learn is to attend success rallies, conferences and retreats. To learn from other people I must be teachable. That means that when I have the opportunity to listen or learn something from people who know more than I do, I should listen and try to learn from them and not try to impress them. Some humility is required.
10) Start Now! ... Just Do It! According to this principle, “There is no perfect time to start” so let me start now. As Canfield says, “Once you start moving and producing results, all manner of things begin to happen that will take you further and faster than you ever imagined”.
                                                                                                 ©Karuti Eric Kirimi

Powerful Passages From Meditations By Marcus AureliusAurelius-should you forget everything;... Remember this!

Seated on my escritoire, my wall clock ticks hard.Harder than any other time before, perhaps making it known to me that I should be in the arms of Morpheus. Thought after thought crosses my little brain at a speed that I can't comprehend,the kind of speed that no speedometer invented or either in the inventions conveyor belt has measured or perhaps will ever measure. Owing to this,I do not succeeded at grasping any of them.My eyes cannot see anything else in the room I call my house but the foolscaps my back is geometrically bent upon and the rake-thin neck is craned towards.Finally I decide to save myself the agony of an article unwritten by closing my eyes tightly and thinking of nothing[Am guilty of this-anything you are either engrossed in addicted to or passionate about makes you guilty)

From the blues,a thought strikes me and devoid of cerebration I beggin keyboarding and the word I write per minute keep increasing, a cock with an unshakeable sense of responsibility finally does what it knows to do best and reminds me of myself and am surprised,excessively surprised to see an article grinning at me like a Chesire cat.....On reading I discover what the one who abides inside me has adumbrated,yeah,adumbrated in the truest sense of adumbration....I try to edit but can't spot a typho.......

In the final decade of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius’ life he wrote a series of personal philosophies intended for himself; these would later be published as Meditations. Some are quotes, most are prescriptions for self-improvement. Aurelius was a student of stoic philosophy. Stoicism deals with emotional intelligence, mind over matter, being tied to nature, and exercising philosophy through actions over words. Meditations is repetitive of it’s central themes. Considering that this was essentially his notebook, he was most likely engaging in behavior modification through written affirmations. Here are some of the highlights from selected themes.

Rise above the bullshit.

Tell yourself: The people I deal with today will be meddling, arrogant, dishonest, jealous, and surly. They are like this because they can’t tell good from evil. But I have seen the beauty of good, and the ugliness of evil, and have recognized that the wrongdoer has a nature related to my own—not of the same blood or birth, but the same mind, and possessing a share of the divine. And so none of them can hurt me. No one can implicate me in ugliness. Nor can I feel angry at my relative, or hate him. We were born to work to together… To obstruct each other is unnatural. To feel anger at someone, to turn your back on him: these are obstructions.

Choose not to be harmed—and you won’t feel harmed. Don’t feel harmed—and you haven’t been.

We all love ourselves more than other people, but care more about their opinion than our own.

It can only ruin your life only if it ruins your character. Otherwise it cannot harm you—inside or out.

The tranquility that comes when you stop caring what they say. Or think, or do. Only what you do.

It’s silly to try to escape other peoples’ faults. They are inescapable. Just try to escape your own.

Leave other peoples’ mistakes where they lie.

That kindness is invincible, provided it’s sincere—not ironic or an act.

Conduct yourself properly.

Independence and unvarying reliability … to be the same in all circumstances—intense pain, the loss of a child, chronic illness … a man can show both strength and flexibility … accept favors from friends without losing your self-respect or appearing ungrateful.

… fatherly authority in the home … Gravity without airs. To show intuitive sympathy to friends, tolerance to amateurs and sloppy thinkers … ability to get along with everyone … To investigate and analyze, with understanding and logic … Not to display anger or other emotions. To be free of passion and yet full of love. To praise without bombast, to display expertise without pretension.

Not to be constantly correcting people, and in particular not to jump on them whenever they make an error of usage or a grammatical mistake or mispronounce something, but just answer their question or add another example, or debate the issues itself (not their phrasing), or make some other contribution to the discussion—and insert the right expression, unobtrusively.

Never under compulsion, out of selfishness, without forethought, without misgivings … No surplus words or unnecessary actions. Let the spirit in you represent a man … Taking up his post like a soldier and patiently awaiting his recall from life. Needing no oath or witness. Cheerfulness. Without requiring other people’s help. Or serenity supplied by others. To stand up straight—not straightened.

Use your mind as the powerful tool that it is.

Concentrate every minute … on doing what’s in front of you with precise and genuine seriousness, tenderly, willingly, with justice. And on freeing yourself from all other distractions … you do everything as if it were the last thing you were doing in your life, and stop being aimless, stop letting your emotions override what your mind tells you, stop being hypocritical, self-centered, irritable.

You need to avoid certain things in your train of thought: everything random and irrelevant. And certainly everything self-important or malicious.

You can lead an untroubled life provided you can grow, can think and act systematically.

Not to assume it’s impossible because you find it hard. But to recognize that if it’s humanly possible, you can do it too.

…your responsibilities can be broken down into individual parts as well. Concentrate on those, and finish the job methodically…

Practice really hearing what people say. Do your best to get inside their minds.

Today I escaped from anxiety. Or no, I discarded it, because it was within me, in my own perceptions—not outside.

Focus on your own internal rhythms.

People try to get away from it all—to the country, to the beach, to the mountains … Which is idiotic: you can get away from it anytime you like. By going within. Nowhere you can go is more peaceful—more free of interruptions—than your own soul.

Ignoring what goes on in other people’s souls—no one ever came to grief that way. But if you won’t keep track of what your own soul’s doing, how can you not be unhappy?

To shrug it all off and wipe it clean—every annoyance and distraction—and reach utter stillness.

The things you think about determine the quality of your mind. Your soul takes on the color of your thoughts.

When jarred, unavoidably, by circumstances, revert at once to yourself, and don’t lose the rhythm more than you can help. You’ll have a better grasp of the harmony if you keep on going back to it.

You have to assemble your life yourself—action by action. And be satisfied if one achieves it goal, as far as it can. No one can keep that from happening.

Everything is interconnected.

Constant awareness that everything is born from change. The knowledge that there is nothing nature loves more than to alter what exists and to make new things like it. All that exists is the seed of what will emerge from it. You think the only seeds are the ones that make plants and children? Go deeper.

Some people, when they do someone a favor, are always looking to call it in. And some aren’t, but they’re still aware of it—still regard it as a debt. But others don’t even do that. They’re like a vine that produces grapes without looking for anything in return.

People exist for one another. You can instruct or endure them.

You participate in a society by your existence. Then participate in its life through your actions—all your actions. Any action not directed toward a social end is a disturbance to your life, an obstacle to wholeness, a source of dissension.

To enter others’ minds and let them enter yours.

A branch cut away from the branch beside it is simultaneously cut away from the whole tree. So too a human being separated from another is cut loose from the whole community. The branch is cut off by someone else. But people cut themselves off—through hatred, through rejection—and don’t realize that they’re cutting themselves off from the whole civic enterprise… We can reattach ourselves and become once more components of the whole. But if the rupture is too often repeated, it makes the severed part hard to reconnect, and to restore. You can see the difference between the branch that’s been there since the beginning, remaining on the tree and growing with it, and the one that’s been cut off and grafted back.

Be grounded, diminish the ego.

In the ring, our opponents can gouge us with their nails or butt us with their heads and leave a bruise, but we don’t denounce them for it or get upset with them or regard them from then on as violent types. We just keep an eye on them after that. Not out of hatred or suspicion. Just keeping a friendly distance. We need to do that in other areas. We need to excuse what our sparring partners do, and just keep our distance—without suspicion or hatred.

If anyone can refute me—show me I’m making a mistake or looking at things from the wrong perspective—I’ll gladly change. It’s the truth I’m after, and the truth never harmed anyone. What harms us is to persist in self-deceit and ignorance.

Is my intellect up to this? If so, then I’ll put it to work, like a tool provided by nature. And if it isn’t, then I’ll turn the job over to someone who can do it better—unless I have no choice.

When faced with people’s bad behavior, turn around and ask whenyou have acted like that.

That to expect bad people not to injure others is crazy. It’s to ask the impossible. And to let them behave like that to other people but expect them to exempt you is arrogant.

                                                                ©Karuti Eric Kirimi

A TIMELESS MESSAGE YOU CAN'T AFFORD ESCAPING YOUR HEARING

I’m sorry but I don’t want to be an emperor,a president,a king.That’s not my business. I don’t want to rule or conquer anyone. I should like to help everyone if possible; Jew, Gentile, black men, white. We all want to help one another. Human beings are like that. We want to live by each other’s happiness, not by each other’s misery. We don’t want to hate and despise one another. In this world there is room for everyone. And the good earth is rich and can provide for everyone. The way of life can be free and beautiful, but we have lost the way.

Greed has poisoned men’s souls; has barricaded the world with hate; has goose-stepped us into misery and bloodshed. We have developed speed, but we have shut ourselves in. Machinery that gives abundance has left us in want. Our knowledge as made us cynical; our cleverness, hard and unkind. We think too much and feel too little. More than machinery we need humanity. More than cleverness, we need kindness and gentleness. Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost. The aeroplane and the radio have brought us closer together. The very nature of these inventions cries out for the goodness in man; cries out for universal brotherhood; for the unity of us all.

Even now my voice is reaching millions throughout the world, millions of despairing men, women, and little children, victims of a system that makes men torture and imprison innocent people. To those who can hear me, I say “Do not despair.” The misery that is now upon us is but the passing of greed, the bitterness of men who fear the way of human progress. The hate of men will pass, and dictators die, and the power they took from the people will return to the people. And so long as men die, liberty will never perish.

Soldiers! Don’t give yourselves to brutes, men who despise you and enslave you; who regiment your lives, tell you what to do, what to think and what to feel! Who drill you, diet you, treat you like cattle, use you as cannon fodder! Don’t give yourselves to these unnatural men—machine men with machine minds and machine hearts! You are not machines! You are not cattle! You are men! You have a love of humanity in your hearts! You don’t hate! Only the unloved hate; the unloved and the unnatural.

Soldiers! Don’t fight for slavery! Fight for liberty! In the seventeenth chapter of St. Luke, it’s written “the kingdom of God is within man”, not one man nor a group of men, but in all men! In you! You, the people, have the power, the power to create machines, the power to create happiness! You, the people, have the power to make this life free and beautiful, to make this life a wonderful adventure. Then in the name of democracy, let us use that power.

Let us all unite. Let us fight for a new world, a decent world that will give men a chance to work, that will give youth a future and old age a security. By the promise of these things, brutes have risen to power. But they lie! They do not fulfill their promise. They never will! Dictators free themselves but they enslave the people! Now let us fight to fulfill that promise! Let us fight to free the world! To do away with national barriers! To do away with greed, with hate and intolerance! Let us fight for a world of reason, a world where science and progress will lead to all men’s happiness.

Soldiers, in the name of democracy, let us all unite!

                                                                                                        ©Karuti Eric Kirimi

 Public Speaking Skills Every Speaker ought to hone

 I pondered a list of the essential skills every public speaker should have. How did I do?

Every public speaker should be able to:

1. Research a topic – Good speakers stick to what they know. Great speakers research what they need to convey their message.
2. Focus – Help your audience grasp your message by focusing on your message. Stories, humour, or other “sidebars” should connect to the core idea. Anything that doesn’t needs to be edited out.
3. Organize ideas logically – A well-organized presentation can be absorbed with minimal mental strain. Bridging is key.
4. Employ quotations, facts, and statistics – Don’t include these for the sake of including them, but do use them appropriately to complement your ideas.
5. Master metaphors – Metaphors enhance the understandability of the message in a way that direct language often can not.
6. Tell a story – Everyone loves a story. Points wrapped up in a story are more memorable, too!
7. Start strong and close stronger – The body of your presentation should be strong too, but your audience will remember your first and last words (if, indeed, they remember anything at all).
8. Incorporate humour – Knowing when to use humour is essential. So is developing the comedic timing to deliver it with greatest effect.
9. Vary vocal pace, tone, and volume – A monotone voice is like fingernails on the chalkboard.
10. Punctuate words with gestures – Gestures should complement your words in harmony. Tell them how big the fish was, and show them with your arms.
11. Utilize 3-dimensional space – Chaining yourself to the lectern limits the energy and passion you can exhibit. Lose the notes, and lose the chain.
12. Complement words with visual aids – Visual aids should aid the message; they should not be the message. Read slide:ology or the Presentation Zen book and adopt the techniques.
13. Analyze your audience – Deliver the message they want (or need) to hear.
14. Connect with the audience – Eye contact is only the first step. Aim to have the audience conclude “This speaker is just like me!” The sooner, the better.
15. Interact with the audience – Ask questions (and care about the answers). Solicit volunteers. Make your presentation a dialogue.
16. Conduct a Q&A session – Not every speaking opportunity affords a Q&A session, but understand how to lead one productively. Use the Q&A to solidify the impression that you are an expert, not (just) a speaker.
17. Lead a discussion – Again, not every speaking opportunity affords time for a discussion, but know how to engage the audience productively.
18. Obey time constraints – Maybe you have 2 minutes. Maybe you have 45. Either way, customize your presentation to fit the time allowed, and respect your audience by not going over time.
19. Craft an introduction – Set the context and make sure the audience is ready to go, whether the introduction is for you or for someone else.
20. Exhibit confidence and poise – These qualities are sometimes difficult for a speaker to attain, but easy for an audience to sense.
21. Handle unexpected issues smoothly – Maybe the lights will go out. Maybe the projector is dead. Have a plan to handle every situation.
22. Be coherent when speaking off the cuff – Impromptu speaking (before, after, or during a presentation) leaves a lasting impression too. Doing it well tells the audience that you are personable, and that you are an expert who knows their stuff beyond the slides and prepared speech.
23. Seek and utilize feedback – Understand that no presentation or presenter (yes, even you!) is perfect. Aim for continuous improvement, and understand that the best way to improve is to solicit candid feedback from as many people as you can.
24. Listen critically and analyze other speakers – Study the strengths and weakness of other speakers.
25. Act and speak ethically – Since public speaking fears are so common, realize the tremendous power of influence that you hold. Use this power responsibly.

Which skills have I missed? Are all of those on the list essential?

                                                                                                                     ©Eric Kirimi Indomitable

THE INFALLIBLE POWER OF SELF-DISCIPLINE “A proper balance must be struck between indulgence and severity. However, severity, despite occasional mistakes, is preferable to a lack of discipline.” -I Ching (1150 B.C) Self-discipline is a very powerful tool that can be developed for achieving about anything which you can dream. However, there are four key ingredients that must be present in our lives to allow self-discipline to flourish and exist. Most people have some or all of these key ingredients, but lack the knowledge of where and how to use them. Here are the four key ingredients of self-discipline: 1.        Self-Control – The act of controlling our emotions, actions, thoughts, words, and personal direction. 2.        Motivation – The “fire inside”, that fuels our efforts and makes accomplishments worth achieving. 3.        Persistence – The ability to continue through adversity. The ability to brush off failure and stay focused on our goals. 4.        Goals  – Those tangible achievements that breed motivation and form our definitions of happiness and success. All four of these ingredients must be present in our lives to achieve self-discipline. Every one of us knows a highly motivated person or two that just can’t seem to do anything right. A friend or neighbor who has the goal of becoming self-employed, but just can’t muster enough courage to take the first step. At one time or another, all of us have been motivated to do something, only to give up after the first failure. How many people go on a diet each year and gain more weight than they originally started with? How often have you created a household budget for you and your family, only to find yourself deeper in debt? These are examples of living without self-discipline.  The reason we get depressed and frustrated when we pinch the fat on our midsection or thighs, is not because we lack a proper genetic make-up, but because we have undertaken a task without developing self-discipline. In order to ensure our success at every endeavor, we must first understand how to strengthen and enhance each of the four key-ingredients needed for self-discipline. By understanding and practicing simple techniques that strengthen each ingredient, we open the door to success by eliminating our self-destructive behaviors. Once we become accustomed to recognizing and implementing these four ingredients, the programmed habit of self-discipline allows us to take control of our lives. Let’s begin by examining each key-ingredient and learning simple techniques for enhancing their influence. SELF-CONTROL “I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who conquers his enemies; for the hardest victory is over self.” -Aristotle (384 – 322 B.C.) Learn to say NO to your destructive feelings, uncontrolled cravings, and selfish desires. Our primal and self-satisfying desires constantly demand appropriate control, and if we continue to satisfy the need of urges, we weaken our self-control. The narcotic of having everything all the time can dominate every action of our lives. When we begin to discriminate between what is actually needed and what is truly unnecessary, we develop a powerful sense of personal management. The ability to control our emotions, actions, words, and thoughts has always been one of man’s most difficult tasks. In today’s society, we have made even the most outrageous overindulgence accessible by the simple push of a button. It is far more difficult to exert self-control over our lives today, than any other time in human history, and it shows! Once we stop succumbing to every whim, craving, and desire we have, our self-control begins to strengthen and create a chain reaction. We become more alert and vigilant towards managing that which is good, and that which is unnecessary or bad. The power of self-control becomes strong enough to regulate our mental and physical cravings, society-induced desires, and influenced behaviors. Once we have awakened self-control through the management of urges, we must reinforce it by creating the habit of denying ourselves that which we crave. Self-control acts as a filter against the powerful influence of advertising, accessibility, and our own destructive human habits. We live in a society where it is hard NOT to be fat, lazy, unhealthy, drugged up, bankrupt, depressed, or emotionally unstable. We have created so many conveniences, trends, wants, and erratic behaviors through advertising and mass media, that we are brainwashed to crave things. The first step to gaining self-control is one of identifying the areas in our lives that are out of control. We have to take a close look at the food we eat, the bad habits we have, the character traits we possess, and the overall direction of our lives. Once we identify those things we need more control over, we can start small by gaining little victories each day. You must begin denying yourself one cigarette a day, the extra snack, that extra beer after work, or the satisfaction of indulging your emotional outbursts. If you try to go “cold-turkey” on all of your cravings, habits, and behaviors, you will surely fail.  A technique for gaining self-control over our cravings and habits involves a self-inspection of our daily lives. By performing an inventory of our bad behaviors and habits, we can focus our efforts on controlling them.   Here is a step by step description of this self-control technique: 1.        Personal Inventory – Find a quiet and private place to sit down with a paper and   pen. Begin taking a day by day inventory of your bad habits and destructive cravings. 2.        Start Small – Begin reducing each habit or craving a little each day. Keep a journal of your progress and talk to yourself about the benefits of eliminating destructive behaviors. 3.        Self-Denial – Start by denying yourself a certain pleasure each day. Target a daily activity like excessive eating or watching television. 4.        Keep a Schedule – Make a to-do list and stick to it for a change. Make a commitment to write a daily schedule and accomplish every task. 5.       Review – At the end of each day, sit down and critique your performance. Mentally re-live how you exercised self-control over your cravings and habits.   Another very effective technique is called the power band. This method involves wearing a piece of colored string or rubber band around your wrist to constantly remind yourself of the habit or craving you are going to control today. Take a large rubber band and write the bad habit or behavior that you wish to focus on for this particular day, and wear it around your wrist to constantly remind you of your control. I have personally seen this method change the lives of many people. Visualize in your mind that this rubber band empowers you with self-control that flows through your whole body. Every time you are faced with a certain thought, action, or environment that stimulates this craving or bad behavior, look to the power band for help. Remember that the power of your mind is the most important ally you have in the battle for self-control. MOTIVATION “Rest not! Life is sweeping by; go and do before you die. Something mighty and sublime, leave behind to conquer time.” -Johann Goethe (1749 – 1832) Motivation is the fuel that gives our success engine its drive. Motivation is a group of reasons that develop a desire to accomplish, have, act, and perform in a manner that will satisfy a certain desire. Strong motivation is the underlying power behind some of the world’s greatest achievements. Motivation is responsible for creating actions, thoughts, and situations that are directed toward a specific accomplishment. There is no use in trying to master self-discipline if you lack the motivation to have it. Every human being has been motivated by something at some point in their lives. The fact that you are reading this book shows that you have a certain degree of motivation to succeed at something. The problem that most people encounter when trying to motivate  themselves to achieve a certain goal, is the problem of false motivators. False motivation is the main problem behind most humans’ poor daily performance. For example, the person who wakes up each and every day to go to work because he has to, and not because he wants to, is falsely motivated. The person that goes on a diet because his or her spouse wants them to is falsely motivated. The employee, who is told to perform a certain task because their boss told them to, is falsely motivated. These are all examples of why people perform poorly or experience lackluster results.  True motivation is the result of a strong personal desire that focuses a person’s thoughts, words, and actions in such a way as to elicit 100 percent effort. Imagine if you could muster the same motivation for performing at work, as you do for personal gain. How strong would your motivation be if you were promised one million dollars for showing up to work everyday this week? The reason that Super-Humans live a life of greatness and success is because they are truly motivated to accomplish their goals. How many people achieve a life of greatness or success in a job that they hate? How financially disciplined is a person who works simply to pay off daily bills and not for the attainment of goals? How many A’s did you receive in classes that you were completely uninterested in? When we stop and think about our daily lives, we can easily distinguish false and true motivators simply by looking at our performance in certain areas. When you truly desire to control certain habits, cravings, and behaviors in your life, you already have one of the key ingredients to self-discipline. Most people know that they want control over certain aspects of their lives, but lack the motivation to bring about true change. One of the easiest methods for strengthening motivation is through pressure. By telling your family, friends, and co-workers of your commitment to control an aspect of your life, you establish the presence of external pressure. Now, the motivation for achieving discipline is embarrassment, self-esteem, and challenge. Peer pressure is a very powerful motivator for most people. Tell your family and friends of the commitment you have made to losing weight and exercising. Tell all of your co-workers of your personal challenge, and let everyone at lunch and dinner know of your low-fat diet and see how strong your motivation becomes. Only through self-discipline can we begin to control and shape the direction of our lives, and only through proper motivation can we experience self-discipline. Always be aware of your level of motivation. Use different techniques and situations to strengthen your motivation in specific areas. Only by focusing on self-control and motivation first, can you expect to open the doors to a life of self-discipline. PERSISTENCE “Endurance is one of the most difficult disciplines, but it is to the one who endures that the final victory comes.” -Buddha (568 – 488 BC) Persistence is the act of continued action and effort towards an objective, even in the face of multiple failures. Remember a time in your life when you kept after something again and again until you finally succeeded? How powerful and glorious did it feel to finally achieve your intended goal? How often in your daily life do you accept failure or the answer NO? Of all the bad habits, cravings, and behaviors which now exist in your life, how many times did you give up after failing to control them? Self-discipline does not come without experiencing failure, and the only way to defeat failure is through persistence and perseverance. All of the world’s past and present Super-Humans have found success and happiness with a never-say-die attitude. One of our country’s most successful Super-Humans was also one of history’s most persistent failures. Here is his story: Abraham Lincoln 1831-            Failed in business - declared bankruptcy. 1832-            Defeated for State Legislature. 1834-       Again failed in business – declares bankruptcy. 1835-       Fiancée dies. 1836-       Has a nervous breakdown. 1837-       Defeated in election. 1843-           Defeated in bid for U.S. Congress. 1846-           Again defeated for U.S. Congress. 1847-           Fails for a third time in bid for U.S. Congress. 1855-           Defeated for U.S. Senate. 1856-           Defeated for office of Vice President. 1858-       Again defeated for U.S. Senate. 1859-       Elected President of the United States of America.                 The history books are full of Super-Humans who used the power of persistence to gain control of their destinies. The great Prime Minister of Great Britain, Winston Churchill, once said, “Success is going from failure to failure without a loss of enthusiasm.” This is the most common reason for people’s lack of self-discipline. It is because they failed once or twice at controlling their life that they become afraid to try again. Well, here is your chance to begin anew. By using the information and techniques found in this chapter, you will become better educated at how to achieve total control of your life. There is no magic formula or ancient Hindu technique for becoming persistent. All the perseverance and persistence you will ever need is deep inside you, waiting to be exercised.                 Of the four ingredients required for self-discipline, persistence is probably the most powerful of the four, because without persistence you will never experience success. You must plan to never give up, even before you begin. If you mentally motivate yourself to keep trying no matter what, you will subconsciously program yourself for persistence. If you are motivated, have self-control, and set specific goals to achieve self-discipline, but give up at the first sign of failure, you will never experience self-discipline or success.                  Persistence is the one ingredient that must always be present in order to succeed. Begin today by declaring your tenacity and vowing to never give up, no matter how long it takes. Make a point of going that extra mile. Learn to break out of your comfort zone and start testing the boundaries of your physical and mental limitations.                 GOALS “One should act in consonance with the way of Heaven and Earth, enduring and eternal, the superior man perseveres long in his course, adapts to the times, but remains firm in his direction and correct in his goals.” -I Ching (1150 BC)                 Highly successful people, world leaders, great artists, and history’s most important Super-Humans all have one thing in common: they use self-discipline on a daily basis to achieve their goals. Clear and specific goals are the essential foundation of not only self-discipline, but also a lifetime of health, wealth, and longevity. Without clearly defining short-term and lifelong goals, you have no use for self-discipline. Learning life mastery and personal discipline will only come about when you set precise goals that you wish to achieve. Self-discipline goals are somewhat different than success-oriented goals, in that self-discipline goals are defined by personal improvement. Once you identify areas of your life that you wish to gain total control over, you have now defined specific areas of improvement.                 Self-discipline-oriented goals are essential to generating self-control, motivation, and persistence, the other three key ingredients needed for self-discipline. Here is an example of self-discipline goals: 1.        I want to have total control over when, how, and what I eat for the next 30 days. 2.        I am going to gain control of my finances by sticking to my scheduled budget each and every day for the next 90 days. 3.        I want my fellow co-workers to look up to me as a leader and example of discipline by the way I speak, act, and dress in 60 days. 4.        I will gain control of my emotions by disciplining my anger, depression, and attitude around my family, friends, and co-workers. 5.        I am going to set aside one hour every day to work on my goal of being self-employed in one year. 6.        I will set aside one hour each day to organizing, maintaining, and cleaning my household, my clothing, and my possessions. 7.        I want to dedicate one evening each week to my spouse, and use this evening to improve our relationship and show my love and appreciation. 8.        I will set a disciplined example for my children by becoming more involved in their lives, and showing them how I have gained control over my life. 9.        I will discipline my body to quit smoking by gradually reducing the amount of cigarettes I smoke each week, until I have completely quit in 30 days. 10.     I want to reduce the amount of television I watch to 45 minutes per day, by disciplining myself to use this time for constructive efforts.                                 As you can see from this list of self-discipline goals, the key to having discipline is to clearly define that for which you want to use it. By setting specific goals, you enact powerful mental forces that help you focus your thoughts, actions, and efforts to accomplishing them. Take the time to think about your personal improvement desires and clearly write them down. Make photocopies of your self-discipline goals, paste them all over your office, put them in your car, stick them to your bathroom mirror, and visualize yourself achieving total control. It is one thing to say that you want to lose weight, but it is another to clearly define the amount, how, and when you are going to lose the weight.                 You must understand that simply wanting something is not enough, you must define, refine, focus, and schedule specific actions that you will take to have what you desire. The amazing power of self-discipline can alter your life to that of a Super-Human, by simply understanding the process and forces at work in the human body and mind. Remember that the four key-ingredients are specific guidelines by which you will ensure the greatest chance of success in your quest for self-discipline. Use the powerful techniques that you have learned in this chapter to prepare a personal battle plan for achieving your desires, wants, and goals.                 Self-discipline can surely set you free and change your whole life, but you must pay attention to the four key-ingredients to insure total success. Tomorrow when you go to work, stop and look around at all of the people you see, and think about how a self-disciplined person would act, talk, and look. Use the power of self-discipline to enhance your wealth, happiness, and the lives of your loved ones. Make the commitment to gain total control of your life today, and you will thank yourself tomorrow. Know that it is possible to rise above average human performance, by dedicating time each day to achieve the status of a disciplined human.    TO THE READER I hope that you enjoyed this article. This article is taken from my new book entitled, “THINK AGAIN! – Mastering The Art of Self-Discipline”. Please don’t get the impression that I am trying to give you the answers to all of the world’s problems, but rather that I have a few ideas and experiences that have been proven to work –even in life and death situations.                                                                                                       We are all trying to improve something about ourselves. It seems that everywhere you turn there is some slick-talking ex-car salesman trying to make a buck off of an instant success formula –there is no such thing. I have spent several years studying and practicing personal achievement and discipline-building tools in the world of special operations. Through it all, I have come to realize that all of the answers to achievement are found right in your pretty little head. The trick is to dig deep and go a little further than the next guy. Remember that whatever you consider to be successful, someone, somewhere has already done it. Learn how, why, and what he/she did to accomplish it. This is the fastest way to getting what you want. I highly encourage you to read the rest of my book, not because I want your money –but because you have already invested the time to learn a new way of becoming a better person by reading this article.                                                                                                           ©Eric Kirimi Indomitable