COMMITMENT

                                           TIME TO MAKE A COMMITMENT

                          NOW, LET'S ASSUME YOU HAVE A GOAL IN MIND. THE NEXT QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF IS, AM I WILLING TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL?.

                         IF YOUR ANSWER IS," I'LL DO JUST ABOUT ANYTHING, EXCEPT THAT I WON'T DO------- ," THEN FRANKLY, YOU'RE NOT COMMITTED. AND IF YOU'RE NOT COMMITTED, IT'S LIKELY THAT YOU'LL BE DERAILED AND NOT ACHIEVE YOUR OBJECTIVE. FOR INSTANCE, MANY PEOPLE START A NEW BUSINESS WITH THIS APPROACH, I'LL GIVE IT SIX MONTHS TO PRPOSPER. IT IF THINGS DON'T WORK OUT AFTER SIX MONTHS, I'LL QUIT', THIS IS NOT A MENTAL ATTITUDE THAT LEADS TO SUCCESS.

                        WHERE WOULD NOVELIST DAVID BALDACCI BE IF HE HAD SAID." I'LL TRY THE WRITING FOR ONR YEAR.... AND IF CAN'T SELL ANYTHING, I'LL GIVE IT UP'? HE'D HAVE MISSED OUT ON THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO WHAT HE LOVES HAVE FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE.... AND LIVE HIS DREAM!

                        NOW, I'M NOT SUGGESTING THAT YOU JUST BULL AHEAD WITHOUT A PLAN AND HOPE FOR THE BEST. OF COURSE YOU SHOULD SET TIMETABLES. DEADLINES AND BUDGET SO YOU STAY ON COURSE AND SUCCEED AS QUIKLY AS POSSIBLE. BUT THE REALLITY IS, DESPITE YOUR MOST CAREFUL PLANS, YOU DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE TO ACHIEVE YOUR GOAL.... AND YOU CON'T FORESEE ALL THE OBSTACLES THAT WILL CROSS YOUR PATH.

                         THAT'S WHERE COMMITMENT SEPATATES THE WINNERS FROM THE LOSERS. THE COMMITTED PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HANG IN------ AND PREVAIL----- NO MATTER WHAT. AND IF IT TAKES A LITTLE LONGER THAN THEY THOUGHT, SO BE IT. THOSE WHO AREN'T COMMITTED ARE GOING TO GIVE UP THE SHIP WHEN THINGS DON'T GO THEIR WAY.

                            NOW THAT YOU'VE LEARNED ABOUT THE POWER OF COMMITMENT, IT'S TIME TO APPLY THE PRINCIPLE. SO, GO AHEAD. SELECT A GOAL YOU HAVE A BURNING DESIRE TO ACHIEVE. MAKE A COMMITMENT TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL. START MOVING FORWARD AND GET READY TO NOTICE AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ALL OPPORTUNITIES THAT COME YOUR WAY. THEN FOLLOW THROUGH WITH PERSISTENT ACTION AND GET READY TO SUCCEED.!

YOUR WORDS

                                           A CLOSER LOOK AT YOUR WORDS

            LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR LIFE FOR A MOMENT. ARE THERE ANY AREAS WHERE YOU'VE BEEN USING PHRASES LIKE, 'I CANT', I'M NO GOOD AT ----- AND 'ITS IMPOSSIBLE' WE ALL KNOW PEOPLE WHO MAKE STATEMENTS LIKE THESE:

                                * I CAN'T DRAW.

                                * I'M NO GOOD AT MATCH.

                                * I CAN'T REMEMBER NAMES.

                                * IT'S IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO MAKE THAT KIND OF MONEY.

                WHEN YOU MAKE THESE COMMENTS DAY IN AND DAY OUT FOR 10, 20 OR 30 YEARS, YOU'RE PROGRAMMING YOUR MIND FOR FAILURE! IT ALL COME BACK TO YOUR ATTITUDE. EVERYONE OF THESE EXAMPLE REFLECTS A NEGATIVE ATTITUDE. AND IF YOU SEE THE WORLD THROUGH A SMUDGED WINDOW, YOU'RE GOING TO USE NEGATIVE LANGUAGE.... AND GET DISAPPOINTING RESULTS.

                FORTUNATELY, YOU CAN CONTROL YOUR WORLDS---- WHICH MEANS THAT YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO BUILD A POSITIVE BELIEF SYSTEM... AND TO PRODUCE THE RESULTS YOU WANT. THE FIRST STEP IS AWARNESS, LET'S EXAMINE THE PHRASES YOU'VE BEEN USING IN FOUR KEY AREAS OF YOUR LIFE---- RELATIONSHIP, FINANCES, CAREER, AND HEALTH.

CHANGE OF LIFE

                                          THE NIGHT THAT CHANGED MY LIFE

                     IN 1980,  I GRADUATED FROM LAW SCHOOL AND THOUGHT I'D BE A LAWYER FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. AFTER ALL, THAT'S WHAT I'D WANTED TO DO SINCE MY EARLY TEENAGE YEARS.

                      AT FIRST, EVERYTHING WENT ACCORDING TO PLAN. AFTER LOTS OF STUDYING THAT SUMMER, I PASSED THE BAR EXAMINATION AND WAS ADMITTED TO PRACTICE LAW IN NEW YORK. MY PERSONAL LIFE WAS ALSO ON THE UPSWING. IN EARLY 1981, I MARRIED DOLORES, LAW SCHOOL CLASSMATE, I WAS ON MY WAY TO MUCH SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS.

                     OR SO I THOUGHT.

                      BUT, AFTER PRACTICING LAW FOR A FEW YEARS, I REALIZED I WASN'T HAPPY AT ALL. 

                    SURE, THERE WERE SOME THINGS I LIKED ABOUT BEING A LAWYER. ENJOYED HELPING PEOPLE RESOLVE THEIR DISPUTED, ESPECIALLY WHEN I COULD SAVE THEM THE AGONY OF LENGTHY COURT PROCEEDINGS.

                    YET, THERE WERE SO MANY THINGS ABOUT BEING AN ATTORNEY THAT I DISLIKE AND THAT JUST SEEMED TO DRAIN THE LIFE OUT OF ME. MOUNTS AND MOUNTS OF TEDIOUS PAPERWORK AND MOTIONS TO BE FILED.

                     CONSTANT DELAYS AND POSTPONEMENTS. IT WAS NOT ONCOMMON FOR A TRIAL TO BE POSTPONED 10 TIMES..

POSITIVE NEWS

                                    BE A SOURCE OF POSITIVE NEWS

                       

             I'M NOT SUGGESTING THAT YOU JUST SIT BACK AND IGNORE ALL OF THE PROBLEMS IN YOUR LIFE. HOWEVE, RATHAN THAN COMPLAINING IT'S FAR BETTER TO FOCUS YOUR ATTENTION AND YOUR ENERGY ON THOSE STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TO SOLVE, OR AT LEAST LESSON, YOUR PROBLEM. FOR INSTANCE, LET'S SAY YOUR FEELING A LITTLE TIRED LATELY. INSTEAD OF TELLING EVERYONE HOW LOUSY YOU FEEL, MAKE AN EFFORT TO EXERCISE MORE REGULARLY OF GET TO BED A LITTLE EARLIER.

                   TO REVIEW: COMPLAINTS WORK AGAINST YOU IN THREE WAYS. FIRST, NO ONE WANTS TO HEAR NEGATIVE NEWS ABOUR YOUR ILLNESS AND YOUR PROBLEMS. SECOND, COMPLAINING REINFORCES YOUR OWN PAIN AND DISCOMFORT, SO WHY KEEP REPLAYING PAINFUL, NEGATIVE MEMORIES? THIRD, COMPLAINING, BY ITSELF, ACCOMPLISHES NOTHING AND DIVERTS YOU FROM THE CONSTRUCTIVE ACTIONS YOU COULD BE TAKING TO IMPROVE YOUR SITUATION.

                 IT'S BEEN SAID THAT 90 PERSENT OF THE PEOPLE DON'T CARE ABOUT YOUR PROBLEMS.. AND THE OTHER 10 PERSENT ARE GLAD YOU HAVE THEM! SERIOULY THOUGH, ALL OF US CAN CUT DOWN ON OUR COMPLAINING. FROM NOW ON, LET'S DO OURSELVES AND OTHERS A FLOVOR AND MAKE OUR CONVERSTIONS UPLIFTING.

                THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T COMPLAIN VERY MUCH ARE A JOY TO BE AROUND. DECIDE TO JOIN THAT GROUP SO PEOPLE WON'T HAVE A CROSS THE STREET WHEN THEY SEE YOU COMING!

HIGH SELF ESTEEM

                        SOME ADVANTAGES OF HIGH SELF - ESTEEM

THERE IS A DIRECT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PEOPLE'S FEELINGS AND THEIR PRODUVTIVITY. HIGH SELF-ESTEEM IS EVIDENT IN RESPECT FOR ONE'S SELF, OTHERS, PROPETY, LAW, PARENTS, AND ONE'S COUNTRY. THE REVERSE IS ALSO TRUE.

                                                 HIGH SELF- ESTEEM

       * BUILT STRONG CONVICTION.

       * CREATES WILLINGNESS TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY.

       * BUILDS OPTIMISTIC ATTITUDES.

       * LEADS TO BETTER RELATIONSHIPS AND FULFILLING LIVES.

       * DEVELOP A CARING ATTITUDE AND MAKES A PERSON MORE SENSITIVE TO OTHERS NEED.

       * MAKES A PERSON SELF-MOTIVATED AND AMBITIOUS.

       * MAKES A PERSON OPEN TO NEW OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES.

       * IMPROVES PERFORMANCE AND INCREASE RISK- TAKING ABILITY.

       * HELPS A PERSON GIVE AND RECEIVE BOTH CRITICISM AND COMPLIMENTS TACTFULLY AND EASILY.

       * PREFERS LOSS OF BUSINESS TO LOSS OF CREDIBILITY BECAUSE THEY REALIZE THAT ONE CANNOT PUT A PRICE ON ONE'S CREDIBILITY.

MINDSET

                                DEVELOP A MINDSET THAT BRINGS HAPPINESS

                   BITTERNESS IS A SIGN OF EMOTIONAL FAILURE. IT PARALYZES OUR CAPASITY TO DO GOOD. SET YOUR OWN STANDARDS. BE HONEST TO YOURSELF. COMPETE AGAINST YOURSELF. DO THE FOLLOWING:

                * LOOK FOR THE POSITIVE IN EVERY PERSON AND IN EVERY SITUATION.

                * RESOLVE TO BE HAPPY.

                * SET YOUR OWN STANDARDS JUDICIOUSLY.

                * DEVELOP AN IMMUNITY TO NEGATIVE CRITICISM.

                * LEARN TO FIND A PLEASURE IN EVERY LITTLE THINGS.

                * REMEMBER ALL TIME IS NOT THE SAME. UPS AND DOWN ARE PART OF LIFE.

                * MAKE THE BEST OF EVERY SITUATION.

                * KEEP YOURSELF CONSTRUCTLY OCCUPIED.

                * HELP YOURSELF CONSTRUCTIVELY OCCUPIED.

                * LEARN TO GET OVER THINGS. DON'T BROOD.

                * FORGIVE YOURSELF AND OTHERS. DON'T HOLD GUILT OR BEAR GRUDGES

                

                                 GIVE YOURSELF POSITIVE AUTO- SUGGESTIONS

       DEVELOP THE HABIT OF GIVING YOURSELF POSITIVE SELF-TALK. AUTO-SUGGETIONS AFFECT YOUR BEHAVIOUR BY INGLENCING YOUR BELIEF SYSTEM. IT BECOMES A SELF-FULFILLING ,PROPHECY EXAMPLE:

                * I CAN HANDLE IT.

                * I CAN DO IT.

                 * I AM GOOD AT MATH.

                 * I HAVE A GOOD MEMORY.

GOOD PERSPECTIVE

                                 PUTTING THINGS IN PERPECTIVE

                        * I'M IN GOOD HEALTH

                        * DOLORES IS IN GOOD HEALTH

                        * WE HAVE OUR OWN HOME.

                        * WE HAVE PLENTY OF FOOD TO EAT AND CLEAN WATER TO DRINK

                        * WE LIVE IN THE UNITED STATES AND ENJOY FREEDOM.

                        * I LOVE MANY LOYAL FRIENDS.

                        * I DRAW STRENGTH FROM MY RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.

     

                    THIS IS JUST A PARTIAL LIST OF THE BLESSINGS IN MY LIFE. AND YOU KNOW WHAT? EVEN WITH ALL OF THESE WONDERFUL THINGS, THERE ARE TIMES WHEN I START SOME OF THEM FOR GRANTED! BUT I'VE LEARNED TO QUICKLY RE-CONNECT WITH THESE BLESSINGS... AND IT BOOKS MY ATTITUDE AND BRINGS ME RIGHT BACK ON COURSE. 

                      SO, WHAT IS IT THAT YOU'VE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT LATELY? ARE THEY REALLY 'LIFE AND DEATH' MATTERS? THE NEXT TIME YOU'RE TEMPTED TO GRIPE ABOUT YOUR PROBLEMS, PICK UP A PEN AND PIECE OF PAPER AND START LISTING ALL THE REASONS YOU HAVE TO BE GRATEFUL!

                     LET ME TELL YOU, IT SURE BEATS COMPLAINING!...

            REFLECT UPON YOUR PRESENT BLESSINGS, OF WHICH EVERY MAN             HAS PLENTY, NOT ON YOUR PAST MISFORTUNES, OF WHICH ALL                     MEN HAVE SOME.

                                                                                                ---CHARLES DICKENS