Have you ever heard someone describe another persons’ success as “luck”? “They are just so lucky. Things always seem to work out for them.”

Thomas Jefferson said, “The harder I work, the luckier I get.”

Got big dreams? Have something you’d really like to do that could help your family, community, church, company, or world? Begin where you are. Read more »

Do you ever feel bored? Do you get down, sad, depressed? Do you yearn for company when others are not around? Though all of these are normal, your “company” part of your brain may need a bit of work.

One evening while socializing with a buddy (I’ll call him Despondent Duffy), we were discussing relationships. He made a comment that I thought over in more detail later.

He said, “I can’t stand to be alone. I need to have people around me all the time or I’m bored or lonely.” Read more »

How many times have you said the word “can’t” in your life?

In actuality the more appropriate word would be “won’t”. It’s not that you can’t, it’s not that you aren’t able, it’s that you are choosing not to do ____________ (wash your car, write the paper, learn something new, confront a troublesome person in your life, etc.)

This great poem by Edgar A. Guest makes the point well. Enjoy and learn! Read more »

He dropped out of school at age 13 to go to work and help his mom make ends meet. At 16 he ran away from home because his new step-father beat him. He then falsified papers that allowed him to join the Army, and he served 4 years stationed in Cuba.

After the Army, he was a steamboat pilot, insurance salesman, cook railroad fireman, gas station attendant and farmer. Read more »

For just a moment think about an incredible pro athlete like LeBron James. Can he only dribble a basketball with one hand? Can he only shoot one type of shot? Can he only receive passes that come to him from his right or left side?

To be maximally effective LeBron has to be able to vary his style of play moment to moment, depending on the person or situation he’s in. He needs to be able to change with the circumstance, and ongoingly read the ever changing situation surrounding him. This is just as necessary for you as well.

Charles Darwin said, “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.”
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During my internship for my Masters in Psychology, the therapist I interned under had me study in great detail the field of Transactional Analysis (TA) developed by Dr. Eric Berne.

From the Transactional Analysis point of view, there are three components to living consciously. They are Awareness—Choice—Control. Read more »

Becoming discouraged when things aren’t going the way you want is normal. You wonder sometimes how you’re going to keep going. Does it at times seem like it’s all just too hard? Or there’s too much to do and you don’t know how to do it all? You can break through all of that.

Building a high level of enthusiasm and passion for your desired outcome assists in keeping you moving toward your goals. A desired and worthwhile goal combined with passion, helps you manage the rough spots and keep going. Read more »

Building rapport and connection with others is a central part of life. The better you do this, the more successful you will be in every area of your experience. Eye contact is one of the most powerful methods for building your connection.

Diversity is everywhere. Daily you will cross paths with people who grew up in a different country. They may speak a different language, live with different customs, enjoy different foods, and so on. Read more »