How Far Can Your Dreams Take You?

 ........... as far as the power of your imagination and motivation

Denis Waitley

Imagination and motivation are powerful things, and with them on your side, you have all the reason in the world to achieve your grandest dreams. Need proof? Take the story of how the first bridge over the Niagara River near Niagara Falls was built in 1847….

You see, to build a bridge over the giant gorge, the builders first had to get a line over the canyon, from one side to the other—from the United States to Canada with roaring rapids underneath. Except the engineers couldn’t cross the river in a boat because it would go over the falls, the airplane hadn’t been invented yet, and the distance was way beyond bow-and-arrow range.

The designing engineer, Charles Ellet, pondered the dilemma until he came up with a revolutionary idea: to sponsor a kite flying contest. A $5 prize (a small lottery back then!) would go to the person who could fly a kite across the gorge and let it go low enough to the ground for someone on the other side to grab the string. It was successful—a young American boy won the contest on his second attempt.

The kite string, fastened to a tree, was used to pull a cord across, then a line, then a rope. Next came an iron-wire cable and then steel cables, until a structure strong enough to build a suspension bridge was in place. The bridge opened on August 1, 1848. And it all began with an idea and one thin kite string.

That string is like a single thought. The more vivid and clear the thought, and the more you come back to it, the stronger it becomes—like the string to the rope to the cable. Each time you rethink it, dwell on it or layer it with other thoughts, you are strengthening the structure on which to build your idea, like building a bridge over Niagara Falls.

But unlike a kite, there is no string attached to how high and how far your goals may take you. They are limited only by the power of your imagination and the strength of your desire.

Article source: How Far Can Your Dreams Take You?

The Importance of Facing Your Fears and Taking Risks-- You Can Learn to be Courageous

Article source: http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/the-importance-of-facing-your-fears-and-taking-risks-you-can-learn-to-be-courageous

Courage is a towering strength, one that has the revered status of a virtue throughout the ages and worldwide. To many people it represents something quite daunting, but in reality, it is not nearly as elusive as many believe. 

Psychological courage propels a person from powerless to robust and increases exponentially the ability to transform an impossible dream into a mission accomplished. Walt Disney, the great dream maker, believes that, "All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them."

I love watching the 150 watt light bulb go on during a person's journey forward, experiencing the epiphany that facing your fears and refusing to be helpless makes you a mighty force for enacting your vision and ensuring the quest to become the best you can be. The process of learning to take risks and act boldly is truly an awesome one, the gift that keeps on giving. This is a gift you give yourself and the one you offer to others by your example.

What do you gain by becoming psychologically courageous? You gain yourself. There is a wonderful freedom that comes from being brave and facing your fears. Unchallenged fear is a prison that progressively depletes your world of choices as you comply repeatedly with its dictates. Avoidance leads to more avoidance, soon leading to a debilitating detour from a fulfilling, fruitful life. 

What is malignant to the human spirit is the capitulation to fear. Dealing with fear in proactive, healthy ways is the primary element of psychological courage. Fear is one of the emotional/physical pathways set into gear when the old, non-thinking part of the brain perceives that a situation is life-threatening. The other pathway is aggression. The fear reaction sets the body in motion to run or escape from the threat, while the aggression reaction sets the body in motion to fight. This "fight or flight response" is essential in truly dangerous circumstances to decrease the chance of injury or death.

The key word here is "perceives." The perception that a situation is life-threatening does not mean it is. And therein lies the rub. Most of us have experienced fear in circumstances that do not threaten our safety. But our body is acting like a big old bear is chasing us down a mountain! The response is the same as in the days of the cavemen. It is, however, our interpretation of the situation -- what we tell ourselves about the potential consequences -- instead of a real threat of danger that has become the trigger.

Just as avoidance leads to more avoidance, courageous thoughts and actions lead to more courageous thoughts and actions. As a psychologist, I have worked with so many people whose lives were tied up in knots by their uncontested fears and by the difficulties of not knowing how to manage the stressors in their lives. It is truly a joy to help them unlock the door. There are coaching strategies that can be instrumental in evolving from a fear-based approach to a proactive, self-confident march forward. The psychologically courageous person: 

• Manages fear
• Makes difficult/bold choices and takes risks
• Is ready, willing and able to face conflict
• Develops a proactive attitude toward difficulties in life
• Ends unhealthy personal relationships
• Makes important habit changes
• Makes change an ally instead of an adversary
• Pursues goals and dreams

Is Your Attitude A Life SAVER?

Although there seems to be endless discussions about how our individual attitudes so often shape nearly every aspect of our existence, there appears to be very few people who actually pay a sufficient amount of time, resources or energies focusing on how we might best utilize this extremely important and relevant aspect of our personalities. One's attitude can either be a leading component of our self - destructive persona, or hopefully can be used to assist us in becoming the type of person, with the focus and abilities, that live up to our optimal potential. Therefore, it would be wise for each of us to take the time to introspectively and objectively ask, "Is your attitude a life SAVER?"

1. Do you know what your real strengths are, and do you use them to the maximum, so that they provide you with a significant degree of additional inner strength? Do you meander or roam aimlessly, without a true direction, or do you reach inwardly to strive for something more, greater and better? Do you get absorbed with less important items, or is your aim to achieve something significant?

2. Do you know yourself fully, honestly, objectively and well enough to be able to clearly articulate your priorities, focus and goals? Are you willing and able to immerse yourself and commit fully, so that you might potentiate your aptitude?

3. Far too often, individuals face inner conflict because they fail to place their value and values in sync. Avoid the easy temptation to be controlled by your fears or the contentment of your comfort zone, but rather strive to show some personal and individual valor. Be yourself, but strive to become the finest you that you can be! Stand up for your beliefs and express your point of view.

4. Avoid merely feeling sorry or bad for others. Rather, make the effort and take the time to see things from their perspective in a truly empathetic manner. When you begin with actually caring both about the concerns and needs of others, as well as understanding your personal preferences and needs, it permits you to objectively, thoroughly and fairly evaluate options and examine alternatives.

5. Don't merely look for the quick fix or short term solution! Rather, strive to proceed in a relevant, realistic manner. Never settle for good enough, but reach for the stars!
Our attitude can either be a greatest asset or largest liabilty. It's always up to you!


Article source: http://EzineArticles.com/8641048