motivation : Get Motivated Today With These 4 Essential Pillars of Motivation

I want to give you four wonderful pillars for motivation, four main themes to underpin a healthy sense of drive and inspiration. 

- The first main pillar of motivation is to gain recognition from peers. 

When soldiers in wartime give up their lives during combat, why do they do it? Is it because of patriotism, a belief in the cause they are fighting for, or a fear of court martial if they do otherwise? Perhaps all these things play a part, but extensive research has shown that what really motivates a soldier to fight well incombat is the desire for the respect of the person who is fighting right beside him. This is much more important than medals or other forms of public recognition. This is similar to what motivates salesmen on the floor of a car dealership, students in a classroom or a team of lawyers trying to win a case.

In the English Premier football league, all the players will tell you the best award that they want to receive is the acclaim of the others players and to receive the players player of the year award. 

Think of ways that you can develop recognition from your peers to enhance your motivation. The apply them to your life. 

- The second pillar of motivation is recognition from respected experts or authorities. 

In my own life, I love the fact that the wonderful multi-selling author in the US has helped me, guided me and become my friend professionally and personally. I desperately wanted to earn his respect. 

Has there been someone like that in your life? It is important to realise that a respected expert does not have to be someone who is known far and wide throughout the world. You are the one who establishes the qualifications, though very often people whom you find impressive will be equally impressive to others. 

Once you've met such a person, or even if you have just seen them from a distance or perhaps read an article about them, stop hesitating and politely approach them and introduce yourself. Unless you happen to catch them at a particularly difficult moment, most successful people are eager to help others and to pass on what they've learned. 

The great thing about establishing a relationship with a mentor is that you eventually come close to that person that you can sometimes hear them advising you when they are not actually around. 

Think about how you can get recognition from a respected expert or authority. You can really stretch this concept to be good parents, local teachers, councillors as well as business people; interpret this in the best way for you. 

- The third pillar of motivation is family. 

Although the approval of peers and experts may be important to your career, in your life, nothing compares to the influence of your family.


Let me explain what I mean by this with an example of my own; when I had come off stage speaking at an event in Dublin last year, a man approached me and asked me for some advice on the best way to stop smoking, he knew that I was the author of The Secrets of Self-Hypnosis and wanted assistance. My immediate response was to ask him what his reasons were for wanting to stop smoking and he said the following to me:

"My wife is pregnant with our first child and I want to have more after that. I want to be able to enjoy playing and having fun with my children and I want to be a healthy influence on their lives too."

I spent some time talking to him about some specific techniques and strategies. I have not heard from that man, but I know that he was driven by his family and am sure of his success. Think about your wealth goals; so many of us want to be able to rpovide for our family and for them to have what they want.

So think about the ways in which you your fmaily can motivate you and get that lodged into your mind.

- The fourth pillar of motivation for today is something closely related to number three and that is sharing the wealth and wisdom for the good of your fellows.

To illustrate this pillar, I am going to mention a story I love about Andrew Carnegie, the Scottish immigrant who founded the United States Steel Company in the early nineteen hundreds. When Carnegie died, a yellow sheet of paper was found in his desk on which he had written a note to himself when he was in his twenties. This note illustrated the main purpose of his life. It read:

"I am going to spend the first half of my life accumulating money, and I am going to spend the last half of my life giving it all away."

During his lifetime, Carnegie's fortune was estimated a four hundred and fifty million dollars - the equivalent to four and a half billion dollars today. In addition to building Carnegie Hall in New York City, he founded libraries in hundreds of small towns all across America and participated in dozens of other philanthropic activities as well.

When we look at these found pillars of motivation, what do you really see? The thing that I immediately notice is that they all involve other people, whether they are peers, mentors, family members, or simply fellows of the human race. Ironic isn't it? To be successfully motivated you need this very internal, very unique thing called your motivation. To acquire that innermost quality and set it to work, you need to recognise other people as reasons to believe. 

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love : How To Use The Power Of A Smile

Have you ever noticed how the word "smile" assumes the position of a smile on your face right after it has been pronounced? 

The same is true with a grin or a grouch. 

Much of the words in the English language or perhaps in other languages of the world assume the facial expressions of the person pronouncing them. Perhaps this is how words came into existence. 

What kind of difference can a smile make? In spite of its simplicity and spontaneity, a smile can make all the difference. It creates an atmosphere.

Admittedly, a frown can likewise create an atmosphere. The question now is this: "Which is more preferable?" An atmosphere of dissent brought about by frowning can bring conflict and unfriendliness, while a smile can create unity and camaraderie. 

A smile is contagious. When you project a smile, the other person can't help but smile back at you. Throw a smile to a baby, and there's a big chance the baby will smile back at you. 
Because of your smile, the baby starts to be playful at you even if you are a stranger to him. When a baby starts to be playful, you just can't resist playing with him. Then he begins to laugh and giggle. You make the baby happy; you make yourself happy too. And to think all these started with a simple smile. If all these take place in a doctor's office, chances are that you will forget why you are there in the first place. A smile can erase the pain, especially emotional and psychological pain. 

If you want to make a good impression, smiling is your best option. You can sport all those expensive things on your body. You may be rich and famous. But if you sport a sour face, you'll get the same treatment in return, as sour as vinegar.

A smile is worth more than words. A smile is a universal language expressed in the form of a gesture that greets and welcomes other people. When someone smiles at you, especially at a time you least expect it, you will get overwhelmed and you will return the favor. This is best exemplified during Anytime.
Of course, Christmas is the time and season of smiles. But Christmas is also the time you get too busy attending to parties and shopping that you get so tired you feel you can't smile anymore. However, when you come across somebody who smiles at you despite your weariness, you can't help but smile back.

Try walking into a shop where a frown from the owner awaits you. Before you know it, you are heading back to the door where you came from. It's as if your legs have a mind of their own. This is the reason why it is important that your sales people (if you are in the sales business) wear smiles on their faces all the time. This is the best way to attract more customers. Make smiling the trademark of your business. Show it in your company logo and watch your business grow, just like all the other businesses using it.

A smile has no monetary value yet it is priceless. No amount of money can buy you one. It's given away for free. You neither have to beg, steal, or borrow it. A smile comes naturally from the heart, resulting to harmony at home and prosperity for business. A smile binds and maintains friendship. Without smiles, any friendship is unimaginable.

"But how can you smile when you are overwhelmed with problems of the heart, health, finances, and peace of mind?" Yes, it's difficult; but would sulking help? Will a frown take away the pain and rid the problems that keep pushing you down to more problems, illness, poverty, and a confused mind? The answer is obvious. Without a shadow of a doubt, a smile will clear the clouds and bring in sunshine to your life.

A smile is like a jewel worn on the face. It is the gateway to your personality. Wear a smile every minute and hour of the day, and you won't need anything else. 

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Motivation : Pride

I was taught as a child that pride was a bad thing. Well, we all know that too much pride can cause us to be full of ourselves, sell centered and have a know it all attitude, among other negative qualities. 

I wasn't taught as a child that pride can be a very good thing. I know now that we all need to have a decent amount of pride in order to have a decent amount of self esteem. Attaining the pride in ourselves in order to establish a decent amount of self esteem is sometimes difficult to do as an adult....... if it wasn't instilled in us as we were growing up. 

It has been my experience the past few years to discover that trying new things, accomplishing feats....no matter how small they may seem to others, and succeeding in our efforts, can help us to increase our pride in ourselves and our self esteem. 

One of the things that I have been doing for approximately four years now is learning the computer, networking, building websites and blogs as well as posting on forums. I feel good about my accomplishments to date and I believe the success I've had thus far will only fuel the fire for me to learn and do more. These activities have helped me with my own self esteem. 

I started selling Avon Beauty Products last October and doing so has helped me with my self esteem too. I'm getting out among people again and am also taking better care of myself while using and demonstrating the products. Taking good care of ourselves physically really has a huge impact on our emotional state, in my opinion.


Another kind of pride I have developed in the past four years is a huge sense of pride for my brother, David. His constant struggles with depression/anxiety might have caused him to give up and withdraw totally from everyone. Instead, he has fought the battle ferociously and is coming out on top. Of course, he has days when he mostly keeps to himself, but he also has many wonderful days when he enjoys his time and I enjoy the time I get to spend with him.

My therapist taught me many years ago that writing is a wonderful aid in overcoming our problems. It really helps to express our feelings. My brother, David, joined me in this venture of blogging on this site and I am so proud of his continuing and increasing ability to express himself. He is so in touch with his feelings and has so much to offer others who suffer with depression. He has certainly helped me with mine. Did I mention how proud I am of him? 

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Motivation : Dare To Be Yourself, There's Nobody Like You

There's no need for you to imitate anybody else; they already exist. Do you want to be just like your colleague? If the Creator wanted two identical colleagues, then He would have created a copy of the first. If the Creator needed another person just like your neighbor, then He would have immediately created two of them. He never cloned somebody, so why would you? Every snowflake is different. Creation is not duplication.

Instead of copying an existing model, He created a whole new YOU! Why? Because He needs you to be just the way you are! Why bother and try to be somebody else?

Don't imitate others. Observe them, learn from them, but don't try to be like them. Learn their skills but then implement them in your own life and move forward on your own road. Because you are walking your own road, you cannot follow the footsteps of somebody else, nor can someone else walk your road for you. They have their road, you have yours.

Why did the Creator give all of us different fingerprints, different ears, different noses? Wouldn't it have been much easier for Him to make all of us out of a single mold? One model; no differences, no comparisons. He could have done it, but He didn't. Why not? Apparently He needs us to be individual. He needs us to be different. Certainly this fact adds to the pleasure of the game. If all the characters in the play were alike, then it wouldn't be much fun to watch. He surely likes us all to be different. And He surely needs us all to be different!

Given the undisputed fact that we are all different, why would you try to be like somebody else? Why change your looks or your body with plastic surgery? Why not be happy with the way you are? I'm not just talking about appearance, but also about talents. Character. Everybody is unique. While longing for talents you don't have, you are neglecting those talents that you do have. This is rather counter-productive, no? You have been gifted with a unique set of talents, so find out what they are and develop them.

There is no coincidence. Everything in the universe exists for a reason. You are not talented by accident! Neither is it haphazard that you don't have some talents you would like to have.


If you don't have a nightingale voice, you were not meant to sing. You can do something else with your life according to the talents you do have, and leave the singing to someone who is naturally equipped for that. If you have no acting talents, you should not act. If you weigh too much, you'd better start dreaming about something else than being a fashion model.

Another undisputed fact is that everybody is gifted with his or her own unique talents. Make no mistake! Talents are not only about activities like singing, acting, dancing, painting, writing or excellence in sports. Your unique talent could be your spontaneity, your enthusiasm, your connection with animals, caring for the disabled, your generosity, being a good teacher or public speaker, being a loving community member, or being a good problem solver. It could be your capacity to love, your natural joy, your brilliance, intelligence, easily assimilating new languages, radiating beauty, having a funny way of expressing yourself, making others laugh, kindness, tenderness, and many more. The list of possible talents is very, very long indeed…

What matters in the end is for you to be yourself, right? To be yourself is to find out what your unique talents are. Unique, you say? Others are spontaneous too! Plenty of people are generous or friendly. True, but your uniqueness lays in the combination of your key talents. Find out what your prominent talents are and how you can put them together. In the synergy and alignment of your key talents lies the beauty of your uniqueness.

It would be a big waste of time trying to be someone else. You are at your best being yourself! The world needs you as you are, exactly as you are! Dare to be yourself. The more you dare to be yourself, the more freedom you will feel. The more freedom you feel, the more you will dare. Daring and freedom support each other to re-create your unique self in an ever expanding celebration of Life. Your life. 

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Who Needs Encouragement?

Everyone has times when they could use some support or motivation from others. That means everyone is a candidate to receive encouragement from you.

Look for someone you know who has been disappointed or isgoing through a tough moment in life. Showing an interest can be very encouraging. It doesn't matter if there is anything you can do to improve or fix the situation. Your encouragement will help give hope that person knowing there is someone who cares.

Look for someone who has been a positive influence. You might look up to this person. I don't believe there is any better way to be encouraged than to hear from someone that you were a tremendous help in some way. Your encouragement will helpinspire that person to be a positive influence on others just as he or she was for you.

Look for someone who is putting in a great effort or doing agreat job at something. It does not have to be something you are benefiting from. You just have to notice it and show an interest. Your encouragement will reinforce the actions of that individual and may give him or her strength to do even greater things in the future.

Plan to be an encouragement to at least one person today. Encourage that person in your conversations, write an encouraging note, or help him or her in some way. You will find yourself being encouraged at the same time through your gracious act. 

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The small change that creates massive results in your life.

"It is never too late to become what you 
might have been." - GEORGE ELIOT

I believe that we all reach certain key points in our lives. We all reach crossroads where our lives hit a certain threshold of "pain" that we are no longer willing to settle for. This threshold is very different for every person. I also believe that if you are unhappy with anything in your life then that is a call to action; a desire from deep within the "real" you that wants to experience more of life. 

This can be very challenging for a lot of people as they have this urge to improve their lives but they don't have an effective strategy. They then do the "logical" thing which is to work on the effects instead of the cause. Here is a simple thought process that will be a wake up call to you if you feel like you are spinning your wheels.

For my life to get better I have to get better. 
For things to change I have to change. 
I am mine. This is my life and I am the creator of my destiny.

I can change any and everything in my life by simply changing myself. This puts me in the driving seat of my life and makes my life my responsibility. It eliminates fear and apprehension for I know that no matter what life gives me I can always get to the next level and take the next step by simply making the internal shift in my own psychology.

I can stop looking for events, people and circumstances to blame. I only need to look inside. No matter how influential you are you cannot control the circumstances and events of your life. There are only three things over which you have absolute and total control and these are all you need. It forms the total experience of life. My thoughts, my actions and my words are always under my conscious control. They are MY thoughts, they are MY actions and they are MY words AND they create MY world every minute of every day.

This is incredibly liberating. Whenever I want to have more, experience more or change anything, I need only look inwards and work on myself. Jim Rohn once said that the hardest work you will ever do is the work you do on yourself. See, you can run around and work incredibly hard at trying to influence and change circumstances, but that will only make you tired and discourage your future efforts. It's much easier to change yourself and your perception of yourself and your life. Nothing has any meaning except for the meaning you give it.


Changing external events have very little impact in your life on the long term. Small changes in you; in your perceptions and psychology might seem insignificant at first, but because the change is in you it effects all of your thoughts, all of your actions and all of your words. This seemingly insignificant change, over time changes the whole direction and end destination of your life. If a captain of a ship changes direction just one degree the end destination might be a different continent all together. Like the captain changing his course by one degree it might be unnoticeable over a short period of time, but over greater distances the small change becomes very significant.

Most people try and change the big things; they constantly try and change any and everything in their lives, but they then fail to maintain the change. Instead, making small consistent changes in yourself, in your own character you can create phenomenal results. All change starts and ends with you. If you are going to invest the time and effort to improve your life, then invest it in changing yourself. Invest your time and effort in improving "you" and let go of the superficial urges to control events and circumstances. Your whole perception and experience of life comes from you and who you are. Change yourself, improve your character and just watch the world improve and change before your very eyes. 

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