You are a champion

Did you know you are a champion?

 

You have won innumerable battles and conflicts…

You have conquered hearts and brains, hugs and positions…

You have won over your own mind, defeating many useless and wasteful thoughts…

You have won over your own limitations, beliefs that have been limiting your power…

You have won over your emotions and you moved on, even when situations tried to prevent you...

 

Do you remember when you were over the edge, ready to fall over an abyss? You won!

Do you remember when nobody believed you? You won!

Do you remember when you couldn’t believe in yourself? You won!

Did you know you are a champion?

 

Keep on winning, the world needs, more than ever, champions like you!

Have we grown up and just forgotten how to be children?

A friend of mine recently conducted a workshop about the inner child and it was very successful! But it was the bad side of the inner child: harming my inner child.

It may happen because we refuse to let that little child emerge and shine through us.

In fact, we are complete beings who have chosen, whether it is willingly or not, to play a part at some point in time. We choose to be what we think is to be 30 years old or 15 years old, but we have the main basic ingredients needed to be a 6 years old or 60 years old, at least in our awareness.

So, are you a little depressed? Things are not working right? Have you fought with your best friend? You have all the components of a 6 years-old, who would be joyful by running under the rain, always hopeful and looking for a way to make it up with their best friend.

Come on… stop reading this (not now, please, just one or two lines more), go outside and just be happy by seeing… things… All is awesome for your inner child’s eyes. Try it; I am sure you will enjoy a lot!

How to overcome fatigue

What is normal and what you expect is that after waking up, you have energy until night... but if that is not constant in your life, it is time to work internally.

We are not machines and although we are well oiled, fatigue, exhaustion or stress can take away our energy and prevent us from progressing or enjoying in the way we would want and could. Maybe you would like to have a few more hours of strength to enjoy your family, do something useful to the community, meditate or just enjoy watching the last movie.

If you really want to extend your energy a little more in the day, here are some tips that can be very useful:

1. Start with your diet and check well that what you eat is balanced.
2. Then, check the quality sleep time, that is, the sleep that refreshes and renews.
3. Develop the art of relaxation, that is, let go… a lot!
4. Self-organization contributes to avoid tiredness, preventing us from wandering when making a decision or doing some activity.
5. Strive to have excellent prioritization criteria, because it will prevent you from wasting time, one of the factors that causes fatigue.
6. Managing an adequate schedule helps minimize stress.
7. Dialogue and enjoy being with relevant people in your life.
8. At the end of the day or at times you identify that you feel a not very welcome tiredness, look for activities that are motivating.

Wake up

Wake up…

I wake up with the sound of a strange voice in my ear, but I notice very quickly I am still alone.

Can you guess where? Typical me – the bottom of a well! In my defense, it was a very well hidden well…

We are – family and me – at a friend’s farm, a beautiful place quite far from the horrors of a city clogged during a time that should be for celebrations, Christmas… Did I tell you today is Christmas day?

At least, I think so… You know, yesterday I was running around after a, well, a little fight with my cousin, Michael, who thinks of himself as the next multimillionaire. His wife thinks of herself as the next celebrity… Yeah, not that easy to talk with them and he started with the old you are a failure. He is that blunt! After much yelling and moderation from dad and mum, I decided to just leave the place.

I have been to this place before, we all have been but little Cassidy, so it was with pleasure I realized there was a full area of land to explore – and I did that exactly. Brilliant idea, right?

Wake up…

Hey, I am awakened! Who is there by the way?

It was the 24^th morning and as I started to feel hungry and decided to go back to the farm for lunch and maybe another fight…

Wake up…

I AM AWAKENED!

Short story: I feel into this well. This has been by far my worse Christmas Eve, passing down here. Something is broken and I can’t stand, I don’t see how to climb it and I am sick of shouting and yelling, I even called for my cousin to help me…

Wake up…

Another day passed by, it should 26^th today, or maybe I’ve missed one day, not sure. Someone has to find me, right? I mean, dad, mum…

Wake up…

Hey, what is it that you want? I am here, alone and the only thing you say is wake up?

Why don’t you wake up?

Ooops, it responded to me!! Hallucinations… well, at least I have someone with whom to talk.

‘Why do you say I am not awakened, Mr… Voice?’

You are living in the darkness of your own life. You are not valuing what you have got…

‘I am perfectly happy with whom I am, thank you very much! Has Michael put you to this?’

If you are that happy, why is there the sadness in your heart, masqueraded by the feeling of being insulted? And that was there much before your cousin started to poke you.

In fact, deep down, I can see you agree with your cousin, after all you expected to be a space engineer by this time, have a wonderful family and a beautiful house… A house on the beach, from where you could see the waves breaking on the shore…

I can’t speak… For some reason, I don’t have a witty response.

But think about how much you have conquered! Look at your health, the way you work, the friends you have got. Why do you prefer ignoring the good things and focus on those bad things? It is time you wake up…

My vision is blurred, if it is because of being two days with no water or food – I don’t count gums as food – or just because… just because…

Yes, I have been always in the wrong side of the road. Everything I have got in life was not even enough, it was not right. It is not right. I think I’ve missed the chance with studying, with people, with myself.

‘How… how do I wake up then?’

Silence on the other side, my hallucination is probably thinking.

‘I cannot set any record straight, but I can value more the job, the place I am living, the people around me and every single thing that is present. Would be that… adequate?’

It will be a first step. First, appreciate your own success and as soon as you leave from here, just make peace with your cousin and appreciate his success too.

First, let me appreciate my own success: I value my life story, the incredible path that has taken me to this point in life and I kind of hug myself, in tears…

I am about to tell to my hallucination that he has been badly informed, as Michael left by lunch time the day before, when I hear his booming voice… It is like music for me, I never cried so much! I start to shout and soon the guys are all there. A team of paramedics (I think) helps me coming out of the well, and we just embrace as if it would last forever!

But I don’t move. I come close to the well and I feel others behind me, waiting. I feel respect from their side. I close my eyes and silently speak to that mysterious voice.

Thank you…

Motivate from the inside – Reason 48

Motivation has two basic streams: from outside and from inside.  There are people travelling around and giving, RIGHT NOW, a motivational lecture on how to be happy, how to enjoy your work or how to be an excellent magnificent fantastic parent.  it works for certain people, during some periods of their lives.

The outside perspective for motivation may come from the perception that humans are like holes to be filled with something. However, most of the time, the human need for motivation is far deeper than just yelling ‘Yahoo!’ or climbing on a chair and proclaiming to the world ‘How wonderful I am!’.

The inside motivation comes from realisations, deep experiences, reflection and meditation.  These practices help in developing a deep sense of understanding the world on a different level and empower the individual to take very good decisions.  Humans are like wells that never go dry, but at times there is a need to explore it deeper to find water.

A few years ago, a young employee was going through a very bad period in his life, which affected directly his work.  His boss, as young as him, called him for a meeting in a restaurant and let him talk and say whatever was in his heart.  It was a very deep and emotional meeting, without reproaches, orders or even suggestions from his boss.  Many decades later, the then young man still remembers how motivated he felt and how little his boss did, and yet, how much his leader’s attitude mattered to him.

Because of their constant inner motivation, leaders serve as a catalyst, reminding others of their own inner wonders, their powers and qualities.

(Excerpt from the book 82 Reasons to be a Leader)

You will develop the full potential of your intelligence - Reason 22

By observation, there are three main components that compose what normally we define as intelligence: memory, synthesis and analysis.  That is, a very intelligent person will have an incredible memory, he or she will be able to gather information and give a meaning and context to it.

There is no scientific consensus on how to develop intelligence, but it is observed that mental exercise and stimulation coming from the need of the moment encourage this.  The point is you can develop intelligence, as much as you want, although for a normal person that is crushed by routine and a life without creativity.

It is not about the intelligence borne out of schooling, but that capacity we all have as humans to figure out our way in this world.

A leader will quickly gather all information needed, reflect, reach a conclusion and then act.  This encourages creativity whilst at the same time provides structure and focus so that everyone’s energy is best directed.

Over and above, a leader will be able to reach a point where solutions can be found and it will serve as lessons to learn and as a means of self-motivation.

(Excerpt from the book 82 Reasons to be a Leader)

A failure will turn into an opportunity - Reason 18

Who likes a failure?  Very few people, if there is even one, because it is not only the moment a failure happens, but it is possible the impact stays with the person for some time, affecting life in general.

But, if you are a leader, a failure is seen as a wonderful chance to do the same in a different way, or taken as a good signal to change what you do.

Failure activates an ambiguous response from any person.  On one hand, this individual just wants to crawl under some rock and hope people will forget he or she even exists.  It is like sensing a knot in the stomach, but the person knows thata won’t stop so soon, as there are consequences to be faced too.

On the other hand, a boost of energy comes, trying to find a solution and a way out of this situation.  It is at that moment that being a leader is an advantage: by using true leadership qualities, she or he is able to calm down and to focus on the new possibilities ahead.

Failure turns into an opportunity, a moment when a leader discovers something great about the self.

(Excerpt from the book 82 Reasons to be a Leader)

Do you know where your heart is?

What really makes you get up every morning? Is it that job you hate? Or the boring school? Boring neighbors then?

As humans we need motivation all the time, so much that the most interesting thing can make you feel empty and thirsty for other experiences if you don't feel like doing it.

But it is not possible to have motivation coming from outside all the time. In fact, most of my life I felt as I was demotivated to do something by other people or situations. So, it is time to find motivation inside...

Yes, within there is something that help you to move on or keep you doing something that others feel is useless. Some people would call that your purpose in life, your mission. Other people will make reference as my guts or they will think it is their intuition. We can also call it your heart, because it is what makes you move around and feel alive.

By identifying where your heart is, that is, your inner motivation source, you will have many advantages in your life starting with enjoying every moment, no matter what is happening or what you are doing. After all, some things will give you pleasure, others attainment, some will give you a lesson and there will be situations when you will have all those at the same time.

How to do that?

• Past. Think about those things, situations or people that made you feel special, appreciated, very loved or honored. Now, reflect on your inner self; remember how did you feel or which thoughts were in your mind that time. It is quite possible they were similar even though situations were different, and if that is the case, you have found your heart!
• Present. If you wouldn't need money, what would be your job? That will give you a very important clue about your inner motivation. Try and use it in practice by being a volunteer and check your motivation behind. After being certain, just apply that in your day-to-day life.
• Future. How do you see yourself in the future? Visualize it. Check your relationships with others and your inner state (blissful? happy?). That shows you what you really want in life and it can act as a powerful motivation source too, working as a ruler against which you compare how you feel when you do what you are doing with your ideal inner mind state.

Remember one thing: when your motivation is inside you, you will enjoy everything that happens in life, no matter what it is. So it is worthwhile to find it out and to live by it.

Seeing beyond the crisis

One of the faculties of a leader is their capability to see beyond any negative situation.

In the case of a small situation, such as an employee's resignation or the loss of a big client, a leader is capable of finding a solution very quick. With their training, whatever she or he has learnt and their experience, leaders are able to solve problems and move on.

But when the situation is big, that is, when it turns into a crisis, responses are not so fast. In fact, the key for solving any crisis is patience and perseverance; patience, as crisis has its own development and we do have to wait until the right moment comes, and perseverance for the leader's insistence and courage to change circumstances. To solve a crisis you need time...

A crisis blinds people, making them incapable to see beyond the present moment. The leader is probably the only one who can still see the future of the organization.

However, it is not that difficult... Even though in terms of position you are not a leader, it is good and healthy to keep that vision in the background whilst you do whatever you have to do to deal with the present crisis.

• First thing is to remind the self of the meaning of working. When you remember its significance, it is easier to remember the future implications of any action and, although remaining in the present, visualizing the possible future.
• Change hope into reality. Once someone told me hope is only for weak people. That is not true; hope is good, it is healthy and it can keep you fighting for your life, if that is the case. The issue is some people use hope as an excuse for not acting. Do you have any hope amidst the crisis? Do something! Anything, even a small one will impact your life.
• Motivate yourself. When there is a crisis, it seems as dementors are everywhere, taking dreams out of your own breath. And, really, nobody will motivate you... It is the moment to look for motivation. Read. Listen to music. Watch something. Do things that make you believe you can overcome this, and you will do it.
• Support each other. Crisis sends people into conflict. I have seen as families can be broken because money is not there. Learn how to support each other, love each other even more and if you have to leave other people for some reason, keep in touch.
• DO SOMETHING... for others! Crisis can generate a kind of laziness in the soul. Yes, with crisis you lose your job or you are under pressure, too busy to do anything else, but it is one of the valuable things you can do is to help others. Being a volunteer keeps your mind clean and you can see a much brighter future as an effect of your work.