Category Archives: Responsibility

Creating The Future, Habit Formation, Persistence, Responsibility

How To More Easily Keep Your Resolutions!

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“Do you make resolutions? Are there things you want to accomplish in the coming year? Have you had some difficulty in past years keeping your resolutions? Read on I’ll share with you how can you most easily keep doing those things you resolve to do.

The simple definition for the word resolute is admirably purposeful, determined and unwavering. It is the time to be resolute. For some reason we like landmark dates. The 7th year isn’t as meaningful as the 10th year. The New Year means more than March 3rd.

Silly us. You and I can make resolutions anytime! Anytime is a good time to resolve to do something that is positive and beneficial for ourselves and others. We need not wait till the end or beginning of the week or year. Yes, it’s easier to keep track but we can begin now.

Immature Mind Hops Around – Mature Mind Follows Through

We make promises to ourself that we hope to keep. Therein is the rub. We don’t make a resolution by hoping.  We make a resolution by committing. We are to be are purposeful, determined and unwavering? Is that you? If no then maybe you need some help.

First off what is your big resolution? I will go to the gym this year, everyday for an hour and lose 50 pounds. Fantastic! Will you keep it? If there is any doubt, if you waver in thinking about it what is the likelihood you will keep it? It would be better to chunk it down.

It would be better to say I will exercise 5 minutes every day. Yes, it could be more but make it reasonable and something you can do with or without the gym. I will walk more and sit less. Each time I get up to pee I will rebound for a minute.  Add exercise into your day.

No Matter How You Feel Get Up Dress Up Show Up Never Give Up

Build gradually and add more. Each time you do put a star on a piece of paper where you can see it. Yup, a star like the kind you may have received when a child. Pick your color. Or cross off each day on a calendar. At the end of 7 days gift yourself in a small way.

Give yourself a reward. Maybe go to the movie. Get a massage or pamper yourself in some healthy way. Enjoy some time with friends. Every day notice the sequence of consistent stars or Xs and resolve not to break the sequence. Keep it going!  This can work wonders.

Resolve to eat one healthy food and one less junk food. Resolve to get up 5 or 10 minutes earlier without the snooze button. Resolve to meet one new person a week. Resolve to smile more. Resolve to add more laughter and delight. Aim at what you want and make it simple.

Commitment Means Staying Loyal To What You Said You Will Do

Work toward the large goal in steps tiny enough to do every day but not so small they are boring or insignificant. Notice your progress by keeping track visually. Don’t break the sequence! Reward yourself every so often. Find an accountability partner to keep you on track.

Realize that champion athletes frequently don’t feel like training or conditioning but they do it anyway. They delay instant gratification for the larger reward. The prize is important enough to them to do this. Plus, they often find a coach or teammate to work with.

Having support or an accountability partner to inspire you, to compete with, to mutually assist in your goals and resolutions will help a lot. Sometimes keeping a commitment to a friend is more important to us than keeping promises to ourselves.  That is good.

It Is The Follow Through That Makes The Difference – Keep Going

However, keep promises to yourself too! If you say you will do something positive and good follow through on it. Make your word the law. Develop mental toughness. Bootstrap it. Get serious enough with yourself that you do it regardless. Chant positive affirmations.

Create a powerful mantra you declare to see you through. When the mind is right all the rest follows. If you are lazy and procrastinate you need to get your mind in order first. Your feelings will follow your thoughts and your actions stem from your feelings. Get it?

Keep in mind when you get in a boat to go sailing. Even if you have no final destination. You just are going to lazy about sail. You really do. You actually don’t just drift about unless you purposefully  take your hands of the rudder and sail and lie back to drift. Understand?

No Limits On Anything  The More You Dream The Farther You Get

You decide each moment which way to go. You also know at some point you’ll head back to the dock. You are always deciding and doing even when you don’t realize you are. You make decisions each second of the day. Learn to make your decisions serve you.

Deadlines are important too.  Again, chunk it down but keep it interesting. Instead of saying I’ll clean the whole house by Friday. . Say I will clean the kitchen counter this morning for 20 minutes or 10 minutes. In the afternoon do another set or pick something else.

Decide to sneak up on it and do it. In order to change you must leave your comfort zone sometime. Procrastination and laziness is staying within your zone of comfort. If you want to make your life different you will have to make some changes or it will remain the same.

Keep Your Head Up Your Heart Strong Wear Your Invisible Crown

Commit. Remember to be resolute means admirably purposeful, determined and unwavering. A resolution is defined as a firm decision to do or not do something. Whatever you are resolute to do don’t stop. Keep going! Don’t break the sequence. Keep on going!

Step by step you get there. Have fun. Enjoy it! Be committed to it. Make your word the law. Keep your promises to you and others. Delight and reward yourself for your progress. Celebrate doing it and your progress. Be thankful to do it. All helps you move forward.

Have a blessed new time keeping your promises! May you make all your dreams come true. Celebrate everything!” Rex Sikes

Celebrate each moment today!

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Photo used with permission of Phil Koch.

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Affirmations, Autosuggestion, Mindset, Responsibility

Knowing Comes From Doing: The More You Do The More You Can Do!

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“To know and not to do is to not know. Anyone who tells you something will or will not work and that person has not done it, truly does not know. Listen to those who have done what you want to and who have started out as you have started out. This is important.

When choosing a mentor of guide it is important the person began like you began. If they came from wealth and you didn’t they shouldn’t be your mentor. If you want to play basketball and they haven’t they shouldn’t be your mentor.  Get it?

Do not listen to people who haven’t done what you want to do if they haven’t done it. Naysayers are plentiful. Don’t even listen to yourself. It is easy to say no. It makes a difference to actually attempt to do something and follow through until it is done.

Thoughts Lead To Feelings Lead To Actions Lead To Results

When I was younger I didn’t think autosuggestions or affirmations worked. They certainly did not for me. I couldn’t get them to try as I might. I’d try and give up. Then I’d try and give up. The same sort of thing many do when wanting to quit smoking. Try and stop trying.

I thought it doesn’t work. Maybe it works for others but not for me. I was either too smart or too stupid to get it to work. I didn’t know how. There was a hidden secret. Others were just better and I not good enough. I had reasons, blames, excuses and complaints.

Other people today will tell you they tried it and it doesn’t work. They are not experts. They are people who gave up. Am I too harsh? Perhaps, or perhaps not harsh enough. Losers complain while winners celebrate. If they can’t succeed no one should succeed.

If You Do Nothing There Will Be No Result – Take Action

Do not let anyone rain on your parade. Not even yourself. Do the thing and you will know. Don’t do the thing and you will never know. To know and not to do is not to know. If you read books to try to change yourself but don’t take the action steps to do it you lose.

You don’t know. Information will not change you. Only applied information correctly, consistently, for long enough will change you. It is always, usually, most difficult in the beginning. Yes, along the way there may be other speed bumps. Over all it gets easier.

With application it gets easier to do. Once you make it a habit, a routine, a daily ritual it is easy to do. You do it because it is your new habit. If you want to your life to change you have to change  some of the things in your life. You cannot continue the same way.

Doing What You Aways Did Will Get You What You Always Got

Do it! Learn to control your thinking. Do it! At one time I thought it impossible. When I was younger I quit many times. When I was older and prepared to face a challenge I committed to it.I stayed with it through easy times and the tough times. I continue to commit.

Challenges arise. I maintain control. I continue to exercise control. If I lose it. I much more quickly regain it. My life is most incredible as a result. I developed mental toughness and gentleness. I did it because at one point there was nothing else for me to do. I mean that!

I had to do it. I felt overwhelmed and lost. Even though I had lots of skills and knowledge and experience I hit a wall. A huge wall and my first thought was ,’I can’t live like this anymore’.  I had to find a way to make what I want consistently occur. I had to be in charge of me.

Resolutions Require Only Words – Results Require Actions

I started back at square one. I began applying what I knew didn’t work. I re-read Napoleon Hill. I did it his way. I did it my way. I used my Directed Questions™ I had developed earlier. I made it my mission to control my thoughts and emotions and get better results.

Eventually, it began working. There were ups and downs. The difference for me this time was I was prepared to face the down times and see it through them. When they got tough I  exclaimed, ‘Bring it on!’ I was determined to be bigger than my problems.

Previously, in my old conditioned life, when times got tough, I’d think, ‘I knew it. This doesn’t work. Why me? ‘ I’d quit. I’d go into negative, depressed, woe is me, worried thinking. I’d worry about what was going on, not going on or what was coming up.

The Result Of The Action Depends On The Quality Of The Action

It sucked. Once I decided ‘no matter what’ I was going to see it through, I saw it through. I continue to do so. Whenever thoughts came up I didn’t like I’d do a trick I’d learned in the 70’s and say ‘cancel’. Later, I replaced it with, ‘No thanks, but thanks for sharing.’

These helped me identify and deal with unwanted thoughts or feelings. Sometimes I had to say it numerous times in succession. I found it easier to say ‘thanks for sharing’ because I didn’t try to fight it. I simply acknowledged it and went on. I didn’t let it interfere.

Regarding circumstances, I’d think, ‘It is what it is.’ However it works out ‘it is what it is’. I respond but not get caught up. I realized whatever I do may or may not work. It will end up how ever it ends up. I still can pursue what I want but I am not married to the result.

Failure Only Happens When You Give Up Trying – Never Quit

The result will be whatever it is. I will have to adjust as necessary. These practices have been so freeing and have helped me move forward. I love my life. I love what I have learned and applied. I love how I have evolved. I love I still am evolving, learning and applying.

Don’t believe me because I say it works. Believe yourself when you make it work. That is the only actual way to know. Many may say many things. People said, we’d never fly or land on the moon. The experts of the day said that. Experts don’t know either. Unless…

Unless they have successfully already done it and leave the door open for other possibilities. Your friends and family may say you are silly for thinking a certain way. Be respectful. Do not be gullible either. Make sure you are getting good, accurate info from each side.

Winners Are Not People Who Never Fail But Who Never Quit

Don’t leap without looking. Don’t invest your time, energy, money or more into schemes. That is not what I am talking about at all. I am talking about developing positive, powerful, personal habits that help you get through life more confidently and joyously.

You can learn anything and master it. The more you do the more you can do. Step by step, you journey. Drop by drop the tub fills. Make the effort. That is what makes the difference. Develop the mind set of a winner and champion. Develop and unbeatable attitude.

Become invincible in your pursuit. Never stop. If you fall get back up. I learned how important it was to continue on. I learned that gratitude made it far easier. When you consider EVERYTHING a blessing you can say ‘bring it on!’ Be grateful for the challenges too. You will do it. Commit to it today. Have fun. Never stop AND Be grateful and celebrate everything!” Rex Sikes

Celebrate today!

If you like these posts – subscribe. If you think these posts would help others please share them. Help Spread the word.

Photo used with permission of Phil Koch.

NEW BLOG SITE LAUNCHES SOON – Do you get this blog emailed to you? You will have  to again subscribe to this blog, newsletter. I’d hate for you to miss anything when it switches. Subscribe and Follow Daily Inspiration and Gratitude!

Beliefs, Conditioning, Creating The Future, Responsibility

Whether Or Not You Realize It You Are Doing This To Your Self!

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“What do you want? That is an important question. Some want money, stardom, love, fun, family, excitement, simplicity, relaxation and more. Some want better toys and things. Some want to connect deeply with another person. Others want to find their purpose.

Science indicates more and more that what goes on in our outer world, that which we call reality, is actually a reflection of our inner world. Our brains interpret trillions of bits of data that come into us through our senses. We assimilate and draw conclusions.

Our data is run through perceptual filters and then filtered again based on our beliefs, values, conditioning and experiences. We make all sorts of inner transforms and computations outside of of conscious awareness and create a personal map of reality.

Your Inner World Reflects Your Outer World

This map is individual and shared. It is agreed upon outside of awareness. It becomes a governing by consensus. We share a ‘common reality’ or map while we have an ‘individual map’. These can wildly differ while agreeing at the same time. This is amazing.

We are map makers and meaning makers. We assign value to a representation of reality, that we create, because we don’t actually experience reality EXCEPT through our neurological filters. We are steps removed from it. We only know our filtered, created reality.

Our ‘reality’ is a projection. A version of what’s ‘out there’ or ‘in here’ because by filtering data we leave things out. We aren’t even aware it is missing. It is deleted. We either never received it because it was filtered OR we are unaware of it because it is out of our awareness.

To Change The Outer World – You Must Change The Inner World

We distort things. A good example of this is Van Gough paintings. They are a creative distortion of what is ‘out there’. This is a talent. Plus, we generalize. We can recognize many different forms of chairs without having to learn each every time. We are talented.

Our filters limit us but they are also the basis of our creativity and genius. We have to work with what we have, don’t we?  So though neurological transforms we create a map of reality, a representation, or better yet a re-representation, of what is out there. It is a map.

According to science, AND mystics, religious leaders and philosophers we don’t really have much to do with reality. We only know re-representations of it. It is just as if we have an actual road map of our entire life and universe. Our brains map our reality.

The Map Is Not The Territory – The Map Is The Map

Hence, we draw conclusions, make rules, form beliefs, all on limited bits of filtered information which is missing elements and distorted. We don’t have the whole truth in its entirety! We have a map put together of snippets of this and that. Our map is incomplete!

Remember maps you hold in your hand? Now days we have GPS. It is the same. It is a detailed representation of the roadways so we can navigate. It doesn’t contain everything you see along the road. It can’t. It is a representation of what is there. It is smaller and limited.

Our maps are smaller and limited than what is actually ‘out there’. They are incomplete. We live in a microcosm. We don’t have a complete picture. We couldn’t. The map by definition IS smaller than what it portrays. We have an incomplete road map of our universe.

Remember You Operate From The Map Not From Reality

We may have many maps and share many similar maps. To the degree that we share and understand each other’s maps is the degree to which we have rapport. We can understand where the other person is ‘coming from’. We have elements in common.

We see through the glass dimly. We impose our inner reality, our map, on the outer reality, We use the lessor to define the greater and miss many important things. There are no limitations in reality. The limitations exist in our map. Limitations exist in our thinking.

That is why Henry Ford could correctly say, ‘Whether you think you can or you think you can’t you are correct’. If we want things to be different for us we need to make better maps. We need to stop limited thinking and think better. The outer reflects the inner.

Make A Better Map – Create What You Want – Say Yes To Life

I repeat. The outer is a reflection of the inner because the inner is all we actually have. We mistakenly think we are dealing with the outer but at all times we are dealing with our re-representation of what we think is going on based on our neurological filtering. Whew!

So to the point. Life, out there, mirrors our thoughts. We create the reality we live in either consciously or non-consciously. The sooner we realize this and take responsibility for it the sooner we can begin to have more of what we want to have. We can become deliberate.

Instead of haphazard creation based on prior faulty conditioning we can choose consciously what we deliberately intend to experience and we can take inspired action steps to bring that new reality about. AS you keep your thoughts positive you create a positive life.

Limitations Don’t Exist In Reality – Limitations Exist In The Map

You create new experiences because you brain looks for these opportunities you otherwise miss. You get what you focus on. If you are focused on problems you are apt to miss positive opportunities as they present because the opportunities aren’t in your awareness.

They aren’t in your map. If the location you want to travel to isn’t on your map how would you get there? Life mirrors thought. If you keep your thoughts positive you create a more positive life. You create more positive experiences. You notice more! You experience more!

Say yes to life and life will say yes to you! You get back what you put out. What you think about you become. Get it? Be grateful and enjoy all of it and all of it can transform in wildly wonderful ways. YOU are doing it! You are changing your map! Understand? Do you?

As Within So Without – As Above So Below – You Create Reality

Take charge of your life by taking control of your inner thoughts and representations. Say yes to life. Delight and enjoy and you will discover more to delight and enjoyment. Think and feel abundance and you will experience more abundance. YOU are doing it! Create what you want. Be grateful. Have fun. Celebrate everything!” Rex Sikes

Make today delightful!

If you like these posts – subscribe. If you think these posts would help others please share them. Help Spread the word.

Photo used with permission of Phil Koch.

NEW BLOG SITE LAUNCHES SOON – Do you get this blog emailed to you? You will have  to again subscribe to this blog, newsletter. I’d hate for you to miss anything when it switches. Subscribe and Follow Daily Inspiration and Gratitude!

Conditioning, Mindset, Persistence, Responsibility

50 – 50 – 50 Don’t Miss This 50 – 50 – 50

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“My philosophy honed from over 40 years of training, and the rest of the years of my own life, is go ahead and dip your toes in the crap pool but dive into the wonderful, incredible pool. Immerse yourself in the goodness by keeping yourself focused on positive feelings.

Does this mean we are never angry, fearful, doubtful or sad? Absolutely not. It means we feel what is going on. We allow it. Accept it and then move on. We acknowledge difficulties but we don’t get caught in them. We don’t wallow in our problems.

Too many people bask in the crap when they could, read that again, they COULD bask in all the wonderfulness life offers. They do it because they were conditioned to do it. They really don’t know, or have any better way to think or behave. It is all they know and do.

You Can Do Anything You Set Your Mind To It Takes Perseverance

I am for being a mental warrior, a champion. Bring discipline to your mind and feelings so you can discover what is possible when you do. If you don’t do it you won’t know. AND what you don’t know and have no experience in YOU don’t know and have no experience in.

That doesn’t mean you will never know only that you don’t know how it could be different right now in your present. In order to know and experience the difference you must do something different. You do understand this, right? If you do not know YOU DO NOT KNOW.

You cannot keep doing things exactly the same way and expect things to change or be different.  If you always do what you always did you DO ALWAYS get what you ALWAYS GOT. That is how it works. This isn’t rocket science it is quite simple and easy to grasp.

Will It Be Easy – Nope – Will It Be Worth It – Absolutely

You keep doing things over and over again that you may not want to because habits are reliable. They work automatically. They are neural pathways of behaviors that you learned through repetition over time. They are well practiced and rehearsed. They are habits!

This may include negative thinking and limiting beliefs, feeling sad or anxious, or biting your nails, twisting your hair or smoking. Each habit is developed either by repeated exposure or repeated practice. For something to become a habit you have to do it over and over.

You may not have considered it practice to smoke but each time you sucked on a cigarette you were practicing the habit, and developing the habit of smoking. Same is true about biting your nails, feeling bad or thinking you are worthless. You did it enough times to master it.

Focus – You Can Do This – Repetition Is The Mother Of Skill

You learned a skill that resulted in less than glorious thoughts feelings and behaviors. Get it? It actually is a learned behavior as is any skill you have ever learned. Walking, talking, reading, writing, and each and everything that you do well. Those are habits too.

There is the opportunity to change each of less than glorious habits. Since you learned them to begin with you can learn to replace them. It takes focus, dedication and perseverance. Many people try quitting smoking many times using many methods.  Right?

Because they haven’t quit yet doesn’t mean they can’t quit. Unless they decide it is impossible and keep doing it. You can do anything you decide you can do. To change, first decide you are bigger than the challenge facing you. Second, cut the problem down to size.

You Get What You Focus On – If You Dream It You Can Do It

Approach it with successive baby steps. You are bigger than your problem and you break it into tiny manageable bits. It is like climbing a ladder to the top. You go up one wrung at a time. You eat and elephant bite by bite. You travel one step after the other.

Some people have never learned to do this. If you haven’t yet then this is your starting place. You need to first learn how to think powerfully and positively. Learn to manage and control your thoughts and feelings. Everything is easier after you learn this.

Master your thoughts and feelings and your challenges become more easily dealt with. You transform yourself into a person of solutions instead of a person who has problems. Is it easy? No, not always. Some days it is harder than others. BUT It is simple.

Instead Of Why You Can’t Give Yourself Reasons Why You Can

It is not complicated. You can do each piece. Are push ups easy when you start doing them at first? Nope. Do your muscles get sore? Yep. The same is true of mental conditioning. You will have good days and bad days. Get over that. That is what life is, sunshine and rain.

You can have far more better days, feeling better than ever before when you apply yourself and learn how. It can be incredibly amazing but you won’t know until you actually do it. If you begin and quit you won’t know. You have to succeed to know what success is all about.

If you are like some people, you will claim you tried it, but IT doesn’t work. You assume because you gave it a shot, but didn’t continue, that you know all about it and how it doesn’t work. The brutal truth is you didn’t do it long enough or well enough to succeed at it.

What The Mind Of Man Can Conceive And Believe It Can Achieve

That is not to blame you. That is to get you to take responsibility for what you do. Hey, if you don’t like snails after you ate a few, you are allowed to say, ‘I don’t like snails. I tried them and I don’t enjoy eating them.’ Okay, just own up to what you did and what you don’t do.

Perhaps, you didn’t try all the possible variations until you found one you did enjoy, but you did try them and didn’t like them. Saying ‘I don’t like them’ is not the same as saying ‘snails are horrible’ or ‘nobody should eat snails because they are bad’. Do you get this?

Yet this is what many people do. They give something a shot and then conclude there is something wrong or not valuable because they weren’t able to make it work for them. You must hang in there. It isn’t that IT works it is that YOU work. You make the difference.

Start Where You Are – Use What You Have – Do What You Can

Don’t say, ‘I did a bicep curl a couple times and nothing happened. Bicep curls are foolish. Any one who does them is wasting their time.’ That may be your opinion but who cares. Opinions don’t matter much when it comes to reality. However, they help shape the reality.

Opinions shape your experience. It is likely you may not know the benefits of bicep curls or snails because your opinions may prevent you from ever trying them again. SO YOU WILL NEVER EVER KNOW and if you are okay with that so am I. Just own it.

Don’t blame others or circumstances or make excuses or whine. Own that it is not for you after a couple of non-successful attempts. Admit that you don’t know if it works or not. Maybe it does maybe it doesn’t but YOU are not willing to find out. THAT at least is honest!

Action Is The Proper Fruit Of Knowledge – Talk Is Cheap – Do It

Be honest with yourself and others. If you do things that others have done for centuries, that have worked for the people who have made it work, it is likely, ultimately, it will work for you too. Figuring out how to make it work seems more important than giving up.

But that is just how I think about it. Make it work. Find or create a way. Develop your power and your mental toughness and positivity to the point where you can make, create and attract what you do want. Make it so. That is the choice you have. Do it or don’t do it.

If you decide to do it realize you are not an expert to begin with. You need to have realistic time expectations. Everything takes time. An oak tree takes time to grow. It takes time to get good at baseball, playing a piano, becoming a chef or chess player or a swimmer.

Only You Can Change Your Life – No One Can Do It For You

Yes, you can get some experience early on but to become proficient, to become a master, takes time. Learning to control your thoughts and feelings and behaviors after however many years of not doing this, will take some time. Everything takes SOME time, doesn’t it?

It may surprise you how quickly things can begin to shift for you, especially if you do a little bit daily. BUT expect to be in for the long haul. If you commit to ‘I will do whatever it takes for as long as it takes’ you are well on your way IF you really mean it.

That is why people who bottom out often become great successes. They have no other choice. It is either move upward or stay on the bottom. Once they decide they hate the bottom and won’t accept being there any longer they move to get what they want.

Change  I Can’t Into I Can – Pretty Soon You’ll Say – I Did

You can too. I hope you don’t have to bottom out to do so, but if you think about it as if you have no other choice but to succeed, then you can. It is either I do this or… If you are 1000% committed and there is no stopping you YOU will succeed.

Now let me tell you about a man whose story I was recently introduced to. You know that an Iron Man Triathlon is one of the most grueling forms of self punishing competition there is. You swim for miles. Bike for miles. Run for miles. It is brutal on the body.

Some who attempt don’t finish. Some do one so they can say they have. Can you imagine how you must feel doing one of those? If you make it, it must be elating. If you make it I image it must hurt too. I have never done one so I can’t say. I can imagine, however.

A Positive Attitude Gives You Power Over Your Circumstances

From reports I have heard some people suffer a lot. They do, however, consider it worth it. Some, in spite of the pain and hardship decide to do another one. Can you imagine that? All the training. The sweat, blood, tears. Then the competition. Let’s do it again! Huh?

James Lawrence, The Iron Cowboy, has done a few. He decided to do 50 Iron Man competitions. That is a heck of a lot of triathlons, wouldn’t you say? 50 and he completed 50! Isn’t that amazing? That is truly being dedicated. WOW, can you imagine that?

NOT ONLY did he complete 50 competitions he did it in 50 days AND  in 50 states! Do you understand this? 50 of the toughest competitions mankind has in 50 consecutive days in 50 STATES. That meant do the ironman and travel. That meant no recovery time.

Do It – Be Brave Take Risks – There’s No Substitute For Experience

That meant do it, finish, travel to next competition and do it again the very next day. Then do it again and again. He completed all 50 in spite of the fact that every expert, athlete, doctor and triathlon competitor said it was impossible. They all said not doable. NOPE!

Not only not doable but lunacy to think it possible. Right? They told us the 4 minute mile was impossible. They said, we would never fly or reach the moon. Who said it exactly? Why the experts of the day, of course. The authorities. Those in the know. All said NOPE!

Mr. Lawrence was told he could not succeed! BUT HE DID! He holds the records. The most Iron Mans in a year. He first did 30 in eleven countries. That was 2012. In 2015 this 36 year old swam 2.4 miles, biked 112 miles and ran 26.2 miles each and every day for 50 days.

Positive Attitude Changes Everything You Get What You Focus On

My point? He is born into the same world you and I are the same way. The difference between you and me and him is he decided he would do it then he set out to accomplish it. He didn’t think magically it would be attracted to him. He created the challenge.

He met the challenge with no other talents other than being human and committed. You and I COULD do likewise. Perhaps, we could even surpass his record if we would only try. Even if we didn’t reach 50 we would do more than we might have because we had a goal.

Because we were committed to going further than we ever had before. If one can do it, others can. After the 4 minute mile was broken numerous people did it within months of the record being set. Since then it has constantly been broken again and again.

Whether You Think You Can Or You Think You Can’t – You’re Right

That is because once something is done by one person others begin to believe it is possible. If you believe something is possible you are well on your way to achieving it. If you don’t believe it possible you won’t ever personally know because you won’t attempt it.

Or you will give up after awhile stating , ‘I knew it couldn’t be done’. Don’t let your own thoughts prevent you from being the best you you can be. Learn to take control of your thoughts and emotions and behaviors and make the world your oyster.

Find out what you can do when you put energy into it. This is how you evolve yourself. This is how you overcome adversity and defeat. YOU meet it head on realizing YOU are bigger than any challenge. Develop the champion mindset and don’t let anything stop you and you will be triumphant. Do it. Celebrate it! Then celebrate everything!” Rex Sikes

Make it happen today!

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Acceptance, Overcoming Difficulty, Responsibility, Self Improvement

The Surest Signal You Are Ready For A Change

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“The surest signal you are ready to change is discomfort. Why discomfort? You might ask. Well, when you are feeling uncomfortable  you seek to feel comfortable again. Don’t you? Yes, you do. Humans try to maintain comfort at nearly all costs.

When you are outside of your zone if feels UNcomfortable.  What is really going on is your subconscious, while trying to preserve your comfort, is telling you that you need to change something. Your feelings are the signal, they are clues, you need to make a change.

When you are comfortable there isn’t any resistance. When you are growing or pushing the envelop there is some push back. If everything is cushy, then, suddenly uncomfortable, or you feel negative or sad, or angry, you are getting a message to change.

Your Heart Knows Things Your Mind Cant Explain

If everything were okay you wouldn’t feel discomfort. Would you? You’d feel as if everything was fine. So then discomfort IS the signal that something is amiss! Stop fighting the signal. Accept it. Seek to change the cause of the signal. Correct that and continue.

This is wonderful. The good news is you have a system that signals you when you need to make a change. Learn to recognize when you are being signaled. You are being called to action. Your non-conscious self is alerting you so you can make adjustments.

Hooray, celebrate you no longer have to be stuck the way you are. You get a message delivered from your self that you need to change some things. The discomfort is alerting you so you CAN change your thinking because your thoughts determines how you feel.

Trust Your Gut It Knows What Your Head Hasn’t Figured Out

Change your thinking and your feeling and your actions change. Change your thinking for the better and get better results. That is how it works. Challenge, discomfort, struggle is really an opportunity to be and do thing differently. Do you understand?

If you always do what you always did you will always get what you always got. You wouldn’t grow and evolve. Think of struggle and challenge and pain as growth spurts. Those can be uncomfortable but it IS because you are growing and evolving. Embrace change.

Embrace the discomfort and you will go through it more quickly. Accept it. Allow it. Learn whatever lesson is there for you to learn. Be glad. Feel blessed. Express gratitude. When you do you are bigger than your problems and can manage them more readily. You evolve quicker. So celebrate everything!” Rex Sikes

How much delight can you create today?

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Acceptance, Celebration, Relationships, Responsibility

How To Get Along Better With Everyone

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“Would you like to get along better with people? For some that means family, friends, or employers, employees or co-workers and associates. For others it means strangers or people the meet in the coffee shop and supermarket Here is a framework to keep in mind.

To get along with others first notice they are different from you. They are unlike you in nearly every way. They like different things. They do things in ways you don’t like or understand. They have opposite views and understanding. They have different values.

They are not like you at all. The have different political views, religious views and approaches to doing things you may think are insane. They have habits or behaviors that are annoying. Why they are like they are and do what they do is anyone’s guess!

Speak In Such A Way That Others Love To Listen To You

While different in many ways they are also just like you. They have hopes and dreams, people and things they love, fears and worries, anger and sadness. They are people just like you but different. They want to be loved and need security. They want to be care for.

They want to care for others too. They want loyal dependable people around them. Most likely they want some creature comforts. Like you they are doing the best with what they have. Like you they are trying to make their way in the world with an incomplete map.

Just like you they weren’t born with an owner’s manual. They learn by trail and error too. They make mistakes and hold grudges. Do you get it yet? People are more like each other than they are different! We all have the same basic needs and many of the same wants.

Listen In Such A Way That Others Love To Speak To You

How we go about understanding these and fulfilling these differ. What we consider important may differ but otherwise we are mostly alike. We are all trying to make our way in the world. We make rules for ourselves and others. We uphold these and break these rules.

How do you best get along with others? Two ways. Treat others the way you prefer to be treated. AND treat others the way they prefer to be treated. The first is about YOUR mindset. What is good for the goose is good for the gander. If you like it do it for others.

If YOU don’t like it then remember OTHERS may not either. Treat them the way you want to be treated. If you want respect, respect them. If you want love, love them. If you want to be heard, listen to them. Get it? Whatever you want, give first, and you will give it back.

Enter Someone Else’s World And Make Them Feel You Understand

Treat others the way they prefer to be treated means THEY may not want to get it the way you do. They may like their coffee with cream while you like yours black. Give them coffee with cream. Be willing to adjust and tailor your approach to their preferences. Understand?

Give them what they want or need they way THEY want or need it. Do not demand they do things, think things of feel things as you do. Allow them to be themselves with their preferences. Allow them to pursue their dreams as they see fit. Stop judging and start accepting.

Live and let live. You want to be understood and ask that people speak softly. They want to be understood and ask that people speak up. To best communicate with them speak loudly. You may ask that they be a little more quiet. Negotiate  an agreement. Consider this.

Be The Person That Makes Others Feel Special

Some people walk either faster or slower than you do. Walk at their rate. Do it their way. Together you will find a rhythm. The same is true when speaking. Some speak faster others slower. If you are with a fast talker speed up a bit, with a slower one, slow down.

Why is this important to do? You learn to be more flexible and adjust and vary your behaviors. You learn to communicate with more people. Doing this takes you out of your comfort zone but eventually you become more comfortable doing things in a variety of ways.

It will help you learn better that we are the same while different. Whatever color, gender, nationality, religion or political ideology we are pretty  much the same. We want mostly the same things and yet, we go about getting what we want differently. Our values may differ.

Be Known For Your Kindness And Grace

The more mentally and behaviorally flexible you are and the more you can accept others for whom they are and the more successful you can be. The more ways you have to understand people the greater your chances for creating understanding with more people.

Most people are trying to do the best they can with the cards they feel they have been dealt. Many don’t realize it can be different. They only see from their conditioned point of you. If you can get beyond your conditioning you can have greater success with others.

Treat people  the way you want to be treated but also they way they want to be treated. If you cultivate a deep appreciation for others that works wonders too. The more you are grateful the more the world opens up for you. You radiate an energy that attracts others.

Your Greatness Isn’t In What You Have It Is In What You Give

When you are positive and filled with gratitude deep within you can stop telling others how to live. You can allow and accept others for who they are. This gives you immense freedom too. You are free to let them be who they are and you are free to be yourself.

Live, laugh, learn and love. Fill yourself with delight. Be more willing to laugh with people and let hurts and daily jostles roll off of you. Let it all go. Don’t laugh at people but with them. Be grateful. Enjoy everyone. A stranger is merely a friend you haven’t met yet. Have fun. Celebrate everything!” Rex Sikes

Have a  good today.

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Photo used with permission of Phil Koch.

NEW BLOG SITE LAUNCHES SOON – Do you get this blog emailed to you? You will have  to again subscribe to this blog, newsletter. I’d hate for you to miss anything when it switches. Subscribe and Follow Daily Inspiration and Gratitude!

 

Focus, Overcoming Difficulty, Positive Thinking, Responsibility

Stop Acting Like Your Tongue. Just Stop It!

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“I am going to share a small event that happened today. However, there is a large lesson that can be learn. The event is an analogy for how we approach difficulties and what we can and must do instead if we’d like to get over them. If you want your life to change, then, you must change things in your life. That is how it works.

This morning, at breakfast, I broke my tooth. It must have been a cap. I don’t recall having any front teeth capped but while chewing I noticed something gritty and stopped to extract what appeared to be a tiny piece of bone or tooth. It might be a tooth and not a cap. All I know for certain is there’s a dentist in my future.

At first I thought it was something in my food. I decided to run a check.I ran my tongue along the bottoms of my top teeth and didn’t notice anything, at first. I sipped some coffee and then noticed my lip felt funny. I ran my tongue over the front of my teeth and felt a gap. A large one! It is sharp and can scrap my tongue.

When You Focus On Problems You’ll Have More Problems

It doesn’t hurt but it is scratchy to my tongue. Plus, the area along the gum line actually scraps the inside of my upper lip high up. When I run my tongue over my teeth it is sharp, scrapping and uncomfortable. I am missing a tooth. Still, I have all my other teeth that are fine, smooth and work perfectly well.

All my other teeth are fine. This is my point. Too often, we focus on what isn’t there. We look at what we don’t have. We notice what is missing. What is wrong. We concentrate on a problem. We examine it from all sides just as our tongue searches and explores our mouth when something is amiss. We keep at it too over and over.

When things are right we don’t nearly notice at all. We don’t pay attention or express much gratitude that we have everything is fine. Even when we have a problem or problems we focus on those and miss all the other things that are right and good. Our focus is disproportionate to what it. Yes, we have problems. We do.

When You Focus On Possibilities You’ll Have More Opportunities

But most everything else is fine. Just as there are crappy weather days most of the days are pleasant. Yes, there are atrocious acts committed by bad people but there is MORE good and right that goes unnoticed and unappreciated. I have more teeth that are perfectly fine but one that broke. Which gets more attention?

And there you have it! We have all this things that are going well and are good in our lives that we don’t pay attention too. Instead we focus on what is wrong, broken, missing our lacking. You know the sad thing about all this, don’t you. We get what we focus on. We become what we think about most.

What we think about we bring about. What we hold in our head we will someday hold in our hand. We end up creating and attracting more of the same of WHATEVER it is we focus on. That is how it works Energy flows where attention goes. Water weeds or flowers they both grow. The one that grows is the one you nourish.

What You Focus On Expands – Choose What You Focus On

We spend time watering the weeds. We get bad results because we nurture the negative. Worry is just negatively planning for your future to suck. Yet, just like our tongues that is what we probe and explore and search out and find. We wallow in crap and get covered in it. We roll in it, bath in it and then complain about it.

All our moaning and whining and complaining and blaming and excusing brings more of the same. We are putting energy into our problems and misfortune. Instead of deciding to create what we want we live as if we have no other choice. We have choices even when we don’t feel we do. We do and we ought to begin to act like it.

Focus on what you do have that works. Focus on the teeth that are there and work well. Pay attention and concentrate on that which is good, positive and working well. Let go of what isn’t working. Focus on what does work. Remember, what you focus on expands. What you think about you become. Focus on the positive things.

Focus On What You Want To Create – Set Positive Intentions

Drop the negativity and focus on the good you can be. Focus on the good you can do do and the good you have. Draw your attention to what you can be thankful for. Feel grateful! Fill yourself with positive emotions and wonderful feelings. Stop looking for what is wrong. Stop looking at what is wrong. You already noticed it.

Stop dwelling on what sucks and start dwelling on what is great. This IS how you will make your life different and better. If you want your life to change YOU HAVE TO CHANGE things in your life. Change what you put energy into. Withdraw yours. Starve the problems and feed the solutions. Learn to control your mind.

Focus on what is right! Celebrate what you already have to be thankful for. Really get into appreciating all the other stuff you normally don’t bother to notice. Notice the good. Notice it! Take inventory. Catalog it. Embrace it. Feel it! Delight in it. Do it now! Learn that your life can and will be different when you celebrate everything!” Rex Sikes

Feel good  today!

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Photo used with permission of Phil Koch.

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Gratitude, Intentional Thinking, Positive Affirmations, Responsibility

Stop Being A Wimp Start Being A Champion

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“The very moment you begin to affirm who you are and what you are going to do you leave the victim role behind. When you positively declare, ‘I will make it so’, or ‘I am a powerful creator’ you step into your power. You stop being a wimp and start becoming a champion.

This is only the first step. You learn you are not helpless. You discover YOU CAN do things to make what you want happen. You claim your life, your abilities and your will power and begin to put them into action. You acknowledge your power and move forward.

That first step is incredible. It is life changing. It is magnificent! It is powerful BUT it is not enough. YOU MUST take the second step, and the third step. You will never get to your destination taking only a single step. You must continue on your journey. You must  continue.

Don’t Quit Suffer Now – Live The Rest Of Your Life As A Champion

You must persevere. Once you begin declaring your true power and ability to shape your destiny. Never, ever give up. Adjust, adapt, be flexible, make corrections AND continue. Don’t start the race if you don’t intend to cross the finish line. Keep doing. Keep on affirming.

The first step is life changing. So are all the other steps you will take. Sometimes it will be easy. Sometimes challenges will seem insurmountable. Correct and continue. Keep doing. Keep affirming. Keep declaring and using and wielding your positive power. ‘I am!’

Declare. Make your word the law! Claim your power and your authority and continue onward making positive changes for yourself and others. Make your life and the lives of those around you better. Help make the world a better, more enjoyable, positive place.

A Champion Is Someone Who Gets Up Even When He Can’t

You can do it. Fill you mind with positivity. Fill your heart with gratitude! Make each moment count. Stay optimistic. Know inside, deep inside, you can accomplish your dreams. Be passionate. Be clear. Be certain. Delight all along the way no matter what happens or doesn’t happen. Live fully and celebrate everything!” Rex Sikes

How much beauty will you discover today?

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Photo used with permission of Phil Koch.

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Acceptance, Celebration, Responsibility, Self Improvement

My Goodness There Is Something About You

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“Remember this during a time of celebration, like Thanksgiving. More importantly, remember it each and every day you live. Celebrate it and be thankful. Daily practice is when you want to remember and validate it the most. Remind yourself each moment.

You are unique. There is no one like you. You aren’t in competition with anyone else in the universe. You are special. You are wonderful. You are marvelous. There never was nor will there be another like you. You are one of a kind. Accept, love and embrace yourself.

Accept your uniqueness. Allow it. You are a special offering. Your competition isn’t others it is with yourself. Be better tomorrow than you were today. Evolve. Improve. Get better. Live fuller and happier in each moment. Thrive. Take time to nurture and develop yourself.

Thanksgiving Could Be More Than A Yearly Event – Practice Daily

Develop yourself. Become the best you, you can become. There is no limit. There is only possibility and potential. Fill your mind with the best, the most positive and wonderful thoughts. Bask in the most glorious feelings. Help yourself and help others. Go the extra mile.

Your choices and your actions can lead to positive results. Make tomorrow a better day for you and others. You are here for a positive reason. Discover what that reason is and fulfill it. Be filled with joy, and peace and light. Celebrate everything!” Rex Sikes

Have a beautiful day!

If you like these posts – subscribe. If you think these posts would help others please share them. Help Spread the word.

Photo used with permission of Phil Koch.

NEW BLOG SITE LAUNCHES SOON – Do you get this blog emailed to you? You will have  to again subscribe to this blog, newsletter. I’d hate for you to miss anything when it switches. Subscribe and Follow Daily Inspiration and Gratitude!

Attitude, Focus, Habit Formation, Responsibility

We All Just Need Some Tough Love

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“In this day and age many want to be coddled. Some don’t want to hear that it takes hard work to make things happen. Some want to wish, others want to complain, a few want others to do it for them. Sadly, wishing, complaining, not doing or luck isn’t the best answer.

If you want your dreams to come true you have to make them come true. One of my favorite quotes is, ‘Luck is the crossroads where preparation and opportunity meet’. That takes thinking right and doing right. Both are required. Which is most important? Mindset.

Work smarter not harder. Having the right mindset is 95% of success. Doing smartly the other 5%. Still, people whine and complain and say it isn’t so. When I say ‘stop complaining and stop sniveling’ and start taking control of your mindset it is tough love.

The Power Of Determination Will Make You Unstoppable

Yes, I understand you might be having it very rough. I get it. Many of us have incredible challenges at different times in our lives. I simply want to remind you that thinking right and will power gets you further faster than complaining, blaming and making excuses.

Athletes have training coaches who don’t coddle but prod them, perhaps push them on to success. I need a coach or mentor, most people do. We need people who help us push past our own stopping points. We need role models and examples of those who succeed.

Many of us try to do it on our own. We allow our own habits of thought, feeling and action defeat us. We give up or give in to the easy way. Success or happiness or both require a different way of thinking and behaving. It comes to us when we go to it. Two-way!

Your Attitude Plus Your Choices Equals Your Life

Will it be easy? No, probably not, but it is simple. Get your mental act together and almost everything else falls into place! Does that mean the world changes for you? Probably not. Frankly, who truly knows. Miracles seem to happen to those who expect them to. Have faith!

Yet others wish and hope and want without anything seeming to happen. Hang in there. The temptation is to give up and throw in the towel but that doesn’t make anything happen. That is turning temporary defeat into permanent failure. Stop, do anything else!

Keep the faith. Work on your attitude and positive thinking. Stay optimistic. Believe you can find or create away. Realize that if you are flexible you can make corrections as necessary and adapt to any situation. You can even learn to go beyond them. Embrace challenge.

I Didn’t Come This Far – To Only Come This Far

Do not let your problems get the better of you. Be bigger than any problem or challenge. Learn how. Get your attitude working for you. Develop habits for success. Think, feel and act like a champion. You’ll get further faster than acting like a wimp. Sorry, but it is true.

That hay won’t get bailed by whining and complaining. Nor will it go quicker with a crappy attitude. It may actually take longer if you resist. Develop determination to do the positive good actions required of you to make happen that which you desire most.

Think positive and feel positive. Take positive action steps toward the results you want. If you don’t yet know what to do you will learn as you go. Walk as far ahead as you can see and when you get there you will see farther. That is how it works. Mindset leads to results.

Attitude Is The Difference Between An Ordeal And An Adventure

Develop indomitable spirit. Grow your backbone. Put in the time controlling your thoughts and soon you will be surprised. If it isn’t working for you, it isn’t working YET for you. Develop good success habits. Fill your mind  with inspiring and motivational thoughts.

Adopt a CAN DO attitude. If you don’t know how you can learn. Study. Spend time with people who are making positive things happen. You have to change what you are doing if you want to change your life. Success breeds more success. Hang in there.

Study this blog. Read the great thought leaders. Live what you learn. If you don’t apply it nothing will change. You may need to change your main circle of influence and seek out new positive people. If you do nothing and remain the same YOU WILL remain the same.

If You Are Willing To Learn No One Can Stop You – Be Unstoppable

Action is the proper fruit of knowledge. To know it but not to do it is to not know it. If you haven’t yet got the result you desire change what you are doing in positive ways. It will come in time. Stick with it. Believe it and believe in yourself. This is tough love. Love yourself!

If nothing else fully practice gratitude. Delight and enjoy. Be thankful for what you can presently do, what you will someday do. Be thankful for what you do have and what you will have. Gratitude will make an incredible difference for you. You will only discover this difference when you actually celebrate everything!” Rex Sikes

Make this day a magical day for you and others!

If you like these posts – subscribe. If you think these posts would help others please share them. Help Spread the word.

Horizons photo used with permission of Phil Koch.

NEW BLOG SITE LAUNCHES SOON – Do you get this blog emailed to you? You will have  to again subscribe to this blog, newsletter. I’d hate for you to miss anything when it switches. Subscribe and Follow Daily Inspiration and Gratitude!