Exercises for Will Power and Self Discipline

Willpower and Self Discipline Exercises

Exercise no. 1

You are sitting in a bus or train and an old man or woman, or a pregnant lady walks in. Stand up and giveup your seat, even if you prefer to stay seated.
Act so, not just because it is polite, but because you are doing something that you are reluctant to do.
This is an exercise in overcoming the resistance of your body, mind and feelings.

Exercise no. 2
There are dishes in the sink that need washing, and you postpone washing them for later.
Get up and wash them now.
Do not let laziness control you. When you know that in this way, you are actually strengthening yourself, it becomes easier to take immediate action, despite laziness and the desire to procrastinate.

Exercise no. 3
You come home from work and sit in front of the T.V., because you feel too lazy and too tired to take ashower first.
Do not succumb to the desire to sit in front of the T.V, and go take a shower immediately.

Exercise no. 4
Do you like your coffee with sugar? If you do, then for one whole week drink it without sugar. Do you drink three cups of coffee each day? If you do, then drink only two cups a day for one whole week.
Such exercises prove to you that you can control or change your habits, and this inner strength.

Exercise no. 5
Do you, like many others, like to read some unimportant gossip in the newspaper or magazine? Then forone whole week abstain from doing so.
This might not be easy, but it's a good training. I am not telly you to do so indefinitely, but only one week.

Exercise no. 6
If you have the choice of going up with the elevator or climbing the stairs, choose climbing the stairs. However, climb the stairs only if it's not a high storey, and you are in good physical condition.

These are very simple exercises, which everyone can practice.

Remember, the purpose of the exercisesis to develop inner strength, not to make life difficult for you.
If you practice weight lifting, running or aerobics, you strengthen your muscles, and therefore, you can use your physical strength whenever you need it.

It is the same with willpower and self-discipline. When you strengthen them, you make them available for use, whenever you need them.

They give you more control over your life, help you change and improve habits, and are essential for personal and spiritual growth and for achieving success.

Hope

“An exit from somewhere is an entry to somewhere”.

It’s been said that for every disadvantage there is a corresponding advantage.

There’s hope in every hopeless situation...

There’s a message in every mess...

There’s promotion after every examination (Temptation)...

There are opportunities in every difficulty...

There’s a great grace waiting for you in every disgrace...

Probably your setback is a set up for a spectacular comeback.

My Brother once told me that;

You don’t have to cry so much over your failure... it is reversible.

That you mistakenly spilled the milk to the floor is not the end of life... as long as you still have the cow, you will make a better one.

That you failed once..., twice..., thrice..., or many times, is not enough to label you as a failure.

It’s only the event that failed... you are not yet a failure until you admit that you are one.

Too many people cry too much about missed opportunities, failed plans, and collapsed business, to the extent that they close their eyes to new and better ideas.

Where you are right now is not your end stop... it is only a bus stop.

Weeping may endure for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.

The very evidence that your predicament will never be permanent is the fact that you were not born with it.

Everything with a beginning surely has an end.As long as you still have what God put inside you:

• You will be celebrated where you were once tolerated

• New doors will surely open for you

• Greater opportunities abounds

• Your success is guaranteed

• You are sure to rise seven times higher than you fell

• You will fly where you once crawled

There is hope of a GLORIOUS tomorrow for us all....

The Power of DARING

Only people who dare, try, and persevere, complete tasks and achieve success.It is so comfortable to be passive, make no effort, and stick to the familiar. However, by doing so, we allow external influences shape your life.

Daring, trying new things, and making changes, seem intimidating. It is more comfortable to suffer, complain, and stay in the same place.

Why Daring Is Intimidating?

*.You afraid you might make mistakes.

*.You are afraid to look ridiculous.

*.You want to avoid criticism.

*.There is a lack of self-esteem.

*.There is a lack of self-confidence.If you wish to let the above list intimidate you, and therefore, be unhappy, complain, and stay where you are, this is your choice.

However, if you want to live a greater life, you should consider taking a step beyond your fears and start daring.It is not so difficult to do.

It is a matter of attitude. It is a matter of changing your mindset.
As the saying goes, 'it is all in the mind'.After the first step, it would seem less intimating to dare, even if you make mistakes and bad choices.

All people who achieved success, any kind of success, dared to try. They did mistakes, and they failed over and again, but they did not give up.

Where Can You Dare?

This depends on you. It is advisable to start with minor matters, and as you gain confidence, do bigger things.

Here are a few suggestions:

1.Start learning a foreign language.

2.Go meet new people and friends.

3.Take a trip abroad.

4.Redecorate your home.

5.Ask your boss for a raise.

6.Start going to the gym.

Dare, don't be Afraid to Make Mistakes.

After gaining some experience you will feel more confident to dare handle bigger projects, such as:

1.Find a better job

2.Go back to college or start studying at the University

3.Make the move you always wanted, to a new neighborhood, a new city, or a different country

4.Start a business

5.Turn a hobby into a business

These are just a few of the things you can dare to do.If you make mistakes, it's all right. Everyone make mistakes. Learn from them and go on.

As said earlier, all successful people made mistakes, but they didn't let their mistakes discourage them or deter them.

It's quite simple, though not so easy to dare, and be afraid to make mistakes. This has nothing to do with finance, physical strength or education. It is all a state of mind. It is something inside you.You need to find the strength and courage within you. You should learn to be courageous and daring, and do things, without the need to be pushed and motivated from the outside.You have this strength within you, you only need to be conscious of it, and strengthen it.

Affirmations,visualization, and inner strength development are the tools to do this.Learn to be a doer, by taking the initiative and acting now, without procrastinating or hesitation.

Start with simple little things to gain experience and confidence.

*.Can you learn to speak fluently a foreign language, without making some mistakes at first?

*.Can you become a great cook, without learning, cooking and experimenting, and making some mistakes along the way?

*.Can you create a successful business, without learning, investing, making mistakes, and trying again?

*.Can you become an expert in any field, before you had enough experience?

Don't worry if you make mistakes on the way.

By making mistakes, you learn to improve and do better.

You just have to take action. It's not as difficult as it seems.

12 Steps to Motivation

How many times have you told yourself that you are going to improve your life, but ended doing nothing?

How many times have been dissatisfied with some aspects of your life and vowed to change them, but did not follow through with your decision?

What is holding you back, preventing you from improving your life?

It is lack of enthusiasm, motivation, desire, determination, willpower and discipline.

Do you, like many others, promise yourself to make changes in your life, especially at the beginning of aNew Year?

This also happens after a reading a book or an article about a someone, who transformed his life or achieved great success.

However, the desire to make improvements does not last long, and the enthusiasm quickly wanes away.

Is it possible to make positive changes?

Yes, it is certainly possible, but you have to make a plan, follow certain strategies and techniques, and make some inner changes in your viewpoint and in the manner of your thinking.

How to Improve Your Life in 12 Steps

1.Decide what it is you want to improve. Be specific.

Sit down where you can be alone and undisturbed, and write down a list of goals.Next, analyze what you wrote, to find out whether you really want to achieve the items on your list. You will most probably discover that you don't really want to achieve some of them. Strike off the one you don't really want.

2.Copy, on another piece of paper, the items left in your list, which you really want to achieve. Write them down in the order of their importance.

3.Think about a plan, how you can make them come true. Be as practical as possible, using your commonsense, intuition, imagination and creativity.

4.Come up with something, a first step, even if it is quite minor, which you can do right now, such as buying a book with information about your goal, attending a lecture, listening to motivating CDs, looking for courses or workshops that can help you improve your life, or any other step that will take you closer to achieving your goal.

5.Read inspiring books and articles about people who have attained success in the area of your choice. This will enhance your enthusiasm and motivation.

6.Visualizethe improvements you want to bring about. See them as already real and true. Make the mental pictures vivid and alive.

7.Keep your desire, enthusiasm and motivation alive, by thinking often how you would like your life to look like. Also, think often about the benefits and advantages you will gain by improving your life, circumstances, your financial condition, health, or anything else.

8.Repeat affirmations. They will constantly remind you of your goals, and program your subconscious mind to assist you in achieving them.

9.Don't let anything deter you from improving your life. Don't give in if there are obstacles, delays or difficulties. Be determined to do what you have decided to do, no matter how much time or effort it takes. This is the way successful people act.

10.Developing strongwillpower and self-disciplinewill endow you with the power to overcome any obstacle and difficulty and make you persistent in your efforts. These two skills, can be developed through special techniques and exercises.

11.Have faith in yourself and in your ability to improve your life, you financial condition, your habits and your behavior.

12.Be willing and open to accept change. Don't be passive, waiting for improvement to enter your life without doing anything.Take action, grab opportunities, and be willing to change your habits and lifestyle.

Remember, making resolutions is not enough; you need to do something about them. If you made resolutions in the past, but did not follow them through, it was because you were not serious enough and your desire was not strong enough.
You can improve your life on all levels, but you need to follow a plan, keep up your enthusiasm, desire and motivation, and not give in, when facing difficulties and obstacles. It might take some time and effort to improve your life, but this is worthwhile and rewarding goal.

Peace Within

In my early life, I made two very important discoveries. 

In the first place I discovered that making money was easy. 
And in the second place I discovered that making money and spending it foolishly was completely meaningless. 

I knew that this was not what I was here for, but at that time (this was many years ago), I didn't know exactly what I was here for.  It was out of a very deep seeking for a meaningful way of life, and after having walked all one night through the woods, that I came to what I now know to be a very important psychological hump. 
I felt a complete willingness, without any reservations, to give my life, to dedicate my life to service.  I tell you, it is a point of no return.  After that, you can never go back to completely self-centered living.And so I went into the second phase of my life.  I began to live to give what I could, instead ofgetwhat I could, and I entered a new and wonderful world. 
My life began to become meaningful.  I attained the great blessing of good health; I haven't had a cold or headache since.  (Most illness is psychologically induced.)  From that time on, I have known that my life-work would be work for peace;that it would cover the entire peace picture--peace among nations, peace among groups, peace among individuals, and the very, very important inner peace.

However, there's a great deal of difference between being willing to give your life, and actually giving your life, and for me, 15 years of preparation and of inner seeking lay between.

During this time I became acquainted with what Psychologists refer to as ego and conscience.  I began to realize that it's as though we have two selves or two natures or two wills with two different viewpoints.  Because the viewpoints were so different, I felt a struggle in my life at this period between the two selves with the two viewpoints. 
So there were hills and valleys--lots of hills and valleys.  Then, in the midst of the struggle there came a wonderful mountain-top experience, and for the first time I knew what inner peace was like.  I felt a oneness-- oneness with all my fellow human beings, oneness with all of creation.  I have never felt really separate since.  I could return again and again to this wonderful mountaintop, and then I could stay there for longer and longer periods of time, and just slip out occasionally.  Then came a wonderful morning when I woke up and knew that I would never have to descend again into the valley.  I knew that for me the struggle was over, that finally I had succeeded in giving my life, or finding inner peace. 
Again this is a point of no return.  You can never go back into the struggle.  The struggle is over now because youwilldo the right thing, and you don't need to be pushed into it.However, progress is not over.  Great progress has taken place in this third phase of my life, but it's as though the central figure of the jigsaw puzzle of your life is complete and clear and unchanging, and around the edges other pieces keep fitting in. 
There is always a growing edge, but the progress is harmonious.  There is a feeling of always being surrounded by all of the good things, like love and peace and joy.  It seems like a protective surrounding, and there is an unshakeableness within which takes you through any situation you may need to face.

The world may look at you and believe that you are facing great problems, but always there are the inner resources to easily overcome these problems.  Nothing seems difficult.  There is a calmness and a serenity and unhurriedness--no more striving or straining about anything.  Life is full and life is good, but life is nevermore overcrowded.  That's a very important thing I've learned:  If your life is in harmony with your part in the Life Pattern, and if you are obedient to the laws which govern this universe, then your life is full and good but not overcrowded.  If it is overcrowded, you are doing more than is right for you to do, more than is your job to do in the total scheme of things.

Now there is a living to give instead of to get.  As you concentrate on the giving, you discover that just as you cannot receive without giving, so neither can you give without receiving--even the most wonderful things like health and happiness and inner peace.  There is a feeling ofendless energy--it just never runs out; it seems to be as endless as air.  You just seem to be plugged into the source of universal energy.You are now in control of your life.  You see, the ego is never in control. 
The ego is controlled by wishes for comfort and convenience on the part of the body, by demands of the mind, and by outburstsof the emotions.  But the higher nature controls the body and the mind and the emotions.  I can say to my body, "Lie down there on that cement floor and go to sleep," and it obeys.  I can say to my mind,"Shut out everything else and concentrate on this job before you," and it's obedient.  I can say to the emotions, "Be still, even in the face of this terrible situation," and they are still. 

It's a different way of living. 

The philosopher Thoreau wrote: If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps he hears a different drummer.And nowyouare following a different drummer--the higher nature instead of the lower.

Motivation

The saying goes:

The expert in anything was once a beginner in everything.

Truer words were never spoken.

But this isn't what we see. This isn't what we feel when we watch these Olympians. It isn't what we think when we watch any expert or great success.
We see the finished product, shining brightly in designer packaging. We see triumph and achievement, not training. We see the riches, not the rags.
And this, as much as anything else, is why motivation - that inner drive that carries us toward all we desire - continues to escape us.
Today that comes to an end. Today I will open your eyes to a new way of viewing the changes you wish to carry out andthe challenges that are attempting to stop you.
The Olympians we admire might possess unique physical talent and natural gifts, but that inner fire that compels them forward is within us all. It's time to set it free.

Authors Don't Write Books
Whether it's a a friend who lost forty pounds or a track star streaking across the screen, our eyes can only see what is in front of us.
And more often than not, that picture of success is daunting.It's overwhelming, to see ourselves reaching those heights. No, it's more than that. It's unbelievable.When we view success at its peak, we feel separated from it. We see ourselves as incapable of doing something similar.

Take a book, for instance.
Seeing a novel on a shelf leads to the same conclusion in the minds of anyone posed with the question: 'Oh, I could never write a book.'This view is all wrong. The reason? Authors don't write books.

What Do Authors Write?

Authors don't write books; authors write words.
This is one of the most important ideas to understand. I know it sounds simple, but it separates those who progress from those who wish and wait.We've already said that most see the finished product and feel overwhelmed by the prospect of achieving the same goal.If this only occurred when watching an Olympic athlete, there would be little issue. But that's not how it works. We get that same sense of inability when viewing any worthwhile achievement.

Losing weight, finding a new career, starting a business or new relationship, overcoming personal debt - these are outcomes millions wish to pursue but don't believe they can achieve.

They can't see past the finished product.To get motivated, to truly ignite your drive, you must see your goals as achievable. You must believe in yourself and your abilities. You must see success, not as a matter of unattainable greatness, but merely as a matter of time.Losing weight begins with a single decision.

Finding the job you love begins with a single Google search. And starting anew relationship begins with a single look.The world is built upon blocks, not one massive stone.

One step, one movement, one decision, one action.

These are the things that feed success. These are things that you can do today.

Happy Rose Day

All you friends make my life  a bouquet of roses.
So, today is your day, my friends.
HAPPY ROSE DAY to all of you.