I seem to lost count on how many times I've read and heard of celebrity
marriages failing almost left and right.
Not that I care (and personally I
don't), it seems strange that we often see movie and TV stars as flawless
people, living the fairytale life of riches and glamour.
I suppose we all
have to stop sticking our heads in the clouds and face reality.
There are many ways to lose your sense of self-esteem despite of how
trivial it could get.
But whatever happens, we should all try not to lose
our own sense of self.
So what does it take to be a cut above the rest?
Here are some of the
things you can think and improve on that should be enough for a week.
1. Know your purpose
Are you wandering through life with little direction - hoping that you'll
find happiness, health and prosperity?
Identify your life purpose or
mission statement and you will have your own unique compass that will lead
you to your truth north every time.
This may seem tricky at first when you see yourself to be in a tight or
even dead end.
But there's always that little loophole to turn things
around and you can make a big difference to yourself.
2. Know your values
What do you value most? Make a list of your top 5 values.
Some examples
are security, freedom, family, spiritual development, learning.
As you set
your goals for 2005 - check your goals against your values.
If the goal
doesn't align with any of your top five values - you may want to
reconsider it or revise it.
The number shouldn't discourage you, instead it should motivate you to do
more than you can ever dreamed of.
3. Know your needs
Unmet needs can keep you from living authentically.
Take care of yourself.
Do you have a need to be acknowledged, to be right, to be in control, to
be loved?
There are so many people who lived their lives without realizing
their dreams and most of them end up being stressed or even depressed for
that matter.
List your top four needs and get them met before it's too
late!
4. Know your passions
You know who you are and what you truly enjoy in life.
Obstacles like
doubt and lack of enthusiasm will only hinder you, but will not derail
your chance to become the person you ought to be.
Express yourself and
honor the people who has inspired you to become the very person you wanted
to be.
5. Live from the inside out
Increase your awareness of your inner wisdom by regularly reflecting in
silence.
Commune with nature.
Breathe deeply to quiet your distracted
mind.
For most of us city slickers it's hard to even find the peace and
quiet we want even in our own home.
In my case I often just sit in a dimly
lit room and play some classical music.
There's sound, yes, but music does
soothe the savage beast.
6. Honor your strengths
What are your positive traits?
What special talents do you have?
List
three - if you get stuck, ask those closest to you to help identify these.
Are you imaginative, witty, good with your hands?
Find ways to express
your authentic self through your strengths.
You can increase your
self-confidence when you can share what you know to others.
7. Serve others
When you live authentically, you may find that you develop an
interconnected sense of being.
When you are true to who you are, living
your purpose and giving of your talents to the world around you, you give
back in service what you came to share with others -your spirit - your
essence.
The rewards for sharing your gift with those close to you is
indeed rewarding, much more if it were to be the eyes of a stranger who
can appreciate what you have done to them.
Self-improvement is indeed one type of work that is worth it.
It shouldn't
always be within the confines of an office building, or maybe in the four
corners of your own room.
The difference lies within ourselves and how
much we want to change for the better.
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