Glenn Beck - Story of Success

Here is a really nice video from Glenn Beck - the 3rd most listened-to talk show host in the United States. Glenn tells his story about becoming a Mormon, overcoming his alcoholism and how his life turned around. His story reminds me a little of Og Mandino.

Glenn Beck now has a new TV show on CNN.

Great Success Book

One of the best books I've ever read about success is A Better Way to Live: Og Mandino's Own Personal Story of Success Featuring 17 Rules to Live By.

If you have not read this book, you need to take a few hours and do so. It will change your life -- if you follow the principles included in it.

Try Netflix for Free

Netflix is one of the best ways to rent videos. Try it now for free.

Making a Difference

Educator Leo Buscaglia said, "Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around."

Don't underestimate what you CAN do! Each of us can do something, and the something you do may be more important than you'll ever know.

Value of Listening

"By listening emphatically, we often can help others find their own solutions." -- Marvin J. Ashton (Ensign, May 1983, p. 31.)

It is true that listening is sometimes the only thing someone needs to come to conclusions.

My father is a problem-solver. When I discuss problems with him, he always comes up with several solutions -- when all I needed was to just work through the problems myself. I remember when I was growing up I would need to specify "Dad, this is just a listening conversation."

Lending a listening ear may be one of the most beneficial things you can do when others are struggling. Most of the time they know the answers to their problems, but just need to process.

Obedience and Sacrifice

"The Lord has seldom required individuals to give all, but it is important for Him to know that we would and could do it, if asked." -- Bruce R. McConkie, "Obedience, Consecration, and Sacrifice", Ensign, May 1975, 50

What are you willing to do to achieve your life goals? What do you really want? This quote reminds us that whatever we want will require sacrifice. Are we willing to do what it takes?

Miracles With Ordinary People

"The Lord can do remarkable miracles with a person of ordinary ability who is humble, faithful, and diligent in serving the Lord and seeks to improve himself. This is because God is the ultimate source of power." -- James E. Faust, "Acting for Ourselves and Not Being Acted Upon.", Nov Ensign 1995 pg 45

Good Entertainment

"Communities have a responsibility to assist the family in promoting wholesome entertainment. What a community tolerates will become tomorrow's standard for today's youth." -- Ezra Taft Benson (Ensign, November 1982, p. 60.)

Quote: Resentment

"Resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies." -- Nelson Mandela

Quote by Robert F. Kennedy

"Some people see things as they are and say why. I dream things that never were and say why not?" -- Robert F. Kennedy

Too Busy to Blog Right Now

Hey all -- I haven't been blogging lately because I've been too busy with my new company. Things are getting ready to launch by the end of September and there is still much to be done. But I have promised myself to get back to blogging more. Exciting things are happening and I'm looking forward to sharing them with you soon.

Small Pleasures

"It isn't the big pleasures that count the most; it's making a great deal out of the little ones." -- Jean Webster

Forgiveness

"I think [forgiveness] may be the greatest virtue on earth, and certainly the most needed. There is so much of meanness and abuse, of intolerance and hatred. There is so great a need for repentance and forgiveness. It is the great principle emphasized in all of scripture, both ancient and modern. Somehow forgiveness, with love and tolerance, accomplishes miracles that can happen in no other way." -- Gordon B. Hinckley (Ensign, Nov. 2005, 81)

Getting The Best Out of Others

"You get the best out of others when you give the best of yourself." -- Harry Firestone

Self Renewal

I'm back from vacation -- well, not really a vacation, but a family reunion and then a day or two of down time. Being away from work can be a very positive and renewing experience. The first day or so I feel as though I am missing out on everything and want to make sure my email and cell phone are handy. But then as I relax into the "real world" I realize that work will still be there when I return -- and I will be more capable of meeting my business needs because I have taken time to renew myself.

I recall several years ago when I went to a spa in California for a few days. I had been "stressed out" and overwhelmed with work demands. But after a few days of yoga, meditation, walks in the hills and several massages -- I felt completely recentered and rejuvenated. I was able to see my life for what it was, and set personal goals to create the life I wanted. It was a turning point in my life. I would suggest if you feel you cannot leave work because there is too much to do and too little time -- take a break, give yourself time to relax and you will come back more energized and be able to work more efficiently -- plus the quality of your life will be better and you will find more personal peace and happiness.

Overcoming Fears

Everybody has fears. It is part of life. Fear can keep us from really living the life we want. We can choose either to face our fears or allow them to control us. Our minds have the power to control our thoughts and therefore overcome our fears. When we decide to choose the life we want, it is a powerful motivator to really look at ourselves and find out what is stopping us from having what we want. Is it our own imagination -- thinking about what could go wrong? Imagining being rejected? Fear of ridicule or humiliation if we fail? Whatever our fears, we can choose to let them limit us or not.

Overcoming fears is not an easy process. There are techniques such as EFT or hypnosis which can assist us on our journey. Be patient with yourself as you strive to overcome your fears. Get a good support system and take it one step at a time.

Simplifying Life

If you get to a point when you start feeling that things are out of control, take a step back and analyze your life. Is there anything that is causing undue stress? Have you committed to too many projects? Do you have obligations which drain your resources and do not give you personal satisfaction or benefit?

If we can learn about simplifying life, we will not only become more productive, but we will also gain more joy out of every day and simple things.

The Secret DVD

If you want more from life, and really want to create success, there is a great DVD called "The Secret" you should watch. The Secret DVD bring together experts in many industries and teaches about the law of attraction as well as the power of our minds. Whatever we consistently focus on with emotion is what we will experience in life. It's a great film and you can even watch it online for about $5.00.

Communication

In order to be successful you must have clear communication with those around you. Misunderstandings are mostly because communication is not clear and we interpret what is said or not said from our own perspectives. Working in a team environment, communication is even more important. Most communication is non-verbal, so being attuned to body language is important. If you can go into business with the expectation that we are not all alike, and that everyone has their own perspective -- and seek first to understand where others are coming from -- you should generally have more effective relationships because once you have clear understanding about others, you can find ways to work together more efficiently.

Internet Marketing Training Class

Marketing 101: Traditional and Internet Marketing
How to get traffic to your website

$50 per person / $75 per couple
Saturday, July 8th
8:45 a.m. - 12:00
Team Everest Corporate Offices -- 727 N. 1550 E. Suite 175, Orem, UT

To pre-register -- please email RoMay Allen -- romayallen (at) hotmail.com
PayPal, checks or cash is accepted.

Here are some of the comments about our last class:

"This class was most beneficial and the presenters were friendly and warm and let us know they were interested in helping us succeed."

"I gained more knowledge than expected. This class is really informative and worth attending."

"The key to Internet Marketing is driving traffic to your website. This class taught me how. I would recommend it to anyone!"

"Great information for people who need a jumpstart into marketing their online business for the first time, and don't know their way around the web very well."

"This class was so informative. Just using these ideas, I will get my money back and much more."

"Incredible class. Extremely helpful information. This info would cost thousands elsewhere. The tips and hints will help us all succeed!!!"

"This is my first experience learning about internet marketing. Wendy and RoMay have put together a top notch class. Rookie and advanced people will learn a lot also. Great class."

Choosing Your Life Path

"If you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there." -- Anon.

I think it's interesting to think about the future, anticipate reaching my goals and determining which paths to take in order to get where I want to go.

In my line of work I've come across many people who have never set goals in their life. It is a mindset which I do not understand -- those who seem to float through life, going every which way without a specific direction. What do they want? Most of them don't really know. Where are they going? What would make their life richer, fuller and the best it could be? What are they missing?

It's so important to take time away from the rush of every day life to ponder and really determine if the direction you are going is the direction you want to go.

Today -- take some time -- small changes now will generate huge changes later. If you're not satisfied with your life -- do something today to change course.

Helen Keller Quote

"No pessimist ever discovered the secret of the stars, or sailed to an uncharted land, or opened a new doorway for the human spirit." -- Helen Keller

Love What You Do

"If you want to be happy for a year, win the lottery. If you want to be happy for a lifetime, love what you do." -- Unknown

How Do We Define Success - Quote

"The whole world admires success. But how each of us defines success and how we seek it is crucial to our happiness." -- James E. Faust (Ensign,May 1982, p. 48.)

Charting Our Life Course

Daily Thought. . .

"The course of our lives is not determined by great, awesome decisions. Our direction is set by the little day-to-day choices which chart the track on which we run." -- Gordon B. Hinckley (Ensign, November 1980, p. 21.)

Buy Products at a Discount

Our new webstore Discount Shopping is online now. Purchase very high quality products at really low costs. For example you can purchase essential oils which sell regularly at $35 for about $9.00. We carry a mangosteen product, nutritional supplements, essential oils, germanium, Ferox fuel tablets, anti-aging skin care, chocolate truffles, jewelry, edited DVD movies, recipe software, weight loss products, furniture and much more. Come and check out our store!

Paul Allen's Blog

If you are interested in reading some great information about being an entrepreneur, building a business, getting funding, internet marketing, or the high tech industry, read a blog by Paul Allen. It is one of the most valuable resources online for entrepreneurs or business owners. If you want more success in your life - find out how others have learned to succeed.

Quote: Ralph Waldo Emerson

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us." Ralph Waldo Emerson

Printing on Demand

Amazon.com is now launching a print-on-demand program with their subsidiary BookSurge. This will help small time publishers sell titles which are less common at a reasonable price. It's good news to authors who are self-published as well, simply as a way to get their work out into the marketplace without a huge up-front expense to print and store inventory. It's about time this came about!

Integrity - Great Quote

"The foundation of a noble character is integrity." -- David O. McKay (Conference Report, April 1964, p. 6.)

How to Earn More Money

If you are struggling financially you may have some beliefs which are limiting your financial success. If you want to learn how to earn more money, here is a great article by Carol Tuttle called "Three Reasons Why You are Struggling Financially".

Managing Time

I've been out of town for a couple of days and returned home to over 300 emails, a huge pile of mail, phone messages and work which needs to be dealt with. I'm sure you've had similar experiences. So, how can we learn about managing time, and what is really important and what we can give up so our time can be spent with what our values and goals really are?

If I spend 5 hours dealing with emails -- then that 5 hours is not available to build relationships, be outside in nature, learning and improving my life -- unless I have a laptop or Tablet PC which I can take outside, while I'm in the mountains with my friends and reading news online. (big grin). I believe we spend so much time multi-tasking and being efficient, we forget to really ENJOY life. When was the last time you truly enjoyed just being? If you can't remember, then this is a reminder -- take some time today, and ENJOY!

Quote: Focus Outward

"A life can never be happy that is focused inward. So if you are miserable now, forget your troubles. March right out your door, and find someone who needs you." -- Robert L. Backman (Ensign, November 1985, p. 13.)

Advice from Benjamin Franklin

I read a great article today in LDS Living Magazine - advice from Benjamin Franklin about time and money.

Four Ways to Convert Time into Money

Ben Franklin believed that time is money, so it may come as a surprise that he also thought it's important to set aside time for leisure activities. He wrote, "Employ thy time well if thou meanest to gain leisure." Erin Barret and Jack Mingo, authors of Ben Franklin's Guide to Wealth (Conari Press) encourage busy people to practice what Franklin preached long ago.

Here are four ways you can save time for leisure enjoyment:

• How much time do you devote to watching television, playing computer games, and surfing the Internet, all of which drain your time and energy? Take back your time and value it for the precious thing that it is, employing it for things that really matter.


• Use your commuting time wisely. If you are within bicycle or walking distance of your work, get out of your car and exercise your way to work. Use carpooling or public transportation instead of sitting in mind-numbing traffic with your hands gripping the steering wheel, using the time to read for pleasure, meditate to balance yourself, or organize your assignments so that your work day is more wisely spent.


• Try not to concentrate on how busy you are, but rather concentrate on your results. After all, a frenzy of activity won’t get you very far if you are shoveling sand with a pitchfork.
  


• Use a “to do” list each day to help you prioritize the most important activities for that day. Next to each entry, assign a number from 1 to 5 with the highest priority being 1. Then re-draft your list so that the most important things are first, and the least important last. Then do them in order, from most important to least. Anything left at the end of the day gets put on tomorrow’s list.

Balance is important. By being as efficient and productive in your free time as you are in your work time, you can get done what you need and want to do and still have time for starting new projects, learning new skills, and setting new goals to keep life interesting.

"If time be of all things the most precious, wasting time must be the greatest prodigality, since lost time is never found again." --Benjamin Franklin.

Do The Best You Can

"Please don't nag yourself with thoughts of failure. Do not set goals far beyond your capacity to achieve. Simply do what you can do, in the best way you know, and the Lord will accept your effort." -- Gordon B. Hinckley (Ensign, November 1989, p. 96.)

Save Money on Gas

Okay -- I normally don't get interested in new companies because I'm so busy with what I'm involved in right now. But I did come across this new business model to save money on gas -- increase fuel efficiency, create less pollution, and save money. So I thought I'd share. I think gas prices are outrageous! Prices are getting worse and worse.

The company is a new MLM opportunity -- so if you love networking and want to save money on gas, this is a great thing. If you don't love networking but want to save money on gas -- then you're just like me. :-)

Anyway, check out the marketing website -- Save Money on Gas -- and learn how you can have better emissions on your car, get better gas mileage, save the environment, save money, and perhaps earn some money as well.

HoloSync - Learning to Meditate More Deeply

A good friend of mine has started using the HoloSync program from Centerpointe. She loves it and has noticed a big difference in herself and her ability to be more relaxed, sleep better and not let things bother her. I tried out the demo CD and it gave me a terrible headache, my body jerked during it in a few places (which was a little unnerving), and I felt nauseous afterwards. I haven't used it since -- partly because I didn't like how I felt after my first experience and partly because I'm a little skeptical.

I wonder what is in the CD which actually helps improve my life -- are there things programmed in there that I don't know about -- which will affect me in a negative way? I always wonder a little bit about the subconscious type products because unless I know the people who are making them personally, and trust them completely, I feel like I'm opening up myself to something I don't completely understand. I know they claim the CDs will help create new neural pathways in your brain, and help you to meditate deeply. I've read some bulletin boards about HoloSync and other people's positive experiences with them -- but would love to get some feedback from people who have had negative experiences. Just so I know that people aren't just being "brainwashed" and "programmed". I mean, nothing can work perfectly for everyone. I'd just like to hear both sides so I am not just reading marketing hype.

Do What Matters Most

"Anything worth doing is worth doing well should be altered to say, 'Many things are not worth doing at all, and many things are not worth doing well because they're not worth the time it takes to do them well.' Only a few things are worth the best energies that we have. The most important decisions we have to make every day is whether we are using our time to feed our souls, contribute to those around us in a meaningful ways, and live true to our deepest values."

This quote comes from a really great article about how we are always so busy, that we never really feel satisfied. It is something I've been dealing with myself lately -- having too much to do and feeling a level of stress that is not healthy. There are so many of us in the same situation -- so I wanted to share the article with you. Slowing Down to Do What Matters Most. Enjoy it!

Google Calendar

Google has recently launched a new web-based calendar service. Although it is still in beta, Google Calendar, has been discussed for over a year and has been in development for several months. Google Calendar integrates with Gmail and possibly will integrate with other Google products in the future. It has been announced that the Google Calendar will allow users to schedule events directly from their Gmail messages, and will also be able to send out email invitations, recieve event reminders and more.

I haven't used Google Calendar myself yet (I've been way too busy, and usually like to wait until a product is out of beta) but think it sounds like a good service. If any of you have used it, I'd love to get your feedback.

Web Hosting - Sharing Scrapbooks

Do you have great online digital scrapbooks? Do you want to be able to share them with family and friends? I think it's a great idea to be able to put your scrapbooks online -- for several reasons. First, if there is a disaster of some kind and your computer crashes, your house floods, or whatever -- if you have your scrapbooks and photos hosted somewhere besides your home -- you automatically have a backup copy.

Also, if your family members live far away -- hosting your own scrapbooking site can allow them to login to your site and view photos of your kids and your scrapbooking pages.

I've actually found a great hosting company and if you sign up now you get a free domain name with your hosting service. Anyway, there are lots of web hosting companies out there and I've tried many of them. But getting good service is one of the top selling points for me. Check them out by clicking on the link below.

Free Domain With $6.95 Hosting Package

Changing Attitudes

"The greatest revolution of our generation is the discovery that human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives." William James, a Harvard Psychologist

Listening

"Deep listening is miraculous for both listener and speaker. When someone receives us with open-hearted, non-judging, intensely interested listening, our spirits expand." - Sue Patton

Becoming Who We Are

"Certainly what we are is more important than what we have or what is said of us." -- Marvin J. Ashton (Ensign, May 1979, p. 68.)

When all is said and done, who we've become is who we've become. At the end of life, there can be no more excuses. What you have made of yourself is all there is left. Then the small bothers of today may not seem important. What will be important is your relationships and your inner self.

Finding Your Mission in Life

I just wanted to recommend a really great book this week -- called "How to Find Your Mission in Life" by Richard Nelson Bolles. He is the author of "What Color Is Your Parachute?"

This book is short, easy to read and well-written. It is a great reminder to find what you love to do -- and what makes you happy. If you're considering a career change, trying to decide what your major should be in college, or just want to be more fulfilled -- "How to Find Your Mission in Life" is a must-read!

Quote about Destiny

"Each one of us is the architect of his own fate, and he is unfortunate indeed who will try to build himself without the inspiration of God; without realizing that he grows from within, not from without." -- David O. McKay (CR, October 1963, p.7.)

LDS Pictures

I love art. I love art that is inspiring. My favorite LDS pictures are done by Walter Rane. He is a Christian artist -- and has done some LDS pictures which are AMAZING! I have them all through my home and now I see they are on sale through Meridian Magazine -- at really low prices. If you have ever seen Walter Rane Paintings, you can feel the power and action in every piece. There is such emotion and I love his style.

Right now you can buy any of Walter Rane's
LDS Pictures below for only $99. That is such a great deal!

There is a painting of Christ ministering to the people in the Americas, one of Captain Moroni holding up the Title of Liberty and calling his people to fight for freedom, and one of Enos struggling in mighty prayer for his soul.

Life's Victories

"Victories in life come through our ability to work around and over the obstacles that cross our path. We grow stronger as we climb our own mountains." -- Marvin J. Ashton (Ensign, May 1979, p. 67.)

Attitude

A 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud man, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock, with his hair fashionably coifed and shaved perfectly, even though he is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today.

His wife of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary. After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, he smiled sweetly when told his room was ready.

As he maneuvered his walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of his tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on his window.

"I love it," he stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy.

"Mr. Jones, you haven't seen the room; just wait."

"That doesn't have anything to do with it," he replied. "Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged ... it's how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it. "It's a decision I put in. So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank account of memories! Thank you for your part in filling my Memory bank. I am still depositing." Remember the five simple rules to be happy:

1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less.

Using Positive Words

I've been experimenting during this past week with the words I use in daily communication. Words have energy. If you use words such as "I hate...", "I'm tired", "I'm sick of...", the energy those words create is negative. However if you can change your words into positives, you'll see a difference in your attitude and energy.

My power words this week are "Love and Gratitude". For every challenge, I try to include those words when thinking about it or discussing it. "I am grateful for the opportunity to learn patience. I love the fact that I can learn and grow each day."

It is amazing what just changing our words can do. It is especially important to repeat the words in your head -- to change your thoughts. I like to use this technique when I'm driving in traffic and find myself getting anxious or frustrated with drivers around me. "Love and gratitude, love and gratitude, love and gratitude." My mood changes, I think partly because I laugh at thinking about love and gratitude when someone cuts me off, but also because those words have positive power.

Try it yourself -- see how you feel. I'd love to hear about your experiences -- so please feel free to comment.

Why Some Succeed...

Have you ever wondered why some people seem to succeed in everything they do while other struggle and never seem to get anywhere? Tony Robbins has a great new program called "Mastering Influence". He describes how our beliefs truly do determine if we will succeed or fail.

What beliefs do you have that may be holding you back from the life you want. What do you tell yourself? Pay attention to your own thoughts and you will be able to see if you have beliefs such as: "I'm not good enough," or "I'm too young."

Once you can identify what your limiting beliefs are, you can change them into beliefs which will serve you and ultimately bring about the success you desire.

Dare to Fail

"Only those who dare to fail greatly can achieve greatly." -- Robert F. Kennedy

Finding Yourself

"Don't worry about searching for who you are; focus your energies on creating the kind of person you want to be! You will discover that as you pursue that journey you will not only find yourself, but chances are you will be pleasantly surprised and proud of the person you find along the way." -- Joseph B. Wirthlin

Take Chances to Become Great

"Do you want to be safe and good, or do you want to take a chance and be great?" -- Jimmy Johnson, Coach who led the Dallas Cowboys to two Superbowl championships

Progress Involves Risk

"Progress always involves risk. You can't steal second base and keep your foot on first." -- Bob Proctor, Radio and TV personality, success trainer

Embracing Life

"We come this way but once. We can either tiptoe through life and hope that we get to death without being too badly bruised or we can live a full, complete life achieving our goals and realizing our wildest dreams." -- Bob Proctor, Radio and TV personality, success trainer

7 Days to Change Your Life

One of my favorite motivational speakers is Tony Robbins. He has a way of sharing information in a fun, dynamic way which truly does give hope and motivation. When I start feeling stuck in my life, not quite sure what direction I want to take, or unsettled about something -- I'll turn on my Tony Robbins tapes. It makes a huge difference. I've listened to the tapes over and over but each time I'll hear something new. I'm not sure if it is because my experiences have opened me up to new things, or if I'm more attuned to different things, but no matter what my issue is, Tony Robbins helps get me started again.

Transform your life in 7 days with Tony Robbins. It really works! Try it -- they offer a really great money back guarantee so there is nothing to lose. Click on the image below to get full details.

Overcoming Odds

"Don't be discouraged at seemingly overwhelming odds in your desire to live and to help others live God's commandments. At times it may seem like David trying to fight Goliath. But remember, David did win." -- Elder David B. Haight

Opportunity

"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." -- Thomas Edison

Are you missing any opportunities you could be taking because of fear, anxiety, time, money, or lack of motivation? Take a step back and imagine your ideal life. Then dig in and take advantage of opportunities. No one create the life you want except you. Go for it!

Stephen R. Covey on Leadership

I just attended a presentation by Stephen R. Covey (author of the best-selling book "Seven Habits of Highly Effective People"). Dr. Covey was honored in 1996 as one of Time magazine's 25 most influential Americans. He discussed some of the 7 Habits with regards to leadership.

As a teacher, Dr. Covey would ask his students to take out a blank sheet of paper and write on the left side "How Others See Me", on the right side "How God Sees Me", and then list as much as they could about themselves from those viewpoints. Then underneath, he would have them write "How I See Myself." Without fail about 75 percent of his class would match their personal viewpoints (the concepts they have of themselves) with how others see them -- called the "social mirror". Dr. Covey indicated that the other 1/3 were on their way to becoming leaders.

In order to become a true leader, you must realize that you are a product of the divine mirror -- a unique individual -- not a product of the social mirror -- what others think of you. "You can make a huge difference in your lives," Covey said. "Leadership is a choice. You can make that choice."

"Even small choices can bring about big changes." Dr. Covey continued, "Find your voice and inspire others to find theirs."

As I listened and learned from Dr. Covey, I realized that my personal desires to achieve excellence in life-coaching is because I love to help others achieve their own potentials. It's is exciting to watch as someone finds their passion, finds their voice and inspires others around them. I wonder how many Mozarts are out there who didn't want to play the piano because none of their friends played the piano. I wonder if there are Michaelangelos in the world who have never taken the opportunity to paint or sculpt because they were expected to go into the family business. I wonder if there are moms in the work place who would rather be home with their children but keep working because "it's expected".

Then I look at my own life and wonder if I keep myself "too busy" because it's easier than finishing my book. Well, Dr. Covey certainly reminded me to put "First-Things-First", so I'm back to writing.

Life coaching is all about helping others to find their own voice, to become leaders, to help free themselves from worrying about the "social mirror" and instead to focus on their inner strengths, gifts and talents and BECOMING who they really are.

If you have ever felt dissatisfaction with the direction you are headed, consider finding a life coach who can encourage you and help you take the steps necessary to find fulfillment.

Competing with Yourself

"Life is a competition not with others, but with ourselves. We should seek each day to live stronger, better, truer lives; each day to master some weakness of yesterday; each day to repair a mistake; each day to surpass ourselves."

—Elder David B. Haight

Happiness is a Journey

"Happiness is a journey, not a destination. Happiness is to be found along the way, not at the end. For then the journey is over and it is too late. The time for happiness is today, not tomorrow."

—Joseph Smith Jr.

Life is Hard

Daily Thought. . .

"Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he's been robbed. The fact is that most putts don't drop, most beef is tough, most children grow up to be just people, most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration, most jobs are more often dull than otherwise. Life is like an old-time rail journey...delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders, and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride."

—Gordon B. Hinckley, quoting Jenkin Lloyd Jones

Setting Specific Goals

The more specific goals you can set, the better chance you will achieve your goals. If you want to lose weight, you should set very specific goals and a plan of action to achieve your goals, such as: "I want to lose 10 pounds by the end of March. In order to reach my goal I will exercise 4 times each week for at least 1 hour each time. I will cut out fast food. I will not eat refined sugars."

I found a great quote about setting specific goals.

"A vague goal is no goal at all. The Ten Commandments wouldn't be very impressive, for instance, if they weren't specific, but simply were couched in a phraseology such as 'thou shalt not be a bad person." — Neal A. Maxwell

Good luck with your goals and even if you mess up -- just get back on track and keep moving forward.

Happy New Year

Just wanted to wish you all a very Happy New Year. I hope this coming year brings joy, fulfillment and peace to you.