Break Free of Your Comfort Zone and Create More Success

We all get into our comfort zone from time to time and just sort of coast on life. There’s no ripples, no changes, and after a while, it can become pretty boring.

That’s where breaking out of your comfort zone can be so liberating.

Have you ever tried something way out of your self-perception, something scary and intimidating, but despite the self-doubt, you did it anyway? Do you remember your heart beating fast, the adrenaline rush and the exhiliration when it was over? Congratulations- you broke through your comfort zone and expanded your limits. This is such a necessary skill for personal growth and for dealing with stress.

One of the scariest and most memorable moments in my life was when I walked on hot coals during a firewalk. We had discussed fear for 4 hours. When I took that first step in my bare feet, I felt heat and then I relaxed into it. When I cam Fired Up! flame e off the long strip of coals, miraculously, my feet were not burnt at all…I had walked on fire and survived!
That experience was a turning point in my life. It is a reference point of going beyond my preconceived notions of my capabilities.

Every time I get scared now by a new challenge, I can look back on that firewalk and think- “You’ve got this.”

What about you- what have you done that challenges you?

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No More Excuses

Not long ago, I met a gentleman who was downtrodden and beleaguered. He explained to me all the reasons his business was not doing well and declared that he was just no good at that Internet stuff. He also went on to say he had avoided a certain market because he was afraid what they might do. He had all the perfect excuses for why he couldn’t succeed. I felt sorry for him and had compassion for him. But ultimately, he made his own choices and he is now sitting in his discontent.

Excuses– we all make them and we all have them. And ultimately, they mean nothing. NOTHING. They are just rationalizations as to why we think we can’t do something.

In this man’s case, he could have taken courses to learn the Internet, hired a college kid to do it for him, or used his own kids. There are so many different ways he could overcome his fear of the Internet but instead, he just gave up.

Don’t give up. And NO MORE EXCUSES!

You can overcome almost any challenge. Ask for help. Take courses. Check and see if your assumptions are true. Network with others in your field and learn how they handle these issues. Just don’t sit around whining. Take action to overcome these challenges.

I once heard Christopher Reeves speak after his debilitating accident. He talked about control and how he had lost so much of it when he became paralyzed. But then he realized the one area he could take control was how he treated his caregivers.

If someone like that can take control, take action and move forward, you can, too.

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Are You Stuck in a Rut instead of Fired Up?

Humans Need NEW to Keep Growing

In his book The Charge, Brendon Bouchard has some great suggestions about staying Fired Up! The brain is hardwired for novelty and challenge and needs to be engaged to keep thriving. Here are a few ways to incorporate new into your life and have a Fired Up! life, filled with motivation and fun:

• 90 day getaway – every 90 days go away and explore someplace you have not been, doing new activities. It does not have to be expensive- it just needs to be different.

• Restaurant tour; explore dining establishments you’ve never visited, try different kinds of food. Exploring new places will keep you motivated

• Spend time with new people – go to different networking or social events and broaden your circle.

• Develop new skills – At home, my husband and I just installed a new glass tile backsplash in our kitchen. It was challenging but fun, and we love the results.

To feel more Fired Up! about life, to keep growing and keep motivated, try doing new things.

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Success Lessons from Olympians

You Can Use Their Tools to Your Advantage

keys to success from Fired Up!

If you watched the Olympics at all the past few weeks, it would be nearly impossible to not be inspired. There were
so many great stories of overcoming adversity and set-backs,o of getting back up when you fell down, of hard work and determination fueling the fire of the torch.

All of us have big goals we want to achieve and need help along the way. I really liked this article How Olympians Stay Motivated by Olga Khazan.

http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/02/how-olympians-stay-motivated/283643/

Key takeaways for me were:

• mindfulness- be fully present where you are doing whatever you are doing- it’s your most resourceful state

• keep your self-talk positive and have encouraging mentors and cheerleaders

• optimism is key- you’ve seen me talk about this before. Keep your outlook focused on the good.

Have a great week fueling your dreams!

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Comparison is the Thief of Joy

Why Are You Comparing Yourself?

“Comparison is the thief of joy.” Theodore Roosevelt

This is so true. Why do we as humans spend so much time comparing ourselves to others. I remember as a child that phrase “Keeping up with the Jones.” One of my childhood friends had gotten a swimming pool and everyone else was so envious. None of the other families could afford one and they began to compare themselves and find themselves lacking. Or they badmouthed the family that did have the pool.

That same pattern continues throughout adolescence, where we compare our bodies to those of others, our skin, our romantic relationships, our academic achievement, almost every aspect of ourselves. Our peers don’t make it any easier, and bullies can make it
downright painful.

And as adults, it continues. Our co-worker gets a promotion and we wonder “Why not me?” We judge ourselves as inferior.

All of this is a big waste of time and energy. Truly, the only thing we should be comparing ourselves to is ourselves.

Measure your progress with your goals and dreams. How far have you come? What have you achieved? What have you overcome? And if you don’t have goals and dreams, set some. That way, you can gauge your success.
But let go of the comparison game because you always lose. There will always be someone more and less successful, more and less beautiful, more and less wealthy. Measure yourself on your terms and embrace your own unqiue talents, gifts and magnificence. You are a gift to the world if you will share yourself.

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What If You Knew You Could Not Fail?

What Would You Do?

Too often in our world, we limit ourselves, we stop ourselves from going for our dreams. But daydreaming about success and big dreams is powerful- it’s how some of our greatest inventions came about, and how software we use everyday was created.

As yourself this question: What would I do if I knew I could not fail? Really seriously consider it and allow yourself to visualize all the things you would do. Maybe you would start a foundation to help children, maybe you would create the next cure for cancer, maybe you would develop a new strategy for world peace. You will never know until you try.

Be aware that these things can limit your thinking:

• our own negative beliefs: I can’t because (I don’t have a degree, I don’t have enough money, etc etc.- all myths)
• our circle of friends is too small and too negative- whiners and complainers
• quitting on ourselves because we have made mistakes int he past

All truly successful people have failed, and failed often. That’s why they succeed.
They learn from each failure and translate it into an opportunity. They never
give up and neither should you.

Did you know?

Sandra Day O’Connor could not get a job as a lawyer when she graduated from law school in 1952. Instead, she chose to enter public service, and served as county deputy attorney before opening her own law firm. In 1981 she became the first woman Justice of the United States Supreme Court.

When Henry Ford wanted to create the V-8 engine, he was told repeatedly that it was impossible. He sent his staff back to work and told them to stay on the job until they did what he asked. After a year, there was no success. He told them to keep at it. He knew persistence would pay off. Eventually they did it and the V-8 became a huge success. It helped Ford and his motor company outstrip the competition and take the lead in the automotive market. He refused to believe “It’s impossible.”

It’s now your turn. Spend some time dreaming and visualizing what you would do. You could make a huge difference in the world!

For a free report on how to get and stay Fired Up!, go here https://firedupnow.com/top20tips/

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Are You a Success in Your Own Eyes?

Only You Can Define Success

Not long ago, I lunched with an extraordinary young woman. We chatted about her internship at a battered women’s shelter. The experience had such a profound impact upon her that she’s going to become a social worker. She questioned me about my life and the decisions I‘d made. She knew my parents had been alcoholics and that had substantially influenced my life choices.

My recommendation to her was to define success on her own terms and do what was truly meaningful to her. The families she had helped would never forget her acts of kindness. They meant more than any accolade, award or degree. The same is true of all those volunteers who are helping anywhere in the world, or just down the street.

In the final analysis, your life will not be measured by how high on the ladder you climbed, how much money you made, or how much you achieved. It will be measured by the lives you touched, the kindness you extended, the generosity of your heart.

You are a success, just by being who you are. Never forget that.

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The Six Words that Can Change Your Life

What Are Your Six Words?

There’s a great exercise in Brendon Burchard’s book, The Charge, that can have a big impact on your life and your year. It’s called six words.

A. List all the words to describe the way you think of yourself

B. Pick 3 to make as your goal this year as to how you want to be

C. List all the words that describe how you interact with others

D. Pick the top 3 to serve as your goal this year as to how you want to be with others

This is very powerful. Once you have them, bring them to mind daily to determine how you are doing. Check in with yourself at night to see how well you are living those six words. How is your life changing? For me, my top six are fit, effective and expansive and with others, my three are loving, accepting and empowering.

Let me know what the magic six words are for you at orders@firedupnow.com

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More Ways to Achieve Your Goals

It’s now February. How are you doing on your resolutions? Usually, 75% of resolutions don’t make it.

Last post I gave you 4 ideas about how to achieve success with your goals. Here’s one more that is very powerful.

Track Your Progress

For years, I have maintained a healthy habits chart for my goals with different items I check off daily. Things like exercise, meditation, eating right, contacting friends, etc. are all there and I check them off.

Find a tool that works for you- there a plenty of great apps on smart phones or you can just customize your own chart. The key is daily tracking with rewards at monthly increments.

One of my weaknesses is sugar. Just have not been able to give it up! So that’s on my goals chart now and every day I don’t have sugar is a big win.

If you would like a blank chart, just email me at orders@firedupnow.com

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Start the Year with the End in Mind

It’s now 2013. For just a moment, pretend it’s New Year’s Eve 2013 and you are looking back over your year. What great successes have you had? What new relationships? What have you accomplished that was truly meaningful for you?

Start your year with the end in mind. How do you want your life to be?

• physically- healthy, fit and strong?

• emotionally- joy and happiness in life and your relationships? positive outlook?

• spiritually- peace and well-being, connection to something greater?

• financially- abundant, prosperous, generous, free?

• mentally- stimulated, challenged, creative, open?

Add in the words that are right for you and make a plan to create that in your life.
People who have written goals are far more successful than those who don’t. Give some serious consideration to what is important to you and make plans to achieve that. You can do it- you have infinite skills, talents and resources.

To sign up for Snowden’s ezine newsletter on stress, happiness, marketing and motivation, go to: https://firedupnow.com/firedupemailregister.html