Make Peace With Your Dream

Often, when we are told to "make peace with" something, it's in a challenging context, as in "make peace with" your current weight, bank account, relationship, etc. And indeed, the only way to move forward toward whatever your desired goal is to first make peace with wherever you're at in that journey. So yes, by all means, do that!

But the one "make peace with" we rarely think about is to "make peace with your dreams." Too often, we dismiss our dreams and desires as too far-fetched, impossible, unreachable, and we stop before we start. Or we start, and then halfway there we figure, "Oh, this is ridiculous; I'll never make it" so we give up on our dreams.

Don't do that to yourself! Did you know that what makes for success--at anything and everything--is the dynamite combination of passion and perseverance? It's what researcher Angela Duckworth PhD calls "grit," sometimes thought of as "great results in time." No one exemplifies passion plus perseverance better than Jahkee Johnson. Jahkee was born with shortened legs and deformities in his knees and ankles, which caused both legs to be amputated when he was just an infant. But Jahkee had a passion; he wanted to play in his high school's marching band, and he wanted to play--of all things--the tuba.

Now, most would say "impossible"! A tuba is a big heavy instrument, and how is a boy going to march without legs, much less play the tuba and march at the same time? But Jahkee made peace with his dream. He knew what he wanted, and he was sure he was going to make it happen. Period. With that kind of determination, you can guess the rest of the story. At 15, Jahkee began marching in his high school's band with the help of padded shoes so he can walk right along with his bandmates, first with a tuba and now a trombone. Sure, it took a few weeks for him to get the hang of the shoes and the marching, but what the heck?! That's the nature of perseverance.

What's the dream you've given up on? I'm not talking about a whim, or an idle fantasy, as in "I want to be a millionaire"--who doesn't? A passion would be "I want to be a millionaire. I have ideas worth the time and effort and creativity it takes to succeed at my dream." So what's the dream you have, with passion behind it, that you need to make peace with in order to succeed?

Because once you do that, once you make peace with your dream, you can draw on the energy of the Universe to persist until you make that dream come true. Here's to your success!

More on Jahkee: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/humankind/2018/02/13/trombone-player-no-legs-leads-marching-band-and-off-field/312099002/

Noelle C. Nelson, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist, consultant, popular speaker in the U.S. and abroad, and author of over a dozen best-selling books. Dr. Nelson focuses on how we can all enjoy happy, fulfilling lives while accomplishing great things in love, at home and at work, as we appreciate ourselves, our world and all others. She is the author of "Happy Healthy... Dead: Why What You Think You Know About Aging Is Wrong and How To Get It Right" (MindLab Publishing). You Matter. You Count. You Are Important. Visit http://www.noellenelson.com, https://www.facebook.com/MeetTheAmazings,

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Dr._Noelle_Nelson/64133

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9932311

Greed is Good - Why We Never Have Enough!

There are many plants which will grow and take over the area of other species of plants. Would you call them greedy? Would you call them evil? Or would you simply say they are the stronger and more dominant species and therefore nature requires they continue to grow and eventually take over everything until a stronger species gets in their way.

If we are that offshoot of an ever-expanding energy, which is by its very nature is as 'greedy' as a weed, then in fact, being greedy is in our basic nature.

When our greed makes us do things that harm others or ourselves, then it is a bad thing, and most of the time, this is the way it is expressed. However, as I said near the end of the previously mentioned article, "... You can use your energy to bring people down, or make them smile... "

Greed is a negatively perceived word for the natural desire to grow, progress, evolve. You can say that I was very greedy because I was not satisfied with owning one company, and that by the age of 25 I owned eight companies because I wanted to make more money.

Or, you could say that I was ambitious and wanted to make enough money to retire before the age of 30 so I could devote my life to the pursuit of understanding the human condition so I could help as many people as I could have a better life.

What we call greed is actually a motivational force. It is always a negative statement to say someone has no motivation or, it is sad that someone has lost their motivation.

We live in a world in which the loss of motivation is a virtual plague. Perhaps the attitude that greed is bad makes people stop themselves from wanting more, and settle for mediocrity, which eventually kills their motivation.

Imagine how it will make you feel to consider yourself evil and a terrible person because you are greedy, and yet you cannot help yourself from wanting more out of life, or to expand your business, or have a better home or car, or to see the world?

I have been to 90 countries. Isn't that something everyone admires? But if you said I was greedy when I was younger, and I listened to you, and I stifled my so called greed, then I would have never made enough money to leave my home country.

My point is; Greed Is Good because greed is a natural expression of the desire to grow and evolve, which is our reason for being, the purpose of our creation, and if you are religious, Greed is not a deadly sin, but a service to God.

The line is simple, do not hurt anyone, at least as best as you can, in your pursuit of the infinite, but never feel guilty about wanting more out of life.

David Samuel is The Entrepreneur Monk, applying his understanding of the mind and emotions in business, relationships and personal growth. Your mind makes you a success or failure, business skill is only a small part.
David resolved the riddle of why we do what is bad for us yet do not do what we know is beneficial and teaches that very effectively.

Read more about David EntrepreneurMonk.com
Have No Regrets, Look Forward

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/David_Samuel/305858

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/10387997

How To Choose Your True Goals

We often hear, individuals speak about, setting goals, and appropriately, using them, to become better, etc, but, too often, we fail to pay sufficient attention to how to decide, consider, evaluate, understand, and choose, our personal, true GOALS! After, over four decades, of involvement, in a variety of areas, related to personal development, and enhancement/ achievement, from advising, training, and consulting to thousands of actual, and/ or, potential leaders, to, conducting thousands of personal development seminars, I have come to the conclusion, not only, is this process, important and significant, but, often, makes the difference, between becoming our personal best, versus, settling for, far - less! With that in mind, this article will attempt to, briefly, consider, examine, review, and discuss, using the mnemonic approach, what this means and represents, and why it matters.

1. Guidance; guide; greater; genuine; goal - setting: One of the key reasons, for quality, goal - setting, is, when done, thoroughly, it provides meaningful, personal guidance, which should guide us, towards, our best path, forward! If, we wish, to become, truly, greater, we will take this action, seriously, and proceed, wisely, etc, and proactively, forward!

2. Open - mind; options; opportunities; original; optimize: Our best performance comes form proceeding, with an open - mind, and considering viable options, and alternatives, towards a quest, to optimize our overall performance, happiness, etc! This process considers a variety of options and alternatives, seeks meaningful opportunities, and taking advantage of, and, instead of trying to be, just - like, everyone else, seeks to become, the best, original, person, we might possibly, be!

3. Attitude; aptitude; actions; attention: To become, the best, we can be, requires, proceeding, with a realistic, positive, can - do, attitude, combined with the discipline, and commitment, to learn, and discover, the skill - set, and quality, aptitude, which enhances, our possibilities! When we pay, keen attention, and focus, on self - improvements, and the possibilities, our chances, improve, dramatically!

4. Like/ love; listen; learn; lessons; level - headed: Level - headed, reasoning, needs to be based on effectively, listening, and, consistently, learning, from every conversation, and experience, in order to gain expertise, judgment, and, hopefully, true wisdom! When, we consider these, as life's lessons, it assists us, with setting the most, personally - meaningful goals!

5. Strengthen; stronger; sustainable; solutions; services: Our experiences, when used, effectively, strengthen us, and make us, stronger. We must consider options, on, both, a relevant and sustainable manner, so we consider, and choose, those solutions, which best - service, our personal, best - interests!

Set your GOALS, use quality, goal - setting, and strive, to achieve your personal best! Only you can determine, by giving yourself a check - up, from the neck - up, and being, objectively - introspective, your best path, to follow!

Richard has owned businesses, been a COO, CEO, Director of Development, consultant, professionally run events, consulted to thousands, and conducted personal development seminars, for 4 decades. Rich has written three books and thousands of articles. His company, PLAN2LEAD, LLC has an informative website http://plan2lead.net and Plan2lead can also be followed on Facebook http://facebook.com/Plan2lead

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Richard_Brody/492539

VIDEO: Les Brown's 15 Minute Morning Motivational Speech

 Les Brown is one of the best Motivational Speakers in the world today! 

Listen to this 15 minute talk by Les Brown! Listen to it every morning if you want to crush your day ahead! Reach your full potential ... listen to Les Brown here!

Why Procrastination Must Be Addressed Proactively?

Although, most people define procrastination, as, putting - off, until tomorrow, things, we should have done, today, for many, of us, these actions, would have made, far more sense, to do, yesterday! Far, too often, we delay, taking certain, sensible steps, either, due to fears, lack of personal courage, an ill - perceived, notion, things will go - away, on their own, etc, but, the reality, generally, is, only, by facing the facts, and proactively, moving forward, will we have any chance, of making things better, etc! With that, in mind, this article will attempt to, briefly, consider, examine, review, and discuss, 5 specific reasons, it is essential, to proceed, with an open - mind, and proceed, proactively, etc.

1. Won't go away, on its own: You can't run - away, from challenges, nor let your personal fears, etc, control, your behavior, etc! The reality is, it is, almost always, easier, to address, challenges, obstacles, etc, sooner, rather than later! It's up, to you, whether you will control your destiny, proactively, and in your best - interests, or let obstacles, restrict, your ability, to become, the best, you can be! Remember, obstacles, don't usually, go away, on their own!

2. Gets worse, if not addressed: No matter, how scared/ frightened, you are, about something, in, nearly, all case, things get worse, when they are not addressed, in a well - considered, strategic, timely manner! This doesn't mean, doing so, is easy, but, if/ when, you delay/ procrastinate, things, generally, get worse, and more difficult to overcome!

3. Need for strategic planning: When, was the last time, you took the time, and made the effort, to give yourself, a check - up, from the neck - up? Just, as great leaders, must proceed, using, strategic planning, so should you, personally! Doing so, helps you, identify, what your personal strengths, and weaknesses, are, what you perceive and prioritize, and all related aspects, to moving forward, in the best, possible way!

4. Well - considered, action plan: Addressing things, effectively, requires proceeding, with a well - considered, action plan, and sticking, to - it! Will you escape the self - imposed, restrictions, of your comfort zone, and do, what's needed, and necessary, to make yourself, better, happier, and more contented, etc?

5. Proceed forward: Often, individuals are willing to be introspective, consider options, and alternatives, plan, strategically, and from an action - oriented, standpoint, but, end up, procrastinating, when we should, proceed forward.

Will you take the actions, and steps, which might make you, proceed, smarter, and happier, etc, or, resort to procrastination, letting your fears, control you? It's up to you!

Richard has owned businesses, been a COO, CEO, Director of Development, consultant, professionally run events, consulted to thousands of leaders, and conducted personal development seminars, for 4 decades. Rich has written three books and thousands of articles. His company, PLAN2LEAD, LLC has an informative website http://plan2lead.net and Plan2lead can also be followed on Facebook http://facebook.com/Plan2lead

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Richard_Brody/492539

Overcoming 2020... 3 Learnings to Set Yourself Up for 2021

January 1, 2020... this was the day, I am sure, that you had pegged as the beginning of a phenomenal new chapter in your life. 2020 was going to be THE YEAR!

The year you get it together and smashed your goals begin living the life of your dreams and propel yourself into abundance!

I am convinced that's what you had planned... then 2020 happened!

It has been a year of massive frustration and uncertainty where many people have not felt in control and have been exposed to a myriad of influences... predominantly mental and emotional, which has left many feeling hopeless and overwhelmed.

It is a bit of a dark and blunt assessment, but this has been the reality for many, and has been added onto by the restriction of liberty's and an individual ability to exercise freedoms too often taken for granted!

Reflecting back at how 2020 has manifested we fall into the trap of thinking "I hope that never happens again... " but where we have a massive benefit to take away from all that transpired is that we were, collectively, forced out of our comfort zones and the safety that our routines kept us in!

Now I know that many on the extremities did not fair well; redundancy, insolvency, grief, separation and even death were all afflictions experienced by many.

However, for you and I, we were able to confront the challenges imposed on us and treat 2020 as a year of change and of growth where we had to innovate, establish new or better routines and habits.

We also had to assess what we allowed ourselves to be entertained or inspired by...
Effectively the circumstances in 2020 helped strip back all non-essential 'fillers' in our lives and we got to a point of a blank canvas.

This then gave us an opportunity to design and decorate our lives accordingly!

As in all circumstances, its not what happens to us that matters but it is how we respond that will either grow us or regress us.

So, 2020 may have been mediocre, it may have been disastrous, or it may have been phenomenal... the choice is yours to make!

Now I urge you to not let 2020 drift away as you move towards 2021 with a lukewarm mindset and enthusiasm.

You have a brilliant opportunity to set yourself up early for MASSIVE SUCCESS, way ahead of the masses who will only begin to start 'wishing' for some form of luck or prosperity on the 1 January 2021.

Take the time you have, between now and December 31, 2020 to make the changes you know you need to make.

Develop and detail out your goals, your desires and the new life of abundance that you are going to grow into!

Become the person, now, who your future self will be proud of.

The question is how?

Many people will get stuck at this question and not be able to move on from this. However, as a growth minded individual who has a deeper mindfulness about success, you recognise that better questions lead to better results.

With a better series of questions, you will experience a better analysis and assessment of yourself!

3 Learnings

1. Take control: one thing that has become apparent is that people have given away control... in particular, control of their mindset and what they allow to affect them. Your perceptions, ideas and ability to think are great gifts that you need to take care of and actively engage to ensure you don't lose them.
2. Take action: an idle mind is a dangerous mind. What you need to remember is that nothing stands still... you are either growing or regressing. The benefit of taking continuous action is that you build a momentum that allows you an agility to respond to changes or obstacles. Taking action also develops a resilience which puts you in a great position to be able to bounce back and recover from unknowns and short-term failures. Taking action also inspires the focus needed to ensure that your concentration is on performance, results, success and the specific outcomes that are going to advance you.
3. Always focus on your ultimate goal: Linked to the benefits of taking action. By always focusing on your ultimate goal you shift your mindset to a vibration of what good can happen as well as the benefits of potential success. The focus and concentration you expend on your ultimate goal also puts your energy in harmony with the results you desire.

It is essential that the way you finish 2020 is how you start 2021... get ahead of the pack and receive your abundance!

Welcome to invinciblemind!

We believe in your ability to become phenomenal and that you will have a brilliant, uplifting effect on all those around you when you Unleash Your Ultimate Potential!

https://mailchi.mp/a5051ac14b91/spring-into-success-a

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Allan_Smith/1988300

Do You Believe In You? 7 Actions to Ensure Your Ultimate Growth!

I am not sure if you have asked yourself this question in a reflective way; or given it any deep or meaningful thought, but it is a question with a significant amount of depth and worth!

You may approach this question very lightly or feel that it is a very limited concept, only applying to a narrow part of who you are, but your belief in yourself (whether good or bad) permeates every interaction you have, your thoughts, the actions you take and the decision made consciously or subconsciously... fundamentally this question and how you respond to it has a bearing on your entire existence!

Believe In Your Ultimate Potential
You are a phenomenal creation who has been endowed with a brilliant set of skills, capabilities and gifts, which, when given a proper focus, a specific intent and the correct outlet; can be expressed with great significance and have an immense impact on the lives of those around you as well as your society as a whole!

This may perceive to be a rather grand statement and one of inflated promise... but it is true!

You have phenomenal potential within you! A potential that can change lives and your environment for good!

Remove Your Biggest Source of Doubt!
You hold yourself back by adopting a mindset that intrenches itself into a comfort zone. This reinforces some ideas and perceptions that, on face value have their sources in well-meaning character-based principles; however, this is limiting your potential and the ULTIMATE PURPOSE you were created for.

Do not let your defense of the good around you stop you from achieving the great that is on offer!

Some ways this limiting mindset becomes apparent:

You defend your current position or situation. You may not like what you do or how you are living... but you defend it! Your defense manifests in your constant rationalizations of NOT going for your goals or it focuses on the responsibility of now as opposed to the greater responsibility of growth. You defend your results by thinking that this is as good as it is going to get!

You continuously convince yourself that "the successful ones are the lucky ones" and that "you're just unlucky". Well to be frank we all make our own luck... good or bad!

You do not feel that you are able to carry more responsibility than you currently are. You feel that you may get "burnt out" or that more responsibility is only ever a burden. The truth lies in that the more we give, the more we get... we are created to serve and give and do... often way more than we think we are capable of!

You often feel that you do not deserve to partake in the abundance that is around you! You may think and feel that you are not capable of doing what others are able to do.

The alibi that you may reinforce... more abundance more problems! The problems abundance brings are lot better and easier to manage than the problems that poverty, lack or limitation bring.

You have to be thankful for what you got... and that's that! Be thankful, accept and do not ask for more... as though asking will lead to some sort of punishment. Never mistake dissatisfaction with felling ungrateful. We can be thankful and dissatisfied at the same time. A feeling of dissatisfaction is a sign of your inherent desires wanting greater and more effective expression!

Often the religious person may use the "God Willing" alibi as an excuse for a lifetime of weak or non-existent action! For the faithful an expression of increasing faith is one where we demonstrate an increasing belief in ourselves by taking bigger action and making greater sacrifices.

All the above are endemic of the mental cancer that is Doubt or Unbelief!

Begin to change you mindset to eradicate this cancer!

The Best Lies Within...
The best part of a changed mindset is that you are open to the changed perspective that a new awareness brings, along with the belief that new understanding fosters with respect to how you believe in yourself!

Some fundamentals you need to understand:

We have all been created equally and endowed, in equal abundance, with gifts and talents to contribute in increasing measure, to the upliftment and success of everyone we are connected to but more importantly ourselves.

There is an equal amount of time given for all... how we choose to use it is what makes a difference in the results between people.

Adversity is an Opportunity... No one is sheltered from adversity! Your adversity may appear more intense or impossible to overcome but your adversity is unique to you. This is to ensure that the specific development of your unique and wonderful skill and gift along with its intended outcome is realised!

Change is not only possible but necessary.

The brilliant benefit of ever increasing self-belief is that you are able to adapt to circumstances more rapidly, you recognise opportunity to serve and contribute in every interaction. You recognise that you are the best gift you can give when you make the most of yourself to give the best of yourself; all of this is capped off by the mental freedom that comes from knowing that there is no person, opinion, circumstance or situation that will ever hold you back again!

7 Actions to Ensure Your Ultimate Growth!

1. Decide: do not focus on what you believe is possible based on your current results or status... make a decision for what you really want!
2. Think in detail: highlight and get very specific about the characteristics, detail and definition of your goal and the freedom this will bring. Think like this constantly as though it is guaranteed!
3. Take Action: starting with small manageable milestones, begin to implement a changed lifestyle, new discipline and improved routines. Progress to bigger accomplishments and gains as your confidence and your belief increase and become resolute!
4. Model your behaviours: align your behaviours... the good ones, after a person that has accomplished what you want to accomplish or has attained
5. Study: we do not know what we do not know... that is why you need to study more about yourself, what makes you... you, the success principles that surround you and also the strategies you can adopt to bring about significant change. Sound knowledge leads to a steadfast belief!
6. Gratitude: continuously focus on finding a way for your gratitude to increase. Gratitude is a wonderful skill to develop as this connects you intimately with your source of supply!
7. Persist: the most fundamental way to develop belief is by focusing your efforts and energy into a specific outcome then continuing until this specific outcome has been achieved! Its not over until you Win!

At invinciblemind, we believe in the unlimited potential of the mind and are striving to share the life-changing effects of a renewed mind!

Learn how to Unleash Your Ultimate Potential with invinciblemind... Your future self will thank you for the immense decision!

https://invinciblemind.site/

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Allan_Smith/1988300

VIDEO: Mind Power Introduction with Robin Banks

Mind Power, developed by John Kehoe and presented by Robin Banks, is a practice based on scientific principals, which has proven that everything in the universe is made up of energy.

The differences in the matter we experience, is the result of energy vibrating at different frequencies. You have an energy field around you, which literally attracts circumstances and situations to match your own personal vibration.

This has direct implications on your earning power, success, health and general well being of your life.

http://www.robinbanks.co.za

6 Steps to Take Action Right Now

"I wish I didn't play it too safe" said my father then he continued "you're young, so get out and take risks, fail and learn". That was enough for me to take action towards my goals. Just think about it, you work for your goals and you achieve them, wouldn't it be amazing? Easier said than done, right? If you don't give a chance to yourself, it will never happen. 

What is worst, we all tried to do something to make our lives better. Especially, in new years, many people have that 'new year, new me' mindset. Weird enough, they and also you pursued the same habits to achieve different goals. It's like eating chicken and expecting the taste of beef. After all of the failed attempts, you become hopeless and start to believe that you don't have what it takes. The good news? You do have what it takes! 

However, first things first. The main reason you failed in the past is this: you set a goal in your mind, you read, listen, watch and gather information about it. And you forgot the most important part; the execution. Let's say, you want to play violin, have a hot body, or start a business. What do you do? You go for it! You spend too much time learning 'about' your goal that eventually, you run out of energy for the actual goal. 

Hesitation is another issue; you think like should I go for it? Will it be beneficial? Am I going to be successful? What others are going to think? I've got a question for you; how on the earth are you going to know the answer without trying? The only thing you should get out of this; you spend too much energy about your goal rather than the goal itself. 

Procrastination, I had this problem in the past, I feel you. I generally put off working on my goals; I'll start working on it after watching this episode. Alright, I'll just listen to one more music and get started. Guess what happened? Nothing, I killed my valuable time. And I've had enough of it, you've had enough of it too. Here's how to take action right now: 

First, understand your fears. Yes, fears and yes, the ones that you deny. If you wish you can write them down on a piece of paper. But generally, we're scared of these: failure and what others will think about what we do. The bad news, you're going to fail, I know from myself, I did it whole lots of times. The worse, it will hurt, yet I've got good news as well. Every time you fail, you learn how to get back up. Certainly one reason that you're afraid of failure is because you don't want other people to see it, that's why you don't want to fail. 

It's funny, because you're not their priority, so they don't think about you as much as you think they think about you. Suppose that one your friends started training martial arts. He got serious about in his new hobby and after training a couple of months participated a tournament. Let's say, he got destroyed in his first match. How much would you care? Are you going to make fun of him or if yes, for how long? As you can see, there's no need of fear of failure that comes from worrying about others' reactions. 

Second, you should accept failure. There are many ways to embrace failure, in my opinion, changing the definition of failure is the easiest one. How? Instead of 'failure' you can say 'stepping stone', 'lesson', or 'opportunity for growth'. The more you fail, the more 'opportunities for growth' you will have. Trust me, one of those opportunities will work for you, afterwards, you'll rise like a star. You don't fail because you take action, you fail because you don't take action. 

Third, you learn on the way. Your worst is your first, remember that. Do a favor to yourself, have low expectations in your first try. No one was born as professional athletes, wonderful writers, or singers. All of the successful people put tremendous amount of effort on their work. There's no secret, you have to do the same if you want to achieve your goal. It's perfectly okay to think, read, listen and gather information about what you want to do, however, make sure you'll have enough energy to put necessary efforts into your goal. Otherwise you'll not be going forward.

Fourth, run away from temporary desires as your life depends on it. Temporary desires ruin your life. While you think of one more episode, one more music or one more night out, the other person out there working is winning. If something that you do doesn't help you, then don't do it. For instance, I love listening to music, therefore, I listen to music before I work. It starts with that sentence 'just one more' or 'alright, this is the last one', trust me it is more than one more or last one. When I started to write instead of listening to music, I found myself writing till 2 a.m. So, just get started! 

The last one, take your time. It is good to visualize your success and it does motivate you, however, you should take only one step at a time. When it comes to achieving something, you cannot start on the top. Don't try to be on the top in the beginning of the journey, as I've said before, have low expectations in the beginning. 

If you keep thinking about what you want to do, you'll hesitate, fear and put off more. Which will not bring any positive results. On the other hand, if you start doing what you want to do right now, eventually, you'll have some results (good or bad). More than that, if you keep trying, eventually, you will get your desired outcome.

What are you waiting for? Go for it! 

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Ahmet_Meliksah_Akdeniz/2758352

Lost In Transition - How To Cope With Hard Times

Lost In Transition - A Story From Morocco 

It was late one warm summer's evening in Marrakesh. We had wandered around the souks and then enjoyed a pleasant dinner in a restaurant just off the main market square in the Medina and it was time to head back to the Riad where we were staying.

The Medina was built around 1122 and is the old town in Marrakesh. It is a twisting labyrinth comprising 19-kilometers of tiny streets with pink walls, and poor lighting and it can feel like a scary place to walk through at night, especially if you don't know where you are going!

The walk into the centre undertaken in daylight had been quite pleasant, but walking back in the dark wasn't an option so we took a taxi.

The heart of darkness 

Unfortunately the taxi driver misunderstood the rather obscure address of our Riad and assumed wrongly that we wanted to go some late night venue on the other side of the Medina! Language difficulties made it impossible to rectify so we set off on foot.

We asked a succession of strangers for directions and yet we seemed to be going deeper into what was rapidly beginning to feel like Conrad's "Heart Of Darkness". With hindsight I am sure the locals who tried to help us were genuine and had good intentions, but after about an hour or two of this we were totally disoriented and frankly scared. 

Lost in transition

To be in an alien North African city, late in the evening, in the dark, completely lost in transition from the main market square back to the obscure location of our Riad, with no tools for navigation, and finding it impossible to communicate with the locals, was frightening.

To cut a long story short we eventually found someone who seemed to understand where we were trying to get to and it was with enormous relief when we recognised the alley (I wouldn't dignify it by calling it a street) where our Riad was located. Needless to say, the following day we moved to another Riad in the centre adjacent to the main market square. 

The Difference Between Change and Transition 

That experience of being lost in transition in the Medina illustrates the locational disorientation we can experience when we experience an unexpected change in circumstances, and especially a change that is imposed upon and that leads to hard times. 

At the time of writing, with the world slowly emerging from Covid-19 lockdown, with our economies strangled, business failures and unemployment rising and our national governments flailing around like drowning men clutching at straws I think it is fair to say that many of us are currently experiencing hard times as a direct result of imposed change! 

The purpose of this article is to set out a framework for understanding what is happening to you and to go beyond the circumstantial changes and to address the inner psychological and emotional impacts and how you can deal with those as well. 

The first and key point to make is that there is a distinction between the events, situations and circumstances that are imposed on you and your inner response to these things. 

In the world of change management this is known as "transition". 

William Bridges was one of the first thought leader's in the field of organisational transformation and change management to recognise the fundamental difference between change and transition, namely: 

• Change is an external event or situation that happens to you, and often that is imposed upon you. 
• Transition is the internal process that you have to go through as you make your readjustment and realignment to the new realities. 

The Psychological and Emotional Transition Is A Three Stage Process 

Without an effective transition, a change is just a rearrangement of circumstances and you will not effectively make the transition but will become stuck or lost in transition. 

Bridges Transition Model involves a three-phase process: 

1. Ending, Losing, Letting Go - Every transition begins with an ending. We have to let go of the old thing before we can pick up with the new one - not just outwardly, but inwardly, where we keep our connections to people and places that act as definitions of who we are. 

2. The Neutral Zone - This is a fallow time. One of the difficulties of being in transition in the modern world is that we have lost our appreciation for this gap between the ending and letting go and the new beginning, we find it unsettling. But as in nature the fallow time is a necessary part of the process. It is a time of death and rebirth. 

3. The New Beginning - This is where we develop a new identity, experience a new energy, and discover a new sense of purpose that enables us to make the change begin to work. 

Transition is a psychological process of inner reorientation and self-redefinition that you have to go through in order to incorporate the effect of external changes into your life. 

One of the major causes of the difficulty that you will experience with transition is that it necessarily involves letting go of something. 

The process of letting go is often unsettling and unnerving. 

Therefore a fundamental element of the transition is acceptance of that letting go. Without that acceptance, you will become stuck in denial, anger or resistance. 

I leave you with 2 empowering thoughts: 

# "This too will pass" 

# "When You can't control what's happening, challenge yourself to control the way you respond to what's happening. That's where your power lies. "

Read More: Lost In Transition

Stephen Warrilow, runs an informational site Zen Tools for tough times. The purpose of this site is to show you how to cope in tough times, and to provide you with the tools to do this successfully.

The outcomes that you experience in life are determined by your responses to the events in your life. The stronger your response - the better the outcome. The strength and quality of your response is determined by the skills and the experience you bring to it.

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Richard_Brody/492539

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