June 6, 2008
There’s a moment in one of my favorite films, Searching for Bobby Fischer, where 7-year-old chess prodigy Josh Waitzkin’s chess teacher knocks all the pieces off his chess board, in an effort to get him to concentrate deeper on the way the pieces on the board were strategically aligned.
As the pieces go flying, scattering noisily about the room, Josh is at first stunned that his teacher would have done such a thing. But then, as if by instinct, Josh ponders the situation for a moment, and proceeds to stare at the now-empty board, as if there were pieces still there.
Josh has entered a different level of play, where he can now assess matters of the game without the distraction of the pieces themselves. In this place, he can see all moves before they happen. All strategies of both his opponent and himself are laid bare, without the distraction of rooks, knights, bishops and pawns. Here, he can see the end game and take the appropriate actions to ensure a winning outcome for himself.
We can take a lesson from this. In the chess game of our lives, there are all kinds of pieces on the board distracting us: obstacles from family, friends and co-workers, negative influences from the news media and entertainment industry, fear of failure, fear of success, guilt from events in our past, self-imposed resistance and rationalizations for why we are where we are, limiting beliefs we place on ourselves that put up a solid defense against our future prosperity, and the list goes on.
These are the chess pieces in our own lives that we, like Josh’s chess teacher, must scatter about the room. We must, just as abruptly as he did, knock all of these pieces of resistance off our own chess boards. When we do this we will enter a different plane of existence. We will rise above our seemingly insurmountable challenges and difficulties and be able to see them in the same perspective, on the same playing field, as the positives in our lives that we so conveniently ignore.
But how? How does one begin to rise above money, relationship and stress related problems? How do we summon the courage and strength to rise above the situations that consume our every day lives? How do we knock these pieces off of our boards?
The answer lies within your own state of being. Step back and gain a higher ground on your consciousness by examining each waking moment of your life as it happens. Assess every feeling you have in every situation. Take control of it. Abandon your instinctive reactions to things. Stop yourself often during the course of the first day you put this into action.
Ask yourself these questions: How often do I get angry or impatient when there really is no need? How often do I speak of others in derogatory manner? How often do I
turn down a chance to tithe? How could I have reacted differently to this or that situation in my life? How could I have responded differently to this employee? This spouse? This child? Just for this one day, think. Examine. Learn.
As you examine your feelings more during the day’s activities you will most likely see a trend forming. If it’s a trend toward negativity you can stop it. React to it. Change it. Turn negatives into positives. Even if it annoys you, try it, just for this day. There’s no need to analyze what’s in your past. With the chess pieces off your board you can see your life on a whole new level. And if you can do it for just one day, just one 24 hour period, then you can do it for a lifetime.
For the next 24 hours, try to isolate and recognize every feeling you have. Every reaction to various circumstances throughout your day. Analyze how you are responding to situations, and determine if these responses are instinctive, based on your past habits, or if they are indeed tied to a greater good that you may be striving for in your life. When you can pinpoint these feelings now, you can change them for the better in the future. Then you will ensure a winning outcome in your life.
Andy O’Bryan is co-founder of AudioMotivation.com, the website which enables its members to conveniently download a constantly growing library of exclusive audio interviews with the movers and shakers in personal and professional growth. Members learn motivational tips and advice via their mp3 player, CD player or computer speakers. To learn more about membership, visit http://www.audiomotivation.com
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With so many young people trying to work from home on the Internet it is amazing just how many of them really do not have the slightest idea of the workload they have got themselves into.
Many of these people did not even sit down and assess what it is that they see as reasonable personal goal. This is a huge mistake on their part. You must know what you want in order to find a way to obtain it. It must be clear to everyone willing to jump into the Internet marketing world; if you are not sure whether or not you have the drive and a willingness to succeed you might want to save yourself some time, money and much aggravation. It is easy to desire something, and you may think you know how to get it, but there is this little issue about dedication and determination, do you have it? Why put yourself through the troubles of failing and wondering exactly where you went wrong.
The great Winston Churchill once said, “If you find yourself walking through hell, just keep going”. This idea of the struggles people face, in business and in life is just that. Struggles, the winners will survive and the weak will fall. This has been a true facet in life since the beginning of time. Basically staying power in the Internet marketing business is about keeping your face off the pavement.
They also do not get the fact that because it is their business and not someone else’s responsibility, that they in turn will have to work probably much harder to keep it going. When these people hear the nonsense about working 1 hour per week and striking it rich, I truly feel sorry for their heads and wallets when they inevitably re-enter the earth’s atmosphere, and hit the ground with a screeching halt. Again this may be nothing more than naivety, and not total stupidity. The unfortunate part for most people new to the scene is that they have absolutely no idea just what it entails on a time basis.
What must be remembered is that success cannot be bought in a can. It is the single marketing plan and strategy that is doomed to fail. You must be able to walk many avenues in order to reap the benefits of the successes it can yield. Buy into what you truly feel will get you ahead, listen to what other marketers are saying in the forums and try to catch on quick. This field is extremely fast and waits for no one. The best way to do business is to spread out your resources as much as possible; the best way for exposure is to be out in the middle of the field, if you do your research first, then i have no doubt you will be successful.
Copyright © Vincent Murphy
Vincent Murphy can help you to find the best home based business ideas and opportunities so you can work at home visit: www.HomeGrail.com
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When people think of a vacation in Key West, Florida they rarely realize that there is so much to do other than drinking and playing on the water. In fact, Key West is an old historic town that will appeal to anyone interested in history or architecture. Of course, there are still plenty of fun things to do on the water, but in the Florida Keys many of those activities are as unique as the islands.
With history comes ghost so while visiting Key West make sure to go on a ghost tour. This author has experienced one ghost tour in Key West and it was a blast. Our guide made the tour worth every penny. The stories were not only scary, but entertaining and informative as well. Of course, there is much more to do and see in Key West from historic tours to enjoying the natural environment.
The Florida Keys are known for their beautiful location stuck between the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. If you don’t spend some time enjoying the water you have missed one of the highlights of the Florida Keys. One way to enjoy the ocean is with a dolphin eco tour. Swimming with dolphins in the Florida Keys is a rare event, so make sure to book a dolphin eco tour through a good company that has been in business for several years. Avoid any company that uses artificial methods, like feeding, to draw in the dolphins. There are many eco tours you can take while in the Keys, from kayaking to bird watching.
While in the city of Key West one of the best things to see and do is to simply walk around and explore. The old conch houses and buildings in Key West have a unique architecture that is all there own. The town has a fun history and the structures are current records of times past. Many of the old buildings are now restaurants, stores, and bars. You can tour many of these old homes and businesses. Favorites are Truman’s Little White House and the Hemingway Home.
A Few Top Attractions in Key West
Hemingway House - If you are a fan of the great American author Ernest Hemingway, or you are interested in viewing a beautiful Key West home from another era, you must visit this place. The tour is worth it just to see the six toed cats. 907 Whitehead St. This tour is worth the modest admission price.
Fort Taylor - This fort was started in 1845 and was adapted over the years before eventually being abandoned. It was restored in the 1960s and is now a state park. From this park you can watch the sunset or swim from the beach. When Florida decded from the Union on January 13, 1861 Federal troops immediately occupied this fort and held Key West for the Union making it the only city in the Confederacy to be held by the Federals.
Conch Train - If you can’t make the walk around Key West, or if you just want to get off of your feet for a while, the Conch Train is the best way to see the city. The tour guides are entertaining and informative.
Audubon House - The Audubon House has 28 original works from the artist John James Audubon. View the artwork and then tour the one acre garden.
Key West is a magical place that captures the hearts of thousands of people each year. Let your soul be wild and let your imagination go free in Key West.
The author, Scott Thompson, is the webmaster for http://www.Key-West-USA.com. Learn more about a vacation in Key West at Key West USA.
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