We’ve all had breakthrough moments in our lives. Moments when a switch flicked, a light went on and a door to a new world of potential and possibilities opened up for us. For most of us, the door was always there to be opened but, for a range of reasons, we never turned the handle. Until that day.
Ignoring Reality
Invariably, the switch-flicking and door-opening (the internal shift) was the result of a situation, experience or circumstance that we found ourselves in. And it was usually an unpleasant one. My first big breakthrough moment came after many smaller and less embarrassing, but similar, moments. It’s fair to say I was (am) a slow learner. The lessons, the signs and the indicators (to change, to listen, to pay attention) were all there for me, but for the longest time I did my best to ignore them. I never allowed reality to get in the way of the stories I told myself.
And what stories I told.
One of my favourites was the “it doesn’t matter that you weigh more than your teachers and you’re only fourteen” fairytale. I fooled not only my friends but also myself.
Or so I thought.
The Beginning of the End
For me, the beginning of the end (of my fat, unhappy self) came at a school swimming carnival when I found myself standing on a starting block at the end of a pool next to seven other kids who weighed as much as my breakfast. It was the painful reality check I needed but clearly, didn’t want. It’s hard to hide 90kgs (200lbs) of teenage lard when you’re semi-naked and perched on a block of concrete with hundreds of people staring at you. Humiliation would have been a pleasant improvement on what I felt in that moment.
Transformational Pain
Although that experience was a painful one for me, it was also something that led me to make decisions and embrace behaviours which transformed my life (on many levels), and I believe, changed the course of my destiny. If I hadn’t experienced that feeling, I don’t think I would be the person I am today. I am grateful for that experience because it forced me to step into reality, to acknowledge who and what I was, and to take charge of my mind, my body and my life. And yes, it happened in that order (mind, body, life).
Even though I had that revelation at a relatively young age (fourteen), I often look back and realise that I always had the potential to create incredible and lasting change. Over the last thirty (or so) years I have consciously and diligently worked to make the decisions, changes and adjustments before I found myself standing on that starting block again.
So to speak.
The fit, lean, stronger, happier, more productive and creative (version of) me was always in there; I just needed to let him out.
I don’t know (most of) you, but if you’re like the majority then I know that you have more ability, potential and possibilities than you have ever imagined. If amazing (and lasting) results are what you’re after then my advice to you is:
Don’t wait for a breakthrough moment: create one!
So, why don’t you choose to make a breakthough this week? Just because you can.
Craig Harper (B.Ex.Sci.) is a qualified exercise scientist, author, columnist, radio presenter, television host, motivational speaker and university lecturer. For the past 25 years he has been a leading presenter, educator, motivator and commentator in the areas of personal and professional development. You can visit Craig’s blog at Motivational Speaker.FREE eBook – So… You’ve Decided to Get in Shape (Again) Craig’s FREE eBook takes 20 – 30 minutes to read, and addresses the REAL getting-in-shape issues based on his 25 years of experience.
Dumb Little Man – Tips for Life • by Mark Harrison •
We’ve been conditioned to think small, simplify, not to be greedy, and to overall expect less and demand less from life. We’ve been taught that we should be happy and thankful with what we have and that there are many others less fortunate than ourselves.
I read somewhere that, as an experiment, someone put two adverts in a newspaper. They were for the same job, doing the same work with the same hours, but one of them offered to pay a salary many times the other. Guess what? About ten times more people applied for the lower paid job! People think small. And that’s one of the reasons they fail.
Most people are afraid of thinking big, they’re scared to be successful, scared to be rich. For most people, being rich is a pleasant dream, but they’re comfortable with the dream – it’s nice and it makes them feel good. But truly successful and wealthy people take it to the next level – they are committed to being rich, to being successful, and they’re prepared to keep on keeping on until the dream becomes reality.
You can have anything you want – ask for it, choose it, be committed to it. Start thinking big. Ask for MORE. Life is like that – by its very nature it grows, it evolves, it seeks to be more than it is, it acquires. That’s not a bad thing. The bad thing is that we’ve been taught to be small and to accept less. The tragedy of many people’s lives is that they think there’s not enough to go round and they mustn’t take more than their fair share. But there is enough – enough money and enough success and enough of everything – the universe never runs out, it just keeps on making more and more. What a pity we don’t ask for it! The more you get, the more you can inspire others, you more you can share, the more you can contribute to everyone around you, the more you can enrich the world.
There is a quote I love, often misattributed to Nelson Mandela but actually from A Course in Miracles, which summarizes all of this:
Our worst fear is not that we are inadequate, our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God; your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us. It is not just in some of us, it is in everyone, and as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.
What a wonderful quotation! You can do and be anything you want. There are no limits. That’s the power of thinking big!
Written on 2/7/2010 by Mark Harrison. Mark Harrison writes about personal growth, communication, and increasing personal wealth. Check out his new book, Thirty Days to Change Your Life.
Posted 3 weeks, 2 days ago at 11:01 pm. Add a comment
We’ve all heard that ‘Laughter is the best medicine’. Well, there are many proven benefits from laughing, chuckling or giggling. Laughing can reduce stress, lower your blood pressure as well as boost your immune system.
The human reaction of laughing is not full understood. Researchers are currently running tests on the effects of laughter. Scientists are actually starting to put people into functional MRI machines and make them laugh in order to find out. In a recent study at Stanford, researchers showed humorous materials to people while their brains were monitored by an MRI. They were able to prove for the first time that laughter (or at least humor) stimulates the parts of our brain that use the “feel good” chemical messenger dopamine. That puts laughter in the category of activities you want to do over and over again, such as eating chocolate or having sex. Dopamine systems that get out of whack can lead to addiction, says Emory University neurologist Gregory Berns. This finding explains why kids want to keep playing silly games until parents can’t stand it anymore. Laughter is pleasurable, perhaps even “addictive,” to the brain.
Laughter relaxes the whole body. A good, hearty laugh
relieves physical tension and stress, leaving your muscles relaxed for up to
45 minutes after.
Laughter boosts the immune system. Laughter decreases
stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting
antibodies, thus improving your resistance to disease.
Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s
natural feel-good chemicals. Endorphins promote an overall sense of
well-being and can even temporarily relieve pain.
Laughter protects the heart. Laughter improves the
function of blood vessels and increases blood flow, which can help protect
you against a heart attack and other cardiovascular problems.
The Benefits of Laughter
Physical Health Benefits:
Boosts immunity
Lowers stress hormones
Decreases pain
Relaxes your muscles
Prevents heart disease
Mental Health Benefits:
Adds joy and zest to life
Eases anxiety and fear
Relieves stress
Improves mood
Enhances resilience
Social Benefits:
Strengthens relationships
Attracts others to us
Enhances teamwork
Helps defuse conflict
Promotes group bonding
Creating opportunities to laugh
Watch a funny movie or TV show.
Go to a comedy club.
Read the funny pages.
Seek out funny people.
Share a good joke or a funny story.
Check out your bookstore’s humor section.
Host game night with friends.
Play with a pet.
Go to a “laughter yoga” class.
Goof around with children.
Do something silly.
Make time for fun activities (e.g. bowling, miniature golfing,
karaoke).
What are your favorities funny movies, jokes, books or people? Whatever it may be, get out there and laugh and maybe you’ll make someone else laugh too.
Posted 3 weeks, 2 days ago at 10:12 pm. Add a comment
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Have you just moved to a new town? Are you a couch potato? Or have your friends decided they don’t want to do anything this weekend? Have no fear, the internet is here! We’ll get you out of the house yet with these six websites.
Six Places Online To Find Something To Do
Craigslist. The grand daddy of all websites to help you get out of the house. Classes? Check. Events? Check. Just friends? Check. More than friends? No problem. I use Craigslist all the time – my favorite sections to post are “strictly platonic” when I’m looking for tennis and hiking buddies, and in the “musicians” section when looking for fellow band mates. Whatever you’re looking for, Craigslist has you covered. I’ve even made friends with people after purchasing used tennis rackets and guitars, and some of my best friends have been random people I’ve met on Craigslist. I have friends in different cities through Craigslist to this day – some of whom I met as many as seven years ago!
Meetup. Meetup is awesome – they have well organized events, you can see who is attending, and you will often see the same regulars at event after event so you can build a relationship. I’m involved in about a dozen Meetup groups, although I don’t attend many events – but I love being able to see what’s being planned and having the option of attending. Many cities have dedicated “New In Town” Meetup groups, and whenever I’ve attended I’ve found them to be welcoming – and a great place to meet people when I’ve first arrived.
Twtvite. A relative newcomer, Twtvite uses Twitter to publicize events and RSVPs. You don’t even need a Twitter account to use it, you can just show up – but you’ll want to get on Twitter so you can keep in touch with all the cool people you meet. Just go to the site to see what’s being organized in your town and to see who’s attending. As I was writing this I went to check it out and found an event one of my friends was organizing, that 30 people are attending. Instant things to do, instant Twitter followers and instant new real life friends.
Myspace Shows. I love discovering new music, so whenever I move to a new city, this is one of the first sites I pull up. Not only does it help me find local music, it also helps me meet people, because I can find people at the concerts that likely are similar to me. If nothing else, the people I meet have the same taste in music. It also gives me an excuse to check out bars I may not normally visit. One night when I was living in Maui, I had nothing to do so I found an acoustic musician playing a solo show in a tiny little bar in Kihei. I decided to check it out, and I was blown away. He was amazing, and since then we’ve remained good friends – and I’ve introduced many of my friends to his music. I also check out Ticketmaster since they tend to have lots of concerts listed as well, but generally not as many as Myspace Shows – and I also have a harder time meeting people at large concerts compared to smaller local shows.
Metromix. A great source for club parties and local bar events, Metromix is slick and polished. They have lots of pictures and information about the venues, so you can make a decision about where to spend your evening. The downside is they tend to be focused on nightlife, so you may have a harder time finding daytime events.
Facebook Events. This requires slightly more work which is why it’s last. Whenever a friend invites me to an event on Facebook, I take a look at who the organizer for the event is and check out their Facebook profile. Over time I’ve found about a dozen people – local DJs, bartenders, etc. – who constantly post new events to Facebook to get the word out. The result is that now on any given night, there are usually one or two events I can see going on on Facebook. Since I can see who is organizing events as well, I can often get on guest lists for free or reduced cover charge.
How about you? Are there any websites you like that help you find local events?
