Self-Sabotage: Stop It!

In Steven Pressfield's book "Do the Work" he says that all people have a voice in their heads that attempts to sabotage their best efforts.

He calls this voice or urge to give up "resistance." Resistance doesn't want you to do anything new, or risk looking silly in order to achieve a goal or dream. It lists all of the reasons why you can't accomplish something, and causes you to find every opportunity to procrastinate.

Have you ever started out working on a new endeavor with gusto only to drop the idea half-way through? Do you long to take a new class, start a new business, or complete a new work of art or social importance, but can't seem to find the time? You are most likely listening to resistance and sabotaging yourself.

In his article, "How Not to Sabotage Yourself" Sam Ferrigno, gives a list of things you can do to ensure that resistance doesn't win.

We all have goals, dreams, and even to-do lists that we want to place check marks next to.

It is time to stop sabotaging ourselves, and start accomplishing what we set out to do.

Live Differently

"When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left and could say, 'I used everything you gave me.'" -Erma Bombeck


This past week I've come across two things that speak of what people think about most before their life is over. Whether it is a list of regrets or things left undone, what is important in life becomes clearer just before it's over.

I was shaken by this list of things dying people say they most regret.  More than half of the things on the list are things that I often put off for "one day." There are also things on the list that I spend too much time worrying about.

Ric Elias was on Flight 1549 when it went down in the Hudson River. In this video he recounts the moment when he thought his life was over, and what he has learned from it.

“Breathe. Let go. And remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure. ” - Oprah Winfrey

The older I get, the more I see how fast time passes. I acknowledge that "one day" often becomes never.

There's a lot that I still want to do and accomplish in my life. I'm sure I can't be the only one who feels like there is so much more to be done. 

Whatever your goals or dreams are, you have to go after them. Today.

The time to do these things is now. Of course this is known in theory, but time doesn't wait for you to actually take action. That is up to you.

“Action expresses priorities.”-Gandhi

I've decided to do at least one thing every day that will put me closer to living my dreams and being the type of person I have always wanted to be.

What can you do to live differently NOW?

If you need a little push, here are some great quotes about life to get you going.

The Moment

In life we give up on our dreams for any number of reasons. Perhaps money issues, not being able to find a job in the field you desire, or the responsibilities of raising a family led to you letting go of your ultimate dream.

On the new show The Moment which airs on the USA network select people are given a second chance to live their dreams.

The Huffington Post highlighted the story of Derek James who always dreamed of being a chef at the White House. In his episode of The Moment, Derek got to work beside the White House executive chefs and apply for a job. He got the job!

Click here to watch full episodes of The Moment, and to remember that it's never too late.

These outcomes of old dreams realized aren't just for television. How can you take  your moment and make set aside dreams a reality now?

Unlimited

I had a majorly rough week recently. Right before the rough week began, I was visiting the local library and I picked up a copy of Jillian Michaels' book, "Unlimited".
If you've followed Jillian Michaels on The Biggest Loser you know that she is a no-nonsense type of person, and I felt like she would give me the push I needed to get myself back on track.

During the week that I spent crying my eyes out, Jillian was there with me. As I read her book it seemed as if the answers to everything I was distressed about were laid out for me.

In the book, Jillian teaches readers how to believe and take action in order to create an ideal life.  She stresses that it's not enough to only believe, but you must do the work as well.

As a result of reading her book, I took immediate action and was able to change a highly stressful situation for the better. I know that I came across her book that week for a reason!

If you know that you need to make some big changes in your life, check out Jillian's book "Unlimited".

Do Not Shelve Your Dreams

I just read the most beautiful essay over at writingismydrink. Like last year, the graduates of Theo Pauline Nestor's memoir writing class gave a public reading of their work.

This essay by Deirdre Allen Timmons touched me deeply. I think this essay will speak to anyone who has a dream, who has struggled to find support for that dream, or has watched a family member or friend try to tear that dream to pieces.

Timmons ends her essay by saying,

Do not stop.
Do not shelve your dreams.
I don’t believe in it.

No matter how hard it gets, I don't believe in shelving dreams either. It's never too late!

Go over and read this powerful essay today.

Jury Duty

This week I am serving jury duty. I will be back next week with all new posts. Until then keep moving forward!

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” Eleanor Roosevelt.

Why Not?

We often have a lot of reasons for not doing the very things we desire to do. It's too hard, most people who try to do the same thing fail, you're not capable, or smart enough. If you look for them there are a million reasons not to pursue a goal or dream-- At some point you really do have to just decide..."Why not?"

Rieva Lesonsky decided "Why Not?" and at the age of 50 started her own business . After 25 years of working for Entrepreneur  magazine and reading about the successes of other start-ups she finally took the leap and decided to start her own business. Now four years later she is the owner of GrowBizMedia.

It wasn't easy but it was worth it. Lesonsky writes:

I won't lie and tell you owning a business is oh-so-easy. I have never worked this hard in my life. Or slept so little. There were moments (more like months) where I questioned my decision several times a day -- and my sanity even more often. There were times I didn’t think we'd make it. I can recount almost every high (meeting new people who've become friends, partners, clients and mentors; winning a new contract), and low (clients who go out of business; learning the cost of health care; finding out people you thought were your friends really weren't). But I don't regret taking the leap. Do I wish I'd divorced my job earlier? Absolutely. But apparently "50 is the new 30"

A lot of time is often wasted worrying about all of the reasons why you are sure to fail. Imagine what could happen if you say "Why Not?", and go after your dreams no matter what.  

Impossible Things

“It always seems impossible until it’s done.” -Nelson Mandela

When trying to reach a goal or to dig up a dream that was long ago hidden , success may seem almost impossible.

 I have some days where I feel like I can do anything! I know that all of my dreams are just a few short steps away, and nothing can keep me from them. Then there are other days when I feel like achieving even a short term goal is absolutely impossible. I wonder what I was thinking when I even decided to dream of something so outlandish in the first place.

When I go to those low places, I try to think of other things that at first seemed impossible, but people have accomplished in order to encourage myself. Here are just a few:

President  Barack Obama- First African-American President.

Neil Armstrong- First person to set foot on the Moon.

Amelia Earhart- First woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean and set many aviation records.

Helen Keller- The first deaf-blind person to earn a bachelor’s degree.

George Dawson- At age 98 learned to read, at 101 years old he co-authored his autobiography.

What are some other seemingly impossible things that people have accomplished?  Who has helped you to believe that anything is possible?

Fuel Your Dreams Scholarship

24Seven Energy is offering a "Fuel Your Dreams" scholarship in the amount of $1,000. All you have to do is write in 250 words or less, how $1,000 will help you to accomplish your dream. That's it!

Also, just by entering you become eligible to win an iPad 2. You must act fast. The deadline is May 31, 2011.

Apply Now

It Is Never Too Late

"It’s never too late to be who you might have been”- George Elliott

Welcome to Second Chance. If you are looking for a second chance to fulfill a dream, complete a college degree, earn a GED, start your own business, become who you always knew you could be, or help others along in their journey, then this is the place for you.  Age in our case is nothing but a number. This blog will feature:

-- Inspiring stories about people of all ages turning their lives around. 

-- Tips for going to college at any age.

--Financial aid and scholarship information.

--Information, and resources for taking and passing the GED exam.  

-- Reviews of books and films that speak to the idea of second chances. 

--And so much more!

Here we will share dreams, goals, and victories. Whether you are 16 or 91 this is the place for you.  We recognize that dreams are not only for the young. So here’s to dusting off those old dreams. The ones you have buried in your heart and nearly forgotten about.  Now is the time to dig them up, and let them inspire and motivate you again.

 With faith and hard work anything is possible.  As George Elliott said, “It is never too late to be who you might have been.”  Let’s get started on this journey together.  K.P.