by Rosanna E. Tufts

Whenever you are looking to manifest anything, it may help you to ask yourself, “who am I really doing this FOR?” Who is the “end user” of the thing you want to manifest?

A case in point is the first full-length musical I ever composed in 1997, “According To Us,” which I wrote in collaboration with Charles Butler. He wrote the book and lyrics, and “thunk up” the melodies, while I took his musical ideas and fleshed them out into full orchestrations. It’s the story of three homeless people who’ve been willed the garden of a church by its Rector, and they each tell of how the Rector rehabilitated them and gave them a sense of direction.

Since Charles is the son of a minister, he knows firsthand the kind of people that he turned into these characters for the show. And at first he thought the show would make a good “chancel drama,” as a fundraiser for homeless ministries..

But despite the obvious merits of the show, both musically and narratively, it wasn’t “pulling.” We kept putting on the show in church fellowship halls, to extremely meager attendance. And I knew that the challenging music wasn’t being done justice by the amateurs he was recruiting. Playing the Rector, I was routinely the most professional person in the cast – and a performer is only as good as his/her co-stars. But, as Charles was so often “poor as a church mouse,” having to put this thing on with a shoestring budget, he didn’t think he had the wherewithal to make it a professional production, with FOUR equally strong leads!

We had a bit of a falling-out over this. With my musical theatre experience, I also came to the conclusion that we were playing the show in the wrong places, for the wrong people. “Churches don’t know how to promote musical theatre,” I pointed out. “That’s not their job. It’s no wonder that hardly anybody from the congregations are even showing up. You need to get this show picked up by a legitimate theater, with its own marketing department, that can promote the thing PROPERLY!” I challenged him to do this, and “THEN come back and talk to me!”

A year later, he saw me actually “put my money where my mouth was,” mounting a professional production of my own show, “The Passion of Persephone,” at a theatre festival – and did it with an even more challenging score and a larger cast. And he knew I was serious. If he wanted to keep me, he was going to have to step up, and go beyond what he thought he could do.

Over the next year, he DID IT. He found a local community theatre with an open weekend, and he booked the show into that time slot. He recruited several players from the “Persephone” cast, expanded the show to include four more supporting players, and actually devised a proper set and lighting cues. Even better, sponsor-funding materialized to cover the set design, and one of the performances was recorded for airing on a local public-access cable channel. Best of all, we actually decent audiences! For five performances in a row!

On closing night, he was astonished at himself. I congratulated him, saying, “Now you can’t go back. Now that you know you CAN pull it off, you won’t ever be able to settle for anything less..” And he realized that I was right, both about this and about WHERE the show should be played, and for whom.

As Manifestations go, this one was pretty good. And I’m pleased to know that I was the “Catalytic Converter” that lit the fire under him.

So: Whether you think you can, or whether you think you can’t, either way you’re right.

And: If you believe in yourself, other people will believe in you too.

Rosanna E. Tufts is the author of “Don’t Start a Business without ME!”, available at www.DontStartABusinessWithoutMe.com. Excerpts from her rock opera, “The Passion of Persephone,” can be seen and heard at www.myspace.com/passionofpersephonerockopera. To hear more from her and ask her questions LIVE on the air, tune in on Wednesday, June 3, at 7 pm!

As we go through life, sometimes things get us down and we lose our motivation to keep going after our dreams.  This is a natural phenomenon though and is explained by the Univeral Metaphysical Law of Cycles.

But still, what can we do to get out of that funk and get back to being motivated and regain the confidence we once had?

To boost your confidence, here’s a list of the top 10 power words and tips to keep you motivated and passionate, no matter what life throws your way:

1. Purpose. Whenever you’re feeling discouraged or disappointed, always remember your original purpose. Reminding yourself of the original reason for venturing down your path in the first place will help refresh your mind when things go awry.
   
   
2. Planning. Though you may think that you’ve done enough planning towards the fulfillment of your goal, thinking it through again will help eliminate aspects of your plan of action that may be causing you setbacks. Put all your thoughts down on paper, from the smallest details to the larger movements.
   
   

· Being able to see the timeline of your mission will help you focus on taking one step at a time to reach your goals.

1. Acceptance. Accepting that you’re a human being who’s bound to have ups and downs is absolutely crucial to your success. Without this self-acceptance, you’ll be subject to a foggy mind that’s unable to think positively, clearly, and innovatively.
   
   

· Acceptance of what hasn’t worked in the past helps you gain a better knowledge of what will work in the future.

1. Reward. When your motivation starts to wean, it’s crucial to give yourself rewards along the way. This is one of the best ways to stay motivated on your path to success.
   
   

By giving yourself a taste of what you’re working for – whether it’s financial freedom, career responsibility, or your dream lifestyle – you won’t feel like you’re working so hard for nothing. This refreshes your mind and helps you work more productively.

1. Health. You know what this entails: moderate exercise, a healthy diet, and 7-8 hours of sleep per night. Feeling worn-down will make it almost impossible to pursue your goals and vision with the same clarity and vigor you had when you first set out.
   
   

· Take care of your basic needs first, and you’ll be strong enough to pursue your dreams.

1. Motivation. Research motivational books, CDs, and seminars. Sometimes hearing motivational tips from a different perspective can greatly motivate you to act and succeed.
   
   

· Find a source or two that touches you in some way and keep them close for those moments when you feel discouraged. After all, we all get discouraged at one time or another.

1. Organization. Ever feel depressed and worn out, and then you clean your surroundings and instantly feel more focused and motivated? The same applies to your goal. Organize and clean house when it comes to the operation of your goal.
   
   

· Organizing yourself gives you a fresh start and a feeling of clarity. In doing so, you’ll be able to attack your short and long-term goals more vigorously and effectively.

1. Refresh. Refresh your plan with something new. It could be a different tactic, setting, or career. Whatever it is, break out of the pattern you’re in and try something new. Even if this new tactic doesn’t yield positive results immediately, at the very least it will make you aware of the availability of your options.
   
   
2. Networking. Reach out to people in your industry or those who share your life goal. You can do this a number of ways: check out local clubs, find a plethora people online, or talk to existing contacts that may have already succeeded in your goal.
   
   

· Having someone to voice your struggles, questions, and experience to will invigorate you to keep moving forward.

1. Action. Taking action, despite doubts and setbacks, will further your progress. By moving on, despite any pessimistic thoughts, you will motivate yourself by the sheer momentum of doing something proactive to change your circumstances.
   
   

Whenever you feel like your progress has stalled, or you simply want some quick inspiration, look to these 10 powerful words and strategies to spur you on. You’re sure to find something to get you back on track toward success!

To Your Continued Success!

Gary

Do you have the ability to accept the things you can change and the things you cannot change? Do you have the ability to accept that other people are apt to change them, rather than you changing them? Do you accept that you are who you are, regardless of what others think? Can you accept the many changes that take place in your life?

If you answered yes to one or all of these questions then you are off to the start of improving your personal life. If you are willing to accept, you have the ability to laugh, even when something is not funny. For instance, if someone pushed you, you could stand back and laugh. The push is only a threat to your emotion, which you will see, accept and find a way to gain control of the situation.

When you can accept things in life, including you and others you find a way to take control. When you are in control, it helps you to see how you can improve your personal life. When you learn to accept you will learn to discover you.

Individuality is personal, which philosophers over generalize this subject. Many people in the world believe that when we act the same way at all times, we have established our identity. Politically incorrect! We have emotions, thoughts, behaviors, actions, and have been plagued by a world of influences both good and bad. Each day we will feel something new, which causes our personality to reflect on these changes. Therefore, when you see someone laughing one minute and crying the next, you are seeing a shift in emotions, which is a normal pattern of identity for this person. Unless the person’s eyes change, behaviors change dramatically, friends change regularly, etc, and you are seeing common behaviors.

We live in a world that desensitizes us. We are surrounded by billions of influences on television, in the media, on radio, in households, government, schools and so forth. Each to their own, but everyone is judging someone at some time, which is something we have to accept. We cannot change these people’s behaviors and way of thinking, but we can change ours. This is a part of learning and accepting. The best way around the world is become your own influence and allow other influences to make someone else’s life miserable. Only rely on sources that prove truthful with their actions, behaviors and words. Positive reflections are the key to living happier.

Once you learn to accept you will be eager to laugh. For instance, if someone makes you mad you will see the humor in his or her actions. You may see the humor in your actions if you make a mistake and feed into their stupidity.

Once you start to see the humor in life, you will feel better inside. We are involved in an unruly world filled with greedy people, envious souls, lusty tigers, and so on. We have to learn how to work around these people, accept us and move on. Once you learn to change to better you, other people may follow. Good conduct has proven far more effective than words to encourage others to change.

As you grow you will feel a new hunger, and that hunger will guide you to discover new ways to better you. In time as you start to feel better, you will see a need to exercise, eat right, and hang out with positive influences and so on. Once you feel this hunger, you will feel inspired to labor to achieve your goals.

If you’d like to get working on removing the blocks that have been holding you back from attaining your desires (possibly for a LOOOOOONG time), go to <a href=”http://www.ManifestingYourLife.com/free50.html”>Manifesting Your Life</a> and complete the form you find there.

Throughout our lives, we all had the desire to be all we can be, although some of us ignore this desire. Many times, we may stay in our comfort zone without realizing that we are passing up opportunities to do something that we truly enjoy. Of course, the money may be good, your bills are paid and you find it easy to work with repetition. Yet, are you happy?

When you are ready to improve your personal life, you must turn your wants into needs. I need to be successful. I need to be a great parent. I need that promotion. I need to save my relationship, etc.

How to be your own life coach
Many of us spend time convincing ourselves that our dreams will never come true. We may feel that our dreams do not amount to anything. Poor self-esteem hinders the quality of life. In addition, you miss being your own coach. You can turn the negative thoughts into positive reflections, which will guide you to improve overall personal life. The next time you feel like turning yourself into a destructive thinker, breath deep and say, I love myself, just the way I am. Learn to walk tall and habitually think about what you want to achieve. Set plans, write down your goals, and take action to reach those goals. You may want to learn something simple. Learn how to be a better cook. Stop yelling at the children.

How to take steps in becoming a better you:
Thinking positive is a great start to improving overall personal life. Surrounding yourself around good influences will encourage you to acquire better behaviors. You will learn to practice these new habits daily. Once you conquer your obstacles, you can mark off the list of poor behaviors you have written down.

Tips for personal development and growth:
Learn to say no. For some of us, our natural instincts lead us in the right direction to helping others. Are you sacrificing your needs however, to consistently take care of other peoples needs? Are you taking time out of each day to pamper yourself for fifteen minutes or so? Are you taking actions to stop persistence that spreads yourself too thin?

If you spread yourself too thin, it will lead to sleepless nights, since you will feel anxious and depressed. Do you constantly keep yourself in the center of drama? If so, do not allow others to drag you down. Try to stay away from situations that drag you down and take you beyond your control. If you are focusing on the wrong items in life, you are not improving overall personal life.

Do you tell you that you are not good enough? Do you say you are not strong? Do you feel like you are not enough? Do you feel like you deserve what you get, when what you get causes you sadness?

For some people it is easy to focus on negativity, which causes them ongoing depression. If you are one of those people at interviews, when asked about your qualities, skills, etc, speaks out rambling off your bad qualities, you need to stop now. What you are doing is taking away your opportunities to achieve. Some of us are lost at words when it comes to speaking highly of ourselves. For some people this seems selfish, or boisterous, yet it is not. Learn to become your own best friend and give yourself frequent compliments. Stop focusing on your self and criticizing your every move, and forget about the past mistakes and focus on your future. Sure, we can say it is easier said than done; yet if you put forth effort it is easier than you believe. So many times, we do not take full responsibility of our own actions. We rather live a life blaming others for our mistakes or misfortunes. Do not obsess over past mistakes, live in denial, and stop blaming others to see how your life will improve. We all make bad choices in life. This is a part of living. Learn from your mistakes and move ahead. Treat each new experience as a point of learning. Next, we can learn how to wake up to improving overall personal life.

Life is like a road.

There are long and short roads; smooth and rocky roads; and crooked and straight paths. Some roads lead to a life of single blessedness, marriage, and religious vocation. Some roads lead to fame and fortune. A wrong turn can lead to isolation and poverty. Crossroads can lead to happiness or sadness, victory or disappointment.

Just like any road, there are corners, detours, and crossroads in life. With four roads to choose from and with limited knowledge on where to go, which road will you take? What guarantees do you have that will allow you to choose the right one? Would you choose or just stay where you are — in front of a crossroad?

There are no guarantees.

This is one of the most important things you need to realize about life. You will never know where a road will lead you until you take it. Nobody said that choosing to do the right thing all the time would always lead you to happiness.

Loving someone with all your heart does not guarantee that it would be returned. Gaining fame and fortune does not guarantee happiness. There are too many possible outcomes, which are beyond your control. However, you still have control over decisions that you will make and your reactions to different situations.

Wrong decisions are always at hindsight.

Had you known that you were making a wrong decision, would you have gone along with it?

Perhaps not, why would you choose a certain path when you know it would get you lost? Why make a certain decision if you knew from the very beginning that it is not the right one. It is only after you have made a decision and reflected on it that you realize its soundness. If the consequences or outcomes are good for you, then you have decided correctly. Otherwise, your decision was wrong.

Take the risk: Make a decision.

Since life does not offer any guarantees and you would never know if your decision is wrong until you made it, then you might as well take the risk and decide.

It is definitely better than staying at the crossroads. While it is true that a wrong turn could get you lost, it could also be an opportunity for an adventure or could lead to more roads. It is all a matter of perspective. Make wise decisions. Taking risks is not about being careless and throwing caution to the wind.

Here are some tips that could help you choose the best option in the face of life’s crossroads:

1. Get as many information as you can about the situation.

You will not have the confidence to make a decision when you are armed with limited information. Just like any news reporter, ask the 5 W’s: what, who, when, where, and why. What is the situation? Who are the people involved? When did this happen? Where is this leading? Why are you in this situation? These are just some of the questions to ask to know more about the situation.

2. Identify and create options.

What are your options in a given situation? What do you do when you think that the situation offers no options? This is the chance to create your own option.

3. Let your creative mind work.

Entertain all ideas. Do not shoot anything down when an idea comes to your head. Sometimes the most outrageous idea could prove to be the right one in the end.

4. Weigh the pros and cons of every option.

Assess each option by looking at the advantages and disadvantages. This way, you get more insights about the consequences of each option.

5. Trust yourself and make a decision.

Now that you have assessed your options, it is time to trust yourself. Remember that there are no guarantees and wrong decisions are always at hindsight. Decide and believe that you are choosing the best option at this point in time.

Now that you have made a decision, be ready to face its consequences. It may take you to a place of promise or land of problems. Nevertheless, the important thing is that you have chosen to live your life instead of remaining a bystander or a passive audience to your own life.

Whether you made the right or wrong decision, only time can tell. Whatever the outcome, learn from it and remember that you always have the chance to make better decisions in the future.

Keep this thought in mind: You always have a choice between being a lost traveler or an accidental tourist of life.

Blessings,

Gary