It was 4:15PM on a Thursday when I arrived at the hair salon to get my haircut. My hair appointment was at 5PM but I arrived there quite early.
As I set down in the comfortable leather chair in the little "waiting corner," I looked down to my left with an intention to pick a magazine from the big basket that was filled with maybe over 50 magazines.
I sorted through the magazines but nothing would catch my eye. There were so many different magazines; I couldn't decide which one to pick and read while waiting.
Then, as I lifted a big batch of magazines to choose from, one of them fell down on the floor. I immediately dropped all the other magazines back into the basket and took the one that fell on the floor.
The beautiful view of a tropical island in the background, surrounded by crisp clear water covering the entire cover of the magazine, got my attention.
The magazine contained a large number of photos from tropical islands, vacation resorts and everything tropical you can imagine. I submerged myself into the pictures so much that 40 minutes went by like 4 seconds.
When I was all done with the haircut, I asked Isabella (the hair stylist) if I could take the magazine. She said that it wouldn't be a problem because anyway they recycle the magazines at the end of each month when they bring new ones in.
The magazine is called Islands. It was a June 2004 issue. When I went home I put it next to my computer and until today's day, it's still sitting there.
I look through it periodically. All my life I've lived in the northern hemisphere of the planet, and winter is definitely not my favorite season. Not to even mention the driving headaches when we get dumped with a few feet of snow.
The tropical theme has always been a dream place of mine.
So, every time I feel down, discouraged, marketing plan isn't working well, a goal doesn't get accomplished, problems and obstacles appearing out of nowhere, motivation is down, no inspiration, the world is coming down on me ... and so on ...
I take few peaceful minutes - no children, no computer. I pick up the magazine and literally isolate myself from this world. I transfer my soul to the tropical beauty shown in the pictures and I visualize myself living there and not just vacationing.
My battery gets recharged; I get the smile back on my face and I say to myself: "One day ...."
How many times have you felt down and depressed because of one reason or another?
How many times have you felt that you needed to recharge your battery? How many times have you lost your inspiration and motivation? How many times have you faced problems and obstacles that discouraged you from persisting with your goal?
What brought you up and what pulled you down during these crucial times?
I remember back in 1994 when I was starting college, a friend of mine gave me a study to read. The study came from a major corporate research. It was on "why executives rise to the height of their company and why other people don't."
The executives told in their words what they did to achieve such a success. I don't have that study anymore but I remember it very well because I'm still practicing what they said.
One of the steps was to have material goals. Something that you can see.
The material goals represent something far beyond material form. When you visually see the material goals that you're striving for, you receive the feeling of the kind of person you need to become in order to have them.
That feeling will recharge your fuel cells and bring your enthusiasm to the front line.
We live in a material world and we have to operate in a material world. We want material things because they're a representation of who we are.
What you want is good, because what you want is an extension of you becoming better.
And sometimes, you just need a basic material something to spark you into a higher level of achievement.
© Steve Dimeck; Publisher and author of The Success Maze - an ebook dedicated to the people who are still looking for ways to succeed online but feel a bit lost in this online Maze -- or should I say Jungle. FREE Details: ==> http://www.thesuccessmaze.com
When stressed or blocked it is wise to make a... Read More
Something I have always found helpful is taking affirmative action... Read More
How can you be more creative? How can you turn... Read More
I have been struck recently by a number of questions... Read More
Unleash Your Creativity! Creativity has often been the misunderstood... Read More
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
When solving problems after you have exhausted the normal means... Read More
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
Creativity is one of the most important keys to success... Read More
The word 'creativity' has so many diverse meanings and interpretations.... Read More
Effective team structure is critical when managing creativity and creative... Read More
Ouch! Whether it's feedback we've asked for, an unsolicited remark... Read More
Lately I've been discussing how to thrive as a creative... Read More
Do you consider yourself creative? How about super creative? Most... Read More
SoulCollage? is a unique blend of spiritual practice and the... Read More
What would you like to create? A peaceful life, a... Read More
Engaged employees can show us the way to continuously improve.... Read More
Bare attention (to objects, people and circumstances) is what brings... Read More
Go on, pick up a pen, hold it in your... Read More
What if there is no toilet paper and I am... Read More
Can you draw?Your answer to that question reveals a surprising... Read More
Practical money tips for people in the arts.1. Sock it... Read More
Did you ever watch your grandma knitting?Wasn't it boring? Didn't... Read More
In the "Roadblocks to Creativity" e-course, we look at the... Read More
I have had more than my share of exciting times... Read More
Go on, pick up a pen, hold it in your... Read More
You can live a much more successful life than you... Read More
(5 minutes a day) There is no limit to what... Read More
It was 8:00 PM and I'd hit a creative wall... Read More
Copyright 2005 Cherry Communications/Be Heard SolutionsThe creative arts enhance our... Read More
Contrary to common perception, creativity can be made tangible, measurable... Read More
Modern science tells us that on a sub-atomic level --... Read More
It was 4:15PM on a Thursday when I arrived at... Read More
Bare attention (to objects, people and circumstances) is what brings... Read More
Have you ever had one of those days when you... Read More
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
Cultivating your creativity is more than spending time with a... Read More
Time is the great equalizer. Everybody has the exact same... Read More
Successful companies have innovation in their blood. The single most... Read More
Journal keeping is basically without rules. It is an uncensored... Read More
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
The brain is a strange organ. It works in ways... Read More
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
Unleash Your Creativity! Creativity has often been the misunderstood... Read More
What is creativity anyway? Well, let us look at the... Read More
Creativity is one of the most important keys to success... Read More
Experience has shown that creative visualization works. It is quite... Read More
After studying scores of great thinkers like Leonardo Da Vinci,... Read More
How many times does an artist stare down at that... Read More
Here are a couple of exercises to force yourself to... Read More
Creativity Creativity |