Welcome back! We’re down to the last post in our 19-part FinerMinds Series on Becoming Just Awesome. I hope you’ve enjoyed the journey. To finish the series we’re going to end on a high note: the importance of celebration – from your daughter losing her first tooth to getting the promotion you’ve had your eye on for over a year. It’s time to party!

I raise the importance of celebration, because people simply don’t do it enough. Even if you’re crazy busy with work or on an intense path of personal discovery, you still need to carve out the time to unwind, smile and do something (anything!) to mark what you’ve achieved, what you’re grateful for or a special event.

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Welcome back! It’s time for Part 18 in our FinerMinds series on Becoming Just Awesome. We’re almost there – only one more post to go! This week we’re going to focus on not taking things personally. Easier said than done, of course. Far too often people let their emotional well-being be dictated by the words and actions of others. It’s time for everyone to follow their own true path and stop chasing after the compliments and expectations of others.

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Hi there! This week in Part 17 of our FinerMinds series on Becoming Just Awesome is all about Self-Actualization – the term popularized by American psychologist Abraham Maslow, the father of humanistic psychology.

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory placed self-actualization at the final level of psychological development, something that can be achieved when all other basic and meta needs--physiological, safety, love/belonging, and esteem--are fulfilled. When these basic needs are met, the ‘actualization’ of a person’s full personal potential can take place.

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Hi everyone! It’s time for Part 16 in our 19-part FinerMinds series on Becoming Just Awesome. This week is all about commitment. More specifically, when to commit to something, when to de-commit and when to re-commit.

Let me explain. Many people have a commitment problem. People say they’re going to commit to something--losing 10 pounds, improving their relationship, finding a better job, going back to school, etc. But they so often fail to do it. They get half way and give up.

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Welcome back! It’s time for your weekly dose of our FinerMinds 19-Part series on Becoming Just Awesome. Part 15 is up this week and we’re going to cover INTEGRITY. What is integrity exactly? Well, the Oxford Dictionary lists integrity as the quality of being honest and morally upright. The definition is a bit stiff, but it works--we’ve got the concepts of honesty and doing the right thing in there.

You can also think about integrity as a value, like persistence or courage. Some people seem born with such values, but it’s actually a choice each person has to make. It is these values that help to shape and form your character and personality. Much of your sense of self is determined by how well you live up to the values that are most important to you.

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Welcome back! In this instalment, Part 14, of our FinerMinds series on Becoming Just Awesome I’m going to cover the distinction between being a Warrior versus being a Victim.

The warrior path, according to T. Harv Eker, is about recognizing that you create every moment of your life--understanding that your choices create your reality and your responses create your outcome. Ultimately, it’s about being accountable and taking responsibility for your life. The warrior recognizes that what they’re facing in their life--good or bad--is a result of choices and responses they have control over.

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Hi there! Keep reading to find out more about Part 13 in our FinerMinds 19-Part Series on Becoming Just Awesome. This week is all about Getting Out of Your Head and Into Your Body.

Most of us live our lives in our heads. We’re either thinking about the past or the future. It begs the question: Are we really living or are we thinking about living? Rarely do we live in the present moment – truly aware of ourselves and others in time and space, conscious of our current surroundings. We’re such ‘head’ creatures that we utterly forget about our bodies, how they’re operating, as well as what is happening around us right now.

Our bodies also say a lot about us. It only takes us a few seconds to register whether a person is shy or confident by the way they’re standing. In certain instances, researchers report that body language accounts for a whopping 55% of communication. Surprisingly, what is said only counts for a minuscule 7%.

Our bodies are a window into how we’re feeling. Be present and notice your breath. If you’re calm, cool and collected, chances are your breathing is steady and even. If you’re anxious and stressed you’ll have short breaths where you’ll inhale quickly. The depressed person will often have long exhalations.

The importance of the body cannot be underestimated. You can use your body to help influence the mind.

Do the following exercise: Take a warrior stance – feet placed firmly, chest and head up, arms strong but relaxed at your side, and smile pleasantly. Now say, “I’m so sad.” The second step is to take a depressed posture and frown. Now say, “I’m very strong.”

What happened? Chances are you don’t feel sad or weak (even if you’re verbally expressing it) when you’re standing strong. I’d also guess that you don’t feel particularly confident when you’re body is projecting weakness, even if your words say otherwise.

This is the power of the body.

Your body is a hugely important instrument in helping you increase your confidence, wellness and success, but one that is not focused on enough. We read and read and read in order to improve ourselves, but it’s time to recognize your body in the development process.

Any physical activity, whether yoga, martial arts, breathing exercises or dance, will help you become more aware of your body – your muscles, how your body moves in space, how it feels when it’s tensed or relaxed. Increased body awareness also helps to bring you into the present moment.

As you become more aware of your body, you can monitor your posture and body language to help you reach your personal and professional goals. You might be wondering how posture and professional goals go together. Well, posture has actually been described as a leadership skill, as you’ll find out in the following video.

Watch This 3 Minute Video to Discover Your Power Posture

Hi everyone! Welcome back. I’m excited to share Part 12 in our 19-Part FinerMinds series on Becoming Just Awesome with you. This week I’m going to focus on the power of support and the importance of asking for help. Obvious concepts, but practiced far too little.

Western society, in particular, orients itself around the individual. We’re focused on the ‘me’ rather than the ‘we’. We strive to achieve goals on our own and asking for help is deemed to be a negative thing, suggesting weakness. This is actually problematic because many of us don’t learn how to be effective team players or even how to ask for help properly. We struggle when it comes to knowing how to get help and who to go to.

Functioning entirely on our own with a project, we often drown. We keep thinking “I can handle it” until it erupts into a full-blown incident where we feel panicked and lost. This situation could be entirely averted if we put together a support team from the outset – if we brought together a collection of individuals with the right background and expertise to lend advice, knowledge and encouragement along the way.

And this ‘support network’ approach isn’t just for work related projects; it’s a beneficial approach for any life project, particularly if we’re going through a rough patch, whether an illness or stressful event. Sometimes the unexpected happens and we feel utterly helpless, but we don’t know how to harness the power of others to support us through a difficult situation.

Study after study has demonstrated that being a part of a support network, whether a casual social network or a more formal support group, has significant benefits, including:

• Decreased anxiety and depression
• Increased life expectancy
• Less stress
• Enhanced immune function
• Increased confidence and sense of self-worth
• Gain in knowledge
• Greater sense of belonging and security

The above advantages are especially important to keep you mentally and physically grounded if you’re going through challenging circumstances.

Simply having a circle of supportive friends around you is one of the best ways to combat feelings of anxiety and depression when you’re feeling overwhelmed. Often, when you’re feeling down there is a tendency to drop relationships and opt for isolation. This is counterproductive.

Rather, you should focus on reaching out to those who care about you, especially if they have expertise in a particular area you’re struggling with. Make the time to talk to a friend who is a particularly good listener and has a track record of doling out practical, positive advice.

Chances are you will feel so much better after a cup of coffee and a heart to heart chat. You’ll feel more relaxed and focused. They’ll provide you with some much needed perspective on your problem. They’ll take that ‘end of the world’ issue that you’re wrestling with and break it down into manageable parts that you can work on.

The next time you’re facing a problem, whether personal or work related, go through the following steps to ensure that you get the support you so desperately need:

Step 1

What is the issue or problem you’re facing? Can you easily breakdown and articulate what is going on? What is even better is if you can analyze a situation and identify where problems might arise – you can cut problems off before they happen. Taking a preemptive approach will minimize future difficulties.

Step 2

Two questions here: What do you need and who do you need? Once you’ve taken the problem apart, you probably have a better sense of what and who you need. Identify resources and individuals who will help you with your task, whether it’s building a house or recovering from the loss of your spouse.

Step 3

Simply ask for support. So many people are scared to ask. This is a HUGE problem. Just ask! Clearly explain your problem and why you think the person you’re talking to can help you out. Most people will be completely flattered that you turned to them for support and advice. People like to feel useful. And if for some reason they are unable to help you out, chances are they’ll be able to point you in the direction of someone else who can.

Step 4

Accept the help. Some people ask for help, but then they feel awkward or even resentful during or after someone has assisted them. Relax, accept it and say “thank you.” There will be plenty of chances for you to reciprocate. Let the person helping you out know that you’ll be there for them should the need arise. That is a wonderful gift to them. It’s nice to know that someone has your back.

Let us know how a strong support network has helped you through a rough patch!

Welcome back! It’s time for Part 11 in our 19-part FinerMinds series on Becoming Just Awesome. (We’re more than half way there!) This week is all about the power of giving. The holiday ‘giving’ season might be behind us, but giving is a habit we need to nurture year round.

Right now we’ve got some serious world issues on the agenda – financial meltdown, war, climate woes – which leads to a tendency to turn inwards. Crises put us in ‘me’ mode. It makes us feel scared, like there’s not enough of anything – money, jobs, security – to go around.

What kind of energy vibrations are we sending out into the world by doing this?

When we’re all thinking, acting and feeling selfishly, what do we get? We get less of everything. The universe mirrors us. One of the best ways to combat this urge to curl into an anxious ball and hoard all of our worldly possessions is to give. It’s that simple.

When you give something from your heart without expecting anything in return, you will unleash a powerful force into the universe that will positively boomerang back to you in incredible ways. You will usher in good vibrations and abundance into your life. Give unconditionally, without the expectation of rewards. Simply give because you’re happy doing it.

Even the act of giving has its own rewards. Studies show that those who give enjoy:

• Better health (enhanced immune system, lower cholesterol, stronger cardiovascular fitness, less chest pain)
• Increased life expectancy
• Less stress
• More friends
• Being able to find a romantic partner and meaningful jobs in a shorter amount of time

A study in the United Kingdom reported that 50% of volunteers felt healthier as a result of the work they were doing. With one in five reporting that they had lost a significant amount of weight while doing volunteer work.

People generally believe that volunteering and donating money are wonderful ideas. But for the majority it stays at the idea level. They never do it. They put it off for later when they hopefully have a little more time and money.

The important part is to start giving now. It doesn’t matter how little. It’s about creating the habit of giving, which will serve you (and, most importantly, others!) for a lifetime.

Two Popular Ways to Give:

Donation

There are so many organizations out there that focus on critical issues – poverty, education, women’s rights, health issues, etc. – at the local, national and international level. Get on the Internet and start researching causes that mean something to you. Identify organizations that are aligned with your interests and goals and help them out financially. Many people say, “well, I don’t want to just give money.” They have the philosophy that instead of giving a person a fish to eat, they would rather give them a fishing pole and teach them how to fish, so they can eat for a lifetime. Completely understandable.

The great part is there are many organizations out there that do just these sorts of things – organizations that are very much focused on education, training and empowerment. By supporting these groups, you are essentially teaching a group ‘to fish’.  Here are some websites to get you started: JustGive, Network for Good, Just Giving.

An alternative to a financial donation is to donate clothes or other material items that will benefit another person or group. It’s as easy as finding a local shelter and dropping off items from time to time. You can even mobilize your friends and family members to donate as well, which will help out even more. And perhaps you have your own business. Committing 10% of you profits to charities is a great way to give back.

Volunteering

Another important way to give is through service, giving some of your time to make things better or easier for another person, animal or even the environment. There are so many ways you can do this. You can volunteer at a non-profit organization. If you have a particular skill, you can teach classes for those less fortunate. You can donate blood. You can teach sports to kids or those who are disabled. Keep reading to learn more.

Tips on volunteering from the Wiki How To Guide to get you started:

1. Consider why you want to volunteer. Do you want to help the world or your community? Do you want to build your own skills, make new friends, and learn? Do you love what you do? Do you want to share your gifts with others or give something back? Examining these sorts of questions can help you to choose the right direction for your volunteer work.
2. Choose an organization that is meaningful to you. If you feel strongly about literacy, for instance, volunteer at your local library or find out if there is an organization of volunteer tutors in your area. There are organizations doing all sorts of work, and it is especially important with volunteer work that you choose something that you value. Organizations exist for all sorts of purposes, so if dishing up food at a soup kitchen doesn't sound like your cup of tea, consider ushering at your local theater, building homes, or volunteering at a hospital or animal shelter.
3. Look for an organization or activity in your area or community. While some volunteers do sign up for the Peace Corps or other worldwide organizations and travel to remote parts of the world, you should probably start on a smaller scale than that, especially if you already have commitments at home. If you do plan on venturing abroad in your volunteer work, get lots of information about what to expect there and ask your doctor about getting immunizations appropriate to your destination. Talk to others who have traveled with your intended organization and ask them to share their experiences, too.
4. Seek out an organization and tasks within it that suit your skills and interests. Of course, you can develop new skills and learn many things by volunteering, but your volunteer work can still be compatible with your interests. If you're an outgoing "people person", you might not have much fun in the back office stuffing envelopes or filing papers. Others, by contrast, might find it uncomfortable to solicit funds door-to-door. Do you love to work with people? With animals? With children? With numbers? Are you handy? Do you love to speak or to write? Organizations need all sorts of skills. If you're not sure what sort of work you like or dislike, a volunteer organization may be a great opportunity to dabble a bit and try different things.
5. Start small. If you already have a busy schedule, volunteer your time for an hour or two per week or perhaps one day per month. (Just about anybody can free up that much time easily. Try turning off the TV!) You might be surprised how much you can accomplish in even a little bit of time. Then, if you find you enjoy the work and have more time to pursue it, gradually take on more.
6. Get to know others in the organization and how the group supports volunteers. Attend a training or orientation session, if one is available; if not, talk to local group leaders and other volunteers in the community about their experiences. You'll learn what to expect of an organization and your work with it, and you'll pick up some good tips to make your work there more productive and more meaningful.
7. Explain your own background and preferences to those in charge. They can help to match you with meaningful, suitable tasks, but only if they know a bit about who you are.
8. Get started. Ask plenty of questions and do your research, but until you sign up and get your feet wet, you won't know if volunteering for a particular organization is really right for you.
9. Get training. If your organization has a formal orientation or training, attend it. If not, or if you still don't know where to begin, ask to work with an experienced volunteer or group. Then, ask lots of questions and give it a shot.
10. Try not to give up. Volunteer organizations, too, sometimes have less-pleasant tasks, difficult fellow workers, busy times, slow times, or bad management. Remember: If you find your work unpleasant, you have choices.
11. Have fun! You will accomplish more if you love what you do, and chances are good that your enthusiasm will infect others.

Please let us know how GIVING has positively impacted your life!

Welcome back! It’s time for Part 10 in our 19-Part FinerMinds series on Becoming Just Awesome. This week we’re going to cover the Ready, Fire, Aim approach. Some of you, especially if you’re in business, might already be familiar with the phrase.

Common knowledge would have us believe the order should be Ready, Aim, Fire. But this isn’t always the best approach to tackling a problem or challenge. People can get so stuck on the aim part that they never fire.

So, firing before aiming means you put yourself right into the ‘doing’ mode. Once you’re doing (firing) then you can look at what’s happening – you’ve got actual data to work with – so now you can make the necessary adjustments (aim) along the way.

Most people have an intense fear of failure. But this shouldn’t be so. People who succeed a great deal also fail a whole lot too because they make the most attempts. Failure isn’t a bad thing. It provides you with feedback on the adjustments you should make. It’s only negative if you continue to do the same thing over and over and get the same poor results. This means you’re not learning from your mistakes. 

The biggest regret lies in never making the attempt.

And far too many people get stuck in the planning and thinking stage. People think and plan and then think some more, but they never actually execute. They get planning paralysis.

Michael Masterson, best-selling author, business guru and founder of the popular health, wealth and success e-zine Early to Rise, popularized this approach in his book Ready, Fire, Aim: Zero to $100 Million in No Time Flat.

Although Masterson’s book is geared towards business, many of the examples are still relevant to other facets of life. Masterson puts an enormous amount of stress on selling rather than getting ready to launch a business: "Many first-time entrepreneurs have the impression that they are doing things in a logical order when they look for the perfect office space, have logos designed, and order a lot of inventory. The reality is they are wasting valuable resources on secondary and tertiary endeavors. If no one is going to buy what you want to sell, you've just wasted a bunch of money on a business that will never be." Masterson also gives the example of a client coming to see him who has spent most of his small budget on Website design and has almost nothing left for the most important thing: the sales message.

The three steps are simple – 1) get ready; 2) do it; 3) make it better. But it’s always easier said than done, of course.

Jumping right in can be terrifying, especially if you feel like you haven’t spent the requisite amount of time on preparation. But the amount of knowledge you’ll gain along the way by ‘doing’ will far outstrip any knowledge you could glean from books and planning. And people need to stop waiting for the perfect moment to take action, whether it’s having enough time, money, resources, contacts, etc.

The absolute perfect moment is never going to arrive. Diving into something new will never be perfect. It’s going to be messy and uncomfortable at times, but you’ll be much further along and wiser than if you had never tried at all.

Take a minute to share your Ready, Fire, Aim moment with us!