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Introduction

Setting goals is the first step… achieving them is the second step… and it’s at this second step that most of us stumble. We stumble NOT because the goal is unachievable, but rather because of unexpected obstacles and challenges that arise along the journey that make the goal seem unachievable.

It’s important to understand that every goal we set naturally comes with a plethora of “land-mines” that are attached to that goal. These land-mines show up in our lives as a set of obstacles, challenges and problems that we must surpass in order to get to our end destination, which is our goal. In fact, unless we successfully maneuver through these land-mines and overcome them, than we will fail to learn the valuable lessons that are required to help us achieve — and keep — our goal when we get to that end destination.

Have you ever heard of multi-million dollar lottery winners who are far worse off today than they were before they won the lotto? They lost their money because they didn’t go through the struggles, obstacles, challenges and problems that self-made millionaires face, and as a result they weren’t able to hold onto their goal when it was clearly within their grasp.

This blog post won’t help you win the lottery, however what it will do is help you to deal with the obstacles that you will likely face as you progress along your journey towards the attainment of your objectives.

Types of Obstacles

There are 3 types of obstacles that you will likely face along your journey towards your goals. These include personal obstacles, environmental obstacles and social obstacles. Each is outlined separately below.

Personal Obstacles

Personal Obstacles are related to our psychology, behaviors and states of mind. They can include limiting habits, debilitating emotions, fears and beliefs. These obstacles prevent us from moving forward towards the attainment of our goals and objectives because of the thoughts that we tend to dwell upon on a daily basis [see: goal setting] . These thoughts naturally prevent us from making effective decisions and undertaking the actions that will help us create the momentum we need to get to our end destination.

Here is a list of Personal Obstacles that could be preventing you from moving forward in your life:

• Lack of Pain [see: pain and pleasure principle]
• Lack of Discipline
• Lack of Knowledge
• Lack of Inspiration
• Lack of Desire
• Lack of Skill
• Fear of Change [see: comfort zone]
• Fear of Failure [see: overcoming fear]
• Feeling Unworthy [see: raising self-esteem]
• Procrastination [see: overcoming procrastination]
• Perfectionism [see: defying perfectionism]
• Disorganization
• Pessimistic Thoughts [see: positive mental attitude]
• Too many Time Constraints [see: time management]
• Too much Complacency
• Too much Blaming of Self and Others

Identify if any of these obstacles are currently preventing you from getting what you want most out of life, and choose today to take control of your thought patterns and begin making better and far more effective decisions [see: decision making].

Social Obstacles

Social Obstacles are related to people who either do no cooperate with you, sabotage you, or are simply incompetent and unable to fulfill the responsibilities assigned to them.

When it comes to social obstacles, it’s important to do a little forward planning, to make sure that you clarify your needs adequately, your knowledge thoroughly and your instructions carefully — ensuring that that the communication doesn’t break down at any stage. It also helps to develop good strong bonds and relationships with the people you rely on most.

You will go out of your mind if you try to control everyone’s behavior, decisions and actions. Instead try to subtly influence people and understand their needs, motives and desires. Only in this way will you successfully improve your chances of manoevering through the social obstacles in your life [see:personal influence].

Environmental Obstacles

Environmental Obstacles are often unexpected conditions, occurrences and circumstances that you have very little control over.

Because these events and circumstances are unexpected, we are often ill-prepared and unable to deal with them effectively. However, if we do a little research and use some forward planning we may be able to predict and oftentimes influence these occurrences by setting into place contingency plans. To do this, begin by following Murphy’s Law [see: murphy's law]:

Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong at the worst possible time, all of the time when you least expect it. So what are you going to do about it?

When you plan for the future, you effectively gather a better understanding of the possible scenarios and consequences of your decisions and actions. Planning also gives you insight into additional resources you may need to help you overcome environmental obstacles that lie on the journey ahead.

Obstacle Analysis Questions

As a Life Skills Coach, I often work with clients who are struggling to overcome obstacles in their lives. They don’t know what to do, where to begin or how to move forward. In such instances I will ask them a series of questions that helps them gain new perspectives and understandings about their circumstances. As a result they begin to awaken hidden resources they never realized they had before.

I have outlined the specific questions I ask below.

Question the Problem

What are the indications that this is a problem for you?

How do you know this is accurate?

Question the Origins of Problem

How did all this start?

Who or what perpetuates this problem?

Identify the Details

When did it happen?

How did it happen?

Where did it happen?

Determine the Consequences

What would happen if you ignored it?

When could it become a bigger problem?

What could lead to this specific outcome?

How does this affect you?

How does this affect others?

How does this affect life?

Could resolving this cause other problems?

Take Control

Whose behavior do you control?

What aspects of this problem can you control?

What aspects of this problem can’t you control?

How must you respond to what you can’t control?

Identify the Positives

What is happening that is good?

What would you like to have continue to happen?

Gain Perspective

What are your assumptions about this?

How are your assumptions contributing to the problem?

What is another perspective you haven’t considered?

Who has successfully overcome this?

What can you learn from this person?

Expand Your Options

What could you do differently?

Who could assist you here?

Where haven’t you looked for a solution?

How will you know when this problem has been resolved?

What is your criteria for success?

Tips for Overcoming Obstacles

When confronted with obstacles, problems and challenges, it’s easy to become a little overwhelmed [see: beating overwhelm], especially when the circumstances are unfamiliar and seem a little threatening and urgent. However, no matter what life throws your way, keep in mind that there are always options available, there are always things you can do, actions you can take and decisions you can make that will keep moving you forward in the right of your goals.

The final two branches of this IQ Matrix Map provide general tips and suggestions that you can utilize today to help you overcome the obstacles standing in your way.

Step Back Emotionally

When unexpected obstacles suddenly show up, it’s easy to react emotionally to the circumstances. However, emotional reactions are often not very productive, and more times than not they don’t alleviate the situation. Instead we must learn to step back from our emotions and see the situation from an external perspective — through logic and reason [see: emotional mastery]. It’s only once we grasp the circumstances from an intellectual perspective that we begin to identify the true relevance and significance of the events that have taken place.

Gain Necessary Resources & Support

At times we simply do not have the necessary resources to help us deal with the situation at hand [see: resources list]. In such circumstances we must question what pieces of the puzzle we are currently missing, and then look for the necessary tools, strategies, knowledge and the support we need to help us overcome this obstacle successfully.

Acquire Different Perspective

Sometimes obstacles are only as real as we make them out to be. In fact at times obstacles are simply misunderstandings and generalizations that we have made about circumstances. At other times obstacles are only as real as the assumptions that are clouding our vision.

To begin shifting your perspective, start by viewing the situation you find yourself in from another person’s perspective. Alternatively you can utilize a plethora of framing and reframing techniques that will help you shift the way you think about your circumstances [see: reframing reality].

Seek Guidance

Often the answers we need to help us overcome the obstacles in our lives can be found by simply talking to other people. In fact, other people might have already dealt and successfully overcome the circumstances you find yourself in. You must therefore seek out mentors, life coaches or experts to help you find the answers you need to move you forward towards your goals and objectives.

Breathe, Take Control & Take Action

When obstacles overwhelm us, our first automatic response is to freeze. This paralysis may seem unhelpful at first, however it gives us time to ponder and think strategically about the circumstances we find ourselves in. Take these moments to breathe deeply and ask yourself the following questions:

What is it that I control?

What is it that I don’t control?

How can I gain control over these circumstances?

If I cannot gain control, than how can I influence these circumstances?

If I cannot influence them, than maybe I am not seeing things clearly. Where must I look for more information?

By asking and taking action on these questions you will gain some sense of control over your circumstances and can slowly start building momentum moving forward towards the attainment of your goals.

Adjust Your Priorities

At times we are unable to overcome certain obstacles in our lives because our priorities are simply out of order. This is especially relevant when you consider that spending a little more time concentrating on developing a certain skill or gaining knowledge in a specific area of your life can have a significant impact on your ability to overcome difficult circumstances.

Assess Your Obstacles

You will rarely be able to overcome an obstacle unless you are able to figure out how it originated and weaseled its way into your life You must therefore ask yourself:

What went wrong?

What could have caused this?

What must I do now?

List Possible Options

Sometimes obstacles have a tendency to lock us up mentally in a confined space, thusly limiting our thinking and perspective of the situation. In such circumstances we must realize that solutions can only be found when we open our minds to possibilities and options that we hadn’t considered before. To do this, simply sit down with a pen and paper and ask yourself over and over again:

How can I overcome this obstacle?

What options haven’t I considered?

The more options you have, the more opportunity you have to find a suitable answer to the problem you are facing.

Ask Effective Questions

The above two examples hopefully help unlock the power of questions and how asking effective questions can help you gather new and different perspectives about your life and circumstances. Also spend time overviewing the obstacle analysis questions that are listed on the 2nd branch of this IQ Matrix Map. Together they provide a powerful example of how questions can be utilized to help shift your perspective [see: strategic questions].

Experiment in New Directions

Asking effective questions will help you  gain new insights into the obstacles that are standing in your way. Use this gathered information to try new things and move in new directions that you never considered before. It is after all the path less traveled that will make all the difference in the end

Accept & Acknowledge Circumstances

When confronted with an obstacle, the worst thing we can do is to deny that the problem exists. When we deny that something exists we close ourselves off to solutions, answers and opportunities that are waiting for us to discover. We must therefore accept and acknowledge the circumstances for what they are from an optimistic, solution orientated yet very realistic perspective.

Think Critically & Creatively

Creativity and Critical Thinking was built upon the foundations of the obstacles and problems that people have dealt with throughout the course of human history [see: creative thinking]. In fact, without obstacles and problems there would be no need for creativity and critical thought [see: critical thinking]. You must therefore utilize these two tools to help you unlock the solutions and answers you need that will help you overcome the obstacles in your life.

Take Small Steps

By taking small steps you ensure that you always remain in control and do not get overwhelmed by circumstances. To do this, simply break down what you need to do to overcome this obstacle into small manageable chunks, then progressively work on one or more chunks per day until you successfully reach your outcome.

Make Necessary Sacrifices

At times we find it difficult to overcome certain obstacles because we are simply unwilling to make the necessary sacrifices to make the changes in our life that would help us to successfully overcome the problems we are confronting. Sometimes it’s not what you do, but rather what you let go of that will have the greatest impact on your life.

Learn from Mistakes

Progress is built upon a myriad of mistakes that we make on a daily basis. Some are big, some are small, but one thing is certain, they are all significant in helping us learn the lessons we need to learn, to help us achieve our goals and objectives [see: lifelong learning].

Take time to learn from every unsuccessful attempt, from every failed result, and from every unsatisfactory outcome. The more you learn, the more you will grow and the better you will be able to deal with the obstacles that lie ahead on your path towards your objectives.

Keep Things Simple

When dealing with obstacles, simplicity is the key. The more we try and complicate things, the more likely we are to become overwhelmed with circumstances. You must therefore keep things as simple and straightforward as possible, because the toughest of problems are often solved in simple ways.

Cultivate Self Belief & Confidence

You are unlikely to overcome an obstacle if you don’t believe that you are capable of overcoming it. Your doubts will only paralyze you and focus you on problems and not the solutions you need to get the outcomes you want. You must therefore develop the necessary confidence and self-belief that will help you to think far more effectively about the obstacles and problems in your life [see: belief transformation].

Cultivate Calmness

Calmness provides you with clarity of mind, which enables you to ask better questions, think more creatively, critically and effectively about your problems.

When your mind and body is calm, you naturally tap into a reservoir of internal resources that you normally wouldn’t have access to if you were to react emotionally to circumstances.

Cultivate an Active Mindset

An Active Mindset helps you to proactively deal with circumstances. It’s a mindset that asks effective questions, that always looks for new answers, opportunities and solutions, it’s flexible, adaptable and constantly learns from past mistakes, while moving forward towards the attainment of its goals and objectives.

Cultivate these Indispensable Qualities

Those who successfully overcome the obstacles in their lives, consistently cultivate the following qualities:

• Discipline
• Commitment
• Foresight
• Resilience [see: resilient willpower]
• Enthusiasm
• Gratitude
• Optimism [see: positive mental attitude]
• Curiosity
• Patience

I will break down each of these qualities — as well as other qualities — within future IQ Matrix Maps.

Don’t Dwell on the Negatives

When you dwell on what you Don’t Want, you will get more of that in your life, because we attract what we focus on. Therefore if you focus on worst case scenarios that will rip your life apart, than you’re not focusing on solutions, and if you’re not focusing on solutions than you are unlikely to find the answers you need to help you overcome your problems.

Don’t Throw Blame on Self or Others

It’s paramount that you do not blame yourself or others for the circumstances. Yes, you can acknowledge that someone was at fault, however it’s often not the “person” but rather the systems and processes in place that lead to this outcome. Fix these, do not lay blame, and the obstacles you are facing will be fade away.

Don’t Look for Sympathy

When we look for sympathy from others, we come from a point of weakness and an inability to control our fate and destiny. We must instead look to come from a place of personal empowerment, where we take full responsibility for our life and circumstances. This of course does not mean that we shouldn’t ask for help or assistance. What it does mean is that we should focus on always exploring options that will move us forward towards the attainment of our goals and objectives.

Don’t Quit

Finally, no matter what, do not quit, because the greatest opportunities are always interlocked with the most difficult struggles of your life.

Final Thoughts

Frank A. Clark knew all about the value of obstacles when he said:

If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn’t lead anywhere.

Obstacles are just “things” that are there to teach and strengthen us for the journey that lies ahead. We must therefore not view them as insurmountable problems that will prevent us from achieving our goals, but rather as small — and at times large — stepping stones that are required “modules” we need to pass in order to obtain our Ph.D. in Goal Achievement. And finally, it’s important to remind ourselves of the indispensable lesson that many former Lottery winners have found out the hard way, that there is only one thing worse than being poor, and that is “being rich and then being poor once again”

Take time to learn the lessons that life throws your way, because these lessons will be critical to your success as you move forward into the future.

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Introduction

Every now and then you will come across unique individuals who have an insatiable desire and strength to persist despite the obstacles that stand in their way. No matter what happens to them they just keep moving forward with unshakable confidence and self-belief. These individuals seem to have no limitations and no weaknesses, in fact, they seem somewhat superhuman. However, the truth is they are just like you and me. They have fears, limiting habits and quirky behaviors that make them uniquely human. Nevertheless, they accept their weaknesses for what they are and yet still have the Resilient Willpower to overcome any obstacle, disappointment or problem that stands in their way.

These individuals realize that their only limitations are the limitations of their mind. And so they develop their mind on a daily basis ensuring that it is in prime condition to help them Do, Be, Have and Achieve whatever it is that their heart desires.

The Human Mind is like a muscle. With practice and time it can be conditioned to perform seemingly remarkable feats that strengthen the body and harden our emotional resolve. In fact, your mind is the one and primary key that will help you develop Unstoppable Resilient Willpower in the face of adversity.

What is Resilient Willpower?

Resilient Willpower is about finding the inner strength to overcome laziness, procrastination, temptations, disappointment, failure, limiting habits and negative beliefs.

Resilient Willpower is about having the courage to make the toughest of decisions in the face of adversity.

Resilient Willpower is about completing actions that are aligned with your objectives despite the problems and setbacks that stand in your way, and regardless of the resistance, difficulties and discomfort that is pulling you back into your comfort zone.

Resilient Willpower is about learning to adapt to changing conditions and to difficult and unpredictable circumstances.

Resilient Willpower is about bouncing straight back up after the worst setbacks you have ever experienced.

Resilient Willpower is about overcoming personal limitations that would normally stop you in your tracks and weaken your spirit.

Resilient Willpower is about learning continuously from your failures and mistakes until the world has nothing more to teach you.

Resilient Willpower is about personally rejecting the temptations of instant gratification.

Resilient Willpower is about cultivating the self-discipline to direct your focus, persist and commit to a desired outcome despite the chaos and adversity that is trying to rip you apart in multiple directions.

Yes, this Resilient Willpower thing does seem somewhat complex, and yet it is within this process of complexity that the answers you are looking for can be found.

Cultivating Resilient Willpower

Just like a farmer needs to cultivate his crop throughout the year, we must also be prepared to cultivate the necessary skills, beliefs, traits and actions that are required to strengthen our resolve and grow the superhuman powers of a resilient individual.

Required Skills

Resilient Willpower requires us to learn to think critically [see: thinking critically] and creatively [see: thinking creatively] when under intense pressure from outside circumstances. It requires us to master control over our emotions under all conditions [see: emotions]. It requires us to become more socially aware of others and self-aware of ourselves and our own personal tendencies [see: personality equation]. It requires us to learn to prioritize our time effectively [see: time management], to manage our levels of stress proactively [see: stress management], and learn to make better and more effective decisions on a daily basis [see: decision making].

Mastering these skills will naturally allow us to develop the necessary habits [see: habits] that are requires to develop the superhuman ability of Resilient Willpower.

Indispensable Beliefs

Resilient Willpower requires an inner strength, confidence and a self-belief [see: beliefs] that does not break apart in the face of an insurmountable force whose only desire is to shatter our spirit and destroy our sense of reality. Hence for that reason, Resilient Willpower requires us to cultivate 4 indispensable beliefs that will naturally harden our soul and entrench us firmly into the ground.

I can do and be anything I choose..

Anything is possible to do and achieve..

I have unlimited potential..

All the answers lie within me..

If all the answers lie within you, than you really have nothing to fear, nothing to worry about and certainly nothing to doubt.

Critical Traits

Resilient Willpower requires us to cultivate certain and specific traits that will help to solidify the foundational building blocks of our psychology. These traits will not only shape how we think, but they will also influence every decision and action we take and consequently the results we create.

Ambition

Resilient Willpower requires ambition to reach for the highest peaks, to sail the unpredictable seas and to fly in the face of uncertainty. In fact, ambition will allow us to see beyond our present moment, providing us with a long-term perspective that will motivate, inspire and push us forward to ever greater accomplishments.

Enthusiasm

Enthusiasm is like a “long-life” battery that keeps our spirits high in the face of uncertainty and adversity. It strengthens our will to persist, resist temptations while enabling us to see things from a new perspective.

Persistence & Determination

Resilient Willpower requires us to persist despite the adversity that life throws our way. It requires us to persist with determination so that life has no choice but to give us what we want each and every day.

Childlike Curiosity

Curiosity opens doors that have been closed, windows that have been locked and opportunities that have lying out-of-sight and out-of-reach for far too long. In fact, curiosity forces us to ask better and more effective questions about our life and circumstances. This naturally forces us to think differently, to consider new understandings and gain unique perspectives.

Optimism

Optimism is the light that keeps us moving forward when darkness is all around. It is the beacon that shines brightly in the night sky unveiling the hope for the present and the potential of a future that is yet to be scripted [see: positive attitude].

Faith

Resilient Willpower requires faith to believe in something that cannot be seen, cannot be touched and cannot be experienced – except in the mind. It is about believing in something that is physical yet imagined, real yet surreal. It is about believing in the power of creating something out of nothing despite the odds that are stacked against you.

Unshakable Self Discipline, Confidence & Control

Resilient Willpower requires self-discipline to focus wholeheartedly on what needs to get done, the confidence to push forward despite the problems that are weighing you down, and the control to resist the distractions and temptations that life throws your way.

Smart Actions

In order to develop Resilient Willpower you must act with purpose in a proactive manner each and everyday. At the same time your actions must be flexible and adaptable to the changing conditions and circumstances of your life, and most importantly they must be focused and directed at what you want to Do, Be, Have and Achieve.

In the end, it doesn’t matter how you think. It’s within your actions that results are realized and opportunities are found.

Learn to Develop New Habits

Habits are at the cornerstone of our decisions and actions. They are in essence pre-programmed behaviors that we have cultivated over an extended period of time. They define who we are and they can effectively predict what we will achieve today and in the future [see: habits].

Resilient Willpower requires us to cultivate a set of unique habits that will enable us to persist and keep moving forward despite the obstacles and setbacks standing in our way.

Anticipate Problems

When you develop the ability to anticipate problems in advance, you can better prepare yourself for what’s yet to come. Some would say that the habit of anticipating problems in advance would effectively turn you into a pessimist. That would be true if all you saw was problems on the horizon.

The key is to anticipate problems and look for solutions, answers and opportunities that you can take advantage of if the problems do arise.

Acquire Necessary Resources

The habit of acquiring necessary resources in advance is critical to success, because when you are confronted with setbacks, it’s the resources you have on hand that will determine how quickly and effectively you are able to overcome these obstacles.

Resources can include skills, knowledge, information, tools, strategies, techniques, and support that you may need to help you move beyond difficult moments in your life.  You must therefore anticipate your problems in advance, determine what solutions and opportunities these problems could present you with, and then acquire the necessary resources that will help you to take advantage of what life throws your way.

Accept Mistakes & Setbacks

Mistakes and setbacks are only temporary pit-stops along your journey that present you with an opportunity to learn from your experience and therefore make better and more effective decisions in the future.

Understand Self Intimately

You must get into the habit of discovering more about yourself each and everyday. Get to know yourself intimately including your fears, levels of discomfort, emotions, weaknesses and strengths. The more intimately you know yourself, the more intuitive you will become when making decisions and taking effective actions. Your actions will subsequently focus on your strengths while managing your weaknesses to ensure that they don’t get the better of you during decisive moments of your life [see: strengths & weaknesses].

Understand Opportunities for Growth

It is within the moments of greatest difficulty that present us with the greatest opportunity to grow and develop ourselves on multiple levels. And it is within these moments that you must become aware of your weaknesses and limitations – learning from them as you would about anything else to better prepare yourself for the future.

Keep An Open Mind

It is easy to become closed-minded when circumstances overwhelm you, when a series of decisions seem to be taking you nowhere, and when your dearest beliefs are tested in the face of adversity. It’s during times like these that you must think Outside the Box and begin viewing things from a different perspective. And it is during times like these that you might need to start questioning your deepest beliefs and convictions that could very well be preventing you from moving forward in life.

Keep Things Fun

When you are having fun doing what you love, life seems easy and carefree. You’re no longer overwhelmed with problems and setbacks and you see things from a more positive and optimistic perspective.

Keep Focused on the Present Moment

It’s important to have a long-term view of life. However, at the same time it’s important to stay grounded in the present moment. Problems and setbacks can become overwhelming very quickly if we view them from a wider global perspective. However, by focusing on the present moment – on what you can control and do now – you are grounding yourself and this helps focus your mind on what’s most important Right NOW that will make the biggest difference to your future.

Keep Moving Forward

When obstacles and setbacks get the better of you, it’s easy to hesitate and step away from the danger. This is all well and good if the risks seem too high. However, as you step back you must at the same time keep moving forward in other ways. Only through this type of effort will you maintain your level of momentum and motivation that will help pull you across the finish line.

Take Personal Responsibility

Those who cultivate Resilient Willpower make no excuses for anything that they do, or for anything that happens to them. They fully realize and understand that in order to achieve their objectives, that they must account for and take full responsibility for their decisions and actions at all times.

By taking responsibility for everything (the good, bad and the ugly) signifies that you are in control [see: law of control] and in charge of your destiny. On the other hand, by not taking responsibility, you are in essence giving control away to events, people or circumstances that you simply lack the influence or skill to control. In the long-term this substantially weakens your resolve and sets you on course for failure.

Resilient Willpower Strategies

Resilient Willpower is built upon the foundations of taking Massive Action on a daily basis to achieve your goals and objectives [see: smart goals]. This action must however be focused and directed accordingly to maximize results, strengthen motivation while minimizing mistakes as much as possible.

Never Hesitate

The moment you hesitate to make a decision or to take action is the moment you lose the momentum you have created. Furthermore you lose self-confidence in yourself and your own abilities, which can lead to fear, doubt, procrastination and a plethora of other limiting habits and emotions. This is not saying that you should take action despite the risks. What it is saying is that you must take calculated risks that are based on solid research and feedback.

Never Procrastinate

Procrastination is comprised of nothing more than an avalanche of excuses and imaginative stories that you tell yourself on a daily basis about how you can’t do one thing and instead prefer to do something else [see: procrastination]. It leads to a vicious cycle of doubt, fear and insecurity that can plague you for the rest of your life. Moreover, it halts the momentum you have created thus far along your journey towards the achievement of your goals and objectives.

Never Diminish Positives

When fixated with problems and setbacks it’s easy to diminish the good that has come as a result of your decisions and actions. These Positives may in fact help unlock new answers and opportunities that will help you proceed along this journey. However, if you deny or don’t acknowledge the lessons you have learned, the solutions you have acquired or the indispensable experiences you have gained along the way, than you may very well be denying yourself the very chance to make the “wrongs” right again.

Never Amplify Nagatives

When things go wrong unexpectedly, it’s easy to become obsessed with the evil consequences of our decisions and actions. Moreover, when we get our imaginations involved in the process, we can turn the seemingly innocent into hell on earth.

Within every negative circumstance, their lies a positive outcome that can be taken advantage of if you are patient and attentive to the details. So focus instead on amplifying the positives, and diminishing the negatives.

Never Give Up

No matter what happens, Never Give Up, Never Quit! Life is too short to stop halfway, and you never really know how close you are from reaching your desired outcome. It may seem so far, and yet it could only be a whisker away [see: Never Give Up].

Never Make Assumptions

Based on past experience – on what has worked or hasn’t worked for you before – it is easy to assume that nothing will change in the present. However, every circumstance and condition brings with it a unique set variables, emotions, people and events that are subtly different than they were before – meaning that new opportunities and solutions lie on the horizon waiting to be found.

Never Wilt Under Pressure

When water starts to boil and when the steam begins to rise, most people wilt under the pressure and give up the fight. If most people wilt and you don’t, than I guess this means that you now have an unfair advantage over your opponents and access to a window of opportunity that may not present itself again.

Always Welcome Adversity

When you learn to welcome adversity with enthusiasm, you harden yourself for the tough times that are still yet to come. Moreover, you begin to view the problems in your life with renewed confidence that provides you with a clearer perspective of the road that lies ahead.

Visualize Success & Reflect

By visualizing your eventual success and by taking the time to reflect on your experiences and mistakes, you effectively clarify what it is you want and resolve to improve the process that will get you to “what you want” far more quickly than ever before. Furthermore, the process of visualization [see: visualization] and self-reflection helps build the momentum you need to propel yourself forward through anything that stands in your way.

Clarify Desires & Benefits of Objectives

The process of clarifying your desires and the benefits of your objectives helps build enthusiasm, confidence and motivation [see: motivation] to achieve your goals despite the obstacles and challenges that life throws in your direction.

Always Seek Alternate Perspectives

Life is all about perspective [see: reframing reality]. How you see the circumstances of your life is dependent upon your past experiences, memories and your current emotional state. This therefore suggests that what you see is only an interpretation of reality. And since it’s only an interpretation of how circumstances are in your life right now, you therefore have the power to consciously transform your perspective at any time and begin to see things in a far more supportive way.

Act Upon Proven Facts

Fact of fiction? Knowing the difference between the two will significantly affect the outcomes resulting from your decisions and actions. Therefore you must make sure that you do not emotionalize events and circumstances in your life. Otherwise you may find yourself basing your decisions on fiction over fact.

Facts are proven things that have a place and position in time. Fictions on the other hand are opinions and ideas that cannot be proven or quantified.

Take Small & Progressive Steps Daily

Small and progressive steps daily are more effective than large steps taken occasionally and inconsistently. Momentum is created when you move forward consistently towards your goals and objectives. Alternatively, momentum is lost when you cycle through periods of action and procrastination. It not only robs you of your enthusiasm but also subdues your creativity.

Act Contrary to Limiting Beliefs & Habits

Sometimes within your limitations and weaknesses your greatest opportunities for success are found.

Your greatest challenges in life reveal to you your deepest and darkest fears, weaknesses and limitations. Simply by doing the opposite of your natural desires and inclinations, you will open a door of opportunities and new understandings that you never had before.

Resist Unimportant Desires

Instant gratification is the desire to gain short-term pleasure that will usually help you avoid short-term pain, and yet will also deny or delay long-term pleasure that is associated with the achievement of your goals and objectives. Furthermore, it will rob you of your momentum that is critical to your long-term success.

Build a Strong Sense of Purpose

A sense of purpose is built upon the foundations of a Higher Cause [see: personal legend]. It is something that defines who you are, where you’re going and who you are seeking to become. With this purpose in mind, you will develop the necessary momentum to surpass anything and everything that stands in the way from achieving your goals and objectives.

Maintain a Solution Focused Attitude

When problems overwhelm the reality of life, it’s easy for us to absorb ourselves with what’s NOT working. However, by focusing on what’s NOT working we naturally lose sight of what IS working and on the solutions that problems bring to the table. So instead, focus on finding answers and opportunities by maintaining a Solution Focused Attitude.

Plan Ahead Accounting for Murphy’s Law

A goal without a plan of action [see: plan of action] is simply wishful thinking. In fact, having no plan of action can be catastrophic if unexpected problems and circumstances arise. However, when it comes to organizing a plan of action one must ALWAYS account for Murphy’s Law [see: murphy's law]. Because anything that can go wrong, will go wrong, all the time, every time, at the worst possible time, when you least expect it and you won’t even know about it till it’s too late!

Control Emotions & Reactions to the Unexpected

No matter how much we plan or account for Murphy’s Law, there will always be events and circumstances that will unexpectedly surface at the worst possible time. During these moments we must maintain our emotional equilibrium. By controlling our emotional responses, we maintain a clear mind and can therefore make more effective decisions.

Ask Effective Questions

Questions are intrinsically connected to our thoughts, our thoughts to our habits, our habits to our decisions and our decisions to our actions [see: life questions]. In fact, one simple yet effective question can immediately transform our perspective of our circumstances and create the momentum we need to achieve our goals and objectives.

Here are 5 important questions that will help you overcome the obstacles in your life:

How can I best overcome this?

How must I think differently?

What opportunities am I not seeing?

What is an alternate way of looking at this?

What resources could assist me here?

Ask for Help

Finally, when we have exhausted all our options we can still maintain our Resilient Willpower in the face of adversity by simply asking for help. Whatever we can’t do for ourselves,  others can do for us

Final Thoughts

Developing Resilient Willpower is just as much a journey of the mind as it is a journey of experience. The more often you utilize these skills, beliefs, traits, actions and strategies to overcome the obstacles and setbacks in your life, the stronger your Resilience muscle will become – helping you to create the momentum you need to manifest your desires and dreams into physical reality. However, when everything is said and done, remember that developing Resilient Willpower will not happen over night, but rather over time through a consistent and concerted effort to transform your life forever.

Recommended Books

• The Resilience Factor: 7 Keys to Finding Your Inner Strength & Overcoming Life’s Hurdles by Karen Reivich & Andrew Shatte
• The Resiliency Advantage: Master Change, Thrive Under Pressure, and Bounce Back from Setbacks by Al Siebert PhD
• The Power of Resilience: Achieving Balance, Confidence, and Personal Strength in Your Life by Robert Brooks & Sam Goldstein
• The Skinny on Willpower: How to Develop Self Discipline by Jim Randel
• Discipline: Training the Mind to Manage Your Life by Harris Kern

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Introduction

The one major factor that separates the most successful people from the rest begins with a single ‘thought‘.

Over years this single ‘thought‘ is analyzed, criticized and condemned by others. People believe that this ‘thought‘ is impossible, improbably and undeniably unimaginable. They say that the ‘thought‘ is unorthodox and bordering on crazy.  And so this single ‘thought‘ must overcome great obstacles, setbacks, problems and difficulties before it can realize its full potential. After all, this single ‘thought‘ understands that in order to grow BIG and expansive that it must accept the harsh realities of life and respond by growing long and strong roots that will support its tremendous weight as it stretches towards the sky. Yes, this single ‘thought‘ knows very well indeed that BIGGER is much, much BETTER!

The Key is to Think Big

A single snowflake of very small stature begins falling from the night sky. By itself it has no hope of changing the world. However, this single snowflake has BIG ambitions and BIGGER ideas. It realizes that like a small thought, it needs to gather together other thoughts (snowflakes) in order to grow BIGGER and STRONGER. And so it decides to fall on top of the highest mountain peak where it interlocks with other like-minded snowflakes. There it waits – waits for the wind to blow and the ground to shake, transforming the single snowflake into one of the most powerful and ferocious forces on earth – a rampaging avalanche.

Think BIG About…

The first step towards becoming a BIG Thinker involves incorporating the habit of thinking BIG into every aspect of your life. You must therefore begin to think BIG about:

• Daily tasks, projects and objectives.
• Your contributions to the world and others.
• Your capacity to think creatively and outside the box.
• Your capacity to think problematically, critically and flexibly.
• Your capacity to provide value to others.
• Your capacity to overcome any obstacle and challenge that is thrown your way.
• Your capacity to stretch your imagination and the possibilities of your current circumstances.
• Your life’s purpose and goals.

Thinking BIG requires that you think Globally about the problems that are confronting your reality. It requires that you see them from a wider and far reaching perspective by asking yourself:

How could this potential solution change the world?

How could this idea revolutionize my industry?

How could the answer to this problem solve a global issue?

You must think BIG without any reservations and without any hesitation in order to contribute more, learn more, become more and stretch yourself and your own abilities beyond their current psychological limitations.

Think Like a…

At times thinking BIG isn’t easy to do from our limited perspective. We are who we are, and thinking BIG just might not be a part of our nature. It’s something that’s difficult to imagine, let alone do. However, there is a way around this that naturally shifts our perspective and makes things a little more fun.

The key to shifting perspective involves stepping outside of yourself and into another persona – essentially becoming someone you are not, yet someone who will help you see things a little BIGGER, better and far more creatively. You could therefore begin thinking BIG like a:

• Child who only sees possibilities in amidst turmoil.
• World Renowned Musician or Artist who has an uncanny ability of creating something out of nothing.
• Professional Athlete who has the will to persist and overcome any obstacle standing in their way.
• Noble Prize Winning Scientist who meticulously works through BIG problems in small ways.
• Billionaire Entrepreneur who knows no limitations in thought or action.

Step into any of these people’s shoes, and you will immediately gain a different perspective about your life and the circumstances that are confronting your reality; you will immediately begin to think more clearly, creatively and problematically; and you start to progressively break down the walls that are preventing you from thinking BIGGER than you have ever thought before.

Furthermore, in order to think BIG you must think from the perspective of having NO limitations and NO fears. It’s as though life is conspiring in your favor, breaking down all walls and obstacles that are standing in your way, thusly releasing your unlimited potential to think BIGGER than ever before.

Barriers to Thinking Big

Thinking BIG is not easy. It’s something that we must learn to cultivate over time on a daily basis in everything we do. However, even when this habit of Thinking BIG is deeply ingrained into our psyche, there will still be times when barriers will need to be overcome, obstacles will need to be surpassed, and old habits will need to be broken. [see: habits] It is during these times that we need to think BIGGER than ever before.

Here is a list of common barriers that prevent BIG thinking:

Limiting Habits

Thinking BIG is a habit that we naturally grow and develop over time. It is a habit that allows us to stretch our imaginations and expand our personal potential. This is all well and good, however, thinking BIG will never become a reality for any of us if we continue to indulge in the following limiting habits that ironically force us to think small:

• Procrastination holds you back and pulls you away from the forward movement of life. [see: procrastination]
• Short-term Thinking denies you the ability to see solutions that lie a few steps ahead.
• Negative Thinking prevents you seeing things that are possible to do NOW and in the future.
• Making Excuses focuses you on what you Don’t Want.
• Solving Insignificant Problems distracts you from what’s most important and from the BIGGER picture.
• Over Analyzing Things wastes time and energy on small matters that are of little significance.
• Seeking Perfection forces you to dabble in things over and over again in an attempt to achieve the impossible. [see: perfectionism]

These habits will constrict your ability to think BIG about your life and circumstances, because they force you to think small, to think about insignificant events and circumstances in unproductive ways, thusly draining all your creative energies from the inside out.

Peer Judgment and Criticism

People judge what they don’t understand or can’t comprehend. Your BIG ideas and solutions can help change your life, can help change someone else’s life, and as far as you are concerned, they can also help change the world. Not everyone will see things your way, and not everyone will believe what you see, however this shouldn’t stop you from thinking BIGGER than ever before about your life conditions and circumstances. [see: peer influence]

People will always judge, criticize, condemn and complain. It’s just a natural part of human nature. However, this is not a barrier to thinking BIG unless you make it so.

Common Fears

Our fears of Change, Success and Failure can make thinking BIG very difficult to do. We worry about what lies in the future, we stress about not getting things right, and we concern ourselves with worst-case scenarios. These fears constrict us and coil us into a ball of small thoughts, decisions and actions. [see: fear]

Life is about making mistakes, it’s about taking chances, and it’s about thinking BIG about your life and circumstances. Year from now, when you are sitting on your rocking chair at 100 years of age – you sit there with a smile on your face, having no regrets. Yes life might not have gone exactly the way you imagined, but you smile because you thought BIG, took chances and enjoyed the journey. And that’s what life is really all about, isn’t it?

Having No Time or Incentives

When you are pressed for time you begin thinking small and only about things in the immediate future. Thinking BIG requires time, it requires dedicated attention and discipline that forces you to spread your horizons and open your mind to new possibilities and ideas. If you simply can’t find the time to think BIG than you will always live small [see: time management]

In addition, if you live life without any incentives, than there will simply be no motivation to stretch yourself emotionally or physically. Without motivation you will think small and neglect the BIGGER picture after all.

Thinking Big Strategies

Developing the habit of thinking BIG on a daily basis requires a little work and effort. It’s not something that will happen over-night, but it is something that will happen over-time as you apply the following “BIG thinking” strategies consistently and meticulously.

Cultivation is the Key

BIG thinking is a habit that must be cultivated over time. Like any habit, it requires us to develop a plethora of supporting habits that will help us to think BIG far more effectively.

Empowering Language

The language you use on a daily basis is simply a reflection of your thoughts. If your words are riddled with complaining, worrying and criticizing your life circumstances, than you can expect that your life will undoubtedly be a direct reflection of these words. If on the other hand you begin utilizing empowering words and phrases that are focused on solutions, ideas and on expanding possibilities, than your life will also be a reflection of this type of language. [see: language patterns]

Big Ideas, Plans & Goals

When setting goals don’t settle for safety. Think instead of goals that will help expand your comfort zone, push your limits and stretch your imagination. Life is after all too short for anything else [see: plan of action]

Forward Thinking

BIG thinkers are Forwards thinkers. They think several steps ahead, several moves in advance and several years into the future. They understand that life is simply like a game of chess.

If you do not have the ability to think several moves ahead, than you haven’t as yet successfully cultivated the habit of Thinking Big.

Solution Oriented Thinking

BIG thinking is about finding solutions, answers and ideas that will break down the problematic walls that are standing in the way. Solution Oriented Thinking involves asking effective questions that will expand possibilities and open ourselves to alternative perspectives that we never considered before.

Indispensable Qualities

BIG thinking requires us to cultivate several key qualities and traits that will enable us to think BIGGER and better than ever before about our life and circumstances. These qualities include passion, courage, optimism, persistence, discipline and enthusiasm.

Unshakable Belief

BIG thinkers are BIG thinkers because they believe that whatever they can conceptualize in their minds, they can realize in the physical world. [see: beliefs + law of belief] Hence they believe that…

When I envision it, I believe it..

When I believe it, I do it..

When I do it, everything becomes possible..

Relish Time for Thinking

In order to think BIG you must first find the time to think proactively about your circumstances. Most people unfortunately don’t have this privilege. They simply don’t have the time and tend to constantly react to the events and circumstances in their lives. They never actually take the time to STOP and think proactively about solutions and ideas that could make their life easier and solve the problems confronting their reality.

Relish Opportunity to Solve BIG Problems

BIG thinkers love BIG problems!

Problems are nothing more than PUZZLES that need to be pieced together with the right resources and ideas.

BIG thinkers understand that the more often they piece these puzzles together the more proficient they will become at solving future unexpected problems that may rudely show up at the worst possible time. [see: problem solving]

Challenge Weaknesses

Weaknesses are simply things that we have failed to address and consistently focus on over a lifetime. In other words, they are things that we have neglected – and “what you don’t use, you will lose”. Therefore weaknesses should not be seen as limitations, but rather as opportunities for change.

BIG thinkers understand that by challenging their weaknesses they naturally strengthen their ability to deal with the unexpected events and circumstances that life throws their way. In addition, challenging weaknesses adds to their arsenal of skills and resources that they have on hand to help them attain their BIG goals and objectives. [see: strengths + weaknesses]

Strengthen Willpower & Resilience

BIG goals and objectives are only achieved by those with the Willpower and Resilience to keep on moving when everyone else has stopped dead in their tracks. BIG thinkers clearly understand this, and they therefore strengthen their Willpower and Resilience on a daily basis even when performing the smallest of tasks.

Ask BIG Questions like a Child

BIG thinkers ask BIG questions consistently and persistently until the right answer comes to mind. [see: questions] They ask:

How can I do this better than anyone else?

How can I think more creatively about this?

How can I take this to another level?

How can I think even bigger?

Gather Required Resources

BIG thinkers realize that thinking BIG is only the 1st step that leads to BIG change. They know that to conceptualize a BIG idea is one thing, but to actually bring this idea into reality is completely another ballgame. They therefore strategically gather all the necessary resources, tools, knowledge and support – in advance – that they need to bring their BIG ideas into the physical world.

Create Artificial Problems

BIG thinking requires GREAT problem solving. Without problems there could never be a BIG thought or IDEA. Ideas are “ideas” because they help to solve problems that we experience on a daily basis. Without problems “ideas” are nothing, and progress will be very hard to come by. BIG thinkers clearly understand this principle, and for that reason they create Artificial Problems for themselves on a daily basis. They do this for two reasons:

1. To strengthen their Problem Solving ability.
2. To stretch their imaginations.

Keep in mind that Artificial Problems can at times lead to unexpected and very practical solutions for other seemingly unrelated aspects of life.

Build Systems & Processes

Thinking BIG isn’t easy, and that is why it’s important to streamline the process as much as possible by building effective systems that will enable you build your ideas, accelerate decision making and support your creativity.

Constantly Make Bold BIG Decisions

BIG thinkers take BIG risks and make bold and BIG decisions on a daily basis that others may not openly support. However, BIG thinkers understand that their ability to think BIG allows them to see things from a far wider perspective that others cannot. And for that reason they are also independent thinkers who don’t base their decisions on people who only think in small and minuscule ways. [see: decision making]

Take Calculated Risks

BIG thinkers are not Unrealistic thinkers who take crazy risks. BIG thinkers are SMART thinkers who make sure to weigh up the consequences of their decisions thoroughly – on all aspects of life – before taking action.

Take Proactive Action

BIG thinking without ACTION is only DREAMING. To think BIG you must act BIG and move towards your goals and objectives in a thought-provoking meticulous manner each and every single day.

Set Goals Beyond Your Comfort Zone

Thinking BIG and setting goals that are beyond your Comfort Zone goes hand-in-hand. In fact, the size and the degree of difficulty of obtaining your goal will provide you with a good indication of how BIG you are thinking at any particular moment. However, we must of course keep in mind that setting goals that are too far beyond our reach is actually counterproductive. If these goals are not attained – this can lead to stress, worry, fear, procrastination and a plethora of other limiting emotions and behaviors.

Your goals must be believable, achievable and must effectively follow the SMART FOR ME goal setting method. [see: goal setting]

Set Challenging Time-frames for Objectives

Some goals might seem easy to achieve on the surface. However, if you fiddle around with the time-frame a little bit, you will find that even the easiest of goals can become somewhat challenging.

BIG thinkers clearly understand that in order to keep themselves on target, motivated and moving quickly, that they must continuously test themselves and their ideas. And this involves setting challenging time-frames that test their limits and push their comfort zone. [see: comfort zone]

Focus on Planning & Starting Small

Within the introduction of this post we talked about the snowflake and the seed. Both started small, and yet both had BIG ideas that took a little time to cultivate and grow. The same applies to real life. We must think BIG but focus on planning and starting small.

Focus on ONLY What Want

BIG thinkers are Solution Oriented thinkers who ONLY focus on what they want to do, have, be and achieve. They don’t care about the details – at first – or on what cannot be done. Instead they focus on the BIG picture and on the possibilities of bringing an idea to fruition. Later however, they ask effective questions that breaks down their idea into workable parts – making them practical in real-life scenarios.

Focus on Highest Value Activities

BIG thinkers always attempt to maximize the use of their time. As a result they primarily focus on only the Highest Value Activities that will help them to bring their BIG ideas into reality.

Focus on Your Abilities & Strengths

When conceptualizing BIG ideas, BIG thinkers take into account their personal strengths and abilities. They realize that by conceptualizing ideas that naturally support their strong attributes and talents, that they will be able to bring forth more motivation and dedication to bring their ideas to fruition.

Consistently Reframe Problems

BIG thinkers consistently reframe their problems by expanding possibilities and perspectives. In other words, they first see the problem for what it is, then they twist their perspective of the problem in a creative way to help them brainstorm better ideas and solutions. [see: reframing reality]

Consistently Surround Self with Ambitious People

Finally, BIG thinkers associate with other BIG thinkers who are ambitious, motivated and inspire others to think BIGGER, act BIGGER and become BIGGER than they ever imagined was possible.

Final Thoughts

It is reasonable to expect that BIG thinkers don’t always realize their BIG Ideas. However, what they do realize is that life doesn’t always get them what they want, but rather what they need – in the long-term – to help support the achievement of their BIGGEST goals and objectives. Furthermore, they understand that thinking BIG is not something that just happens to us, nor is it an attitude about life. It is rather a state of mind that we must choose to cultivate on a daily basis that becomes our life’s attitude over a lifetime.

Books from Amazon

• The Magic of Thinking Big by David Schwartz
• Thinking Big: Progressive Ideas for a New Era by James Lardner & Nathaniel Loewentheil
• Thinking Big: The Keys to Personal Power & Maximum Performance by Brian Tracy
• Think Big: Unleashing Your Potential for Excellence by Ben Murphey & Cecil Carson
• How to Make Millions with Your Ideas: An Entrepreneur’s Guide by Dan S. Kennedy

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Introduction

It is said that Lucky things ALWAYS happen to Lucky people. Furthermore, it is said that you are either born Lucky or you’re NOT. Luck therefore is either a part of who you are or simply “apart” from who you are, and there is nothing you can do about it. This perception of Luck was obviously formulated by those riddled with what they would call “Bad Luck”, and is therefore not a result of anything that we can consciously control. Or is it?

Even though attracting Luck into our lives is something that we cannot physically control, it is however something that we can indirectly influence and bring forth into our lives by cultivating certain and traits, developing a “Luck Attracting” mindset, and by taking specific actions that enable us to attract the opportunities into our lives that are naturally labeled as “Lucky”.

Luck is therefore not a result of seemingly fortunate occurrences that make no sense. It actually results from a series of seemingly unrelated coincidences that have culminated together as a result of the traits we cultivate, the mindset we project and the actions we take on a daily basis.

Lucky Traits

Whether consciously or unconsciously Lucky People tend to develop and cultivate a certain set of traits that naturally attract Lucky Events and circumstances into their lives.

Primary Traits

Lucky people tend to cultivate certain qualities and traits that help them attract luck more frequently into their lives. The following list of traits have been found to be of most importance.

Strong Willpower

The Luckiest People in the World have an extraordinary ability to persist in the face of adversity. Their determination to push forward no matter what obstacles stand in their way naturally exposes them to a greater array of opportunities that often reveal themselves the further they are able to push through the challenges in their lives.

Disciplined & Diligent

The Luckiest People in the World are fully committed and disciplined to the attainment of their goals and objectives. This discipline enables them to focus wholeheartedly on the tasks at hand, allowing them to block out all distractions and spot potential opportunities that may suddenly come their way.

Optimistic

The Luckiest People in the World are optimistic by nature. They fully understand that optimism enables them to identify solutions and answers where pessimists only see problems and heartache.

Generous

The Luckiest People in the World are generous by nature – tending to give to others without any hidden ulterior motives. Their generosity naturally gains people’s respect and admiration, and as a result they are more likely to receive the support and assistance they need to achieve their personal goals and objectives.

Humble

The Luckiest People in the World are humble by nature. This humble demeanor naturally widens their perspectives, enabling them to focus outwards outside of themselves, allowing them to spot opportunities that other people would miss because of their inwardly directed energies.

Exhibits Calming Effect on People

The Luckiest People in the World exhibit a calming effect on others, which makes people feel comfortable and relaxed within their presence. This naturally builds stronger bonds and relationships. As a result people are more likely to help them if they ever require their assistance.

Relaxed Attitude

The Luckiest People in the World are not easily frazzled by the events or circumstances in their lives. This Relaxed Attitude naturally enables them to spot opportunities that otherwise may be overlooked if they were to be ruled by their emotional reactions.

Very Approachable

The Luckiest People in the World are very approachable. They are approachable because of the pleasant facial expressions they project, and because of their open and sincere body language. This naturally encourages other people to approach and interact with them on a regular basis.

Seeks Unpredictability & Adventure

The Luckiest People in the World tend to seek unpredictability and adventure on a daily basis. Furthermore, they like to try new things and expand their personal horizons as often as possible. This naturally exposes them to new people, environments, circumstances and enables them to learn new things, develop unique skills and take advantage of a wider array of opportunities that come their way.

Always Smiling & Laughing

The Luckiest People in the World are always laughing and smiling while in the company of others. This naturally projects a carefree fun-loving energy that people are drawn to. As a result, they find that others are more willing to help and assist them with their personal goals and objectives.

Gives Good Eye-Contact

The Luckiest People in the World fully understand that the best way to gain trust quickly with another person is through gentle and direct eye-contact. Once this trust has been established, a world of new opportunities arises.

Lucky Mindset

Lucky Events seem to be effortlessly attracted into people’s lives because they cultivate a Mindset that naturally enables them to bring forth good fortune on a daily basis.

Expects Good Fortune & Positive Outcomes

The Luckiest People in the World always expect that good fortune will result from their decisions and actions. Whether events are within or outside of their control, they always expect that a positive outcome will result. This expectation naturally raises their conscious awareness of the world around them, which enables them to identify opportunities that otherwise may have been overlooked.

Expects to Find Solutions to Problems

The Luckiest People in the World expect to find Solution that will help them overcome their problems. They fully understand that if there is a problem, that a solution can and will be found – it’s just a matter of time. As a result they remain vigilant, they persist and work through obstacles, while all the while scouting for opportunities that could provide them with the answers they are searching for.

Expects Best from All Social Interactions

The Luckiest People in the World expect the best from others and view every social interaction as an opportunity for mutual benefit and growth. They don’t just interact with people, they actually take time to get to know others at a profoundly deep level, enabling them to create random opportunities from what seem to be chance encounters.

Expects to Meet Interesting People

The Luckiest People in the World expect to meet interesting, happy and passionate individuals every single day. They realize that surrounding themselves with these types of people will naturally tend to attract the luck and opportunities that they are after.

Constantly Asking Effective Questions

The Luckiest People in the World are fully aware of the influence that questions have over their lives. They realize that asking the right questions will lead them to the answers they need that will enable them to overcome setbacks and attract the opportunities they desire to bring forth into their life.

Always Open to New Experiences

The Luckiest People in the World realize that a new experience could potentially open a floodgate of new opportunities that they weren’t expecting. As a result they will try almost anything, travel to any place, and do whatever they feel is necessary to experience life in a new and creative way.

Lives in Present Moment

The Luckiest People in the World set goals for the future, however they realize that in order to spot the opportunities that are available Right Now, that they must be present in the moment.

Constantly Reframes Events

The Luckiest People in the World consistently Reframe Events and their life circumstances in ways that enable them to shift their perspective from negative consequences onto realistic outcomes that could present opportunities for future growth and development.

Always Focuses on Patterns, Details & Results

The Luckiest People in the World realize that the entire world and the social fabric of humankind is built upon Predictable Patterns that once understood, will open up a floodgate of new insights and understandings that will enable them to take advantage of opportunities that they may never have realized ever existed.

Never Dwells on Setbacks, Problems or Misfortune

The Luckiest People in the World tend not to dwell too long on the setbacks and misfortunes that life brings their way. They will of course take a little time to learn from these events, however their time is usually spent focusing on solutions, answers and the opportunities that these problems have attracted.

Perceives Bad Luck in a Positive Light

The Luckiest People in the World see what seems to be Bad Luck as nothing more than an event that is inconsequential to their long-term success and happiness. As a result they break free from the shackles of misfortune by viewing it in a Positive yet Realistic Light.

Irrelevant Long-term

They see Bad Luck as being irrelevant in the long-term, fully knowing that the future cannot be measured or predicted by a single event or occurrence.

Chance to Grow

They perceive Bad Luck as a chance to expand possibilities, knowledge and abilities. In times like these, they seek to learn more about themselves, others and the circumstance that they are dealing with.

Opportunity to Learn & Minimize Future Mistakes

They view Bad Luck as nothing more than a learning experience that enhances their understanding about their circumstances. This subsequently provides them with an opportunity to minimize predictable future mistakes.

Fortunate Because Not Worse

They feel fortunate and actually quite relieved that the Bad Luck they experienced was actually quite mild compared to the possible consequences that could’ve resulted.

Only Temporary Misfortune with Long-term Benefits

Most importantly, the Luckiest People in the World see every stroke of Bad Luck as a temporary misfortune that actually brings with it long-term benefits that they must now take the time to identify. They do this by asking themselves:

How is this a blessing in disguise?

How can I put a positive spin on this?

What evidence is there to support this perspective?

What can be learned from this situation?

Lucky Actions

Our daily Actions either work For Us or Against Us. When they work For Us we naturally attract events and circumstances that are aligned with what we want most in life. On the other hand, when they work Against Us, our lives become riddled with problems, and consequently we label ourselves as being “unlucky”.

Networks Relentlessly & Proactively

The Luckiest People in the World clearly understand that the more people they know, the greater their capacity to acquire what they want whenever they want. For this very reason they Network tirelessly with people from all walks of life.

Helps People Get What They Want

The Luckiest People in the World realize that in order to get what they want, they must first help other people get what they want. Hence they focus on assisting others with their personal goals and objectives.

Creates Support Groups with Strong Emotional Ties

The Luckiest People in the World know that strong relationships with others are built upon a solid foundation of Emotional Bonds that bind people together for common purposes and goals.

Utilizes Intuition, Meditation & Affirmations

The Luckiest People in the World tend to utilize their intuition in order to guide them in the right direction. Moreover, they make use of meditation in order to gain clarity of thought, and utilize affirmations such as “luck always comes my way” to help focus them on potential opportunities that may arise.

Is Always Learning

The Luckiest People in the World are Learning, Growing and Evolving continuously. You will often find them enhancing their skills, problem solving ability, creativity, expertise, experience and knowledge on a daily basis. This naturally helps them gain access to all the necessary resources that allow them to attract seemingly Lucky Events into their lives.

Is Always Enhancing Value to Others

The Luckiest People in the World know that finding new ways to add more value to other people’s lives, is one of the surest methods of attracting the interest they need in their products, services and businesses. This “interest” generates opportunities and seemingly fortunate coincidences that are deemed to be “Lucky”.

Prepares Thoroughly

The Luckiest People in the World clearly understand that preparation is the key to long-term acceleration. By preparing thoroughly they are able to better identify possible patterns, trends and events that may take place as a result of their decisions and actions. This naturally enables them to work faster and smarter as they move towards the attainment of their goals and objectives.

Sets Long-term Goals & Daily Objectives

The Luckiest People in the World understand that without Setting Goals and Daily Objectives that they would have very little focus and direction. Without this focus and direction they would struggle to take advantage of the opportunities that would help them get what they want most in life.

Perseveres Consistently

The Luckiest People in the World tend to persevere despite the odds that are stacked against them. In fact, the higher the chances of failure or of making mistakes, the more motivated they are to bring their goals and objectives to fruition. Hence they cultivate a Never Quit, Never Give Up attitude.

Works Hard, Smart & Creatively

The Luckiest People in the World always work Hard, Smart and Creatively. They understand that it’s not how much time they put in, but rather how they work during that time that really matters. Furthermore, they realize that only through the process of Creative Thought and Action will they be able to attract the so called “Fortunate Events” and opportunities that others simply acknowledge as “Lucky”.

Takes Calculated Risks

The Luckiest People in the World tend to minimize their risks while maximizing their potential options when making decisions. They believe that the less chance there is of things going wrong, the more likely they are to achieve their goals and objectives, and the Luckier they will seem to be in the eyes of their Peers.

Takes Full Responsibility

The Luckiest People in the World take full Responsibility for their thoughts, actions and decisions, fully knowing that the results they achieve are of their own making. As a result they tend not to make excuses or blame their circumstances on other people or events. They realize that doing this would direct their Mind onto What they Don’t Want, and this will consequently distract them from What they Do Want, and as a result they will fail to identify the opportunities that are necessary for them to achieve their personal goals and objectives.

Acts Upon Chance Encounters & Opportunities

The Luckiest People in the World realize that life is built upon a time-frame of Opportunities and Chance Encounters that must be taken advantage of the moment they arise. As a result they are usually the first ones to make the telephone call, to seal the deal, and the first to launch the Next BIG Thing!

Models Successful People

The Luckiest People in the World understand that other people’s Success can be Modeled and Repeated. As a result they spend time researching the thoughts, beliefs, habits, decisions and actions of very successful individuals. They subsequently model their patterns of behavior in order to obtain their own personal goals and objectives.

Visualizes What Want

The Luckiest People in the World tend to Visualize what they want in their mind before achieving it in the real world. They understand that whatever they can conceptualize within their imaginations, they can create in the Physical World. Furthermore, visualization enables them to prepare for problems that have not yet occurred – that the ordinary person would never have imagined.

Asks for What Want

The Luckiest People in the World understand that one of the most Effective and Efficient ways to get What they Want is to simply ASK. “Asking” opens up a floodgate of opportunities that the ordinary person labels as nothing more than Chance LUCK!

Final Thoughts

I hope that this article serves to inspire you to think about Luck in a new way. Because when it boils down to it, Luck isn’t about some random event that tends to favor one person over another. It’s rather about a series of Choices that you make on a daily basis, that help you to cultivate the Mindset and Traits that naturally inspire the right types of Actions, that move you towards the opportunities that bring your desires to fruition.

And hence the saying goes that, “the choices we make, seal our fate!”

I hope you enjoyed this post. If you have any further queries or questions, or would like to share your experiences about this topic, than please do so in the comments section below. Please also don’t forget to download the Free PDF of the Luck Factor.

Online Resources

• The Luck Factor – A Free Manual for Good Luck

Books from Amazon

• The Luck Factor Book:  Changing Your Luck, Changing Your Life: The 4 Essential Principles
• Luck: The Essential Guide
• Luck: Understanding Luck and Improving the Odds
• Luck: The Brilliant Randomness of Everyday Life
• How to Attract Good Luck

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Introduction

When we take the time to reflect upon the natural environment around us, we begin to observe a complex yet very beautiful world cycling through patterns, phases and through stages of transition. We also quickly realize that nothing ever stands still, that nothing ever maintains its current state, identity or shape for very long. In fact, all of Nature cycles through Seasons of Change and transformation, effortlessly and naturally – just like we Humans transition through psychological and physical states of transformation throughout our lives.

Transformation is a natural part of life, and an important component of Human Evolution. It is something that is unavoidable, inevitable and yet very manageable. Our circumstances, needs, desires, and behaviors must therefore naturally change and evolve alongside these cycles of life, or we risk undermining our personal levels of happiness and fulfillment.

When our psychology and behaviors are in harmony with these rhythms, we begin to flow through life naturally and effortlessly. During these times, we understand that our current life circumstances are only temporary, and we therefore make use of what we have to the best of our abilities. On the other hand, when we resist these natural rhythms, we sell ourselves short and consequently struggle with the conditions that life throws our way.

The Seasons of Transformation IQ Matrix is designed to guide you through these rhythms and cycles of life. It is designed to provide you with the resources, tools and understanding you need to enable you to make the most use of the changes that life throws your way. And finally, it is designed as a compass that will enable you to get yourself back on track and moving towards your goals and objectives despite perceived difficulties or setbacks.

The Seasons of Life

Summer: A season for Rewards, Celebration and Fulfillment.

Autumn: A season for Survival, Mistakes and Problems.

Winter: A season for Reflection, Hibernation and Planning.

Spring: A season for Learning, Opportunity and Dynamic Thinking.

The Cycles of Life

Life cycles through phases of transformation and change that are unavoidable, inevitable, and yet very manageable. Here we discuss how these natural cycles of life are beneficial for our personal growth and psychological evolution.

Seasons Change Constantly

The Seasons of Life are constantly changing as a result of the choices and decisions that we make on a daily basis. A seemingly insignificant choice today could very well change the tide of the Seasons as we move into tomorrow.

For things Not to Change, we must stay the same. However, we cannot remain unchanged if we are constantly making new choices and decisions about our life conditions and circumstances.

Life is all about change, we are constantly changing, and our circumstances are simply a reflection of these natural evolutionary steps.

Seasons Transition Naturally

The Seasons of Life transition naturally from one phase to another as a result of the thoughts, values and beliefs we have consistently cultivated in our minds.

The Summer Season brings Happiness; the Autumn brings Pain; the Winter brings Self-Reflection; and the Spring brings an Opportunity for Learning. We transition through each of these Seasons naturally, because they are simply a reflection of our human nature.

Seasons Are Temporary

The Seasons of Life are as temporary as the rain drops that are falling on your head, as the thunder that is raging outside, or as the wind that is blowing up the storm. None of these events will last forever. They are temporary in nature, just as the Seasons of Life are temporary on a psychological level.

The joy you experience during your Summers will not last forever. There will inevitably be a moment when your thoughts, decisions and actions will naturally move you into another phase of life, which may lead to pain and anguish. However, this too is only temporary, and will eventually pass.

The length of time it takes us to progress through each Season is simply a reflection of our state of mind – a reflection of our ability to adapt to the conditions and circumstances we find ourselves in. If we adapt successfully we will move through difficult and unpleasant phases quickly. On the other hand, if we are unable to adapt, than we will suffer the consequences of failing to capitalize on the opportunities that life inevitably throws our way.

Seasons Are Psychologically Beneficial

The Seasons of Life are there to teach us lessons about ourselves, others and about life. They are there to help us grow emotionally, physically and socially. And they are there to harden our soul, to enliven our spirit and to strengthen our emotional resilience in the face of adversity and opportunity.

When we succeed we Celebrate. When we fail we Complain and Blame… but eventually we begin to contemplate who we are, what we want, and how we would like to progress from this moment onwards. These periods of life shape our character, and paint the canvas of the life we are yet to experience. Moreover, these times help us evolve as human beings.

We Create the Seasons

We naturally create and transition between the 4 Seasons of Life as a result of our Responses and Reactions to people, events and circumstances. This effectively means that HOW WE RESPOND to our environment will directly influence what we get back from our environment – whether they are Problems or Opportunities.

Self-Reflection Questions

Consider how your life has changed and transformed over time by reflecting back upon the emotional highs, and the heartbreaking lows you have experienced over a lifetime. Additionally consider your current predicament and life circumstances, and ask yourself the following questions:

“Which Season am I currently transitioning through at this very moment?”

“How have the Seasons shaped my character?”

“How have the Seasons strengthened my character?”

“How have the Seasons enriched my experience of life?”

Summer Season

The Summer Season is a time for Rewards, Celebration and Fulfillment. It encapsulates moments of your life where you have been achieving your goals, objectives and enjoying life to the fullest.

Characteristics of Summer

Throughout Summer you will find yourself undertaking the following activities:

• Networking
• Traveling
• Leisure: Enjoying Life to the Fullest
• Accomplishing Goals and Objectives
• Taking Risks
• Taking Proactive Action
• Expanding Your Comfort Zone
• Thinking Creatively, Proactively and Optimistically

The Psychology of Summer

Throughout Summer you will tend to experience the following emotions:

• Excitement
• Passion
• Euphoria
• Courage
• Confidence

You may subsequently experience fatigue and an insufficient amount of time that may temporarily hold you back from achieving your goals and objectives.

Evolution of Summer

The Summer Season doesn’t occur by coincidence. There are certain factors that come into play that naturally enable us to transition through this phase of life. These factors include:

• Good Plans and Preparation
• Solid Choices and Decisions
• Prolonged Self-Reflection
• Capitalizing on the Right Opportunities

Self-Reflection Questions

Reflect back upon the Summer Seasons of your life and honestly ask yourself the following set of questions:

“What impact have the Summers had on my life?”

“What have they taught me about myself, life and others?”

“How have they transformed my personality?”

Autumn Season

The Autumn Season is a time for Survival, for dealing with Problems and for making Mistakes. It encapsulates moments of your life where you struggled to maintain the momentum that was required to achieve your goals and objectives. Consequently things started to fall apart, you felt like you had very little control over your circumstances, and you began to react emotionally in very limiting ways.

Characteristics of Autumn

Throughout Autumn you will find yourself undertaking the following activities:

• Avoiding Responsibility
• Contracting Your Comfort Zone
• Thinking Hesitantly, Unrealistically, Ineffectively and Pessimistically

The Psychology of Autumn

Throughout Autumn you will tend to experience the following emotions:

• Anger
• Anxiety
• Frustration
• Stress
• Disappointment
• Overwhelm

Evolution of Autumn

The Autumn Season doesn’t occur by coincidence. There are certain factors that come into play that naturally enable us to transition through this phase of life. These factors include:

• Ineffective Decision Making
• Failure to Capitalize on Opportunities
• Ignorance
• Mistakes Stemming from Ineffective Thinking
• Mistakes Originating from Ineffective Choices of Behavior

Self-Reflection Questions

Reflect back upon the Autumn Seasons of your life and honestly ask yourself the following set of questions:

“What impact have the Autumns had on my life?”

“What have they taught me about myself, life and others?”

“How have they transformed my personality?”

Winter Season

The Winter Season is a time for Self-Reflection, Planning and Hibernation. It encapsulates moments of your life when you began to withdraw emotionally from the world and from your circumstances. This naturally brought about periods of self-reflection and contemplation where you were able to re-clarify your life’s purpose and consequently forgive yourself for past mistakes and indiscretions.

Characteristics of Winter

Throughout Winter you will find yourself undertaking the following activities:

• Time for Finding Inner Peace and Solitude
• Time for Bonding with Family, Friends and Loved Ones
• Time for Journaling Thoughts and Feelings
• Time for Thinking Critically, Realistically, Problematically and Thoughtfully about Life

The Psychology of Winter

Throughout Winter you will tend to experience a mix of pessimistic and optimistic emotions that naturally tend to trigger a state of procrastination:

• Guilt
• Fear
• Relief
• Grief
• Hope

Evolution of Winter

The Winter Season doesn’t occur by coincidence. There are certain factors that come into play that naturally enable us to transition through this phase of life. These factors include:

• Lack of Emotional Intelligence
• Reactive Behavior to Losses and Uncontrolled Circumstances
• Ineffective Choices, Habits and Thoughts

Self-Reflection Questions

Reflect back upon the Winter Seasons of your life and honestly ask yourself the following set of questions:

“What impact have the Winters had on my life?”

“What have they taught me about myself, life and others?”

“How have they transformed my personality?”

Spring Season

The Spring Season is a time for Learning, for discovering new Opportunities and for Dynamic Thinking. It encapsulates moments of your life where you began to think strategically about your circumstances, started expanding your horizons socially and emotionally, and where you took the time to learn the skills you required to achieve your new goals and objectives.

Characteristics of Spring

Throughout Spring you will find yourself undertaking the following activities:

• Developing New Skills, Habits and Social Contacts
• Altering Personal Mindset
• Expanding Knowledge, Options and Opportunities
• Setting Goals
• Thinking Strategically, Tactically, and Insightfully

The Psychology of Spring

Throughout Spring you will tend to experience the following emotions:

• Love
• Trust
• Joy
• A Sense of Anticipation

Evolution of Spring

The Spring Season doesn’t occur by coincidence. There are certain factors that come into play that naturally enable us to transition through this phase of life. These factors include:

• Increased Self-Belief
• Increased Self-Confidence
• Solid Reflection Time that Enables You to Clarify What You Want Most in Life

Self-Reflection Questions

Reflect back upon the Spring Seasons of your life and honestly ask yourself the following set of questions:

“What impact have the Springs had on my life?”

“What have they taught me about myself, life and others?”

“How have they transformed my personality?”

The MasterMind Matrix Connection

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The Seasons of Transformation presented within this post and within the accompanying Mind Map is an integral part of the MasterMind Matrix.

Take a Journey through the MasterMind Matrix to learn more.

Final Thoughts

The Seasons of Life are about transformation and change. Moreover, they are about the process of effectively transitioning from one set of conditions or circumstances to another – that enable us to learn, grow and consequently reap the rewards that life eventually brings our way.

The Seasons of life don’t necessarily cycle from Summer to Autumn to Winter to Spring, and then back to Summer once again. They can transition any which way depending on the emotional choices and decisions we make on a daily basis.

In the end Life is about transition, about change and most importantly about transformation. Every experience – no matter how we perceive it – helps us grow and develop psychologically on many levels of awareness, which consequently paves the way for ever richer experiences that will enable us to overcome the obstacles and challenges that life inevitably throws our way.

I hope you enjoyed this post. If you have any further queries or questions, or would like to share your experiences about this topic, than please do so in the comments section below.

Finally, please download this Free IQ Matrix Mind Map from the IQ Matrix Shop.