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Resolution Resistance - 3 Simple Steps for Avoiding The Most Common Barrier Between You and Your Goals

New Year's Resolutions...

Just hearing those three words strung together tends to make many of us cringe!

And for good reason.  The truth is that making out a long list of all the things you are going to change in the coming year usually results in the opposite effect from your original, lofty intentions.

But why is that?

The most common barrier between you and your goals is the habit of remaining attached to UN-SUPPORTIVE HABITS.

Too often, we fall into the trap of thinking that if we simply modify our behavior, we'll improve our results, and we fail to work on the true source of our results, our habits. We make commitments we can't keep, because we've not installed the preliminary habits necessary to follow-through.

Specifically, the habit of staying off-course is the one you need to attack mercilessly.

Whenever you get off-course (and it happens to EVERYONE), you need to acknowledge it and then develop the habit of getting back on-course right away.

My mentor Jim Rohn said that there two parts to influence.  First, influence is powerful, and second, influence is subtle.  He noted that most people would not let someone simply PUSH them off-course, but we might let someone or something NUDGE us off-course and not even realize it's happening.

Implement these three simple steps to avoid this most common barrier to accomplishing your goals.

1)  Be Alert! - Developing awareness is the first step to staying on track with your goals.  When faced with daily decisions, regardless of their size, assess whether the action you are about to take will move you in the direction of your 2012 goals and resolutions. 

Ask yourself this question "If I take this action, will it move me toward my goal?"  If the answer is no, don't mentally beat yourself up, just follow up with this question - "What could (or should) I do instead?"  And to demonstrate true resolve, follow up with this bonus question - "What MUST I do instead?" 

And then of course, do it!

2)  Be in it for the duration. - As human beings, we tend to over-estimate what we can accomplish in short period of time, while seriously under-estimating all that we can accomplish in a longer period of time.  Continuous action is the key, and then analyzing the results of those actions to determine if they are having the desired effect.  (Meaning forward progress). 

Be willing to do whatever it takes for as long as it takes.  Think about teaching the baby to walk.  You're committed and willing to help for as long as it takes, and then one day, success!  If it doesn't happen in the desired time frame, you don't give up on the goal, you just extend your imagined completion date.

3)  Be kind to yourself. - Too often when we get off track with our goals and resolutions, we throw up our hands and say "Aw, what's the use?"  And usually, way too soon.  Don't let this be you.  Instead, you be the one that says, "Well, that didn't work, what CAN I do that WILL work FOR ME?", and then come at it from a different angle.

Be assured that if you keep looking for ways that work for you, you'll eventually find one that does.  I'm not intending to sugar-coat it, because it's not easy.  In life, most things of value require us to pay a price.  The price could be time, money, persistence, or sacrifice.  Determine that you are willing to pay it.

Continue developing the habit of recognizing when you're off-course, and commit to getting back on-course as quickly as possible, and before you know it you'll be keeping your commitments and accomplishing your goals with ease!

For these and other super-effective methods for accomplishing your 2012 goals, send an email to jshoop@coachshoop.com to request more bonus content and ideas.

Until next time, be creative!

J. Shoop
www.coachshoop.com

J. Shoop, is a professional coach, speaker, and author of "The Other Secret".  His latest work is featured in the new book by Greg S. Reid, titled "Off The Coast of Zanzibar".   

His mission in life is to inspire, educate, and help others to become consciously aware of their unlimited potential for greatness.  For more info on his services and to connect with him, send an email to jshoop@jshoop.com.

 

"If You're Not Being Accountable, Then Yeah...Accountability Sucks."

That quote is from my good friend Brian Crane, one of the founders of Intero Real Estate Services in the Bay Area.

You know how sometimes, when you're listening to someone speak, and then a word or sentence jumps out at you and slaps you in the face?  

That's what happened when I heard Brian say these words.

Over the years, I've continued to make a consistent effort to be accountable for my actions, to set lofty goals, and to follow-through on my plans.  And one of the many things that I've discovered in my lifetime is that goal achieving simply can not be done alone.

As hard as we might try, we (human beings) are just not capable of holding ourselves fully accountable.

We need other's help.

In Bob Proctor's book, "It's Not About The Money", he cites a study where they looked at person's likelihood of accomplishing their goals - based upon them just saying "Ill do it" -  versus sharing their goal and their progress toward that goal with someone else.

That "someone else" is what I call the Accountability Partner.

The results were astounding...

The bottom line is that when you engage an Accountability Partner, you increase the likelihood of accomplishing your goal - remarkably up to a 95% chance of achievement!

Compare that to when we take the accountability role upon ourselves, at best, we've got a 50/50 shot of reaching the goal.  I don't know about you, but I'm not too fond of those odds.  

When we set goals, the primary objective should be to set ourselves up to win!

The best type of Accountability Partner is a coach or mentor.  This is because they are intrinsically motivated to see you excel, and they also benefit from your growth.  But a formal coaching arrangement is not entirely necessary.  You can dramatically improve the quality and quantity of your results by seeking out a willing and capable Accountability Partner from within your sphere.

And selecting the right partner is a critical key to the accomplishment of your goals.

Here are a few questions and tips to help you to identify, select, and engage with your new Accountability Partner.

1)  Who's getting the results that YOU desire? - Let's face it... In order for an accountability relationship to be massively effective, they are going to need to "speak your same language".  They need to understand your industry, your challenges, and what it takes to be successful in your chosen field.  Not only philosophies, but also a working knowledge of the day-to-day issues you will face as you work toward your goals.

2)  Are their core values evident, even without having to ask them what they believe in? - You need to get good at detecting the core values that matter... Discipline, honesty, honor, a service-first mindset, and transparency.  Someone that embodies all of the above is uncommon, but they certainly do exist, and are worth seeking out.

3)  Are they working toward a big, hairy, audacious goal of their own? - If they are driven to accomplish their own seemingly-impossible goals, you can bet they wish that they had an Accountability Partner as awesome as you!  Now is not the time to be shy, it's time to ENGAGE!

4)  Are they likable? - I'm sure you've met your fair share of Type-A drivers that are less-than friendly, or that are motivated to succeed at all costs.  These people are not for you.  And you're not necessarily looking for total altruism either, although that may be commendable.  You want your Accountability Partner to be kind, smart, achievement-driven, and easy to talk to.  Since you're going to be connecting with them frequently, this cannot be understated.

5)  Do they wear the same kind of underwear? - This part should seem pretty obvious.  If you're a guy, seek out a guy.  If you're a gal, seek out a gal.  Remember what I said about "speaking the same language"?  Your like-minded partner needs to be similarly packaged.  And the easiest way to avoid the possibility of misunderstandings or impropriety is to never put yourself in that type of situation in the first place.

6)  Do they have the strength to be genuinely honest with you? - This is different than "brutally" honest.  Genuine honesty comes from a place of love.  They need to care about you in a way that allows them to not let you make excuses for yourself.  Your partner needs permission from you to tell you like it is, in the spirit of helping you to stretch yourself.  This is the only way that you can become the person that will be required to ascend to the new heights that you are aspiring to reach.

7)  Get it on the calendar. - If it's not on your calendar, it's simply too easy to let things slide.  (Which is the polar opposite of accountability!)  Pick a regularly scheduled day and time of the week or month, and stick to it.  If you miss a meeting, get right back on the schedule the following week or month.  That's the best and only way to get back on track.

I'd like to encourage you to consider these tips, and if you do not currently have an Accountability Partner, now is your time.  Yesterday doesn't really matter all that much... 

For more ideas on accountability, or for help in locating an Accountability Partner, send me an email at jshoop@coachshoop.com .

The time to begin working on your new goals is TODAY!  

Until next time, be creative!

J. Shoop
www.coachshoop.com

J. Shoop, is a professional coach, speaker, and author of "The Other Secret".  His mission in life is to inspire, educate, and help others to become consciously aware of their unlimited potential for greatness.  For more info on his services and to connect with him, send an email to jshoop@jshoop.com.

The Secret to Solving Every Problem That You Ever Face, For The Rest of Your Life!

Why is it that we always wait too long to ask for help?

Is it just a "guy" thing?

I visited San Diego recently, and booked my room at the Hyatt Regency / Mission Bay.  The Mission Bay region of San Diego is gorgeous, but let's just say, the traffic design of the area leaves something to be desired.  You've got Mission Bay Boulevard, East Mission Bay, West Mission Bay, and it's all inter-connected by this crazy, looping, spaghetti-lke nightmare of a road system.

And on my way to the hotel, I got lost.  So what did I do?  First, like most guys, I kept driving round and round aimlessly on these loops, looking for any sign of the hotel, and reasoning with myself, "Hey, I'm resourceful, I can figure this out."  Then I decided to pull out my trusty Iphone with its killer G.P.S. map app, and punched in my destination to get directions. 

And boy, did I ever get some directions...just not the directions I needed.  Come to find out, Google Maps is maybe not the best resource for accurate directions in the Mission Bay area.  Now I certainly could have stopped and asked for help, but I wanted to prove that I could do it for myself.

This situation really got me thinking, "Where else is this showing up in my life?  In what other areas do I show an unwillingness to ask for help?"

Where else might it show up for you?

To get some answers, we have to take a closer look at how we are wired, or programmed.  Human beings are built to solve problems.  It's in our DNA.  Can you imagine how challenging life would be if we weren't designed this way?

Think about the problems we face as an infant.  The three primary ones are; hunger, fatigue, and hygiene.  (aka poopy diapers!)  And how does an infant get these problems solved?  Through a combination of inborn instinct (genetic programming), trial and error, and verbal communication (repetition and conditioning).

At some stage, the infant figures out that by communicating its needs - by crying out - a solution is ultimately delivered.  But as we get older, not only are we taught that we should begin solving our own problems, we are frequently told over and over to "Go figure it out for yourself".

Somewhere along the line, we take those suggestions and programming to heart - and often, too far.  We develop the habit of thinking that it is solely up to us to solve EVERY problem by ourselves.  Sure, many of life's smaller problems may not require the help of others.   But the bigger ones always do.

I'm going to share an amazing secret with you that will either move your toward a solution, or help you solve every problem that you ever face, for the rest of your life...

ASK FOR HELP SOONER!

Just as the baby cries out for help, so should you.  Maybe not as loudly, and maybe with a few less tears - but ask for help, NOW!  Don't wait!

My friend and mentor Les Brown taught me "We don't ask for help because we are weak, we ask for help to remain strong."  You see, most of the problems that show up in your life cannot be solved by the thinking that created them.  (By "thinking", I mean that person with the thoughts...YOU!)

The key is distinguishing which problems are within your scope and current ability to tackle, and which ones require support.  The faster that you can make this determination, the better.

In nearly every case, the solution to your problem resides in the thinking mind of someone else.  Someone with wisdom.  Someone with experience.  Someone who has successfully overcome the challenge that you are facing.  Someone who has demonstrated success in the area in which you need help.

I like to think of it as my own special version of G.P.S.  (Going to a Person Smarter)

This is what I call a mentor.  And thankfully, I have many.  In identifying the areas in which I am weakest (and yeah, there are a bunch), I have sought out mentors to help me gain the knowledge I need to move me toward my goals.  When I need their help, I ask for it.  Sure, it requires a healthy dose of humility.  Yep, it requires me to accept that I don't know it all.  And it requires me to lean not upon my own understanding.

But here's what I've found.  When you ask for help, YOU WILL GET IT!

And remember, it is important to be asking the right people for help, because everyone is willing to help, but not all are qualified to give it.  You need to get directions from someone that knows all the one-ways, the detours, and the quirky layout of the road. 

Don't you think a cab driver might have a better handle on navigating the city, versus say, me asking the kid on the 10-speed bike?  If I had just stopped and asked the right person for help, I could have saved myself a significant amount of time, energy, effort, and frustration.   

When you seek counsel from the types of mentors I described earlier, you can rely upon their advice and direction as being sound and wise.

Looking back, I'm kind of glad that I got lost that day, because it reminded me of this valuable lesson. 

I'd encourage you to adopt my G.P.S. philosophy, and you too will be heading in the right direction.

Until next time, be creative!

J. Shoop
www.coachshoop.com

J. Shoop, is a professional coach, speaker, and author of "The Other Secret".  His mission in life is to inspire, educate, and help others to become consciously aware of their unlimited potential for greatness.  For more info on his services and to connect with him, send an email to jshoop@jshoop.com.

2010's Failures = 2011's Opportunities for Growth!

2010 is about to become history.

I was recently thinking back to December of 1999, and all of the drama going on at that time about how the world as-we-know-it was going to come to an end, because the calendar on my computer was going to be confused.  Do you remember that?  It sure seems pretty insignificant now, doesn't it?

And it sure as heck doesn't seem like that was over ten years ago, but here we are, about to kiss another decade good-bye.  

For some, the end of this decade can't come soon enough.  (Are YOU in that group?)  For others, they'll look fondly back upon memories of new beginnings, new friendships, new habits, and new opportunities.

Like most things, our perception becomes our reality.  We can certainly use our memory to remind us of all of the challenges and heartache that was experienced, or we can opt for a different view...one of celebrating victories, regardless of their size, and seeking the lessons in the events and circumstances that occurred.

Which will you choose?

I'd like to offer a suggestion on how you can turn any event or circumstance from this past year into a stepping stone toward your best year yet.  It starts with a pen and paper, then two simple questions, and 30 minutes of concentrated, uninterrupted effort.  

Question # 1)  In 2010, what did I do right?  - Too often, we forget to recognize or realize that we have much to be grateful for in our lives.  Successes frequently get "swept under the rug", replaced with the busyness of everyday life.  Take a moment to reflect on what worked, what you accomplished, the goals you achieved, and the people you met.  Spend the next 15 minutes remembering all the things that went right.  If you need to, go month-by-month, recalling anything and everything you can that you can put into the "win" category.

Question #2)  Knowing what I now know, what would I do differently?  -  This question encourages you to assess your responsibility in the events of the past year, and to begin figuring out strategies on how to extract the lessons.  You might decide to leave some things behind.  You might choose to end some relationships.  You may choose to replace some bad habits with better habits, Or, you might decide to start moving in a new career direction.  Spend another 15 minutes considering answers to this question.

You have before you, the incredible opportunity to make 2011 your best year ever.  If you give this exercise your best, you'll find that 2011 can be unmatched in the amounts of success, joy, and happiness that you will experience.

Until next time, be creative!

J. Shoop
www.coachshoop.com

J. Shoop, is a LifeSuccess Consultant with Bob Proctor's organization, and the author of "The Other Secret".  His mission in life is to inspire, educate, and help others to become consciously aware of their unlimited potential for greatness.  For more info on his services and to connect with him, send an email to jshoop@jshoop.com . 

Your Best Is Yet To Come!

Do you ever spend much time thinking about the future? 

Your future?

Sometimes the demands placed upon us daily take up so much of our time, it's hard to find even a moment to consider the future.

But whether you're ready, or not...you're future is coming...and fast.

And you are the one who is charged with determining exactly what that future will look like.

You live in a fast-paced culture in which everything is in motion.  And there are no signs of turning back.  Standing still doesn't work, either.  At least not for very long.

So how do we make sure that our rapidly-accelerating lives don't pass us by like a furious flash of un-fulfilling nothingness ?

I'd like to suggest some tips that can help, but before you read on, I want you to recognize and remember this...

Your current results or circumstances are in no way a reflection what's possible for you in the future. 

Your potential is unlimited.  And the thoughts, ideas, and plans that you focus upon from this day forward will ultimately shape and direct your future. 

Here are some ideas to consider...

1)  Stop-  First, you need to pause...kind of like how you'd approach a "STOP" sign in California.  A brief stop, long enough to look in each direction before proceeding.  While paused, take a moment to consider WHAT is MOST IMPORTANT to you at this point in your life.  Is it your family?  Your career?  Your relationships?  What brings you joy?

2)  Consider some Editing-  Then, take a moment to consider, what are some things that DO NOT bring you joy?  How could you begin to "edit" them out of your day?  Maybe there are some activities or behaviors that are not supporting the vision you have of your highest self?  Maybe there are some relationships that you need to extricate yourself from?

3)  Commit to Carving-  Now think about HOW could you can spend more time, TODAY and TOMORROW, doing more of what it is that you want to do?  Don't worry about next week or next month, or next year.  Just consider today, and tomorrow.  Figure out how to carve out a small segment in the next 48 hours.  Maybe you could wake up 30 minutes earlier tomorrow?  Or perhaps go to bed 30 minutes later tonight?

Small, incremental commitments of time, directed toward doing what makes you happy, will have a beneficial affect in all areas of your life.  Spending time in this frame of mind will become a habit that will replace older, out-dated, less productive habits.

But you have to get started.  You need to actively and intentionally plan the way you want your future to look.  If you passively stand by, you can be sure that your tomorrow, next week, next month, or next year will just become a more distressed and less fulfilling version of the past.

You have the opportunity to shape your future.  I don't know exactly what you're facing or what you're going through, but I do know that if you will work at it, and take an active role in determining how it will unfold, certainly, your best is yet to come!

Until next time, be creative!

J. Shoop
www.coachshoop.com

J. Shoop, is a LifeSuccess Consultant with Bob Proctor's organization, and the author of "The Other Secret".  His mission in life is to inspire, educate, and help others to become consciously aware of their unlimited potential for greatness.  For more info on his services and to connect with him, send an email to jshoop@jshoop.com .

Are You "Living By The Long-Ball"?

I love the game of Baseball.  Being from the Bay Area, my favorite team is the San Francisco Giants.

And this year, the Giants are GOOD!

In fact,they are currently in a race for the division title, and they have a shot at competing for the world championship, the World Series.

Recently, the Giants went through a stretch of games where they weren't scoring many runs, and when they did, the runs came via the home run, otherwise known as "the long-ball".

And while listening to a game on the radio, I overheard something from one of the announcers, Mike Krukow, that really jumped out at me.  He said, "You won't succeed in this game, living by the long-ball".  He went on to say that in order to have long term success, the great teams find ways to "manufacture" runs, by incorporating good fundamentals into their game.

It's like that in life, too.

Often times, we're looking for that home run in our business or life, and we tend to neglect the unnoticed daily disciplines that are a requirement for success.  In every field, there are fundamental skills that are essential for long-term achievement.  And when executed properly, these core skills can make the difference between success and failure.

Many of my coaching clients are in the Real Estate industry, where sales skills are vital to success.  A top salesperson needs to be great at prospecting, interviewing, listening, presenting, handling objections, closing the sale, and a variety of other skills.

As one of my mentors, Les Brown says, "Skill creates demand, and demand creates income".

Have you ever taken the time to discover the core fundamental skills required for success in your field?

This four-step process can be a game-changer.

1)  Identify - Come up with 7 to 10 characteristics possessed by the leaders in your chosen field, or in your life.

2)  Assess - Rate yourself on a scale from one-to-ten in each of the identified categories.

3)  Select - Pick the category that you scored lowest in, and determine what one action, that you can take TODAY, to either improve your skills.  Or, consider delegating the task to someone who is more highly-skilled in that area.

4)  Ask - Then ask yourself this question... "What one skill, if I were to master it, would have the single biggest positive impact in my career (or life) right now?  Can you identify it?

Once you have it, it's time to get to work on improving your knowledge in that area.  Think of an action you can take RIGHT NOW that will move you forward.  Order a book on-line.  Send an email.  Call a coach or mentor.  You must do SOMETHING!

Don't wait!  If you wait, you can bet that other things will figure out how to get in your way.  Your intention to improve will fizzle out.  And the result will be you, standing at the plate dreaming of hitting a home run, but never swinging.

Engage in this process, and soon you'll be hitting singles, doubles, triples, along with those HOME RUNS!

Until next time, be creative!

J. Shoop
www.coachshoop.com

J. Shoop, is a LifeSuccess Consultant with Bob Proctor's organization, and the author of "The Other Secret".  His mission in life is to inspire, educate, and help others to become consciously aware of their unlimited potential for greatness.  For more info on his services and to connect with him, send an email to jshoop@jshoop.com .

Are You Fulfillable?

My friend Scott "The Nametag Guy" Ginsberg has written a new book called -able (pronounced "a bull"), and in a recent blog post , he posed a challenge to his readers to create a word ending in -able, and to describe how others might be able to use the new word to increase their probability of success!

So my contribution is Fulfillable! 

Fulfillable = Desiring to be, capable of, and willing to be, Fulfilled.

In our hearts, most of us desire fulfillment at some level.  And the reality is that we are all capable of being fulfilled... but the question is, are we willing to be?

When I'm talking about Fulfillment, I'm referring to that calming sense of inner peace, contentment, and knowingness that you are tapping into your full potential.

But exploring your potential can be scary, right?  There's that familiar fear of failure, the fear of success, the fear of what others might think, or the fear of the unknown...(notice how all of those start with FEAR?)

Fear is to fulfillment what kryptonite is to Superman!

And I'm not going to tell you that overcoming your fears is the secret to fulfillment, because you already know that.  But what I am going to suggest is that you consider my four-step process to eliminating the barrier of fear that is keeping you from being fulfillable!

F - Face it. Recognize that fear exists as a biological mechanism to keep you safe.  But it was never intended to immobilize you.  It was designed to heighten your awareness.  First, identify whether the cause of the fear is real or imagined.

E - Evaluate it. Consider what you're gaining by allowing this fear to protect you.  But you must also consider what benefits might arise out of eliminating this particular fear, forever.  Once you've looked at it from a different perspective, you just might discover that its "bark" is far worse than its "bite".

A - Advance anyway. Often times, we need to make the courageous decision to fail-forward and just do-it-afraid.  The fear may still exist in some form, but it loses its power to paralyze you when your actions are inspired.  I remember an Old English proverb that goes "Fear knocked at the door, Faith answered, and there was no one there."  Whatever it is, do it NOW!  This is where you JUMP and grow your wings on the way down.

R - Respond differently. Your subconscious mind is very powerful.  It loves the status quo, and is resistant to change.  When you are at the brink of confronting your fears and considering acting in spite of them, it's common for most to retreat back to safety, to the known.  This is exactly the place where you need to respond differently.  This is when you need to be bold.

And when you break through the barrier of fear, you realize that all the good things that you desire are awaiting you just on the other side. That is the place where fulfillment resides.  And that fulfilled feeling is available to you, right now!

When you allow yourself to experience that feeling in your core, then you've become fulfillable!

Until next time, be creative!

J. Shoop
www.coachshoop.com

J. Shoop, is a LifeSuccess Consultant with Bob Proctor's organization, and the author of "The Other Secret".  His mission in life is to inspire, educate, and help others to become consciously aware of their unlimited potential for greatness.  For more info on his services and to connect with him, send an email to jshoop@jshoop.com .

Are You Living In The Storm, or In the Eye of The Hurricane?

Have you ever noticed that there are some people that always seem to be living in a state of chaos?

Maybe you know someone like that intimately?

(Maybe they even show up in your mirror occasionally?)

And then there are others,that no matter what is going on around them, they always seem to stay calm, cool, and collected.

So what's their secret?

I'd like you to take a moment and imagine an intense storm, such as a hurricane or a tropical cyclone.  All around the perimeter, there is violent rain and wind.  The most catastrophic storms can experience winds in excess of 150 miles-per-hour.

But in the center, there is something very different going on.  In this area of the storm, the winds are light and the sky is clear.  The outer part of the storm is still fierce and torrential, but the center, or the "eye" of the storm is calm and peaceful.

Our lives are a lot like that storm.

Frequently, we are bombarded by life's "heavy rain".  Some rain arrives without warning.  The wife that tells her husband that she doesn't love him anymore.  The dark spot that shows up on the x-ray.  The boss that call you into the office and says, "Thank you for your service, but..."

And other times, we tend to bring the rain upon ourselves.  We allow small inconveniences to negatively influence or ruin our day.  We allow ourselves to be exposed to the wrong type of media.  We waste valuable time hanging around the doom-and-gloomers.

Yet in any type of storm, you have a choice.  You can intentionally decide to remain in the eye, in your center, where the skies are clear and the winds are light.

Here's an exercise that can help you find your center when dealing with the storms of life.

I'd like you to spend some time creating a mental place, within you, visualized and designed by you, where you can visit anytime you want to, by merely closing your eyes and activating your imagination.

This place is where the outside world cannot reach you (in times when you decide that you do not want to be reached).  It is your personal, private, comfortable, and impenetrable mind-space.  It is your "eye of the hurricane".  This will be your own, personal inner-sanctuary.

You can create your inner-sanctuary to look like anything you want, wherever you want it to be.  Within it you can do anything you wish.  You can be whomever you chose to be.  You can ask any question that you desire to be answered.  And once you are in your inner-sanctuary, the storms of life will have less of an affect upon you.

Find a quiet place, without interruption, and imagine an ideal place of tranquility and relaxation.  Often, people imagine their sanctuary as a tropical location, or on a mountain-top, maybe next to the ocean, or beside a running stream…sometimes even in outer-space.  There are no limits to how your sanctuary can be designed.

Focus on feeling comfortable, peaceful, calm, and safe.  Once created, you can return to this space by simply closing your eyes and desiring to be there.  Come back to this place as often as needed.

And although you can never fully avoid the storms of life, you can choose how you will respond to them.

Until next time, be creative!

J. Shoop
www.coachshoop.com

J. Shoop, is a LifeSuccess Consultant with Bob Proctor's organization, and the author of "The Other Secret".  His mission in life is to inspire, educate, and help others to become consciously aware of their unlimited potential for greatness.  For more info on his services and to connect with him, send an email to jshoop@jshoop.com .

Are Your Actions Being Motivated by Inspiration, or Desperation?

Every result that you are producing today, is the physical expression of your previous thoughts, feelings, and actions. 

That can be a hard pill to swallow, especially if you are currently in a place of frustration, worry, doubt, or anxiety.

Often times, when we look at our present results, we are dissatisfied, and wonder why things are not turning out the way that we think they should.

I mean, c'mon... If given the option between choosing Inspiration or choosing Desperation, wouldn't it seem that the choice is obvious?

And when you take the time to really dig deep into the definitions of Inspiration and Desperation, the choice becomes increasingly clear.

I'd like you to consider the core meanings of these two words, so that you can have a deeper understanding of how they might be influencing you, and your actions.

Inspiration - A result of inspired activity.  Uh, yeah...okay, but what does 'Inspired' mean? 

Inspired - A thing or person that inspires.  Sure, but what does 'Inspires' mean? 

Inspires - To guide or control by divine influence.  A-ha!  Now we're getting somewhere.  But what do they mean by 'Divine'? 

Divine - God-like, surpassing excellence.  Well, God-like makes sense...and what about 'Excellence'? 

Excellence - Having an excellent quality or feature. 

So in other words, BE excellent!  Now there's something we can work with.

It stands to reason, that if we focus our time and energy on being excellent,  we'll feel inspired and we'll ultimately be an inspiration to ourselves and to others.

Now let's contrast that with Desperation...

Desperation - The state of being desperate or having the recklessness of despair.  Whoa... 'Recklessness' of despair, that sounds serious...what does that mean? 

Recklessness - Characterized by carelessness.  Okay, that's pretty self-explanatory.  How about 'Despair'? 

Despair - Loss of hope.  And finally, what do we mean by 'Hope'? 

Hope - Belief or faith.

So at it's core, desperation is really a lack of belief or faith.

It's a lack of belief in a power higher than your own.  Call it God, call it Spirit, call it Infinite Intelligence, call it whatever you want to call it.  But I can assure you, friends, there is always hope.  In fact, sometimes your faith may be the ONLY thing that you'll have going for you.  Believe me, it's enough.

The reality is that sometimes we fail to miss one very important detail, and that is CHOICE.  When I asked you earlier about when given the choice between Inspiration and Desperation, we'd certainly choose Inspiration...

But in life, the truth is that sometimes it seems like we have no choice.  When Life decides to move on us, to teach us some great lesson, it might appear that we have no options. 

Remember, the truth is not always in the appearance of things.  You always have a choice.  You can choose your thoughts and your attitude toward things.  You can choose to stay focused on what matters most.  You can choose to BE excellent, even when things or people around you are not.

We know that everything in the Universe has an opposite, and I'd like to suggest to you that Desperation is the opposite of Inspiration.  I'd also like to suggest to you that no matter what circumstances you are facing right now, there is hope.

My friend and mentor Les Brown says it like this; 'No matter how bad it is, or how bad it gets, I am going to make it!"  Now that is what I call faith!

I'd like to encourage you to be excellent in all that you do, even when faced with things that might seem insurmountable.  Keep hope and faith alive in your heart, and remember that what you focus on expands. 

Keep a positive outlook on life, and you'll get positive results.  They may not show up on your anticipated time-line, or in the way you might expect, but the results will show up.  Guaranteed.

Until next time, be creative!

J. Shoop
www.coachshoop.com

J. Shoop, is a LifeSuccess Consultant with Bob Proctor's organization, and the author of "The Other Secret".  His mission in life is to inspire, educate, and help others to become consciously aware of their unlimited potential for greatness.  For more info on his services and to connect with him, send an email to jshoop@jshoop.com .

Making An Impact in the Decade to Come!

2010... 

The beginning of a new decade, filled with hope, faith, and the promise of an even brighter future for all.

And as I sit reflecting on the past 10 years, some questions come to mind.  "What kind of impact have I made?"  "Who have I helped?"  "Who's life have I changed for the better?"  "Was I capable of more?"

Throughout our lives, we all travel through peaks and valleys.  Ten years ago, I was definitely at a point that in my life that I would consider a peak.  I was in demand.

My social "street cred" was high, my network of friends was expanding rapidly, and my business was cruising.  I may not have been on top of the world, but I was certainly on the top of my world.

If you're anything like me, you've had many victories over the past decade, and you've likely had your share of heartaches.  Highs and lows are a just part of this thing we call life.

On my high side of the decade, I got married, my daughter was born, I built my dream home, and also amassed millions of dollars in real estate equity.

On the down side, my mother died a premature and unexpected death, the tragedy of 9-11 occurred, and more recently, the bursting of the real estate bubble and the subsequent mortgage crisis caused massive losses globally, and personally.

Still I wondered to myself..."Was I capable of more?"

I don't really know the answer to that one.  I'd like to THINK that I was capable of more, but I'm not sure.  Sadly, I'll never know, because I cannot go back in time to figure it out.

- I can't go back in time and warn all of my friends and clients that a massive financial sh_ _ -storm is coming, and that they'd better get busy converting everything they have into cash or gold.

- There's no way to go back in time to volunteer my help and resources to the survivors and victims of 9-11.

- And there is no way to go back in time and console my heartbroken father after losing his wife of 39 years.

Now before I continue, I'd like you understand that the question I'm about to ask of you warrants some serious introspection. 

When you ask it of yourself, I don't want you to quickly respond with a simple "yes" or "no".  Really think about it.  Ponder over it, and then answer it truthfully...from your heart.

It's the same question I asked of myself... "Are YOU capable of more?"

Everyday, you and I have a CHOICE, to accept things as they are, or to make them as we want them.  It would be very easy to reflect upon the adversities that we all experience and allow the associated pain to paralyze our effectiveness.  It's easy to look at our circumstances and believe that we don't have the capacity to influence them.

But here's what I've realized...

I am capable of more, TODAY.

You see, all of the triumphs and tragedies of the past decade have caused me to GROW, and I'm still HERE!  I can make an impact today, and I can make a positive difference today. 

I don't have to settle for mediocrity, and neither do you.  They way that you handle and overcome the failures and challenges that you will face in your lifetime will determine the level of internal and spiritual growth that you will experience.

And the truth is, you're potential is unlimited.  Your present circumstances are in NO WAY an indication of what you are truly capable of accomplishing.  You have the power, opportunity, and responsibility to make an impact, to make a difference, to shape your future...and the lives of others.

Today I'd like to encourage you to make a decision to focus on all that is good in your life.  As you look back over the past decade, be grateful for the lessons learned.  Recognize that the problems you faced were necessary opportunities for growth, but don't dwell on them for too long.

Continue to look forward at the decade ahead with faith, optimism, and a renewed sense of awareness of your greatness.  Look for ways to make a positive impact.  And look for ways to share your gifts with those around you. 

Until next time, be creative!

J. Shoop
www.coachshoop.com

J. Shoop, is a Certified LifeSuccess Consultant with Bob Proctor's organization, and the author of "The Other Secret".  His mission in life is to inspire, educate, and help others to become consciously aware of their unlimited potential for greatness.  For more info on his services and to connect with him, send an email to jshoop@jshoop.com .