Several years ago, I attended a "success" seminar in northern Virginia. "Think of how you'll feel when you reach your goal. Imagine you've arrived! Feel it, smell it." I don't remember the name of the seminar nor the presenter, but I have two small pieces of wood that have locked that seminar in my mind and changed my life.
If you've ever attended a motivational seminar, you may remember the presenter encouraging you to "be all you can be." You may have been convinced that you can make a million dollars or reach other dreams using their methods. This seemed like the way that seminar was headed, until someone began passing us pieces of wood, an 8 X 12 inch board three-quarters of an inch thick. "Think of how you'll feel when you reach your goal. Imagine you've arrived! Feel it, smell it. Now in one word describe the feeling." I was skeptical, not really with it. Suddenly inspiration hit-WOW! That's how I would feel. Then the presenter told us to turn the board over and write on the other side what was standing in our way. I couldn't think of anything and as he kept talking, I figured, "Well this is a waste." From out of the blue came, "not good enough." My insecurity, feeling inadequate, thinking of everyone who could do things better than I, held me back. So I wrote "not good enough" on the board, only half listening as he was explaining the next step. With our bare hand we could break through the negative idea we'd written on the board and reach our goals. "Oh, yeah," I thought. "Right." I had to be the oldest, most out of shape person in the room!
Other people rushed to the front of the room to be first in line to break the board. I sat still, looking for someone like me. People began to step up and break through the board. I measured them and compared myself to them--still thinking "not good enough" without realizing it. Then someone failed on the first try and broke through the board on the second try. That broke the ice for me. I ambled over to the end of the line.
My turn came all too quickly. There I was facing the presenter who was going to hold the board so I could hit it with one hand while I held the other hand behind my back. He explained how I should position my feet, which part of my hand to use, and what I should be thinking. I was squaring my shoulders when he stopped me. My feet weren't just right. "Let's try it now," he said. I drew back my arm and thrust it forward, breaking the board on my first try. There followed the most unexpected emotion I've ever experienced. Wonder turned into awe. How could this be? I was overwhelmed.
The attendant ushered me to the side so the next person could have a turn. I joined the group who had broken the board and stood still while a wave of emotion enveloped me. Tears came to my eyes, but I checked them. I can! I am good enough! I can never go back and hide behind that thought again. I must move forward.
I still have those two pieces of wood and when the going gets really tough, looking at them takes me back to that awesome experience. I reach deep inside, call up all the reserves I have, and carry on.
If you experience self-defeating feelings that you're just not good enough, look for a breakthrough experience. Concentrate on your accomplishments, any small or large success in your past. You are good enough for any task you want to undertake. You have an obligation to the rest of us to share your talents and be the person you were created to be.
Let your light shine!
Jo Condrill is an acclaimed author, speaker and consultant. She went from part-time worker in Texas to suprvisor in the Pentagon in less than 10 years. Jo is the author of "Take Charge of Your Life: Dare to Pursue Your Dreams," "101 Ways to Improve Your Communication Skills Instantly," and "From Book Signing to Best Seller." Secretary of the Army, Togo West awarded Jo the highest civilian honor one can achieve, the US Army Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service. Jo shares her unique experiences in seminars and speeches on leadership, team building, personal development, and success strategies. http://www.goalminds.com/primer.html
bathroom cleaning service Northbrook ..Ok, let me tell you what I mean.As some of... Read More
These days success is a hotly debated subject. Nevertheless, people... Read More
With the long-term trend of protecting employees' individual self esteem... Read More
Ten years ago I went into the studio and recorded... Read More
Your own pressing needs, your long-standing frustrations, would benefit tremendously... Read More
On your journey to moving past using food to cope... Read More
The start of a new year is a good time... Read More
Coming up with new dreams and passions can be fun,... Read More
Of all the things that can have an effect on... Read More
Cool Facts: Walt Disney went bankrupt several times before he... Read More
You will have the greatest success if you read the... Read More
e-Learning is doubling yearly. Classes, e-courses, e-books on how-to and... Read More
This revelation hit me the other day while I was... Read More
I prefer to call the challenges, obstacles, side-tracks, and barriers... Read More
Remove these words from your vocabulary!The words "If only ?"... Read More
Reading lots these days? Having trouble remembering and recalling? For... Read More
"Things might have been worse"This is the most powerful, dynamic,... Read More
Fear, or negative anxiety, is the modern day bubonic plague,... Read More
Jim Rohn, the success guru and mentor, said, "Failure is... Read More
Last Thursday evening, I was the guest of a group... Read More
Fighter pilots have an awesome responsibility. It takes a unique... Read More
If you want to make more of your talents -... Read More
"Fear Factor" is one of my favorite TV shows. It... Read More
With topics in personal development ranging from goal setting to... Read More
"The mind grows by what it feeds on." J.... Read More
insured cleaning company Wilmette ..Friendly competition Get together with a group of like-minded friends... Read More
Both the worst and the best of the great achievers... Read More
Everything you will ever have and accomplish in life will... Read More
One of the most overlooked opportunities for learning and personal... Read More
When I was in college, I heard someone say something... Read More
I don't need to be a gypsy fortune teller to... Read More
Sit up straight! You may recall hearing those words as... Read More
Thoughts move faster than the speed of light.Expectations jump faster... Read More
Often, what people say about other people behind their backs... Read More
What is an ANT? An ANT is an acronym for... Read More
In so many areas of life we must always be... Read More
Do You Know You Have the Power to Harness Huge,... Read More
There is a difference but what constitutes a life... Read More
For centuries Protestant Christians have argued that you can reach... Read More
"The principal purpose of business is to create a customer."... Read More
Does the thought of failure send a cold shiver down... Read More
I was at a dinner party the other night when... Read More
There is a disquieting trend emerging among women particularly -... Read More
Have a "Pitch Party" Invite friends and work together to... Read More
If you could choose a cartoon character from your childhood... Read More
The single most important quality you can ever develop that... Read More
How does an online marketer define success ? There are... Read More
If you are like me you have probably lost a... Read More
Do you sometimes feel that you're living a boring life?... Read More
Human beings are visual creatures. Our imaginations are powerful tools... Read More
Success |