I found a meme on Facebook and shared it on my page because of the clever acronyms (click here to be taken to Yes I Can Pep Talk’s Facebook page).
F. A. I. L. = First Attempt In Learning
E. N. D. = Effort Never Dies
N. O. = Next Opportunity
I think these are awesome and great to keep handy when things aren’t going as well as you expected. I’m printing this and posting it by my computer in my office.
Where will you post yours?
Your Friend and Pep Pal,
Lauren
Sometimes we think we don’t have what it takes to achieve our dreams because our desire isn’t burning. We don’t think we have a Magnificent Obsession, as Earl Nightingale calls desire, and we’re not sure we feel passionate about anything.
Burning Desires, Magnificent Obsessions, and Passions–we don’t have to be rocketing around with excitement and enthusiasm over them or shouting from rooftops, being loud and rambunctious about them.
Our Burning Desires, Magnificent Obsessions, and Passions can be much quieter. In fact, we can “fly under everyone’s radar” with them, if we choose.
In Tuesday’s post, we talked about this (click here to be taken to it). Burning Desires, Magnificent Obsessions, and Passions are nothing more than that which interests, captivates, and fascinates us and just won’t let us go. No matter how much we may ignore it or how fast we try to run away from it or how forcefully we try to squelch it, it always comes back tapping, poking, prodding us, letting us know that it’s still here.
In yesterday’s post (click here to be taken to it) we talked about how following the thread or bread crumb trail of our interests will lead us to the Magic of our True Selves and our True Lives. Again, we can be quiet about this–no need for rushing or shouting. All we need to do is doggedly pursue the thread or trail.
All we need to do is relentlessly and unshakably follow where our interests take us. That’s it. No frenzy, no drama required.
Just take one little step after the other.
You can do this!
Your Friend and Pep Pal,
Lauren
Why is uncovering–or more likely, admitting–your Burning Desire so important?
Because it holds the keys to manifesting your True Self and your Reason for Being.
And that’s what life on Earth is all about: manifesting our True Selves. We do this by following our Burning Desires, Magnificent Obsessions, and our Passions.
Sometimes the words “Burning Desires”, “Magnificent Obsessions”, and “Passions” sounds so big and grandiose. Quite frankly, they can be intimidating and overwhelming.
Start with the small pieces of “Burning Desires”, “Magnificent Obsessions”, and “Passions”. The small pieces of these are the interests you have, things that captivate your imagination, activities and pastimes you consistently give your attention to. By observing what it is that interests and captivates you, and what you give attention to, you can begin to find patterns and a common thread or threads that run through them.
When you find the thread–or bread crumb trail–then follow it. This is where the Magic of your life lies! This is what will help you–enable you–to live a deeply fulfilling and satisfying life. This is what Joseph Campbell, the noted mythologist, meant when he urged us to ‘Follow Your Bliss’.
You can do this, I know you can!
Your Friend and Pep Pal,
Lauren
Having a burning desire and an obsession means delving into it and allowing yourself to completely immerse in the thing that fascinates you. It’s all about following where it leads–going where it takes you.
For instance if you love sunsets, then make a point to view them every evening where ever you find yourself. Gift yourself with this time. Observe every detail and use all of your senses to imbue your being with the full experience.
Take it further by scheduling regular time to learn all you can about sunsets, meet other people who are interested in them–whether on a professional, spiritual, or “amateur” level. Keep a journal or logbook where you jot down your thoughts, experiences, and discoveries. These are the bread crumbs and threads that your desire and obsession uses to lead you, show you the way.
By following your burning desires and your obsessions, this is how you build a deeply and profoundly satisfying and fulfilling life.
Trust in this.
By following the trail your burning desire and obsession leaves, you will be taken to wonderful places that you can’t even imagine right now. By following, your life will expand and be enriched in deeply moving ways.
Not everyone is going to share your passions or understand them. To someone else, what you’re captivated by might seem silly and a waste of time, but don’t let that deter you. These desires and obsessions are yours and they’re part of who you are–your essence. Follow them and you’ll never be bored!
Let your desires and obsessions absorb all that time and energy you’ve been wasting on things that don’t matter: on people who don’t care about you, on mindless TV, on other ways that you’ve been blocking yourself.
Take the next step in following your desires and obsessions and let the magic begin!
Your Friend and Pep Pal,
Lauren
Yesterday we talked about what success means to us–how we define it so that we can tell when we’ve gotten there. (click here to be taken to that post).
We hear all the time that in order to be successful, we must have a burning desire and be obsessed with succeeding.
But what exactly does “burning desire” and “obsession” mean? Do we have to be constantly charged up and excited all the time?
I’ve discovered that it isn’t necessary to be in a state of high energy all the time. In fact, it’s really hard to do this–even for people who are naturally high energy. It IS imperative, though, that you are naturally fascinated by the topic/hobby/business–whatever it happens to be. You must have an obsession with it. You’ll find your mind mulling over aspects of the thing that interests you. You’ll be drawn to books, activities, meetings, and the like that are centered on the topic. You naturally want to find out more about it and you willingly, even without realizing it, study it and achieve a level of expertise.
Do we have to be so obsessed with it that it totally consumes us and our lives?
While you’ll focus much of your time on your burning desire and obsession, you’ll still have time for the important aspects of your life such as spending time with your family, taking care of your responsibilities and obligations, and the like. In order to have time for the important things in your life, you WILL have to let go of time wasters such as watching mindless TV and spending time with “friends” who don’t celebrate you.
Will having a burning desire and obsession require us to have superhero strengths and toughness or demand that we perform beyond our capabilities?
You only have to be your own hero. A burning desire and obsession don’t require you to save the world or change the course of history. All that YOUR burning desire and obsession require is that you commit to it and take things one step at a time. Of course you will have to develop your talents and abilities and that might feel like you’re doing something superhuman, but you can break tasks, jobs, projects, etc., into little bits and pieces. Make the parts small enough that you can handle them. Gradually, you’ll gain confidence in your new skills and you can take bigger steps. But one little tidbit of a step at a time is just fine.
In tomorrow’s post, we’ll talk more about burning desire and obsession.
Until then, take the next step!
Your Friend and Pep Pal,
Lauren
Most people have a general idea that they would like to be a success but beyond that everything is vague. They go along from day-to-day figuring that if they have a job today they’ll have it tomorrow; that somehow they will be looked after in their old age. They are like a cork on the water floating aimlessly, drawn this way and that by various currents and being washed up on the shore, becoming waterlogged, and eventually sinking. ~Claude Bristol, The Magic of Believing
Most people have never defined the word “success” for themselves. They never sit themselves down and insist upon a definition of success than nails it for them–a definition that they can sink their teeth into and that gets them fired up and rarin’ to go.
Another reason why people have a lukewarm desire for success is because they’ve accepted someone else’s idea of what defines success. They may have accepted advertiser’s definition of success (fancy clothes, snazzy car, huge house, exotic vacation, etc.), or what society and the current culture says indicates success.
While it’s possible to have a good life without a strong definition of success, one will always feel that something is missing. And, more importantly, you’re handing over your life to luck and fate–hoping that things go well for you; lucky you if they do.
A strong and personally compelling definition of success is one of the ingredients that goes into making the rocket fuel that will power you to your dreams. You’ll know where you’re headed and why you’re headed that way. Your life will be exciting, fulfilling, and deeply satisfying.
Take the time to get answers to the questions:
~How do I define success?
~What do I mean when I say I want to be successful?
~When I see someone and I think to myself that they are (or are not) successful, what makes me come to that conclusion?
~Are those parameters ones I came up with and ones that are meaningful to me or are they someone else’s that I adopted without much thought?
These are some of the most important questions you’ll answer so stick with it until you’re satisfied.
You can do it!
I’m proud of you!
Your Friend and Pep Pal,
Lauren
Today’s the perfect day to laugh. Gather your friends and loved ones and laugh!
Laughing is a great way to deepen the bonds we have with the people we care about. And, it’s a fantastic way to connect with the new people in our life! And, laughter helps us feel better about our opportunities and ourselves.
Laughing casts Life in a new light, as well. When we’re in the midst of difficulties, if we can laugh–even if it isn’t about the situation we’re in, but to laugh at anything –it opens us up and improves our outlook, helping us see options that we hadn’t noticed before.
No worries if you can’t get together with anyone today. Just go on YouTube and watch the posts of America’s Funniest Home Videos and others like them. You’ll be so glad you laughed!
Enjoy the day!
Your Friend and Pep Pal,
Lauren
From this week’s posts, here are take-aways that can help you move forward:
Monday: Instead of thinking of difficulties as more “toil and trouble, boil and bubble…” think of them as an unfolding that will reveal gifts and benefits to you (click here for that post);
Tuesday: Problems usually arise because we’re reluctant to make a decision (click here for that post);
Wednesday: There isn’t any such thing as a problem-free life; accept this fact and choose to move forward instead of letting difficulties derail you (click here for that post);
Thursday: We had a few quotes from Earl Nightingale–ones that can be the lifeline to cling to when we’re in the midst of difficulties and problems (click here for that post);
Friday: Earth is an awesome place. Aren’t we the lucky ones to live here (click here for that post)!
Look over the posts and make a note of the suggestions that ring true for you. Or, perhaps there are a few of them that you can combine into something that will help you. It could be, too, that reviewing these suggestions will spark ideas of your own.
Make a note of everything that seems like a good idea. Keep it handy in some type of filing system for easy retrieval. Use liberally when you need it!
And, as you review the posts and review your week, make note of the progress you made no matter how small or seemingly insignificant. It all counts!
CELEBRATE THIS!!
WooHoo!
You can do it!
I’m proud of you!
Your Friend and Pep Pal,
Lauren
THANK YOU, EARTH!
Enjoy the following images of our beautiful home.
Your Friend and Pep Pal,
Lauren
As I’ve stated in other posts, Earl Nightingale was the first motivational/inspirational speaker who made an impact on me. Although I’d heard other speakers in the past, it was Earl Nightingale’s practical approach to Life’s problems that made sense to me. For the first time, his wisdom and guidance gave me useful tools that helped me move forward from where I had been stuck.
For #ThrowbackThursday, here are a few quotes from Earl that I hope will help you:
Wherever there is danger, there lurks opportunity; wherever there is opportunity, there lurks danger. The two are inseparable. ― Earl Nightingale
The danger isn’t usually as dangerous as life and death. The danger is actually alerting us to the fact that we’re out of our comfort zone–YAY!–and we need to pay attention. If we’re aware and mindful, we’ll probably see additional opportunities that we wouldn’t have otherwise noticed!
Problems are challenges to creative minds. Without problems, there would be little reason to think at all. ― Earl Nightingale, How to Completely Change Your Life in 30 Seconds
In yesterday’s post (click here to be taken to it), I tried to get across this very point: Successful people don’t have a lack of problems and that’s why they’re successful. No, successful people are successes because they don’t shy away from problems; instead they learned how to solve them–they developed their own methods of dealing with and solving problems.
Successful people are not without problems. They’re simply people who’ve learned to solve their problems. ― Earl Nightingale, How to Completely Change Your Life in 30 Seconds
This is a further thought on what we talked about in yesterday’s post (click here to be taken to it). Some of the richest people in the world are those who actually seek out problems–the harder the better, in their minds! That’s because these people know that by solving the big, tough problems, their rewards will be immense.
When a man is pushed, tormented, defeated … he has a chance to learn something. ― Earl Nightingale, How to Completely Change Your Life in 30 Seconds
We talked about this in Monday’s post (click here to be taken to it) and in Tuesday’s post (click here to be taken to it). Look at problems and difficulties as tools that are helping you grow and develop so that you can step up to the next level.
It all boils down to one thing: In spite of smooth sailing or rocky going, take the next step, no matter how tiny. Keep moving forward relentlessly and unshakably.
You can do it!
I’m proud of you!
Your Friend and Pep Pal,
Lauren
