tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33257809572251124252024-03-13T03:47:49.621-04:00The Cup Half FullHappy, Healthy, Wealthy and Wise - Through Hope, Faith and Love we TithePreston Squirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15430225095315218841noreply@blogger.comBlogger112125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3325780957225112425.post-87599343926140105752014-06-08T10:37:00.000-04:002014-06-08T22:30:05.487-04:00How to Create Lasting Change, One Habit at a Time.<span class="st">One of the most common mistakes we do, and which I have been guilty of myself on numerous occasions, is to try to suddenly stop being ourselves and start being someone else.</span><br />
<span class="st"><br /></span>
<span class="st">I'm not talking about a personality change, I'm talking about a habits change. We commit ourselves to start doing a bunch of new things we have never mastered as if it was as easy as switching on a lightswitch. "Next week I'm going to start going to the gym 4 times a week, eating only healthy foods and turning it all over to God," or "I'm going to stop spending money on useless things, start following a budget and saving 10% of my income," or "I'm going to start asking every pretty girl out, just accept the rejections and master flirting." Any of these sound familiar? If you haven't said something like this yourself, you've probably made a similar commitment in another area of your life.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple;"><span class="st">"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a <i>habit</i>." - <i>Aristotle</i></span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="st"><i> </i>We make these commitments with the most earnest intent on keeping them. We apply ourselves diligently to the task, for a couple days or a couple weeks, until something 'bumps' us from this new way of being and then suddenly we are right back to were we started. What happened? Our habits.</span><br />
<span class="st"><br /></span>
<span class="st">We are ultimately who are habits dictate we are. Whoever we are right now, is a result of the habits, the thinking processes and beliefs we've adopted over the course of our lives, but mainly from our childhood. That is not about to change just because we decide it needs to. Deciding to change is a key first step but that must be followed by constant, deliberate tending of the garden of the mind. Particularly the subconscious mind.</span><br />
<span class="st"><br /></span>
<span class="st">We are not conscious of our habits, heck, I'm often not even aware of my habits until my wife does the courtesy of pointing them out to me. They exist within the subconscious realm of our mind. The subconscious does the all the heavy lifting in our day to day life, it tells us how to walk, how to read facial expressions, what to pay attention to and what sensory information to disregard (at any given second your subconscious is filtering all the sensory information, editing out what is 'normal' and just bringing what is 'important' to your conscious awareness - for example, how does the air around you feel? Warm, cool, is there a slight breeze from the wind or air conditioning? What sounds are there? Do you hear the mechanical rumbling of the air conditioner or heater? Traffic outside? The fridge or other device humming? Chances are you were oblivious to these until you read the question and now are suddenly aware of them. Why? Because your mind suddenly declared them important and so your subconscious stopped filtering them out.). In the same way, your subconscious has learned set behaviours that may have been beneficial to you at some point (eating/shopping to avoid the feeling of pain/discomfort or avoiding rejection to stay out of pain) but they aren't helping you now. </span><br />
<span class="st"><br /></span>
<span class="st">So no matter what we consciously decide to do, until we first break and reset those unconscious habits, we will remain a slave to them.</span><br />
<span class="st"><br /></span>
<span class="st">For illustration, let's say someone gave you a beautiful pocket watch as a child. It unerringly always gave you the exact correct time and so you've come to depend on it to ensure you're always on schedule and on time. It's served you well for years without fail and you never question it, for you have never had any reason to. Except you've now grown up and moved to a community that has Daylight Savings Time. Suddenly, your watch is making you run an hour late for everything and no matter what you do, and how many times you commit to being on time, as long as your running your life according to that watch you continue to be late. It's not until you manually change the time on the watch that it once again serves you. In the same way, until we identify and manually change our habitual behaviour, they will continue to cause us grief.</span><br />
<span class="st"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><span class="st">"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is
faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but
with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may
be able to endure it." 1 Corinthians 10:13</span></span><br />
<span class="st"><br /></span>
<span class="st">So if we want to achieve LASTING change that makes a PERMANENT difference in our life then instead of trying to start being something we're not, we need to ask God to reveal to us what are those habitual behaviours that are tripping us up. It might be clear already, God may show us in a moment of stillness, or someone might say something to later that all of a sudden 'clicks' and we understand what it is that we've been doing. No doubt there's a lot of contributing habits that we will need to deal with - pick one. Pick the one habit that will give you the biggest shift and biggest trickle down effect into other areas of your life and focus on that.</span><br />
<span class="st"><br /></span>
<span class="st">Once we have our chosen habit to break, we need to determine what is the new behaviour that we want to replace it with. This may require some prayer for clarity on exactly what that should be. Ask the holy spirit to guide you with this, to make you aware of when your engaging in the old behaviour and to help you engrain the new one. Visualization is a useful technique. Spend a couple minutes daily, in a quiet place, picturing what you normally do and then visually destroy that mental image and replace it with the new behaviour pattern. Be prepared to fail! Old habits die hard. We are going to catch ourselves having reverted back to the old behaviour, especially when stressed, or busy and just going off instinct. It's fine. Don't beat yourself up. Your subconscious is just doing what it's been programed to do. It's working as it's suppose to, so don't get overwhelmed or feel defeated. If you're still feeling down, ask God to lift that from you. Spend a bit of time visualizing how that situation <i>should</i> have gone like. Play the situation out like a movie in your head but this time with a different ending. The subconscious cannot differentiate what is real from what is vividly imagined. So with continued practice and repetition the new behaviour will slowly become more and more automatic. Eventually, you'll start doing it without thinking about it, and at that point, your ready to start working on the next behaviour you want to change.</span><br />
<span class="st"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="color: purple;"><span class="st">"</span></span><span class="st"><span style="color: purple;">Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of
your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what
is good and acceptable and perfect." ~ Romans 12:2</span> </span><br />
<span class="st"><br /></span>
<span class="st">There's always temption to try to change multiple behaviours at once but that can lead to overwhelm. Keep God in the foreground here. Seek His guidance, His strength, His grace (for when we stumble) and know that He will see you through the process. The more we come in alignment with God, the more tests will come our way. Don't be discouraged, like students in school, we MUST be tested to ensure the new lessons stick with us for life. Accept them and celebrate them, they are there to help you. With God, we will overcome, and one habit at a time,we will be made into a new creation.</span><br />
<span class="st"><br /></span>Prestonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02980860050547981366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3325780957225112425.post-16300539503553459292013-10-29T21:51:00.000-04:002015-01-30T20:04:58.639-05:00Isagenix - Can I Actually Become Rich Selling Isagenix?Confession: I am not a Isagenix Millionaire, nor am I striving to become one (although I reserve the right to become one in future). I do use some Isagenix products (Isalean bars mainly). My wife, who is a health professional, does endorse and enroll people in Isagenix but this is not her primary focus just a side income.<br />
<br />
Over the past two years I have been in touch directly and indirectly with a lot of people who are involved in Isagenix. There are some people who I introduced to the products when I was actively involved who are still using the products and there are many who are not. There are people who started before (or after) I did who are still involved in the business side of Isagenix and there are many who are not. This has given me some unbiased perspective over the last couple years on if the claims of becoming a millionaire by Isagenix are, in fact, true or not.<br />
<br />
In my personal experience, I can say very confidently, it is, in fact, True. However, I cannot said with any certainty at all if it is true for you. I have seen it happen to at least one person I know, have met others it happened to and know many others well on their way to that goal. It is absolutely, one hundred percent possible to earn a million dollars by selling and enrolling people in Isagenix. <br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
Let me clarify something here. What Isagenix calls an Isagenix Millionaire, is someone who has earned cumulatively, one million dollars through Isagenix. This is notably different than being a millionaire or someone with a current net worth of one million or more. For example, I could claim to be a civil servant millionaire because cumulatively I have earned over one million dollars in my fifteen plus years of service. But I certainly don't have one million dollars, nor are worth anything close to one million dollars. I have a nice house and car but otherwise have to pay all my bills, my kid's education and sports programs and then struggle to find vacation money on top of that.<br />
<br />
Although I will say from my experience it doesn't take active Isagenix promoters 10-20 years to earn a million like it does for most of us. Closer to 5-7 years. And their income continues to grow exponentially assuming they remain active promoters. Meaning their second million comes much quicker than the first. And to clarify, there ARE people in Isagenix making one million plus a year, probably about 20 of them. But there are over a hundred Isagenix 'Millionaires' and that goes up every time I look.<br />
<br />
Most importantly Isagenix provides a duplicatable system to achieve the target of earning a million dollar. You don't have to reinvent the wheel and almost certainly you'd do yourself an injustice by trying to in Isagenix. Enroll with someone who has made it (or well on their way to making it) or at least with someone who can put you in direct touch with such a person, and then do exactly what they tell you to do. Don't do your own version of it, don't try to figure it out, don't lone wolf it and don't half-ass it. Do exactly what they tell you to do, as they tell you to do it, in the manner they prescribe and don't deviate. Don't get discouraged, it's not an overnight process and you will have to face a mountain of rejection (N.O. means Next Opportunity). But it does work if you work it. And stick with it. And work hard at it.<br />
<br />
Isagenix is NOT a get rich quick scheme. It is a way to get rich, and while it will be relatively quick compared to what most of us are doing now, it will start slowly and uncertainly (but doesn't have too) and take time to build. The more you work it, the better it works. Moreover, Isagenix is a fantastic INVESTMENT opportunity. I don't know of anything that pays out better in the long term than Isagenix, especially considering the investment involved, other than running a full time, and very successful business, which is a heck of a lot more work!<br />
<br />
So the question meanings, is Isagenix right for you? That's hard to answer, but if you're afraid of talking to people, or afraid of rejection, then you either need to get over that or forget Isagenix because it'll involve needing to speak to a LOT of people. Many of which, for whatever reason, won't be interested. You also have to be willing to put in the hours. People will tell you, you can do Isagenix part time, and you can, but you won't likely ever get rich treating Isagenix as a hobby. If you want to 'get rich' then be prepared to work it for at minimum two solid hours a day to start, and then increasing to four or more as it slowly supplements and then replaces your pay. Now of course that's a lot better than the eight or more hours you are likely working now but those need to be disciplined hours, not time spent shuffling paperwork and chit-chatting and saying you're working Isagenix when you're really procrastinating and wasting time. So you need a lot of self-discipline and focus. Even with all the support and the path laid out before you, you still have to become a self-made millionaire here.<br />
<br />
If you want a nine-to-five job, then Isagenix isn't for you. It will involve talking to a lot of people whenever they are available to talk, which is usually evenings and weekends, so be prepared to give them up. Conversely you'll be able to enjoy a round of golf or day at the spa while everyone else is working 9-5.<br />
<br />
As for myself, I found that I'm really not a social person. I found myself talking to lots of people but my only incentive to do so was Isagenix which felt very false and forced to me. Also, while I'm very happy to become wealthy, I'd much rather do it my selling my own products, not someone else (although I do love Isagenix's products). At least, that's where I'm at now. Once I can quit my full-time job, then I might be happy to give Isagenix two hours out of my day to make another million.<br />
<br />
Isagenix is a great way to make money, if you can get behind it One Hundred Percent. Honestly, if you're going to <i>mostly</i> commit, you will get some results but as people drop off (and they will despite the products being every bit as good as advertised) or during a dry spell where you can't seem to get anyone enrolled, you will likely quit or just push Isagenix to the back burner and focus on what you know instead. That's right, on your 9-5 job and your kids, hobbies, favorite TV shows and whatnot which are all more urgent and immediately rewarding than that Isagenix thing that's not really working for you at the moment. You have to be FULLY committed to push through these periods. Of course, that's true for anything in life not just Isagenix.<br />
<br />
If you want to have someone show you the way to make money, are willing to do whatever it takes, and can follow orders (I mean it, DO IT AS THEY SAY! If they've made a million, or at least are bring in more cash a week than you are, then don't mess with the system. MASTER the system. Get a virtual PHd in the Isagenix business model and THEN go ahead and try doing your own version of it.) then you can be very successful with Isagenix. If that sounds like something you can get behind then go back to whomever told you about Isagenix and enroll. Then go to some meetings or conferences or whatever. IMPORTANTLY make it your mission to meet the people in your UPLINE, especially those who are successful full time Isagenix promoters or millionaires and MODEL them. If you don't have an Isagenix contact then <a href="mailto:prestonsquire@thecuphalffull.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Contact me.</a>. I'm not enrolling people but I can put you in touch with successful Isagenix people who are.<br />
<br />
Whatever you decide - good luck! And I hope you find the rest of this blog useful in inspiring you to success.<br />
<br />
Preston Squire<br />
<br />
Also see: <a href="http://prestonspearls.blogspot.ca/2012/01/isagenix-is-it-for-real.html" target="_blank">Isagenix - Is it for Real?</a><br />
<br />
NOTE: This has become my most popular post and I'm commonly asked for referrals. Feel free to email if you have questions but for the most part I refer people to my friend and Isagenix (soon to be if not already by the time you read this) millionaire Steven Bentley. You can contact him direct at <a href="mailto:bentleycoaching@mac.com">bentleycoaching@mac.com</a> and just tell him I (Preston) referred you. <br />
DISCLAIMER: I am not an active Isagenix sales rep - I make ZERO dollars from referring you to anyone even Steve. But you tell Steve he owes me a nice dinner (again).<br />
<br />
ISAGENIX REPS: If you're an Isagenix promoter - Please feel free to leave your details in the comments below. Many people come to this page looking for information on Isagenix and want to sign up afterwards. Please state where your located (because it helps if your local to someone) and your level of success. <br />
<br />
Was this post helpful for you? Sound off below!Preston Squirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15430225095315218841noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3325780957225112425.post-14237027422742227652013-04-01T16:52:00.000-04:002013-04-01T16:52:03.068-04:00Refocusing my effortsOne of my challenges is staying focused on what's really important. I tend to start one thing and a week or two later want to start something else. I have a ton of great ideas and I want to work on ALL of them but it's just not an efficient or effective use of my time and energy.<br />
<br />
I listed a bunch of projects I was working on in my last post and promised to refocus and let you know my results.<br />
<br />
So I reviewed my yearly goals statement, my life mission (to Lead, Love and Literate) and applied the 80/20 rule (give 80% of my time/energy into the 20% of things that will produce the most powerful results).<br />
<br />
Having done that, I whittled my list down to:<br />
<br />
<b>Getting my Isecas the Dream Cat books published.</b><br />
<br />
These two books are finished and just need to be sent off to some publishers. Selling one or both of them could net me some (relatively) quick cash and be a huge moral boost.<br />
<br />
<b>Drive NEW traffic to my wife's site. </b><br />
<br />
Again, this is already set up to make money but is basically selling to a stale list. We need to find creative ways and new partnerships to get fresh eyes on the site to drive sell-through. <br />
<br />
<br />
I'm still committed to refreshing/enhancing and making this site profitable but it's not revenue generating NOW and getting to a point of generating a meaningful amount of cash will take some time. So at the moment it can't be a primary focus.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
As always I'll keep you guys up to date on my progress and experiences.<br />
<br />
PrestonPreston Squirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15430225095315218841noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3325780957225112425.post-27153474399962250762013-03-30T23:34:00.000-04:002013-03-30T23:34:31.583-04:00Finding my FocusThis is something that I'm working on right now.<br />
<br />
If I spend as much time focusing on my blog as I do giving my opinion on things that matter nothing in life on the internet (see yesterday's post) I'd easily have 2-3 blog posts a day!<br />
<br />
Right now though my focus is scattered all over the place. I'm writing a book (Dillon's Dilemma), sending two others out for publishers to review (Isecas the Dream Cat, Isecas and the River Nile), posting on this site www.thecuphalffull.com, looking at Wordpress.org versus other options, reviewing a book, helping my wife redo her website www.healthybydesignprogram.com, helping her with her new venture Fitness By Design, finding other blogs to partner with, attending a medical clinic to make some easy extra money (I'm here now in fact even though it's Easter weekend and I wish I was at home helping my wife prepare), my day job, my family (which is another area I need more specific focus), church commitments, I've auditioned for a part in a play (which I must blog about) and life's usual assortment of things that must be done.<br />
<br />
As you can I've spread myself thin and am constantly on my own case for why I haven't gotten more done in each individual area. <br />
<br />
What I really need to do is to set myself down and refresh my goals. Once I re-clarify what my goals are, I need to put them in order of importance, apply the 80/20 rule (80 percent of my time goes to the 20 percent of goals that will produce the greatest results), break them down in monthly, weekly and DAILY activities and determine what habits I need to be developing to achieve those goals.<br />
<br />
That is of course a great idea, and I'm committing myself here to getting that done by Monday April 1st (tomorrow is a right off as it's a packed day with family / church Easter activities). <br />
<br />
So we'll see you Monday with my results.Preston Squirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15430225095315218841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3325780957225112425.post-49930738503405607032013-03-29T22:38:00.000-04:002013-03-29T22:38:15.387-04:00Are Video Games a Tool of the Devil?I'm going to share this from a deeply personal level in the hope that others who share most or part of this story can take an honest look at their own lives and behaviours and ask themselves, 'Is this what I really want? Or is this done to distract and deny me my own potential?'<br />
<br />
I've been really struggling with writing this post. In part because I don't want my fellow video game fans to think I'm hating on their favorite past-time. I'm not. I love video games, or more specifically the gamer scene and that is the problem.<br />
<br />
What was once a temporary diversion to fill the dead space in between real life activities or a forum to enjoy real life social interaction, has become a rather ridiculous habit that does nothing to add real value to my life.<br />
<br />
The devil has taken something innocuous and enjoyable and used it as a tool against me as the devil so often tends to do. Video games are not in and of themselves evil. Sure some are indeed overtly violent or even deal in demonic themes but for every Call of Duty or Doom there is an Angry Birds or Wii Sports. The games themselves are not the problem, it is in how we use them.<br />
<br />
There are two forces ever-present in our lives, even if we remain blithefully oblivious to them.<br />
First there is the presence of the Holy Spirit, there to guide us to our God-given destiny. A life of love, purpose and a peace beyond understanding - which we all struggle to arrive at. The spirit whispers to us and we need to learn to attune ourselves to hear it.<br />
<br />
Second there is the devil, always looking for ways to delay or deny us from ever achieving that destiny and from ever fulfilling that purpose. The enemy is loud, attention seeking and forever promising fun, ease and a simpler - if less fulfilling - way.<br />
<br />
In a more down-to-Earth sense, there are those things that more you towards your desired goals and those things that move you away. I don't think this is an issue of debate for anyone.<br />
<br />
And unless you work in the games industry there is no real debate on where games themselves fall. There are a distraction. That is not a crime and can at times feel like a blessing but when we have people who identify themselves as 'gamers', who play for hours a day, who constantly read up on the lastest news on the latest upcoming games, who spend countless more hours on forums discussing and arguing over those same games and game systems, buying more games than they can actually play, creating a backlog of unfinished games and even a backlog games that have never even been opened or played; we need to step back and reassess.<br />
<br />
I myself have fallen into this trap. While I don't actually spend a lot of time playing, two to three hours a week, I spend far, far too much time reading and discussing games and the industry on the net. Yes, I enjoy it. But is it harmless?<br />
<br />
If you identify yourself as a gamer add up the amount of time you spend reading about, discussing, shopping for, and playing games. Now answer this: If you took that same time, money, energy and passion and devoted it over however many years you've been a gamer to some worth while cause - be it writing a book, starting a business, finding a life partner, helping others, advancing your career, getting a higher education or whatever else seems good to you - where would you be in life right now?<br />
<br />
For myself, I probably spend about 30 minutes playing either at home on or my smartphone - yes it counts - an hour reading game related news and about three or four hours on forums in pointless debate over how games and games systems are going to do. That's about five hours a day. Effortless hours as I do it for fun and do not consider it work, but it is, work is involved, it's just effort without lasting reward. I'd estimate I've spend about $2,000.00 over the last six years on games and game accessories - and that's only because I'm notoriously cheap and spent an average of $20 per game. And yes, I have an enormous backlog that eventually had to be excused as a 'collection' because I probably won't live long enough to finish them all. <br />
<br />
$2,000 over six years isn't really a great deal of money and at best might have paid for some evening college courses. Five hours a day though, over six years? That is a tremendous amount of lost potential. I could have written and gotten published multiple books. If I applied that to my Isagenix business I'd be a millionaire by now. This is a little disingenuous though as much of that wasted time is wasted at work, killing time waiting for something to do. Yes, I am highly under-employed. No I'm not complaining, but it is not the benefit you might think, rather it is a dreadful bore. Regardless, even if some of that time was put to focused thought on how to improve my life, daily, there is no doubt that I would be living a higher quality of life than I am now. And I spend those five hours obeying the holy spirit? It brings tears to my eyes to know the difference not only to my life, but to my kids and to countless others lives if I had acted with that same passion, and effortless joy to what the spirit bade me to do.<br />
<br />
I've always considering my habit 'harmless' but now the spirit has revealed to me the truth. That it has a very real cost. Time that I cannot reclaim (but for the grace of God) opportunities lost, bad habits past on to my children and aiding and abiding others in there own unhealthy gaming passions.<br />
<br />
What saddens me further is knowing, from my years on forums there are countless others who spend far more time playing, far more time on forums discussing and far more money buying games than I. To them I am a 'casual' gamer for they are the 'core'. I am not better than they, only more blessed by having other demands on my time and money. <br />
<br />
If you identify or relate to what I'm saying, then do as I have started doing. Rebuking that devil! Now when I feel tempted to read about what's happening in the gaming scene, or log-on to a gaming forum or look to see what sale there might be on games (like I need another one) I rebuking the devil for trying to waste my time, my money, my passion and my life. Instead I the holy spirit and what God would have me doing at that moment.<br />
<br />
I am not perfect at it. Out of habit I still find myself 'taking a peek' but I am getting better, the urge is getting less, the passion for the games and moreover the gaming culture is dwindling and I am able to focus on more meaningful things. Things that are better my life, my families lives and hopefully, God willing, yours as well. <br />
<br />
<br />Preston Squirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15430225095315218841noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3325780957225112425.post-80833341137203929502013-03-28T17:57:00.000-04:002013-03-28T17:57:01.238-04:00I haven't forgotten youHavn't posted in a few days and I just wanted to let you know that I'm still here and still working this blog.<br />
<br />
So you have an idea of what's happening and to keep myself honest here is a list of things I'm currently doing to move this blog forward.<br />
<br />
I am working on my most controversial blog post yet - it's also proving to be the most difficult. I know what I want to say but struggling to find the right 'voice' to say it.<br />
<br />
I am reading a book which I will be doing a review on.<br />
<br />
I am learning all about Wordpress to see if I want to move my blog - and my wife's website - over to it.<br />
<br />
But to be honest, I could be doing more. I'm easily distracted and have plenty of things to distract me.<br />
<br />
So let's set some goals:<br />
<br />
My post to be up by tomorrow.<br />
<br />
Review by end of next week.<br />
<br />
Wordpress site up by next Wednesday (not live).<br />
<br />
See you tomorrow.<br />
<br />
Preston SquirePreston Squirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15430225095315218841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3325780957225112425.post-41345695056730841362013-03-23T16:45:00.000-04:002013-03-23T16:45:40.221-04:00Give me your suggestionsI'm just digging around looking at different products / books / etc that I can review for you.<br />
<br />
So far I'm looking at various things that will help you technically to improve your life. That is to say, manage stress, improve relations, improve finances, 'manage' time, etc. Nuts and bolts stuff. I will look at Christian based tools but I'm if there are better tools that aren't Christian-based then I'll focus on those. <br />
<br />
Then there's the mental/emotional/spiritual side of things. Knowing the nuts and bolts may not help if you're stuck in a rut, like I was, and not effectively utilizing them.<br />
<br />
However, I would love to hear from you, my readers, as to what you'd like me to review for you. Any products or books for self-inprovement that you're curious about but wondering if it's worth the money/time investment? Let me know and I'll try to review it for you. It certainly doesn't have to be Christian material and if you want me to review, something like 'The Secret' or other New Age material I will but you'll get a decidely Christian take on the material. If that's what you want, fine, suggest away.<br />
<br />
Please post in the comments below or msg me at <a href="mailto:Prestonsquire@thecuphalffull.com">Prestonsquire@thecuphalffull.com</a><br />
<br />
<br />
Thanks.<br />
<br />
Loving regards,<br />
<br />
Preston SquirePreston Squirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15430225095315218841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3325780957225112425.post-70198425310343695952013-03-22T21:23:00.001-04:002013-03-22T21:31:54.328-04:00I'm Back!When I first started my blog - TheCupHalfFull.com I was reading all sorts of self-help books and felt the need to 'give back' and share a lot of the great information I was learning.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
At the time I felt the best way to help others would be to provide the information, that I had taken the time, effort and money to acquire, in easy to digest posts for free. Why should lack of money separate someone from the crucial bit of knowledge they need to succeed?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Over time my opinion on that changed. Part of that was from my own investment of a large sum of money to get a Life Coach to radically change my life. I had the coaching for a year, and while I discovered many things, two of the primary lessons I learned from that was: A) That I already knew pretty much everything there was to know about self help. I wasn't being told anything I didn't already know (aside for some insight into my own psyche) B) That KNOWING ISN'T ENOUGH. Despite KNOWING what to do, I still hadn't changed my life. What got me to start doing a lot of the things I knew, putting principals into actual daily consistent practice was the fact that I had spent the equivalent of a used car (money I couldn't afford and didn't have) to get this coaching and I was determined to get my money's worth (and hopefully turn my life around enough to re-coop that money).</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If you are a long time reader, you'll know Life Coaching didn't provide the breakthroughs I so desperately sought. Those came from giving my life over to Christ and that was far more transformational than anything man could teach.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This made me view the blog very differently. Posting free information, no matter how good, how potentially life altering it was, wasn't doing my readers any good. They loved to read it, occasionally thank me for it or commented on it but because it they had gotten it without effort, they didn't actually apply it in any real meaningful way. They gave it the same value as they paid to get it. Virtually none. Plus, complete self-reliance is fundamentally flawed. A sick mind can't heal itself. God needed to be brought into the picture.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Nor was the blog doing me any good. It had been semi-therapeutic to write at first and a good practice to help maintain the knowledge I'd learn but it was still an investment of time that benefited me not at all. Knowing I was helping people had been payment enough, but once I felt I was actually short-changing them by reducing the value of the information to nothing, there was no incentive to continue.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
My own transformation had also caused me to go away from some of the new-age stuff I had originally blogged on and become more Christ-centred and centric but I didn't feel biblically schooled enough to teach a Christian path. Nor did I want to exclude non-Christians from the truth. Or perhaps more accurately, I didn't want them to exclude themselves if I spoke of Christ.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So where am I now...?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
My desire to give back has returned but now with more of a renewed sense of direction.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I am happy to share information freely but at the same time realize that some things <b>must be earned</b> in order to have value. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I am content and confident in my Christian walk enough to share it openly but I do not seek (nor will I bother too) preach to the choir. This blog is more for people who are desperately seeking to improve their life and are at least open to listening to how Christ - plus many practical do-it-yourself methods - can make a difference for them as it has for me and countless others.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I will review and occasionally endorse self help products, books, coaching etc from a Christian perspective. In time I intent to create some of my own. And yes, expect to pay for quality life enhancing products. As I said, some things must be earned<b>.</b> And I might indeed make a percentage of proceeds should you buy a reviewed product through my site. So in advance I thank you for choosing to pour back into my life by making such a purchase. I pledge to make and provide information on the very best products I can find that I TRULY feel will help, or could help if properly applied, my readers to make some changes in their lives. I will be trying each one out myself and will give a thorough, frank and honest assessment and let you know if it's right for you. Some things may be right for some folks but not others. If I see something that I feel is a scam, or hurtful or not-in-line with Christian principals I will alert you to that too.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I hope to make the site a lot more social and more open with lots of discussion. I fully expect people to ask questions about God. Or my thoughts on things like 'The Secret'. I expect some challenges. I welcome them. And I expect my Christian readers to welcome them as well. For if someone is coming to me and challenging God, then that means they are seeking answers. They may not yet be ready to actually receive them, but hopefully something I or another says will plant a seed that slowly takes root and in time flowers into a more abundant life for them. I have seen a great many people who were 'lost' and 'beyond help' be restored by God and become some of the most valuable members of society. We are all His children and He loves us all. It's only a matter of if you are open to receiving that love. Even some people in the church struggle with this.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I do not know everything and this will be as much as a learning experience for me as it is for others. I will be seeking answers and knowledge from those further ahead in life and in spirit than I (and from God, the bible, etc) and in turn, passing that on to those people who are still where I myself have been - struggling, broke, lonely, confused, frustrated, depressed, anxious, addicted and emotional bankrupt. I had endured them all for longer than I care to think about. Now I am on the other side. I am at peace, confident, loved, determined, breaking new ground and learning to live a life of excellence. If you are here with me, link arms and help me, if you are struggling to get to this point - keep coming back. We love you, and we (I) am committed to help you along your path.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In accordance with all this, look for a lot of changes to be happening to this site. I'll be moving it from Blogger to WordPress.org to have more flexibility. Changing the look and feel of the site. Doing more reviews, interviews, and working with others to bring my readers the very best I can. TheCupHalfFull will fulfill it's original design and become more social, having a Facebook site and forum - living up to it's tagline 'Inspiring Conversations'. In short - I'm not playing. I intent to make this site the very best I can, meaningful, impactful, inspiring, and inviting. I place I can live, figuratively and literally in a financial sense - so I can give this site the full time attention it deserves. A place you'll want to come back to day after day to learn more, be more and do more. A fellowship of people all committed to help one another grow. And an introduction to Christ, who He is and why you should seek Him to help you in your journey.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Every journey begins with a single step.</div>
<div>
<br />
<i>"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11</i></div>
<i><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></i>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Whether you've been visiting this blog for years or just discovering us now, sound off in the comments below and let me know how you feel about this new direction.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Loving Regards,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Preston Squire</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Corbel, Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Preston Squirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15430225095315218841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3325780957225112425.post-24033011367777476662012-08-02T07:32:00.003-04:002012-08-02T07:40:39.703-04:00Getting out of 'I Don't Know'I'm about to start work on my Young Adult Novel tentatively entitled 'Dillon's Dilemma' which I've been reluctant to do because I've been having a case of writer's block.<br />
<br />
I'm at one scene where the hero is being chased through a parking lot, except, in my research I've discovered where the characters must be, in order to maintain real world accuracy there is no parking lot.<br />
<br />
So now I must rewrite but I'm feeling stuck because I'm walking around in a state of 'I don't know'. That is to say, I can't yet envision how the scene will work without the features I originally wrote in. However, it just occurred to me that I never write in a state of 'know', I write all my books and articles like this, in a state of 'faith'. I just trust that as I start writing, the exact 'how' will be revealed.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
Yes, sometimes I have to do some rewriting, that's normal, but I get the gist of it out there. I just do it. And it works. The story or idea flows out and fifty minutes or five years (for Dillon's) later it's done.<br />
<br />
It's a matter of walking in faith instead of walking in a state of 'I don't know'. Then it occurred to me, that this applies to all of us in every aspect of our lives. We hold back from taking action because of 'I don't know'. We don't know how to get out of the situation we're in. We don't know how to attract that perfect mate. We don't know how to create a steady income from our dream career so we can leave our jobs. We don't know, we don't know, we don't know. So we don't.<br />
<br />
But if you ask anyone who has achieved in the area you 'don't know' you will find initially, they didn't know how either. They either diligently found out what others did, or merely went ahead in faith that they would figure it out on the way. <br />
<br />
"All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them." ~ Walt Disney.<br />
<br />
Did Walt Disney know how he was going to create an animation empire? Creating full-length animated films, or how he'd successfully create his dream project, Walt Disney World? I can tell you no, for no one had ever done either before. There was no one to ask! Walt had to find the courage to stumble his way through to finding those answers. Now we have many animations studios making full-length films and many theme parks - although none yet compare to what Walt built.<br />
<br />
Stanley Lieber, creator of Marvel Comics' Hulk, Iron Man, X-men, Avengers and many others, had worked at writing comics for years to little avail. Frustrated that comics were 'doing it wrong' and weren't about to change, Stan decided to quit his job at Timely Comics. His wife told him, 'If you're going to quit anyway, why don't you start writing your stories the way you think they ought to be written?'<br />
<br />
Thus inspired, Stan found the courage to write The Fantastic Four under the banner of Marvel Comics for Timely. He did it without consent. It was hugely successful, so he was told to write more! And more he wrote! At that time Stan had the Midas touch, many of the characters he created are world famous now and starring in cartoons, movies, games, even Broadway plays! One in particular wasn't allowed. After all, no kid would want to read about a person who was part creepy insect. Stan's boss crushed the idea. Stan went ahead and printed The Amazing Spider-man anyway in the final issue of Fantasy Tales.<br />
<br />
Stan had no idea how he'd create the comic empire that Marvel is now, he just stepped out in faith following his dream and was prepared to face the consequences.<br />
<br />
To give a more down to Earth example. I had no idea how to attract my perfect mate. For years I walked in 'I don't Know'. I dated women of course but with little avail. I was easily discouraged. Then finally, I got so frustrated I just turned it over to God. God showed me what to do and despite much of what God asking seeming crazy to me, I did it in faith. Mere months later, I was married to a beautiful, like-minded woman who shared my faith. It was an end I could not have believed would happen. It was a process I could not possibly have 'known'. <br />
<br />
So when you find yourself saying to yourself, 'I want to but I don't know' - let that go. Let the need to know how go. If it's been done before, find out how. But inevitably your journey will be a little - or a lot - different. Just commit yourself to the journey and begin. 'How' is discovered along the road to your dreams.<br />
<br />
Preston Squire is a writer, blogger and editor committed to removing the shackles of doubt, living life fully and helping others to do the same.Preston Squirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15430225095315218841noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3325780957225112425.post-35584541321962055062012-03-02T15:57:00.001-05:002012-03-08T12:58:26.831-05:0025 Principals of Enduring Success<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
People are often confused and confounded about why they aren't further ahead in some aspect of their life. We tend to think of 'success' as something elusive or something for someone more talented, richer, better-looking or lucky than ourselves. As if 'success' was handed out by life like a lottery. 'Oh, you're talented, I'll give success to you'. In real life there are a great many talented, rich, great looking and 'lucky' people who are in the exact same boat at least in some aspect of their lives. <br />
<br />
Success is achieved through certain specific mindsets and actions. There's no magic to it, only a matter of determining what those mindsets and actions are and then adhering to them religiously.<br />
<br />
Here are 25 principals that are foundational in achieving and maintaining the lifestyle you want. We will look at them all in depth over the coming weeks but for now lets just do a quick overview.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
1) <strong>Personal </strong>- Before we can reshape our lives we have to assume responsibility for the way it is now. Stop blaming your parents, your circumstances or addictions. Once we assume responsibility for the results we are producing in our lives - all the results, good and bad - then we empower ourselves to change them.<br />
<br />
2) <strong>Purpose - </strong>We need to have a clear sense of who we are and what we are about. What our God given purpose is. If this is eluding you, then you need to get in touch with God and ask for clarification. If you're not hearing from God, try this: Ask the question in your diary before sleeping, then as soon as you wake, before you start to think just write. Let the words flow without conscious thought. Once you have an answer, God will find ways to give you confirmation you are on the right track.<br />
<br />
3) <strong>Precise - </strong>Once we know our Purpose, we need to create a vision of the life we want to live in accordance with. What will you home look like? What kind of car do you drive? Who are you married to? How much are you earning? Be precise. Fuzzy goals get fuzzy results. Be as specific as possible.<br />
<br />
4) <strong>Patience - </strong>Rome wasn't built in a day, nor will your life miraculously transform in a day. This is an area I struggle with myself. When I don't see quick results, I want to change plans. See it through! God's delays are not God's denials. The compound effect of Patience, Persistence, Precise action will generate tremendous results.<br />
<br />
5) <strong>Price - </strong>Be prepared to pay the price for what you want. It shouldn't be an ordeal, if we're in line with our Purpose, whatever work required will be joy but it'll still be work. However we must come into agreement with with realities of the life we are moving towards. Otherwise our own subconscious minds will rebel and we will constantly undermine our own actions. For example, if you want to be a celebrity be prepared to have your life on public display. If you want to be affluent, you may have to shed some narrow minded friends.<br />
<br />
6) <strong>Priority -</strong> Putting the proper priority on our actions. To often we busy ourselves getting ready to get ready. Always put the priority on those actions that will actually produce results. Even if they are not perfect, doing result producing actions well, if not perfect, is always better than merely studying and rehearsing to do the same thing.<br />
<br />
7) <strong>Plan - </strong>Proper planning prevents poor performance. It may be cliche but it still holds true. Plan your actions, execute and then review. If you're not getting the results you want, alter your Plan, but not your Purpose.<br />
<br />
8) <strong>Provide - </strong>We reap as we sow. If you want God and the world to pour into you, you need first and foremost to be providing the world with something of equal or greater value. Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg and Warren Buffet didn't become wealthy by merely wishing or praying for it, they provided a valuable service. Always give people better service and better value than they expect. <br />
<br />
9) <strong>Program - </strong>We are all creatures of habits. We are what we habitually do. Our current habits have led us to exactly where we are now. If we want to be somewhere else, we will need to develop better habits. Determine the actions and habits that you need to adapt to become who you seek to become. Devise a routine to achieve those and then follow that routine, until you have reconditioned your mind. Habits take about 21 days to form. Follow your Program and reProgram your mind with healthy habits.<br />
<br />
10<strong>) Passion </strong>- You have got to be passionate about what you want. If you are apathetic towards your own goals, then you are not on Purpose and you are not going to be able to Persist. Project your Precise vision of your new life in your head. Feel it! Enjoy it! Embrace it! Desire it with every fibre of your being. The excitement should keep you up at night and working like play all throughout the day. Your goal, vision and Purpose are the answers to all of life's issues. Achieving them, brings everything else into order.<br />
<br />
11) <strong>Persistence - </strong>You can't make an omelet without breaking some eggs. At some point life is bound to get messy. Too many people give up just shy of their goals because they can't see over the next hill. Have faith (Promise) that God will provide and continue to progress. There is no failure, only the results you wanted and the results you learn from to get what you want. Persistence leads to more success than talent. Purpose, Patience and Passion are important ingredients to persisting in tough times.<br />
<br />
12) <strong>Prune - </strong>As we move towards our new life we must shed the old. Often this means cutting away the deadwood of our lives, those habits, beliefs and people that no longer serve us or hold us back. Often the old must be cut before the new and better can materialize. A place must be made ready for that person, position or mindset to fill. "he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." Luke 9:23<br />
<br />
13) <strong>Perspective - </strong>It took God about 3 months to drill this idea into my head. If anything in the world is causing you (mental) pain it is not the world itself which is wrong, only your own false expectations of it. You can't change the world, nor do you need to. You can only change yourself and when you do, you make the world a better place. Often we're blocked not by the world, but by our limited perspective of it.<br />
<br />
14) <strong>Positivity - </strong><em>'Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve'</em> ~ Napoleon Hill.<em> 'Whether you think you can or you can't, you're right.'</em> ~ Henry Ford. An upbeat, optimistic attitude is crucial to success. With the right attitude you continue on when others see only failure, you produce at a higher frequency - attracting better results and you remain in accordance with God. You cannot have true faith (Promise) and be pessimistic.<br />
<br />
15) <strong>Promise - </strong><em>"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."</em> ~ Matthew 7:7 God wants you to prosper. He has your best interest at heart. Their may be lessons to be learned and trials to be faced but you must believe that everything that happens to you, happens to serve you. Whatever doesn't kill you, helps to make you stronger. This may seem unfathomable at times but if can maintain this attitude, it will always serve you, helping you to Persist and be Patience.<br />
<br />
16) <strong>Prayer - </strong>Prayer helps us in many ways. It releases our desires to God. We draw strength from a source greater than ourselves. It helps us persevere through the difficult times. When you Pray always pray from a place of Promise. That God's perfect will IS being fulfilled. That great things ARE manifesting. Pray with gratitude for all that you have and all you are about to receive. Do not be afraid to ask for that which you need and want. Our heavenly father wants to fulfill our needs - if you allow Him.<br />
<br />
17) <strong>Project - </strong>and expect. Visualize the life you are moving towards. Mentally see yourself as having already achieved everything and allow yourself to feel what that is like. Feel the joy, peace and gratitude that life produces. Utilize all your senses. Smell the roses, feel the island breeze, taste the caviar. Visualizing like this twice a day, moves your subconscious mind into action to manifest that reality.<br />
<br />
18) <strong>Praise - </strong>the Lord! Be grateful for what you have and for everything in your life as it is and as it will be (as it improves). Gratitude raises your vibration and grows your faith. It gets you out of pity and resentment and focused on the life you want. <br />
<br />
19) <strong>Paradigms - </strong>All of us are products of our environment growing up. Whatever we were exposed to as a child has left a mark, has predetermined our beliefs and shaped our values - often in detrimental ways. If you grew up hearing money was hard to come by, or that you were worthless, you're subconscious mind has accepted that as fact even as you speak and consciously think otherwise. You must acknowledge those old limiting paradigms, root them out and replace them with new beliefs that inspire you.<br />
<br />
20) <strong>Perfect - </strong>This is an acceptance that you are perfect exactly as you are. God didn't make a mistake. He knew exactly what he was doing. Your experiences, your 'faults', your idiosyncrasies make you a unique person and uniquely suited to benefit the world around you. Stop trying to be perfect and love yourself exactly as you are. Always strive to improve yourself, but we are all works in progress.<br />
<br />
21) <strong>Proclaim - </strong>Words have power. Choose them wisely. They shape your subconscious beliefs. They shape your faith. Are you speaking power or poverty into your life? Speak with authority (Promise!). Write out your goals on a cue card and declare them as accomplished 'I am enjoying living as....' two or three times a day. Remember - whatever negative thing you may experience is transient, so don't speak of it as if it was permanent. You shall reap as you sow, so sow power and prosperity into your life and others.<br />
<br />
22) <strong>Pour - </strong>Do on to others as you'd have them do on to you. <em>'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'</em> ~ Matthew 25:40. God's blessings do not pour into you, they pour through you. Be a vessel for blessings and prosperity. Help those that are beneath you - with a cheerful heart - and allow yourself to receive in equal measure - for you are worthy (Perfect).<br />
<br />
23) <strong>Partner - Higher Power - </strong>No man is an island. We do not need to do this alone. Stop trying to control the world and control yourself. Let Go and Let God. Pray and meditate daily. Live in the Promise, Praise and Prayer. Seek His will, His guidance and His strength. He is made perfect through your weakness.<br />
<br />
24) <strong>Partner - Paragon - </strong>Do not try to reinvent the wheel. Learn from those that have gone on before you. Find someone who is enjoying success in the area you want to and model them. Successful people are often happy to share their stories and tips, especially with someone sincere in following in their footsteps.<br />
<br />
25) <strong>Partner - Power Group - </strong>Surround yourself with like minded people. Form a support group and meet regularly to discuss where you are and where you are going. Draw from each others strengths, victories and knowledge. You absolutely have value to add, and will progressively become even more valuable in time.</div>Preston Squirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15430225095315218841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3325780957225112425.post-1156753890775701722012-02-24T15:40:00.003-05:002012-08-13T21:45:19.044-04:00Made Perfect in Weakness<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I was listening to an inspirational audio recording yesterday with my wife when I heard something that really resonated. It's not a particularly new idea and in fact I've blogged on this here already but simply the way the speaker put it struck a cord.<br />
<br />
The idea is fairly simple. We get too caught up in trying to be perfect when it's our imperfections that give us character. <br />
<br />
He gave the examples of wood, marble, and jade. You don't look at the lines on a wooden surface and think 'Oh, those should be straighter' or that the lines on a marble counter should be more equally spaced. Of course not! There's beauty in it's imperfection. <br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
I think of the hours I've spent watching the flames in my old wood stove (when it was still real wood not gas), or watching the waves lap up against the shore on the beach outside. No two flames or waves are exactly the same. It's different every time. It's what makes it so enchanting. I know the instant I switched to a gas 'wood' stove the flames lost most of their appeal. It was static. Too perfect.<br />
<br />
Yet we continually look at ourselves and say 'we're too flawed.' Well, this will come as no surprise but we're all flawed. We may not think so, but it's true. Never compare yourself to anyone else - you don't know their story. Tiger Woods seemed to have it all together - fame, money, incredible success, a beautiful wife and family. It would have been very easy to compare ourselves to him and find ourselves lacking - until his very public family dispute and the revelations of rampant infidelity. Suddenly his life didn't look so perfect. You simply don't know what you don't know. No one in this life is perfect. We are all flawed. And that's what make us beautiful.<br />
<br />
God knew exactly what he was doing. It's man that has this false sense of 'perfection'. If you look at nature, there are no straight lines or perfect circles. Trees do not grow up in perfect 90 degree angles from the ground - all the time, always. Stars are not equally spaced apart. Lakes do not form in perfectly round circles. Yet it all works in perfect accordance. When you look at man's world what do you see? Boxy homes and buildings, straight roads, symmetry in everything, all these perfect lines or predetermined curves. There are practical reasons for that but it's at total odds with the natural world.<br />
<br />
In the same way we look at ourselves and want to see this human concept of perfection. Slim, yet curvy women, men with rock hard abs and pecs - not to mention a total lack of body hair. Millions of dollars in earnings. Fame. Tremendous skill at something of note. We think if only we had all that, then we'd be happy and 'successful'. Yet, here's Tiger Woods with all that, in spades, self-destructing because he needs something else to fill his empty nights. The human concept of perfection is flawed, shallow and hollow.<br />
<br />
God made you perfect from day one. Yes, perfect in your disadvantages. <br />
<br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><em>"But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." ~ 2 Corinthians 12:9</em></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">We were never intended to be whole and complete on our own. John 15:5. We are a part of the body of Christ. Part of a bigger whole. When we realize that, we can stop finding ourselves lacking and realize we all have something to offer, from our own unique perspective.</span><br />
<br />
It's not about agrandizing ourselves but rather using the gifts God's given us to benefit others.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><em>"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’<sup> </sup></em></span><i><span style="color: #674ea7;">The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”"</span></i> ~ Mark 12:30-31</div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: black;">There's nothing wrong with being Happy, Healthy, Wealthy and Wise - God intents that for everyone. But without Love none of that matters. 1 Corinthians 13 God's idea of perfection is Love. </span><br />
<br />
We are all imperfect people, born to help other imperfect people find self-love, God love and love for others. When we do that, then we find a lasting happiness that needs no substitution. Like flames of a fire, or waves cascading onto the shore each unique onto themselves, each here only for a brief moment in time but glorious and beautiful in their imperfection. <br />
<br />
Yes, always strive to be a better person but we also need to accept ourselves and love ourselves just the way we are - God does - and know we have so much to offer this world, and the world is waiting for us to stop judging and limiting ourselves and to arrive in our own manifast beauty.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Preston Squire is an author, blogger and success coach - committed to helping others become Happy, Healthy, Wealthy and Wise.
Preston Squirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15430225095315218841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3325780957225112425.post-51899514893139902142012-02-09T14:43:00.002-05:002012-02-23T21:54:49.272-05:00Your Time is Worth Money<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
By Preston Squire 2012<br />
<br />
Yesterday my wife, <a href="http://www.healthybydesignprogram.com/">Cathy Morenzie</a>, had one of her clients cancel (she's a personal trainer) so she did what any number of women would do - went shopping!<br />
<br />
Initially she went for a necessary specific item but then got to browsing. She felt bad afterwards, as her time could have been better spent but she did find an awesome deal - classy napkin holders for a mere $.59! Only problem is the store didn't have enough to complete a set.<br />
<br />
So, knowing I work near another location of the same store chain, she asked if I'd mind taking a look for more to complete the set. Always happy to please my wife, I agreed.<br />
<br />
So there I am on my lunch going through a store that encompasses an entire city block looking fruitlessly for these napkin holders and a thought comes into my mind.<br />
<br />
'This is not a good investment of my time.' <br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
and<br />
<br />
My time and my wife's time are worth more than whatever we're saving on these napkin holders.<br />
<br />
I'm pleased with this thought as it's progressive and not one I've had before. We all need to treat our time as a precious commodity. Too often we waste it or worse look for ways to 'kill' it altogether. 'What are you doing?' 'Just killing time...'<br />
<br />
I know from personal experience, people who earn good money usually would gladly pay $30 for a set of napkin holders rather than waste 30 minutes looking for cheap ones. It's not because they have money to waste. It's because<em> they don't have time to waste</em>. Time is worth more to them than money. Why? Because time IS money and so much more.<br />
<br />
(Please note: 'Successful' people like a deal as much as the next person (perhaps more) and would love to get those napkin holders on sale too, but not at the cost of their time)<br />
<br />
Let me illustrate:<br />
<br />
If you're a lawyer billing a hundred dollars an hour, then wasting a half hour to look for a deal loses you $50 in income. So paying $30 for something that you could have bought for $12, if you'd taken the time to shop for it, makes sense. It's cheaper. For those of you who are math challenged: Paying $30 for an item they could have found for $12 loses them $18, but paying $30 to save a half-hour they can bill for $50 saves them $20 AND half an hour out of their day. In the end they are $2 and half and hour richer.<br />
<br />
Now I know most of us are thinking, 'but I don't earn $100/hour, so I need to bargain shop.'<br />
<br />
That is a limited mindset. Before you're going to start earning that kind of money, you need to start treating your time as if it's worth that kind of money. It's the famous 'Act as If' philosophy, that is to say, you attract what you are a match for, so if you want money you have to start to 'act as if' you already have it. To constantly put yourself into that mindset of having now, instead of having sometime in the future (or never).<br />
<br />
How many things would you stop doing if you knew it was costing you $100/hour to do it? You'd stop watching most TV programs. You'd stop gossipping. You'd stop reading the news and start reading books that will help you to earn more money. Video games, bar hopping, etc., etc. Heck, even things like house cleaning become a worthless activity for you to do when you could hire someone to clean it for $30/hour. <br />
<br />
I'm not advocating we should all start spending money we don't have. We must live within our means. I AM suggesting we should stop treating our time as a disposable commodity. If we took all those hours in our day, that aren't paying us any real dividend, and use them to better our life (to educate ourselves, to inspire ourselves, to work on income producing activities), think of how much better off we would be in a year. In five years. In ten.<br />
<br />
Over the next 48 hours, continually ask yourself, 'Is this a valuable use of my time?' 'Could I be doing something to better my life right now instead?'<br />
<br />
I'm not talking about working ourselves to death. Spending time with my family IS valuable. Spending time on activities we LOVE are worthwhile. Browsing stores for a deal on a video game or yet another pair of shoes, is not. Watching funny Youtube videos is not. Most of our Facebook and even email time is simply not. It's wasting time that you could be spending making your life that much richer and better.<br />
<br />
We all know that money is a precious commodity that needs to be invested wisely in order to make it grow.<br />
<br />
Time is an even more precious commodity and needs to be invested wisely in order to make our lives grow. Treat your time as if it's worth a lot of money and in time, it really will be.<br />
<br /></div>Preston Squirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15430225095315218841noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3325780957225112425.post-23085890986463474622012-02-06T17:55:00.001-05:002012-02-06T17:55:48.940-05:00Put Money Where Your Mouth Is<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
by Preston Squire 2012<br />
<br />
Do you know someone who always talks a great talk, but never seems to be able to walk the walk?<br />
<br />
We all do and we all do it, at least in some aspect of our lives. Either always talking about what you're going to do - someday, but certainly not today - or constantly acknowledging that you need to work on some aspect of your life, maybe promising to change, but instead of actually changing, you just end up acknowledging you're still committing the same behaviour later on.<br />
<br />
Understanding why we fall into this pattern and understanding how to break it are key to finally stop talking about being successful and actually starting to 'put money where your mouth is'. <br />
<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>"JUST DO IT" ~ Nike slogan <br />
<br />
The very first thing you need to do is to decide. That is, to make a firm, unwaivering commitment to make the change. You don't need to know 'how' exactly you'll make the change, just that the status quo is not going to continue. Period.<br />
<br />
Then take immediate action. Do not put it off, at all. Take action A.S.A.P.. Results love speed. Then continue to take daily action.<br />
<br />
Set a completion date. Set a measurement. How will you know if you accomplished your goal? Never leave it vague, be specific. If you just say 'make more money' and you accomplish nothing but buy a lotttery ticket that earned you $5, did you accomplish your goal? Consciously, no, but subconsciously, you did. Write out exactly the result you want, and when you are going to achieve that result. Now earning a set amount of money or losing a set amount of weight is easy to determine however, something like 'being nicer to your spouse or kids' needs to be broken down into more definable actions and/or results.<br />
<br />
Make sure your intended goal is S.M.A.R.T.:<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><strong>Specific</strong> - Fuzzy goals get fuzzy results. Be as specific as possible.</li>
<li><strong>Measurable</strong> - How will you know you've succeeded? Set certain definable targets to be reached.</li>
<li><strong>Attainable</strong> - Don't set a goal you don't believe you can achieve. If you can't visualize yourself having accomplished the goal in the time-frame allowed, you'll subsconsciously undermined yourself.</li>
<li><strong>Relevant</strong> - Is this goal really in-line with what you're trying to do with your life? With what is truly important to you? I'd love to have the world's greatest video game library, but it's not really relevant to my life.</li>
<li><strong>Time-based</strong> - When will the goal be completed by?</li>
</ul>
<br />
Get an accountability partner. Tell someone who will hold you accountable what you are trying to achieve. Personally, this is where I find having a friend who's also a bit of an ass comes in handy. They'll have some fun busting your balls, whereas most people will just say 'oh, that's okay,' when you come up short.<br />
<br />
Be realistic about breaking old habits. If you have been doing something a certain way for a long period of time, you're not simply going to stop (unless you have tremendous pain associated to repeating the action) no matter how noble your intent. It's conditioned and patterned in you. You must give yourself a new habit to replace the old one and you must consciously commit to doing the new behaviour for 30 days(even if it's just 'taking action' instead of 'procrastinate'. Studies suggests it takes 21 days to make/break a habit. I find I usually slip into old behaviours easily in the first week so I give myself a good 30 days to make sure I've rewritten that conditioning in my mind.<br />
<br />
Set yourself up for success. If you are surrounded by negative people - get away from that influence. Maybe you're married to them or forced to work closely with them but you can determine to not partake of that negative outlook on life. It's a poison that saps your motivation to do anything. Stop reading the news - it's mostly just negativity. Start listening to motivational tapes or reading inspiring books, or take a course that will get you closer to your goal. Feed your brain good food for thought - you are what you eat.<br />
<br />
Know you're worthy. Often the reason we don't achieve a result is because we have a conflict in our values or beliefs. For example if we believe rich people are all shallow, greedy money grubbers, then subconsciously we would project that same value onto ourselves should we come in money. So we avoid money. Conversely, if we think of ourselves as that 'fun, funny fat person' then we may fear we'll lose that part of ourselves that makes us uniquely 'us'. For a long time I had a conflict when it came to money. I believed that I'd become less spiritual and more shallow should I become rich, that it would change me. We are not a product of our results, our results are a product of us. If we're great, we'll produce great results. There's nothing wrong with being a better you.</div>Preston Squirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15430225095315218841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3325780957225112425.post-62677888545031201412012-02-03T17:00:00.000-05:002012-02-06T17:56:28.270-05:00There's Magic in the Air!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
There's magic in the air!<br />
<br />
At least that's how it feels. Like God's favour is just on everything we're doing.<br />
<br />
Being a personal fitness trainer, January is usually a slow month for my wife as many of her clients go south for the winter months. However, without offering any deals or special promotions, she has been blessed with a rash of new business - several from referrals, some from her online presence and others from long term prospectives finally coming for fruition. It's turned into a very good month indeed. Of course, as her regulars return from their winter hideouts, that will only increase even further.<br />
<br />
We've had new sign-ups for our Isagenix business and more interest of her e-book and online programs - again, without us doing any special promotions at the moment (although those are in the works). Two people have come forward to promote her e-book through their channels as well as part of campaigns they are doing which should just escalate the numbers further. It's just amazing!<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
For myself, my blogs, facebook and twitter presence has never been busier! I've got an influx of people adding me and hits to this blog in particular are at an all-time high! Not only that but the new traffic is spending more time and reading more articles than ever before. There's a very healthy balance between returning traffic Vs new traffic as well.<br />
<br />
It's time I brushed off and polished up my own e-book and get it posted as it's time I took this into high gear as well.<br />
<br />
But who cares about me? You want to know how you can experience the same sort of growth as well. I'd love to be a Ryan Lee here and give you some sage online marketing advice, but that's not my forté. Plus, as already mentioned, we haven't run any promotions of late. All this additional business is largely 'unearned'. That is to say, it was only earned through the normal course of our business and of course, following up leads but not through anything above and beyond.<br />
<br />
All I can attribute this recent spat of activity to is, quite simply, following God. We walked out in faith and now seem to be reaping rewards for having done that. So more than ever, we want to continue to do exactly that. Seek His will and direction and keep moving forward boldly. A part of that is pushing even further into online content and user experience. <br />
<br />
So expect to be seeing more from us both in the coming months as we look to expand our 'brands' and provide you, with the best possible content, advice, programs and e-books we can.<br />
<br />
Feel free to post below and let us know your thoughts. What would you like to see on this site?<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>Preston Squirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15430225095315218841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3325780957225112425.post-49231647287879493152012-01-27T18:31:00.001-05:002012-01-27T18:31:36.299-05:00My Centennial Post - What I've Learned<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This is a momentous occasion for me.<br />
<br />
There is a certain satisfaction that comes from having achieved this milestone, although this is not the first of my blogs that I have achieved it on. It shows conviction and stick-to-it-tiveness. Key ingredients for success.<br />
<br />
When I first began planning for this centennial post I thought I'd plot out the next 100 blogs and what direction I'd want to take. Problem is, I change over time and the nature of this blog has changed along with me. <br />
<br />
Unless I decide to 'clean' it up at some point, you can go back and find some posts where I talk about the future of this blog. What it is now isn't what I had envisioned then. Know what? That's okay.<br />
<br />
I do have a plan and this blog is just one part of that. However the great thing about a blog is it's a part of a journey. It's always a reflection of where I am now. In general, I get wiser and better as I go along.<br />
<br />
So, after 100 posts - what have I learned?<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<em>"Do or do not. There is no try." ~ Yoda</em><br />
<br />
When I first heard those words, as a youth, I intellectually got what Yoda was saying but I didn't really 'get' it. Now, I get it. You are either absolutely committed to doing what it takes to get a result or you are not getting the result. Period.<br />
<br />
When I started this blog, I was like 95% of the people reading this blog, and others such success blogs. I was looking for 'the answer' or 'the secret'. That 'thing' that if I just knew that one (or two or three) 'things' that were holding me back, I'd be rocketing to success. My potential would be unleashed and I'd be unstoppable!<br />
<br />
After a quarter century of studying here's what I've found: What's stopping you is an intolerance to risk.<br />
<br />
<strong>You have got to learn to love failure.</strong><br />
<br />
Society has this notion that 'failure' is a horrible thing to be avoid. It's not. It's an essential part of life. It's like breathing. If you're living you're bound to experience it. So why do we spend so much of our time avoiding it? Because it's unpleasant, or we perceive it as such because we wrap up too much of our emotions into getting a positive result.<br />
<br />
Early on in this blog I wrote a couple posts of how life 'Seperates the Wheat from the Chaff'. That life is designed that way. Failure is the stick that's beating the wheat. If you can embrace failure as merely a means to an end then you're wheat. If you run from the threat of failure - your chaff. <br />
<br />
I've said it a thousand times (or at least a hundred, once for each post - lol) successful people don't just succeed more, they fail more. But you don't hear about all their failures (except for Edison and the light bulb) you hear about their successes. But those successes all came after unsuccessful attempts. That's true for everyone in history from Bell to Jobs. <br />
<br />
They learned to not get upset when things didn't work out as hoped. Odds are they won't a lot of the time. So just accept that two steps forward, one step back, is a part of life and keep walking forward.<br />
<br />
Enough on that, I've preached that too many times already.<br />
<br />
You're still wondering what's holding you back.<br />
<br />
You.<br />
<br />
There's no one else. It's you.<br />
<br />
You're afraid. For whatever reason, being where you are is more comfortable than being where you 'want' to be.<br />
<br />
So you want a magic bullet. That's why you're here yes? To find that 'one secret' that will TA-DA make the difference in your life. <br />
<br />
Okay, here it is.<br />
<br />
Step 1: Go fail. That's right. Get off your ass, do that thing, whatever it is, that you've been wanting to do and go right ahead and fail at it.<br />
<br />
Get it out of the way!!<br />
<br />
Now, you might screw it up and actually succeed, oops, but let's assume you really are as bad as you subconsciously think you are.<br />
<br />
Step 2: So you tried and failed. So now you can either justify doing nothing for the rest of your life (stop reading, go cry and carry on being dissatisfied) or you can try and fail at it again. Yeah, that's right, fail at it again.<br />
<br />
Now this time, there's is a much higher likelihood you'll accidentally succeed, so don't say I didn't warn you but let's assume you don't. Cause, like me, and Bell, and Edison, and Steve Jobs, and countless others, you suck. At least at first.<br />
<br />
Step 3: Repeat Step 2 until you've 'accidentally' succeeded.<br />
<br />
I'm being facetious here but you get the point. There is no other secret. There's the constant willingness to try, a willingness to learn, belief (in yourself or God), determination and sticktoittiveness. And a lot of effort.<br />
<br />
That's it.<br />
<br />
The reason I'm saying to fail is because once you've become accustomed to failing, it loses it's sting. It's just another step on the road to success. Because anyone who is absolutely committed to doing something, to learn from their mistakes, to model what works, and just keep on, keeping on is guaranteed to achieve.<br />
<br />
That's nothing new. You could have told me that. So, do you want to 'succeed' or not? If you do, you've got some failures to face and some success to embrace. I look forward to meeting you along the way.</div>Preston Squirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15430225095315218841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3325780957225112425.post-19386778370595324062012-01-25T17:31:00.001-05:002013-10-29T20:35:54.505-04:00Isagenix - Is It For Real?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I'm going to do something a little different today.<br />
<br />
<br />
If you're a follower of this blog, then you know I normally discuss self-motivation, Law of Attraction or perhaps God and Faith. Today though I thought I'd share on one of the things I'm doing to improve my life and why I've stuck with it.<br />
<br />
For those who may be have found this on a Google search, this is not an advertisement, I'm not interested in selling you on Isagenix. If you're researching it, almost certainly someone has brought Isagenix to your attention and I wouldn't want to try to 'scoop' their credit.<br />
<br />
<strong><u><span style="font-size: large;">Isagenix</span></u></strong><br />
<br />
<strong>What is it:</strong> Isagenix is a multi-level marketing company that sells health products, with a primary focus on cleansing and longevity. <br />
<br />
Now before you start rolling your eyes over another 'sucker' caught up in MLM schemes, here's a few facts to consider. <br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
Dr. John Grey - Men are from Mars, Jack Canfield - Chicken Soup for the Soul and Marcia Wieder - Dream University are all active Isagenix users and promoters. Dr. Grey is an Isagenix millionaire.<br />
Many professional atheletes, movie stars and other celebrities all use Isagenix. And it's the fastest growing MLM in the world, have reached the top ten of all MLM worldwide within about ten years (the rest of that top ten list are very old MLMs like Mary Kay and Amway so to be reaching their level within such a short time shows Isagenix is doing something right).<br />
<br />
<strong>Why Isagenix?:</strong> Quite simply - it works. I've looked into a lot of MLMs over the years, but Isagenix is the first one I'll endorse. The products work - you lose weight, you feel great. Effectively, fast and naturally. <br />
<br />
My wife, a personally fitness trainer has used it and had her clients on it for years. All to great result. I tried it personally and also had fantastic results. I lost ten pounds of fat (in a month!) and have now added fifteen of lean muscle mass. Those are results I can get behind! Moreover, I've personally enrolled many people and all of them lost weight and felt great (as long as they continued to use the products as intended). Some of them have even enrolled their friends who also had similar results.<br />
<br />
<strong>Is it worthwhile?:</strong> For your health? Absolutely. I encourage everyone to try it, whether you want to lose weight, gain muscle mass, improve physical preformance, or just feel better in general - this is the real deal.<br />
From a business perspective - Like any business you get out of it what you put in. When I work it diligently, I bring people in and see increasing income. When I allow myself to get busy with other things - or just get lazy - income tends to slowly drop off. Bottom line: Isagenix is a business not a hobby. Treat it like a hobby and you might make enough to cover your own costs (which is great because I love the product and free product is a wonderful thing), treat it like a business - consistantly - and you'll reap the rewards. It's a great business and pays well. It's also simple - if you keep it simple. Study the leaders, and do as they do. It's not hard. Do not try to reinvent the wheel. I've seen it in stock trading and I see it again here - people all think they know better. You don't, don't even try it. Not until you're legitimately successful doing it the way it's known to work - first.<br />
<br />
<strong>What do I like best?:</strong> By far the most valuable gift from being a part of Isagenix is the people. I have a great upline (and I did a bit of digging to find more people in my upline, and side line and over there line) and that includes people making six and seven figure incomes with Isagenix. They are all invested in my success. That's great. What's even better is surrounding yourself with 'can do' people. Success minded people. People who will cheer you on and not critize you (unduly). What's also great is to meet millionaires and realize, they are not so different than I. They are not more talented, or gifted or smarter or better looking than I am. In fact, in some cases, if those where the perametres for success, I should be earning much more than they! <br />
<br />
<strong>Future Plans:</strong> I've made a three year commitment to doing Isagenix and I intend to keep that. For the last couple of months I've really lapsed on that - mainly because I was getting married and that took the bulk of my attention. I've also come to the realization that to really be successful Isagenix has to be a full-time career choice. You can do it while working another job, but you need to be prepared to invest serious hours once you get going. It's more than just talking to people and signing them up. It's coaching them, developing your down line, three-way calling with people, attending conferences, home shows, etc., etc. There's a lot of work. While I do enjoy it, I also want to build up my writing/blogging career and to truly succeed on that I need to treat it as a full-time career. I cannot possibly hold three concurrent full-time careers. So I'm moving more to a support role for my wife's Isagenix business, at least until I can fully replace my current salaried job. <br />
<br />
I'm following my dreams and Isagenix remains an important part of that mixed, both for health and wealth reasons, but is not my primary goal. If I became a millionaire selling Isagenix, well, that would be swell, but not nearly as rewarding as making millions through my writing. That's my dream and I'm sticking to that.<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong><br /></strong>
<strong><br /></strong></div>
Preston Squirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15430225095315218841noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3325780957225112425.post-22701598103555964182012-01-19T13:08:00.000-05:002012-08-13T21:49:31.312-04:00You Are Exactly Where You Choose To Be.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Do you look at some aspect of your life and wonder why you're there? Or perhaps there's all sorts of reasons why you're there. People and circumstance have conspired against you to put you there.<br />
<br />
That may be true in the short term, but if you're still there a year later, you've only yourself to blame.<br />
<br />
Some will accept that with a sad sort of resignation, others will openly refute it but it's still the case 99% of the time. <br />
<br />
You are exactly where you choose to be. <br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
That may not be by conscious decision, or to your liking. In fact, many people are in a situation, be it a job or relationship or financial circumstance they dislike or even despise but they still choose to be there. <br />
<br />
Here is an example I often give. A woman grows up in a roach infested tentament in the bad side of town to immigrant parents. She dreams of being rich. She pushes and pushes and finds a way to make it to and through university. She gets a nice job and ends up renting an apartment on the nice side of town. She has a decent salary, a modest car, and stability. She still dreams of being rich but she simply isn't. Unless something changes in her, or in her life (like marriage) she will likely remain there, perhaps for life.<br />
<br />
Now let's assume Paris Hilton suffers a horrendous financial collapse that ruins her reputation. Her fame is gone, her millions are gone and she ends up sharing the apartment with the above woman. What do you think will happen? Will Paris Hilton remain in that apartment? In that life? No, of course not. She simply can't. It's so far beneath her minimum expectations of life that she will work, think and plan day and night on how to get out of that life and back to the one she knew. It'll basically be her obcessive predominate thought. In time, sure enough, she'll find a way to recoop her old lifestyle. It might mean starting a new business, or marrying some rich guy she doesn't like but somehow she'll do it.<br />
<br />
So if Paris can - and will - do it, why doesn't the first woman? Because the first woman is comfortable where she is. She may not be content, but she's comfortable. It's an acceptable standard to her. It's not to Paris.<br />
<br />
It is human nature to go with the easy 'win'. The question is, what's an acceptable standard for you? A great many of us, myself included, need to raise our standards. <br />
<br />
You might think you're living below you're standard, but you're not really, no one does for long unless they're a prisoner or have some debilitating circumstance. You can't. It's so uncomfortable you are restless until you do something to change it and get back above that mental standard. Even alcoholics will eventually drag themselves to an AA meeting and start the process to get out of the hole they dug and back into their comfort zones (unless, they are comfortable in the gutter).<br />
<br />
Your standard, your comfort zone, is tied to your own self-worth. If you don't think highly of yourself, you accept a lower standard. If you think very highly of yourself, then you expect more from yourself. Our self-worth is often tied to what others - parents, teachers, peers validated us as being. If you heard 'You're worthless' enough times, chances are high that you, at a subconscious level, believe it. If you had a parent, or parents, that didn't validate you, no matter how much you tried, you might feel the same way.<br />
<br />
But know this: You do not need to be particularly smart to be successful. You don't need to be good looking. You don't need to very talented. You just need to want it. And I mean you have to, 'HAVE TO', have it. You have to want it - bad. Being where you are now, must be so far beneath what you're willing to accept out of life that it drives you to do something about it.<br />
<br />
My son used to struggle in school. He's a tactile learner. When it's something he can touch, he does well. When it's something that's all in the mind, he struggles with it. Unless... it's something he really wanted.<br />
He struggled to learn his times tables but he could tell you everything about every single Pokemon. What their powers were, their stats, who would win over who and why. That's a lot of work to study 150 Pokemon to that level, yet he had no problem with that. Because he wanted it - bad. He was driven to learn it out of his desire to play Pokemon card and video games and love for the characters. Not knowing wasn't acceptable to him. It took away from his enjoyment and was out of his comfort zone. So he learned.<br />
<br />
You can succeed at most anything but first you must choose to do so. The idea of anything less must simply become so distasteful, so unacceptable to you, that it simply won't do. The discomfort of being there will compel you into action.<br />
<br />
If you still find yourself living a life you don't want, you are still choosing to live it in that way. Either you don't feel you're good enough to have better or you believe it's too much work to have better or perhaps somehow that having better will make you a bad person and it's a values conflict. Regardless, if you want it bad enough, you'll figure out what's holding you back - and change it.<br />
<br />
Choose the life you want to live, know you are worth it, know it's possible, take action and do not accept anything less.</div>
Preston Squirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15430225095315218841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3325780957225112425.post-5680496863865846652012-01-15T15:34:00.000-05:002012-01-15T15:38:06.593-05:00Stop Reading - Start Doing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Here I am staring at a blank white text box, slowly watching letter after letter appear as I ponder what to write about in today's installment. The trouble with being a blogger of an inspirational site is having some fresh inspirational thing to say every time.<br />
<br />
As I think about it, all the inspiration quotes in the world did not make a whit of difference in my life, except to maybe temporarily brighten my mood (and take up some memory space). For that matter 25 years of studying about success did little to help me either.<br />
<br />
In the end, it's not about the 'knowing'. It's about the 'doing'. Fact of the matter is a lot of people who are doing right now, what you <em>want</em> to be doing, didn't get there from reading any inspiration material like this. They simply took the necessary actions. But how did they know what actions to take you ask? They didn't! Not initially. They either figured it out through trial and error or sought the advice of those who had carved out the path ahead of them.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
I read recently the Google founders where coached by Steve Jobs (the late CEO of Apple). They didn't get to where they are by accident, they got there taking action and learning from their more successful peers.<br />
<br />
So, here's my inspirational advice for today, and this applies as much to me as it does to you. Stop seeking to fix yourself. God has already given you everything you need to succeed in life. Education and intelligence notwithstanding - not so bright and poorly educated people have managed to live very successful lives, I know, I've met some personally - and that's no slight on those people, it's a deep appreciation for what they have accomplished. If you were to take the time to actually go and meet people who are living the life you currently desire, you would quickly realize, that they are really not very different than you.<br />
<br />
The difference is this. They are taking action while you're sitting here <em>wanting</em> to take action. Looking for the right action to take. The right action, is any action that sets you in motion! Even if it's in the wrong direction. Won't take you long to figure that out and then you course correct. But it's always better to be doing than to always to be planning to do. Yes, you should have a plan, but the greatest design in the world for a temple beyond comprehension doesn't amount to anything if the shovel never hits the dirt.<br />
<br />
Commit to yourself to take one action towards your top goal (set a goal if you haven't got one) right now. Not tomorrow, not even later today. Do it now. It can be a small simple action. A call. A purchase. A request for help. A commitment to another. But start the journey, right now. <br />
<br />
Then keep taking actions every day. Then stop reading about what to do and instead learn best techniques from others while you walk the walk. If you discovered you've stopped, start again. <br />
<br />
A rich life is built from the compound interest of our daily actions.<br />
<br />
Preston Squire 2012<br />
<br /></div>Preston Squirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15430225095315218841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3325780957225112425.post-5921521682374985782012-01-12T16:42:00.000-05:002012-01-15T15:37:48.135-05:00Doing it - God's Way<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
One of the realization's I've had is that my life runs best when I get in line with God's plan for my life.<br />
<br />
I find there's three ways of running your life.<br />
<br />
<strong>Doing it MY Way:</strong><br />
<br />
This is of course a very popular option, especially in today's day and age of independent, agnostic, thinking. It also feeds one's pride and ego to say, 'I did it - myyyyyy wayyyy'. I certainly was a follower of this phylosophy myself up until late last year.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
The reason I eventually abandoned it was because despite all the new age gurus, success secrets, books, seminars, programs and coaching I took in, I still fell into the same trappings that Paul did when he said, 'For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.' ~ Romans 7:19<br />
<br />
Knowing what I should do, even knowing the driving internal forces that caused me not to do those things I should do, did not ultimately enable me to do the things I knew I should be doing. Instead I did stuff that was 'good' and 'fun' but never really fulfilled me. They weren't the 'right' actions. Often, I didn't even know what the real 'right' action should be.<br />
<br />
There's a difference between doing 'good' actions and 'right' actions. For example, Jesus could have become a priest, or choose to live to an old age tending to the sick. Those certainly would have been 'good' actions but they weren't the 'right' one. Jesus choose not to do what might seem good to him but instead what seemed good to God the father.<br />
<br />
My problem, is my mind is pretty limited. Not to suggest I have a low IQ, I don't, but that I'm always swayed to do the easy and immediately rewarding thing. Despite whatever resolve I might muster to endure long term hardship for long term victory, my will ebbed and I'd start wanting self-gratification of easy 'wins' or at least, a distraction from the pain of 'doing' without seeing results.<br />
<br />
So instead of taking 'right' actions, I do 'good' things I think I should be/feel rewarded for but often don't really. Whenever this is my primary way of operating, I find life to somehow be less than fulfilling.<br />
<br />
<strong>Doing it MAN's Way:</strong><br />
<br />
That is doing what your boss thinks you should be doing. Or following what your parents think you should be doing with your life. Or letting your spouse determine your actions. Or your kids, or social peers, or your religious edict, or society as a whole. <br />
<br />
Everyone has an opinion on how you should be conducting your life. Opinions are the cheapest form of currency out there. Everyone has them. Trouble is, few people even do the things they think they themselves should be doing. Even fewer are inline with God's plan doing the 'right' things that really build their life and bring true joy. <br />
<br />
Doing things to please others might give us a sense of acceptence but it doesn't fulfill. We find we are doing things that just don't hold any real meaning for ourselves. We're people pleasing, pure and simple. What's worse is that people don't all agree. So no matter what you do, you can't please all the people all the time. No matter how hard you try you will still feel let down because someone will still feel you're doing it 'wrong'.<br />
<br />
<strong>Doing it GOD's Way:</strong><br />
<br />
At this point in my life, I've determined to give up on doing it My Way and Man's Way and am committed to living my life according to what God would have me do.<br />
<br />
Whenever I'm in line with God's plan, things simply work. I meet the right people, people have a change of heart in my favour, things just work out in my favour. I feel like a regular Tim Tebow. Tim Tebow is a current NFL sensation who is generally considered to have enjoyed the bulk of his success through dumb luck - or devine faith (he's a devote Christian) - depending on who you ask.<br />
<br />
Just this week Tebow threw a questionable but ruled acceptable pass that resulted in an 80 yard rush and touchdown, giving his team a much needed overtime win (in a mere 11 seconds of play) to get into the playoffs. That has certainly been the reality for me as well when I'm living in accordance to God's plan for my life. It might look like there's no way, and MAN and ME might agree on that - it's just not possible - but when I do it anyway, in faith, somehow it works out in my favour.<br />
<br />
The question then becomes; how do you know what God's plan for your life is? That is one I struggle with every day. However, ultimately I do it the same way Jesus and everyone who came after him did it. Through lots of prayer and fasting. For myself, I find meditation can be very helpful in getting 'connected' as well. <br />
<br />
However, there's no guarantee. Sometimes I feel God very powerfully and actively and it's clear what I should do. Other times it's just a hunch. Other times, despite how much I may be praying, I'm just not feeling connected and feel like I'm floating aimlessly. However, God has, time and again, given me three pillars to live by - to lead, to love and to write/speak. So when I'm not getting any feedback from the holy spirit, I'm doing my best to live up to those pillars. Eventually, I find the spirit will nudge me here or there or speak through me in my writing. It takes some attunement and I have to be sure to take time out to just be with God, even if I not feeling like I'm hearing Him, to stay attuned.<br />
<br />
I could write an entire book on this subject (might do that someday) but there's many already out there for those of you who want more guidence on being lead by the spirit.<br />
<br />
Preston Squire</div>Preston Squirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15430225095315218841noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3325780957225112425.post-41581658353075974372012-01-10T00:34:00.000-05:002012-01-11T17:26:27.668-05:00Love Yourself<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">He answered: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, <b>'Love your neighbor as yourself.'</b>" ~ Luke 10:27</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">Ever notice that before you can truly love your 'neighbor' (and be loved by them), you must first have a healthy love of self.</span></div>Preston Squirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15430225095315218841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3325780957225112425.post-29303212489291977962011-10-27T15:38:00.000-04:002011-10-27T15:38:29.650-04:00Faith<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Faith is the cornerstone of every ambition. Without it, dreams collapse under their own weight.</div>Preston Squirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15430225095315218841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3325780957225112425.post-56675423587295129782011-10-17T23:15:00.002-04:002011-10-17T23:15:30.090-04:00No compromise<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
There's a time and place for compromises. My life just doesn't happen to be one of them.</div>Preston Squirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15430225095315218841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3325780957225112425.post-46005593118679130372011-10-16T23:33:00.001-04:002011-10-16T23:33:43.137-04:00Rock & Roll<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A life of sex, drugs and rock & roll may sound like a lot of fun but I find it interesting how many people I've met who lived that life for years and are now seeking God. It's like eating candy all the time, might be yummy, but eventually you start craving some real food. </div>Preston Squirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15430225095315218841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3325780957225112425.post-69366692133739387332011-10-01T06:51:00.002-04:002011-10-01T06:51:35.794-04:00Be Yourself<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It's interesting... I've owned so many pets over the years, and each one has had it's own distinct personality. Regardless of if they were bold or shy, loving or independent, cuddly or rambunctious, I've loved them each exactly as they were and none of them - not one ever - tried to be anything other than who they were.<br />
<br />
So why do we feel the need to put up a false front? Let's be loved for exactly who we are. </div>
Preston Squirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15430225095315218841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3325780957225112425.post-61788374782571412292011-09-30T08:44:00.000-04:002011-09-30T08:44:18.542-04:00What's your 'Why'?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
No matter how disillusioned, disappointed, disgusted or even downright disadvantaged we are in any area of our lives, we often tend to stay right where we are - despite the discomfort - because we don't know 'How' to change it. <br />
<br />
Knowing 'How' is never the answer. We need only have a compelling enough <b>'Why'</b> to move us forward and then the 'How' will be revealed bit by bit as we take action. Yes, we will make missteps along the way. But 'two steps forward, one step back' is infinitely better than standing still in the muck, slowly sinking away. </div>
Preston Squirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15430225095315218841noreply@blogger.com0