Self Worth

There are a lot of ways to quantify self worth. There is career success, financial success, social status, and several others I could name.

One phrase has always stood out to me when I research personal development. This one phrase I feel supersedes any other personal growth advice anybody could give.

First I thought this phrase was coined by Bill Britt, the owner of Britt World Wide (a professional development company).

Then I learned he simply restated the phrase from the late Zig Ziglar (a 'founding father' of the self development industry).

But just like just about every other piece of advice I've ever received, I learned the origin is actually the Holy Bible (The book of Proverbs to be more specific).

The phrase I'm referring to, and would encourage you to live EVERY day trying to accomplish:

"How many people are better off because you've lived?"

#success
-Erik Gotrich

A 3 minute blog

I have three minutes before my lunch hot pocket is done cooking.

So just a quick thought...

Today I woke up and walked my dogs for the first time in awhile.

I PUT ACTION to what i said I was going to do.

What did I learn?

START WITH SOMETHING SMALL THAT YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH, THEN MOVE ON TO BIGGER THINGS.

I started with a simple task of saying I was going to walk my dogs this morning and I did. God blessed me with a beautiful sunrise and a smile on my face before leaving my house.

What is something small you can accomplish today? Instead of 'relaxing' , what is something productive that you can accomplish to elevate your self worth?

NIKE says it best.... JUST DO IT!

(hot pocket is ready now...)

#success
-Erik G.

You get what you speak

Recently I was listening to a coworker of mine talk about their life. She was telling me how she never has enough money, never has enough time, and just all around isn't happy.

I was polite and just nodded and encouraged her, but in the back of my head I knew my words were not falling on any sort of fertile ground. She had taken the jewel that is the brain, and turned it into a playhouse for negative thoughts. Nothing i was saying was having any sort of long term effect, but instead it was just 'making her feel better' for five minutes.

Now I know none you reading this have ever been like that.... Right? You've never taken a 'whoa is me' day and played the game of how much worse can it get!

What should we do when we lean towards those tendencies? DO SOMETHING!

Anything at all can work. Figure out what's bothering you and instead of planning planning planning. Actually take the NEXT step and DO IT!

Just decide. And for those of you (myself included) that are saying to yourself "but you don't understand, it's hard for me to start something". Yes I do understand. But I also KNOW that that's all in your head. You are TELLING YOURSELF THAT. And the more you say it, the more real it becomes.

Ask yourself.... What's the worse that can happen?

#success
-Erik G.

(check out the flow chart to help you move forward)

There is Freedom in Discipline

When you think about discipline, rarely do people associate that word with freedom.

Think about what freedom means.... Freedom from bondage of any kind. Freedom from financial stress. Freedom from physical fatigue. Freedom from emotional stress. Etc.

When you CHOOSE to discipline yourself in any of these areas.... Physical, emotional, spiritual, etc. with it comes quite a bit of restraint. WHY?!?!?

I don't know about you, but it is so annoying when I go through the agony of self examination, set forth a plan to change, and then NEVER do anything! The pain of that first step is just irritating.

So why do we set forth goals to begin with? IT IS SO WE WILL HAVE FREEDOM FROM BONDAGE IN THAT AREA OF OUR LIFE!!!

Why do we feel like we need to loose weight? So we will have FREEDOM from the ill feeling of being unhealthy.

Why do we feel like we need to have a steadier prayer life? So we will have FREEDOM from not being in vertical alignment!

Why do we feel like we need to adhere to a stricter budget? So we will have FREEDOM from debt and over time come out on top!

So today when you think about those goals you've set aside and forgotten about, remember WHAT FREEDOM YOU'RE GIVING UP FOR NOT FOLLOWING THROUGH!

#success
-Erik G.

Think about where you are in life...how did you get there?

There are several areas of self examination that are necessary to be aware of for growth. But let's focus on everything in one big lump category.

The simple truth is that most of us are where we are because it was the simplest path to follow.

The hard truth is that the people that lead extraordinary lives are not the ones that followed the simple path.

Matthew 7:14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

You've probably heard several definitions of success through all different arenas. One has always stuck with me: "SUCCESS IS MEASURED BY HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE BETTER OFF BECAUSE YOU LIVED." -Rich Devos

This narrow road is paved with servanthood. It's not paved with obligation to complete another man's vision. It's not paved with jealousy and its certainly not paved with the 'easy way out.' It is however paved with Gods plan for your life. Now God says that we are called to be prosperous in all things, so do you think that excludes your life? Is your narrow road going to be wider just because its you? NO! It's going to be hard, because "few ever find it."

If you're not feeling prosperity right now, look at the path you're on currently. What is used to pave that road?

Are you on Gods path? Or the path that's easiest for you?

#success
-Erik G.

How to make a 'To-do' list

This seems like a relatively simple task but in order to make a habit of writing and completing to-do lists, you must keep a few thing in mind.

1. Separate it by either priority or task length. If you just make a huge list (which is a good brainstorm but not a good finished product) then you'll end up not finishing.

2. Keep it short! If you need to clean the living room.... Don't write.... Vacuum....dust....tidy up.... As all separate items on the list.... Just write Living Room.

3. The most important thing to remember is making a to do list that YOU CAN ACTUALLY COMPLETE! If you make a brainstorming list and see that one of the items is going to take a long time, put it on another list! If you keep it on the same list, you will feel less accomplished when you do not completely finish the list. (it's ok to have several different lists.... But combining them all into one list is what stresses us out most of the time.... It's visually HUGE!)

It all seems simple, but list building is one of the best techniques for solving chaos!

If you're stressed.... List out what stresses you and write solutions to each line item.

If you're overwhelmed, make a list of what items are putting the most pressure on you and set out a plan to complete it.

THE ONE THING I HOPE YOU GET FROM ALL THIS::::

WRITE IT OUT! DON'T JUST THINK IT!

#success
-Erik G.

Get off the couch!

Motivation is a funny thing. I've heard people say that folks are motivated in different ways. WRONG!

We are all motivated the same way!

When the desire for change exceeds your current comfort level, you become motivated to change. (that's true for everyone in every situation)

Let's break that down:

so If your desire for change is not strong.... Forget motivation! Why do you want to change? Is it a focused reason? Or is it some reason that someone else gave you and you're trying to accommodate them? (to motivate others you must first figure out why THEY would want to perform that task... NOT why YOU want them to do it)

Your current comfort level: if the desired outcome is not strong enough to change you, its probably cause you're comfortable where you're at! Your current/present position is good.

WHERE TRUE WISDOM LIES: YOU CAN PICTURE YOUR SITUATION 5 YEARS FROM NOW, AND DEFINE HOW COMFORTABLE YOU'D BE WITH THAT!

Think of where you'll be in 5 years in whatever area you want/need to change. If you keep doing what you're doing, are you going to have that desired outcome? If not..... There's your motivation!

#success
-Erik G.