Acquire Wisdom and Live with Passion: Attitude

Showing posts with label Attitude. Show all posts

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Looking in different perspectives

Everyone will definitely continue to face trials and hardships, but what actually made the difference? The main reason that made the difference is their way of viewing hardship and bad luck. It is their perspective in life that caused the change.

"In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity." - Albert Einstein

"The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty" - Winston Churchill

"I have not failed 700 times. I have not failed once. I have succeeded in proving that those 700 ways will not work. When I have eliminated the ways that will not work, I will find the way that will work." - Thomas Edison

Imagine what would happen if Thomas Edison decided to give up because he feels that he would fail miserably? What would happen? Well, we would then had been living in the dark for the past 20 century! With that, we do not need any earth hour no more.

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Tuesday, February 26, 2008

The Secret to Happiness

“It isn't what you have, or who you are, or where you are, or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about.” - Dale Carnegie

"The Grand essentials of happiness are: something to do, something to love, and something to hope for." - Allan K. Chalmers

Many people spend a lifetime searching for happiness. The irony is the only place they ever needed to search was within. You can only bring happiness to yourself. Nothing else will.

Being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect. Happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have. It is not the absence of problems but the ability to deal with them.

Happiness comes whenever our work and words are beneficial to ourselves and others. May we always bring forth happiness to others wherever we go.

Do you have the secret to Happiness?

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Saturday, February 02, 2008

Employ the Golden Rule

"So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." - Matthew 7:12 (NIV)

“Practicing the Golden Rule is not a sacrifice; it is an investment.”

I believe employing the Golden Rule can even improve your blog traffic. If you digg others blog posts, your blog posts will be digged as well. If you click on the Ads, others will also do likewise. If you post comments to others blog, people will also post comments at your blog. So do to others what you would have them do to you.

Smile first because most smiles are started by other smiles. Be helpful and others will also be helpful to you. So treat people the way you'd like them to treat you.

By the way, I had started my Mandarin Blog having this Golden Rule in mind. I believe when I share how I study Mandarin, many will also share with me and I will definitely learn more!

What do you think? Have you been employing the Golden Rule?

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Tuesday, January 15, 2008

The Familiarity Trap

“Nothing is wonderful when you get used to it." - Edgar Watson Howe

Autopilot kicks in when we allow what was once exciting and challenging to become boring or mundane. Because of familiarity, we tend to miss opportunities and fail to perform at our best.

A bomb could go through without being notice by the security official if they would look at the screen for a long duration. That is why security officials at the airport rotate their roles.

We need to aware the moment we are in autopilot because it is unhelpful when

We want to do something better than we did it last time or
There might be a better way of doing something that we are used to doing in the same way.

If you are experiencing autopilot in your life, it maybe time to look with fresh eyes. Do you agree?

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Wednesday, January 09, 2008

Daring Ideas with Burning Desire Wins

“Daring ideas are like chessmen moved forward. They may be beaten, but they may start a winning game.” - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“If you wish to win a man over to your ideas, first make him your friend.” - Abraham Lincoln

The following conversation may be able to illustrate this point:

Father: I want you to marry a girl of my choice.
Son: "I will choose my own bride!"
Father: "But the girl is Bill Gate's daughter."
Son: "Well, in that case...ok"

Next Father approaches Bill Gates.
Father: "I have a husband for your daughter."
Bill Gates: "But my daughter is too young to marry!"
Father: "But this young man is a vice-president of the World Bank."
Bill Gates: "Ah, in that case...ok"

Finally Father goes to see the president of the World Bank.
Father: "I have a young man to be recommended as a vice-president."
President: "But I already have more vice-presidents than I need!"
Father: "But this young man is Bill Gate's son-in-law."
President: "Ah, in that case...ok"

Moral: Even If you have nothing, You can get Anything. But your attitude should be positive.

(Source: Internet)

“There is one quality which one must possess to win, and that is definiteness of purpose, the knowledge of what one wants, and a burning desire to possess it.” - Napoleon Hill

“Lack of money is no obstacle. Lack of an idea is an obstacle.”

What we need are ideas, burning desire and good moral as a guide. What do you think?

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Sunday, January 06, 2008

The Greatest is Self-motivation

“People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing - that's why we recommend it daily.” - Zig Ziglar

"Motivation is a fire from within. If someone else tries to light that fire under you, chances are it will burn very briefly." - Stephen R. Covey

“You can motivate by fear. And you can motivate by reward. But both of these methods are only temporary. The only lasting thing is self-motivation.” - Homer Rice

"When you know what you want,and you want it badly enough, you'll find a way to get it ." - Jim Rohn

Whatever has to be done, it's always your choice. Do you agree?

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Thursday, January 03, 2008

Never-ending commitment

Studies have shown that a baby falls an average of 240 times before he learns how to walk. Funny thing is that when we become an adult, we call it quits when we fail just once or twice.

“I believe life is constantly testing us for our level of commitment, and life's greatest rewards are reserved for those who demonstrate a never-ending commitment to act until they achieve. This level of resolve can move mountains, but it must be constant and consistent. As simplistic as this may sound, it is still the common denominator separating those who live their dreams from those who live in regret.” - Anthony Robbins

"In life, rejection is only a comma, failure a semi-colon. They are not full-stops!"

In order to follow your vision, you have to be committed. When you work toward what you really want, you are far more likely to achieve your goals.

Expect to win and you will win!

You won’t know your limits if you don’t keep trying.

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Wednesday, January 02, 2008

Renew your energy

"Goals help you channel your energy into action." - Les Brown

For every vacation, I always find my children very energetic at the start of the journey. However, on the way home, they will usually sleep in the car. I reckon one of the reasons was that the hope to reach the destination makes the difference in their level of energy.

“When you are in the valley, keep your goal firmly in view and you will get the renewed energy to continue the climb.” - Denis Waitley

"The key that unlocks energy is desire. It's also the key to a long and interesting life. If we expect to create any drive, any real force within ourselves, we have to get excited." - Earl Nightingale

To renew our energy, we have to write down what we truly want in our life. Moreover, we need to be able to see our goals in our minds eye and in our heart to begin to have a chance of realizing them.

Nothing happens until we plan and a good plans have goals and objectives.

Goals should be SMART:

S - specific, significant, stretching
M - measurable, meaningful, motivational
A - agreed upon, attainable, achievable, acceptable, action-oriented
R - realistic, relevant, reasonable, rewarding, results-oriented
T - time-based, timely, tangible, trackable

Do you believe in goal setting?

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Monday, December 31, 2007

Preparing for the New Year

An important part of preparing for the New Year is to review the past year and to learn from it.…

I learned many lessons this year and I know I still have a lot to learn. What about you?

Reflect upon what you did, how you felt, what you liked, what you didn’t and what you learned.

Here are some questions useful for reflection:

What did I learn?
What did I accomplish?
What would I have done differently?
What were the most significant events of the year past?
What did I do right?
What do I feel especially good about?
What was my greatest contribution?
What were my biggest challenges/difficulties?
What am I particularly grateful for?

"An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves." - Bill Vaughan

Do not look forward to the New Year for a new start on old habits but rather examine your actions and deeds.

May we find out what matters most so that we can do better in the year to come.

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Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Problems are signs of progress

“Understand that most problems are a good sign. Problems indicate that progress is being made, wheels are turning, you are moving toward your goals. Beware when you have no problems. Then you really have a problem... Problems are like landmarks of progress.” - Scott Alexander

“A problem is a chance for you to do your best.” - Duke Ellington

Never forget - a mistake is evidence that someone has tried to do something. Therefore, do not get discouraged by them but rather continue to encourage those who dare to try. With encouragement, many people can achieve wonders if they persist and persevere.

However, fear those that dare not try, worrying of making mistakes.

"People who make no mistakes lack boldness and the spirit of adventure. They are the brakes on the wheels of progress" - Dale E. Turner

What do you think?

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Monday, December 03, 2007

Consider your response carefully!

Let us be slow to judge and quick to respond to anyone needs. Nevertheless, we must consider our response carefully. Below is a story that illustrates the point.

A soldier who was fighting in Vietnam War called home one day to his parents. He told them that he would be coming home soon.

The parents were elated and told him that they wished he could come home the soonest possible. When the soldier told them that he would be coming home with a friend, the parents welcomed that. However, when he told them that this friend had lost a leg and an arm during the war and he would be staying with them permanently, the father rejected him straight away.

He said that handicapped people would add burden to the family so he would not welcome his friend to stay with them for long term. He suggested this friend of his to think of a way himself to settle his problem. Upon hearing this, the soldier hung up the phone.

A few days later, the parents were informed by the police that their son committed suicide. When they went for identification, they were stunned when they saw their son having only one leg and one arm.

(Thanks to Honman for the above story)

To the soldier, I think the following quote is appropriate:

“Respond intelligently even to unintelligent treatment.” - Lao Tzu

The above story really gave me some insights and wisdom.

“Understanding is the first step to acceptance, and only with acceptance can there be recovery.” - Joanne Kathleen Rowling

“The greatest gift that you can give to others is the gift of unconditional love and acceptance.” - Brian Tracy

What do you think? Do you agree that we need to respond carefully?

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Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Right Attitudes Produce Right Actions

"No man fails, if he does his best."

No problem man!
A Scotsman was an extremely hard worker and expected all the men under him to be the same. His men would tease him, "Scotty, don't you know that Rome wasn't built in a day?" "Yes," he would answer. "I know that. But I wasn't foreman on that job."

(Author Unknown)

THE CAN DO ATTITUDE

You CAN DO everything, but not all at once.
You CAN DO everything, if it's important enough for you to do.
You CAN DO everything, but you may not be the best at everything.
You CAN DO everything, but there will be limitations.
You CAN DO everything, but you'll need help.

Check out this inspiring slide:

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How to be the lucky one

“Luck has a peculiar habit of favoring those who don't depend on it”

"It doesn’t matter how many times you fail. It doesn’t matter how many times you almost get it right. No one is going to know or care about your failures, and neither should you. All you have to do is learn from them and those around you because... All that matters in business is that you get it right once. Then everyone can tell you how lucky you are." - Mark Cuban

"Be ready when opportunity comes... Luck is the time when preparation and opportunity meet." - Roy D. Chapin Jr.

"Luck is a dividend of sweat.
The more you sweat, the luckier you get." - Ray Kroc

This video shows a baboon escape the jaw of death. Do you think this is pure luck?

Everything happens for a reason. If you set your mind in the right direction, even when something bad happens, you can learn a lot from it and there is great potential.

What is your opinion about luck? Are you the lucky one?

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Thursday, November 08, 2007

Evaluate Your Habits

"Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going." - Jim Ryun

To be a highly effective person, you need to acquire good habits. It is always beneficial to list down your good and bad habits regularly. Then evaluate whether a habit is helping you or undermining you. Once you are aware of a bad habit, make a conscious decision to change it ASAP.

"First we form habits, then they form us. Conquer your bad habits, or they'll eventually conquer you." - Rob Gilbert

Deal with Habits Early On

An elderly teacher, with a pupil by his side, took a walk through a forest. Suddenly he stopped and pointed to four plants close at hand. The first was just beginning to peep above the ground, the second had rooted itself pretty well into the earth, the third was a small shrub, while the fourth was a full-sized tree. The tutor said to his young companion, ‘Pull up the first plant.’ The boy did so eagerly, using only his fingers. ‘Now pull up the second.’ The youth obeyed but found the task more difficult. ‘Do the same with the third,’ he urged. The boy had to use all his strength to uproot it.

‘Now,’ said the instructor, ‘try your hand with the fourth.’ The pupil put his arms around the trunk of the tall tree and couldn’t even shake its leaves. ‘This, my son, is just what happens with our bad habits. When they are young, we can remove them readily; but when they are old, it’s hard to uproot them, though we pray and struggle ever so sincerely.’

(From the Heidelberg Herald)

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit." - Aristotle

"The unfortunate thing about this world is that good habits are so much easier to give up than bad ones." - Somerset Maugham

Some bad habits

“Fear is a habit; so are Self-pity, Defeat, Anxiety, Despair, Hopelessness and Resignation. You can eliminate all of these negative habits with two simple resolves: I can!! and I will!!”

Some good habits

"Successful people aren't born that way. They become successful by establishing the habit of doing things unsuccessful people don't like to do. The successful people don't always like these things themselves; they just get on and do them." - William Makepeace Thackeray

"Develop the habit of focusing on the possibilities, not the problems." - David DeNotaris

"Cultivate the habit of laughter." - Og Mandino

No matter where you are or where you are not, you have the ability to improve. Evaluate your habits. Then change them if necessary to have a great life!

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Monday, October 22, 2007

Successful people also have problems

Wherever you are, whatever the problem, know that you are not alone. Life indeed is full of problems.

"People who succeed do not have fewer problems than people who fail. The only people without problems are those in cemeteries. It's not what happens to us that separates failures from successes. It is how we perceive it and what we do about what 'happens' that makes the difference." - Anthony Robbins

“The problem is not the problem; the problem is your attitude about the problem”

"How you think about a problem is more important than the problem itself - so always think positively." - Norman Vincent Peale

"Don't dwell on what went wrong. Instead, focus on what to do next. Spend your energies on moving forward toward finding the answer." - Denis Waitley

"When a problem comes along, study it until you are completely knowledgeable. Then find that weak spot, break the problem apart, and the rest will be easy." - Norman Vincent Peale

From Problem to Profit
About 100 years ago there was a candlestick maker who often stopped at a market and bought a fish for his evening meal. It was wrapped in ordinary paper which became soggy, and the passengers on the street car always complained about the odor. One morning he dipped the paper in molten wax. That day he wrapped his fish in the treated paper. It did not become soggy, and there was no odor. That is how waxed paper was born.

Got a problem? Do not curse it. Look for a cure.

Learn to look at problem differently. Find the cause of your problem and eliminate it. There may be ways to turn a problem into an opportunity for success just like the above story.

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Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Understanding Motivation

“To succeed you need to find something to hold on to, something to motivate you, something to inspire you” - Tony Dorsett

A motive is an impulse that causes a person to act. The more powerful your reasons or motives are to do something, the more motivation you receive to get things done!

Take a look at the following:

A man is asked by his boss to carry a 2 stone bag of sand across a distance of 50 meters. He is not a labour and is unhappy about being asked to do this manual task by his employer. He grumbles about it and tries to put it off. He sees no reason why he should have to do this heavy, unrewarding job. He does it, half-heartedly dragging his feet.
That same man is walking past an accident scene, where a small child, also weighing 2 stone, needs to be carried 50 meters so she can get urgent medical help. He does it immediately and runs all the way!

In the first scenario, the person had no motivation to get the job done. He put it off until the last minute and then when he finally did it, he made sure EVERYONE knew about it. He had no reason to do this boring task, other than trying to keep his boss happy.

However, in the second scenario he was fully motivated - there was a big reason to do the task. He acted immediately and did so with massive amounts of energy. The reason (or motive) is what fired his motivation and gave him the vigour, strength and drive needed in order to successfully get the task completed.

“Walking your talk is a great way to motivate yourself. No one likes to live a lie. Be honest with yourself, and you will find the motivation to do what you advise others to do.” - Vince Poscente

“You can motivate by fear. And you can motivate by reward. But both of these methods are only temporary. The only lasting thing is self-motivation.” - Homer Rice

“Motivation is like food for the brain. You cannot get enough in one sitting. It needs continual and regular top ups.” - Peter Davies

A burning desire is the greatest of all motivators. Motivation is inside you, you just need to find it, harness it and use it.

Remember to keep yourself motivated at all times!

Photo 1 by photoplasia taken from this source
Photo 2 by Brett L. taken from this source

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Tuesday, October 09, 2007

How to be successful

Here are those things that successful people do:

Photo by aloshbennett taken from this source

Thursday, September 13, 2007

The Fountain Of Youth

"Age ... is a matter of feeling, not of years." - George William Curtis

A matter of reactions

It is now believed that a man reaches his peak mentally around the age of 35 and that this peak is maintained even past 70 years of age.

It has also been proven that the old saying, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks" is untrue.

The learning power at 70 is about the same as it is at 17. As one authority put it, we do not become old through the passing of years, but rather by our reactions to the circumstances of life.

Interest makes the difference
When I and my family was in Genting Highlands - a famous mountain resort informally known as the Las Vegas of Malaysia, me and my wife were astonished at the casino. We saw aged man and woman so accustomed to all sort of gambling rules and have all the know how to operate any slot machines. On the other hand, we were totally lost and have no idea how those games or slot machines were played.

I also remembered at the very beginning, it was difficult to get older generation people onto Internet because many of them have phobia of IT stuff. However, when I show them how to use the Internet browser to look at the share price, the acceptance level suddenly shot up and the teaching becomes so easy!

Thus, age doesn't really matter and nothing is really difficult. It is just a matter of interest.

“There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age.” - Sophia Loren

“Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young."

"The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young.” - Henry Ford

"Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter." - Mark Twain

The Secret
To remain young while growing old is indeed the highest blessing. You become old by not continuing to grow. When you stay interested and keep learning, you will stay young.

You're as old as you feel!

What do you think? Do you agree?

Photo 1 by Idol taken from this source
Photo 2 by stranded_starfish taken from this source
Photo 3 by pingnews.com taken from this source

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Sunday, September 09, 2007

You are happier by being grateful

"Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others." - Marcus Cicero

It was proven

Psychologists Dr Michael McCullough and Dr Robert Emmons found that being grateful make people happier.

The Experiment
They asked volunteers to keep daily diaries for two weeks. One group recorded daily hassles, another group jotted down events, and a third, the ‘gratitude group’, listed five things they were thankful for each day. By the end, people in the gratitude group were so much happier, their spouses noticed a change.

Benefits of being grateful
People who frequently experience gratitude are also more optimistic and helpful, and have more determination and energy.

“Every good trait you’d want for yourself or for other people seems to go along with being grateful,” says McCullough.

Take a look at this story:

There was a story of a couple who had been fortunate to earn multi-millions and had chosen to continue to compete and indulged in many businesses, moral or immoral, legal or illegal, as their lusts for being the richest people in the world, they had continued to take risks, enjoyed their conquers, until one day, their empire of businesses burst, collapsed, and they had lost everything, and were bankrupted.

Then they had to live without proper shelters, and live by collecting from wastes. One day in a storm, they found a dime on the roadside, they picked it up and were so grateful for the dime, their tears rolled down in their cheeks, and mixing with the raindrops, there were feeling of joy for able to have a dime.

Only then, they learn how to be grateful and be happy. While in the past they had millions of dollars, they were not grateful, and continued to indulge in more activities to search greedily for more and wish to be number one in the world and be most powerful people in the world!

(Author: Unknown)

Therefore, as we are blessed with what we have now, let's be grateful and be happy and do not complain. Just make the most of what you have now.

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." - John Fitzgerald Kennedy

If you want to feel happier in as little as two weeks, write down four or five things you were grateful for each day.

What do you think? Are you going to try this exercise?

Photo 1 by TheAlieness GiselaGiardino²³ taken from this source
Photo 2 by SeenyaRita taken from this source

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Friday, September 07, 2007

Don't get discouraged or depressed

"It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see." - Henry David Thoreau

“How you look at a situation is very important, for how you think about a problem may defeat you before you ever do anything about it.

When you get discouraged or depressed, try changing your attitude from negative to positive and see how life can change for you. Remember, your attitude toward a situation can help you to change it -- you create the very atmosphere for defeat or victory.” - Franco Harris

“The hardest thing you can do is smile when you are ill, in pain, or depressed. But this no-cost remedy is a necessary first half-step if you are to start on the road to recovery.” - Allen Klein

"Pain is no evil unless it conquers us." - George Eliot

"It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters." - Epictetus

"Don't go through life, grow through life." - Eric Butterworth

To deal with depression, help yourselves by understanding what depression is and know what it takes to beat it. Seek help from your family and friends. Then start living a happier and healthier life now.

Photo 1 by sirwiseowl taken from this source
Photo 2 by JB Imaging taken from this source

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