"NO ARMS, NO LEGS, NO PROBLEM" - Changing "It can't be done" to "I'll do whatever it takes to get it done."

#12 PERSEVERANCE: Nick Vujicic* was born with no arms and no legs. He faced all the challenges of growing up and decided that there was a reason for every single one of the challenges we face. He was upset with what he perceived as a restless, deeply unhappy population of young people and the increasing teen suicide rate. By the age of 19, he had already begun fulfilling his dream of encouraging others by sharing his story. He became a world famous motivational speaker.

In 1969, at age 27, Stephen Hawking** was diagnosed with motor neuron disease and given two years to live. He is almost totally paralyzed and communicates through a speech generating device. He is a theoretical physicist, cosmologist, and author. His book A Brief History of Time stayed on the British Sunday Times bestseller list for a record 237 weeks. He taught at Cambridge for 30 years, and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the U.S. Stephen has been married twice and has three children.

What does it take to persevere? It takes not letting circumstances dictate what’s possible for you. It takes a vision of what life will look like once the challenge is overcome. It’s not about envisioning a different life, but envisioning your life lived a different way.

As you pursue your goal, you will encounter obstacles. You will make mistakes. You may even become discouraged. Accept that that will be part of the process. When it happens change, “It can’t be done,” to “What will it take to get this done?” 

It is unlikely that you’ll ever have to face anything as challenging as both Nick and Stephen face every day. Take inspiration from them and others who have persevered. Stay focused. Keep your eye on the prize and move forward. 

*To read more about Nick Vujicic: http://www.attitudeisaltitude.com/aboutus-nick.php.
**To read more about Stephen Hawking: http://www.hawking.org.uk

#11 SUPPORT: GET WHAT YOU NEED TO SUCCEED

Ask yourself these two question: What obstacles have I faced in the past that kept me from reaching my goals? What type of support would have been helpful? Here are some types of support you might need. 

 

• ·         Family and Friends: Share your plans with family members and friends whose support is important to you. Use any negative comments from naysayers as motivation. If someone withholds his/her support, ask yourself: Do I really need it to succeed? If it’s a life-partner or close friend, ask yourself: How will it impact our relationship if I move forward? How will it impact our relationship if I don’t move forward?

• ·         Therapy or counseling: If you have a deep-seeded issue that’s keeping you stuck in the past, you may need therapy before you can successfully achieve your goal. If you suffer from addiction or have serious marital issues, counseling can help.

• ·         Education and Training: Make sure you have the knowledge, proper licensing or certification you’ll need reach you goal, but be careful not to get stuck here. Ask yourself, do I really need to take one more class, get one more certificate, earn one more degree, or am I procrastinating because I’m afraid to move forward? At some point, one has to stop studying and start doing. There are things one learns from experience that can’t be learned taking a class.

• ·         Mentor: You don't need to re-invent the wheel: See if someone who has already accomplished what you wish to accomplish will mentor you. Expect to pay them for their time.  
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• ·        Coach: If you don’t even know where to begin, hire a coach to help you design a path, set goals, create action steps, and give you the tools, support, and accountability that will keep you moving forward.
•     Financial advice
•     Legal advice
  
  
  
  
  Be willing to invest in your success. Whatever you spend on the support will more than pay for itself in time and money saved by shortening the learning curve and avoiding costly mistakes.

#10 HEALTH and WELLNESS - "EVERYHING IS EASY NOW"

#10 HEALTH AND WELLNESS – What you’ve been hearing all your life is true: If you have your health…, well, you know. Your goal will be much easier to reach if you can approach each day with a healthy body, a calm mind, and a peaceful spirit. 

If you haven’t had one within the past 12 months, schedule a routine physical exam. Ask your doctor which screenings he/she recommends and schedule them. Bring a list of questions with you, and have the doctor recommend a safe fitness routine to help you reach your fitness goals. Exercise releases hormones which create an overall feeling of optimism and well-being, two keys to successful goal achievement. It also increases energy. My friend, Ralph, who recently lost 60 pounds using Weight Watchers and moderate exercise said, “Everything is easy now.”

Feed your mind with healthy information and beautiful images and take care to keep the negativity out. Never stop reading, studying learning, growing. Take a class in something that interests you just for fun. Read books about people you admire. Get what’s inside your head out of there by writing. Organizing your thoughts to write them down brings clarity. Seek stimulating conversation. Shut off the electronics and just think. Create a space to pay attention to your thoughts and listen to your own inner wisdom.

Feed your soul. The soul needs silence in order to be fed*. Schedule some quiet time every day - no people, no electronics, no traffic noise, just

silence. Breathe deeply. Do nothing. Be still and be with yourself. It may feel uncomfortable at first. You may need to practice being still. A lit candle might help you focus.

Read the words of great spiritual leaders. Listen to sacred music. If you’ve been longing to get back into organized religion, visit a house of worship. Attend a spiritual retreat.

Honoring your need for wellness in body, mind, and spirit says you are grateful for this life you’ve been given. Complete wellness will go a long way toward equipping you for the journey toward your goal. You’ll feel empowered, energized, and excited every day.

*Contact me to request a copy of my favorite poem about silence: info@ritamaniscalco.com.