Pearls of Wisdom from Neil Strauss

DON'T BE YOUR OWN WORST CRITIC...

People always complain about "haters," without even realizing that they
are their OWN worst haters. This is typically because they have internalized
the critical voices of a father, mother, or other caregiver, and carry that talk
around with them well into their adult lives.

....INSTEAD INTERVENE ON THE LIE

Are you going to make mistakes? Sure. We all do. But, from now on,
as soon as you generalize an error into a global self-criticism ("I'm stupid,"
"I'm not good enough," "I'll never get this right"), instantly banish the
thought from your mind and replace it with the truth ("I'm smart, I just
made a mistake, but I recognized it, learned something from it, and now
I'm even smarter.") And be glad you're not perfect. No one is. However,
you ARE perfectly imperfect.

DON'T LET FEAR GET IN YOUR WAY...

We create fear by focusing on something we don't want to happen, and
end up giving it way too much power over us. As a result, progress,
growth, and new experiences happen much slower than they should,
if at all.

...INSTEAD RECOGNIZE MOST FEARS ARE NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN.

Write down all your fears, then cross out the ones that are irrational or
unlikely to happen. Then eliminate any that have to do with things that
are out of your control. Finally, cross out any events that may happen in
the future. What's left? Do you really have anything to worry about in this
exact moment? No, not much, if anything. Acknowledge that it's all in your
mind and let it go. The best way to keep what you fear from happening is
to stop creating self-fulfilling prophecies.

DON'T GIVE IN TO LIMITING BELIEFS...INSTEAD LET THEM GO


DON'T SHIT-TALK OTHERS...

One of my favorite 30 day challenges was not saying negative
things about myself and other people. If you do this, what you'll
most likely discover is that you either put down other people because
you consider them competition or because you're trying to justify your
own beliefs or behaviors by getting someone else to agree with you.
Both are pointless and destructive.

...INSTEAD PRACTICE GIVING COMPLIMENTS

Instead of putting others down, try improving yourself instead. The only
person you have a right to compete with is YOU. In the meantime, treat
others how you'd like to be treated. One trait that some of the best seducers
share is EMPATHY. A couple of kind words can not only make a person's day,
but earn you a friend and supporter for life.  For the rest of the week,
whenever you see someone you want to judge negatively, pay them a
compliment instead. See what happens.

DON'T HOLD ONTO THE PAST...INSTEAD LEARN FROM IT

Learn from the past, but don't let it interfere with
the present or hold you back from your future.

DON'T LIVE FOR OTHERS...

You only have one life to live and if you're living for someone else, you're
wasting it.

...INSTEAD BE TRUE TO YOURSELF

Grab the steering wheel of your life and drive it to a place
you enjoy.

God KNOWS

God knows
When you are tired and discouraged from fruitless efforts...
God knows how hard you have tried.

When you've cried so long and your heart is in anguish...
God has counted your tears.

If you feel that your life is on hold and time has passed you by...
God is waiting with you.

When you're lonely and your friends are too busy even for a phone call...
God is by your side.

When you think you've tried everything and don't know where to turn...
God has a solution.

When nothing makes sense and you are confused or frustrated...
God has the answer.

If suddenly your outlook is brighter and you find traces of hope...
God has whispered to you.

When things are going well and you have much to be thankful for...
God has blessed you.

When something joyful happens and you are filled with awe...
God has smiled upon you.

When you have a purpose to fulfill and a dream to follow...
God has opened your eyes and called you by name.

Remember that wherever you are or whatever you 're facing...
GOD KNOWS!!