Quotes by Swami Vivekananda

• Everyone should know that there is no salvation except through the conquering of desires.

• Purity is strength. Spiritual truth is purity.

• The powers of the mind should be concentrated and the mind turned back upon itself; as the darkest places reveal their secrets before the penetrating rays of the sun, so will the concentrated mind penetrate its own innermost secrets.

• The power is with the silent ones, who only live and love and then withdraw their personality. They never say “me” and “mine”; they are only blessed in being instruments.

• Hold to the idea, “I am not the mind, I see that I am thinking, I am watching my mind act,” and each day the identification of yourself with thoughts and feelings will grow less, until at last you can entirely separate yourself from the mind and actually know it to be apart from yourself.

• The first sign that you are becoming religious is that you are becoming cheerful.

• The less passion there is, the better we work. The calmer we are, the better for us and the more the amount of work we can do. When we let loose our feelings, we waste so much energy, shatter our nerves, disturb our minds, and accomplish very little work.

• The powers of the mind should be concentrated and the mind turned back upon itself; as the darkest places reveal their secrets before the penetrating rays of the sun, so will the concentrated mind penetrate its own innermost secrets.

• There is only one sin. That is weakness.... The only saint is that soul that never weakens, faces everything, and determines to die game.

• Do any deserve liberty who are not ready to give it to others? Let us calmly go to work, instead of dissipating our energy in unnecessary fretting and fuming.

• Both the forces of good and evil will keep the universe alive for us, until we awake from our dreams and give up this building of mud pies.

• Be perfectly resigned, perfectly unconcerned; then alone can you do any true work. No eyes can see the real forces; we can only see the results. Put out self, forget it; just let God work, it is His business.

• Blows are what awaken us and help to break the dream. They show us the insufficiency of this world and make us long to escape, to have freedom.

• “Comfort” is no test of truth; on the contrary, truth is often far from being “comfortable.”

• “Face the brutes.” That is a lesson for all life—face the terrible, face it boldly. Like the monkeys, the hardships of life fall back when we cease to flee before them.

• When we come to nonattachment, then we can understand the marvelous mystery of the universe: how it is intense activity and at the same time intense peace, how it is work every moment and rest every moment.

• Neither seek nor avoid; take what comes. It is liberty to be affected by nothing. Do not merely endure; be unattached. 

• Learning and wisdom are superfluities, the surface glitter merely, but it is the heart that is the seat of all power. It is not in the brain but in the heart that the Atman, possessed of knowledge, power, and activity, has its seat.

• Thank God for giving you this world as a moral gymnasium to help your development, but never imagine you can help the world.

• The more you think of yourself as shining immortal spirit, the more eager you will be to be absolutely free of matter, body, and senses. This is the intense desire to be free.

• The power is with the silent ones, who only live and love and then withdraw their personality. They never say “me” and “mine”; they are only blessed in being instruments.

• This is the first lesson to learn: be determined not to curse anything outside, not to lay the blame upon anyone outside, but stand up, lay the blame on yourself. You will find that is always true. Get hold of yourself.

• Those who work at a thing heart and soul not only achieve success in it but through their absorption in that they also realize the supreme truth—Brahman. Those who work at a thing with their whole heart receive help from God.

• Don't look back—forward, infinite energy, infinite enthusiasm, infinite daring, and infinite patience—then alone can great deeds be accomplished.

• Anything that brings spiritual, mental, or physical weakness, touch it not with the toes of your feet.

• All who have actually attained any real religious experience never wrangle over the form in which the different religions are expressed. They know that the soul of all religions is the same and so they have no quarrel with anybody just because he or she does not speak in the same tongue.

• We must approach religion with reverence and with love, and our heart will stand up and say, this is truth, and this is untruth.

• The power of purity—it is a definite power.

• 'The world is the great gymnasium where we come to make ourself strong.' 

• 'FEEL like Christ and you will be a Christ; feel like Buddha and you will be a Buddha. It is feeling that is the life, the strength, the vitality, without which no amount of intellectual activity can reach God.' 

• 'THE will is not free- it is a phenomenon bound by cause and effect -but there is something behind the will which is free.' 

• 'THERE is nothing beyond God, and the sense enjoyments are simply something through which we are passing now in the hope of getting things.' 

• 'As the different streams having their sources in different paths which men take through different tendencies, various though they appear, crooked or straight, all lead to Thee.

• 'THROUGH prayer, the love of God grows and assumes a form which is called supreme devotion. Forms vanish, retuals fly away, books are superseded, images, temples, churches, religions and sects, countries and nationalities - all these little limitations and bondages fall off by their own nature from him who knows this love of God.'

• IT is good to love God for hope of reward, but it is better to love God for love's sake; and the prayer goes: O Lord, I do not want wealth nor, children nor learning. If it be Thy will, I shall go from birth to birth. But grant me this, that I may love thee without the hope of reward--'love'' unselfishly for love's sake.

• 'My nature is love Him. And therefore I love. I do not pray for any-thing. I do not ask for anything. Let Him place me wherever He likes. I must love Him for love's sake. I can not trade in love.'

• 'HOW to worship Him? through love. He is to be worshipped as the one beloved dear than everything in this and the next life .' 

• 'GOD of truth, be Thou alone my guide..'

• You cannot believe in God until you believe in yourself.

• We must approach religion with reverence and with love, and our heart will stand up and say, this is truth, and this is untruth.

• It is feeling that is the life, the strength, the vitality, without which no amount of intellectual activity can reach God.

• Learning and wisdom are superfluities, the surface glitter merely, but it is the heart that is the seat of all power.

• 'TO worship God even for the sake of salvation or any other reward is equally degenerate. Love knows no reward. Give your love unto to God, but do not ask anything in return even from Him through pray.'

• 'PRAYER is divine love alone. When this highest ideal of love is reached, philosophy is thrown away. Who will then care of it ? Freedom, salvation, nirvana- all are thrown away. Who cares to become free while in the enjoyment of divine love? '

• Purity in thought, speech, and act is absolutely necessary for anyone to be religious. 

• That which tends to increase the divinity in you is virtue, and that which tends to increase brutality in you is vice.

• 'We see that the apparent contradictions and perplexities in every RELIGION mark but different stages of growth. The end of all religions is the realizing of God in the soul. That is the one universal religion.'

• To me the very essence of education is concentration of the mind, not the collecting of facts.

• Let all your nerves vibrate through the backbone of your religion.

• The first sign that you are becoming religious is that you are becoming cheerful.

• There is only one sin. That is weakness.... The only saint is that soul that never weakens, faces everything, and determines to die game.

• Desire, ignorance, and inequality—this is the trinity of bondage.

• If superstition enters, the brain is gone.

• Learning and wisdom are superfluities, the surface glitter merely, but it is the heart that is the seat of all power. It is not in the brain but in the heart that the Atman, possessed of knowledge, power, and activity, has its seat.

Poem - Number One

NUMBER ONE

One song can spark a moment,

One flower can wake the dream.

One tree can start a forest,

One bird can herald spring.

One smile begins a friendship,

One handclasp lifts a soul.

One star can guide a ship at sea,

One word can frame the goal.

One vote can change a nation,

One sunbeam lights a room

One candle wipes out darkness,

One laugh will conquer gloom.

One step must start each journey.

One word must start each prayer.

One hope will raise our spirits,

One touch can show you care.

One voice can speak with wisdom,

One heart can know what's true,

One life can make a difference,

You see, it's up to you!

* * * * * * *

Life Philosophy: The Value of Time

To realize the value of one year;

Ask a student who has failed in a final exam.

To realize the value of one month;

Ask a mother who has given birth to a premature baby.

To realize the value of one hour;

Ask the lovers who are waiting to meet.

To realize the value of one minute;

Ask the person who has missed the train, or bus or plane.

To realize the value of one second;

Ask a person who has survived an accident.

To realize the value of one millisecond;

Ask the person who has won silver at the Olympics.

Time waits for no one.

Treasure every moment you have.

You will treasure it even more if you can spend it with someone special.

*******

Life Philosophy: Think About It !

"My mother used to ask me what the most important part of the body is.  Through the years I would take a guess at what I thought was the correct Answer.

When I was younger, I thought sound was very important to us as humans, so I said, "My ears, Mommy."

She said, "No. Many people are deaf. But you keep thinking about it and I will ask you again soon."

Several years passed before she asked me again. Since making my first attempt, I had contemplated the correct answer.

So this time I told her, "Mommy, sight is very important to everybody, so it must be our eyes."

She looked at me and told me, "You are learning fast, but the answer is not correct because there are many people who are blind."

Stumped again, I continued my quest for knowledge and over the years, Mother asked me a couple more times and always her answer was, "No. But you are getting smarter every year, my child."

Then one year, my grandfather died. Everybody was hurt. Everybody was crying. Even my father cried. I remember that especially because it was only the second time I saw him cry.

My Mom looked at me when it was our turn to say our final good-bye to my Grandfather.

She asked me, "Do you know the most important body part yet, my dear?" I was shocked when she asked me this now.

I always thought this was a game between her and me.

She saw the confusion on my face and told me, "This question is very important.

It shows that you have really lived in your life. For every body part you gave me in the past, I have told you were wrong and I have given you an example why.

But today is the day you need to learn this important lesson."

She looked down at me as only a mother can. I saw her eyes well up with tears. She said, "My dear, the most important body part is your shoulder."

I asked, "Is it because it holds up my head?"

She replied, "No, it is because it can hold the head of a friend or a loved one when they cry.  Everybody needs a shoulder to cry on sometime in life, my dear. I only hope that you have enough love and friends that you will always have a shoulder to cry on when you need it."

Then and there I knew the most important body part is not a selfish one.

It is made for others and not for yourself. It is sympathetic to the pain of others.

People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did. But people will NEVER forget how you made them feel.

Stagnation in Life? Change it.

If you don’t like where you are,

Change it! 

Because, 
YOU are not a tree.

* * * * * * *

Make life smooth....Take Time in Life to...

Take time to learn,

It is a sign of greatness.

Take time to think,

It is a source of power.

Take time to plan,

It is the first step to fulfillment.

Take time to work,

It is the price of success.

Take time to dream,

It is the fountain of achievement.

Take time to act,

It is an expression of belief in oneself.

Take time to give,

It is a symbol of maturity.

Take time to smile,

It is the window of the soul.

Take time to love,

It is a gift of God.

Life seems so difficult? Think - About It

Think - About It

Today before you think of saying an unkind word.
Think of someone who can't speak.

Before you complain about the taste of your food.
Think of someone who has nothing to eat.

Before you complain about your husband or wife.
Think of someone who's crying out to God for a companion.

Today before you complain about life.
Think of someone who went too early to heaven.

Before you complain about your children.
Think of someone who desires children but they're barren.

Before you argue about your dirty house; someone didn't clean or sweep.
Think of the people who are living in the streets.

Before whining about the distance you drive.
Think of someone who walks the same distance with their feet.

And when you are tired and complain about your job.
Think of the unemployed, the disabled and those who wished they had your job.

But before you think of pointing the finger or condemning another.
Remember that not one of us are without sin and we all answer to one maker.

And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down.
Put a smile on your face and thank God you're alive and still around.

******

Take life easily - A philosophy using Mayonnaise Jar

A professor stood before his Philosophy class and had some items in front of him.

When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.

He then asked the students if the jar was full.

They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar.

He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls.

He then asked the students again if the jar was full.

They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar.

Of course, the sand filled up everything else.

He asked once more if the jar was full.

The students responded with a unanimous "yes."

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand.

The students laughed.

"Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life”.

"The golf balls are the important things - your family, your children, your health, your friends, and your favorite passions - things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full”.

"The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, and your car”.

"The sand is everything else--the small stuff”.

"If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls”.

"The same goes for life”.

“If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you”.

“Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness”.

“Take care of the golf balls first, the things that really matter”.

"Set your priorities”.

"The rest is just sand”.

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented.

The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked”.

"It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a cup of coffee with a friend."

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 Hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar . . . and the coffee.

***************

Challenges and responsibilities of senior teachers

Being a teacher itself is a challenging career, and seniority in the profession has challenges even more. A senior teacher is always a prestigious post to be in an institution. Seniority earns respect and rewards more than the freshers, provided, they have more responsibilities than others. All teaching staffs with experience can get the senior post only if they possess true qualities as well as the talent and not every experienced teaching faculty is promoted as senior. Initially teaching individuals take a common career of teaching almost all basic subjects and when their service time climbs, they wish to expertise in a specific subject and thus senior teaching faculties are assigned to teach a particular course. Senior teachers also have the chance of becoming head of the department or institution with certain qualities to ensure the responsibilities. The responsibilities and challenges of senior teachers will be:


A senior teacher should be proficient in managing a classroom.
Instant implementation is a key responsibility of senior teachers when it comes to teaching strategies.
They should show quick and steady improvement of the class with their complete skill.
Senior teachers should be initiators and not followers.
They have to be a mentor for primary level teachers.
Raising the standard of teaching is in the hands of senior teaching faculties.
The development of an institution depends on the performance of a senior teacher, and it is their greatest responsibility to execute well.
They need to schedule themselves in completing a syllabus on time, which requires the skill of planning.
Department problems have to be sought out as quickly as possible and should try to solve by themselves without involving the administration which shows the character of seniority.
Developing new learning stuffs for students also comprises their duty.
Smoothly managing a group of teachers in the department is one of the tough tasks of senior teacher which they have to do it certainly.

Significant responsibilities of Pre-school teachers

Preschool is an institution for children under 5 to teach basics of education. Purpose of preschools is to develop interest in children for learning things at early age. Working parents mostly prefer sending their child to preschools to improve their IQ. Preschools are not just for basic education but it also functions a crèche where children are provided care in the absence of the parents. Preschools are thus referred as play schools. A Pre-school teacher is the one, who undertakes those functions of the institution with significant responsibilities, which include:

• The foremost responsibility of a pre-school teacher is to promote intelligence, physical activity and the social well-being of the children.
• Supervision of children behaviors and altering the odd mannerisms is the second most important responsibility that parents expect from a pre-school teacher.
• Practically teaching and developing simple teaching models for children under 5
• Developing vocabulary and pronunciation of basic languages in children
• Maintaining a parent-teacher relationship for updating the progress of their kids
• Make the children strong in basic education in order to promote them to next level of primary
• Importance of diet and food habits has to be taught.
• Teachers should teach the social welfares and fundamental lifestyles.
• Identifying the skills and nurturing right from the initial stage
• Handling children from different religious as well as cultural backgrounds
• Exposing kids to different extra-curricular activities like dance, music, drawing, etc.
• Planning educational trips
• Ensuring safety of children
• Other miscellaneous duties like noshing food, dressing up, making to sleep and cleaning untidy things made by the kids also should be executed by pre-school teachers.

Be Stress Free...

"If you smile the whole world smiles with you. But if you cry, you cry alone."

Today everyone is suffering of stress, worry, depression and hyper tension. Those who have or those who don't, married or unmarried, have babies or not, employed or unemployed, those who have everything and nothing. All are under stress. Stress is as common as common cold.

Once a sage said that these days husband does not live with wife and wife does not live with husband – in fact they both live with Stress.

Our life is like a battleground. We all are fighting a battle – a war with the circumstances or with ourselves.

What is Stress?

Stress is mind and body's response or reaction to a real or imagined threat, event or change. Any interference that disturbs our mental and physical wellbeing. It occurs when the body is required to perform beyond its normal range of capabilities.

Types of Stress?

There are two types of stress – internal & external. Internal stress can be controlled but external cannot be. So identify and avoid the external stressors.

Why Are We Surrounded By Stress?

1/3 reasons of our stress is - we are living being (Cannot change), 1/3 created by us and 1/3 because of our greedy nature like Sikander or Hitler. The later two causes of stress can be avoided or controlled.

Stress starts with "W" & "H" family. Like "What is happening with me? Why this is happening with me only? How long this will continue?"

The main cause of stress is whatever we want to become and we cannot, whatever we desire to achieve but cannot, whatever we want to do and cannot. We need to know that we are human beings and cannot do all things simultaneously equally well. This will make us tension free.

Our whole life we live under fear which hardly happens. It is rightly said that F-E-A-R is 'False Evidence Appearing Real' or 'Fantasized Evidence Appearing Real'.

Change Our Attitude Change Our Life

If we don't like our homes, we change it. If we don't like our clothes, we change them. If we don't like our friends, we change them too. We change our employers, we change, change... We change everything we don't like. Are we happy? No. Because we don't change our own nature or attitude. If we change our own attitude, everything changes. Those who adjust themselves in every situation or environment are always happy and stress free.

How To Get Rid Of Stress?

When we are in a problem or under stress, if we think - What difference does it make? Whatever situation is today, it will change tomorrow. There will be no worry and tension. We can become our own Stress Doctor just by changing our perception.

Stress is like a flowing river. If we construct a bridge over a river, we can control and hold flow of water. The same thing is true with the Stress. If we control and manage it, stress is a tonic. Under stress, many people perform better.

There was an ODI between Australia & South Africa. Australia played first and gave target of 434 runs. African team was under stress to chase such a huge score like the Himalaya. However, Africa chased this target, which is a history.

In the decisive war of Kurushekhatra, when Arjuna denied to fight with the Kaurava's, Lord Krishna gave the best ever message of Bhagvadgeeta. It is written in our scriptures that the performance given under stress can never be repeated. Stress can make and break as the way it is handled.

Our life should be like that of Lord Rama. When the time came to become king, he was told to go "Vanvas", which he happily accepted. What we can't change, we ought to accept to remain happy. We should not place our remote control in others hands to play with us.

CTRL + ALT + DEL Strategy for Stress

– CTRL - Control Yourself
– ALT - Look for Alternative Solution
– DEL - Delete the Situation which gives you Stress

When life gives you a hundred reasons to cry, show life that you have a thousand reasons to smile. Never think Hard about PAST ..................it brings tears......Do not think more about FUTURE.......... it brings fears........Live this moment with a smile ............it brings cheers ......

An IQ Test....

1. It's mid-winter and there is a strong wind blowing from the north. In which direction are the leaves being blown?

2. You're the driver of a bus. You stop at a corner and pick up 3 people. At the second stop 2 people get off and 5 people get on. At the next stop 7 people get on and 4 people get off. At the fourth stop, 7 people get on and 6 people get off. Finally, at the last stop, 3 people get on and 5 people get off. How old is the bus driver?

3.Which is correct: Five and four are eight, or five and four is eight?

4. There is a yellow bungalow, everything in it is yellow. The doors are yellow, the walls are yellow, the sofa is yellow, even the fridge is yellow. What colour are the stairs?

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Philosophy: Zen Thoughts and Advice

1. Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me either. Just pretty much leave me alone.

2. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a broken fan belt and leaky tire.

3. It's always darkest before dawn. So if you're going to steal your neighbour's newspaper, that's the time to do it.

4. Don't be irreplaceable. If you can't be replaced, you can't be promoted.

5. Always remember that you're unique. Just like everyone else.

6. Never test the depth of the water with both feet.

7. If you think nobody cares if you're alive, try missing a couple of car payments.

8. Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.

9. If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is probably not for you.

10. If you lend someone Rs.500/- and never see that person again, it was probably a wise investment.

11. If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.

12. Some days you're the bug; some days you're the windshield.

13. Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.

14. The quickest way to double your money is to fold it in half and put it back in your pocket.

15. A closed mouth gathers no foot.

16. Duct tape is like 'The Force'. It has a light side and a dark side, and it holds the universe together.

17. There are two theories to arguing with women. Neither one works.

18. Generally speaking, you aren't learning much when your lips are moving.

19. Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.

20. Never miss a good chance to shut up.

AND at the END,

21. Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.

Philosophy - The Truth, Goodness and Usefulness

Socrates Philosophy

The Truth, Goodness and Usefulness

Keep this in mind the next time you are about to repeat a rumour or spread gossip.

In ancient Greece (469 - 399 BC), Socrates was widely lauded for his wisdom.

One day an acquaintance ran up to him excitedly and said, "Socrates, do you know what I just heard about Diogenes?"

"Wait a moment," Socrates replied, "Before you tell me I'd like you to pass a little test. It's called the Triple Filter Test."

'Triple filter?" asked the acquaintance.

"That's right," Socrates continued, "Before you talk to me about Diogenes let's take a moment to filter what you're going to say. The first filter is Truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?"

"No," the man said. "Actually I just heard about it."

"All right," said Socrates, "So you don't really know if it's true or not. Now let's try the second filter, the filter of Goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about Diogenes something good?"

"No, on the contrary..."

"So," Socrates continued, "You want to tell me something about Diogenes that may be bad, even though you're not certain it's true?"

The man shrugged, a little embarrassed.

Socrates continued: "You may still pass the test though, because there is a third filter, the filter of Usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about Diogenes going to be useful to me?

"No, not really."

"Well," concluded Socrates, "If what you want to tell me is neither True nor Good nor even useful, why tell it to me or anyone at all?"

The man was bewildered and ashamed.

This is an example of why Socrates was a great philosopher and held in such high esteem.

It also explains why Socrates never found out that Diogenes was shagging his wife.

Simple Rules of Life

If you open it, close it.

If you turn it on, turn it off.

If you unlock it, lock it up.

If you break it, admit it.

If you can’t fix it, call in someone who can.

If you borrow it, return it.

If you value it, take care of it.

If you make a mess, clean it up.

If you move it, put it back.

If it belongs to someone else and you want to use it, get permission.

If you don’t know how to operate it, leave it alone.

If it’s none of your business, don’t ask questions.

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

If it will brighten someone’s day, say it.

If it will tarnish someone’s reputation, keep it to yourself.

The Donkey's Common Sense

One day a farmer has lost his donkey. While searching for the donkey he heard loud cries coming from a well. He looked down the well and found his old donkey crying piteously.

He thought the Old donkey must have received a lot of injuries. Its better to bury the Donkey in the well and close the well to prevent the future calamities.

So the farmer called his neighbours for help and they all started throwing mud inside the well.

Initially one could hear the loud cries coming from well but slowly the cries stopped coming. After some time they looked down the well. To their amazement the donkey was still very much alive.

As the farmers were throwing Mud into the well, the donkey was shaking the mud from its back and was taking one step up. This way the donkey was gaining height in the well and was coming closer to edge of well and soon it was out from the calamity.

All challenges in our life are like the mud which life throws at us. We just need to shake off the mud and take one step up. All challenges are opportunities to rise high.

A TECHNIQUE TO IMPROVE YOUR MEMORY

This is one of the popular and oldest methods in memorization. This technique makes use of the fact that we have a natural tendency to remember rhymes and rhythms. The following is a very popular example of application of this technique which almost all school students are familiar with.

"Thirty days haveth September

April, June and November

All the rest have thirty-one

February has twenty-eight alone

Except in leap year, then the time

When Febs days are twenty-nine."

If possible create rhymes like this and it will not only aid in improving your memory but in improving your creativity as well.

******

Self Management

SELF MANAGEMENT

You are responsible for everything that happens in your life. Learn to accept total responsibility for yourself. If you do not manage yourself, then you are letting others have control of your Life. These tips will help "you" manage "you."

Here is a list of things that help you in self management and which will in turn lead you to the path of success:

Ø Look at every new opportunity as an exciting and new-life experience.

Ø Be a professional who exhibits self-confidence and self-assurance in your potential to complete any task.

Ø Agree with yourself in advance that you will have a good attitude toward the upcoming task.

Ø Frequently ask, "Is what I am doing right now moving me toward my goals?"

Ø Do it right the first time and you will not have to take time later to fix it.

Ø Accept responsibility for your job successes and failures. Do not look for a scapegoat.

Ø Do not view things you do as a "job." View all activities as a challenge.

Ø Use your subconscious mind by telling it to do what you do want. Instead of telling yourself, "I can't do that very well," say, "I can do this very well."

Ø Give yourself points for completing tasks on your "to-do" list in priority order. When you reach 10 points, reward yourself.

Ø Practice your personal beliefs. It may be helpful each morning to take 15 minutes to gather your thoughts and say a prayer.

Ø Make a commitment to show someone a specific accomplishment on a certain date. The added urgency will help you feel motivated to have it done.

Ø Practice self-determination, wanting to do it for yourself.

Ø Believe that you can be what you want to be.

Ø Never criticize yourself as having a weakness. There is no such thing. You are only talking about a present undeveloped skill or part of yourself that if you so chose, you can change. You do not have any weakness, only untapped potential.

Ø Be pleasant all the time-no matter what the situation.

Ø Challenge yourself to do things differently than you have in the past. It provides new ideas and keeps you interested.

Ø Talk to yourself. A self-talk using positive affirmation is something that is common among all great achievers. They convince themselves that they can accomplish their goals.

Ø Create your own "motivation board" by putting up notes of things you need to do on a bulletin board or special wall space. It is an easily visible way to see what you need to work on. When an item is done, remove the note. Also keep your goals listed and pictured on your board.

Ø Stay interested in what you are doing. Keep looking for what is interesting in your work. Change your perspective and look at it as someone outside your job would do it perfectly.

Establish personal incentives and rewards to help maintain your own high enthusiasm and performance level.