We all fall short of our goals, even the greatest among us have fallen short. Yet those who reached greatness all share one principle in common. They tossed out the shovel in favor of the bouncy ball mentality.

Have you ever seen a bouncy ball bounce? When these things hit the ground - they bounce back up with remarkable speed and conviction. If we would just adopt this same course of action in our own lives, the heights we could reach are remarkable.

The goals I speak of are not necessarily of the monetary kind. They can be of the spiritual kind too. No matter what kind you’re pursuing - the bouncy ball mentality is always your best bet. When you hit the ground you can either keep going down - or you can bounce back up, making contacting the ground a distant memory.

Self discipline is a part of our lives. It’s a big part. A really really big part. It’s not a dirty word, either. The greatest athletes, businesspeople, scientists, musicians, martial artists and gurus have all attained profound levels of self discipline. I can assure you of one thing, they didn’t do it by having staring contests with their mistakes. They did it by relentless perseverance towards their goals. They didn’t focus on the mistakes. When mistakes occurred - they bounced right back onto their path. How else do you think they got to where they are today?

The more we bounce back - the more we put ourselves in a position where we don’t have to bounce back. When we bounce back enough times - we eventually reach greater levels of self mastery. But by focusing on our mistakes, we weaken ourselves.

The best way to illustrate this is by sharing a conversation I had with a bouncy ball one Saturday evening.

“So tell me, bouncy ball, how is it that even after you fall, you bounce back with such vigor?”

“I focus on my goals,” says bouncy ball, “even after just hitting the ground; I focus where I want to be and this forces me upward.”

“What would happen,” I asked, “if your focus wasn’t on your goals but instead on just hitting the ground?”

“I would turn into cement, and remain on the floor, with no pleasant bounce back.”

Ever since this conversation with the bouncy ball, I now direct my mind where I want it to go - and I don’t waste my time directing it to other places.

The less time we spend lamenting our mistakes and the more time we spend putting our mind on our goals - the more time we will spend fulfilling our goals. The body follows the mind.

I will follow in the ways of the bouncy ball because my future is too important not to.

Isn’t yours?

Flash by aquamorph

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Photo by kyknoord

Walking around my apartment I noticed garbage, piled up plates, random things on the floor and lots of dust. I then realized I was in a cage at the zoo…

Did I really want this mess everywhere? Of course not, but when you’re in a cage at the zoo - what can you do? I mean, we’re talking metal bars here.

Truth is, there’s always a way out of the cage, and I’m going to tell you how.

Whenever you’re presented with challenge and it could be anything: there’s always two voices going on at one time. There is the voice that says be lazy, or show no restraint because it’s so gratifying at the time and then there is the voice that says, I got the power, and long term success is more important to me.

Whenever we side with what we feel like but don’t actually want - we have just put ourselves in the cage. We have forfeited our freedom. If you’re doing what you feel like at the cost of what you want, you’re not living a life of freedom. You’re living a life of servitude. Is that any way to be? Hell no.

When you find yourself in the cage at the zoo - the metal bars are symbols for all the voices you have listened to. All the times you listened to voices that led you into situations you really didn’t want. Those voices when listened to - hold you captive.

I’ve spent my fair share of time at the zoo, believe me I have. But I’m ready to break out of this hell hole, and besides - the monkeys are beginning to smell. They don’t make the best neighbors to tell you the truth.

Next time you’re tempted to do something you really don’t want to, try this visualization on for size:

Imagine that if you go through with what you really don’t want to (for example, procrastination) you’re now in a cage at the zoo with a bunch of hooting apes as your neighbors. Yet if you stick to your guns, and do what you know is wise, you’re sitting in a field full of lavender flowers. The sun is shining warmly on your skin, and the calm aroma is permeating your being.

The more we do what we actually want, the more we live outside of the cage. The more we listen to what we don’t'want but merely feel like doing at the time, the more we live in a cage filled with monkeys at the zoo.

Where do you want to live?

Illustration by jpeckarts

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Illustration by midgette

Scott McIntyre in the comment section of BWAB said, “Without a passionate community to shape and interact with the content, even the best written post becomes empty debris floating around the blogosphere.” [Emphasis mine]

Blog Articles Can be More Fun than Magazine Articles

Magazine articles are static. They don’t move and they don’t breath. Blog articles, in contrast, have a classroom feel, even a debate club feel. They are living creatures constantly evolving.

Have you ever interacted with the author of a magazine article? Probably not. How about the author of a blog article? The answer is all the freaking time, isn’t it? Exactly…

It’s really cool to comment on an article and know the author reads your words, when they interact with you, even better. Welcome to the world of blogs my friends.

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The pages of the past have been written; the story has been read. The pages of the future, these pages are actually in the process of being turned. Who’s doing the turning you may ask?

That’s right, you are.

This entry will not tell you what to do, when to do it, how to feel, nor how to think. It won’t even tell you what to eat, whom to marry, nor where to live.

It will only tell you the truth about your present moments and your tomorrows.

Right now, every opportunity and possibility is open to you. What isn’t true of yesterday is profoundly true of today.

Write the stories however you choose, but never forget who holds the pen.

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Illustration by hellangel1126

Did you know you’re a magician? Well, you are.

The magician can pull a rabbit out of a hat, know exactly what cards are in your hands after countless shuffles and nab a lucky penny right out of your ear lobe.

If you’re unaware of your identity of being a magician, you will be missing out on some of the most precious gifts right at your disposal. And that would be a real tragedy.

Lucky for you, I’m here to remind you of the magic that’s deep within. This magic you can access at any time. It is true, some tricks take a little more time than others to master - but if you don’t know you’re a magician, you don’t do any magic.

Here, at P.I. - we’re all about doing the magic…

Here’s a list of some great magic tricks we can all learn. It may require that we remind ourselves from time to time of our identity, but with a little effort, and knowing who we are, these and others are more than in our grasp.

Some recommended magic tricks:

• Becoming an early riser. That’s right, if you want to do this - there’ s nothing to stop you. You’re a magician, remember?
• Exercising three times a week. It feels good, don’t it?
• Increased fruits and veggies in ones diet. This is a good move on all counts.
• Learn a new skill. Such as, martial arts, painting, even poetry.

Not every magic trick will appeal to everyone. But take a good tea or coffee break and think of those magic tricks you’ve wanted to accomplish for some time now. They are well within your grasp. They are more than doable.

I find that we human beings are the truest kind of magicians. If we really want to do something bad enough, we can do it. We can do it because it is well within our capability of doing so. In the span of our life we come nowhere near reaching our full potential.

A big part of the secret of tapping into that latent potential is knowing it’s there. You’ll never really strive for something that you believe is beyond your grasp. But, when you know you’re capable of it, your energies are catalyzed and move in the required directions. When your energies are properly directed, the outcome can be breath taking. You must constantly remind yourself of your capability.

The only thing ever stopping you, is yourself. When you know you’re a magician, you begin to do the magic.

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Photo by your host Bamboo Forest

Embarrassment is an emotion that is highly toxic and highly unnecessary. Who needs it and who wants it?

Today we’re going to be talking about embarrassment: the cause of it, whether it’s really worth it or not, and what we can do about it.

Is Embarrassment Worth It?

Could embarrassment prevent you from asking a cute girl or guy out?

Could embarrassment coerce you into staying in an uncomfortable, inconvenient, or unfavorable circumstance simply because it would require a proactive move to free yourself from it?

Could embarrassment discourage you from doing what is right, simply because it would be uncomfortable doing so?

What do all of the above have in common? Simple. Embarrassment can cause you to miss out on the opportunities of life. And this is why, it must be conquered.

Choosing not to act on the basis of preventing embarrassment can cause boat loads of regret. But, you will never feel regret for having felt embarrassed. This is the great irony. Embarrassment has never and will never cause regret. Doing something you believe in anyways, in the midst of embarrassment, will always give you great reward and satisfaction. Regardless of whether you succeeded or not.

You act in a way that is unfavorable for you in order to accomplish not being embarrassed. Yet, doing what is favorable for you, while being embarrassed, can give you the most profound sense of accomplishment you could ever possibly have. This level of irony, this one is for the books!

The Cause of Embarrassment

This may come as a surprise, but the cause is our own selves. Some people easily get embarrassed while others are more impervious to it. Embarrassment happens inside our own skin. It’s not a natural response like the beating of our heart, or the picking up of vibrations from our ears. Instead, we kindle the flame of embarrassment. But, we can also put it out.

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Illustration by allhailshadow

“Hold it up, hold it up,” shouted my obnoxious teammate. I was merely dribbling the ball down the court, yet he found it imperative to scream this phrase over and over again. Being the recipient of his unceasing yelps, I lost it.

In my heated frustration I snapped back, “hold it up, hold it up,” I continue, “I HEARD YOU THE FIRST TIME!!!!”

It only got worst from here. I was so flustered by my teammate’s obnoxious shouting that I ended up getting the ball stolen. I lost all focus. Just after this happened, he looks over to me and says, “that’s why I told you to hold it up - see what happened?”

In my response, I take one long look at him and say, “you should be proud of yourself.”

(more…)

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