Sunday afternoon, trying to motivate myself for the upcoming week. I like to use Sunday as a way to reflect on the week before, and make a nice plan for the upcoming week. I like motivational and moral poems, and love to share (moral lessons via this blog tag. The most popular blog post here has been Story of 2 fisherman, a life lesson, and a moral story that gets positive comments and feedback still years later.
The other day, my friend Jean Han, an extremely intelligent and hard working Chinese corporate lawyer here in Shenzhen, keeps me on track every once in a while and shared me the below article from her friend Tom Pascal.
She didn’t provide a photo, but I’m going to use today’s photo of a new hilton being built up here in Shekou’s seaworld of Shenzhen, China! Shenzhen itself is a dream coming true for many Chinese, as well as entrepreneurs from afar – coming up so quickly and bringing so much opportunity. It is a “Castle in the Air” which is becoming a reality, not just all talk.
Jean Blessing _ 靜靜: may you put in your blog? So, more people could share this piece of good article.
DREAMING CASTLES IN THE AIR
By Ton Pascal
Dreaming castles in the air certainly beats doing physical construction work, but if you are serious about bringing your dreams to completion, or if you are dreaming of a positive change in your life, you must get off your rear end and roll up your sleeves ready to do some work. Daydreams are nice, and they can enliven your daily life, but by themselves they are a weak source of energy. There is something called the Law of Attraction that has been around since the creation of the universe which has a lot do with bringing the dreams you have to fruition. You either take my word for it here, or you can search and learn more about it on the Internet.
As I just mentioned, even with the incredible power of the Law of Attraction working for you, sitting on your butt will not make your dreams come true. This great power only works when you do your part and truly believe in what you are wishing for.
From the very first day man was kicked out of Paradise, he has been relentlessly seeking the formula for the secret to true success. Everyone has their own opinions of what success is all about. Although there is no clear-cut formula on how to achieve this, I have a few tips on how to dream and live a successful life, which I hope will work for the majority of you. Don’t get too ambitious. Take it easy, like the line in the classic Cat Steven’s song “Miles from nowhere, I think I will take my time to reach there.”
Some of you might be very “cerebral” and dislike physical preparation work. Others need to see a visual point of reference in order for their minds to function effectively. Either way, dreaming castles in the air is not a clear enough goal to ensure success. I suggest starting with a visual map of your intentions. Take a piece of cardboard and on write your dream in bold letters at the top. For example, “I want this house!” Or “I want this job!” Write down whatever you want in your life.
Now cut out pictures from magazines, newspapers and or photos related to your dream – wish and paste them on this board. These images should clearly show your dream goal.
On the left side of this “Map board” write the steps needed to achieve this goal. For example if it is a house you want and you don’t have money, write down “I want this house”.
How do you find money? Despite the highly publicized recession there is still a lot of if going around. Focus on your main objective: Your Dream House! If you truly believe you deserve and want it, you will get it. Think about what you can work on, sell or save? Make a realistic plan on how to achieve this goal. Write this plan on the ‘Map – board’.
Create a set of positive affirmations for this task. If we stay with the example for “finding money”, the affirmation should be something like “Wealth is pouring into my life.” Or “I am making amazing progress towards all of my goals.”
These affirmations are your psychological support. The positive attitude to attaining your dream gives you a new and clearer purpose in life. It will help turn your dream intentions into reality. Think about this dream very clearly and visualize it already realized, that you have achieved your dream house, or have your dream job.
If your dream is to get someone into your life, a partner, or a lover, you won’t find him or her by staying at home. Write down, for example, “find a partner”, then on the left side of the ‘map – board’ write, “get out and socialize”. Whatever your dream is, write down the name of specific goal, and then themain road to get there. Visualize your goals and create positive affirmations for every step of the way towards achieving them. Give yourself time. It is your life you are creating, be patient. Don’t expect instant success.
Give yourself time.
This is your dream life you are creating, not a Hollywood movie.
Whatever age you are, you have acquired a certain living knowledge of what is good or bad for you. Apply to your life what you have learned up until now, but add to it your own individuality, personality, and joy de vivre. It is not just being alive that makes your life worth living, but rather the depth and sense you bring to your life. Go beyond your limitations. Take a look at some of the great people who made an incredible impact in the world when they were told that either they were too poor, too inexperienced, too unattractive, or too weak to make it as a success in life.
Terry Fox, one leg cancer amputee crisscrossed a continent on foot.
Claude Monet slowly became blind from cataracts but still painted his masterwork The Nynpheas.
Marlee Matlin, deaf from the age of 18 month, won the Best Actress Academy Award in 1986 for her debut performance in “Children of a Lesser God”.
Helen Keller, blind and deaf, became a noted speaker, author and crusader for pacifism, women’s right to vote and birth control.
…The list is very long….
Don’t forget to do your daily affirmations and think positive. A positive attitude will greatly influence your actions and add pleasure and quality time to your life.
Considering that life is short my advice to you is: break rules, forgive quickly, kiss slowly, love truly, laugh uncontrollably, and never regret anything that made you smile.
Much love,
Ton Pascal
Hope this can motivate you as much as it has me! Its true, we are all dreamers, but I still think the majority of people are afraid to tell who they really are, be what they may be destined to be.
But it can get overwhelming, where to start, when to start – did I save enough money, did I build up enough experience? This is why we all just have to get started!!!!. Because we can always find an excuse…or a reason….why we cannot start to achieve our dreams.