In this video I talk about our beliefs and the power they have to influence our behaviors. I also touch on the ideas of limiting beliefs and driving beliefs, that is beliefs which may be limiting us from having or experiencing all we can, and beliefs that drive, therefore explain, certain behaviors we engage in or actions we take that may bring us closer to or move us further away from our goals, often without our even being aware of it.

Feel free to share any of your limiting or driving beliefs from one or more of of the seven areas of life we’ve talked about before (beliefs around Money, Time, Relationships, Health, Emotions, Work or Career, and Spirituality or Greater Contribution) and we can explore this in more depth in another update, OK?

Earlier this week, my kids and I are chatting happily away when all of a sudden the stroller takes a turn. I nearly bump into a lamp post. The stroller has a bad wheel that is about to give out.

Anyway, as we nearly collide into the post, I notice a hand-made flyer.

Now this street gets plastered with flyers and thankfully someone does a good job removing them. Still this flyer has hung on.

So what makes this flyer stand out, why does it catch my attention?

The simple heading…

“Excellent Nanny.”

Most of the time you just see flyers that say your garden variety, boring old “Nanny Available” or “Housekeeper Available.”

But not this one. Which is why I privately think to myself, way to “go for it” nanny.

It does show a certain confidence of the individual, doesn’t it?

And isn’t it true that you would probably be more interested in someone who says she’s an excellent nanny than you would be in a regular nanny… I mean common, who wants “regular,” right?

So back to being confident… I’m going to assume that this nanny has a lot of self confidence (or at least a healthy does of it), or else, why did she chose to describe herself as an excellent one.

And guess what? Because of her display of self confidence, sometime sooner rather than later this nanny will get what she wants. And some family may discover a not just “excellent,” but a maybe even “extraordinary,” person who will not only help care for their children, but who also will become a part of their family. Not so, unfortunately, for some other nannies who might be too terrified to step out of their comfort zone this way.

Okay… So we both know this isn’t about nannies… it’s about confidence, as in self-confidence (not to be confused with self esteem, which is something totally different).

And let me ask you, how confident are you?

Yes, I know it’s a bit of a trick question. After all, confidence can be relative. Meaning that it is quite normal for us to be more confident in some of the 7 areas of life than in others.

Still, humor me for a moment, and just make a mental note of your answers to this question… how do you see yourself, confidence wise in general? Do you see yourself as a confident person?

Remember, I’m not asking you whether you are excellent or extraordinary, because however you may feel about this, I am here to tell you that you are extraordinary, and you are made of wonder. I’m just asking you about your confidence.

Why? Here are 3 observations from a guy who’s been insecure, been cool as a cucumber, and has seen the awesome effect as well as the destructive consequences that confidence can wield:

* When you improve your confidence, it shows up in all areas of your life,

* With more confidence, we can accomplish things we’ve been too afraid to even think or verbalize, never mind commit to paper, and finally

* Although confidence isn’t something tangible, having it sure can create tangible results in your life.

Sometimes all you need is a boost of it, because just a little more can make all the difference.

The confident nanny says she is excellent. Another one doesn’t and, the price she pays may be her job. What could not being confident enough be costing you?

So again how confident are you, and if it feels like it would help you to gain some more, what exactly would it take to do that?

Or let me know if you’d like to hear more on this and we can get into it further in an upcoming post.

We all have those times when we feel down in the dumps. Maybe we’re depressed because we hear some bad news. Maybe we are bummed out something doesn’t work out the way we’d hoped. Maybe we’re just upset and disappointed with ourselves.

Even if we’re not emotional wrecks, it’s not a pleasant feeling. And there aren’t many people I know who would want to stay in this state for very long. So when it hits you, how do you lift your mood and embrace happiness?

No doubt how you do it, how you lift your mood, is personal.

To convince yourself how true this is, search for ways to lift your mood or change your spirits online, and you will be flooded with a wide variety of answers, each site going in a completely different direction…

A woman’s fashion magazine might suggest you spruce up your life with new clothes, have fun with girlfriends, or savor a piece of chocolate. A man’s lifestyle magazine might suggest you walk off a funky state with new toys, go for new romance, or change up your fitness routine.

As different as these mood-lifting strategies may be, still, it is probably one of those cases where if the shoe fits, wear it.

Lift your mood

photo credit: rpertiet

And if all else fails, you can always try these favorites:

Socialize: Never underestimate socializing as a form of happiness. While you don’t need to be a social butterfly with everyone you meet, having close friends is a key to happiness. It is human nature to feel happy and content when you have a circle of friends that you can trust and have a receptive audience for your thoughts. If you are starting to feel low in spirits, then run a lifestyle check and make sure you are not isolating yourself from others.

Do good for others: Regardless of your religious or political beliefs, doing good for others will always fulfill a need in you. Realizing that there are things bigger than ourselves, and then being able to contribute something that will help others, is indeed something that must be experienced to be appreciated.

Think positively: Yes, I know that looking at the bright side of things is often easier said than done. While this suggestion can be grossly exaggerated, the fact remains that positive energy always does more good than harm. Just remember positive energy doesn’t have to be dogmatic thinking. For example, you can surround yourself with any form of positive energy from funny movies to happier friends, even with self-affirmation or meditative recordings.

Get out of the past: Thinking about mistakes of the past in an effort to repair your perspective is counter-productive. You can waste most of your life droning on about how unfair the past was, and this will never change what happened. Instead, spend more time living in the now and thinking positively about the future.

So how do you lift your mood? What are your favorite and most effective strategies?

It’s time for the answer to our most recent quiz.

As you too probably have, since coming up with the quiz, I’ve revisited some of my outcomes. I have also set new ones.

All endeavors, small or large, begin with knowing your desired outcome. A close cousin of your desired outcome is your intention.

Intention is the start of all great things.

Consider your intention as an anticipated outcome.

As in think about some of your own desires and aspirations; these are intentions. Revisit these. And if you are not so clear on them, ask yourself again what are your intentions.

Countless are the times I have come up with intentions and just wished for them to come come true. But no, life teaches us there are no such shortcuts, doesn’t it? …

See, intentions without action are like seeds with no water… nothing comes of one without the other.

If you’re paying attention, that was a clue to the answer to our quiz.

Our dreams and intentions only become reality when we take action toward their achievement.

Still, for many, intentions will remain forever pretensions.

Okay, so let’s go back to our quiz…

My question again was “What are the 2 personality types that most frequently differentiate the accomplished and fulfilled from the daydreamers?”

And here are the 2 types:

In camp #1: People who take action – the “doers,” and in the other camp,

Camp #2: Those who don’t take action.

photo credit: seeveeaar

Individuals who take action are the ones who make things happen. People who take action know that small actions taken are better than great deeds planned. These are the people who are focused on execution, who turn dreams into reality. Whereas those who shrink back from taking action struggle to follow through and therefore don’t make happen whatever it is they might may have aspired to accomplish.

If you see a little of yourself in both types, let me tell you that’s okay and trust me it is normal.

Often enough it’s hard to get my butt in gear. Sometimes we don’t know what action to take and this causes stress.

Personally, I rather do without the stress. And those are times when taking action really comes down to knowing or discovering what motivates you. Because the alternative, doing nothing, while it might provide some temporary relief, will just create more stress. If you are honest with yourself, deep down you know you’ve got this intention, and you’re not taking action toward it.

Remember, action is the ingredient that will breathe life into your dreams and wishes. And think about this… if you changed absolutely nothing in your life, would anything different happen?

Which camp are you in mostly, and what are some of your intentions?

Leave me a comment below and I’ll drop in and respond.

Ciao!

Taylor

P.S. I am oversimplifying a bit. The truth is there we could spend a whole day on intention, outcomes, action, and how to deal with the visible and invisible forces that stand in our way. Interested in learning more? Then you’ll like what’s coming up.

Personality quizzes – you can almost always find one in the aisles at your local grocery store. And whenever I spot one, I get the irresistible urge to check it out.

Is it just me, or are we always interested in our own personality type?

I took my first “real” personality test in high school. It was the MBTI Myers Briggs personality test.

Over the years there were a few others, each more revealing than the preceding one. Imagine reading details of why you behave the way you do, what makes you think and respond a certain way, why you do what you do, why you get what you get, how you have some thoughts more than others, why you speak as you do, and what makes you feel certain feelings.

What would it mean to your relationships if you read how certain patterns in your own life repeat themselves, what difference would it make in your finances if you discovered which actions to do more frequently to bring you more money, or what if you read how to bring shifts in your health? If there was such a book, would you be interested? I was, and it was a personal growth page-turner.

Now the truth is this has changed as time goes on. See, I have become more interested in the personalities of others than in my own. Maybe it is because I have grown to know me. And because other people are just more interesting, especially those who are accomplished and who are living fulfilling lives. (Note that I have deliberately left out “successful,” because first it makes sense to talk about what is success).

And the more I learned about different personalities, and as I bumped in to more people, I began to notice how, when you put aside all the many different personality permutations, there are really only 2 main personality types that distinguish the accomplished and fulfilled from those who swim upstream, who struggle rather than thrive.

Alright, what do you say we do another quickie quiz?

As before, I’m giving away a prize, naturally.

And to make it relevant to the subject at hand, how about access to a new program on goals coming up this summer to the first right answer?

Sound good?

Okay. Here’s the quiz…

What are the 2 personality types that most frequently differentiate the accomplished and fulfilled from the daydreamers?

Wow – I may have made this too easy!

Toss your hat into the ring.

Well?

Be the first to give it a shot in the comments section, and you may win entry into the goals program I mentioned above.

Okay… go.

Do you know what it is?

Good luck.

Ciao!

Taylor

I made this recording for you after clearing out my fridge.

My goal in this update is to shed light on how important it is to clear your mind, to clear your clutter – mental clutter that is.

Mental clutter holds us back. It can increase our brain age (you want a younger brain, as in a lower brain age is better). When you clear your mind more is possible.

Listen in and try this simple mind technique.

And let me know what you think, OK?

Ciao!

Taylor

One night last fall we had some friends over for dinner. A guest watched me draw out a knife, reach for my cutting board, and get busy on some garlic.

“Isn’t it amazing how quickly celebrity chefs like Jamie Oliver (the naked chef guy) and Rachael Ray can chop things up? Incredible!” he said.

Yes, it is entertaining to watch a skilled chef. We watch them wondering how is it that these demi-gods prepare vegetables so gracefully, elegantly, and easily, whereas us mere mortals might cut off our own fingers.

Or the thirty-something bartender I met in the Philadelphia airport who whips up tasty concoctions as he juggles half-empty bottles of rum, blue curacao, and rum, while sliding them to his patrons?

Or just how mindblowing it can be to listen to your favorite singer or musician. Sometimes I get goosebumps.

Giotto di Bondone. Italian painter and architect

photo credit: McPig

And think about how enthralled you can be, slouched in your couch, watching your favorite actor do her thing.

So where am I going with this?

Well, are you ready to make some changes in your life?

Good, because the thing is, there’s nothing technically incredible about chopping vegetables, is there? In a lot of cases, things like these… they’re something that you and I can do too… with practice.

The people demonstrating these amazing feats are not all born with that ability. They gained the experience, developed more confidence, and honed their techniques over time, with practice.

And there you have it… pick one of the 7 areas of life where you want to change the most, and practice, practice, practice. This is the single thing we can do to improve ourselves.

It should be nothing new really. I know you’ve heard it before, “practice makes perfect.”

The advice is simple. Like most good advice that we seldom follow.

The more you practice something the better you get at it.

When we practice something, and when we repeat it, we improve. It is automatic. It is inevitable.

The chef who practices now can bake a perfect yorkshire pudding. The musician who practices chords tirelessly till his fingers blister does a great solo.

Like these men and women, we too over time can become practiced. And before you know it, someone less experienced will watch you in wonder accomplishing something that now is easy for you – no big deal.

Maybe you find this hard to believe. So let’s go back to when you were a child…

At first tying your shoes wasn’t easy, right? If you’ve ever seen a toddler or a preschooler trying to tie his shoes, you know exactly what I’m talking about.

And yet each of us, after much fumbling, and frustration, and stress, eventually learned how to do it, and do it so well that those laces would stay tied.

In Your 21st Century Personal Renaissance, I share the story about a young painter born near the city where I was raised.

Giotto di Bondone, better known as Giotto, was an Italian painter. Today he is generally considered the first in a line of great artists who contributed to and developed the Italian Renaissance.

I was eleven when my art teacher told us how one day Giotto, ever the playful apprentice, painted a fly on the nose of a figure. Giotto painted the fly with such skill it practically came to life, causing his teacher Cimabue to repeatedly try to brush it away.

So start practicing more and watch your dreams come true.

And let me know what you think.

Ciao!

Taylor

I need ipod workout music ideas for my ipod.

And I thought maybe you can tell me about some of your best picks?

My same old same old is getting boring.

80′s, 90′s, top 40 anything.

Have fun with it and we can all get exposed to some new music.

So, I’m eager to hear your suggestions?

Ciao!

Taylor

Over the years, I’ve enjoyed growing mint, basil, and lavender. Mostly outdoors. And more recently indoors too.

The smell is wonderful. And that’s why over the holidays I picked up a few small windowsill pots.

We had so much going on that I never got the chance to seed the pots. That is, until I walked past a flower shop about ten days ago.

There sat rows of basil planters, their powerful fragrance detectable three stores down. In that very instant, I remembered my own little pots. I knew the time had come for me to dig them out of the basement and get my basil growing.

New life on my windowsill

Admittedly, I would glance at the pot several times the first three or four days. As if somehow by staring at it, suddenly a plant would pop up.

Then I realized it was a waste of energy to check on it so much, and I stopped. That was about a week ago.

Today, I had doubts. Maybe I wasn’t watering it enough.  Perhaps I’d given it too much water. Seemed like a good excuse to me to check it again.

And lo and behold… Life!

I took a picture for you. If you look closely, you can see 2 small green sprouts.

What a pleasant surprise. And how rewarding.

…To see progress. To see growth. To see something take form. To see life… especially when you are part of the process.

I got thinking again how great it is too to witness people growing.

People discovering and using their natural talents, and developing new ones.

People finding their new purpose.

People breaking through their limitations.

People getting clear on what they want.

People setting goals.

People charting a new course for themselves.

People living successful lives.

People being fulfilled.

Personal growth. How wonderful it is to help others experience it. Some times it can take a bit. Some times you have to be patient. Still, when it happens… well, you already know… it’s great.

So what’s happening with you… How are you growing or how do you want to grow?

Ciao!

Taylor

I hope you had a good weekend.

Everyone here was sick and it’s taking me a little longer to launch Podliminals …and therefore the Podliminals of the Month Club is being made available in the next few days.

…Can you believe it’s already December?

Ciao!

Taylor