LSM – June Session

by | Jun 16, 2019 | Life Spark Mentoring

The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth by John C. Maxwell

The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth by John C. Maxwell

6. The Law of Environment

Growth Thrives in Conducive Surroundings

“The first step toward success is taken when you refuse to be a captive of the environment you first find yourself in.” Mack Caine

7. The Law of Design

To Maximize Growth, Develop Strategies

“If you don’t design your own life plan, chances are you’ll fall into someone else’s plan.” And guess what they may have planned for you? Not much.” Jim Rohn

8. The Law of Pain

Good Management of Bad Experiences Leads to Great Growth

“Every problem introduces a person to himself.” John McDonnell

9. The Law of the ladder

Character Growth Determines the Height of Your Personal Growth

Achievements to most people is something you do….to the high achiever it is something you are.” Doug Firebaugh

10. The Law of the Rubber Band

Growth Stops When You Lose the Tension Between Where You Are and Where You Could Be

“Only a mediocre person is always at his best.” W. Somerset Maugham

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LSM-JUNE-SESSION

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10 Steps to Build Your Self-Image – Day 2

by | Jun 3, 2019 | Life Spark Mentoring

3. Move Beyond Your Limiting Beliefs.

We all have some limiting beliefs. Some of them were given to us by our parents, our environment, and experiences. We often add our own limiting beliefs to this list. I have developed a habit of paying attention to my thoughts, my words, and actions that may display my limiting beliefs. I also listen to feedback from friends.

Author Jack Canfield offers a solution to self-limiting thinking. In his book, The Success Principles, he recommends the following four steps to transform limiting beliefs into empowering beliefs.

              Identify a limiting belief that you want to change.

Determine how the belief limits you.

Decide how you want to be, act, or feel.

Create a turnaround statement that affirms or gives you permission to be, act, or feel this way?

Make it a habit of repeating the turnaround statement daily. Remember that our thoughts influence our actions. Our actions do also influence our thoughts.

4. Add Value to Others

Use this quote as a simple reminder, “It’s hard to feel bad about yourself when you’re doing something good for someone else.” John C. Maxwell

The Law of the Mirror – 10 Steps to Build Your Self-Image

by | Jun 2, 2019 | Life Spark Mentoring

I have decided to go over “The Law of the Mirror” again. This law states, “You must see value in yourself to add value to yourself.” This statement is so powerful. When a person doesn’t value himself, it’s hard for him to want to add value to others. When you work with people (young and old), it’s important for them to know that you value them and you want to add value to them.

John Maxwell says it this way, “The value we place on ourselves is usually the value others place on us.” What value do you put on yourself? He shares 10 steps you can use to build your self-image. I will share them 2 at a time so you can digest them slowly.

  1. Guard Your Self-Talk

You are constantly communicating with yourself. You sometimes do it in your sleep or in your sub-conscience. Are you telling yourself positive things? Or are you beating yourself down? Children grow up getting 30 nos for every yes they receive.  Few years ago, I interviewed a successful business who was working on a business that he knew that was going to be worth 2 billion dollars. He told me that, “Illens, I love it when people tell me I can’t do it. That makes me want to do it so badly.” Not only we have the world around us whispering in our ears (sometimes even screaming) we can’t do it, you also add your own negative self-talks. Do you take time to encourage yourself? Do you take time to compliment yourself? Practice positive self-talk. I am excellent. I am happy. I can do it.

  • Stop Comparing Yourself to Others

I discovered a secret long time ago. Here it is. We are all in the middle. I will let you dissect this simple statement. The moment you start spending time comparing yourself to others, you allow yourself to be distracted. By the way when you are you on the growth journey, you are not too concerned about who is ahead of you and who is behind you. When you are stagnant, you have a lot of times to check the line.

It’s only a weak mind and a fainted heart that constantly lives on the comparison planet.  

Life Spark Mentoring – June Session

by | Jun 1, 2019 | Life Spark Mentoring

I am excited about the opportunity to learn and grow with you this month. If you have a friend that wants to grow, feel free to invite that person to join Life Spark Mentoring. People who love to grow have an abundance mindset. They enjoy taking someone with them on their growth journey.

In May we covered the first five laws of The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth. Here is a short recap of these laws.

1. The Law of Intentionality: Growth Doesn’t Just Happen

2. The Law of Awareness: You Must Know Yourself to Grow Yourself

3. The Law of the Mirror: You Must See Value in Yourself to Add Value to Yourself

4. The Law of Reflection: Learning to Pause Allows Growth to Catch Up with You

5. The Law of Consistency: Motivation Gets You Going—Discipline Keeps You Growing

Which one of these five laws pauses a greater challenge to you? What are you doing to overcome this challenge?

This month (Thursday June 6 at 6 PM MST), I am going to mentor on these five laws.

6. The Law of Environment: Growth Thrives in Conducive Surroundings

7. The Law of Design: To Maximize Growth, Develop Strategies

8. The Law of Pain: Good Management of Bad Experiences Leads to Great Growth

9. The Law of the Ladder: Character Growth Determines the Height of Your Personal Growth

10. The Law of the Rubber Band: Growth Stops When You Lose the Tension Between Where You are and Where You Could Be

Take a moment to reflect on these laws. If you were to write these laws, what would you share? What has been your experience in regard to each of these laws?

I will email the bridge number for you to join Life Spark Mentoring. Keep growing daily!

Question 4: Do You Know When You Are Supposed to Improve?

by | May 31, 2019 | Life Spark Mentoring

The final piece of the puzzle is the question of when. When do you need to improve? The answer is today: right now. Author and education professor Leo Buscaglia noted, “Life lived for tomorrow will always be just a day away from being realized.”

John stated, “You will never change your life until you change something you do daily … Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishments, and that bridge must be crossed every day. Over time that daily crossing becomes a habit.”

GOAL CONSCIOUSNESS GROWTH CONSCIOUSNESS
Focuses on a destination Focuses on the journey
Motivates you and others Matures you and others
Seasonal Lifelong
Challenges you Changes
Stops when a goal is reached Keeps you growing beyond the goal

Question #3 – Do You Know Why You Want to Keep Improving?

by | May 29, 2019 | Life Spark Mentoring

From the book, The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth, John wrote:

Knowing what to improve and how to improve are critical to consistency in personal growth. But so is knowing why. The how and the what will only take you so far. The why is what keeps you motivated long after that first rush of energy and enthusiasm wears off. It can carry you through when willpower isn’t enough. Think of it as why-power.

He shared the story of a salesman who looked out the window of the hotel restaurant at a blinding snowstorm. He asked his waiter, “Do you think the roads will be clear enough in the morning to travel?”

The waiter replied, “Depends on if you’re on salary or commission.”

John continued, “Having a strong why will help you to keep going when the discipline of learning becomes difficult, discouraging, or tedious. If your growth is connected to your values, dreams, and purpose, you will know why you’re doing it. And you will be more likely to follow through.”

I have my niece, Windy, who is part of Life Spark Mentoring. She joins us from New Jersey. To me and many other people who know well, she is a great example of strength of character, perseverance, consistency, and why-power.  

Few years ago, Windy decided to go back to school to work on her masters. She did it as a single mother and a full-time employee.  She spent many long nights doing homework. She remained focused on her goal even when she faced unfavorable circumstances. I suspect, at time, it would have been easy for her to quit. Given the situation, quitting would have been a justifiable reason. But she didn’t. Neither did she neglect the care of her son and her duty as a school teacher while she was working on her goal. Why didn’t she quit? It’s simply because her why was stronger than her what and how. Based on the conversation Windy and I had during her graduation ceremony, to recall it only in part, she wanted to do it for herself to begin with. She also wanted to be an example to her son. The example of a grandmother who had a relentless drive for continuous improvement also played a role in her why. She wanted to do it so she could add more values to her students. There were many other reasons. In short her why was connected to her values, dreams, and purpose. It started with her and grew to include others.

If you find yourself struggling with consistency in your personal growth, I can almost guarantee you that the problem is not with your what and how. It’s with your why. When your why is strong enough, the what and how will come. By the way, these two are already there. They might be in your blindside. Last month I was looking for a Spanish book. I knew I had at least 2 or 3 in the house. I could not find any. After I returned from Dominican Republic with a stronger desire to improve my Spanish, I looked for the book again. It seemed that the book jumped out of the shelf so I could find it.

Now, one more thought about consistency. Consistency is not perfection. My good friend and mentor, John puts it this way, and I am laughing, “Only a dead person is perfectly consistent.” You will fumble here and there. That’s okay. Just pick up the ball and start running again because you are still in the game of life. You are an important player. Your teammates, coaches, and fans need you to keep on going. Remember The Law of the Mirror. “You must see value in yourself to add value to yourself.” You are your own MVP.

My friend, let me close this post by saying that I am grateful for your support in my personal and professional growth. I thank you for that. We are building a strong movement called Life Spark Mentoring where people like you and me can work together to help each other grow and to add value to others.

May you have a fabulous growing day!