... a diamond in the rough

Personal Growth and You

Personal Growth and You ... a diamond in the rough and why it's the best thing that could ever happen ... for one, I could never have discovered my passion without feeling like a diamond in the rough.

A diamond in the rough creates the room you need to be yourself. It's your space. It's you needing the room for you to grow.

A diamond in the rough is about being the best you can be without being perfect. It's about you being perfectly you.

You have all the room you need to make mistakes and no doubt, you will make mistakes. The biggest difference is ... you still love you no matter what.

Being a diamond in the rough gives you the space you need to build certainty and comfort at a time you need it so you can move forward.

A diamond in the rough is about baby steps. It's breakthrough after breakthrough which comes after a shift in perspective.

It could be one small change. One way of doing something you've always done ... a little differently.

Could personal growth ... a diamond in the rough describe you right now?

An example of a diamond in the rough could mean ... but not necessarily, that you feel stuck. Inside. You don't know which way to turn or that there are even ways to turn.

The personal growth and you happen, if you're anything like me, when you find role models. Your role models can be in your everyday life or even in a book.

They take you from where you are ... stuck and confused to curious and empowered to make new decisions.

Incredible magic happens in your life when you take what you learn and take action not just once, but until it becomes a new habit.

I'm sharing a part of my small library of role models found in books and highlighted how they've helped me. Could they help you too?

Thoughts, notes, and highlights...

Maximum Achievement by Brian Tracy

Make your life a masterpiece; imagine no limitations on what you can be, have, or do.

Brian Tracy

Chapter 2 | The Seven Laws of Mental Mastery

Peaked my curiosity on how there are certain things you can do, and if you do them, you can create a change for yourself. Hint: You already do some of these things!

These certain things are not hard to do. The challenge is habit. Habit of thought.

You realize you don't have to think a certain way because you've always thought that way. There is an awareness, that once you experience it, you'll discover that there is another way.

Chapter 4 | The Master Mind

Your conscious mind and subconscious mind ... what do they do? How do they do it? What's the difference? Brian Tracy explains everything you'd want to know in this chapter.
You've probably heard "direct your thoughts onto what you want and not on what you don't want". But maybe you don't fully understand the scope of what's in your power, really and truly in your power, when you focus on what you want. And, how to do that. There are ways to do this.

Chapter 6 | The Master Power

The superconscious mind ... and you! Your thoughts. It's explained here.

Creativity. Yes, creativity is something you can nurture. You can do this. It is one of the most exciting, passionate, and fulfilling experiences you can give yourself.

Unlimited Power by Anthony Robbins

[Excerpt] To me, ultimate power is the ability to produce the results you desire most and create value for others in the process. Power is the ability to change your life, to shape your perceptions, to make things work for you and not against you. Real power is shared, not imposed. It's the ability to define human needs and to fulfill them -- both your needs and the needs of the people you care about. It's the ability to direct your own personal kingdom -- your own thought processes, your own behaviors -- so you produce the precise results you desire.

I love this book for the reason it makes you want to interact with it ...

Chapter IV | Mastering Your Mind: How to Run Your Brain

Tony shares simple exercises with you in this chapter which add excitement and variety to your thinking but only when you put you into it!
The exercises will help and entertain you because you add your own thoughts, experiences, and moments of frustration to them.
Wouldn't it be great to know a sequence (your sequence) to change unfavourable moments of "I guess I can live with that" or "it is what it is" upside down on so called reasons of logic because it really isn't the situation anymore, it's become a habit. Perspective on what you can do helps every time.

Awaken the Giant Within by Anthony Robbins

I love this book (all my books!) and don't give myself enough time with them. True, a book is like a best friend.

Chapter 4 | Belief Systems: The Power to Create and the Power to Destroy

You get to explore your beliefs, emotions, and values with Tony Robbins in Awaken the Giant Within. Everyone has beliefs. Everyone has emotions. And, everyone has values.

More food for thought, "It's not the events of our lives that shapes us, but our beliefs as to what those events mean." -Tony Robbins. You really want to know what you believe to be true about yourself.

Chapter 11 | The Ten Emotions of Power

Tony teaches you how to master your emotions. He takes you through each step and helps you break limiting patterns.
A takeaway: Getting to know you, like and trust you is getting to know what you're really feeling. A saying that says it all, "it has nothing to do with leaving the cap off the toothpaste". Pretty much never.
Another takeaway and I quote Tony, "Acknowledge and appreciate your emotions, knowing they support you." is to learn to trust your feelings. I've learned to trust my feelings. My logic or reasoning may be off sometimes but I do know to trust my feelings.

Chapter 15 | Life Values: Your Personal Compass

Life values are not things you aspire to. I'm glad I learned this. Your values, for instance, include the things you want to avoid as well. And no doubt about it, it is a value you hold dear to your heart.
Values and goals are different, very different. Your values give you the juice, spark, and energy to reach your goals.
Knowing your values inside and out helps you decide on the things you need to be and do to create your happiest self ever.

How Did I get Here? by Barbara De Angelis

"Love yourself for every step you've taken." Dr. Barbara De Angelis

Introduction

This book by Dr. Barbara De Angelis answered exactly what I needed to read at the end of 2006. I was stuck. If you've ever been stuck emotionally ... won't budge, won't move for anything, you're not alone. I was so fortunate to have been at an event where Barbara was one of the guest speakers in 2006. This is where I met Barbara De Angelis and got this autographed book!

Chapter 5 | Turning Off and Freezing Up: Where Did the Passion Go?

Did you know when you shut down part of yourself you're not just shutting down to one particular situation. It's not just one part of yourself, it's everything!
Did you know turning yourself off is totally the opposite of presence? ... it's not just you anymore, it's everyone you care about. You can't fake it no matter what you tell yourself.
Did you know by turning yourself off you block the very thing you want in intimacy, passion, and true connection? Barbara teaches you these things.

Chapter 10 | Finding Your Way Back to Passion

[Excerpt] "Often people ask me: "How can I put the passion back into my relationship?" This is how I respond: Are you passionate about your everyday life? Are you passionate about your work? Are you passionate about yourself? Are you passionate about loving your partner deeply? Are you passionate about being alive? If you cannot answer each of these questions with an emphatic "yes," then " ...

This is an awesome book ... I have so many highlights throughout it, plus notes.

Barbara De Angelis and this book came to me at a time when all I knew was that I was stuck. I had no idea what to do next or that there was even something to do next. I feel so lucky!

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Dr. Stephen R. Covey

We see the world, not as it is, but as we are --or, as we are conditioned to see it. -Dr. Stephen R. Covey

Part One: Inside Out | Dr. Stephen Covey explains how paradigm shifts are about an "aha!" moment. He says it's when you see something another way. And, because you saw different, you thought different, felt different and behaved differently. Makes so much sense!

But until a person can say deeply and honestly, "I am what I am today because of the choices I made yesterday", that person cannot say, "I choose otherwise". -Dr. Stephen R. Covey

Habit One: Be Proactive | I highlighted the Circle of Influence and the Circle of Concern. Helps to understand the things you have control over and the the things you don't.
Positive energy increases your circle of influence giving you one, the energy you want, and two, less time feeling upset at things you can't control.

The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff

Do you really want to be happy? You can begin by appreciating who you are and what you've got. -Benjamin Hoff

Contents | Cottleston Pie | plus my notes in the margin

Cottleston, Cottleston, Cottleston Pie,
A fly can't bird, but a bird can fly.
Ask me a riddle and I reply:
Cottleston, Cottleston, Cottleston Pie.
Notes: Everyone's different!
Cottleston, Cottleston, Cottleston Pie,
a fish can't whistle and neither can I.
Ask me a riddle and I reply:
Cottleston, Cottleston, Cottleston Pie.
Notes: Know your weaknesses, your limitations. Your limitations can become your strength.
Cottleston, Cottleston, Cottleston Pie,
Why does a chicken, I don't know why.
Ask me a riddle and I reply:
Cottleston, Cottleston, Cottleston Pie.
Notes: Work with things as they are. Your Inner Nature. Unique. Things are as they are.

One more thing. I really enjoyed this book and remember the first time I read it. I would come home after work, get to my relaxing time, and sit on the couch reading and laughing most of the way through it. Most pages tickled my funny bone in an inspiring way!

The Four Agreements by don Miguel Ruiz

Every human is an artist. The dream of your life is to make beautiful art. -don Miguel Ruiz

Chapter 2 | The First Agreement | Be Impeccable with Your Work

I highlighted "Being impeccable with your word is not using the word against yourself."
Then, "The truth is the most important part of being impeccable with your word."

Chapter 3 | The Second Agreement | Don't Take Anything Personally

For this agreement I highlighted, Nothing other people do is because of you. It is because of themselves.
I just highlighted, As you make a habit of not taking anything personally, you won't need to place your trust in what others do or say. You will only need to trust yourself to make responsible choices.

Chapter 4 | The Third Agreement | Don't Make Assumption

A highlight: All the sadness and drama you have lived in your life was rooted in making assumptions and taking things personally.
Plus, It is always better to ask questions than to make an assumption, because assumptions set us up for suffering.

Chapter 5 | The Fourth Agreement | Always Do Your Best

3 More Highlights:

As you build the habit of the four new agreements, you best will become better than it used to be.

Doing your best, you are going to live your life intensely.
And, Doing your best really doesn't feel like work because you enjoy whatever you are doing.

10 Secrets for Success and Inner Peace by Dr. Wayne Dyer

I send you love and all green lights. -Wayne W. Dyer

I didn't mark this book up with highlights, comments, or questions because it's a small book, 4" x 7" and is cushioned. It's my luxury book.

The First Secret | Have a Mind that Is Open to Everything and Attached to Nothing

I love this secret because it seems so easy to be open to things and so hard when you attach assumptions, expectations, and personal gain to an outcome.

If progress equals happiness then why wouldn't you make sure to experience ... "An open mind allows you to explore and create and grow. A closed mind seals off any such creative explanation. Remember that progress would be impossible if we always did things the way we always have."
How I see it, this is growth, personal growth ... "In every single case of a person experiencing a spontaneous healing or overcoming something that was considered to be impossible, the individual went through a complete reversal of personality. They actually rewrote their own agreement with reality." And since, you are never too young or too old to experience breakthroughs you are continually rewriting your story. That is so awesome!

The Third Secret | You Can't Give Away What You Don't Have

In reviewing my book, I know where I got that you can never ever give away anything you don't already have within. That is including love, happiness, and respect.
On the other hand, if you have negative energies build up inside ... that is what you'll share with others. Wayne makes this easy to understand. Take an orange, squeeze it, and out comes orange juice. All the time. No matter what you do. He explains it works the same for you and I too.
Plus, Wayne Dyer gives you three actions you can take within your own personal program to create a huge inventory of what you do wish you had to give away.

The Tenth Secret | Wisdom is Avoiding All Thoughts That Weaken You

If you ever felt good energy by the things you've done then this Secret will make you curious. And by good energy a conscious way to make you happy. Like for instance ... with personal growth, and seeing what you do. By starting with awareness and standing tall as a diamond in the rough.
A diamond in the rough is forgiving. Starting with yourself. He or she knows the perfect diamond lies within a diamond in the rough. There can be no other way.
Part of this secret is, and I quote from this book, "Once you realize that what you think about is the source of your experience of reality, then you'll begin to pay more attention to what your thinking in any given moment."

From One Diamond in the Rough to Another ...

I have so much I want to do. Want to. Not because of anyone or anything. It just feels good to do everything I want to do. That is, so long as I'm present and in the moment. Ever feel that way? : )

Here's what awareness can do for you ... and me! : )

There's beauty in not being perfect. Same as in a diamond in the rough, right? Right. A diamond in the rough is not perfect, yet. Unless, the perfect is about you being 100% you. The perfect is about loving you just the way you are. In all your personal failures and all your personal wins. It's personal. Very personal.

And, if you don't accept yourself 100% you'll know. If you don't love yourself, every single part of you, you'll know.

You'll know it in your heart. Always.

The reason you want to nurture the love you have for yourself is so you have the room to expand and grow anytime you pursue a breakthrough. And, you will pursue breakthroughs!

Because ...

When you experience breakthrough after breakthrough ... all of it, all these empowering qualities make up your essence.

The reason loving you first is so important is because you know then that you can trust you to feel safe and certain anytime you pursue a breakthrough.

Here the certainty you crave takes on new meaning ... and it's coming from love.

I mean, if you're anything like me, you won't have a clue what's really bugging you or disempowering you, until you experience breakthrough after breakthrough.

It's worth it because ...

An interesting thing happens when you do this ... when you love and accept everything about you, when you be 100% you, all the beautiful parts of you ... your love, your playfulness, your confidence, your ease of conversation, your compassion, your happiness, your gift ... all of those empowering things about you come out of hiding because it's safe and comfortable.

You get to trust that not being perfect is the best thing you can do for yourself. Just being perfectly you feels so good.

One of the biggest reasons for my fascination behind experiencing breakthroughs has been taking the time to really and truly love me for me.

The why? I heard you can't give away anything you don't have (or experience).

So, I wanted to, and still want to, attract love into my life. Starting with me. It's the only way I can give same back to the people I care about.

Another reason is it just feels so good! Thanks for taking time out to check a part of my small library.

And, by the way, don't you love how role models inspire you to create a breakthrough?

from one diamond in the rough to another ...

Happy Breakthroughs!