How to Get What You Want and Love What You Get?

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Thechallenger1

Achieve in Peace.(get what you want)

THE CONTENTED ARCHIEVER
How to Get What You Want and Love What You Get
Maintain your inner serenity while striving for your goals by controlling what you can --yourself

DO YOU WANT TO SEE THINGS CLEARLY, DO THINGS SIMPLY, AND LIVE MORE PEACEEULLY? Certainly. We all do. But "clarity," "simplicity," and "peacefulness" are words that seem out of place in the lives of 21st century planet riders. "Confusion," "complexity," and "chaos" are more like it. In fact, our closest companions are often stress and anxiety. Yet, in the middle of this complexity, we still occasionally encounter someone who is centered, calm, grounded, peaceful, and highly successful. These people seem to attract success rather than chase after it. They never force things. They are always focused, energetic, and give their full attention to the present moment. They are clearly in control of life, and are living a life of purpose and meaning. They are Contented Achievers.
What are these people doing differently? What is their secret? How do they so effortlessly win in the game of life? Are they aware of a unique set of roles or principles that apply to playing the game? Do they have a better understanding of these principles than others do? Do they know how to apply these principles more effectively in their daily lives? Not surprisingly, the answer to the last three questions is yes, yes, and yes. This book will help you reduce chaos, clarify success, focus your energy, and gain peace of mind. It will help you become a Contented Achiever.

People are unique; therefore, paths *****ccess must also be unique. See what''s standing between you and complete freedom, growth, and joy. Consider the following simple ideas, and choose the ones that are right for you in moving further along your path [to becoming] a Contented Achiever.

PROPERLY DEFINED SUCCESS
It is extremely easy to fall into the trap of letting other people define success for you.

FROM THERE TO HERE
This is another trap that can prevent you from being a Contented Achiever. Human nature has apparently hardwired most of us to constantly strive to go from "here to there." It starts when we''re children--"Mom, Dad, are we almost there yet?" By definition, "there" is always somewhere or someone else. You can only be truly happy right now. Train yourself to mentally travel from the future to the present and have fun doing things in the present that will create an even better future.

USE YOUR INTERNAL GUIDES
They go by many names: joy, happiness, contentment, anger, sorrow, anxiety, or euphoria. They serve as excellent guides to tell you if you are on the right path or not. They are your emotions, your internal feelings, and they all fit into one of two basic categories: positive feelings and negative feelings. They tell you the truth when outside influences try to fool you. Pay attention to your feelings and let them help you find your best life-path.

PLAN SIMPLY AND PLAN EFFECTIVELY
Don''t allow your plan to complicate your [projects] or your life.
Make a fluid commitment to your plan. Make the commitment to seriously carry out your plan, but remain willing to adjust your plan if circumstances change along the way.
EVALUATE YOUR BELIEFS
Your mind is chock-full of valid beliefs, invalid beliefs, and everything in between. If you think that everything you believe is the "way it is" in the world, you are in for a surprise as you continue to learn and grow. Archie Bunker believed he was right all of the time. Others with low self-esteem believe they are wrong all of the time. Take inventory of your beliefs and determine which are serving you and which are holding you back. Let some beliefs go ... and let some beliefs grow.

CLUTTER
Clutter is the root cause of many of your frustrations. Think of what your life would be like if you knew how to find things when you need them. If you decide it is easier to just "go buy another one" than find the one you know you have somewhere in your home or office, consider cleaning up and organizing the stuff in your life. What problems would go away for you if you didn''t have to deal with your clutter or other people''s clutter? Start big or small, but start cleaning up today.
BECOME A "SPACE PERSON"
Superman has his Fortress of Solitude. Batman has his Bat ****. If these extraordinary people, with extraordinary powers, needed a place to reflect and get away from it all, why wouldn''t you benefit from a special place called "your space"? It may be a room, a chair, a spot under a tree, an old washing machine box, or any space. Stake a claim on your space today and become a genuine "space person" for a few minutes each day. Create your own fortress of personal solitude.
PEOPLE-TEACHERS
The people who come and go in your life often function like catalysts. When introduced into your environment, they may cause "reactions" that result in positive or negative changes for you.

THE NEXT BEST STEP
Don''t get ahead of yourself. Put your heart into your next project, and make a fluid commitment to a plan. But then take things one step at a time. Be prepared to adapt to change, because it will come. Stop between steps to make any necessary adjustment to compensate for changes in circumstances. Then get on with the next best step. By focusing on what''s just ahead, you will avoid feeling overwhelmed and being too rigid in your thinking.

TIME PASSAGE EVENT MANAGEMENT
The 86,400 seconds you are given each day pass by regardless of what you are doing. You can''t stop time, you can''t save time, and you can''t manage time. You can, however, manage events.
That''s all you really need to manage ... the event and your intent.

THE SNOWBALL EFFECT
Negative feelings and thoughts are like snowflakes. They are easy to deal with when they first begin to fall, but if you ignore them they can become an avalanche. A healthy mental response can melt negative snowflakes before they become a mind- and life-altering avalanche. Remember, it''s not what happens to you, it''s how you respond to it that matters. Handle the snowflakes yourself or ask for help. This is one case where you do not want to "have a ball."

THE PUZZLE CALLED LIFE
Life is like putting together a jigsaw puzzle, except you can''t "take a piece back." What''s done is done. For example, you can''t un-insult someone. Unlike a regular puzzle, the outcome of your life-puzzle changes with each piece you play. Forget the pieces you played in the past and focus on the pieces in your hand. They are the only ones that have the potential to make a difference in your life-puzzle.
Are You A Contented Achiever?

Select one response that best answers the following questions:

1 Do you have a clear [] a] Yes
idea of what you [] b] No
want in life right
now?

2 How often do you [] a] Once a week
take time alone to [] b] Every so often
reflect? [] c] Every day
[] d] Never

3 Which of the [] a] Family satisfaction
following do you [] b] Financial achievement
consider to be most [] c] Personal fufillment
important to your [] d] A comfortable home and other
success? tangibles
[] e] Helping others
[] f] Freedom, growth, and joy

4 Do you have a plan [] a] Yes
to achieve what you [] b] No
want right now in
life?

5 How would you [] a] Boring
describe your [] b] Comfortably challenging
career? [] c] Stressful
[] d] Fun

6 When an unusual [] a] Evaluate how you feel about
opportunity presents it and then decide whether
itself, do you: to do it
[] b] Analyze it carefully to
determine the all pros and
cons
[] c] Dismiss it because it''s
unrealistic or you don''t
have the time
[] d] Go for it!
[] e] Weigh the pros and cons,
discuss it with friends, lie
awake thinking about it, and
wait until you are forced to
decide

7 If your daily [] a] Pause and evaluate each one
schedule has to decide if it''s worth
too many activities, investing your time in
do you: [] b] Try to do them all
[] c] Get overwhelmed and panic
[] d] Pick the ones you enjoy the
most and feel guilty about
the rest
[] e] Find a creative way to
accomplish them all and
still live the life you
want

8 8] How do you react [] a] Determine your best response
when something [] b] Fall apart
had happens? [] c] Try to figure out a way to
resolve it
[] d] Call trusted friends for
input and then decide on a
course of action
[] e] Get professional advice
[] f] Determine what the experience
is trying to teach you

9 Do you have a [] a] Yes
passion in life? [] b] No

10 When was the last [] a] Last weekend
time you focused on [] b] Last month
your passion? [] c] Today
[] d] Last year
[] e] Don''t have a passion,
not applicable

11 Where do you find [] a] Rely on inner guidance
answers to difficult [] b] From books or other
issues? information sources
[] c] Rely on parents'' or others''
experience
[] d] With input from a few trusted
[] e] All of the above

12 How would you [] a] Draining
describe the people [] b] Energizing
you spend the most [] c] Supportive
time with?

13 How would you [] a] Neat
describe the area [] b] Cluttered
where you spend [] c] Aesthetically pleasing
most of your time [] d] Sterile
(work space or
home)?

14 Do you have a place [] a] Yes
where you can be [] b] No
alone and reflect?

15 How do you respond [] a] Embrace it and look forward
to change? to learning from it
[] b] Resist it and try to avoid it
at all costs

16 Do you primarily [] a] In the past
live: [] b] In the present
[] c] In the future

17 Would others [] a] Always
observe that your [] b] Most of the time
actions are in [] c] Never
alignment with
your words?

18 Do you feel life is: [] a] A struggle in which you must
fight for what you want
[] b] A series of inevitable ups
and downs
[] c] A manageable exercise
[] d] An exciting journey

19 Is there something [] a] Yes
you''ve been talking [] b] No
about and [have [] c] No, I''m doing all the things
been] wanting to do I want
for a long time and
haven''t done?
Answer Key

1] a (5) b (0)
2] a (3) b (1) c (5) d (-2)
3] a (3) b (3) c (4) d (3) e (3) f(5)
4] a (5) b (0)
5] a (3) b (0) c (2) d (0) e (4)
6] a (4) b (2) c (0) d (3) e (0)
7] a (4) b (0) c (-5) d (0) e (3)
8] a (4) b (-2) c (3) d (3) e (3) f(5)
9] a (5) b (0)
10] a (4) b (3) c (5) d (-5) e (0)
11] a (5) b (3) c (1) d (4) e (4)
12] a (-5) b (5) c (5)
13] a (5) b (-5) c (5) d (-5)
14] a (5) b (0)
15] a (5) b (-2)
16] a (0) b (5) c (0)
17] a (5) b (3) c (-2)
18] a (-5) b (2) c (3) d (5)
19] a (-5) b (0) c (5)
Scoring
70-92
Congratulations! You''re clearly headed for Contented Achiever status! The major struggles are behind you and a few modifications can easily push you to the next level. Continue to spend more and more of your time on activities that create positive internal emotions.
50-70
You''ve seen what fun it can be to experiment with new beliefs and actually get results. Keep it up! No path is completely smooth, but yours is leveling out. You''re almost ready to make the leap, but in some areas you may be holding on old patterns. A closer look may help clarify the obstacles you''re encountering.
25-50
Congratulations on your awakening awareness. You recognize that there must be more to life and are clearly ready to take some steps. This is an exciting time of discovering new possibilities. Remember, you don''t have to get there overnight, and every step will get you there, even if indirectly.
25-50 and below
Yes, there''s a better way, and believe it or not the journey can be exciting and fun! Your current discomfort will prove a great motivator. You may feel overwhelmed about the work ahead; don''t overcomplicate things. Start with small steps