Inside-Out

Over the years, I've written extensively on the subject of introspection and how, by taking a look at ourselves from the inside, we can begin to better understand what drives us, why we do certain things, and why we react the way we do under varying circumstances. 

In my writings, I have described some of the ways in which we can "go there" and explore our inner selves and reach a point where true introspection occurs.  I hope you've been able to experience the intimacy of gaining that perspective and getting to know yourself better by using some of the methods I've covered.  If you've missed those articles, I encourage you to peruse the archives to see what resonates with you. There's lots of great content available! 

Today, I'd like for us to consider an alternative method to gain a different perspective of ourselves - one that's often overlooked and unrecognized.  That perspective comes to us by way of other people and how they see us. 

The value of how others see you can sometimes be a tough pill to swallow.  Think "personal judgment". Yikes! It is especially tough to discover we're not as perfect as we may believe we are. Let's face it, our own self-acknowledged shortcomings are difficult enough to accept and expose our vulnerabilities to some extent.  Nonetheless, the outside perspective has value and merit as a source of insight into the various aspects of our persona when the ultimate goal is to gain complete introspection. 

In many businesses, the personnel system requires the supervisor and subordinate to meet in private to discuss the performance evaluation of the subordinate worker.  It can be an uncomfortable process for either party.  If conducted properly, however, the feedback process offers an external perspective on how the recipient is viewed by others.  Still, it can be tough to hear that, in spite of all the praises and accolades, there exists inevitable room for improvement. Everything discussed has the potential to play a role in helping to provide a useful perspective, which leads to introspect, and ultimately, to personal improvement and development.

No matter how hard we may try, seeing ourselves from an outside perspective provides an incomplete picture if we attempt to conduct the process alone.  We are said to have a "Johari Window", or a perspective that simply and effectively hides or disguises the truth about some part of our external selves, from our personal viewpoint or knowledge.  One of the four Johari Windows is that area known (and seen) by others but hidden from our own field of view.  It's this window that, if openly accepted for what it offers, can play a role in providing a more complete perspective of who we are as individuals. 

The ultimate goal of introspection is to improve the synergy and quality of our lives by getting to know ourselves on a deeper level. Consider taking an honest look at how you are perceived by others.  Ask a trusted friend to be honest with you about how you're viewed in varying situations and circumstances.  As uncomfortable as this may seem at first, it is one of the best methods to acquire a complete picture of your true self. Accept all of the feedback humbly (the good and the not-so-good) and be honest with yourself.  After all, just about anything can be changed, altered, or improved. 

Here's to an open window leading to a fresh new perspective and your personal growth. 
Take a deep breath!


Until next time...

- G -

"Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom."

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333

The Power of Equilibrium

"A powerful book that provides an interesting

 cross-section of three different points of view for 

the balance of body, mind, and spirit."

~ Amazon Reader Feedback

Get your copy of this insightful book

on Amazon.com TODAY!

Available Now!

***********

Step into the mind of Author Luc Vors.

"Keep producing things, great or small, and you will find that your 

creative mind will blossom with more and more ideas." 

***********

Check out the wise, knowledgeable, and often entertaining perspectives of Author Elisabeth Auld inside the editions of

 Gals in Blue.

************

Check out our new affiliate partner, J. Jane, a fascinating blog of mentorship for, by, and between women.

j. jane 

-------------------------------------------------------------

Get your copy of Gary's best-selling novel 

Dream Operative, 

 NOW AVAILABLE 

on Audible.com!

FEAR Is a Thief is on Amazon.com 
and is NOW AVAILABLE on Audible.com too! This inspiring book is the first in a self-empowerment series that was written to help people get past fear using five fundamental truths as a basis for understanding and taking action for a better life. 
Get your copy today at FEAR Is a Thief/Amazon.

Also be sure to check out: KEY HORIZON, the second novel in the G. Weston spy series. This thriller is receiving rave reviews across the spectrum and has captivated a new following of "spy-fi" readers. 

Order your copy of these exciting novels today at Amazon.com.

Three Easy Ways to Achieve Anything You Desire

Have you ever wanted something so bad you just wish there was an easy way to get? Why does there always seem to be a "price" to pay? Taking the easy way out is rarely the best option. Although some people adopt that mindset and actually believe it will suit them long-term. 

Taking the easy way out today almost always leads to a hard life later. Successful-minded people know to do whatever it takes today in order to achieve a better life later. The easy way out is typically a path fraught with obstacles, delay, and regret that disguises itself as a shiny object of immediate gratification. But what if we changed that mindset ever so slightly to think of it in terms that what first appears to be difficult is actually the easy way, or at least the better way?

Sacrifice now to enjoy life later. What’s the risk? Well, the only risk is that you die trying. But you already know that, while you may sometimes feel like dying, your sacrifice is rarely, if ever, a life-or-death dilemma. In fact, things only seem difficult right now. They only seem hard. But I can assure you, while you are willing to do a difficult task today for a better, brighter tomorrow, most everyone else will appear as if they have it much better than you…today. Check back with these same people in five or ten years (yes, you must sacrifice for a time) and you will discover they are the ones with a difficult life. They are the ones who are stuck in the same job trying to put on the same show. They are the ones with little to no savings, still spending "as if" they have it all. The tides of change are always in motion. And to those who are willing to learn to navigate those tides, they will be ones to whom everyone will eventually look to for guidance. 

So, if you’re looking for an edge that will give you the leverage it takes to achieve your goals, then there are three things you must know before you can turn things around. Consider adopting these easy choices and you'll be on your way to achieving anything you desire.

1. Establish a clear and compelling reason why. 

The old adage “Where there is a will, there is a way” applies here. No, I’m not talking about willpower. I’m talking about WHY power! Willpower gets you started. Discipline and determination keep you going. You won’t always be motivated. Discipline is the secret sauce that carries you through when inspiration and motivation subsides. Determination compels you to find a way through inevitable obstacles. Discipline and determination both rest upon your compelling reason WHY. Develop a compelling WHY and nothing can stop you.

2. Establish a clear path (goal). 

Your WHY drives the need for you to achieve. But, a compelling reason alone is not enough. You need a plan. You need a GOAL. A goal is your declaration of a desired outcome. Goals offer a pathway to a better life through the influential emotion of hope. And hope is one of the strongest emotions we have that drives the determination, fortitude, and tenacity required to accomplish the aspirations we have for a better life.

3. Establish a crystal clear vision of the results. 

A clear vision or image of your desired results paints a compelling picture that connects with the power of your imagination. One of the most amazing traits we have as humans is an innate desire to aspire to or dream of a better life. We have abilities to conceive, visualize, and dwell upon the limitless possibilities that are available to us to ignite the forces of change. It’s what drives us to improve, adapt, and survive. Tap into this power for a change you can count on. You can absolutely do this!

You have a choice. 

The choice is yours. You can suffer the pain of discipline or the pain of disappointment. Sacrifice is the watchword. You will sacrifice either way you slice it. On one hand, your sacrifice will shape you, train you, change you, and prepare you for a better life through discipline. On the other hand, your sacrifice will be one you will be stuck with (later) unless or until you decide to change it. But most won’t because a predominant emotion of regret and disappointment will pervade. Don’t let that be you. I say it all the time - things are never what they first appear to be. What initially appears to be a tough road filled with tough choices eventually reveals itself as the right road - one leading to the fruits of your labor and the achievement of your dreams and goals.

Want to know how to tap into the power of true wealth? Drop me a line and let's talk about it. If you're ready to make small sacrifices today, I can show you how this is truly the easier way of doing things. 

Until next time…

~ G ~

“If you want something you've never had, you must be willing to do something you've never done.” 
~ The Fresh Quotes

-----------------------

333

The Power of Equilibrium

"A powerful book that provides an interesting

 cross-section of three different points of view for 

the balance of body, mind, and spirit."

~ Amazon Reader Feedback

Get your copy of this insightful book

on Amazon.com TODAY!

Available Now!

***********

Step into the mind of Author Luc Vors.

"Keep producing things, great or small, and you will find that your 

creative mind will blossom with more and more ideas." 

***********

Check out the wise, knowledgeable, and often entertaining perspectives of Author Elisabeth Auld inside the editions of

 Gals in Blue.

************

Check out our new affiliate partner, J. Jane, a fascinating blog of mentorship for, by, and between women.

j. jane 

-------------------------------------------------------------

Get your copy of Gary's best-selling novel 

Dream Operative, 

 NOW AVAILABLE 

on Audible.com!

FEAR Is a Thief is on Amazon.com 
and is NOW AVAILABLE on Audible.com too! This inspiring book is the first in a self-empowerment series that was written to help people get past fear using five fundamental truths as a basis for understanding and taking action for a better life. 
Get your copy today at FEAR Is a Thief/Amazon.

Also be sure to check out: KEY HORIZON, the second novel in the G. Weston spy series. This thriller is receiving rave reviews across the spectrum and has captivated a new following of "spy-fi" readers. 

Order your copy of these exciting novels today at Amazon.com.

Triple-S

I often wondered what made the difference between those who are successful and those who are not. By "successful" I mean those who seem to be able to achieve most anything they set their mind to in order to bring about quantifiable outcomes—results. As I took a deeper look I began to understand that outcomes are driven by forces, not all of which are readily apparent. So I began looking at things from the inside-out, which was more of an intuitive move on my part than anything else. Turns out, there was more to my instincts than I first realized.

Results, I discovered, are typically materialized by the law of cause and effect. The effect, in this case, is tied directly to the achievement of success in whatever form we can imagine or readily define. The cause is the culmination of everything we must do in order to achieve the effect.

I learned that one compelling reason we do anything is tied directly to why we do it. The why is driven by emotions and is closely connected to the level of effort we're willing to put forth to attain pleasure or avoid pain.

Whether we achieve success to any great degree depends largely upon three basic principles I call the Triple-S: our Strategy; our Story, and our State. Each deserves some elaboration, so I've decided to dedicate the next couple of posts to focus on each one, beginning with strategy.

Strategy

I've written extensively on the importance of having a plan for success. Our plan is driven by the strategy we employ to achieve our objectives. Without a strategy to support our vision, dream, goal, destination, or objective, there is no point in taking any action whatsoever, else we find ourselves running off in random directions essentially achieving little more than frustration.

Unfortunately, most people stop just after the vision part and, all too often, fail to enact any kind of strategy to put their vision on a map and get started with the process of achievement and the pursuit of success. Without a strategy, all that essentially exists is a dream or a vision, which is a vital part of the process. But a dream or vision by itself does little more than create a fleeting fantasy that reinforces the notion that dreams can never really be achieved. Don't buy it for one second!

As an air traffic controller I would meticulously examine the flight plan of each and every aircraft that was under my control. The flight plan defines the pilot's intended course of action—the strategy—designed to reach an objective, in this case, the intended destination. Success in aviation is defined as the safe and uneventful journey of an aircraft from takeoff to touchdown. In life, success is defined by an achievement of some kind. We set a course by clearly defining our destination and by following a strategy to reach that objective.

The strength and reliability of our strategy rests upon our convictions. (There's that "why" again.) It goes without saying that if we are driven to achieve something and if we want it bad enough, we'll find the right strategy. There is no better illustration of this than the dichotomy of the two opposing groups (those who are successful and those who are not).

The success of our strategy rests upon our daily rituals or behaviors. If our rituals don't support our strategy we'll never make it to our objective. Our rituals include all of the obligations, distractions, habits and routines we use to define the construct of our lives.

My curiosity to discover the differences between the two groups led to my own transformation as I began to make changes in my rituals. The differences were subtle at first but significant nonetheless. The significance eventually turned into what my wife likes to call "critical mass" or what I call "terminal velocity." Each of these terms relate to how small changes in behavior or strategy eventually reaches a tipping point of profound momentum, the likes of which produce amazing life-changing results!

Do your rituals support your strategy? If not, are you ready to do whatever it takes to get off the path you're on and start seeing real results? Start by taking a serious look at how you define your life and whether or not your rituals are really helping you to reach your objectives.

Where can you make small changes that will result in life-changing momentum in your strategy? Should you read more? Should you watch less television or get up earlier? If you look close enough you'll see the areas you can change to affect a significant transformation in reaching success. Your only job at that point will be to react to the changes you need to make.

So what's stopping you? Uncertainty? Fear? Great news—those are merely illusionary gates you must walk through. They're in place to separate you from the unaware and uninformed (people). How's that for a bit of encouragement? You can be different. You can be great. You can achieve it all if you'll take a good honest look at your strategy.

To recap...

1. Determine your why
2. Plug into the emotional power of your why
3. Create a strategy
4. Change your rituals to ensure the execution of your strategy

Until next time when we'll take a look at Your Story...

-G-


"Greatness is not where we stand but what direction we are moving." 
~ Oliver Wendell Holmes


We're proud to announce Gary's next book, set to be released this year. FEAR is a Thief is the first in a self-empowerment series that is written to help people get past fear using five fundamental truths as a basis for understanding and taking action for a better life.

Also be sure to check out: KEY HORIZON, the second novel in the G. Weston spy series. This thriller is receiving rave reviews across the spectrum and has captivated a new following of "spy-fi" readers. 

Get your copy of Westfal's first novel Dream Operative.

Order your copy of these exciting novels today at Amazon.com.

For a comprehensive perspective on the diversity of Gary Westfal, please visit his website (www.gwestfal.com).
 
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