Fulfilling Success

Success is defined by many in so many ways. Many people define it by what they have yet to attain or by what others have attained. In the pursuit of success we often prostitute ourselves to many things we would eventually live to regret. We run miles down one street only to find we are completely lost.

The cliché is obvious – the pursuit of success defined by wealth, will often leave people unhappy – even if they achieve that wealth, they have had to do things or sacrifice relationships to do it.

Almost everyone is striving to improve some facet of their lives, whether it is our image, spirituality, financial status ... So in this crazy world, how do we reach success?

We constantly strive for more, or better. It is our desire to succeed that drives us.
There are Books, CD's, Audio Cassettes, Infomercials, Seminars, even personal coaches. And how about the hundreds and hundreds of motivational speakers. All, to help us achieve our goal to succeed. Whether we are striving to lose weight, get more exercise, improve our relationships or business skills, reduce stress or gain financial independence, there is some one or some thing out there to help us.

A personal definition of success is critical to finding it, much like identifying the place you wish to travel to is necessary before the journey begins. If we don’t know where we are going, we won’t know when we get there, let alone how to get there and if we should even be trying to get there or not.

Every goal has a cost. You may want to win an Olympic medal, well there is a cost, and it’s more than just training pains. You will not lead a normal social life; you can’t do what others do. If you want to become a CEO of a major company, there is a cost – you may have the title and big house, but you may have trouble at home given all your hours in the office. Essential to everyone who endeavors to do something is counting the cost. Whether you build a house or plan a picnic – it is critical to know what it will take.

Once you have defined your goal and have accepted the benefits and costs of such a goal, you are now ready to start. But before you rush off – are you sure you have the right goal. I know you have a goal, but is it right? Does it cost you too much? Is success at any cost your mantra? What if that cost was the lives of your kids, your conscience, and your integrity? What are your core values that you cannot compromise? We all have them, and we need to know what they are.

If you goal is to make say $1000 in 24hrs. Success would be having $1000 cash in your pocket this time tomorrow. Well you could simply rob a convenience store or two at gunpoint to reach your goal, but would you consider yourself successful? Depends if those armed robberies compromise some core values – I hope they would!

Your values and your potential will determine what is possible for you. Success would be maximizing that potential in such a manner that inspires generations to come.

So as you consider Self Improvement and Self Growth through Personal Development it’s important you think about what is important to you and how you can accomplish what you want without compromise.

Spending and the Christmas season

This is the time of year when both budgets and diets go by the wayside. You've probably justified giant purchases to yourself (or to others) by saying, "It's OK. It's Christmas!" For some reason, even the most unwise of purchases seem like a good idea as soon as the Christmas carols start playing.

Unfortunately, all of that Christmas spirit will soon go sour, as soon as the credit card bills come. Once the presents have been opened and the tree has been put away, it'll be time to deal with any bad purchasing decisions you made.

If your annual Christmas spending cycle is made up of December extravagance and January regret, you're not alone.

Americans spend a whopping $525 billion during the holiday season! And, despite the fact that the economy is still very rocky, Christmas spending figures are as high as they were before the recession. Online spending figures alone have gone up by 12%.

That's because people are spending money they just don't have. And it's easy to do. After all its easy to charge it to the credit card.

That dinner out, those extra stocking fillers for the kids. Want to see the extended family over the holidays? It is easy to pay for when you swipe your Visa Card.

The average person spends nearly $1,200 during the holiday season and at least 23% of it is put right on a credit card. In fact, estimates show that people spend 112% more when they pay with plastic, as opposed to cash.

And all of that spending adds up.

By the time March rolls around, a whopping one-third of bankruptcy filings cite over-spending at Christmas as a major contributor to their financial troubles!

Even if you don't wind up filing for bankruptcy, you're still in some big financial trouble if you over-spend at Christmas. That's because if you pay the minimum balance when your credit card arrives, 90% of your money is going right to interest. And it doesn't take long for that interest to snowball out of control.

So, what's the solution?

Even though Christmas is viewed as a magical time of year, you can't lose sight of your finances. Like any other day of the year, Christmas requires some budgeting and some restraint. Unless you want to have a major problem in January, accept the fact that you don't have an endless supply of money to spend on Christmas. Take a look at your finances each year and budget accordingly.

Showing your love at Christmas doesn't have to equal spending a ton of money. The truth is, if someone really cares about you, they won't even enjoy that extravagant gift if they know it put you into financial trouble!

Tony Mase is a serious student of the works of Wallace D.
Wattles and the publisher of the "The Personal Power Course:
Ten Lessons in Constructive Science, Teaching You How to Use Your Own Subconscious Energies for Health, Prosperity and Personal Achievement" ebook by Wallace D. Wattles...

"The Personal Power Course" by Wallace D. Wattles Ten lessons in constructive science, teaching you how to use your own subconscious energies for health, prosperity and personal achievement.
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