“As the plant springs from, and could not be without, the seed, so every act of a man springs from the hidden seeds of thought, and could not have appeared without them. This applies equally to those acts called ‘spontaneous’ and ‘unpremeditated’ as to those, which are deliberately executed.” – James Allen, As a Man Thinketh
“Man is made or unmade by himself; in the armory of thought he forges the weapons by which he destroys himself; he also fashions the tools with which he builds for himself heavenly mansions of joy and strength and peace. By the right choice and true application of thought, man ascends to the Divine Perfection; by the abuse and wrong application of thought, he descends below the level of the beast. Between these two extremes are all the grades of character, and man is their maker and master.” – James Allen
“…Man is the master of thought, the moulder of character, and the maker and shaper of condition, environment, and destiny.” – James Allen
“Man is always the master, even in his weaker and most abandoned state; but in his weakness and degradation he is the foolish master who misgoverns his ‘household.’” – James Allen
“Man’s mind may be likened to a garden, which may be intelligently cultivated or allowed to run wild; but whether cultivated or neglected, it must, and will, bring forth. If no useful seeds are put into it, then an abundance of useless weed-seeds will fall
therein, and will continue to produce their kind.
Just as a gardener cultivates his plot, keeping it free from weeds, and growing the flowers and fruits which he requires, so may a man tend the garden of his mind, weeding out all the wrong, useless, and impure thoughts, and cultivating toward perfection the flowers and fruits of right, useful, and pure thoughts. By pursuing this process, a man sooner or later discovers that he is the master-gardener of his soul, the director of his life. He also
reveals, within himself, the laws of thought, and understands, with ever-increasing accuracy, how the thought-forces and mind elements operate in the shaping of his character, circumstances, and destiny.” – James Allen
“Man is buffeted by circumstances so long as he believes himself to be the creature of outside conditions, but when he realizes that he is a creative power, and that he may command the hidden soil and seeds of his being out of which circumstances grow, he then becomes the rightful master of himself.” – James Allen
“Circumstance does not make the man; it reveals him to himself.” – James Allen
“Men are anxious to improve their circumstances, but are unwilling to improve themselves; they therefore remain bound. The man who does not shrink from self-crucifixion can never fail to accomplish the object upon which his heart is set. This is as true of earthly as of heavenly things. Even the man whose sole object is to acquire wealth
must be prepared to make great personal sacrifices before he can accomplish his object; and how much more so he who would realize a strong and well-poised life?” – James Allen
“Good thoughts and actions can never produce bad results; bad thoughts and actions can never produce good results. This is but saying that nothing can come from corn but corn, nothing from nettles but nettles. Men understand this law in the natural world, and work with it; but few understand it in the mental and moral world (though its operation there is just as simple and undeviating), and they, therefore, do not co-operate with it.” – James Allen
“A man only begins to be a man when he ceases to whine and revile, and commences to search for the hidden justice which regulates his life. And as he adapts his mind to that regulating factor, he ceases to accuse others as the cause of his condition, and builds himself up in strong and noble thoughts; ceases to kick against circumstances, but begins to use them as aids to his more rapid progress, and as a means of discovering the hidden powers and possibilities within himself.” – James Allen
“Let a man radically alter his thoughts, and he will be astonished at the rapid transformation it will effect in the material conditions of his life. Men imagine that thought can be kept secret, but it cannot; it rapidly crystallizes into habit, and habit solidifies into circumstance. Bestial thoughts crystallize into habits of drunkenness and sensuality, which solidify into circumstances of destitution and disease: impure thoughts of every kind crystallize into enervating and confusing habits, which solidify into distracting and adverse circumstances: thoughts of fear, doubt, and indecision crystallize into weak, unmanly, and irresolute habits, which solidify into circumstances of failure, indigence, and slavish dependence: lazy thoughts crystallize into habits of uncleanliness and dishonesty, which solidify into circumstances of foulness and beggary: hateful and condemnatory thoughts crystallize into habits of accusation and violence, which solidify into circumstances of injury and persecution: selfish thoughts of all kinds crystallize into habits of self-seeking, which solidify into circumstances more or less distressing. On the other hand, beautiful thoughts of all kinds crystallize into habits of grace and kindliness, which solidify into genial and sunny circumstances: pure thoughts crystallize into habits of temperance and self-control, which solidify into circumstances of repose and peace: thoughts of courage, self-reliance, and decision crystallize into manly habits, which solidify into circumstances of success, plenty, and freedom: energetic thoughts crystallize into habits of cleanliness and industry, which solidify into circumstances of pleasantness: gentle and forgiving thoughts crystallize into habits of gentleness, which solidify into protective and preservative circumstances: loving and unselfish thoughts crystallize into habits of self-forgetfulness for others, which solidify into circumstances of sure and abiding prosperity and true riches.” – James Allen
I've peiced together a list that covers most of the different areas that I would like to exlpore in my physical training. Each contributes to the development of the physical and mental attributes that a 'real world' superhero would need to have. Over the next few weeks, I'll be posting articles about each, to provide readers with a basic idea of what that sport or activity is all about and how it might contribute to the project.
General Fitness - See the article "Starting Out - Fighting Fit", posted here earlier.
Martial Arts - This will include both Asian and non-Asian arts, covering kicking and striking, grappling, joint manipulation, throwing, armed and unarmed combat, and more.
Parkour - One of the fastest growing sports world-wide, traceurs (Parkour participants) move in ways that you'll normally only see in comic books. It's an amazing sport, and one perfectly suited to Project Superhero.
Weight Training - Builds strength and muscle mass.
Pilates/Yoga/etc. - Develops flexibility, muscle control, breathing, mental focus and more.
Aerobic Kickboxing (or similar) - Increases endurance, improves aerobic conditioning and ties in perfectly with martial arts training.
Swimming - Aside from improving a necessary skill, swimming provides a full body workout, improves lung capacity, aerobic conditioning, coordination, etc.
Rock Climbing/Bouldering/Etc. - Builds strength and toughness of both mind and body. Also, will certainly come in handy when dealing with rooftops and buildings.
Spelunking - Provides many of the benefits of climbing, but has the added bonus of heightening the senses through stimulus deprivation.
Sky Diving/BASE Jumping/Bunjee Jumping - Falling at a fast rate acclimates the body to high speed and high adrenaline circumstances.
Hang Gliding - Hey, a superhero has to fly somehow, right?
SCUBA diving - A handy Batman/James bond type skill.
Urban Exploration - Though it brushes the edges of legality, this is essentially recreational tresspassing. Aside from the skills it would develop and the familiarity with the lesser seen side of any city, it still makes sense. What, you think Spiderman gets permission to be on people's rooftops?
For many
years of my life, I was very active in the Boy Scouts of America. Over the
years of my Scouting experience, I have had the opportunity to go on many
outdoor activities, such as campouts, hikes, river rafting trips, and others.
One a few occasions, we actually climbed some of the mountains in the Pacific Northwest. During these trips, I learned a great
deal about myself and others. Most importantly, I learned something about
accomplishment – it is no small task to climb a mountain. As I look back on
those experiences later in life, I see that those lessons learned while
climbing mountains are the lessons we all need to learn to reach our dreams and
to overcome our personal challenges.
Begin with a Plan
The simple
fact is that no one climbs a mountain on accident. It’s the sort of act that is
always, under every circumstance, a conscious choice. Likewise, no significant
accomplishment in life is reached without the decision to achieve. Like hills
and mountains, some accomplishments are great and others small; the important
thing is that we choose to climb them.
Once we set
out to climb a mountain, the wise climber makes a plan. Some approaches will be
easier than others while some will be more difficult, even impossible for many.
Maybe a straight line from the bottom to the top is the best route, but many
times it is not. With any goal, determine before hand what needs to be done. If
some steps must occur in sequence, you should know what order they should be
done in and you should have a plan to accomplish them in the necessary manner
and time.
Prepare for the
Journey
Climbing a
mountain is a serious undertaking. Perhaps it’s a large hill that you’ll be
hiking, or maybe it’s climbing Everest or MountK2
– each has its own unique challenges. What will you wear? What will you eat?
How will you stay hydrated? How will you stay on your predetermined course? Do
you have the necessary equipment to climb? Are you prepared for an injury or
other accident? No serious climber ignores these questions, nor do they fail to
equip themselves properly for the climb.
Unfortunately, many people, when
faced with their own goals or challenges, fail to ask any of the important
questions. People will often set off to conquer their personal Kilimanjaro, but
don’t take the right equipment. They fail to get the necessary education or
training for the job they really want. Maybe they decide to work out more, but
never get around to buying shoes for such an activity. Sometimes people forget
about the need to sustain themselves, and don’t give a second thought to
financial or medical necessities.
Proper preparation is essential to
any real accomplishment. In order to prepare you must take the time to consider
the many factors that go into such an undertaking. Well worded is the old
adage, ‘A failure to prepare is preparation for failure’.
Begin Where You Are
When
standing at the base of a mountain, it is easy to wish you were already well on
your way. It’s a common thing to look up at the trail before you and feel
overwhelmed. This is just as true of any other challenge. Many times, people
look at something they truly desire and allow themselves to be discouraged by
the enormity of the mountain before them. They tell themselves, ‘If only I
had…’ maybe it’s more education, more money, more free time, less stress, fewer
pounds, fewer debts, better coworkers, a nicer boss. As they list the things
standing between them and their goals, they give up. They quit before they even
start. They look at the mountain and decide that, because they aren’t half way
up it already, it’s too far to climb. But what mountain climber really lets the
mountain discourage them from the climb? Instead, they look at the mountain and
welcome the challenge. If there is a midpoint that they wish they were at, they
decide to climb there, and then to go on as they wanted to.
In our own
lives, we need to realize that there are no obstacles, there is merely more
mountain to climb. Your own challenges should never prevent you from reaching
your goals. Instead of seeing a problem and giving up, set for yourself an
intermediate goal, a midway point on your journey up the mountain. If you lack
the necessary education for a job, make it an intermediate goal to finish your
degree. Like the mountain climber, once that intermediate goal is accomplished,
then you will find yourself halfway up the mountain. No matter what your
circumstances are and what your goals may be, you cannot hope to begin anywhere
but where you are.
Never Climb Alone
For
beginning and even experienced climbers, there is one simple rule. Never climb
alone, ever. A climbing partner provides you with all sorts of support – they
help carry your gear, dividing the load between you. If your attention wanders,
they help you to keep on the path. They are there to help you if you are hurt.
They can help you when you are tired or hungry or sore. They prevent you from
becoming lost. They help keep you motivated over the more difficult parts of
the climb. Only the most experienced climbers attack a challenging mountain alone,
and even then it is both rare and risky.
This same
practice is easily applied to the accomplishment of any other task or goal. If
your goal is to be in better shape, a partner helps you to remember to work
out, helps you stick to your plan. During those times when your own desire
wanes from time to time, it isn’t uncommon to keep working and progressing if
only to please your partner. A partner keeps you accountable for your progress.
They help to share the stress or the worry. They give input and offer
suggestions. They encourage and support, motivate and reward. It is never a bad
idea to have your own ‘climbing partner’, even if it’s just someone who knows
what your goal is. Don’t keep your goals a complete secret! Find others to help
you and motivate you and you will find that the goal is more easily
accomplished.
Difficulty and
Changing Terrain
One of the
unique aspects of a mountain is that it might have many different types of
terrain and different climates. As you climb, some areas are steeper than
others, some areas colder, some hotter. As you climb higher, trees stop
growing, rocks change in type and texture. Changes in weather can make a simple
stretch of path into a serious difficulty. Between the base of the mountain and
the summit, there is a variety of change and challenge.
As we work
towards our goals, we also find that the terrain changes, becomes more
difficult. Sometimes our growth comes slower than we had hoped, requires more
work, more time, more energy. Sometimes, events around us create a climate of
stress, making even pleasant activities a nearly unbearable burden. Sometimes
we experience set backs we had not anticipated, find difficulties we had not
foreseen. At these times, it is easy to want to give up. Sometimes, we start to
think that one muddy stretch of path is the whole mountain, or that our present
challenge won’t ever go away. It’s important to remember that this is not the
case. Just as unexpectedly as these challenges arose, they may disappear. A few
more steps may lead you from rough rock to a smoother path. Even if it doesn’t,
you may quickly learn to navigate through these difficult stretches with more
ease, strengthened by the challenges you have already faced.
One Step at a Time
Between
base and summit, regardless of what problems you encounter or what advantages
you have, a mountain is climbed by putting one foot in front of the other. Even
on flat ground, progress requires action, and if you don’t take step after
step, again and again, you won’t ever get anywhere. Though a mountain may look
daunting, it is still overcome one step at a time. When it is wet and cold and
muddy, you simply move forward, step after step. No matter how steep or rough
the path, your progress comes the same way, by moving forward one little bit
after another.
Other goals
are no different. Once a working plan is made, it’s simply a matter of moving
from point A to point B. If your goal is a college degree, then you must go to
class every day, one at a time, one after the other. If you wish to play the
piano, it must be practiced, known skills mastered and new skills learned. If
you wish to build your muscles, it is done one repetition at a time. This is
important for two major reasons. The first has to do with the long run – moving
from the base to the summit. You must realize that you have to take steps. No
amount of planning, preparation or determination will amount to anything if you
never take the next step. You will instead spend day after day, standing at the
base of the mountain. The long term is made up of countless steps, and you must
take them.
The second
reason it is so important to understand the step by step process is found in
the moment. At any given moment in your climb, you may look up at the rest of
the mountain and tell yourself that it’s too much, that you can’t do it. Maybe
you think it is simply too difficult to lose weight, or to quit smoking. If
taken all at once, it probably is. You cannot summit a mountain in one step –
it’s too far, it’s too steep. You can, however, take the next step. You can
choose to eat something healthy for your next meal. You can choose to go
another hour without a cigarette. You can always take one more step even if you
don’t think you could do another after that. Knowing this, you can look not at
the entire mountain, but at the ground immediately in front of you. Conquer
that single piece of ground and you will surely conquer the mountain in time.
Reaching the Summit
When all is
said and done, you will reach to peak of your mountain. Step after step, you
will finally reach that goal you have longed for, the thing you have worked
for. There is something magical about standing on top of a mountain, looking
out over the world below. There is a powerful sense of accomplishment as you look
back down at the path you have taken, knowing that you are done. There is a
sense of profound reverence as you gaze out at the view, knowing that the only
people to see it have climbed the very mountain you stand on. Your own goals
will feel the same way – the fact that you have worked for them gives them
deeper meaning, makes them worth the effort. Remember than anyone who sees the
view from atop a mountain has earned that view, and nature has paid them in
full for that work.
Go out and
find your own summits. Reach the heights you have only dreamed of reaching.
Step by step, you can reach any height you dare to climb to. Good luck and good
climbing.
Brian Westover is an
author specializing in personal motivation and growth. He is the director of
Project Superhero, an exploration of human growth and potential. To learn more
about the author or Project Superhero, visit http://projectsuperhero.onesite.com.
For starters, let me say that I think the format of this article is fairly weak. The random capitalization of ‘power words’ is gimmicky and hokey. The article reads more like a transcript of a speech than an article, which shows some incredibly lazy writing. I actually had to clean up some spelling, because I don’t want this guy’s inability to spell check showing up on my Blog. Really, I have some major criticisms of this article.
That said, it’s a good article, albeit one that’s a little shallow in presentation. I’ll personally write an alternate article, just so that there’s an article teaching the same stuff without being a poorly written piece of fluff. Oh well, the critical reader will draw from it what’s there. - Brian
Success Training Strategies- The Success Secrets of the Greatness Grower
By Doug Firebaugh
"The power inside of you would stagger you if you really knew what it could accomplish. It is a power that conquers, empowers, and Grows Greatness. But most of us have been conquered by Greatness thieves that have robbed us blind. "
Clueless.
That is how most people are about their Power to Succeed that lies dormant within them. They have no idea of the Success Greatness that lies deep within just waiting for a chance to explode into the world and make a so so life into a life made only of dreams.
You have a great Power within that can help create any life you want, have anything you want, and do anything that you desire. This Power is one that has been waiting, watching, and willing to take on the Success Journey in a way that would leave you breathless and in awe.
YOU are that powerful on the inside.
Yes, that Success Power and Force is within you, and waiting to come out and change your whole world! Success is basically the releasing of that Inner Will and Power in your life, and then operating your life in such a capacity that Success can ONLY be the result!
DARE to step beyond the limits today and live "Life Beyond the Barriers.(tm)"
But people will tell you that this Success Power is for others and not for you, as you came from the wrong family or side of town. They will tell you that Success has never been a part of who you are. Don't buy into the lie.
Success is already inside of you.
YOU must release it, and never look back, as that is where you came from, not where you are going. It is where you used to be, not where you are now. It is WHO you used to be, but not who you are now.
Today, something has shifted inside of you.
You are a POWERFUL being that God has made for massive Success and Achievement, and today you make that decision to release it and never look back at what USED TO BE.
Success is about what is GOING TO BE! And you are going to be a HUGE Success today and not be clueless like so many others.
Let others walks among the clueless crowd and be blind to what the Truth is about their Success.
But not you.
There are so many people in the world that simply are deceived into believing that what they have and are doing is all their is to life.
They are clueless to the Greatness that lies within them.
I should know....
Mine laid dormant for years. It laid there like a rock that I carried around with me. It heard all the excuses and the pathetic reasons I was not a Success. It put up with my lack of great effort, as I replaced it with weak effort that was "just enough" to get by.
Am I proud of that fact?
Nope...hardly. I shake my head at it, and that is the reason for this lesson- Release the Greatness and Giftings that you have been blessed with!
I had the Shift- and so have you today! The Inner Shift of Greatness that shifts your life into Success overdrive!
Let me ask you the questions that I had to ask myself:
Are you proud of the fact that you probably have truly never tapped into the Greatness and Gifting of Success within you?
Are you proud of the fact that you could be doing do much better in life? We ALL could!
Here is a Million Dollar Question...
Are you more proud of your Mediocrity than your talent and Power God gave you to Massively Succeed?
YOU are a WINNER and Blessing to people!
YOU are a Gifted Talent that attracts Success to you like a magnet on Steroids!
YOU are the Enlarger and YOU will enlarge you and others today by encouraging them and taking them to a higher realm of thinking, belief, dreaming, actions, and life and total faith in what they can do with it by simply releasing it, and GROWING IT.
Truly, YOU are a Greatness Grower, and Success Shifter today...
And today...YOU start with YOU!
(c) 2006/ all rights reserved
Doug Firebaugh is one of the top Success Trainers in the world. Over a million people a month read his training ezine. He spent the last 7 years traveling the world speaking and training on Success. He lives in BirminghamMichigan, and you can receive a FREE subscription to his training ezine- The MLM Success HEAT- at: http://www.passionfire.com/pf_heat_9.html http://www.passionfire.com
