Processing the Past

“Let your past be used to refine you, never to define you."

Alism

To define means to “to determine the limits or nature of; describe exactly; or to state the meaning of”[i]  In life we have a tendency to allow our past history, actions, circumstances, relationships, mistakes, mishaps, decisions (must I go on) to describe us, determining our limits and/or nature.  This faulty belief system enables your past to stagnate your present and stifle the hope of a brighter future.

However, to refine means to “to free from impurities; to make more polished or elegant”.[ii]  That’s all we should allow our past to do…to make us better instead of bitter.  Our past can be seen as our refinery process...what we must go through to be what has been ordered, planned and predestined.

For instance, how would you like to go to a restaurant for breakfast, order scrambled eggs and receive an unbroken, white egg on your plate?  Of course you would not crack the egg open and begin to eat it raw because that is NOT what you ordered.  In order for you to enjoy scrambled eggs, the egg must be broken, beaten with a fork, mixed with some milk, salt, and pepper, and then placed in a hot pan to be cooked.  That’s a process the egg must endure to be in the condition you ordered. 

Your past condition and present circumstances are the prerequisites in your process of being what was divinely ordered.  Don’t deny yourself of the privilege of embracing the process.  The past is to refine you, not define you.  To make you better, not bitter.  Learn from the process and embrace the journey.  It is that refining process that gives your life credence and value.   

Aim High…

© 2012 Aldean Pearson

_____________________________________________________________________________

Aldean “Al” Pearson is a Professional Speaker, Trainer, and Growth Coach.  He is the Co-Founder of the LĪVE! movement, a speaking, training and coaching organization committed to developing extraordinary people, families, and businesses. His “up-front and candid,” yet at times humorous approach empowers his clients and audiences to look past their limitations to find the hidden gems of capability within. He is married with twin boy and girl. 
Contact: AlPearson1@gmail.com

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[i] Webster’s New World Dictionary, Fourth Edition;  Wiley Publishing, Inc.  2003.

[ii] Webster’s New World Dictionary, Fourth Edition;  Wiley Publishing, Inc.  2003.

The Proving Ground

“Adversity is the proving ground for success.”

                                                                  Alism

One definition for prove is “to establish as true”[i].   It is true, good success only comes about through adversity.  Therefore, troubles, obstacles, and hindrances are all meant to give you an opportunity to see what you are made of.  Adversity defines the pretenders (people who act like they’re winning) from the contenders (people who believe they can win).

When we look at ships, they were never created to stay docked. How would we ever know it would and could float if it never left the dock to venture out into the sea?  How would we know it could withstand the storm if it never faced one?  Likewise, we will not have the privilege of knowing our potential or experience the pleasure of good success if we are never put in situations and circumstances that would not only test our mettle, but also prove the veracity of our existence.

It’s time for a paradigm shift.  The next time you experience an onslaught of adversity, consider it as your friend.  It tells you everything you want to hear…especially how great and authentic you really are!  It’s character building time…you must stand up strong and say, “I will have my success!”    

Aim High…

© 2012 Aldean Pearson

_____________________________________________________________________________

Aldean “Al” Pearson is a Professional Speaker, Trainer, and Perspective Coach.  He is the Co-Founder of the LĪVE! movement, a speaking, training and coaching organization committed to developing extraordinary people, families, and businesses. His “up-front and candid,” yet at times humorous approach empowers his clients and audiences to look past their limitations to find the hidden gems of capability within. He is married with twin boy and girl. 
Contact: AlPearson1@gmail.com

Become Inspired! 
Join our Facebook page: www.Facebook.com/AldeanPearson
Follow us on Twitter: www.Twitter.com/AldeanPearson
Connect on LinkedIn: www.Linkedin.com/in/aldeanpearson

[i] Webster’s New World Dictionary, Completely New Edition:  Wiley Publishing, Inc.  2003.

10 Steps to Building Your Self-Confidence

Building your Self-Confidence is not an overnight process.  It takes a changing of your mindset.  Let’s first examine the difference between your Competence and your Confidence. Competence is your ability to do something.  However, Confidence is your willingness to do something.  Therefore, I’d like to leave you with 10 steps to help you build your willingness to do something.

1.         Know who you are.

This is a key component that I share with most of my coaching clients. Once you know who you are, you can create a market or environment for being who you are.  If you never know who you are then your environment starts to create you which is a recipe for failure. If your environment starts creating who you are, then that means that that gem inside of you has not been developed.  Develop and polish that gem inside and one day others will start to see your true value.   This is a key Confidence-booster.

2.         Identify or recognize your true skill sets.

Find your strengths.  No inventor creates a thing without a purpose.  God has created you also for a purpose.  He has given you all the tools necessary to achieve it.  It’s up to you to discover them.

3.         Developed and enhance those true skill sets through constant learning and exposure.

You must understand that you are always learning. “The man who thinks he knows it all has death for a friend”.

4.         Become an specialist or learn to do one thing very well.  It will serve as the foundation for other things.  Being the “Jack of all trades” spreads you thin and in demand only when other measures are exhausted.  Excelling in a particular area let’s others know who to call when the job needs to get done the first time.

5.         Stay away from asking questions if you aren’t prepared to receive the answers.

In other words, if you really don’t want to know, then don’t ask the question. 

6.         Avoid making statements outside of your knowledge base.

This could put you in an uncomfortable position.  This is a real Confidence-killer especially when you may feel the need add your two cents.

7.         Be quick to listen and slow to speak.

The heart of a person is most often in their mouth.  Your Confidence builds with your ability to hear and respond accordingly.

8.         Be open to new ideas and try them sometimes

Being open to new ideas could broaden your talents and skill sets.  Walt Disney would not be the Powerhouse it is today had it not been open to the new ideas and fresh minds of the people it employs.

9.         Read and learn from the successes and failures of others. It can serve as a roadmap to you on your journey.  It is said that it is “better to learn from the mistakes of others, because you will never live long enough make them all yourself.”  Those are truly words to live by.

10.       Understand mentally the difference between “try” and “train”.

When you try something, you don’t know if you will fail or succeed.  However, when you train for something you have an expectation of succeeding. For example, athletes may “try out” for the Olympic team, not knowing if they will make the cut.  However, once on the team they “train” for the Olympics because the team is sent with an expectation of winning.    Do you always win…not necessarily, but you have the Confidence to know that you are in position to win.

There is a “YOU” inside each of us that the world is waiting to see.  Greatness is knocking. Don’t let fear, intimidation, or your past suppress it.  Are YOU ready to let it out?  

Aim High…

© 2011 Aldean Pearson

_____________________________________________________________________________

Aldean “Al” Pearson is a Professional Speaker, Trainer, and Perspective Coach.  He is the Co-Founder of the LĪVE! movement, a speaking, training and coaching organization committed to developing extraordinary people, families, and businesses. His “up-front and candid,” yet at times humorous approach empowers his clients and audiences to look past their limitations to find the hidden gems of capability within. He is married with twin boy and girl. 
Contact: AlPearson1@gmail.com

Become Inspired! 

Join our Facebook page: www.Facebook.com/AldeanPearson

Follow us on Twitter: www.Twitter.com/CoachMotivator

Connect on LinkedIn: www.Linkedin.com/in/aldeanpearson