Invest Your Inner Wealth

It started out like any other Wednesday - reports to type, telephones to answer, books to balance. When the clock finally struck 4:30 p.m., Lauren locked her desk and wearily made her way to the fast-food caf? where she waited on tables several evenings a week. As a single mother struggling to make ends meet, Lauren's days were an endless blur of typewriters, ringing telephones and demanding children.

A few hours later, Lauren's entire world changed when she discovered that she had won $5 million in a lottery.

That was five years ago. Today, Lauren is back to typing reports and answering telephones. Other than owning a nice home, she has no assets and is once again struggling to make ends meet. Like many lottery winners, Lauren lost her winnings in bad investments and frivolous spending. Rarely a day goes by that Lauren doesn't agonize over all that she could have done with her life, had she properly managed her wealth.

"If only I could get my hands on that kind of money," you may be thinking. "I would never waste it."

That may be. But what are you doing with the wealth you already possess? I don't mean your bank accounts, business or investments. I'm referring to your talents, time, skills and opportunities, which are far more valuable than your money. And in many of our lives, these treasures are either buried or squandered in selfish pursuits.

John Henry Newman stated, "Fear not that your life shall have an end, but that it shall never have a beginning." Tragically, many people come to the end of their lives having never scratched the surface of their potential.

Following are some keys that will help you invest your inner wealth and achieve your full potential.

Connect to Your Power Source

My husband, Brian, is a hobby handyman. He's enthralled with his latest purchase, a "JigSaw" power tool that will cut any angle or shape. Last week he used it to cut a frame for a cathedral style window. According to the user manual, this tool has impressive capabilities. But even a non-techie like me knows it won't do anything unless it's connected to a power source.

To fulfill our greatest potential, we, too must be connected to our power source. Jesus Christ said, "I am the vine, you are the branches?he that abides in me and I in him, the same will bring forth much fruit: for without me you can do nothing (Jn. 15:5).

Are you connected to Jesus? Creativity, joy and purpose grow in proportion to our "connectedness" to Christ. Draw closer to God, and divine power, love and grace will imbue your inner seeds of potential, causing them to germinate, grow and blossom.

When the late author Catherine Marshall was asked what advice she would give to someone seeking to be more creative, she replied, "That's easy. I would tell her to stay intimately attuned to God."

Change Your Focus

Many of us have areas of our lives that seem like insurmountable obstacles to achieving success.

When Ludwig van Beethoven began to lose his hearing, fear and anger became his constant companions. "O Providence," he wrote in his journal, "grant me at last one pure joy - it is so long since joy echoed in my heart. Oh when, oh when, shall I find it again?"

Beethoven despaired over whether he would ever be able to compose music again. But the time came when he decided to let go of his anger and be grateful for what he had. He chose to focus on God instead of his handicaps. The result was the composition of the famous Ninth Symphony, the tune to which we sin, "Joyful, joyful, we adore thee."

The handicaps that hinder most of us are not physical; they are handicaps of perception such as negative attitudes, fear of failure, inferiority, and doubt. Focus on your handicaps, and you'll be discouraged and resentful. Choose gratitude, focus on the enabling grace of God, and you'll experience joy and productivity.

Take Action

Samuel Johnson once said, "Nothing will ever be attempted if all possible objections must first be overcome.

People who wait to take action until every real or imagined obstacle is removed will never get beyond the starting gate. Many of the world's greatest geniuses died having never succeeded at anything. Why? It takes more than good intentions and talent to be successful. It takes boldness and courage. Translated into everyday living, that means action.

Many people avoid taking action because they fear failure. Often, this is rooted in concerns about what other people think of them.

Nothing will paralyze you more than worrying about other people's opinions. Refuse to compare yourself with others. Be willing to risk failure. Today, take one step outside your comfort zone. Then tomorrow, take another. Over time, you'll develop greater courage and resilience.

Effective action requires a disciplined lifestyle. Athletes have coined the phrase, "No pain, no gain." They know that excellence requires discipline and hard work.

Discipline is the harness that releases our potential, transforming dreams into accomplishments. Set realistic goals and establish a detailed course of action to achieve those goals. Then be sure to follow through. Periodically evaluate your progress and, whenever necessary, adjust your plan.

Finally, never give up. Most great accomplishments are realized through many small steps; most achievements follow a series of setbacks. Some of the world's greatest novelists received hundreds of rejection slips before publishing their first book. Many of the most world's most prominent business and political leaders failed dozens of times before ever succeeding at one venture.

Apply these principles, and you will experience the fulfillment that comes from knowing you are doing the very best with what God has entrusted to you.

Judy Rushfeldt is an author, speaker, and online magazine publisher who has been writing for 25 years. Her passion is to inspire and equip women to reach their dreams. Her latest book, Making Your Dreams Your Destiny - a woman's guide to awakening your passions and fulfilling your purpose, is now available in quality bookstores. For more information about this book or to order, visit http://www.MakingYourDreams.com

---

Creating Supportive Environments

I'm writing this on my laptop in a Cosi caf? in Dupont Circle in Washington, D.C. The reason I am here has nothing to do with me or my business, but the reason... Read More

The Need to Feel Special

From the time Jennifer was a little child, she was demanding of attention, especially from her mother, Sarah. With two older brothers, Jennifer had a "special" place in the family as the baby... Read More

How Do You Build Momentum in Your Business and Life?

A few weeks ago at a "Leadership from the Ground Up" conference, Donald Trump spoke about the ingredients for success. I found his topic on momentum very intriguing. My thoughts have been returning... Read More

Addiction to Thinking

Randall sought my help because he was stuck being miserable and had no idea how to get out of his misery. In his life he had experienced moments of great joy and sense... Read More

The Power of Visualization

Professional athletes and other highly successful people use the power of visualization technique on a regular basis. Why? Results of a 20-year study of the effects of visualization on results revealed an amazing... Read More

Reduce Anxiety About Decison Making

What's the alternative to making decisions?Allowing someone else, or circumstances, to make them for you.And that is giving up control of your life. That's giving up all power to your life to other... Read More

Its Game Time! Four Powerful Lessons in the Game of Life

I turned 29 last week, and if statistics are right and I die on or around my 78th birthday, I am almost 40% done. In a numbers game, that is pretty close to... Read More

Theres Always Enough Time!

I thought I'd begin this article by stimulating your mind with a little time trivia contest! Are you ready? Alright then, here goes?..Question 1 - How many hours a day did Bill Gates... Read More

Becoming An Information Filter And A Knowledge Sponge

As the title states, "Become an Information Filter and a Knowledge Sponge." On your daily journey to achieve your WHY, you will travel through many different avenues and sometimes you will ask yourself,... Read More

Using Audio Programs to Increase Your Knowledge and Productivity

If you do any significant amount of driving, a simple thing you can do to increase your productivity is to listen to audio programs in your car. If your commute time to work... Read More

Do You Want to Make More Money as A Life Coach

There's a lot of coaches out there not making any money, looking for opportunities, trying to model what others are doing, networking like crazy, researching, visualizing, affirming and hoping? yes, hoping that the... Read More

Grow Through It

It's past bedtime for most working men. It's not unbearably late and I have no appointments tomorrow morning so I sit here and contemplate. Contemplate what? Well, what do I always contemplate? Life,... Read More

5 Minute Morning Balance Ritual

"3 Questions, 5 Minutes a Day: Make leaps towards greater balance in one single week with the Shicka Boom 5 Minute Morning Balance Ritual" By Laura Lallone, Certified Life CoachThis article is dedicated... Read More

Worth Waiting For

Direct Answers - Column for the week of July 22, 2002I am a 31-year-old virgin male. At times I feel sexually frustrated because I've never been intimate with a woman. The only experience... Read More

Should I Get A Coach?

Why should or would someone hire a life coach? Well, why would anyone purchase the services of a personal trainer, and interior designer or a sports coach - any professional "assistant" for that... Read More

Eureka! I?ve Found It!

OK, so it wasn't quite that big of a deal. But I did find the "T" that mysteriously escaped from the word "not" in one of my articles a few months ago. Yep,... Read More

Personal Core Values: Your Key to Success and Happiness

Each of us has our own set of personal values; these are the things which we believe are important, which motivate us and to which we give priority. If I asked you what... Read More

Invest Your Inner Wealth

It started out like any other Wednesday - reports to type, telephones to answer, books to balance. When the clock finally struck 4:30 p.m., Lauren locked her desk and wearily made her way... Read More

Business Coaching - Ten Ways of Dealing with Mistakes You Made

You can either choose to dwell on what happened and get stuck in the past or you can choose to start using your energy to build your future. Either choice is okay. But... Read More

Coaching Book Review: The Coach: Creating Partnerships for a Competitive Edge

Leaders today have many challenges when it comes to guiding and influencing the performance of their team members. In the past, productivity and success depended on sheer muscle and sweat. Competition, technology and... Read More

What is the Success Lesson in this Story?

One of my clients gave me permission to tell you his story.Jim called me 9 months ago and asked for help.For the last 5 years Jim desperately wanted to leave his 9 to... Read More

Getting What You Need: Ask For Help!

"Fortune befriends the bold." - John DrydenI regularly work with clients on making major life changes in line with a new definition of personal success. There are many methods we use in this... Read More

Why Therapy Fails Sometimes

I saw a couple for marriage counseling this week, and when I asked them if they had ever seen anyone else for counseling they said they had worked with two other therapists. They... Read More

Anger: To Control or To Learn

Many of us will do anything to avoid another's anger, yet may be quick to anger ourselves. Many of us dread another's anger yet continue to use our own anger as a way... Read More

Guilt By Association & Wealth By It Too!

"Tell me what company thou keepst, and I'll tell thee what thou art." - Miguel de Cervantes (1547 - 1616) Spanish novelist.Growing up I often heard my best friend's father Nick say, "Show... Read More

It?s All To Do With The Way You Wake Up

Do you start your day with anger, frustration and annoyance at the alarm and the need to get up? Do you wake up hoping the day will go away and you can get... Read More

Executive Coaching

The higher you climb the ladder in this organization, the less chance you have of getting feedback about your performance. The working rule of thumb is "the farther up you go, the stranger... Read More

Action NOT Reaction

Do you feel you are in charge of your life do you really believe that you control your destiny? Or you are of those people who feel manipulated all the time, they are... Read More

Do You Dither in Your Job Search?

I looked up the definition of "to dither" before writing this article. It is to be agitated and in a nervous state. My definition, however, as it relates to a job seeker is... Read More