Friday, July 30, 2010

Put the extra effort

What do you think will happen to you and your self-esteem if you always do your best and more in everything you do? Most likely you will feel good about yourself. If you constantly put an extra effort in whatever you undertake. You will reap rewards in the form of recognition, promotions, friends, pride in your work, self-satisfaction and gratitude. If you sow only positive thoughts in your mind, you are bound to reap a harvest of abundance, success and satisfaction.
The stretch and extra effort will do you good and will build your self-confidence. You will be stretching yourself in a way that is beneficial for you when you walk that extra mile, when you put out that little extra effort, when you hang in there just a little longer. The more you reach out by extending yourself, the more you will grow and the more people you will influence with positive results. The following are some ideas for extending yourself which are good exercises for the mind and spirit:

1. Be extra nice to at least one person everyday.
2. Work a little longer than you have to at the factory, farm, shop or office.
3. Go out of your way to help someone regularly.
4. Volunteer to do something for others or some charitable organizations, without expecting anything in return.
5. Be extra understanding and loving to your family, parents and friends.
6. Put in a little more time to educate yourself.
7. Give a little gift to someone for no special reason.
8. Extend a welcome hand to a new neighbour, colleague or acquaintance.
9. Visit someone who is sick or in need of someone to talk to.
10. Phone someone you have been thinking about for a long time.
11. Compliment someone for his or her clothes, hair, smile, work, effort, patience, skills, etc.
12. Send loving thoughts through space for others to connect to.

There are many other ways in which you can walk the extra distance in life. Practise some of these on a regular basis. You can choose which way you wish to put in the extra effort that best suits your circumstances. It may stretch your comfort zone and sometimes you may not even be appreciated. When you put the extra effort, don't expect immediate results. Be willing to assume greater responsibilities. Strive to deliver high quality products, goods and services at all times. You can literally set your own salary by the quality of your work.
Be generous with your smiles and praises to others. People who consistently put the extra effort in their work as well as in their personal life command attention and respect. Inevitably their efforts are recognized and they reap the rewards of their labour. I urge you to put the extra effort when you are playing and laughing with your children, when you are romancing your spouse, when you are educating yourself, and when you are working on your plans for your major goals. By making the extra effort throughout your life's journey, the outcome of your endeavours will amaze you. Whatever you sow, you will reap!

Extract from my book: Become your best
www.kintue-fee.com

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Volunteer your time and service

VOLUNTEER YOUR TIME AND SERVICE

One of the most rewarding commitments you can make is to volunteer your time and services to your family, your friends, your community, a charity or an organization of your choice. Volunteering is rewarding for everyone who is involved. The minute you choose to volunteer, you set ripples in motion. By helping a person in need, a charitable organization, working for a worthwhile cause, you are giving something back to society. The payoff for you, the volunteer, comes when you do get the warm feeling that you made a difference in someone's life which means that you have ,in fact, made a difference in your own life.
There is always an abundance of work to be done. Contribute in whatever way you can, beginning where you are and looking for what needs to be done. Give some time and assistance to your fellow man. You decide the amount of time and the kind of service you want to provide. Make an effort to help and serve others in some small way every day. You can experience great joy and a sense of accomplishment in your service to others without having to feel egotistic about it. Being there for others when they need you is one of the most loving choices you can make. You are rewarded by knowing that you are making a difference in your sphere of influence. While you are helping others in need, you are also helping yourself. It is only by caring very much for your life that you will be able to care for the lives of others. By giving the gifts of affection and caring, you will be receiving an abundance of joy, appreciation and love. When you help people better themselves, there is no question that you better yourself along the way.
There is no shortage of volunteer agencies who could use your help. You can help out in seniors' homes, hospitals, children's groups, libraries, secular or religious service organizations, community service and charitable organizations. Sometimes the number of organized volunteer groups seems so overwhelming that you might experience some difficulty in making a choice. You may even ask how a single person like yourself can contribute to make a difference. A simple solution is to give some of your time, money and skills to help just one person, a child or a family. You may decide to make up your own projects by yourself or with the help of some friends. Make sure your help is welcomed first and ask how you can be of best help. Do not assume that your actions and interventions are always necessary and are in the best interest of those concerned. When you perform an act of kindness to someone, telling him or her something kind and encouraging, you feel good about it and that should be your sole reward. The receiving person sometimes remembers it for the rest of his or her life. It is not that you would expect the person you helped to have gratitude but very often he or she does. If the recipient of your kindness insists on paying you back you could ask him or her to return the favour to somebody else.

Extract from my book: Become your best
www.kintue-fee.com