Catching Monkeys in India

Français : Saimiri sciureus. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This is a great little story that I found (great-motivational-stories.blogspot.com) that demonstrates two primary things that generally will decide whether or not a person ever becomes successful. It has always been fascinating to me how many people are afraid to let go of their fears or to think “outside the box” in order to be successful. The following short illustration, gives us a good example of this concept…

Monkey-hunters use a box with an opening at the top, big enough for the monkey to slide its hand in. Inside the box are nuts. The monkey grabs the nuts and now its hand becomes a fist. The monkey tries to get its hand out but the opening is big enough for the hand to slide in, but too small for its fist to come out. Now the monkey has a choice, either to let go off the nuts and be free forever or hang on to the nuts and get caught. Guess what it picks every time? You guessed it. He hangs on to the nuts and gets caught.

We are no different from monkeys. We all hang on to some nuts that keep us from going forward in life. We keep rationalizing by saying, “I cannot do this because . . .” and whatever comes after “because” are the nuts that we are hanging on to which are holding us back. Successful people don’t rationalize. Two things determine if a person will be a success: reasons and results.

Reasons don’t count while results do…

The Comfort Zone

Every person in the world likes to live within their own "comfort zone". A comfort zone really isn't a physical place but more of a mental state of mind. If people REALLY want to grow and be successful in their jobs or in life, they need to take a chance to step outside of their comfort zone and face the challenges that will be presented to them. The following poem offers some good thoughts about stepping outside of one's "comfort zone".

The Comfort Zone
I use to have a Comfort Zone
Where I knew I couldn't fail
The same four walls of busy work
Were really more like jail.

I longed so much to do the things
I'd never done before,
But I stayed inside my Comfort Zone
And paced the same old floor

I said it didn't matter,
That I wasn't doing much
I said I didn't care for things
Like diamonds, furs and such

I claimed to be so busy
With the things inside my zone,
But deep inside I longed for
Something special of my own.

I couldn't let my life go by,
Just watching others win.
I held my breath and stepped outside
And let the change begin.

I took a step and with new strength
I'd never felt before,
I kissed my Comfort Zone "goodbye"
And closed and locked the door.

If you are in a Comfort Zone,
Afraid to venture out,
Remember that all winners were
At one time filled with doubt.

A step or two and words of praise,
Can make your dreams come true.
Greet your future with a smile,
Success is there for you!

What is your Comfort Zone? Click here for more information

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Author Unknown

Source Unknown

Photo Courtesy of jobtrakr.com

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Note: In addition to writing my own blogs or stories, I also like to search for stories and other inspiring, motivating, or encouraging material from around the Web and other people. If you see an article, story, or photo that you have written or created and want it removed, please feel free to let me know. I try to give credit to the people and/or web sites that I find my information when I can.

Motivating Words - A Collrction From A to Z

A to Z Collection of Motivating Words

~ Author Unknown ~

How often when we are down, do we look for motivational quotes or words to stir our enthusiasm and lift us from the depths of despair? This A to Z Collection of Motivating Words will provide you Positive Thoughts to help you feel better and change your perspective on Success.

Achievements
Some of the world's greatest feats were accomplished by people not smart enough to know they were impossible.
Doug Larson

Attitude
The greatest discovery of my generation is that man can alter his life simply by altering his attitude of mind.
William James

Belief
To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe.
Anatole France

Change
If you don't like something change it; if you can't change it, change the way you think about it.
Mary Engelbreit

Challenge
Accept challenges, so that you may feel the exhilaration of victory.
George S. Patton

Desire
Plant the seed of desire in your mind and it forms
a nucleus with power to attract to itself
everything needed for its fulfillment.
Robert Collier

Destiny
Character is fate. (Destiny)
Heraclitus of Ephesus

Dream
Dreams do come true, if we only wish hard enough, You can have anything in life if you will sacrifice everything else for it.
Sir James M. Barrie

Emotional / Intelligence
Emotional Intelligence is a way of recognizing, understanding, and choosing how we think, feel, and act. It shapes our interactions with others and our understanding of ourselves.

It defines how and what we learn; it allows us to set priorities; it determines the majority of our daily actions. Research suggests it is responsible for as much as 80% of the "success" in our lives.
Freedman et al, Handle With Care: Emotional Intelligence Activity Book

Faith
Faith can move mountains.
The Bible

Friendship
You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.
Dale Carnegie

Greatness
Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.
Ralph Emerson Palmer

Happiness
The truth is that all of us attain the greatest success and happiness possible in this life whenever we use our native capacities to their greatest extent.
Smiley Blanton

Intelligence
The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt.
Bertrand Russell

Intelligence is quickness in seeing things as they are.
George Santayana

Jealousy
Jealousy is that pain which a man feels from the apprehension that he is not equally beloved by the person whom he entirely loves.
Joseph Addison

Kindness
Kind words do not cost much. Yet they accomplish much.

Blaise Pascal

Love
'Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.
William Shakespeare

Motivational Quote
Always set the bar for your goals higher than you think you can jump. If you reach for it and fall, as long as you get up and give it another shot, then you will have accomplished more than you ever thought was possible. And the day that you do achieve that goal, it will be the best feeling in the world.
Author Unknown

Motivation will almost always beat mere talent.
Norman Augustine

Nature
The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature.
Anne Frank

Opportunity
Opportunities are usually disguised as hard work, so most people don't recognized them.
Ann Landers

Obstacles
Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal.
Henry Ford

Positive Thinking
There is nothing wrong with having your goals really high and trying to achieve them. That’s the fun part. You may come up short. I’ve come up short on a lot on my goals, but it’s always fun to try and achieve them.
Tiger Woods, Legendary American Golfer

Questions
One who asks a question is a fool for five minutes; one who does not ask a question remains a fool forever.
Chinese Proverb

Risk
Nothing splendid has ever been achieved except by those who dared believe that something inside of them was superior to circumstance.
Bruce Barton

Success
Footprints on the sands of time are not made by sitting down.
Mahatma Gandhi, Spiritual Leader from India

Truth
If you tell the truth,  you don't have to remember it.
Author Unknown

The Lord sets you free.
The Bible

Uncertainty
When one admits that nothing is certain one must, I think, also admit that some things are much more nearly certain than others.
Bertrand Russell

Vision
Vision: the art of seeing things invisible.
Jonathan Swift

Wisdom
True knowledge exists in knowing that you know nothing.
And in knowing that you know nothing, that makes you the smartest of all.
Socrates, Greek Philosopher

Zeal
Experience shows that success is due less to ability than to zeal. The winner is he who gives himself to his work, body and soul.
Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton

I hope in some small way, some of these quotes will help to inspire you and to encourage you as you continue your travels through life.

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