by drjessicahouston@gmail.com drjessicahouston@gmail.com | Feb 1, 2014 | Self Improvement
Are you willing to go beyond familiar territory in order to reach the next level? Positioning yourself for victory requires that you be willing to leap out of your comfort zone into new territory. It also requires that you seek out and surround yourself with next level thinkers. Next level thinkers are not afraid of sacrifice and hard work. They understand that victory requires a carefully executed plan of action. Sometimes when you put yourself out there and decide to pursue something extraordinary, you begin to feel as though you have taken on too much. At this juncture, it might be tempting to give up. It might be tempting to go back to familiar territory. However, you must be confident in your abilities and stay in the game, if you expect to be victorious.
Growth stretches you, so growing is not always easy. In fact, although the end result of growth is rewarding, the process can be uncomfortable. Are you willing to persist through fear, rejection, disappointments and setbacks? As you journey towards growth and success, you are likely to experience one or more of the aforementioned tests. Individuals who position themselves for victory are confident in their abilities and they are determined to win. You cannot be victorious without confidence and determination. When you are pursuing victory, wisdom is a great asset, but it is not a necessity. You can have great wisdom. However, if you do not have determination and a strong work ethic, wisdom is useless. The urge to quit often becomes strong when you are close to reaching your goal. Push beyond what you believe is the most that you have to give. Do not just dream about victory….Make It Happen!
Dr. Jessica Houston
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by drjessicahouston@gmail.com drjessicahouston@gmail.com | Jan 25, 2014 | Self Improvement
Is there an area of your life that you would like to take to the next level? When you have a challenge, you must decide that you will keep pressing forward until you win. We all want to be winners. However, everyone is not willing to do what it takes to be a winner. It is extremely unlikely that a victory will be handed to you. For this reason, you must be willing to put in the work. If you want to win, the three practices below must be a component of your game plan.
Key #1: Self-Discipline
A winner must have self-discipline. You might struggle with self-doubt, feel overwhelmed, or feel like giving up. However, it is imperative that you are disciplined enough to stay the course. You must also be disciplined enough to let go of self-defeating habits. Remember, there is no success without sacrifice. In order to get what you want, you must be willing to give up something. Moreover, you must be disciplined enough to stay committed to your vision.
Key #2: Accountability
In order to win you must hold yourself accountable. You cannot give 50% and expect to see the results that only appear when you give 100%. In addition to holding yourself accountable, find a coach, mentor, or an accountability partner. Think about it actors, professional athletes, singers, and so forth have coaches and mentors. When you have someone holding you accountable, you are much more likely to stay on track.
Key #3: Determination
When you encounter a challenge, determination is critical. Without determination, you will not have the will power needed to win. Determination enables you to persist through challenges, obstacles, and setbacks. When you are determined, you ultimately position yourself for a victory.
What is your greatest challenge? What is your greatest opportunity? Decide today that you will win. This week, I challenge you to have a winning mindset. Think about what it will feel like when you reach your goal. As you prepare for your ultimate victory, remember the three keys above. Until next week…
Dr. Jessica Houston
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by drjessicahouston@gmail.com drjessicahouston@gmail.com | Jan 18, 2014 | Self Improvement
We all find ourselves complaining every now and then. In fact, the moment that we experience a setback or become frustrated with our circumstances there is a natural urge to complain. For this reason, it is important to pay attention to how we respond to obstacles and challenges. Are you aware of the situations that you complain about most often? Sometimes, complaining becomes a habit and we do not even realize that we are complaining. When you complain you focus on the problem, instead of focusing on the solution to your challenge. Moreover, when you complain, you minimize the blessings and opportunities that are already available to you. So, instead of complaining, strive to be grateful for the blessings, opportunities and experiences that you have been granted. Remember that someone else is probably praying for the very item or challenge that you find yourself complaining about.
Complaining is a quick way to drain your time and energy. When you are in complaint mode, you are limiting your productivity. It is important to understand that frustration is not a green light to complain. Frustration is an indication that an action plan is needed. Make a conscious decision to stay on course, even if you experience a setback or an unexpected outcome. It does not matter how or even why the setback occurred. What matters most is developing a solution and overcoming any obstacle in your path. This week I challenge you to complain less and problem solve more. If you catch yourself complaining, do not give yourself a hard time. Simply remind yourself that complaining does not resolve the issue. When you respond to your challenges by taking action, you are more likely to achieve your desired results. Until next week….
Dr. Jessica Houston
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by drjessicahouston@gmail.com drjessicahouston@gmail.com | Jan 11, 2014 | Self Improvement
Have you ever found yourself feeling overwhelmed? Did you feel as though you were letting yourself as well as others down, because you were unable to tackle everything on your to do list? I have been there more times than I would like to admit. However, because I develop my own schedule, when I become overwhelmed, I cannot blame anyone but myself! There are typically two reasons why we become overwhelmed. The first reason is failing to prioritize and the second reason is being afraid to say “No.” When you begin to feel overwhelmed, it is important that you take a step back, clear all distractions, and block out at least one hour of alone time. During this one hour of alone time, you should devise a plan that will allow you to focus on a maximum of three items that are of the most importance. Attempting to do too much in a brief period of time, inevitably leads to feeling overwhelmed.
If you are a kind and giving person like I am, it can be difficult to say “No” when someone asks for an hour or two of your time. However, if your schedule is already hectic, you must prioritize your time. You place yourself under unnecessary stress when you over commit. In fact, when you over commit, you are likely to under deliver. When you prioritize, you essentially make a decision to focus your energy on what matters most. We sometimes let things of very little importance, steal most of our time. However, you are more productive, when you distinguish what you must do from what you would like to do. For example, the world will not come to a halt if the laundry is not folded or if there are dishes in the sink! Do not allow small distractions to shift your focus. This week I challenge you to prioritize your time and energy. Until next week…..
Dr. Jessica Houston
http://expectingvictory.com
by drjessicahouston@gmail.com drjessicahouston@gmail.com | Jan 3, 2014 | Uncategorized
Have you ever felt a sudden desire to make a life changing decision? The decision might require that you leave an unhealthy relationship, return to school, change careers or even start a business. You think about it for a moment and become filled with excitement. Your mind is just about made up, but you begin to wonder if you should act on it. At this point, you think it might be a good idea to get a second opinion. You share your idea with a friend or relative, and to your surprise, you walk away feeling discouraged. Perhaps you are told that there is not any way that you can make your dream a reality. You might even be told a dozen reasons why this is not the right time or the right decision. Many people decide to give up at this point. However, this is an opportunity to conquer your opposition!
Always pursue your desire, even in the midst of opposition. Sometimes the people you expect to be in your corner are secretly your opposition. Your opposition seeks to plant doubt in your mind and destroy your vision. Whatever you do, do not give up. You might not have all of the money you need to reach your goals, but press forward anyway. You might not have all of the support you need to reach your goals, but press forward anyway. Finally, you probably have a ton of questions, and very few answers. At this point, you know what to do next….press forward anyway. Keep pressing towards the mark, those who do not give up will reap their reward. When you have a passion and a burning desire to make a positive change, you will always have opposition. Ignore the critics. If a desire is placed in you, it can be fulfilled! Until next week…..
Dr. Jessica Houston
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