Surprising myself

I have just came back yesterday from the AIESEC international conference in Romania, which was quite an interesting experience for me due to various reasons, as the role which I have taken there and objectives have been quite diverse than they used to be at some other internationla conferences. Yeah, it was really great to meet my friends from AIESEC Almaty and spend most of the social time at the conference with them chatting, discussing, suggesting and just to be near to one of the dearest person in my life currently. But I would say that this conference I have surprised myself personally a lot too...

Let me explain you, that couple of days ago before leaving to Romania I have decided to make an ambitious step and apply for one of the highest leadership positions in AIESEC - for AIESEC International team, the one who is supporting the global network we have in the organisation to develop and grow. This decision, as any kind of important step I decide to take in my life, has been the outcome of many thoughts on whether it's worth it for me to take this step, will I be able to manage, do I have enough competencies and many-many more. It has been a huge process of self-discovery. But one of the most important things which made me to start filling the application in, the strong support and belief in my abilities from people who are dare to me - thank you, Kristina, Nailya, Deniss... These are the ones, who always make you feel self-confident and not making the fear and doubts to come over you, becaue they know you quite well. Yes, you know that you did a good job in any role you are taking and work hard for the results too, but still all the time the process of taking the important decisions should be natural evaluating your self-motivation especially...

As I was posting some time ago, at our national conference here in Estonia I have been delivering the work-shop to our members about self-motivation and one of the key messages there was about controlling your negative thoughts and keep up the positive attitude - yes you can do that! :) And this is exactly where I have put this process in practise fighting with doubts. Here are the things which made me to decide to take this step - my past and current performance at the AIESEC Roles, my big love for the organization and it's essence, my personal competencies like determination, professionalism and entrepreneural approach, then belief in me from my friends and excitement, which they are aleady creating in case the answer is positive, and I think still sort of my uniqueness as many AIESECers in my country look on me as a role-model - the only kazakh girl from whom the AIESEC country started to be more and more visible, the one who brought AIESEC Almaty to the high leap of its development and start many new things, the first one who went to work for AIESEC abroad and many other things... And the last thing is curiousity about the process of application itself and also the way, how the team has being selected, as the elected AIESEC International President is looking very precisly for people in his team and as I see, he wants that to be a team of "high-flyers"! I'd say, that smth which hitched me up a lot too - I want to be in this team, as at least for the past 2 years I have been working with people who are professional in their own area and you never can lower the bar and level of ambitioun. I'm lovin it...

I have been thinking also about the fears I have and I think the main one is the fear of being not selected. I didn't actually think of that before, but I think that's true. In my roles in AIESEC and generally in life I have been always reaching the goals I set up for myself and any position I have been applying, I was getting it - being selected for executive board and finance responsible and later president of Almaty chapter, taking the roles of project manager during all the active years in the local committee, applying for the job as project assistant in international advertising company and recently finance internship in the global industrial company in risk-management department and getting the role of exchange responsible nationally in AIESEC Estonia - my current international experience. These experiences of applying and getting what you want, making you being used to the feeling of success. But right now, seeing the level of my ambition and people who are applying for the same role, make me being ready for another experience too. Anyways, many people told me that I have to enjoy the whole process itself and I'm already doing that. And in the end I want to create the "win-win" situation for everyone who is involved in that and no matter what, its a great process of learning... And I also know my uniqueness.

Another thing that have surprised me, is my ability of working under time pressure - wow, that's something what I discovered even more than ever! At the beginning you are sorting out everything calmly, leaving some things to be done later and think too much for every question to make it sound better, nicer, smarter etc. And then in the end when less than 24 hours left you centralize all your energy and notice how effective your brains are working generating ideas and sometimes you can't follow writing them, as the ideas are running ahead. I have been at the conference while filling my application where spent around 43 hours for that using all the possible breaks and especally nights after the sessions to finish with that and till the last hour before the deadline. Then 5 minutes before - sent... You should see my condition after that - like in the fog and hands are shaking. When was the last time you were feeling the same? 

Anyways in a bit more than a week I will share with you the other thoughts here and result itself.

Feeling nervous...

4 Skills of Disciplined Leaders by Robin Sharma

Hi Aigerim,

 

You know so well that you need no title to be a leader. You get so brilliantly that leading without a title is the real way to lead. You deeply understand that leadership isn't just a skill for business - it's a way of life. So equipped with this knowledge of who you can be and all you can do during these difficult times as a force of one, I offer 4 practical action steps:

#1. Protect Your Thinking. Fear-mongerers have come out to play amidst the meltdown of the global economic markets. The news is mostly negative. The water-cooler chat is mostly bad. The word on the street focuses on the worst that is. But what's the truth? Yes, I'll agree that these are challenging times. But I'll also say there's never been a better opportunity for you to be an excellent leader. Stay focused on the opportunities that have presented themselves to add more value to even more customers. Train your brain to block out the negative and work amidst the positive. Turn off the TV. Put away the paper. And get to work on presenting the genius that you are meant to be to the world around you.

#2. Take the long view. You will never go wrong in doing what's right. With the turmoil out there, it's easy to let go of your closely-held values and cut corners when it comes to ethics. The fast buck might look like an easy way out. A quick deal with the wrong person might look like a solution. Cutting corners on a product or service might look a little attractive. And yet, you will never regret sticking to your business and personal values - being the most ethical person you know. This tough cycle will pass. And your customers will love you for staying true to you.

#3. Outwork your competition. Hard work and constant forward movement is the formula for leveraging the difficult conditions into opportunities for greatness. I know that sounds a little "motivationalspeakerish" but I do believe it's true. Few things get you to BIW (Best in World) in the work you do as working really hard and standing for brilliance in your chosen career. Leadership is all about doing what's right rather than what's easy. And what's right is an honest day's work for an honest day's pay.

#4. Stay Strong. No point in letting the stress and challenge of these interesting days ruin your health-or break your spirit. Tough times make great leaders. Maintain the champion's mindset by reading uplifting books, associating with excellent people and making time each day to renew your self. Oh, and take good care of your health. Please. Now isn't the time to neglect daily exercise. And those who don't make time for fitness must eventually make time for illness.

Keep Leading at Wow,

R.S.

Ultimate Knowing

"Confidence is a resolute state of mind by which you believe nothing is impossible." ~ Dr. John Eliot from Overachievement

You have that kind of confidence?

Good. Deep breath in. Hold the vision of what you want.

Exhale. Know you can get it.

Smile.

Repeat.

...

"Confidence is not a guarantee of success, but a pattern of thinking that will improve your likelihood of success, a tenacious search for ways to make things work." ~ Dr. John Eliot from Overachievement

The Call of Spring

Today is 1 March - first day of spring! Congratulations for surviving the winter! :) Almaty in spring is the best ever season for it when the trees are becoming fresh-green, all the city is full of bright-coloured tulips and spring dandelions, you hear the birds singing more and more and of course cats start bawling at nights, sunny warm days make people to go out more for just simple waling outside! Ohh, I love my city in spring time - you can even "smell" it! :) Looking forward to experience a real spring in Tallinn too with at least sunny warm days - it's definitely beautiful this time here! :)

The Call of Spring 

by Norman Schlichter 

When spring begins 

Again to light 

Our happy world 

With colors bright,

The robins all come 

Back to see 

How beautiful 

The earth will be,

With crocus gold,

And daffodils 

Lighting meadows,

Fields, and hills;

With leaves of green 

And tulips gay,

And birds arriving 

Every day.

Some highlights of the months

ю

There are so many things happened starting from this year – some moments left on me quite big impression, some took my emotions down, irritated me, made me feel happy or sad… In order to picture them in my blog and after some time to come back to these memories and just smile, and as well share with my readers, I decided to write them down briefly adding some cute stuff also… So let’s start – 10 highlights of January and February months.

Highlight #1 

I remember the feeling how I was coming back from home back to Tallinn and was afraid that it will be again hard for me to go working again with new initiatives, continue things started before etc., as Almaty routine started to absorb me. I remember also that the 1^st working week was the coolest one in terms of exchange results brought – we have realized that week the same amount of exchanges, as last years team of AIESEC and also the autumn company raising for exchange finally started to bring results. So anyhow, in my term the exchange results won’t drop as they were for the past 5 years, but grow… Yes, and for today’s quarter we have 100% growth! Cool! :) Also that time arrived the first ever AIESEC intern from Greece - Kyriaki to work for company, which I’m servicing currently from MC side. 

What I’ve learned? When you put a lot of effort, in most of the times the results will come later - to create a change for sure doesn’t happen quickly, you need patience and determination. I think, I learned the same during my LCP term… 

Highlight #2 

For the first time in my life I started to be strict with the food consumption, as I made a promise to myself not to eat any heavy food in the evenings and also stopped consuming sugar as well. That’s very BIG THING for me, as I have never been putting restrictions to me regarding food. But now what made me to do that is the simple coordination of healthiness and control of my organism in it and… to lose the weight. Yes and I almost don’t eat meat as well… So for now it became already a habit and day by day I’m getting used to it. Yes, and I also lost some weight! :) 

What I’ve learned? Self-discipline matters a lot as it’s one the tools for execution of desired vision you want to achieve and for that sometimes we have to sacrifice our dare habits and even our personal passions (like passion for sweets and chocolate). 

Highlight #3 

For these months we have been organizing quite many movie evenings with my international friends here and I’m also visiting the European movie evenings every Thursday (of course for free) and the most coolest ones were “Slumdog Millionaire”, the Indian movie which got 8 Oscar awards, and “The Method” – Spanish HR psychological thriller and just recently in the cinema – “The curious case of Benjamin Button”- also the winner of Oskar in “Achievement in Visual Effects”. I think that I watched for these 2 months more movies than for the whole last year! 

What I’ve learned? You may get a lot of inspiration for yourself from watching the movies. Its like reading someone’s blog or book. 

Highlight #4 

Yeah, for the first time here I went to dentist and then regretted that didn’t visit mine personal at home when I was there for a new year holidays, as the prices have surprised me quite much :) Yes, that were and are going to be my unexpected expenses, which I have to take into consideration while planning my next month budget. One more thing I understood, that I have to eat less chocolate as I think its one of the reasons of my urgent visit to the doctor. But I like dentists, they have never been harming me much and got used to visiting them, as having quite sensitive teeth. J Who else likes dentists? 

What I’ve learned? If you go abroad for longer period, always have check-in with the doctors in your country, as it might be influencing not only the financial situation, but for sure the prediction of any illnesses you might have or have predisposition for. Yes and don’t eat much chocolate like me :) 

Highlight #5 

You won’t believe – I was in the ARMY! :) Yeah, it was 24 hours of living in one of the military battalions in south Estonia – Võru town, called Kuperjanov battalion. It has been like a team building for AIESEC Tartu LC where quite many members went there and some MC members including me. “Aika, you are ALSO going to the army?!” That was a typical question, as for sure I would be the only foreigner there trying to understand, what’s the hell the commander is telling? :) But it was really cool experience even not understanding most of the things, I learned the typical commands, members were translating me and just on my own some things I could figure out on my own, what’s needed to do. We learned what does it mean to be a soldier by I think the most simple things, like how to make up a bed and at least 6 times did it, marching, morning wake up at 5.55 and being ready in 5 minutes for gymnastics and run, eating the soldier’s food, history of the battalion, topography and orientation in the forest areas etc. It was loads of fun at the same time for us – now at least we know the basic things on how to be a soldier!   

What I’ve learned? In being such conditions like in the army teaches you how to appreciate small things – lie on bed, sit on a chair. The physical tiredness is the best one in comparison with mental one. 

Here is the cool video what my team mate Maarja made (in Estonian):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXQJDr2x37w 

Highlight #6 

All these 2 months I have managed to survive on my own without asking my parents support. This definitely happened because we had a salary raise from December and I think now I already easily and carefully plan my own finances – what are the fixed costs, additional monthly costs, amount of unexpected costs to appear etc. 

What I’ve learned? It’s so cool to be financially independent! :) 

Highlight #7 

Our biggest mountain skating rink in Almaty has been closed for reconstruction and that’s why I didn’t have an opportunity to skate in my city this time on holidays, but I tried skating in Tallinn – its was really funny, as for that I went for the 1^st time to the skating rink in the center of the town and it was at least 20 times smaller than ours, but good - it was open air, as in our city we have only these ones. But I have to investigate more bigger, but as I know they will be then inside of the building… With my international friends we have also been sledging at Estonian Independency day – on 24th February. 

What I’ve learned? Winter sports activities are the best ones and I’m enjoying them a lot here! 

Highlight #7 

We have had the Annual conference happening in the end of January, where the main news is that we have selected new AIESEC Estonia President – Lauri, member of our current MC team, and I have a successor as well – girl from Colombia - Cristina, who will be leading the exchange area in the next term starting form July 2009. This conference as I see has been one of the biggest highlights of our term, as we managed to organize the open day for students and our members “Eesti Noorte Foorum” with more than 200 participants, speakers, at least 2 big company representatives, various workshops, panel discussions, presentations… As AIESEC Estonia celebrating this year its 20^th Anniversary, we have had the biggest alumni event at the conference – around 70 of them participated totally, we had the day full of activities - open space, panel discussion, gala evening with official dinner etc. The history of the organization has been not only happening, but remembered there. I have even talked with one of the founders of AIESEC Estonia, who also met a girl from AIESEC Almaty that time at the international congress in  Hungary in early 90th, but I don’t know who can it be, as the founder of my LC somehow has disappeared and nobody knows, where is she now. 

What I’ve learned? This conference has been is one of the successes of our MC term I think, and this “taste of success” has been one of the key personal motivators for me and it was proved again that its still is. But for gaining this “taste” you have again work hard even sometimes on the things which you don’t like much, going though routine every day etc. But in the end of the road, you remember only positive memories. 

Highlight #8 

I have visited also the Estonian National Museum’s exhibition, which was dedicated to 90^th anniversary of Estonian Republic in 2008 and it has been amused me with its interactivity and actually I really like visiting the museums or any kind of the galleries in here, as all of them which I have attended weren’t the boring ones, which we used to, but full of creativity, where I really admire the Estonian Art gallery and the Estonian occupation museum. So, any time you are here – mark it as the places to be definitely visited. 

What I’ve learned? Educate yourself always by visiting any kind of places like museums, galleries and so on, as it teaches you not only about the countries history, national treasures etc., but gives you the in-depth insight to the culture of the country nation itself, why it’s formed like that and its mindset too. 

Highlight #9 

One of the things, which have been making quite angry and irritated this time, is the MC election process in AIESEC Kazakhstan, where me, Deniss and Nailya have found some serious mistakes on the way how it was organized and the most important, which weren’t done according to compendium. The full members including MC team have accepted their mistakes, but nothing changeable have been undertaken, as we are always finding excuse in AIESEC – “at least we learned”. This case have shown me especially and to certain people as well, that in the real troubles only few people can stand and take them over finding the solutions, but most of the people – even being currently on the leadership positions, will just find an excuse again or blame someone for that, but not being focused on the solution itself. That’s quite sad… And that’s what I’ve learned too. 

Highlight #10 

It has been also a cool month because my LC has selected new Executive Board 0910 team, who will lead the organization in the next term, and I dare a lot about the people who have been selected for that roles. An I’m really happy that YOU were being chosen as the leader of the whole LC – I was telling you, that will be definitely the most intense experience in your AIESEC career and it’s for me still the best one! I have even baked a cake to celebrate this day – Saturday, 22 February, as I told you. Yes and also Happy Birthday again and hope you enjoyed my Birthday gift! :) See you very soon… 

The elections in AIESEC is the most exciting moment in the organization, which makes all the people during selection period to keep and focus strongly the energy level for only one goal – to be selected! And if you get it, then it’s again an incredible feeling of success and then – great, but not a simple year ahead to make “dreams come true” within only 365 days… For myself I’m still thinking about the next years opportunities, but for now stopped at one… You never know, what the future may bring you! :) 

Thanks for reading this looooong post and have a cute week ahead! :)

Aika

P.S.: You are smart if you have noticed that i had two number 7 highlights, I just didnt wanna have 11 of them, as 10 sounds better :)

Reisid vabadusse / Travel to freedom

.

That's always pleasant to see that getting an experience during AIESEC helps you not only develop your skills, broaden perspectives, gain internationalism, network and all that cool things what we are taking from experiences in our organization, but also to become a real entrepreneur and to connect with people who share the same interest as you are.

Here is one of the examples...

My estonian friends, with some of them I work currently or worked before during my MC and LCP term have established a company - eco-tourism company that "takes you to the places that are simple and untouched - this is the magic of their trips! You can be a part of the culture, nature and daily life of local people of Kazakhstan and Croatia."

Yeah and my country is also there! :)

So, you may check out more from Reisid Vabadusse

"Do you enjoy Estonian summer with bad skiing weather or take a unique adventure in Kazakhstan/Croatia?  It`s up to you, as we used to say in AIESEC".

It's all about potential...

.

Today is the coolest day for the whole AIESEC Almaty, as this day the members have selected new President of organization, who will lead the local committee starting from May 2009 for one year - its current LCVP External Relations, Dima Dmitriev. I feel really happy for him today and for the whole AIESEC in my city, as this person is the one whom we call "potential", that's those members who join the organization with personal capacity and great will to develop themselves, absorbing everything what organization gives, taking various opportunities and just growing from year to year. Its very important for the older members to recognize those people, let them join AIESEC  and you will after that see - who they will become in the future. I'm really happy that being in the organization, we could recognize such a potential in him 3 years past... 

Even if such people you can't see being always on the 1st row and sometimes they are so invisible, but the times show everything after some time... They take one responsibility, second, third - they amaze you by the results and attitude they take towards every task. Then the time comes to lead a team for them, but they afraid whether they will manage - you support them and believe that they can, he or she is so scared to step for the first leadership role, you try to support from your side with knowledge, information, but od the otherb things - its up to them... You see how they live their first unsuccesful experience, that teaches them the most to stay stronger and they understand "what doesnt kill us, makes us stronger"... and they become stronger... Then their path seems to go so fast and the results amaze you a lot... their personal development in the organization becomes huge! and here you are - a grown up young person, who stays apart from most of the crowds of young people now - they are simply "different" and they are ready and not afraid of taking any challenges... They are simply talents in everything.

I'm sure and I was telling you a lot, that President's experience is the best ever! It is still the best every for me... I'm just simply happy for you and wish could be this day with you - to congratulate from all my heart...

That's the most powerful thing for AIESEC, when you can recognize those potential people and give them all the opportunities for growth... After some time they will amaze you... I was like that, you are like that and many-many young people who join organization once...

This is true - international platform for young people to discover and develop their potential...

Dreams are the seedlings of reality

.>

«Keep your dreams alive. Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication. Remember, all things are possible for those who believe.”

 

Sometimes I just start dreaming. These moments just come randomly while watching some TV program, or while going by bus to the office in the morning, or just observing a child speaking to mum, or while trying to get asleep… It’s the moments when I project my imagination to some moment in the future – doesn’t matter in a long or short run. No limitations.

 

How wouldn’t it sound girlish, but I dream quite many times about my future family house as a peaceful place with green garden and many-many flowers in it, how I will on my own design the interior there, how I will be painting the flower pots in different colors, stitch the decorative pillows for sofa, how cool and bright our kitchen will be… I will be definitely having the house with my future family, which we will build on our own…

 

Sometimes I’m dreaming that I’m into some creative hobby like painting again, as it was many years ago, while studying at school… or designing my own clothes and sewing – I was so good in that actually… I have been always having a talent in creating smth on my own – stitching, sewing, handicraft, painting - and where its now?

 

I imagine myself running my own enterprise, which is dealing with social issues in my country, I still don’t know what it will be, but I think more connected to education of children in their young age… I even once was dreaming, that parallel to my professional job – working for some international company connected to my education or professional interest, I do connect with my friends and open an NGO, where I find realization of my personal interest and desires. Maybe that would be one of the 1^st steps…

 

I imagine how I’m running business classes for students in my academy…

 

I’m having an exhibition of my photostreams, which I have collected while travelling… And it’s my hobby.

 

I dream about the moments of being in the position for what I’m planning to apply for the next term – there is no concrete company or location, but it will be smth that scares me and fascinates at the same time, as that would be an experience which I will be living for the first time in my life. I know this feeling, when you are image yourself in a new role, but for now actually don’t see the concrete actions, but only the vision what can you get out of it.

 

I imagine you again, as you are always coming to my dreams and how I’m holding your warm hand.

 

I’m in Latin America’s nature… don’t know where is it, exact location, but it always shines there and a sea nearby and most important, people, who are always passionate about dancing and I dance with them…

How I adopt an orphan... 

Drinking fresh juice cocktail – strawberry with pomegranate… exactly like in India, Mumbai in 2007, I still remember this taste.

 

I think it’s good to dream as that’s the time when your imagination broadens and you don’t feel any barriers around and limitations, but only feel great desire and passion towards the moments you are dreaming about. At the same time, you think that they actually can be not just dreams what people are talking as impracticable ones, but actually your own goals, what you can start striving for already today – taking a small step by step, or gaining the knowledge and experience which will bring you one way closer to your dream… and then you are blurred in the smile… and eyes are shining with happiness… Wanna live these moments in reality?

 

“When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it” Paolo Coelho 

Abraham Maslow : Growth or Safety?

Maslow said that in any given moment we have two options: to step forward into growth or to step back into safety.

I love that. I like to think of it this way:

We wake up in the morning. Is our first act a step forward (we get up immediately; we say the mantra we committed to; whatever) or do we step back into safety (stay in bed; hit snooze; etc.)?

+1 one if you stepped forward. -1 one if you stepped backward.

So, after that first act/thought, you’re either at +1 or -1. Yah?

<|--------------------------|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|--------------------------|>

-100+100-3    -2    -1    0    +1    +2    +3

(Notice that the difference between where you could be and where you actually are is actually TWO units apart, not one, btw…)

OK. How about the next moment? Forward or back? Forward or back? Forward or back? Moment to moment to moment…

Fast forward to the end of the day. Where are you? +25,000 or -25,000?

Pay attention cuz the weight of those negative #s is going to make it hard for you to sleep well. In fact, why do you think people crack open the beer/turn on the TV/yell at the spouse and kids and generally act like a weenie too often at the end of a day?

Exactly. Too many steps in the wrong direction. Their soul knows that they were capable of soooo much more. Unfortunately, rather than address it thru more constructive behavior, too often we take it out on others and blame/criticize/etc. Ick.

The quickest way to live a life of bliss? Step forward.

Brian Johnson,

PhilosopherNotes

Keep your self-motivation up!

.

It’s quite an important timing for us in AIESEC Estonia, as we are in the process of choosing the next strategic leadership team, who will lead the AIESEC country in the next period starting from July. I’m also in the process of selecting the best successor for my position, who will be coordinating an exchange area here and make it grow more. Right now I have four candidates, where the most competent and suitable for country realities will be my successor. Uhhh, its so exciting! :)

It’s the typical time in AIESEC, when everybody is asking the question – What will I do next year in AIESEC? What do you want to do? So, what’s next? And any person is searching for a role, which will develop him/her personally and make the personality stronger, being able to overcome many challenges – organizational or personal; well, some of the people are driven by patriot feelings to lead their own organization nationally or locally. I’m sure everyone is driven by its own personal motivators to be in AIESEC next period. About me is already quite sure, decided, I want to go on exchange this year after my MC term and gain more professional experience that I started to miss, but then lets see – nobody knows... I still didn’t decide which area, but it maybe even concretely related to financial management, where the work can be based on projects, communications, risk management. There were some nice thoughts which were making my eyes shine like being an MC(P) of some middle-east country, apply on AI position, but some certain reasons made me to hold back… And I’m fine with that.

I’m feeling already quite confident in the role I’m right now, having a comfort feeling that many things I started this year, the approach I took in my working style are showing the results and many people from AIESEC here told me, that I’m the right person being responsible for exchange area this year… It’s quite pleasant to hear that from various people and exactly the positive feedback has been one of the drive-ins for me to do even more better and strive for quality results more and more. That’s why for sure there is no time to relax for now, as loads of work is still waiting. Any change is a longer process…

But as I was telling, I have changed my personal approach to many things taking everything much easier and it helps a lot in not getting stressed out again. Now I’m taking more personal time for myself, going out, discovering new places (nightclubs of Tallinn as well :D) and activities (I learned how to bake cakes!), interacting with people, planning my trips, reading more… I plan to take the most out of my stay here for the next half a year… It’s quite stupid, how long it took for me to take this thoughts really from inside, even they are so much understandable from the very beginning.

Being in MC abroad its very easy to loose self-motivation, as you are in the process of adopting to realities, fighting your cultural shocks and understanding the difference in people’s work, communication, getting used to more independent life, when only you have to take care of yourself, as nobody will notice that maybe you are sick, demotivated, stressed etc. That’s why it’s very important not to let all the possible negative emotions to take over you, what happened to me and caused around two months of feeling down… It’s very crucial to make yourself to focus on positive things like your strengths, past successes, current advantages etc. By making an effort to feel grateful, you’ll realize how competent and successful you already are. This will help to increase your confidence and get you motivated to build on your current success.

“It might sound strange that repeating things you already know can improve your mindset, but it’s amazingly effective. The mind distorts reality to confirm what it wants to believe. The more negatively you think, the more examples your mind will discover to confirm that belief. When you truly believe that you deserve success, your mind will generate ways to achieve it. The best way to bring success to yourself is to genuinely desire to create value for the rest of the world.”

That’s one of the things I learned on myself – don’t let the negative emotions, thoughts and feelings to destroy you.

What also gets me motivated is a talk with my friends from my country who always show me an example to cheer up and tell how actually they proud of being my friend, what they admire in me personally and especially when they ask an important suggestion. Also, reading someone’s blogs helps a lot I would say, admitting that things you think of currently are nothing comparing to their experiences or other way around, how people are enjoying their life abroad taking the most out of it, being an example for me. Reading new books, but I’d say some personal development ones can always help you in creating an ideal picture of yourself or helping to broad your perspectives. And of course, taking a rest and not thinking that you will always have an endless supply of energy and drive. Again and again you will need some time to re-charge your emotional and spiritual batteries.

17 Terrific Self Motivating Tips

View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: girl women)

Head of optimist

The most difficult thing is waiting. Waiting for something, waiting for someone, waiting for a miracle... When it is delayed, you already stop to understand or at least understand with difficulties, what you are waiting, what for you are waiting... but the idea that you have been waiting, thinking, wanting it and a strong desire doesn’t let you go… Hope and wait – isn’t easy… You know that you were wrong, did a wrong thing... you understand and look with hope and sadness... and want to be off for a while, because you are tired... because all the thoughts are re-thought, words were re-told, but feelings... feelings are living... and that’s why the head is not working, as its requested. It refuses to live just quietly, to exist, not being upset and think that everything will be fine... simply refuses. No... with the latter it somehow agrees, because it is the head of an optimist and therefore those strangers, surrounding you, see the “head” shining and smiling…

Why the people are making everything complicated?! And then suffer…

Why not taking each other as we are… alive and happy, sad and funny, healthy and sick…

After all, if only…