This Information, And More, Will Soon Be Found Elsewhere

ENTER INTO to the largest treasure trove of Forward Steps resources, free gifts, inspiring content, motivational messages, internet tools/ideas, videos, audios, programs, self improvement exercises, and so much more!

What is delivered to you goes WAY BEYOND the very low US$4.95 monthly My Forward Steps Membership. Don’t let that crazy, low price fool you! Plus, there is no fixed term, it’s pay by the month, and cancel anytime.

I have more than seven years of fantastic resources related to Increased Life Power, Self Improvement, Your Personal Success, Plus Online Business And Internet Know-How Tips.

You will have the SUPER ADVANTAGE of receiving all my years of gathered and personally created resources, as well as the benefit of my years of online experience, years of my own personal development discoveries/adventures, and years of internet knowledge.

You get all of this, and so much more, all by way of a slow release “Content Responder”.

At your own leisure, you get to delve into every inch, of ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING that I have ever put out since 2002.

SOON, My Forward Steps will be the only place at which you will be able to get your hands on my personal collections.

See you inside!

Thea

P.S. Remember, all the content at all my blogs and all the pages, books, resources I have ever created will gradually diappear behind the screen of the My Forward Steps Member site.

How To Communicate Effectively

A Problem
It’s interesting when you consider the balance we attempt every time we have a conversation. For example: A person is trying to communicate an idea to you by speaking. You in turn, are listening (supposed to be anyway) that is why they’re speaking of course. And so now, the dilemma is exposed when the person is finished speaking; we need something wonderful to say.

Most of us tend to listen selectively, hearing what we want to hear, and filtering everything else out. At this point we begin to postulate our own “Genius” ideas, even while the other person is still talking! Of course “we” would never do anything like this, I’m talking about other people. Now, if we’re thinking of what to say, while they’re still talking, is it possible then to still “really” listen? Hint: The correct answer would be No.

An Answer
In this example, the effective way to communicate would be to, listen intently to the ideas they’re communicating. It’s ok to form a basic idea of how you’re going to respond, just don’t let it consume your thoughts to the point where you can’t hear what they’re saying. When they’re finished speaking, take a pause if you need to and figure out what you’re going to say, then let ‘er rip. *Note* It’s ok to pause and have a moment of silence…..it really doesn’t have to be awkward EVERY time.

A Few Tips

1. Voice Inflection and Body Language: Words create emotions; every time you speak, a positive or negative emotion is created within the other person. We’ve all heard: “It’s not what you say, but how you say it.” Use voice inflection to illustrate your points more effectively. This includes: Tone, Pitch, Volume, and Rhythm. Become aware of your body language when speaking. It’s said that 55% of communication comes from body language, 38% from tone of voice and 7% from the actual content. People understand that words are cheap and this is why they subconsciously look for other signals to decode the information you’re transmitting.

2. Listen Intently: Listening alone accounts for 50% of communication; If you can listen well, you can communicate well. Normally, when someone speaks, the other person subconsciously decides they either, aren’t worth listening to and filter out most of what’s said or they’re so consumed with how they’re going to respond, that they don’t listen carefully.

Many problems arise due to miscommunication; this happens because the correct message either wasn’t transmitted or received correctly, resulting in frustration and/or confusion. If we could only learn to communicate well, imagine the frustrations that could be avoided in our daily lives. Another technique that’s simple to use, is to become just as involved in what the person is saying as they are. This creates an immediate connection, because enthusiasm and sincerity are sensed by the person communicating.

3. Eye Contact: What’s the proper amount of eye contact in a conversation? There’s a concept called matching, you simply mirror the other persons level of eye contact. If they’re giving you solid eye contact, say 85% and glancing away briefly before returning, then you do the same. It’s important to understand that a person’s ability to look you in the eye, is directly related to that person’s confidence in themselves. By improving your confidence and self esteem, you can become a better communicator. This takes some work and dedication, but is sure to pay off in more ways than one.

4. Speak With Authority, Conviction and Passion: Often, someone speaks just to fill dead space and they don’t really know what they’re talking about. This is a Mistake. Instead, when you speak, you want to do so with Authority, Conviction and Passion. Speak from your diaphragm, to get a deeper sound. In this manner, you cause people to want to listen, making your words more effective.

A Conclusion
Many mistakes are made when communicating, we’ve only attempted to cover a few key issues here today. When someone is speaking, do your best to really listen to what they’re saying before formulating a response. Vary your voice inflection to increase the attention span of your listener. Understand that Body Language is a large part of Communicating and learn to match the other persons level of eye contact for a comfortable exchange of words. Learn to speak with Authority, Conviction and Passion and you’ll increase the effectiveness of your words. Communicating effectively is a difficult task, but if you have the will to learn and apply these principals, you too, can become a better communicator.

Guest Article by Adam Curren:
Adam Curren has been writing and editing since April 2008 and he specializes in Personal Development/Educational Articles. Adam's goal is to improve the quality of life for his reader through the written word. Please feel free to view more of Adam's work through the following links: charactergrowth.com www.ehow.com www.christianmagazine.org www.lifeoptimizer.org

Dream Beyond The Common Order Of Things

[Image via Wikipedia]

I heard that line - dream beyond the common order of things - in an advertisement for tea, of all places. Yet the words jumped out at me like a vivid memory. I know that I have had many times in my life when I have created things bigger than I thought I knew how to achieve, and personally produced results that even left me in a state of bewilderment about what was possible for my life.

Have you ever experienced those moments? They are well worth revisiting and building on. They are your key to producing such results again, if you still have some more big dreams to accomplish. If you have achieved something in your past, it means that you can achieve it (or something similar), again in the future. You now have the tools you need, and cellular memory of what it takes to create anything outside of yourself.

This article lists a few of the thoughts that came up for me as I recalled a few monumental achievements in my own life, and I write them here with the intention of making a difference to the life of somebody else, who may read these words. These pointers, about living out your dreams, are not in any particular priority order. They are simply a collection of random thoughts that I know to be true, about accomplishing large goals.

If you have a massive goal and you are continually procrastinating, perhaps this is indicative of a misalignment somewhere in your life. Is there something that is not in integrity with who you believe yourself to be, or is there something for which you haven't forgiven yourself. Those are the areas that must first be cleared up, to enable forward movement.

At some stage, when you notice that the goal you have created is not for you, then at very least do it for others. Create a purpose outside of yourself, if your own is not yet strong enough. You will build the muscles you need as you step forward. Collect all the crutches you can until you have generated some personal momentum. Soon the goal will again be yours and will no longer feel foreign to you.

Build in structures and systems that keep the dream alive over extended periods of time. Add props like quotes, images and posters in your daily surrounds. Have pop up messages on your computer, use the screensaver area on your screens, and add material to inspire you. Include supportive friends who know about your intentions, so they will ask you about it each time you speak. Ask for lots and lots of help with all the things about which you do not yet have enough knowledge. Hear the voices of experience around you.

Dreams need wheels, foundations, and time lines. Begin incorporating daily actions and habits to move you forward. Set up files, folders, calendars and other structures for being able to immediately collect material and information that you need for your projects. Set short and long-term timelines for specific phases, and for specific completion points. Then live your days toward those dates of completion, and targets that are easily measured.

Have big reasons for wanting to achieve the results you declare. Make these reasons large enough and truly heartfelt, so that they ignite passion and strong emotion behind your dreams. You need to always be able to instantly get in touch with wonderfully powerful feelings about your dream goals. Those emotions will inspire consistent action and will inspire others around you. You will need those inspired friends on the days you feel a bit too flat for taking action.

Reach for those stars, there is no mud up there. Keep your eyes focused on the end prize, in fact, a little way beyond where you say you want to be by a particular time. If you shoot a bit beyond the desired end result, then you are sure to arrive at your intended destination.

Decisions must be made. A real decision is measured by the fact that you have taken a new action. If there is no action, then you really have not decided. Check in with yourself. Have you honestly made a decision regarding your dream? If not, then make one. Either completely drop the goal or get on ahead full-steam with it.

Never use time as your excuse. Wedge dream projects into your current lifestyle, and commitments. Even if you crawl forward at ten minutes each day, do something every day toward that end goal. When you go to sleep each day, rest yourself in the knowledge that you have done something that day, to move you closer to your dream. At some time during every day, put one foot in front of the other toward that dream. Slow is better than never.

Build on positive results, and create some wins for yourself. Each time you win a little victory over yourself, you create impetus for moving forward even more. It helps you to grow, and become the person you must become for having that dream live for you. There will be changes, this is inevitable when working toward a big dream and when growing into the person who is to fit such a large dream. Allow, accept and actively encourage that level of personal growth.

All the points listed above are by no means a comprehensive collection, or a complete formula for success. They are purely a few things to consider and check in with, if you are up to some big things in your life. Throughout them all is the common thread of managing yourself. Watch the language you use, and how you speak with yourself. Live with awareness and recognize the many faces of fear. Continue to build harmony in your every day living. Never lose touch with the miracle and dream life that you already live. Inhale gratitude with every breath. You have today as a gift, now go spend it!

© Thea Westra is founder and author at www.forwardsteps.com.au, based in Perth, Australia. Enjoy her other publications with these Forward Steps subscriptions and download a few free personal development gifts from Thea.