The Man With The One Track Mind

Eddie Arcaro dreamed of becoming the world’s greatest jockey but after
watching him ride a horse for five minutes, reality reflected a harsh
contradiction. He was awkward and clumsy, and in his early years in the
saddle he couldn’t do one thing right. He was left behind at the post,
he got trapped in traffic jams, he got bumped and boxed in. In his first
100 races he never even came close to winning. Still, he got right back
on and tried again.

Even as a schoolboy, Arcaro had set his own track in life. Because he
was only a little over five feet tall and weighed barely 80 pounds, the
other students shunned him. So he played hooky instead, hanging out at
the local race track where a trainer let him gallop the horses. His
father reluctantly agreed to let him pursue a career as a jockey, even
though he knew it was a long shot. The trainer had told him so. “Send
him back to school,” he said. “He’ll never be a rider.”

No one was betting on little Eddie Arcaro, no one that is except Arcaro.
He was determined not just to ride, but to become the world’s greatest
jockey. But first someone would have to give him a chance. He pleaded
and persisted until he finally got to ride in a real race. Before it was
over, he’d lost his whip and his cap and had almost fallen off the
saddle. By the time he finished the race, the other horses were on their
way back to the stables. He’d come in dead last.

After that, Arcaro went from track to track, looking for any opportunity
to ride. Finally, an owner who felt pity took him in and gave him his
next chance. One hundred trophy-less races later, he was still giving
him a chance. The trainers saw something in this unlucky jockey,
something they couldn’t define. Perhaps it was potential, perhaps it was
resilience, perhaps it was sheer obstinacy, but no one was willing to
send him home. And Arcaro was certainly not going to quit.

There were long years when he was broke, homesick, and almost without
friends. There were also many brushes with death and several broken
bones. Every time his delicate 63 inch body was trammeled by hoofs he
would get patched up and return to the saddle.

Then it happened. Arcaro began to win…and win…and win…Now, instead
of leaving a path of destruction, he was leaving a path of devastated
opponents. In thirty years of riding, he won 4,779 races, becoming the
only jockey in history to win the Kentucky Derby five times. By the time
he retired in 1962 he was a millionaire and a legend in his own
lifetime.

From the moment he walked out of school and onto a track, Eddie Arcaro
had his mind on a finish line. And although the race took thirty years,
he never quit until that line was crossed.

Cynthia Kersey

Cynthia Kersey is the author of Unstoppable and Unstoppable Women
Copyright 1998 by Cynthia Kersey
Visit Cynthia’s web site at: www.unstoppable.net

FINDING YOUR PASSION…THE PASSION OF CREATION!

PASSION…stop for a minute and say the word out loud with feeling … Passion—how does that feel to you? Think about it for a few seconds, and now say it again…Passion. I would bet that if you are really in touch with your feelings, you might say it makes you feel squirmy, sexy, and alive. But why is that? It’s just a word, right? Well, Yes, no, sort of.
PASSION is a life force, and that force is life. When you let yourself be in touch with your feelings, you can feel that life force and the power that’s behind the feeling of PASSION, the most intoxicating of all. It’s the spark that can not only ignite the dynamite, blow it out of the water kind of power source, but an opening of the valve that can literally transform you everyday life into an extraordinary one, and a master of creation!

Now just so we are clear about this, I am not talking about sweaty hot Palpitating heart flashes or spastically bouncing off walls, nor hip, hip hurray cheerleading….even though it is true, passion does come in all forms and degrees. The passion I mean is a strong inner knowing, a quiet sureness that continuously reassures that you are the one in control of your destiny, and that “the tiger you are holding by the tail is actually you!”

“I want it, I got it, sign me up,” might be your thoughts of the moment… and I fully intend to give you that gift, but first let’s play a game. Starting with you thinking about something that you want to bring into creation—a relationship, a new career or bringing your career to another level, a healthy fit trim body, or a new lifestyle in a better area or home?

Pick just one to work on, any one, even if you would like to create all of the ones above. Now, ask yourself, what is the fuel behind this dream? Is it a desire for money, possessions or fame? Whatever the reason, if your creation is not powered by a PASSION for you to follow your joy, you not only are going to be working overtime, it will never be all it can be. Again, the question rises up…how do you activate a passion generated by joy and not a need that demands effort and often doesn’t produce the results you want? How?…by not resisting your natural instincts and birthright to have what you want come in an easier and more joyful way. The sooner that you can let go of the limiting voices in your head that have convinced you that there is only one right way to achieve, the sooner you will allow and feel the buzz of PASSION pushing you forward to your dream. At www.amazon.com. Meister Eckhart book called The Passion for Creation, really brings this message home.

Start by sparking your passion by creating a space to feel, to examine what really excites you. What dream you have always had, that if it came true would be like WOW. Now in that safe space, ask yourself these questions: What do you repeatedly dream about having, what is your vision or goal that you may never have shared with anyone else? What do you read about, watch on TV, often times get into conversations with others? Ask these questions repeatedly until you can clearly feel what excites you, and then give yourself the time and chance to investigate your passion…and then take the risk. Take the risk of falling in love with your dream and your own personal power of creation.

Since I have played in this game of creation for quite a long time now, I can honestly say that one of the biggest roadblocks that often shows up around creation is fear; False Evidence Appearing Real. Fear that some- one might not like or approve of your ideas, fear of stepping out of your comfort zone, fear that you won’t have the steam to stay with your dream and keep moving forward, fear that you will succeed. So now you have the tools to recognize the devil in the blue dress, what do you do about it? Begin by feeling the fear, and then let it go. Then put a voice to the fear, say it out loud and visualize it evaporating in the air …like a puff of smoke. When you can see that the line between fear and excitement is very thin, then very quickly fear can turn into excitement and passion, and what use to be fear, can now fuel your creation. Transforming fear into passion is no different than going from knowing that you can’t hike a mountain because it’s too hard and scary-to taking on the challenged, reaching the top and feeling totally empowered. We stop the flow of great amounts of PASSION that could fuel our visions when we allow our fears to take over.

Shifting from denying and fighting the fear to accepting it, helps you to release it and then use it to keep you in the game. Let passion fill you up and lead you to your true joy. Smell more roses, watch more sunsets, eat dessert first, walk barefoot in the morning grass, and do more. Laugh more, dance more, love more, explore more places, be more spontaneous, inPASSION…stop for a minute and say the word out loud with feeling … Passion—how does that feel to you? Think about it for a few seconds, and now say it again…Passion. I would bet that if you are really in touch with your feelings, you might say it makes you feel squirmy, sexy, and alive. But why is that? It’s just a word, right? Well, Yes, no, sort of. PASSION is a life force, and that force is life. When you let yourself be in touch with your feelings, you can feel that life force and the power that’s behind the feeling of PASSION, the most intoxicating of all. It’s the spark that can not only ignite the dynamite, blow it out of the water kind of power source, but an opening of the valve that can literally transform you everyday life into an extraordinary one, and a master of creation! Now just so we are clear about this, I am not talking about sweaty hot Palpitating heart flashes or spastically bouncing off walls, nor hip, hip hurray cheerleading….even though it is true, passion does come in all forms and degrees. The passion I mean is a strong inner knowing, a quiet sureness that continuously reassures that you are the one in control of your destiny, and that “the tiger you are holding by the tail is actually you!” “I want it, I got it, sign me up,” might be your thoughts of the moment… and I fully intend to give you that gift, but first let’s play a game. Starting with you thinking about something that you want to bring into creation—a relationship, a new career or bringing your career to another level, a healthy fit trim body, or a new lifestyle in a better area or home? Pick just one to work on, any one, even if you would like to create all of the ones above. Now, ask yourself, what is the fuel behind this dream? Is it a desire for money, possessions or fame? Whatever the reason, if your creation is not powered by a PASSION for you to follow your joy, you not only are going to be working overtime, it will never be all it can be. Again, the question rises up…how do you activate a passion generated by joy and not a need that demands effort and often doesn’t produce the results you want? How?…by not resisting your natural instincts and birthright to have what you want come in an easier and more joyful way. The sooner that you can let go of the limiting voices in your head that have convinced you that there is only one right way to achieve, the sooner you will allow and feel the buzz of PASSION pushing you forward to your dream. At www.amazon.com. Meister Eckhart book called The Passion for Creation, really brings this message home. Start by sparking your passion by creating a space to feel, to examine what really excites you. What dream you have always had, that if it came true would be like WOW. Now in that safe space, ask yourself these questions: What do you repeatedly dream about having, what is your vision or goal that you may never have shared with anyone else? What do you read about, watch on TV, often times get into conversations with others? Ask these questions repeatedly until you can clearly feel what excites you, and then give yourself the time and chance to investigate your passion…and then take the risk. Take the risk of falling in love with your dream and your own personal power of creation. Since I have played in this game of creation for quite a long time now, I can honestly say that one of the biggest roadblocks that often shows up around creation is fear; False Evidence Appearing Real. Fear that some- one might not like or approve of your ideas, fear of stepping out of your comfort zone, fear that you won’t have the steam to stay with your dream and keep moving forward, fear that you will succeed. So now you have the tools to recognize the devil in the blue dress, what do you do about it? Begin by feeling the fear, and then let it go. Then put a voice to the fear, say it out loud and visualize it evaporating in the air …like a puff of smoke. When you can see that the line between fear and excitement is very thin, then very quickly fear can turn into excitement and passion, and what use to be fear, can now fuel your creation. Transforming fear into passion is no different than going from knowing that you can’t hike a mountain because it’s too hard and scary-to taking on the challenged, reaching the top and feeling totally empowered. We stop the flow of great amounts of PASSION that could fuel our visions when we allow our fears to take over. Shifting from denying and fighting the fear to accepting it, helps you to release it and then use it to keep you in the game. Let passion fill you up and lead you to your true joy. Smell more roses, watch more sunsets, eat dessert first, walk barefoot in the morning grass, and do more. Laugh more, dance more, love more, explore more places, be more spontaneous, indulge in more hobbies, lunch with more friends, smile more and have more fun. Do whatever you can to create a vibration that attracts a continuous flow of PASSION into everything you do. PASSION begets PASSION, so start working on building up that PASSION muscle this very minute. PASSION fuels creation because it is creation in full bloom dulge in more hobbies, lunch with more friends, smile more and have more fun. Do whatever you can to create a vibration that attracts a continuous flow of PASSION into everything you do. PASSION begets PASSION, so start working on building up that PASSION muscle this very minute. PASSION fuels creation because it is creation in full bloom

Going through Tough Times?

“Adversity cause some men to break; others to break records.” *– William Arthur Ward

“One’s best success comes after their greatest disappointments.”–Henry Ward Beecher

“Obstacles can’t stop you. Problems can’t stop you. Most of all other people can’t stop you. Only you can stop you.”–Jeffrey Gitomer

I honestly don’t know why I’m writing on this topic because I had another topic in mind but I just couldn’t resist writing about this.I believe someone out there will benefit from this message.

Are you going through a tough time and you believe it’s the end of the world? I tell you,it’s neither the end of the world nor the end of your dreams for a better life.Are you going through a situation whereby problems are surfacing from left,right and centre and you wished you could end it all?

You see,the reality of the situation is that everybody goes through tough times,the high,the low and the mighty.Though the severity of the situation may differ,all you need to pull through is a positive attitude.At this moment in your life,your attitude really matters,otherwise,the situation will break you(God forbid bad thing). Whenever you are faced with a situation like this,I suggest you read “Tough Times Never Last,Tough People Do” by Robert H Schuller.It’s a bestseller which I have read and re-read.Aside this book,what other things do you need to pull through tough times.

1.Know that God will never allow you to be tested beyond your ability to endure.You can find that in 1 Corinthians 10:13 and I quote:”There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it”.

He is with you every step of the way just as He said in the book of Isaiah 43:2 “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.”

He is a loving God and He has a purpose for whatever you are going through.

2.Thank God for the tough times you are experiencing.It’s not easy because I have been there but you have to thank God for whatever situation you find yourself.1 Thessalonians 5:18 concurs “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” You see,when you thank God for a misfortune,it forces Him to restore your joy quickly.

3.Immediately look for the positive, try to find the silver lining, the seed to the equivalent benefit. It’s there…..I promise, just look deep and you will find it.

4.Know that virtually everybody living goes through a crisis at one time or the other.When you are going through stressful times,the tendency is for you to think other people are finding life easy.All of us,including yours sincerely,go through stress at one point or the other but the ability to manage that storm to the end is what differentiates winners from losers.You see,life is just like a road.Most of our roads in this part of the world have potholes,detours,etc so there is no way you can drive straight,you have slow down for all these detours.Such is life,there are times,things will go well with you and there are also times you feel like locking yourself in your room and crying all day but I tell you,that will not help you.

Face the situation headlong just as American Advice Columnist,Ann Landers wrote,“If I were asked to give what I consider the single most useful bit of advice for all humanity it would be this: Expect trouble as an inevitable part of life and when it comes, hold you head high, look it squarely in eye and say, ‘I will be bigger than you. You cannot defeat me.”

Joel Osteen lends his voice,“No matter how successful we are, we all face challenges, struggles, and times when things don’t go our way. Understand that God has a divine purpose for every challenge that comes into our lives.”

5.Know that the trouble you are facing is a temporary thing.Tell yourself,’this too will pass away.’ And surely it will.But the lessons you learn while going through it will remain with you forever and help you overcome similar,if not greater challenges in future.

I just hope someone out there has been blessed by this message from the bottom of my heart.Just hit the reply button to tell us how helpful you found this article.Remember,it helps to share

Dream It,Do It!

If you can dream it, you can do it. Always remember that this whole thing was started with a dream and a mouse.”-Walt Disney

For me,impossible is just a word.You can achieve anything you dream about,just that you need to act upon achieving your dreams.

Everyone, at some point of his or her life, has dreamed of being somebody special, somebody big. Who hasn’t fantasized about being the one who hits the game-winning homer? Who hasn’t dreamed of being the homecoming queen? And how many times have we dreamed of being rich, or successful, or happy with our relationships?

Often, we dream big dreams and have great aspirations. Unfortunately, our dreams remain just that – dreams. And our aspirations easily collect dust in our attic.

This is a sad turn of events in our life. Instead of experiencing exciting adventures in self actualization, we get caught up in the humdrum of living from day-to-day just barely existing.

But you know what? Life could be so much better, if only we learned to aim higher.

The most common problem to setting goals is the word impossible. Most people get hung up thinking I can’t do this. It’s too hard. It’s too impossible. No one can do this.

However, if everyone thought that, there would be no inventions, no innovations, and no breakthroughs in human accomplishment.

Remember that scientists were baffled when they took a look at the humble bumblebee. Theoretically, they said, it was impossible for the bumblebee to fly. Unfortunately for the bumblebee no one has told it so. So fly it does.

On the other hand, some people suffer from dreaming totally outrageous dreams and not acting on them. The result? Broken dreams, and tattered aspirations.

If you limit yourself with self-doubt, and self-limiting assumptions, you will never be able to break past what you deem impossible. If you reach too far out into the sky without working towards your goal, you will find yourself clinging on to the impossible dream.

Try this exercise. Take a piece of paper and write down some goals in your life. Under one header, list down things ‘you know you can do’. Under another header, write the things ‘you might be able to do.’ And under one more, list the things that that are ‘impossible for you to do.’

Now look at all the headers strive every day to accomplish the goals that are under things ‘you know you can do’. Check them when you are able to accomplish them. As you slowly are able to check all of your goals under that heading, try accomplishing the goals under the other header-the one that reads ‘you might be able to do.’

As of the items you wrote under things I could do are accomplished, you can move the goals that are under things that are ‘impossible for you to do’ to the list of things ‘you might be able to do.’

As you iterate through this process, you will find out that the goals you thought were impossible become easier to accomplish. And the impossible begin to seem possible after all.

You see, the technique here is not to limit your imagination. It is to aim high, and start working towards that goal little by little. However, it also is unwise to set a goal that is truly unrealistic.

Those who just dream towards a goal without working hard end up disappointed and disillusioned.

On the other hand, if you told someone a hundred years ago that it was possible for man to be on the moon, they would laugh at you. If you had told them that you could send mail from here to the other side of the world in a few seconds, they would say you were out of your mind. But, through sheer desire and perseverance, these impossible dreams are now realities.

Thomas Edison once said that genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration. Nothing could be truer. For one to accomplish his or her dreams, there has to be hard work and discipline. But take note that that 1% has to be a think-big dream, and not some easily accomplished one.

Ask any gym rat and he or she will tell you that there can be no gains unless you are put out of your comfort zone. Remember the saying, “No pain, no gain”? That is as true as it can be.

So dream on, friend! Don’t get caught up with your perceived limitations. Think big and work hard to attain those dreams. As you step up the ladder of progress, you will just about find out that the impossible has just become a little bit more possible.I will end this article with this quote:

“The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.” Michelangelo.

I just hope I have been able to stir your ability to achieve those dreams you consider too big or impossible for you to achieve.