How to Deal With the Negative Influences in Your Life – Jim Rohn

How to Deal With the Negative Influences in Your Life – Jim Rohn

Your associations should move you forward, not impede your progress.

If you were to evaluate the major influences in your life that have shaped the kind of person you are, this has to be high on the list: the people and thoughts you choose to allow into your life. My mentor, Mr. Shoaff, gave me a very important warning in those early days that I’ll share with you. He said, “Never underestimate the power of influence.” Indeed, the influence of those around us is so powerful! Many times we don’t even realize we’re being strongly affected because influences generally develop over an extended period of time.

Peer pressure is an especially powerful force because it is so subtle. If you’re around people who spend all they make, chances are excellent you might spend all you make. If you are around people who don’t read, chances are excellent that you probably won’t read. People can keep nudging us off course a little at a time until, finally, we find ourselves asking, How did I get here? Those subtle influences need to be studied carefully if we really want our lives to turn out the way we’ve planned.


With regard to this important point, let me give you three key questions to ask yourself. They might help you better analyze your current associations.

1. Who am I around?

Make a mental note of the people with whom you most often associate. You’ve got to evaluate everyone who is able to influence you in any way.

2. What are these associations doing to me?

That’s a major question to ask. What have they got me doing? What have they got me listening to? What have they got me reading? Where have they got me going? What do they have me thinking? How have they got me talking? How have they got me feeling? What have they got me saying? You’ve got to make a serious study of how others influence you, both negatively and positively.

3. Is that OK?

Maybe everyone you associate wit1h has been a positive, energizing influence. Then again, maybe there are some bad apples in the bunch. All I’m suggesting here is that you take a close and objective look. Everything is worth a second look, especially when it comes to the power of influence. Both will take you somewhere, but only one will take you in the direction you need to go.

It’s easy to just dismiss the things that influence our lives. One man says, “I live here, but I don’t think it matters. I’m around these people, but I don’t think it hurts.” I would take another look at that. Remember, everything matters! Sure, some things matter more than others, but everything amounts to something. You’ve got to keep checking to find out whether your associations are tipping the scales toward the positive or toward the negative. Ignorance is never the best policy. Finding out is the best policy. It’s easy to let influence shape our lives, to let associations determine our direction, to let pressures overwhelm us and to let tides take us. The big question is: Are we letting ourselves become what we wish to become?



Here are three ways to handle associations or relationships that might be holding you back.

1. Disassociate.

This is not an easy decision, nor something you should take lightly, but in some cases it might be essential. You might just have to make the hard choice not to let certain negative influences affect you anymore. It could be a choice that preserves the quality of your life.

2. Limit the association.

Spend major time with major influences and minor time with minor influences. It is easy to do just the opposite, but don’t fall into that trap. Take a look at your priorities and your values. We have so little time at our disposal. Wouldn’t it make sense to invest it wisely?

3. Expand your associations.

This is the one I suggest you focus on the most. Find other successful people you can spend more time with. Invite them to lunch (pick up the tab) and ask them how they have achieved so much or what makes them successful. Now, this is not just about financial success; it can be someone you want to learn from about having a better marriage, being a better parent, having better health or a stronger spiritual life.

It is called association on purpose: getting around the right people by expanding your circle of influence.

Here are a few final thoughts on associations and influence:

When you succeed, you will create and attract more success around you. Success breeds success, so when you succeed, even at just a level above where you are right now, you will see that the people you associate with will also start becoming more successful themselves (which will also increase the level of your own associations!). That is one of the exciting byproducts of success.

Initiate relationships with people who are further ahead in personal and professional development than you are. There are so many successful people around you who can help you in so many ways! And if they are successful, they are busy! So, chances are, they are not going to initiate anything with you, but they will more than likely be willing to meet with you or invest in you if you initiate contact with them. Of course, some won’t, but that’s OK; just move on until you find someone who will. Meet with them, buy them lunch or coffee. Let your association with them help you. Learn from them. Watch them. Let their experience guide you. But remember, you will have to pursue them, not the other way around.

Have people around who you can rely on to speak the truth to you. We need people who will tell us the truth. Even if it is negative, given with a heart of concern, truth will still build us up and move us forward. We don’t just want people around us who will tell us only the good or what we want to hear. Growing in our personal and professional lives means we need to look at the whole picture and deal with both strengths and weaknesses. We need a good balance of people around us who can help us see all sides of an issue.


Carefully determine what will influence you. I use the word carefully because many people do not care about what they allow to influence them or who they associate with. And yet this is one of the biggest ways our lives are shaped. We need to be full of care when we are looking at who or what we allow into our lives and thus to shape and mold our lives. Look for people and information that will build you up and give you the next step you need to move forward in your journey.

Remember, your associations should move you forward, not impede your progress.

More on SELF ESTEEM!

More on Self Esteem!

I hate to approach anything from a negative point of view. But sometimes it's necessary to speak bluntly...to discuss the negative in order to understand the positive.

The simple fact is...there are things that parents sometimes do that lower their child's self esteem.

The following are Self-Esteem Killers:

1. Compare one child to another, especially with siblings.
2. Have super high standards, reward only high level of progress.
3. Yell - A LOT!
4. Assume their child really wants, needs, and deserves all the freedom they are asking for.

Additionally they would:

1. Let the child make lots of choices for themselves, especially when they are really young.
2. Neglect to follow through. For example: Mom tells Lisa that a certain rule violation will result in a consequence. Lisa commits violation. Mom caves in and doesn't enforce consequence.
3. Set standars for the kids that Mom and Dad don't hold themselves to.
4. When you catch your children aspiring, caution them not to set their sights too high.
5. Be frugal in spending time with your kids.

And Finally...

1. Assume they will follow your words rather than your example.

Of course our job is to turn each of these awful statements into its opposite. Building your child's self worth requires consistent effort. Be diligent!

If you have any questions regarding Self Esteem give me a call, I'd be happy to help!

Your friend,

Ivan Kravitz

(949) 363-6500

P.S. Many of our readers have called to find out how to learn more about "KID Skill" topics. As a courtesy I've decided to offer a FREE One-Week Trial Membership at "USBA" to all of our readers. If you would like to register, just call us at (949)363-6500 and ask for Rachel.

P.P.S. You must hurry. It's our busy season with parents preparing for "Back To School", so we can only accept the first 25 requests.

The Habit Of Commitment

The Habit of Commitment

Champions have something called a Non-Quitting Spirit.

Also referred to as the Habit of Commitment.

Champions commit to the completion of worthy goals.

 

Anytime you set your sights on a worthwhile goal, such as becoming and healthy and fit Black Belt Champion, or the various degrees that follow, it is also important to stay the course. Stick to it until you do it!

There are valuable life lessons learned when you overcome obstacles… versus giving up or quitting whenever you encounter setbacks or obstacles.

                                                  

All Champions encounter obstacles, challenges and setbacks.

The best get better by overcoming anything that stands between them and the successful achievement of their goal. Every time you learn to overcome an obstacle or a setback, or you solve a problem, you become stronger in the habit of commitment.

Habits we Train…are Habits we Gain.

If you’re going to develop life long habits, it’s in your best interest to develop Habits of Excellence that will best serve you and those you care about.

The opposite of this would be the habit of quitting or giving up. Many people are great at starting something, but only an achiever sees things through to completion. Unfortunately, far too many people stop as quickly as they start. So, they develop the habit of start/stop/start/stop.

This is called the Habit of Mediocrity or playing the blame game.

These are the people that never follow through to completion, and seem to always find an excuse or way to blame someone else for their failures in life.

As part of our Habits of Excellence series, we encourage you to develop the habit of commitment and think about how you can commit to completion of the worthy goals you’ve set for yourself.

The 5 Skills of Listening!

It's frustrating when our children don't seem to listen, isn't it?

And when they don't pay attention to what you're saying at home, you have to wonder how much they are missing at school!

In 20+ years of teaching martial arts in our community, we've developed a 5 step approach to teach the skill of listening. You can easily teach these 5 steps to your child!

• The Listening Posture. Teach your child that when it's time to listen they must sit or stand up straight. Shoulders back, chin up and eyes straight ahead. This alone can double listening retention.
• Direct Eye Contact is Essential. Insist on it when you are speaking to your child. They will then be able to focus on the words being said.
• Repeat the Message Back to the Speaker When Possible. For example a child might say, "So mom, you'd like me to clean my room and feed the dog before I play on my I-Pad?" This lets the speaker know your child has understood!
• Ask Questions! Coach your children to ask respectful questions. This shows that they are paying attention, and care about what the other person is saying!
• Look for more information. Especially with older children, train them to ask themselves, "How does the speaker feel about what they are saying?" Are they bored? Angry? Interested? Concerned? 

My friends, even young children can be taught these steps. Begin by reading them to your kids, and then practicing each skill!

When you observe your child losing focus, just the simple reminder, "Remember...listening skills" will refocus them.

And of course watch like a hawk for situations when your child does listen effectively. Catch them doing it right, and follow up with a huge dose of appreciation, like, "Honey, I was so proud of you for listening to what i was saying."

If you have any questions about the 5 skills of listening, give me a shout. Id be happy to help!

Your friend,

Ivan Kravitz
US Blackbelt Academy
30251-H Golden Lantern
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
(949) 363-6500
www.teamusba.com

10 Easy Steps To Raise Your Child's Self Esteem

1. Always remind your child of their past victories and accomplishments. Let their self-image be built upon the recollection of past successes. Let the memory of failures and disappointments fade away.
2. Help your child strive for improvement…not perfection. Help them create reasonable expectations for performance.
3. Develop a Family Heritage. Teach your child to be proud of their family. Tell them about the achievements and sacrifices of their parents, grandparents, and other relatives.
4. Do provide feedback…don’t be overly critical. If you do have to give negative feedback, especially to an older child, always criticize in private, on the other hand always praise publicly!
5. Teach them the value of telling the truth. Lying steals Self-Esteem!
6. Appearance counts. Guide your child into taking pride in their appearance.
7. Try to guide them toward friends who have high Self-Esteem. Help them avoid negative people.
8. Paint the big picture with your child. Help them dream big goals for their future.
9.  Be healthy and fit. Exercise regularly, eat a balanced diet.
10. Become an expert. Pick a few activities that are important to your child and help them master them. Don’t allow them to jump from one activity to another.

KID Skills - "Healthy, Happy Confident Kids"

That’s your goal right? But have you ever found yourself

• Concerned about your child’s level of self control?
• Wishing your child had a greater ability to listen…to focus?
• Wondering painfully if your son or daughter has the self-esteem it takes to be successful?

You’re not alone! Even though we want our children to be healthy, happy and confident – they are confronted with an increasingly complicated and difficult world.

My name is Ivan Kravitz. I would like introduce you to “KID Skills” the short blog newsletter packed with valuable “parenting tips!”

“KID Skills” provides easy to use strategies that will assist you in raising healthy, happy, confident children! In fact over the last 20 years over 5,000 local families have used these proven strategies. Until now, they have been exclusively used in our award winning children’s program here at “US Blackbelt Academy”. But now, through “KID Skills” I’m sharing these powerful strategies with the local community as well.

“KID Skills” is my gift to you. free… with no strings attached.

In the upcoming posts you will learn

• 4 Ways To Raise Your Child’s Self Esteem
• 3 Skills That Will Triple Your Child’s Listening Retention
• Negative Peer Pressure…How To Teach Your Child To Resist!
• Why Some Children Are Eager To Learn, and Some Aren’t

And lots more in each article!

The simple truth is this “Good Old Fashioned Values Work”. And “KID Skills” provides the “coaching tips” you need to raise healthy, happy, confident children!

Stay tuned and keep an eye out for our next post, or if you prefer to sign up to our “KID Skills” Mailing list, please fill out the form below and we will send you the article every week!

Your Friend,

Ivan Kravitz

US Blackbelt Academy
30251-H Golden Lantern
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
(949)363-6500
www.teamusba.com