The Emotional Bank Account

When it comes to improving and maintaining our relationships with others, Stephen Covey’s metaphor of the Emotional Bank Account is probably one of the most powerful ideas ever created for the development of interpersonal relationships. If you’ve never heard of this, it basically means that anyone with whom we have a relationship with, whether it be our coworkers, family or friends, we maintain a personal “emotional” bank account with them. This account begins on a neutral balance. And just as with any bank account, we can make deposits and withdrawals. However, instead of dealing with units of monetary value, we deal with emotional units.

Withdrawals
Speaking disrespectfully
Putting people down
Acting in rude and discourteous ways

Never saying "I'm sorry" or saying it insincerely

Criticizing, complaining and talking about others in negative ways when they're not around

Never making commitments to anyone, or making commitments and rarely following through

Being quick to take offense
Holding grudges
Throwing people's past mistakes up to them
Nurturing grievances

Deposits
Being kind

Apologizing

Being loyal to those not present

Making and keeping promises

Forgiving

Save today for spending tomorrow :)

Change is Essential; Change is Positive

You must avoid breaking when things don't go your way.

You'll always be secure to the degree that you accept change.

True security comes from being able to bend your insecurities.

When you recognize and accept that change will inevitably take place.

You'll become secure, not by standing still, but by growing, moving, and staying energized.

Be secure in the knowledge that you can deal with anything that happens to you.

Have the courage to bet on your ideas.

Take some calculated risks and act on your dreams.

There is no permanent security on this earth, there is only opportunity.

Change is an essential and positive part of life!

Promise yourself….

To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind;

To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet;

To make all your friends feel that there is something in them;

To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true;

To think only the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best;

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own;

To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future;

To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile;

To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others;

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear; and too happy to permit the presence of trouble;

To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world, not in loud words, but in great deeds;

To live in the faith that the whole world is on your side so long as you are true to the best that is in you.

Perfection?

"Everybody has to look at his or her own footprint and do the best they can. It's not about being perfect, it's about doing something. If we're looking for perfection, we'll never, ever get there."

You Can... You just Can...

This day is not happening to you. It is happening through you.

The way you see the world does not merely affect what you think and feel about all that is going on. The way you see the world determines how the world will be.

Your thoughts are not just momentary flashes that disappear once you are finished with them. They are powerful forces that give energy and direction to life.

The events and situations that come your way are not just random occurrences. There is a reason why you have put yourself in a position to experience them.

The things that are possible are the things that you imagine and expect to be possible. Raise your imagination and your expectations to new levels, and the world follows right along.

This day is happening because you are here to live it. Make it truly grand and exquisitely beautiful, just because you can.

start where you are

Start from where you are. Wishing for a different past will only waste your time. Old failures can not hold you back unless you let them.

From where you are right now, you can get to anywhere you want to be -- if you will make the commitment to do it. Waiting until things are better, or hoping that the road will somehow get easier, will only stall your progress and lead to regret.

Right now, right where you are, is the time to begin making your life the best you can imagine. The disappointments of the past are behind you, and a brand new day awaits.

What do you know you could accomplish? Who is the person you truly were meant to be? Right where you are is a great place to start. When you woke up this morning the past had ended. Now you can start to really live.

You think You Dont! But You So Do...

The day you take complete responsibility for yourself,
the day you stop making any excuses, that's the day you start moving down the road to success.

No one else can do it for you.
Only you can make it happen.
You're the only one that has to live your life.

Success on any major scale requires you to accept responsibility.
It's up to you to choose the thoughts and actions that will lead you to success.

Your life will be what you make of it.
Nothing will ever happen by itself.
Success will come your way once you realize that you have to make it come your way by your own actions.

The power to succeed is yours alone.