ArticlesBase.com - Free Articles Directory
Free Online Articles Directory
16.10.2008 Sign In Register Hello Guest
Email:
Password:
Remember Me 
forgot your password?


It's What You CAN Control That Matters

Author: Anna Johnson Author Ranking Blue | Posted: 23-05-2006 | Comments: 0 | Views: 142 | Rating:  (50) Article Popularity - Green (?) Got a Question? Ask.
Related Videos
Controlling Slugs

Dave shows you some simple, safe, and organic ways to control slugs...

Internal Birth Control - Diaphragms

Diaphragms, rings, and implants, oh my! These discreet, internal methods of birth...

Permanent Birth Control Methods

Would you be shocked to learn that the most frequently used method...

Sign Up Now!

Have you seen the movie "28 Days" starring Sandra Bullock and Viggo Mortenson?

It's no masterpiece, and probably wouldn't crack my top 100 films of all time...

But it does, in an entertaining way, offer some valuable lessons on life: how to overcome personal challenges (Sandra Bullock plays an alcoholic who's sentenced to 28 days in a rehab center after driving into someone's house!), the meaning of friendship, and how to achieve goals, to name a few.

One of these lessons is demonstrated when Viggo Mortenson, who plays a baseballer, is pitching baseballs onto a mattress several feet away. When Sandra's character has a shot she misses completely.

Viggo's character asks, "What were you thinking when you threw the ball?"

Sandra answers that she was thinking about trying to hit the mattress.

This is, after all, the outcome she wants.

Viggo shakes his head and tells her that she's focusing on the wrong thing.

Instead of thinking about what she can't control -- the outcome -- she should be focusing on what she CAN control: her stance, how she grips the ball, how she swings her arm, etc.

Hmmm... is there something in that for you, too?

You see, in many cases, whatever goal you're trying to pursue, you can't control the outcome.

There are just too many variables that you have no influence over.

But you CAN control every single thing you do in order to achieve that outcome.

And you can perfect those things, just as a pro baseball player works to perfect his stance, grip, swing, etc.

But haven't you been told to visualize or imagine achieving your goal?

Well, I'm NOT saying that you shouldn't visualize or imagine. These are, in fact, two activities that may help you get what you want. In fact, in many -- if not most cases -- they are part of the processes involved in achieving your goal.

But a much more important activity is... ACTIVITY! Or ACTION!

I mean, sure, top athletes do "mental training" but they sure as heck don't rely on this alone -- the bulk of their training is PHYSICAL, right?

Same for you and I. We can daydream all we want, but it won't get us anywhere unless we TAKE ACTION towards achieving our goal.

Now, it has to be the right action. Continuing the example of athletes -- they must learn and perfect the right diet, training, mental conditioning, skills, and so on, in order to reach the top of their sport. So too, you must make an effort to discover the most effective way of achieving your goal. This will inevitably involve learning and applying specific strategies, tactics and daily tasks that are proven to work.

And, at the end of the day, if you focus on what you can control -- those strategies, tactics and daily tasks -- rather than worrying or dreaming about your desired outcome, you're much more likely to get that outcome.

Rate this Article: Current: 0 / 5 stars - 0 vote(s).

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/motivational-articles/its-what-you-can-control-that-matters-30086.html

Print this Article Print article   Email to a Friend Send to friend   Publish this Article on your Website Publish this Article   Send Author Feedback Author feedback  
About the Author:
Anna Johnson is the creator of the inspiring 1 minute movie, A Bit Of Inspiration. Enjoy the movie and get inspired! Then claim your free A Bit Of Inspiration screensaver - your daily reminder of the power you have within.
Submitting articles has become one of the most popular means of generating quality backlinks and targeted traffic to your website. Join us today - It's Free!

Article Comments

Comment on this article Comment on this article
Your Name
Your Email:
Comment Body
Enter Validation Code: Captcha


Related Articles

Being Perfect vs Being Successful
By: Anna Johnson | 19/05/2006 | Advice
Why Being Perfect Doesn't Necessarily Mean Being Successful... And May In Fact Sabotage Your Success!

How To Find The Time
By: Anna Johnson | 20/05/2006 | Motivational
Here's How To Find The Time For That Business, Book, Project, Fitness Program Or Other Pursuit You've Committed To Doing

Does Positive Thinking Really Work?
By: Anna Johnson | 20/05/2006 | Motivational
Why Positive Thinking Alone Will NOT Lead To Success

The Real Secret To Getting Things Done
By: Anna Johnson | 23/05/2006 | Motivational
How One Simple Action Is The Key To Accomplishing What You Want

Whose Advice Are You Following?
By: Anna Johnson | 24/05/2006 | Motivational
Do You Follow What "Most" People Say and Do... Or the Minority Of People Who Are Successful?

How To Achieve Any Goal
By: Anna Johnson | 28/05/2006 | Goal Setting
No Matter What Your Goal Is, Here's An Approach That Will Almost Guarantee You Achieve It!

Rising Above Mediocrity Today
By: Patric Chan | 10/12/2007 | Self Improvement
Sometimes going the extra mile can make all the difference between being just plain average and excelling.

As You Think You Are
By: Steven Fu | 11/10/2007 | Motivational
Your Universe is created by you...by your thoughts.

Got a Question? Ask.

Ask the community a question about this article:

Q&A Powered by:
Powered by Yedda 

Latest Motivational Articles

Learn by the Way of Life
By: Derrick Sim | 16/10/2008
The correct way of learning – To let go to learn or to learn to let go? It can be quite a conflicting argument here, isn’t it? But that is the way of life! In life, there could never be a thing known as the Perfect Balance.

It is the Thought That Matters?
By: Derrick Sim | 16/10/2008
It is the thought that matters? To be more precise, it is rather the after-action that arises from your thought that really does matter.

The Power of Beliefs & Positive Attitude
By: Joel Yeo | 16/10/2008
How beliefs and positive attitude can change a person's life

Mental Strength and Mind Power
By: Anna Emilie Eight | 15/10/2008
In this article you will find reasons, why it is necessary to unload your mind with negative thoughts in order to get a healthy soul. Furthermore this article will give you useful hints about how to forgive yourself and others who harmed you and how to say good bye to things you are either emotionally or mentally addicted to.

The Power of Thought
By: Anna Emilie Eight | 15/10/2008
In this article you can find useful ideas which show you how to include concentration practices into your everyday life. Furthermore you will find helpful description of how to get rid of troubling thoughts, so that you can relax your mind and find true ease inside your self.

Personal Success Strategies - The Expression-Repression-Depression-Connection
By: Ken Donaldson | 15/10/2008
We either find a way to release our expression, which may be referred to as "emotional discharge", or we "stuff it", which is synonymous with repression. It is quite normal to have to do some "stuffing" during the course of a day, but what is important is that you have an awareness of that and find an appropriate time and place to release it.

Living Kindness
By: Cory L. Kemp | 14/10/2008
Have you ever watched Rogers and Hammerstein's Cinderella? The Broadway musical became a television special in the 1960's and a cherished memory from my childhood ever since. The story itself is timeless: boy meets girl; boy loses girl; boy finds girl once again to live happily ever after. The addition of a fairy godmother, magic pumpkins and glass slippers that had to be impossible to walk in brought drama and suspense to a tale whose ending was known to us all along.

Focus for Success
By: Miata Edoga | 14/10/2008
What you focus on determines your mindset, and that determines your future...

More from Anna Johnson

Goal Setting:The Secret To Accomplishing Any Goal
By: Anna Johnson | 22/05/2008 | Goal Setting
To accomplish any goal, it's essential that you COMMIT yourself to achieving it. This may sound simple, but it's rarely easy. After all, true commitment means committing yourself to doing every single thing required to accomplish such a goal. So how do you commit yourself? Well, there's a secret. You've actually used it before. You just didn't know it...

Job Hunting - When Should You Start?
By: Anna Johnson | 09/02/2007 | Careers
If you think the best time to start job hunting is when you've decided to quit your current job... think again.

The No. 1 Mindset To Avoid... If You Want a Successful Career
By: Anna Johnson | 03/01/2007 | Careers
Here's the mindset that will almost certainly hold back your career development... and how to avoid it.

How To Achieve Any Goal
By: Anna Johnson | 28/05/2006 | Goal Setting
No Matter What Your Goal Is, Here's An Approach That Will Almost Guarantee You Achieve It!

Why You Should Be A Coach, Not Just A Manager
By: Anna Johnson | 27/05/2006 | Non-Fiction
How To Coach Your Employees To Reach Their True Potential... and Achieve Greater Productivity, Better Results and Higher Morale

How To Slash Work-Related Stress
By: Anna Johnson | 26/05/2006 | Non-Fiction
Helpful Tips For Dramatically Reducing The Stress You Feel At Work

How To Get People To Give You What You Want
By: Anna Johnson | 26/05/2006 | Non-Fiction
A Time-Tested Approach To Getting People To Give You What You Want

How To Recruit The Right Person For The Job
By: Anna Johnson | 25/05/2006 | Non-Fiction
Need To Fill A Position? Here's A Step-By-Step Approach To Getting The Right Person For The Job

Article Categories






Give Feedback

Sign up for our email newsletter

Receive updates, enter your email below