Set Goals to Create Your Most Joyful Life :)

“If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or things.” ~ Albert Einstein

The Oxford Dictionary defines the word ‘goal’ as the object of a person's ambition or effort; an aim or desired result.

Synonyms for ‘goal’ from Roget’s Thesaurus include: intent, objective and aim.

Goals are a useful tool to help you create what you want for your life.

Don’t be daunted by the word ‘goals’. Just think about what you want, and intend to attain :)

Setting goals allows you to be the designer of your own life, creating the outcomes that you want for yourself.

“If you don't design your own life plan, chances are you'll fall into someone else's plan. And guess what they may have planned for you? Not much.” ~ Jim Rohn

• How do you want to live your life?

Align your goals with your authentic self  –  your values, dreams and desires.

• What do you want to be?

Brian Johnson of Philosophers Notes suggests focusing on 'Being' goals i.e. being kind, patient and generous and 'Creating' goals i.e. creating something of value.

• What do you want to have?

• What do you want to do?

Think about living your Most Joyful Life and what that means to you, and then set your goals accordingly.

You have to know where you’re going, before you can start making plans to get there :)

Design the life that you want and start setting your goals to create it
.
Be Inspired and Get Your Glow On :)

With love,

 Related Posts:

• Get Your Imagination On :)
• Check In with Yourself and Focus on Your 'Right Life'
• Know Yourself, Be Yourself and Get Your Glow On :)
• Rock Your Passion and Get On Purpose

Products We Love: Yunnan Baiyao - Rapid Pain Relief and Healing Spray

Yunnan Baiyao spray is a must-have for your first-aid kit.
I can honestly tell you from my own (accident-prone) experience, that this is an amazingly effective healing remedy.

A traditional Chinese medicine made from herbs and natural products, Yunnan Baiyao is now available in aerosol form and is incredibly effective for rapid pain relief and wound healing
.
Use the red can for painful joints, muscular pain, inflammation, arthritis, sprains, strains and bruising.
I used this after falling and hurting my knee really badly. It swelled up like a cricket ball.
After using the spray I could actually see the swelling going down during the day. By the end of the day, the swelling was down to golf-ball size and it healed in a couple of day.
I’ve also used it when I sprained my thumb and the pain relief was fantastic.

The cream can is a maintenance spray and can be used on open wounds to stop bleeding.
The wound healing properties are amazing and wounds heal much faster than they would normally.
It’s also great for stings, cuts, grazes, insect bites, pimples, boils and nappy rash.

Read more on the product benefits here.

Yunnan Baiyao is available in South Africa in pharmacies and health retailers.
If you live outside South Africa and would like to try the product, please email me.
See more on their website www.yunnanbaiyao.co.za

FREE GIVEAWAYS! 
(This promotion is now over)
I have 3 packs of Yunnan Baiyao Spray to Give Away :)
Send me an email with the subject line: Yunnan Baiyao
Include your name and postal address.

Afriversity's Natasha Avidan on Developing African Entrepreneurs, and Following Her Heart

Afriversity is a non-profit organisation founded in Sweden in 2008 with the mission to train, educate, support as well as provide incubation for aspiring African entrepreneurs.

Afriversity’s mission is to create and support a new breed of world class, socially responsible, global entrepreneurs that will help Africa prosper in the new millennium.
Below is a Q & A with Natasha Avidan - Head of Partnerships, Sponsors & Communications - Founding Fellow of Afriversity, who tells us more about this inspiring project, following her heart, and what it means to her:

How did you become involved with Afriversity?

"Simple...I fell in love...I fell in love with the project and I fell in love with South Africa. One of my guiding principles in life has been to follow my heart and my heart was leading me to South Africa.

I was working for an IT company in Sweden when I met the founder of Afriversity. Running a marketing department for a global IT company was challenging but I felt that I needed another project. Something that was driven by passion, inspiration and was aimed at making a difference in people’s lives. I have been lucky enough to meet a handful of people in my life journey that guided me, helped me grow, made me challenge myself or simply appreciate and embrace myself as a strong and driven woman.

It would be wonderful for everyone to have this opportunity and I will try my hardest to pay forward what I have received.

Many people give up before even trying. We must help others around us to be strong and believe in themselves and their abilities. Every one of us can make a difference.
Take the examples of Mother Theresa, Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, Ghandi..these are individuals who set out to help.
They didn't think about being one person out to change the world but they thought about making the world a better place by influencing others to help change the world.
I believe that everyone can change the world, if each of us performs one random act of kindness at least once a day.

It all starts with YOU and YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!"

How has Afriversity helped develop business in Africa?

"Afriversity is a not-for-profit organisation working to release existing entrepreneurial potential in Africa. The programme offers a practical and individualised entrepreneurial development course that combines hands-on business education, training and incubation, designed to help budding entrepreneurs.

Afriversity is impact focused. We use action-based learning to empower individuals to act entrepreneurially from the word “go”. Individuals create companies and companies create jobs.
Afripreneurs will lead ventures, creating new and sustainable jobs for their local communities.
As these ventures “pay it forward” they will grow to be sustainable and socially responsible companies participating in the global economy.

Empowering individuals to believe, trust and know that they can do it (start a company, grow a company) and that they have the potential to lift themselves and their communities out of unemployment and into the world market.

We WILL change mindsets and build CONFIDENCE."

Tell us about some of the success stories:

"Over 100 entrepreneurs have now graduated from the first step of our programme and the feedback has been overwhelming.
One of our most recent success stories has been JO´M Cosmetics  owned by a married couple, Johannah and Solomon Moriti. They offer a Skin Care range and Hair Care range that are carefully produced with plant extracts combined with 100% Natural Essential Oils.

Afriversity was suggested to them at a time when they needed to grow their business and they participated in our Business Strategic Planning programme. The combination of mentorship and incubation attracted them to the Afriversity approach and they had already heard of our mentors and their proven track record!

In May of this year, they were selected as finalists to compete on the final round of the Global Entrepreneurship Competition that took place during the Summit HiT Barcelona 2010, on the 17th of June.  It was a great achievement and we are so proud of their progress."

"Ludwick Marishane is another of the entrepreneurs that Afriversity is currently supporting. Ludwick is working on developing a solution to solve a massive hygiene problem that millions of Africans are facing. His passion is his addiction to learning and mentoring others to help them release their potential...and he is only 19!
These individuals and their dreams are what inspire us and gives us the energy and passion to continue!"

What have you learnt from your involvement with Afriversity, and how have you grown?

"Leaving the rat race and getting involved with a non-profit organisation was a big change for me. It isn’t about padding your resume, it isn’t about doing things so that you can boast about them later. It is about gaining a greater understanding of our humanity and appreciation for the individuals that are sometimes “invisible” in our communities.
During my last trip to South Africa, I visited a rehabilitation centre for young boys. Their backgrounds were all different and each story more devastating than the previous but after talking to each one individually I was humbled by the amount of hope and faith that flowed through them.
One boy of 14 explained to me how he has set up a theater group for the children in the local community so that they had an activity that kept them off the streets and encouraged them to learn and understand the importance of self expression.
When I complimented him on his wonderful contribution, he simply shrugged his shoulders and continued to tell me about all the other ideas he had. His simple shrug expressed so much to me. He did not understand the magnitude of his actions. Most teenage boys that I know would be worrying about which new computer game to buy rather than teaching a community of children.
These are the spirits that inspire me. These are the “invisible” people that must be acknowledged.
Working with Afriversity, puts me out of myself and forces me to see a different part of myself, which is important to me. Self development is crucial and I believe that we grow through change.  This project has pushed me to step outside of my comfort zone and taught me to take more initiative.
When you put yourself in situations that you might not have been in before, it enriches your life. You may have questions going into a project but you come out with more than you expected.
It has also taught me to be myself. When helping people or making a difference, there is no time to be self-conscious. The most important lesson is to listen to your heart.
Unfortunately, we are so programmed and trained in our thoughts and methods of thinking that when our heart does speak to us, we simply do not listen  and then become confused by the conflicting feelings caused by our heart versus our mind.
All we need to do is listen, follow and have a little faith."

How can people get involved and assist?

• Become a Donor / Sponsor

"We are currently looking for sponsors in order to keep the participation fee down for the entrepreneurs. Contact us if you are interested in supporting the most driven and creative developers and entrepreneurs in Africa!"

• Mentor an “Afripreneur”

"The Afriversity mentoring programme matches your skills with one or more small businesses in Africa and organises a mentoring placement. This allows you to make a real difference, even in a few weeks".

• Participate as a Guest Speaker

"You can volunteer to be a Guest Speaker in your area of expertise. Share your ideas, insights and expertise with the entrepreneurs."

• Adopt a project

"We created a sponsor option through which donors can choose to fund a specific project."

• Offer Internship

"Can you or someone you know offer a current student the chance to gain vital experience in the workplace? We are always seeking new and exciting placements for our Afripreneurs."

• Make an Introduction

"If you know people at corporations, foundations and other places that you think might be interested in learning about us, please let us know by emailing me" nna@afriversity.org

• Volunteer

"Our volunteers are a fundamental part of our success. Thanks to their dedication, passion, and commitment to our mission, we are able to offer opportunities to those in need while keeping our overhead low. We're always looking for new volunteers!"

Email Natasha: nna@afriversity.org
Afriversity Website: http://www.afriversity.org/
Afriversity Blog: http://afriversity.blogspot.com
Afriversity on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sc8Fxs3el5k

Rock Your Passion and Get On Purpose

If you often feel like you’re just going through the motions and lacking enthusiasm for life then it’s time to Rock Your Passion and Get on Purpose.

“Passion is a feeling that tells you: This is the right thing to do. Nothing can stand in my way. It doesn’t matter what anyone else says. This feeling is so good that it cannot be ignored. I’m going to follow my bliss and act upon this glorious sensation of joy” ~ Dr Wayne Dyer.

• What is it that you LOVE to do?

• What comes to you effortlessly?

• What makes you feel ALIVE?

Every single one of us is blessed with unique talents and abilities that we’ve been given to use in service to others.

“Everyone has a purpose in life… a unique gift or special talent to give to others. And when we blend this unique talent with service to others, we experience the ecstasy and exultation of our own spirit, which is the ultimate goal of goals.”  ~ Deepak Chopra

When you do what it is that you love to do, you’ll feel motivated, enthusiastic, empowered and joyful.

"Doing what you love is the cornerstone of having abundance in your life." ~ Dr. Wayne Dyer

You can choose to live your happiest life, by following your passion and doing what inspires you and brings you joy.

Many of us spend the majority of our time working at jobs that don’t mean anything to us personally.
You can’t be truly successful at something you’re not passionate about.
You just don’t give your best when your heart’s not in it.

When you are doing what you love to do, you connect to your joyful authentic self and your happiness creates your success.

“Success in its highest and noblest form
calls for peace of mind and enjoyment and happiness
which come only to the man who has found the work
that he likes best.” ~ Napoleon Hill

• What are your unique talents and abilities?

• What are you often asked to do for others, that you happily do for free?

"Everything - a horse, a vine - is created for some duty...For what task, then, were you yourself created? A man's true delight is to do the things he was made for. " ~ Marcus Aurelius

Rather than just living a lacklustre hum-drum life, wouldn’t you rather be fulfilling your potential, using your talents and abilities to do what you love?
You can’t serve yourself or be of service to others, when you’re disconnected from your own happiness. You’ll find your greatest happiness when you do what you love to do.

“To be “on purpose” means you’re doing what you love to do, doing what you’re good at and accomplishing what’s important to you. When you truly are on purpose, the people, resources, and opportunities you need naturally gravitate toward you. The world benefits, too, because when you act in alignment with your true life purpose, all of your actions automatically serve others.”
~ Jack Canfield

When you do what you passionately love to do, and give your talents in service to the world, you’ll find yourself in sync with your life and the world around you.
Work is no longer a chore, but a calling that inspires you to release the potential you were born with and fills you with enthusiasm.

“Find a form of service that calls to you, that suits your abilities, aptitudes, qualities, and interests, that makes time fly, that draws forth your best, that tells you you’ve arrived home and found yourself. ~ Dan Millman

Do what you LOVE, connect to your joy and Get Your Glow On :)

With love,

 Related Posts:

• Stay True to You and Follow Your Own Path
• Know Yourself, Be Yourself and Get Your Glow On :) 
• Trust Yourself and Power Up :)