Our beliefs have varying levels of emotional intensity and they possess the power to change our actions. We can pinpoint at least three categories of beliefs based on their ability to influence action in you. Understanding each of the three categories will empower you to create healthy and positive changes in your life by beginning to adjust your beliefs.

1. Opinions are something we feel relatively certain about, but the certainty is only temporary and can be changed easily. For example, you might think that the head of your company’s accounting department is not qualified for his position, but your opinion may change quickly when you see how effectively he manages his staff.

2. A belief, on the other hand, is formed when you develop a much larger base of reference, one that’s often associated with strong emotions and based on experience. Beliefs can create such a level of certainty that they close people off to new ideas. For example, some people believe that money equals success. Other people may have a different — yet equally passionate — belief as to what success truly means.

3. A conviction, however, eclipses a belief, primarily because of the emotional intensity a person links to the idea. A person holding a conviction feels so certain that he or she will be completely resistant to new input, often to the point of obsession. One of the best things you can do to create mastery in any area of your life is to raise a belief to the level of conviction. Convictions are at the core of what motivates you in life.

Conviction, because of the passion it inspires in us, has the power to drive you to action and push you through all kinds of obstacles. For example, the conviction to never let yourself become out of shape will compel you to make consistently healthy lifestyle choices, empowering you to get more enjoyment out of your life in the long run. The conviction that you are an intelligent and resourceful person can help steer you through incredibly tough times.

So how can you reinforce a belief and turn it into a conviction that will help you make a positive, lasting change in your life?

This is an excerpt from Tony Robbins, when asked about what he would say to someone who has failed at school, failed in relationships, failed at work, now perhaps late in life may just not feel like trying again. The entire interview first published in Psychology Today. (link below)

Reverse Engineering Toxic Thinking with Reality-Based Problem Solving

How to avoid false starts in your journey to success and happiness!

What does Nestle’s Qwik Chocolate Powder and Positive Thinking have in common?

Chances are when you were a kid, at some point you enjoyed adding Nestle’s Qwik chocolate powder to some cold milk and loved it. Using the frequently misunderstood reasoning of positive thinking, one might conclude that just going for a big spoon full of the powdered chocolate would be even better! 

Sorry! Life doesn’t work that way for chocolate powder or for positive thinking. Disclosure: I am a huge fan of positive thinking and could not envision a successful life without it. Unfortunately, there have been books, seminars, and course promotions pitching the idea that it’s your own fault if you are not wildly successful, and through simply positive visualization,  success will come to you. This is no more true than if you placed a pile of money on a table and visualized the pile growing. Folks, it’s not going to happen!

ATS can be your secret weapon, or it can be your undoing!

Here is a little food for thought about who is going to read your resume!

On the way to your new job…

Before you can be hired, you must be interviewed;

Before you can be interviewed your resume must make it into the interview stack;

Before your resume makes it into the interview stack, it must pass the ATS screen.

Why do over 87% of employers now use ATS screens?

Well, thank the internet!

Finding out about job openings is easier than ever before, and applying is easier than ever before. Back in the day, you could send 50 job applications by USPS for about $25, or overnight via FEDEX for about $1000. Neither one worked if you were broke! 

Today, if you can copy and paste, you can send 100’s even 1000’s of job applications on the internet for FREE. Consequently, employers are besieged with 100’s of applications for every job offered and the majority are not qualified. There is a pervasive world mindset, that if it’s free to apply why not take a chance? Free lotteries, free drawings, free coupons  and free job applications.

Energy – Annual Report Series – Denver based MarkWest

MPLX is a diversified, growth-oriented master limited partnership formed in 2012 by MPC to own, operate, develop, and acquire midstream energy infrastructure assets. We are engaged in the gathering, processing, and transportation of natural gas; the gathering, transportation, fractionation, storage and marketing of NGLs; the transportation, storage, and distribution of crude oil and refined petroleum products; as well as refining logistics and fuels distribution services. MPLX provides services in the midstream sector across the hydrocarbon value chain through our Logistics and Storage and Gathering and Processing segments.