Book Summary: Self Motivation

Gail Lindenfield is a well-known British author who has written several self-help books. In Self Motivation, she does a good job of going over many aspects of self development and she provides solutions to a variety of everyday problems.

Challenges - make sure that are truly enjoyable and that the outcome is worth the risk. Success is built on an astute ability to synchronize challenge and chance.

Risk - before taking a risk, imagine and face the worst possible outcome.

Principles - before starting a project- list your principles and ideals. Keep a clear distinction between core (unbending) values and more flexible ones.

Fear - learn to take control to your response to fear so that you can reclaim your full quota of natural courage. Don't take on any more fear than what you have judged is controllable by your current store of courage.

Energy - value and use it economically. Use the rhythm of your own energy cycles to your best advantage.

Calm concentration - work on putting yourself into a focused and relaxed state where the body is free of tension and the mind is clear and energized. Concentration exercise - count backwards from 50, as soon as the mind wanders, go back to 50 and start again until you get it all.

Organization - you must be able to draw upon order when you need it and loosen its restraints when you do not.

Decision making - accept that decision making is stressful. Focus on taking care of yourself while under pressure rather than making a premature decision.

Self presentation - never sell out on your individuality. Don't penny pinch on presentation - a high class look will give you a high class feel.

Problem solving - accept responsibility for solving your own problems.

Intuition - make a habit of listening for, and noting down your intuitive response whenever you need to make a decision. Individuality - ask yourself regularly if you are being yourself. Remind yourself that many of those who have contributed most were individualistic characters.

Action signals - these are symptoms that you feel that require immediate action. Here are several action signals along with a brief summary of her recommended solutions:

1. Guilt 2. Frustration 3. Disappointment 4. Inadequacy 5. Anger 6. Loneliness

Self criticism - make a short self-criticism session part of your daily habit: What could you have done better today? What didn't you do that you should have done today? Reframe self put-downs into a neutral format.

Self forgiveness - it's important to regularly forgive yourself because you are constantly changing and developing, and it is impossible to do this without getting it wrong many times.

Assertiveness - Practice using your directness in low-charged emotional situations first. Deal with your unassertiveness before tension mounts up and you over react to the situation.

Self protection - don't waste time and energy arguing with people if their opinion is of no value to you. Reveling in success without fear of failure - Double your rate of failure. Failure is a teacher - a harsh one, perhaps, but the best you can be discouraged by failure or learn from it, said Thomas Watson of IBM. .

States to strive for:

1. Visionary thinking without idle dreaming. 2. Unashamed neediness without selfish greediness. 3. Eternal optimism without denying common sense. 4. Guru worshipping without blind following. 5. Sound self-esteem without ignorant arrogance. 6. Thirst for challenge without imprudent impatience. 7. Steadfast principles without narrow prejudice. 8. Consistent courage without thoughtless gambling. 9. Endless energy without debilitating burnout. 10.Prepared proactively without disregard for opportunity. 11.Solid responsibility without rigid perfectionism. 12.Calm concentration without repressed creativity. 13.Systematic organization without obtuse obsessing. 14.Meticulous planning without stubborn inflexibility. 15.Sharp decisiveness without blindness to consequences. 16.Slick self-presentation without enslavement to fashion. 17.Positive problem solving without immunity to despair. 18.Reliable intuition without acting on every hunch. 19.Searching self-reflection without frustrating self-absorption. 20.Pride in individuality without disregard for human commonality. 21.Deep emotionality without enslavement to feelings. 22.Stringent self-criticism without suffocating self-abuse. 23.Intolerance of excuses without deafness to their message. 24.Sincere self-forgiveness without self-inflicted punishment. 25.Personal power without disempowering others. 26.Assertive directness without thoughtless insensitivity. 27.Skilled self-protection without harmful aggression. 28.Perpetually learning without devaluing my own wisdom. 29.Seriously focused without humorless solemnity. 30.Sensibly self-nurturing without spurning support. 31.Seeker of solitude without reclusive aloofness. 32.Reveling in success without fear of failure. 33.Scrupulously self-healing without dismissing comfort. 34.Amply self-rewarding without rejecting recognition. 35.Inwardly driven without scorning incentives

Key thoughts:

"Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because characte is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are." -John Wooden, college basketball coach

"Although they only give gold medals in the field of athletics, I encourage everyone to look into themselves and find their own personal dream, whatever that may be - sports, medicine, law, business, music, writing, whatever. The same principles apply. Turn your dream into a goal and learn how to attack that goal systematically. Break it into bite-size chunks that seem possible, and then don't give up. Just keep plugging away." - John Naber, swimmer, four-time Olympic Gold Medalist

By: Regine Azurin Regine Azurin is the President of BestSummaries.com, a company that provides book summaries of the latest motivational, inspirational, self-help and personality development bestsellers.

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