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Articles by Ronald Ross

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154 articles by Ronald Ross · showing 50

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By Ronald RossRecently published1 topic

3.4 Protect your mind from shallowness

Some years ago I had the privilege of being a judge at a regional Miss America pageant. You probably know that Miss America pageants are not just about beauty but also intellect. Besides the various beauty related events, the contestants were brought before the Judges one at a time to answer any question we asked. One of the judges asked each of the ladies to tell about the most recent book she had read. Many of them had good answers. One of them replied, Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss.

Primary topic: Motivation

1,090 views

By Ronald RossRecently published1 topic

Bad Belief Systems You Must Lose if You Want to WIN - Part 3

Opinionism and Stupidism Here are two "belief systems," Opinionism and Stupidism, that will not be found in any dictionary. I've defined these as belief systems out of seven decades of observation of humanity. It seems to me (my opinion) that there are two kinds of opinionism that are bad: First of all, the belief that my opinion is the only one of any validity and everyone else is an idiot. The second kind of opinionism that is bad is the kind that thinks everyone else's opinion is better than mine.

Primary topic: Motivation

692 views

By Ronald RossRecently published1 topic

Five Forces That Hinder or Enhance Togethe ess - Part 4

“We seem to be growing apart.” “Whatever happened between you and Sharon?” I asked Sharon’s ex-husband. "Oh, she’s moved back to Phoenix with her sister.” I remained silent to give my friend time to say more. He sighed heavily and said, “We just seemed to grow apart over the years.”

Primary topic: Motivation

895 views

By Ronald RossRecently published1 topic

Bad Belief Systems You Must Lose if You Want to WIN - Part 12 Cynicism

Cynicism is the presumption that no one or anything should ever be trusted. Cynics suffer a gloomy outlook and a sarcastic tongue; they are the opposite of cheerfulness and respect. A cynical person is filled with bitte ess, speaks with malice, and suspects even the most honorable people. It comes from a suspicion that the future is bleak and everyone around you acts only out of self-interest. In short, cynicism is a perpetually distrustful attitude.

Primary topic: Motivation

980 views

By Ronald RossRecently published1 topic

Bad Belief Systems You Must Lose if You Want to WIN - Part 6 FATALISM

Spanish soccer player David Silva said, "Winners don't believe in fate like others do. They simply can't accept defeat." Mr. Silva would agree that fatalism is a bad idea you must lose if you want to win. If you believe in fate, you will never do the work that must be done to succeed at anything.

Primary topic: Motivation

1,231 views

By Ronald RossRecently published1 topic

Bad Belief Systems You Must Lose if You Want to WIN - Part 7 FAILURE-ISM

"Failure-ism" is a word I invented to describe the belief that everything you do ultimately fails. You can recognize this flawed belief system in a person when they say things like, "I'm just a loser" and "Nothing I try ever works." Unfortunately, each of us has evidence to prove we fail. Some have struggled to make a relationship work yet ended up splitting. Many worked hard to get a promotion, and instead, were laid-off or fired. Every one of us has real-life stories of effort that failed.

Primary topic: Motivation

1,290 views

By Ronald RossRecently published1 topic

Five Forces That Hinder or Enhance Togethe ess: Part 5

“Everyone in your family is a _________.” Cultural/social differences “Ron, would you like to knock me up?” a rather shy single female British schoolteacher asked me one afte oon. I was puzzled by her request but sat quietly for a few moments until I figured out what she meant, and it wasn’t what you thought it was.

Primary topic: Motivation

1,051 views

By Ronald RossRecently published1 topic

Bad Belief Systems You Must Lose if You Want to WIN - Part 16 - It'll-do-ism

"It'll-do-ism" is the belief that good enough is good enough. It is the opposite of perfectionism (Bad Belief System #5). The day I turned 16-years old, I already knew how to drive, so I got my driver's license. I wasn't a very good driver (though I thought I was), but I was good enough. When I was 19-years old, I married the cutest, sweetest little Colorado girl you ever saw. I was good enough to win her love and convince her to marry me, but neither of us was good enough on our wedding day to guarantee a happy marriage, though we were married for over 52 years.

Primary topic: Motivation

826 views

By Ronald RossRecently published1 topic

Bad Belief Systems You Must Lose if You Want to WIN - Part 8 FUTILISM

Futilism believes that life is meaningless, all religious beliefs are fantasies, and moral principles are pointless. Like nihilists, futilists allege that you have no particular purpose for living because life itself is empty, trivial, and spurious. It is literally a dead-end philosophy – life is futile, and death is the end. Your few decades on planet earth are unimportant, and your actions are inconsequential; therefore, it is useless to try anything significant because you are insignificant.

Primary topic: Motivation

996 views

By Ronald RossRecently published1 topic

Five Forces That Hinder or Enhance Togethe ess: Part 6

"NO TRESPASSING.” Secreting of the true self: Fear, sin, low self-esteem, insecurities, etc. cause us to hide/protect our true self.

Primary topic: Motivation

874 views

By Ronald RossRecently published1 topic

Bad Belief Systems You Must Lose if You Want to WIN: Socialism

You've heard of such interesting words as magnetism, tourism, and individualism. Recently, I asked myself, "What precisely is an ism?" Dictionary.com had the answer: an –ism is a suffix added to the end of a word to indicate that the word represents a specific practice, system, or philosophy. Using -ism at the end of a word also suggests the word is related to a belief (or system of beliefs) accepted as an authority by a group or school of thought. Then I noticed that there are good, bad, and neutral isms.

Primary topic: Motivation

783 views

By Ronald RossRecently published1 topic

Danger Ahead: Extreme Responses to Loneliness

Everyone endures bouts of loneliness from time to time. They are usually short-lived because the causes are either social (broke up with their girl/boyfriend, got a divorce, had a fight with their best friend, etc.), or geographical (moved to another job, town, school, etc.). Mentally healthy people adapt quickly to new situations and are able to establish constructive relationships. Sometimes, however, loneliness can trigger either one of two extreme reactions: isolation or obsession.

Primary topic: Motivation

1,138 views

By Ronald RossRecently published1 topic

Bad Belief Systems You Must Lose if You Want to WIN - Part 14 TOMORROW-ISM

Tomorrow-ism and procrastinationitis are two words I've created to refer to the habit of putting off until tomorrow that which can (should) be done today. You suffer from procrastinationitis if you think, "Tomorrow I'll spend more time with my children" or "Tomorrow I'll work on being a better husband, wife, father, mother, or person." When you live this way, you often miss out on some of the greatest moments of life because life is not lived in tomorrow – it's lived in today. And most of life is about the little things that happen each day.

Primary topic: Motivation

807 views

By Ronald RossRecently published1 topic

4.2: Proceed Forward – Calms Your Fears

When you were a kid were you afraid of ghosts, goblins, monsters and that big scary Bogeyman under your bed? Me too, but I got over it. Would you like to shine the light on the ghosts of past mistakes and scare away the monsters of unforeseen obstacles? Would you like to blow off the menacing imagined Bogeyman of negativity? Here’s how – take action, proceed forward toward your destiny. When you take action your fears become faith and your uncertainties turn in to confidence. How does action calm fears?

Primary topic: Motivation

1,081 views

By Ronald RossRecently published1 topic

Evidences of the God Who Created You

Ninety-two percent of Americans believe in God. Why? Because the evidences of a Creator God are immediately available to anyone with an open mind willing to consider them. Evidence 1: The intricacy of creation. Have you noticed that it appears that nearly everything on earth has a purpose? How did that happen? Logic tells the honest mind that “things” display intention, they have a reason to exist or they would not be here. These “things” also require a designer who had incredible intellect and calculated will.

Primary topic: Motivation

1,103 views

By Ronald RossRecently published1 topic

2.5. Prepare for Action: Establish Principles

“Would you like to know a quick and easy way to disce right from wrong?” I asked the students in a college class I was teaching. Every head bobbed enthusiastically up and down indicating they were interested. “Before I tell you, let me say this.” I paused as the room went silent. The students leaned forward as I spoke in almost a whisper, “You already know right from wrong.”

Primary topic: Motivation

1,081 views

By Ronald RossRecently published1 topic

You’re A Creative Whiz!

Artists and musicians are not the sole proprietors of creativity. Common folk like you and me are also able to solve problems, write music, create art, and come up with new ideas. Remember when you were a child and you could fly airplanes, drive trucks, dress like a princess, or travel around the world all within the confines of your own living room? What happened to those uninhibited creative forces? Where has the sense of adventure gone? Lost, most likely I suppose, to the urgency of the mundane – to the requirements of daily living.

Primary topic: Motivation

898 views

By Ronald RossRecently published1 topic

Success Equals ???

What is your definition of success? There is nothing more personal than the definition of success. Quite honestly, the dictionary definition is inadequate, and though your mother’s opinion is probably still important, only you can define success for you! And that definition can change literally from day to day and even moment to moment. If you’re broke, success equals wealth. If you’re sick, success equals health. If you’re lonely, success equals friendship. If you’re homeless, success equals a place to live. If you’re lost, success equals being found.

Primary topic: Motivation

1,008 views

By Ronald RossRecently published1 topic

2.8 Prepare for Action Set Real Priorities

Would you like a simple definition of priorities? Here it is: The things that matter most. That may be far too simple a definition for a time management expert, but many books, blogs, songs and poems use that definition.

Primary topic: Motivation

1,059 views

By Ronald RossRecently published1 topic

Acquire Confidence - Purpose for Living: Who are YOU?

Who am I, and, why am I here? Those are the two most important questions you can ask yourself. Let’s answer question 1, “Who am I?” Some say you’re the product of a bit of slime that squirmed its way out of some prehistoric bog and evolved from this to that, then to something else until one day, some fifty-million years later, “YOU” appeared. That’s the good news. The bad news is that after fifty-million years of evolution you’re given only a stingy seven or eight wearisome decades until they stick you back into the bog you allegedly came from? What a deal!

Primary topic: Motivation

989 views

By Ronald RossRecently published1 topic

Perceive a Better You

How you perceive yourself will contribute to or detract from your success and happiness in life. Most people call this self-esteem. They suggest you need a vision of your life as you would like it to be so you can move toward success. They are right; however, consider with me another word-phrase to substitute for "vision." The word-phrase I prefer is "self-perception", a concept with greater depth of meaning than vision, self-esteem or self-confidence.

Primary topic: Motivation

1,113 views

By Ronald RossRecently published1 topic

3.0: Protect Your Mind – Section 3 Introduction

Your mind is the singularly most powerful tool for success that you own. It is powerful beyond measure and more valuable than the combined wealth you could ever earn in your lifetime. So, like anything of value, you must protect your mind. But protect your mind from what? From the six enemies of your mind, that's what. They are: disinformation (lies), depravity, garbage, shallowness, self-criticism and ignorance. Each of these enemies will be dealt with over the next few editions of this column. Here is a brief over-view of each of them:

Primary topic: Motivation

1,076 views

By Ronald RossRecently published1 topic

How You Define Yourself Makes a Difference

“I’m just the bastard son of an L.A. whore.” The comment startled me as I conversed with a handsome gentleman before church began. His definition of himself makes clear my assertion that how you define yourself makes a difference. The easiest way adults define themselves is by their profession or trade. “I’m a truck driver,” or “I’m a dentist,” or “I’m a housewife,” or “I’m just a lowly clerk.” Another way people define themselves is by their physical characteristics: color of skin, height, weight, hair color, age, etc.

Primary topic: Motivation

1,058 views4/5 (1)

By Ronald RossRecently published1 topic

The Quickest Cure for Loneliness

The quickest cure for loneliness is to find a friend. Like everything worthwhile, it is easier said than done. Lonely people need a few guiding principles in their pursuit of friendship. Here are five principles that will help you develop good friends. Principle No. 1: You must diversify your activities. Find a variety of ways to get involved with others: take your lunch break with someone new, join a group involved in playful activity, volunteer to meet some need you identify with, or join a study group. To make friends you have to get out of the rut you are in.

Primary topic: Motivation

969 views

By Ronald RossRecently published1 topic

Trinkets of Treasures

By Ron Ross jack-s-drive-i Jack’s Drive-Inn in Council Bluffs, Iowa in 1958 was not anything like the fancy diners and ice cream stores we now have. It was a large added on section of a house that stuck out into a parking lot that could hold not more than four or five cars. Jack made hamburgers, French fries and perhaps the world’s best malted milk. On a hot, muggy afte oon not far from the Missouri River there was nothing better than a malted milk at Jack’s Drive-Inn.

Primary topic: Motivation

1,062 views

By Ronald RossRecently published1 topic

Acquire Confidence – Looking Ahead

This weekly column is a portion of a book soon to be published under the title, "Acquire Confidence: What Confident People Do That You Can Do Too!" When the book is complete it will have six sections with several of the columns as a part of each section. The following is a summary of each section:

Primary topic: Motivation

1,110 views

By Ronald RossRecently published1 topic

2.3. Prepare for Action: Talk

You are about to change the total direction of your life. You are going to move from a life of relative idleness to one of ambition and perhaps even sacrifice and the transition can be scary. You need to talk. Some people will think you are nuts if you declare your intention to make a difference with your life. You probably do not need therapy, but you do need to discuss your thoughts, aspirations and conce s with someone who will listen.

Primary topic: Motivation

1,075 views

By Ronald RossRecently published1 topic

You Have Unique Gifts and Talents

The specific combination of natural gifts and talents that you have are absolutely unique to you. No one on earth has had or ever will have the same mix of abilities, interests, and passions. It is this mix that makes you something special. Too many people go through life without taking a close look at the variety of gifts and talents they possess and so live life at about 10%. If you want to live life at a much more meaningful rate, you must discover, develop, and use the special gifts and talents God has given you.

Primary topic: Motivation

622 views

By Ronald RossRecently published1 topic

You Think Differently Than Others

The first and most provable difference between you and everyone else on the planet is that no one is constructed like you. Your body is different from anyone who has ever lived or will ever live – different on the inside and out. No person on earth comprehends things like you do. No one constructs sentences like you do or reacts to these words the way you do. You have your own absolutely unique way of comprehending people, places, things, words, and events.r

Primary topic: Motivation

2,421 views

By Ronald RossRecently published1 topic

No One Experiences Things Like You Do!

“My gosh you guys are twins!” declared a young lady who entered a retail store as my brother and I walked out. To be honest, I had never thought my brother was that good looking, but who was I to argue with the absolutely unsolicited and unbiased opinion of a rather lovely young lady?

Primary topic: Motivation

988 views

By Ronald RossRecently published1 topic

Five Forces That Hinder or Enhance Togethe ess - Part 1

Five Forces That Hinder or Enhance Togethe essrnA six-part series of articles about improving your love relationship Part 1. The Phantom Speaks for All of Us Toward the end of The Phantom of the Opera, the Phantom finally captures his not-so-secret love Christine and takes her to his hiding place beneath the opera house. Here he lived for many years in darkness and loneliness away from the rest of the world because of his badly distorted face.

Primary topic: Motivation

755 views

By Ronald RossRecently published1 topic

Bad Belief Systems You Must Lose if You Want to WIN - Part 13 - REGRETISM

Do you have a long list of stupid things you’ve said and done? Yeah, me too. Then, if you’re like me, you have the harmful habit of constantly re-experiencing those thoughtless and injurious acts of idiocy. And when we do, we focus on the fault and re-experience the pain. In the process, we ignore any lessons we’ve learned.

Primary topic: Motivation

1,151 views

By Ronald RossRecently published1 topic

Five Forces That Hinder or Enhance Togethe ess - Part 2

Part 2. Mud Puddles and Patent Leather Shoesr Or, “You’re not like me.” Innate Differences A handsome young couple with two children walked out of church just after a rainstorm left several puddles in the parking lot. Their 2-year-old son let go of his mother’s hand and went immediately for the closest puddle. He walked right into it and stamped his feet to splash the water as high as he could. His big sister, dressed smartly in her Sunday dress and patent leather shoes, carefully avoided the puddles.

Primary topic: Motivation

854 views

By Ronald RossRecently published1 topic

Thirteen Reasons God Gave Us Humor Reason 1: Humor Fights Disease

Where did the idea come from that laughter is the best medicine? King Solomon, considered one of the wisest men who ever lived, may be the source. He didn’t say that laughter was the “best” medicine, but he did say, “A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bone-tired.” Proverbs 17: 22 Doctors doubt that laughter heals like a properly dispensed anti-biotic, but they agree it does improve your health. Psychologists have also long believed that the practice of positive thinking and an abundance of laughter brings pleasure and facilitates good health.

Primary topic: Motivation

832 views

By Ronald RossRecently published1 topic

How to Wiggle Out of the Mud! - 22

Twenty Tips for Lively Living By Dr. Ron Ross The following are ten of the Twenty Tips for Lively Living. Next week the final ten tips! 1. Clear the cobwebs. Sure you have heartaches, bad experiences and grief, but so does everyone else. If you dwell on the dark side of life you’ll never see the light. Clear out the cobwebs and focus on the future. Leave the shadows of yesterday behind and move into a bright tomorrow.

Primary topic: Motivation

1,128 views

By Ronald RossRecently published1 topic

How to Wiggle Out of the Mud! - 13

Get Better At Something By Dr. Ron Ross A man who worked in a rock quarry for several years one day decided to become an atto ey. He talked to his wife and kids about his dream to get away from the dirty, backbreaking work in the quarry and get a college education. They got behind the idea and helped him with his schedule and studies so he could take night courses at a local university. A few years later he walked out of the rock quarry for the last time and entered the courtroom as a practicing atto ey.

Primary topic: Motivation

1,041 views

By Ronald RossRecently published1 topic

How to Wiggle Out of the Mud! - 19

Think About What You Think About By Dr. Ron Ross The trip to Santa Monica (Califo ia) Beach was supposed to be fun; but for this six-year-old boy from Colorado, it was not. I had never seen an ocean, did not know how to swim, and after I waded a few steps into the gentle waves discovered I never wanted to go there again.

Primary topic: Motivation

1,025 views

By Ronald RossRecently published1 topic

Manners Matter One

Are Manners More Important tha Laws? By Ron Ross I had a rude neighbor. He owned a motorcycle and loved to work on it in his garage. He would rev the engine as he tuned it then let it idle loudly for hours. Every time he came in or out of his driveway he would roar the noisy machine as loudly as possible with no regard for his neighbors.

Primary topic: Motivation

843 views

By Ronald RossRecently published1 topic

2.0 Five Questions to Ask Yourself When Thinking About Your Own Personal Success

Question 1: Which is easier to accomplish: to make the world adjust to my particular needs or for me to adjust to the world as it is today? Singer/songwriter Lauryn Hill wrote, “That strong mother doesn’t tell her cub, Son, stay weak so the wolves can get you. She says, Toughen up, this is reality we are living in.”* The very first question you need to ask yourself when thinking about your own personal success has to do with the reality you are living in.

Primary topic: Motivation

1,050 views

By Ronald RossRecently published1 topic

Anger Fever: How to Express Your Anger without Getting Arrested! – Part 5

For weeks now I have been writing about anger and how it can destroy your relationships. To help you deal with your anger by speaking out using appropriate words and communication techniques I have developed an acrostic from the word S-P-E-A-K. The acrostic looks like this: S - Supervise yourself first. P – Ponder appropriate responses E – Explain how you feel A – Apply listening skills And last, K - KNOW HOW FAR TO GO AND WHEN TO STOP. This is a matter of wisdom and experience.

Primary topic: Motivation

1,029 views

By Ronald RossRecently published1 topic

Manners Matter 6

Respect the Elderly: Seven simple ways to be polite to your grandparentsr By Ron Rossr Old people always think the children in their town are rude, smart-alecky and have no respect for their elders, and to some degree they are right. However, every generation makes the same claims so it is not a new problem.r

Primary topic: Motivation

1,109 views

By Ronald RossRecently published1 topic

Manners Matter 15

Manners of Personality By Ron Ross “An ugly personality destroys a pretty face.” Does that sound true to you? If so, allow me to introduce you to a few ugly personalities and make sure none describes you! The arrogant. The arrogant have a need to diminish others in a pitiful attempt to elevate themselves. It is rude to devalue other people just so you can feel superior. Self-confidence is a powerful and attractive personality trait but arrogance is repulsive and a sign of weakness.

Primary topic: Motivation

960 views

By Ronald RossRecently published1 topic

3.5: Protect your mind from Self-criticism

Self-talk, whether positive or negative, is your inner voice that says things you seldom speak out loud. How you talk to yourself determines the kind of person you are becoming. The good news and the bad news about self-talk is that what you say is what you get. Speak critically to yourself and you will think badly about yourself. Speak graciously to yourself and you will think kindly about yourself. Your words will either bless or curse you and only you can control them. Here are your choices -r

Primary topic: Motivation

1,042 views

By Ronald RossRecently published1 topic

4.6: Proceed Forward –Nourishes Your Soul

Doing nothing is the hardest work there is. If you do physical work all day long you will come home tired. If you get up late and lay around the house all day in your pajamas, eat junk food, leave the dishes in the sink, let the yard go to seed and then moan and complain that all you have is bad luck you will also be exhausted at the end of the day.

Primary topic: Motivation

1,093 views

By Ronald RossRecently published1 topic

5.5: The Reward of Perseverance

“Cassie won a full-ride scholarship to a Division One Califo ia University!” bragged my friend whose granddaughter is a star high-school track athlete. “What is her best event?” I asked. “The 100 meter hurdles,” he answered with a puffed up chest (he was a state high school championship hurdler many years ago). I told him I could not imagine training hour after hour, day after day, and week after week so I could run a race that lasts fewer than 15 seconds. He answered, “You’ve never stood on the medal stand, have you.”

Primary topic: Motivation

1,071 views

By Ronald RossRecently published1 topic

How to Wiggle Out of the Mud! - 5

Fear Not By Ron Ross Belize is a small country located on the southern border of Mexico. My wife and I went there a few years ago to look at some land and buildings offered to us at a bargain price. We rented a car and drove to the property but once we saw it the reason for our trip was over. We knew instantly that we didn’t want the property even if it was free! No problem! Now we had a few days to relax on the beach and see the sights of this interesting little country.

Primary topic: Motivation

1,094 views

By Ronald RossRecently published1 topic

Manners Matter 11

Punctuality By Ron Ross “We will wait a few minutes before we begin our meeting as some folks are still arriving.” I hate it when the guy in charge of the meeting says that. Rude late arrivers should not be awarded for being tardy while those on time get punished for their punctuality. Most people make the effort to arrive early at a meeting so they can find their place and prepare their minds. Why should the “on timers” be forced to wait an extra one or seven or ten minutes for the lazy late comers to saunter in?

Primary topic: Motivation

1,064 views

By Ronald RossRecently published1 topic

The 5000+ Percent Advantage 4.0: Proceed Forward

How would you like to have a 5000+ percent advantage over everyone else? Steven Covey in his book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People tells you how: “The difference between people who exercise initiative and those who don’t is literally the difference between night and day. I’m not talking about a 25 to 50 percent difference in effectiveness; I’m talking about a 5000-plus percent difference, particularly if they are smart, aware, and sensitive to others.”

Primary topic: Motivation

993 views

By Ronald RossRecently published1 topic

How to Wiggle Out of the Mud! - 8

Eliminate the Twin Killers of Success Part 1 By Dr. Ron Ross Many worthy goals, promising relationships, and terrific business ideas are ruined by the Twin Killers of Success: speed and greed. This week the focus is on speed (impatience), next week on greed. A cute little girl in “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” wanted a golden goose and she did not want to wait for it. She danced with gusto and sang with furor, “I want it now!” Her song and attitude represents the thoughts and feelings of many people in our world today.

Primary topic: Motivation

1,045 views

By Ronald RossRecently published1 topic

5.4: Persevere Power – When Quitters Win

Quitting seems to be a way of life for so many people. How many teenagers do you know who quit school a few months before graduation? Look up and down your street – how many divorced people live around you? Did you ever get so mad at your boss that you walked off the job? What’s with all the quitting? You’ve heard the old saw, “Quitters never win and winners never quit,” but does it always apply? Sometimes we MUST quit. Sometimes we have no choice.

Primary topic: Motivation

1,039 views

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