Thursday, December 6, 2012

Excerpt from the Positivity Blog: Zig Ziglar’s Timeless Guide to Motivation

From the Positivity Blog

Zig Ziglar’s Timeless Guide to Motivation

by HENRIK EDBERG



“Success means doing the best we can with what we have. Success is the doing, not the getting; in the trying, not the triumph. Success is a personal standard, reaching for the highest that is in us, becoming all that we can be.”
Last week, at the age of 86, one of the most motivational people in the personal development world passed away.
Zig Ziglar served in the US Navy during World War II and after the war he worked as a salesman. Later on he started writing books and he held seminars and live events on how to become a better salesman and on motivation and self-improvement.
Today, as my own small tribute, I’d like to share five of my own favorite motivational lessons that I have learned from Zig Ziglar.
1. You have to keep the motivation up.
“People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing – that’s why we recommend it daily.”
So true for many things in life. It’s not like you can hit a light switch and then you are changed for life. The most meaningful and important things tend to need continued effort.
Now, if you want to start your day with getting your motivation up here are two quick tips:
  • Spend 3 minutes with remembering your successes. If you lose your motivation or it is low in the morning then it is easy to get stuck in looking at your failures and so you get stuck in inaction. So instead, sit down for three minutes and just remember your successes. Let them wash over you and refuel your inspiration and motivation.
  • Make a list of upsides. Take a few minutes to write down all the benefits you will get from achieving something, like for example getting into better shape or making more money. And be sure to include very personal reasons and benefits. Like being able to travel to your dream destination or spend more quality time with your son or daughter. Put that list somewhere where you will see it every day until you reach your dream.
2. Failure is not permanent.
“Remember that failure is an event, not a person.”
It is very easy to start thinking of mistakes or failures like permanent things. Like they are you and you are a failure or loser.
But these things are just like successes not permanent. Things go up and down.
So don’t identify with the failure. Take some time to accept that it happened but try to not beat yourself up about it or make it bigger than it is. You don’t have to be perfect. And no one who tries to go outside of his or her comfort zone can avoid failures, mistakes and low points.
And remember…
3. Learn what you can from your low points.
“If you learn from defeat, you haven’t really lost.”
You only lose when you give up and go home or when don’t learn anything from a defeat.
If you keep going despite bumps in the road and temporary defeats then you are still on your way towards your dream and goal.
So don’t revisit the past too much. Instead, learn what you can from the defeat and keep moving forward.
Ask yourself:
  • What can I learn from this?
  • What do I need to do or not do to avoid winding up the same negative situation again?
  • And what is the hidden opportunity within this situation? (there is often one if you just take a little time to look for it)
4. Look at your world and the people in it through an open and positive lens.
“The way you see people is the way you treat them.”
And the way you treat them they tend to treat you.
Now, you may not become best friends or get along splendidly with everyone.
But with a positive and open attitude towards the world and the people you meet and know you’ll feel more inclined to listen, get to know them better and to help out if you can. And over time things tend to even out. You get back what you give.
For more openness and positivity towards others try these two questions:
What parts of this person can I see in myself? How is he or she like me?
This one can help you to shift your perspective from what is different and what you feel the need to judge to what the two of you have in common instead. It tears down the mental barriers between the two you and you can feel closer to and more understanding and appreciative of this person.
5. Get the ball rolling today.
“If you wait until all the lights are “green” before you leave home, you’ll never get started on your trip to the top.”
You can wait for everything to be just perfect before you get started but that usually results in years passing you by before getting going. Or you may never get started.
Beginning something can of course be scary and uncomfortable as you step into the unknown.
But you can make it a lot easier to get started and to keep going. Here are three of my favorite tips for that (they are my favorites because they are so effective for me):
  • Take one small step forward. Instead of focusing on everything you have to do to reach your goal just focus on taking one small and practical step today. Nothing more. But make it a small step that isn’t just about reading more about what you want. Make it step that matters and pulls you forward. Book an appointment or set up a meeting. Create a budget and see how much and what you can save each month to be able to go on that trip you dream about.
  • Or take an even smaller step. If that first step feels too big and you start to procrastinate then come up with an even smaller step you can take. Then take that step.
  • Just take care of today. Don’t look too far ahead or you may start to procrastinate. Or your mind may play tricks on you and you become worried or scared. To feel more comfortable while still making progress step by step go smaller and focus on just taking care of today. Nothing more. Tomorrow will come in time. And then you will take care of that today too.

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Inquiry into the Migration Amendment (Health Care for Asylum Seekers) Bill 2012


An excerpt from the
AUSTRALIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION SUBMISSION TO THE
SENATE LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEES in this inquiry..
October 2012


Background
Over the last decade the Commission has undertaken extensive work in the area of Australian law, policy and practice relating to asylum seekers, refugees and immigration detention. This has involved conducting national inquiries, examining proposed legislation, monitoring and reporting on immigration detention and investigating complaints from individuals subject to Australia’s immigration laws and policies. More specifically, the Commission’s work in this area has included engagement regarding the health and mental health impacts of prolonged and indefinite immigration detention and the risk of breaches of Australia’s human rights obligations posed by third-country arrangements for the processing of asylum seekers’ claims.This submission 
draws upon that body of work.

On 18 August 2012, the Migration Legislation Amendment (Regional Processing and Other Measures) Act 2012 (Cth) commenced, amending the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) and the Immigration (Guardianship of Children) Act 1946 (Cth). The amendments allow the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship to make a further legislative instrument which designates a country as a ‘regional processing country’ to which asylum seekers who have arrived in Australia’s ‘excised offshore territory’ on or after 13 August 2012 will be sent 
for the processing of their protection claims. In exercising this power, the only condition is that the Minister thinks the designation is in the national interest.

Click here to see the entire report

Sri Lankan refugees v Commonwealth of Australia (Department of Immigration & Citizenship)


Former President of the Australian Human Rights Commission, Ms Catherine Branson QC, has found that 10 Sri Lankan refugees with adverse security assessments from ASIO were arbitrarily detained in closed immigration detention facilities.

The conduct has also affected three Sri Lankan children who have been granted protection visas but are residing in immigration detention with their parents.

“It appears that no comprehensive and individualised assessment has been undertaken in respect of each complainant to assess whether they pose any risk to the Australian community and whether any such risk could be addressed (for example by the imposition of particular conditions) without their being required to remain in an immigration detention facility” Ms Branson said.
Ms Branson did not express any view as to what the outcome of any such consideration in each particular case would be.

For more information about the case: click here

Monday, December 3, 2012

GiveEasy - A social enterprise empowering mobile users to make donations easily



This social enterprise is fast, mobile, frictionless and puts you in control. It allows you to give securely via your mobile device or desktop using your own funds or via workplace giving.

Click here for more information.
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Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency (EOWA) - Women in Leadership Census 2012

Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Elizabeth Broderick today welcomed the release of the EOWA 2012 Women in Leadership Census, saying that, while the results showed some commendable progress in the level of representation of women on Australian boards, they indicated it was time to consider setting targets for women in senior management positions.

EOWA Census results mean improvement must continue (2012 Media Release)

For more information on EOWA, click here.

Monday, November 26, 2012

Monday, November 19, 2012

Consultation Paper on Royal Commission into Child Sexual Abuse released

The Federal Government has released a consultation paper on the Terms of Reference for the Royal Commission into Child Sexual Abuse, announced last week by the Prime Minister. Click here





Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Refugees and the benefits they receive

http://parliamentflagpost.blogspot.com/2012/10/do-refugees-really-receive-higher.html