Free Resources: PromoBuddy & Articles of Courage & Inner Freedom

Here are a few free resources which may help in general life and blogging or internet marketing, before I write my other posts referred to below :-)

1) PromoBuddy Internet Marketing Database  (also for Bloggers, writers, internet users wanting to organize accounts, other data, etc)

This is now a free database for online users, which is colorful to the eye, and easy to use for bloggers, internet marketers and online writers alike. 

Even if you just want to organize your  articles, online purchases, accounts and memberships, ezines, newsfeeds, and other resources, it can be extremely useful. Its called 'PromoBuddy', if you haven't heard of it. I just love it (well, I must admit I haven't used it for awhile given I was offline for awhile, but if you use it as a continued resource, it can be quite handy to centralize all of your online resources, and I plan to continue using it again) :-)

PromoBuddy Database Interface

You can read more about it by left clicking here (this site/sales letter, which includes lots of screen-shots, is also a useful guide for learning how to use the database and what the different sections mean). ..... If you like the sound of it, you can sign up for a free copy by left clicking here. Hope its useful!

(sorry, Mac users, I am pretty sure its for PCs only, Vista, etc but double check this)

You might also be interested in the 'Project Management' workbook I refer to below in my free 'Goodies Basket'. If so, left click here to download. There may be a slight delay, being a free hosting account! :-)


2) Learning to be Courageous in the Face of Fear

As the poster says 'the level of our success is limited only by our imaginations', which can either give us great control and choices in what we can hope or 'dream' to achieve, yet at the same time, can limit us.

As I have said before, sometimes in life, fear can freeze us; the 'what ifs and doubts arise', we don't act, and that inner negative chatterbox just wont shut up!  Our  'imaginations' remain merely dreams without the action to back it up. Yes, the levels of our success can be limited by our imaginations (depending on what 'success' means to you of course).

However, in this case, we do have significant power to gain some control over our future; in the way that we think and imagine things, to view them as we want them to be. Aim high (again, if you want to of course!) :-)

Positive Thinking?

I believe in 'positive thinking', but not to the extent that we can always do 'anything' - as implied by such quotes and some 'self-help' style literature and affirmations - ie. a 'sugar-coated superhuman' type approach.  Yes, affirmations can be wonderful tools in moving towards our dreams and what we want in life, but they don't always work; if you can't really believe, or if our imaginations become limited by fear. Moreover, in reality,  there clearly are some things beyond our control. Its not a 'black and white' issue; its gray and more complex than this...as you probably know.

More 'Realistic' Thinking: Awareness, Fear and Courage

Thus, I prefer to learn more about being 'self-aware' as one of the first and most important steps (e.g. about identifying our thoughts, goals and feelings among other things; perhaps even doing an internal and external 'SWOT' analysis ['strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats']). I will explain such analyses in more detail at a later date if you are interested in learning more.

Still aim for your dreams, certainly, but if you want to be more real about what you can or cannot achieve, and if you need to overcome fear  if that 'dream' appears to become overwhelming, this may require adopting a more 'realistic' thinking approach (as compared to what seems like polar extremes of 'positive' vs 'negative' thinking).

I am only touching upon this subject here for the moment, because it can be quite complex (and will write about that later. I have already written quite a lot on this topic within my 'hospital diary/journey', particularly in relation to fear and courage, as you will see soon (we hope!).

Nevertheless, for now, I just want to address courage and fear - a reminder of sorts - as it often does arise to the point that it freezes all of us to some degree; at some point in our lives. Everyone has different fears, small or large, and different ways of dealing with them; some of which can limit our actions. Never be ashamed of that.

Courage:

In this respect, we are all also strong and courageous in our own ways, even if you don't feel this way sometimes. As most of you know, courage doesn't mean an absence of fear; it means acting in spite of our fears. Sometimes this requires a systematic plan in 'identifying' and acting upon those fears. Sometimes all we need is a simple reminder of the inbuilt courage that we have within us all. Yes, that means you too! (sorry if that sounded corny!) :)

My Own Fears & that 'Inner Chatterbox':

As I write this, I too have my own fears and doubts. Doubts about what my future will bring; fear of this illness which has taken so much away from me, and which I now face again. I too need to be self-aware when feeling down or afraid - to identify what's happening to me, my thoughts and feelings, where my strengths and weaknesses are; and to look for and understand the opportunities and threats within my own context ...Sometimes, all I need to do is to remind myself that I CAN do something if I have to/need to; that I do have the courage within me, no matter how I might feel at the time.

Easier said than done, I find myself thinking - there goes that 'inner chatterbox'!  But  I know this because I am here right now. I have faced and overcome fears before, and as I continue to put this into practice in facing my fears, the fear diminishes a little each time, and the hold that it has over me, becomes limited (most of the time anyway!). This, combined with the visualization and hope for a better life, keeps me going. Its not always that simple though (ooohhh, knew she would say that! lol).

Again,I'm not going to write in-depth about some of these issues just yet. I simply wanted to bring you (and myself), a 'reminder' of sorts, in the form of an audio article about 'learning to be courageous'. Its short and simple, and yes, life is complex; but it may help just a little. :-)

Resources in the free 'Goodies Basket':

Its part of my free 'Goodies Basket' and if you click on the 'goodies basket' folder in the top-right of the host page for the article (left click here), you will also discover several more 'self-help' style resources which may be useful to you, albeit some of varying quality! As noted, many have found the 'Project Management' workbook (or parts of it) particularly useful.  Don't forget to share these resources if you like them - there are tweet, digg and several 'share' buttons, as well as link/embed codes. I will continue to add to this increasing basket of self-help resources for you over time.  :-)

The Article: Learning to be Courageous:

In the meantime, I have also embedded the 'Learn to be Courageous' audio here and hope that the code works  (if it doesn't, again left click here if you wish to be taken to the host page, or left click here if you want to see the 'full goodies basket')! Note also that the 'goodies basket', if all continues to go well with the code, should still be embedded at the bottom of this blog/post.

'Learning to be Courageous'

Inner Freedom; Courage/Peace:

If you are not at peace with who you are, and sometimes feel overwhelmed by life, your own 'inner chatterbox', you might also be interested in this additional short audio article about 'Inner Freedom'. This article also relates in part, to perception, and self awareness or discovery. There are also references to that inner chatterbox of fearful, worrying thoughts that sometimes limit us; and which can intrude upon, or belie that true freedom which so many of us seek - to 'silence our minds', or 'to rise above it all' so to speak; and to regain some of that control over ourselves and those inner thoughts.

Whilst short and simple within the 'complexities' of life, it does once again, provide another reminder for us, of hope. If interested, left click here to be taken to the hosting page for the audio article. Alternatively, if the embed code works ok(!), listen to it here online :-)





Yes, reaching such 'inner freedom' or peace can sometimes be difficult to reach; life is complex (so I keep saying!). But if you want to learn more about 'silencing the mind' (that 'incessant mental noise') and finding some peace, control and freedom, you may want to read the rather famous book:  'The Power of Now' by Eckhart Tolle (if you haven't already). I hope these simple resources and articles are helpful in some way or another (and don't forget, feel free to share them!)

See you soon and be kind :-)

Megan

(Note: I originally posted this article on 9 September 2011, but made some slight revisions 16 September; unfortunately blogger tends to republish it as a 'new' article!)

PS OMGosh - As a complete aside from the topic of this post,  I have been wishing for an 'undo' button here for awhile, and there it has been, all along! I just found it, that wonderful 'undo' button here in the blogger post interface! All this time when I thought I had lost words, and had to rewrite them, I could have just undone the action which deleted it - me silly ;-]    

Still a lesson to be had! Nonetheless, as I say in my last post, it still helps to pre-write your post and not write it online, as anything may happen, the browser may crash, and all the work is gone - still a lesson in there! :)

---------------------------------------------------

Dr Megan McCarthy, B.A.(psych), MEnvStud., PhD

Adelaide, South Australia

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/MeganMcCarthy

Skype: megan.e.mccarthy (if ever you need a listening ear; have a question)  :-)