with A.Z. Araujo - Episode 34:

Affirmations are Weak

with A.Z. Araujo - Episode 34:

Affirmations are Weak

CUSTOM JAVASCRIPT / HTML
I have noticed something about affirmations; they are weak. They need to be proclaimed, but then what? If we don't ask the "HOW" to get us to where we desire to be, affirmations are dead. Words without actions are nothing more than talk; your competition is doing the work, are you? Take time to appreciate where you are today and then ask yourself what you are going to do to get where you need to be tomorrow. Ask yourself the right questions, and follow it up with the right actions. What you tell yourself is what fuels your future. 
Make a Statement, Then Take Action
  • ​Today's topic is how Affirmations are Weak. They have had a significant impact on my life by knowing what I want and declaring it with passion. I believe the reason we don't get what we want at times is that that is where it stops. We say what we want but fail to open our minds to receive it. 
  • ​Affirmations are statements, and when we make one, it is a solution, a matter of fact. When we speak our affirmations but don't ask better questions, it shuts us down and be counterproductive. There is a layer beyond that which is asking better questions. 
  • ​My 14-year old made the Varsity Volleyball Team and is only a Freshmen. That was a great accomplishment for her and felt awesome about it. She has had a rude awakening though by understanding the level she has played at, is barely sufficient to get her on the Varsity court. 
  • ​We have all been through this as Realtors. Each time we reach a new level, we discover it isn't exactly what we thought. The competition is doing things we aren't. 
  • ​For my daughter, it has been disappointing for her and us; watching her sit on the bench. I feel for her, and as a parent, it is tough. There are 13 players on the team, and 7 of them get heavy rotation. I know that we aren't the only parents experiencing this disappointment for our daughter. She is used to being a star athlete, for her teams; now, she is at a point where it isn't working. 
  • ​I know she is disappointed, but she continues to smile and cheer on her teammates. She looks content, but as we ask more questions, the real feelings come to the surface. As she was finished with her games this weekend, she was quiet in the car. We asked her how she was, and she said she was okay. We all face these moments, and it is up to us to decide if we are going to rise. You need to declare it and dig deep to ask better questions. 
  • ​As Carla was speaking to Abigail, she told her that she couldn't even shake her co-competitors hands, because she was filled with hate and jealousy. Carla told her she was proud of her because she is a phenomenal teammate; she has great sportsmanship, and Carla didn't. She looks at Abigail and is proud to see her cheer on her teammates, and she didn't even play. Carla told her that when she gets into the car, to do what she was doing at that moment; Cry, express herself, hate; so whatever she needs to do. But when she shows up on that court, she needs to smile; she needs to learn more about herself this season than ever before. Abigail needs to be in her journals again because Carla doesn't want her Freshman year to be filled with hate because she is benched. This is part of the sport, and they are proud of her. 
  • ​Abigail doesn't express herself as much as we would like her too. Carla and I were growing this business and always very busy, and a lot of that was in defense mode. We had businesses that were not working, the economy shifted, and Abigail learned not to give us a hard time. It's been hard for her to express herself because as a child, we told her not to cry, and be quiet. 
  • ​We find as her parents we are running into a wall with her, where she isn't expressing herself. What happens when we keep our emotions in, it creates other issues within us; anxiety, depression, and dysfunctional behaviors. We are now encouraging her to express herself because she can be stone cold. Our job is to break down that layer; we don't want her walking around angry.
  • ​As business owners, we have all of these emotions; anger, fear, doubt, jealousy, and hate. All of these are natural feelings. For those that claim they are never these things, you aren't speaking your truth. All of us go through it, especially if you aren't producing at a high level. 
  • ​Not coming to terms with how you feel will never allow you to grow. You need to focus on those feelings and understand that these feelings will come about again. We cannot shut ourselves down when we experience these disappointments; we have to ask ourselves better questions.
  • ​Carla and I asked Abigail to give us two reasons why it was good for her to be on the bench. She couldn't come up with them; she came up with five things of why she thought it was bad; she was on the bench. She isn't getting any playing time; she has no stats, she is frustrated, and wants to play. She couldn't come to terms of why it was a good thing.
Passing Your Thresholds
  • In the darkest moments of my life, I realize there is always something good about being in that place. Real growth happens when you remember those dark moments. It reinforces within and gives you the conviction to ask if you will rise above it. If you can face the dark moments, continuing to navigate through it, how can you get to the next level? It builds capacity within us.
  • ​As we gave Abigail examples, she said that it was making her understand how much she really wanted this. How many times have we been in those dark places where we come to terms, and understand we really want something? When we really want it, it's to get out of our current position. We then asked her how she was going to get it if she really wanted it? She replied that she was going to get stronger and faster. What she has done has got her on the Varsity Team, but it's not good enough to get her on the starting line-up. 
  • ​Abigail now knows she needs to push herself to full capacity, beyond her capacity, to get on that starting line-up. It will be a tough road, but we need to ask ourselves why is it good being in our dark place? It is creating a beast within Abigail, and I can see it; she is becoming more determined. 
  • ​When things go our way always, we don't become more determined. We become complacent. Even if you have grown your business, you know it can grow more; it can become bigger and more profitable. Where you are right now is a moment in time, and being in these dark moments will allow you to ask yourself better questions. 
  • ​Your path ends at the declaration, the affirmation; it's a statement. Your brain is not looking for opportunities for how you will get to the next level. Affirmations to a certain point are great but without asking yourself better questions, and then taking action; you are limiting yourself. We have all been there. 
  • ​When you ask yourself better questions, it opens up your mind to find ways to get what you want. Instead of I can't afford it, ask yourself how you can afford it. Instead of stating Open Houses don't work; find ways to make them work. Asking yourself the "Hows" will open up your brain to get instruction. Statements are a done deal, and your brain sees it as such. 
  • ​I need you to appreciate where you are right now. The two reasons we gave Abigail were; you are building your capacity, and you are a Freshman on a Varsity Team. How cool is that? She could have all the starting time she wanted on the JV Team. She was good enough to pass that threshold, but there is always going to be thresholds we need to pass to push ourselves. 
  • ​Acknowledging our thresholds pushes us forward to the next. If we are only focused on the result, we will destroy our confidence when we come up short. Instead, claim what you want, and then discover how to get there by asking yourself better questions. Now your brain is challenged to find ways to get you there. 
  • ​Affirmations are great, but at some point, you are going to have to do the work. As entrepreneurs, as realtors, we forget the pain points; we are so focused to get out of it. There is a strong possibility we could end up there again, and we need to remind ourselves we were here before, and we got out. Sometimes the pain is so immense, and profound, that we commit and go back to those patterns again. \
  • ​The pain points of trying to build a business without a strong foundation, not showing up as a powerful man in my family; I never want to go back there again. Those pain points are what fuels me today, to continue to show up powerfully daily. Not only for myself, but my business, and as a father. I remember and understand how it used to be; I have to take that with me so I can avoid the peaks and valleys in our businesses. 
  • ​As soon as we begin to make money, we forget about the pain points and begin to ease up. The competition is stiff, and they will not let up. Abigail's ability to get on the starting line is only as good as how committed the competition is, and they are very committed. A bunch of 17-year olds are not going to allow a 14-year old to take their place. 
  • ​Abigail will have to work ten times harder, and the realtors that were here years before you, aren't going to give up their market share. Some of them think they deserve it, so they have already let their foot off the pedal; that is your chance. If you aren't as committed as they are, you will never get their market share. 
  • ​The only way to survive and thrive in this business is by taking others market share. See that as your opportunity, and work ten times harder than the others. When you understand your role, it will fuel you daily. The competition will become complacent, and that is when you will strike. If you don't build the capacity, skillset, and mindset to be there when they ease up, you still won't get it; someone else will. 
  • ​Let's get on it and understand that by asking yourself better questions, working hard towards that affirmation is the only way you will achieve what you want. Continue to make the affirmations, but reinforcing them is critical. Ask yourself the right questions and follow it up with the right actions. 
  • ​One of two things will happen in your dark moments; you will quit, or you will thrive. I know that Abigail has the hunger and the mindset; if it weren't for where she is now, she would never get to where she is going. As you are facing your challenges, appreciate the moments. You will never get to the next level without them.

More Episodes

CUSTOM JAVASCRIPT / HTML
I have noticed something about affirmations; they are weak. They need to be proclaimed, but then what? If we don't ask the "HOW" to get us to where we desire to be, affirmations are dead. Words without actions are nothing more than talk; your competition is doing the work, are you? Take time to appreciate where you are today and then ask yourself what you are going to do to get where you need to be tomorrow. Ask yourself the right questions, and follow it up with the right actions. What you tell yourself is what fuels your future. 
Make a Statement, Then Take Action
  • ​Today's topic is how Affirmations are Weak. They have had a significant impact on my life by knowing what I want and declaring it with passion. I believe the reason we don't get what we want at times is that that is where it stops. We say what we want but fail to open our minds to receive it. 
  • ​Affirmations are statements, and when we make one, it is a solution, a matter of fact. When we speak our affirmations but don't ask better questions, it shuts us down and be counterproductive. There is a layer beyond that which is asking better questions. 
  • ​My 14-year old made the Varsity Volleyball Team and is only a Freshmen. That was a great accomplishment for her and felt awesome about it. She has had a rude awakening though by understanding the level she has played at, is barely sufficient to get her on the Varsity court. 
  • ​We have all been through this as Realtors. Each time we reach a new level, we discover it isn't exactly what we thought. The competition is doing things we aren't. 
  • ​For my daughter, it has been disappointing for her and us; watching her sit on the bench. I feel for her, and as a parent, it is tough. There are 13 players on the team, and 7 of them get heavy rotation. I know that we aren't the only parents experiencing this disappointment for our daughter. She is used to being a star athlete, for her teams; now, she is at a point where it isn't working. 
  • ​I know she is disappointed, but she continues to smile and cheer on her teammates. She looks content, but as we ask more questions, the real feelings come to the surface. As she was finished with her games this weekend, she was quiet in the car. We asked her how she was, and she said she was okay. We all face these moments, and it is up to us to decide if we are going to rise. You need to declare it and dig deep to ask better questions. 
  • ​As Carla was speaking to Abigail, she told her that she couldn't even shake her co-competitors hands, because she was filled with hate and jealousy. Carla told her she was proud of her because she is a phenomenal teammate; she has great sportsmanship, and Carla didn't. She looks at Abigail and is proud to see her cheer on her teammates, and she didn't even play. Carla told her that when she gets into the car, to do what she was doing at that moment; Cry, express herself, hate; so whatever she needs to do. But when she shows up on that court, she needs to smile; she needs to learn more about herself this season than ever before. Abigail needs to be in her journals again because Carla doesn't want her Freshman year to be filled with hate because she is benched. This is part of the sport, and they are proud of her. 
  • ​Abigail doesn't express herself as much as we would like her too. Carla and I were growing this business and always very busy, and a lot of that was in defense mode. We had businesses that were not working, the economy shifted, and Abigail learned not to give us a hard time. It's been hard for her to express herself because as a child, we told her not to cry, and be quiet. 
  • ​We find as her parents we are running into a wall with her, where she isn't expressing herself. What happens when we keep our emotions in, it creates other issues within us; anxiety, depression, and dysfunctional behaviors. We are now encouraging her to express herself because she can be stone cold. Our job is to break down that layer; we don't want her walking around angry.
  • ​As business owners, we have all of these emotions; anger, fear, doubt, jealousy, and hate. All of these are natural feelings. For those that claim they are never these things, you aren't speaking your truth. All of us go through it, especially if you aren't producing at a high level. 
  • ​Not coming to terms with how you feel will never allow you to grow. You need to focus on those feelings and understand that these feelings will come about again. We cannot shut ourselves down when we experience these disappointments; we have to ask ourselves better questions.
  • ​Carla and I asked Abigail to give us two reasons why it was good for her to be on the bench. She couldn't come up with them; she came up with five things of why she thought it was bad; she was on the bench. She isn't getting any playing time; she has no stats, she is frustrated, and wants to play. She couldn't come to terms of why it was a good thing.
Passing Your Thresholds
  • In the darkest moments of my life, I realize there is always something good about being in that place. Real growth happens when you remember those dark moments. It reinforces within and gives you the conviction to ask if you will rise above it. If you can face the dark moments, continuing to navigate through it, how can you get to the next level? It builds capacity within us.
  • ​As we gave Abigail examples, she said that it was making her understand how much she really wanted this. How many times have we been in those dark places where we come to terms, and understand we really want something? When we really want it, it's to get out of our current position. We then asked her how she was going to get it if she really wanted it? She replied that she was going to get stronger and faster. What she has done has got her on the Varsity Team, but it's not good enough to get her on the starting line-up. 
  • ​Abigail now knows she needs to push herself to full capacity, beyond her capacity, to get on that starting line-up. It will be a tough road, but we need to ask ourselves why is it good being in our dark place? It is creating a beast within Abigail, and I can see it; she is becoming more determined. 
  • ​When things go our way always, we don't become more determined. We become complacent. Even if you have grown your business, you know it can grow more; it can become bigger and more profitable. Where you are right now is a moment in time, and being in these dark moments will allow you to ask yourself better questions. 
  • ​Your path ends at the declaration, the affirmation; it's a statement. Your brain is not looking for opportunities for how you will get to the next level. Affirmations to a certain point are great but without asking yourself better questions, and then taking action; you are limiting yourself. We have all been there. 
  • ​When you ask yourself better questions, it opens up your mind to find ways to get what you want. Instead of I can't afford it, ask yourself how you can afford it. Instead of stating Open Houses don't work; find ways to make them work. Asking yourself the "Hows" will open up your brain to get instruction. Statements are a done deal, and your brain sees it as such. 
  • ​I need you to appreciate where you are right now. The two reasons we gave Abigail were; you are building your capacity, and you are a Freshman on a Varsity Team. How cool is that? She could have all the starting time she wanted on the JV Team. She was good enough to pass that threshold, but there is always going to be thresholds we need to pass to push ourselves. 
  • ​Acknowledging our thresholds pushes us forward to the next. If we are only focused on the result, we will destroy our confidence when we come up short. Instead, claim what you want, and then discover how to get there by asking yourself better questions. Now your brain is challenged to find ways to get you there. 
  • ​Affirmations are great, but at some point, you are going to have to do the work. As entrepreneurs, as realtors, we forget the pain points; we are so focused to get out of it. There is a strong possibility we could end up there again, and we need to remind ourselves we were here before, and we got out. Sometimes the pain is so immense, and profound, that we commit and go back to those patterns again. \
  • ​The pain points of trying to build a business without a strong foundation, not showing up as a powerful man in my family; I never want to go back there again. Those pain points are what fuels me today, to continue to show up powerfully daily. Not only for myself, but my business, and as a father. I remember and understand how it used to be; I have to take that with me so I can avoid the peaks and valleys in our businesses. 
  • ​As soon as we begin to make money, we forget about the pain points and begin to ease up. The competition is stiff, and they will not let up. Abigail's ability to get on the starting line is only as good as how committed the competition is, and they are very committed. A bunch of 17-year olds are not going to allow a 14-year old to take their place. 
  • ​Abigail will have to work ten times harder, and the realtors that were here years before you, aren't going to give up their market share. Some of them think they deserve it, so they have already let their foot off the pedal; that is your chance. If you aren't as committed as they are, you will never get their market share. 
  • ​The only way to survive and thrive in this business is by taking others market share. See that as your opportunity, and work ten times harder than the others. When you understand your role, it will fuel you daily. The competition will become complacent, and that is when you will strike. If you don't build the capacity, skillset, and mindset to be there when they ease up, you still won't get it; someone else will. 
  • ​Let's get on it and understand that by asking yourself better questions, working hard towards that affirmation is the only way you will achieve what you want. Continue to make the affirmations, but reinforcing them is critical. Ask yourself the right questions and follow it up with the right actions. 
  • ​One of two things will happen in your dark moments; you will quit, or you will thrive. I know that Abigail has the hunger and the mindset; if it weren't for where she is now, she would never get to where she is going. As you are facing your challenges, appreciate the moments. You will never get to the next level without them.

More Episodes



A.Z. & Associates Real Estate Group - 2019