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  #1 (permalink)  
Old 04-27-2007, 05:37 AM
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Default What makes you feel important… ???

Tony Robbins tells us that one of the human needs is “significance” the feeling that we are somebody… that we are important… that we matter…

The question here is… how do you fulfill that need…???

This is not just an idle question… it is an important one… because the way that we seek personal significance is one of the main factor in our personal decision making process… so, if we don’t even consciously know what makes us feel important… how can we intelligently manage and direct our own life…???

So, please share... the answer to that question may amaze you... and may get you to find out something about yourself that you did not even suspect...

.
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Old 04-28-2007, 12:31 AM
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OK... no one wants to start... so, I'll be first...

I have had many ways of seeking personal significance...

While quite young I was pretty good in sport... so, at the time, it did it for me... as a young man, sport cars were the things (Corvette)... made me feel like a big man... after that, I received my degree and with that financial success and the big clinic became the item...

Next, I fancied myself an intellectual... that worked for awhile... but, for the last two decades... it has been "contribution to my fellow man" ...that, by far, has been the most rewarding and most satisfying way of fulfilling the "significance" need...

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Old 04-28-2007, 12:34 AM
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For me I feel significance when I accomplish one of my internal barriers.
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Old 04-28-2007, 12:55 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Akashic_Librarian View Post
For me I feel significance when I accomplish one of my internal barriers.
Would you mind telling us a little more about that...??? sounds interesting...

.
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Old 04-28-2007, 03:07 AM
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Wink It's The WHY...

It's really not the "what" that would make me feel important, but it is more the "why", that makes me feel important!

All of us possess a "WHY" as we go through life...

Once we know and understand the "WHY" in our life, and once we know that we can achieve it, the result of which will make a difference, this creates the sense within that I am important - cos I can make a difference. Whether this difference is in my life, or better still in someone else's life - it doesn't matter.

Knowing that I am here in this world for a reason and purpose, that I may affect and have positive effects on those I interact with, allows me to feel important, not in the sense of "I-am-higher-than thou" thingy... but more of knowing that I am able to contribute to the betterment of people!


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Old 04-28-2007, 04:21 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kayceezharold View Post
Knowing that I am here in this world for a reason and purpose, that I may affect and have positive effects on those I interact with, allows me to feel important, not in the sense of "I-am-higher-than thou" thingy... but more of knowing that I am able to contribute to the betterment of people!


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Seems that we share the same modus operandi to fulfill that sense of "significance"... and that it, "personal contribution to others"

Great minds think alike...

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Old 04-28-2007, 07:47 AM
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What makes me feel important? The same stuff that burns me out - family.
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Old 04-28-2007, 10:05 AM
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Cool

Quote:
Originally Posted by Shamou View Post
Seems that we share the same modus operandi to fulfill that sense of "significance"... and that it, "personal contribution to others"

Great minds think alike...

.
Haha! Thanks Shamou...
Glad that I've found someone with similar motivations here...

----------------------
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Old 04-30-2007, 09:56 PM
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Very interesting question - especially as I research material for a new book I am writing where the message comes through loud and clear that great achievers in history have aligned their lives well with what makes them feel significant.

What fascinates me even more is that vast majority of us pursue careers, relationships, life experiences that are completely mis-aligned with our passions and those things that make us feel significant.

For me, music is what makes me feel significant. If I can touch someone with music, impress a club with my latest songs, make a roomful of people happy on a Friday night - then there is no better feeling in the world for me.

Yet - a career as a musician is a very risky proposition - so I've learned to balance other interests with a strong priority for my music.

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Old 05-01-2007, 01:57 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jbsmith View Post

What fascinates me even more is that vast majority of us pursue careers, relationships, life experiences that are completely mis-aligned with our passions and those things that make us feel significant.
That is very interesting Jeff... could you expound on that a bit please...???

.
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Old 05-01-2007, 01:11 PM
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Most of my adult life (I'm 28), I've sought romantic relationships to make me feel significant. I would instantly toss aside everything in order to be 100% available for a guy. And then I'd wonder why I attracted the wrong guys, as well as why I was so unhappy and depressed.

And this was a subtle dysfunction. Even those closest to me (friends and family) couldn't see how mis-aligned I was. Plus, I'm a very bright, self-aware girl. I would know if my life is off-kilter, right?

This shows you how easy it is to be blind to yourself. It is a blessing that those around us are our mirrors - how else would be really know?

Three months ago, I went through a deep personal tragedy. Since then, I've had to re-assess my life. I'm still unsure of exactly what my life's purpose is, or what gives me significance.

But, I'm totally sure that looking for significance by being "____'s girlfriend/fiancée/chick" is backwards. Maybe, love does give me significance. But losing myself in someone doesn't.

I know a lot of young women are travelling the same road I used to. It's unfortunate that it took a horrible event for me to stop my destructive path. But I feel very fortunate that I did wake up, and at a young age when I have much more freedom to change dramatically.

Thanks for reading.

Last edited by uberinquisitive : 05-01-2007 at 01:12 PM. Reason: spelling
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Old 05-01-2007, 02:55 PM
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The way I look is very important to me,

Also, how much money I have is a big status symbol, and power.

Money, Power, Looks, pretty cookie-cutter but I think that's what gives most ppl this feeling.
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Old 05-01-2007, 10:20 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CamC
The way I look is very important to me,
Very glad that you are good looking… but what will happen when you get older and lose that look…???

Quote:
Also, how much money I have is a big status symbol, and power.
Which mean that if you lose your money you will not feel important…

I hate to tell you this… but you should base your self-importance on character values than on materialistic or genetic factors… that way… you are in total control of what makes you feel important… and you chances for happiness will be greater…

.
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Old 05-11-2007, 01:36 PM
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Default re:

hi shamou..

well .. just in response to your reply to camc.. i dont think u can really change what makes you feel important.. i think if you are honest with yourself.. you will ask yourself .. who doesnt feel important or better when members of the opposite sex look at them twice because they are good looking.. or when they are just received an award that they have worked hard for .. or if they are recognised..

i think that if something makes you feel important..then you should try and pursue it as long as other people arent made to suffer.. i mean.. therez no point for a beautiful woman to downplay her beauty ..esp if that is what makes her feel significant.. just because she should focus on other things..and not be "superficial" per se... i mean ..enjoy it while you can !!

everyone should stop having their love/hate relationship with beautiful people.. most people see someone who is stunning in a magazine.. lust/envy them ..and get so happy when something bad or imperfect happens in their life.. if someone is beautiful..appreciate it .. just as we appreciate kindness and laughter.. whatz wrong with appreciating a bit of outer beauty and being proud of it !
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Old 05-11-2007, 01:39 PM
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My way of feeling significant is the same as it is for you, by helping others realize and achieve there dreams I feel significant. Making a change in the world and in people makes me feel significant.

Once again, great minds think alike !

Anyway shamou, this was a question I was meaning to ask;
Did you get personal training from Anthony Robbins or studied everything yourself?
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Old 05-11-2007, 01:42 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by skanda View Post
hi shamou..

well .. just in response to your reply to camc.. i dont think u can really change what makes you feel important.. i think if you are honest with yourself.. you will ask yourself .. who doesnt feel important or better when members of the opposite sex look at them twice because they are good looking.. or when they are just received an award that they have worked hard for .. or if they are recognised..

i think that if something makes you feel important..then you should try and pursue it as long as other people arent made to suffer.. i mean.. therez no point for a beautiful woman to downplay her beauty ..esp if that is what makes her feel significant.. just because she should focus on other things..and not be "superficial" per se... i mean ..enjoy it while you can !!

everyone should stop having their love/hate relationship with beautiful people.. most people see someone who is stunning in a magazine.. lust/envy them ..and get so happy when something bad or imperfect happens in their life.. if someone is beautiful..appreciate it .. just as we appreciate kindness and laughter.. whatz wrong with appreciating a bit of outer beauty and being proud of it !
Nothing is wrong with appreciating beauty and feeling significant because of it.

The risk with that is if you ever lose the source of being significant you will become miserable, and losing your beauty over time or your money/car/house because of a big bump in the road isn't that uncommon. To prevent feeling that loss and that pain you can perhaps replace or supplement it with other ways of feeling significant...
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Old 05-11-2007, 04:03 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Freelancer View Post
Once again, great minds think alike !

Anyway shamou, this was a question I was meaning to ask;
Did you get personal training from Anthony Robbins or studied everything yourself?
I have studied intensely "Awaken the Giant Within" for over two decades... taken one seminar given by Robbins... met him personally... taken about ten seminars from some of his associates... did the firewalk... among other things...

All in all, I have also taken about 100 seminars on PD... what can I tell you... I love the stuff...

.
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Old 05-11-2007, 04:35 PM
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In the past I've gotten a feeling of importance from physical strength, flexibility, toughness, calm state of mind, intelligence/creativity, openness to new experiences, and affectionate friends. I still enjoy all of that, but if the physical strength eventually passes I'll be fine. So far I've found there's nothing external that can make me lose my happiness/peace of mind completely, so what I really get my feeling of importance from could be difficult to point out. It's always been with me, as I was an easy child, and I've always had a smile on my face. It's simply my spirit shining through.
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Old 05-11-2007, 05:47 PM
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Mostly from writing. Putting a story together, weaving it from nothing, and having absolute control over the characters in the world I have created fills with me megalomaniacal glee. And importance when other people read them and enjoy them.
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Old 05-11-2007, 08:52 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by skanda View Post
hi shamou..
whatz wrong with appreciating a bit of outer beauty and being proud of it !
There is absolutely nothing wrong with physical beauty... I even go to the gym three times a week to try to improve my attractiveness... with mitigated success I am sorry to say... ...but I'm all for beauty... especially in a woman... it's a great gift...

However, I also believe that inner beauty shines through and is much more under the influence of the beholder... and... that was the reasoning behind my reply to camc...

.
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Old 05-13-2007, 07:10 AM
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I think there are two levels of fulfillment:

1) First, there is the fulfillment that comes from using certain gifts. A person who truly LOVES to play the piano may achieve great feelings of significance by tapping out a tune on the keys. A great writer may find significance by writing, regardless of his subject or intent.

2) Secondly, there is purpose fulfillment. This is the joy that we get when we accomplish something in the world that we find personally meaningful, even if it didn't use any of our most beloved skills. Examples include helping the needy, being a good father, being a good husband.

If you can find a way to combine both types of fulfillment, the world is your oyster!

Use your most beloved gifts to accomplish a mission you believe in!
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Old 05-14-2007, 06:01 AM
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What makes one feel important? One makes himself/herself feel important. It's called self love babay! You feel important when you have high self esteem. You have HSE by accepting you for being you. Even though you may not be perfect according to what your ego says, accept yourself fully and completely. Think about it - self esteem is how you see yourself. So LOVE yourself so much that you never look outside of yourself to feel important. When you get to a certain level of self love you will KNOW you are important - it won't even be in question. Careful though... to much self love can attract insecure people who like to crap on others (call them arrogant, egotistical...)

Last edited by Dusty : 05-14-2007 at 06:04 AM.
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Old 05-14-2007, 08:13 AM
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Hi Shamou,


Tony Robbins tells us that one of the human needs is “significance” the feeling that we are somebody… that we are important… that we matter…

The question here is… how do you fulfill that need…???
that's a very good point may be i have viewed the thread lately i feel how important this is because i have suffered a good part of my life feeling i am not important or significant and i have measured this by my importance in the eyes of others and as by that time i didnt see myself important for others not becuse i wasnt helpful but because i hadnt this charisma of attracting others to my personality or my speech i was quiet and not that much talkative accordingly i felt my presence in family or friends gathering isnt that important getting older i started to recognizethat is something should come from unside its all about achieving my dreams having my own interests and trying to create the time to do it to develop my personality and build my own views of life rather than wasting much of my time and mind thinking what others think of me and i didnt yet totally overcome this point but i am working on that.
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