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Baggage Handler

I saw something unusual on my flight to Phoenix today. No it wasn't the gentleman in the three-piece suit stretched out across the back row. That happens all the time. No, it wasn't the young woman painting her toenails a few rows in front of me. I've seen that, too. (Heck, I've done that.)

No, it's just that when I looked down at my armrest, I noticed that it was fitted with a clearly labeled ashtray. Bwah? This may have been a common and necessary accessory when George Burns was a young Hollywood hunk, but you haven't been able to come near an airplane with a cigarette in twenty years or so. So what gives with the ashtray? It's just taking up space. You'd think that they'd find something useful to put there, but no. I can't get a glass of water, but I've got an ashtray just in case I'd really like to not use it. (Dumb.)

Still, it's hard to blame the airline when we often hold onto things in our lives that are just as useless. We cling to outdated self-concepts, attitudes, and beliefs. All of these can hold us back, and all are so unnecessary in the grand scheme of things. Check your mental pockets to see which of these you might be carrying around:

• Fear. This is a natural and desirable response in some situations, but only to a point. Fear should be used as a complement to confidence, but unfortunately fear keeps many of us from pursuing an important personal goal in the first place. What if something bad happens? What if things don't work out? What if Simon and Paula laugh at me? These are great questions, but they shouldn't become excuses. Focus on the positive as a genuine motivator and respect the fear that comes with the territory.
• Doubt. This is particularly devastating for some people. Everyone has been challenged at some point. Everyone has come up short at some point in his or her life. Still, past results are not a guaranteed indication of what will be. If you do a good job of selecting goals that are connected to your true passion and essence you simply can't lose! Go forward with confidence and watch the world bend to your whim!
• Mistrust. Sadly, some of the people in our lives may let us down from time to time. We may want to build a wall that prevents us from reaching out to strangers who may best be able to help us succeed. The simple truth is that we cannot be successful solely on our own. We have to take a chance and realize that while we may get burned from time to time, we'll get much further ahead by opening ourselves up over the long haul.

I say we rid ourselves of this excess baggage! (Just as the airline will certainly lose mine.) If you've got the urge to purge, consider taking these helpful steps:

1. Take the time to recognize exactly what you've been carrying around. What's holding you back? I believe that you deserve to be successful in life - do you? I believe that you can win if you're willing to do the necessary work - do you? Be specific and name your obstacles.
2. Commit to ditching the dead weight. Remind yourself that your true potential is ready to shine through. Resolve yourself to make a change in life and to open a door to a better tomorrow. Self-improvement is the path, and it's a process that takes commitment and dedication. Get set to make it happen!
3. Practice self-awareness as you go. Develop the discipline to notice when one of these negative thought processes takes hold. Take a step back and examine the situation with as little emotion as possible. Think of what an outsider would say when observing the same situation. Often, this change of perspective is all that we need to break through.
Let's recognize that negative frames of mind are about as useful as in-dash 8-track player or nipples on men. (Why did I just think of John Travolta both times?) Anyway, if we can keep the clutter to a minimum, we can increase our life satisfaction and success over time.

Where's a skycap when you need one?