I would like to share with you a good method for changing negative or bad feeling thoughts for positive or better feeling thoughts. A way to turn your day around. Perhaps a way to turn your life around!
The Law of Attraction states that like attracts like unto itself. This means that if your thoughts are heading in a certain direction, unless you take some form of action to change that thought direction, your thoughts about the subject, or more accurately, the essence of your thoughts on your particular chosen subject, or thought stream, will build one on top of another. Avalanche!
If your thought was a negative one, which made you feel bad, before you are really aware of it, your mind will be flooded with like thoughts of a negative, or bad feeling, nature. The next step is you feel miserable and your day goes rapidly downhill.
On the way to work on the freeway someone cuts you off in traffic. You THINK the guys an idiot. You THINK about how many idiots there are on the road these days. The traffic slows. You THINK how this will make you late for work. You THINK about how the boss will not be happy. You THINK about how the government is not investing enough into bigger freeways. A truck moves in front of you slowing traffic even more. You THINK about all the crazy truck drivers on the roads and you THINK how it always seems to happen to you. and on. and on. and on. and on.
You start to feel ill!
Let's go back to that very first THINK. OK, you've thought the guy's an idiot. There is not, nor will their ever be anything you can possibly do to change that guy's behaviour!
But you can change yours. In fact, it is the only thing you have any control over. You can take responsibility for, and indeed change, the direction of your thoughts.
Taking control of and changing a negative stream of bad feeling thoughts to a positive and good feeling stream of thoughts is called "PIVOTING". You pivot your thoughts in a different direction - the good feeling direction.
The guy cuts in front of you. You THINK the guy's an idiot, you start to feel bad - the day's going to hell with all these crazy drivers. WHOA! Stop! Pivot. I can't wait to get home tonight. My wife's got a great evening planned with some friends coming over. What a great day - the weather is just fantastic. We had a great holiday this year, that was a wonderful hotel where we stayed. I couldn't stop giggling to myself all morning over that comedy we watched on TV last night. The traffic is a little slow but my boss is a really great guy and will understand.
See what I mean. Pivoting works.
Try it.
Use it.
"Thoughts have power; thoughts are energy. And you can make your world or break it by your own thinking." - Susan Taylor
Today, I will count my many blessings. Today, I will do my work honestly.
Today, I will be kind to every living creature.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Abundance is all around you.
Abundance is truly all around us. If you seem to be missing out on your fair share of all that abundance it may just be because of the way you have been habitually thinking.
You see, your thought patterns are habitual. We all tend to think in certain ways through habit. Are you a positive thinker or a negative thinker. Is the glass half full or is it always half empty?
Try monitoring your thoughts for a while and you'll soon pick up on how you have been thinking on things. Your thoughts are very powerful and all thoughts are creative whether you believe it or not.
Where you are today is a direct result of all your thoughts since the day you were born. Now that is a scary thought!!!!
There is really only one area in your life that you have complete and total control over and that is indeed your thoughts and therefore your beliefs. A belief is only a thought repeated.
The following is a great article by Rebecca Fine from Certain Way Productions. It gives us an excellant example of how our thoughts can indeed hold us back - sometimes in dangerous ways.
Afloat in A Sea of Abundance
By Rebecca Fine
In the days of the mighty sailing ships, when brave souls voyaged into the unknown, dependent on the winds and their as-yet incomplete knowledge of geography and navigation, one of the greatest and most dangerous challenges was to traverse the area known as "the doldrums."
Extending about 30 degrees on either side of the equator, the doldrums are subject to days, weeks, even months of no wind at all. After a long and difficult crossing from Europe to South America, lying becalmed in the doldrums — with no land in sight and with the ship's supply of fresh water dwindling — was a terrible and life-threatening situation.
But history and legend offer us some fascinating insights into the power of our own thinking and belief. Back then no one had yet figured out how to determine longitude, although latitude was easily calculated. So if you could not see recognizable land, you could only know in what band of latitude you currently were. Exactly where you were in that ring around the earth was, at that time, unknowable.
And so it happened that at times a ship would fetch up off the coast of South America, out of sight of shore, fresh water supplies exhausted and death knocking at the door. Then, with what must have been the sweetest sound those sailors could ever have hoped for, the lookout would suddenly call out that a ship was approaching in the distance.
Once the ship was within hailing distance, the cry went up: "Water! Give us water!"
And the reply would come back, "Lower your buckets over the side."
You see, although the sailors didn't know it, they were afloat in a virtual river of drinkable and life-sustaining water flowing from the mouth of the powerful Amazon River, which carries nearly 20 percent of all the earth's runoff water into the sea with such force that the fresh (or brackish but safe) water flows as far as 100 miles out into the Atlantic.
The sailors, dying of thirst, only THOUGHT they were experiencing lack. The REALITY was that they were afloat in a literal sea of abundance. Exactly what they needed was within their reach the whole time, but the APPEARANCE of scarcity and their BELIEF in that appearance threatened to overpower them.
They could have died — and many certainly did — believing in lack while surrounded by abundance.
In his amazing 1910 forgotten classic, The Science of Getting Rich, Wallace Wattles writes:
"I have said that people get rich by doing things in a certain way, and in order to do so, people must become able to think in a certain way.
"A person’s way of doing things is the direct result of the way he thinks about things."
"To do things in the way you want to do them, you will have to acquire the ability to think the way you want to think. This is the first step toward getting rich."
"And to think what you want to think is to think TRUTH, regardless of appearances."
A couple of months ago, my friend TERESA ROMAIN of Access Abundance wrote in my ezine, The Certain Way, about how Galileo changed the world by looking at things from a new perspective. By dropping the prevailing attitude that the sun revolved around the earth, he was able to see that the opposite was, in fact, the truth.
The key to finding the truth, she noted, was choosing to cast off the old notion and look at the situation anew, through a new lens. Teresa wrote:
"The path that lies before you is one of unlimited abundance. And it begins by SEEING the abundance available all around you."
"As you begin to experience life through the new lens of abundance, you'll find that many of the problems you face today will simply disappear. As for the ones that remain, your relationship to them will have changed profoundly, empowering you to take actions that are congruent with and support abundance."
What old beliefs, what old ways of looking, seeing, and perceiving do YOU need to cast off right now, my friend? If you find yourself "in the doldrums," how can you take a fresh look today and begin to see the abundance that surrounds YOU so that you are empowered — not becalmed and hopeless?
The choice is always available. If you have chosen unwisely before, remember that every moment is new and the great power lies in your ability to CHOOSE AGAIN, no matter the appearances and no matter what it seems everyone else thinks or does.
Teresa says that this choice "is the path that leads, ultimately, to the fulfillment of your dreams." Mr. Wattles says this choice is "the first step toward getting rich."
And, bearing in mind those long-ago sailors, I would add that this choice can be the ultimate choice — for death or for life itself.
That choice, every moment, is yours. Which way do you choose — right now?
Rebecca Fine is the founder of The Science of Getting Rich Network where you can download your free copy of the amazing 1910 forgotten classic, The Science of Getting Rich. http://www.scienceofgettingrich.net/gifts/take.html ©2001 Certain Way Productions.
You see, your thought patterns are habitual. We all tend to think in certain ways through habit. Are you a positive thinker or a negative thinker. Is the glass half full or is it always half empty?
Try monitoring your thoughts for a while and you'll soon pick up on how you have been thinking on things. Your thoughts are very powerful and all thoughts are creative whether you believe it or not.
Where you are today is a direct result of all your thoughts since the day you were born. Now that is a scary thought!!!!
There is really only one area in your life that you have complete and total control over and that is indeed your thoughts and therefore your beliefs. A belief is only a thought repeated.
The following is a great article by Rebecca Fine from Certain Way Productions. It gives us an excellant example of how our thoughts can indeed hold us back - sometimes in dangerous ways.
Afloat in A Sea of Abundance
By Rebecca Fine
In the days of the mighty sailing ships, when brave souls voyaged into the unknown, dependent on the winds and their as-yet incomplete knowledge of geography and navigation, one of the greatest and most dangerous challenges was to traverse the area known as "the doldrums."
Extending about 30 degrees on either side of the equator, the doldrums are subject to days, weeks, even months of no wind at all. After a long and difficult crossing from Europe to South America, lying becalmed in the doldrums — with no land in sight and with the ship's supply of fresh water dwindling — was a terrible and life-threatening situation.
But history and legend offer us some fascinating insights into the power of our own thinking and belief. Back then no one had yet figured out how to determine longitude, although latitude was easily calculated. So if you could not see recognizable land, you could only know in what band of latitude you currently were. Exactly where you were in that ring around the earth was, at that time, unknowable.
And so it happened that at times a ship would fetch up off the coast of South America, out of sight of shore, fresh water supplies exhausted and death knocking at the door. Then, with what must have been the sweetest sound those sailors could ever have hoped for, the lookout would suddenly call out that a ship was approaching in the distance.
Once the ship was within hailing distance, the cry went up: "Water! Give us water!"
And the reply would come back, "Lower your buckets over the side."
You see, although the sailors didn't know it, they were afloat in a virtual river of drinkable and life-sustaining water flowing from the mouth of the powerful Amazon River, which carries nearly 20 percent of all the earth's runoff water into the sea with such force that the fresh (or brackish but safe) water flows as far as 100 miles out into the Atlantic.
The sailors, dying of thirst, only THOUGHT they were experiencing lack. The REALITY was that they were afloat in a literal sea of abundance. Exactly what they needed was within their reach the whole time, but the APPEARANCE of scarcity and their BELIEF in that appearance threatened to overpower them.
They could have died — and many certainly did — believing in lack while surrounded by abundance.
In his amazing 1910 forgotten classic, The Science of Getting Rich, Wallace Wattles writes:
"I have said that people get rich by doing things in a certain way, and in order to do so, people must become able to think in a certain way.
"A person’s way of doing things is the direct result of the way he thinks about things."
"To do things in the way you want to do them, you will have to acquire the ability to think the way you want to think. This is the first step toward getting rich."
"And to think what you want to think is to think TRUTH, regardless of appearances."
A couple of months ago, my friend TERESA ROMAIN of Access Abundance wrote in my ezine, The Certain Way, about how Galileo changed the world by looking at things from a new perspective. By dropping the prevailing attitude that the sun revolved around the earth, he was able to see that the opposite was, in fact, the truth.
The key to finding the truth, she noted, was choosing to cast off the old notion and look at the situation anew, through a new lens. Teresa wrote:
"The path that lies before you is one of unlimited abundance. And it begins by SEEING the abundance available all around you."
"As you begin to experience life through the new lens of abundance, you'll find that many of the problems you face today will simply disappear. As for the ones that remain, your relationship to them will have changed profoundly, empowering you to take actions that are congruent with and support abundance."
What old beliefs, what old ways of looking, seeing, and perceiving do YOU need to cast off right now, my friend? If you find yourself "in the doldrums," how can you take a fresh look today and begin to see the abundance that surrounds YOU so that you are empowered — not becalmed and hopeless?
The choice is always available. If you have chosen unwisely before, remember that every moment is new and the great power lies in your ability to CHOOSE AGAIN, no matter the appearances and no matter what it seems everyone else thinks or does.
Teresa says that this choice "is the path that leads, ultimately, to the fulfillment of your dreams." Mr. Wattles says this choice is "the first step toward getting rich."
And, bearing in mind those long-ago sailors, I would add that this choice can be the ultimate choice — for death or for life itself.
That choice, every moment, is yours. Which way do you choose — right now?
Rebecca Fine is the founder of The Science of Getting Rich Network where you can download your free copy of the amazing 1910 forgotten classic, The Science of Getting Rich. http://www.scienceofgettingrich.net/gifts/take.html ©2001 Certain Way Productions.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Innovate your life
The power of innovation is is what most people think that others have but not themselves. You may marvel at the creative process in action in others and wish that you could have it yourself. Wish no more. Everyone possesses an ability to be creative and hence innovative. You were born so.
You have the potential to be, do and have anything that you set your mind to. You may just be the only person holding you back.
You can no doubt remember how long it took to learn to ride a bicycle, learn a language at school, or perhaps learn to be an excellent car driver. It didn't happen overnight. Nothing ever does. And so it is with learning to be innovative and creative. It is an innate talent that needs to be woken from slumber. Some of what follows may help.
Steer your own ship - better put - steer your own ship using your own charts (goals and dreams). Listening to the well meaning advice of too many people often only leads to confusion. Trust yourself. If you have an original and great idea you'd like to follow through with, trying to explain it to others will not work. They will only want to brand it with their own ideas and interpretations (most of it negative!) and nine times out of ten they will never understand it anyway. Best to make your own mistakes or more likely your very own victories to cherish.
Spend time proudly on your ideas and creations. They're just as important to you and the world as anyone else's. Who knows what may come of it. You're great thing may revolutionise the world.
A great way to stimulate your thoughts and allow ideas to pop into your mind is to perform some type of exercise. Go for a walk. Go for a run. Ride a bike. Have a workout. whatever you do, do it alone, in peace and quiet. Give your subconscious a chance to do it's job. When your blood is flowing and your mind is quiet, it's ideas time.
Always keep a notepad and pen next to your bed. Doing this will allow you to record any ideas and thoughts that may come to you when you first awake. Some say that these thoughts are from contact with collective consciousness when your mind has achieved relaxation.
Be yourself. Find your own unique style. Be an individual. Don't be afraid to stand out. It's easy to pick out the color red in a sea of blue. But be honest about it - fakes are easy to pick. Find a personal style that is comfortable and comes naturally to you. Unique ideas more often than not come from unique individuals who are prepared to travel the road less travelled.
Waiting until everything is perfect before you start means you may never actually start. Tip: the time is never perfect to start new projects. Just get started and you will find that things will soon fall into place. The inspiration will come. To start writing I sit in front of my laptop and after a short while an idea for an article pops in. You are no different. Give yourself the opportunity. And you don't need the latest nick knack gadget to do a great job either. Many great books have been written on loose paper with a pencil entirely in longhand.
Passion breeds innovation. Do stuff you love and love the stuff you do. You can have all the talent in the world but if the flames of passion and hunger for what you do are long dead it's time to seek change. You'll soon get fed up seeing people with far less talent than you achieve far more. Find something you love and light a fire under yourself.
Relax. Ever tried talking gently in a crowded room. No one can hear you! With a still and quiet mind you can finally hear yourself think. Find time to get away and think. Make the room in your life for ideas of innovation to enter in. Be ready for them - don't forget that paper and pen.
Finally - you already have what it takes - everybody does - it's inside you - it's called heart.
"Just as energy is the basis of life itself, and ideas the source of innovation, so is innovation the vital spark of all human change, improvement and progress." - Ted Levitt
"Never before in history has innovation offered promise of so much to so many in so short a time." - Bill Gates
"The winner is the chef who takes the same ingredients as everyone else and produces the best results." - Edward de Bono
Thoughtful reading on innovation: "The Medici Effect" by Frans Johansson
A bit of a change of subject here. If you love your freedom or think you actually are free; a wake up call - everyone needs to see this: YouTube
You have the potential to be, do and have anything that you set your mind to. You may just be the only person holding you back.
You can no doubt remember how long it took to learn to ride a bicycle, learn a language at school, or perhaps learn to be an excellent car driver. It didn't happen overnight. Nothing ever does. And so it is with learning to be innovative and creative. It is an innate talent that needs to be woken from slumber. Some of what follows may help.
Steer your own ship - better put - steer your own ship using your own charts (goals and dreams). Listening to the well meaning advice of too many people often only leads to confusion. Trust yourself. If you have an original and great idea you'd like to follow through with, trying to explain it to others will not work. They will only want to brand it with their own ideas and interpretations (most of it negative!) and nine times out of ten they will never understand it anyway. Best to make your own mistakes or more likely your very own victories to cherish.
Spend time proudly on your ideas and creations. They're just as important to you and the world as anyone else's. Who knows what may come of it. You're great thing may revolutionise the world.
A great way to stimulate your thoughts and allow ideas to pop into your mind is to perform some type of exercise. Go for a walk. Go for a run. Ride a bike. Have a workout. whatever you do, do it alone, in peace and quiet. Give your subconscious a chance to do it's job. When your blood is flowing and your mind is quiet, it's ideas time.
Always keep a notepad and pen next to your bed. Doing this will allow you to record any ideas and thoughts that may come to you when you first awake. Some say that these thoughts are from contact with collective consciousness when your mind has achieved relaxation.
Be yourself. Find your own unique style. Be an individual. Don't be afraid to stand out. It's easy to pick out the color red in a sea of blue. But be honest about it - fakes are easy to pick. Find a personal style that is comfortable and comes naturally to you. Unique ideas more often than not come from unique individuals who are prepared to travel the road less travelled.
Waiting until everything is perfect before you start means you may never actually start. Tip: the time is never perfect to start new projects. Just get started and you will find that things will soon fall into place. The inspiration will come. To start writing I sit in front of my laptop and after a short while an idea for an article pops in. You are no different. Give yourself the opportunity. And you don't need the latest nick knack gadget to do a great job either. Many great books have been written on loose paper with a pencil entirely in longhand.
Passion breeds innovation. Do stuff you love and love the stuff you do. You can have all the talent in the world but if the flames of passion and hunger for what you do are long dead it's time to seek change. You'll soon get fed up seeing people with far less talent than you achieve far more. Find something you love and light a fire under yourself.
Relax. Ever tried talking gently in a crowded room. No one can hear you! With a still and quiet mind you can finally hear yourself think. Find time to get away and think. Make the room in your life for ideas of innovation to enter in. Be ready for them - don't forget that paper and pen.
Finally - you already have what it takes - everybody does - it's inside you - it's called heart.
"Just as energy is the basis of life itself, and ideas the source of innovation, so is innovation the vital spark of all human change, improvement and progress." - Ted Levitt
"Never before in history has innovation offered promise of so much to so many in so short a time." - Bill Gates
"The winner is the chef who takes the same ingredients as everyone else and produces the best results." - Edward de Bono
Thoughtful reading on innovation: "The Medici Effect" by Frans Johansson
A bit of a change of subject here. If you love your freedom or think you actually are free; a wake up call - everyone needs to see this: YouTube
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Four stories for change.
"You are the way you are because that's the way you want to be. If you really wanted to be any different, you would be in the process of changing right now." - Fred Smith (1)
"The longer I live, The more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, gifted ability, or skill. It will make or break a company, a church, a home.
The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past, we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing that we can do is play on the one string that we have and this string is, attitude. I am convinced that life is ten percent what happens to me and ninety percent how I react to it. And so it is with you.....WE ARE IN CHARGE OF OUR ATTITUDES." - Charles Swindoll (2)
"It's amazing what happens when you recognize your good qualities, accept responsibility for your future, and take positive action to make that future even brighter." - Zig Ziglar (3)
"Whatever you're thinking about is literally like planning a future event. When you're worrying, you are planning. When you're appreciating you are planning.....What are you planning?" - Abraham-Hicks (4)
Life changing quotes from:
(1), (2), and (3) - from "Over the Top" by Zig Ziglar, pages 138, 113, and 155 respectively.
(4) - Abraham-Hicks Daily Quote of 10/28/2008.
It IS your life and you ARE in control. You are the master of your destiny - the Captain of your ship. Where you find yourself right now is the result of where you have been steering your personal ship for the last..........(insert your age) number of years.
If you don't like where your find yourself - change course for YOUR future.
"The longer I live, The more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, gifted ability, or skill. It will make or break a company, a church, a home.
The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past, we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing that we can do is play on the one string that we have and this string is, attitude. I am convinced that life is ten percent what happens to me and ninety percent how I react to it. And so it is with you.....WE ARE IN CHARGE OF OUR ATTITUDES." - Charles Swindoll (2)
"It's amazing what happens when you recognize your good qualities, accept responsibility for your future, and take positive action to make that future even brighter." - Zig Ziglar (3)
"Whatever you're thinking about is literally like planning a future event. When you're worrying, you are planning. When you're appreciating you are planning.....What are you planning?" - Abraham-Hicks (4)
Life changing quotes from:
(1), (2), and (3) - from "Over the Top" by Zig Ziglar, pages 138, 113, and 155 respectively.
(4) - Abraham-Hicks Daily Quote of 10/28/2008.
It IS your life and you ARE in control. You are the master of your destiny - the Captain of your ship. Where you find yourself right now is the result of where you have been steering your personal ship for the last..........(insert your age) number of years.
If you don't like where your find yourself - change course for YOUR future.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Take an interest in life - develop an enquiring mind
We are so extremely lucky today. We have the Internet. We have libraries. We have bookshops. We have news agencies. TVs. Radios. Newspapers. Almost an unlimited amount of information about an almost unlimited number of topics.
One of my hobbies is an interest in archeology, ancient history, ancient civilisations, Pre-history, biblical archeology - basically anything to do with our past. I can very easily lose a couple of hours cruising relevant sites on the web and especially YouTube. I have many books on archeology and am a regular borrower from our local library.
Another interest that I pursue is our gold mining history in our state of Victoria. Along with this of course comes an interest in all the old railway lines and timber tramways in our mountain areas. We are very lucky as many old railway lines and timber tramways have been preserved either as fully working steam railways or as bike paths or walking tracks. Then there's the ghost towns, or, more accurately, where they used to be (we suffer a lot of bushfires in Australia). Lots of info available on this one too.
UFOs. What a great subject. This interest connects in nicely with the archeology one very easily! At last count I've actually seen four UFOs on different occasions (one sighting corroborated by a witness) - yes! I most definitely believe. What are they? I have my theories - wait for my book, but yes, they are most surely real.
Bodybuilding and health in general. I'll throw in my interest in professional wrestling history from the 1950's, 60's, 70's, 80's, and 90's into this category. Again, lots of great information available.
"I'm bored, there's nothing to do" never really happens for me. I can't wait for a spare moment to go check something out. I just adore conspiracy theories too. Don't get me started here - it could be a long night.
Life is just so damn fascinating.
There is too much to learn to ever be bored or disinterested. Just pick a subject and go find out about it. A lot of stuff you learn can be life changing - and always for the better.
Empower yourself - develop an enquiring mind - take an interest in life.
"A closed mind is a dying mind." - Edna Ferber
"A mind, like a home, is furnished by it's owner, so if one's life is cold and bare he can blame none but himself." - Louis L'amour
"Curiosity is the lust of the mind." - Thomas Hobbes
"Each day do something outrageous to stretch your mind and broaden your horizons, to change the present and help someone become something more than they were before - and that someone might be you." - Harry Quadracci
For a bit of fun: "An Underground Education" by Richard Zacks.
One of my hobbies is an interest in archeology, ancient history, ancient civilisations, Pre-history, biblical archeology - basically anything to do with our past. I can very easily lose a couple of hours cruising relevant sites on the web and especially YouTube. I have many books on archeology and am a regular borrower from our local library.
Another interest that I pursue is our gold mining history in our state of Victoria. Along with this of course comes an interest in all the old railway lines and timber tramways in our mountain areas. We are very lucky as many old railway lines and timber tramways have been preserved either as fully working steam railways or as bike paths or walking tracks. Then there's the ghost towns, or, more accurately, where they used to be (we suffer a lot of bushfires in Australia). Lots of info available on this one too.
UFOs. What a great subject. This interest connects in nicely with the archeology one very easily! At last count I've actually seen four UFOs on different occasions (one sighting corroborated by a witness) - yes! I most definitely believe. What are they? I have my theories - wait for my book, but yes, they are most surely real.
Bodybuilding and health in general. I'll throw in my interest in professional wrestling history from the 1950's, 60's, 70's, 80's, and 90's into this category. Again, lots of great information available.
"I'm bored, there's nothing to do" never really happens for me. I can't wait for a spare moment to go check something out. I just adore conspiracy theories too. Don't get me started here - it could be a long night.
Life is just so damn fascinating.
There is too much to learn to ever be bored or disinterested. Just pick a subject and go find out about it. A lot of stuff you learn can be life changing - and always for the better.
Empower yourself - develop an enquiring mind - take an interest in life.
"A closed mind is a dying mind." - Edna Ferber
"A mind, like a home, is furnished by it's owner, so if one's life is cold and bare he can blame none but himself." - Louis L'amour
"Curiosity is the lust of the mind." - Thomas Hobbes
"Each day do something outrageous to stretch your mind and broaden your horizons, to change the present and help someone become something more than they were before - and that someone might be you." - Harry Quadracci
For a bit of fun: "An Underground Education" by Richard Zacks.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
No matter what the price
Never sell you soul. Many times throughout your life you will be asked to do or to perform tasks that will go completely against you moral stance. It will be a test of your personal integrity.
Wikipedia tells me that: "Integrity is consistency of actions, values, methods, measures and principles........People are said to have integrity to the extent that they behave according to the values, beliefs and principles they claim to hold."
What are your personal values, beliefs and principles? It's an interesting question. Do you run yours on a type of sliding scale according to the situation at hand or are yours absolute? Have you ever taken the time to list yours? That's right! Take a pen and paper and actually list your personal values, beliefs and principles. It's a good exercise - could be quite confronting.
Most religions would have a commandment of respecting life. Thou shalt not kill. It's an interesting observation that in times of war conscientious objectors are dealt with very harshly in all countries; yet perhaps these people should be looked upon as having great integrity in not wanting to break their personal moral or religious codes. I guess it's just the way you look at it.
For what it's worth my advice to you is to know your values, beliefs and principles. Never sell out. No matter what price is offered to break them. As long as your values, beliefs and principles do no harm to others, but only good - be proud that you hold them.
Proudly be a person of integrity.
"Have the courage to say no. Have the courage to face the truth. Do the right thing because it is right. These are the magic keys to living your life with integrity." - W. Clement Stone
"Integrity is doing the right thing, even if nobody is watching." - Jim Stovall
"Live so that when your children think of fairness and integrity, they think of you." - H. Jackson Brown Jr.
"Integrity is not a conditional word. It doesn't blow in the wind or change with the weather. It is your inner image of yourself, and if you look in there and see a man who won't cheat, then you know he never will." - John D. MacDonald
This book will help: "Integrity: The Courage to Meet the Demands of Reality" by Henry Cloud
If you like to think outside the square, here's a great YouTube to watch - just click here.
Wikipedia tells me that: "Integrity is consistency of actions, values, methods, measures and principles........People are said to have integrity to the extent that they behave according to the values, beliefs and principles they claim to hold."
What are your personal values, beliefs and principles? It's an interesting question. Do you run yours on a type of sliding scale according to the situation at hand or are yours absolute? Have you ever taken the time to list yours? That's right! Take a pen and paper and actually list your personal values, beliefs and principles. It's a good exercise - could be quite confronting.
Most religions would have a commandment of respecting life. Thou shalt not kill. It's an interesting observation that in times of war conscientious objectors are dealt with very harshly in all countries; yet perhaps these people should be looked upon as having great integrity in not wanting to break their personal moral or religious codes. I guess it's just the way you look at it.
For what it's worth my advice to you is to know your values, beliefs and principles. Never sell out. No matter what price is offered to break them. As long as your values, beliefs and principles do no harm to others, but only good - be proud that you hold them.
Proudly be a person of integrity.
"Have the courage to say no. Have the courage to face the truth. Do the right thing because it is right. These are the magic keys to living your life with integrity." - W. Clement Stone
"Integrity is doing the right thing, even if nobody is watching." - Jim Stovall
"Live so that when your children think of fairness and integrity, they think of you." - H. Jackson Brown Jr.
"Integrity is not a conditional word. It doesn't blow in the wind or change with the weather. It is your inner image of yourself, and if you look in there and see a man who won't cheat, then you know he never will." - John D. MacDonald
This book will help: "Integrity: The Courage to Meet the Demands of Reality" by Henry Cloud
If you like to think outside the square, here's a great YouTube to watch - just click here.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Delete impulse spending from your life.
Time to fess up:
1. Do you, your spouse or partner continually spend more than you earn. in other words - does your household expenses always exceed your household income?
2. Month after month when your credit card bill/s arrives in your letterbox are you afraid to open the envelope because you know in your heart the message it carries is not good? Did I really spend that much?
3. When you open your wardrobe do you find yourself wondering if you really need enough outfits and shoes to supply a small town?
4. Are you a victim of gadget-itis? Do you constantly rush out to grab the latest gadget on the retailer's shelf before it even collects a speck of dust?
5. Do you window shop often and end up bringing home a purchase of something you never knew you needed until you saw it displayed in the shop window?
A "yes" to any of the above means you are a victim of impulse spending - or should I say - you have allowed yourself to become a victim of impulse spending. Another very inaccurate description is "retail therapy". It's an action that for a small amount of time makes you feel better upon purchase of the new "thing". It can be much more accurately described as "self harm" or a form of self abuse.
When you are indulging in this sort of spending you are putting on hold so many far more important matters. Think in terms of retirement, a long needed vacation, a new car, financial security, the dream home. Overcome this by the formulating of medium and long term goals. Write them down. Read them every day. Pull out your goals list and read over them when you find yourself looking longingly into the shop window at the latest "must have or die".
Advertisers blitz us 24/7/365. You will never escape the pressure to buy. If you are not careful your relationships with loved ones will also suffer as your finances dwindle. You will feel miserable and they will know something is wrong.
A great solution is to always sleep on it. One night minimum. A week is best. The gloss of the "must have" usually goes by then.
Always shop from a prepared list. This automatically narrows your options down and will help enormously to keep you on the right path. As far as possible always pay cash - deliberately leave your credit cards at home. This limits the amount you can spend at one time.
Empower yourself towards a much simpler lifestyle. There are so many rewards for doing so.
"We are ruined, not by what we really want, but by what we think we do: therefore never go abroad in search of your wants. If they be real wants, they will come home in search of you; for he that buys what he does not want, will soon want what he cannot buy." - Charles Caleb Colton
"If you know how to spend less than you get, you have the philosopher's stone." - Benjamin Franklin
A must read - "The True Cost of Happiness" by Stacey Tisdale
1. Do you, your spouse or partner continually spend more than you earn. in other words - does your household expenses always exceed your household income?
2. Month after month when your credit card bill/s arrives in your letterbox are you afraid to open the envelope because you know in your heart the message it carries is not good? Did I really spend that much?
3. When you open your wardrobe do you find yourself wondering if you really need enough outfits and shoes to supply a small town?
4. Are you a victim of gadget-itis? Do you constantly rush out to grab the latest gadget on the retailer's shelf before it even collects a speck of dust?
5. Do you window shop often and end up bringing home a purchase of something you never knew you needed until you saw it displayed in the shop window?
A "yes" to any of the above means you are a victim of impulse spending - or should I say - you have allowed yourself to become a victim of impulse spending. Another very inaccurate description is "retail therapy". It's an action that for a small amount of time makes you feel better upon purchase of the new "thing". It can be much more accurately described as "self harm" or a form of self abuse.
When you are indulging in this sort of spending you are putting on hold so many far more important matters. Think in terms of retirement, a long needed vacation, a new car, financial security, the dream home. Overcome this by the formulating of medium and long term goals. Write them down. Read them every day. Pull out your goals list and read over them when you find yourself looking longingly into the shop window at the latest "must have or die".
Advertisers blitz us 24/7/365. You will never escape the pressure to buy. If you are not careful your relationships with loved ones will also suffer as your finances dwindle. You will feel miserable and they will know something is wrong.
A great solution is to always sleep on it. One night minimum. A week is best. The gloss of the "must have" usually goes by then.
Always shop from a prepared list. This automatically narrows your options down and will help enormously to keep you on the right path. As far as possible always pay cash - deliberately leave your credit cards at home. This limits the amount you can spend at one time.
Empower yourself towards a much simpler lifestyle. There are so many rewards for doing so.
"We are ruined, not by what we really want, but by what we think we do: therefore never go abroad in search of your wants. If they be real wants, they will come home in search of you; for he that buys what he does not want, will soon want what he cannot buy." - Charles Caleb Colton
"If you know how to spend less than you get, you have the philosopher's stone." - Benjamin Franklin
A must read - "The True Cost of Happiness" by Stacey Tisdale
Friday, September 26, 2008
Get a great night's sleep - no pills required
One of the greatest problems facing us all is the ability to get a great night's sleep - or should I say - the lack of the ability thereof. We tend to take what has transpired during our day straight into bed with us. It just doesn't bode well for a good rest. According to our breakfast show on TV this morning it accounts for about 20% of Australians - pretty conservative I think. Apparently it accounts for over 40% of Americans. It is almost impossible to feel or be empowered when half asleep.
If you're like most people with sleep problems, your mind is simply overloaded with tension and strain by the time your head hits the pillow.
You lie there trying to relax, yet you play the day's events over and over in your mind. You dwell on money problems. Children's problems. Marriage and relationship problems. You can't shut off your brain and get to sleep. no matter how hard you try....and the frustration mounts up...and up!
Imagine if you could release the weight of the world at bedtime. Automatically too, so you don't even give it a thought. And without even taking a single pill, either.
Well that day is finally here.....and I don't want you to miss out.
My friend, Mike Brescia of Think Right Now International has gathered together over 100 leading authors and experts to show you breathtaking new ways to ease your stress, calm your mind, enjoy greater success - including the one, best way to get the blissful nights sleep you deserve, night after night.
Go here now to find out what's going on:
Think Right Now
Mike and the research team at Think Right Now have just released a remarkable new program called "Tranquil Sleep Now". But this isn't just another Self-help book or tape. It's so important - life changing, really - that over 100 other health and self-improvement experts are helping them spread the word.
You see, "Tranquil Sleep Now" does what no other sleep aid in the world can do: It corrects the root causes of your sleeplessness, instead of just knocking you out with brain-altering substances like drugs and herbal supplements do.
This program has only been out a very short while, yet Mike has already received testimonials from dozens of people whose sleep problems disappeared the very first night.
That's right; lifetime insomnia gone - just like that. It's THAT powerful.
Go here to learn what the fuss is about - and get access to over 100 free bonus gifts:
Think Right Now
By the way, "Tranquil Sleep Now" is NOT hypnosis or one of those "sounds of nature" tapes. Instead, it combines two proven mental conditioning techniques in a unique audio format that has a remarkable track record for success.
It breaks the chains of troubled sleep naturally by targeting and transforming the self-defeating thoughts, feelings, and beliefs that loom in your mind when you go to bed.
So if you're sick and tired of waking up feeling like you've been through an ultimate fighting match, "Tranquil Sleep Now" guarantees a full night's sleep every night.
No drugs. No herbs. No time investment. No ongoing costs.
You'll love it.
This program is like an audio knockout pill that trains your mind to shut down on command so that you can fall asleep anytime you want anywhere you want without any strain or effort.
Take advantage of this now before this special is over. Check it out here - and claim your 100 free bonus gifts, too.
Think Right Now
You owe it to yourself. Empower yourself with the best sleep ever.
"Sleep that knits up the ravelled sleave of care
The death of each day's life, sore labour's bath
Balm of hurt minds, great nature's second course,
Chief nourisher in life's feast."
- William Shakespeare (A.K.A. Francis Bacon), Macbeth
"A ruffled mind makes a restless pillow." - Charlotte Bronte
"Restfull Sleep" by Deepak Chopra, M.D.
If you're like most people with sleep problems, your mind is simply overloaded with tension and strain by the time your head hits the pillow.
You lie there trying to relax, yet you play the day's events over and over in your mind. You dwell on money problems. Children's problems. Marriage and relationship problems. You can't shut off your brain and get to sleep. no matter how hard you try....and the frustration mounts up...and up!
Imagine if you could release the weight of the world at bedtime. Automatically too, so you don't even give it a thought. And without even taking a single pill, either.
Well that day is finally here.....and I don't want you to miss out.
My friend, Mike Brescia of Think Right Now International has gathered together over 100 leading authors and experts to show you breathtaking new ways to ease your stress, calm your mind, enjoy greater success - including the one, best way to get the blissful nights sleep you deserve, night after night.
Go here now to find out what's going on:
Think Right Now
Mike and the research team at Think Right Now have just released a remarkable new program called "Tranquil Sleep Now". But this isn't just another Self-help book or tape. It's so important - life changing, really - that over 100 other health and self-improvement experts are helping them spread the word.
You see, "Tranquil Sleep Now" does what no other sleep aid in the world can do: It corrects the root causes of your sleeplessness, instead of just knocking you out with brain-altering substances like drugs and herbal supplements do.
This program has only been out a very short while, yet Mike has already received testimonials from dozens of people whose sleep problems disappeared the very first night.
That's right; lifetime insomnia gone - just like that. It's THAT powerful.
Go here to learn what the fuss is about - and get access to over 100 free bonus gifts:
Think Right Now
By the way, "Tranquil Sleep Now" is NOT hypnosis or one of those "sounds of nature" tapes. Instead, it combines two proven mental conditioning techniques in a unique audio format that has a remarkable track record for success.
It breaks the chains of troubled sleep naturally by targeting and transforming the self-defeating thoughts, feelings, and beliefs that loom in your mind when you go to bed.
So if you're sick and tired of waking up feeling like you've been through an ultimate fighting match, "Tranquil Sleep Now" guarantees a full night's sleep every night.
No drugs. No herbs. No time investment. No ongoing costs.
You'll love it.
This program is like an audio knockout pill that trains your mind to shut down on command so that you can fall asleep anytime you want anywhere you want without any strain or effort.
Take advantage of this now before this special is over. Check it out here - and claim your 100 free bonus gifts, too.
Think Right Now
You owe it to yourself. Empower yourself with the best sleep ever.
"Sleep that knits up the ravelled sleave of care
The death of each day's life, sore labour's bath
Balm of hurt minds, great nature's second course,
Chief nourisher in life's feast."
- William Shakespeare (A.K.A. Francis Bacon), Macbeth
"A ruffled mind makes a restless pillow." - Charlotte Bronte
"Restfull Sleep" by Deepak Chopra, M.D.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Take your time - about your day.
I have an excellent rule about making decisions. If I have to decide an important matter or even just a matter of buying something I may have seen in a shop window my rule is ALWAYS - sleep on it!!!
Believe me, that all important deal or "thingo" you just have to have will still be there tomorrow - if it is a genuine thing. Never jump at those time sensitive offers that are SOOOOO tempting. If a deal or a product is worth it's weight it will still be just as good and just as available tomorrow - or the next day, or month.
How sad it can be to part with your hard earned on a whim so quickly regretted. The seller cares not a whit if you can afford it or for that matter if you actually need it at all. Yep, just another sale.
You know, when we go camping in summer (for Aus. coming closer every day!!!) one of the most wonderful aspects of it all is - NO CRAP. No TV, no DVD, no phone, no computer, no shops, no crowds...........fill in the dots. There is usually such a huge chasm between what we have loaded our life up with............and what we actually need. And it all seems to stand in between friends, conversation, relaxation, happiness, love, family and well, just plain old enjoying the day.
Think carefully now. Be honest. When was the last time you sat on your front porch (in a rocking chair?) and just watched the day go by. Or sat on your sofa and read a good book. For the better part of the day. OK - I know, you just had to rush off for something - oh, I understand, the phone rang - of course, it was the TV program you always watch - oh yes, you had to take the children somewhere (over the rainbow? - sorry!).
You know when someone is holding your hand and you are trying to let go? Your fingers are locked together so you shake your hand to disentangle. That's what I'm talking about. Sometimes we just need to disentangle ourselves from the madness that is modern life - and it can be frustrating because we are all entangled in there.
Empower yourself - take time out. Switch off all appliances. Put off all decisions. Don't phone anyone. Pull the phone cord out. Slow down. Hum a tune. Smile. Relax. Lose your car keys. Grab a book. Set a while. Watch the birds fly by. Notice time slow down. Nice. Back in control. You deserve it.
Life will still be there tomorrow - you can get back to it then.
"Slow down and enjoy life. It's not only the scenery you miss by going too fast - you also miss the sense of where you are going and why." - Eddie Cantor
Some reading: "Simplify Your Life" by Elaine St. James
Believe me, that all important deal or "thingo" you just have to have will still be there tomorrow - if it is a genuine thing. Never jump at those time sensitive offers that are SOOOOO tempting. If a deal or a product is worth it's weight it will still be just as good and just as available tomorrow - or the next day, or month.
How sad it can be to part with your hard earned on a whim so quickly regretted. The seller cares not a whit if you can afford it or for that matter if you actually need it at all. Yep, just another sale.
You know, when we go camping in summer (for Aus. coming closer every day!!!) one of the most wonderful aspects of it all is - NO CRAP. No TV, no DVD, no phone, no computer, no shops, no crowds...........fill in the dots. There is usually such a huge chasm between what we have loaded our life up with............and what we actually need. And it all seems to stand in between friends, conversation, relaxation, happiness, love, family and well, just plain old enjoying the day.
Think carefully now. Be honest. When was the last time you sat on your front porch (in a rocking chair?) and just watched the day go by. Or sat on your sofa and read a good book. For the better part of the day. OK - I know, you just had to rush off for something - oh, I understand, the phone rang - of course, it was the TV program you always watch - oh yes, you had to take the children somewhere (over the rainbow? - sorry!).
You know when someone is holding your hand and you are trying to let go? Your fingers are locked together so you shake your hand to disentangle. That's what I'm talking about. Sometimes we just need to disentangle ourselves from the madness that is modern life - and it can be frustrating because we are all entangled in there.
Empower yourself - take time out. Switch off all appliances. Put off all decisions. Don't phone anyone. Pull the phone cord out. Slow down. Hum a tune. Smile. Relax. Lose your car keys. Grab a book. Set a while. Watch the birds fly by. Notice time slow down. Nice. Back in control. You deserve it.
Life will still be there tomorrow - you can get back to it then.
"Slow down and enjoy life. It's not only the scenery you miss by going too fast - you also miss the sense of where you are going and why." - Eddie Cantor
Some reading: "Simplify Your Life" by Elaine St. James
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Stress and anxiety busting
Anxiety disorders are frequently a product of stress. From general everyday anxiety right up to panic disorders, it is possible to start lowering the anxiety in your life simply by cutting back on stress. Stress is a part of modern daily life no matter who you are, but if stress is allowed to take charge of your life, serious personal problems will develop. Fortunately, ongoing stress can be overcome, but it is important you recognise ways of doing so.
Stress is an internal reaction triggered by outside factors, like pressure (time restraints etc.). One of the best ways to defeat these stress reactions is with lots of exercise. Regular exercise can assist you to physically deal with stress by improving your tolerance to stress during physical exercise. During a panic attack, almost all people experience shortness of breath and have a pounding heart. A vigorous workout generates similar experiences, except in a healthy way. As you exercise more and more regularly, your body will adjust naturally to these conditions without panicking. Your chances of long term physical damage from a panic or anxiety attack will be lessened accordingly.
Obtaining an excellent night’s sleep is likewise very important in reducing stress. Stress can physically fatigue a person’s body, and without sufficient sleep, you will experience the consequences of stress a good deal more. This can lead to anxiety disorders very easily. To get adequate sleep, be sure that you schedule at least 6 to 8 hours for sleeping (book it in your diary if you need to - tell your friends you have an appointment - with your bed - to sleep!). Don’t eat or drink loads of sugar, sweet foods or caffeine products before bedtime and make sure you do relaxing activities in the couple of hours prior to bedtime. If you feel it necessary, see your doctor for assistance with sleeping problems, but, remember, drugs may not cure the problem, only dumb it down. It's always best to fix things naturally if possible.
Another key to minimising stress is to schedule time for leisure related activities. Diarise holidays or at least days off in order to deliberately relax and have fun. Work is a great creator of stress, and with that stress, sometimes comes concern about money, health, and many extra things. By earmarking specific time to have a good time with loved ones or by yourself, you can physically and mentally put aside the stress for at least a few hours to give the mind and body time to recuperate. Try to have at least one or two hours to yourself daily and an entire long weekend every month to purely enjoy recreational activities.
Lastly, work to reduce stress by learning to change the way you think about life. Some of the most stressed-out people are perfectionists. While, in some circumstances, this can be a good trait, it can also go way too far. Know when to let something slide. Also, think positively about your life and give thanks often for what you have. When you worry that you aren’t good enough or are upset about all the little things, they really add together to stress you out. Supervising your thought processes is just a part of the battle, but if you work on cutting back stress, you can help yourself to avoid developing anxiety problems. Relaxed people tend to make better decisions and in this way automatically empower themselves for a better life.
Be kind to yourself.
Some quotes for you:
"Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of it's sorrows, but only empties today of it's strength." - Charles Spurgeon
"I remember being onstage once when I didn't have fear: I got so scared I didn't have fear that it brought on an anxiety attack." - Carly Simon
"If you ask what is the single most important key to longevity, I would have to say it is avoiding worry, stress and tension. And if you didn't ask me, I'd still have to say it." - George Burns
Suggested reading: "Stress Reduction for Busy People" by Dawn Groves
Now listen up - stop fighting it - go up to the top of this page. Click on the little "free book" box and get your free copy of As A Man Thinketh - you'll be forever glad you did. Oh yes. READ IT.
Stress is an internal reaction triggered by outside factors, like pressure (time restraints etc.). One of the best ways to defeat these stress reactions is with lots of exercise. Regular exercise can assist you to physically deal with stress by improving your tolerance to stress during physical exercise. During a panic attack, almost all people experience shortness of breath and have a pounding heart. A vigorous workout generates similar experiences, except in a healthy way. As you exercise more and more regularly, your body will adjust naturally to these conditions without panicking. Your chances of long term physical damage from a panic or anxiety attack will be lessened accordingly.
Obtaining an excellent night’s sleep is likewise very important in reducing stress. Stress can physically fatigue a person’s body, and without sufficient sleep, you will experience the consequences of stress a good deal more. This can lead to anxiety disorders very easily. To get adequate sleep, be sure that you schedule at least 6 to 8 hours for sleeping (book it in your diary if you need to - tell your friends you have an appointment - with your bed - to sleep!). Don’t eat or drink loads of sugar, sweet foods or caffeine products before bedtime and make sure you do relaxing activities in the couple of hours prior to bedtime. If you feel it necessary, see your doctor for assistance with sleeping problems, but, remember, drugs may not cure the problem, only dumb it down. It's always best to fix things naturally if possible.
Another key to minimising stress is to schedule time for leisure related activities. Diarise holidays or at least days off in order to deliberately relax and have fun. Work is a great creator of stress, and with that stress, sometimes comes concern about money, health, and many extra things. By earmarking specific time to have a good time with loved ones or by yourself, you can physically and mentally put aside the stress for at least a few hours to give the mind and body time to recuperate. Try to have at least one or two hours to yourself daily and an entire long weekend every month to purely enjoy recreational activities.
Lastly, work to reduce stress by learning to change the way you think about life. Some of the most stressed-out people are perfectionists. While, in some circumstances, this can be a good trait, it can also go way too far. Know when to let something slide. Also, think positively about your life and give thanks often for what you have. When you worry that you aren’t good enough or are upset about all the little things, they really add together to stress you out. Supervising your thought processes is just a part of the battle, but if you work on cutting back stress, you can help yourself to avoid developing anxiety problems. Relaxed people tend to make better decisions and in this way automatically empower themselves for a better life.
Be kind to yourself.
Some quotes for you:
"Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of it's sorrows, but only empties today of it's strength." - Charles Spurgeon
"I remember being onstage once when I didn't have fear: I got so scared I didn't have fear that it brought on an anxiety attack." - Carly Simon
"If you ask what is the single most important key to longevity, I would have to say it is avoiding worry, stress and tension. And if you didn't ask me, I'd still have to say it." - George Burns
Suggested reading: "Stress Reduction for Busy People" by Dawn Groves
Now listen up - stop fighting it - go up to the top of this page. Click on the little "free book" box and get your free copy of As A Man Thinketh - you'll be forever glad you did. Oh yes. READ IT.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
The myth - of physical perfection
Here is a great myth to debunk straight up. I'm going to say it loud and clear for you so that you don't need to waist any more of your precious life chasing after this complete myth.
PHYSICAL PERFECTION DOES NOT EXIST
PHYSICAL PERFECTION IS A MYTH
It's great to go to the gym to get fit, strong, improve your self image, drop a clothes size, look a little better at the beach. Please don't misunderstand me. I would encourage anyone to embark on a fitness and/or strength training regimen. It is actually the correct thing to do.
What I am saying is that a lot of people waist enormous amounts of time, energy and money chasing after the myth of physical perfection when in fact it is really just a myth after all. It is a little bit like the end of the rainbow thing. You chase around hunting for the elusive pot of gold at the end of the rainbow only to find "no joy" when you arrive at the spot where you think it should be.
I'm going to let you in on a little secret here. I have been a bodybuilder and strength trainer all my life. For an "old" guy of 57, I really don't look too bad - if I do (proudly) say so myself. But the truth is it's a little like smoke and mirrors. I have always had a gym setup at home - pretty basic - but all you need and I have always been very regular with my workouts - pretty conscientious really. So it has paid off over time. I sometimes even get the odd complement which I lap up like a thirsty cat.
But here's the little secret. I have arthritis in both my knees. Nothing too serious. Always have had "dicky" knees. I also suffer from ulcerative colitis. Have had it since I was 25 years old. I manage this disease very well with only the occasional medicinal help. I am a lousy sleeper. It's very rare that I would ever sleep a whole night through, in fact, can't remember when it happened last - so I'm often tired during the day. I have tinnitus (constant ringing in my ears). There doesn't seem to be as much hair on my head as there used to be - or so the mirror is intent on telling me. I can guarantee that my dear wife has a magnificently long list of other associated faults that I have but, of course, I would deny them outright!
The point of this exercise is to say to you - don't waist too much time anguishing over the fact that you may not have "the perfect body", or you may not look like a movie star, or an Olympian. The fact is that if you could climb inside all those "perfect bodies" I know definitely that you would find them to be not so perfect after all. They would most likely have a cache of physical (and other) problems just like me - you just can't spot'em straight away. As with a lot of things in life - they look good from a distance, and that's exactly where they should stay.
You are beautiful, just as you are. You are loved, just as you are. You are needed, just as you are. You are that little part that the great mechanism that is the universe needs, so it is able to run as it should.
Be happy.
A couple of quotes:
"Perfection itself is imperfection" - Vladimir Horowitz
"Actually, I can't imagine anything more tedious than a perfect person, especially if it was someone who also demanded perfection from me." - Hugh Mackay
A book mostly for the ladies:
"Be Happy Without Being Perfect: How to Break Free from the Perefction Deception" by Alice Domar and Alice Lesch Kelly.
PHYSICAL PERFECTION DOES NOT EXIST
PHYSICAL PERFECTION IS A MYTH
It's great to go to the gym to get fit, strong, improve your self image, drop a clothes size, look a little better at the beach. Please don't misunderstand me. I would encourage anyone to embark on a fitness and/or strength training regimen. It is actually the correct thing to do.
What I am saying is that a lot of people waist enormous amounts of time, energy and money chasing after the myth of physical perfection when in fact it is really just a myth after all. It is a little bit like the end of the rainbow thing. You chase around hunting for the elusive pot of gold at the end of the rainbow only to find "no joy" when you arrive at the spot where you think it should be.
I'm going to let you in on a little secret here. I have been a bodybuilder and strength trainer all my life. For an "old" guy of 57, I really don't look too bad - if I do (proudly) say so myself. But the truth is it's a little like smoke and mirrors. I have always had a gym setup at home - pretty basic - but all you need and I have always been very regular with my workouts - pretty conscientious really. So it has paid off over time. I sometimes even get the odd complement which I lap up like a thirsty cat.
But here's the little secret. I have arthritis in both my knees. Nothing too serious. Always have had "dicky" knees. I also suffer from ulcerative colitis. Have had it since I was 25 years old. I manage this disease very well with only the occasional medicinal help. I am a lousy sleeper. It's very rare that I would ever sleep a whole night through, in fact, can't remember when it happened last - so I'm often tired during the day. I have tinnitus (constant ringing in my ears). There doesn't seem to be as much hair on my head as there used to be - or so the mirror is intent on telling me. I can guarantee that my dear wife has a magnificently long list of other associated faults that I have but, of course, I would deny them outright!
The point of this exercise is to say to you - don't waist too much time anguishing over the fact that you may not have "the perfect body", or you may not look like a movie star, or an Olympian. The fact is that if you could climb inside all those "perfect bodies" I know definitely that you would find them to be not so perfect after all. They would most likely have a cache of physical (and other) problems just like me - you just can't spot'em straight away. As with a lot of things in life - they look good from a distance, and that's exactly where they should stay.
You are beautiful, just as you are. You are loved, just as you are. You are needed, just as you are. You are that little part that the great mechanism that is the universe needs, so it is able to run as it should.
Be happy.
A couple of quotes:
"Perfection itself is imperfection" - Vladimir Horowitz
"Actually, I can't imagine anything more tedious than a perfect person, especially if it was someone who also demanded perfection from me." - Hugh Mackay
A book mostly for the ladies:
"Be Happy Without Being Perfect: How to Break Free from the Perefction Deception" by Alice Domar and Alice Lesch Kelly.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Is it time to say that enough is enough?
Why do we constantly end up being led by complete morons? Please note that, with this blog post, it is not my wish to intentionally upset anyone, but with the current news of Russia V. Georgia you have to just sit back and scratch your head.
Don't these people learn from the past? Haven't we all had enough of the killing? And it's not just the killing. It's the wounded. The economies crushed. The families torn apart. The futures destroyed. The happiness lost. Infrastructure wrecked. Education stopped. Why?
Is it because someone, somewhere was simply having a bad hair day? Feeling a little greedy perhaps? Small penis syndrome? Thought they were born to rule? Itchy finger just got too itchy?
A question for you. If we were all blessed with a special form of future vision, how many of our leaders would ever get elected in the first place? I'll give you a clue. How does NIL sound! Pretty close I'd reckon. Here's another - if they could see and experience first hand, and personally, the damage they do, the lives they destroy, the families they wreck down through generations, the unhappiness they wreak - would they begin? Try this one - if the first person that was to die in the conflict they start was to be themselves - would they begin?
I don't think so! These great and very brave "leaders" always seem to be very comfortably far away from all the misery they cause - most convenient!!
Just for a moment consider the possibility that if all the money these idiots waste on their silly little grabs for power were instead put into medical research I believe most diseases would NOW be cured. Poverty? Probably a thing of the past. Maybe humans would be living on other planets right now.
You know what the saddest thing is? They were probably voted in, by us, the ordinary citizen. Yep! They snag us hook, line and sinker, every time, with there snake-oil promises, their angel "kissing babies" smile, their "I'm one of you" and "I've got all the answers" lies.
I don't know about you, but I think it's time we ALL said enough is enough! Stop the lies. Stop the killing. Stop the hatred. Stop the madness.
What can you do? Refuse to take part. Think for yourself. Analyze carefully what people tell you - check the facts (most institutions crumble under close scrutiny). Empower yourself to make your own decisions. Imagine if every soldier in the world refused to pull the trigger - because they gave consideration to what they were about to do. The chance of that happening right now is pretty slim, I'll be the first to admit, but you surely get my point. You must begin to be think of yourself as a citizen of the world - NOT as a citizen of a country.
The point is also this. We are all one. In the act of hurting someone else, we also hurt ourselves. When one of our fellow humans dies, we also die a little bit too. When you lie to someone, you also lie to yourself. At what point do we stop the masochism?
The decision is surely ours.
"You've got to go out on a limb sometimes because that's where the fruit is." - Will Rogers
"Let no man imagine that he has no influence. Whoever he may be, and wherever he may be placed, the man who thinks becomes a light and a power." - Henry George
"We must be the change we wish to see." - Mahatma Ghandi
Well worth reading: "Think For Yourself!: An Essay On Cutting Through The Babble, The Bias, And The Hype" - by Steve Hindes
Take this opportunity to grab your copy of The Work At Home Formula and Course. Just click here.
Don't these people learn from the past? Haven't we all had enough of the killing? And it's not just the killing. It's the wounded. The economies crushed. The families torn apart. The futures destroyed. The happiness lost. Infrastructure wrecked. Education stopped. Why?
Is it because someone, somewhere was simply having a bad hair day? Feeling a little greedy perhaps? Small penis syndrome? Thought they were born to rule? Itchy finger just got too itchy?
A question for you. If we were all blessed with a special form of future vision, how many of our leaders would ever get elected in the first place? I'll give you a clue. How does NIL sound! Pretty close I'd reckon. Here's another - if they could see and experience first hand, and personally, the damage they do, the lives they destroy, the families they wreck down through generations, the unhappiness they wreak - would they begin? Try this one - if the first person that was to die in the conflict they start was to be themselves - would they begin?
I don't think so! These great and very brave "leaders" always seem to be very comfortably far away from all the misery they cause - most convenient!!
Just for a moment consider the possibility that if all the money these idiots waste on their silly little grabs for power were instead put into medical research I believe most diseases would NOW be cured. Poverty? Probably a thing of the past. Maybe humans would be living on other planets right now.
You know what the saddest thing is? They were probably voted in, by us, the ordinary citizen. Yep! They snag us hook, line and sinker, every time, with there snake-oil promises, their angel "kissing babies" smile, their "I'm one of you" and "I've got all the answers" lies.
I don't know about you, but I think it's time we ALL said enough is enough! Stop the lies. Stop the killing. Stop the hatred. Stop the madness.
What can you do? Refuse to take part. Think for yourself. Analyze carefully what people tell you - check the facts (most institutions crumble under close scrutiny). Empower yourself to make your own decisions. Imagine if every soldier in the world refused to pull the trigger - because they gave consideration to what they were about to do. The chance of that happening right now is pretty slim, I'll be the first to admit, but you surely get my point. You must begin to be think of yourself as a citizen of the world - NOT as a citizen of a country.
The point is also this. We are all one. In the act of hurting someone else, we also hurt ourselves. When one of our fellow humans dies, we also die a little bit too. When you lie to someone, you also lie to yourself. At what point do we stop the masochism?
The decision is surely ours.
"You've got to go out on a limb sometimes because that's where the fruit is." - Will Rogers
"Let no man imagine that he has no influence. Whoever he may be, and wherever he may be placed, the man who thinks becomes a light and a power." - Henry George
"We must be the change we wish to see." - Mahatma Ghandi
Well worth reading: "Think For Yourself!: An Essay On Cutting Through The Babble, The Bias, And The Hype" - by Steve Hindes
Take this opportunity to grab your copy of The Work At Home Formula and Course. Just click here.
Friday, August 1, 2008
It's not the problem that's the problem
It may only be your attitude to the problem that's the problem.
I was watching the news this morning on the TV. I know! They alway's very cleverly make it look as if the world is falling apart. One story was different today for all the right reasons. It jumped right out of the screen and grabbed me by the collar and said "look at me".
It was about a fellow who had been born without both his arms - wait for it - and - both of his legs. Yes, you read right, he is a torso and a head. What jumped out and grabbed me by the collar was the fact that this man was not miserable. He was not even in some sort of mobility device. You would expect at the minimum he would be telling the reporter a story of woe and "sorry me".
He was grinning from ear to ear and a happier face you would find it hard to find anywhere. He plays golf and their he was diving off a diving board into a pool to swim. If there was a person in the human race who had something to groan about - this was that person. This man was not groaning - just showing gratitude and affection to all the people around him. I was truly gobsmacked!
But that is not the only story like this I have noticed recently. A couple of weeks ago there was a story in the news of a young fellow, new to Australia, who had lost both his legs. I think it was because he used to live in the Middle East and it was the result of a bomb blast.
This man was playing football. Having two artificial legs was not stopping this guy. He was playing hard and all the other players were giving him the respect of playing hard too. He was tackling and being tackled! Again this man was smiling from ear to ear and was showing freindship to all those around.
I know you may have some problems - we all do. You can see from this story that it might not be your particular problem that is your problem. It may only be your attitude to your problem that is the problem. By changing your attitude to the problems in your life it is possible to change the whole flow and future of your life for the better no matter what your circumstances may be.
To fully realize the empowering force of right attitude I only had to see the happiness in the smiling faces of those two human beings.
Change your attitude - change your life.
Quote time:
"The trick is in what one emphasizes. We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves happy. The amount of work is the same" - Carlos Castaneda
"The basic thing is that everyone wants happiness, no one wants suffering. And happiness mainly comes from our own attitude, rather than from external factors. If your own mental attitude is correct, even if you remain in a hostile atmosphere, you feel happy." - H.H. The Dalia Lama
"The greatest discovery of our generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind. As you think, so shall you be." - William James
Compulsory reading: "The Difference Maker: Making Your Attitude Your Greatest Asset" - by John C. Maxwell
Time for a commercial break:
"Cash Pulling Blog Tactics Revealed" - Free PDF report and E-Course show you EXACTLY how to turn an ordinary blog into a nonstop, cash pulling machine. Click here to grab yours now!
I was watching the news this morning on the TV. I know! They alway's very cleverly make it look as if the world is falling apart. One story was different today for all the right reasons. It jumped right out of the screen and grabbed me by the collar and said "look at me".
It was about a fellow who had been born without both his arms - wait for it - and - both of his legs. Yes, you read right, he is a torso and a head. What jumped out and grabbed me by the collar was the fact that this man was not miserable. He was not even in some sort of mobility device. You would expect at the minimum he would be telling the reporter a story of woe and "sorry me".
He was grinning from ear to ear and a happier face you would find it hard to find anywhere. He plays golf and their he was diving off a diving board into a pool to swim. If there was a person in the human race who had something to groan about - this was that person. This man was not groaning - just showing gratitude and affection to all the people around him. I was truly gobsmacked!
But that is not the only story like this I have noticed recently. A couple of weeks ago there was a story in the news of a young fellow, new to Australia, who had lost both his legs. I think it was because he used to live in the Middle East and it was the result of a bomb blast.
This man was playing football. Having two artificial legs was not stopping this guy. He was playing hard and all the other players were giving him the respect of playing hard too. He was tackling and being tackled! Again this man was smiling from ear to ear and was showing freindship to all those around.
I know you may have some problems - we all do. You can see from this story that it might not be your particular problem that is your problem. It may only be your attitude to your problem that is the problem. By changing your attitude to the problems in your life it is possible to change the whole flow and future of your life for the better no matter what your circumstances may be.
To fully realize the empowering force of right attitude I only had to see the happiness in the smiling faces of those two human beings.
Change your attitude - change your life.
Quote time:
"The trick is in what one emphasizes. We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves happy. The amount of work is the same" - Carlos Castaneda
"The basic thing is that everyone wants happiness, no one wants suffering. And happiness mainly comes from our own attitude, rather than from external factors. If your own mental attitude is correct, even if you remain in a hostile atmosphere, you feel happy." - H.H. The Dalia Lama
"The greatest discovery of our generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind. As you think, so shall you be." - William James
Compulsory reading: "The Difference Maker: Making Your Attitude Your Greatest Asset" - by John C. Maxwell
Time for a commercial break:
"Cash Pulling Blog Tactics Revealed" - Free PDF report and E-Course show you EXACTLY how to turn an ordinary blog into a nonstop, cash pulling machine. Click here to grab yours now!
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Letting go of the past - a simple method
It can be very easy to say "let it go", "let it slide", "forget about it" and so forth. It's possible to say those words and similar till you are blue in the face; but all those hurtful things are still there pulling faces at you, laughing at you, making you feel so low, dragging you down and keeping you from the power to reach for success.
You know for a fact that you can have a fast, powerful sports car, but, load it up with lots of unnecessary junk and it's going to have only one speed - dead slow - no matter how hard you press that accelerator and wish it forward. This applies to your life. Load your mind up with all sorts of junk from the past and you've got it - no power - no matter how hard you try or wish.
All that hurtful, humiliating, painful, debilitating, embarrassing "stuff" from the past eating away at your character, confidence and personal power like battery acid. What can you do? How can you begin to move forward?
Forgiveness. You MUST forgive the past. Forgive the people who may have wronged you in some way. Forgive all the incidents. Forgive yourself. Forgive even your God. For it is only through true and heartfelt forgiveness of the past and all those involved that you can genuinely begin to "let it go", "let it slide", truly "forget about it" and move forward again. Everybody makes mistakes. We are all only human, and our greatest teachers are our mistakes. All those people from the past who you believe wronged you - well - they, just like you, are only human too. You need to recognise that and be prepared to forgive just as you would like to be forgiven for your past mistakes.
Action plan. Make a list. A list of all the people, incidents, wrongs, mistakes made, hurts, jealousies that are encumbering your life, that are robbing you of your power. Write everything down. Don't miss a thing. Not a single crumb. This is going to be one nasty document. Add descriptions if you wish - just get it ALL out on paper.
The old you would have framed this document on the wall so you could read over it every day and gloat about all your excuses for "not making it".
The new you is going to handle the situation totally differently. You are going to set aside a day - a whole day - to be alone. You need to find a lonely spot a long way from everyone. Perhaps a trip to the country will do it. Pack a picnic lunch. Look on this as a celebration. A celebration of forgiveness.
You will arrive safely at the designated spot. You spread out your picnic. An excellent spot is somewhere high like a mountain top. You take out your list. In a very loud voice you call out "I forgive my wife for not loving me as she should.", "I forgive my aunt Joan for embarrassing me so much at that family party in 1987", "I forgive with all my heart and soul the driver of that car that smashed into ours injuring my son so badly - I forgive you." Obviously these are only examples - yours will be yours. If you feel you need to read it over many times until you feel "done".
Now destroy the list completely. Bury or scatter to the wind any remains. Make sure it is gone forever. Celebrate your forgiveness event with your picnic and go home. It is done. You are free. Forgive always. We are all one. As you have just forgiven others, so too have you been forgiven.
3 fantastic quotes:
"Inner peace can be reached only when we practice forgiveness. Forgiveness is letting go of the past" - Gerald Jampolsky
"The practice of forgiveness is our most important contribution to the healing of the world" - Marianne Williamson
"Forgiveness is the giving, and so the receiving, of life" - George MacDonald
A relevant book to read: "Total Forgiveness" by R. T. Kendall
You know for a fact that you can have a fast, powerful sports car, but, load it up with lots of unnecessary junk and it's going to have only one speed - dead slow - no matter how hard you press that accelerator and wish it forward. This applies to your life. Load your mind up with all sorts of junk from the past and you've got it - no power - no matter how hard you try or wish.
All that hurtful, humiliating, painful, debilitating, embarrassing "stuff" from the past eating away at your character, confidence and personal power like battery acid. What can you do? How can you begin to move forward?
Forgiveness. You MUST forgive the past. Forgive the people who may have wronged you in some way. Forgive all the incidents. Forgive yourself. Forgive even your God. For it is only through true and heartfelt forgiveness of the past and all those involved that you can genuinely begin to "let it go", "let it slide", truly "forget about it" and move forward again. Everybody makes mistakes. We are all only human, and our greatest teachers are our mistakes. All those people from the past who you believe wronged you - well - they, just like you, are only human too. You need to recognise that and be prepared to forgive just as you would like to be forgiven for your past mistakes.
Action plan. Make a list. A list of all the people, incidents, wrongs, mistakes made, hurts, jealousies that are encumbering your life, that are robbing you of your power. Write everything down. Don't miss a thing. Not a single crumb. This is going to be one nasty document. Add descriptions if you wish - just get it ALL out on paper.
The old you would have framed this document on the wall so you could read over it every day and gloat about all your excuses for "not making it".
The new you is going to handle the situation totally differently. You are going to set aside a day - a whole day - to be alone. You need to find a lonely spot a long way from everyone. Perhaps a trip to the country will do it. Pack a picnic lunch. Look on this as a celebration. A celebration of forgiveness.
You will arrive safely at the designated spot. You spread out your picnic. An excellent spot is somewhere high like a mountain top. You take out your list. In a very loud voice you call out "I forgive my wife for not loving me as she should.", "I forgive my aunt Joan for embarrassing me so much at that family party in 1987", "I forgive with all my heart and soul the driver of that car that smashed into ours injuring my son so badly - I forgive you." Obviously these are only examples - yours will be yours. If you feel you need to read it over many times until you feel "done".
Now destroy the list completely. Bury or scatter to the wind any remains. Make sure it is gone forever. Celebrate your forgiveness event with your picnic and go home. It is done. You are free. Forgive always. We are all one. As you have just forgiven others, so too have you been forgiven.
3 fantastic quotes:
"Inner peace can be reached only when we practice forgiveness. Forgiveness is letting go of the past" - Gerald Jampolsky
"The practice of forgiveness is our most important contribution to the healing of the world" - Marianne Williamson
"Forgiveness is the giving, and so the receiving, of life" - George MacDonald
A relevant book to read: "Total Forgiveness" by R. T. Kendall
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Letting go of the past
Have you ever watched one of those movies where the convicts are chained to a great big steel ball? Not only are they chained to the steel ball but also their hands and feet are chained in there as well! Quite obviously they can no longer sprint for freedom, which I guess is the idea of it all in the first place. They all move slowly and awkwardly and seem quite a dispirited lot. They physically can't let go of the past. It's chained to them, a constant reminder of what they have done and what has happened to them.
How many of us go through life all chained up to the past, dragging a huge heavy ball of old "stuff" around and never letting go. It can be just as exhausting as being chained to the real thing. If there is one thing that can stop you moving forward to your better future - it's your past.
It can be all of those little things that happened to you that you wished hadn't. But - they did! Let's be realistic; you know that you can never go back in time to change what happened to you at school, at home, at work, with friends, with business, with finances, with relationships, with your health. All those terrible, horrible, embarrassing, financially crippling, emotionally debilitating, health destroying things. They all happened and, at least to you, they were very real.
I'm going to tell you a personal story. When I was young and at secondary school (college in America) my mum and dad moved home a lot. I was very shy at the time and with all the new schools and having to constantly make and lose friends, my self confidence was pretty much destroyed. Each school I went to seemed to have a different syllabus and way of teaching. The last school I went to was an all boys private school. I was having a very hard time especially with maths.
One day there was a problem with maths that I just could not understand so I asked the teacher if he could spend some time with me to help. He must have been having an ultra "bad day at the office" because I was told very abruptly to not waste his time. All my life I have carried a great dislike for that person. Not quite hate but a sort of "I hope I one day bump into him in a dark alley someplace" thing. I have dragged that particular steel ball along all my life up to now.
Well it just so happened that this school had a reunion recently - and I went. I got to meet guys I hadn't seen for 40 years! It was a great night. Also present were some of our old teachers - and, yes - THAT old teacher. He walked up to me and we started chatting, and guess what? He was a great guy! Not at all like I remembered. We talked, as old friends do, about our grandchildren and how wonderful it was to be grandparents. We chatted about lots of stuff for some time. As we talked I could feel the chain holding that steel ball snap and gently fall away.
We all need to let go of the past. It's gone, can't be changed, history. Letting go of the past is one of the most liberating things you can do to empower yourself. You may have tens, hundreds, perhaps even thousands of different size steel balls chained to you day and night, exhausting you as you desperately try to move forward and make progress. You need to find a way to let them all go, cut them loose, one by one. Believe me, letting go of the past can be a wonderful and liberating gift to yourself.
How to start - stay tuned till next post.
A quote for you: "Let go. Why do you cling to pain? There is nothing you can do about the wrongs of yesterday. It is not yours to judge. Why hold on to the very thing which keeps you from hope and love? - Leo Buscaglia
Inspirational reading: "Emotionally Free: Letting Go of the Past to Live in the Moment" - By David Viscott M.D.
How many of us go through life all chained up to the past, dragging a huge heavy ball of old "stuff" around and never letting go. It can be just as exhausting as being chained to the real thing. If there is one thing that can stop you moving forward to your better future - it's your past.
It can be all of those little things that happened to you that you wished hadn't. But - they did! Let's be realistic; you know that you can never go back in time to change what happened to you at school, at home, at work, with friends, with business, with finances, with relationships, with your health. All those terrible, horrible, embarrassing, financially crippling, emotionally debilitating, health destroying things. They all happened and, at least to you, they were very real.
I'm going to tell you a personal story. When I was young and at secondary school (college in America) my mum and dad moved home a lot. I was very shy at the time and with all the new schools and having to constantly make and lose friends, my self confidence was pretty much destroyed. Each school I went to seemed to have a different syllabus and way of teaching. The last school I went to was an all boys private school. I was having a very hard time especially with maths.
One day there was a problem with maths that I just could not understand so I asked the teacher if he could spend some time with me to help. He must have been having an ultra "bad day at the office" because I was told very abruptly to not waste his time. All my life I have carried a great dislike for that person. Not quite hate but a sort of "I hope I one day bump into him in a dark alley someplace" thing. I have dragged that particular steel ball along all my life up to now.
Well it just so happened that this school had a reunion recently - and I went. I got to meet guys I hadn't seen for 40 years! It was a great night. Also present were some of our old teachers - and, yes - THAT old teacher. He walked up to me and we started chatting, and guess what? He was a great guy! Not at all like I remembered. We talked, as old friends do, about our grandchildren and how wonderful it was to be grandparents. We chatted about lots of stuff for some time. As we talked I could feel the chain holding that steel ball snap and gently fall away.
We all need to let go of the past. It's gone, can't be changed, history. Letting go of the past is one of the most liberating things you can do to empower yourself. You may have tens, hundreds, perhaps even thousands of different size steel balls chained to you day and night, exhausting you as you desperately try to move forward and make progress. You need to find a way to let them all go, cut them loose, one by one. Believe me, letting go of the past can be a wonderful and liberating gift to yourself.
How to start - stay tuned till next post.
A quote for you: "Let go. Why do you cling to pain? There is nothing you can do about the wrongs of yesterday. It is not yours to judge. Why hold on to the very thing which keeps you from hope and love? - Leo Buscaglia
Inspirational reading: "Emotionally Free: Letting Go of the Past to Live in the Moment" - By David Viscott M.D.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Maximise Your Social Potential
Have you chanced upon a person who's so naturally sociable that
when you put him/her inside a room full of strangers, he/she will
end up friends with virtually everybody? We usually call this sort
of person a "people person". He or she automatically knows how
to maximise their social potential. While some people can do this
automatically and unconsciously, others will need to learn the
secrets.
Learning to be a people person is a great way to empower
yourself. You just have to know how to begin. Listed below are
ten great ways to start.
1. Be genuine.
Hypocrisy will simply bring you all the way down every time.
Once it is sensed that you are Mr. Hypocrite with selfish
intentions, you might as well say goodbye to meeting and keeping
new friends. Be genuinely nice, and interested in people.
2. Be a great listener.
To earn the love and trust of people, listen to their problems and
sympathize with them. Do not just hear them out, listen to them
with your heart. Make eye contact when a person talks to you.
Listen as if every word matters, and it does. By doing so you will
earn people's trust and confidence.
3. Laugh easily and often.
Find the humor in life. A person exuding a wonderful sense of
humor attracts crowds and sooner or later, attracts success. Just
remember; be genuine - if you don't get the joke or it's just not
funny - don't fake laugh. People will see straight through you.
4. Don't forget yourself.
In the process of fluttering about on your social campaign, you
could forget the real you. Remember to love and appreciate
yourself before anyone else. If you see yourself as respectable and
deserving of affection, people will pick up on that and treat you
accordingly.
5. Perform random acts of kindness.
It's not necessary to give all of your savings to charity. Just
small acts of kindness count here. This can be as basic as giving
someone you may know a surprise "thank you", "get well soon",
or "take-care" card or helping an elderly person across the street.
Good deeds are great deeds. You'll feel better for it too.
6. Contact old friends.
Revisit the good old days by searching through your old records
and look for those great people whom you would like to
communicate with again - and do it! I recently attended a school reunion and met old friends I had not seen for 40 years. It was magic!
7 Personality makeover.
Are you grumpy, crabby and generally moody? Well stop! you
can't experience life to the full like that. Abolish the bad traits
and habits that constantly hinder your growth. And anyhow, who
wants a bad-tempered friend?
8. Act confident (even if you don't feel it).
Adopt the ability to stride to the opposite corner of a room and
present yourself to people with a winning smile. Practice makes perfect. Remember to be confident - not arrogant.
9. Exercise restraint.
When angered, don't snap at anybody. Never throw a tantrum.
Always stay calm and poised. Be grownup enough to take control
of a situation and transform your wrath into something more
profitable and peaceful. Once people think that you have a hair
trigger temper, they will find it difficult to trust you. The
smartest person in a room is always the peacemaker.
10. Continue fostering your relationships.
The great relationships you have built with all the people you
have in your life are far too precious to let slip and lose. Treat
these friendships and relationships like gold and they will return
diamonds. Get out and have fun with these people. Start to and
keep doing things together on a regular basis. Happiness will
never be far from you as long as the people who count the most
are close to you.
Maximising your social potential means becoming a better and
more likable and lovable person. It's a win-win situation: the
people you know will know they can turn to you anytime and
vice-versa.
A quote for you: "The greatest discovery of this generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitude of mind" - Albert Schweitzer
A book for you: "How To Change Your Life" by Ernest Holmes and Michael Bernard Beckwith.
when you put him/her inside a room full of strangers, he/she will
end up friends with virtually everybody? We usually call this sort
of person a "people person". He or she automatically knows how
to maximise their social potential. While some people can do this
automatically and unconsciously, others will need to learn the
secrets.
Learning to be a people person is a great way to empower
yourself. You just have to know how to begin. Listed below are
ten great ways to start.
1. Be genuine.
Hypocrisy will simply bring you all the way down every time.
Once it is sensed that you are Mr. Hypocrite with selfish
intentions, you might as well say goodbye to meeting and keeping
new friends. Be genuinely nice, and interested in people.
2. Be a great listener.
To earn the love and trust of people, listen to their problems and
sympathize with them. Do not just hear them out, listen to them
with your heart. Make eye contact when a person talks to you.
Listen as if every word matters, and it does. By doing so you will
earn people's trust and confidence.
3. Laugh easily and often.
Find the humor in life. A person exuding a wonderful sense of
humor attracts crowds and sooner or later, attracts success. Just
remember; be genuine - if you don't get the joke or it's just not
funny - don't fake laugh. People will see straight through you.
4. Don't forget yourself.
In the process of fluttering about on your social campaign, you
could forget the real you. Remember to love and appreciate
yourself before anyone else. If you see yourself as respectable and
deserving of affection, people will pick up on that and treat you
accordingly.
5. Perform random acts of kindness.
It's not necessary to give all of your savings to charity. Just
small acts of kindness count here. This can be as basic as giving
someone you may know a surprise "thank you", "get well soon",
or "take-care" card or helping an elderly person across the street.
Good deeds are great deeds. You'll feel better for it too.
6. Contact old friends.
Revisit the good old days by searching through your old records
and look for those great people whom you would like to
communicate with again - and do it! I recently attended a school reunion and met old friends I had not seen for 40 years. It was magic!
7 Personality makeover.
Are you grumpy, crabby and generally moody? Well stop! you
can't experience life to the full like that. Abolish the bad traits
and habits that constantly hinder your growth. And anyhow, who
wants a bad-tempered friend?
8. Act confident (even if you don't feel it).
Adopt the ability to stride to the opposite corner of a room and
present yourself to people with a winning smile. Practice makes perfect. Remember to be confident - not arrogant.
9. Exercise restraint.
When angered, don't snap at anybody. Never throw a tantrum.
Always stay calm and poised. Be grownup enough to take control
of a situation and transform your wrath into something more
profitable and peaceful. Once people think that you have a hair
trigger temper, they will find it difficult to trust you. The
smartest person in a room is always the peacemaker.
10. Continue fostering your relationships.
The great relationships you have built with all the people you
have in your life are far too precious to let slip and lose. Treat
these friendships and relationships like gold and they will return
diamonds. Get out and have fun with these people. Start to and
keep doing things together on a regular basis. Happiness will
never be far from you as long as the people who count the most
are close to you.
Maximising your social potential means becoming a better and
more likable and lovable person. It's a win-win situation: the
people you know will know they can turn to you anytime and
vice-versa.
A quote for you: "The greatest discovery of this generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitude of mind" - Albert Schweitzer
A book for you: "How To Change Your Life" by Ernest Holmes and Michael Bernard Beckwith.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Good Vibrations
"My mother used to tell me about vibrations", Brian Wilson once said in an interview. "I really didn't understand too much what that meant when I was a boy. It scared me, the word 'vibrations' ". He was remembering how his mother, Audree, was telling him about the effect vibrations had on dogs and people. "To think that invisible feelings, invisible vibrations existed, scared me to death. But she talked about how dogs could pick up vibrations from people; they would bark at some people and not bark at others. And the same thing happened with people. And so it came to pass that we talked about good vibrations."
I defy anyone to listen to The Beach Boys perform "Good Vibrations" and not feel better or uplifted afterwards. What a great song! I had the joy of hearing the song performed live about two years ago when Brian Wilson visited Melbourne, Australia with his Smile tour. Brilliant just doesn't cover it.
Good Vibrations was originally composed during the Pet Sounds sessions. Wilson first enlisted the help of Pet Sounds lyricist Tony Asher for help in putting words to the idea. Beach Boys frontman Mike Love supplied the final version around August 24, 1966.
Wilson recorded the song in sections, at different studios, in order to capture the sound he heard in his head. The production of the song is reported to have spanned seventeen recording sessions at four different recording studios, and used over 90 hours of magnetic recording tape. He is credited with developing the use of the recording studio as an instrument. Brian Wilson, The Beach Boys, and dozens of top studio musicians, recorded and re-recorded seemingly unrelated musical and vocal sections for the song, then edited and mixed these sections into a 3 minute 35 second pop masterpiece.
Some of the unusual sounds employed have been credited to the use of a Theremin-like instrument called "The Box". It was built and played by a Dr. Paul Tanner. A Theremin is a strange instrument that uses electric current to produce sound. It is played by moving a hand near an aerial involving an electric field and is very hard to control. You have heard them used in all those old science fiction movies. "Paul's Box", as it became known, was used on several Hollywood productions and was included in the 1960's TV show "My Favourite Martian" (the sound of Martin's antennas raising).
When Dr. Tanner felt it was time to retire his "box" it was given to a hospital in Santa Monica, California, because they were interested in using it for hearing tests. The box had a range of tones that would extend outside of the upper and lower limits of human hearing. Years later Dr. Tanner checked back with the hospital to find out what had happened to "Paul's Box". It had unfortunately been destroyed in the earthquake of 1971!
"Good Vibrations" was released as a single on October 10, 1966 (backed by the Pet Sounds instrumental "Let's Go Away For Awhile"). It was the band's third U.S. number one hit, the other two being "I Get Around" and "Help Me, Rhonda". This song also became The Beach Boys first British chart-topper.
Music seems to be therapeutic to many of us. It can be expressive, uplifting, energizing and empowering. I know for a fact that if you want to lift heavier weights and perform more repetitions than usual during a workout - put on some music. It works every time! When my wife plays her grand piano for a while it's not too long before our dog settles down nearby to listen. Our daughter once earned some money to help cover her university costs by acting as a Musical Therapist (she is a violinist) at a home for the elderly. The music helped to calm and to heal. Some Quantum Scientists believe that music is the most important force in existence and could prove to contain the answers to life.
So next time all the vibrations around you seem to be of a negative nature, empower yourself, take action, take my suggestion, and try some "Good Vibrations".
4 Brian Wilson Quotes:
"Beware the lollipop of mediocrity; lick it once and you'll suck forever."
"I'm not a genius. I'm just a hard-working guy."
"I've never written one note or word of music simply because I think it will make money."
"A voice or a song can be so comforting to someone who really needs it."
Buy the book: "The beach Boys: The Definitive Diary of America's Greatest Band on Stage and in the Studio"
Buy the CD: "The Sounds Of Summer - The Very Best of The Beach Boys"
I defy anyone to listen to The Beach Boys perform "Good Vibrations" and not feel better or uplifted afterwards. What a great song! I had the joy of hearing the song performed live about two years ago when Brian Wilson visited Melbourne, Australia with his Smile tour. Brilliant just doesn't cover it.
Good Vibrations was originally composed during the Pet Sounds sessions. Wilson first enlisted the help of Pet Sounds lyricist Tony Asher for help in putting words to the idea. Beach Boys frontman Mike Love supplied the final version around August 24, 1966.
Wilson recorded the song in sections, at different studios, in order to capture the sound he heard in his head. The production of the song is reported to have spanned seventeen recording sessions at four different recording studios, and used over 90 hours of magnetic recording tape. He is credited with developing the use of the recording studio as an instrument. Brian Wilson, The Beach Boys, and dozens of top studio musicians, recorded and re-recorded seemingly unrelated musical and vocal sections for the song, then edited and mixed these sections into a 3 minute 35 second pop masterpiece.
Some of the unusual sounds employed have been credited to the use of a Theremin-like instrument called "The Box". It was built and played by a Dr. Paul Tanner. A Theremin is a strange instrument that uses electric current to produce sound. It is played by moving a hand near an aerial involving an electric field and is very hard to control. You have heard them used in all those old science fiction movies. "Paul's Box", as it became known, was used on several Hollywood productions and was included in the 1960's TV show "My Favourite Martian" (the sound of Martin's antennas raising).
When Dr. Tanner felt it was time to retire his "box" it was given to a hospital in Santa Monica, California, because they were interested in using it for hearing tests. The box had a range of tones that would extend outside of the upper and lower limits of human hearing. Years later Dr. Tanner checked back with the hospital to find out what had happened to "Paul's Box". It had unfortunately been destroyed in the earthquake of 1971!
"Good Vibrations" was released as a single on October 10, 1966 (backed by the Pet Sounds instrumental "Let's Go Away For Awhile"). It was the band's third U.S. number one hit, the other two being "I Get Around" and "Help Me, Rhonda". This song also became The Beach Boys first British chart-topper.
Music seems to be therapeutic to many of us. It can be expressive, uplifting, energizing and empowering. I know for a fact that if you want to lift heavier weights and perform more repetitions than usual during a workout - put on some music. It works every time! When my wife plays her grand piano for a while it's not too long before our dog settles down nearby to listen. Our daughter once earned some money to help cover her university costs by acting as a Musical Therapist (she is a violinist) at a home for the elderly. The music helped to calm and to heal. Some Quantum Scientists believe that music is the most important force in existence and could prove to contain the answers to life.
So next time all the vibrations around you seem to be of a negative nature, empower yourself, take action, take my suggestion, and try some "Good Vibrations".
4 Brian Wilson Quotes:
"Beware the lollipop of mediocrity; lick it once and you'll suck forever."
"I'm not a genius. I'm just a hard-working guy."
"I've never written one note or word of music simply because I think it will make money."
"A voice or a song can be so comforting to someone who really needs it."
Buy the book: "The beach Boys: The Definitive Diary of America's Greatest Band on Stage and in the Studio"
Buy the CD: "The Sounds Of Summer - The Very Best of The Beach Boys"
Monday, June 23, 2008
Success - is waiting for you
According to Dictionary.com "success" can be defined as:
1. the favorable or prosperous termination of attempts or endeavours.
2. the attainment of wealth, position, honors, or the like.
3. a successful performance or achievement.
4. a person or thing that is successful.
I put it to you that every single human being on this planet thirsts for "success". Also what can be guaranteed is that, just as the dictionary did not have one single definition of success, the definition of success is different for every one of those humans on this planet. "Success" to me would be different to "success" for you.
Quite often you will notice that someone who is spectacularly successful in one area of endeavour will also be experiencing total disaster in another. Famous actors or popular music stars come readily to mind. Very wealthy and very successful in their career, idolised by millions, but their personal lives are disaster areas.
The trick, obviously, is to be successful in as many areas of your life as you can and circumstances allow. My personal definition of success is the attainment of a state of joy in my life. To be happy and satisfied.
Where to find it? Look in all the small places first. Start with the little things - and the big things will follow naturally. Make your life chock full of all the things that ring your bell. All the things that thrill you. All the things that you look forward to. All the things you just love to do. What puts the smile on your dial? If you need to, be prepared to change some things that aren't working for you - that may be a job you hate, or even a place you don't like living. The effort will be worth it! It comes down to this - What price do you personally place on "success" and your personal definition of it. Are you prepared to be a price payer.
Just a warning here. Make sure that in your forward motion to attain your definition of success you are not trampling all over someone else in the process - for that would definitely be a false success. Check you attitude to your fellow humans. You share this world with others. True success never impinges on the rights of others, rather, it lifts everyone to new heights, just as the tide lifts all boats in a harbor.
Success for you may be attaining the status of "millionaire", or it could be the feeling of happiness in helping someone with a task they are unable to perform for themselves. Whatever it is - go for it - give yourself permission to find success - whatever it means to you. Put no limits on what you can achieve. It's all there waiting for...........YOU!
A quote for you: "Success is not so much what we have as it is what we are." - Jim Rohn
An excellent read: "The Success Principles" by Jack Canfield
1. the favorable or prosperous termination of attempts or endeavours.
2. the attainment of wealth, position, honors, or the like.
3. a successful performance or achievement.
4. a person or thing that is successful.
I put it to you that every single human being on this planet thirsts for "success". Also what can be guaranteed is that, just as the dictionary did not have one single definition of success, the definition of success is different for every one of those humans on this planet. "Success" to me would be different to "success" for you.
Quite often you will notice that someone who is spectacularly successful in one area of endeavour will also be experiencing total disaster in another. Famous actors or popular music stars come readily to mind. Very wealthy and very successful in their career, idolised by millions, but their personal lives are disaster areas.
The trick, obviously, is to be successful in as many areas of your life as you can and circumstances allow. My personal definition of success is the attainment of a state of joy in my life. To be happy and satisfied.
Where to find it? Look in all the small places first. Start with the little things - and the big things will follow naturally. Make your life chock full of all the things that ring your bell. All the things that thrill you. All the things that you look forward to. All the things you just love to do. What puts the smile on your dial? If you need to, be prepared to change some things that aren't working for you - that may be a job you hate, or even a place you don't like living. The effort will be worth it! It comes down to this - What price do you personally place on "success" and your personal definition of it. Are you prepared to be a price payer.
Just a warning here. Make sure that in your forward motion to attain your definition of success you are not trampling all over someone else in the process - for that would definitely be a false success. Check you attitude to your fellow humans. You share this world with others. True success never impinges on the rights of others, rather, it lifts everyone to new heights, just as the tide lifts all boats in a harbor.
Success for you may be attaining the status of "millionaire", or it could be the feeling of happiness in helping someone with a task they are unable to perform for themselves. Whatever it is - go for it - give yourself permission to find success - whatever it means to you. Put no limits on what you can achieve. It's all there waiting for...........YOU!
A quote for you: "Success is not so much what we have as it is what we are." - Jim Rohn
An excellent read: "The Success Principles" by Jack Canfield
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Your Power For Change
Have you ever walked into a room and wished you hadn't. What I'm talking about here is the "vibe". The term "I could have cut the air with a knife" comes to mind. The people in the room are whispering and frowning is commonplace. No one is laughing. Yuk!
The opposite of course is often the case. You enter a room full of people and there's a "buzz". It's all happening to use a 70's term. Smiles all around, everyone chatting and laughing - immediately you know this party is going to be Gooood! You can feel it.
One room is negative while the other is positive. Imagine if we could stop time for a couple of minutes - no, let's not just imagine - let's do it! We have stopped time. Now let's turn all the people in the negative room into a sum much like we used to do at school with arithmetic. Then we'll play averages.
This person over here has a very negative attitude to everything so he gets a -9. That lady over there is not too bad so she gets a -2. The friend you came with is fairly cheery, he gets a +2. As usual, of course, you're on top of the world, all fired up, so you are awarded a +9. The others range from -1 to -9. We end up with a "per person vibe" average of -4.
We go through the same process with the other, positive, room. Much better. The average here is a wonderful +5. This place is jumping - you don't want to go home - this party is looking to go Waaaay into the night.
Take this same template and place it over your family - what do you get? Your place of work? Your country? Your world? You?
What makes each of these hypothetical people's +'s or -'s are their personal vibrational states. This personal vibrational state is constructed from their personal thoughts. My wife often has the unnerving habit of turning to me and saying "I can tell you're deep in thought, what are you thinking about?" She could feel the vibrations emanating from me due to the fact that I actually was very deep in thought about some subject that I was intensely interested in and emotionally attached to. Hence she picked it up.
I can hear your question. O.K. Doug, this is all very interesting and I can see where you are coming from, but, what's the point? The point is this - to make change for the better in our life we must always endeavour to make sure that we are a + person. Always being in a + vibration (positive and/or joyous thoughts) is a real way in which we can truly influence those around us. You can't force other people to change, they have to want to change. By your positive thoughts, becoming positive words and then positive deeds you can have a very real impact on the world around you - just as my wife picks up on my vibrations, so other people will pick up on yours.
You see, the future is not really in everyone's hands, it's actually in their thoughts, where everything begins. Let's all go change the world - one thought at a time.
A quote for you: "Our life is what our thoughts make it. A man will find that as he alters his thoughts toward things and other people, things and other people will alter towards him." - James Allen
Change your thoughts, change your life. It's the book that's changed the life of millions. Download a free ebook of James Allen's "As A Man Thinketh."
The opposite of course is often the case. You enter a room full of people and there's a "buzz". It's all happening to use a 70's term. Smiles all around, everyone chatting and laughing - immediately you know this party is going to be Gooood! You can feel it.
One room is negative while the other is positive. Imagine if we could stop time for a couple of minutes - no, let's not just imagine - let's do it! We have stopped time. Now let's turn all the people in the negative room into a sum much like we used to do at school with arithmetic. Then we'll play averages.
This person over here has a very negative attitude to everything so he gets a -9. That lady over there is not too bad so she gets a -2. The friend you came with is fairly cheery, he gets a +2. As usual, of course, you're on top of the world, all fired up, so you are awarded a +9. The others range from -1 to -9. We end up with a "per person vibe" average of -4.
We go through the same process with the other, positive, room. Much better. The average here is a wonderful +5. This place is jumping - you don't want to go home - this party is looking to go Waaaay into the night.
Take this same template and place it over your family - what do you get? Your place of work? Your country? Your world? You?
What makes each of these hypothetical people's +'s or -'s are their personal vibrational states. This personal vibrational state is constructed from their personal thoughts. My wife often has the unnerving habit of turning to me and saying "I can tell you're deep in thought, what are you thinking about?" She could feel the vibrations emanating from me due to the fact that I actually was very deep in thought about some subject that I was intensely interested in and emotionally attached to. Hence she picked it up.
I can hear your question. O.K. Doug, this is all very interesting and I can see where you are coming from, but, what's the point? The point is this - to make change for the better in our life we must always endeavour to make sure that we are a + person. Always being in a + vibration (positive and/or joyous thoughts) is a real way in which we can truly influence those around us. You can't force other people to change, they have to want to change. By your positive thoughts, becoming positive words and then positive deeds you can have a very real impact on the world around you - just as my wife picks up on my vibrations, so other people will pick up on yours.
You see, the future is not really in everyone's hands, it's actually in their thoughts, where everything begins. Let's all go change the world - one thought at a time.
A quote for you: "Our life is what our thoughts make it. A man will find that as he alters his thoughts toward things and other people, things and other people will alter towards him." - James Allen
Change your thoughts, change your life. It's the book that's changed the life of millions. Download a free ebook of James Allen's "As A Man Thinketh."
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Towards Financial Freedom - Part 4
Today is the fourth and last in my mini-series "Towards Financial Freedom". So here we go.
4. Your Self.
Work constantly to improve yourself as a person, as an individual. Strive to make yourself someone whom others just like to be around, in other words, make sure you are attractive to other people (I'm not only talking about "looks" here). Study, learn, read and begin to take a great interest in life in general and you will find that life will start taking an ever greater interest in you.
Get fit. You don't need to belong to an expensive gymnasium to achieve this - much can be done totally free at home. Walking is great. Make sure to always get a thorough checkup by your Doctor first before embarking on a new "get fit" program. Play safe. Getting your body into shape will give you oodles of confidence you may never have had before.
Watch your diet. Eating healthy can end up costing far less than eating junk food or eating out. Invest in a steamer for your vegetables. As far as practical eat wholefoods and lower your fat intake. Do your research. An improved diet can change your life for the better all on it's own. Use your mirror - it is a very honest friend.
Without going overboard seek out a spiritual side to your life. There is great comfort in knowing you are not alone and all has purpose. Find and surround yourself with a small group of very close and trusted friends. A problem shared is a problem halved. Look for mentors - people who are already at the place in life where you aspire to be. They are out there. Start looking. If you really desire change you'll find them. Join clubs and trade associations to start. Many successful people get a great thrill sharing what they have learnt and are more than willing to point you in the right direction.
To conclude.
At the end of the day it's your life. You are totally and completely responsible for all your actions and inactions. Start to find the information you need from sites like this and take correct action. Above all - TAKE ACTION.
Don't wait for a miracle - BE THE MIRACLE!!!!
A quote for you: "It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog." - Mark Twain
You need this: "Success And The Self Image" by Zig Ziglar
4. Your Self.
Work constantly to improve yourself as a person, as an individual. Strive to make yourself someone whom others just like to be around, in other words, make sure you are attractive to other people (I'm not only talking about "looks" here). Study, learn, read and begin to take a great interest in life in general and you will find that life will start taking an ever greater interest in you.
Get fit. You don't need to belong to an expensive gymnasium to achieve this - much can be done totally free at home. Walking is great. Make sure to always get a thorough checkup by your Doctor first before embarking on a new "get fit" program. Play safe. Getting your body into shape will give you oodles of confidence you may never have had before.
Watch your diet. Eating healthy can end up costing far less than eating junk food or eating out. Invest in a steamer for your vegetables. As far as practical eat wholefoods and lower your fat intake. Do your research. An improved diet can change your life for the better all on it's own. Use your mirror - it is a very honest friend.
Without going overboard seek out a spiritual side to your life. There is great comfort in knowing you are not alone and all has purpose. Find and surround yourself with a small group of very close and trusted friends. A problem shared is a problem halved. Look for mentors - people who are already at the place in life where you aspire to be. They are out there. Start looking. If you really desire change you'll find them. Join clubs and trade associations to start. Many successful people get a great thrill sharing what they have learnt and are more than willing to point you in the right direction.
To conclude.
At the end of the day it's your life. You are totally and completely responsible for all your actions and inactions. Start to find the information you need from sites like this and take correct action. Above all - TAKE ACTION.
Don't wait for a miracle - BE THE MIRACLE!!!!
A quote for you: "It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog." - Mark Twain
You need this: "Success And The Self Image" by Zig Ziglar
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Towards Financial Freedom - Part 3
3. Your Goals (Dreams)
A question for you. Would you set out on a very, very long journey to an area completely unknown to you without first obtaining and consulting a map? Just for a minute imagine yourself on this journey to this totally strange area with no map or direction finding help whatsoever.
You do know that people have made it through before with varying degrees of success. A great percentage appear to get lost, confused, travel in circles and just seem to be going nowhere in particular. They seem to have this uneasy feeling that they perhaps should have some sort of a plan to be going at least somewhere on this great and mystical journey.
What is known is that nearly all of the successful travellers on this journey took the time to sit down quietly with pen and paper to map out their route to all the destinations they desired to visit. In doing so they virtually guaranteed their arrival.
You see, without dreams and goals you are doomed. It is the same as setting out on a long journey with no map and no destination in mind - you just end up going in circles and feeling very unsatisfied. Achievement levels are mediocre to say the least!
Action Plan. Set aside a whole day when you can be alone. You will need a pen and some paper - hopefully many pages (and a spare pen!). Now make a huge list (the more detail the better - what color will that Rolls Royce be?) of all the things you want to do, have, be and achieve from this moment on till the moment your eyelids close for the final time. I mean everything - leave nothing out - not a single thing. Keep in mind that what you are writing down is your new life - your adventure - love it - do it - go for it with all your heart and soul! Lastly, assemble everything into some sort of order that suits you best but be flexible as your likes, dislikes and opportunities can change with time.
Don't concern yourself with the "how". That's the Universe's problem. The job at hand for you is just to focus on your destination/s - and feel good about them. Like thoughts attract like things. It is a Law of the Universe and it works every time.
Next time: Your self.
Three excellent quotes:
"People with clear, written goals, accomplish far more in a shorter period of time than people without them could ever imagine." - Brian Tracy
"It doesn't matter where you are coming from. All that matters is where you are going." - Brian Tracy
"All successful people, men and women, are big dreamers. They imagine what their future could be, ideal in every respect, and then they work every day toward their distant vision, that gaol or purpose." - Brian Tracy
A must read: "Goals" by Brian Tracy.
A question for you. Would you set out on a very, very long journey to an area completely unknown to you without first obtaining and consulting a map? Just for a minute imagine yourself on this journey to this totally strange area with no map or direction finding help whatsoever.
You do know that people have made it through before with varying degrees of success. A great percentage appear to get lost, confused, travel in circles and just seem to be going nowhere in particular. They seem to have this uneasy feeling that they perhaps should have some sort of a plan to be going at least somewhere on this great and mystical journey.
What is known is that nearly all of the successful travellers on this journey took the time to sit down quietly with pen and paper to map out their route to all the destinations they desired to visit. In doing so they virtually guaranteed their arrival.
You see, without dreams and goals you are doomed. It is the same as setting out on a long journey with no map and no destination in mind - you just end up going in circles and feeling very unsatisfied. Achievement levels are mediocre to say the least!
Action Plan. Set aside a whole day when you can be alone. You will need a pen and some paper - hopefully many pages (and a spare pen!). Now make a huge list (the more detail the better - what color will that Rolls Royce be?) of all the things you want to do, have, be and achieve from this moment on till the moment your eyelids close for the final time. I mean everything - leave nothing out - not a single thing. Keep in mind that what you are writing down is your new life - your adventure - love it - do it - go for it with all your heart and soul! Lastly, assemble everything into some sort of order that suits you best but be flexible as your likes, dislikes and opportunities can change with time.
Don't concern yourself with the "how". That's the Universe's problem. The job at hand for you is just to focus on your destination/s - and feel good about them. Like thoughts attract like things. It is a Law of the Universe and it works every time.
Next time: Your self.
Three excellent quotes:
"People with clear, written goals, accomplish far more in a shorter period of time than people without them could ever imagine." - Brian Tracy
"It doesn't matter where you are coming from. All that matters is where you are going." - Brian Tracy
"All successful people, men and women, are big dreamers. They imagine what their future could be, ideal in every respect, and then they work every day toward their distant vision, that gaol or purpose." - Brian Tracy
A must read: "Goals" by Brian Tracy.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Towards Financial Freedom - Part 2
After debt the next area in your life that you need to address as you move towards financial freedom is:
2. Your Income
Whatever your income level is today it is always possible to increase it in some way. You need to start to think outside the box.
Here are some hints -
- Ask your boss for a raise. Stop laughing! He may be quite impressed that you had the courage to ask, and, if he values your services enough, may well surprise you by saying "yes". Warning - be prepared to do more work for it. As the saying goes - there is no such thing as a free lunch. Why not start doing more work on your own initiative and then asking, pointing out the new areas that you have been taking more responsibility in.
- Look for a new job - quite obviously one that pays better. Better still, look for a better job that is closer to home thereby saving travel expenses as well - a double whammy.
- Get an after hours part-time job. Perhaps just one day on the weekend or a couple of nights a week. This can make a significant difference to your income.
- Start a home based business in your spare time. I believe this to be by far the best option. Some people who take this option end up generating far more income than their day job. Guess which one they end up giving away.
Life is all about generating multiple streams of income. Doing this gives you tremendous security due to the fact that if any one of your income streams fail you still have the others to fall back on. Where do you look? Start by checking out some of the resources and advertisements on this site. It's a beginning - take the first step!
Just a warning. Don't even think about gambling nor any number of the "Get Rich Quick" scams out there. They offer you the world but you end up with only headaches. If it sounds too good to be true - it probably is. Do your research. Due diligence is the key. A few hours of research can save you a lifetime of regret. Have fun with it.
Next time - Your goals.
A quote for you: "A lean purse is easier to cure than to endure." - George S. Clason
A good book to read: "Cashflow Quadrant" by Robert Kiyosaki
2. Your Income
Whatever your income level is today it is always possible to increase it in some way. You need to start to think outside the box.
Here are some hints -
- Ask your boss for a raise. Stop laughing! He may be quite impressed that you had the courage to ask, and, if he values your services enough, may well surprise you by saying "yes". Warning - be prepared to do more work for it. As the saying goes - there is no such thing as a free lunch. Why not start doing more work on your own initiative and then asking, pointing out the new areas that you have been taking more responsibility in.
- Look for a new job - quite obviously one that pays better. Better still, look for a better job that is closer to home thereby saving travel expenses as well - a double whammy.
- Get an after hours part-time job. Perhaps just one day on the weekend or a couple of nights a week. This can make a significant difference to your income.
- Start a home based business in your spare time. I believe this to be by far the best option. Some people who take this option end up generating far more income than their day job. Guess which one they end up giving away.
Life is all about generating multiple streams of income. Doing this gives you tremendous security due to the fact that if any one of your income streams fail you still have the others to fall back on. Where do you look? Start by checking out some of the resources and advertisements on this site. It's a beginning - take the first step!
Just a warning. Don't even think about gambling nor any number of the "Get Rich Quick" scams out there. They offer you the world but you end up with only headaches. If it sounds too good to be true - it probably is. Do your research. Due diligence is the key. A few hours of research can save you a lifetime of regret. Have fun with it.
Next time - Your goals.
A quote for you: "A lean purse is easier to cure than to endure." - George S. Clason
A good book to read: "Cashflow Quadrant" by Robert Kiyosaki
Monday, May 26, 2008
Towards Financial Freedom - Part 1
Every person, no matter where they find themselves financially, has the opportunity to change their situation for the better. I will set out below a simple step by step plan that anyone can follow to lead them to a financial level at which they are comfortable.
For you to start out on the path to financial freedom four areas of your life will need to be addressed: Your debt, your income, your goals (dreams), and your self. Let's start with the nasty one first -
1. Your Debt.
OK, here we go.
The guaranteed all time No. 1 solid gold method to reduce debt and, in fact, never need debt in the first place is something I call "The SSM Method". This is going to knock your socks off!! If you adopt this method from right now I absolutely guarantee your life will show financial improvement from this moment on.
This is a tough method. It looks easy if you say it quickly and kind of move on to another topic real fast. I'm going to tell you most people today will fail at this one, our first step. I told you it was the nasty one!
OK, get a hold of something solid - I'm going to reveal this secret of controlling debt now.
Ready?
The SSM in The SSM Method stands for...............STOP SPENDING MONEY.
That's it. Period.
I want you, from this moment on, anytime it comes to the moment of swapping YOUR MONEY from your pocket into someone else's I want you to stop! I want you to think. Do I really need this? Is it totally necessary to my survival? Can I get a cheaper one? Can I live without it altogether?
Don't waste. Drive slower - don't waste petrol. Switch off the lights when you leave the room. Eat a little less - we can all do that and improve our looks and health as well. You get the idea now. Lower the size of all the hundreds of individual expenses in your life and your bank balance will begin to make you smile again. Start to enjoy a simpler lifestyle - believe me, it has many benefits beyond just the financial.
Begin to analyze your expenses. Find the cheaper products and services. They are out there. You just have to motivate yourself to find them. Tricky. Yes, I'll repeat again, I did tell you this was the nasty one. I find a bigger bank balance can always motivate me though and I bet just the thought of it will begin to motivate you too.
Use the money saved to begin to clear your debts. Start with the smallest debt first. Clear that, then add the payment you were making to the next debt repayment (snowball) and so on till all gone. It may take a while but just starting will give you a smell of the victory that awaits you.
The good news is that once you get used to it you'll really love this step. The reason is you get to see results from day one. This spurs you on to the other three steps.
Next time - Your Income
A quote for you: "It's not your salary that makes you rich, It's your spending habits." - Charles A. Jaffe
Highly recommended reading: The Credit Diet
For you to start out on the path to financial freedom four areas of your life will need to be addressed: Your debt, your income, your goals (dreams), and your self. Let's start with the nasty one first -
1. Your Debt.
OK, here we go.
The guaranteed all time No. 1 solid gold method to reduce debt and, in fact, never need debt in the first place is something I call "The SSM Method". This is going to knock your socks off!! If you adopt this method from right now I absolutely guarantee your life will show financial improvement from this moment on.
This is a tough method. It looks easy if you say it quickly and kind of move on to another topic real fast. I'm going to tell you most people today will fail at this one, our first step. I told you it was the nasty one!
OK, get a hold of something solid - I'm going to reveal this secret of controlling debt now.
Ready?
The SSM in The SSM Method stands for...............STOP SPENDING MONEY.
That's it. Period.
I want you, from this moment on, anytime it comes to the moment of swapping YOUR MONEY from your pocket into someone else's I want you to stop! I want you to think. Do I really need this? Is it totally necessary to my survival? Can I get a cheaper one? Can I live without it altogether?
Don't waste. Drive slower - don't waste petrol. Switch off the lights when you leave the room. Eat a little less - we can all do that and improve our looks and health as well. You get the idea now. Lower the size of all the hundreds of individual expenses in your life and your bank balance will begin to make you smile again. Start to enjoy a simpler lifestyle - believe me, it has many benefits beyond just the financial.
Begin to analyze your expenses. Find the cheaper products and services. They are out there. You just have to motivate yourself to find them. Tricky. Yes, I'll repeat again, I did tell you this was the nasty one. I find a bigger bank balance can always motivate me though and I bet just the thought of it will begin to motivate you too.
Use the money saved to begin to clear your debts. Start with the smallest debt first. Clear that, then add the payment you were making to the next debt repayment (snowball) and so on till all gone. It may take a while but just starting will give you a smell of the victory that awaits you.
The good news is that once you get used to it you'll really love this step. The reason is you get to see results from day one. This spurs you on to the other three steps.
Next time - Your Income
A quote for you: "It's not your salary that makes you rich, It's your spending habits." - Charles A. Jaffe
Highly recommended reading: The Credit Diet
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Homespun Advice
Where you are now is where you have put yourself. Every human being is responsible for his or her own personal space and happiness in life. You must be prepared to take responsibility for yourself and, most definitely, your actions.
Never, under any circumstances, allow other people, governments or institutions of any description to do your thinking for you. Be proud that you do it for yourself. Be accountable. Stand proud and tall. Always check out the facts. Never take anything on face value - it is the essence of personal responsibility. "I'll check that out and get back to you" will become your anthem. The world is full of trickery and fraud.
Learn to live within your means. However hard it may be it is the only life that can set you financially free and lead to you becoming a truly free person. Debt is bondage. I'm sorry to appear boring and oh so old fashioned, but the truth is - if you want something - teach yourself to save up first, purchase second. The only real exception would be a home. My advice in this case is to buy a small easily affordable one. Remember, it is the people inside that make a house a home.
Live your life. Truly live your life as if each day was your last. Be brave. Have a go. Try. Become a hero to yourself. Be the best you can possibly be. Strive. Step out. Stand out for all the right reasons. It may appear at times as if life is trying ever so hard to beat you down. Learn to treat it as a challenge - a challenge that of course you can and will overcome.
You are unique in all the universe of universes. In all existence there is none other, nor has there ever been, nor will there ever be, another being the same as you. You are eternal. You are a spirit entity clothed in human form. You are the very stuff of God. You are here to experience life in the flesh in all it's many and varied dimensions. You life has purpose even if you are not currently fully appreciative of it.
Treat yourself with the respect you deserve. Love yourself - for only by genuinely loving yourself can you also love others. Love is just another word for the all encompassing primal energy from which all things are made. By being in the vibration of love we bring ourselves into vibrational harmony with all creation. In so doing our lives change for the better. We up-step ourselves.
Be persistent. Persistence is really the key to success. It always has been and always will be. If you really want to achieve something - you will - as long as you persist and believe. Learn to break large tasks down into small easily achievable tasks and the desired result will be yours for the taking. You can become, achieve or be, absolutely anything you desire, as long as you are prepared to persist. Success is always within your grasp.
Dreams and goals. They are a must. Without them nothing happens. I'll just repeat that. Dreams and goals - they are a must - without them nothing happens. With them everything happens. Now re-read the previous paragraph.
Live your life in a constant spirit of gratitude. Give thanks for both the good and the bad. Every cloud has a silver lining. Every disappointment carries with it the seed of an even greater opportunity. Grab with gratitude the opportunities that are always coming your way for life is chock full of them if you will just watch for them in a spirit of expectation. Give thanks.
No matter what anyone may tell you or how you may feel - you have a right to be here - this is your world too.
A Quote for you: "Man is made or unmade by himself.....In the armoury of thought he forges the weapons by which he destroys himself; he also fashions the tools with which he builds for himself heavenly mansions of joy and strength and peace. By the right choice and true application of thought, man ascends to the Divine perfection; by the abuse and wrong application of thought, he descends below the level of the beast. Between these two extremes are all the grades of character, and man is their maker and master." - James Allen "As A Man Thinketh"
Never, under any circumstances, allow other people, governments or institutions of any description to do your thinking for you. Be proud that you do it for yourself. Be accountable. Stand proud and tall. Always check out the facts. Never take anything on face value - it is the essence of personal responsibility. "I'll check that out and get back to you" will become your anthem. The world is full of trickery and fraud.
Learn to live within your means. However hard it may be it is the only life that can set you financially free and lead to you becoming a truly free person. Debt is bondage. I'm sorry to appear boring and oh so old fashioned, but the truth is - if you want something - teach yourself to save up first, purchase second. The only real exception would be a home. My advice in this case is to buy a small easily affordable one. Remember, it is the people inside that make a house a home.
Live your life. Truly live your life as if each day was your last. Be brave. Have a go. Try. Become a hero to yourself. Be the best you can possibly be. Strive. Step out. Stand out for all the right reasons. It may appear at times as if life is trying ever so hard to beat you down. Learn to treat it as a challenge - a challenge that of course you can and will overcome.
You are unique in all the universe of universes. In all existence there is none other, nor has there ever been, nor will there ever be, another being the same as you. You are eternal. You are a spirit entity clothed in human form. You are the very stuff of God. You are here to experience life in the flesh in all it's many and varied dimensions. You life has purpose even if you are not currently fully appreciative of it.
Treat yourself with the respect you deserve. Love yourself - for only by genuinely loving yourself can you also love others. Love is just another word for the all encompassing primal energy from which all things are made. By being in the vibration of love we bring ourselves into vibrational harmony with all creation. In so doing our lives change for the better. We up-step ourselves.
Be persistent. Persistence is really the key to success. It always has been and always will be. If you really want to achieve something - you will - as long as you persist and believe. Learn to break large tasks down into small easily achievable tasks and the desired result will be yours for the taking. You can become, achieve or be, absolutely anything you desire, as long as you are prepared to persist. Success is always within your grasp.
Dreams and goals. They are a must. Without them nothing happens. I'll just repeat that. Dreams and goals - they are a must - without them nothing happens. With them everything happens. Now re-read the previous paragraph.
Live your life in a constant spirit of gratitude. Give thanks for both the good and the bad. Every cloud has a silver lining. Every disappointment carries with it the seed of an even greater opportunity. Grab with gratitude the opportunities that are always coming your way for life is chock full of them if you will just watch for them in a spirit of expectation. Give thanks.
No matter what anyone may tell you or how you may feel - you have a right to be here - this is your world too.
A Quote for you: "Man is made or unmade by himself.....In the armoury of thought he forges the weapons by which he destroys himself; he also fashions the tools with which he builds for himself heavenly mansions of joy and strength and peace. By the right choice and true application of thought, man ascends to the Divine perfection; by the abuse and wrong application of thought, he descends below the level of the beast. Between these two extremes are all the grades of character, and man is their maker and master." - James Allen "As A Man Thinketh"
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