Life Inpiration, Motivation and Insight

10 Ways to Be More Productive

2010-03-10T20:01:00.003-05:00

Adapted from Inc.com (http://www2.inc.com)

1) Cut down on Sleep and Keep Fit
'I get up at 3:30 every morning and I’m at the gym by 4. Then I ride 25 miles on my bike before breakfast. Being in shape is what gives me energy.'

Jordan Zimmerman is the founder of Zimmerman Advertising, which has 22 offices and billings in excess of $2.6 billion.

2) Organize Your Daily Interruptions

'A daily memo, which I read after I go home every night. It's in four parts:
1) My next day's schedule
2) List of questions that cropped up during the day. I'll respond to those right away.
3) FYIs: information I don't have to act on but might like to know. Maybe my mother called to make a reservation for her neighbor next week at Blue Smoke. Or there might be a change in my schedule.
4) Longer-term reminders. I promised to write a blurb for a friend's book. I want to plan a vacation, so I need to check on my kids' school schedules.'

Danny Meyer is the CEO of Union Square Hospitality Group, which owns 13 New York city restaurants, including Gramercy Tavern and Eleven Madison Park.

3) Keep in touch

' I carry a little notebook with the names of 35 or 40 people in the company, and every week I look at it to make sure I’m in touch with everyone. There are always 20 or 30 people who are up-and-comers or one or two levels down, and I wan them to know I’m paying attention. Once a quarter, I go through my list of contacts—a couple of thousand of them—to see if there’s anyone I should be reaching out to about a job. Intensive as all of this is, I ultimately save time, because I can delegate with confidence.'
Kevin P. Ryan’s encore to DoubleClick—the ad-serving behemoth he sold for $1.1 billion to private equity firm Hellman&Friedman in 2005—is AlleyCorp, a variety pack of Internet start-ups he founded in New York City.
Hire for Flexibility

4) Rank Items on Your To-Do List

- 'Make the next day’s “to do” list before you leave the office.
- Rate each item A, B, or C based on its importance, and work on A items first.
- The productiveness of any meeting depends on the advance thought given the agenda, and you should never leave a meeting without writing a follow-up list with each item assigned to one person.

Barbara Corcoran made her mark building one of New York’s largest real estate companies. Today, she is a panelist on the ABC program Shark Tank and runs a much smaller firm that works with the start-ups she chooses to invest in on that show.

5) Utilize Off-Hours

'I get almost as much done outside normal office hours as during them. I’ll interview people on Saturdays, late at night, early in the morning. If I’m trying to solve a particularly difficult problem, I’ll come in on the weekend, when there’s less going on, and spend a day focusing on it. I read technology manuals and watch video tutorials late at night. During start-up, I think you have the choice of being productive or having a social life, and I’ve choosen being productive.'

Seth Priebatsch (center) is CEO of SCVNGR, a Boston-based start-up that helps organizations engage people through location-based smartphone games.

6) Schedule 'PowerTime' for Concentrated Effort

'I schedule time every week on my calendar for quiet, concentrated PowerTime where I only work on my most important activities. '

Krissi Barr is the founder of Barr Corporate Success, a business consulting firm in Cincinnati. She is also the author of Plugged – How To Dig Out and Get The Right Things Done.

7) Always Save Time to Exercise

'With the exception of one or two days a year, I work out every single day. Fitting a workout into the work day reduces stress, keeps you healthy, and is great for getting “alone time” to work out business and personal problems.'Work out at lunchtime and then eat at your desk.'

Mike Cassidy is the CEO of travel and tour site Ruba. He has also been the co-founder and CEO of Xfire (a company that helps gamers play online with their friends), Direct Hit (an internet search engine), and Sylus Innovation (which produced a computer telephony software).

8) Schedule Time to Focus on the Big Picture

'For me, a big part of productivity is being agile. I like to leave a lot of blocks in my day open. On an average day, I'm only 50 percent scheduled, though occasionally it gets as high as 80 percent. If I have a free block and nothing presents itself, I catch up on industry reports, self-education, and big-picture thinking. In a packed schedule, those things can get neglected. They shouldn't be.'

Scott Lang is CEO of Silver Spring Networks, a developer of smart energy grids, based in Redwood City, California.

9) Avoid Multitasking

'Don't multitask. Multitasking is something we all do these days. The problem is our brains just aren’t cut out for it. When you multitask, you’re interfering with your brain’s ability to perform at max-capacity. In most cases, multitasking=lesstasking. When you make those shifts from one context to another, you risk dropping things from your short-term memory. Do one thing at a time, minimize context shifts, maximize brain power!'

Douglas Merrill is the author of “Getting Organized in the Google Era” and former CIO of Google.

10) Review Your Productivity at the End of the Day

'The most difficult aspect of being a CEO is you driving your day, and not letting the day drive you. At the end of the day, I always checked whether I had taken action on my top three priorities. If the answer was 'no,' I stayed in the office until I made progress on them.'

Bob Compton is the CEO of Vontoo, a voice broadcasting technology company, and the Chairman of ExactTarget, an on-demand e-mail marketing and one-to-one digital communication platform.

Action Items:
1) Sleep Less
2) Have a Daily Agenda which is divided into 4 sections
3) Email or Call one person from LinkedIn or your contact list everyday.
4) Prioritize your TO-DO list
5) Have an agenda before going in a meeting. Conclude the meeting with follow-up items
6) Each Week set time aside for high value activities which need concentration
7) Workout during lunch time and Eat at your desk
8) Set aside one-hour each week to think about the big picture.
9) Do not multi-task.
10) End of day make sure you have finished your high priority tasks and set the To-Do List for next day.

Gratitude

2010-03-08T15:19:00.004-05:00

There are two words that, when spoken, have the most unfathomable power to completely change your life. Two words that, when they pass your lips, will be the cause of bringing absolute joy and happiness to you. Two words that will create miracles in your life, wipe out negativity, and bring you abundance in all things. Two words that, when uttered and sincerely felt, will summon all the forces in the Universe to move all things for you.

There are just two words standing between you, happiness, and the life of your dreams . . .

THANK YOU.

Lesson's from Randy Pausch - The Last Lecture

2010-02-02T00:00:00.006-05:00

On September 18, 2007, computer science professor Randy Pausch stepped in front of an audience of 400 people at Carnegie Mellon University to deliver a last lecture called “Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams.” With slides of his CT scans beaming out to the audience, Randy told his audience about the cancer that is devouring his pancreas and that will claim his life in a matter of months. On the stage that day, Randy was youthful, energetic, handsome, often cheerfully, darkly funny. He seemed invincible. But this was a brief moment, as he himself acknowledged.

Randy’s lecture has become a phenomenon, as has the book he wrote based on the same principles, celebrating the dreams we all strive to make realities. Sadly, Randy lost his battle to pancreatic cancer on July 25th, 2008, but his legacy will continue to inspire us all, for generations to come.

Watch Randy Pausch: The Last Lecture

The Power of I

2009-12-22T12:00:00.007-05:00

"I came out alone on my way to my tryst. But who is this that follows me in the silent dark?
I move aside to avoid his presence but I escape him not.
He makes the dust rise from the earth with his swagger; he adds his loud voice to every word that I utter.
He is my own little self, my lord, he knows no shame; but I am ashamed to come to thy door in his company. " - Gitanjali

These beautiful lines remind me of the ego which develops in all of us with time. Letting go of the tyrant is a challenge and overcoming this challenge carves out a better person in us.

The ego plays an essential role if you control it and make use of it to drive you. When your ego is in the driving seat then the ride at first will be great but it is only a matter of time before you come crashing down. We all are on an ego trip sometimes and more than often it is too late before we realize. Terry Starbucker from Ramblings from a glass half full talks about his rise and fall on his egoistic ride, then rise again and the effort it took him to get his head straight. An insightful read.

Learn from other people's experience and start giving, sharing and become humble to experiencing the real Power of I.

Creating 'eureka' moment !

2009-12-16T18:00:00.009-05:00

"Normally, we do not so much look at things as overlook them" - Alan Watts

Deep practice involves visualizing an ability you'd like to acquire and then trying to replicate that behavior. Analyze your errors, then noting exactly where your performance didn't match your ideal. Then keep trying until you become a master.

But sadly when it comes to creativity you cannot learn it by practicing brain exercises. But there is hope for the non-creative - It's simple, read bits and parts of 6-7 books ranging from a wide variety of topics. Then go browse over some inspiring design, listen to stand-up comedy, a mystery novel and some eckart tolle or tony robbins.

Dump alot of fun/cool/inspiring things in your brain in a short amount of time and then go and do an activity you really enjoy like ice hockey or maybe skating or simply go and put your mind in a state of play.

After a while, a tiny lightbulb will go on. Try it - does it work for you?

In reference to : Creativity Boost - How to tap into Right Brain Thinking - Martha Beck

14 things I want to remember in 2010

2009-12-11T18:04:00.007-05:00

I have always had it in me - a quest to become better than I was yesterday. So when I stumbled across Oprah's 20 things I know for sure it struck a cord with me.

A constant pursuit to keep up with my schedule and a forgetful memory has forced me to pursue meditation. I am one of those on/off practitioners who sees the benefit and gets really excited. As you can guess in the excitement I kind of get busy and then slowly forget how beneficial meditation is for me.

14 things(there is probably more) which I know, but have forgotten to follow in the excitement of life. They are common things becoming uncommon extremely fast. The list is adapted from the Big O's list.

1. As you sow, so you reap - This has a lot of variation in different cultures but the bottom line is "What you give is what you get". Yes, your kindergarten teacher told you this. What you do to others is your karma, what they do to you is their karma. Don't be bothered by their karma, focus on your own story.

2. Play the lead role in your movie - Write your own script. Define your own dreams. Don't play a supporting role inside your head to someone's cause which you are not passionate about.

3. Past - Stop giving past more power than the present. I got fired. I still miss my ex. I feel hopeless because X did Y to me. I am miserable. The list of excuses never ends and to you it will always appear that your story is unique. Well it very well might be but its time to attach your emotions to the present and refer to point 2 above.

4. Worry will not solve our problem. It will make you weak. So dont worry, but acknowledge and accept. Then formulate your game plan which will take you to the desired result. Milk is spilled - either buy a new house or clean the spill. Stop fretting.

5. Belief is more powerful than dreams and hopes. We become what we believe.

6. The only prayer we need to say is "Thank You". I have written a lot about being grateful. We need to be reminded of this quite often.

7. Stand up for what you feel you should do and is right for you. If you make a choice that goes against what everyone else thinks, the world will not fall apart.

8. Trust your instincts. Intuition doesn't lie. If you don't have instincts then meditate. You will develop them soon.

9. Love yourself and then learn to extend that love to others in every encounter.

10. Let passion drive your profession - Hard to implement. But once you eventually find it there will be no stopping you and you will not need an alarm clock to get up.

11. Every day brings a chance to start over. I need not say more.

12. Doubt means don't. Don't move. Don't answer. Don't rush forward.

13. When you don't know what to do, get still. The answer will come. Playfulness will always lead you to a solution. Enjoy the process.

14. Trouble don't last always. This too shall pass.

As the year is wrapping up lets resolve to put at least two of the above in practice. I pick gratitude and giving. What will you do?

In reference to : Top 20 things Oprah Knows for sure !

How much should we give?

2009-12-10T23:50:00.004-05:00

Tithing is the practice of giving 10 percent of your annual income to the needy.

It is like being grateful or creating a gratitude list as mentioned in the movie Secret. The more you give, the more you get.

"Scientists say that gratitude is like a psychological wonder drug. And by tithing, I'm saying thank you to the universe—or to God or to fate or to whatever you believe in—for allowing me to be alive. I want to acknowledge how lucky I am to have food, a roof, a bed, a warm shower, and a father who didn't sacrifice me on top of a mountain. That deserves a donation to the Big Tip Jar in the sky, don't you think?" - A.J. Jacobs

As the new year approaches it is a good time to be reminded about giving back and injecting tithing in our lives. It might not be able to give 10 percent but start with 1 percent and work your way up to helping people. Why not?

In Reference to: Oprah.com - How much is too much to give to charity? - A.J.Jacobs

7 ways to more happiness and success !!

2009-09-26T16:13:00.001-04:00

1. Do not aim for perfection. Just do it and keep improving
2. Do not PANIC.
3. Accept failure and learn from it. Do not be scared to fail !

4. Plan your time
5. Do not have too many expectations !
6. Do not worry about things beyond you - like who made you and what is your purpose.

7. Focus on NOW.

Related Posts:
- Four reasons why we procrastinate
- Beating Procrastination is easy once you get moving
- How to take more action - 9 powerful tips

Walk with the Dreamers

2009-06-13T01:08:00.002-04:00

“ Walk with the dreamers, the believers, the courageous, the cheerful, the planners, the doers, the successful people with their heads in the clouds and their feet on the ground. Let their spirit ignite a fire within you, to leave this world better than when you found it."
- Wilfred Peterson

An inspiring tumblr....

"...I'm beginning to see the light. I'm a believer. I'm alive. I'm into something good. I'm leaving on a jet plane. I'm not afraid of anything. I'm only happy when it rains. I'm walking on sunshine. I am a rock. I'm gonna be starting something. I'm finding beauty in hidden places. I'm counting my lucky stars. I am what I am."

Original thinking

2009-06-12T01:32:00.008-04:00

We have all heard about it and we have all been penalized for it in our assignments in school....

Living in information age, every idea is a subset of some other idea...so no matter how original you try to be, someone somewhere sometime has already been original.

So what really will make you original...the dark secret lies inside yourself. Your personality is unique to you, show the world a flavour of yourself by believing in yourself and raising your voice to express your idea. It could be an old idea but with your flavour. You might sound absurd to yourself but you are being original by offering your perspective to a problem.

My conviction in myself when put to words is original thinking. Being original is not about being right or wrong but it is about expression of your personality. Be original, express yourself.

Fountain of Youth

2009-06-04T02:04:00.007-04:00

By:Jordan Rane, AmericanWay

Ever wonder how to life your life to the fullest, maybe reading about these young 70, 80 year olds will teach you something :)

JEAN KENDALL
Age: 75
Hometown: Spokane, Washington

VOCATION: Charitable work and raising a family.
AVOCATIONS: Heli-skiing, alpine hiking, scuba diving, overseas biking expeditions, and camping with my family.

LAST YEAR’S ITINERARY: Heli-skiing and cod fishing in Greenland, hiking in the Canadian Bugaboos, and trekking and fishing in New Zealand with my husband.
WHAT’S NEXT: Repeating as much of last year’s itinerary as possible.

PROUDEST MOMENT: While my outdoor activities sustain my spirit, I’m most proud of sponsoring scholarships for single parents at our local community college as well as a scholarship at the University of Iowa in honor of my brother, who headed a department there for 25 years.
TOUGHEST PHYSICAL/HEALTH HURDLE I’VE FACED SO FAR: Six years ago, a partial knee-replacement kept me off the slopes for a year. Then, two years ago, a bout with breast cancer required surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation -- but I won the war (and was rewarded with curly hair).

WHAT I’VE GIVEN UP: Doing the dishes.
WHAT I’LL NEVER GIVE UP: Heli-skiing. After more than six million vertical feet and 40 years, I can’t imagine quitting. Also, working through a personal bucket list I started when I was 50; I’ve already climbed Mount Rainier, trekked to the base camps of the major Himalayan peaks, circumnavigated Annapurna, summited Kilimanjaro, skied in Kashmir, and trekked in Bhutan.

PERFECT DAY: Gliding down an untracked mountain on skis in fresh, over-the-shoulder powder under a brisk blue sky.
MOST EXHILARATING EXPERIENCE: A tie between skydiving with my daughter and the birth of my first grandchild. Both experiences literally took my breath away.

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE FOR GETTING THE MOST OUT OF LIFE: Never pass up an opportunity to do something new. You regret the things you didn’t do, not the things you did.
LIFE PHILOSOPHY: The majority of people “hang up their skis” way too soon. And the minority, who don’t, have more fun.

I Did It, You Can Too

2009-04-14T02:04:00.003-04:00

People have always asked me, “How did I do it?” They want to know how I succeeded growing up in a neighborhood where no one was supposed to succeed. Well, I did not get off with the
greatest start – I grew up with alcoholic parents, I failed the fourth grade, and I fathered a child in the eighth grade.

Look for the Silver Lining

What made the difference for me was the things I thought were the worst things in my life, but turned out to be the best things. An example is my beautiful daughter. At the time, I thought the world had ended. Can you imagine being 14 and having a child? Well, that gift is what led me to look for the silver lining in all my supposed “failures.” Perhaps they will turn out to be the best things, as well, and they have for the most part! We learn so much more from the things we do not get in life than from the things we do get. Take failure or rejection and learn to look for the opportunity.

Never Give Up

Another great reason for my success has been that I never gave up. I have been so low, so ready to give up, so many times. Just when I was about to give up, something always happened to keep me in the fight. It might have been as simple as others failing and giving up. Knowing that we all have to go through pain in order to succeed motivates me. If everyone is going through pain, I know that I can stand more pain. It is just that simple – or at least I tell myself that until I succeed!

Hire People Smarter than Yourself

Every one of us has faults. We cannot be the best at everything. We need to surround ourselves with people that lift us up. As they say, there are basement people and balcony people. Find the people that lift you up. I have learned that I need to hire people much smarter than myself. You will never succeed if you are the only smart guy in the company. You need as many people as you can get to help fill in the weak spots. In my case, I feel most are smarter than myself. I am very proud that I have been able to attract so many wonderful people to believe in my dream.

Mentors

Learn from others mistakes. Find people you admire and learn from them. These mentors can help teach you so much without having to learn it the hard way. I have never been afraid to show my hand and ask questions. People love to help when they have the knowledge. We pay these wise people a compliment when we want to know how they did it. Always ask!

Integrity

Live your life with integrity. There is always a faster, cheaper way to get to the top. Trust me, you can call it karma, bad luck, or whatever label you want to put on it, but if you cheat, it will come back to haunt you. You are the only one in life that you cannot fool. Live your life well. Treat people fairly, believe in your gut instinct, and you will succeed.

Best of luck to you!

Glenn Stearns

Outliers, Success and Positive Traits

2009-03-27T13:53:00.004-04:00

Chase Jarvis, the successful photographer says you only need two things for success

1. Be Undeniably Good.
2. Dedicate at least 10,000 hours to whatever it is you're looking to master.

It sounds like common sense, the "10,000 hours to becoming an expert" theory is the invention of Malcolm Gladwell in his book currently creating sensations, "Outliers". I have not read Outlier but have had enough people talk to me about it. Brad Isaac has a great article of 6 success strategies hidden in "Outliers". The 6 strategies he mentions:
1. Put the 10,000 hour rule to work as quickly as possible - Gladwell points to many "geniuses" in current times and history. But also goes into depth about how all of these geniuses had the advantage of working 10,000 hours or more on their trades before they became well known. Ex: Michael Jackson, Bill Gates, Beatles
2. Learn great negotiation & communication skills
3. Rise early – Gladwell details how the Chinese philosophy of rice farming may be the single most important factor in determining why statistically, people from the orient are better at math than everyone else.
”Anyone who rises before dawn 360 days each year never fails to make his family rich.”
4. Seek autonomy – Gladwell repeatedly calls on the subject of autonomy. He says that the people who are successful were fortunate enough to have freedom to pursue their interests. While other people do not have this freedom.
5. Take advantage of your gifts – When we discuss success, it means something different to everyone. For some it might be monetary success. For others it might be fame.
6. Take advantage of luck

Communication skills are very important as you need to be able to market your genious. Some traits which we should constantly strive to develop are: see problems as challenges, determination, dedication, single minded focus, smile at people, always open your mind to welcome ideas and suggestions, count your blessing, apply positive way of speaking, carry positive body language.

I think the strategy which has worked for me is to listen to what people have to say, be patient and follow up.

What is your strategy for success?

What I know for sure....

2008-12-02T17:33:00.008-05:00

by Ash Srivastava(www.onepowerfulword.com)

Deaths in Nigeria, government falling in Thailand, political crisis in Canada, the weakening economy,countries going bankrupt, rise of terrorism as a business, health issues in Zimbabwe, audacious terror attacks in Mumbai, the increasing attacks on freedom, the uncertainty of future, Somalian pirates attacking passenger cruise ships, floods in Brazil and Venice, the thought of not being able to feed your family, pay your mortgage as well as countless other reasons are enough to threaten peace of mind and create fear.

The rights of humanity slowly being stripped in the name of safety and increasing acts of violence trying constantly to dampen the spirit of humanity.

Not along ago mankind saw the first world war, the great depression of 1929 and the second world war. The great men who led us during those times of turmoil were men of strength and courage.

"The only thing we have to fear is fear it'self - nameless, unreasoning, unjustified, terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance." - FDR.

It is time we advance and come together by deepening our commitment to build a better world.

"I know for sure that we can."

I recently met an old fellow who worked in Saudi in the 1980s for 5 years and made a lot of money. He lost it all in the 1987 crash, all 5 years of his savings. He said but just because he was losing did not mean he was lost. He knew in his heart that he will be okay. Today he owns 500 acres of land in Kentucky and a house in Florida. Fear makes the wolf bigger than he is.

"I know for sure that we have the courage."

Courage is not the lack of fear but the ability to face it. And what is fear? Fear is simply an emotional response to threats and danger. It is the creation of your brain and nothing more. It is not bigger than you are because nothing which is created by you can be bigger than you.

I extend my support and love to all those who look at these times and are letting their fear control them. It is time that collective masses stand together and organize themselves.

"Sometimes the skies look cloudy and its dark. You think the rains will never pass but as long as we are together, as long as we are all committed, there is nothing we can't do." -Obama

Instead of letting these events breed fear and divide us, we need to love and support each other. Instead of dividing each other in races and cultures, north and south, east and west - we need to come together as one people. The politicians need to bring people together rather than devicing policies to divide them for more votes. And as we start sharing and spreading our love, as we are liberated from our fear, our presence will automatically liberate others.

"I know for sure that each one of us can give back - love, support, joy."

Collective fear stimulates herd instinct, and tends to produce ferocity toward those who are not regarded as members of the herd. We need to reduce this fear by first addressing our own fear. It is time for acceptance again.

We need to pump love, care, joy and sharing in our society the way governments are pumping money in the economy. Perhaps the most important thing we can undertake toward the reduction of fear is to make it easier for people to accept themselves, to like themselves. Generosity and gratitude towards our fellow beings.

"I know for sure that a lot of talented people who have undermined their talent will now rise, putting their brain to use."

Death is not the biggest fear we have; our biggest fear is to make sure we can care for our loved ones and take the risk to be alive - the risk to be alive and express what we really are. Too many people are thinking of security instead of opportunity. They seem to be more afraid of life than death.

"If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment."-Marcus Aurelius

Do not give external forces too much power. Worry gives a small thing a big shadow. No matter how hard you try, for die you shall one day. But whilst you are alive, let's pledge to not die with your music still in you.

"I know for sure that when this crisis is over the world will be more stable,connected and secure.
I know for sure that when this crisis is over the world will have new heroes, humanitarians, leaders,millionaires and billionaires."

Will you be one them....?

5 ways high achievers reach higher !!

2008-09-01T15:19:00.001-04:00

by: Ash Srivastava (www.onepowerfulword.com)

This is adapted from HBR, June 2008 Issue. The article was titled, How the Best get Better and Better". The article is based on a study done on high achievers, how they get to the top and then stay there.

Do you think you have what it takes ? Let's find out.

1) Love the pressure
Focus on your own excellence and concentrate on what you can control and forget the rest. Don't get distracted by victories of competitors. Elite performers are masters of compartmentalization, they separate different areas of their mind and do not let setbacks in one area affect the other.
Elite performers love to party but celebrating ranks ninth on their list of top 10 reasons for wanting to win.

2) Fixate on the Long term
Much of star athletes' ability to rebound from defeat comes from an intense focus on long-term goals and aspirations. At the same time they are aware that the road to long term success is paved with small achievements. Example if your long term goal is to become a senior executive in 3 years then there are several performance areas in the short term which need to be excelled
like - increasing reputation and influence among executives in other departments of the company and managing complex initiatives. To achieve that you might have to join a company wide task force and lead a complex project.

3) Use the Competition
It's common in track-and-field sports for two elite athletes from different countries to train together. Train with the people who will push you the hardest.

4) Re-invent yourself
It's hard enough getting to the top, but staying there is even harder. Have an insatiable appetite for feedback. Be hungry for advice on how to develop and progress. One word of caution, however: While it is good to feel challenged, you need to make sure that any feedback you get is constructive. If criticism doesn't seem helpful at first, probe to see if you can get useful insights about what's behind the negative feedback. Get more specifics.

5) Avoid Self-Flagellation
They do not indulge in self-flagellation. That`s not to say that they are not hard on themselves but when things go awry they dust themselves off and move on. Have an insatiable passion for honest, immediate feedback. But it must be constructive; stars don't have time for self-flagellation.

6) Celebrate the Victories
Elite performers know how to party. Reward yourself and let the rewards symbolize the hard work, commitment and dedication. Celebration is more than an emotional release. Done effectively, it involves a deep level of analysis and enhanced awareness. The most important function of affirming victory is to provide encouragement for attempts at even tougher stretch goals. Dwelling on success for too long is a distraction and, worse, leads to complacency. Celebrate - push on. At the end, getting to the next level of performance is what celebrating is about.

7) The Will to Win
Elite performers are driven by fierce desire to compete and win. Even though most of the performers in the Olympics will walk away with no medals, those with real mettle will get back into training again. That's what truly separates the elite performers from ordinary high achievers.

10 Steps to Unlocking 'The Secret'

2008-07-31T14:44:00.001-04:00

by Belief Net

You may have heard about it on Oprah or at the dentist's. As author and producer Rhonda Byrne says herself, the "secret"--that we create our reality with our thoughts--is nothing new. But it's not easy to digest that every person, thing, and experience in your life is there because, unconsciously or not, you brought it there. Yet using that knowledge to create a dream life is where the juicy fun begins.

"The Secret" gives three steps--"ask, believe, receive"--we offer 10 micro steps to practicing The Secret, an approach also known as "the law of attraction."

1. Clear Your Mind

Find a place in your home to designate as your "intention space," suggests author Lynne McTaggart in her book about the law of attraction (LOA), "The Intention Experiment." You might want to set up an altar, or set plants nearby. Even when you're not here, you can summon this spot for future intention-setting. Then sit, quietly, comfortably, and breathe. Meditate for five to 10 minutes, writes Taggart, to help your brain slip into a relaxed, receptive state

2. Decide What You Want

You need to get clear about what you actually want, or, say LOA experts, you'll attract mixed results. In their book, "The Law of Attraction," Esther and Jerry Hicks say that the thought "I don't know what I want" is really just the psyche's way of saying "I'm afraid of what I want." So get clear and dream big. You might need to confront some scarcity demons, but don't dwell on them, just keep focusing on your desires, whether it's a law degree or a million dollars.

3. Ask For It

Write down what you want very specifically, says philosopher Bob Proctor in "The Secret." And, he says, write it in present-tense, as if you've already gotten your wish: "'I am so happy and grateful now that...' And then explain how you want your life to be, in every area," Proctor says. It's also crucial to ask for it in a way that's positive-the Universe, say LOA experts, responds to every word. For example, instead of the potentially self-sabotaging "I want to get out of debt," (the Universe will "hear" debt and keep on sending more your way), say, "I am living a life of abundance and wealth."

4. Visualize Having It

Every day, close your eyes for several minutes and imagine yourself standing inside your dream home, embracing your soul mate, standing in your ideal body. Keep focusing on what you want and imagining it so clearly that you can see, feel, smell, hear, and taste it.

Recent brain imaging tests show that imagining doing something is almost exactly the same to the brain--and the body--as actually doing something. The idea is to have your thoughts and feelings "vibrate" at the same frequency as what you want; if you desire stupendous wealth, raise your emotional bar to bring that in--expand, expand, expand.

5. Express and Feel Gratitude

Make a list of all that you're grateful for. Gratitude will further magnetize good things to you. It will also open your heart and assure your unconscious that you are capable of having a beautiful life, because in fact, you already do.

In "The Secret" book Byrne writes: "With all that I have read and all that I have experienced in my own life using The Secret, the power of gratitude stands above everything else. If you do only one thing with the knowledge of The Secret, use gratitude until it becomes your way of life."

6. Release Control

You've cleared your mind, decided what you want, visualized those things and experiences, and expressed gratitude for what you already have. Now, see your request going out to the Universe. It will sweat the details, the "how" of manifesting your request.

7. Stay Positive

Be aware of your thoughts. But, as author Marci Shimoff says in "The Secret," it would be impossible and exhausting to watch every single thought-we have about 60,000 a day. Instead, be aware of your thoughts by monitoring your feelings.

If you're tilting toward sad or angry, re-calibrate quickly. Read a beloved book, walk in nature, listen to a stunning piece of music-anything to stay up, light, and inspired. If you start doubting, replace it with knowing, with that feeling of having it. The more you saturate yourself with having your desire, the higher your positive vibration becomes.

8. Be Patient

As metaphysician Joe Vitale says in "The Secret" film, there's no guaranteed timeline for these sorts of things. But don't give up. If your wish or some version of it doesn't manifest in a few, or even 30, days, worry not. Just keep on believing and sending out positive thoughts and feelings. The important thing is to keep doubt--and negative feelings--at bay.

9. Invite It In

Really receive your gifts and enjoy them. And remember to send out gratitude and love for this magical-seeming process based on the connectedness of all matter. Also, continue to steep in it--surround yourself with photos of what you desire, say your desire aloud, go to an open house, a test drive. Do what it takes to let it enter your life.

10. Share the Wealth

Though "The Secret" doesn't specifically address using this manifesting power to help the world, the Law of Attraction is a perfect tool for that. As Jack Canfield, founder of the "Chicken Soup for the Soul" series, says in the film, Mother Teresa said she wouldn't attend an anti-war rally, but if there was ever a peace rally she'd be there. Along those lines, see Iraq and other troubled places filled with smiling, calm, peaceful people, bustling markets, sweetness, and inspiration. Feel peace in your body, send your love.

And enjoy the secret: "If it ain't fun, don't do it," Canfield says.

HO'OPONOPONO

2008-07-08T07:27:00.002-04:00

by Dr. Joe Vitale

Two years ago, I heard about a therapist in Hawaii who cured a complete ward of criminally insane patients -- without ever seeing any of them. The psychologist would study an inmate's chart and then look within himself to see how he created that person's illness. As he improved himself, the patient improved. When I first heard this story, I thought it was an urban legend. How could anyone heal anyone else by healing himself? How could even the best self-improvement master cure the criminally insane? It didn't make any sense. It wasn't logical, so I dismissed the story.

However, I heard it again a year later. I heard that the therapist had used a Hawaiian healing process called ho'oponopono. I had never heard of it, yet I couldn't let it leave my mind. If the story was at all true, I had to know more. I had always understood total responsibility to mean that I am responsible for what I think and do. Beyond that, it's out of my hands. I think that most people think of total responsibility that way. We're responsible for what we do, not what anyone else does -- but that's wrong.

The Hawaiian therapist who healed those mentally ill people would teach me an advanced new perspective about total responsibility. His name is Dr. Ihaleakala Hew Len. We probably spent an hour talking on our first phone call. I asked him to tell me the complete story of his work as a therapist.

He explained that he worked at Hawaii State Hospital for four years. That ward where they kept the criminally insane was dangerous. Psychologists quit on a monthly basis. The staff called in sick a lot or simply quit. People would walk through that ward with their backs against the wall, afraid of being attacked by patients. It was not a pleasant place to live, work, or visit.

"Dr. Len told me that he never saw patients. He agreed to have an office and to review their files. While he looked at those files, he would work on himself. As he worked on himself, patients began to heal. "'After a few months, patients that had to be shackled were being allowed to walk freely," he told me. "Others who had to be heavily medicated were getting off their medications. And those who had no chance of ever being released were being freed." I was in awe. "Not only that," he went on, "but the staff began to enjoy coming to work. Absenteeism and turnover disappeared. We ended up with more staff than we needed because patients were being released, and all the staff was showing up to work. Today, that ward is closed."

This is where I had to ask the million dollar question: "What were you doing within yourself that caused those people to change?"

"I was simply healing the part of me that created them," he said. I didn't understand. Dr. Len explained that total responsibility for your life means that everything in your life -- simply because it is in your life -- is your responsibility. In a literal sense the entire world is your creation.

Whew! This is tough to swallow. Being responsible for what I say or do is one thing. Being responsible for what everyone in my life says or does is quite another. Yet, the truth is this: if you take complete responsibility for your life, then everything you see, hear, taste, touch, or in any way experience is your responsibility, because it is in your life. This means that terrorist activity, the president, the economy or anything you experience and don't like -- is up for you to heal. They don't exist, in a manner of speaking, except as projections from inside you. The problem isn't with them, it's with you, and to change them, you have to change you.

I know this is tough to grasp, let alone accept or actually live. Blame is far easier than total responsibility, but as I spoke with Dr. Len, I began to realize that healing for him and in ho'oponopono means loving yourself.

If you want to improve your life, you have to heal your life. If you want to cure anyone, even a mentally ill criminal you do it by healing you. I asked Dr. Len how he went about healing himself. What was he doing, exactly, when he looked at those patients' files? "I just kept saying, 'I'm sorry' and 'I love you' over and over again," he explained. "That's it?" "That's it."

Turns out that loving yourself is the greatest way to improve yourself, and as you improve yourself, you improve your world.

I later attended a ho'oponopono workshop run by Dr. Len. He's now 70 years old, considered a grandfatherly shaman, and is somewhat reclusive. He praised my book, The Attractor Factor. He told me that as I improve myself, my book's vibration will rise, and everyone will feel it when they read it. In short, as I improve, my readers will improve.

"What about the books that are already sold and out there?" I asked. "They aren't out there," he explained, once again blowing my mind with his mystic wisdom. "They are still in you." In short, there is no out there.

It would take a whole book to explain this advanced technique with the depth it deserves. Suffice it to say that whenever you want to improve anything in your life, there's only one place to look: inside you. When you look, do it with love.

Joe Vitale is the author of The Attractor Factor: 5 Easy Steps for Creating Wealth (or Anything Else) from the Inside Out

Express your Essense

2008-06-06T09:00:00.002-04:00

Don't die with your music still in you. You come into the world with nothing and you leave the world with nothing. The only thing you can do with your life is give it away, serve others.

Lighten your load !!

2008-06-05T07:30:00.001-04:00

courtesy:www.summerized.com

If you are feeling tired and weary, perhaps now would be a good time to lighten your load. There are many burdens you can get rid of that you'll easily be able to do without.

Start by abandoning all your resentments. Each resentment costs an enormous amount of time and energy, and provides absolutely nothing of value in return.

Next, you can walk away from your anxiety. All the anxiety in the world cannot add a single positive moment to your life.

Pick up the pace by letting go of the need to prove that you're right. Instead, use the time and energy to more effectively listen and understand.

While you're at it, go ahead and leave behind your envy, anger, impatience and frustration. After all, what have they ever done for you?

Dropping the burdensome negativity from your life is ridiculously easy once you realize how much it's all holding you back. Lighten your load, and move quickly to where you truly wish to be.

25 Must read books for Achievers

2008-04-29T07:11:00.001-04:00

by Erin Cassey, Success Magazine

Out of hundreds, the editors of SUCCESS have narrowed the list to 25 must-read books for achievers. We chose books that take a comprehensive approach to money, life and personal development because we know that one-dimensional success really isn't success at all.

We know reading about and applying techniques and success strategies are the best ways to discover and stay focused on your life's journey.

We encourage you to find a book that interests you and carve out a few minutes every day to read at least a few pages. You'll be amazed at the difference it will make in your journey toward success! You can also check these
25 books on Amazon Listmania

How to Win Friends and Influence People, Dale Carnegie (Pocket Books, 1998)

First published in 1937, How to Win Friends and Influence People was an overnight success with staying power. Today, this book is regarded as one of the all-time best for its lessons on dealing with people.

The chapter titles seem, at first, a little manipulative: "Six ways to make people like you," "12 ways to win people to your way of thinking." But the reality of Carnegie's teachings is that none will work if the intent is manipulation. The word "genuine" appears repeatedly throughout the book. Only with authenticity and honesty will Carnegie's methods work consistently.

How to Win Friends and Influence People is packed with anecdotes from historical leaders and lessons learned or taught by some of history's greatest businessmen, making the read as interesting as it is enlightening. And the methods-calling a person by his or her name or looking at the situation from the other's point of view-work in business and in personal life with family and friends.

Carnegie's book is a classic. Though he credits many people for inspiring his ideas, his methods are the foundation for many of today's personal-development and business-management books.

The Richest Man in Babylon, George S. Clason(BNP Books, 2007)

Too often, life doesn't turn out as expected. And money, or the lack of money, plays a large role in people's ability to handle life's ups and downs. Perhaps that's why, in the 1920s, banks and insurance companies decided to distribute short parables written to educate people on important financial principles. The Richest Man in Babylon began in 1926 as a series of pamphlets, the most famous ones later compiled into one of the best-loved money guides of all time.

The book begins with two men realizing that, while they lived a meager existence, one of their childhood friends had become known as the wealthiest man in Babylon. Despite growing up in similar circumstances, their friend seemed to have created a life of gold while they barely scratched out a living.

The situation is all too familiar even today. And like the men who'd come to the realization that they'd failed to think beyond the day at hand, readers have the opportunity to sit at the feet of the richest man in Babylon and learn how to build wealth. They learn how to plan for the future, make wise investments and how to view money as a tool rather than a measure of success.

With time-tested principles and an engaging format, The Richest Man in Babylon is an excellent introduction to finance, and a classic.

Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill(Aventine Press, 2004)

Napoleon Hill, inspired by business legend Andrew Carnegie, spent 20 years of his life studying the lives of some of history's most successful people. The culmination of his research was the in-depth series, The Laws of Success. In 1937, Hill published another book, Think and Grow Rich, founded on the same philosophies of success. This book condensed the wealth of knowledge he's accumulated into 13 principles for successful living.

Shorter and perhaps easier to get through than its multivolume predecessor, Think and Grow Rich is as applicable today as it was when it was first released. The title's principles are founded on Hill's belief in the power of the mind, and his famous quotes, such as, "Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve," have changed the way millions of people view their lives. When read in its entirety and its principles put into action, Think and Grow Rich not only helps people change their views on life, but also the way they behave and, ultimately, their reality.

More than 30 million copies of Think and Grow Rich have been bought by business students, entrepreneurs and goal-setters around the world. When it was re-released in 2004, it rocketed once again to the top, holding a place on BusinessWeek's Best Seller list for paperback business books for more than 20 months.

Think and Grow Rich is a timeless classic that should be read by everyone interested in improving their lives and reaching their goals.

9 Steps to Financial Freedom, Suze Orman(Crown, 1997)

As a financial expert, Suze Orman offers advice on the nuts and bolts of managing money. But whether you're watching her on television or reading her advice in O, The Oprah Magazine, or in one of her best-selling books, such as 9 Steps to Financial Freedom, her message is clear: Wealth is an attitude and money isn't the key to acquiring true financial freedom.

In this acclaimed book, Orman challenges readers to face their financial fears and acknowledge the importance of planning for the future. With a three-pronged approach, Orman tackles the mental, physical and spiritual issues that keep people from reaching financial freedom. Also available in audio format, 9 Steps to Financial Freedom encourages personal growth while offering the education necessary to begin the process of building a rich life.

Again, it's the total approach to financial success that sets this and the other financial books on this list apart. Acquiring wealth isn't as simple as piling up the green stuff. Your beliefs about money, yourself and the world around you have as much to do with wealth as do the riches you acquire.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen R. Covey(Free Press, 1989)

While Stephen Covey wasn't the first to write a book on becoming a better, more effective person, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People marked the beginning of a revitalized interest in personal development. With a 15th anniversary edition released in 2004 and more than 15 million copies sold, this book has helped millions change their perspective and their lives.

Unlike many authors of books in this genre, Covey doesn't promise a simple, quick fix for creating a better life. In fact, mastering the seven habits he outlines could take a lifetime. But as with many personal-development efforts, it's what you learn as you work toward becoming a truly effective person that matters.

The habits are divided into three sections: Private Victory, Public Victory and Renewal. Private Victory focuses on the individual's view of himself. The first three habits are: becoming proactive, beginning with the end in mind, and putting first things first. These habits will challenge you to take responsibility for your thoughts, beliefs and actions. The Public Victory section focuses on creating meaningful, mutually beneficial relationships. And because being effective requires energy and focus, the seventh habit, "Sharpening the Saw," encourages you to engage in activities that promote mental and physical renewal.

Covey says that when our behavior contradicts our beliefs or when our relationships consistently fail, any successes we achieve feel hollow. This book takes a total approach to success and encourages growth and maturity beginning with self, which leads to stronger relationships and greater success at home and at work.

The Way of the Peaceful Warrior: A Book That Changes Lives,Dan Millman(HJ Kramer, 2006)

The first of Dan Millman's writings, this book is an inspirational story based largely on his college years. The book delves into the notion that a person can be accomplished and successful without feeling alive or genuinely happy.

Millman learns "the way of the peaceful warrior" from a mysterious old man he names Socrates. His mentor leads him through a journey of self-discovery. The lessons the young man endures and later accepts are applicable for anyone searching for greater meaning in life.

Laws of Success, Napoleon Hill(Combined Registry Co., 1966)

Twenty-six years of research, including interviews with more than 500 self-made millionaires, laid the foundation for this massive collection. After studying the methods and accomplishments of masterminds such as Thomas Edison, John D. Rockefeller, Henry Ford, Andrew Carnegie, Theodore Roosevelt and Alexander Graham Bell, Napoleon Hill compiled what he learned, offering it to the world as the Laws of Success.

More than theories for a book, Hill applied the precepts to his life and discovered immeasurable success. The book's size might seem intimidating, but Hill wrote so it could be taught to high school students, keeping the text rich but easy to understand. This personal-development guru paves the road to success with timeless wisdom.

Acres of Diamonds, Russell H. Conwell(Filiquarian, 2007)

Opportunities for success, wealth and happiness often lie under foot and yet go unnoticed. This little book, originally a speech by Russell Conwell, serves as a reminder not to overlook the abundance right on our doorstep.

This timeless work is freely available online, in both written and audio formats, and addresses the myth that fame and fortune are waiting somewhere "out there." He also dispels the notion that men and women of integrity shouldn't desire money or wealth. "Money is power, and you ought to be reasonably ambitious to have it. You ought because you can do more good with it than you could without it," Conwell said. And to that end, he advises readers to begin searching for the diamonds in their lives… at home.

As a Man Thinketh, James Allen(Filiquarian, 2007)

Published in 1902, "This little volume" as James Allen refers to it, has been a source of inspiration for millions and has influenced the work of many respected personal-development leaders. And with statements such as, "The soul attracts that which it secretly harbors, that which it loves, and also that which it fears," Allen paved the way for many contemporary philosophers.

At its core is the belief that "as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he." Allen uses eloquent period language to bring readers to the realization that thoughts and character are inseparably intertwined. Equally as important is the lesson of personal responsibility taking precedence over thoughts and actions. He prescribes focused time to reflect and discover yourself and your dreams, and to put forth energy and time to make those dreams reality. This book, now in the public domain and freely accessible on the Internet, should be in every achiever's library.

Maximum Achievement, Brian Tracy(Simon & Schuster, 1995)

As suggested by this book's subtitle, "Strategies and skills that will unlock your hidden powers to succeed," it's likely you already possess what's required to create success in your life. Those who apply these strategies provided by Brian Tracy can make changes that quickly produce results.

Learn how to create success that encompasses every area of life-health, personal and professional happiness, relationships and wealth. Whether you're already on the road to success or just getting started on your success journey, the principles outlined in the book will help you realize your true potential. Build the life you want and attain the peace of mind that comes with the knowledge that you control your destiny.

The Seasons of Life, Jim Rohn & Ronald Reynolds(Jim Rohn International, 1981)

In The Seasons of Life, Jim Rohn and Ronald Reynolds draw parallels between life and the changing seasons. When you learn that change is the only guarantee, you can make the most of each season as it comes into your life.

It's possible to learn and grow from every experience. The authors help readers understand that every season is necessary and valuable-even winter, when life seems harsh and your actions unfruitful.

See You at the Top, Zig Ziglar(Pelican Publishing Company, 2000)

There's room for you at the top! Zig Ziglar's message has inspired millions to change their lives by helping them do, be and have more than they dared dream possible.

Ziglar offers a nuts-and-bolts approach to developing the self-image, attitudes and habits that make people successful. Learn how to set and achieve goals, how to create momentum that propels you forward in life and why being focused on others is a critical aspect of success. This step-by-step guide will help you excel in every area of life.

The Magic of Thinking Big, David J. Schwartz(Pocket Books, 1995)

Thinking big separates the achievers from the average. In this best-selling classic, David Schwartz suggests that it's not necessarily intelligence or work ethic that move people up the ladder of success, but the personal choice people make to believe that something bigger and better is possible.

Make time to reflect on your life's goals and expand them. Once you have a clear picture of what you want, focus your energy on achieving that goal. Keep your eyes fixed on your goal and do not allow the small thinking of the world around you to cloud your vision. Schwartz offers practical advice for putting the magic of thinking big to work in your life.

The Power of Positive Thinking, Norman Vincent Peale(Fireside, 2007)

The belief that positive thoughts lead to a positive reality isn't a new phenomenon. Decades before The Secret, Norman Vincent Peale wrote The Power of Positive Thinking. The book teaches readers that focused, intentional and unyielding belief is required before they can achieve the lives they desire.

The philosophies from this best-selling book have helped millions reach their personal, financial, spiritual and relationship goals. Learn to replace negative thoughts with positive beliefs and to break the worry habit by cultivating a character that isn't swayed by circumstances.

Awaken the Giant Within, Anthony Robbins(Free Press, 1992)

Within each person is a sleeping giant of greatness. With this book, motivational coach Anthony Robbins seeks to help you "take immediate control of mental, emotional, physical and financial destiny."

Not one to do things in a small way, Robbins found huge success, lost it all and then, using the techniques outlined in this book, took control of his life and his success. This personal-development classic delves into the specifics of goal-setting, achieving success in relationships, talking to yourself and discovering your true potential.

Developing the Leader Within You, John C. Maxwell(Thomas Nelson, 2005)

Developing the Leader Within You makes the theories of leadership personal. For those struggling to take the next step in their careers or who doubt their leadership abilities, the book offers practical methods for developing leadership skills.

Recognizing that some people have innate leadership-personality traits, the book provides direction for becoming more effective. But John Maxwell's book debunks the myth that only an exclusive few are born to be leaders. Instead, he suggests that everyone benefits from learning self-discipline, seeking mentors and adding to their skills through training.

Maxwell defines leadership as influence and points out that a management title isn't a prerequisite. Regardless of your career, position or personality, learn how to become an effective leader.

The One Minute Manager, Kenneth Blanchard(HarperCollins Business, 2000)

Apply the principals taught in The One Minute Manager and watch your team's productivity and job satisfaction grow. This allegorical tale pulls together the wisdom gained through experience, allowing readers to prosper without making their predecessors' mistakes.

The One Minute management style allows leaders to be efficient and effective with their time. The short chapters in this easy read focus on interaction between managers and their teams. By setting goals that encourage, redirecting, reprimanding and praising appropriately, leaders can get more from their teams while earning their respect.

Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don't, Jim Collins
(Collins, 2001)

If good is the enemy of great, can good companies become great? And if so, how is that transition made with lasting effect? These are some of the questions central to the research that led to the publication of Good to Great.

Five years of investigation uncovered the characteristics that made uncommonly great companies outshine their competition and earn significantly higher profits. Comparing the differentiating traits of good companies and their great counterparts, Jim Collins and his research team learned that, among other things, leaders who willingly work with their heads and hearts, rather than their egos, are required to take a company from good to great. Such leaders create the foundation for the culture and sustainable results that propel an organization to excellence.

The Automatic Millionaire, David Bach(Broadway, 2003)

Who wouldn't want to become a millionaire automatically? The truths related in this book, as in Bach's Finish Rich series, are that nothing great is accomplished without forethought. But with a little planning and by putting many aspects of your finances on autopilot, you can be on the road to wealth.

The automatic aspect plan allows readers to save time while saving money. And though many of the principles aren't new, Bach's easy-to-understand approach helps the reader understand them in a new way. Some of the highlights include principles such as paying yourself first, and advice about why and how to save for retirement-even if you're hard-pressed to make ends meet now. Bach also provides advice for accomplishing short-term savings goals and explains that giving is an important part of wealth.

Rich Dad Poor Dad, Robert T. Kiyosaki(Time Warner Paperbacks, 2002)

The paradigm shift related to work, employment and entrepreneurship has been a long time coming. In one of his most-read books, Rich Dad Poor Dad, Robert Kiyosaki reveals the value of taking control of your financial destiny through entrepreneurship and investing.

In Rich Dad Poor Dad, Kiyosaki contrasts the differences between what the rich and the poor or middle classes teach their children. As a young man, Kiyosaki was taught by his "poor dad" to follow the path of least resistance: Get an education, get a job and work hard. His "rich dad," his friend's dad, mentored him to do the opposite. The book acknowledges education is important but it isn't always best received in a formal learning environment. Lessons include the value of self-employment, how to be self-employed without limiting yourself to the constraints of an employee, and how to create and take advantage of residual-income opportunities. Instead of working hard for money, use the principles in this book to make money work for you.

The Greatest Salesman in the World, Og Mandino(Frederick Fell Publishers, 2001)

Ten ancient scrolls hold the key to wealth and happiness in this classic parable. A young camel boy wishing to improve his station in life takes his master's words to heart: "No other trade or profession has more opportunity for one to rise from poverty to great wealth than that of a salesman." Desiring success and wealth, the young man sets out to become the greatest salesman in the world.

This pocket-sized book can be read easily in an hour, but it's packed with wisdom for those pursuing a career in sales. Far more than a how-to book on closing the sale, the story encourages the reader to contribute to society and to grow in peace of mind and in heart. Those who apply the principles in the scrolls will learn how to overcome the challenges of sales, how to persist through trials and, ultimately, how to succeed.

The Sales Bible, Jeffrey Gitomer (Wiley, 2003)

Jeffrey Gitomer has an extremely low tolerance for lamenting salespeople and that comes through in the bold and fast-paced tone of his books. The Sales Bible puts more than 100 sales facts, tips and solutions at your disposal to help you "make sales while others are whining!"

This book magnifies the details of every aspect of sales. Learn the basics and understand how recent changes in selling affect you and your pitch. Discover the keys to setting yourself apart from the competition and finding your prospect's button. The table of contents is designed to help you quickly identify specific topics. Or just start reading from cover to cover for an excellent education from someone who knows the profession from the inside out.

Who Moved My Cheese?, Dr. Spencer Johnson(Vermilion, 2002)

For many people, change can be challenging. It can cause fear, anger and the feeling of being out of control. This popular parable examines change and what happens to those who choose not to embrace it.

"If you do not change, you can become extinct," is one of the many truisms the characters learn in Who Moved My Cheese? What's holding you back? Are you taking note of small changes that could lead to more significant changes in the future? In the maze of life, it's possible to successfully deal with change if and when you clear your mind of expectations and understand that while your comfort zone may be cozy, it's not necessarily the safest place to live.

Chicken Soup for the Soul series, Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen, with other contributors(Health Communications Inc., 1993-2008)
Need inspiration? The phenomenal success of Chicken Soup for the Soul offers inspiration on many levels. From the tenacity it took to get the first Chicken Soup for the Soul published (Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen were rejected by 140 publishers and their book agent before finding a publisher willing to take a chance on their idea) to the thousands of touching and thought-provoking stories, these books will warm your heart and may help you view life from a new perspective.

The original Chicken Soup for the Soul went to the top of the best-seller list in less than a year. Today, one or more of the Chicken Soup books is consistently listed on the New York Times and other major best-sellers lists.

As an entrepreneur, parent or business leader, staying at the top or your game requires regular jolts of passion and healthy doses of laughter. Find both by picking up a copy on a topic that interests you. With more than 170 titles in the series, you're sure to find one that inspires you.

Success through a Positive Mental Attitude, Napoleon Hill and W. Clement Stone (Pocket
Books, 1991)

Success through a Positive Mental Attitude was first published in 1960, written by two of history's greatest personal-development leaders, Napoleon Hill and W. Clement Stone. For almost half a century, this book has been the launching point for those who want to change the direction of their lives.

Hill and Stone recognize that each person has their own definition of success. But whether your desire is to build great wealth, own profitable organizations or be a world-renowned artist, the authors point out, "You have everything to gain and nothing to lose by trying. Success is achieved and maintained by those who keep trying with a [positive mental attitude]."

This book addresses all areas of life. From getting the job you want to building better relationships with those around you to living healthier longer (Stone lived to be 100 years old!), this book takes an inclusive approach to success, beginning with your state of mind.

Why a must-read? When you're looking for advice on how to create a successful and rewarding life, why not get the answers from those who have "been there, done that?" These thought leaders and business experts used the principles of positive mental attitude and experienced a lifetime of rewards.

How to be creative?

2008-04-22T16:07:00.003-04:00

by Hugh Macleod, gapingvoid.com

So you want to be more creative, in art, in business, whatever. Here are some tips that have worked for me over the years:

1. Ignore everybody.
The more original your idea is, the less good advice other people will be able to give you. When I first started with the biz card format, people thought I was nuts. Why wasn't I trying to do something more easy for markets to digest i.e. cutey-pie greeting cards or whatever?

2. The idea doesn't have to be big. It just has to change the world.
The two are not the same thing.

3. Put the hours in.
Doing anything worthwhile takes forever. 90% of what separates successful people and failed people is time, effort and stamina.

4. If your biz plan depends on you suddenly being "discovered" by some big shot, your plan will probably fail.
Nobody suddenly discovers anything. Things are made slowly and in pain.

5. You are responsible for your own experience.
Nobody can tell you if what you're doing is good, meaningful or worthwhile. The more compelling the path, the more lonely it is.

6. Everyone is born creative; everyone is given a box of crayons in kindergarten.
Then when you hit puberty they take the crayons away and replace them with books on algebra etc. Being suddenly hit years later with the creative bug is just a wee voice telling you, "I'd like my crayons back, please."

7. Keep your day job.
I'm not just saying that for the usual reason i.e. because I think your idea will fail. I'm saying it because to suddenly quit one's job in a big ol' creative drama-queen moment is always, always, always in direct conflict with what I call 'The Sex & Cash Theory'.

8. Companies that squelch creativity can no longer compete with companies that champion creativity.
Nor can you bully a subordinate into becoming a genius.

9. Everybody has their own private Mount Everest they were put on this earth to climb.
You may never reach the summit; for that you will be forgiven. But if you don't make at least one serious attempt to get above the snow-line, years later you will find yourself lying on your deathbed, and all you will feel is emptiness.

10. The more talented somebody is, the less they need the props.
Meeting a person who wrote a masterpiece on the back of a deli menu would not surprise me. Meeting a person who wrote a masterpiece with a silver Cartier fountain pen on an antique writing table in an airy SoHo loft would SERIOUSLY surprise me.

11. Don't try to stand out from the crowd; avoid crowds altogether.
Your plan for getting your work out there has to be as original as the actual work, perhaps even more so. The work has to create a totally new market. There's no point trying to do the same thing as 250,000 other young hopefuls, waiting for a miracle. All existing business models are wrong. Find a new one.

12. If you accept the pain, it cannot hurt you.
The pain of making the necessary sacrifices always hurts more than you think it's going to. I know. It sucks. That being said, doing something seriously creative is one of the most amazing experiences one can have, in this or any other lifetime. If you can pull it off, it's worth it. Even if you don't end up pulling it off, you'll learn many incredible, magical, valuable things. It's NOT doing it when you know you full well you HAD the opportunity- that hurts FAR more than any failure.

13. Never compare your inside with somebody else's outside.
The more you practice your craft, the less you confuse worldly rewards with spiritual rewards, and vice versa. Even if your path never makes any money or furthers your career, that's still worth a TON.

14. Dying young is overrated.
I've seen so many young people take the "Gotta do the drugs and booze thing to make me a better artist" route over the years. A choice that was neither effective, healthy, smart, original or ended happily.

15. The most important thing a creative person can learn professionally is where to draw the red line that separates what you are willing to do, and what you are not.
Art suffers the moment other people start paying for it. The more you need the money, the more people will tell you what to do. The less control you will have. The more bullshit you will have to swallow. The less joy it will bring. Know this and plan accordingly.

16. The world is changing.
Some people are hip to it, others are not. If you want to be able to afford groceries in 5 years, I'd recommend listening closely to the former and avoiding the latter. Just my two cents.

17. Merit can be bought. Passion can't.
The only people who can change the world are people who want to. And not everybody does.

18. Avoid the Watercooler Gang.
They're a well-meaning bunch, but they get in the way eventually.

19. Sing in your own voice.
Piccasso was a terrible colorist. Turner couldn't paint human beings worth a damn. Saul Steinberg's formal drafting skills were appalling. TS Eliot had a full-time day job. Henry Miller was a wildly uneven writer. Bob Dylan can't sing or play guitar.

20. The choice of media is irrelevant.
Every media's greatest strength is also its greatest weakness. Every form of media is a set of fundamatal compromises, one is not "higher" than the other. A painting doesn't do much, it just sits there on a wall. That's the best and worst thing thing about it. Film combines sound, photography, music, acting. That's the best and worst thing thing about it. Prose just uses words arranged in linear form to get its point across. That's the best and worst thing thing about it etc.

21. Selling out is harder than it looks.
Diluting your product to make it more "commercial" will just make people like it less.

22. Nobody cares. Do it for yourself.
Everybody is too busy with their own lives to give a damn about your book, painting, screenplay etc, especially if you haven't sold it yet. And the ones that aren't, you don't want in your life anyway.

23. Worrying about "Commercial vs. Artistic" is a complete waste of time.
You can argue about "the shameful state of American Letters" till the cows come home. They were kvetching about it in 1950, they'll be kvetching about it in 2050.It's a path well-trodden, and not a place where one is going to come up with many new, earth-shattering insights.

24. Don't worry about finding inspiration. It comes eventually.
Inspiration precedes the desire to create, not the other way around.

25. You have to find your own schtick.
A Picasso always looks like Piccasso painted it. Hemingway always sounds like Hemingway. A Beethoven Symphony always sounds like a Beethoven's Syynphony. Part of being a master is learning how to sing in nobody else's voice but your own.

26. Write from the heart.
There is no silver bullet. There is only the love God gave you.

27. The best way to get approval is not to need it.
This is equally true in art and business. And love. And sex. And just about everything else worth having.

28. Power is never given. Power is taken.
People who are "ready" give off a different vibe than people who aren't. Animals can smell fear; maybe that's it.

29. Whatever choice you make, The Devil gets his due eventually.
Selling out to Hollywood comes with a price. So does not selling out. Either way, you pay in full, and yes, it invariably hurts like hell.

30. The hardest part of being creative is getting used to it.
If you have the creative urge, it isn't going to go away. But sometimes it takes a while before you accept the fact.

My Powerful Brain !!

2008-04-11T07:02:00.001-04:00

by Dr. Jill Boyte Taylor

I grew up to study the brain because I have a brother who has been diagnosed with a brain disorder, schizophrenia. And as a sister and as a scientist, I wanted to understand, why is it that I can take my dreams, I can connect them to my reality, and I can make my dreams come true -- what is it about my brother's brain and his schizophrenia that he cannot connect his dreams to a common, shared reality, so they instead become delusions?

So I dedicated my career to research into the severe mental illnesses. And I moved from my home state of Indiana to Boston where I was working in the lab of Dr. Francine Benes, in the Harvard Department of Psychiatry. And in the lab, we were asking the question, What are the biological differences between the brains of individuals who would be diagnosed as normal control, as compared to the brains of individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia, schizoaffective, or bipolar disorder?

So we were essentially mapping the microcircuitry of the brain, which cells are communicating with which cells, with which chemicals, and then with what quantities of those chemicals. So there was a lot of meaning in my life because I was performing this kind of research during the day. But then in the evenings and on the weekends I traveled as an advocate for NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

But on the morning of December 10 1996 I woke up to discover that I had a brain disorder of my own. A blood vessel exploded in the left half of my brain. And in the course of four hours I watched my brain completely deteriorate in its ability to process all information. On the morning of the hemorrhage I could not walk, talk, read, write or recall any of my life. I essentially became an infant in a woman's body.

If you've ever seen a human brain, it's obvious that the two hemispheres are completely separate from one another. And I have brought for you a real human brain. [Thanks.] So, this is a real human brain. This is the front of the brain, the back of the brain with a spinal cord hanging down, and this is how it would be positioned inside of my head. And when you look at the brain, it's obvious that the two cerebral cortices are completely separate from one another. For those of you who understand computers, our right hemisphere functions like a parallel processor. While our left hemisphere functions like a serial processor. The two hemispheres do communicate with one another through the corpus collosum, which is made up of some 300 million axonal fibers. But other than that, the two hemispheres are completely separate. Because they process information differently, each hemisphere thinks about different things, they care about different things, and dare I say, they have very different personalities. [Excuse me. Thank you. It's been a joy.]

Our right hemisphere is all about this present moment. It's all about right here right now. Our right hemisphere, it thinks in pictures and it learns kinesthetically through the movement of our bodies. Information in the form of energy streams in simultaneously through all of our sensory systems. And then it explodes into this enormous collage of what this present moment looks like. What this present moment smells like and tastes like, what it feels like and what it sounds like. I am an energy being connected to the energy all around me through the consciousness of my right hemisphere. We are energy beings connected to one another through the consciousness of our right hemispheres as one human family. And right here, right now, all we are brothers and sisters on this planet, here to make the world a better place. And in this moment we are perfect. We are whole. And we are beautiful.

My left hemisphere is a very different place. Our left hemisphere thinks linearly and methodically. Our left hemisphere is all about the past, and it's all about the future. Our left hemisphere is designed to take that enormous collage of the present moment. And start picking details and more details and more details about those details. It then categorizes and organizes all that information. Associates it with everything in the past we've ever learned and projects into the future all of our possibilities. And our left hemisphere thinks in language. It's that ongoing brain chatter that connects me and my internal world to my external world. It's that little voice that says to me, "Hey, you gotta remember to pick up bananas on your way home, and eat 'em in the morning." It's that calculating intelligence that reminds me when I have to do my laundry. But perhaps most important, it's that little voice that says to me, "I am. I am." And as soon as my left hemisphere says to me "I am," I become separate. I become a single solid individual separate from the energy flow around me and separate from you.

And this was the portion of my brain that I lost on the morning of my stroke.

On the morning of the stroke, I woke up to a pounding pain behind my left eye. And it was the kind of pain, caustic pain, that you get when you bite into ice cream. And it just gripped me and then it released me. Then it just gripped me and then released me. And it was very unusual for me to experience any kind of pain, so I thought OK, I'll just start my normal routine. So I got up and I jumped onto my cardio glider, which is a full-body exercise machine. And I'm jamming away on this thing, and I'm realizing that my hands looked like primitive claws grasping onto the bar. I thought "that's very peculiar" and I looked down at my body and I thought, "whoa, I'm a weird-looking thing." And it was as though my consciousness had shifted away from my normal perception of reality, where I'm the person on the machine having the experience, to some esoteric space where I'm witnessing myself having this experience.

And it was all every peculiar and my headache was just getting worse, so I get off the machine, and I'm walking across my living room floor, and I realize that everything inside of my body has slowed way down. And every step is very rigid and very deliberate. There's no fluidity to my pace, and there's this constriction in my area of perceptions so I'm just focused on internal systems. And I'm standing in my bathroom getting ready to step into the shower and I could actually hear the dialog inside of my body. I heard a little voice saying, "OK, you muscles, you gotta contract, you muscles you relax."

And I lost my balance and I'm propped up against the wall. And I look down at my arm and I realize that I can no longer define the boundaries of my body. I can't define where I begin and where I end. Because the atoms and the molecules of my arm blended with the atoms and molecules of the wall. And all I could detect was this energy. Energy. And I'm asking myself, "What is wrong with me, what is going on?" And in that moment, my brain chatter, my left hemisphere brain chatter went totally silent. Just like someone took a remote control and pushed the mute button and -- total silence.

And at first I was shocked to find myself inside of a silent mind. But then I was immediately captivated by the magnificence of energy around me. And because I could no longer identify the boundaries of my body, I felt enormous and expansive. I felt at one with all the energy that was, and it was beautiful there.

Then all of a sudden my left hemisphere comes back online and it says to me, "Hey! we got a problem, we got a problem, we gotta get some help." So it's like, OK, OK, I got a problem, but then I immediately drifted right back out into the consciousness, and I affectionately referred to this space as La La Land. But it was beautiful there. Imagine what it would be like to be totally disconnected from your brain chatter that connects you to the external world. So here I am in this space and any stress related to my, to my job, it was gone. And I felt lighter in my body. And imagine all of the relationships in the external world and the many stressors related to any of those, they were gone. I felt a sense of peacefulness. And imagine what it would feel like to lose 37 years of emotional baggage! I felt euphoria. Euphoria was beautiful -- and then my left hemisphere comes online and it says "Hey! you've got to pay attention, we've got to get help," and I'm thinking, "I got to get help, I gotta focus." So I get out of the shower and I mechanically dress and I'm walking around my apartment, and I'm thinking, "I gotta get to work, I gotta get to work, can I drive? can I drive?"

And in that moment my right arm went totally paralyzed by my side. And I realized, "Oh my gosh! I'm having a stroke! I'm having a stroke!" And the next thing my brain says to me is, "Wow! This is so cool. This is so cool. How many brain scientists have the opportunity to study their own brain from the inside out?"

And then it crosses my mind: "But I'm a very busy woman. I don't have time for a stroke!" So I'm like, "OK, I can't stop the stroke from happening so I'll do this for a week or two, and then I'll get back to my routine, OK."

So I gotta call help, I gotta call work. I couldn't remember the number at work, so I remembered, in my office I had a business card with my number on it. So I go in my business room, I pull out a 3-inch stack of business cards. And I'm looking at the card on top, and even though I could see clearly in my mind's eye what my business card looked like, I couldn't tell if this was my card or not, because all I could see were pixels. And the pixels of the words blended with the pixels of the background and the pixels of the symbols, and I just couldn't tell. And I would wait for what I call a wave of clarity. And in that moment, I would be able to reattach to normal reality and I could tell, that's not the card, that's not the card, that's not the card. It took me 45 minutes to get one inch down inside of that stack of cards.

In the meantime, for 45 minutes the hemorrhage is getting bigger in my left hemisphere. I do not understand numbers, I do not understand the telephone, but it's the only plan I have. So I take the phone pad and I put it right here, I'd take the business card, I'd put it right here, and I'm matching the shape of the squiggles on the card to the shape of the squiggles on the phone pad. But then I would drift back out into La La Land, and not remember when I come back if I'd already dialed those numbers.

So I had to wield my paralyzed arm like a stump, and cover the numbers as I went along and pushed them, so that as I would come back to normal reality I'd be able to tell, yes, I've already dialed that number. Eventually the whole number gets dialed, and I'm listening to the phone, and my colleague picks up the phone and he says to me, "Whoo woo wooo woo woo." [laughter] And I think to myself, "Oh my gosh, he sounds like a golden retriever!" And so I say to him, clear in my mind I say to him. "This is Jill! I need help!" And what comes out of my voice is, "Whoo woo wooo woo woo." I'm thinking, "Oh my gosh, I sound like a golden retriever." So I couldn't know, I didn't know that I couldn't speak or understand language until I tried.

So he recognizes that I need help, and he gets me help. And a little while later, I am riding in an ambulance from one hospital across Boston to Mass General Hospital. And I curl up into a little fetal ball. And just like a balloon with the last bit of air just, just right out of the balloon I felt my energy lift and I felt my spirit surrender. And in that moment I knew that I was no longer the choreographer of my life. And either the doctors rescue my body and give me a second chance at life or this was perhaps my moment of transition.

When I awoke later that afternoon I was shocked to discover that I was still alive. When I felt my spirit surrender, I said goodbye to my life, and my mind is now suspended between two very opposite planes of reality. Stimulation coming in through my sensory systems felt like pure pain. Light burned my brain like wildfire and sounds were so loud and chaotic that I could not pick a voice out from the background noise and I just wanted to escape. Because I could not identify the position of my body in space, I felt enormous and expensive, like a genie just liberated from her bottle. And my spirit soared free like a great whale gliding through the sea of silent euphoria. Harmonic. I remember thinking there's no way I would ever be able to squeeze the enormousness of myself back inside this tiny little body.

But I realized "But I'm still alive! I'm still alive and I have found Nirvana. And if I have found Nirvana and I'm still alive, then everyone who is alive can find Nirvana." I picture a world filled with beautiful, peaceful, compassionate, loving people who knew that they could come to this space at any time. And that they could purposely choose to step to the right of their left hemispheres and find this peace. And then I realized what a tremendous gift this experience could be, what a stroke of insight this could be to how we live our lives. And it motivated my to recover.

Two and a half weeks after the hemorrhage, the surgeons went in and they removed a blood clot the size of a golf ball that was pushing on my language centers. Here I am with my mama, who's a true angel in my life. It took me eight years to completely recover.

So who are we? We are the life force power of the universe, with manual dexterity and two cognitive minds. And we have the power to choose, moment by moment, who and how we want to be in the world. Right here right now, I can step into the consciousness of my right hemisphere where we are -- I am -- the life force power of the universe, and the life force power of the 50 trillion beautiful molecular geniuses that make up my form. At one with all that is. Or I can choose to step into the consciousness of my left hemisphere. where I become a single individual, a solid, separate from the flow, separate from you. I am Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor, intellectual, neuroanatomist. These are the "we" inside of me.

Which would you choose? Which do you choose? And when? I believe that the more time we spend choosing to run the deep inner peace circuitry of our right hemispheres, the more peace we will project into the world and the more peaceful our planet will be. And I thought that was an idea worth spreading.

Change Starts With You !!

2008-03-26T18:10:00.000-04:00

by Devlin Steele, www.toolstolife.com

In daily conversations we all hear and talk about things we would like to see changed in the world. These same conversations don’t include what action we are taking. What we fail to realize is our actions are the steps to change.

Think about the environment. If I took a poll of any large group of people and ask if they care about the water supply and would they like to see better global care of water, most would say yes. If I ask if they leave the water running while they brush their teeth, wash the car twice a week or take long showers regularly, most would say yes.

It is as if we think there is going to be this global magical event that will create the changes we want to see, while we continue to live our lives as we always have. We also tend to ignore what is happening around the world as long as our own interests aren’t involved.

Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.

-Leo Tolstoy

This week think about the actions you take and multiply them times a million; or even better, one hundred million. If you take your own bag to the supermarket, that’s 100 million plastic or paper bags not used that day. If you do, that is 100 million bags used that day. If you are nice to other people that is 100 million people being nice to other people around the world. One of those other people might be kind to someone you really care about that lives somewhere else.

Think about the reverse, if you are short tempered and drive in an aggressive manner and cut people off, then that’s 100 million people driving like that. Sounds dangerous. And maybe one of those 100 million cuts off someone you love and they get into an accident.

Our individual behavior adds up to a global condition. We need to develop a global conscious and realize that each of us is important, our behavior matters. Don’t expect change to happen without you. As Mahatma Gandhi said, “You must be the change you want to see in the world.”

Don’t live with your eyes closed, either to what is happening in the world, or about your own behavior. Open your eyes and realize that each of us is powerful and what we do has an effect of positive change both in the world and over our individual lives.

This week be powerful and start changing the world by the actions you take. If you take action today in your life you are changing the world today. Don’t put it off, waiting for some magical future change to take place.

Together we are changing the world!

Ultimate guide to happiness!!

2008-03-22T09:19:00.001-04:00

Happy Holi to you all !! Today is Holi, a festival of India in which people throw colours at each other. It is a fun festival and brings a lot of happiness, so what better occasion to create the Ultimate guide to Happiness. Also don't forget to play the video while you are at it:)

Seneca’s Top 10 Fundamentals for Finding Happiness
1. Happiness is optional.
2. You don’t have to create anger and other negative feelings.
3. Grow and deepen.
4. Will more solve your problems?
5. Give without wanting something in return.
6. Know what you are looking for.
7. Laugh
8. Excess may not be the key.
9. Be in charge of yourself and do a great job.
10. Live in the present.

The 5 secrets you must discover before you die
1. Be True To Yourself
2. Leave No Regrets
3. Become Love
4. Live the Moment
5 Give More Than You Take

12 Techniques to Help You Live a Happy and Fulfilled Life
1. Keep life simple.
2. Practice being satisfied.
3. Beware of indecision.
4. Practice cheerfulness.
5. Learn to like people.
6. Live and let live.
7. Adversity teaches.
8. Don’t take yourself so seriously.
9. Have a sense of humor.
10. Practice objectivity.
11. Tolerate your own mistakes.
12. Forgive yourself.

6 Simple Strategies to Stay Happy
1. Accept yourself
2. Happiness is a state of mind
3. Prioritize your life
4. Take care of your health
5. Stay in the company of happy people
6. Be grateful

The Top 7 Myths about Happiness
1. You can’t learn to be happier
2. The quest for happiness is all in your mind
3. Thinking about happiness will make you unhappy
4. Being rich will make you happier
5. Money doesn’t matter
6. A life of leisure will make you happy
7. Happiness is just a mood

The 3 Layer Cake of Happiness
The Top Layer - Presentation
1. Smile
2. Project Confidence
3. Dress the Part
4. Say Something Nice

The Middle Layer - Attitudes
5. Gratitude
6. Turn a Problem into a Puzzle
7. Fill that Glass
8. Make Negative Thoughts Count
9. Positive Introspection
10. Positive Affirmation

The Bottom Layer - Circumstances
11. Find a Job You Love
12. Nurture Friends and Family Ties
13. Join a Supportive Spiritual Group
14. Earn a Livable Wage
15. Save
16. Live Below Your Means

Dont Worry - Be Happy
1. Be Grateful
2. Love the Journey
3. Be in the Now

Video Source: Live the Power

There are no accidents !!!

2008-03-16T01:00:00.000-04:00

by Sandy Stevenson, LightAscension.com

You may have read or heard the expression "there are no accidents", implying that everything that happens to us is meant to be. I present an idea of what this can mean. See how this explanation feels to you.

Most of us are aware we have a choice in every moment, about everything.

When deciding on any action or non-action in our lives, we have two choices:

1. We can choose to follow our intuition-heart-spirit-inner knowing-gut feeling of rightness. This route could be called the most optimum way to experience life – giving us the least hassle and struggle and the gentlest learning and growth.

2. We can also make a choice by 'thinking' something out or letting our ego decide. An ego based decision is made from what we think of ourselves or what we think others will think of us. Choosing via the head or the ego could be seen as the least desirable path for us to follow, as it involves a great deal of learning and additional trauma for us.

An example: We are asked to a friend's place for dinner to celebrate their birthday.

Our initial feeling is of not wanting to go. Perhaps we had something planned for that night that we are excited about. Perhaps we had nothing planned, but we still don't want to go to. By the way, we don't need to know 'why' we don't want to go. Our inner voice is our guide. It shows us how to stay in the most optimum flow of Divine order. Everyone has an inner voice (you aren't an exception). This is quite clear if we care to listen.

Until we get used to tuning in and listening to our inner voice, it is wise to check whether it is truly our inner voice we are hearing, or our emotions or ego responding. The mind or ego can jump in, e.g. you may have had an argument with someone who will be going to that dinner or maybe an old flame will be there who you don't want to see - and you react by thinking 'I don't want to go'.

We need to feel the difference between responding from an intuitive place of the heart or responding from emotion or thought. The intuitive route will be gentler, easier and will flow better. The emotional or thought route is not ideal for us. So, it's worth getting this right. Emotions and thoughts are totally fine and can help us in our life, but there's a way to use them. The best way for us to live is to use intuition (or spirit) as the main guiding force in our life. This means trusting our gut feeling will lead us to the most beneficial route. We can use our mind and emotions as a back up.

Emotions can confuse us. To be certain you make the right decision, put your emotions aside. Understanding the difference between intuition and emotions isn't difficult, it just takes some practise and honesty.

If you feel an emotion come up, just acknowledge its presence. Say to yourself:

'I'm feeling fear (embarrassment, worry, sadness, anger or whatever.) I'll now put that feeling aside for the moment so I'm not governed by that fear when making my decision.' Then put the fear aside (and any other emotion or thought that pops up). Then check again with yourself, 'Does it feel right for me to go to this dinner or not?' Listen to the real you.

After putting aside the ego/emotions, you may see that it still feels right not to go to the dinner. Fine. Maybe this invitation is just the universe giving you a chance to see that you have emotions or buried pain that needs releasing and you were never meant to actually go to the dinner. (An easy method of releasing our reactions is in the article 'The Greatest gift of Love' )

But don't fool yourself. Make sure the emotions have truly been put aside, i.e. that you are not afraid to go to the dinner. Because ultimately we are creators, it's quite easy for us to incorrectly convince ourselves that there are no emotions still left affecting our decision. That sort of thinking doesn't help you at all. We grow wiser through our learning and the way we learn is to be very honest with ourselves. Don't convince yourself that you have put your emotions aside - i.e. that you feel OK about seeing your old partner again at the dinner and that is not having any affect on your decision not to go. By not being honest with yourself, the only loser then will be you (oh yes, and the rest of the universe!)

It's a good idea to spend that extra couple of minutes getting it right. It could save you a great deal of hassle. And remember that decisions you make affect other people. In addition, it can also be karmic. Is it hard to define just how far reaching our decisions can affect others as it extends out into the whole universe, because ultimately we are all connected.

Using the dinner party example, let us assume you were not really meant to go but you went anyway. That decision could affect everyone present at the dinner party plus the people connected to them (family, friends) and so on. Here's an example in case that sounds far fetched. Maybe someone who was meant to be going hears that you are going and decides not to go because of it (that alone can have thousands of repercussions). Or maybe your old flame brings his new girlfriend and she sees you there, gets jealous, has a fight with him, storms out and they split up (no, you are not supposed to say 'good!') - when actually they were meant to stay together! Then there are all the people involved in whatever and wherever it was that you were really meant to be at that time (regardless of whether you know what that was or not). More thousands of repercussions - or even many millions! And that would include any people you met as you travelled there or on your way home..... and so it goes on.

So, you have a choice in every moment.

Let's say that you end up with a clear understanding that it doesn't feel right for you to go to this dinner. But as the days go by, you think about it and you let your thoughts or emotions get in the way, e.g. 'my friend will be really upset with me if I don't go;' 'maybe I can just go for an hour or two'; 'if I dress up maybe my ex will see me looking wonderful and will want to get back with me' etc, etc. So, you listen to the mind and you make a new choice. You decide to go.

You have been clearly shown by the universe that this dinner is not where you can best serve yourself or anyone else, but you fail to trust this clear signal and decide to listen to your own or other people's thoughts and emotions - and you decide to go. As the night arrives, it's quite likely that things will not go smoothly because you are stepping out of the flow, so neither the flow (or the force!) is really with you. Your dress may have a stain, you have an argument with your parents, a friend who borrowed your car gets it back to you late, etc. This can also be the universe trying to stop you, to get you to change your mind and step fully into the flow.

Now the question arises - if you have a car accident on the way to this dinner, is it accidental or are there no such thing as accidents.

You made a choice to go to the dinner; you chose which route to take and what time to leave to get there. You made many choices that ultimately put you in that space on the road at that time. So, is there any way this can be seen as an 'accident'? I think we can agree there's not.

In addition, there may be other choices you made, such as not to have the car serviced, not checking the tyre pressure, driving too fast on a wet road, hurrying because you are late, having your attention on how hungry you are, changing CD's, thinking about a problem at work, looking at the attractive guy/girl in the next car - oh! the choices are endless.

We make choices and they have consequences. If we choose to be in a specific place and something happens to us when we are there, then it's not an accident. As we choose everything, there can be no accidents.

In this instance, we made a choice that was not in our best interest and we had a car accident. But having said that, it still wouldn't have happened to us unless there was something we could learn from it. The lesson may be simply to teach us to trust our intuition next time. And more can be gained from it. You can decide it is a positive experience (incidentally, everything is!). You can be cheerful and not moan about it; you could gain more patience and compassion by being a patient in hospital (or learn how to sleep through loud noises!); maybe you can't work for a couple of weeks and so discover a new and profitable hobby. Everything that happens to us can be looked at in a positive way. The key is our attitude to it. And our attitude is also a matter of choice.

Well, what if we acted intuitively; we had followed 'the flow' and driven down a road at a certain time because it felt right - and we still have a car accident? Is there any difference? Is this one fate?

I think as we made choices in both cases, we have to stick to 'there is no such thing as an accident.' But there may be a difference. If we had a car accident even though we followed our intuitive feelings - it would seem we planned it to happen. We had, for some reason on a higher level, chosen this for our greater growth and learning. Even though it seems unimaginable that we would actually choose such a thing, it's a fact that we often choose even more uncomfortable things than this. The possible reasons you could have attracted/arranged this accident are too many to guess at. It could be karmic. You could be choosing to balance out the energy after having caused something similar to others in the past. You could be working on gaining spiritual qualities such as being willing to receive help or learning more patience and compassion for others in pain and suffering. It could be an agreement you made with your parents or partner or children to help them balance out their karma by helping you; it could even be the way you chose to meet someone who was involved (although there would probably be other reasons as well) - and hundreds of other possibilities.

Most of us find it hard to imagine that we could plan such apparently unhappy things in our lives - but it's the human part of us that can't understand. As spiritual beings, we are interested in acquiring greater wisdom, trust, growth, integrity, awareness, compassion, tolerance, joy and love.

So in summation, there are no accidents.

But there may be a difference in things that happen to us from decisions we made from our 'thinking or 'ego' and those we made intuitively. It seems likely that those made from 'thinking' or 'ego' could have been prevented if we had chosen intuitively instead.

This concept is not easy to write, so I hope it makes sense! The divine universal process is perfect. Actually nothing happens that does not have a purpose, anywhere, anyhow. So, even those things that happen to us when we make decisions from our ego or emotions (that we think were 'not meant' to happen) are also part of Divine order. For our greater good, maybe we needed a reminder to help teach us what can happen if we move out of the flow and don't follow our intuition. Maybe the sole reason for the accident is as simple as that, to teach us to trust our intuition more in future. If we hadn't needed it, it wouldn't have happened. Other things will have happened in our life trying to show us the same lesson, prior to having the accident. Lessons always begin gently, gradually increasing in intensity if we don't get it. And each time we are shown it is better to trust, we are one step closer to living life fully in the flow in the now.

So, it is all perfect - and meant to be - and there are no such things as accidents.