What is Your Perfect Day?

The question Oprah asked this week on ownTV was:

"What is your perfect day?"

And she posed this question to Celine Dion whose response was in essence:

"Home sweet home with the people I love most."

It's a response that many people would echo and yet for a host of reasons we don't get to enjoy that "perfect day" as often as we'd like to.

The trouble is though that when we aim for perfectionism we immediately place unrealistic expectations on ourselves and those around us and this can lead to unnecessary tension and stress. One way to overcome this is simply to aim to make each and every day as good as you can make it - squeeze as much juice as you can out of it.

1. Live in the present.

"Life is available only in the present. That is why we should walk in such a way that every step can bring us to the here and the now."
Thich Nhat Hanh

So often we dwell on the past and what went wrong and we dream about the future and what could be. However, we have no power to change the past and our future is created by what we do in the present moment.

The present is the only place where we have any power and all too often we relinquish that power. To make the most of each and every day you have to live and act in the present. When you're able to do this effectively you will be able to create the future you desire. So reclaim your power and practice living in the present.

2. Take time out to appreciate the beauty that surrounds you.

"Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it."
Confucius

I was behind the reception desk, filling in a form, at one of the centres where I teach and there was this little girl was leaning on the counter. She was surrounded by her mother and other siblings. Her eyes met mine and she gave me the most beautiful smile that truly lifted my heart. I felt a moment of such deep connection.

I returned the smile and when I was finished I walked around, bent down so I could speak to her. "Thank you," I said.

She beamed at me again and then I walked away. Before I turned to walk away I glimpsed the puzzlement on the faces of her family members. One of them asked, "What did you do?" And my smile grew even broader.

3. Be kind to people around you.

"Kindness, like a boomerang, always returns."
Anon

The wonderful thing about being kind to people is that you get an instant reward provided, of course, that you perform your act of kindness in the right frame of mind. Some people are kind because they expect some kind of reward in return and so if the person they've expressed kindness to is ungrateful or perhaps even rude it's very upsetting to them.

On the other hand, if you're just kind because you can without expecting anything in return you immediately feel good. And sometimes, unexpected things can follow on from that act of kindness although not necessarily immediately. It's as though your act of kindness was gaining interest.

4. Give those you engage with the gift of your presence.

"Presence is more than just being there."
Malcolm S. Forbes

Sometimes when I teach Pilates there are one or two individuals who are not fully present. Their bodies are in the room but their minds are elsewhere. I'm sure you've experienced similar situations. And I understand that these individuals may have a lot on their mind but I also know that if they're able to give their full attention to the class that afterwards they will feel refreshed both mentally and physically and that they will be in a better frame of mind to deal with whatever was occupying their thoughts.

Similarly, I'm rather intolerant when it comes to interruptions when I'm teaching or coaching. Interruptions take my attention away from those with whom I'm seeking to engage and who have engaged me and my services for that time.

5. Learn to see the good in everything.

"Every day may not be good, but there's something good in every day."
Anon

You may be going through tough times or you may just be having one of those days. But have you ever noticed that when you're having one of those days and you keep focusing on what's going wrong that even more things go wrong?

However, when you pause, calm and centre yourself that things start to shift and start to get better.

So no matter how bad things are at the moment always look for what is good because you get what you're looking for. And, if all else fails, remember this:

"If you don't think every day is a good day, just try missing one."
Cavett Robert

Have a great day!

Reclaim Your Power - Limit Your Exposure to Negative People

Motivational Speaker, Les Brown is fond of saying that some people are so negative that if you put them into a dark room they'll start to develop and in the Tools to Reclaim Your Power teleseminar and after talking about a telephone call he received that day that wasn't very positive he issued the following warning:

"Limit the exposure that you allow people to have to you who don't bring you good news."

We are literally surrounded by negativity. It's on the television. It's on the radio. Negativity is blazoned across many of our magazines and newspapers. However, as well as what you consciously see and hear you can also pick up negativity on a subliminal or sub-conscious level as well. The degree to which you resonate with these negative messages will affect your level of receptivity to them.

However, if you're reading this then it's reasonable to assume that you're an ambitious person who wants to be successful in life or become even more successful. To achieve this goal you must safeguard your mind although your mind may be where the trouble begins.

Many people have what is like a tape playing over and over in their mind and unfortunately, not only is most of it negative but 90% of the time it goes unoticed. With all this negativity it's a wonder that anyone achieves success.

To achieve success you have to develop the right mindset.

"You have to deliverately program your mind for success; life will program you for failure."
Les Brown

Some people make the mistake of sharing their goals and dreams with people who are not supportive. And studies have shown that for every time someone ridicules your goal or dream that it takes 17 reassurances to counteract the negative statement.

Some people are able to use other people's negativity as fuel but this isn't always easy to do. So when your goals and dreams are in the incubation stage – protect them for they are vulnerable. Shield them from negativity.

Les Brown shared much more in his Tools to Reclaim Your Power interview including:

~ What you must absolutely guard yourself against.
~ Just why it's generally such a challenge to express our full potential in life.
~ How people let the media usurp their power.
~ 3 key reasons why people remain stuck and living in fear.
~ The value of your story and your ability to communicate strategically.
~ Tips on how to be an engaging public speaker.
~ The importance of getting out of your own way when it comes to delivering your message.
~ Why you must deliberately program your mind for success.
~ How the likes of Earl Nightingale and Dr Norman Vincent Peale had a positive influence on Les Brown even while he was still a child.

The bad news is that the period to listen to the free replay has expired. The good news is you can still listen for free to interviews with 22 other world-renowned personal development experts by simply clicking the link below and registering to receive updates about the Tools to Reclaim Your Power teleseminar series.

Tools to Reclaim Your Power
You also have the option of paying for the recordings so that you can have the convenience of listening to the entire teleseminar series wherever and whenever you choose, including the Les Brown interview.

The next teleseminar will feature Michael Tamura, a Master Teacher, Visionary, Spiritual Healer, Clairvoyant, and Pioneer in the field of psychic development. He is also the author of the award-winning book, "You Are The Answer". Michael Tamura helps guide people to true destiny and life purpose so do sign up for this teleseminar to learn more about unlocking your true destiny and discovering your purpose.

How to Stop Negative Thoughts and Start Achieving the Success You Desire

Many people have a constant and automatic backdrop of negative thoughts going through their minds. Their negative thoughts play a key role in the negative results they achieve in their lives. However, sometimes they don't even realise their thoughts are so negative. It takes someone else to draw their attention to their negative speech - a symptom of their negative thoughts. People often ask how is it possible to stop your negative thoughts? The answer is simple but it does require persistence particularly in a climate - economic and otherwise - where negative energy abounds.

Think of an intrepid explorer entering a cave. It is pitch-black, cold, dank and ominous. Initially, he strikes a match which provides a bright spark of illumination but it is quickly extinguished. He then lights the end of a stick, the end of which is covered in strips of cloth that have been soaked in fuel and lights this.

This provides greater illumination and he can see that along the walls of the cave are numerous lamps. He starts to light these lamps and as more lamps are lit the darkness within the cave is diminished. Then his companions, from whom he was momentarily separated, bring light as well and soon the cave is flooded. With light and the explorer can see that the cave is no longer a place to fear. In fact, he can now see many wonderful treasures in the cave that were hidden in the darkness.

In this analogy the light represents your positive thoughts and the darkness your negative thoughts. The more positive thoughts you introduce into your mind the less room there will be for negative thoughts. However, just as the cave would be plunged back into darkness should the lights within go out the same thing will happen to your mind. So you have to keep reinforcing the positive thoughts.

Also when you maintain a positive outlook on life you no longer view the world as a harsh place. You are more aware of the good that surrounds you. In addition you are better equipped to deal with any challenges that life throws your way.

The individuals who brought additional light into the cave can be likened to your teachers, mentors and coaches. In fact, they represent anyone with a positive energy who is supportive and helps you to develop into your best self. We all need such individuals in our lives and you too can become such an individual to another.

So to stop your negative thoughts you simply have to introduce positive thoughts. Remember the mind can only think about one thing at a time. So at any point in time you're either thinking positive or you're thinking negative. When you catch yourself thinking negative thoughts you can use a pattern interrupt technique.

For instance, some folks like to say out loud to themselves "CANCEL!" and at times when this may not be appropriate you can empathetically say a silent "CANCEL!" to yourself. Another technique is to wear a rubber band and to snap it against your skin when you catch yourself thinking negative thoughts.

However, remember that you have to be persistent. Just as if the lamps in the cave were to be extinguished the cave would be plunged into darkness then if you stop feeding your mind positive thoughts then you'll simply succumb to the adverse effects of your negative thoughts.

A regular diet of positive thoughts will also help to safeguard you against all the negative thoughts and energy that exist in the world. You can't help but be exposed to this negative energy but you can effectively shield your mind from it by building your own positive energy through positive thinking. In addition, when you cultivate positive thoughts you'll start to vibrate on a higher frequency and you'll start to attract like-minded individuals - individuals set on achieving success in life.

The Law of Thinking is one of the Universal Laws that you must learn to master if you're want to achieve consistent success in your life. You can find excellent resources to help you better understand the Universal Laws and master your thinking in a life-changing program at The 11 Forgotten Laws.

How to Stay Positive When Surrounded By Negativity

In one of the gyms that I teach at there is a large plasma screen TV directly opposite the reception area. When I visited recently the news was on and, as usual, it was all doom and gloom with news about the economic crisis, horrendous crime and the like being broadcast. And I was only at the reception desk for a couple of minutes.

I suggested to the receptionist that they could change the channel to something more enlightening or at least something more light-hearted. Their response to me was that they couldn't be bothered to come from behind their desk and change the channel. I said no more but went to teach my class.

I returned just over an hour later and the same channel was still on. I departed hastily.

Now, I'll admit that there is certainly a lot of negativity around but you don't have to immerse yourself in it. When you have a television or radio on that is continually belting out bad news or even when you surround yourself with people who do nothing but talk about negative things, even if you are not consciously paying attention to what is being said, your sub-conscious mind is soaking it all up.

There are several ways in which you can stay positive when surrounded by negativity. First and foremost it's important for you to express your gratitude for the good things you have in your life - no matter how small. The more you express your gratitude the more grateful you'll feel and the more you'll have to be thankful about.

"Gratefulness is the key to a happy life that we hold in our hands, because if we are not grateful, then no matter how much we have we will not be happy - because we will always want to have something else or something more."
Brother David Steindl-Rast

And here are some 10 more ways in which you can stay positive and focused on your goals while surrounded by negativity.

1. Surround yourself with positive, optimistic people who will support you and stretch you to achieve more in your life.

2. Create a Vision Board with images of the goals you're striving to achieve and place it in a prominent place where you can view it on a regular basis.

3. Boost your positive affirmations by creating your own Mind Movie of the lifestyle you are striving for and watch it daily.

4. Write your Vivid Vision Statement. This is a term I first heard coined by Robert Allen. Describe in vivid detail how you'd like your life to be and re-write it and refine it on a regular basis.

5. Listen to uplifting and positive music.

6. Read positive and inspirational books.

7. Watch positive and inspirational movies and documentaries.

8. Listen to the audios and watch the videos of personal development and self-improvement experts.

9. Be mindful of your self-talk and ensure that it stays positive.

10. Surround yourself with reminders of the things you love and the goals you're working towards. These reminders could be artwork, objected collected from nature, magazines, posters, etc.

Regarding the later, I have such objects in every room of my home so no matter where I go there are objects that help to keep me focused on my goals. Practically, every object in my home has a positive story behind it and some objects in particular have a profound significance to me.

And yet, they may be very simple objects but when I see them I'm reminded of:

~ Challenges I have overcome,

~ Wonderful places I have visited and will visit again,

~ Life's simple pleasures and treasures,

~ People who dear to me, and much more.

This is how you stay positive when surrounded by negativity.

The Universal Law of Thinking: The Importance of Controlling Your Thoughts to Achieve Success

The Universal Law of Thinking is one of several Universal Laws which silently govern our lives. Yet, it by mastering these laws and working in harmony with them that we achieve our greatest success in life.

However, with respect to the Law of Thinking, are you really thinking or are you allowing someone else to do your thinking for you?

Earl Nightingale said once that if most people said what they were thinking that they would be speechless. You see many people allow their thoughts to be controlled by others – newspapers, magazines, television, radio and the like.

And, particularly during this current environment, when the economy is experiencing a downturn allowing your thinking to be controlled by those whose role seems to be to continually provide a stream of negative news this can be very dangerous indeed.

Thoughts are extremely powerful. Do not underestimate the power of thought just because it is not immediately visible. You cannot see a thought but you can see its effects.

"Mind is the master power that moulds and makes. And man is mind and ever more he takes the tool of thought and, shaping what he wills, brings forth a thousand joys, a thousand ills. He thinks in secret and it comes to pass, the environment is but his looking glass."
James Allen, "As a Man Thinketh"

In other words, as all the world's greatest thought leaders agree, you become what you think about and your external environment (in its broadest sense) is a direct reflection of your thoughts.

At a fundamental level we are simply energy and, with Kirlian photography, we can even see how changing our thoughts change the energy signature that we emit or our aura. Energy therapists also have the ability to 'read' people's aura's with a high degree of accuracy. However, anyone has the ability to sharpen their acuity to sense what another person is thinking.

Scientists have proven that your thoughts travel 930,000 times faster than the speed of your voice. This is phenomenal and it underlines the importance of controlling your thinking. The thoughts you think on a regular basis will materialize and, in some cases, with alarming alacrity. No other Universal force is known to be as powerful or as fast.

Voltaire said:

"No problem can stand the assault of sustained thinking."

However, there is a pre-requisite to this - so long as you are thinking about the solution to the problem and not just focusing on the problem itself. Too many people focus on the problem and then wonder why things don't work out.

Many people think negative and expect positive but, of course, that isn't going to happen. Yet often, when you challenge such individuals about changing their thinking and practicing positive thinking their immediate rebuttal is that it is too hard. Albert Einstein said that:

"The world we have created is a product of our thinking; it cannot be changed without changing our thinking."

So if you want to change your life and resolve the problems you're experiencing you have to change your thinking. Yes, this can be a challenge but what's worse? Staying as you are even although you are dissatisfied and, in some cases downright miserable about your present situation, or changing your thinking to make it congruent with what you truly desire in your life?

However, remember that it took years of thinking to create the life you currently have. Change will not be instantaneous but it can be fast so long as you are persistent.

Einstein also said:

"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them."

Yet this is exactly what many people are striving in vain to accomplish. To solve your current problems you not only have to change your thinking you also have to elevate your thinking. It follows therefore, that you must be on a continual path of self-improvement if you wish to advance in life and achieve your goals because you will not achieve your goals without encountering and vanquishing a few problems along the way.

The proper application of the Law of Thinking is critical to your success. Your thinking will shape your destiny.

"Thoughts lead on to purpose, purpose leads on to actions, actions form habits, habits decide character and character fixes our destiny."
Tryon Edwards

For a better understanding of how to effectively apply the Law of Thinking and other Universal Laws to your life to create your ideal life visit The 11 Forgotten Laws to access to a FREE Teleseminar with star of the blockbuster movie "The Secret", Bob Proctor.

Gratitude - Being Thankful Even During Challenging Times

At times, especially if you're experiencing challenges in your life, it can be difficult to express your gratitude.

And many individuals are going through a particularly challenging time at the moment. It's easy to say that this is as a result of the economic downturn but, in reality, the economic downturn is not the true cause of so many people's problems.

The writing was on the wall that this downswing in the economy was going to take place but few people, including myself, fully examined what the potential effects would be on a global, national, local and even personal level. So people have been largely unprepared for the swiftness of some of the repercussions of the current financial meltdown.

Hence, at a time when many people are celebrating Thanksgiving others are rueful about the losses they have recently suffered. And the reality is that while many people will spend this holiday season celebrating with friends and family and eating lavish meals, for others Thanksgiving will be a more sobering affair.

It is at times like these that your faith can be sorely tested and it's important to remember that:

"If your faith is in all-sufficiency of supply, then so is your life. If your faith is pulsating to a 'just getting by' frequency, then so it is in the world. If your faith is on the dial-set of insufficiency, then there will never be enough to meet your needs. Your world simply reflects your faith."
John Randolph Price, The Abundance Book

You have to face squarely that no matter how your life at this time. You created your life. Also, no matter what's happening in your life right now you have much to be thankful for and the more you express you gratitude, the more you will have to be thankful for.

As Oprah said:

"If you look at what you have in life, you'll always have more. If you look at what you don't have in life, you'll never have enough."

Many people are seeing the glass as half-empty at the moment instead of half-full. And so they are complaining about what they lack. Consequently they are attracting more of the same into their lives. Gratitude keeps you connected with the things you want in life. The more you recognise the blessings you have in this life, no matter how small they may appear to you, the more you will attract more of what you truly desire in your life. Now, more than ever it's time to see that your glass is half-full rather than half-empty.

It may be the view of an optimist but as Keith Cunningham said:

"OPTIMISM is the mother of PERSISTENCE.
BELIEF is the mother of OPTIMISM.
GRATITUDE is the mother of BELIEF."

So be grateful for the life that you lead and believe that you can create the life you desire.

What's the Music Playing in Your Sub-Conscious Mind?

At some point in time you've probably noticed that there's a song playing in your head. It might have been playing in the background for quite some time before your conscious mind became aware of it. It's as though your sub-conscious mind is amusing itself.

Initially, you may not even recognise the tune and, until you bring your conscious mind to focus on it, you may not distinguish the words either.

This has happened to me several times in recent weeks. And while I may have recognised the tune I've had to consciously focus on the words to decipher them. The process can be likened to adjusting a lens to bring an image into focus.

When I have identified the words I have been pleasantly surprised. The words of the song usually accurately reflected an emotion I was experiencing or an affirmation that I wanted to reinforce.

I say "surprised" because what I'm describing here is different from hearing a tune so many times that can't help but sub-consciously play it inside your head. Instead, it's as if my sub-conscious mind is going through my personal database of music to find something that aptly reflects my mood and my emotions. It's behaving like a jukebox that knows me inside out and knows the song to play at the right time.

It has made me even more aware of the importance of giving your mind a nutritious diet. You need to 'feed' your mind positive thoughts which can come from spoken or written affirmations and other sources such as music. And you need to do this on a daily basis of you want to program your sub-conscious mind for success.

The music playing in my head forms part of my self-talk and everyone has some form of audio background track playing in their mind which can be musical or their regular dialogue with self. The trouble is many people do not pay close enough conscious attention to their self-talk particularly when it is negative.

Consequently, they allow a negative soundtrack to play in their minds over and over again continually undermining everything positive they attempt to do. The outcome of this can be seen in the results they are producing with respect to their health, finances, career, relationships, etc.

And when things aren't turning out the way they would like it to be they compound matters by asking themselves:

"What's wrong with me?"

The mind obligingly then searches for answers that particular question and to support the view that something is wrong with that person. The negative self-talk is perpetuated.

If you positively change your self-talk and that background track in your mind you can literally transform your life.

Often when I say this to individuals their immediate response is "But it's hard…" which is simply more evidence of the negative programming of their mind.

It certainly is challenging but isn't it worth it for the rewards you'll reap.

Denis Waitley said:

"Relentless, repetitive self-talk is what changes our self-image."

It's up to you whether your "relentless, repetitive self-talk" improves your self-image and consequently the results you achieve in life or tears you down.

One of my mentors has his own special way of dealing with negative self-talk. Click on the AudioPostcard link below to hear how he eliminated his negative self-talk:

The Importance of Your Mindset to Achieving Success

Barack Obama: Inspiration, Hope and Self-Reliance

Barack Obama's election as the 44th President of the United States of America has inspired people of all ages and of all races across the world. More young people than ever before voted for Obama and in his acceptance speech Obama referred to a centenarian Ann Nixon Cooper - 106 years old in fact - who exercised her right to vote in this election.

The election of Barack Obama has given people hope again that things can really be different, but not just different - better. This man has encouraged individuals to have a "can do" attitude. He has encouraged people to embrace change.

However, I read a comment recently that lingered with me. The person questioned that so many people should rely on this one man. And here's the thing. When you read comments from Obama's supporters you know they have not been lulled into a false sense of security.

They are fully aware that the new President will have an enormous task ahead of him. The recession is cutting deep, so too are the wars. The nation is ready for healing and new leadership.

Nonetheless, Obama will certainly make what will be perceived to be mistakes and he will make decisions that will be unpopular. It's just the nature of the beast. There is no way he will please everyone all the time. The man himself is quick to point out the potential pitfalls along the way:

"There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who won't agree with every decision or policy I make as president. And we know the government can’t solve every problem."

But he is quick to reassure that this time the people will have a voice that will go beyond election day.

"I will listen to you, especially when we disagree. And, above all, I will ask you to join in the work of remaking this nation, the only way it's been done in America for 221 years - block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand."

And this is the key.

Millions of people voted for Obama and millions more, without a legal right to vote in the US, voted in spirit partly because they were inspired by his message of positive change. What is needed now is to keep fanning the flames of hope. Individuals need to apply the inspiration they have received from Obama's miraculous journey to a little-know Senator to President-elect of the US to their own lives. People need to rekindle dreams that were abandoned and conceive of new and bigger dreams.

It's not about relying on one man. It's about self-reliance and working together in a co-operative spirit.

For many, the recession is cutting deep, so too are the wars that majority of people have been opposed to. It's time for healing. It's time for change.

Yet, as Obama said:

"It can't happen without you, without a new spirit of service, a new spirit of sacrifice."

To create the positive change that so many crave individuals each have to pull their own weight. People can draw inspiration and hope from this new leader but there is no question that anyone should be relying solely on one man to achieve this change. Individuals have to take responsibility for their role in this movement and optimise their own lives.

But there's certainly a new optimism in the air, a new sense of possibility. A definite "can do" attitude. And this is a spirit people the world over can benefit from.

Achieving Life Success with the Power of Forgiveness

Click the AudioPostcard link below to listen to this post.

Achieving Life Success with the Power of Forgiveness

Yesterday I listened to a presentation by life coach and motivational speaker Pete Cohen. During his talk he told the story of a woman, whom I'll called Martha, which highlighted the power of forgiveness in achieving life success.

When Martha attended her first confession she discovered that she had no 'wrong-doing' to confess. So she decided to make something up. On the next occasion she confessed to having lied the previous time and then started a vicious pattern.

You see, Martha was spending a lot of time thinking about what to confess. In other words, she was focusing much of her energy on what was perceived to be negative in her life rather than on what was positive. On a weekly basis she would then go to confession to ask for forgiveness.

Now, there are a lot of individuals who are just like Martha. They may not attend a formal confession on a regular basis but they too focus on the things in their life which they consider to be negative. They spend a disproportionate amount of their time focusing on their mistakes.

They needlessly beat themselves up about their failures. They may find ways to consciously or unconsciously punish themselves but it doesn't stop them from doing the things they perceive to be wrong. So they persist in their wrong-doing. They persist in punishing themselves and they feel absolutely wretched about their lives.

The thing is that it doesn't matter if someone else forgives you or not for something you have done. The important thing is to forgive yourself. Unless you practice self-forgiveness you cannot experience self-healing and self-love.

I believe that while it is important to evaluate our mistakes and learn from them, it is far more empowering to focus on your successes. Focusing on your failures is paralysing. Focusing on your successes is liberating.

For instance, you think about how a project unfolded in the past that didn't achieve your desired results. You think that if you attempt a similar project that the end result will be the same. So you don't even attempt to do the new project. Or, if you do pluck up the courage to start the project you'll find a way to self-sabotage your success.

I'm not suggesting that you become blasé about how you conduct your life. However, here's the thing. If you find yourself in a position where you feel unable to forgive yourself you are not taking full responsibility for your life. When you hold resentment against yourself it prevents you from fully engaging with life. It stops you from moving on.

"To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you."
Lewis B. Smedes

It is through the power of forgiveness that you heal, feel more whole and positive energy can flow freely to and through you. You can then show up more fully in the world and you are then in a better position to share the gifts that you have been bestowed with.

So unleash the power of forgiveness in your life today if you truly wish to achieve life success.

Bill Bartmann: The Power of a Promise and Achieving Your Goals

Bill Bartmann - The Power of A Promise

Click HERE if you cannot see YouTube video.

This weekend I shared with you a story about Bill Bartmann – the man whose life and fortunes have been like a roller coaster. He recently uploaded the video displayed above where he talks very movingly and very candidly about the true meaning of a promise and how he used that promise overcome tremendous odds and achieve a particular goal that undoubtedly changed his life.

However, this video is more than just promises. It's about perseverance, commitment and making an irrevocable decision.

You may never have to face challenges as severe that Bill Bartmann has faced in his life or you may face or even currently be facing challenges that are more severe. Yet, one thing is certain. You will face challenges in life and how you face up to those challenges will determine the quality of your life and what you achieve during your life.

Some people think that setting and achieving goals is all about the acquisition of the thing you are going after. They're wrong. Goal achievement is all about the person you become as you strive to achieve your goals.

Many people set goals and then give up on them with barely a fight. They lack persistence. Bob Proctor says that in such cases the goal was too "puny".

"Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood and probably themselves will not be realized."
Daniel H Burnham

If your goals are puny then you surely will quit when you are faced with the first obstacle.

"A goal that is casually set and lightly taken is freely abandoned at the first obstacle."
Zig Ziglar

In Bill Bartmann's case, he could either believe what the doctor had told him and remain a paraplegic for the rest of his life or he could defy what the doctor had said and create his own prognosis.

What was incredible in Bill Bartmann's case was that even although there was evidence that contradicted the doctor's original diagnosis, the doctor brutally tried to stamp out any hope of recovery in Bill's mind.

There are people in your life who will try to do the same when you tell them about your goals. They will ridicule you and belittle your dreams - if you let them.

Matt Bacak said that he decided that he would make a million dollars within six months he made one of the toughest decisions of his life. He temporarily decided to cut off all forms of communication with his mother. It was a drastic decision but he did what he had to do.

His mother was always the one who was saying that things were not possible. She was the naysayer. He knew that he had to believe in himself 100% if he was to achieve his goal within the time limit he set himself. There was no room for doubt. It was hard on both parent and child but he gave his mother one of her best Christmas presents ever when he announced that h had achieved his goal.

Do you have the strength, courage and conviction to eliminate toxic relationships from your life? Or will you let those individuals drag you down, keeping you within their comfort zone?

What kind of goals have you set yourself? Are you truly committed to them? Are you prepared to do whatever it takes to achieve them? Teamwork and support are important when achieving your goals but do have the fortitude it takes to soldier on alone if needed? Bill had to wait until late at night to do his exercises to remain undetected.

Bill made a decision that he was going to walk out of his hospital at a time when he could move a muscle in his lower body. The word decision is derived from a Latin word meaning "to cut away". When Bill made his decision there was no turning back. It was more than a decision. He made a promise that he was going to walk out of that hospital.

And, it was through exercising his will power, that he was able to achieve his goal. Through his will he was able to command his body. Now there are scientific explanations to support what Bill Bartmann accomplished but the fact remains that:

~ He used his mind to think about what he wanted rather than what he didn't want,

~ His thoughts became fervent beliefs,

~ He used his thought to direct his will power, and

~ His used his will power to achieve the thing he dreamt about.

~ He fulfilled his promise and achieved his goal.

The question is what promise will you make to yourself?


goal achieving Bill Bartmann promise goal achievement will power billionaire business systems

Nothing Like a Flight of Fancy for Your Goal Achievement to Take Off

While I enjoy visiting other countries I don't really enjoy long flights, hanging around airports, waiting for your luggage to unloaded, etc. Still, I recognise that I am quite privileged to be able to travel at all and this was really brought home to me by a news item I saw recently.

In India, just 1% of the population get to fly. Even considering that India has a population of well over a billion people this is still a startling statistic for something many of us now take for granted.

So what an ex-pilot has come up with is to give disadvantaged children in India the experience of simulated flight - well not quite. Let me explain.

The children are given a boarding pass and then are escorted to the plane.

Once seated, one of the boys said enthusiastically:

"When I grow up I want to fly a plane just like this one."

I couldn't help but smile. I knew what he meant but thought "not just like this one".

You see this plane is the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang of planes. Its exterior is somewhat decrepit. It only has one wing and the tail section is missing. This sorry-looking plane, lying in a field which separates it from a sprawling metropolis, is definitely grounded.

So much for flight simulation you say - well not quite.

The children do get to experience a real aspect of flying. For these children, the highlight of this 'simulated flight' is going through the emergency procedures. If you're a frequent flyer then you probably pay scant attention to this part of your flight. It's not because you don't think it's important but because you want to focus on safely completely your journey.

In fact, this is one of the prime times in our lives when most of us are able to consistently practice positive thinking and we think of achieving our goal, i.e. arriving at our destination rather than thinking of everything that could go wrong along the way. If only we would apply this strategy of being prepared for the worse but keeping our eyes firmly fixed on our goals to other areas of our lives our success rate in achieving our goals would soar.

Anyway, back to this "flight of fancy". The children not only get to see the emergency procedures explained, they exit the plane using the emergency slides. For some perhaps, the most fun part of the 'flight'.

The reality is though that this scheme may be the only experience that these children have of 'flying'. Still, it opens their eyes to journeys to distant lands - journeys that they might have otherwise never imagined. It sharpens their powers of visualisation. It stretches their minds as to what they can achieve if they only believe. It gives them a glimpse of what's possible.

"The only thing that stands between a man and what he wants from life is often merely the will to try it and the faith to believe that it is possible."
David Viscott

I hope no one steals that boy's dream away from him. I hope that one day he will get to experience real flight and not as a passenger but as a pilot. I hope that the enthusiasm he felt while sitting in that grounded plane with one broken wing will truly give him the wings he needs to fly.


goal achievement experience achieve visualisation

What Kind of Year Will You Make 2008?

Last night I watched some visually spectacular fireworks that packed quite a bang as well. Immediately after the fireworks there was a stillness in the air and then there a cool breeze which was followed soon after by a light shower. It was as if Mother Nature was blowing and washing away the last remnants of 2007. It is 2008.

I received loads of "Happy New Year" emails but one of the more interesting ones I received was from Dr Joe Vitale. It began as follows:

"I'll be blunt:

2007 has come and gone.

You had plenty of chances to create your new business or new product and break out of the rut.

But you didn't do it.

Unless you do something different in 2008, where will you be at the end of this new year?"

I found it quite refreshing. It helped to focus my mind as did a conversation I had today with a close friend about someone who was fired on New Year's Eve.

My friend's view that this person didn't have much to celebrate but had much to worry about especially since they had over-extended themselves over the Christmas season thinking that they would have a job to return to in the New Year.

I had a somewhat different opinion. I know that it's tough to lose a job but I think that too many individuals believe that a J.O.B. represents security. Nothing could be further from the truth. The unexpected can happen in even what may seem to be the most secure of environments so it's best to be prepared for the unexpected. Nowadays, anyone in a job should aim to create at least one other income stream.

Also, if you are in a job see how you can really excel in that job. Be the best employee you can be. It will not guarantee that you will keep your job but should you lose it you should at least be able to rely on getting a glowing recommendation which should help you when applying for another job.

In order to be the best employee you can be you will by necessity have to keep updating and improving your skills. This will benefit you in your current position as well as any future position you may hold.

Losing a job may seem devastating at first but it gives one the opportunity to do something different and hopefully better, even if it is another job. If you are fired or made redundant it is important to stay objective, although this may be difficult at first. You need to consider why you lost your job and what you could have done differently. This may affect how you perform in a new job.

The other thing to think about, if ever you find yourself in this position, is what is good about the situation. Don't wallow in self-pity and in thinking about all the things you won't be able to do in the short-term because of your setback. Think instead of the possibilities. This may be challenging but if you achieve this it will stretch you. You will grow.

"Become a possibilitarian. No matter how dark things seem to be or actually are, raise your sights and see possibilities - always see them, for they're always there."
Dr. Norman Vincent Peale

The other consideration is that if ever you find yourself in a tight spot simply tighten your belt. The person who lost their job had over extended themselves over the Christmas period. It happens. People want to have fun and treat their loved ones. But as Dr Joe Vitale said unless you do something different 2008 will be as 2007.

So if you find yourself in such a predicament here are a few tips:

1. Make a budget of what you absolutely need to live on and stick to it.

2. Trim away any excess, in other words look at where you may be losing money or wasting money needlessly.

3. Discuss the situation openly and honestly with your family so that everyone has a clear understanding of the situation and can work together to manage the situation and create solutions.

4. If you anticipate difficulties in paying your bills on time then discuss the situation with your creditors to investigate the options that are available to you.

5. As well as contacting job agencies and doing other job search methods, let friends and colleagues know that you're looking for a new job.

6. Brainstorm ways in which you can earn money in the short-term.

7. Sharpen your interview skills and be ready to attend an interview at short notice.

Above all stay positive and focus on what you want to achieve rather than the negative aspects of your situation. It is this focus that will help you to survive any challenging situation.

I like to think of a New Year as a blank canvas. No matter how your year has started, you have the opportunity to create your future just the way you want it to be.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!


Achieve Your Goals in 2008
If you would like answers to questions you have regarding overcoming obstacles and limiting beliefs that are preventing you from achieving your goals visit Ask Nickolove Lovemore and submit your question.

The Secret to Fulfilling Your Potential

No doubt you will have often heard that you have unlimited potential and you may be frustrated at the fact that you are not fulfilling your potential. You know in your heart that you could be achieving more in your life. You want greater success in your life more than anything but despite all your efforts your progress is limited.

Allow me to offer an explanation - although it is not my idea but something I heard from James Ray, one of the stars of the DVD "The Secret".

You know that you are made up of DNA which contains your genetic code that is used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms. Well, did you know that experiments have shown that the majority of people are using only about 25% of their DNA? How can anyone fulfil their potential if effectively they are "not all there"? This leads to two burning questions:

1. Why are we only using such a small percentage of our DNA, and
2. How can we "switch on" more of our DNA?

To answer these questions let's take a look at the results of an intriguing experiment conducted by the HeartMath LLC institute. In this particular experiment 28 vials of human placenta DNA were given to each of 28 researchers who had been trained in how to generate and sense feelings.

What this research discovered was that the DNA changed its shape according to what the researchers were feeling. When the researchers felt anger, fear, frustration or stress, the DNA responded by becoming shorter and tighter. It also switched off many of the human DNA codes.

However, when the researchers felt joy, gratitude, love and appreciation the DNA strands relaxed and became longer. In addition, more of the human DNA codes were switched on.

In today's world people are often stressed. There is so much anger and violence in our society. People have developed a deep fear response to even the most mundane of things and people are often frustrated in their jobs and in their relationships. Is it any wonder that people are not fulfilling their potential? How can they? Simply put, they are not fully switched on.

Imagine the difference between lighting a small candle in an otherwise totally dark room compared to switching on a 100 watt light bulb. Imagine someone whispering your name compared to a stadium full of people screaming your name.

When you feel angry, frustrated and stressed you are literally like a tight coil. Undo the coil and you are able to release the energy trapped in the coil because it can now flow freely.

It is easy to express gratitude, love and appreciation but we are often too busy. Did you notice the clouds today? What about that magnificent tree or that beautiful flower? Did you just eat today without much giving the act much conscious thought or did you truly give thanks for the food you ate and savoured every bite? Expressing your gratitude will keep you connected to the omniscient power through which you receive everything including the gift of life itself.

Did you express your love today even to yourself? Your efforts at expressing your love for someone or even something may not seem to be appreciated yet, if it comes from your heart, it will always feel good.

Most people's self-talk is very negative. As speaker, Rob Bremer says:

"If you had a friend who talked to you like you sometimes talk to yourself, would you continue to hang around with that person?"

Dr Joe Vitale suggests that if we could simply replace the negative self-talk with the simple words "I love you" we could transform our lives.

"If you saturate your being with love you will neutralise anything that is negative within you."
Dr Joe Vitale

So the secret to fulfilling your potential is simply to let go. Release your negative emotions and limiting beliefs. They are not serving you. As you let go feel the energy surge through your body. Notice how calm and at peace you feel. Notice how much clearer you are about your life and how you gain a different and liberating perspective on issues that once bothered you.

If you are seeking techniques to assist you in letting go then I highly recommend Dr Joe Vitale's new book called "The Secret - The Missing Secret to Attracting Anything You Want". Purchase your copy from Amazon today and then head on over to Unlock the Secret for $6,077 worth of bonuses.



The Key: The Missing Secret for Attracting Anything You Want

Quit Worrying if You Want to Achieve Success

Worrying is an expression of fear and what you fear most you will manifest so quit worrying if you want to achieve success. When you worry you are feeding energy to what you don't want.

"Fear is faith it won't work out."

Now I know that there are many situations that can invoke the feeling of anxiety. The thing to do is identify the worse that can happen and then focus your attention on how you really want things to work out. By doing this you will be expending your energy wisely and towards what you want instead of what you don't want.

"It has been said that our anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, but only empties today of its strength."
Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Nowadays, people are literally worrying themselves sick and to no avail because when you are sick you do not have the strength to tackle the things that are causing you to worry in the first place.

People worry about losing their job, their home, their relationship, their health, their loved ones, their money. Let's take a look at some of these issues.

Loss of a Job
First of all no job is secure. If you are in a job you should automatically be making provisions for the time when you are out of a job. Now, I'm not for one moment suggesting that you should not give anything but your best when you are working. However, the fact is job losses are on the increase and no one can rely upon a job for life.

So start saving and anyone can save - even someone on minimum wage. Continually update and improve your skills and consider running a business - something which you can operate alongside your main job. By doing these things and being the best employee you can be you will always be able to find work and you will have a cushion for the brief periods when you may be out of work.

Loss of a relationship
There is a quote that says:

"People come into our lives for a reason, a season or a lifetime."

Cherish your relationships. Learn and grow from them but if a person you are involved with decides to move on honour that decision. Who are you to stop that person from moving on to experience other and perhaps more fulfilling relationships? If you decide to end the relationship do so with compassion. However, when you worry about losing a relationship you prevent the real you from showing up in the relationship. The relationship is then not authentic and as such cannot be sustained.

Loss of health
Answer this question:

"Are you doing all you can do to look after your health?"

You know, many people worry about their health but do not take basic steps to improve their health such as quitting smoking, exercising, eating healthily, getting adequate sleep, etc. Start taking steps today to improve your health. If despite your best efforts you fall ill, if you have been taking care of yourself you will have a better chance of recovering. Periods of illness are a time for reflection and so, if you do become ill, use this time to discover more about yourself.

Loss of money
There is a saying:

"The real measure of your wealth is how much you'd be worth if you lost all your money."

You see money is just an idea. It is energy. There is an abundance of money in the world. Many of the richest people in the world have lost vast sums of money. Some have been bankrupt and some bankrupt several times yet they went on to earn more and more money. Donald Trump lost all of his money in the 90s and look at where he is today. Bill Bartmann lost of his money but refused to file for bankruptcy. He became a billionaire.

So if you're worried about losing money seek the advice of a finance expert but perhaps even more important improve your wealth mindset. As Paul Blackburn, psychology in business expert puts it:

"You make money in your mind first."

Worrying will rob you of your greatest glories. Quit worrying and focus instead on being successful.




quit worry fear success

Think and Grow Rich or Poor - It's Your Choice!

You have the power to think and you can use your thoughts to grow rich or poor. It really is up to you. For decades man has pondered the quote "I think therefore I am" for man is unique in his ability to be able to think. It is this quality that makes us transcend other animals.

However, change just one word in this quote and it takes on a different meaning. Dr Wayne Dyer said:

"I think that I am."

This is a fundamental truth that philosophers, teachers and leaders throughout the ages have been in unison about. It is another way of expressing:

"You become what you think about."

If only more people understood this, they would recognise how powerful they truly are. However, to accept this means that you have to accept full responsibility for everything in your life - both the positive and the negative.

For many this is a great challenge. How can they be responsible for the negative things going on in their life? They blame society, other people, the government - anyone and anything but themselves. Unfortunately, they don't recognise that, in so doing, they are behaving as though they are victims - hapless pawns in the chess game of life. They relinquish control of their lives.

"Don't blame others for your failure to be fully accountable for your own life. If others are to blame then you have given them control."
Bob Perks

The moment you accept full responsibility for your life everything changes. You start to see your world in a new light, as a world of possibilities and opportunities rather than problems and obstacles.

"Your living is determined not so much by what life brings you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens."
Lewis L. Dunnington

Some people pride themselves on being a closed book, i.e. they think that people can't determine what's going on in their mind. However, you don't have to be able to literally read someone's mind to know what they are thinking. Simply look at their results.

"Mind is the master power that molds and makes and Man is Mind and evermore he takes the tool of thought and shaping what he wills brings forth a thousand joys, a thousand ills. He thinks in secret and it comes to past; environment is but his looking glass."
James Allen, As a Man Thinketh

Your thoughts have energy. We rely so much upon what we can see but it is our invisible world that is shaping our visible world. We repeatedly ignore the significance of this fact, yet every day, every moment we are alive we are given evidence of this. We cannot see the air we breathe but we do not question that it is there even though we cannot live without it.

So while we cannot see our thoughts we know of their substance by what they manifest.

"Every thought has a frequency. That magnetic signal is drawing the parallel back to you."
Dr Joe Vitale

Look around you. Do you like what you see? Are you satisfied with the life you have created for yourself thus far? Are you using your thoughts to grow rich or grow poor? The answer to the last question must be one or the other for in the Universe there is no standing still. Everything is in a constant state of flux.

If you don't like your environment change your thoughts. Naturally the physical changes will not become apparent immediately but as long as you think positively then your actions and your results will change as a consequence.

If you have been harbouring negative thoughts for a long time then there will be a lot to clear away before you start actually seeing the tangible evidence of positive results. However, you will feel more optimistic, happier, calmer and more relaxed. These positive emotions will help to accelerate the positive changes in your life and help you to grow rich rather than poor. They will help you to build an abundant life so that you can express yourself fully, sharing your wealth with others while enriching your own life.

It's your choice. You can positively change your life today simply by changing your thoughts. All it takes is a decision.


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think think and grow rich life thoughts

It's All Good!

For the past few days it has rained every day. A local friend of mine keeps apologizing about the weather and I keep reminding him that it is the rainy season and I expect it to rain. For me it's no big deal. As the saying goes, "It's all good!"

If I'm out and about I seek shelter and if I'm not out and about then what does it matter? The rain helps to cool things down a bit, provides much-needed water for crops and helps to replenish underground water aquifers – the source of the island's water supply.

Life is like the weather - full of ups and downs. We complain about the downs but without them we could not appreciate life's highs. A lesson in life mastery is to b able to see the positive aspects of any situation. When you can achieve this, when you are able to express your gratitude for everything in your life - what you perceive to be good as well as bad - your life will change immeasurably.

So I welcome the rain. It could be worse. It's also hurricane season.

"If I accept the sunshine and warmth, then I must also accept the thunder and lightning."
Kahlil Gibran

gratitude

Winning or Losing is a State of Mind

I recently read the mobile blog of a woman, whom I'll call Lisa, who had been fired form her job. It was clear from her entry that she felt somewhat demoralised and perhaps even victimised.

I sent her a message:

"What's good about your situation?"

Now, I recognised that Lisa might not have been in the right state of mind to properly consider this question.

"I've just lost my job! Christmas is around the corner and I've lost my main income. What do you mean what's good about my situation?"

At the same time I knew how important it was for her to start looking at the positive aspects of being fired and start re-building her career.

So what are some of the possible benefits of being fired? Being fired gives Lisa the opportunity to:

#Find a new and better job – better pay, location, responsibilities, hours, etc.,
#Re-evaluate her career path, maybe it's time to try something different even start her own business,
#Do things she could do while she was working, and
#Make new business and social contacts.

You see winning or losing is just a state of mind. If you find yourself in a less than ideal situation, turn it on its head and ask yourself what's good about the situation. I guarantee that with that attitude you will sail over life's speed bumps.

winning state of mind

I Can, I Will

One of my mantras is "You can do it!" I say this to myself countless times each day as I face up to the tough challenges I've set myself.

So when I read the following inspirational poem written by Rick Beneteau, author of Branding You and Breaking the Bank it really resonated with me as I hope it will with you:

"I will because I can.
I'll do because I believe the strength I need to make the change is deep inside of me.
I'll walk where I have crawled, I'll run till I can fly.
My wings will fill with winds of change the moment I decide."

What will you decide today that you will achieve because, in the core of your being, you know you can?

Positive Thinking - Does it Work?

Does positive thinking work?

Let's consider the antithesis to this question.

Does negative thinking work?

Well, has there been a time when you have worried unduly about something? Maybe you were worried about an exam, a driving test, an interview. Chances are that your worst expectations came into fruition and even if you got the outcome you desired you recognised that you could have performed better had you not worried.

When we worry or have negative thoughts about something we are not allowing ourselves to think constructively about how to achieve what we want. We focus all our energy on the negative elements of a particular situation and what we put energy into grows.

Dr. Kathleen Hall writes in her book A Life in Balance,

"Affirmations are positive statements we tell ourselves. Our mind believes what we tell it. When you tell your brain positive information, you are feeding your brain extremely valuable food that heals your mind and body...When you tell yourself something over and over again, it gets recorded in your brain; then your mind and body believe it and you become what you have been telling yourself. A positive affirmation is a self-fulfilling prophecy."

This statement represents half of the picture because when we tell our brain, meaning our sub-conscious mind, negative information, when we repeatedly tell ourselves something which is negative it also gets recorded in the mind as if it were a true statement.

"A negative assertion is a self-fulfilling prophecy."

I was chatting to an acquaintance the other day. I could see she was tense and she was complaining of having headaches. I asked if she was worried about anything and she admitted that she was worried about a new job assignment. Now she wasn't worried about her ability to handle the assignment; she was worrying because she had this type of assignment before and didn't enjoy it. She was worrying herself sick and for no good reason.

"When you send your brain negative information, you are feeding your brain anti-nutrients that harm your mind and body."

Take getting a promotion at work. If we focus on why it's not possible to get the promotion and focus on our limitations then that's what we'll put our energy into. The presentation and or interview will roll around, we'll perform poorly, lose the opportunity and tell ourselves, "See, I knew I wasn't good enough!" "I knew I wouldn't get the promotion." We may even blame someone else – "The boss doesn't like me." "Bob is more experienced than I. He was bound to get the position."

When we have these thoughts we give up our power to influence change in our lives. When we accept that we create our reality then we can choose our reality. We can become more aware players in this game called life.

So if negative thinking works then, by the Law of Polarity, the opposite must also true. As Larry King said in his introduction to a special edition of Larry King Live aired recently called The Power of Positive Thinking where he interviewed Bob Proctor, John Assaraf, Michael Beckwith, John DeMartini and JZ Knight,

"Positive thoughts can transform, can attract the good things you know you want."

However, holding on to positive thoughts is challenging. When we are born we are encoded with the genetic material of our parents and, it has been proven, with the genetic material of our ancestors – that's a lot of hardwiring. We then grow up in an environment where the values of our parents and or guardians are also engrained into us whether it is 'information' that serves us in a negative or positive manner. Hence there is a lot of stuff to override. As Jack Canfield, puts it,

"We are a bundle of conditioned reflexes out of control."

We tend to put a lot of emotion into our negative thoughts compared to the emotion and energy we put into our positive thoughts. I can have a negative thought and if I don't invest too much emotion into it then I generally don't have to worry about it taking hold and manifesting itself. Unfortunately, we often invest a lot of energy and emotion into our negative thoughts and this simply serves to bring our worse fears into fruition even faster.

Conversely, when we say positive affirmations there can be an emotional detachment and a lack of consistency in saying them. Also, a lack of evidence in our visible world may cause our analytical conscious mind to filter and delete positive affirmations. Yet, if we are able to overcome this challenge and hold the thought in our mind of what we really want irrespective of our current circumstances then our outer world will eventually catch up with our inner world.

To demonstrate the power of positive thinking I'd like to go back to the 2006 Winter Olympics held in Turin, Italy. The men's Alpine skiing downhill race was won by three times French champion, Antoine Dénériaz. Dénériaz says,

"…since time that I said myself, "One day you will be World Champion, Olympic Champion…"

But Dénériaz was not expected to win. He had performed no better than sixth in a World Cup race this season. The commentators and many of the other competitors all talked about how tough the course was. The course also was getting progressively more demanding as the day wore on and more and more runs were completed.

Dénériaz was also the last of 30 seeded skiers. None of this deterred Dénériaz. He knew he had a job to complete plus there was champagne waiting for him to drink.

You see Dénériaz had been applying the power of positive thinking to the extent he was so confident he was going to win and beocme Olympic Champion he bought champagne to celebrate beforehand!

Dénériaz skied beautifully and won emphatically in a time of 1:48.80 stealing what had, until that point, looked like a sure gold medal, from Michael Walchhofer from Austria (1:49.52). Bruno Kernen of Switzerland was third with a time of 1:49.82.

The top US skier, Bode Miller, said in an interview afterwards,

"The way Dénériaz skied today, he was pretty much untouchable."

That positive thinking works can be proven scientifically. You undoubtedly will have heard of The Science of Getting Rich and The Science of Being Well. It bears well to remember that the Law of Attraction works both ways. Positive thinking is "The Science of Getting What You Want".

**************************

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The Power of Positive Affirmations to Enhance Your Self-Image and Create a More Abundant Life

You can listen to this article by clicking the play button on the Audioplayer below:



I was once asked an intriguing question by one of my clients.

"Won't saying positive things to myself make me delusional, especially when I don't believe them to be true?"

Now, isn't that interesting? You see, many of us say negative things to ourselves and about ourselves on a continuous basis, e.g. "Stupid!" "Clumsy!" "Fool!"

And, we say these things so often that we begin to accept them as FACT.

In reality, they are lies that we say to ourselves but even if you repeat a lie often enough you will soon start to believe it. This is particularly true when a lot of emotion is put into it as is generally the case when we say negative things to ourselves.

The negative self-talk is usually accompanied by feelings of anger, frustration, humiliation, resentment, etc. and often leads to depression. These emotions allow the self-talk to penetrate the sub-conscious mind.

Repeating these sentiments over and over again is like seasoning meat. Imagine rubbing seasoning into a piece of meat and perhaps even making small incisions so that the seasoning can penetrate deep into its flesh, imparting its flavor. However, the herbs and spices that you have selected are pungent and bitter so that when you taste the cooked meat it is not palatable.

Now here's the curious thing. Even although you don't like the end result you keep using the same recipe. The finished product still tastes just as bad but you begin to convince yourself that it's ok. Heck! You could get used to this…perhaps even grow to like it. You say to yourself that this is just the way things are and you don't do anything about it. It's too much effort to change.

Yes, you start to rationalize.

But you can change and while it may take some effort the results are so worth it - once you find your winning combination. You could share your new recipe with others. You could even sell your new recipe!

So how do you effect change? Simply put:

1. Stop the negative self-talk, and
2. Use positive affirmations on a daily basis.

Using positive affirmations regularly will commence the gradual process of the re-conditioning your sub-conscious mind. It's like trying to restore a ruined and neglected house that was once a beautiful, well-kept home with flourishing gardens. The restoration work will take time, patience, attention to detail and a methodical, persistent approach. Yet, once achieved it will not only bring enormous joy to its owner, it will have a positive effect on all those who glimpse this beautiful dwelling.

It won't be easy. Your old self image will put up a fight. It doesn't like change. Change feels uncomfortable.

Also, we are trained to assess situations using just our basic senses. Hence, when your bank statements shows a low, or perhaps even a negative, balance; when it seems that there are more bills than money to pay them; it is all too easy to think lack and poverty. Yet money is in abundance.

Similarly, when your blood tests and x-rays indicate a diseased body, it is difficult to focus on health. However, there are many documented cases where individuals have disregarded negative diagnosis and restored health to their bodies and sometimes even saved their own lives using the power of positive thought and affirmations.

Saying positive affirmations such as: "I am rich…I have a healthy body…I am very successful" may seem crazy to someone who doesn't understand mind dynamics. But even if your present circumstances do not support your positive affirmations, repeating positive affirmations forms an important role in conditioning your sub-conscious to produce the results you desire in your life.

Claude Bristol, author of "The Magic of Believing" said,

"It's the repetition of affirmations that leads to belief. And once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen."

So, it's no use just saying positive affirmations in an absent-minded fashion. You have to get emotionally involved with your new affirmations for them to become a "deep conviction", to effectively take root in your sub-conscious mind and successfully replace your hidden image that is creating the results you don't want.

I like to start my affirmations by saying - "I'm so happy and grateful now that I am…" - a technique that was taught to me by Bob Proctor. The beauty of this is that it's a positive affirmation all on its own!

Also, gratitude opens up channels so that you receive more of the things you want and appreciate.

So persist with your positive affirmations until they become deep-rooted in your sub-conscious mind. Your reward will be an enhanced self-image and a more abundant life.


positive affirmations negative self talk gratitude