Friday, September 30, 2005

How to Become the Person of Your Dreams

“What would you like to be when you grow up?” I bet you often hear this question asked many times when you were still young. But have you given this question some deep thoughts?

Different people have different dreams. So what’s your aspiration? Do you want to become a doctor, lawyer, pilot, or entertainer? Or would you want to be like Tom Cruise or Bill Gates? Let me tell you now, you can become what you want to become. You can be anything you want to be as long as you put your mind and heart to it.

Here are some tips and words of encouragement to keep you all fired up.

Learn as much as possible about the person you aspire to be. Let’s say you dream to become a basketball player. Gather all facts and information about the sport. Research on the internet, read books, watch the games and analyze team strategies; in other words, strive to be an expert.

You must have the desire and passion to know everything you can about the subject. If you can have a real person to imitate or look up to, the better. For example, you may see yourself as Michael Jordan (for basketball), Mariah Carey (for singing), or Heide Klum (for modeling). Feel, talk, and act as if you’re that person you’re emulating. You’ll quickly acquire the behavior and qualities of that person. This formula works like a charm, so just give it a try.

Take motivated action and start pursuing your dreams. Don’t wait for everything to be perfect. That will never happen. There will always be bumps and obstacles ahead. The important thing is to start right now and adjust along the way.

Persist until the very end. Never let failures distract you. Just keep pushing yourself to the limit. If you think that a task seems impossible to accomplish, banish that thought immediately. Your mind has the capacity to bring into reality anything you desire. As long as you stay focused and patient on your objective despite any setbacks or discouragements, you will become successful much sooner than you may think.

Thursday, September 29, 2005

5 Great Techniques to Realize Your Goals

Goals keep us motivated. But sometimes, people find it too hard to achieve their goals. Maybe because they have set long-term goals before setting short-term ones, or they did not plan their goals carefully.

Goal-setting strategies are important especially for those who want to achieve long-term goals. Here are five goal-setting techniques to help you realize them.

1. Start with short-term goals that will lead you to long-term ones. Sometimes, people start with short-term goals unconsciously. Why unconsciously? Some of them may have considered the goals to be long-term at the time they planned them; and after achieving a goal, they realize that they are in fact, looking forward to a longer one. Some are contented with their short-term goals, but after a while will realize that they also need to attain long-term ones. Short-term goals seem to be our set off for longer ones. They will motivate the person to plan for longer goals, which will usually take some time before achieving them in full.

2. Make sure you really want the goal. By this, you have to ask yourself: "Do I really want this goal? Will this goal give me a better life?" Answering these questions will give you more passion to achieve your goal. Some people recall their past to find out why and how they came up with such goal.

3. Speak up. By this, it means you shouldn't keep your goals to yourself only. Sharing your goals could help you get the support you may need from others. Some people are too shy to tell others about their goals for reasons like they are afraid they cannot achieve these in the end, or they lack the courage to speak up their minds. This is not a good habit because when the time comes that you really need their support, you will have a difficult time to get such support. You will then have to achieve your goals all by yourself. Also, sharing the fruits of your goals is uplifting to the mind and spirit.

4. Write down your goals. This strategy is more advisable for those who have a long list of goals. After writing them, it is advisable to review them because this will encourage you to achieve them.

5. Stay on track and don't give up. Reviewing notes will help open your mind to see if you are on the right track. While on track, you may have to face challenges that might change your personality. A person who is overconfident might suddenly feel depressed after finding out that he is going the wrong way in achieving his goal. Thus this might lead to abandoning the goal. Never be discouraged. Facing obstacles is a test on how passionate one is to realize his goal.

Wednesday, September 28, 2005

Two Proven Techniques that Successful People Do to Double or Triple Their Time in a Day

They say that time is much more important than wealth. Most effective people think so. They know how to get more time in a day, and they have mastered the art of utilizing time effectively to do more productive things that contribute to their advancement or success. So how do they do it?

Proven Technique Number 1 - They delegate and assign simple routinary tasks to other people so that they can have more free time to do as they please.

This is very elementary but of great significance. If you have the money, hire people to do the housework, the repairing, and even some of your office jobs. Let others do the research. But of course, you have to reward them accordingly so they will get motivated to render their services again.

You can then focus on the more important things in life, like planning and managing your activities.

Proven Technique Number 2 - They plan seriously.

The less time you think you have, the more critical it is for you to plan. By planning carefully, you’ll be able to manage your time better and avoid costly mistakes that eat up much more of your time.

You might say that you’re so busy you don’t even have time to plan. Maybe you can insert some time planning while doing your other activities. The planning phase is very important in organizing your thoughts to carry out the desired effects.

You might say that this is boring stuff, but you should never underestimate this process. This is like a guideline to steer you into the right direction.

Your plan will be your road map. Spend enough time to ponder through the different approaches and activities, and you will soon realize that you can save a lot more time by doing this.

It will be best if you can choose a quiet place to make your plan.
Your mind can focus and think more clearly this way.

Every individual has his unique perception of a well-made plan. There are no specific rules in making it. But in case you're in a tight situation, let me give you some tips.

1. Write down your objective. This is a precise definition of your target.

2. Brainstorm the strategies & tactics you will employ to accomplish your objective.

3. Assess the advantages & disadvantages of carrying out those strategies & choose those tactics where the pros outweigh the cons.

4. Set a timeline or deadline in completing your mission.

5. Make modifications & back-up plans in case Plan A doesn't work.

6. As your plan evolves, you will gain experience. Learn from your mistakes.

Most important of all, don’t delay. Start applying what you have learned today, and have lots of great time!

Tuesday, September 27, 2005

Chaos Theory: Self-hypnosis for Your Own Peace of Mind

Chaos Theory: Self-hypnosis for Your Own Peace of Mind


Your boss ends the day with a stack of papers and instructions that you submit the report in the next 42 hours. Your significant other doesn’t answer your calls. Your mother sends you guilt-tripping messages. Your landlady ignores you when you tell her a part of your ceiling is leaking. You feel a throbbing pain in your temples. Your credit card bills take over even in your dreams.

Easy does it.

Take a deep breath, close your eyes and unravel your thoughts.

Sometimes, taking control over a chaotic life, a stressful situation, a physical ailment or an emotional dilemma starts within you – your mind, your subconscious, specifically.

And communicating with your subconscious - negotiating with your own self - can be achieved through self-hypnosis. How to do it? Here’s a sample basic procedure.

1. Find a venue conducive for relaxation: a quite room, with the temperature comfortable and the lights just right (not too dim, not too bright). Light a candle and incense if you desire.

2. Surround your place with sound pleasant to your ears. Play relaxing music. Bring in a portable fountain. Hang some chimes where the breeze blows. The sound of music is soothing.

3. Find a comfortable position. Surround yourself with pillows, blankets, and the like. A caring, healing sensation eases stress.

4. Tell yourself: “I am light, I am comfortable, I am at ease. All my tensions, worries and anxieties are gone. I am light, I am comfortable, I am at ease.” Repeat many times while breathing deeply.

5. Picture what you want your life to be. Visualize every detail, every situation that you want to happen. Imagine it so as if it is really happening.

6. Repeat no. 4. Breathe in and out, and imagine yourself being surrounded by a bright, luminous light starting from your forehead until it fills the room.

7. Wake up when you’re ready.

Repeat this procedure regularly. This exercise helps you clear your thoughts. It may lead you to self-revelations that would help you assess the situation on how you live your dreams. It may or may not work, your goal may or may not be achieved – the universe has reasons humans may not fathom. The important thing is this: self-hypnosis will help you become a better person – calmer, more attuned to yourself, and more willing to help others. With your tensions and worries away, who knows what you can do!

Monday, September 26, 2005

Use Your Time Wisely!

When I was small, I have never considered the importance of time. I would just laze around, watch TV, lie in bed, and play video games. As I grew older, I thought about the things that I have achieved. To my surprise, I haven't accomplished a lot.

I resolved to myself that I will do things that will contribute to the benefit of mankind. I studied very hard and learned a lot of lessons from my experience. I lack self-confidence before, so I want to help other people overcome this predicament. I want to help anyone in need because it feels so good to solve other people's problems.

I urge you now to make the most use of your time. It may be joining a fundraising organization. You may also learn new skills or crafts. Create a goal and go for it!

Don't be a couch potato. Don't just sit around and be contented with the monotonous patterns of your daily activities.

Do something nice and give all your best to the fulfillment of a worthwhile endeavor. It will give you a very deep sense of happiness and satisfaction.

Some people complain that they don't have enough time to take action on their goals. They have to go to their 9 to 5 job, then when they go home they feel so tired all they can think about is watch TV, relax, and sleep.

I'm not saying that leisure is a no-no. In fact, everyone should take time out once in a while to recharge and revitalize their energy. The key is to have a balanced life. Set aside a fraction of your time to carry out your dreams and ambitions. Reserve some time to establish healthy relationships.

Ok, I hear you. You're saying that you really just can't budget your time?

Don't panic. Here are some time management tips.

1) If possible, do more than one thing at the same time.

Exercise while watching your favorite TV show. Listen to educational tapes while waiting for the bus.

Be forewarned! Never do this if it puts you at risk or in danger; for example, don't text while driving.

2) Don't do something later if it can be done concurrently with an activity at present.

If you're going to the market to buy some eggs, think of the other things that you have to purchase so that you don't have to return again.

If you have an appointment with the dentist today and you also have to go to the bank (which is near the dentist's clinic) at any day, schedule the two activities on the same day.

3) Be organized in everything that you do.

Put labels on bottles. Put similar files on one folder. Make a list of things you have to do for the day.

You can also use your mind to organize things you have to remember. Studies have shown that you could only retain information that fit between 5 to 9 categories at a time. This is the 7+-2 rule of Neurolinguistic Programming.

If you have many things to do, try to group related things together. You can combine activities such as reading books, listening to educational tapes, and watching training videos into a category such as "Education." Then you can group swimming, playing basketball, and paying fees for the gym in a category called "Fitness." Get the picture?

Time is one of our most valuable resources. Once lost, it can never be reclaimed. We must use time wisely for our development and advancement; so that when we are old, we can look back and recollect the pleasant memories and deeds that we have achieved. Time well spent is worth much more than gold.

Sunday, September 25, 2005

How To Use The Past, Future, And Present In Attaining Success

Did you know that your past, present, and future can affect directly or indirectly your outlook in life?

THE PAST

Have you ever done something that is so regrettable you couldn't forgive yourself?Have you ever made a mistake that up to the present time you're still blaming yourself? Are you still torturing yourself with the thought that only if you could've done it differently, you're living a much better life right now?

Good news for you! You don't have to keep this burden in your heart for as long as you live. Release it. Set yourself free.

If you keep bad memories, you're depriving yourself of good mental and emotional health. You're making yourself a prisoner of the past. This will adversely affect your capacity to act at the present moment. You will not be able to think clearly and you will lose your focus if you are still lingering in the shadows of your dark past.

No matter what you do, you couldn't reverse or otherwise change history. So let bygones be bygones. Why worry about something you have no control of?

Let go of the past, but keep the LESSONS. Whatever lesson you've learned will be of utmost importance to the fulfillment of your goals in the future. These lessons are your mentors that may sometimes teach you the hard way; but nevertheless, success comes to those who are willing to take the risk and pay the price for their actions.

And what about the successes you had in the past? How did you feel when you've accomplished something exceptional? It feels great isn't it?

Well then, use these past experiences in your present endeavors to encourage you and to motivate you. These memorable experiences will bring a positive aura of enthusiasm and will remind you that you have the power to achieve anything with the right attitude.

Recall these affirmative memories in everything that you do and you will see amazing results in all your undertakings.

THE FUTURE

Now how can the future influence your success if it hasn't occurred yet? The answer is simple.

Your burning passion to attain your ideal life in the future will become the motivating factor that will prod and push you to take the essential steps at the present moment.

Conceive your future in the most vivid and comprehensive way possible.

For instance, if you want to get rich, then take into consideration:

1) How much money you desire to make, when you intend to get them, and your action plan to have that exact amount by your target date
2) The vision of your lifestyle when you've attained the money; like the people you are in contact with, the activities you are engaging in, the food you are eating, the places you are visiting...Well, you get the picture.

These are the guiding forces that will chart the right path to your intended destination. If you envision yourself as having attained them and focus all your efforts regardless of the impending obstacles ahead, then your inner power will release the right kind of energy that will enable you to do nearly anything in pursuit of your desired end.

THE PRESENT

The present moment is the time to ACT. Ready or not, you must do some action now! Mistakes will be made, but you could always revise them.

Put procrastination aside. One delay or excuse will generate a chain reaction of more postponements and alibis that will never end. Before you knew it, open opportunities have already passed you by.

Never let fear get on your way. Some people are struck by the threats of failures, setbacks, or criticisms. What they don't realize is that majority of successful people had to pass through "the eye of the needle" in order to get where they are now.

Act intelligently. Use your past mistakes as guides to avoid future blunders. Let the vision of your ideal life in the future compel you to carry out your plans and catapult you to reach your deepest desires.

Tuesday, September 20, 2005

What Is Your Motivation To Be Successful?

Although this article was originally intended for people who want to be successful in a home-based business, the main concept can be applied to all areas of our lives. In order to be successful, there should be some sort of motivation that is a driving force in helping you to reach your goal.

Let's start by looking at what motivation means. We separate the word motivation into two parts; m-o-t-i-v and a-t-i-o-n. When we add the letter e to the end of the first part and the letter c to the second space of the second part, we get motive and action. Motivation simply means a motive to take action.

You might want to make more money, improve your lifestyle, or do any number of things that your daydreams are filled with. By looking closely at what you want, you begin to understand the real reason you want it. That becomes your motive, which helps you to be more prepared to take action.

It is better to be motivated by positive emotions rather than negative emotions. If you want to quit your job because you don't like the boss and you hate the long commute, those are negative emotions. However, if you want to quit your job so you can be self-employed and to spend more time at home with your children, those are positive emotions.

Doing something for reasons that have positive emotions is more conducive to your success than doing it for reasons that have negative emotions.

If you want to make more money (and who doesn't?) what is your reason for wanting more money? Do you want it so you can show off with fancy clothes and a new car? Or, do you want it so you can afford those nice things, because you worked hard to achieve your success, and you want to enjoy the fruits of your labor? I hope
you see that the first reason is full of greed and an attitude of being better than others, which are the wrong kinds of emotions. On the other hand, the second reason is better, but it should only be part of the reason for wanting to make more money.

When you have a purpose besides attaining material things as a motive for wanting to make more money, you are getting on the right track. Other motives could include providing a better education for your children, taking care of your aging parents,
establishing a scholarship fund in the name of a loved one, sponsoring underprivileged children at a summer camp, and donating to various charities. These motives have a higher purpose; they go beyond our own selfishness.

By helping others, we get more than we give. It leads us to a higher level of personal fulfillment. It also seems to open up paths to greater success. It is hard to explain, but the idea that a person who helps others will be richly rewarded is
something that really happens.

A good home-based business might be the best chance for the average person to become wealthy. However, many people give up too early and never realize the success they had dreamed of. Sometimes, not reaching a goal is just a lack of solid motives.
Along with believing in yourself and what you are doing, the right motivation is a powerful driving force that can help you to hang in there and keep you moving toward your goal.

About the Author

Gordon Bellows is an economic trend analyst and part-time writer. Poor health was affecting all areas of his life until he found an amazing product that changed his life. He had remarkable results! Visit http://www.YourHealthKey.com to see what it can do for you. It's your key to better health and wellness.

Monday, September 19, 2005

Memory Improvement

A Quick Word Helps to Remember

Do you have a list you have to remember quickly? Take the first letters and form an acronym.

For example – you have to remember to send Fred, Lisa, Ethel and Andrew cards. Yes, their first initials form the word FLEA. Imagine itching (your head?) because you have a flea – you know the first letters of their names.

Going to the supermarket? Bread, butter, ketchup, onions, tuna, olive oil– BBKOTO.
Not too promising? Try rearranging them – you have TB BOOK. Think of a book going through the last act of ‘Camille’ – dying of consumption. Silly? Yes. But remember – the sillier the better, it will force it to stay in your head. Now you have all the letters.

If you don’t have enough letters to form a word – try to find one that comes close.
PROMPT for PRMT, FAULT for FLT and so on. You already know the items you’re have to remember, what you are trying to do is create a reminder – once your memory is jogged, the words will come back.

When you are devising the acronym, remember to picture the items visually in your head, visualization is a strong memory technique.

Forming A Story

If you have a longer list of seemingly unrelated items, that automatically becomes a good candidate for a story.

For example:

-Glass
-Horn
-Cat
-Onion
-Melon

These words may be unrelated, but that is the point – you can combine them easily with a story that will be outrageous enough it will stay in you head – change the order if necessary –

A cat is playing with a melon and all of a sudden it’s repelled by the smell of an onion that was used to season the melon. The cat got all excited and ran away – racing through a glass window and landing inside a big French horn.

It’s silly and childish – but that’s the point, it’s silly enough to be remembered. Think the story through and the key words – cat – melon – onion – glass – horn – come to mind.

Of course, it’s unlikely that you’ll ever have to remember a list of words such as this, but the point is not to be afraid to create the absurd. It works.

Longer Lists

What if you have an extremely long list of items to remember? Try breaking it down into more suitable sub-chains and apply the same rules as above. Better still – see if you can organize the list better, put similar or like items together. Are you able to form acronyms from any of the items? Can you separate the list in such a way that the acronyms form words and then you can combine these words? Remember, the more ridiculous the thought – the stronger the impact and the better it will stay in your memory.

It helps if either the acronyms or the associations you create can form mental images. What you can see in your mind is very strong and the stronger something is, the better you can play with it and the easier it will be to remember. What may be difficult at first will come with practice.

Sketching the Details

Visualization is a very strong skill. Try thinking in pictures and forms. When you have to remember directions – use a series of arrows to lay out the route. If you have to remember the blood flow in the body – wouldn’t it be easy to lay out a diagram of the heart, lungs and other organs and then add arrows to point the direction? Wouldn’t that be easier to remember than a simple word description? Associate a certain shape with a certain organ and then it becomes even more vivid.

Relate the Facts

If a piece of information doesn’t relate to you, then try finding something about it that does. For example, the human body has 60,000 miles of blood vessels. Kind of hard to believe? Think that that means ten round-trip drives between Los Angeles and New York and it will take on meaning.

Do you have to remember the physical dimensions for a room or a field? Compare it to something you know already. If you’re a sports fan, chances are you can picture the size of the playing field. How does that compare to the space you are trying to remember – bigger smaller, would it fit into a football field – how many times?

For more free techniques send a blank e-mail to mailto:memorize@getresponse.com


About the Author
David is the editor of Memory Improvement Techniques.
Visit him at http://www.memory-improvement-techniques.com for Free Memory Improvement Techniques

Sunday, September 18, 2005

Self improvement: Turn Down the Rheostat.

I woke up one morning with a terrible sore throat that got worse as the day went on, instead of better, as I had hoped. By the time I realized it was a true case of laryngitis, and all I could do was croak, it was too late to cancel the Cub Scouts who were due at my house right after school. I wondered how I would manage when I could only whisper, and then I discovered the miracle. Those squirming, busy, full-of-energy exuberant 8-year-olds hung on every word I said when it was whispered.

Instead of having the usual management problems I did when I raised my voice with commands or laments, things went very smoothly. My voice must’ve sounded very soothing to them. Also they had to quiet down in order to hear me. After all, they didn’t want to miss their brownies and milk!

It was a real lesson to me that my loud voice and strident tones were the cause of more friction than I was aware of.

I also noticed at work when I had a cold and my ears were stopped up that I had a better disposition. The loud and strident tones of others weren’t affecting me the way they usually did. The buzzing and clanking of machines, the shouts of others, the ringing phones all were muffled and seemed far away. I didn’t notice every little thing that went on and it was easier to concentrate. Not that I’d want stopped-up ears all the time, but what a gift upon occasion. It made for a much quieter world, and this affected my disposition.

If you’re highly sensitive and experience internal as well as external stress, or if you’re experiencing a lot of external stress, you need to slow it down and, as they say, “stop the madness”.

Put up a Plexiglas shield between you and the stimuli from the outer world. Don’t hear as much, and don’t talk as loudly yourself. In fact cut down on the amount of talking you do, as well. Calm things down and you’ll calm yourself down. Manage the external stimulation that’s coming your way, and you’ll feel less stressed.

I was reminded of this when reading an email from someone on one of the lists I belong to. She was talking about how her perfectionism got in the way of her housecleaning, and that when she started getting that way, she took off her eye glasses to do her cleaning and then everything was fine.

It’s sometimes a relief to hear and see less, yes? And you can also apply this to forgiveness, and what you remember. I have a friend who’s well into her 80’s whose memory is a bit less than it used to be, she tells me. She tells me, “I’m a much nicer person now than I used to be. I no longer remember every single thing someone tells me, every slight, every negative comment. I’m much more forgiving.” I think she has a point.

One of the less mentioned benefits of developing your emotional intelligence is that eventually you can modulate your emotions. They don’t “come in” as strongly. You don’t experience them as strongly. Therefore they’re easier to manage, like the cub scouts no longer agitated by my loud tones who were therefore better behaved.

You can also benefit by learning to turn down, your negative self-talk. These are the things you’re always telling yourself in your head that you may or may not be aware of, which actually make things worse. These are the things that pop out of your mouth when you miss an appointment, for instance, like, “Why am I so stupid?” or “Can’t I ever get it right?” Pay attention to how you talk to yourself. Make it positive and self-soothing. The other doesn’t work. Get off your back and on your side!

Slow it all down. When you immediately react to what someone says is when you are most likely to say something that will either agitate the situation, harm you or the other, or that you’ll regret having said later.

This is when we speak like the knee jerk reaction when the doctor taps our knee with that rubber thing – as if it were automatic, and we had no control over the words that come out of our mouths, or the gestures and expressions we use, which can be equally damaging. If someone has rolled their eyes at you in disgust when you’ve made a suggestion or asked a pertinent question, you know what I mean.

This is when we get that flash anger and say, “That’s it. I quit,” or “Pack your bags and get out.” The take-home point is to ‘get’ that you’ve been insulted or what not, but not to take it so “hard” that you can’t deal with it in a way that’s constructive and that won’t sabotage you.

Work with an emotional intelligence coach and learn how to slow down your reactions to things. It will give you time to think them through and this will almost always bring better results.

And try the thing about whispering next time you’re with a young child. It works beautifully. In fact they’re kind of fascinated by the whole thing. Which is to say, as we say in coaching, “try one thing different.”


About the Author.

©Susan Dunn, MA,
The EQ Coach, http://www.susandunn.cc.

Coaching, Internet courses and ebooks around emotional intelligence, career, transitions, resilience, relationships, professional development. Mailto:sdunn@susandunn.cc for free ezine. Want to be a certified EQ coaches? Email me about the EQ Alive! Program. Start tomorrow. No residency requirement.

Saturday, September 17, 2005

How to make "Self-Improvement" Work Every Time!

There is an inherent problem with the approach most people take to self-improvement of any kind. There is a presupposition that there is something wrong that needs fixing. Perhaps it is true that there are areas in their lives that they wish to change. However, the mindset with which they approach transformation will very often NEGATE any positive results they might have. Why? Because all of their focus is on the PROBLEM they are trying to solve, rather than their vision for what their life will be like on without the alleged problem.

There is a very basic physical natural law which ultimately determines ANY success on ANY level. This law dictates exactly what our experience will be from moment to moment. Best of all, this law is fully under our control at all times, even if we are not aware of it.

This "law" is the Law of Attraction. Most of the time, you hear about this law in terms of how it will help you to attract wealth or abundance in general. However, the Law of Attraction transcends just those basic desires. The Law of Attraction dictates that you will receive back exactly what you "vibrate"...that is, what you are FEELING. Where is your attention? Is it on the feelings associated with the
problem, or with the feelings of no longer having the problem?

If you approach self-improvement material with the desire to "get rid of the problem", and if all your feelings are on how terrible or frustrating this "problem" is, Universal Law dictates that you will simply attract MORE of those feelings.. more of the circumstances that brought the problem to you in the first place. The Universe isn’t "out to get you". It is simply responding to the "request" that you are putting out by way of your feelings.

If, however, you approach your self-improvement solutions with high positive feelings associated with what your life WILL be...if you visualize your success with your program of choice on all sensory levels, particularly on the level of EMOTION, you will literally magnetically ATTRACT the success you are looking for! Miracles will occur!

While this may sound very "mystic" or even preposterous, I submit to you that EVERY aspect of your life right now has been brought to you in perfect response to your prevailing thoughts and beliefs which directly effect your emotional state, which in turn causes you to emit very specific and magnetic frequencies which attract like frequencies.

We must never forget that beyond simply being flesh and bone, we are, at a molecular level, ENERGY. And our personal energy obeys the same physical laws as all other Energy which we study more traditionally.

The wealthiest, most successful people in the world use the Law of Attraction (albeit often unconsciously) to effortlessly bring into their lives whatever they envision. This could be wealth, successful businesses, or satisfying relationships. Or, it could simply be wisdom, peace of mind, and a sense of purpose.

The big secret is that you truly CAN have whatever you want, regardless of how "pie-in-the-sky" this may sound. You need only learn a few key concepts about HOW to ask for what you want to begin receiving it in abundance! Despite what you may currently believe or have been taught, it is not the purpose of our lives to struggle, to work hard for years, or try to "figure things out". Our job is to do what we love to do. When we do that with full trust and knowing that doing so will naturally attract our deepest desires, we become powerful magnets, which absolutely assures our success.

All the best,
Bob Doyle
www.wealthbeyondreason.net

Friday, September 16, 2005

A Kernel of Truth about Relationships: 5 steps to improvement

“It’s all about relationships!” proclaimed my father during our recent holiday visit with my parents. Santa Claus coffee cup in one hand and a wagging finger toward my wife, Elizabeth, with the other. “When you retire, that’s what you realize is most important in life” (okay, so that’s not him in the photo).

Dad recently retired from 30+ years as an orthopedic surgeon and the major shift in lifestyle seems to have brought about a significant shift in his outlook on life. For me, his statement about relationships became much broader and more profound than I thought such a simple and reasonable statement could ever become.

At first look, it makes sense that relationships are vital to our lives. Whether it is friendship, dating, marriage, family or community, relationships with others are a part of our everyday life. They give us belonging, meaning, companionship, intimacy and love. But, pulling back from this view and taking a broad gander at the subject I realized that relationships are more than just meaningful interactions with people. When we “relate” or interact with something we are, in fact, in relationship with it. For instance, our relationship with work, our relationship with ourselves, our relationship with our health and our relationship with our spirituality. By defining relationships from this broader perspective, our relationship list becomes almost endless.

You see, when we look at our relationships, we look at our interaction with every part of our lives; people, places, things, and events. So, what is our relationship to our work, ourselves, our environment, our health, our spirituality? How do we relate to these things? Or, better yet, if it is “all about relationships” how are our most important relationships?

Coming from the psychotherapy world, I often helped couples, families and individuals improve personal relationships by working through a series of 5 questions. Once I broadened my definition of relationships, I found that these questions are applicable to all types of relationships. The questions go something like this:

1. What relationships do you value most?

Be clear about what you value and which relationships are truly priorities to you.

2. Why do you value them?

Understanding the value these relationships have for you underscores the importance of the relationship and clarifies why a relationship “feels” important.

3. How do you nourish each relationship?

Now that you’ve identified how and why a relationship is important, you must define what it is that you do to keep that relationship alive and growing.

4. How do you maintain your commitment through the tough times?

Are the divorce stats really any different from the number of other relationships that end in our own lives (i.e., dropping the diet, “forgetting” exercise, leaving job after job, putting personal goals and dreams on hold, getting around to the God/spiritual thing when you have more time, etc)? These relationships may not necessarily be a marriage but like a marriage these relationships have their challenging times. Similar to a marital relationship, we must work through the difficult times in our other relationships rather than set them aside until a better time or just plain hope the struggles go away. This is often the point at which my coaching clients seek my assistance.

You will inevitably find that nurturing these relationships is often like a juggling act. Though, once we identify the key relationships in our lives and begin relating with them rather than leaving them on our “To Do” list, we will soon find that balance in life is an attainable goal and that, in fact, life truly is all about relationships.

About The Author

Robert A. Eubanks, Ph.D. is a personal coach whose mission is to help others balance their lives, achieve personal goals and begin living their passions. For a complimentary coaching session or more information about coaching, go to www.bridgetosolutions.com or call 561-385-9184. Email: bridgetosolutions@yahoo.com

Thursday, September 15, 2005

Our Worst Enemy.

Who do you consider as your worst enemy? The criminals roaming the dark streets? Your boss who's killing you mentally and emotionally with stress and harsh words? The people in office who are engaging in graft and corruption, instead of helping those in need?

We have many implications of who our enemies are; but we have one common foe who is the main cause of our failures and misfortunes, and we're not even aware of this opponent.

You may not want to admit it, but our worst enemy is ourselves.

Who do you blame when something goes wrong? You blame the people around you, the weather, maybe even God. But we are the ones who are in control of ourselves. We can change the outcome of our lives because we have the capacity to do that.

It is our fear, jealousy, greed, etc. that is ruining our lives. Some people who never managed to get out of poverty blame the government or their jobs. But they're too afraid to try out new ventures that may improve their lives. They half-heartedly go to work on their 9 to 5 job. Then when the day is done, they watch TV and go out aimlessly having fun without seriously thinking of what great opportunity the future has in store for them, if only they would try to do something different with their lives.

Fear has caused many to remain frigid and to never go out exploring the wonderful things this world has to offer. Lots of people would rather stay where they are in an unsatisfied state than to risk difficulties and obstacles for the sake of attaining their dreams.

If their lives are not getting any better, they have no else to blame but themselves.

Jealousy and envy has also caused some relationship problems. Some people immediately jump to conclusions without first analyzing the situation. They let their sudden emotions control their behaviors without even thinking of the consequences that may result.

If they're having problems with their relationships, they have no else to blame but themselves.

This goes to show that we decide what will happen to us. Of course, there are circumstances that are beyond our control, like natural calamities. But we can still utilize to our best advantage the things that we have control of.

For instance, you got rejected by your dream girl. Some people would just get drunk and feel miserable, thinking that it's the end of the world. Some will move onwards with their lives and find the best in what remains with them. See? It's really up to you. You decide if you want to have a good life or not.

You failed in your exams? So what? There's another opportunity. You can just sulk in sorrow or you can study harder to get a high score in the future. It's up to you.

There's no use crying over spilled milk. You don't have to get frustrated over your misfortunes. Concentrate on how you could get better in the future.

If we encounter problems, we can either succumb to it, or we can treat it as an opportunity to become stronger and to become better individuals. Winners would always treat their dilemmas as opportunities.

Oh yes. We can be our worst enemy, but we can also be our best friend. It's all up to you!

Wednesday, September 14, 2005

Wiping Out Obstacles to Goal Achievement.

Life is an obstacle course. It is normal to encounter obstacles in the pursuit of a goal. Actually, it is expected to pop up once in a while, causing delays or revisions to one’s plans.

However, when obstacles start to become a nuisance to the point of almost putting a stop to one’s goal; or worse, making one completely abandon his/her goal, a think over becomes a necessity.

Here are some helpful, tested pointers to keep one’s attention focused in achieving a goal:

1. First and foremost: “ Think positive.” This means: “Do not quit.” Especially when one is midway in working for a goal, there should be no room for quitting. To quit is tantamount to going back to the starting line of goal accomplishment. That is time, energy, money, and a whole lot of things wasted and lost. It is more costly to quit than to find a solution to the problem, not to mention the frustration one feels.

2. Keep a clear, open, and tense-free mind, ready to receive new ideas. Focus and concentrate. Think on a wide scale manner, open for options (even unconventional ones) to eliminate the obstacle.

3. Persist and persevere. Exhaust every possibility even to the point of trial and error (if doubtful), just to test a solution to correct the problem.

4. Simulate. Try to picture in the mind a possible solution to solve the obstacle.

5. Get assistance from other people who may be more knowledgeable on the work being done. They may be able to help. Their suggestions might not necessarily be the right or exact ones, but they may trigger new ideas in finding the right solution.

Consider this scenario: Let’s say you thought of a new product and you are confident this product will be sellable once it hits the market. You tell a friend about it, but your friend says otherwise that it will be a flop. Your friend tells you why it will be a flop and his/her reason is: “if the product will be a success, how come nobody’s doing it?” So you decide to forget about your new product because of your friend’s comment. This scene is repeated many times all over the world.

The lesson: Be firm in your belief. Follow your heart’s desire.

Tuesday, September 13, 2005

Valuable Tips to Save More Money

Many people earn wages just enough to supply their basic necessities. But if you truly want to be financially secured, you have to acquire more money than what you’re spending – money that you can invest in a business or in other ventures that can propel you to financial freedom. To be able to do this, you have to start saving early in life.

Here are some pointers regarding saving money:

1. Set a minimum amount to be saved. Savings are not meant to cover bill payments should one fall short of cash. They are intended for financial security. A little savings, in time, will become big; and it can be used as investment capital to earn more. Question: “Where will I get the cash I need should I fall short of it?” The answer: “Find other means of earning extra income, say a weekend part-time job. Any excess cash from one’s part-time job can be added to your savings.

2. Shop only for items needed, not for products that you wanted to buy on impulse. Think first before you purchase. Don’t fall prey to bargains not needed. It is not suggested that one should starve or be in a pitiful state. As a matter of fact, one can reward himself/herself once in a while for accomplishments made.

3. Review one’s lifestyle. Change or scale down habits that seem to be not-so-wise spending. For instance, frequent eating in restaurants which is more expensive than homemade cooking can be lessened. Taking the bus or train when possible, instead of driving one’s own car, can save on gas and parking fees. If one have to drive his/her car, try car pooling with officemates or neighbors; thereby sharing on expenses.

4. Check your regular monthly bills on utilities like electricity, gas, water, telephone and ask oneself: “Where can I save?”

It may take a while to get adjusted to a lifestyle in the “savings” mode, even to the point of “little sacrifices.” Adapt a gradual, progressive change to save to lessen the impact of adjustment from the lifestyle one used to be accustomed to.

There are more ways of starting the path to a financially secured life by making use of one’s creativity.

Remember, little things mean a lot.

Monday, September 12, 2005

Helpful Tips to Overcome Procrastination.

Many among us, on many instances, have the habit of putting aside to a later time or day some things that needs to be done or acted upon like a project, work, job, or duty. For purposes of discussion, we will confine ourselves to procrastination on repair works typically at home. It equates to other circumstances as well.

Procrastination is one habit that is hard to beat. We procrastinate for various reasons:

1. When we think that the work that needs to be done can afford to wait or be delayed.

2. When we are busy with something else we think is more important.

3. When we do not like the work involved or when it is difficult to do.

4. When we are not sure if the work that needs to be done will be effective.

5. When the things needed in the work are not yet available or incomplete.

6. When we forget about it.

And many other reasons like laziness or a combination of the above.

Hard to beat as it is, we stand to gain more and virtually lose nothing if we overturn this habit.

Check out these helpful tips:

1. When we think that a work can afford to be delayed, it can also afford not to be delayed. By having the work done without further delay, we feel a sigh of relief making the load of work on our back lesser or lighter, which eventually makes us feel better.

2. After being busy with something more important and you have time to spare, this spare time can be used to attend to the things on the pending list.

3. Delaying work that is difficult makes the work even more difficult. A leak on the roof may not be harmful if it doesn't rain; but once it rains, water goes into the house resulting in wet floors and carpets and eventually, the extent of damage could be more than can be imagined.

4. When we are not sure if work that needs to be done will be effective, we must seek advice from people who are more knowledgeable on this field. Procrastinating won't help.

5. Delayed work due to incomplete materials will remain delayed unless we fill in the incomplete items. Again, procrastinating
won't help.

6. Make a list of all pending work in the house and post it on the refrigerator door to constantly remind us about them.

Bottom line is:

We may feel lazy at times and tend to delay some work that needs our attention. It's understandable that 'starting' to get a job done is the most difficult part, but once you have started, half of the job is already done and the second half will be easy.

Every time you feel like procrastinating, picture yourself as the job that needs to be done - like a prisoner wherein justice being delayed results to justice being denied.

Sunday, September 11, 2005

Essential Conditions to a Sharp Memory.

Do you constantly misplace significant things such as your car keys? Do you often forget important dates like birthdays and anniversaries, thereby negatively affecting your relationships with loved ones? If so, don’t panic.

Many people are experiencing memory problems, regardless of age, sex, or stature. So don’t think only aging people can experience forgetfulness, because everyone can encounter memory loss from time to time.

If you want to have a sharper memory, you will find these conditions indispensable:

1) You must be able to focus well and be attentive. If you get distracted easily by things around you, then it will take you longer to memorize and remember things. Try to find a quiet room and concentrate on what you are reading, learning, or observing.

2) You must be interested in what you want to remember or memorize. Let’s say you love to study Psychology more than any other subjects in the world. Do you think you would remember your lessons in Psychology more than your studies in Math, Literature, and other subjects? You bet. By becoming more interested in the subject matter, you are also giving more attention to it; thereby this increases your chances of retrieving it from your memory anytime you wish.

3) You must have the imagination of a child. Be creative. Many memory techniques require the practitioner to think of the most outrageous and exaggerated images/pictures in order to remember certain facts or information. The funnier and more out-of-this-world the images, the better chances you will retain data in your mind.

4) You must have a healthy lifestyle. Eat less fat and consume more foods rich in vitamins and minerals (especially beta-carotene), drink plenty of water, get enough sleep, engage in cardiovascular exercises, relax and be happy always. By doing these, your mind will benefit as much as your body.

Saturday, September 10, 2005

How To Criticize And Still Be Nice

Have you ever encountered an experience when someone told you how fat you've become? Maybe your boss have commented on how bad your work turned out to be. Maybe you've heard from other folks how people view you as cold and unapproachable.

Hurts, doesn't it?

Believe it or not, some people can be so tactless that they are not even aware when they've hurt anyone's feelings. The receiving parties, especially the sensitive ones, would be offended by their remarks. This would result in conflicts and arguments.

You know you're doing them a big favor by saving them from shame or disappointment, but would they realize your good intentions instead of feeling hurt by your brutally frank comments or advices?

They might probably think you're too rude or impolite. But what can you do if you really need to assert an honest criticism, but you're afraid of hurting others' feelings?

Want to know the secret?

All you have to do is sandwich your negative comment between two positive remarks.

For example, your best friend Paul is going on his very first date. He's all excited and raring to go. Now Paul doesn't have any fashion sense. He's wearing a bland shirt and old jeans. You know all along how he hates to admit that he's wrong. So what will you do to save Paul from an embarrassing first date?

Would you say to him that the outfit he's wearing is repulsive? That would hurt his ego.

Well, you can first point out the things that you like in his overall appearance. Comment on his well-groomed hair. Tell him he looks cool when wearing his sunglasses. Ask him where he bought his perfume because it can certainly attract women like bees to honey. Be sincere and honest.

Then, insert in a nice and suave manner your point of view and advice. You can tell him something like:

"Your shirt seems to be very comfortable to wear, Paul. Since this is your very first date, I think Sandra (his date) will be much more impressed if you would wear something like the outfit that you wore on my birthday. You look smashing when you put on clothes like that."

Afterwards, make another positive statement. You could say something like:

"You would definitely make a big impact on Sandra. She would fall heads over heels over your gorgeous appearance and cheerful personality. Have a great time on your date, Paul."

Do you think Paul would be offended by such pleasant comments? Not a chance. You have wittingly inserted a slightly negative feedback into a plethora of acceptable and ego-boosting remarks.

People love compliments. They believe they got the qualities. They want other people to intensify the great abilities that they believe to possess. People wanted to hear their greatness purported from someone else's mouth, and they would be very glad if other individuals would know about it.

So if you want to criticize anybody, remember to praise him first. It will leave a positive impression that you're a nice guy. Then say what you have to say, but in a smooth and non-offensive manner. Finalize with another positive reinforcement to establish a foundation of goodwill.

Friday, September 09, 2005

Surefire Ways to Attain Moneymaking Success.

You have probably heard other people say that "Money isn't everything" or "Money can't buy happiness." They may be right in some aspects; but it's not just about the money.

It's about having an ideal lifestyle - being able to have control over your time and schedule, having no one ordering you around, not having to look at the price tags every time you go out shopping, and just enjoying the freedom that you truly deserve.

But why do many people fail to achieve financial freedom? Through experience, I have observed that they have limited belief.

That's the problem with most people. They have set up a boundary in their minds. This barrier stops any possibility of surpassing the current limits of their belief.

For example, many people would think that their boring day job is all that they're good enough for. They do not like to think outside the box. They do not grab opportunities that are theirs for the taking. Fears and doubts have been causing them to miss these golden chances of a lifetime.

There are plenty of opportunities out there. They may enroll in night classes, do some research on how to make more money, or start an internet business.

When I was just starting my online endeavors, all my friends and relatives (with the exception of my internet marketing friends, of course) would discourage me in entering this venture. They would repeatedly inform me that I'm wasting my time and nothing good would come out of it.

Had I listened to them, I would not have achieved online success. If they have succeeded in implanting their own restricted beliefs into my mind, I never would have tasted the joy of being an infopreneur.

No offense to them. I respect their decisions. Everyone has the right to voice out their opinions, but no one has the right to force others in accepting their belief. Thank goodness my internet marketing pals have encouraged and supported me all the way.

Believe that you have the capacity and power to attain moneymaking success, and you're halfway there.

Plan everything. Make a list of things that would allow you to save money. Cut back on using your credit card, pay your bills on time, make wise investment decisions, and try your best to start in some sort of business (no matter how small).

More importantly, action should be taken. It's not enough to just believe. You have to make a move. Does making mistakes frighten you? Don't be. The more mistakes you make, the closer you will get to success.

Sacrifice. Instead of watching TV or going shopping, invest more time on those activities that would propel you in reaching your financial goals.

Many people would repeatedly complain that they're sick and tired of their lives, but do they really deserve a better life? The harder you work, the more chances that success will hit you.

Never, ever give up. Quitting is not an option. You must keep on pounding and pounding until you have achieved your mission.

Money may not be everything, but living your life the way you want it to be is.

Thursday, September 08, 2005

Live Your Life to the Fullest.

Do you sometimes feel that you're living a boring life? You just can't seem to find anything exciting.

You wake up in the morning, then do the same old rituals. You go to the office or to school. You meet the same people, do the same job, travel the same road, booooring. Next day, same story.

Do you want a change in your life? The solution is YOU! You're the master of your destiny. You decide if you want to have a change or not.

Take the situation of a high school graduate. He has 2 choices - to continue through college or earn money working as a clerk.

He's intimidated by the difficulties of studying, thesis, etc. He doesn't think he will pass the exams because he thinks he's below average. He doesn't like to take the risk of failing college and earning no money at present.

So he works as a clerk earning meager income. He's happy because he's earning money at such a young age while his friends are having a hard time.

But then his friends graduated and got high-paying jobs. He envies them. If only he have sacrificed a few years and faced all the challenges of college, then he could've had a better life. If only he had taken the risk!

There are also some people who want to improve their lives, but they're just too afraid to come out of their comfort zones and explore the endless opportunities out there.

Yes, there may be challenges and problems; but if you try your best to move forward, you'll get more out of life.

Explore and diversify. Take a different route to work, eat exotic foods you've never tasted, do something outrageous (not dangerous).

Life could be exciting. It's your choice. Are you satisfied with your life right now? If not, then you need to do the things that you think will make your life complete and meaningful.

You've got only one life to live. Maximize every opportunity. Go out and do those things which will leave lasting memories in your mind. Live every day as if it's your last.

Seize every moment!

Wednesday, September 07, 2005

The Art of Adapting to Change.

One of the main reasons that may hinder us from reaching our innermost goals and desires is our inability to be flexible.

This fact may be hard to swallow, but it's true. We do everything we can to eliminate any type of suffering in our lives, yet challenges and pressures can bring out the best in us.

If you have been burdened by mistakes in the past, learn from them, forget about them, and move on. Some people tend to focus on how bad their lives have been due to these mistakes. As a result, they remained stuck in their miserable lives.

Treat your mistakes as lessons, and apply them as learning references in your future endeavors.

So what if you invested in a business and you lose a ton of money? In this situation, some people would remain deeply discouraged for a long time that their personal lives are being affected negatively. They can't eat well and they just stare at the ceiling all night long, thinking how this bad incident happened. Furthermore, they would probably vow not to venture into new opportunities again.

You don't have to be like them. If you're afraid to fail, then you risk all your chances to achieve your goals in life. Try again; but this time, be more careful and use your past mistakes as guide maps.

Look at it this way. If you try, at least you get a 50% chance of getting what you want. But if you did not try at all, you have absolutely no chance of attaining your desires in life. It's a no-brainer.

But when you try, make sure you follow through. I've met so many people who have accepted my proposal to write reports for me, but most of them would stop right in the middle of their work and quit. They have the drive to start, but they lack the motivation to go through all the difficulties. Yes, this is another fact of life. Those who persist may have some hell of a time at present, but they shall have the last laugh.

Let's fast forward into the future. Let's say you did try, you followed through, and you succeeded. Congratulations. So you became wealthy by reaping the fruits of your labor. This does not mean you'll stay in that situation for good. Problems may rise again, so always be ready to adjust to the current situation. The only thing permanent in this world is change.

If you need to sacrifice something for a better cause, then do it. If you have to miss your favorite show on TV or if you have to deny your friends' invitation to go out on a Saturday night so that you can devote more time to those activities that will lead you closer to your goals, so be it.

You may encounter difficulties. You may receive criticisms. You may even be regarded as being "different" or "strange" by other people. Don't let them discourage you. Just keep on striving, and success will be yours for the taking.

Tuesday, September 06, 2005

Four Powerful Ways To Fire Up Your Motivation

It's so difficult to go on when everything seems to fail, isn't it? Are there times in your life when you really want to call it "quits" because you just can't see any good results from all the hard work you've done?

Hold your horses!

Never ever think of giving up. Winners never quit and quitters never win. Take all negative words out of your mental dictionary and focus on the solutions with utmost conviction and patience. The battle is never lost until you've abandon your vision.

But what if you're really exhausted physically, mentally, and most of all emotionally? Here are some sources of motivation to prompt you in reaching the peak of accomplishment.

1) The Overwhelming Feeling of Attaining your Desired End

How would you feel after accomplishing your mission? Of course you will feel ecstatic. You might be shedding tears of joy. Let this tremendous feeling sink in and encourage you to persist despite all odds.

When I was studying for the Board Exams, I used this technique to motivate me. I would envision the sweetness of folks calling me a CPA. It would command respect. People will look up to me as a higher level of authority. And I would have better chances of finding a good job. I absorbed all these great perceptions into my inner being in order to achieve my ultimate goal.

2) The Reward System

How would you feel if you've entered a contest, but there are no prizes for the winners? It's not very encouraging, isn't it?

The same principles apply to your vision. Reward yourself after accomplishing a goal. Set a particular incentive for every objective.

Let's say if you've achieved a particular task, you'll treat yourself to your favorite restaurant. When you've finished a bigger task, you'll go on a vacation.

Got the idea?

Just set something gratifying to indulge in after completing a certain undertaking.

3) The Powerful Force of Humanity

If you want to succeed, surround yourself with the right kind of people who will support and encourage you all the way.

Be with people who have the same beliefs and aspirations as yours. Positive aura is generated by this fusion of collective energy from people of "like minds."

On the contrary, being with people who oppose your ways of thinking may trigger a negative, yet very powerful, kind of motivation.

Has anyone ever said to you that "You'll never get anywhere" or "You're wasting your time with what you're doing?"

Didn't it made you furious and determined enough to prove to them how wrong they were? This is what I'm talking about.

When aggravated, you will do anything to make those who are against you swallow their words. But of course, your main focus should be on the accomplishment of your goal and not for the purpose of revenge. Never let your emotions toward others alter your main objective.

4) Take Care Of Your Health

Exercise regularly. Fill your brains with enough oxygen to allow you to do your daily tasks with more vigor and energy.

Take regular breaks if time allows. Having the will power to continue despite all hardships is extremely important, but you should still know your limits.

If you don't take enough rest, you will not be able to think clearly and you will not be able to do your tasks properly. In the process, you will just get more frustrated.

Take sufficient sleep and recharge yourself after a hard day's work. Never, ever ignore your health. I've learned my lesson when I sacrificed my health for the sake of success. I've worked very long hours everyday and just got minimal sleep. As a result, I became ill.

It's not worth it. Success won't matter if you don't have good health to enjoy it.

Fire up your motivation and live life to the fullest!

Monday, September 05, 2005

The Hidden Superpowers Of Your Mind.

The mind is an infinite wonder. It has the fantastic ability to transmute your desires into their physical counterparts. You can do anything that your mind can conceive, as long as you have the belief and will power to back it up.

Take the case of cancer patients who were given placebo pills.
These are just plain pills that have no healing capabilities. So how did they get well?

The power came from their thoughts. They were told that these pills contain the highest amounts of cancer-fighting ingredients which can effectively cure them in a matter of days.

See how powerful your mind is?

They believed that their health will be restored. They have registered in their minds that these pills will cure them of their illnesses. In the process, the belief embedded within their subconscious came to reality.

So how can you use your mind to achieve your dreams? One of the
most effective ways is to use the "as if" principle.

Act as if you are the person you want to be. Act as if you are already in possession of whatever you long to have.

So what do you want to be? You want to be a lawyer, doctor, athlete, or newscaster? Think, act, and feel like one. You'll be much closer to your goal if you're constantly intact with your objective. Be obsessed with your dream. It doesn't mean that if you want to be Superman you'll fly out the window. Not a good idea!

It's not enough that you act like one, but you have to actually ACT. Do what needs to be done. You might get so lost in your fantasy dream world that you've forgotten to take some action. Let your visions encourage and motivate you to actualize your purpose.

The problem with the people of the modern world is that they are too preoccupied with worries, anxieties, and negative emotions. As a result, they are adversely affecting their state of health.

White lies have become prevalent nowadays in order to ease the burdens or to persuade others to do things that they thought are unattainable.

There was once a weightlifter who couldn't lift weights in excess of 300 lbs. So his coach devised a clever idea and told him that the barbell he has to carry weighs only 300 lbs. With all his might, the weightlifter managed to put it above his head. After he puts it down, the coach told him that he has just lifted 350 lbs. of weight! It's all in the mind!

A famous person once said, "Whenever you think you can or you can't, you're right."

If you think you are poor, then you are; unless you properly condition your thoughts to the positive mindset. I know it's hard to think rich if your environment is not conducive to such way of thinking. Use your imagination then! Visualize your house to be a mansion, your old car to be a limousine,... Well you get the picture.

There is absolutely no limit with what the mind can achieve. But you have to combine belief, will power, and action with positive thinking in order to arrive at your intended destination.

Sunday, September 04, 2005

7 Destructive Habits of Incompetent People.

WARNING! If you want to have a fantastic life, never engage yourself in these 7 deadly habits that incompetent people do.

NUMBER 1 - They Think, Say, & Do Negative Things.

Yup. They see problems in every opportunity.

They complain that the sun is too hot. They cursed the rain for ruining their plans for the day. They blame the wind for ruining their hair.

They think that everyone is against them. They see the problems but never the solutions.

Every little bit of difficulty is exaggerated to the point of tragedy. They regard failures as catastrophes. They become discouraged easily instead of learning from their mistakes.

They never seem to move forward because they're always afraid to come out of their comfort zones.

NUMBER 2 - They Act Before They Think.

They move based on instinct or impulse. If they see something they like, they buy at once without any second thought.

Then they see something better. They regret & curse for not able to take advantage of the bargain.

Then they spend & spend again until nothing's left. They don't think about the future. What they're after is the pleasure they will experience at present.

They don't think about the consequences. Those who engage in unsafe sex, criminality, and the like are included in this group.

NUMBER 3 - They Talk Much More Than They Listen

They want to be the star of the show. So they always engage in talks that would make them heroes, even to the point of lying.

Oftentimes they are not aware that what they're saying is not sensible anymore.

When other people advise them, they close their ears because they're too proud to admit their mistakes.

In their mind they're always correct. They reject suggestions because that will make them feel inferior.

NUMBER 4 - They Give Up Easily

Successful people treat failures as stepping stones to success.

Incompetent ones call it quits upon recognizing the first signs of failure.

At first, they may be excited to start an endeavor. But then they lose interest fairly quickly, especially when they encounter errors.

Then they go & search for a new one. Same story & same results.
Incompetent people don't have the persistence to go on and fulfill their dreams.

NUMBER 5 - They Try to Bring Others Down To Their Level

Incompetent people envy other successful individuals. Instead of working hard to be like them, these incompetent ones spread rumors and try every dirty trick to bring them down.

They could've asked these successful ones nicely. But no, they're too proud. They don't want to ask advise. Moreover, they're too negative to accomplish anything.

NUMBER 6 - They Waste Their Time

They don't know what to do next. They may just be contented on eating, getting drunk, watching TV, or worse, staring at the blank wall with no thoughts whatsoever to improve their lives.

It's perfectly fine to enjoy once in a while. But time should be managed efficiently in order to succeed. There should be a proper balance between work & pleasure.

NUMBER 7 - They Take the Easy Way Out

If there are two roads to choose from, incompetent people would choose the wider road with less rewards than the narrower road with much better rewards at the end.

They don't want any suffering or hardship. They want a good life.

What these people don't know is that what you reap is what you sow. Efforts & action will not go unnoticed.

If only they would be willing to sacrifice a little, they would be much better off.

Successful people made it through trials & error. They never give up. They are willing to do everything necessary to achieve what they aspire for in life.

Saturday, September 03, 2005

Bad Luck ... Or Blessing In Disguise?

There was a woman who was in such a hurry to go to the airport. She told the cab driver to step on it. She was so engrossed with her own thoughts that she was not aware they were going on a different route.

Suddenly, a man went inside the cab and took her handbag where she placed her visa, passport, and all her money for the trip.

The driver, who was in cahoots with the robber, left her in the middle of that dark street. She cursed the world for being so mean to her, and she kept on thinking how unlucky she was to be in that situation.

That very same night, she heard a shocking news. Tears flowed down her face. Flight 230 has crashed! It was the plane where she was supposed to board into. If she have not lost her precious belongings, she could have lost something far more important - her life!

Sometimes bad things really happen. We lost our money, failed our exams, or get rejected by others. There are times when nothing seems to go our way.

So what do we do about it? Are we going to be disappointed? The answer is a resounding "No!" We must take all these frustrations out of our chest and start all over again with the consistent faith that we will get what we deserved.

So what if you failed the exams? Maybe you'd be more successful and much happier in another field. You were rejected by your boyfriend/ girlfriend? There are plenty of others out there who are much better and who are much more deserving of your love and affection.

Don't waste your time and energy on things that can't be changed. Continuous worrying will only affect your health on the long run, and you'd be doing much more damage than what was previously done.

Set yourself free. Move onwards with the conviction of a winner.

What if we turn the tables around? What if you never ran out of good luck?

There was this man who won the lottery. He thought he was the luckiest person in the world. He became greedy and wasted all his money on everything he could get his hands on.

One day, he made it on the front page of the newspaper again. But this time, it was a different story. He was killed because of his riches.

If you attain good luck, never be too secure about it either. Pray for protection and guidance. Life is so unpredictable. You just won't know what will happen next.

Live one day at a time. Sometimes we subject ourselves to unnecessary mental and emotional torture. We ask ourselves, "What if I don't get this done in time?" or "What if my family leaves me and I've got no one else to turn to?"

Work at the present moment. Do what must be done at present and the future will turn out just fine. Believe me. And believe in yourself. As Captain Planet always says: "The power is yours!"

Friday, September 02, 2005

How to Save Yourself from Negative Influences.

Watching the news can be hazardous to your health.

It's a fact, especially when you're watching events related to terrorism, kidnapping, murder, accidents, or calamities. These incidents make you worry and will leave you feeling weak and insecure. Imagine the uncomfortable feeling of becoming a victim someday. This will have a negative effect on your outlook in life.

Your surroundings have a big impact on you. How can you think and grow rich if you're bombarded with messages that relates "how difficult life has become" or "how poor most of us has turned out to be?"

You can't change your environment, but you certainly can control your mind. This is where visualization comes into play. Use your imagination, just as you would when you're still a little child. Imagine your home as a palace, your simple meal as fine dining gourmet, and your nearby park as your favorite vacation spot. Just imagine. Unconsciously, your thoughts will transform the images into their physical components.

If the media can indirectly influence you just by reporting what's happening around, imagine what impact everyday people have on you. These are the people that you see and meet everyday. These are also the same people who are expressing their own views of what is right and what is wrong.

When we grow up in a negative environment, we tend to acquire the traits and characteristics of people around us.

Many gangsters have been brought up by folks who have either misguided them or have taught them the wrong things in life.
Through the years, they have instilled within themselves the vices of people around them.

Here's another case.

Pick a nice person, throw him in a group of bad-mouthed individuals who incorporates swear words in their everyday language. Sooner or later, you'll notice that nice person speaking in the same manner as the group.

This just goes to say that anyone who joins in the company of a like-minded group will have a big chance of being influenced by the personality of that group. So what can you do if you're surrounded by people who deviates from your way of thinking?

You can't just avoid them. They'll think of you as a snob. Don't change the way you treat them, but simply learn how to shield out pessimis