Sunday, December 23, 2012

Loving Life With A Positive Mindset

Loving life means trying to live a fulfilled life. For many people, it can be pretty hard to enjoy living a life full of problems and worries. 

There are a number of things we can do to love life more:

Positive attitude

Having a positive attitude is looking into the good things in life more rather than its bad side. Having a positive mindset can help a person stay focused on what is needed to love life and  is not as difficult as you may think.

One of the important things to remember in life is that the way we think can influence greatly the way we act. By thinking always on the positive, we are reinforcing our attitude to focus on what good life has to offer. 


Appreciation


One way of creating a positive state of mind is by simply appreciating having a life. Some people may tend to forget that life itself is short of miraculous. Just the daily functions that life goes through tend to be overlooked most of the time. 

Gratitude is the key here, Try thinking of 5 things a day to be grateful for when you get up in the morning. You will see a positive shift in your day and outlook. it could be family, friends, having a car, having food on the table or shoes on your feet. There are so many things we can be grateful for everyday. Joe Vital

The Simple Things

Another way of developing a positive mindset is by trying to focus on the simple things in life. Life can be so simple and enjoyed more if people only learn to be content. But because some people strive for something more, complications ensue. 


By just focusing on the simple things in life, you try to avoid making life a little more complicated. Worrying won't get you anywhere, only deeper into a hole that you may be building for yourself. The more you worry, the deeper the hole gets and the harder it will be to get out from it.
 

Giving

Another way to develop a positive mindset in life is to share what you feel or give to others all around you. You may not be aware of it, but loving and enjoying life can be contagious. If you have a positive mindset, try to share it with others by helping them think positively for a change. For example, just by smiling at someone shows how good you feel about loving life, they might just follow your example and spread the cheer.

 Action may not always bring happiness...
but there is no happiness without action.

By: Benjamin Disraeli

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Saturday, December 15, 2012

Willpower is your "self-control muscle".

Willpower is your "self-control muscle" that helps us commit to, and complete, our goals.

Like all muscles, willpower needs to be trained. Start with something small: perhaps giving up a snack for a piece of fruit or hold-off checking your Facebook account during work hours. Set yourself a goal and concentrate on completing it. 

When you think about giving in - don't

Temptation will always be there but starting small will help develop your self-control and allow you to set greater goals in the future.

Remember, your willpower is like every other muscle and needs to be looked after as such. Like your biceps or triceps, it needs rest and relaxation before tackling another workout. When you feel your willpower waning, take the time to rest. If rest is not an option, research shows that thinking about someone who has incredible willpower, such as world leaders and successful 
athletes, can help boost your own self-control recovery.



Another option is a pick-me-up, something that puts you in a good mood, lifts your spirits - listening to a favorite song, calling a friend or reflecting on a past success are good examples.

Willpower, like a muscle, will grow stronger in time. Recent studies show that daily activities such as workout routines, keeping track of your finances or eating correctly can help 
strengthen your resolve and put you on the path to greater self-control.

Remember the three most important things to building and maintaining your willpower are:

1.       Willpower isn't an infinite source so take a break before 
          taking on a new challenge.

2.       Speed up your recovery by lifting your spirits when you 
          feel the tank is running a bit low

3.       Start small. Before tackling a big goal (such as quitting 
          smoking), start with something almost mundane and grow 
          from there.



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Friday, November 30, 2012

Using Your Time - Tips

Most people like to stay in their comfort zone, i.e. they stick to what they know. That prevents them from changing. To get out of your comfort zone, you need to be disciplined. Unfortunately, most people aren’t.

To succeed, you need these three main steps:

1-    Establish reasonable goals for yourself, and set practical deadlines.


2-    Find out what you know how to do best, something that makes a difference in some way, and is pleasant for you.


3-    Determine what your bad habits and erroneous attitudes are, and gradually replace them with new ways of thinking.
 

You need to know how to manage your time well, because time wasted is gone forever, and can never be reclaimed. If you want to achieve your goals as quickly as possible, you absolutely must put your time to good use.

The only thing that limits what you can accomplish in life is time, and wasting time means wasting your life.

 

Here are six things to remember about time:

First: Nobody can manage time. But you can manage those things that take up your time.


Second:
Time is expensive. As a matter of fact, 80 percent of our day is spent on those things or those people that only bring us two percent of our results.


Third:
Time is perishable. It cannot be saved for later use.


Fourth: Time is measurable. Everybody has the same amount of time...pauper or king. It is not how much time you have; it is how much you use.


Fifth: Time is irreplaceable. We never make back time once it is gone.


Sixth: Time is a priority. You have enough time for anything in the world, so long as it ranks high enough among your priorities.



"Be not afraid of growing slowly, be afraid only of standing still."
Chinese proverb
 
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Tuesday, November 13, 2012

A happy Life

A recent post from Tara that I thought was inspirational, enjoy.


We’re all searching for happiness. And one of the best ways of attaining it is to let other people’s happiness make you happy, instead of envious.

Depending on the positive or negative tone of your thoughts, words and deeds, you create vibrations of the same kind, i.e. positive or negative.


Letting other people’s happiness make you happy generates positive vibrations, both for yourself and for others.

Letting other people’s happiness make you happy does everyone good, you included.

And the opposite is also true. Not rejoicing in others’ misfortune also generates favorable, positive energy that helps you attain your goals more quickly, and have the life you dream of.

Emitting positive thoughts when you think of someone else, even for no specific reason, is also very beneficial. The more positive thoughts you’re able to generate, the more positive energy you’ll receive in return.

And it’s the accumulation of all these good vibrations that helps realize your potential in all areas of your life: Luck, money, health, love-life, work, etc.

In short, generating positive energy makes achieving all your goals a lot easier. Do that, and your life is sure to improve.








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Sunday, October 28, 2012

Being Your Own Voice of Reason

How we attach meaning to events in our lives 
has a large influence 
on the quality of our life.

The meaning we put to our experiences, is a very powerful factor in determining the quality of our lives.  If we want to encourage a positive outlook, well-being, and a sense of self-confidence and even trust in the universe, we can begin by assigning more peaceful, loving meanings to what we experience.



If you were recently laid off and are having difficulty finding a new job, consider that you might have hidden gifts or passions that were untapped in your regular career that you are now available to explore. The universe might simply be moving you in a more fulfilling direction. If you have recently lost a loved one, gained weight, lost money, or gotten in a fight with your partner, see if you can infuse the experience with meaning that feels loving and empowering and opens a door for you to embrace life and the world a bit more.


 Bad days contribute to the people we become. Though we may feel discouraged and distressed on our bad days, a bad day can teach us patience and perseverance. It is important to remember that your attitude drives your destiny and that one negative experience does not have to be the beginning of an ongoing stroke of bad luck.  A bad day is memorable because it is one day among many good days – otherwise, we wouldn’t even bother to acknowledge it as a bad day. Know too, that everybody has bad days, you are not alone, the world is not against you. Tomorrow is guaranteed to be a brighter day.

When we begin to bring consciousness to what we are making things mean, we may be shocked at the messages we have been feeding ourselves all these years. 

Try taking the reigns and begin assigning a kinder meaning to the events in your life and you will likely find yourself on a much more pleasant ride.

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Monday, October 15, 2012

Calmness through counting



People who keep their sense of calm when things around them are going crazy are always wonderful to be around.

We feel calmer just being near them, and from them we learn that we can be calm, because we know that no matter what happens, this inner sense of calm will help us to function well.

If we allow ourselves to be thrown off balance by every piece of disturbing news that comes our way, we may be relying too much on our emotions. On the other hand, our thoughts may also be unreliable at times like these, as they chatter on endlessly about what might happen next. 




If our feelings and thoughts activate one another in a hectic way, then we become caught up in the confusion that surrounds us. However, if we can locate the stillness at the center of our hearts, we can find composure in almost any situation. In addition, we provide a safe place for our friends and family.

It helps to remember that we don’t need to completely understand what’s happening right now, nor do we need to be able to predict the future. Most of us just want to find our way to being at peace with whatever happens, and we can find this peace inside. 

Cultivating our inner clarity with meditation, writing a journal, and reading words that inspire us, will lead us to that place inside us that’s already there, just waiting. 

 
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Saturday, October 13, 2012

Become a Master of Time Management


Time is an important factor that has to be managed properly to make progress. 

Good time-management is an essential element for attaining your goals and being successful, but also seems to be one of the hardest things to do. 

Stephen Covey, in his book "The Seven Habits of Highly Successful People" describes time as being separated into four quadrants.


As the saying goes, time wasted is time lost. We cannot avoid Quadrant I activities, but the place we should try to operate our lives from most of the time is Quadrant II activities, as these will bring you closer to your goals and make the other sections smaller  and easier to manage. 


Its all too easy to get lost in social chats, email or watching TV and YouTube, (Quadrant III and IV activities), I know because I catch myself doing it more than I'd like to admit.

We should try to be conscious of the fact that each minute that passes only occurs once. When it’s over, you lose one more opportunity to achieve your objectives.

Every minute of your life should be devoted to some useful occupation. That doesn’t mean your schedule has to be constraining, or overburden you with too many things to do. When that happens you get discouraged, and you could give-up too soon. 







Divide your time between work – occupations designed to help you make progress in getting what you want in your professional life – and leisure activities that help you relax, and get rid of some of the stress you accumulate on your quest for success.I'm talking about taking action, little steps, making time to give to others, make someone smile and take a few moments each day to be grateful for what you have.

Devote two thirds of your time to your projects, and one third to leisure. That will balance your use of time perfectly, and enable you to move forward more quickly towards attaining the life of your dreams. Positive and creative time-management is something all successful people know how to do.


The way we show up for our lives today and tomorrow has an enormous affect on who we will be and what we will be experiencing years from now. If we can remain fully engaged in the day at hand, enjoying all it has to offer and putting our energy into making the most of our time, we will find that we are perfectly ready and capable to handle any future when it arrives.

Further tips and a very good video on time management can be seen on blog post Time Management Tips, How To Focus & Get More Done.



Take the first step and smile... 
become the master of your own time.

If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotten.
-- Tony Robbins
 
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Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Do what is possible today to advance your life.

The Little Things

It’s the little things we do consistently over time that have the greatest impact on our lives – not the big ‘flash in the pan’; here today gone tomorrow things that we start but fail to follow through on.



The Hard Yards


It’s wrong to measure success simply by how much money a person has; it’s more about whether or not they do the hard yards long enough to actually achieve the things that are important to them. Yes …money is fundamental; without it we spend our lives chasing it down so we can the pay bills and – by default – we never really live to enjoy the money we make because we are too busy ‘making it’! Your success is a mere reflection of the relationships you cultivate, the changed lives you had a positive impact on, the hobbies you pursued, your health and spiritual well being etc.


"People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, 
but people will never forget how you made them feel." - Maya Angelou


The Penny Has Dropped

You may be a student or someone new to the workforce. Perhaps you recently married but are yet to have a family or maybe, like me, the penny has well and truly dropped and you realise that life is ‘but a moment’ and passes quickly, and seems to pass quicker as the years go by.  Managing your time becomes more important.








Sunday, September 16, 2012

Fear of the Truth

Facing the truth upfront rather than turning from it will keep your life moving in a forward and positive direction.

Most of us have had the experience of being in possession of a piece of truth that we were afraid to share because we knew it would not be well received. There are also instances in which we ourselves have been unable to handle some truth confronting us. This might be a small truth, such as not wanting to see that our car needs repairs because we don’t want to pay for them, or a large truth, such as not fully accepting that someone close to us is pushing us away. Usually the truth is evident, and we can see it if we choose, but we have elaborate ways of hiding the truth form ourselves, no matter how apparent it is. 

For the most part, we avoid the truth because it scares us, or makes us angry, or makes us feel like we don’t know what to do. We often create our lives based on a particular understanding, and if that understanding turns out to be fully or even partially incorrect, we may feel that our whole sense of reality is being threatened. It takes a strong person to face the truth in circumstances like these, and many of us run for cover instead of facing the fear. Nevertheless, we can only avoid the truth for so long before it begins to make itself known in ever more forceful ways.

Everyone has fears—it is a natural part of being human. Fear can protect us from harm by sending a rush of adrenaline to help us physically deal with potential danger. But there are times when fear may keep us from participating fully in life. Once we realize that fear is a state of mind, we can choose to face our fears, change our minds, and create the life we want to live.

An interesting Video on confronting fear.






Ultimately, there is no way to avoid the truth, no matter how painful it is, so the sooner we let down our defenses, the better. When we know the truth and accept that we may have to adjust our lives to accommodate, we are in alignment with reality. At the same time, we can be patient with people around us who have a hard time seeing the truth, because we know how feaful it can be.  Whatever the truth is, we make a sincere effort not to close our eyes to it, but instead to be grateful that we have access to it. 

When we learn to face our fears, we learn to observe our thoughts and feelings but not be ruled by them,  we choose how to shape the lives we want. 



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Saturday, September 1, 2012

Take Action


In order to make our dreams come true, we must take action rather than simply wishing for what we want.

There is a popular misconception that we might be able to just wish our dreams into being. Maybe on some other level of consciousness this is the case, but we need to take action in our lives. When we focus on what we want and ask for what we want, we are initiating a conversation with the universe. Our desires, passionately defined and expressed, bring about valuable and relevant opportunities, which we then respond to by either taking or leaving them.




 

Many of us are afraid to step out into the world and make things happen, and so we hang back, dreaming and waiting and watching. There are times in life when this is the right thing to do, but this phase of inaction must eventually give way to its opposite if we are to build our dreams into a reality. This can be really scary, and we may fail and struggle, but that’s okay because that’s what we’re supposed to do. Waiting for everything to be perfect before we act, or waiting for what we want to be handed to us, leaves us waiting forever. No one expects us to be perfect, so the best thing we can do for ourselves is to get out there and take action on our dreams.

Our actions shape our lives, but what we don't take action on can be just as powerful.

Life is sculpted on a moment-to-moment basis. Every one of the thoughts we think, the words we speak, and the actions we take contributes to the complex quality and character of the universe’s unfolding. It simply is not possible to be alive without making an impact on the world that surrounds us. Every action taken affects the whole as greatly as every action not taken. And when it comes to making the world a better place, what we choose not to do can be just as important as what we choose to do.

For example, when we neglect to recycle, speak up, vote, or help somebody in immediate need, we are denying ourselves the opportunity to be an agent for positive change. Instead, we are enabling a particular course to continue unchallenged, picking up speed even as it goes along. By holding the belief that our actions don’t make much of a difference, we may find that we often tend to forego opportunities for involvement. Alternatively, if we see ourselves as important participants in an ever-evolving world, we may feel more inspired to contribute our unique perspective and gifts to a situation.

it is important that we honor our impulse to help and take the action that feels right for us. It may be offering a kind word to a friend, giving resources to people in need, or just taking responsibility for our own behavior. By doing what we can, when we can, we add positive energy to our world. And sometimes, it may be our one contribution that makes all the difference. 




 

Friday, August 17, 2012

Life is a journey, not a destination

Have you heard this?

"Life is a journey, not a destination."

I heard this quote recently, and it made me realize how easy it can be to worry
constantly about the future… and forget to focus on the now.

You see, when you invest all your energy into what hasn't even happened yet (and
may never happen at all...) sometimes days, weeks or even months can go by
before you realize you haven't taken any time to...

Stop. Smell the roses and enjoy the present moment.

Can you relate?

So here are 3 simple tips you can use today to snap yourself back
into enjoying the here and now of life's journey:

1) Appreciate nature once a day.


Maybe you'll pass a beautiful tree on your way to work today, or perhaps a
spectacular sunset will catch your attention as you go about your evening.

Whatever it is, take a few minutes to stop and fully take it in. You may be surprised
how quickly you'll shift into a more peaceful, positive vibration.

2) Compliment a friend or loved one.

Do you have a friend who always makes you laugh? Or a loved one who is always
there for you when you need a helping hand? Let them know you appreciate them
and you'll both enjoy a surge of positive energy.

3) Practice a random act of kindness.

Take a moment to hold a door open for the person behind you or even just say, "Good
morning!" to a stranger on the street. It's amazing how something so simple can put
a smile on someone else's face… and yours.

Practice just 1 or all 3 of these tips and you'll instantly raise your vibration… AND
attract even more positive energy to you!




One of the best Motivational Video's in recent times, the voices of these young people Charlotte and Jonathan are incredible.



Friday, July 6, 2012

Great Minds - Greatest Quotes

This is an awesome site for motivational quotes. The wise words from these great minds cover a range of topics, yet they all have one thing in common - they offer an optimistic viewpoint. These quotes urge you to face your fears, develop your potential and to take action. Most of all, this collection of quotes encourages you to believe in yourself. 


Do not pray for an easy life, pray for the strength to endure a difficult one. - Bruce Lee


Friday, June 29, 2012

How to Achieve Your Goals with Healthy Habits

We’ve all felt the disappointment that comes from setting a goal and giving up on it after a couple of weeks. Sustaining motivation for a long-term goal is hard to achieve, and yet the best goals can usually only be accomplished in a few months or even years. 

Here’s the solution: Focus instead on creating a new habit that will lead to achieving your goal. 


 
Want to get out of debt and start saving? Create the habit of brown bagging it to work, or watching DVDs instead of going to the movies, or whatever change will lead to saving money for you. By focusing not on what you have to achieve over the course of the next year, but instead on what you are doing each day, you are focusing on something achievable. That little daily change will add up to a huge change, over time … and you’ll be surprised at how far you’ve come in no time. 

Little grains of sand can add up to a mountain over time. In a previous post "Waiting for someday" there is a video compilation of Will Smith, and in it he speaks of building a brick wall, instead of focusing on building a wall, you should everyday "focus on laying one brick, as perfectly as a brick can be laid, and pretty soon you have a wall".

Now, changing your habits isn’t easy but is achievable, especially if you start small … take baby steps at first. How do you change your habits? Focus on one habit at a time, and follow these steps: 

1. Positive changes. If you’re trying to change a negative habit (quit smoking), replace it with a positive habit (running for stress relief, for example). 

2. Take on a 30-day challenge. Tell yourself that you’re going to do this habit every day, at the same time every day, for 30 straight days without fail. Once you’re past that 30-day mark, the habit will become much easier. If you fail, do not beat yourself up. Start again on a new 30-day challenge. Practice until you succeed. 

3. Commit yourself completely. Don’t just tell yourself that you might or should do this. Tell the world you DEFINITELY will do this. Put yourself into this 100 percent. Tell everyone you know. Email them. Put it on your blog. Post it up at your home and work place. This positive public pressure will help motivate you. 

4. Set up rewards. It’s best to reward yourself often the first week, and then reward yourself every week for that first month. Make sure these are good rewards, that will help motivate you to stay on track. 

5. Plan to beat your urges. It’s best to start out by monitoring your urges, so you become more aware of them. Track them for a couple days, putting a tally mark in a small notebook every time you get an urge. Write out a plan, before you get the urges, with strategies to beat them. We all have urges to quit — how will you overcome it? What helps me most are deep breathing and drinking water. You can get through an urge — it will pass. 

6. Track and report your progress. Keep a log or journal or chart so that you can see your progress over time. It’s very motivating to see how far you’ve come. 

The biggest tip of all: Always stay positive. I learned to monitor my thoughts, and if I saw any negative thoughts I would squash it and replace it with a positive thought. If you think negative thoughts, you will definitely fail. But if you always think positive, you will definitely succeed. 

This new video from http://noahjammond.com warns how to avoid the "unhealthy use of 
Optimism".

  


 "The only thing that stands between a person and what they want from life is often merely the will to TRY it and the faith to BELIEVE that it is possible."- Anthony Robbins 

Sunday, June 10, 2012

Develop Your Mind: Practice the Law of Multiplication


To succeed in life, you have to cultivate contentment, and keep building on who you are and what you have. Only then can you lead the life you want.

Being content doesn’t mean being resigned. It means appreciating the life you have now, rather than focusing on what you don’t have.

 

Everyone is given a certain potential for success, and certain unique qualities, at birth. Life consists of discovering and developing them to the fullest.

The first thing you need to do is appreciate your own existence. Of course, it’s not always easy, and there are obstacles you’ll need to overcome.

Suffering is a state-of-mind. Thinking that one day your life will be perfect and you’ll have no more problems will only add to your suffering, because it’s impossible not to have problems, whereas happiness comes from knowing how to solve them.

One way of attaining true happiness, which has nothing to do with dreaming about a life without problems, is to practice contentment.

First, appreciate the simple fact that you’re alive. It’s so obvious few of us really think about it. We take the fact of being alive completely for granted. But every life has a beginning and an end.

You shouldn’t wait for the end of your life to consider its value, but do it here and now, each and every day. Being aware of the value of your life is the first step towards attaining true happiness.

 

Often, the key to solving our problems is much easier to find than we think. We all have abilities we’re not aware of, or don’t dare exploit, even though they could lead us to wealth, and the life we dream about. Practicing the Law of Multiplication will lead you to the path of success in all areas of your life. 

 Many people, of all social standings, no matter how rich they are when they start out (and they’re sometimes very poor) learn to take control of their lives and get themselves on track for success, which they attain by applying a simple cosmic Law: the Law of Multiplication. 

Everything in this world is made to multiply. People reproduce to preserve the human species. The seeds we plant are destined to grow into plants and provide us with fruits, vegetables, flowers and trees. Self-multiplication is a natural Law that exists everywhere in the Universe. 

 If you don’t take care of a garden, it may grow wild, but it will grow. If you do care for the garden, you can organize the proliferation of nature, and make your garden look the way you want. The same applies to your life. 

 Every day hundreds and even thousands of thoughts run through your mind. 

If you don’t pay attention to a thought by focusing on it, it will soon pass and be replaced by another one. But if you decide to stop and concentrate on one idea, it can occupy your entire mind and make you obsessed. 

Being obsessed is a good thing when your ideas are positive and creative, since they’ll generate more positive thoughts, words and deeds. But if a thought is negative, it could result in words and deeds that are harmful to you, and to others. 

Try not to hold on to the negative thoughts that enter your mind. Just let them go, and move on to the next. If you don’t concentrate on the negative, it will pass. But if a thought is positive, you should concentrate on it, and generate more positive ideas. If you do that, the Law of Multiplication will work to your advantage. 





Sunday, May 27, 2012

How your mind can achieve greatness

Your mind is a vast, largely unexplained resource of energy and power.


A lucky few can tap into the rest of their brain's extra, unconscious potential and use it to attract more more money, love, health and happiness into their lives

For example, did you know?


  • The hit song "Yesterday" by the Beatles, was first born when Paul McCartney composed the entire melody in his sleep. Upon waking, he hurried to a piano and played the tune to avoid forgetting it.
  • That Frederick Banting first isolated insulin (a main treatment for diabetes) with the help of a dream.
  • Oscar winner David Seidler was able to "think" cancer away, and has fully recovered since.

Isn't that amazing?! Just imagine what you could do if you truly harnessed the power of your mind!

Video - Consciousness, Creativity & The Brain ( A McKenna Perspective )

This is a curious and often comical video, it's popular on you tube, food for thought...






Sunday, May 13, 2012

Love is the greatest force

Love is the greatest force that exists in the world. I’m talking about unconditional love, not the kind that exists between two people. Total love is powerful energy few of us make enough use of.


 If you impregnate everything you do with love, your life will be a success. Love has been the basis of all great discoveries and inventions in human history, and will continue to be so in future. Without love you can’t do much.

People have constructed immense temples, churches, mosques and monasteries, simply out of love for the supreme vibration, or the Being they venerate.

Others made all kinds of discoveries to improve the lives of their fellow men.

No matter what field we’re talking about – medicine, technology, transportation, communication, space travel, etc. – researchers, scientists, doctors and explorers ultimately achieve what they do for the benefit of humanity. Those who try to spread evil will always be defeated by the force of love, which is stronger than the force of hate. Hate can cause a lot of damage, but it always loses in the end.

The law of attraction—like attracts like—influences all energy, including our thoughts of love or hate. Our undistracted thoughts create a powerful magnet that draws similar energy into our vibrational field. As a result, the longer we are able to hold positive thoughts in our minds, the more powerful the positive energy around us becomes.






Put some love into everything you do, each and every day. Not only will you attain your goals faster, you’ll spread the energy of good around you, and eventually be rewarded, either materially or spiritually.

At the same time, you should practice unconditional love without hoping for any rewards in return. Just be loving in your thoughts, words and deeds, and your life will soon be a success.


Saturday, April 14, 2012

Navel Meditation





Navel meditation, a creation of the Taoist tradition and the oldest form of meditation recognized in China and India, is a simple practice suitable for those experienced in the art of mediation, yet it is also a wonderful introductory meditation for novices. It utilizes the natural rhythms of the breath and the regular movement of the abdomen as a means to focus awareness and rid oneself of extraneous thoughts. As you concentrate on the breath, the chaos within reveals itself, allowing you to gently train your mind to accept stillness as its natural state.    



There is an interesting series of 5 videos on this very topic, the first is added below.


To begin, assume a comfortable and natural seated position—either cross-legged on a cushion on the floor or on a chair with your legs facing forward. Maintaining an upright, balanced posture will ensure that you are physically centered and prevent fatigue. 

Close your eyes and relax your body gradually, starting at the toes and ending at the crown of the head. Take a moment to note any physical sensations you are feeling, such as the hardness of the floor under your legs or the weight of a piece of jewelry. When you are relaxed, breathe through the nose at your natural pace. 

With each inhalation, draw air deep into the abdomen, allowing the area surrounding your navel to rise and fall. Gradually focus your attention on the sensations caused by the inhalation and exhalation of breath. Feel the air flowing in and out of the nostrils as well as the expansion and contraction of the abdomen.

You may notice that your mind strays. When this occurs, do not attach any significance to your thoughts. Simply bring your attention back to the flow of air into and out of your body and the rise and fall of your navel. Eventually, the torrent of mental noise flooding your mind will slow to a trickle, and you will learn to control the current of your thoughts until you are no longer at the mercy of your reactions. 

The more you practice this meditation, daily if possible, the more you will be able to get back to this relaxed state easily throughout your day. 




Thursday, April 12, 2012

A Moment of Choice


We can choose to start over in this very moment, there is no need to wait for a new year or a new month or a new week.




There are times in our lives that lend themselves to starting something new. The beginning of a new year, finishing school, leaving a job, or changing homes—these all are times that turn our minds to fresh starts. Their advantage is that they bring with them the energy of that event, creating a tide of change around them that we can ride to our next shoreline. But we can choose to start anew anytime. In any moment we can decide that a bad day or a relationship that’s gotten off on the wrong foot can be started again. It is a mental shift that allows us to clean the slate and approach anything with fresh eyes, and we can make that choice at any time.

Starting new is most powerful when we focus our attention to what we are choosing to create. Giving all of our attention to the unwanted aspects of our lives allows what we resist to persist. We need to remember to leave enough room in the process of new beginnings to be kind to ourselves, because it takes time to become accustomed to anything new, no matter how much we like it. There is no need to get down on ourselves if we don’t reach our new goals instantly. Instead, we acknowledge the forward motion and choose to reset and start again, knowing that with each choice we learn, grow, and move forward.

Making the choice to start anew has its own energy—it’s a promise made to you. The forward momentum creates a sort of vacuum behind it, pulling toward you all you need to help you continue moving in your chosen direction. Once the journey has begun, it may take unexpected turns, but it never really ends. Like cycles in nature, there are periods of obvious growth and periods of dormancy that signal a time of waiting for the right moment to burst forth. Each time we choose to start anew we dedicate ourselves to becoming the best we are able to be.

Saturday, March 31, 2012

The energy of the human mind


We know how important it is to practice positive thinking if you want to change your life. Positive thinking consists of generating thoughts that affirm your abilities, and add value to your life. They don’t denigrate you, or cause you to doubt yourself. But as you may have noticed, thoughts are a kind of energy that’s hard to control. The best you can do is not consciously cultivate negative or destructive thoughts, so they don’t impede your progress towards achieving a happy and successful life.


Ultimately, positive thinking is the solution to all your problems. You need to emit positive, constructive thoughts that affirm your self-confidence, and the confidence you have in your abilities and your future, without having any contradictory ideas.

In reality, things may be more difficult, especially if you find your life unsatisfying. As Einstein indicated, the mentality you have now won’t bring you happiness in future.


Changing direction

Try to imagine your life as a river down which you’re navigating. The water is flowing fast, the winds occasionally pick up, sometimes you’re in control, but at other times you’re not.

When you’re in control of a situation, you can guide your vessel using your mind as the rudder. And it’s when you feel that you’re in control of your life that you emit the most positive thoughts.

When you’re not in control of what happens, you’re like a rudderless boat being carried here and there by the currents and the wind. That’s when you generate your darkest thoughts, those that prevent you from moving forward. If you’re not careful they can gradually take over and push you back, so you lose the benefits of any previous effort you made.

If you want to change the direction of your present existence, keep a solid hold on your rudder, and live your life the way you want. Always keep this image of yourself as a boat navigating through the currents of life top-of-mind.

It will help you differentiate between the states of well-being and discomfort you experience. During periods of well-being, you emit more positive thoughts, your self-confidence gets stronger, and you acquire more motivation and willpower. During the hard times you generate more negative thoughts, and doubt your ability to succeed. But you can regain control of your vessel by forcing yourself to think positive thoughts that will eventually weaken and reverse the negative currents that get hold of you.


Patience and Time

To reverse the negative currents of your thoughts into positive ones, avoid stressful situations whenever possible, don’t let yourself become upset, and, above all, don’t stop trying. Giving up is the best way to undermine your progress, and cut the branch you’re sitting on, leaving you flat on the ground.

Learn to be calm, and stay calm. Don’t react violently, in thought, word or deed, to exterior aggression. It may not be easy at first, but take all the time you need. If you’re patient, you will succeed.

In addition to staying calm, try to practice the great virtue of patience, since both are closely linked. If you’re calm, you won’t lose your patience. The calmer you are, the more patient you’ll be. One depends on the other. If you can express them both, you’ll open wide the doors to success.

Take your time. Don’t try to change your way of thinking, which has been with you for years, from one minute to the next, or from one day to the next. It takes time to alter things you’ve been conditioned to do since childhood.



Give Up Your Anger

Starting now, cultivate patience every day, and you’ll see how the virtue will benefit all aspects of your life. It’s no good making decisions when you’re emotional, pressed for time, or being pressured by other people. Experience shows that most decisions made under those conditions turn out to be harmful.

Even if you’re only able to generate a single positive thought a day, it will be a great step forward. Tell yourself that, starting today, you’ll formulate at least one positive thought every day, either spontaneously, or as a way of neutralizing something negative that comes to your mind.

Emitting a spontaneous positive thought consists of voluntarily deciding to say something, either to yourself or out loud, that affirms your self-confidence, and your ability to live up to your hopes for success and a better future.

Now take a few minutes to formulate, in your own words, a short sentence of one or two lines that affirms your self-confidence. It doesn’t matter if you don’t feel very confident at the moment, since that should soon change.

The magic of positive thinking is precisely that: it imposes an idea on your mind with so much conviction that it becomes your own, in this case making you think, speak and act with confidence.

Never get angry, be patient, and be constant in your emission of positive thoughts. You’ll quickly go from one positive thought a day to two, three, four and more, until your state-of-mind becomes transformed for the better.

You’ll come out a winner in the battle against the darker side of yourself, the one that’s preventing you from moving forward. I guarantee it!

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Here's the dealio:Jared Silver

I received this email with some timely advice and thought it worthy of sharing, enjoy.

Here's the dealio:

Over 300 million tweets are sent out on average every day. Over 3.5 billion pieces of content are shared to Facebook in any given week. And, right now, there are over 156 million public blogs online, just waiting to be read.

Amid all this noise, amid all those fake experts and guru con artists on the web, how in the world do you get the training you need to start earning money online?

How do you know if the content you're reading is legitimate?

I mean, this very sentence is false.
(But is it really?)

My point is this: you can't really ever know for sure if what you're reading or listening to is legitimate information... at least, that is, until you implement what you're learning.

Most of the time people tell you this, it's entirely hypocritical. They tell you that the web is a scary place so they can then go on to tell you about how they can make it less scary for you. All you have to do is "buy this" or "sign up for that" or "send me a million dollars" or whatever the case may be.

This email isn't like that.

I just want you to understand that it's okay to question those in power. It's okay to let your voice be heard. And it's okay to put yourself out on a limb (not much of anything important was ever accomplished by someone not on one).

If the person who is teaching you truly cares about your success, he or she will welcome your questioning of their authority. He or she might even love that you are thinking for yourself.

The people to look out for are those who become angry about your questioning of their thoughts or even make you out to be the bad guy!

These people are generally con artists just looking for easy targets to scrape money off of. If you're not an easy target, then you pose a threat to the con artist because you might expose their dirty little secrets.

A person's actions tend to speak much louder than his or her words.

So today, I urge you to stop listening to people's words, and instead, start looking at people's actions.

Thank you for taking the time to read this email.

Jared Silver


Today's most valuable quote:

It's okay to put yourself out on a limb (nothing of much importance was ever accomplished by someone not on one).

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

Not sure about the claim on this movie, "Best motivational video ever" but the soundtrack and impressive pictures make it worth a look.

Monday, January 30, 2012

Waiting for Someday

All the joy and passion you can imagine can be yours right now, rather than the future.

The time we are blessed with is limited and tends to be used up all too quickly.

How we utilize that time is one of the most important decisions we make. Yet it is far too easy to put off until tomorrow what we are dreaming of today. 


The hectic pace of modern existence affords us an easy out; we shelve our aspirations so we can cope more effectively with the challenges of the present, ostensibly to have more time and leisure to realize our purpose in the future. Or we tell ourselves that we will chase our dreams someday once we have accomplished other lesser goals.

In truth, it is our fear that keeps us from seeking fulfillment in the here and now—because we view failure as a possibility, our reasons for delaying our inevitable success seem sound and rational. If we ask ourselves what we are really waiting for, however, we discover that there is no truly compelling reason why we should put off the pursuit of dreams.

When we look decisively at our life, "Why not now, indeed!" we are empowered to begin changing our lives this very moment. We procrastinate for many reasons, from a perceived lack of time to a legitimate lack of self-belief, but the truth of the matter is that there is no time like the present and no time but the present. 


Whatever we aim to accomplish, we will achieve it more quickly and with a greater degree of efficiency when we seize the day and make the most of the resources we have at our disposal right now.

All the joy, passion, and contentment you want can be yours right now, rather than in some far-flung point in time. You need only remind yourself that there is nothing standing between you and fulfillment.

If you decide that today is the day you will take your destiny into your hands, you will soon discover that you hold the keys of fate.

Your words and thoughts have physical power.