Pursuing Your Passion

We all have talents and gifts. Some people's are apparent, such as Beethoven, Michael Jordan, or Winston Churchill. Others live out their personal and professional lives in less conspicuous ways but no less valuable ways.

Only you can define your passion. The fact that your mother wants you to be a doctor, your father wants you to conquer Wall Street, your spouse wants you to be an architect, or the coach wants you to play first base really doesn't matter.

Your passion is, quite simply, nothing more or less than your passion. It is, very simply, that thing in this world about which you are passionate. It does not have to be justified nor quantified to anyone's satisfaction other than yours.

Consider the following:

1. What activities cause you to be excited and energized?
2. What activities tend to make you tired and worn out?
3. What passions in your life are you proud to share with others?
4. What do you want to be known for?
5. If you had to pursue one course to make a difference in the world, what would it be?

Once you have identified your passion, it is important to find the best way to turn your passion into your profession. The late, great George Burns once told me that "If you love your job, you never work a day in your life." George Burns was passionate about his career as an entertainer, and he pursued that passion joyously for almost a century.

Recently, I've had the true privilege of getting to know 97- year-old Coach John Wooden who has, by far, more NCAA National Basketball Championships than anyone ever.

Coach Wooden considers himself a teacher. Had he not been a basketball coach, he feels he would have taught English. He sees very little difference between training seven-foot super athletes and instructing college freshmen in the basic rudiments of the English language.

Coach Wooden understands the key principle. His passion is the act of teaching, but it can be implemented in many ways.

I have a good friend who was a struggling night club comedian. Comedy was his passion, but he had reached a point where he could no longer survive financially. Then he made what some people would consider a drastic career move and became a humorist, speaking at corporate events.

Now he makes an amazing living and still pursues his passion. My friend understands that his passion is the comedy, whether it's in a smoky nightclub or a corporate convention setting.

As you go through your day today, look for more and unique ways to pursue your passion.

Today's the day!

[Source: jimstovall.com, by Jim Stovall]

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How You Start Your Day Counts

Whether or not we choose to believe it, for the most part you and I have a clean slate with each new sun rise. Whatever happened yesterday, good or bad is now rooted in the past.

In the moment in which we now find ourselves, we have the ability to focus in on and do the things which will serve us for the better, or we can give our attention to those things which will re-ignite whatever thoughts were causing us to remain stuck.

We have a choice, and fortunately, it isn't all that difficult to set the tone early on in your day. Does that mean you're guaranteed not to meet with a challenge early on that will knock you off course or throw you for a loop? Of course not, but in the event that something (or someone) shows up with such an agenda you'll find yourself a lot more prepared to deal with it and be able to adjust course accordingly.

Here are some simple, but effective ideas you can use to start your day out on a positive note.

Upon waking up, name at least ten people you're thankful for - recount those in your life who've had a positive impact on you. Think of those who have in some way helped to make you the unique person you are.

Don't sell yourself short here. No matter what place you may find yourself in now, you're still an amazing person, with unique gifts and talents. You don't have to believe it, but it's still the absolute truth!

Practicing gratitude is a powerful thing that helps to reconnect us with our inner power, and the abilities which make up who we are.

Give thanks for your talents and skills - each of us has been blessed with special skills and talents. You may not feel as though you've completely developed all of yours up to this point in your life, but that doesn't change the fact that you've got them.

Think through those things that others compliment you on, those are talents. Don't underestimate all the amazing bits and pieces that go into making you the person you are. As you identify and give thanks for the talents that were bestowed upon you commit to develop them and become more proficient in their use.

Write down your days most important action steps the night before - The simple act of writing down the following days most important tasks will give you a plan to move on the next day. Keep in mind that you can get the most productive mileage if you'll put your "super tasks" at the top, where you'll complete them first.

For the purpose of this article consider Super Tasks as those things which upon their completion will give you the absolute most bang for your buck. Consider the difference between a "super task" and say one of lesser importance. A super task might be: calling on a prospective client, while one that doesn't quite hold such importance in the grand scheme of things might be: cut the grass.

While both are important, and you may very well want to get both done, the simple fact is the first example is going to lead towards a greater reward then the latter. You see, it's more a matter of separating items which fall into the category of "busy work" versus those which can move us forward at a maximum pace. Another such "super task" might be to spend time studying your industry or chosen profession.

Review the actions steps you wrote down the night before - As you are looking over the items you wrote down, close your eyes and see yourself completing them and experiencing the wonderful sense of accomplishment for having done so.

After you have visualized yourself finishing the items on your daily action list take a deep breath and begin your day working on and completing them.

Keep in mind that each new day is just that -- an opportunity to turn the page, and implement daily actions that can steer your life in the direction you wish it to go.

You can sail your ship, or choose to remain mired in inaction and float aimlessly, dependent upon whatever life may throw your way. My sincere hope for you is that you will choose the first option.

It's your life, LIVE BIG!

[Source: JoshHinds.com, by Josh Hinds]

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On Laughter

Laughter is a great stress reducer. If you have never read Norman Cousins' account of his experience of self-healing as described in Anatomy of an Illness, I encourage you to do so.

When diagnosed with an incurable illness, he brought a movie projector into his hospital room and watched reel after reel of old classic comedy movies, laughing himself into hysterics. He found he could relieve his otherwise significant pain on a consistent basis through laughter.

That practice, along with some other novel therapies, resulted in his healing. He left his prestigious journalistic career and taught on the faculty of a major medical school about the power of the mind and emotions in healing the body of disease.

Next to love, laughter has been described as the second-most powerful emotion we can express. It has been said that laughter is like internal jogging -- it stimulates the respiratory system, oxygenates the body, relaxes tense muscles, and releases pleasure-producing chemicals in the brain.

You cannot laugh and be mad, laugh and be tense, laugh and be stressed. Laughter is low-calorie, caffeine-free, and has no salt, preservatives, or additives. It's 100 percent natural and one size fits all.

Laughter is truly God's gift to humankind. You can get high on laughter but never overdose. Laughter is contagious -- once it starts little can be done to stop it. Laughter never felt bad, committed a crime, started a war or broke up a relationship.

Laughter is shared by the giver and the receiver. Laughter costs nothing and it's non-taxable. Laughter is a trend-setter. If we can find ways to laugh first thing in the morning, it may in fact set the trend for the rest of the day.

Let me close by telling you the most important use of laughter I have ever discovered: The ability to laugh at ourselves. I stopped taking myself too seriously years ago and it was the best decision I ever made.

Don't get me wrong -- I'm still serious about what I do. But not so serious that I can't be the first one to laugh when I mess up (which happens all too often -- it's why I spend so much time laughing!).

When you're the first person to laugh at yourself, you leave little room for others to laugh at you.

[Source: zigziglar.com, by Zig Ziglar]

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Improve Your Memory, Improve Your Life

One way of keeping your head clear and not getting into a perceptual rot is by walking different ways to work every day... Take a left where you usually take a right. Do the scenic tour instead of the shortest trip.

Have you heard it before? Sure you have.

Have you done it?

Uhm...

Once, maybe?

Uhm. Maybe.

I've certainly heard it many times. And I've even done it... uhm ... a couple of times. But soon, I'm back to taking the quickest way. Hey, it's the morning. I am sleepy. I need to get to work. Shortest way is best.

Going back home, there's some other reason. Have to get back home to my wife. Have to get the kid in kindergarten. And I'm tired after a full day of working. Give me a break. I'm going the shortest way.

And that's how the days go by.

At least, that's how they went by... Until last year.

I'd been thinking about the teachings of our old friend William Walker Atkinson (author of "Memory, How to Develop, Train and Use It"), and I thought: why on Earth don't I use his technique when walking to work?

There's probably a thousand and one small things I never notice every day — things that are really there, clear, vivid, real — and in my line of vision — and I really never notice them.

Instead of changing my route, I changed my head.

I opened up. I wanted to be like a child, and see the world freshly. Why do kids always seem to get too late to school? It is because they see everything, they are totally taken in by what they see, they are lost in the present, isn't it?

So I looked. I just used my eyes as I walked. At first, I was somewhat freaked out by this experiment. I had resolved to discover something new every day — something new that was clearly visible, for all to see, on this road that I walked five days a week — and had been walking for about a year.

And I was freaked because I was thinking: What if I don't notice anything new? What if I am really not open to seeing anything I haven't noticed before...

So I did some easy discovering. I looked at every tree, and I could honestly say I'd never noticed most of them before. I knew there were trees, but I hadn't seen them, any one of them, and actually thought about it... lingered by the thought.

But now I did. I saw a birch, and this was the autumn, and the birch was really burning with red and yellow leaves, and I realized that not only had I never noticed this birch before, I had never really noticed how beautiful the birches could be when fired up by that magnificent autumn display.

I hadn't changed the way I walked; I'd changed my head.

Day by day, I noticed new things. Things you'd find it hard to believe could be ignored. Whole houses. A kindergarten. A super market. All things on the way I'd been walking, back and forth, five days a week, for a year.

It was exhilarating, gratifying... and extremely frightening.

It wasn't frightening in the beginning, but as I saw thing after thing, noticed beautiful houses, vintage cars, apple trees, I started thinking about other aspects of my life.

What was I missing because I never really looked?

Not just birches, but how beautiful they can actually be, when lit up by autumn magic.

What didn't I see in my life, that was there every day? With my son... With my wife. Me? What about me? Were there things about me, obviously visible, plain out into the open, that I never saw? That I could see, if only I looked?

I did see something in me. And it was beautiful, and not what I expected.

Later.

How about my wife? I saw things I'd known, that I could have told you before, but that I still never really saw. I mean, I didn't see it clearly, I didn't see its implications, or where it came from, or how it affected her and those around her... until I started looking openly.

I saw something surprising. I saw how she could see a lot of things that I was usually unaware of. I noticed that she actually saw a lot of things... that few people see.

So what did that do to me?

It helped me value her even more. I admire her even more as a human being, and I also know that even more than I knew before, she is strengthening the team that is our family. Her clear-sightedness is one of the most valuable assets a family (or business, or person) could have.

Now of course she doesn't see everything. But more than I did. So I learned this...

Memory is a skill. It can be taught, and learned.

Some have it more than others, but it is easy to acquire. I did it. The basic skill can be acquired in an instant. All it takes is a shift of how you think about the world around you. At first you will forget to do it, but if you force yourself for a few days, pretty soon it will become automatic.

So what did I learn about me?

I saw that I had all the skills that I needed. I had all the knowledge. I had the time, and the experience. I had the right tools. I had everything I needed, except for the mindset.

I was always searching outside of me, looking for a secret weapon, a better tool, smarter knowledge. I was looking and looking, consuming and consuming, instead of producing.

I had everything I needed. For what? I had everything I needed to accomplish my goals. I had some goals I had written down and was chasing, reverently, desperately.

When I realized I had everything I needed to accomplish those goals, everything changed. I started writing, producing, believing in my own value, my own ability to succeed.

And that is a great feeling!

It gave me peace. It took away the stress. It let me relax when I needed to, and work, efficiently and effectively, when I needed to. It gave me sorely needed balance.

And all that just because I paid better attention. I saw things that had always been there. I saw the beautiful birch, alight with the magic of autumn.

Not only did it allow me to create my Corelizer System (complimentary ebook download, no email required). It also had a profound implication...

When I turned from a consumer to a producer, from a reader to a writer, from a doubter to a believer, I also turned from a dreamer to a doer. I did! I did all the things I'd been reading about, thinking about, dreaming about.

And do you know what?

It isn't dreaming that gets you results.

It is doing. It is doing the right things, doing the things your strengths tell you to do.

If you do stuff because you are desperate, you do the wrong things. And even if you do the right things, you do them the wrong way. You won't see the results you want.

When you do things based on your strengths, you create value. You are an asset to humanity. You are a pillar of society.

How can you utilize that strength if you do not see it? When you do not even know it is there?

(Hint: You can't.)

That's why even if you don't care about memorizing more stuff, enhancing your memory is a powerful and easy to learn skill that will impact you positively throughout every aspect of your life.

[Source: youcantbeatme.com, by Sten Anderson]

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Read All the Books

All of the books that we will ever need to make us as rich, as healthy, as happy, as powerful, as sophisticated and as successful as we want to be have already been written.

People from all walks of life, people with some of the most incredible life experiences, people that have gone from pennies to fortune and from failure to success have taken the time to write down their experiences so that we might share in their wealth of knowledge.

They have offered their wisdom and experience so that we can be inspired by it and instructed by it, and so that we can amend our philosophy by it. Their contributions enable us to reset our sail based upon their experiences.

They have handed us the gift of their insights so that we can change our plans, if need be, in order to avoid their errors. We can rearrange our lives based on their wise advice.

All of the insights that we might ever need have already been captured by others in books. The important question is this: In the last ninety days, with this treasure of information that could change our lives, our fortunes, our relationships, our health, our children and our careers for the better, how many books have we read?

Why do we neglect to read the books that can change our lives? Why do we complain but remain the same? Why do so many of us curse the effect but nourish the cause?

How do we explain the fact that only a small percent of our entire national population uses the library card they possess - a card that would give us access to all of the answers to success and happiness we could ever want?

Those who wish for the better life cannot permit themselves to miss the books that could have a major impact on how their lives turn out. The book they miss will not help!

And the issue is not that books are too expensive! If a person concludes that the price of buying the book is too great, wait until he must pay the price for not buying it. Wait until he receives the bill for continued and prolonged ignorance.

There is very little difference between someone who cannot read and someone who will not read. The result of either is ignorance. Those who are serious seekers of personal development must remove the self-imposed limitations they have placed on their reading skills and their reading habits.

There is a multitude of classes being taught on how to be a good reader and there are thousands of books on the shelves of the public libraries just waiting to be read. Reading is essential for those who seek to rise above the ordinary. We must not permit anything to stand between us and the book that could change our lives.

A little reading each day will result in a wealth of valuable information in a very short period of time.

But if we fail to set aside the time, if we fail to pick up the book, if we fail to exercise the discipline, then ignorance will quickly move in to fill the void.

Those who seek a better life must first become a better person. They must continually seek after self-mastery for the purpose of developing a balanced philosophy of life, and then live in accordance with the dictates of that philosophy.

The habit of reading is a major stepping-stone in the development of a sound philosophical foundation. And in my opinion it is one of the fundamentals required for the attainment of success and happiness.

To Your Success,

Live a Beautiful Life

[Source: jimrohn.com, by Jim Rohn]

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Peace of Mind Tips and Advice

Most people would be glad to have some peace of mind in their life. They would be happy to forget their troubles, problems and worries, and enjoy a few moments of inner calmness and freedom from obsessing thoughts.

What is peace of mind? It is a state of inner calmness and tranquility, together with a sense of freedom, when thoughts and worries cease, and there is no stress, strain or fear. Such moments are not so rare. They may be experienced while being engaged in some kind of an absorbing or interesting activity, such as while watching an interesting movie or TV program, while being with someone you love, while reading a book or while lying on the sand at the beach.

Such and similar activities take away the mind from its usual thoughts and worries, and bring some temporary inner peace.

The question is, how to bring more peace of mind into our life, and more importantly, how to experience it in times of trouble. You might also ask whether it is possible to make it a habit, and enjoy it always and under all circumstances. First, you need to learn to bring more moments of inner peace into your daily life. Later, you will be able to experience these moments in times of trouble or difficulties too, when you most need inner calmness and tranquility.

Here are a few simple things that can help you:
• Reduce the amount of time you read the newspapers or watch the news on TV.
• Stay away from negative conversations and from negative people.
• Don't hold grudges. Learn to forget and forgive. Nurturing ill feelings and grievances hurts you and causes lack of sleep.
• Don't be jealous of others. Being jealous means that you have low self-esteem and consider yourself inferior to others. This again, causes lack of inner peace.
• Accept what cannot be changed. This saves a lot of time, energy and worries.
• Every day we face numerous inconveniences, irritations and situations that are beyond our control. If we can change them, that's fine, but this is not always possible. We must learn to put up with such things and accept them cheerfully.
• Learn to be more patient and tolerant with people and events.
• Don't take everything too personally. Some emotional and mental detachment is desirable. Try to view your life and other people with a little detachment and less involvement. Detachment is not indifference, lack of interest or coldness. It is the ability to think and judge impartially and logically. Don't worry if again and again you fail to manifest detachment. Just keep trying.
• Let bygones be gone. Forget the past and concentrate on the present moment. There is no need to evoke unpleasant memories and immerse yourself in them.
• Practice some concentration exercises. This will help you to reject unpleasant thoughts and worries that steal away your peace of mind.
• Learn to practice meditation. Even a few minutes a day will make a change in your life.

Inner peace ultimately leads to external peace. By creating peace in our inner world, we bring it into the external world, affecting other people too.

[Source: Unknown, by Remez Sasson]

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7 Tips to Help You De-stress & Handle Your Problems

Life would be so wonderful if it weren't for other people. Let's face it, people will upset you. They will say things that will hurt your feeling.

And no matter how well you plan, problems and challenges will pop up. You will be stressed out. But it's your responsibility to do something to feel better.

Here are 7 tips that can help you right away:

1) Don't just sit there. Move! According to many psychologists, motion creates emotion. You might notice that when you are idle, it's easier to become depressed. Your heart rate slows down, less oxygen travels to your brain, and you are slumped somewhere in a chair blocking air from reaching your lungs.

I challenge you right now, regardless of how you are feeling, to get up and walk around at a fast tempo. Maybe you might want to go to an empty room and jump up and down a little bit. It may sound silly but the results speak for themselves. Try it now for a few minutes. It works like magic.

2) Smell the roses. How do you smell the roses? How about investing some money to go on that one trip you've been dreaming about? Visit a country with lots of exotic places to jolt your imagination and spur your creativity. You need to detach from your daily activities and venture a little bit.

3) Get some company. If you're like me, you have many acquaintances, but you only have a few true friends. This isn't because I'm introverted. It is because I'm very selective about who I let enter my territory. I have worked too hard to build my house - my dream - and I won't let anyone destroy it for me in the blink of an eye.

When you're feeling down, call your true friends and share what it is that you're going through. Ask for their advice or input. While their advice or suggestions may be helpful, often you'll find that simply verbalizing your problems will help you feel better.

4) Help others cope with their problems. It is very therapeutic when you engross yourself in helping others. You will be surprised how many people's problems are worse than those you may be facing. You can offer others assistance in countless ways. Don't curl up in your bed and let depression and stress take hold of you.

Get out and help somebody. There are many charitable organizations that can use your help right now. My dear cousin Barbara reads to the blind. Call the National Federation of the Blind so that they can tell you how to get involved.

5) Laugh a little. By now you've heard that laughter is a good internal medicine. It relieves tension and loosens the muscles. It causes blood to flow to the heart and brain. More importantly, laughter releases a chemical that rids the body of pains.

Every day, researchers discover new benefits of laughter. Let me ask you this question: "Can you use a good dose of belly-shaking laughter every now and then?" Of course you can. What are you waiting for? Go to a comedy club or rent some funny movies.

6) Visit third world countries. Nothing is more humbling than to visit a poor country and see first hand what other human beings go through just to survive. Most people who have taken such trips come back with a deep and profound sense of gratitude and appreciation.

They realize how much they've taken for granted without ever realizing it. I encourage you to travel whenever you can afford to do so. You're not too busy. Do it for you. Your life will never be the same.

7) Wear your knees out. If there were one sustainable remedy I could offer you when the going gets tough, it would be prayer. Many people, depending on their faith, might call it meditation. It doesn't matter to me what you call it, as long as you have a place to run to.

Mahatma Gandhi said, "Religions are crossroads converging upon the point." Well, I don't often discuss religion, and I don't know what works for you; but Christianity is the way I know. However, I am sensitive enough to respect your faith. My whole point is that when everything else fails, prayer works!

[Source: villagehero.com, by Rene Godefroy]

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Talking To Yourself

One of the most moving experiences of my life took place on Sept. 13, 1997, when I was autographing books... One lady who asked for an autograph had such a compelling expression on her face that I knew I had to listen carefully to what she had to say.

She shared with me that when she got the self-talk card that was included in one of my audiotape programs, she couldn't even read the first list of qualities that she was supposed to claim.

Throughout her life she had been so beaten down by her family and husband that it was impossible for her to believe that she had the character and success qualities that I identified.

It took two or three weeks of listening to the tapes to build herself up to the point where she could look herself in the eye and claim that she was an honest, intelligent, goal-setting person... She continued to claim additional qualities until she could go through the entire list of 60- plus positive qualities.

As a result, her demeanor and attitude changed dramatically. She started standing up straight, smiling, and even laughing.

Then something truly fascinating happened. Her husband watched her new attitude emerge... and decided maybe claiming the qualities could do the same for him. He started claiming the qualities and he, too, started to change.

"He especially changed in the way he treated me," the woman told me. "Today we're getting along better than ever and are happier than we've ever been." The first part of her story was interrupted by tears. She was very emotional. In the last part of her story, as she talked about the changes in her husband and their relationship, she smiled.

The most important opinion you have is the opinion you have of yourself, and the most important conversations you will ever have are the conversations you have with yourself... The reality is that you cannot consistently, consciously claim all the qualities on the self-talk card without changing.

[Source: zigziglar.com, by Zig Ziglar]

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Focus on Your Primary Aim

As we go through life we have many goals we wish to accomplish. Sometimes our wants are so numerous they seem to overwhelm us -- we don't know how to do them all at once.

The solution? Focus on our goals one at a time until we accomplish them all. Carry a list of your goals with you everywhere. Individuals will be on your path, who - when you show them your goals - may be able to help you achieve them.

Action Step:

To see our dreams come true we need to discover the natural talents we were born with. Think about the things that you love to do, things that make you feel like a million bucks, things that you really don't have to try too hard at to be successful.

For example, when I stand in front of an auditorium filled with thousands of people, and speak to them about fulfilling their dreams, my mind and body are filled with energy -- so much that I'm practically buzzing all over.

When I'm speaking to people I'm so excited I can hardly stand still. Speaking and writing are my right livelihood. I love it and it loves me.

To discover your strengths, ask yourself a few questions, like:

1. What are some activities that I excel at without a lot of effort, study or preparation?

2. What do I do well that most people find difficult?

3. What skills do I have that makes people make "wow!" comments and compliments?

4. If I had all the money I could ever spend -- meaning money is not a concern -- what would I do?

Take this list of activities and on a scale of 1 - 10 (10 being what you feel you're most talented at) rank these activities. Your biggest rewards will come from the activities you've ranked 7 and higher.

Once you have your top activities -- you should have 5 or fewer -- choose the one you love to do the most, because that is your primary aim. Over a lifetime, a well-chosen primary aim tends to extend itself into many possibilities.

Yours in success,

Live a Beautiful Life

[Source: markvictorhansen.com, by Mark Victor Hansen]

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It's A Beautiful Day!

You hear other people say it and you've probably said it 1,000 times or more. "Life's too short."

What better reason to take each and every day and live it out loud. Now, I hear this sentiment once in a while but rarely is it put in such a way where the message doesn't sound like a commercial for Mountain Dew.

What a gift life is. Another day. Wow.

Think about it. You are the sum total of all your days up until now. Every day has gone into creating you. When you're 70, 80, 90 what a horrible shame it would be if you were to look back and think, "I didn't do so many things I wanted to do. I was mad or scared half the time."

Use today to get where you want to go.

Maybe you're behind your pre-determined schedule. Perhaps you wanted to do more by now than you have.

That's not a problem.

You've got today. How lucky you are...

Don't even think about putting it off 'til tomorrow. Even if there's no place to go or big goal you can work on today, you can do something else.

Look around. Things may be bustling, pushing, moving at cyber speed. But you can be alone in your thoughts and see whatever you want. That mountain is there just for you.

"Awesome." Your mother's voice. Beautiful. You may never hear it again. Your kids. Precious. Your friends. They love you. Enjoy it.

Is there crap? Huge difficult challenges? Sure, but you can learn from it. That's good, right? Just notice the good stuff right now.

What could possibly make today great? A bunch of stuff. And don't think that playing or lounging is the only way to celebrate your day. What can you do?

* Do your best at work - Make today your crowning achievement.

* Recognize someone else - Put a smile on some faces.

* Find out about someone else - Someone on your "team." Be genuine.

* Take some time off if you need to - There might be some roses that need smelling.

* Call someone you haven't talked to in a while. Or pay 'em a visit.

* Meditate - With no goal in mind. Just notice your thoughts.

* Look in the mirror - You're a pretty cool person. Recognize it. It's true.

* Read a chapter - learning is your ticket to where ever you want to go.

* Look at your victory log - And do something today to add to it.

* Laugh - at yourself, others, cartoons, TV shows, commercials. Just laugh.

And I'm sure that you can think of more stuff. The important point is...

Today is a beautiful day.

But if your perspective is screwed up, you won't see it. Review the list above and add to it if you like. Review it regularly and your view will change. Guaranteed.

Don't make feeling good so hard. It's not. You don't have to be at Disney World to have a good day.

Today is God's gift to you. Appreciate the gift no matter what it is that you find yourself involved in. It was given in love.

Accept it with love.

[Source: thinkrightnow.com, by Mike Brescia]

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From the Inside Out

There is probably nothing more powerful in beginning a conversation or transaction, or in overcoming an interpersonal challenge, than a smile. A warm, genuine, sincere smile that emanates from your heart (from the inside out).

95 percent of the troubles we encounter with others could most likely be resolved peacefully but for a smile, followed by genuine concern for the other's needs. The fact that most people don't do this will only make it easier for you to put yourself ahead in the game when it comes to persuading others to take your side of an issue.

When you must speak with someone's supervisor about a particular challenge, your smile will bring down his or her walls of resistance, and set the tone for a pleasant, win/win discussion and positive result.

One main reason is that you've just separated yourself from practically everyone else whose greeting is a defensive, angry, or intimidating word or look.

In his book, "Working With Emotional Intelligence", Daniel Goleman writes, "It happens that smiles are the most contagious emotional signal of all, having an almost irresistible power to make other people smile in return." Isn't that so true? In fact, read any good book on people skills and there will be at least a mention of the power of
a smile.

John Mason, author of "Let Go of Whatever Makes You Stop", writes, "One of the single most powerful things you can do to influence others is to smile at them." Very true! Dale Carnegie devoted an entire segment of his awesome book, "How to Win Friends & Influence People", to this single fact.

Don't feel badly if this does not come naturally for you. For some, it takes practice. Fortunately, it's very easy to learn how to smile effectively. If necessary, simply imagine something that truly brings you joy and think of that before you need to smile. After a few practice sessions, you'll be able to bring forth that smile naturally, "from the inside out."

It seems very few people smile without a particular reason. But that doesn't have to include you. Get that smile on your face before you deal with anyone; the service person, government bureaucrat, your boss, the waitperson, your spouse and children; everyone. Get yourself ready for that person to like you and smile back at you!

I employ this simple action all the time and everyday with incredible results and I know others who regularly do the same. They quite often get waited on or helped at a crowded
desk first, just because the person sees them with that smile.

This week, while feeling grateful for all your blessings, let those blessings bring a smile to your face. A smile "from the inside out."

[Source: burg.com, by Bob Burg]

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On Competition

Why don't more people build powerful partnerships today? Doesn't it make sense that you leverage your power when you build partnerships with supportive, powerful people? And that you increase your success, while minimizing the effort it takes to achieve what you want?

I believe that part of the answer is that we are conditioned to compete with one another.

One of the most striking facts that my research revealed is that truly successful people never compete. The reason successful people avoid competition is that when you compete, you limit yourself and restrict your ability to create.

Consider the kinds of thoughts that must be created for competition. You must:

1. Compare yourself to your "adversary," and think that someone will win and the other must lose.
2. Believe that there is a limited supply of goodness and success.

Both of these thoughts are in error, and completely out of alignment with the Super Laws. Your success, or lack of it, comes directly from your own thoughts, feelings and actions.

Other people have no power to keep you from your good. So the only real competition you will ever have in life is the competition between the positive thoughts of your disciplined mind and the negative thoughts of your undisciplined mind.

You are only in competition with yourself.

If you must have an adversary, let that adversary be lack of understanding. That is the only thing that will slow your success.

Resolve this week to more fully discipline your mind, to focus your will power, to keep your eyes on "the prize" you want to create to the exclusion of everything else!

To your continued wealth and happiness,

Live a Beautiful Life

[Source: harmonicwealth.com, by James Arthur Ray]

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Purpose, Vision And Goals

Do you have a definite purpose that guides your ambitions, vision, and goals?

It doesn't matter how you think you arrived here on this planet or under whose direction -- the fact remains that each of us has specific talents and gifts that are uniquely coded within our own DNA.

As you go through life, you don't just pick up things you like doing by chance. You discover what you're good at because you were meant to discover it, just as you were meant to figure out what your fingers do, and how your elbows work. Your unique gifts are hardwired into your system just as surely as your lungs are given their blueprint to breathe.

And it's from these specific talents and gifts that you're able to define and determine your definite purpose... the reason why you're here. What's in you cannot be found in another living human being.

In fact, it's quite possible that what you bring to the table hasn't been duplicated -- ever -- since time began.

That's right! This "purpose" is serious business.

If you fail to determine your definite purpose, everything else is wrong.

It's like working with a broken compass -- you may think you're going North, but you're not. You're not sure which direction you're heading, so, you're just wandering aimlessly.

Without your purpose identified firmly in your mind, you will wander through life, never quite feeling that you're "in the flow." I say, then, that it's imperative you recognize what it is you're good at -- what it is you really love to do.

Your purpose in this lifetime is to do the thing that you love.

People will tell you they already know what they're good at, and what they love to do most, but they'll never earn money doing it. Whoever gave you that idea? When you're sorting out your purpose, I don't want you thinking about THAT non-issue at all.

You can earn money at anything. Once you determine your purpose, you won't even have to think hard on how to earn money -- it's as if you're being guided by an unseen hand, heading in the right direction... and everything falls into place.

The key to your life is not that you settle for the "safe" thing that will bring in the money. The key is to turn and do what you really love. Fall in love with an idea. That's your life! That's your purpose.

[Source: sixminutestosuccess.com, by Bob Proctor]

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The Greatest Salesman in the World

by Og Mandino

Only principles endure and these I now possess, for the laws that will lead me to greatness are contained in the words of these scrolls.

Principle #1 – Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough.

Keep it always in mind and you will overcome seemingly impossible obstacles that are certain to confront you as they do everyone with ambition. Never feel shame for trying and failing for he who has never failed is he who has never tried.

Principle #2 – I will form good habits and become their slave.

If I must be a slave to habit let me be a slave to good habits.
My bad habits must be destroyed and new furrows prepared for good seed.
Each principle in these scrolls will drive a bad habit from my life and replace it with one which brings me closer to success.
For it is another of nature’s laws that only a habit can subdue another habit.
As I repeat the words daily contained in these scrolls they will soon become a part of my active mind.
Eventually I will find myself reacting to all situations which confront me as I was commanded in the scrolls to react.
Thus a new and good habit is born.

Principle #3 – I will greet this day with love in my heart.

Love is the greatest secret of success in all ventures.
I will laud my enemies and they will become my friends; I will encourage my friends and they will become my brothers.
Always will I dig for reasons to applaud; never will I scratch for excuses to gossip.
I will love all manners of men for each has qualities to be admired even though they be hidden.
But how will I react to the adversity of others? With love.
For just as love is my weapon to open the hearts of men, love is also my shield to repulse the arrows of hate and the spears of anger.

Principle #4 – I will persist until I succeed.

I was not delivered into this world in defeat, nor does failure course through my veins.
I am not a sheep waiting to be led to the slaughter.
I am a lion and I refuse to talk, to walk, to sleep with the sheep.
I will remember the ancient law of averages and I will bend it to my good.
I will persist with knowledge that each failure to sell will increase my chance for success at the next attempt.

Principle #5 – I will increase my knowledge of the world.

Within me burns a flame which has been passed from generations uncounted and its heat is a constant irritation to my spirit to become better than I am, and I will.
I will increase my knowledge of mankind, myself, and the goods I sell, thus my sales will multiply.
I will practice, and improve, and polish the words I utter to sell my goods, for this is the foundation on which I will build my career… Also I will seek constantly to improve my manners and graces, for they are the sugar to which all are attracted.
I have been given eyes to see and a mind to think and now I know a great secret of life for I perceive, at last, that all my problems are in truth great opportunities in disguise.

Principle #6 – I will live this day as if it is my last.

Yesterday is buried forever and I will think of it no more.
Forgetting yesterday neither will I think of tomorrow.
Should I torment myself with problems that may never come to pass? No!
I will avoid with fury the killers of time.
Procrastination I will destroy with action; doubt I will bury under faith; fear I will dismember with confidence.
The duties of today I shall fulfill today. I will maketh every hour count and each minute I will trade only for something of value.
And if this day is not my last, I shall fall to my knees and give thanks.

Principle #7 – Today I will be master of my emotions.

All nature is a cycle of moods and I am a part of nature and so, like the tides, my moods will rise; my moods will fall.
If I bring joy and enthusiasm and brightness and laughter to my customers they will react with joy and enthusiasm and brightness and
laughter and my weather will produce a harvest of sales and a granary of gold for me.
Weak is he who permits his emotions to control his actions; strong is he who forces his actions to control his emotions.

If I feel sad I will laugh.
If I fear I will plunge ahead.
If I feel poverty I will think of wealth to come.
If I become overconfident I will recall my failures.
If I feel complacency I will remember my competition.

I will master my moods through positive action and when I master my moods I will control my destiny.

Principle #8 – I will laugh at the world.

I will chuckle and my burdens will be lightened; I will laugh and my life will be lengthened for this is the great secret of long life.
And most of all, I will laugh at myself for man is most comical when he takes himself too seriously.
Four words I will train myself to say until they become a habit so strong that immediately they will appear in my mind whenever good humor threatens to depart from me.
These four words are: This too shall pass.
And with my laughter all things will be reduced to their proper size.
I will laugh at my failures and they will vanish in clouds of new dreams; I will laugh at my successes and they will shrink to their true value.

Principle #9 – Today I will multiply my value a hundredfold.

And how will I accomplish this? First I will set goals for the day, the week, the month, the year, and my life.
Just as the rain must fall before the wheat will crack its shell and sprout, so must I have objectives before my life will crystallize.
The height of my goals will not hold me in awe.
If I stumble I will rise and my falls will not concern me for all men must stumble often to reach the hearth.
I will always announce my goals to the world.
I will always raise my goals as soon as they are attained.
Yet, never will I proclaim my accomplishments.
Let the world instead, approach me with praise and may I have the wisdom to receive it in humility.

Principle #10 – I will act now.

My dreams are worthless, my plans are dust, my goals are impossible.
All are of no value unless they are followed by action.
I will act now.
I will act now.
I will act now.

Henceforth, I will repeat these words again and again each day until the words become as much a habit as my breathing and the actions which follow become as instinctive as the blinking of my eyelids.
Only action determines my value in the market place and to multiply my value I will multiply my actions.
I will walk where the failure fears to walk.
I will work when the failure seeks rest. Success will not wait. If I delay she will become betrothed to another.

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Stop Thinking "If Only"

"If only I could get a better break."
"If only I had some money."
"If only I would've married the right person."
"If only I worked for the right company."
"If only I had the right parents."

Do you pull back from taking full personal responsibility for yourself? Many of us do. We think that a parent, a teacher, a friend, a boss, a spouse, the company we worked for, or some governmental program should shoulder our burden for turning our lives into what we want them to be.

This approach can't get the job done. Other people and organizations have too many pressing challenges and priorities of their own.

What does this mean? That you'll always be disappointed when you depend on others for the things you must do for yourself.

It's so easy to justify the temptations of freeloading, to slide into being a follower, to fail to see the hidden price tag in the handout. Unless you take complete control of your life and assume full personal responsibility for yourself, who will? No one will.

Every dollar you earn is worth ten given to you. Earned money creates the self-image of self-reliance; given money creates the self-image of other-dependence. This is why some families stay on welfare for generations.

Hangers-on and free-loaders are the most frustrated people on earth because they have created their own frustrations. You can't be successful and happy until you earn the respect of the toughest, hardest to fool, and most important judge in the world: yourself.

[Source: tomhopkins.com, by Tom Hopkins]

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Beautiful Words of Wisdom on Life with Beautiful Paris on Background

by Gabriel García Márquez

“If for an instant God forgot that I am just a puppet, and He gave me one more piece of life, I would take advantage of that time, the best I could.”

I would probably not say everything I think, but definitely think all I say.

I would value things not for what they are worth, but for what they represent.

I would sleep less and dream more. For every minute we close our eyes we lose sixty seconds of light.

I would continue where others have stopped and I would rise when others sleep.

If God allowed me one more piece of life, I would dress simpler, would wallow in the sunlight, leaving uncovered, not only my body but also my soul.

I would prove to men how wrong they are to think that they stop falling in love as they get older, since they actually start getting older as soon as they stop falling in love..

I would give wings to the children, but I would leave the child alone so that he could learn how to fly on his own.

To the old, I would show them how death comes not with the ageing process but with forgetting.

So many things I have learned from you….I have learned that everybody wants to live at the top of the mountain, forgetting that is how we climb is all that matters.

I have learned that when a newborn grabs his father’s thumb, he takes a hold on him forever.

I have learned that a man has the right to look down on somebody, only when he is helping him to get up.

So many things I have learned from all of you.

Always tell, what you feel and do what you think.

If I knew that today it would be the last time that I will see you, I will embrace you strongly to be the guardian of your soul.

If I would know that these would be the last minutes that I will see you, I would say to you “I love you” and wouldn´t assume that you would know it.

There is always morning where life gives us another opportunity to make things good.

Keep always close to you, your dear ones, and tell them how much you need them and love and take care of them. Take time to say, “I am sorry”, “forgive me”, “please,” “thank you” and all the nice and lovely words you know.

Nobody would remember you if you keep your thoughts secret.
Force yourself to express them.

Show your friends and dear ones how much you care about them.

Download the full power point version at Gabriel García Márquez

To Your Happiness,

Live a Beautiful Life

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The Happiest Countries on Earth, Subjective Well-being of World Happiness

Who are the happiest people in the world? Are they from the wealthiest country on earth? The richest nations in the universe? Hmmm... it is actually not very much true. USA only ranks 23rd, and most wealthiest nations do not guarantee the happiest citizens of all, based on a survey held.

Adrian G. White, from the University of Leicester’s School of Psychology, has recently done a controversial study with his recent survey on a global projection of subjective well-being (SWB): the world map of happiness. With the data collected from extensive sources, such as UNESCO (education), WHO (health), CIA (poverty), the New Economics Foundation, etc., and was involving 80,000 respondents all over the world, the survey result showed that the most peaceful and beautiful place to live on earth is... DENMARK. Why so? We'll see later on.

[Source: University of Leicester, more details on the study at http://www.le.ac.uk/users/aw57/world/sample.html]

Meanwhile, here is the top 10 list of nations with highest Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS):

1. DENMARK
2. Switzerland
3. Austria
4. Iceland
5. Bahamas
6. Finland
7. Sweden
8. Bhutan
9. Brunei Darussalam
10. Canada

While the rest are as follows:
17. Malaysia
18. New Zealand
23. USA
26. Australia
35. Germany
41. United Kingdom
53. SINGAPORE
64. INDONESIA
76. Thailand
82. China
90. Japan
102. South Korea
125. India

With the last 5 nations living in suffer, namely:
174. Ukraine
175. Moldova
176. Congo Democratic
177. Zimbabwe
178. Burundi

Malaysia was amazingly in the top 20 list above USA. Not bad for Singaporean and Indonesian to be in the middle of the list, happier than their neighbors in Thailand, China, Japan, Korea, and India. Even Japan, South Korea, and China which are apparently richer and wealthier than Indonesia were quite far below in SWLS ranks.

Happiness here is measured based on the subjective satisfaction of the citizens on the health level (i.e. cheap access to general practitioner, doctor, or hospital), relative wealth, and education accessibility. Healthy nations with affordable living and medical cost, own sufficient wealth and good standard of education are relatively happier.

Another important factor is the life expectancy of the people. The lower it is, the easier that they feel grateful and pleased. Meaning to say that they are very contented with what they have achieved. Whereas the higher the expectation, the more things they want, the more difficult for ones to feel satisfied and happy.

So, why Denmark?

That remains to be answered. Perhaps you should ask the Danish on this... =)
But based on the research, Danish are very blissful people for they always feel contented with their life. Well, they are not as rich as American or Japanese. They do not own private car or super luxurious house, but they have already been thankful with what they have in their life. For Danish, riding bicycle or just simply strolling to go to some places are more enjoyable and relaxing, accompanied with the fresh air outside. There is no need to care for the car maintenance, repair, petrol cost, or even the traffic jam. Isn't it nice to live your life beautifully anyway?

Yes, without a single doubt, success is definitely important. Everyone wants to live better, success in career, and wealthier from day to day. Yet, don't be the slave of it by sacrificing your value of life, family, and friends. Denmark offers free education, medical cost, and retirement funds. The unemployed can live quite nicely in subsidized Denmark. At the same time, the unemployment rate is very low, at about three per cent. All of these can be achieved by the excellent governments of Denmark.

Danish has low expectation level to life. Meaning to say that they work hard and will enjoy whatever they get as the rewards. This makes even a small little success that they achieve has already pleased them. They often can accept every failure and are ready to strive harder to go for the opposite, i.e. SUCCESS.

Most of wealthy nations in the world are probably unhappy because they will not satisfied with whatever they have got. There is the ambition to achieve more and more. Pursuing ambition and dreams are good, as long as happiness is within it. Keep chasing the happiness and you won't ever have the chance to feel and get it.

"Happiness is as a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond our grasp, but which if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you." - Nathaniel Hawthorne

Hence lessons to learn from the Denmark as the happiest nations with citizens who:

• are always grateful, thankful, and blissful for what they have
• will not compare with other people of other nations
• have dreams and realistic ambition to pursue
• are supported by a good governance.

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The Three Biggest Little Words

Some words that we tend to forget and not practise.....

There are many things that we can do to perk up and strengthen our interpersonal relationships. Yet the most effective involves the saying of just three words.

"I'll be there."

If you have ever had to call a friend in the middle of the night, to take a sick child to hospital, or when your car has broken down some miles from home, you will know how good it feels to hear the phrase "I'll be there." Being there for another person is the greatest gift we can give. When we are truly present for other people, important things happen to them and us. We are renewed in love and friendship. We are restored emotionally and spiritually. Being there is at the very core of civility.

"I miss you."

Perhaps more marriages could be saved and strengthened if couples simply and sincerely said to each other "I miss you." This powerful affirmation tells partners they are wanted, needed, desired and loved. Consider how ecstatic you would feel, if you received an unexpected phone call from your spouse in the middle of your workday, just to say "I miss you."

“I respect you.”

Respect is another way of showing love. Respect conveys the feeling that another person is a true equal. If you talk to your children as if they were adults you will strengthen the bonds and become close friends. This applies to all interpersonal relationships.

“Maybe you’re right.”

This phrase is highly effective in diffusing an argument and restoring frayed emotions. The flip side to "maybe your right" is the humility of admitting, "Maybe I'm wrong". Let's face it. When you have a heated argument with someone, all you do is cement the other person's point of view. They, or you, will not change their stance and you run the risk of seriously damaging the relationship between you. Saying "maybe you're right" can open the door to further explore the subject, in which you may then have the opportunity to get your view across in a more rational manner.

“Please forgive me.”

Many broken relationships could be restored and healed if people would admit their mistakes and ask for forgiveness. All of us are vulnerable to faults, foibles and failures. A man should never be ashamed to own up that he has been in the wrong, which is saying, in other words, that he is wiser today than he was yesterday.

"I thank you."

Gratitude is an exquisite form of courtesy. People who enjoy the companionship of good, close friends are those who don't take daily courtesies for granted. They are quick to thank their friends for their many expressions of kindness. On the other hand, people whose circle of friends is severely constricted often do not have the attitude of gratitude.

"Count on me."

A friend is one who walks in when others walk out. Loyalty is an essential ingredient for true friendship; it is the emotional glue that bonds people. Those that are rich in their relationships tend to be steady and true friends. When troubles come, a good friend is there indicating you can "count on me."

“Let me help.”

The best of friends see a need and try to fill it. When they spot a hurt they do what they can to heal it. Without being asked, they pitch in and help.

"I understand you."

People become closer and enjoy each other more if they feel the other person accepts and understands them. Letting your spouse know in so many little ways that you understand them is one of the most powerful tools for healing your relationship. This applies to any relationship.

"I love you."

Perhaps the most important three words that you can say. Telling someone that you truly love them satisfies a person's deepest emotional needs; the need to belong, to feel appreciated and to be wanted. Your family, your friends and you, all need to hear those three little words. I love you.

When spoken or conveyed, these statements have the power to forge new friendships, deepen old ones and restore relationships that have cooled.

These three-word phrases can enrich every relationship.
Use them!

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Tips to Overcome Today Crisis

It has been a rough ride here with the crisis and 3 cases of H1N1 in Singapore. Reminds me of Yr 2002 when many businesses were hit by the SARS. That's when Nanz Chong's '1.99' shops went bankrupt. I was sitting in a cab today and the taxi driver was complaining that life is much tougher for them now. Things will be worse for them since the Circle Line opened today. When you are surrounded by bad news or negative ones which affected you, you can make yourself feel better by using the following NLP Technique:
1) Close your eyes
2) Recall your happiest times in your life
3) Immerse yourself in the visual, sound and feeling
4) Hold it there as long as possible
5) Repeat Step 1 - 4 using other happiest moments
The above will recharge you again.

A video to inspire you. What will you get when you put a man without 1 leg and a woman without 1 hand together?

[Source: short message from Cayden Chang, mindkinesis.com]

Now, ask these questions to yourself,

"Am I still complaining that my present life sucks?

What have I done to improve my life despite my disadvantages in life?

Can I still survive in today's economic turmoil?

Am I happy with my current life then?

Have I lived my dream of beautiful life?"

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No Shame or Embarrassment

The Sages said: "It is better to jump into a flaming furnace than to embarrass somebody." Rather interesting thought, isn't it? One might even say it is extreme... and maybe it is. On the other hand, maybe it isn't :-)

Of course, the message is not to be taken literally, but to serve as a very pointed reminder that shaming or embarrassing another human being is something to avoid at practically any and all costs.

I've personally never seen anything good come out of embarrassing someone. Never heard a joke so funny that it was worth coming at the expense of another person's feelings. Never seen an employee make a mistake that could be effectively corrected by the use of shame.

Or, a lesson to a child so profound that it was worth embarrassing or shaming him or her, especially in front of others. I actually saw this happen recently and can only hope the child doesn't carry the embarrassment with him forever, or learn that that is how one teaches a lesson to one he loves.

If you (and I'm sure you don't) have a tendency to, or have formed the habit of, embarrassing or shaming others as a way of teaching or getting them to do what you want, you might choose to print out the above quote and keep it somewhere where you can see it until you begin to notice an end to that particular trait.

People who win without intimidation always carry an awareness, and act with the awareness that a person's ego is the most fragile thing they have.

Remember what the great author, Les Giblin said; "What counts is attaining personal satisfaction without trampling on the ego of the other person."

Those who win without intimidation also know that when we get our point across in a way that leaves the other person's ego intact (via tact and kindness) we earn their respect, loyalty and a desire to more readily accept our point of view the next time a situation to persuade arises.

[Source: burg.com, by Bob Burg]

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