Success University 02 (Nov 08 - Jan 09)

[winston]

How To Liberate the Hero In You By Dr. Annette Colby, RD

One of the great things about the movies is that the hero always manages to lift up from life’s troubles. While the rest of us mere mortals would curl up in a dark corner, the hero commits fully to the journey ahead and finds a way to restore the world’s balance.

If we look closely at the making of a hero, we notice that initially the hero is reluctant to take on the challenge because of personal fears or insecurities. For a short time, the hero faces doubt and perhaps even a momentary meltdown. The hero may panic or break down in a fit of despair or passing hopelessness.

But that’s just in the short-term. Overall, the hero doesn’t check out for the rest of the movie until the bad things go away. The hero doesn’t give up and run to the nearest fast food restaurant to escape from life in a double cheeseburger and fries. And the hero doesn’t permanently give up and drown in a bottle of whiskey.

Our hero eventually takes a deep breath, accepts the situation, and steps up to the challenge. A transformation occurs as the character faces a situation that demands some kind of change. Our hero is able to let go of a particular mindset, and propel into action to overcome adversity.

That’s why we love movies. We identify with the vulnerability of the character as he initially shy’s away from an overwhelming challenge. Then our hearts surge with excitement as we watch the character dig deep within to discover loyalty and commitment to the cause. We feel positive emotional energy as we watch the hero face the challenge with integrity, determination, and persistence. Movie heroes show us that it is possible to be vulnerable yet courageous. It is possible to face our problems while maintaining faith and commitment throughout the journey.

Life Is An Action Movie
Luckily, most of us will not ever face the extreme situations portrayed in movies. Life is generally much more ordinary and routine. However, we all experience challenges, misfortune, and hardship that demand we grow beyond our current abilities. These changes require that we step beyond our comfort circles and explore new avenues of self-expression.

Are you the confident hero of your own life, leading yourself compassionately and decisively – not only when things are smooth, but especially when the going gets tough?

Look closely at your self-leadership personality as you face the challenges and goals most important to you. How do you solve problems? How do you respond to pressure? How do you interact with yourself when facing difficulty? What motivates you to stay focused to achieve your goal to great success?

To become a confident heroic leader of your own life, follow this empowering checklist:

1) Identify and accept your fear or challenge. Dedicate yourself to achieving a successful outcome, no matter what monsters you may face along the way.

2) Identify the mindset or qualities you wish you had – courage, persistence, optimism, faith, belief in yourself, resourcefulness, inspiration, etc.

3) See the challenge as a situation providing many, many opportunities to develop more of the qualities you wish to posses.

4) Appoint yourself in charge of making decisions related to your goal, cause, or overall desired outcome.

5) Use your imagination to identify the single next step you can take to face your fear or challenge.

6) Take action to move you forward into a positive outcome – but do so in a manner that allows your courage, love of self, or faith to expand.

There’s a hero that is always with you, when you are in joy, in pain, or in fear. That hero is your spirit of hope, imagination, and persistence – and that hero lies within you. Follow the tips above and release your hidden inner hero!

[winston]

There's nothing tiny or insignificant. Everything is significant. And everything flows on the same basis of Laws.

Whether you are looking at world events or something that's happening in your kitchen drawer, broad and important, or narrow and seemingly insignificant, there's potential for connection or disconnection in either case. And it is only the connection or the disconnection that is of really any importance.

Excerpted from a workshop in San Antonio, TX on Saturday, November 25th, 2000

All Is Well

[winston]

Breakthrough Your Bothers: What to Do When Bothers Come Knocking at Your Door
By Larry Crane, the Official Guide To Abundance

How much can you be bothered? Does the news bother you? Does all this economic turmoil bother you? Does the neighbor bother you? Do politicians bother you?

To the extent you can be bothered, to that extent you are agitated, nervous and anxious.

Agitation, nervousness, anxiety and a whole range of related feelings are such a part of life you might assume they're normal. You might assume they are part of life. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Feeling bothered is not natural to you.

Feeling bothered is not natural to you even though it's such a part of you it seems natural. Feelings that bother you are a foreign invader to your peaceful self.

What's interesting is how you handle being bothered. A car alarm goes off, a dog won't stop barking, you get a parking ticket, someone looks at you cross-eyed and you get bothered, annoyed, irritated. How do you handle those bothered feelings? Usually you get mad, furious, frustrated and more and more agitated.

You answer negative with more negative. If someone asked you if you like getting bothered by something or someone you would probably say, "No, I don't like getting bothered." Yet you react to a bother, which you see as negative, with more negative, getting yourself annoyed, irritated, angry.

You pile more negative on the negative, thinking somehow that helps you.

How does it help you? It doesn't. It makes you more irritated, more negative. That's how people live their life. Then they go to the pharmacist to take something for it. The world is shooting itself in the foot and wondering why their foot hurts.

Are you ready for something different? Are you ready for a different kind of life? Are you ready for a life where you can never be bothered? It is possible. But you do have to do something different.

First you have to see that the bother, the thing that bugs you is not the cause of you being bothered. The cause of your bother is YOU. Whatever happens out there can't bother you unless you decide to be bothered. It's not the thing. It's your reaction to the thing. Reacting is negative and adds up to more negative for you.

What's the solution? Make a decision. When bother comes knocking at your door don't open the door and let it in. Let bother do whatever it does but you decide to not participate. Stay on the sidelines and watch the madness. You don't have to join in.

You can only be bothered if you decide to be. Whatever happens, whatever someone does or says, it's not a bother to you unless you decide to let it bother you, unless you shake hands with it and join in.

Remember, if you decide to let something bother you, you are hurting you. You're not hurting whatever bothers you by getting bothered by it. Being bothered, nervous, anxious, upset, annoyed and frustrated does not help you. It does not make you more healthy, more wealthy or more loving. It makes you the opposite.

What's the answer? When bother comes your way ignore it. Ignore it. Try it. Notice when you ignore it, it ignores you. Meaning when you ignore something that bothers you it no longer comes your way. Try it and find out.

[RidingOnTop]

Questions like these:

How can I do a better job?
What is really cool about me?
What do I like about my job?
What's neat about my kids?
Who loves me and who do I love?
What's useful about this "problem?"
What can the next hour mean to me if I get this task done?

Lovely.. A quick start to empowering questions.

To build on this:

How can I do a better job? >> And so which ideas can i put into action immediately?
What is really cool about me? >> And so continue to build on it?
What do I like about my job? >> And how can i focus on what i like and excel in?
What's neat about my kids? >> And how can i encourage and guide them to build on it?
Who loves me and who do I love? >> And so invest more of my time and resources in?
What's useful about this "problem?" >> And so i can start "attacking" it and make it fun for me?
What can the next hour mean to me if I get this task done? >> And so get cracking already!

[kennynah]

if i could ride on top always......i;d be very happy

[winston]

Dream Insights By Marcia Wieder

A dream is simply something that you want. And where do dreams come from? You make them up. Some are based on needs such as putting healthy food on the table or sending your kids to a good school.

Some of them are based on desires such as writing a book, buying a home, or traveling to an exotic location. But by far, the most profound dreams are those that are the expression of your life's purpose.

* You have to have a dream to have a dream come true.

* Trust your intuition and follow your heart.

* Every resource you need is available to you.

* Believing in your dream is an essential component.

* There are signs showing you which way to go. Learn to read and act on them.

* There is often lag time between imagining your dream and making it happen.

* You have the ability to make your dreams happen but it will require your willingness to do whatever it takes.

* On the other side of fear are great lessons. Stay more committed to your dream than to your doubt.

* As you complete one dream, it's time for another. Don't ever be afraid to cross the finish line. There are always
more dreams available.

[winston]

The Truth About Bad Habits By Anastasia Netri

The other day, I was sitting in my bedroom faced with a decision about whether to go exercise or go to the coffee shop. I used to exercise every day. Lately, so much in my life has shifted that I somehow, without even noticing, got out of the habit of daily exercise. It's been nearly three weeks now, and find myself craving the morning cup of joe (I NEVER used to drink coffee either!) and not exercising. No wonder I'm tired!

The decision seemed obvious, which was to go and exercise. However, when I stood up, my entire body was screaming "NOOO!" and I felt like I was having to force myself, which is a painful, yucky, and uncomfortable feeling.

I took a step back and became fascinated at what was going on. I was resisting something that I knew would make me feel fantastic! It seemed easier to choose something that would cause a drop in my energy level after the "high" wore off. Not to mention that I got to beat up on myself for making the "wrong" decision.

So, in this moment of coffee vs. exercise, I sat and really went inward. I asked the question I've never really asked point blank before - Why is it so darn easy to get into bad habits, and so hard to get into good ones?

After I posed the fateful question, the answer came to me within seconds.

Are you ready? Really ready to discover the answer? Well, here it is:

Bad habits keep you in the state of "status quo". Good habits move us forward and promote change, personal growth, and expansion.

A "bad" habit keeps us stuck in "status quo" for a few reasons, here are some to be aware of:

The habit promotes a decrease in your energy level
The habit keeps you in a state of distraction
The habit causes you to beat up on yourself ("I can't believe I did that - again! What's wrong with me?). There is no better way to NOT expand and grow than negative "self talk".

This awareness has really helped me. The moment I understood that I was only resisting change, I immediately got up and exercised. I also had the realization that I will need to keep reminding myself of that until I have formed the "good habit" again.

Eben Pagan, a expert on this, calls it "habit gravity". He says that when you first are beginning to form a new habit (especially one that will move you forward in life) it literally feels like you are defying gravity for the first few days. Just knowing that helps.

Only you know where to begin. Really, we all do. Understand that any time you are moving forward in life your conditioned mind will put up resistance. You can train your mind to change. I am a big fan of small steps. You needn't shock your mind with trying to turn everything around tomorrow.

Eventually we will return to our comfort zone unless we take care of ourselves, and have patience with growing out of it.

I'll give you an example. Let's say you want to exercise more, but you have not gotten off the couch in three months. You set a goal that starting tomorrow you are going to go to the gym every day for an hour. After about 2 days it will seem like torture, at least it has for me! Like I said before, I am a fan of small steps.

How about setting a smaller goal, like taking a walk around the block for 15 minutes two or three days next week? This seems a lot more realistic - and you are more likely to actually do it. The next week make it 20 minutes. The following week, add a day. Just keep setting the goal a little higher each week, and within 3 - 6 months you'll probably be exercising every day for an hour AND you'll be more likely to stick with it.

I also suggest getting an "accountability buddy" - a friend that you can report to - and vice versa. Get very clear on what you want the other to do. In other words - how do you want them to hold you accountable?

I did this with a friend once, and I told her that the best way she could hold me accountable was with loving encouragement. If I did not accomplish my goal, I would then be asked to remind her what the benefits are of this goal. Why am I doing it?

Remember, your thinking forms your habits. Your habits then shape your results. So be sure to keep reminding yourself how productive habits will turn out. What benefits will they have? What is naturally going to happen in your life as a result?

You are stronger than you think! Pick just one thing - whatever feels like it is the most important habit that you are ready to shift. Then, decide on a small step that you feel excited about and know is something you will do. It is important to build trust in yourself and get a "taste of success" from time to time. Small goals help you do that. One day you'll look back and be blown away at how far you've come.

Someone asked me recently "How do I change? How do I follow my passions when I have to eat and pay bills every day?" I replied, "Little by little. Just start somewhere."

[winston]

Let's Get Real About the Law of Attraction By Elizabeth A. Grant

There is a universal law that is hardly ever talked about, but it's crucial to understand it if you are going to feel inner happiness, which is key to attracting outer abundance. It is the Law of Compensation.

Essentially, the Law of Compensation says that everything has a price. This is an essential concept for you to keep in mind relating to the Law of Attraction. You see, many Law of Attraction materials say that you can have, be or do anything you want in this life, and it comes to you like magic and you don't have to pay for it.

While it is true that when you have a deliberately created Law of Attraction experience, it feels truly magical, nothing is free. You may even attract a large sum of money with very little effort through the law of attraction. However, that does not mean it doesn't come with a price.

The universe is perfectly balanced. The yin and the yang. Nothing happens in one part of the world that doesn't effect the world somewhere else, in however small a way. It's because we are all one, operating from one energy field.

I want to talk about the Law of Compensation because I do not want you to be surprised nor disappointed when you discover it on your own ... when you become a deliberate creator of your reality, and then wonder why these "bad" things are happening to you.

Let me give you a few examples. First, let's say you work with the Law of Attraction correctly, meaning your thoughts and beliefs are lined up, and you take massive action forward toward your dream, and over the course of the next ten years, you increase your income from $50,000 to $5,000,000 per year. That would be quite an accomplishment!

Now you have the financial freedom you've always wanted. You are secure. You can travel to Paris on a whim. Your children can go to the best schools. You have the life you always dreamed of.

Do you think that large sum of money you're receiving has a price attached? Well, it does. For one thing, you may lose some of your middle class friends, who can't handle the disparity in your incomes. You may have distant cousins come out of the woodwork asking for what they perceive they are entitled to: loans, gifts, etc. People may steal from you.

Did you know that both Jack Canfield and James Arthur Ray have been embezzled from? And they both have a firm grasp on the Law of Attraction. See, that was the price they paid for becoming rich, and while it may have been frustrating, I'm sure before long they recognized it as such. Does this mean that every rich person is stolen from? Of course not. But they pay a price. It might be time away from their kids. Or more stress and pressure. They might feel disconnected to others. (There's a reason for the old saying, "It's lonely at the top.")

Let's talk about the Law of Compensation as it relates to something a little more day-to-day. When you acquire a flat screen television at a store, you pay for it; let's say $1600. That's the price. If you find a really cheap one, say $200, you'd probably think, "This is too good to be true!"

Yes, it is. What do you think the real price will be for getting a $200 flat screen TV? Most likely, such a TV will be poor quality. You may think you're paying only $200, but you will continue to pay in inconvenience, because it will break, or the picture will be fuzzy. In less than a year, it may have gone to TV heaven, and you'll have to buy a new one. Because high quality flat screen TVs don't cost $200. Maybe it will be worth it to you. That is where individual choice comes in. One price may seem tolerable or even a bargain to one person, yet intolerable to another.

How about in relationships? Everything has a price there, too. Say you're a single person. If you meet your perfect partner, your life will be enriched in so many ways (and if he or she is rich, even material wealth, right?). You might gain emotional security, a fun companion and a satisfying sex life, too.

But you will pay a price to have all that. You will have to give up some of your freedom, and you will have to compromise. You will have to take another person's feelings into consideration. You may have to eat food you don't like, or go to movies you don't like, or any number of other things. But it's worth it, because of what the person brings to your life.

If you don't pay that price, chances are, whether it's in one year, or 30 years, you'll lose the joy of having that person around. That will be your price. Because who would want to be with someone where they bring joy and give of themselves, and the person takes and takes and takes?

If you absolutely adore chocolate, and you eat a big bar of it every day, you will have to pay a price. You will either be fat, or you will have to work out extra hard to maintain your figure.

If someone gives you your dream car for your birthday, you will have to buy gas, pay for maintenance, and pay for insurance. Even if they cover all of these things for you, you will eventually have to pay a price. Maybe when that person wants you to go on a trip to the backwoods of Alaska, and you couldn't think of anything you'd rather not do more than that, you feel obligated to go. After all, they bought you a CAR. It's a small price to pay, right? (Does that phrase sound familiar? "It's a small price to pay for ..." See? You already knew about the Law of Compensation.)

For an actor, the price of massive success is total lack of privacy. Top Hollywood actors often feel they can't trust anyone anymore. They have difficulty developing deep friendships and finding someone they can share their innermost thoughts with, worried it might end up in the tabloids.

The price you pay for ensuring you will have enough to retire on is not having everything you want right now.

The price you pay for tube of toothpaste is $1.89.

The price you pay for writing a book is time spent away from friends and family. Or a night out on the town. Or sleep.

Does this help you understand something as it relates to the Law of Attraction? Because many Law of Attraction movies and books definitely missed this. They make it sound like a fairytale.

If you've had a Law of Attraction experience, you know it feels magical. You deliberately brought something into your life. Wow, what power you discover about yourself! Just understand that it's not a fairytale. Gratefully pay your price, knowing that you're simply experiencing the wisdom of the universe, the divine balance we all live within.

[millionairemind]

How Big is Your "Why"?
By Bernard B.


Have you ever competed in a marathon? It's 26.2 miles of constant running. Think that's crazy? Try doing it while pushing another grown adult. Di.ck Hoyt has done that over 85 times with his disabled son, Rick, in a running stroller. d**k has also pulled his son on a dinghy for 2.4 miles and pedaled him 112 miles in a seat on the handlebars during triathlons.

How does he do it? Well, how is not an issue to him. The real question is: Why?

It's because of a comment that Rick told his dad after his father pushed him in their first five mile race. Rick told him:

"Dad, when we were running, it felt like I wasn't disabled anymore!"

Now, it's time to look inside and ask: Why do you want financial freedom? Why do you want to be rich? Why do you want to be wealthy?

My wife and I were asked these questions when we attended a real estate investing seminar one summer. Our teacher instructed us to jot down our reasons why we wanted to be rich.

Here are some of the things we wrote down:

1. Time (family time)

2. Travel

3. Do something we love - won't be considered as "work"

4. Give back with teaching

5. Create a legacy

I remember being a little shocked after my wife and I read this list aloud to the other attendants the next day. When we looked at the list again, we didn't see the word "money" in it. Here we are, at a seminar on building wealth, and our reasons didn't include money. It was just interesting to see what really drives us.

Now, our list is printed out and taped to the mirror in our bathroom. We get a constant reminder of why we are doing what we are doing. I remember telling my wife another big reason: "I never want to tell our kids 'You're the reason why we didn't do it.' I want to tell them 'You're the reason why we DID do it'."

In The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, by Stephen R. Covey, habit two states: Begin with the end in mind. Doing this, you become more deliberate in your everyday actions. Your focus becomes more clear because you now envision your desired results.

This is the law of attraction. As you become determined in what you want, financial freedom, you will think about it constantly. Send out vibrations to the Universe that this is your goal. Things are always created twice: First in your mind, then in reality.

d**k Hoyt has a big "why". It's big enough for him to pull, pedal, and push his son through these gruelling races.

How big is your "why"? If your "why" is big enough, the "how" will take care of itself.

Action Steps

1. Write down your dreams and put them somewhere you can see them frequently.

2. Read them when you wake up in the morning and before you go to bed at night.

3. Share your dreams with like minded people so you are accountable to what you say and do.

Read more on creating your Why and how to develop your Millionaire Mindset.

Isn't it time you chose financial freedom?

[millionairemind]

Five Ways to Stay Positive--Without Turning Into a Wimp
By: Bean Jones

Though there are people out there who brush off feel-good tips, I still believe that positive thinking should be practiced whenever possible. Why whine when you can find ways to make yourself--as well as the people around you--feel better?

No Whining Allowed
Don't get me wrong, I'm no saint. I whine about the most mundane things. I hate it when elevators don't work. I grumble when I get elbowed in the jam-packed subway. I get irked by people who treat waiters badly. (I was one in the summer of my senior year in high school and I know how hard it can be to meet some customers' demands.)

Then again, it takes way more energy to be mad at the world than to roll with the punches.

Positive Power
So, I try to be positive...in a tough sort of way.

If there's such a thing as "tough love," then I think there should also be "tough positivism." This is exactly the kind of mindset that Dr. James E. Loehr, psychologist and author of books like The New Toughness Training for Sports and Stress for Success.

Tips for Champions
Though Loehr specializes in the mental conditioning of athletes, I find that most of the advice he gives applies to the most complex game of all--life. Here are five of his tips for winning the battle against the things that bring us down:

1. Keep your chuckle--no matter what. When you think funny or silly thoughts, fear and anger vaporize.

2. Tune in to the here-and-now. In any pressurized situation, thinking about the past or the future can lead to anger and frustration. Practice maintaining a moment-by-moment focus. Resist the urge to cry over the past or the temptation to get ahead of yourself.

3. Don't think or say, "I hate..." or "I can't." Learn to "bleep out" inflexible, rigid statements that can build emotional roadblocks.

4. Brainwash yourself into thinking like a winner. Whatever you don't want to do or are afraid you can't do, post signs everywhere saying, "I love..." (In my case it would be, "I love meeting my deadlines.") Write it 25 times a day and learn to think it.

5. Use adversity to get stronger. When possible, think of every crisis as an opportunity to grow, to extend beyond your normal limits. A major component of emotional toughness is learning the right attitudes when it comes to tough times.

The "You" Factor
While Loehr's tips are empowering--they're not, by any means, magic. Ultimately, the decision to dust yourself off and try to find your bearings after any hard fall is all up to you. Wise words may help, but you have to do the work. Wimping out on yourself is the worst thing you could do.

To make you sure that you know how to stick up for yourself in the face of adversity, check out the Kaizen Club, a Simpleology course that offers all sorts of kick-ass life skills. (No wimps allowed.)