The Best Of The Best: A Resource That Could Save Your Life

Thank God that most people haven’t gone through what I have to get on with life.

What I mean by that is this: over time, I slowly came to realize that the biggest roadblock to success in my life is me. That’s the painful truth.

Have you ever heard the saying, “I’ve seen the enemy and he is me?”

I’ve found that I’ve got a lot of past baggage, or perceptions and beliefs that hold me back.

When you come to grasp this, you have a choice to make: should I stay or should I go?

In other words, do I choose to remain where I’m at, or do I choose to face my beliefs and get to work, so I can move on with my life?

For those of you who are at that place where they want to “get unstuck,” and have discovered that few, if any things have worked for you, I’ve got a resource that has literally been a lifesaver. And no, I don’t benefit in any way by mentioning it to you.

Here it is:

“The New Psycho Cybernetics: a mind technology for living your life without limits”

Keep an open mind, as many of you may not be too comfortable with self-help resources out there, even if it may turn your life around. I encourage you to try it. If you’re not comfortable buying the CD set, I believe Amazon.com has the book for a fraction of the retail cover price.
I highly recommend it.

I don’t say this lightly, as I’ve got a ton of self-help resources, and would say that most similar items aren’t on par or nearly as helpful as this CD set & guidebook has been for me. Be prepared for some deep, practical, hands on change coming your way if you choose to go this route.

You can get yours at nightingale.com, although you could probably find it cheaper on Amazon.com.

Dreams on Tap?

I'm sure I'm not alone when I say that things changed drastically post op.

It was a drag attempting to recover. Finding myself out of breath just going out to the car. Or what about not feeling physically or mentally at the top of my game any longer? Talk about struggling. Yeah, it shook me up. That's the understatement of the year.

But, I had plenty of time to think about life and what I REALLY WANTED TO DO and why I hadn't actually just done it. Then I could start moving in that direction.

Anybody else out there relate? Had a similar experience? Let me know--post it here. And perhaps we can encourage each other...

Or tell us about your dreams and what you've always wanted to do but for whatever reason just haven't started down that road yet--maybe we could help each other. Who knows?

Either way, as 2006 slips into the past and another year takes it's place, may you find the time to consider if you're "doing what you love while being who you are" as you look forward to 2007. (More on that later)

HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!

Growing Pains: Not So Easy

Last week I came across this article about YouTube. In 2006 alone it grew by 1,972%. Pretty phenomenal, even unbelievable. Check the article out here. With social networking sites like MySpace, LinkedIn, FaceBook and others growing like wildfire, it caused me to examine my own life and my personal growth.

January has come and gone--which means that most peoples' New Year's Resolutions have largely done the same. I personally don't believe in resolutions, and never set any since by nature, they seem to be self-defeating.

But my bottom line is to challenge you today regarding where you're at and where you're growing (going).

Ask yourself these questions:

1. Are you safely entrenched in your comfort zone and determined to stay there? (That's ok if you are).
2. Or, are you doing new things, things you may not be comfortable with, including going after your dreams?
3. Are you at least taking daily "baby steps" that stretch you?
4. Have you set up a plan for 2007?
5. If so, how's that going for you? If not, are you stuck?
6. What are some things that you'd like to accomplish this year, realistically?

In a later post, I will address motivation and a way to accomplish your dreams that flies in the face of conventional wisdom. It's contrary to what most of the "self-help gurus" have been preaching for years.

But the wild thing is that it works--and it has absolutely nothing to do with goals!

What It's Like to Be Superman...

Life ever thrown you a curve ball?

Man, sometimes it's really strange. Not that I'm old or anything, but I remember when I was younger. Ok, just two years ago really. No problems I couldn't handle, everything going great, my health was fine and life was grand.

And then BOOM! Suddenly I realized that I wasn't God. Or Superman either.

I know that this wasn't any major revelation. But what I mean is that I suddenly understood that it just wasn't really possible for me to control everything and have it go my way. Always.

And then a week ago another subtle reminder. Enough already.

I was in ER again with the most excruciating pain I've ever experienced. Friends called it "male child-birth." If that's really the case, it's a wonder we have population growth. I discovered to my joy and amazement I had kidney stones. In a word, wonderful! But I won't further burden you with this fun.

Anyone else have similar experiences that changed you somehow? Let me know.

The bottom line--what did I learn? I don't know yet, I'll keep you posted. I just know that these last few years have been a blow to my self-confidence and belief in myself.

I've begun to have much more compassion and understanding with others. I think they call that grace. My perspective on life has also changed drastically.

What I think is important these days is completely different than even 5 years ago. And yes, I'm not nearly as cocky, self-sure or thinking of myself as someone who can do anything and everything all the time.

Can you relate? What's your story?

Exercise & Nutrition as Blackmail

Ok, I didn't really get blackmailed, but it felt like a set-up nonetheless. As it goes, my wife and I were at our chiropractor and she's like, "oh, yeah, they're having the 'body for life' thing tonight. Let's stay." I'm an avid planner and my next step was food--I was starving. So, during the presentation I went and grabbed something.

And, actually, I'm so excited that we will be eating more healthy and exercising, together! I believe that we'll feel better in no time and look back on this commitment as something that was life-changing, positioning us to live out our lives, the way we want. This can happen to you, as well, if you make the decision. I encourage you to consider it. (Better health & nutrition, that is).

Now, I want to set the record straight. For those of you who aren't familiar with the Body for Life Challenge, it's a national contest where people compete for prizes and money, to see who can put together the best physique, have the greatest weight loss and achieve the most results over a 3 month period. Check it out: www.bodyforlife.com.

Physical, Emotional, & Spiritual Balance: Living the Life of Your Dreams

If you've always wanted to be a competitive bodybuilder or achieve that body that others would die for, go for it. For me, I have modest goals: I just want to feel better (all the time). That way, I can live the life of my dreams, with no limits. For me (as I mentioned in a previous post), that lifestyle encompasses physical, emotional and spiritual health--what I refer to as life-balance. And really, I'm just getting started.

At present, I'm a "apprehensive exerciser" at best, since over the last few years I've struggled with my health. But that is about to change. Honestly, it's been years since I've consistently been to the gym and decided to eat healthy as a lifestyle. So, I face this with mixed emotions, if not somewhat muted excitement.

Oh and thanx to diynaturally at http://diynaturally.wordpress.com/ who got me thinking in the right direction. Then, before I knew it--it all came together--and here I am (gulllppp!)

Final Jeopardy & Nerves of Steel

Last night I had my life coach final.

If successful, upon graduation I would become a Professional Certified Life Purpose & Career Coach with a Life Coach designation. Hours of preparation, studying and coaching went into this. If you're in school or have been, you know the drill.

Well, all of us were nervous and under a lot of pressure. We had to answer a series of questions orally and then coach someone "on the spot." When it came my turn to be tested, I thought I'd try a little humor and answered my first question exactly opposite of what we'd been taught. I thought it was obvious...

DEAD SILENCE. Then I said that I was just kidding. Everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief and started laughing. It broke the ice and put everyone at ease.

Throughout this entire process, I learned many lessons. Chief amongst these include:

• Despite how I felt physically, I could persevere, overcome and be successful.
• I had a lot more ability/capacity than I gave myself credit for when it came to accomplishing things.
• What I set my mind to I can do, in spite of appearances.
• Fears are deceptive and rarely have merit or basis in fact.
• I have the power to choose: my responses, my mindset, my thoughts and beliefs.

So, my encouragement to you is to go for your dreams and desires, persevere in the process and before you know it, you'll be past your comfort zone and into a whole new world!

EndNote: We all passed except one person and will be certified by the end of February or sooner!

Change Your Thinking--Change Your Life

I was just talking to a good friend last night about affirmations. In an earlier post I mentioned the tie-in with beliefs and success or accomplishments.

For me and a lot of other people into the self-help movement, lasting change is a bit of a challenge. How many motivational seminars have you been to? How many positive books have you read? I've read tons of stuff on personal growth, success and change. I've even attended a few powerful seminars, to boot. By all means, continue to do this--but don't stop there.

The bottom line?

It doesn't seem to last. In other words, you've read that book, attended that life-changing seminar and it fades in a few days, for most. You're motivated, excited and enthusiastic about the changes you're going to make and what you're going to do, then reality hits again. And your back to where you were. Why?

I personally believe it comes down to application. A lot of people including myself struggle with that. The reason they do is that their deep-seeded personal beliefs get in their way, and basically prohibit them from making the change. I know, I've been there.

As I mentioned last week, if you believe you don't deserve to make good money, chances are you won't. Your subconscious mind will work to ensure that that's the case.

The Answer
Being an avid researcher and always looking for tools that help, I stumbled upon something pretty fantastic. It's a meditation technique where you use headphones while listening to CDs. It only takes about 30 minutes a day and it's painless. But the results are out of this world! Really.

There are thousands of people already enjoying wonderful changes in their lives as a result and there's tons of in-depth scientific research backing it.

Here's What It Does:(& it's not some new age garbage either, but applied science)

1. Using music and pc-generated signals, it puts your brain into an alpha-beta-theta state.
2. It relaxes and de-stresses you as it slows you way down.
3. You can record your own personal affirmations and have them embedded on this CD.

Why it works...
As I've said, affirmations are great, but you have to do them a certain way to make them work. Here's how they do. By putting your brain into a meditative state and playing your affirmations in this manner, you're bypassing your conscious mind where your beliefs reside, and literally creating new beliefs or pathways in the brain.

I know, I know, it sounds weird, maybe scary, but it works!

Check out this link where they do a better job of explaining the whole process. (I've been a client for years but don't profit by my relationship with them):

www.centerpointe.com

Honestly, there are few tools out there that are as powerful as this one! So, check it out--you'll be glad you did.

Fear Failing Forward

FEARS can immobilize, paralyze and keep you stuck. Forget about how unrealistic they are or that they may not make any sense at all--to anyone but you. Fear can keep you from achieving your potential and stretching outside your comfort zone into someone you desire to become or doing something you've wanted to do for a long time.

Fear can be gut-wrenching, sickening and depressing. It is also one of the most LIMITING BELIEFS someone can have.

But don't give in to the pressure or the LIE that is holding you back, whatever that may be. Be courageous and stand up to it--believe me, in time you'll be glad you did. And, I realize it won't be easy. Doing great things usually isn't.

Someone once said that F.E.A.R. stands for: False Evidence Appearing Real. Nothing could be more true. When you internalize this and walk in it, you will find freedom to become who you desire to be and do things you never thought you could do.

Here's an encouraging snippet from Nelson Mandela's 1994 Inaugural Speech. I hope you find it uplifting and that it helps to move you forward. (Let me know what you think or if you have anything to share regarding this post.)

Our Greatest Fear

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest far is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God.

Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.

You were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within you. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

As we're liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

Attitude Matters--How's Yours?

This is your second helping from my toolbox of favorite quotes.

We started with "Destiny," to kinda give you the big picture, now I'll give you a few from "Attitude." My experience has been that you can have the world's greatest goals and "shoot-for-the-moon" aspirations, but if your attitude STINKS, then it's not likely you'll get where you want to go.

The foundation of your attitude is your BELIEFS, which is something everyone must look at along the road to success, if they don't want to lose everything (or everyone) along the way. I'll spend some time covering this later.

Attitude:

"The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind."--William James

"Your living is determined not so much by what life brings you as by the attitude you bring to life."--John Homer Miller

"You are searching for the magic key that will unlock the door to the source of power; and yet you have the key in your own hands, and you may make use of it the moment you learn to control your thoughts."--Napoleon Hill

"For as he thinks in his heart, so is he."--Proverbs 23:7 (Amplified version)