A simplified morning routine

Simplify, & enjoy the morning.

‘I’ll tell you how the sun rose a ribbon at a time.’ ~Emily Dickinson

These days, I wake as the sun begins to softly express itself on the day, and enjoy the early light and the quiet thrum of the world.

Then I do three things: Sit. Read. Write.

It’s my new simplified morning routine.

If you’ve read the old Zen Habits posts, you might have read about my old morning routine — still one of the more popular posts on this patinated site (I actually like the patina here).

Like almost anything else I’ve written about, however, this has changed in my life over the last few years. At one point I abandoned routine altogether, and since have revisited the idea a few times.

Recently, I’ve simplified my routine to those three things. And those three things have been wonderful. Because of this routine, I now start my days slowly, in peace, doing the things I love, mindfully.

It’s hard to start a day better than that.

Not everyone will love the three things I do in the morning, so I don’t recommend that everyone adopt it wholesale, but I thought I’d share just to provide ideas for others who might be interested:

1. Sit. I wake up and start the coffeemaker, drink a glass of water, then sit on a small pillow. I just sit, and focus on my breathing. You don’t have to meditate — sitting still, contemplating, taking in the world, is a beautiful thing.
2. Read. I read a book. The paper kind, that doesn’t require electricity. I like reading with no distractions. I’ll read for about half an hour to an hour.
3. Write. Before I check email or Twitter or read my feeds, I sit down and write. It doesn’t matter what — a chapter for my new book, a blog post, answers to an interview someone emailed me, anything. I just write, without distractions.

After I’ve done that, I am now free to check email and read my feeds (I only follow a handful). I get on with the rest of my day.

I used to exercise in the morning, but since moving to San Francisco I’ve found that I prefer waiting until the day has heated up before I venture outside. Moving my exercise has also allowed me to simplify the morning routine.

I used to eat breakfast in the morning, but now I wait until mid-day to eat my steel-cut oats. Why? No special reason — I’m experimenting a bit with compressing my “eating window” from the normal 12-14 hours or so (the time you first eat until the time you last eat in the day) to about 8 hours. It hasn’t been a major change but something I’ve been trying out. It also means I can simplify my morning routine.

Later in the day, I also have tea with my wife, usually, and find time to play with the kids, read some more, write some more.

But early in the morning, I’m enjoying the simplicity of this morning routine.
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My new book, focus, will be coming out very soon. There will be a free version that you can download without cost (why I call it “free”), and a paid version that will include bonus chapters, three guides (for creating habits, processing email, and decluttering), chapters by 5 other authors, videos going deeper into a few topics, and audio interviews with experts. Print version to come a little later.

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Personal Development – It’s How You Use Your Brain That Matters

For anyone interested in their own personal development, you may be interested in recent research that shows that “thinkers’ brains are different”. The suggestion is that how you think depends on the development of certain regions of the brain – but in fact, it’s the other way around: the development of particular regions of your brain is related to how much you use them! Your mind power is dependant upon the choices that you make.

Nobody is born a ‘thinker’ – just like nobody is born a London cabbie or taxi driver, yet an area of their brains is highly developed and, in fact, larger than the normal brain because of the hoops that they have to jump through to learn ‘The Knowledge’ – how to get from A to B using all kinds of circuitous routes. Some years ago, research proved that the use to which these guys and girls put their brain had a measurable effect on the size and shape of their brain.

More recently, neuro-psychological research demonstrates that the human brain exhibits a considerable capability for what is called plasticity – in other words, the shape, characteristics and development of the brain depends on how it is used and the extent to which one area of the brain may have to take control of the functions of another part of the brain that has been damaged.

The important point is that our brains, their functionality and capacity, depends on what we do with them – not the other way around. Many people with whom I’ve worked in my practice thought that they were stupid, slow or incapable of understanding things that ‘clever’ people understood. Their perception of their own intellectual skills did not relate to the physiology of their brains – it was related to the fact that, during their formative years, they had incorrectly learned their own self-image which, as adults, prevented them from employing their brains in an expansive way.

Each of us has limiting perceptions about ourselves – we were each conditioned during our childhood years – now, those self-perceptions hold us back from accessing and benefiting from our natural potential. However, all you have to do to be all that you can be is to drop your preconceived notions. Even the size of your brain will respond to your new found self understanding.

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Get A Positive Wealth Mindset

How you view wealthy is the single most crucial factor that determines if you are wealthy or not. So, if you desire more money in your existence it is imperative that you get a positive wealth mindset instead of a credit mindset.

However, a lot people are taught to think negatively about money, and subsequently, good about credit. We’re told things like “money doesn’t grow on trees,” and “money is the root of all evil.” It’s easy to see why people have such a difficult time thinking positively about wealth! You may have even been told that rich people are “filthy” and as a result are subconsciously staying away from wealth and missing out on the good opportunities having money can provide.

For as long as you hold on to bad and erroneous beliefs about money, you won’t ever create the money you deserve or desire.

To transform your wealth views, you must first recognize that money is not bad or good alone. It is just a tool. In fact, money is often more utilized for good than evil. Think about the great charities that have helped persons all across the world when they are given large amounts of money. Appreciate all the good that cash is used for. It is an important part of life and is utilized to make positive changes in the world. Money should be sought after, not avoided.

Realize that money is abundant. When you were a child, you might have been told by your parents that money doesn’t grow on trees. If you’re keeping that view now, your own mind could be keeping you from attracting wealth. Money might not grow on trees, but there is an abundant amount of it for everybody, even you. However, if you perceive that money is scarce, that belief will keep it far away from you.

Donating money is a different method you can develop a good wealth mindset. Wanting to hold onto every cent you possess is a indicator of a stingy mindset and reinforces the view that there isn’t enough of it. Giving reinforces the concept of abundance.

Lastly, be happy for those who are successful and have money. We often remember being taught that those who have money are filthy and are tempted to think bad about them. In fact, the opposite is usually true. Wealthy people often get their wealth by sharing what they have with others and believing in the idea of abundance.

When someone else has wealth, don’t resent their success. If you have feelings of resentment, that will only keep you from getting your own wealth and success. Rather than that, be happy for them and realize that there is enough wealth for you too, and your time will come.

By making these changes in how you think about money, you will be on your way to developing a positive money mindset. Once you begin thinking about money in a positive way, you will be on the path to achieving your own wealth.

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lessons from a car-free life

‘The civilized man has built a coach, but has lost the use of his feet.’ ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

This past summer, my family (my wife, me, six kids) finally gave up our car. It was a liberating and scary experience.

We’ve been dependent on our automobile for so many years that giving it up was unthinkable. If you own a car, it’s probably unthinkable to you too.

We drove everywhere: to and from school and work, to music lessons and recitals, to soccer practice and all-day-long games at the soccer field, to family events (which were numerous), to grocery stores and malls and restaurants and movie theaters and bookstores and beauty salons (not for me, I’m bald … er, shaven), to pay bills and run errands, to go to the beach and the parks. To do anything.

How could we get rid of our car?

For the last few years, we’ve been weaning ourselves slowly from the car (actually a van in our case). We went car-lite, gradually, and if you’re considering these issues this is what I’d recommend for most families.

First, we sold our second vehicle and learned to make it work with one. At one point my wife quit her job and began homeschooling our kids, which was great because they had their mom home all the time — something most kids don’t get. Later I was able to quit my day job and worked from home, reducing our car trips by a lot. Then we moved closer to town, so we could walk and bike more — everything was within walking distance, including the grocery store, beauty salon, post office, beach, movie theater, restaurants, coffee shops and more. Only family and soccer were further away. We used the car very little.

Finally, we moved to San Francisco, and its great public transit was a big factor. We were giving up our car! Note: While many other cities/towns are not as transit-friendly, tons of people have gone car-free in them — walking and cycling and car-sharing are all great options.

We sold our van (yay!) and didn’t buy a vehicle here in San Francisco. A few times we’ve rented or borrowed a car, and boy, it really reminds me how lucky we are to be without one. It’s such a hassle to drive, to find parking, to get a parking ticket (which I’ve done), to retrieve your car when its towed (yes, that happened, and yes it was dumb of me), to try to find places when you’re driving, pay tolls and pay for parking, to get stuck in rush hour … and so on.

We ride buses and trains and walk. We’re getting bikes soon, but we decided to do one step at a time. We walk a lot! We purposely picked a home that was a block away from the train stop and has bus lines that are within feet of our front door. We can get anywhere in this city easily.

I often walk aimlessly, just to explore the city. I take Eva and the kids on walks to show them new places that we would never have seen with a car. It’s the best way to discover the joys of a new place — cars isolate you and speed you by the best bits.

Buses often have very weird people in it, who yell things or smell or dress funny. I love that. It’s something my kids have never been exposed to, and now they’re getting an up-close education. They’re never in danger, but now they see so much more of the world than they ever did while isolated in a car. They come shoulder-to-shoulder with humanity in crowded buses, they talk to their neighbors, they smile at people and make others smile.

We are healthier than ever. Walking is amazing. It costs nothing, and yet you get fresh air, see people, see nature, see stores and restaurants and houses and plants you never would have in a car. You get in great shape. My little four-year-old can walk for miles, and sing while doing it. She runs up hills. Granted, sometimes I carry her on my shoulders when she gets tired, but that’s good exercise for me. We’re also safer than ever — buses are the safest way to travel on American roads.

We spend so much less on transportation. Cars are extremely expensive — not only for the car payments themselves, but for fuel, oil changes, insurance, registration fees, parking costs, tickets, inevitable repairs, the cost of the space to park the car overnight (garages aren’t free space), cleaning the car, and health costs (they’re unhealthy). When you have so many expenses, you have to work more to pay for those expenses. Cutting them out means I work less, and that’s a wonderful thing for me and my family.

I have to give immense credit to my wife, Eva, for being so great during our car-free experiment. Lots of spouses would complain — Eva has embraced and enjoyed the journey. My kids, too, have been great — instead of complaining, they’ve had fun with me, playing games, singing, exploring, racing. It’s been a great journey as a family, and I’m glad we’ve embarked upon it.

People think of giving up their cars, and they immediately think of the reasons they can’t — the limitations. But I’ve come to realize these are actually strengths. Consider.

1. Takes longer. Yes, it sometimes take longer to get places — maybe 20 minutes instead of 10-15, or 45 minutes instead of 25-30. But that’s OK, because cars (while faster) are also more stressful. Driving in traffic is stressful. So we go places slower, which is less stressful, more fun. I like a slower life.

2. The weather. Sometimes the weather isn’t great — but truthfully, I enjoy getting soaked in the rain. My little ones don’t mind either — they love stomping in mud puddles. We are so used to being in our metal-and-glass boxes that we forget how wonderful the rain is. And when the weather is good, cars isolate you from that. You don’t get to feel the sun on your shoulders, the wind in your face, the fresh smell of licorice when you pass a certain plant, see the squirrels dart past or the ducks mock you with their quack.

3. Convenience. Sure, buses can be inconvenient — sometimes they’re late and you wait and you’re late. But think about the inconveniences of cars we often forget: parking, getting stuck in traffic, getting cut off from other people, paying tolls, paying for parking, parking tickets, speeding tickets, cars breaking down in the highway, car repairs, oil changes, stopping for gas, car insurance, washing the car, the dangers of car accidents (car crashes are the leading killer of American children), the unhealthiness of it for your kids, making a wrong turn and trying to get back on your route, the expense of a car and having to work more just to pay for it, the cost of health care because cars are unhealthier for you and your family and having to work more just to pay for that, just to name a few.

When you look at it like that, considering all the inconveniences of the various forms of transportation, cars don’t necessarily come out ahead in convenience.

4. Groceries. We walk to the grocery store — it’s one block away. We can’t carry as much as we can with the car, so we make more frequent trips. That’s not a weakness, it’s a strength. That means we walk more. Actually, going to the store is uphill, so I sprint uphill. It’s a lot of fun and great exercise.

5. Doing stuff that’s not close. It’s easier to get in the car and go to places, while walking or riding transit takes time and sometimes planning. So yes, you’re a bit more limited. I don’t see that as bad, once you accept this — it means you do less, which is simpler and less stressful. It means you only go places that are far if they’re important. It means you explore ways to have fun near your home. Cars encourage us to take more trips, which pollute more, cause us to be busier, use up more time and money and natural resources. Slowing down and taking fewer trips is better for us, our health, our environment.

‘Life is too short for traffic.’ ~Dan Bellack

Good reads on this:

—
el Tweeto

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Self Help – Daily Meditation For Self Improvement

Self Help – Daily Meditation for Improving Your Confidence
By Jessica T.

Emotional Self-Help

If you take a minute and reflect over the thoughts that dominate your mind in your every day life, you may discover that a lot of the thoughts are something like, no I can’t do that or I am not good enough for that, or maybe you unconsciously categorise all the things that you can’t and aren’t.
I am sure that you do not need me to tell you that this is unhealthy and can become very damaging over time. You have probably heard many people say, that these kind of thoughts are destructive and will not be beneficial for anyone. But how to change this state of mind?

Well, you will have to change your attitude towards life and yourself. To do that I suggest that you try this following technique and see if it helps you.

Replacing Your Thoughts

For this exercise I want you to think about the thoughts that normally pops in to your mind when ever there’s a situation and something you believe you can’t do.
What do you think?

Do you think that you aren’t good enough?
Do you think that your skills are inadequate?
Do you usually describe yourself in negative terms like, I am not that kind of person and I do not have that talent?

Well, take those negative words and replace them positive words such as, I am good enough, I am talented, etc.
This is of course not an immediate transformation and it requires a complete change in the way you are thinking. This will take some time and effort, but aren’t you worth it?

The Daily Plan for Self Improvement

Make it a habit to think positive thoughts about yourself. And be more aware of the way you are thinking

So take notice in your thoughts. Don’t just allow the negative thoughts to control your mind. Take control of them and replace them. So when a negative thought appears, simply acknowledge it, and let it go. Then turn your mind towards a positive though and something that makes you feel confident. It may be a memory of something in the past or some achievements in your life. Something you are proud of. Make that feeling the dominant feeling, and make it a habit to switch your mind towards those thoughts, whenever a negative one appears.

Meditation
Meditation is also a great self-help technique. Meditation can have a healing effect on both your mentality and your physical body. You will feel more stabilized and balanced when working with meditation as a self-improvement technique. One great healing meditation that I recommend is chakra healing or chakra meditation.

In chakra healing you learn to heal your chakras. This is important for self-help, as each and every energetic chakra field in your body is the location for your personal qualities and characters.
If you for instance feel that you will-power is basically gone and you often let other people take control, you solar plexus may be blocked or closed. If your chakras are blocked, they will not be healthy and in balanced and can therefore cause emotional and physical blockages. So try chakra healing and see if it helps you feel more balanced and at peace.

You can find complete chakra healing guides on my site. Just go to Chakra Balancing
Good Luck

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Your Viewpoints Regarding Wealth Are Huge Keys To Finally Attaining It

Producing a wealth consciousness is important in terms of your needs for economic abundance, getting out of debt, buying that big house, or simply sensing that you could be secure overall.

Your wealth consciousness is a mixture of your attitudes and beliefs relating to your skill to have a wealth of material possessions that you regard as critical. This all commences with the thoughts in your thoughts. Do you believe that you are worthy of prosperity or do you fill your mind with thoughts as to why fiscal independence is not for you to experience?

Even if in one way you wish for monetary prosperity, but your over-all notion of prosperity is one where you do not think you deserve it, you are going to realize that it’s difficult to see prosperity materialize in your life.

It is critical that you go again to when you formulated these attitudes and beliefs about dollars and wealth. How did your feelings toward wealth appear into being? Did you hear your mommy and daddy arguing all over the simple fact that there was by no means sufficient income? Were your mother and father irresponsible and run up a lot of credit card personal debt? Or, was there always a feeling of prosperity and abundance in your home?

Your practical experience in building wealth will rely on whether or not your pondering procedure is, “There is never ever enough income” or “I always have a great deal of money and fiscal independence is mine”. Do you see the big difference in what vitality your thought process is putting out into the universe with these 2 paradigm views?

The initial phase to altering is to pay close up extra attention to this thought method. Begin to hear to oneself when income happens to up. Do you find thoughts like, “I am broke”, “I don’t have adequate money”, or “I can’t pay my expenses” keep getting into your brain?

If so, these are your affirmations. It is now time to transform your affirmations to ones like, “I can constantly pay my expenses with plenty left over” or “There is an abundance of money and wealth in my life”. This is so crucial. You can’t transform your reality until finally you first alter your thought process.

I realize this is difficult when the current actuality is one of debt collectors and higher personal debt payments. You must trust in this law of financial independence. Let your thoughts to gradually change. Think hard on these new attitudes and feelings.

Quite a few times it is when you chill out and reflect that you come up with new strategies that permit you to modify one thing in the physical world that in the end results in your skill to entice a lot more funds and construct prosperity. As you let go of your old, limiting money attitudes, you produce a new prosperity consciousness that permits you to attract the economic independence you seek.

As soon as you have fixed your mental view toward prosperity, then you are ready to start out tackling the procedures to use, like real estate or tax liens investing, network marketing, website development, and so on.

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Shape Up For A Great Life

Life is supposed to be fabulous – you are supposed to be successful and happy – you’re not meant to struggle and, certainly, worry, anxiety and stress should simply not be part of your daily experience at all. And you should never feel inadequate, you should never even consider the notion of self esteem or self confidence – you should be simply immersed in living life to the full.

Does any of this sound familiar? Probably not – because only an idiot would believe that life could be like that. WRONG! If you believe otherwise, you’re the idiot – and I’ve got seventy years psychological research to prove that we’re all idiots, buried in the same pathetic view of life – that life’s a struggle, life’s a hassle, you work for a living, etc. etc.

Sure, I’ve got plenty of work that needs doign – sometimes I think that it’s a drag – but it’s the thought that does that to me, not the work. Sure, I’ve three rebellious teenage children who can get up to all kinds of mischief at times – but which is more effective and easier – for us to work these things out without strangling ourselves in mental knots, or doing what normal people do until they’re so stressed and so worried that they can do nothing remotely resembling effective?

My point is that how you view your life, what you feel about your life and how you experience your life is all down to what’s going on in your head – not what’s going on in your life. And your head’s a mess – everyone’s is, it’s how we’re built. But you can pull yourself together and get in shape – mentally. All that’s needed is a little training and, perhaps, ten minutes commitment every day to make the other twenty three hours and fifty minutes great.

What do you do during these few minutes? You pay attention – not to what you think is happening but what is actually going on. You’ll pay attention to what your five senses tell you – without saying to yourself that that sound is distracting you or that pain in your big toe is annoying you – without moaning that this smell is horrible or that dust on the shelf is doing your head in. You’ll simply sit down and see, feel, hear, smell and taste what is really happening. It’s known as coming to your senses! And, if you come to your senses for five minutes every morning, you’ll be in a far better state of mental readiness for whatever life throws at you for the rest of the day. But, more importantly, you’ll be far more awake to the opportunities that life will throw your way today.

So, time to shape up!

Technorati Tags: mind power, personal development, self improvement, self-help, Success

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Why I don’t care about success

‘Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value.’ ~Albert Einstein

A lot of people in my field write about how to be successful, but I try to avoid it. It’s just not something I believe is important.

Now, that might seem weird: what kind of loser doesn’t want to be successful?

Me. I’m that loser.

Obviously, the first problem with success is how you define success … is it becoming famous, rich, creating a world-changing business, coming up with an idea that changes people’s lives, helping others, being happy? So many people with values similar to mine would reject the traditional definitions of success: being rich or famous or having a best-selling book or creating a huge business is not all there is to life.

And those people are right, in my book. If all you’re striving for is money, you’ll do horrible things to get it. If all you want is a successful business, you’ll screw people over to get it. If all you want is fame, you’ll give up your dignity to achieve it.

I could probably get a book on the New York Times best-seller list if I really tried, but it’s not something I care enough about, and I know I’d have to do things I wouldn’t be happy doing in order to get there. I’d have to make promises I couldn’t deliver on, sell something to people who are looking for answers I don’t have, trick them into buying the book.

I could make a lot more money than I make now, if I capitalized on all the readers I have and pressured them into buying more things. But I don’t think buying a lot of things is a good thing, so I’d feel crappy doing that. It’s not worth it.

So those who teach you to be successful … they’ll share methods that are a bit shady sometimes. If not, often they sell you platitudes that sound good but are too vague to really mean anything.

I’ve read many, many things on how to be successful (I can’t avoid finding them — they’re everywhere), and rarely will any of them really show you how to get where you want to go.

And when you don’t get there, you blame not the success system, but your own inadequacies.

There are other problems, though. Whatever your definition of success, it’s something you’re looking for … something that exists in the future. It’s based on your desire to achieve something, your feelings that you’re not where you want to be.

That’s why the snake oil salesmen are so “successful” … they capitalize on the feelings of inadequacies that other people have. I think that’s horrible.

But beyond that, the trap of striving for this future “success” … it’s never-ending. You strive for more, and then when you get it, you strive for more again. You’re never satisfied. People who have a billion dollars, for example … they’re successful, right? Why don’t they stop trying to make money, then? Why would they possibly need more than a billion dollars? How can you possibly spend that much? They strive to make more because there will never be enough. They’ll never be successful enough.

That’s true not just of the rich, but of anyone who strives for success. Striving is a condition that doesn’t have an end, unless you give it up.

I might have a lot of readers now on Zen Habits, but I don’t feel that’s what makes me a success. I’ve been a success since Day 1, because even when I had zero readers, I was doing what I loved. Even when no one else would have called me a success (I really was a nobody then), I absolutely loved writing my posts, and though I don’t agree now with a lot of what I wrote back then (in 2007), I was happy.

Success isn’t about achieving something in the future, but about doing something right now that you love.

So doesn’t that mean I care about success? Well, sure, if you define success as whatever it is you care about, then of course you’re going to care about success. But then “success” really doesn’t have a meaning, does it? If it can mean anything, then it means nothing.

So forget about “success”, and just find joy, passion, love, awesome-ness right now, in this moment. *That* is a success you can achieve, without any self-help course, without any method. Just go out and do it.

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the insidious perfidiousness of doubts, overcome

There isn’t a single one of us who has overcome the human condition of self doubt. Whether you’re a supremely confident person, a content Zen monk, a successful writer … it doesn’t matter. You have doubts about yourself.

The question is whether these doubts stop you from doing amazing things, from leading the life you want to lead.

I was one of those people who toiled for long years under various masters — kind and unkind — because I doubted my ability to be my own boss. I doubted whether I was a good enough writer to succeed in a world of immensely talented writers.

These doubts weren’t overwhelming, but that’s the sneaky thing about them. They aren’t in your face — they creep into your subconscious so that you don’t realize they’re there, tugging at you, wearing at you, grinding you to a stop. They lurk in the dark, extending an influence so pervasive that it seems a part of the fabric of our being, even if it’s only a corroded thread that’s snaked itself into that fabric.

But these doubts are there, even if we rarely think about them. They’re that silent voice in our heads that say, “I can’t do it. I’m not good enough. I’d never make it. I’d only fail and embarrass myself. Why should I dare dream?”

They’re there, and they are more powerful than we can put into words.

I let them hold me back. I worked for years doing things I wasn’t proud of, just for the safety of a job and a steady paycheck. I thought working for yourself was something you needed money to do — you had to have capital to start your own business, right? I thought becoming a “real” writer — one that’s made it in the world of real writers — was an impossible dream.

I was wrong. I overcame those fears not through a tremendous burst of courage, not with a push through the front lines of doubts … but through information.

This information came in little doses, but practically daily. I started a little blog on a free, amateur blogging platform. I wrote, just little posts that no one would read. A few people read them, and said they were good. That was information.

I kept doing it, and kept getting good feedback, even if it was just from a handful of readers. One of those early supporters was a guy named Kamal, a great guy who I finally met in person here in San Francisco yesterday. He told me I was good, that I spoke from the heart, that I would be big one day. He believed in me, and that was more information.

My incredible wife Eva supported me, with praise and faith. My wonderful mom was proud of me, and that was more information. Every new reader who commented on my site gave me further information … and it was valuable data indeed.

Through these little packets of data, I was able to build a database, a 3D model in my heart that told me my old doubts, they were wrong. They were just flimsy façades that I had built up into something so solid they seemed indestructable. They seemed so real they were unquestionable, the foundation for my everyday reality.

But they were wrong, the new data was telling me. That was disruptive, and it shook me. How could everything I had believed all these years be so wrong? But the data was consistent, and it never stopped coming in. It comes in to this day.

My reality today is different, thanks to this data. And though I still have self doubts, I no longer let them define my reality. They’re just hypotheses, waiting to be tested by actual data, waiting to be disproven, just like the hypotheses of previous doubts have been disproven time and again.

Everyone has these doubts. My sister Kat became enveloped by the world of health and fitness, became so enthusiastic about it that she dreamt of doing it for a living. She wanted to go to school for it, so she could eventually get into training and educating others. I told her, “Just do it! Find a client, train her, get the experience, learn as you do it, get better, get another client, get even better, let word of mouth be your advertising, and live the dream, now!”

But she had doubts, and it held her back for a little bit. That’s understandable — they held me back for years and years. She did it, though, getting certification and then training a few clients and then starting some bootcamps. She’s now living her dream, and I’m overwhelmingly proud of her.

Everyone has these doubts. My sister Ana lost her job awhile back, and I told her to start her own marketing firm. She said she knew herself, and knew that she couldn’t be her own boss. I said she was wrong, that if she loved it she would do it. I told her that if she loved cooking, she could start a supperclub and just start cooking for people. If she loved teaching ballet, she could teach classes after school to kids at their schools. Just start doing it!

She doubted herself, but these days she’s taken the plunge into marketing consulting, and she’s starting to take off. I’m ridiculously proud of her too, and I know she’ll soar on her own.

Everyone has these doubts. You do. Some of you have beaten them to the point where you’re doing what you love. Others haven’t, and might not even realize those doubts are holding you back. They are — and you can beat them. I’ve done it, my sisters have, thousands and thousands of others have too. We’re no better than you — we’ve just stumbled on better information.

Get the data. Do something, get feedback, keep doing it, get better at it, get feedback all along the way, and see what the data says. Put your doubts to test, let them be disproven. And when the results finally come in, and you know what reality really looks like, be proud of yourself for at least putting the doubts to test. I’m already proud of you, just for reading this far, and letting some small light shine on the doubts quivering in the darkness.

It’s me who is my enemy
Me who beats me up
Me who makes the monsters
Me who strips my confidence.
~Paula Cole

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The Little Book of Procrastination Remedies

Procrastination is one of those topics that, it seems, I can’t write enough about. There isn’t a person among us who doesn’t procrastinate, and that’s a fact of life.

It’s deep within us. We think we’re going to do something later, or read that classic novel later, or learn French later. But we always overestimate how much we can do later, and we overestimate the ability of our later selves to beat procrastination.

If our current self can’t beat procrastination, why will our future self do it?

I thought I should cover some of the best procrastination-beating strategies, in light of my recent book, focus. People seem to want ways to beat procrastination, so they can actually get down to focusing.

Here’s a quick guide.

Let’s take a quick look at what makes us procrastinate. There are several reasons, which are related in various ways:

1. We want instant gratification. Resting on the couch is thought of as nicer, right now, than going on a run. Reading blogs is easier, right now, than reading a classic novel. Checking email or Facebook is easier, now, than doing that project you’ve been putting off. Eating chocolate cake is tastier, right now, than eating veggies.

2. We fear/dread something. We might not write that chapter in our book because there are problems with the writing that we haven’t figured out (often because we haven’t thought it through). Or we might be afraid we’re going to fail, or look ignorant or stupid. We’re most often afraid of the unknown, which has more power because we don’t examine this fear — it just lurks in the back of our minds. Dreading or fearing something makes us want to put it off, to postpone even thinking about it, and to do something easy and safe instead.

3. It’s easy – no negative consequences right now. When we were in school and had a teacher looking over our shoulders and scolding us if we didn’t do our work, we tended to do the work (until some of us learned that we could tune out the scolding, that is). But when we got home, sometimes no one would be looking over our shoulders … so there wasn’t any immediate negative consequence to watching TV or playing games instead. Sure, we’d get a bad grade tomorrow, but that’s not right now. The same is true of using the Internet or doing other kinds of procrastination tasks — we’ll pay for it later, but right now, no one is getting mad at us.

4. We overestimate our future self. We often have a long list of things we plan to do, because we think we can do a lot in the future. The reality is usually a little worse than we expected, but that doesn’t stop us from thinking the future will be different yet again. For the same reason, we think it’s OK to procrastinate, because we’re going to do it later, for sure. Our future self will be incredibly productive and focused! Except, our future self is also lazy, and doesn’t do it either. Damn future self.

Now that we know the problems, the solutions aren’t that hard to figure out. Just don’t put them off, OK?

1. Stop and think. When we allow the above thoughts to go on without really being conscious of them, we procrastinate. When we actually pause and think about those thoughts, we can rationally see that they’re wrong. Instant gratification in the form of goofing off or eating junk food can lead to problems later. Fears are overblown and shouldn’t stand in our way. Not having negative consequences now doesn’t mean there won’t be consequences later. Our future self isn’t as bad-ass as we like to think. So think about what you’re doing, and start to do the more rational thing. Use the strategies below as well, but thinking is the start.

2. Enjoy the process. When we dread something, we put it off — but instead, if we can learn to enjoy it, it won’t be as hard or dreadful. Put yourself in the moment, and enjoy every action. For example, if you want to go out to run, don’t think about the hard run ahead, but about putting on your shoes — enjoy the simplicity of that action. Then focus on getting out the door — that’s not hard. Then focus on warming up with a fast walk or light jog — that can be nice and enjoyable. Then feel your legs warm up as you start running a little faster, and enjoy the beautiful outdoors. This process can be done with anything, from washing dishes to reading to writing. Enjoy yourself in the moment, without thinking of future things you dread, and the activity can be very pleasant and even fun. And if it is, you won’t put it off.

3. Set up accountability. If no one is looking over our shoulder, we tend to let ourselves slack off. So set up a procrastination-proof environment — find people to hold you accountable. I joined an online fitness challenge this month, for example, so that I’d report my workouts to the forum. I’ve done the same thing for running, quitting smoking, writing a novel. You can even just use your friends and family on Facebook or email.

4. Block your future self. Your future self is just as likely to put things off. So block that sucker. Use a program like Freedom to block your Internet access for a predetermined amount of time, so your future self has to actually focus instead of reading blogs. Turn off your cable TV, get rid of the junk food in your house, cut up your credit cards … do whatever it takes to make it really hard for your future self to procrastinate or give in to temptation, or at least force your future self to pause and think before he does anything dumb.

Three other things that must be said about procrastination:

1. Do what excites you. If you do what you’re excited about most of the time, you’ll be less likely to put it off. Focus on why it excites you, rather than the dreaded aspects of the activity. I do this and my procrastination is lower than ever.

2. Productively procrastinate. If you’re going to procrastinate, do other productive things instead. So if you don’t want to do your project, at least get some smaller tasks done. Read more.

3. Sometimes, procrastination is OK. I’m not anti-procrastination, at all. This guide is for those who want to beat it, but in my book, lazing around can be a beautiful thing. Reading stuff on the Internet that I’m interested in isn’t a bad thing. Sometimes, give in to procrastination. But other times, you might want to get off that lazy butt and actually accomplish something.

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Bloggers: If you’d like help creating amazing content for your blog, I’m running a Blogging Bootcamp starting Nov. 8 — and the first week is free. Read more: How to Write Like an A-List Blogger.
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Do Not Stand in the Way of Your Own Progress

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Recently I heard a story about a man who was on his death bed. As he lay in bed, he pondered over what he had achieved in his lifetime, and he came to the conclusion that he had lived his life without making any mistakes whatsoever.

This was by far the man’s greatest and most virtuous achievement, having worked hard his whole life to always be right and perfect. He had spent 80 years in this pursuit, as it was really all that mattered to him. The man felt a tremendous sense of relief when he saw the enormity of what he had accomplished, and the power of what his life had represented. This moment of realization was absolutely the best moment of the man’s life.

In truth, these 80 years were wasted. The man had limited his experiences because, in his pursuit of perfection, he was unwilling to take chances. His life had been cautious and plodding, and he had made sure that he was always correct in each and every action. Think about how many experiences this man must have missed, and how much richer his life would have been had he been willing to take risks, and had he been willing to be wrong. His life would have taken on an entirely new dimension and he would have been a completely different person altogether.

Most people are programmed like this man was, to believe in “safety first” and to always try to be and do right. Being a strong person who is effective in the world, however, requires that one understands and accepts his true nature and all his strengths and limitations. The man, on his deathbed, felt a profound sense of happiness and relief when he realized that he had spent his entire life trying to be right–even though it had been at the expense of living a truly fulfilling life. Would you feel the same?

There is another story about a student who comes to a Zen master and asks him to reveal the secret of enlightenment.

The Zen master tells the student that after two years he will reveal the secret. All the student needs to do is come to work for the Zen master. For the next year the student cooks, cleans, and works very hard for the Zen master. After two years, the student asks the Zen master to reveal the secret of enlightenment.

“In one more year I will reveal it to you,” the Zen master says.

The Zen master gives the same response the following year and the year after that.

After five years have passed, the student becomes angry one evening and demands that the Zen master tell him the secret of enlightenment. Suddenly, without warning, the Zen master pushes the student off of the ledge they are both standing on. The student grabs on to a piece of rock. It is night-time and he cannot see what is below; he is terrified that he will fall to his death. The Zen master walks away, leaving the student there clinging for his life.

Soon the sun rises. The student looks down and realizes he is hanging only a couple of inches from the ground. He experiences a profound shift in consciousness and becomes enlightened. He realizes that fear is only anticipation–and nothing more. The student had been hanging onto the ledge all night, fearful, due to the false anticipation that something bad would happen to him if he were to let go.

This story is similar to that of the man on his death bed. The man on his deathbed had spent his entire life in fear. He had feared what would happen to him if he were wrong. This fear kept him in bondage and prevented him from living the life he wanted. Just like the student of the Zen master was trapped by a false belief, so too is the man who spends his life trying to be right all the time.

A child by nature is extremely vulnerable. A child will fall down numerous times and will often cause harm unto itself. A child needs to be watched very carefully at all times. The reason for this is that the child’s nervous system is unclogged. However, as a child grows into adulthood, its nervous system becomes clogged. It creates numerous defenses, and begins constantly calculating how not to get hurt. As full grown adults, people go to therapy or yoga; they exercise excessively; they drink, use drugs, and do all sorts of things in order to unclog their nervous systems. What is the drunk person, other than someone who has intentionally unclogged his nervous system for the time being, making himself vulnerable–and perhaps less fearful of making a mistake?

The journey for you to become successful begins with an awareness of where you are, and not an obsession with where you should be. In order to reach your potential you must be willing to take a chance and to be wrong, and you need to understand the nature of who you are. For example, when we look at the leaders of the world around us, we generally see that they share a couple of common characteristics:

First, they have the ability to make a decision. People who have the ability to make decisions are leaders. It is not important what the decision is, it is just important that the leader is able to make a decision. Second, they give themselves the opportunity to be vulnerable. A leader makes themself vulnerable to the world. Even a turtle is able to pop its head out of its shell now and then, making itself vulnerable.Let us take President Obama, for example. Obama has made a decision that he is going to reform healthcare in the United States. This is a decision, love it or hate it. Making decisions like this is the president’s job. In response to Obama’s decision, over the past several weeks, various politicians have been leading “town hall meetings” around the United States to discuss Obama’s healthcare plan. As it turns out, they are being viciously attacked in these meetings by their constituents. These politicians are being leaders, though, and in the course of being leaders, they make themselves vulnerable to attack or opposition. This is a major part of their job.

If you are going to change and reach your potential in your career and in your life, it is important to know the weaknesses that prevent you from becoming the person you are capable of being. Taking control of your career and life means taking self leadership. In deciding to take self leadership, you will need to become vulnerable. Being vulnerable means seeing, and often exposing parts of ourselves that we may not be comfortable with, and it means getting out of our shell–like the turtle.

When you stop growing spiritually, emotionally, financially, and otherwise, you are not far from death. You need to see yourself as you really are, and to confront this self so you can grow and evolve. Once you understand who you really are, and where you are in your life, then you can begin to grow. Finding and confronting the truth of who you are will set you free, and avoiding the truth will cause you suffering.

Learning about yourself demands that you become a warrior. What makes a warrior is a willingness to confront. The warrior has ruthless authority and knows how to take charge. The warrior encompasses the characteristics of decision making and vulnerability of the leader, but also has an aggression of thought. If you want to achieve success and breakthroughs in your life, it is important that you learn to take charge of yourself and your mind, and be a warrior.

You are probably standing in the way of your own success. I know that if I spend a short time getting to know you, I could start telling you exactly what is preventing you from becoming the person you are capable of being. This may be a very arrogant thing for me to say, but I have spent most of my life studying people and thinking about careers, and I have developed a pretty good sense of what is limiting people. And what is limiting most people is an unwillingness to learn to think in new ways, and an unwillingness to learn new things about themselves and the world around them.

I was with Anthony Robbins at a small event not too long ago and there was a man there who was extremely wealthy, to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars. We were in a room of about 20 people and Tony made the man stand up, and he started asking him questions about himself. For over the next hour or so, Tony questioned the man in depth. Tony is incredibly brilliant, and at the end of the hour it became pretty obvious why this man has had numerous relationship problems, why he has had health problems, why he has had several addiction problems, and why the man has been living an unfulfilled life. This man had spent tens of thousands of dollars to be at this meeting with Tony, having flown all the way to Fiji. The next morning the man hired a private plane to take him off the island, and he disappeared from the rest of the intimate meetings with Tony Robbins and the group. He was simply gone and had decided not to return. The reason, I am sure, was that Tony had forced the man to confront an aspect of himself that he did not want to see.

This is what is necessary for personal growth, and in order to become the person you are capable of becoming. You will need to confront parts of yourself that you may not want to see. You may not even realize these parts of yourself exist, until you start to look deeply within yourself.

I was at an event this weekend watching an Indian spiritual leader speak. The man started talking about how we do not make the most of our careers and our lives because we do not have clear enough goals. The lack of clarity of our goals is something that holds us back. As the man kept talking about this, I began to think of my own goals. I had set very aggressive goals for myself a couple of years ago and met most of them. However, since that time I have not set any new compelling goals. The more the man talked, the more uncomfortable I became. I told myself I was tired. I told myself I was hungry. I told myself that I did not need to hear any more of what the man was saying. Within an hour of having these thoughts, I was in my truck driving home. I had left an excellent seminar, having walked out due to the fact that I was being forced to confront an aspect of myself I did not want to confront.

Most of us are seeking achievement and fulfillment; however, we get in our own way and prevent ourselves from becoming the person we are capable of becoming. I got in the way of myself this weekend. The man I met at the Anthony Robbins meeting got in the way of himself. Most of us run away from confronting who we are because we are not leaders or, more importantly, warriors. You need to be a warrior to confront the parts of yourself that are limiting your progress.

Why is knowledge of who we are important? The reason is that without a knowledge of who we are, we cannot achieve what we are capable of, we cannot change or grow, and we cannot be fulfilled:

Achievement is about becoming someone different, someone important and significant, who is vulnerable and a warrior. The need to feel significant is an important part of who we are. It is a need of the mind. Because it is a need of the mind, it is something that must be honored. There is nothing wrong with pursuing achievement. Some people may not believe that achievement is important, but for most of us it is something valuable to pursue in order to have a healthy, happy self. If you have a need and do not meet it, this is a problematic issue.Fulfillment could be described as discovering the nature of who and what we are. This has to begin with an acceptance of ourselves and awakening what we are. Truth will set us free, and avoiding the truth will cause suffering. We suffer when we do not accept or realize who we are.And this brings me to you: What sort of person are you? The sort of person you are will generally be what prevents you from understanding who you are and what your weaknesses are. While there are a variety of people out there, of course, the chances are pretty good that you are either a (1) dabbler, (2) cynic, (3) fanatic, or (4) utilitarian. Whichever one of these descriptions best describes you, it is preventing you from seeing your true self, and from learning who you are.

The most common sort of person is a dabbler. One of the largest weaknesses people have that prevents them from seeing who they are is the practice of dabbling. Many people are dabblers. They dabble in jobs, they dabble in relationships, they dabble in hobbies, they dabble in exercise—being a dabbler is a way of life that many people consistently engage in.

The dabbler will only make a little progress in anything they undertake, and once whatever they are doing starts to illuminate who they are, the person moves on to something else. Most people are dabblers. When I was growing up, I knew a couple of people through my family who were quite psychologically damaged. Therapy was recommended for them and they went. After a few sessions they found reasons to no longer attend therapy sessions. The reason was that they were dabbling, and once the therapist started showing these people who they really were, the dabblers just moved on because they did not want to confront those parts of themselves that were difficult to accept and confront. Had these people been warriors, had they moved through the pain and the illumination process of discovering who they really were, I am confident the result would have been different for them. They would have grown through self awareness.

A second sort of person is a cynic. A cynic is someone who believes that everyone is motivated by selfishness. For example, if the cynic sees an act of kindness, they believe there must be a hidden motive. They have a general distrust of the integrity and professed motives of others. A cynic is also habitually negative and believes nothing is possible. They tend to disagree with everything. I am sure you see many cynics out there. They are everywhere. You may be one of them.

Cynics typically find reasons why various things will not work. They look at everything as a challenge and do not believe that a proposed solution can possibly solve the challenge. Therefore, cynics never try anything. If someone suggests something to a cynic, the cynic will say it is not possible. Because the cynic is so negative and untrusting, he has a severe difficulty connecting with others, absorbing new ideas, and making progress. This general distrust of others keeps the cynic perpetually isolated.

A third sort of person is the fanatic. According to Winston Churchill, “A fanatic is one who can’t change his mind and won’t change the subject.” The fanatic is someone who believes everything to be wrong except what he believes. There is no openness to new ideas. It has to be the fanatic’s way or the highway. The fanatic worships his own ideas and is critical of all other ideas. A fanatic wants to convert everyone, so that they share the same ideas. You cannot learn, and therefore you cannot make progress if you are fanatic.

When you look at different political parties, you often see fanaticism. The more someone is a fanatic the more difficult it is to change. You may be a fanatic as well. If you are a fanatic and unwilling to learn, this is a serious issue. The fanatic believes that everyone else is unwise. The fanatic will do everything and anything within his power to perpetuate his idea. The behavior of the fanatic is easy to predict and to identify.

The fourth sort of person is the utilitarian. Utilitarians believe that the value of something comes down to its utility. Utilitarians are open to learning, suffering, working, and so forth–as long as it is of benefit to them. They will always ask why they should do something in order to understand how, precisely it will benefit them (or others). Utilitarians are very self-driven, and being a utilitarian is in many respects akin to being a logical business person.

However, if we are evaluating the worth of each action, then we are not going to always be open to new ideas–because it is difficult for us to completely understand what a new idea may mean to us if we have not yet experienced it. When we are constantly analyzing, judging, and trying to make utilitarian distinctions, we are generally not making the right distinctions because we do not have all the knowledge necessary to make complete decisions.

In contrast to the utilitarian, the warrior and the leader plow through, regardless of the results they may be likely to attain. The warrior and the leader do not have complete information about what their results may be, but they persist anyway. This is the kind of bold risk taking that is needed in order to grow and evolve, and to experience your life and yourself fully.

Learning is the process of unlearning. In order to unlearn, you will need to understand your weaknesses, which are preventing you from discovering your true self. The chances are almost certain that you, like me, and like the man at the seminar, are running away anytime your true self is being illuminated. We all resist the people, places and things that challenge us to look at our true selves.

You can do, be, and achieve anything you want in your life if you understand who and what you are. Do not stand in the way of your own progress.

Agree? Disagree? I don’t care, please tell me what you think by commenting below. I give free stuff away every week to the most thoughtful commenters on my site!

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Related posts: The Power of Resistance in Your Career and LifeThe Danger of Judging OthersHow to Be a Good ManagerTo-Do Lists, Tactics, Strategies, and Going to the MoonConcentrate on Your ProductYou Need to Stand for SomethingSummary In this article Harrison talks about the need to see yourself as you really are, and to confront this self so you can grow and evolve. In order to reach your potential in your career you must be willing to take a chance and you need to understand the nature of who you are. You are probably standing in the way of your own success. For personal growth, and in order to become the person you are capable of you need to confront the parts of yourself that are limiting your progress. We all resist the people, places and things that challenge us to look at our true selves. You can do, be and achieve anything you want in your life if you understand who and what you are. Do not stand in the way of your own progress.

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Traveling Lightly Through Life

‘A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.’ ~Lao Tzu

I’m often asked what inspired me to become a minimalist. The answer: I fell in love with traveling lightly.

After over-packing on a few trips—and suffering the misery of lugging around a heavy suitcase—I vowed never to check a bag again. On my first trip to Europe, I opted for a small carry-on instead (replacing my wardrobe of clothes with a packet of laundry detergent).

The experience was exhilarating! I was mobile, flexible, and fancy free. I felt like I could go anywhere, and do anything, when I wasn’t loaded down with stuff. And I thought, wow, if it feels this great to travel lightly, how wonderful would it be to live this way?

I began to edit the contents of my home with the same fervor as I had my suitcase. As I slowly ditched the extra “baggage,” I could feel the weight being lifted from my shoulders.

Excess possessions are like excess luggage: they can tie us down, get in the way, and drain our sense of energy and adventure. (Have you ever passed up a job offer because of the hassle of moving, or a vacation because there was nobody to “watch the house”?)

Conversely, the less stuff we have to worry about, the more nimble we become—and the better able to embrace new opportunities and experiences.

To regain our freedom, we simply need to lighten our loads. We can accomplish that by borrowing a few packing techniques:

Start with a clean slate. Travelers start with an empty suitcase, and select each item that goes into it. Take a similar approach when decluttering: empty the entire contents of the drawer, closet, or room you’re working on. Then carefully consider each item, and decide whether to return it to the space. Choose what to keep, rather than what to toss.

Question every item. In a small carry-on, every item must pull its weight. Demand the same of your household possessions: have a conversation with your stuff, and ask what value it adds to your life. If the answer is “not much,” give it the heave-ho.

Set limits. To keep his bag light, a traveler might limit his pants to two, his shirts to three, and his socks to four. Use a similar strategy to keep your stuff under control: decide, for example, to own only five sweaters, fifty books, or the amount of craft supplies that’ll fit into one storage box.

Use modules. Take inspiration from packing cubes, and gather like items (cosmetics, office supplies, video games) into separate “modules.” Consolidating your stuff helps you see how much you have, weed out duplicates, and keep a lid on further accumulation.

Think versatility. To save space, light packers favor items that do double- or triple-duty (like clothes that can be dressed up or down, and layered for different climates). Use the same principle in your home: choose versatile or multi-functional items (like a sleeper sofa, or all-purpose saute pan) over single-task ones.

Digitize. Digital music, books, and documents are not only easier to transport—they’re also easier to store. Use technology to transform physical possessions into bits and bytes: scan paperwork, convert CDs to MP3s, and buy electronic books instead of paper ones.

Live on the edge. The light traveler addresses her needs as they arise; if she runs out of toothpaste in Tokyo, she simply buys some more. Adopt a similar philosophy at home: instead of stockpiling stuff or holding on to “just in cases,” acquire things on an as-needed basis.

In addition to lightening your load, it also helps to lighten your step. Life, like travel, is no fun when you’re plodding through each day, checking off an itinerary, or worrying about what might go wrong. It’s significantly more pleasant, in the words of an old Chinese poem, to “drift like clouds and flow like water.”

Some tips for traveling well through life:

Take the slow train. Instead of speeding through your days, slow down and savor every moment—we only get to take this fabulous trip once. I don’t know about you, but I’m certainly in no hurry to reach the destination.

Look out the window. Too often, we approach our lives with tunnel vision—focusing only on the road ahead, with our foot on the accelerator. Instead, give up the wheel and enjoy the ride; look around, and take in all the beautiful scenery.

Ditch the itinerary. Much fuss is made over goals, plans, and schedules. But any good traveler will tell you that the magic happens when you let go of the reins, and let things unfold of their own accord. Take each day as it comes, and be surprised and delighted by what transpires.

Be mindful of fellow passengers. You’re not on this journey alone; be considerate of your travel companions. Smile, be polite, and respect their privacy and space. Don’t be the guy that nobody wants to sit next to.

Go with the flow. Not every route will be smooth, nor every connection on schedule. Don’t despair if your plans fall to pieces; be fluid, and welcome the possibilities a detour may hold.

When we approach life like wayfarers, we realize that “more” isn’t necessarily better—and in fact, can be downright burdensome. I’ve never known any traveler to envy how much luggage his neighbor has.

“Less,” on the other hand, can be absolutely liberating—and make for an easier, more exciting, and infinitely more interesting journey!

Francine Jay is the author of The Joy of Less, A Minimalist Living Guide: How to Declutter, Organize, and Simplify Your Life. She writes about living with less at Miss Minimalist.
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Read more about simple productivity, focus and getting great things done in Leo’s book, focus.

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The law of attraction-like attracts like

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The Law of Attraction simply states "like attracts like". Whatever you focus on the most is what you will attract in your life. The truth is that most people don't focus on what they WANT - they focus or "dwell" - on the things that they DON'T want!

How many times have you caught yourself thinking "I always get stuck in the longest line at the grocery store" or "this always happens to me" or "I knew that was too good to be true?"

If a situation seems to 'go against you', tell yourself, "this is actually really working in my favor. I may not know how or why, but I know it will lead me to something better." Say this to yourself as many times as you have to in order to get back on track. You never know. That little extra wait at the Super Market may have kept you from being involved with that automobile accident you just passed on the way home.

Instead we need to concentrate on being Healthy, Wealthy and Wise. If we properly focus on the things we want in our lives - that on which we are focusing will come to us in abundance. Focus on the good you already have in your life. Give thanks for all the wonderful people you have in your life.

The only way to attract what you desire in life is to allow yourself to feel what it is like to have what you want; to allow yourself to feel what it is like to be happy, rich, and vibrant. Focus on those positive feelings and beliefs on a daily basis.

Eventually, your belief and faith will turn to absolute certainty... you'll know well beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are on your way to achieving incredible success, and most importantly, your efforts are supported by the universe.

This is the Law of Attraction at work.

Did you know that every thought that we think creates a vibration? Negative thoughts create negative feelings that lead to low frequency vibrations, whereas positive thoughts create positive feelings that produce high frequency vibrations.

According to the universal Law of Attraction, "vibes" attract like "vibes". Have you ever noticed when you're happy and smile at people you pass on the street, most people will smile back? It's contagious! At the other end of the spectrum, when you're feeling down and depressed, you attract situations that are in line with your state of mind.

For example, have you ever had one of those days where everything seems to go wrong? From the cold shower to the spilled coffee, to the traffic ticket on the way to the office, we have all experienced those days. It starts with the way we think. Our thought patterns attract the first negative experience. This experience then puts us in a damaging frame of mind which works to attract further "bad" situations. The more we focus on the "bad day" we are having, the worse things get!

How many times have you spent the better part of your day worrying about paying bills, about your health, about getting that promotion? What we're actually doing when we worry about any situation, is concentrating all of our energy on something that we don't want. Frustration, worry, fear, jealousy, anger, sadness are all emotions that make us vibrate on that lower negative vibration.

By focusing on unwanted situations, we are actually attracting the exact experiences we want to avoid! We can achieve monumental greatness by focusing only on what we DO want, rather than wasting time and energy on the things that we DON'T want.

If all you ever do is think about how much you wish you were happy, or how much you wish you were rich, or how much you wish you were healthy, the Law of Attraction will bring you just that - a life full of wishing for all the things to wish you had!

"If you want your life to be more rewarding, you have to change the way you think." - Oprah

Logically, the key to attracting only the things that you desire in your life is to vibrate positive energy. Okay, that sounds simple enough...but how do you DO that?

In order to get what you desire in life, you have to give those desires regular attention. Fantasize, dream, imagine, focus... for what you create in your mind, you create in reality. If it's a specific car that you want, download pictures of it from the Internet and look at them every day. Post them on your computers desktop or on the wall in your office. Think about what color you want and which accessories and options you would put on it. I would go as far as test driving the car every chance I got.

Cut out a picture of your dream home or that Porsche that you desire and tape it to your refrigerator and look at it every time you walk by. Be excited about it!

Be detailed about what it is you desire. If it's a new car or home, picture it in your mind and say out loud 'I love my new house. I am thankful and enjoy every room.' Picture everything you will have in that new house, right down to the furnishings, the appliances, the decorations, the flooring and the view.

Don't confuse the Law of Attraction by being inconsistent in your desires. Don't keep changing your mind, otherwise there's no way for the Universe to help bring it to you. Be consistent, be determined...but leave the "how you will accomplish this" out of it.

If you try to decide how your desires will come to you, you'll limit your possibilities to only what you can think of. After all, chances are the universe has something better in store for you than what you ever could have imagined. Just trust that it is happening now and allow it to come to you.

Follow where your intuition leads you. It's like planting a seed. If you water it, it WILL grow. The same holds true for your thoughts. Our thoughts, emotions and feelings act as a powerful magnet, attracting circumstances into our lives. Whether these circumstances are positive or negative depends on how we think!

"Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe it can achieve."

- Napoleon Hill

You may have heard of Earl Nightingale, known today as the father of modern day self-help. Earl, while working in the insurance business back in the mid 1950's, cut a record called 'The Strangest Secret'. The purpose of this record was to provide some training for his staff while he was traveling on business. Earl's strangest secret was simply this:

"We become what we think about most of the time!"

This 'secret' aligns perfectly with the Law of Attraction and acts as a constant reminder that we must learn to control our thoughts. Truthfully, our own thoughts are the only things in life we can command. The challenge is to keep them in control and not let them run rampant with negativity.

The solution is to change our frame of reference. Take the negative emotions and change them to positive. Keeping the positive thought that everything is working in our best interest is all we need to remember. If we break the cycle of negativity, things will begin to turn around almost immediately.

To start applying the Law of Attraction more proactively, here are some things you can do every morning before starting your day.

Start by giving thanks for all the wonderful things already present in your life; your wife, your kids, your family, your dog or cat, your health, your business, your house, your car, the birds in your yard, everything that pops into your mind.

Take 5-10 minutes and really give thanks for all that you are and have. I think you will be amazed at how awesome your life already is!

Give your wife or significant other a big warm hug, tell them that you love them and thank them for being who they are. After all it was the Law of Attraction that brought them into your life to begin with!

Plan your day. Actually visualize what it is you have to do and how you would like it to turn out! You need to actually 'see' it as if it has already happened. It's called "Living in the NOW!"

Positive thinking on its own will not solve all of your problems. However, it is a powerful tool to get you on the path to leading the life you truly want and deserve. Anyway you slice it most people would rather surround themselves with positive happy people than negative unhappy ones. That alone should be reason enough to put on a happy face.

Practice happy thoughts and saying "Yes" to every situation that arises for the next 7 days and see for yourself how fast your life can change for the better. Remember to run towards what you want out of life, instead of running away from what you don't want. You may find this difficult at first, but with time and practice, it will change your perspective and, in turn, initiate the Law of Attraction.

About The Author:
Mick Moore "The Internet Entrepreneur", is an award-winning web designer, acclaimed internet marketing consultant, author, film maker , and key-note speaker. Mr. Moore is the author of the "Home Business Success Kit", the "Google AdSense Handbook", "Internet Marketing Secrets Revealed" and "The Internet Entrepreneur", and is featured in the movie 'The Power of Mentorship.

Visit Mick Moore online at:
http://www.QuickStartExpert.com

Application of the law of the vibration or the Law of Attraction

The use of the law of vibration aware learning was a very meaningful experience for me. The increased my confidence in my ability to what I want. I realize now that I have a "unconscious competent" for most of my life. I have had a lot of success, especially with my family, without really knowing how it's done. On the other hand, I was also a "unconscious incompetent" in many areas. I had made a pretty good income for a while, and when the company went under it took my income and confidence with it. I've worked hard to a positive person, but I struggled for years before overcoming depression. I knew there was a way to make what I wanted was, but I didn't know how to do it is predictable. I felt like I was a victim of chance or luck on time.

I was first introduced to the law of the vibration by Carol Tuttle, author of the book "Wholeness remember."I had the study of human resources for fifty years, but with the introduction of the movie "the secret," the language changed, and the emphasis was laser sharp. There was a lot of talk in the media about the law of attraction.

Attraction is the law of vibration is created. It's really based on the fact that everything regardless of vibrations vibrates and we will send back to us in the same way. We send positive, we get back. When we send negative vibrational is sure to return.We do it all of the time. it was important for me to learn how to make what I really wanted in accordance with the law, the law of vibration. I learned that I deliberately incorporated into my life, I would like to draw by an objective and could expect them to, in fact, according to the law.

It seemed only need for me to experiment by creating a class education "Wholeness remember."I set the date in november 2007. I wanted to start the class immediately after the first of the year 2008. I was very excited about the purpose, which is one of the criteria for success. My only concern is that I did not know how I would attract the twenty people, I wanted to in the classroom.

I learned of education lesson by Napoleon Hill on Think And Grow Rich that I my goal to realize if I set it in a way could be expected. I wrote my goal, a date, the objective stuck in my thoughts exactly the way I wanted it to be visualized, it often, a plan created and went to work. I fully expected to attract the people in my class.

I saw myself teaching 20 people in the cosy cellar of my chiropractor Office. He had me as a volunteer that room some time ago that my be used free of charge. I pulled that first. When I flyers and took them to the health food stores and energy therapists offices. I advertised on the radio show of Carol Tuttle, and I kept prepare to learn the material. When it came closer to Christmas and I have feedback from people, I started to think I had set the date to shortly after Christmas. I have the date reviewed. It made me a little uncomfortable to make the change. Should I just stick to it because my goal at the beginning, it was? After the change to think about it, it felt good to get back the date three weeks. The registration started to build. A woman picked up a flyer from its energy therapist and enthused registered three friends.Another woman came and brought her sister. two of my friends and my cousin came out. The night that I took folders to the health food store, I thought I was going to another shop, but I have taken a turn for the worse. Before deciding at 9: 00 a.m., I went and the owner happened to be there.They have signed and paid me on-the-spot.Everything fell into place.

In the end I pulled 16 great students, which turned out to be the perfect number for my first class.I was very excited and pleased to participate with a room full of eager, students are charged and to prove that the law of vibration works. Although I had no idea how the class would be filled as soon as I am referring to a certain way, found that it would happen and followed by on the inspiration that I have received, the people.Yes, we can count on the laws of the universe to work for us when we are on target to apply the law.

Renae Pelo is a passionate teacher of the universal laws of prosperity and success. LifeSuccess consultant she says, "I am here to standing up for those who think that they do not live the life they want. I know from my experience as a wife, mother, grandmother and business woman, that you have a life force, prosperity and happiness you can if you want to, and who does not?"

She has her learning and experience with the universal laws together in her practice coaching. Visit my website at http://www.renaepelo.lifesuccessconsultants.com

The law of attraction-like attracts like

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The Law of Attraction simply states "like attracts like". Whatever you focus on the most is what you will attract in your life. The truth is that most people don't focus on what they WANT - they focus or "dwell" - on the things that they DON'T want!

How many times have you caught yourself thinking "I always get stuck in the longest line at the grocery store" or "this always happens to me" or "I knew that was too good to be true?"

If a situation seems to 'go against you', tell yourself, "this is actually really working in my favor. I may not know how or why, but I know it will lead me to something better." Say this to yourself as many times as you have to in order to get back on track. You never know. That little extra wait at the Super Market may have kept you from being involved with that automobile accident you just passed on the way home.

Instead we need to concentrate on being Healthy, Wealthy and Wise. If we properly focus on the things we want in our lives - that on which we are focusing will come to us in abundance. Focus on the good you already have in your life. Give thanks for all the wonderful people you have in your life.

The only way to attract what you desire in life is to allow yourself to feel what it is like to have what you want; to allow yourself to feel what it is like to be happy, rich, and vibrant. Focus on those positive feelings and beliefs on a daily basis.

Eventually, your belief and faith will turn to absolute certainty... you'll know well beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are on your way to achieving incredible success, and most importantly, your efforts are supported by the universe.

This is the Law of Attraction at work.

Did you know that every thought that we think creates a vibration? Negative thoughts create negative feelings that lead to low frequency vibrations, whereas positive thoughts create positive feelings that produce high frequency vibrations.

According to the universal Law of Attraction, "vibes" attract like "vibes". Have you ever noticed when you're happy and smile at people you pass on the street, most people will smile back? It's contagious! At the other end of the spectrum, when you're feeling down and depressed, you attract situations that are in line with your state of mind.

For example, have you ever had one of those days where everything seems to go wrong? From the cold shower to the spilled coffee, to the traffic ticket on the way to the office, we have all experienced those days. It starts with the way we think. Our thought patterns attract the first negative experience. This experience then puts us in a damaging frame of mind which works to attract further "bad" situations. The more we focus on the "bad day" we are having, the worse things get!

How many times have you spent the better part of your day worrying about paying bills, about your health, about getting that promotion? What we're actually doing when we worry about any situation, is concentrating all of our energy on something that we don't want. Frustration, worry, fear, jealousy, anger, sadness are all emotions that make us vibrate on that lower negative vibration.

By focusing on unwanted situations, we are actually attracting the exact experiences we want to avoid! We can achieve monumental greatness by focusing only on what we DO want, rather than wasting time and energy on the things that we DON'T want.

If all you ever do is think about how much you wish you were happy, or how much you wish you were rich, or how much you wish you were healthy, the Law of Attraction will bring you just that - a life full of wishing for all the things to wish you had!

"If you want your life to be more rewarding, you have to change the way you think." - Oprah

Logically, the key to attracting only the things that you desire in your life is to vibrate positive energy. Okay, that sounds simple enough...but how do you DO that?

In order to get what you desire in life, you have to give those desires regular attention. Fantasize, dream, imagine, focus... for what you create in your mind, you create in reality. If it's a specific car that you want, download pictures of it from the Internet and look at them every day. Post them on your computers desktop or on the wall in your office. Think about what color you want and which accessories and options you would put on it. I would go as far as test driving the car every chance I got.

Cut out a picture of your dream home or that Porsche that you desire and tape it to your refrigerator and look at it every time you walk by. Be excited about it!

Be detailed about what it is you desire. If it's a new car or home, picture it in your mind and say out loud 'I love my new house. I am thankful and enjoy every room.' Picture everything you will have in that new house, right down to the furnishings, the appliances, the decorations, the flooring and the view.

Don't confuse the Law of Attraction by being inconsistent in your desires. Don't keep changing your mind, otherwise there's no way for the Universe to help bring it to you. Be consistent, be determined...but leave the "how you will accomplish this" out of it.

If you try to decide how your desires will come to you, you'll limit your possibilities to only what you can think of. After all, chances are the universe has something better in store for you than what you ever could have imagined. Just trust that it is happening now and allow it to come to you.

Follow where your intuition leads you. It's like planting a seed. If you water it, it WILL grow. The same holds true for your thoughts. Our thoughts, emotions and feelings act as a powerful magnet, attracting circumstances into our lives. Whether these circumstances are positive or negative depends on how we think!

"Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe it can achieve."

- Napoleon Hill

You may have heard of Earl Nightingale, known today as the father of modern day self-help. Earl, while working in the insurance business back in the mid 1950's, cut a record called 'The Strangest Secret'. The purpose of this record was to provide some training for his staff while he was traveling on business. Earl's strangest secret was simply this:

"We become what we think about most of the time!"

This 'secret' aligns perfectly with the Law of Attraction and acts as a constant reminder that we must learn to control our thoughts. Truthfully, our own thoughts are the only things in life we can command. The challenge is to keep them in control and not let them run rampant with negativity.

The solution is to change our frame of reference. Take the negative emotions and change them to positive. Keeping the positive thought that everything is working in our best interest is all we need to remember. If we break the cycle of negativity, things will begin to turn around almost immediately.

To start applying the Law of Attraction more proactively, here are some things you can do every morning before starting your day.

Start by giving thanks for all the wonderful things already present in your life; your wife, your kids, your family, your dog or cat, your health, your business, your house, your car, the birds in your yard, everything that pops into your mind.

Take 5-10 minutes and really give thanks for all that you are and have. I think you will be amazed at how awesome your life already is!

Give your wife or significant other a big warm hug, tell them that you love them and thank them for being who they are. After all it was the Law of Attraction that brought them into your life to begin with!

Plan your day. Actually visualize what it is you have to do and how you would like it to turn out! You need to actually 'see' it as if it has already happened. It's called "Living in the NOW!"

Positive thinking on its own will not solve all of your problems. However, it is a powerful tool to get you on the path to leading the life you truly want and deserve. Anyway you slice it most people would rather surround themselves with positive happy people than negative unhappy ones. That alone should be reason enough to put on a happy face.

Practice happy thoughts and saying "Yes" to every situation that arises for the next 7 days and see for yourself how fast your life can change for the better. Remember to run towards what you want out of life, instead of running away from what you don't want. You may find this difficult at first, but with time and practice, it will change your perspective and, in turn, initiate the Law of Attraction.

About The Author:
Mick Moore "The Internet Entrepreneur", is an award-winning web designer, acclaimed internet marketing consultant, author, film maker , and key-note speaker. Mr. Moore is the author of the "Home Business Success Kit", the "Google AdSense Handbook", "Internet Marketing Secrets Revealed" and "The Internet Entrepreneur", and is featured in the movie 'The Power of Mentorship.

Visit Mick Moore online at:
http://www.QuickStartExpert.com