I constantly remind myself that at every moment I make choices about how I feel consciously or unconsciously. That freedom to choose leads me to darkness (fear) or light (love) in that journey we call Life. So never forget: You choose your thoughts; therefore You choose how you feel.
A cautionary note: be careful because most of us have been trained early on to
unconsciously choose our world to focus on. What we see then creates our
feelings.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Living The Secret Everyday: My Secret Meditation
Did you know...My Secret Meditation is now available on Amazon... another tool to keep you living the secret everyday? Check out the latest research on some of the benefits of meditation
Meditation is said to be a great stress reducer. The first significant studies, in the '60s and '70s, proved that meditators could get themselves so deep into trances that theywouldn't react when they were prodded and burned. Another study showed that meditators, unlike marksmen, didn't flinch at the soundof a gunshot. And a Harvard Medical School professor studied 36 meditators and found that they used 17% less oxygen, lowered theirheart rates by three beats a minute, and increased their theta brain waves -- the ones that appear right before sleep -- without slipping into actual sleep. A later Harvard test showed that theEEGs of meditators were significantly different than those of a control group. Later studies became more sophisticated with brain imaging. One study showed that the brain doesn't shut off when it meditates but rather blocks information from coming into a certain portion of it-- the parietal lobe.
Another study showed that meditation slows blood flow to all portions of the brain but the limbic system,which generates emotions and memories and regulates heart rate, respiratory rate, and metabolism. For 30 years, meditation research has told us that it works beautifully as an antidote to stress," says Daniel Goleman, author of "Destructive Emotions. But what's exciting about the new research is how meditation can train the mind and reshape the brain."
Tests using imaging techniques suggest that it can actually reset the brain, changing the point at which a traffic jam, for instance, sets the blood boiling. Good news: You don't need a guru, weird clothes, or a monastery to meditate.
It's pretty simple:
1. Find a quiet place and turn out the lights.
2. Close your eyes.
3. Inhale slowly and deeply through your nose.
4. As you exhale (slowly), say a word or phrase that has a soothing sound.
5. Repeat.Start with 10-minute sessions. If desired, increase gradually.
by Michael Murray
CHECK OUT OUR SPRING PROMOTION BELOW when you purchase the workbook and the CD together.
Meditation is said to be a great stress reducer. The first significant studies, in the '60s and '70s, proved that meditators could get themselves so deep into trances that theywouldn't react when they were prodded and burned. Another study showed that meditators, unlike marksmen, didn't flinch at the soundof a gunshot. And a Harvard Medical School professor studied 36 meditators and found that they used 17% less oxygen, lowered theirheart rates by three beats a minute, and increased their theta brain waves -- the ones that appear right before sleep -- without slipping into actual sleep. A later Harvard test showed that theEEGs of meditators were significantly different than those of a control group. Later studies became more sophisticated with brain imaging. One study showed that the brain doesn't shut off when it meditates but rather blocks information from coming into a certain portion of it-- the parietal lobe.
Another study showed that meditation slows blood flow to all portions of the brain but the limbic system,which generates emotions and memories and regulates heart rate, respiratory rate, and metabolism. For 30 years, meditation research has told us that it works beautifully as an antidote to stress," says Daniel Goleman, author of "Destructive Emotions. But what's exciting about the new research is how meditation can train the mind and reshape the brain."
Tests using imaging techniques suggest that it can actually reset the brain, changing the point at which a traffic jam, for instance, sets the blood boiling. Good news: You don't need a guru, weird clothes, or a monastery to meditate.
It's pretty simple:
1. Find a quiet place and turn out the lights.
2. Close your eyes.
3. Inhale slowly and deeply through your nose.
4. As you exhale (slowly), say a word or phrase that has a soothing sound.
5. Repeat.Start with 10-minute sessions. If desired, increase gradually.
by Michael Murray
CHECK OUT OUR SPRING PROMOTION BELOW when you purchase the workbook and the CD together.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
SPECIAL SPRING PROMOTION
MSM Sales is happy to promote a combination sale package of Living The Secret Everyday: My Secret Workbook and Living The Secret Everyday: My Secret Meditation [CD]
VALUED at $28.00
NOW for ONLY $19.00 while supplies last.
Go to seller MSM Sales on the next page to place your order.
VALUED at $28.00
NOW for ONLY $19.00 while supplies last.
Go to seller MSM Sales on the next page to place your order.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Springtime: A Time to Rejuvenate
Spring is in the air..a time to rejuventate and 'smell the roses.' Align yourself
with the 'real' you, the joyful you. The best way to do this is to continually and deliberately accept and be grateful for all that you are and have. Every day take an inventory of all the wonderful parts of your life: your family, your friends, your job, your health... Sift through what appears bleek at times and find that positive piece to focus on. Don't ever forget that you are a powerful creator and what you give your attention to is what will come to you. A negative focus is simply resistance to getting all you deserve;that you can overcome. So come alive this spring and all year long.
Start with our latest new tool added to our treasure box: Living The Secret Everyday: My Secret Meditation... another way to keep you on track daily living The Secret. See our special introductory combo value above offered by MSM Sales.
with the 'real' you, the joyful you. The best way to do this is to continually and deliberately accept and be grateful for all that you are and have. Every day take an inventory of all the wonderful parts of your life: your family, your friends, your job, your health... Sift through what appears bleek at times and find that positive piece to focus on. Don't ever forget that you are a powerful creator and what you give your attention to is what will come to you. A negative focus is simply resistance to getting all you deserve;that you can overcome. So come alive this spring and all year long.
Start with our latest new tool added to our treasure box: Living The Secret Everyday: My Secret Meditation... another way to keep you on track daily living The Secret. See our special introductory combo value above offered by MSM Sales.
Friday, February 13, 2009
A Great Message on Valentine's Day & Everyday
Say What You Feel Is True
Reach out to those around you,
Tell them how much you care.
Say what you feel is true,
It's a wonderful gift to share.
Do the best that you can do,
To express your heart to others.
Say what you feel is true,
To family, friends, & lovers.
Turn grey skies to blue, Do it now and don't delay. Say what you feel is true,
On Valentine's Day!
- by Joe Lam
Reach out to those around you,
Tell them how much you care.
Say what you feel is true,
It's a wonderful gift to share.
Do the best that you can do,
To express your heart to others.
Say what you feel is true,
To family, friends, & lovers.
Turn grey skies to blue, Do it now and don't delay. Say what you feel is true,
On Valentine's Day!
- by Joe Lam
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Contentment is the Secret
How can we learn contentment?~ J. R. Miller, "The Hidden Life" 1895 "
I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am." Phillippians 4:11
How can we learn contentment? One step toward contentment, is patient submission to unavoidable ills and hardships. No earthly lot is perfect. No mortal ever yet in this world, has found a set of circumstances without some drawback. There are . . .trials which we cannot change into blessings, burdens which we cannot lay down, crosses which we must continue to carry, thorns in the flesh which must remain with their rankling pain. When we have such trials, why should we not sweetly accept them as part of God’s best way with us? Discontent never made . . . a rough path smoother, a heavy burden lighter, a bitter cup less bitter, a dark way brighter, a sore sorrow less sore. It only makes matters worse!
One who accepts with patience, that which he cannot change–has learned one secret of victorious living. Another part of the lesson, is that we can learn to moderate our desires. "Having food and clothing," says Paul again, "let us be content with these." Very much of our discontent arises from envy of those who seem to be more favored than ourselves. Many people lose most of the comfort out of their own lot–in coveting the finer, more luxurious things which some neighbor has. Yet if they knew the whole story of the life they envy for its greater prosperity, they probably would not exchange for it their own lowlier life, with its more humble circumstances. Or if they could make the exchange, it is not likely they would find half so much real happiness in the other position, as they would have enjoyed in their own. Contentment does not dwell so often in palaces–as in the homes of the humble. The tall peaks rise higher, and are more conspicuous–but the winds smite them more fiercely than they do the quiet valleys. And surely, the lot in life which God makes for us–is always the best which could be made for us for the time. He knows better than we do–what our true needs are.
The real cause of our discontent is not in our circumstances; if it were, a change of circumstances might cure it. It is in ourselves, and wherever we go–we shall carry our discontent heart with us. The only cure which will affect anything–must be the curing of the fever of discontent in us. A fine secret of contentment, lies in finding and extracting all the pleasure we can get from the things we have–the common, everyday things; while we enter upon no mad, vain chase after impossible dreams. In whatever state we are in–we may find therein enough for our need. Taken from: http://www.cindyhon.blogspot.com/
I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am." Phillippians 4:11
How can we learn contentment? One step toward contentment, is patient submission to unavoidable ills and hardships. No earthly lot is perfect. No mortal ever yet in this world, has found a set of circumstances without some drawback. There are . . .trials which we cannot change into blessings, burdens which we cannot lay down, crosses which we must continue to carry, thorns in the flesh which must remain with their rankling pain. When we have such trials, why should we not sweetly accept them as part of God’s best way with us? Discontent never made . . . a rough path smoother, a heavy burden lighter, a bitter cup less bitter, a dark way brighter, a sore sorrow less sore. It only makes matters worse!
One who accepts with patience, that which he cannot change–has learned one secret of victorious living. Another part of the lesson, is that we can learn to moderate our desires. "Having food and clothing," says Paul again, "let us be content with these." Very much of our discontent arises from envy of those who seem to be more favored than ourselves. Many people lose most of the comfort out of their own lot–in coveting the finer, more luxurious things which some neighbor has. Yet if they knew the whole story of the life they envy for its greater prosperity, they probably would not exchange for it their own lowlier life, with its more humble circumstances. Or if they could make the exchange, it is not likely they would find half so much real happiness in the other position, as they would have enjoyed in their own. Contentment does not dwell so often in palaces–as in the homes of the humble. The tall peaks rise higher, and are more conspicuous–but the winds smite them more fiercely than they do the quiet valleys. And surely, the lot in life which God makes for us–is always the best which could be made for us for the time. He knows better than we do–what our true needs are.
The real cause of our discontent is not in our circumstances; if it were, a change of circumstances might cure it. It is in ourselves, and wherever we go–we shall carry our discontent heart with us. The only cure which will affect anything–must be the curing of the fever of discontent in us. A fine secret of contentment, lies in finding and extracting all the pleasure we can get from the things we have–the common, everyday things; while we enter upon no mad, vain chase after impossible dreams. In whatever state we are in–we may find therein enough for our need. Taken from: http://www.cindyhon.blogspot.com/
Thursday, November 13, 2008
COMING SOON 4 THE HOLIDAYS! GIVE THE GIFT OF LOVE AND JOY!
**********PRE-ORDER NOW FOR NOVEMBER 22nd RELEASE ************
Buy the CD Living The Secret Everyday: My Secret Meditation to create and live your ideal life...and help those you love to do the same. This CD was born out of the need for a continual reminder to focus each and every day on our thoughts of appreciation and joy. As Louise Hay so beautifully points out: The thoughts we think are the tools we use to paint the canvas of our lives. Change your thoughts and you change your world.
ABOUT THE CD:
Relax and listen to Living The Secret Everyday: My Secret Meditation daily to accept and embrace the principles of The Law of Attraction. Written by Dr. Joanne Scaglione, author of the popular-selling book, Living The Secret Everyday: My Secret Workbook, this CD combines four meditations to help you create the life you want. For all of you who have read The Secret and or My Secret Workbook and for those of you who have not, My Secret Meditation is an action tool to begin or continue your personal journey to wherever you want to be, no matter where you are right now.
*** Attract a life of joy and abundance
*** Create the relationships of your dreams
*** Have the good health and wealth awaiting you
OPRAH WINFREY...about The Secret
It's making its way around the world. For years on this show this is what I have been trying to do. It is the secret to creating the life you truly want. This is life-changing.
A FAN WRITES:
What a fabulous way to bring the powerful Law of Attraction into my life in a positive way. I listen every evening before I go to sleep and twice on weekends. It so reinforces the important principles and practices I need to live each and every day. This coupled with My Secret Workbook has brought extraordinary changes into my life. --JM ~ a fan
**********PRE-ORDER NOW FOR NOVEMBER 22nd RELEASE ************
Buy the CD Living The Secret Everyday: My Secret Meditation to create and live your ideal life...and help those you love to do the same. This CD was born out of the need for a continual reminder to focus each and every day on our thoughts of appreciation and joy. As Louise Hay so beautifully points out: The thoughts we think are the tools we use to paint the canvas of our lives. Change your thoughts and you change your world.
ABOUT THE CD:
Relax and listen to Living The Secret Everyday: My Secret Meditation daily to accept and embrace the principles of The Law of Attraction. Written by Dr. Joanne Scaglione, author of the popular-selling book, Living The Secret Everyday: My Secret Workbook, this CD combines four meditations to help you create the life you want. For all of you who have read The Secret and or My Secret Workbook and for those of you who have not, My Secret Meditation is an action tool to begin or continue your personal journey to wherever you want to be, no matter where you are right now.
*** Attract a life of joy and abundance
*** Create the relationships of your dreams
*** Have the good health and wealth awaiting you
OPRAH WINFREY...about The Secret
It's making its way around the world. For years on this show this is what I have been trying to do. It is the secret to creating the life you truly want. This is life-changing.
A FAN WRITES:
What a fabulous way to bring the powerful Law of Attraction into my life in a positive way. I listen every evening before I go to sleep and twice on weekends. It so reinforces the important principles and practices I need to live each and every day. This coupled with My Secret Workbook has brought extraordinary changes into my life. --JM ~ a fan
Monday, November 10, 2008
Can You Think Yourself Thin ?
With all the information on the Law of Attraction, including CNN’s Larry King Live, where Mr. King interviewed a panel of law of attraction experts regarding how what you think turns into the events you experience in every area of your life, including your body. For years, my “positive thinking” and goal-setting strategies were often criticized as “new age” or “ahead of its time” and for years I kept seeing the positive results of thousands and just kept forging ahead, ignoring all the nay Sayers.
Now, over the past two years, unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve either seen “The Secret” or heard about “the law of attraction” which for some has been characterized as “new age” fluff. On the Larry King show, Oprah, and many other shows, a panel of experts including Bob Proctor, John Assaraf and others who were featured in the movie ‘The Secret’ reveal why the “law of attraction” and “positive thinking” all work, regardless of whether you look at them from a metaphysical or a scientific perspective.
The truth is, many of us are still running negative programs we picked up from our parents, our friends, the television and the media. Unconsciously we fed our impressionable little minds with some good and some negative programming.
To change your results of these negative daily thoughts, you must overwrite old negative programming and instill positive new programming into your unconscious.
This can be achieved through such techniques as written goal setting, positive self-talk, visualization, focused meditation; all very effective techniques. Visualization was first used by he Soviets. They used a strategy of mental rehearsal with athletes. The results were incredible, as these athletes dominated numerous Olympic sports activities. Today, virtually all elite athletes use visualization extensively.
Why, because we know that the brain cannot differentiate between real practices and practice that is vividly imagined. So, if you want to get thin, can you begin practicing being thin? Yes, of course! Does it work? Absolutely, the results in my practice prove it. Men and women alike find that when they feed their conscious and unconscious minds with positive and powerful mental images, positive feelings, the visuals of living in their thin bodies, and so forth, they begin to see their bodies slim down and their body-love and body-esteem increases as well.
Find out what your thoughts are by looking at your results. If you are seeing your pants tighten when you want them to loosen, or you see the same healthy problems or the same weight on the scale, then you most certainly have been reinforcing your conscious and unconscious mind with negative thoughts.
It takes approximately 30 days to make a break a habit, so over the next 30 days, begin to pour into your mind positive thoughts and change your internal dialogue to serve you and your life. Practiced frequently, you will begin to reprogram the your life to see faster and better weight loss results.
Start today by saying, “I am becoming leaner, thinner and healthier every day!”
So does this “positive thinking” and “law of attraction” thing really work?
Ummm, yeah! There’s a reason that I’ve been in business for over 12 years, kept my weight off and helped thousands see their weight fall off too. I believe that in order to change your weight, you must change your mind!
Training your mind is the biggest missed secret to a thin you.
Marna Goldstein is the author of the international top selling e-book, Naturally Thin Secrets. Marna teaches you how to trim down without drugs or supplements using the little-known secrets of the thin. Learn how to get rid of stubborn fat and turbo-charge your weight loss efforts by visiting http://www.thinwithin.com/, home of Naturally Thin Secrets, and http://www.thinwithin.com/, the Internet’s premiere members-only non-diet weight loss support community.
Now, over the past two years, unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve either seen “The Secret” or heard about “the law of attraction” which for some has been characterized as “new age” fluff. On the Larry King show, Oprah, and many other shows, a panel of experts including Bob Proctor, John Assaraf and others who were featured in the movie ‘The Secret’ reveal why the “law of attraction” and “positive thinking” all work, regardless of whether you look at them from a metaphysical or a scientific perspective.
The truth is, many of us are still running negative programs we picked up from our parents, our friends, the television and the media. Unconsciously we fed our impressionable little minds with some good and some negative programming.
To change your results of these negative daily thoughts, you must overwrite old negative programming and instill positive new programming into your unconscious.
This can be achieved through such techniques as written goal setting, positive self-talk, visualization, focused meditation; all very effective techniques. Visualization was first used by he Soviets. They used a strategy of mental rehearsal with athletes. The results were incredible, as these athletes dominated numerous Olympic sports activities. Today, virtually all elite athletes use visualization extensively.
Why, because we know that the brain cannot differentiate between real practices and practice that is vividly imagined. So, if you want to get thin, can you begin practicing being thin? Yes, of course! Does it work? Absolutely, the results in my practice prove it. Men and women alike find that when they feed their conscious and unconscious minds with positive and powerful mental images, positive feelings, the visuals of living in their thin bodies, and so forth, they begin to see their bodies slim down and their body-love and body-esteem increases as well.
Find out what your thoughts are by looking at your results. If you are seeing your pants tighten when you want them to loosen, or you see the same healthy problems or the same weight on the scale, then you most certainly have been reinforcing your conscious and unconscious mind with negative thoughts.
It takes approximately 30 days to make a break a habit, so over the next 30 days, begin to pour into your mind positive thoughts and change your internal dialogue to serve you and your life. Practiced frequently, you will begin to reprogram the your life to see faster and better weight loss results.
Start today by saying, “I am becoming leaner, thinner and healthier every day!”
So does this “positive thinking” and “law of attraction” thing really work?
Ummm, yeah! There’s a reason that I’ve been in business for over 12 years, kept my weight off and helped thousands see their weight fall off too. I believe that in order to change your weight, you must change your mind!
Training your mind is the biggest missed secret to a thin you.
Marna Goldstein is the author of the international top selling e-book, Naturally Thin Secrets. Marna teaches you how to trim down without drugs or supplements using the little-known secrets of the thin. Learn how to get rid of stubborn fat and turbo-charge your weight loss efforts by visiting http://www.thinwithin.com/, home of Naturally Thin Secrets, and http://www.thinwithin.com/, the Internet’s premiere members-only non-diet weight loss support community.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
What Are You Doing To Live 'The Secret?'
From: www.goodandgettingbetter.blogspot.com
The Secret Blows My Mind !!
If you haven't ever watched The Secret you haven't started living. I was reborn this past week after watching the secret, I have committed myself to watching it first thing when I wake up and then right before I go to bed. Someone told me that if I do that ALL my dreams will come true. I have started 'visualizing' my Pink Hummer and picking out what helicopter my husband will look best in.Sticky notes every where!!! I got a pink pad of sticky notes and drew a picture of my Hummer and stuck them on my front door (both sides), bathroom mirror, under the toilet seat (that one always really reminds me, and then I have a few moments to sit in quiet and focus on visualizing), on my car dash, in my fridge, above my sink, and I made a necklace with a toy hummer, that I spray painted pink, and I will wear it everyday until I get my Pink hummer.I ordered the vinyl lettering to go on it that says "Mommy Millionaire". So, not only am I visualizing but I have taken 'action'! I ran out of people to call, so I'm just focusing on building my list right now. My motto right now is "Some will, some won't, so what, move on." THE SECRET'S NOT A SECRET ANYMORE! Move over world, here I come!!!!
The Secret Blows My Mind !!
If you haven't ever watched The Secret you haven't started living. I was reborn this past week after watching the secret, I have committed myself to watching it first thing when I wake up and then right before I go to bed. Someone told me that if I do that ALL my dreams will come true. I have started 'visualizing' my Pink Hummer and picking out what helicopter my husband will look best in.Sticky notes every where!!! I got a pink pad of sticky notes and drew a picture of my Hummer and stuck them on my front door (both sides), bathroom mirror, under the toilet seat (that one always really reminds me, and then I have a few moments to sit in quiet and focus on visualizing), on my car dash, in my fridge, above my sink, and I made a necklace with a toy hummer, that I spray painted pink, and I will wear it everyday until I get my Pink hummer.I ordered the vinyl lettering to go on it that says "Mommy Millionaire". So, not only am I visualizing but I have taken 'action'! I ran out of people to call, so I'm just focusing on building my list right now. My motto right now is "Some will, some won't, so what, move on." THE SECRET'S NOT A SECRET ANYMORE! Move over world, here I come!!!!
Sunday, October 12, 2008
It's All About Attitude
Happiness seems to be the single thread that ties many people together because everyone seeks happiness at some point in their life. Happiness is not elusive, yet it seems that many people have trouble knowing what happiness truly is, or how to find it for themselves.
Happiness is defined as a state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy. Let’s break down this definition to get a clearer picture of exactly what happiness is…
First, take note that happiness is defined by your emotions. Let that thought soak in for a minute. Now read it again: Happiness is defined by your emotions. That means you can choose to be happy, or not. Happiness is clearly and solely dependent upon your attitude and thoughts.
Your emotions, ranging from contentment to joy, is what defines that feeling of happiness you can experience. Contentment is simply being happy with your lot in life. If you are crippled, but can accept your handicap as the way it was meant to be, you will experience happiness every day. But if you look at your handicap as a negative attribute that hinders you from living your life to its fullest, then you’ll be miserable every single day.
Your attitude defines your happiness…or unhappiness.
The secret of happiness doesn’t lie in having all the things you think you need. Many people say that if they just had a couple more thousand dollars, or a bigger house, or a better job, then their life would be better and they’d be happier.
The truth is, no matter how much physical possessions you own, those things can never define your happiness. You must reach deep within yourself and become content with your life as it is. That is when you’ll learn the true secret of happiness.
Taken from www.nurturedsoul.com
Happiness is defined as a state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy. Let’s break down this definition to get a clearer picture of exactly what happiness is…
First, take note that happiness is defined by your emotions. Let that thought soak in for a minute. Now read it again: Happiness is defined by your emotions. That means you can choose to be happy, or not. Happiness is clearly and solely dependent upon your attitude and thoughts.
Your emotions, ranging from contentment to joy, is what defines that feeling of happiness you can experience. Contentment is simply being happy with your lot in life. If you are crippled, but can accept your handicap as the way it was meant to be, you will experience happiness every day. But if you look at your handicap as a negative attribute that hinders you from living your life to its fullest, then you’ll be miserable every single day.
Your attitude defines your happiness…or unhappiness.
The secret of happiness doesn’t lie in having all the things you think you need. Many people say that if they just had a couple more thousand dollars, or a bigger house, or a better job, then their life would be better and they’d be happier.
The truth is, no matter how much physical possessions you own, those things can never define your happiness. You must reach deep within yourself and become content with your life as it is. That is when you’ll learn the true secret of happiness.
Taken from www.nurturedsoul.com
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Acceptance, Envy and Contentment
One who accepts with patience, that which he cannot change–has learned one secret of victorious living.
Another part of the lesson, is that we can learn to moderate our desires. “Having food and clothing,” says Paul again, “let us be content with these.” Very much of our discontent arises from envy of those who seem to be more favored than ourselves. Many people lose most of the comfort out of their own lot–in coveting the finer, more luxurious things which some neighbor has. Yet if they knew the whole story of the life they envy for its greater prosperity, they probably would not exchange for it their own lowlier life, with its more humble circumstances. Or if they could make the exchange, it is not likely they would find half so much real happiness in the other position, as they would have enjoyed in their own.
Contentment does not dwell so often in palaces–as in the homes of the humble. The real cause of our discontent is not in our circumstances; if it were, a change of circumstances might cure it. It is in ourselves, and wherever we go–we shall carry our discontent heart with us. The only cure which will affect anything–must be the curing of the fever of discontent in us.
A fine secret of contentment, lies in finding and extracting all the pleasure we can get from the things we have–the common, everyday things....In whatever state we are in–we may find therein enough for our need.
(J. R. Miller, “The Hidden Life” 1895)
Taken from http://asacrificeofpraise.wordpress.com/
Another part of the lesson, is that we can learn to moderate our desires. “Having food and clothing,” says Paul again, “let us be content with these.” Very much of our discontent arises from envy of those who seem to be more favored than ourselves. Many people lose most of the comfort out of their own lot–in coveting the finer, more luxurious things which some neighbor has. Yet if they knew the whole story of the life they envy for its greater prosperity, they probably would not exchange for it their own lowlier life, with its more humble circumstances. Or if they could make the exchange, it is not likely they would find half so much real happiness in the other position, as they would have enjoyed in their own.
Contentment does not dwell so often in palaces–as in the homes of the humble. The real cause of our discontent is not in our circumstances; if it were, a change of circumstances might cure it. It is in ourselves, and wherever we go–we shall carry our discontent heart with us. The only cure which will affect anything–must be the curing of the fever of discontent in us.
A fine secret of contentment, lies in finding and extracting all the pleasure we can get from the things we have–the common, everyday things....In whatever state we are in–we may find therein enough for our need.
(J. R. Miller, “The Hidden Life” 1895)
Taken from http://asacrificeofpraise.wordpress.com/
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Choose the Life You Want
Life is an ongoing process of choosing between safety (out of fear and a need for defense)
and risk (for the sake of progrss and growth). Make the growth choice a dozen times a day.
Abraham Maslow
and risk (for the sake of progrss and growth). Make the growth choice a dozen times a day.
Abraham Maslow
Thursday, September 25, 2008
FEAR
Fear is the most toxic of all feelings because of its potential to prevent us from getting things we want. And to make matters worse..often our greatest fear...is the exact thing that we want.
It can be the origin for inaction, immobilization...getting us stuck in a life that goes round and round to nowhere.
The best antidote for fear is perspective...realizing that that which we are afraid of doesn't usually happen.
Affirmations are also helpful along with self-talk and creative visualizations...
Tell yourself- 'I let go of all my fears'
' I face my fears head-on every day.'
' I can do it.____________'
'I know that everything will work out okay for me.'
See yourself DOING it.
Do it....how wonderful you will feel.
It can be the origin for inaction, immobilization...getting us stuck in a life that goes round and round to nowhere.
The best antidote for fear is perspective...realizing that that which we are afraid of doesn't usually happen.
Affirmations are also helpful along with self-talk and creative visualizations...
Tell yourself- 'I let go of all my fears'
' I face my fears head-on every day.'
' I can do it.____________'
'I know that everything will work out okay for me.'
See yourself DOING it.
Do it....how wonderful you will feel.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Believing In Yourself - Confidence Building
What often stops us from pursuing and succeeding in our chosen passion is ourselves. Out mind gets so cluttered with doubt and self-defeating thoughts that we end up believing them and giving up. This fear and resistance to change is something we all experience and can relate to. There is no magic pill that’ll make these thoughts go away.
Only this advice: practice taking action despite fear and doubt, as often as possible. We are creatures of habit, the more we repeat something, the better we get at it, the more automatic it becomes, and the more natural it feels.
Here are some tips that I have personally found helpful in confidence building:
Take massive action - And doing so often. As much as possible. The more you do this, the less scary it will seem, and the more confident you will feel.
Visualization - Our repeated thoughts (whether conscious or unconscious) create the tracks for the train of our mind to run on. The train ends up looping in a cycle unless we create new tracks for it. Visualization is an effective tool for creating new neural pathways in our brains, thereby introducing new experiences through our imagination. Our brains cannot distinguish between what is happening in reality and what is being vividly imagined. (Shakti Gawain has a great book on the topic if you’d like to learn more.)
Affirmations - Similar to visualization techniques, affirmations create or thicken neural pathways in our brains. It’s effective in replacing negative thought patterns with thoughts more conducive to our wellbeing. Affirmation is simply writing down a positive statement in present tense that includes where you want to be or states qualities of the more wholesome ‘you’ that you would like to embody. Repeat this statement as often and as much as you can. Posting this statement on walls where you’ll see it is also helpful. Examples, “I am an outstanding person. I live in the present moment. I embody love, compassion and kindness towards others.” Or “I am an achiever. I achieve my goals. I live life with passion! I am contributing in massive ways. I am outstanding!” Note: This is not lying to yourself, but rather feeding positive messages to your unconscious mind. We get enough self-defeating thoughts as it is from our ‘ego-ic’ minds. This is just a tool to help us undo some of that.
As you strengthen your beliefs about your skills and continue to perfect your craft, you’ll notice a shift in the way in which people respond to you. They will start to see you as the more wholesome you.
Taken from: www.bspcn.com
What often stops us from pursuing and succeeding in our chosen passion is ourselves. Out mind gets so cluttered with doubt and self-defeating thoughts that we end up believing them and giving up. This fear and resistance to change is something we all experience and can relate to. There is no magic pill that’ll make these thoughts go away.
Only this advice: practice taking action despite fear and doubt, as often as possible. We are creatures of habit, the more we repeat something, the better we get at it, the more automatic it becomes, and the more natural it feels.
Here are some tips that I have personally found helpful in confidence building:
Take massive action - And doing so often. As much as possible. The more you do this, the less scary it will seem, and the more confident you will feel.
Visualization - Our repeated thoughts (whether conscious or unconscious) create the tracks for the train of our mind to run on. The train ends up looping in a cycle unless we create new tracks for it. Visualization is an effective tool for creating new neural pathways in our brains, thereby introducing new experiences through our imagination. Our brains cannot distinguish between what is happening in reality and what is being vividly imagined. (Shakti Gawain has a great book on the topic if you’d like to learn more.)
Affirmations - Similar to visualization techniques, affirmations create or thicken neural pathways in our brains. It’s effective in replacing negative thought patterns with thoughts more conducive to our wellbeing. Affirmation is simply writing down a positive statement in present tense that includes where you want to be or states qualities of the more wholesome ‘you’ that you would like to embody. Repeat this statement as often and as much as you can. Posting this statement on walls where you’ll see it is also helpful. Examples, “I am an outstanding person. I live in the present moment. I embody love, compassion and kindness towards others.” Or “I am an achiever. I achieve my goals. I live life with passion! I am contributing in massive ways. I am outstanding!” Note: This is not lying to yourself, but rather feeding positive messages to your unconscious mind. We get enough self-defeating thoughts as it is from our ‘ego-ic’ minds. This is just a tool to help us undo some of that.
As you strengthen your beliefs about your skills and continue to perfect your craft, you’ll notice a shift in the way in which people respond to you. They will start to see you as the more wholesome you.
Taken from: www.bspcn.com
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Freedom
No matter what is happening in your life or in the world...
No matter what is...
Whether you are broke, ill or going through a divorce...
You have the freedom to choose your focus
You have the freedom to choose... how you feel
The choice is yours--
Finding something positive in what is ...is not always easy
But think about it...you are free to...
No matter what is...
Whether you are broke, ill or going through a divorce...
You have the freedom to choose your focus
You have the freedom to choose... how you feel
The choice is yours--
Finding something positive in what is ...is not always easy
But think about it...you are free to...
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Happiness Shouldn't Wait, So Go For It Today
Happiness shouldn't wait, so go for it today
The older couple on your block who are always smiling? They're not just showing off their new his-and-hers veneers. It turns out that sour-with-age stereotypes are as inaccurate as a blindfolded dart-thrower. When researchers at the University of Chicago measured the bliss of Americans, they found that about half the people in their late 80s feel jubilant, while barely a third of 18-year-olds do.
Greater self-esteem and broader access to healthcare (credit Medicare) may account for the reason good cheer climbs with age. (We figure not having to wear neckties or pantyhose to work everyday helps too.)
But here's the real secret to happiness: You don't have to wait until your 80s. Go after it now, and there's a good chance you'll get it. Between 40 and 50 percent of your capacity for happiness is genetic, meaning YOU control the lion's share of how you feel about life. Keeping your mood meter on "a favorable outlook" is possible.
Remember, few people are jerks on purpose. For instance, that guy who cut you off may need to get to the hospital because his pregnant wife is in labor.
Maintaining a favorable outlook also provides big health benefits, including protection against heart disease, better resistance against other illnesses, a younger RealAge and a longer life. Try our six proven strategies for boosting your contentment quotient today:
1. Get a grip on your wallet. Money is a health issue. With a slow economy and gas at $3 to $5 a gallon, financial worries are driving up stress. Forty percent of all serious stresses are due to money. Get back in control by creating a budget, consolidating credit debt onto a low-interest card (vow to buy on credit only what you can pay off in your next bill) and setting aside some dough (aim for 10 percent) every month to build your nest egg. This 10 percent is in addition to your retirement fund, and it's there in case you need to change jobs or you get laid off. It gives you independence, control and a safety net. So start living below your means today. Yes, it's tough, but we know of no better way to achieve long-term happiness, and you won't have to find storage space for all that stuff you bought that you didn't need.
2. Go take a hike in the park -- or just around your office building. Getting physical activity for a sustained period of time (30 minutes will do it) saturates the mood-controlling regions of your brain with endorphins. These are the pleasure-boosting chemicals responsible for the famed "runner's high" (and that giddy glow you get after a yoga class or great sex). We can't say it enough: A brisk half-hour walk every day will boost your spirits AND your health.
3. Go social. Friendship is powerful mental medicine. Folks with strong people skills rank in the highest levels of happiness, while social isolation torpedoes well-being. Hooking up for a round of golf or a girlfriend spa day isn't a luxury; it's an investment in joy.
4. Stack the deck. Stress is easier to handle when your mind and body are in tip-top shape. Start by pampering your health with a balanced diet, regular checkups and seven to eight hours of sleep per night (less increases stress hormones and diminishes growth hormone). When you find yourself tensing up over things you can't control, try this simple antidote: Switch your focus to the things you usually ignore, like your breathing. Staying "in the moment" can help you regain your perspective, easing anxiety.
5. Do what you love. If you made a pie chart of how much of your time goes to what, would the things that give your life meaning have a fair share of the pie, or are they crowded out? How you rate your own well-being is based on how much fulfillment you get from everyday things, whether it's raising kids, working on a project you love or volunteering. Make time for what you truly value.
6. Know what happiness is. It isn't wearing designer clothes or living out a hot-tub fantasy. These might give you a fun, momentary thrill, but true happiness is using your strengths to grow and meet your potential. And it's being grateful for what and who is around you. Writing thank-you notes from the heart or apologizing to someone has amazing positive actions.
Our favorite: Writing a love note every now and then (not just on anniversaries or birthdays) to the person you've shared your bed with for 32 years (or even 32 days). It brings joy to you both.
Taken from The Roanoke Times
The older couple on your block who are always smiling? They're not just showing off their new his-and-hers veneers. It turns out that sour-with-age stereotypes are as inaccurate as a blindfolded dart-thrower. When researchers at the University of Chicago measured the bliss of Americans, they found that about half the people in their late 80s feel jubilant, while barely a third of 18-year-olds do.
Greater self-esteem and broader access to healthcare (credit Medicare) may account for the reason good cheer climbs with age. (We figure not having to wear neckties or pantyhose to work everyday helps too.)
But here's the real secret to happiness: You don't have to wait until your 80s. Go after it now, and there's a good chance you'll get it. Between 40 and 50 percent of your capacity for happiness is genetic, meaning YOU control the lion's share of how you feel about life. Keeping your mood meter on "a favorable outlook" is possible.
Remember, few people are jerks on purpose. For instance, that guy who cut you off may need to get to the hospital because his pregnant wife is in labor.
Maintaining a favorable outlook also provides big health benefits, including protection against heart disease, better resistance against other illnesses, a younger RealAge and a longer life. Try our six proven strategies for boosting your contentment quotient today:
1. Get a grip on your wallet. Money is a health issue. With a slow economy and gas at $3 to $5 a gallon, financial worries are driving up stress. Forty percent of all serious stresses are due to money. Get back in control by creating a budget, consolidating credit debt onto a low-interest card (vow to buy on credit only what you can pay off in your next bill) and setting aside some dough (aim for 10 percent) every month to build your nest egg. This 10 percent is in addition to your retirement fund, and it's there in case you need to change jobs or you get laid off. It gives you independence, control and a safety net. So start living below your means today. Yes, it's tough, but we know of no better way to achieve long-term happiness, and you won't have to find storage space for all that stuff you bought that you didn't need.
2. Go take a hike in the park -- or just around your office building. Getting physical activity for a sustained period of time (30 minutes will do it) saturates the mood-controlling regions of your brain with endorphins. These are the pleasure-boosting chemicals responsible for the famed "runner's high" (and that giddy glow you get after a yoga class or great sex). We can't say it enough: A brisk half-hour walk every day will boost your spirits AND your health.
3. Go social. Friendship is powerful mental medicine. Folks with strong people skills rank in the highest levels of happiness, while social isolation torpedoes well-being. Hooking up for a round of golf or a girlfriend spa day isn't a luxury; it's an investment in joy.
4. Stack the deck. Stress is easier to handle when your mind and body are in tip-top shape. Start by pampering your health with a balanced diet, regular checkups and seven to eight hours of sleep per night (less increases stress hormones and diminishes growth hormone). When you find yourself tensing up over things you can't control, try this simple antidote: Switch your focus to the things you usually ignore, like your breathing. Staying "in the moment" can help you regain your perspective, easing anxiety.
5. Do what you love. If you made a pie chart of how much of your time goes to what, would the things that give your life meaning have a fair share of the pie, or are they crowded out? How you rate your own well-being is based on how much fulfillment you get from everyday things, whether it's raising kids, working on a project you love or volunteering. Make time for what you truly value.
6. Know what happiness is. It isn't wearing designer clothes or living out a hot-tub fantasy. These might give you a fun, momentary thrill, but true happiness is using your strengths to grow and meet your potential. And it's being grateful for what and who is around you. Writing thank-you notes from the heart or apologizing to someone has amazing positive actions.
Our favorite: Writing a love note every now and then (not just on anniversaries or birthdays) to the person you've shared your bed with for 32 years (or even 32 days). It brings joy to you both.
Taken from The Roanoke Times
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Nourish Yourself and Others With Love
"The Height Of Delight"
Each moment is an opportunity to see and experience the Love of everything and everyone.
Now is the time to live a life of complete joy, Perfect, Peace and Bliss.
Giving ourselves and others pleasure brings us to the highest state of creation. The Source of Love nourishes all things without exception. Pleasure is a portal into higher states of being.
We are receptacles for Unlimited Love. As soon as I give to others, I am filled with more Love.
excerpt from the Column This Side of Forever- The Malibu Chronicle N0.61
Each moment is an opportunity to see and experience the Love of everything and everyone.
Now is the time to live a life of complete joy, Perfect, Peace and Bliss.
Giving ourselves and others pleasure brings us to the highest state of creation. The Source of Love nourishes all things without exception. Pleasure is a portal into higher states of being.
We are receptacles for Unlimited Love. As soon as I give to others, I am filled with more Love.
excerpt from the Column This Side of Forever- The Malibu Chronicle N0.61
Sunday, July 20, 2008
The Simple Secret to Good Moods
www.moodraiser.com- excerpt from: The Simple Secret to Good Moods
Comparisons. Your mind makes them all the time. And whether you feel contentment or dissatisfaction largely depends on what you are comparing your life to.One of the barriers to contentment is that advertisers are constantly giving us perfect images to compare ourselves with: people with perfect homes and cars and spouses and children, and they give us the illusion that this perfection is somehow possible.The advertisers are taking advantage of the way our minds work naturally. You automatically and naturally compare yourself and your life to others and with your own ideals and aspirations. And when you compare your life to something worse, you feel more satisfaction. When you compare it to something better, you feel dissatisfaction and desire — feelings that may help an advertiser sell products, but feelings that ruin your good mood.
Although the process of comparison happens without your active effort, you can assume control of it. Like your own own breathing, it happens on its own, but you can make it do what you want at any time. All you have to do is pay attention to it.Why would you want to bother? Because, as Robin Lloyd put it after looking at the research:People who positively evaluate their well-being on average have stronger immune systems, are better citizens at work, earn more income, have better marriages, are more sociable, and cope better with difficulties.It makes a difference to feel some contentment. It's good for you mood. And luckily, it can be accomplished pretty easily. It won't last for a long time, but neither does sleeping or exercising. The fact that the effect doesn't last is no reason to dismiss it.
If you're willing to put out a little effort, you can feel satisfied with your life a lot more often. Here's what to do: When you feel discontented, ask yourself, What could be worse? And really try to think of something specific. You can always think of something, and it is usually pretty easy.If you feel unhappy because you haven't advanced in your job as fast as you'd hoped, for example, imagine how you'd feel if you lived in a country or a time when advancement wasn't possible. Imagine being an "untouchable" in India, sentenced to generation after generation of poverty with no chance of escape. Imagine real situations other human beings have experienced that are much worse than anything you've ever had to endure.Try this technique and you'll recognize that in many ways it is a fact that you're lucky to be where you are and who you are. That lucky feeling can put you instantly in a good mood. It's relaxing and peaceful. It won't last very long, but you can always do it again. The technique works every time and it never wears out.In a way, it is a good thing the feeling doesn't last because as wonderful as contentment is, motivation is also wonderful. Striving for a goal — physical fitness, self-improvement, financial success, whatever — is practical and worthwhile also.But when you want to feel some contentment, take a little time and think about how your situation could be worse, or how it used to be worse, or think about what others have gone through.
Comparisons. Your mind makes them all the time. And whether you feel contentment or dissatisfaction largely depends on what you are comparing your life to.One of the barriers to contentment is that advertisers are constantly giving us perfect images to compare ourselves with: people with perfect homes and cars and spouses and children, and they give us the illusion that this perfection is somehow possible.The advertisers are taking advantage of the way our minds work naturally. You automatically and naturally compare yourself and your life to others and with your own ideals and aspirations. And when you compare your life to something worse, you feel more satisfaction. When you compare it to something better, you feel dissatisfaction and desire — feelings that may help an advertiser sell products, but feelings that ruin your good mood.
Although the process of comparison happens without your active effort, you can assume control of it. Like your own own breathing, it happens on its own, but you can make it do what you want at any time. All you have to do is pay attention to it.Why would you want to bother? Because, as Robin Lloyd put it after looking at the research:People who positively evaluate their well-being on average have stronger immune systems, are better citizens at work, earn more income, have better marriages, are more sociable, and cope better with difficulties.It makes a difference to feel some contentment. It's good for you mood. And luckily, it can be accomplished pretty easily. It won't last for a long time, but neither does sleeping or exercising. The fact that the effect doesn't last is no reason to dismiss it.
If you're willing to put out a little effort, you can feel satisfied with your life a lot more often. Here's what to do: When you feel discontented, ask yourself, What could be worse? And really try to think of something specific. You can always think of something, and it is usually pretty easy.If you feel unhappy because you haven't advanced in your job as fast as you'd hoped, for example, imagine how you'd feel if you lived in a country or a time when advancement wasn't possible. Imagine being an "untouchable" in India, sentenced to generation after generation of poverty with no chance of escape. Imagine real situations other human beings have experienced that are much worse than anything you've ever had to endure.Try this technique and you'll recognize that in many ways it is a fact that you're lucky to be where you are and who you are. That lucky feeling can put you instantly in a good mood. It's relaxing and peaceful. It won't last very long, but you can always do it again. The technique works every time and it never wears out.In a way, it is a good thing the feeling doesn't last because as wonderful as contentment is, motivation is also wonderful. Striving for a goal — physical fitness, self-improvement, financial success, whatever — is practical and worthwhile also.But when you want to feel some contentment, take a little time and think about how your situation could be worse, or how it used to be worse, or think about what others have gone through.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Warren Buffet's 7 Secrets For Living a Happy and Simple Life
written by Shilpan, www.bspcn.com
Are you sold on the fake notion that owning possessions is the touchstone of your self-worth? Have you felt jealous and self-pity when a neighbor bought a new Mercedes or a new Yacht that you always wanted to possess? We all have. If your paycheck is not keeping up the pace with your cravings for the new iphone, why not learn the secrets of simplicity from the richest man on the earth who still lives without a cell phone? Before you sink your money for the latest gadget, what if you were to know that the Oracle of Omaha still has no desk computer in his modest office?
In this world full of the rich and famous, Warren Buffett remains the greatest investor ever born not due to his acumen for the wise investments that he has made during his life but more for exemplifying the greatness with simplicity. He’s full of wit and happiness and this is at the core of everything that he does.
Secret # 1 : Happiness comes from within.
In my adult business life I have never had to make a choice of trading between professional and personal. I tap-dance to work, and when I get there it’s tremendous fun.- Warren Buffett
This is the man who truly loves does what he loves. The battle between productivity and anti-productivity blogs stems from their convoluted chains of frequently twisted rational to substantiate their claim that productivity is a force of an external demand - from an employer or a competitor. In reality, productivity comes from within. It comes from doing what we love and loving what we do. When we start trading time between our professional and personal life, we wage war in our own mind to justify our passion in terms of a personal benefit. In my business I have felt more stress and angst when I haven’t given all of my talent, hard work and passion to help others on a given day. The myth of working hard to make more money to buy more things throws us in the vicious circle of hallucination. Our happiness always remains imprisoned when we do work that we abhor yet justify doing it to pay bills for those things that we don’t need. I used to work even after buying my first hotel for many years to justify the fake notion that I needed additional income to pay bills. What I needed was to change my lifestyle to free myself from this never-ending rut chase.
Secret # 2 Find happiness in simple pleasures.
I have simple pleasures. I play bridge online for 12 hours a week. Bill and I play, he’s “chalengr” and I’m “tbone”. - Warren Buffett
If the man richer than God can find happiness in the simple pleasure of playing bridge online with another billionaire, I have to learn to be happy with the simple pleasures of playing cards with friends or playing with my children or taking a walk in the wilderness. All of these simple pleasures do not need extravagant spending. I used to go play golf with other businessmen when the local chamber of commerce sponsored an event. I never found happiness in those events as they were centered on generating more business and exchanging business cards than on truly enjoying the moment. I was allowing myself to be run ragged by trading business cards after hours in a vain hope of making more money whereas that time deserved a dinner with my family.
Secret # 3 Live a simple life.
I just naturally want to do things that make sense. In my personal life too, I don’t care what other rich people are doing. I don’t want a 405 foot boat just because someone else has a 400 foot boat. - Warren Buffett
The sad truth is that our ever-sophisticated advertising industry has conditioned our mind to find happiness from consumption by spending our hard earned money on the possessions that never bring us lasting happiness. We spend our life-energy on those possessions that we seldom use. We worry about making payments for a luxury car that sits in our garage collecting dust only for the right to brag about it in an occasional social gathering. Keeping up with the Joneses is the worst epidemic among those who should never contemplate that notion in the first place. If a man who can possibly buy a nation with his cash never espouses the mantra of “more the better”, I need to learn not to spread my legs beyond the reach of the blanket. We are conditioned to spend money before we earn it. We are sold on the fake happiness of “Buy now, pay later dearly” - It’s nothing more than buying possessions that we cannot afford. I have my share of insanity when it comes to mindless spending, but lately I try to pay for most of my purchases with cash. It creates awareness towards the impulse buy when I pay by cash. I have also started red lining items on the credit card statement that I consider useless spending. All of these efforts have built my awareness towards my impulse purchases. I have been using mantra of - “less is more” to simplify every aspect of my life. It’s a work in progress but the results are astounding.
Secret # 4 Think Simply.
“I want to be able to explain my mistakes. This means I do only the things I completely understand.” - Warren Buffett
There lies one of the greatest secrets of simplicity. Warren Buffett invests only in the businesses that he understands. If you ever read research reports from an accomplished Wall Street guru, you’ll find a plethora of details that make you dizzy. The success of Warren Buffett as the greatest investor ever lies in his ability to think simply. I used to invest in the stock market in the mid 90’s when everyone wanted to make over night millions in an exuberant market. I used to read “Investor’s Business Daily” only to look at the movers and shakers. These were the stocks that made a significant upward move a day before. A few days before Christmas, I made $52,000 in one stock in a matter of a few days. I knew nothing about the company. I created a new reality for my thoughts that I had figured out how the Wall Street works. I was on my way to the riches. I applied the same thought model on the next several stocks. Needless to say, I lost all that I made and much more. I was lacking in a basic human quality that Warren Buffett has mastered well - common sense. It says a great deal about the character of a man who invested a measly amount in Microsoft despite the fact that Bill Gates is one of his closest friends. I learned a valuable lesson of life from this experience - “Not losing hard earned money is far more important than making more money”. If I apply this rule in my life, I can develop clarity and sanity in my thoughts. Clarity is the mother of simplicity. Life is not a roulette; life is about simple yet profound choices.
Secret # 5 Invest Simply.
The best way to own common stocks is through an index fund. - Warren Buffett
It is astounding to know that the greatest investor in the world is not bragging about intricate financial maneuvering to impress the rest of the world with his financial genius. Instead, Warren Buffett shows us the most simplistic approach to our financial freedom - “Flow with the market rather than pretending to be smarter than God.” In this world full of so-called financial experts, Warren stands tall by showing us the simplest way to the riches. The stock market has moved upward for the last hundred years despite numerous setbacks. He is using a long historical view to back his argument rather than making a futile effort to predict how we can make a quick fortune. After losing most of my capital in the late 90’s, I have precisely followed the simple advice of investing in the no-load index funds. I’m happier than ever and while my assets have not skyrocketed, they haven’t dwindled either.
Secret # 6 Have a mentor in life.
I was lucky to have the right heroes. Tell me who your heroes are and I’ll tell you how you’ll turn out to be. The qualities of the one you admire are the traits that you, with a little practice, can make your own, and that, if practiced, will become habit-forming. - Warren Buffett
We are worshipers of celebrity demi-gods. All of us have this acute desire to look and live like these celebrities. However, are they truly the ones with character and moral compass to lead us? Having a mentor is as important as having a purpose in our life but having a wrong mentor is as devastating as having a wrong purpose in our life. The mentor has to be someone whom we can trust and have an unwavering faith in his/her guidance. The mentor has to be the one who has made outstanding strides in advancing the greater and guiding purpose of happiness in his/her own life. You’ll find that person in your inner circle if you think hard enough. Write down why you admire them. Try to emulate their traits and as Warren has shown by his exemplary life, with a little practice, you can form a habit to clone the life that you admire the most.
Secret # 7 Making money isn’t the backbone of our guiding purpose; making money is the by-product of our guiding purpose.
If you’re doing something you love, you’re more likely to put your all into it, and that generally equates to making money. - Warren Buffett
How do you rationalize the richest man on the earth still living in a small 3-bedroom house that he purchased fifty years ago? Warren Buffett never travels in a private jet despite the fact that he owns the largest private jet company. His character and way of life speak volume about his greatness. This is the man who spent his personal time investigating a $4 line item on his tax return to hunt down the specifics of it while giving away billions of dollars to Bill Gates foundation. It is rare to find the richest man on the earth living without luxuries that we want to possess even by mortgaging our future. He has demonstrated that while valuing the worth of money is vital for our ingenuity and success, money shall never become the object and end all of our motivation. I’m an avid admirer of simplicity, but I’m an even bigger fan of the man who has mastered the greatness by living and breathing simplicity amid an ocean of wealth. Do you agree?
Are you sold on the fake notion that owning possessions is the touchstone of your self-worth? Have you felt jealous and self-pity when a neighbor bought a new Mercedes or a new Yacht that you always wanted to possess? We all have. If your paycheck is not keeping up the pace with your cravings for the new iphone, why not learn the secrets of simplicity from the richest man on the earth who still lives without a cell phone? Before you sink your money for the latest gadget, what if you were to know that the Oracle of Omaha still has no desk computer in his modest office?
In this world full of the rich and famous, Warren Buffett remains the greatest investor ever born not due to his acumen for the wise investments that he has made during his life but more for exemplifying the greatness with simplicity. He’s full of wit and happiness and this is at the core of everything that he does.
Secret # 1 : Happiness comes from within.
In my adult business life I have never had to make a choice of trading between professional and personal. I tap-dance to work, and when I get there it’s tremendous fun.- Warren Buffett
This is the man who truly loves does what he loves. The battle between productivity and anti-productivity blogs stems from their convoluted chains of frequently twisted rational to substantiate their claim that productivity is a force of an external demand - from an employer or a competitor. In reality, productivity comes from within. It comes from doing what we love and loving what we do. When we start trading time between our professional and personal life, we wage war in our own mind to justify our passion in terms of a personal benefit. In my business I have felt more stress and angst when I haven’t given all of my talent, hard work and passion to help others on a given day. The myth of working hard to make more money to buy more things throws us in the vicious circle of hallucination. Our happiness always remains imprisoned when we do work that we abhor yet justify doing it to pay bills for those things that we don’t need. I used to work even after buying my first hotel for many years to justify the fake notion that I needed additional income to pay bills. What I needed was to change my lifestyle to free myself from this never-ending rut chase.
Secret # 2 Find happiness in simple pleasures.
I have simple pleasures. I play bridge online for 12 hours a week. Bill and I play, he’s “chalengr” and I’m “tbone”. - Warren Buffett
If the man richer than God can find happiness in the simple pleasure of playing bridge online with another billionaire, I have to learn to be happy with the simple pleasures of playing cards with friends or playing with my children or taking a walk in the wilderness. All of these simple pleasures do not need extravagant spending. I used to go play golf with other businessmen when the local chamber of commerce sponsored an event. I never found happiness in those events as they were centered on generating more business and exchanging business cards than on truly enjoying the moment. I was allowing myself to be run ragged by trading business cards after hours in a vain hope of making more money whereas that time deserved a dinner with my family.
Secret # 3 Live a simple life.
I just naturally want to do things that make sense. In my personal life too, I don’t care what other rich people are doing. I don’t want a 405 foot boat just because someone else has a 400 foot boat. - Warren Buffett
The sad truth is that our ever-sophisticated advertising industry has conditioned our mind to find happiness from consumption by spending our hard earned money on the possessions that never bring us lasting happiness. We spend our life-energy on those possessions that we seldom use. We worry about making payments for a luxury car that sits in our garage collecting dust only for the right to brag about it in an occasional social gathering. Keeping up with the Joneses is the worst epidemic among those who should never contemplate that notion in the first place. If a man who can possibly buy a nation with his cash never espouses the mantra of “more the better”, I need to learn not to spread my legs beyond the reach of the blanket. We are conditioned to spend money before we earn it. We are sold on the fake happiness of “Buy now, pay later dearly” - It’s nothing more than buying possessions that we cannot afford. I have my share of insanity when it comes to mindless spending, but lately I try to pay for most of my purchases with cash. It creates awareness towards the impulse buy when I pay by cash. I have also started red lining items on the credit card statement that I consider useless spending. All of these efforts have built my awareness towards my impulse purchases. I have been using mantra of - “less is more” to simplify every aspect of my life. It’s a work in progress but the results are astounding.
Secret # 4 Think Simply.
“I want to be able to explain my mistakes. This means I do only the things I completely understand.” - Warren Buffett
There lies one of the greatest secrets of simplicity. Warren Buffett invests only in the businesses that he understands. If you ever read research reports from an accomplished Wall Street guru, you’ll find a plethora of details that make you dizzy. The success of Warren Buffett as the greatest investor ever lies in his ability to think simply. I used to invest in the stock market in the mid 90’s when everyone wanted to make over night millions in an exuberant market. I used to read “Investor’s Business Daily” only to look at the movers and shakers. These were the stocks that made a significant upward move a day before. A few days before Christmas, I made $52,000 in one stock in a matter of a few days. I knew nothing about the company. I created a new reality for my thoughts that I had figured out how the Wall Street works. I was on my way to the riches. I applied the same thought model on the next several stocks. Needless to say, I lost all that I made and much more. I was lacking in a basic human quality that Warren Buffett has mastered well - common sense. It says a great deal about the character of a man who invested a measly amount in Microsoft despite the fact that Bill Gates is one of his closest friends. I learned a valuable lesson of life from this experience - “Not losing hard earned money is far more important than making more money”. If I apply this rule in my life, I can develop clarity and sanity in my thoughts. Clarity is the mother of simplicity. Life is not a roulette; life is about simple yet profound choices.
Secret # 5 Invest Simply.
The best way to own common stocks is through an index fund. - Warren Buffett
It is astounding to know that the greatest investor in the world is not bragging about intricate financial maneuvering to impress the rest of the world with his financial genius. Instead, Warren Buffett shows us the most simplistic approach to our financial freedom - “Flow with the market rather than pretending to be smarter than God.” In this world full of so-called financial experts, Warren stands tall by showing us the simplest way to the riches. The stock market has moved upward for the last hundred years despite numerous setbacks. He is using a long historical view to back his argument rather than making a futile effort to predict how we can make a quick fortune. After losing most of my capital in the late 90’s, I have precisely followed the simple advice of investing in the no-load index funds. I’m happier than ever and while my assets have not skyrocketed, they haven’t dwindled either.
Secret # 6 Have a mentor in life.
I was lucky to have the right heroes. Tell me who your heroes are and I’ll tell you how you’ll turn out to be. The qualities of the one you admire are the traits that you, with a little practice, can make your own, and that, if practiced, will become habit-forming. - Warren Buffett
We are worshipers of celebrity demi-gods. All of us have this acute desire to look and live like these celebrities. However, are they truly the ones with character and moral compass to lead us? Having a mentor is as important as having a purpose in our life but having a wrong mentor is as devastating as having a wrong purpose in our life. The mentor has to be someone whom we can trust and have an unwavering faith in his/her guidance. The mentor has to be the one who has made outstanding strides in advancing the greater and guiding purpose of happiness in his/her own life. You’ll find that person in your inner circle if you think hard enough. Write down why you admire them. Try to emulate their traits and as Warren has shown by his exemplary life, with a little practice, you can form a habit to clone the life that you admire the most.
Secret # 7 Making money isn’t the backbone of our guiding purpose; making money is the by-product of our guiding purpose.
If you’re doing something you love, you’re more likely to put your all into it, and that generally equates to making money. - Warren Buffett
How do you rationalize the richest man on the earth still living in a small 3-bedroom house that he purchased fifty years ago? Warren Buffett never travels in a private jet despite the fact that he owns the largest private jet company. His character and way of life speak volume about his greatness. This is the man who spent his personal time investigating a $4 line item on his tax return to hunt down the specifics of it while giving away billions of dollars to Bill Gates foundation. It is rare to find the richest man on the earth living without luxuries that we want to possess even by mortgaging our future. He has demonstrated that while valuing the worth of money is vital for our ingenuity and success, money shall never become the object and end all of our motivation. I’m an avid admirer of simplicity, but I’m an even bigger fan of the man who has mastered the greatness by living and breathing simplicity amid an ocean of wealth. Do you agree?
Monday, July 7, 2008
PERSONAL GROWTH IS A JOURNEY TO KNOWING THE SELF
We are surrounded today by a chaotic world which pulsates at a mind-boggling pace. Our stress level increases daily. To handle the stimulation overload and to keep a pace with time-which slips away nonetheless-we create appearances that we hide behind. The more vulnerable we are, the thicker the bricks we use to build this wall of appearances. The walls keep rising. People become alien to themselves. We become inefficient, unaffectionate, depleted.
Muddied Waters
Yet we are like pure water at birth. As life goes on, our parents, adults, and the environment contaminate us. Worse still, we get used to this layer of mud; in time, we find it natural.
This is where Personal Growth becomes important. The aim of Personal Growth is to stop self-alienation. It is to return to our inner self: to learn about our inner world, the language of our feelings, and about the conditionings we have been subjected to until then; and-as we get to know ourselves-to find peace in ourselves; to become one with our thoughts, feelings and actions; to clear the waters again.
When this happens, when we stop deriving our power from something we are not-our appearances, and the roles we play-and become one with our nature; when our inner self reflects on the outside, we begin to utilize talents we had not been able to bring to life until then; we become more Powerful; Flexible; Effective; Free!
We stop entering into painful relationships of dependency. We begin to build relationships upon love and selectivity. Even though the confusion of daily life does not change, our reaction to it certainly does. External conditions lose their erosive nature. Even in the raging storm, the individual who is able to self-actualize knows how to navigate to the calm harbor with the inner peace he or she has found.
In short, personal growth aims for the person to return to the self (from which they have become alienated) and to live a balanced, effective, and fulfilling life.
Taken from: www.kuraldisi.com
Muddied Waters
Yet we are like pure water at birth. As life goes on, our parents, adults, and the environment contaminate us. Worse still, we get used to this layer of mud; in time, we find it natural.
This is where Personal Growth becomes important. The aim of Personal Growth is to stop self-alienation. It is to return to our inner self: to learn about our inner world, the language of our feelings, and about the conditionings we have been subjected to until then; and-as we get to know ourselves-to find peace in ourselves; to become one with our thoughts, feelings and actions; to clear the waters again.
When this happens, when we stop deriving our power from something we are not-our appearances, and the roles we play-and become one with our nature; when our inner self reflects on the outside, we begin to utilize talents we had not been able to bring to life until then; we become more Powerful; Flexible; Effective; Free!
We stop entering into painful relationships of dependency. We begin to build relationships upon love and selectivity. Even though the confusion of daily life does not change, our reaction to it certainly does. External conditions lose their erosive nature. Even in the raging storm, the individual who is able to self-actualize knows how to navigate to the calm harbor with the inner peace he or she has found.
In short, personal growth aims for the person to return to the self (from which they have become alienated) and to live a balanced, effective, and fulfilling life.
Taken from: www.kuraldisi.com
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