The Prosperous People | Self Improvement Blog

I found the following interesting article. It has been written by the author of the Chicken Soup for the Soul® series.

The Formula That Changes Everything
By Jack Canfield

It seems that everywhere you turn these days, you hear people talking about the economy.

What’s interesting is that some people are scared to death about it, while others couldn’t be happier. While I don’t claim to be an economist, I do know one important fact. The economy is the same for everyone, it’s how you respond to it that determines how you feel about it.

It’s yet another example of what I’ve been teaching for years. . .

E + R = O

(Events + Responses = Outcome)

The basic idea is that every outcome you experience in life (whether it’s success or failure, wealth or poverty, wellness or illness, intimacy or estrangement, joy or frustration) is the result of how you have responded to an earlier event (or events) in your life.

If you don’t like the outcomes you are currently experiencing, there are two basic choices you can make:

1.) You can blame the event (E) for your lack of results (O).

In other words, you can blame the economy, the weather, the lack of money, lack of education, racism, gender bias, the current administration in Washington, your wife or husband, your boss’s attitude, the lack of support, and so on.

If you’re a golfer, you’ve probably even blamed your clubs!

No doubt all these factors exist, but if they were the deciding factor, nobody would ever succeed. For every reason it’s not possible, there are hundreds of people who have faced the same circumstances and succeeded.

It’s not the external conditions and circumstances that stop you — it’s you!

We think limiting thoughts and engage in self-defeating behaviors. We defend our self-destructive habits (such as drinking and smoking) with indefensible logic.

We ignore useful feedback, fail to continuously educate ourselves and learn new skills, waste time on the trivial aspects of our lives, engage in idle gossip, eat unhealthy food, fail to exercise, spend more than we make, fail to tell the truth, don’t ask for what we want, and then wonder why our lives aren’t working.

2.) You can instead simply change your responses (R) to the events (E) until you get the outcomes (O) you want.

You can change your thinking, change your communication, change the pictures and you hold in your head (your images of the world) and you can change your behavior (the things you do.) That’s all you really have any control over anyway.

Unfortunately, most of us are so run by our habits that we never change our behavior. We get stick in out conditioned responses-to our spouses and children, to our colleagues at work, to our customers and our clients, to our students, and to the world at large.

You have to gain control of your thoughts, your images, your dreams and daydreams, and your behavior.

Everything you think, say, and do needs to become intentional and aligned with your purpose, your values, and your goals.

If you don’t like your outcomes, change your responses.

Here’s an example of how this works:

Do you remember the Northridge earthquake in 1994? I do! I lived through it in Los Angeles. Two days later I watched as CNN interviewed people commuting to work, The earthquake had damaged one of the main freeways leading into the city. Traffic was at a standstill, and what was normally a 1-hour drive had become a 2-3 hour drive.

The CNN reporter knocked on the window of one of the cars stuck in traffic and asked the driver how he was doing.

He responded, angrily, “I hate California. First there were fires, then floods, and now an earthquake! No matter what time I leave in the morning, I’m late for work. I can’t believe it!”

Then the Reporter knocked on the window of the car behind him and asked the driver the same question. This driver was all smiles.

He replied “It’s no problem. I left my house at five am. I don’t think under the circumstances my boss can ask for more than that. I have lots of music and Spanish-language tapes with me. I’ve got my cell phone. Coffee in a thermos, my lunch-I even have a book to read. I’m fine.”

Now, if the earthquake or the traffic were really the deciding variables, then everyone should have been angry. But everyone wasn’t.

It was their individual response to the traffic that gave them their particular outcome. It was thinking negative thoughts or positive thoughts, leaving the house prepared or leaving the house unprepared that made the difference. It was all a matter of attitude and behavior that created their completely different experiences.

If we all experience the same EVENT, the OUTCOME you get will be totally dependent upon your RESPONSE to the situation.

If you want to take control of how you respond to life, you’ll start noticing that your outcomes will be more along the lines of what you have always hoped. Remember, you control your destiny so make it a fantastic one!

© 2008 Jack Canfield

Jack Canfield, America’s Success Coach, is the founder and co-creator of the billion-dollar book brand Chicken Soup for the Soul and a leading authority on Peak Performance. If you’re ready to jump-start your life, make more money, and have more fun and joy in all that you do, get your FREE success tips from Jack Canfield now at: http://www.freesuccessstrategies.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jack_Canfield

I am sure this article will be useful to you.

Tags: Wisdom // 1 Comment »

 We all have problems; even the person in front of us. When we are having a hard day, we often forget that the other people also have worries and their problems could be even more and bigger than ours.

Other times, other people having difficult times forget that we have concerns and our mood is not the optimal one.

In any case, these situations complicate human relations. A small difference of opinion, a misunderstanding or a simple business transaction can grow into a great conflict.

When that occurs, you can silently say one of the following love quotes. Repeat it continuously as you interact with the other person. Surprisingly you will get calmed. And the other people too!

By repeating the quote you increase your vibration and make that the vibration of the other person also increases. Remember that when you are in love your vibrations are at the maximum. Give you the opportunity of trying it. It is worthwhile.

Of course you can use other quotes.

     “Love is a fire that reigns in the heart”

     “Love is a journey not a destination”

     “Where life exists, love exists”

     “Anything is possible, when it comes to love”

     “Where there is love, there is no fear”

     “All you need is love” (Lennon/McCartney)

     “In dreams and in love there are no impossibilities” (Janos Arnay)

     “Paradise is always where love dwells” (Jean Paul F. Richter)

     ”The greatest healing therapy is friendship and love” (Hubert H. Humphrey)

     “Love is the master key that opens the gates of happiness” (Oliver Wendell Holmes)

Tags: Love, Wisdom // Add Comment »

Forever Always

“Fine-tune your senses. It may not be as it seems. Change of the form… Metamorphosis. Do not believe the first thing you see. Observe and understand the meaning of Metamorphic Art.” You can read this in Octavio Ocampo’s Web Page (http://www.octavioocampo.com.mx/).

Ocampo is a Mexican Painter that plays with the illusion. Do not trust in what you see. Look carefully, look at the details.

Trompe l’oeil, deception of the eye, is the foundation of Ocampo’s work. It has not been considered as a genre by itself in the history of painting. But Ocampo has made an incredible work.

You have to spend some time visiting Octavio Ocampo’s Web Page (http://www.octavioocampo.com.mx/). When you are in there, look for the “Downloads” in “More” and open the “Download Presentation.ppt”. It is amazing!

Tags: Wisdom // 1 Comment »

 Have you heard of the DVD called “the Secret”? Well it isn’t such a secret anymore. The DVD was released in March 2006 and according to Time Magazine, the DVD has sold 500,000 units within the first 6 months. Today it sells well over 5,000 copies a day! It ranked in Amazon’s Top-5 sellers during Christmas week; and a tie-in hardcover book just entered the Top 10 on the New York Times bestseller list.

The amazing thing about “the Secret” is that you won’t find it in your local Blockbuster or Barnes and Noble, it is selling briskly through new-age bookstores, New Thought churches like Unity and AGape and the official website at www.thesecret.tv. “It’s become the biggest selling item in the 30-year history of our store,” says Harmony Rose Allor, a buyer at West Hollywood’s popular metaphysical bookshop, The Bodhi Tree. It is “word-of-mouth” marketing at it best.

So what is the secret to “the Secret’s” success? It’s is a “transformational movie”, where a person’s view on life and the laws of life will no longer be the same after watching this movie. In a sense, it has created the same kind of effect as “the Da Vinci Code” and the 2004 hit cult movie “What the Bleep Do We Know”. The movie has created such waves that it has already been featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show, Larry King Live and the Ellen DeGeneres show.

At the core of the movie is a central philosophy called “the Law of Attraction”. In fact, the movie itself was inspired by this very same law when the producer read a book called “the Science of Getting Rich” by Wallace D. Wattles. This book was written in 1910!

This philosophy states that we create our reality, both good and bad! The message is delivered through 24 “teachers” which include prosperity preachers, chiropractic healers, relationship gurus, life coaches and motivational speakers - into one clear, cohesive voice. The movie is a “must watch” for anyone interested in taking charge of their life and in creating the life of their dreams.

Following on the success of the Secret, 2 of the core teachers - namely Bob Proctor and Jack Canfield have collaborated to produce a wealth building program called “the Secret Science of Getting Rich Seminar”. This program is based on the book that inspired the movie and is set to make history as the fastest selling personal development program in history.

What is the Science of Getting Rich about? Well in the words of Wallace D. Wattles, “The ownership of money and property comes as a result of doing things in a certain way. Those who do things in this certain way, whether on purpose or accidentally, get rich. Those who do not do things in this certain way, no matter how hard they work or how able they are, remain poor. It is a natural law that like causes always produce like effects. Therefore, any man or woman who learns to do things in this certain way will infallibly get rich.” The Science of Getting Rich is all about teaching how to do things in this “certain” way to create wealth.

The success of this program is built on several rock solid foundations. These factors include: the phenomenal success of “the Secret”, the timeless concepts from the Science of Getting Rich by Wallace D. Wattles, the credibility of successful personal improvement teachers and New Thought leaders of our time, and the Internet as the distribution medium.

Click here to learn more about the Secret of Getting Rich Seminar and its affiliate program.

Tags: The Science of Getting Rich, Wealth // Add Comment »

Article extracted from the book “This Book Will Finally And Certainly Get You Rich No Matter Who Or Where You Are, Now, Guaranteed” by David Cameron (http://www.imagesofone.com).

Wealth comes from the growth of assets (cash, stocks, property, or any other asset). Assets are purchased with income. If you do not put aside part of your income to acquire assets, you will find it extremely difficult to acquire wealth. However, if you do put aside part of your income to acquire assets, you will find it very easy to acquire wealth. It is all very simple.

Just to summarize:

No savings = no investment = no wealth growth.

You can’t invest what you don’t have. So the first step is to, guess what, save some money! Not once, but consistently and systematically. But look at it like this:

Let’s make up a simple example for illustration. Let’s say one week is composed of 10 days. And let’s say you work for all those 10 days. You earn $100 each day. This is week 1. By the end of week one, you have earned 10 x $100 = $1,000. Now, if you spend the entire $1,000 and you have none of it left by week 2 (or even by week 30 or week 200), your entire efforts for week 1 have evaporated! You have nothing left to show for your efforts. Nothing! What were you working for? For who?

You gave away all your money. You paid everyone else except yourself! Now, here is something you should know: No successful corporation or wealthy individual does that! None! And if you are doing it, then it shouldn’t be a surprise that you aren’t accumulating wealth. So how should you live if you wish to start accumulating wealth?

Well, let us continue with our example. In week 1, you would keep the money you earn on day 1 (so you keep 10% of your income), and spend the money you earn in the remaining 9 days. And you would do the same in week 2, in week 3 and in every week. No matter what, you would keep that contract with yourself, the contract to pay yourself first. It is honoring you, valuing yourself. It is a testament that you believe that you have a future worth investing in. it is a testament that you value your work, your income, what you make for yourself. You don’t pay everyone else and remain with nothing! Why on earth would you do that when it is your money!

You deserve to keep part of it; after all it is you who earned it. So, even in week 200, you would still have with you the 10% from week 1, week 2, and every other week. And you wouldn’t keep this money so you can spend it on a holiday, car or something like that (that should come out of your other 9 days).

You keep it so that it can work for you, bear children for you, and make you more of its own. You worked for it, and now its time to have it work for you. So, you invest it right from the beginning. So by week 200, you would still have with you the 10% from week 1 plus its children (what it has earned in your investment), week 2 plus its children, and every other week plus their children.

And because you are re-investing your returns (the children the money bears), your investment will be compounding itself, so the children themselves will be bearing children of their own, into many generations. The gains you made in week 1 will be re-invested and they will earn more money themselves in week 2 and so on, and that money itself will earn more money in week 3 and so on…

And this just grows into what you call wealth, generations upon generations of your money earning for you. And it all starts when you honor yourself enough to ensure that no matter what happens, you keep at least 10% of what you earn every week! You pay yourself first.

Now, as your investments grow, you are of course entitled to enjoy some of your money, but you must remember that keeping it invested is what gets it growing. So, you may choose to spend, say, 30% of your investment gains (your returns) and re-invest 70%.

Arrange your life so that, no matter what, no matter what, you keep at least 10% of your income every week. And don’t spend and hope some will be left over to save and invest. Pay yourself first, first, before the bills, the gasoline, the food, the clothes, the … Pay yourself first.

Article written by David Cameron Gikandi. For even greater insights into your quest for wealth and financial liberty and ability, go here:

http://www.imagesofone.com

Tags: Wealth // 1 Comment »

By Lori Chance 

As a writer, the creative process is always on my mind. There are more than a few different models that provide a basis of understanding of the creative process, but I have gotten the most out of the one based on the Erickson College model, the life-coaching training program I attended a few years ago. Not only did it give me a way to look at my own creativity, but it has allowed me to identify what might be stopping me from moving forward and how to get around it.

To outline it simply, there are three stages a person must go through in order to realize something new in their lives. That something new could be as small as reading a book, as deliberate as setting and achieving a goal, or as big and challenging as starting their own business. What ever it is, the individual goes through the same stages:

Stage One: Dreaming. This is where we allow ourselves to come up with ideas and get excited about them.

Stage Two: Implementation. This is where we begin to act on the inspiration we’ve had. This is also the phase in which we most often begin to experience the challenges of trying something new and wonder if we really want to finish what we started.

Stage Three: Completion. Just like it’s named, this is the phase where we finish and feel the satisfaction of what we’ve done.

Although each of us moves through these phases whether we’re writing a book, starting a business or learning basket weaving, we do not move through them equally. For some, Dreaming is easy but Completion is a challenge. For others, just trying to think of one or two ideas for small things to do in their lives is the challenge, but once they get started there’s no stopping them.

In fact, each phase of the process has questions to answer and road bumps to overcome before we can move forward. The more we know about each of these things, the easier it becomes to manage the areas in which we get stuck and enjoy the areas in which we thrive.

Think of a project or goal you’ve started recently. Where are you in the creative process, and what might be one thing that could help you move past a challenge you’re experiencing, or make it just a little more satisfying for you? Write down whatever comes to mind.

Lori Chance is a collaborative writer and editor specializing in how-to, informational, spiritual, and personal development articles and books. Her self-coaching book for women titled, Who Am I, is being released in 2008. Lori also trains and mentors both traditional and creative professionals in BNI, the world’s largest networking, word-of-mouth marketing and referral organization, and serves on the Steering Committee for the BNI-Misner Charitable Foundation supporting children and education around the world. To learn more about Lori, visit website. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lori_Chance

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 It is time to do some exercise. Walking is a good alternative. You can start immediately with no special skills or equipment. Please read the following article. It is clear and concise.

Get Walking!

By Justin Lukasavige

Spring has finally arrived, which means it is time to dust off those walking shoes and get outside for some fresh air. Walking is the perfect exercise because just about anyone can do it, regardless of fitness level. You get to choose your pace and your distance and you do not need any special skills or equipment. Follow these tips to make walking a regular part of your daily routine.

Choose the right shoe. While it is not necessary to buy a special pair of shoes for walking, if you plan to go often and far you may want to think about investing in a good pair. Typically, walking shoes will last about 300 to 500 miles, which means approximately three to six months for most walkers. Everyone’s feet are different so talk to a sales person to find the best shoe for you.

Use a pedometer. One of the best ways to increase your steps is to use a pedometer. Why is that? Because most people who use pedometers monitor the number of steps they take and if they are below a certain number, they will get out and walk more. You may not realize how few steps you are actually getting until you see it with your own eyes. You should aim for 10,000 steps per day.

Set goals. Determine how many steps or miles you plan to walk each day. If you feel like you could be walking more than you are now, monitor your steps with a pedometer and aim for an extra 500 starting next week. Once you reach that goal add on another 500. Use our physical activity log to monitor your achievements. It is important to do what you feel is right for you.

Get started! Do not wait any longer. The first step is always the hardest, so with that in mind, get up right now and walk around your house, around your yard, or around your neighborhood. Take that first step now and make a plan to do even more tomorrow.

Rachel Lukasavige is a Health Coach, at Lukas Coaching. You can view more free articles, download free books, and become a member of the Reader’s Group at no cost by visiting http://www.lukascoaching.com/

For more free resources to help you improve your health, finances, business, career & life, visit http://www.lukascoaching.com/resources.htm

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Justin_Lukasavige

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There is a Hawaiian therapy that enables you to change your world by changing yourself. It is called Ho’oponopono.

Modern Ho’oponopono was developed by Morrnah Simeona from the original one, which requires participation of several people.

Simeona died in 1992, but Dr. Ihaleakala Hew Len is now teaching it worldwide. According to Dr. Len, Ho’oponopono is a healing process based on the principles of total responsibility, taking responsibility for everyone’s actions. If one would take complete responsibility for one’s life, then everything one would see, hear, taste, touch or, in any way experience, is one’s responsibility because it is in one’s life.

Taking responsibility is quite easy. All you have to do is to release the memories inside you that show up as problems in our everyday lives.

The purpose of Ho’oponopono is to connect with the Divinity within on a moment-to-moment basis and to ask Him that that moment and all it contains, be cleansed. Only the Divinity can do that. Only the Divinity can erase or correct memories and thought forms. Only the Divinity knows what is going on with you.

There is no need to analyze, solve, manage or cope with problems. Since the Divinity created everything, you can just go directly to Him and ask that it be corrected and cleansed.

You can do this by repeating the following sentences with a sincere heart and with feelings and emotions:

I’m sorry

Forgive me

Thank you

I love you

You can use Ho’oponopono to heal yourself or others physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

If you want to know more about this technique you can go to: The Foundation of I, founded by Morrnah Simeona, or you can read the book Zero Limits: The Secret Hawaiian System for Wealth, Health, Peace, and More by Joe Vitale.

Tags: Faith, Health, Love, Wealth, Wisdom // Add Comment »

 When we say that it is easy to have abundance, we do not mean that it will simply appear. You have to take it. In order to have it you could have to make an investment, at least an investment of time.

There are many ways of doing this. One of them is through a business. What kind of business? Well, that is up to you. But, in this case, I will recommend exploring the opportunity of complementing your income by sharing your knowledge through a website. It has the advantage that you can work at home and do what you like.

The task may seem burdensome, but there are affordable online services that can make the job quite manageable. An excellent option is Site Build It! You must give it a quick look.

Tags: Wealth // Add Comment »

You should take a nap (siesta, cat nap) everyday. It stops the stressing process and even reduces it. This way, at the end of the day, the accumulated stress will lower otherwise would be. Many successful people use to have a daily nap. Winston Churchill said: “You must sleep sometime between lunch and dinner, and no halfway measures. Take off your clothes and get into bed. That’s what I always do. Don’t think you will be doing less work because you sleep during the day. That’s a foolish notion held by people who have no imaginations. You will be able to accomplish more. You get two days in one — well, at least one and a half.” 

Please read the following article: 

Power Naps - What Most People Don’t Know About Naps

By Kacper Postawski

One of the biggest questions I get asked all the time is “Are naps good for you? Or bad? I’ve heard both sides of the story.” I’d like to settle this argument once and for all right here, and reveal to you how you can properly manage your sleep to create an abundance of energy in your life, with LESS sleep.

Yes, naps are VERY good for you, IF you understand how the sleep system works, and you know how to nap PROPERLY.In my “Powerful Sleep” course I teach people how to properly understand their sleep system, circadian rhythm, light exposure, and how it affects their inner sleep system. While we can’t get in this article, here’s what is true:

Most people don’t realize that sleep is actually quite a complex and fascinating inner system. When we’re sleeping, we’re not just dead zombies off in an unknown universe. Your inner sleep system is a mechanism which follows specific time periods and stages to energize your body.

So how do you nap properly?

You take what are commonly referred to as “Power Naps”, or what I usually refer to as “Stage 2 limited naps.”

You see, when you sleep you go through what are called “sleep stages”, there are 5 stages in total.  The first two stages, Stage 1 and 2 are your “Light Sleep”. It’s during this stage that we sleep “lightly”, we are easily wakable, and our circadian rhythm isn’t altered enough to create a disturbance in the sleep system.

The Energizing effects of Stage 1 and 2 sleeps are very beneficial, just 10 minutes of sleeping in these stages can restore your energy to the point where you feel as if you slept for 8 hours.

However, why do most people do more HARM than GOOD to themselves by napping?

It’s simple, they don’t know about “deep sleep.” Deep sleep comprises of all the other sleep stages. It’s during deep sleep that your body undergoes a MASSIVE physiological change, your body temperature, heart rate, respiration drops. Your blood vessels dilate and all the blood that is usually stored in your main organs during the day is channeled to your muscles to repair them.

If you enter deep sleep during the day, your circadian rhythm, and your “inner sleep clock” (see link below for details) will be altered and out of wack, often resulting in an in-balanced, weak sleep system and lower energy levels all together.

For an average person it takes about 45-90 minutes to enter “deep sleep”, this is why for an effective nap you MUST keep your nap down to a MAXIMUM of 45 minutes. Even 45 minutes is sometimes too much. The most energizing naps are usually 10 to 20 minutes long.

If your naps last too long, you will enter deep sleep. Waking up from a deep sleep phase is more harmful to your sleep system and your energy levels than good! You will often feel lethargic, low on energy, and in that “zombie” state of mind.

If you use naps properly, you can boost your energy levels drastically, and lower your sleep time down drastically.

However, there are still two vital things you must know about napping in order to make them super effective during your day, so that you’re capable of lowering your sleep, and boosting your energy. 

1. You must know exactly what the best time during the day is to take your nap.

2. You must know what to do AFTER your nap to speed up your body temperature rise.

Both these sleep secrets are exposed in the Powerful Sleep package, download it today at www.PowerfulSleep.com. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

About The Author:

Kacper Postawski is an innovative sleep science researcher and the creator of the “Powerful Sleep - Secrets of the Inner Sleep Clock” system on www.PowerfulSleep.com. He can show you how to reduce your sleep by up to 3 hours, create more time, and an abundance of energy in your body by sleeping LESS! Not more. He dispels the “8 hour sleep myth”, tells you what most people never realize about sleep, and what the drug companies DON’T WANT YOU to know.  Go to: http://www.powerfulsleep.com to find out more about Powerful Sleep.

Tags: Health // Add Comment »