Business Success Resources » happiness

How to Determine What You Want In Life

carmen — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 00:14:42 +0000

What do you really want in life?

Most people don’t discover what they want in life until it’s time to die – and that’s a shame.

People spend the best years of their lives doing things they dislike or watching television. An author described humanity by saying, “Most people die at twenty and are buried at eighty.” Are you one of the living zombies?

What do you really want in life?

Most people struggle in answering such a question. Many are unsure when asked what they want or what their goals in life are. They flitter throughout their days, hardly giving any thought about what they want in life. People without definite goals are letting time pass them by. Are you one of these people?

If you are undecided about what you want out of life, don’t worry. There are many ways of discovering your purpose in life.

To discover what you want in life, try looking deep into your heart. Oftentimes, people are ruled by logic. People live by what they think they should be or by what others want them to be. The discovery process is the perfect time to listen to your heart. What your heart desires comes from the whispers of your authentic self. Your authentic self is the real you.

You must listen to your heart to hear your authentic self. What your heart says usually feels right. What your heart desires is what you usually love to do and this represents your passion. Anything done with passion is like play where the task is accomplished without hesitation. You pour out your very best and feel no pressure or resistance.

You will completely enjoy doing things that are your passion. Setbacks, difficulties, and obstacles will make it more challenging, but should not deter you from pursuing your goals. Naturally, there may be barriers that may prevent you from reaching your goal, but your heart’s desire will find ways to overcome these barriers so that you may ultimately get what you want in life. Remember this: the universe supports people who are pursuing their passion and those who are pursuing their destiny.

However, this does not mean that you don’t use your head. People are born with both the mind and heart. Your duty is to live your best life and be in harmony with your mind and heart. The poet Rumi wisely said, “Live completely in the head and you cannot feel the breath and rhythm of life. Live completely in the heart and you may find yourself acting like a love-struck fool with poor judgment and discipline. It’s all a fine balance – the head and heart must forge a lifetime partnership if one wants to live a beautiful life.”

Listen to your instinct. Part of human nature is the mysterious and spontaneous reaction to things. Often times, these are called instincts. Your authentic self communicates with you and guides you via instincts. Instincts are those gentle nudges that urge you to act and follow a certain path. Your role then is to listen attentively.

Often times, we listen to what others say and allow them to run our lives. Parents often do this to their children. “We come from a family of doctors, so my son must also be a doctor.” How often do we hear this from parents who have good intentions for their children? Parents unconsciously block the true expression of their child’s real self and calling. Friends and critics will discourage you and point out the impossibility of your dream. Before heeding their advice, evaluate the accomplishments of the critics. Did they achieve their dreams? Do they dream big at all?

Remember, it is your destiny that is on the line, not theirs. It doesn’t mean, though, that you will not listen to what other people say. Hear them out just the same. But the final decision should be yours.

There is only thing to remember: Every person, to live truly and live greatly, must define how he wants to live and what his brightest life will look like. Listen to your instincts and follow your heart’s desire. You will never go wrong.

The Greatest Gift for All – Giving

carmen — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 23:45:41 +0000

Recently I was given a book that has made a significant impact on my view of giving and charity. Actually, it turned my entire concept of giving, charity and philanthropy upside down. The book was written by best-selling author and self-development guru Joe Vitale.

The premise of this book is that people who give freely without expectation of return will experience prosperity from unrelated sources. Things will show up out of the blue, people will help you in ways you never imagined, etc. By starting the cycle of giving freely it will come full circle by benefitting you. If you give only to receive you have defeated the purpose and you will most likely see nothing in return.

Many of us grew up going to church and putting money in the offering tray. It felt like an obligation, you would be ashamed if you didn’t contribute. We really didn’t know what we were contributing to. We just knew that it was what you had to do to be a good person. The money was given as an obligation and not given freely with joy. In fact, if the offering was done in secret, I’m guessing a majority of the people wouldn’t contribute because it didn’t make them joyful.

I’m not condemning contributing to churches. I know how beneficial houses of worship are to society. I’m just suggesting churches would be much more successful if the parishioners were more connected to how the money was used and didn’t feel as if they “had” to contribute, but instead “wanted” to contribute. When people know how they are helping, and when they give with a warm and joyful heart, they feel joy and happiness themselves. This is a critical aspect of Joe Vitale’s book.

As I grew up I realized how critical it was to contribute to charities because in many cases these charities were providing help to people who had no other resources. Giving to them felt good. I knew where the money was going and how people were being helped. And when I gave to charities with a good feeling in my heart, I usually experienced something good happening to me. This was also the case when I helped out people who were in a tight spot. In both cases I expected nothing in return, yet I always seemed to be the recipient of something good from a completely unrelated source.

It wasn’t until I read Joe Vitale’s book that I put two and two together. That is when I finally realized that my giving freely, with an open heart and with no expectation of return was causing those good things to happen to me. Wow, that was quite a realization.

Vitale provides real stories from real people of how they freely gave without expecting anything in return and how they benefited in unexpected ways. He also talks about some of the great philanthropists of history and how their giving increased their net worth substantially.

As an example, John D. Rockefeller began giving money away as a child. As his income grew the amount of money he gave away grew. By the time of his death he had given away $550 million. PT Barnum was another example. He coined the term “profitable philanthropy.” He knew that giving would lead to him receiving, and he become one of the world’s richest men.

At first when I was reading, I felt a little uncomfortable because it seemed these people were focusing on how they were benefitting. It seemed a little selfish. Then I started thinking about it; they were able to continue to give and to increase their giving because they were receiving. I realized there is nothing wrong with receiving as long as you do it with gratitude and continue to give and help others.

I strongly recommend anyone questioning giving and charity read this book. It will not only change your life but the lives of countless others in need. Additionally, by living by this example you will inspire others to do the same. You will be expanding the circle of prosperity to people throughout the world.

By the way, the name of the book is “The Greatest Money Making Secret in History.”

I feel so strongly about the power of giving and receiving I am giving this book away to anyone interested. Go to www.powerimage.com/giving to request your copy.

Think Big and Write It Down!

carmen — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 20:49:08 +0000

“I worked for a menial’s hire,

Only to learn, dismayed,

That any wage I had asked of Life,

Life would have willingly paid.”

Anonymous

Unless you have been living under a rock for the past few years, it is no longer a secret or surprise that your current life was created by none other than YOU through your thoughts. This fact has been studied and scientifically proven by some of the greatest minds that ever lived and are living. What a gift it is for us today that this information is freely shared through our vast forms of communication.

When the famous football coach, Lou Holtz, was twenty-eight years old, he lost his job, had no money, his wife was eight months pregnant with their third child, he felt totally defeated and had lost all his motivation. What he did then was the most life-changing thing he had ever done. He read a book that said to write down everything he wanted to achieve before he died. He wrote down 107 goals on that list and has so far achieved 81 of them. Many of them seemed absolutely impossible to him at the time, but he achieved them anyway.

What advice could this book have possibly given him? It gave him permission to dream! And, it told him what to do with his dreams.

The same thing can happen for you. Here are the first steps to take to begin your exciting journey.

Write down all of your wishes and goals ? all of them. And, like Lou Holtz, they don’t have to all make sense or seem achievable. They just need to be something you really want and are passionate about. Don’t be afraid to put what you may think is “ridiculous” on your list. After all, these are your dreams and goals, and you don’t have to share them with anyone right now.What is important is that you WRITE them down. They then become real “things” and are no longer just thoughts and wishes. ?You’re hanging up your sign that says “I’m open for business.” This alerts the Universe and your brain to pay attention. By the way, our mind is a miraculous thing.
Next you must watch for all the signs and signals that the Universe is sending to help you ? and they will be there as surely as the sun rises in the morning and sets at night. Sometimes they will be subtle; sometimes they will be very strong and persistent. You must take action, whatever feels appropriate. Nothing will happen if you don’t take action. Then fill your heart with gratitude and give thanks for the assistance you have received. The more gratitude you give, the more you will get to be grateful for.
Be in the receiving mode for these signs and signals, you must get rid of all the feelings you have about your fabricated deficiencies. Those feelings and thoughts belong to only you, and you can do whatever you want with them. You can give them the power they would have if they were real (the misdirected power you have been giving them all these years), or you can replace them with positive thoughts that are real and will actually move you towards your goals and dreams. It’s your choice!At first we think that would be impossible. After all, we can’t control every thought we think. No, we can’t, and you would drive yourself crazy if you tried. Your limiting thoughts will fall away one by one, and they will never be missed! I don’t think you’ll want them back, and you’re the only one who knew (thought) they existed in the first place, so good riddance!
You can accelerate the process of achieving your goals and dreams by reading your list of goals every day (remember, they now are “things”) and imagine how you would feel if you had already achieved them. Begin by taking one goal at a time and concentrating on it (baby steps). I know, you’re thinking this whole process is not easy. Actually it is; and with practice and devotion to a successful outcome, it will happen quickly. You’ll become a pro before you know it – and then watch the things fly into your life!

It all boils down to one thing; you create your own reality. So, if you want things to change, you must change the way you think; bring in the positive and throw out the negative thoughts. It’s that basic! It’s such a simple fact, but most people either miss it completely or they think they will never be able to control their thoughts. ?The real truth is that we all can. Why? Because this is how we were created.? It is only the erroneous information that has been passed on for generations upon generations that has made us forget who we truly are.

Why Fear Limits Your Life Potential

Carmen — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 19:50:36 +0000

Have you ever felt like fear was preventing you from reaching your full potential in life?? If so, you are certainly not alone because fear is one of the biggest obstacles that many people face when trying to create better life circumstances.

Below are some of the most common ways that fear can hold you back:

Fear can prevent you from making positive changes.

Sometimes fear can make even the smallest changes seem extremely uncomfortable.? For example, you may be deeply dissatisfied with your job, but feel nervous or uncertain about finding and applying for a better one.? Or you may have always dreamed of buying your own home but worry that the responsibility would be too much to handle.

Fear can prevent you from breaking destructive habits.

We all know that smoking, poor dietary choices, excessive alcohol and a sedentary lifestyle are a recipe for health problems, but we often gravitate toward these habits because they help numb our anxious or fearful feelings.? If you have ever tried to break a bad habit like this, you know how stressful it can be because suddenly you are filled with anxiety and you don?t know how to handle it except to run back to your ?pacifiers? ? the very habits you are trying to break.

Fear can prevent you from taking risks.

Many of us shy away from risk because we fear negative consequences.? For example, you may hesitate to invest your money because you fear losing it, or avoid starting a new relationship because you were so hurt by the last one.? What most of us fail to realize is that risk can also bring great rewards.? Avoiding risk may help us avoid negative possibilities but we also miss the excitement and joy that come from positive outcomes.

Fear can prevent you from pursuing your goals.

Have you ever dreamed of doing something great but were never able to push yourself to do it?? Perhaps you dreamed of being a stand-up comedian but dreaded the thought of public speaking, or you desperately wanted to be a bestselling author but were too afraid to pen that novel lurking inside of you.

Fear can prevent you from expanding your life.

Social anxiety is another common way that fear can limit your potential.? It may prevent you from attending networking functions so your career or business can?t grow properly, or you may avoid taking that much needed vacation to relax and explore other cultures because you fear flying or being on a cruise ship.

How to Stop Fear from Limiting Your Potential

It?s important to note that all of these fears are most often groundless.? They are merely a perception that things ?could? go wrong ? but that doesn?t mean they will.

Rather than trying to force your way through the fear, you may find it easier to explore the many ways that fear can be effectively released from your mind, emotions, and body.? When you know how to release the fear, you simply handle it as you would any minor obstacle and then continue on your way to creating the best life you possibly can.

—————————————————————–

Alternatively download the new Free ebook ? 22 Powerful Tools To Transform Your Fear Into Happiness, Peace and Inspiration. (http://403af2xhgw1n4rb1yatdo4iwsn.hop.clickbank.net/) ? Crammed full of valuable tips, exercises and ideas ? it could be the most important ebook you read this year.

How to Retrain Your Mind to Get What You Want

Swanie — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 15:19:34 +0000

By now I’m sure you have heard about the Law of Attraction and the movie The Secret. The thought of being able to “create” your dream life has been an inspiration for millions, but has also caused extreme frustration at the same time. When you hear or read about the Law of Attraction, it sounds so simple. Yet, when you actually apply the principles, you realize it can be very difficult.

To effectively practice the principles of the Law of Attraction, you have to look inside yourself, and you could face some uncomfortable things. There may be memories or perceptions you have held and guarded for many years. You may have based your belief system on them. They have become such a part of you for such a long time, you probably don’t even realize you have them . . . and if and when you do, you may have no idea where they came from. But they are yours . . . you are used to them, and they make you feel comfortable even if they make you unhappy.

You have probably heard this before, but I’m going to remind you again. Your external life is a reflection of your internal thought process. If you are not happy with your external life, you must understand it is what it is because of all the thoughts that run through your mind every day, all day long. In other words, you are manifesting your life through your thoughts. The only way to change this is to change your internal thoughts. This means you have to face your long-held beliefs for what they are – fabrications created to deal with a situation that happened sometime in your past. Maybe someone said something mean to you when you were a child, and you internalized it. From that point on, your subconscious or internal thought process believed this bad thing. There most likely is no reality or truth to this belief – its influence on you depends solely on the value you give it. You must understand, it is only a belief, not reality.

It’s hard to let go of what we “know” and are comfortable with. What if we have been right all along? What if we make a fool of ourselves? What if people laugh at us?

But, what if your beliefs were wrong and you have spent your entire life living a lie? What have you not done because of these beliefs? How would you feel if you discovered your current beliefs aren’t true and are just a fabrication of your mind? This could be very liberating!

OK, so now what? How can you rid your mind of these debilitating beliefs? You must start asking yourself some questions. Are your thoughts congruent with how other people perceive you? Many times we assume that our insecurities are right out in the open for everyone to see. Yet most often people have no clue and would never guess this is how you were feeling because they don’t see you that way at all. That is a clue that your inner beliefs are false, and it is time to re-evaluate.

It is important to understand the subconscious mind has no ability to tell truth from fiction. It only believes what it is consistently told by the conscious mind. Therefore, you can begin changing the beliefs held by your subconscious mind by changing the thoughts you are feeding it. Some suggest you start by creating grand dreams of what you want for your life, think about them repeatedly and write them down daily. I don’t agree with that philosophy. There is no faster way to shut your subconscious down than to tell it something far removed from its current reality.

I have seen much better success when people begin taking small steps to reprogram their subconscious. You may simply start by identifying negative thoughts as they enter your mind. That is a great place to start because you will then be able to determine the areas that need the most work. Pay attention to how those thoughts make you feel. Do you feel hurt or pain? Do they make you feel like a victim or do they make you angry? Then think back through your life and see if you can tie them to a past occurrence. Sometimes you can, sometimes not. Sometimes you thoughts may not be based on one event, but on years of pervasive behavior by someone in your life.

Once you have a fairly good idea of what your most pressing issues are, it is time to decide what you would like to replace those thoughts with. That means you need to do some self-assessment to determine what you want in life . . . essentially, what your goals are. Once you have determined what your direction is, write down new thoughts to replace your current negative thoughts. Then, every time one of those pesky negative thoughts enters your brain, stop what you are doing and say “Cancel” and say or think your replacement thought.

Remember, you will need to take baby steps when you start reprogramming your subconscious mind. It’s going to take some time to permanently replace your old negative thoughts. Think of it as tricking your subconscious by slipping in new thoughts to replace the old ones. Again, keep in mind that the subconscious mind has no ability to tell truth from fiction, which means you can imprint your dream life on your subconscious mind simply by looking at pictures of things you want in your life and feeling the excitement of the dream fulfilled. Do this every day for 30 days, and you will be amazed at the results.

The most important thing for you to understand is that this is real – it will happen if you are persistent and watchful. The Law of Attraction is working all the time – we are getting what we are thinking. We ultimately have the ability to control our life if we choose to.

To your success,

Swanie Brandt

Are you looking for tools and information on how to implement the principles of the Law of Attraction to your life? Visit http://www.powerimage.com/thesecrettrilogy to receive Wallace D. Wattles? three ground breaking Law of Attraction books, a free Science of Getting Rich e-course and a Law of Attraction tele-seminar.