How to Resolve Instead of Just Solve Problems

A note from peter@thewealthyattitude.com for Thursday April 30 2009

Hello there folks and welcome to this last day of the first 1/3rd of 2009.

This week has been exeptional with just great feedback from subscribers who really take a "stand" for the principles they work with in their day-to-day activities. It warms me that these folks are out there leading in amazing ways.

The issue of "solving Vs resolving" came up a few times in some of the feedback and we've invited another new contributor to help us in understanding....

How to Resolve Instead of Just Solve Problems

by Valery Satterwhite

I have heard there are troubles of more than one kind. Some come from ahead and some come from behind. But I've bought a big bat. I'm all ready you see. Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me!” - Dr. Seuss

In these hectic, often stressful days, many people measure themselves on their ability, or inability, to solve problems or "put out fires" in their daily life. A successful day is a day when problems are solved. However, the same kinds of problems keep coming up. Perhaps not every day but often enough to notice a pattern if one only stops for a minute to examine the series of problems that they keep solving over and over and over again.

Is it better to solve a problem or resolve a problem? There is a distinction.

The dictionary defines the word solve as to find the solution to a problem or question or understand the meaning of a problem or question. The word resolve means decide, bring to an end; settle conclusively. It's an important distinction.

I was watching the television show Numb3ers one night and one character lamented to the other about how nice it would be if they could stop people from shooting each other. The other character responded that it would be even better if guns and bullets were no longer manufactured. Yes, there are a few holes in that argument but the point is well taken. Often we continue to put band-aids on symptoms, outcomes, rather than clear up the root cause of the problem.

Lousy job? Get a new job, problem solved. Or is it? Many people go from one lousy job to the next. The jobs may be truly lousy or the person isn't pursuing work that excites or inspires his natural calling. Either way, that person is just creating the same, or similar, problem over and over again and applying the same solution each time. To resolve the problem, to stop the pattern of lousy jobs, he would have to get a good job that he enjoys.

We see the same problem patterns in the various relationships some people have. Whether it be with their spouse, family member, friend or romantic relationships, the same problems occur over and over again. Each problem is eventually solved only to have another same or similar type of problem recur later on. The band-aid came off of the root issue and the sore is still festering.

Solving a problem works to a point. It works until the problem shows up again in some form or fashion.

To resolve problems it is essential to mindfully examine the problematic experience to dig down deep to discover the root cause. For personal problems, the best place to start is within. What within me is creating this problem? A bad decision that was based in fear? Making erroneous assumptions? Allowing yourself to be a victim to other people's "shoulds"? Taking the path of least resistance?

Remember, everyone is always doing the best they can. No one gets out of bed in the morning and wonders how they can create problems for themselves that day. As such, is it important to leave judgment out of the equation when examining what role you played in creating the problem. If it is a problem within a company, look within the company. What within the company is creating this problem? An outdated system? Inexperienced employees?

When you discover the root cause of the problem make the corrections. The root cause is then removed, the festering sore is healed, the pattern of similar problems is ended. For good.

Don't just solve your problems; resolve your problems.

"Convert difficulties into opportunities, for difficulties are divine surgeries to make you better." ~Author Unknown

Valery Satterwhite is an Artist Mentor who specializes in empowering people to create more passionately, profoundly, productively and profitably. Learn how to trust your intuition, acknowledge your truth, and disarm your fear and self-doubt. Valery developed a proven unique "Inner Wizard" methodology to empower the Wizard Within to actualize and express your full creative potential. Join now at InnerWizard.com. Get Free "Inner Wizard Empowerment tips" too!

Five Principles That Will Change Your Life

A note from peter@thewealthyattitude.com for Wednesday April 29 2009

Good day there folks and welcome to the midweek point.

Did our reader yesterday hit some folks dead on or what? My mailbox flowed steadily throughout the day. People were tying together Monday's offering and yesterday's message together and coming to realize that life can be oh so very different.

Today one of our favorite contributors is continuing the theme as she shares...

Five Principles That Will Change Your Life

by Marcia Wieder

Here are five important practices designed to enhance your life and help you achieve your dreams.

1. Intention – It is the setting of an intention that will call in wonderful resources, opportunities and people. What do you intend to do, create or accomplish? You could set an intention every day, even every moment of each day. Do you intend to live on purpose? Do you intend to learn and grow? Do you intend to be loving and kind?

You set an intention and then you take action. We also want to have deeper, meaningful intentions about how we live. How do you intend to feel every day? How do you intend to express your love? How do you intend to express your creativity? How do you intend to have fun, to make a contribution, to take a risk? How do you intend to live?

2. Integrity - If you were to survey big dreamers on the qualities that they value most, at the top of the list is usually integrity. Keeping your word and delivering on your promises is essential. When you have cleaned up your past and are free to move forward, not only are your dreams more attainable, they are richer, deeper and more rewarding. You have the opportunity to honestly assess your entire life and to become more alive than you ever imagined. Through simple steps, you can free your past and make room in the present, so you can dream and live the life you long for.

3. Share Your Dream – With newfound clarity (from your intention) and new found freedom (from living with integrity) the world is your oyster. Now when you speak about your dream or vision, people will relate to you differently because you will feel different about yourself. You can move forward with confidence, knowing that you can trust yourself and therefore, others can trust you.

A visionary is someone with a vision or a dream. But a visionary also articulates their dream with such clarity that others understand what it is and with such passion that others want to participate with them. A visionary inspires with greater purpose. And a visionary brings voice to their vision. They let their dream be heard and have impact. Sometimes it is a popular message and sometimes they are one lone voice. Regardless, they hold true to what they believe in, to what inspires them, and they bring it alive in the world through their convictions, words and of course, actions.

4. Take action – It is essential that you put everything you have learned into action. It is through the steps you do take, that you can actually see what you have learned, the progress you are making, where you are stuck and where you need help. Without action, we are “just” dreamers. Taking action is power.

People judge us much more based on what we do, not just what we say. What action will you take to move your dream forward? What are you doing to make your dreams real? Specifically, what are you doing to create a dream come true life? What’s one thing you could do today, right now, to demonstrate your commitment to your dream?

5. Build your Dream Circle - Once you know what you want to accomplish, you can experience the ease and joy from sharing your dream with others. The single most powerful thing you can do to achieve your dream is to build Dream Circles. Join ours at http://www.amazingdreamers.com/

Begin with one person who believes in you and your dream and then seek out others. Inspire them with your vision and passion. Show them you are serious through the action you take every day. Invite them to join you as you encourage them to dream bigger dreams. It’s never been a more important time to stand for what matters to you most. Stand up, speak out and be heard. Your dreams matter and will impact the lives of many others.


Help Others Achieve Their Dreams


Share Marcia’s 10 dream e-books with your friends, colleagues and loved ones. Use this link to help others. It only takes a minute to be generous and we’ve made it easy! www.dreamcoach.com/gift

A New Life

A note from peter@thewealthyattitude.com for Tuesday April 28 2009

Good day there everyone and welcome to this last Tuesday of April.

Very little preamble today as the reader is a tad longer than normal, but very important.

Here at this desk we often get the statement, "I need a new life" from very nice folks who just need a leg up to see what a "new life" can look like. Today a new contributor offers each of us a very clear window to....

A New Life

by Gary Bate

We are all here, individually and collectively, to evolve ourselves and thus humanity as a whole, beyond our existing known boundaries. This means that individually we are to change from our existing state of being to become a higher, more evolved state of being.

Our existing personalities are a combination of our inherited genes and the social conditioning of the society in which we live. Different cultures impose different conditioning upon the minds of their citizens by virtue of their way of life. It all amounts to a limitation of mind.

To change from the personality we've 'picked up' into a new personality of our own design, is the evolutionary task we all face. This is a task that flies in the face of family, tradition, culture, religion, colour, status, wealth, fashion, gender, fame etc. Indeed, it flies in the face of all the accepted values in our societies.

Never before have we been given so much knowledge to challenge our inherited belief systems and to intimidate the self-imposed limitations of our minds. How we develop into the future can only be limited by our own level of acceptance and our own willingness to let go of the past. And our unwillingness to let go of the past is evidence of our own lack of understanding or outright stubbornness towards change.

What we need to develop is our own ideal, not one that we have been conditioned to accept but one that is our own creation. How do we want to be? Notice I didn't say what role or status do we want to play or achieve within an existing framework. We are not here to simply fit in with modern-day society, although our politicians would want us to think that way!

Evolution is not about being accepted by an existing image but is about changing and moving beyond the boundaries of that accepted image; the exact image that is pressed to us everyday by mind-control techniques, which company advertising and marketing is so good at.

So we must become like the caterpillar that transforms itself into the beautiful butterfly. The caterpillar represents the old personality and the butterfly represents a new life that has yet to unfold. In evolutionary terms, we are all the same as the caterpillar that has yet to embark upon its remarkable transformation.

We can never evolve beyond our own level of acceptance. Very few people will be able to accept that they can be a master until they witness, first hand, somebody else being in that state of purity. Even then their own acceptance will rely on their acceptance of equality with the Christ-like personality. One's understanding and acceptance of the story of involution (described in detail in Rantha's A Beginner's Guide to Creating Reality) is essential to this acceptance of equality. Involution is when something turns in upon itself. In philosophy, involution is the inner path of the human soul to the Self, which may be seen as the 'ascent' back to God.

Your ideal is not supposed to fit any existing image because that is just image worship. What is important is that your ideal is greater than your past and that you genuinely strive to become it. It is far greater to have an ideal that you struggle to become than have no ideal at all or one that represents no more than social acceptance.

the template has been designed in your mind then the individual components can be formulated and worked upon. These are the elements of the Great Work that spiritual masters have spoken about. A diligent effort is required to replace the demons from your past thinking. Only when the new knowledge is added to the quagmire of your mind, will the alchemical process start to take place. The metamorphosis of the caterpillar is likened to the human alchemical process of turning the lead of the past into the gold of spiritual truth.

Whether it is the raising of the Phoenix from the ashes, the emergence of the butterfly from the caterpillar or the flight of a dove, it's all symbolic of one thing - the flight of FREEDOM.

Becoming a master is the ultimate ideal from the point of view of humanity. It is the crowning glory. Any climb down from that point is a compromise to any evolved mind. At the same time, we must realize that our own evolution progresses at the rate of our own acceptance of new knowledge and its integration into our lives, which can only come from our own desires and willingness to open ourselves up 'to know'.

A friend once said to me, 'you can do anything'. This I found to be inspiring but is it a question of what we can do or what we can be? For instance, can we train our minds to be everything and nothing at the same time, just like God is? Or is our viewpoint always going to be limited by our own design? We are the creators of our future destiny - be in no doubt about that!

Designing a new life for yourself that bears no resemblance to your past and then choosing to live as the butterfly instead of continuing to be a caterpillar, is a hard task indeed. Why is this? It is because change is uncomfortable, not only for yourself but also for those who observe it in you. You are moving forward in your life and they are standing still. They can no longer relate to you because you are at a loftier vantage point and you have to continue to play the game with them, if you still want them in your life. Can you really afford to compromise or do you fly away and leave them standing in their own confusion, hoping that one day they will follow your lead?

The more spiritually advanced we become the more difficult we find it is to fit in with the accepted values of society. We eventually reach a point when we cease trying to 'fit in' and realize it is only our truth that matters to us.

In the absence of your own ideal, there is one ideal that you can focus upon, which is not currently in abundance in human consciousness. It is unconditional Love. Moving your mind to the blue window can be the structure (the skeleton if you like) of the butterfly you are trying to unfold from within. In love there is no lack; there is not the loss of energy that occurs when the energy is split into polarities.

In practice, being more loving is a matter of changing one's attitude. For instance, can you replace a lustful attitude with a loving one? You can if it is your will to do so. Can you move beyond your pain and suffering? You can if it is your will to do so. Can you let go of your need to be controlled or to be in control? You can always let go if you love unconditionally. Whatever you are perplexed by in your life, you will always find the answer in love. Are you looking out of the blue window or is your view blinded by the light (the yellow window)? [The colored window analogy is detailed in my book We are here to know ourselves.]

Life then is not about you acquiring more and more money or your sex life or being a somebody or keeping up with the Jones's or living to be acceptable to others and to your society. No, it is really about fulfilling the journey of your soul in its quest for self-mastery.


Gary Bates has written three thought-provoking books that serve to unchain a person's mind from genetic and social conditioning. The ideas discussed in the books can help people to improve all aspects of their lives from love and relationships to job prospects, health and wealth. He says: "All of the books are designed to move people to adopt a more objective state of mind so they can see the bigger picture for themselves. It's all about knowing, understanding and advancing your consciousness." More at: What Stress.

The Principle-Driven Life

A note from peter@thewealthyattitude.com for Monday April 27 2009

Good day there folks and welcome to this brand new week.

This week we end 1/3 rd of the year 2009, and it begs the usual questions.

1. Are you on track to achieve your goals and intentions for the year?

2. If not, why not?

3. If not, what are you going to do about it?

4. What must you "stop" doing to get yourself on track?

Boy, that should be enough to keep you busy for a while. However, you don't get off that easy.

We went to our friend Philip asking for insights that would help in getting us on track, and keeping us there. He un-hesitatingly directed us to living....

The Principle-Driven Life

by Philip Humbert

I'm convinced that much of the frustration and lack of achievement in life comes from fuzzy thinking about our core principles and our first priorities.

This week I read a little manifesto by author and conservative talk-radio personality, Mark R. Levin. The book, Liberty and Tyranny, criticizes President Obama from a conservative point of view and offers alternatives Levin believes would work better. This reader isn't about politics and I'm not going into it here, but his argument that policies and action must be based upon principle did ring a bell for me.

Very few of us routinely re-examine our core beliefs or write down the principles that guide our lives. Think about it for a moment. How often are you challenged to explain your guiding principles? How often do you write out your basic beliefs, or explain them to a friend or loved one? How often do we even think about where we're going in life or what we absolutely, positively stand for?

My grandmother used to say that if we "don't stand for something, we'll fall for anything." I think she was right. It's vital not only to "do" stuff--our world encourages lots of work, busy-ness and activity!--but to think clearly about what it all means.

It's long been known that under stress we all have a tendency to narrow our focus until we miss even the most essential things in life. When distracted and stressed by a small glitch or anomaly, airline pilots have even forgotten to lower their landing gear! Perhaps a more common example is being so busy we forget to eat lunch or being so stressed we forget to tell our children we love them. How much easier is it to compromise our basic principles in the push to make a sale?

Too often we "major in minor things" or as my friend, Michael Angier says, we "get lost in the thick of thin things." I love that phrase and hate the results!

In a world filled with hundreds of requests to spend our time, our money, our energy and our talents on other people's preferences, it is vital that we stay anchored and focused on the life we choose. I love the story that on a particularly hectic day Mahatma Gandhi once said, "I have so much to do today that I must spend twice as much time in meditation." I think he understood something we often miss.

Here are some steps that can help:

1. Define your fundamentals. If you haven't done so in a while, take time to affirm the things you know to be true. If you have a particular religious faith, what are it's core tenants? How do you see the world and your place in it? What would you fight for? What would you die to defend or stand up for at all costs? Know your fundamentals, the principles that guide your life.

2. Review them with a friend or loved one. At least once a quarter, explain your principles to a skilled listener. Invite a friendly, respectful and compassionate debate. Test your beliefs to see if they stand up to questions and if you can defend them reasonably and clearly. If you can't explain them to a child, perhaps you don't understand them as well as you think you do.

3. Keep a daily journal. I'm a huge fan of writing out our core principles as often as possible. It need not be lengthy or elaborate, but periodically take note of what you believe and how you live it in your daily life. Note where you've gone astray or violated a core value. Be honest with yourself and get back on track as soon as possible. I think it helps.

4. Match your schedule to your values. Periodically review your schedule, your checkbook and your commitments to see if they reflect your principles. Do your core values show up in the time you spend with your family? Do they show up in how you spend money and in the commitments you make to your work? If not, you want to quickly notice when you are off course, while minor adjustments are still possible.

For thousands of years, sailors have known the value of keeping an eye on the north star. They keep their hands on the tiller and check their course often. In modern life, we are rarely encouraged to do the same and it's easy to be led astray. We get so busy with our daily tasks that we easily lose our way.

Don't let that happen to you!

Know your guiding principles and stick to them.

Stir Your World

A note from peter@thewealthyattitude.com for Friday April 24 2009

Good day all and welcome to the end of the typical week, and what a week it has been.

I am incredibly blessed to be able to communicate each and every week with great people who work to find ways to make their life experiences rich and contributing. When I sit back for just a short moment to think it about who touches my life, I see clearly that I truly am wealthy beyond compare.

Yes, many of this intrepid group have attracted to them a rich variety of conditions to cause them to work and grow to their next level of awareness. They are discovering that they are volunteers to their life experiences, not victims of them. Now that's powerful lessons. Just imagine what would happen if everyone knew that?

As is our usual practice we wrap up the week with a video offering. This short piece carries within it a profound message. Take it seriously folks.

Stir Your World

Make a difference in someone's life this weekend.

See you on Monday.

Take care,

~peter~

How to Want Whatever Happens to You!

A note from peter@thewealthyattitude.com for Thursday April 23 2009

Hello there all and welcome to this fine post Earth Day Thursday.

As I mentioned yesterday, the celebrations included lunch out and yes, ice cream. The day unfolded in some amazing ways with folks offering up lessons in awareness that entirely complimented the day.

One of the critical awarenesses that continually arises is that we, each and every one of us, is 100% responsible for our entire life experience, and this past Earth Day brought that home loud and clear. Also, it continues to become clearer and clearer that each of us can learn......

How to Want Whatever Happens to You!

by Guy Finley

The more we imagine a fearless life created by conditions outside of us, the more compelled we feel to try and control those same conditions. Our fear being that any change in them will return us back where we started: searching for a way to be fearless. Yet, the more we resist change, the more afraid we become of it. We find ourselves applying more and more pressure to life in order to escape the mounting pressure born of our own demands. And gradually, instead of being a vital human being -- receptive and naturally responsive to any and all life-altering impressions, we become static and psychological "shut-ins" --captives of our own aversion to a fear we unconsciously create.

We do not have to remain the victims of this dark and downward trending circle of self. The truth is there is no real reason at all to resist the world as it turns. In fact, rather than fearing what cannot be foreseen, one day you will be grateful for it, and here's why: we are not just created to go through constant change, our True Self is the changing ground of life itself. From out of its unfathomable depths pour the unseen forces that design, drive, and ultimately perfect the transformation of consciousness. Can we see how the realization of such a truth about our own higher Self would have to spell the end of fear?

Practically speaking, as our fear diminishes, our confidence increases; we grow in patience; a true optimism about life pervades everything we do, even when we run into obstacles. For us it isn't a question if things will work out in our favor; our only wonder is when that gift will present itself. We stop running; we know now there is nowhere we have to get to -- and that there is nothing for us to get away from. We are the life we want, and the Life we are is without fear because it is one with the Light.

Happiness Is Only Ever Now!

A note from peter@thewealthyattitude.com for Wednesday April 22 2009

Hello there folks and welcome to the midweek celebration.

Today I'm celebrating! Not for any particular reason, simply because I'm in celebratory mood.

I have avowed to celebrate in all I do today. By the time you're reading this I'll likely have had a celebration breakfast and be well into my plans for the day. I plan on celebrating Spring with some ice cream at a couple of points in the day.

I am certainly planning to make sure that everyone I speak with knows I'm celebrating, and if they can possibly join me, they can have some ice cream also, as I will be celebrating the fact that they are relevant in my life.

I will undoubtedly be asked, "what are you celebrating"? My response will be, "because I can"! If pressed further, it will be because......

Happiness Is Only Ever Now!

by Karl Moore

"Few of us ever live in the present, we are forever anticipating what is to come or remembering what has gone." - Louis L'Armor

Many pubs in the United Kingdom have an infamous sign hanging above the bar:
"Free Beer Tomorrow!"

It's funny because, of course, "tomorrow" never comes.

But when you think about it, how many of us truly live our lives like that?

We spend so much time thinking about the past, or contemplating the future, that we forget to live in the moment. We fail to realize that happiness can only EVER be now.

Let me give you an example.

You're driving through the city and your favourite song hits the radio. You're stuck in traffic, but loving the music - and you start to crazily sing along. You really get into it. You're in the moment. But then you catch a few jealous faces in nearby cars, and go all shy and timid.

Suddenly you're no longer living in the moment. You're wondering what they'll think about you. You're concerned they'll disapprove. You freeze up. Your happiness has gone, and your inhibition has arrived.

You're no longer in the moment, in the NOW - you're stuck thinking about wanting approval from these people, worried what they'll think of you outside that moment.

Try to catch yourself at some random point today - and just check what's on your mind. If you're like most people, you'll be somewhere other than here and now.

You'll be thinking about whether you made a good impression with that guy earlier today. You might be thinking the holiday you have planned for next September. Or how all of your problems will be solved this time next year.

You'll be anywhere but in the MOMENT. In fact, we each spend 95% of our time in the past or the future.

But here's the thing: Life is transient. The past has gone. The future is just a dream. The only time that truly exists ever is RIGHT NOW.

In other words, RIGHT NOW is the ONLY time you can do or change ANYTHING in your life.
You are only ever what exists in THIS MOMENT.

So, are you HAPPY right now? Are you doing EVERYTHING you'd like to - and feeling THRILLED with life, as you read these words? If you're not, then make the decision to be happy.

NOW.

And if you'd like, put down this book, and go fly a kite. Or tell your partner that you love them. Or get your groovy flares on and head out to the nearby disco.

NOW is the only time you can change anything. And NOW is the only time you have.
So, make that simple decision - to be happy NOW.

Karl Moore is one of the 12 key teachers in The Meta Secret movie and the founder of Self Dev Radio. This is an extract from his new book The 18 Rules of Happiness.

Moving Beyond

A note from peter@thewealthyattitude.com for Tuesday April 21 2009

Good day there all and welcome to Tuesday.

Again today I'm caused to be blissed out as I heard from one of oursubscribers last night who had ventured into her own business in the direct sales field. This delightful lady, once full of fear and misgivings about her ability, shared with me that not only has she attained her goal for the first quarter of the year, but had exceeded it by almost 20%. That's a celebration as she has almost equalled her last years earnings in less than one third of this year.

Today we have an offering that she would certainly declare, helped her in realizing her true potential. She learned great lessons about....

Moving Beyond
by Matthew C. Horne

In observing people who are fresh out of relationships, I often hear phrases like "I'm moving on" used frequently. Soon after comes the overwhelming need to show the other person how much you've moved on.

It then dawned on me that moving on is not an act or expression; it just is. It's something that resonates so deeply within you that it doesn't matter what others think, or even if they know.

When it comes to pursuing your dreams, I'm learning that there are many obstacles that we must move beyond to fulfill them. These obstacles surface internally as well as externally.

The internal barriers are the self limiting beliefs that we must all face when contemplating the pursuit of a dream. These are the limitations that must be faced head on if you'll ever give yourself permission to be the unique you.

The external obstacles are the opinions of others which are in place to keep you in the box they've created for you.

One way to move beyond is to simply entertain the possibility of you actually becoming the person who you see in your vivid destiny pictures. I don't know how many times I've heard wives tell stories about how they had no initial attraction to their eventual husbands.

In many cases, they couldn't foresee in a million years that they would marry the man who gave her a new last name. The wives often tell of how the guy never gave up and how that led to them entertaining the idea of a relationship.

The perception of the guy changed the more the woman entertained him, and they ended up at the alter which was the original intent of the guy.

If we would just entertain the possibility that we are actually the people our hearts say that we are, the mountains we perceive to be in the way of our destiny will be proven as mole hills, as the truth of our ability is revealed.

In essence, the more you entertain your destiny the more realistic it becomes. The only thing separating you from it is the illusion that it is beyond your grasp.

As you begin to see that your dreams aren't as far out there as you once perceived them to be, thoughts of possibility will replace those of inability.

Once you truly believe that your dreams are possible, that's when you will begin to take active measures to make them a reality. It's human nature to only expend energy towards what we deem as being possible.

Entertaining the thought of your dreams is one of the most life-altering acts you could ever perform. When standing outside the door of your destiny, if dialogue persists long enough, it's only a matter of time before it is opened.

Matthew C. Horne is a motivational speaker and leading authority in maximizing human potential and self-development. He is also the president of Optimum Success International and author of "The Universe is Inviting You In", available at http://www.matthewchorne.com

Work Less, Have More, Be Happy!

A note from peter@thewealthyattitude.com for Monday April 20 2009

Good day there all you good folks and welcome to another shiny new week.

The weekend here was filled with situations and conversations that lead to some amazing awarenesses, and deep lessons about life, relationships, commitments, and the ever needed, leadership. Some terrific moments were experienced.

To compliment the lessons we've enrolled out friend Philip to get this week started with an offering that, if you give it some open-minded time, will speak directly to you. You'll see that your truly can......

Work Less, Have More, Be Happy!

by Philip Humbert

The easy solution to the promise in the headline is simple: Choose two. There may be other solutions, such as working smarter, shopping for bargains, inheriting wealth or winning the lottery, but the common and simple solution we can all implement is to choose wisely. Unfortunately, few do.

This week I watched a friend wrestle with one of the great imponderables of life. He and his wife planned a weekend on the Oregon coast to relax, enjoy great food and sit by the fireplace in a nice condo they rented. Then, trouble came. He was invited to an important fundraiser that included premium seats for Mozart's timeless opera, Don Giovanni. What's a guy to do?!
Financially, he can't do both. And then there's that thing about being in two places at once. He and his wife would enjoy both experiences, and that's the dilemma. How to choose?

It's easy to choose between Don Giovanni and a poke with a sharp stick, but how's a guy supposed to choose between a romantic weekend and a great business opportunity? That's just not fair. Or easy. Life is cruel.

This may be a slightly humorous example, but it's also typical of the choices that confuse our pursuit of the World Class Life we all want. We must choose between so many good things!

Should the kids go to private schools, or should we save for retirement? Should we take a vacation or remodel the kitchen? Should I work harder to earn more, or go home to the family? Too often, the answer to these questions is simple--we simply say yes!

And then a few weeks or months later, we wonder why we are stressed, confused and over-whelmed.

Unfortunately, we have been encouraged to believe we can "have it all." We should be able to earn more, work less, live better, travel more, relax often, enjoy our kids and achieve success. Why should anyone settle for less? It's just not fair. We shouldn't have to choose!

Well. I have bad news. Life is rarely "fair." And I think that's why the Spanish philosopher, Ortega, observed that, "Life is fired at us point-blank, and we must choose."

Sure, we hear about the Oprah's or the Bill Gates or others who seem to be rich, famous, successful and happy, and perhaps they are. Although, I do notice that even these seemingly blessed individuals periodically file for divorce, get sick, or experience loss. The recent death of John Travolta and Kelly Preston's sixteen year-old son hit me hard. Life is not fair!

So I come back to Ortega's observation that "we must choose." It seems to me that truly successful people are clear about their priorities and choices. They commit to pursuing a limited number of key goals, and devote their lives to them. Here are two principles I believe are true and helpful:

1. We can have anything we choose, but not everything we want. Our appetites almost always exceed our grasp. If you can read this and have internet access, you have all the tools you need to change careers, travel, achieve wealth or fame or power. But it's unlikely that you can do all of them at once. We "must choose."

2. He who finishes happiest, wins. I don't think finishing life with lots of toys or frequent flier miles, or a big house, or several cars, or a yacht guarantees happiness. But, spending our lives doing something important, investing ourselves in things that bring meaning and fulfillment and joy, can bring happiness. The man or woman who finishes happiest, wins. And happiness rarely (occasionally, but rarely) comes from having more stuff.

This does not mean having things or accumulating wealth is wrong or bad. Of course not! Enjoy all the stuff you can honestly and fairly get! We are the richest people in history. We are blessed! We can enjoy lots of stuff! Go for it! But, also be honest and maintain some humility.

Happiness comes from clarity. It comes from deciding who we are, what we value, and how we will spend our lives, and that comes taking time to think clearly, make smart choices, and plan wisely.

In the end, a World Class Life is about happiness. It's about living your own life in your own way, according to your own values. The world encourages us to work harder, do more and buy more, but it rarely encourages us to think clearly and live smarter. If that appeals to you, do something different! If you keep on doing what the neighbors do, you'll get the stress they've got. Be your own person!

Join us next month for our World Class Life Conference and live better. http://MyWorldClassLife.com

Sound of Music Train Station

A note from peter@thewealthyattitude.com for Friday April 17 2009

Hello there all and welcome to the typical weeks end.

We've dealt with a ton of really relevant stuff this week and the feedback has been, as always, outstanding. Thank you all who take the time to share your reflections.

As is our usual way, we're finishing up the week with a video. We work to mix the video offerings up a bit so that we have some fun, stay current with some great messengers, highlight people who we feel portray The Wealthy Attitude, and just overall make a difference. Today we're having some fun with some highly imaginative and talented artists. You'll see the playing at...

Sound of Music Train Station

(Turn up your speakers)

Have an outstanding weekend.

See you on Monday.

Take care,

~peter~

Today's Economy Demands A Critical Skill: Optimism

A note from peter@thewealthyattitude.com for Thursday April 16 2009

Good day there all and welcome to Thursday.

Yesterday's offering by John Maxwell generated some wonderful responses and I'm warmed that so many folks are facing these new conditions with amazing resolve for success.

Today's offering is a true compliment to what John started.

You'll certainly see clearly that.....

Today's Economy Demands A Critical Skill: Optimism

by Eileen McDargh

Global warming. Water shortages. Terrorism. Failing health care system. Wars around the globe. Gas prices. Severe economic downturn. Look at the headlines and it's enough to make you stay in bed. But wait! There is hope. It's not the cock-eyed optimism sung about in South Pacific, the hottest show on Broadway. Rather it's what psychologists in France are calling "intelligent optimism." Such optimism does not deny the reality of today's world, but rather seeks to LEARN how to fashion a life amid such difficulties. Martin Seligman, the psychologist who had made optimism and happiness his life's work, would agree with the French: optimism can be taught.

Consider these basic steps:

1. Focus on what you can control. Don't get carried away by circumstances you cannot change. You might not change global warming, but you can control your energy consumption. You can't stop the downsizing in your company, but you can arm yourself with marketable skills. You cannot halt the bleeding on Wall Street but you can rebalance your portfolio. You can take a hard look at expenses and determine what are necessities and what are nice-to-have items that can be dropped. At the same time, do resolve to spend some money or time on something that truly gives you pleasure and lightens your spirit. Two-for-one hamburgers at the local joint with my best friend make my heart glad and brings a smile to TWO faces.

2. Reframe the event so that you are not a victim. There is always another way to view a situation. The flight cancellation that caused me to miss (and forfeit) a major engagement was not "planned" to "get" me. It just was. My choice is to figure out what I can do to help the current client and what I will put in place of the cancelled work. When Hurricane Katrina wiped out the home of a nurse, she told me that she focused every day on what she still had and she had her children do the same thing. Every day started with gratitude. She refused to see herself as a victim.

3. Think "enough". When we concentrate on what we don't have, we miss all the many things we do have. The truth of the matter is that if you are reading this article, you do have enough computer power. You do have enough intelligence. You do have enough. It might not be as much as you would like but, for today, it is enough.

4. Cultivate optimistic responses. Like a farmer tending a field, optimism will never grow unless it is watered, fed, weeded, and nourished. We all have days in which negativity can take over. And, sometimes, that is a WISE response because it keeps us grounded in reality. Just make sure it is reality and not the imagination making extraordinary leaps into conjecture. Weed out that conjecture. Ask what you can DO to see a result that gives you a sense of power. As Alexander Graham Bells stated, "Sometimes we stare so long at the closed door we fail to see the one that is opening." The 3M engineer who thought he had failed to make a glue compound that would stick discovered what we all now call post-it notes.

5. Remember the power of generations. Children of depressed parents are more prone to depression. Children of optimists are more prone to be optimists. What do you choose to pass along? Even if your parents were negative, you can break the cycle by stopping, freeze-framing a situation, listening to the negative self-talk, and then literally giving yourself a different message. Yes, this is a practice. A hard practice. But you can make it a habit if you work it over time.

6. Sing. When all else fails-start singing. It is impossible to feel negative when you lift your voice in song. Music allows you to formulate words, to add nuance, and to even get your toe tapping.

7. Refuse to watch or read anything that puts a dark pall over your day. Instead of tuning into gloom, read a book that transports you to another time and a better mood. Go play with the baby next door. And if you are one of those folks who just can't stand children, take a walk with your dog, dig in the yard, or get a bucket of balls and practice your golf swing. Better that than walking around with heart and mind weighted down.

8. Refuse to participate in a chorus of negative conversations if the only thing you will hear is whining, complaining and moaning. Tell your group that they have three minutes to throw a hissy fit but then it must stop and the next six minutes must be devoted to either finding something positive about the situation or something that they can do.

9. Lastly, practice saying this mantra: "This too shall pass." It always has and it always will.


Copyright © 2009, McDargh Communications.Known as a powerful presenter and facilitator, Eileen McDargh, CSP, CPAE has been creating conversations that matter and connections that count since 1980. Executive Excellence ranks her among the top 100 thought-leaders in leadership development. Her newest book, Gifts from the Mountain: Simple Truths for Life's Complexities, received the 2008 Ben Franklin book award. To hire Eileen as a speaker, coach or retreat leader visit Eileen McDargh.com

Crises call for critical choices!

A note from peter@thewealthyattitude.com for Wednesday April 15 2009

Good day all and welcome to the midweek point.

I'm firmly back in the saddle after our trip to the west. Upon returning I've set about dealing with a backlog of e-mail that seemed to grow like a Spring weed.

Much of the mail captured my attention as I started to notice how often the word "crisis" was used in subject lines as well as main body text. I'll confessed to being taken aback at the sheer volume of times authors of the mail use the word to support their perspective on current conditions.

Yes, I'm aware that the prevailing conditions are difficult for many, but folks, a world war is a crisis, a sweeping epidemic is a crisis, a thousand ton meteorite hurtling straight at the planet is a crisis. These current conditions are filled with opportunity and we all get to choose what it is we want to focus on.

OK, if you want to call it a "crisis", how should you respond to it? The insightful John Maxwell says...

Crises call for critical choices!

by John Maxwell

With the economy in its current state, it seems like every time we turn around, a new crisis appears. Bank failures, home foreclosures, business ventures reluctantly abandoned. In times like these, good leadership is especially critical.

I recently addressed this in a session for the Maximum Impact program, which will be available in October. One of the things I talked about was decision-making during a crisis. Here are the top five types of tough choices good leaders make during tough times:

1. Courageous decisions. What must be done?

Crises usually prompt an organization to narrow its focus. Leaders have to make those calls. That requires courage when others have a lot invested in what will be eliminated. A leader has to be willing to stand up to all competing agendas and do what must be done.

2. Priority decisions. What must be done first?

The Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto once said, “If you’re Noah, and your ark is about to sink, look for the elephants first, because you can throw over a bunch of cats and dogs and squirrels and everything else that is just a small animal - and your ark will keep sinking. But if you can find one elephant to get overboard, you’re in much better shape.”

If you’re a leader, identify your elephants.

3. Change decisions. What must be done differently?

Even ideas that would have worked well a month earlier may be useless in an emergency. Leaders know when it’s time to make a change. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: When the horse is dead, DISMOUNT.

4. Creative decisions. What are my options?

You probably know how this saying ends:
“If I always do what I’ve always done….” That’s right: “. . . I always get what I’ve always gotten.”

When the old methods aren’t working to solve the crisis, they need to be questioned. Think outside of the box. Get every option out on the table. A good leader will be open-minded and explore all options on the spectrum between “change nothing” and “change everything.” The right choice usually lies somewhere in the middle.

5. Support decisions. Who can help me?

Leaders are responsible for having the right people on the team and making sure they are in the right places. In their book, The Wisdom of Teams, Jon R. Katzenbach and Douglas K. Smith write,

Team leaders genuinely believe that they do not have all the answers-so they do not insist on providing them. They believe they do not need to make all key decisions-so they do not do so. They believe they cannot succeed without the combined contributions of all the other members of the team to a common end-so they avoid any action that might constrain inputs or intimidate anyone on the team. Ego is not their predominant concern.

Leaders are not MADE in a crisis. Leaders are REVEALED in a crisis. It’s easy to steer a ship in calm waters. Only the turbulence of a storm shows a captain’s true skill.

If your organization is facing a storm, take the wheel and make the decisions that only a leader can make.

Nature's Magnificent Timing!

A note from peter@thewealthyattitude.com for Tuesday April 14 2009

Hello there folks and welcome to a sunny, bright, and cheerful Tuesday here in the midwest.

We arrived back safe and sound in the middle of the night to see most of the accumulated snow finally gone. Spring is really here.

It got me to thinking as we traversed the countryside about what message arrives on time each and every year with the arrival of Spring.

Recently I found myself (tor)mentoring a client who had gone through a major loss and life change. While sometimes difficult, rebuilding your life after a loss or big change can also be one of the greatest opportunities in life.

When we look to Nature, we see that rebirth and renewal are a standard part of life. And like the newness of the Spring, we get to start over with the wisdom that we’ve learned from our past experience of what works and what doesn’t. Life is giving us a clean slate to create anew.

I’ve personally been through many major life changes and “do overs” in my almost 60 years, some intentional, most not. The wisdom that I’ve learned in how to succeed is this:

We can choose to focus on where we’re going, not where we’ve been.
You can’t move forward on your path when you’re looking behind you. Imagine the results of hiking up a trail while looking backwards. It wouldn’t work very well. Life is the same way- we must focus on the destination.

We can only have one thought in our minds at the same time, so choose to make it make it a good thought.
Beating yourself up for what may appear to be a failure serves no one. We have a limited amount of energy and it is far better to spend it creating the new life we desire rather than berating ourselves over the failures of the past.

Forgive yourself and others and move forward.
Life will be a much happier place when we realize there is blessing in every situation, even the one that created the opportunity to rebuild. Sometimes it takes a few years before we’re able to see it, but whether we can see it or not, the blessing is always there.

Adversity in our lives isn’t always a bad thing. We grow only through change, both external and internal. Adversity can be turned to opportunity simply by adjusting our perception and our attitude.

We are creatures of habit and taking the leap to do something different- whether voluntary or not, often causes fear. Many times we allow that fear of the unknown to hold us back from experiencing all that life has to offer.

Instead, step forward toward your goal, harness the fear that you feel and let it be your motivator.

Fear, properly channeled, can be rocket fuel to reaching your dreams.
Sometimes the new path can look overwhelming. That’s when we have to remember that just as we can climb an entire mountain with baby steps, one small action a day will help rebuild our new life.

Keep the faith and move forward with gratitude and new doors will be opened unto you. For when you are grateful, more blessings will flow your way.

Always remember, you’re not alone.
Connect to your community and to whatever greater Source you believe in. Ask for help and it will be there for you.

Through faith, courage, and a never-ceasing attitude of gratitude, you can accomplish anything.

Ah, the lessons of Nature and it's magnificent timing.

Be Clear Who You Are

A note from peter@thewealthyattitude.com for Monday April 13 2009

Good day folks and welcome to Monday.

We're back on the road today and experiencing some connectivity issues and are not able to get out the reader we scheduled for the day. But not to worry, our friend Blair comes shining to the rescue as he reminds us to....

Be Clear Who You Are!

by Blair Singer

Over the last 15+ years I have had the honor of working with thousands of business owners, corporate leaders and managers. The truly successful ones have one thing in common. They play to their strengths. It’s not about who you aren’t. It’s about who you are. Talking with Robert (Kiyosaki) the other day we agreed you can become successful and rich in any of the CashFlow quadrants if you know the strategies of each and how to win there.

This article may upset some people and I suppose that’s okay. It is not intended to aggravate anyone but simply to shed light on where you’re at so you can play to your strengths.

While there are some striking similarities amongst those business owners, corporate leaders and managers, there are also some significant differences. For example, there are major differences between entrepreneurs and managers. Not that one is necessarily better than another nor does it matter whether you are an employee, self-employed or a business owner. It is purely a frame of mind.

Therefore the environment that you put yourself in is critical to your success. If you mismatch, there’s a good chance you’ll end up miserable.

I know many people who thrive to great wealth and fulfillment and many others who struggle and are constantly stressed out. Let me determine the differences based on my observations and you can see where you fit in. The question to ask yourself at the end of this is - are you playing to your strengths?

Ask yourself in your heart of hearts, are you an entrepreneur or a manager?

Harvard Business School defines entrepreneurs as those who seek opportunities without apparent or available resources. That is, striving for an objective regardless of whether there is funding, people, assets or resources. A manager on the other hand is one who executes an objective by allocating available resources. There is a huge difference.

I have found people to be amazingly creative, energetic and productive when they are in an environment where the boundaries are known and where budgets, timelines and resources are apparent. They may not be totally clear...but the environment is established. That is a manager.

However, put some of those same people into an entrepreneurial environment where there are no resources, where the boundaries are very obscure or nonexistent and they find themselves stressed and confused. Emotion goes up... intelligence goes down and creativity shuts down. The more randomness and complexity, the more results are diminished.

True entrepreneurs on the other hand, while they may be stressed, get more creative under greater pressure. Some of the most brilliant businesses and strategies are born out of near desperation situations. Some get resourceful while others stress out and get cynical.

Some worry about what others are saying while there are others who may care, but not that much.

Some use adversity as a springboard for greatness and others use it as a reason to re-consider.
The job of an entrepreneur is to create something that was not there before. To create an artifact, tool, institution or physical ‘thing’ that empowers others to a higher standard of living, operation or satisfaction. So you have to ask yourself... do you like standing in the heat? Do you have a pattern for breaking through to new levels of awareness and accomplishment? Or does it just stress you out?

Do you create and drive on a mission or do you clarify a mission?
Are you good at inside sales or outside sales?
Is fear a motivator or de-motivator?
Do you naturally expand the pie before dividing it?
Do you over extend or do you stay in exchange?
Are you better at organizing and motivating an existing group of people or attracting a great team from scratch?
Are you time based or outcome based?
What is your level of risk and how much of yourself are you willing to risk?
Do you look to do “the deal” first or do you over- serve first?
Does ‘not knowing’ slow you down or speed you up?
When does money enter the picture... sooner or later?
Do you seek balance in your life or do you operate at extremes?
Does pressure and scarcity make you creative or does a smorgasbord of talent and resource do it for you?
Are you a revolutionary/ rising star in a world of the known or are you creating light where there isn’t even a perceived need for light yet?
Do you find that your creative juices flow when presented with problems or do you create problems and then get creative?
Do you move at the speed of your expectations or at the speed of (others) reality?

It’s not that one answer is better and you may find that in some cases you are on one side of the equation and other times you’re on the other side. But all the people I have met who have achieved high levels of success have one thing in common - they position themselves to win almost unconsciously. You gotta play to your strengths and put yourself into an environment that will allow the best of you to emerge.

Doing anything less is kidding yourself and setting yourself up for frustration. It’s not so much about what quadrant you are in as it is the way you think and where your heart and soul are at.

Do not try to be someone that you are not!

Are you playing to your strengths?

Be awesome

Blair

Burden of Genius

A note from peter@thewealthyattitude.com for Friday April 10 2009

Good day all and welcome to this Good Friday.

Many of you will be doing some very different activities today and I wanted to share something with you that I believe is relevant to you in these times.

Today's video presentation by the very delightful Elizabeth Gilbert touches something in all of us. As you watch it you'll see and hear what part is there for you. It will cause you to reflect on how you "show up".

Enjoy Burden of Genius

Also, live as Woody Allen says, through the persistence of showing up.

Enjoy your Easter weekend.

See you on Monday.

~peter~

Remember Who You Are!

A note from peter@thewealthyattitude.com for Thursday April 9 2009

Hello there good folks and welcome to Thursday.

The western road trip is proceeding wonderfully. We've been meeting some nice folks, viewing some incredible vista's throughout the Rockies, and deeply appreciating the lovely warm weather.

This trip has given me ample opportunity to assess what's important for the next part of my life journey. With all that is going on in the world today we are each provided with a huge richness of choices, and the conditions to see them to fruition.

The world is changing in some amazing ways and it serves each of us an occasion to.....

Remember Who You Are!

by Gail Lynne Goodwin

If you remember the movie, "The Lion King," Mufasa told Simba, "Remember who you are." They could have been four of the best words ever spoken in any movie. Why do we forget who we are? Deep in our hearts, most of us know the true magnificence that we are inside. We know that first and foremost, we are a part of something so much bigger than ourselves -- we are spiritual beings having a human experience. We know that we create our own realities, and that we are both the director and the actor in our own little screenplay called life. Yet knowing all this to be true, why do we sometimes dive head first into the muck of life and perceive it to be the real, true part of life? Why do we allow ourselves to believe that we are this limited being stuck in life?

All this came up for me today due to a call from a friend. She cried and told me she was at her wit's end with life. From the outside it looks like her life is perfect. She has the perfect husband, beautiful home, new car, and is leaving for an exotic vacation next month. She doesn't have to work. However, she feels angry and unfulfilled. I understand because like most of us, I too have been there before.

Life without passion, purpose, and a connection to something bigger than us can suck, no matter how good our life may look to others. We all know this, yet sometimes we still allow life to sneak up on us and take over. We start to play the part of the pawn instead of the chess master, the actor instead of the screenplay writer. Perhaps it's because the drama we created was just soooo good, we just had to jump in. Perhaps it's because it's easier to play small than deal with the reality of who we really are. Knowing that you really do have the power to do, be, or create anything in your life can be daunting and a bit intimidating too. Sometimes it's just easier to keep things superficial and play the victim.

Regardless of the reason of why we hide from our magnificence, we have a choice. Not happy with where you are in life? Choose to jump out of the play and promote yourself back to the status as the screenwriter and not the actor. Realize that we create what we get through our thoughts, and change your thoughts right now to match the reality you want to show up in your life. It doesn't matter that we sometimes forget. What matters more is how quickly we remember who we really are.

We have the power to do, be, or create anything we choose in our lives. Our potential is unlimited, as are our choices in life. If the magnitude of life gets overwhelming, take a moment, close your eyes, breathe, and reconnect with the greater part of you. Just listen to your heart and to your breath. Both know exactly what to do without you even thinking about it. Tap into that part of your greatness. Match your breath with your heartbeat, even if only for a few minutes. Immediately, things will start happening for you, including the slowing of both breath and heartbeats, endorphins will be released, and muscles will relax. Then, just listen and connect with the universe. Just a few moments of this throughout your day will make a remarkable difference.

Think you don't have the time? Both Mother Teresa and Pope John Paul took three to four HOURS each morning to connect, yet both of them accomplished more than most of us will in our lifetime. By taking the time, you'll receive more. By stepping out of the drama, you can create what you truly want in your life, rather than deal with what shows up.

Being in the play is not nearly as much fun as watching it from the sidelines and directing the outcome. Do you agree? Promote yourself back to being the magnificent screenwriter that you truly are. Go on; create something amazing that brings joy into every aspect of your life. We'll be here to cheer you on!

Gail Lynne Goodwin, known as the Ambassador of Inspiration, has been lifting people's spirits for years. Motivated by mentors like Jack Canfield, Wayne Dyer, and others, Gail realized the importance of daily morning inspiration in her own life. After years of gathering and sharing some of the best available inspirational wisdom with others, she founded Inspire Me Today in 2008 to make the Best of the Best Inspiration Daily, easily available to the world. Get daily inspiration and your free "Secrets to Soaring" eBook at http://www.inspiremetoday.com

New Rules to Rise Above Whatever is in Your Way

A note from peter@thewealthyattitude.com for Wednesday April 8 2009

To say I'm blissed would certainly be an understatement. The weather here in the west is simply awesome. I'm warm and toasty, in fact, the air conditioning in the car came on automatically to cool it off yesterday. I know you folks that live in warmer climes probably think I'm losing it, but the winter was awful and this warmth lifts me higher every day.

Anyway, on with the real reason you're here. Our good friend Guy Finley has something to share today that will certainly serve you in your endeavors.

New Rules to Rise Above Whatever is in Your Way

by Guy Finley

Rebecca had decided that her best chance of getting hired by a company doing geological survey work in the Alaskan wilderness was to earn a private license to fly twin-engine planes. A few days later she began taking lessons from a wise old bush pilot, highly respected throughout the region for his cool and collected ways of dealing with the worst possible situations.

After the mandatory ground schooling, at which she excelled, and during her fourth lesson in the sky, the flight instructor gave her what she thought was a special treat: Taking his hands off the yoke, he turned the flight controls over to her. There she was, just as she had dreamed, sitting tall in the co-pilot's seat with the flight stick firmly in her hands.

Rebecca felt as though she was literally on "cloud 9"; that is to say, until a scant moment later when she found herself rudely awakened from her dream. She tried shaking her head to get rid of what was before her eyes, but that did not work. In the distance, through the windshield, she could see something rushing toward her faster than what she knew to do about it!

Right in the path of the plane, and seeming to have appeared as if out of nowhere, a huge snow-capped mountain lay dead ahead. Transfixed by its sheer mass, she found herself as frozen at the stick as were the iced and craggy peaks stretched out before her. And she was headed straight for them! A deep chill came into the cabin.

All along the wise old instructor was watching her closely, studying her reactions. Of course, she didn't know it, but he had turned the controls over to her for just this test now taking place. He waited until the last moment he could, and was just about to take over again, when she snapped out of her fear-induced trance. She looked away from the mountain and turned to face him.

Then, in a voice so trembling and timid that it even scared her, she broke the tense silence of the moment: "Sir," she said, "please take over the controls. I'm afraid we are about to crash!" His reply stunned her. "No," he spoke quietly, "I don't think I will. After all, it's your flight."

It was getting harder for her to take in a whole breath, as if she were standing in the oxygen-thin air atop the great white mountain before them. Struggling to control her voice, she dug down into herself and managed to ask one more question of her teacher: "Then what should I do? Please, tell me what to do!"

She looked over at him again, and was surprised to see virtually no worry at all upon his face. His calm demeanor helped to steady her nerves. She took a deep breath and relaxed her hands that had just about choked the life out of the control yoke. The next moment he gave her a short three-word instruction, and she knew everything would soon be all right. He simply said: "Change your altitude." "

Of course," her own mind echoed back to his command, and a split second later she pulled firmly back on the yoke; the craft responded by rising, and mere moments later the icy peak passed beneath her and out of sight.

As Rebecca sat there relieved by the results of her actions, she was struck by two things at once: how could she have forgotten that the controls were in her hands, and at least as important, why had she been unable to remember this on her own? At that moment, soaring at ten thousand feet above the ground, she made a silent vow to never again forget the lesson of this day: She could choose her own altitude.

Doesn't this short truth tale remind you of a certain kind of spiritual strength that you know belongs to you, but that you have somehow forgotten or misplaced? It ought to; after all, how many of us look out ahead of ourselves at some unwanted event that looms too large, and find ourselves feeling out of control... headed for what seems an unavoidable collision?

Wouldn't it be nice to be able to reach down inside of ourselves, grab hold of the controls of our own consciousness, and pull ourselves up? To quietly watch that would-be mountain of a problem, whatever it is, just pass by harmlessly below us, even as we reach ever-higher and happier skies?

We can learn to do this. Such a power is not just a pipe dream; ours is the ability to take conscious control of our spiritual altitude. But this greatest of "gifts" is given to us only in proportion to our willingness to awaken from those unconscious parts of ourselves that not only become transfixed before challenging events, but that are the secret creators of the very things into which we then crash! This is why we must work in every moment to remain inwardly awake -- to be aware of our attitude towards our life as it unfolds before and around us: so that whenever we find a negative attitude in ourselves -- some form of dark thought or feeling trying to drag us down -- we don't say "I" to it. In a manner of speaking, we pull up and away from that part of ourselves by withdrawing our consent to be confined by how it would define us. This kind of conscious action on our part changes not only what we perceive as being possible in the moment, but it also empowers us -- in the same moment -- to see and make new and higher choices.

Seen or not, our attitude determines our altitude in life. The "low" life comes by default. Gravity guarantees we will reach the bottom. To go higher begins with choosing to be higher. Realizing the power to leave dark states beneath and behind us begins with recognizing that who we really are -- our True Nature -- has as much in common with self-limiting thoughts and feelings as does a shark with a star!

Remember this one great lesson: do the moment-to-moment work of dropping anything that wants to drag you down, and Truth itself will see to it that you rise.

The Message in the Madness

A note from peter@thewealthyattitude.com for Tuesday April 7 2009

Hi there everyone and welcome to Tuesday.

We're a basking here in the west at +20 Celsius yesterday. The warmth has finally permeated to my bones, and boy does it feel grand indeed.

Today we get to share an offering from the generous Karen Wright, and you will discover an incredible relevance to today's conditions. Karen also has some very neat things shaping up in the near future that could very well interest some of you powerful and distinguished women.

The Message in the Madness

by Karen Wright

Endlessly it drones on... economic times are tough and predicted to get worse before they get better. There's no doubt that many of us have felt the financial pinch and some have felt the dagger. Yet, others, who've experience no drastic changes at all, are wondering what all the bellyaching is about.

But, regardless of the moment you currently find yourself in, the world's wake-up call is loudly gonging throughout the planet. All those prophetic signs on street corners held by bleary-eyed messengers were right, "The end is near."

Not the end of life... but have no doubt about it, it will be the end of life as we know it. And in my view, that's not such a bad thing. In fact, I think it's the best piece of news I've heard in a long time. From my vantage point, in this life as we now know it, we've created some pretty sorry messes. And now our collective neglect and procrastination in dealing with our economic over-indulgence, blind-eye to corporate corruption, not-my-problem attitude toward drugs and violence, have elevated the warning signs to an eminent crisis.

It's beyond most of us to know how to fix the world's state of economy, plagues, poverty, hunger, or political conflicts. We have a hard enough time attending to our own lives. Yet there is a real cause-effect connection between our individual life situations and those of humanity at large. We are each a microcosm in the macrocosm of the world. "As within, so without," the second Hermetic Principle, Correspondence, tells us that the world's condition is reflected in the inner world we call our individual lives. That the anger we feel toward another is a scaled equivalent to the war waged between one country and another.

From an energy perspective, a macrocosm like war is the accumulation of individual warring (angry) energies. Each angry thought we have adds to this collective energy. Gandhi said, "Be the change you wish to see in the world." He was working from the Principle of Correspondence. Stop the war in your own heart and you'll lessen the collective power of war in the world.

Science aligns with the Hermetic philosophy as shown in the otherworldly beauty of fractals. A fractal is generally a geometric shape that can be divided into parts, each of which is a miniature copy of the whole, appearing similar at all levels of magnification.

One of the most famous fractals is named for the Polish mathematician, Benoit Mandelbrot, commonly viewed as the Father of Fractal Geometry. If you look at a Mandelbrot fractal, you can see that the entire image is duplicated around its perimeter in smaller versions. If you click here, you'll see a sequence of close-ups demonstrating how the pattern repeats itself - arguably into infinity.

So, what on Earth has all this fractal business got to do with the economic tough times we're facing? Plenty. The pattern of the world's condition begins in the patterns of our own behavior and beliefs. As long as we continue to hang on to the attitudes and actions that created our current predicament, we'll continue to experience turmoil.

Turmoil, chaos, uncertainty, change... these are all signals of an old way of being passing away and a new way being birthed. Like any birth, there is pain and joy. First the pain - then the joy. The degree of pain we experience is completely proportional to our level of resistance to the necessary shift. And the degree of joy we experience flows from our willingness to let go and move forward.

Many of us had it quite good in the passing world of consumerism. We bought what we wanted, when we wanted. When our infatuation with a new possession wore off, we simply got a newer, bigger, better one. Bigger houses; more powerful cars; more expensive wardrobes. Gadgets overflowed every Victorian armoire drawer and three-car garage.

We didn't pay much attention to our gluttonous use of the world's resources; especially in wealth-crazed countries like the US. As far as we were concerned oil and trees and water and air were abundant and eternal. We were entitled, selfish, and ignorant. And for some, like the media-flogged bank CEOs that continue to spend lavishly while begging the US government for bail-out funds, it appears that entitlement will die slowly.

Today, that arrogant and wasteful way of life is coming to an end and we're feeling the pain - like an Economic Detox. But on the heels of that pain, if we choose to see it, is a renewed sense of abundance for what is truly meaningful: love, relationships, community, responsibility. We can create a new relationship with our environment; one that honors our resources and considers our legacy to future generations with each decision we make. We can create a new relationship to one another; one that honors differences and embraces common ground.

Pain is always caused by resistance to what is. It's time we wake up and recognize the unconscious path we've blindly trod. We would do well to return to our human and spiritual roots; be truly grateful for the soul-breathing basics of life.

Everyone I speak with feels some kind of disconnect from their lives. Something's missing. Most think it's their awareness of their life's purpose. I believe it's something even more fundamental than that. I think we've forgotten our interdependent connection to life itself. We're not not here to be the users and consumers we've been; we're divine caretakers and holy benefactors.

Gratitude comes from being of service to a worthy cause, not from grabbing everything in our path. If we release what is necessarily passing away, the pain will stop and we'll awaken to an opportunity to reconnect to our souls and each other. We are not in destructive times, as the news would have us believe, we are half way down the birth canal and real life, the one we were meant to live, is about to begin.

Karen is author of The Sequoia Seed: Remembering the Truth of Who You Are, a great read for anyone who is seeking understanding or guidance, inspiration or clarity in his or her life. Waking Up, the free bi-monthly ezine, was created to help you activate your natural motivation to move beyond mere existence and to really LIVE your dreams. Contact by tel: 509-475-1060 or email.

Find peace in a world in chaos...Leave the noise behind for a clarifying weekend in Canada's beautiful countryside... The Choice: Reclaiming Your Spiritual Consciousness (click for details) is a Women's Weekend Retreat that will help you find your balance and discover the peace from knowing, at a deep level, what your next step is toward a more meaningful life.

Systems Beat Effort (and Genius) Every Time!

A note from peter@thewealthyattitude.com for Monday April 6 2009

Hello there folks and welcome to another shiny new week.

The road trip to the west of the country was just awesome. The weather leaving was just awful and with each mile to the west the temperatures lifted along with our spirits. We arrived in Kelowna to a day of +17 Celsius. Oh what bliss.

Let's get right into today's offering. Our friend Philip gets the week off on a highly relevant note.

Systems Beat Effort (and Genius) Every Time!
by Philip Humbert

This week Mary handed me a recent issue of AARP magazine and pointed to a wonderful article about country singer, Dolly Parton. Parton comes across as charming, down-home, friendly and incredibly determined. A strong person who achieved remarkable success on her own terms. I like that!

A quote that stood out for us was: "You're not going to see your dreams come true if you don't put wings, legs and arms, hands and feet on 'em," she says. "You gotta have people to help carry out those dreams, and, Lord, I've been surrounded by great people."

Obviously Parton phrases it in her unique way, but I was struck by how closely her words describe almost every high achiever I've worked with over the years. You need "wings, legs, arms, hands and feet" to make your dreams come true.

Effort and hard work, even Winston Churchill's famous "blood, sweat and tears," will never be enough. Clear plans, elegant strategies, strong partners and the magic of "wings" are the tools that create success. Systems and elegant strategies beat hard work, every time.

I'm reminded of the old story of the race between a tortoise and a hare. The rabbit takes off at top speed, obviously the likely winner, while the poor old tortoise lumbers along, far behind. But as you know, in the end the hare is distracted, fails to stay on track, celebrates too soon, and ultimately suffers a humiliating defeat to the poor, humble tortoise. The tortoise may not have style or panache, but he got the job done. That is success!

And, that reminds me of the true stories of self-made millionaires told by Stanley and Danko in their famous book, "The Millionaire Next Door." Self-made millionaires may not live flashy, dramatic lives, but they have plans, they work their plans, and they retire early and rich.

Now, part of the complexity of success is that it does require hard work, and usually, lots of it. Don't get me wrong! Plans and systems by themselves cannot substitute for the hard work of production. Hard work is part of it, but too often, in our eagerness we jump in and expect that our hard work, our passion or enthusiasm will carry the day. And unfortunately, it works just well enough to maintain the illusion that we have found "the answer," so we work even harder. We struggle, and try and wonder what went wrong. Why isn't our hard work being rewarded?

Learn from Dolly Parton. She's brilliant. She's passionate. She's determined. She's focused. She works very, very hard. Recently, when the major record companies didn't want to do her latest album, she formed her own company and went ahead without them. She's quoted (at age 63!), "I'll be making records if I have to sell them out of the trunk of my car. I've done that in the past and I'd do it again." Determination, focus and hard work are part of the success equation.

But as Parton says, it's also true that "you're not going to see your dreams come true if you don't put wings, legs and arms, hands and feet on 'em." You need systems, strategies, partners and leverage to achieve success.

Did You Know?

A note from peter@thewealthyattitude.com for Friday April 3 2009

Good day to you all and welcome to the weeks end.

It's been one heck of a week around this desk and I have to share that with all of the world's economic re-alignments, some folks are just rising to the occasion in some amazing ways. New business's are being started, old business's are being revamped, attitudes are being assessed in whole new ways, and the cream are rising to the top. You've just got to love it.

The feedback to this weeks "readers" fills me continually with great optimism for the coming years. It's warming to see people develop their own "wealthy attitude" and be determined to be a stand for their own successful future.

Way to go all. High fives all around.

We wrap up the week in our usual way, and this short but enlightening video will certainly cause some weekend reflection.

It really is the question....

Did You Know?

As you read this we'll be back on the road out west, so for the next while you'll be sharing our trails.

Have an outstanding weekend.

See you on Monday.

Take care,

~peter~

Feel the fear, suck it up and CHANGE!

A note from peter@thewealthyattitude.com for Thursday April 2 2009

Good day folks and I do hope that April Fool's didn't discombobulate your day too much yesterday. A couple of the rascals tried pulling some stuff on me through some well crafted e-mails, and one actually pulled it off. All very creative and fun stuff.

Today we have a special treat being presented to you by the one and only Larry Winget. I like Larry a whole lot as his perspectives, much in part, very much mirror my own. Larry is billed as the world's only "Irritational Speaker" and he certainly lives up to that moniker.

Love him, or not, you still can't ignore him as he tells you to...

Feel the fear, suck it up and CHANGE!

by Larry Winget

Change bothers some folks. The very idea of changing their routines or habits makes their poor little hearts beat harder. Usually, it is because they are so comfortable in the rut they have dug, that even if they are headed down the wrong path, they will stay on it because it doesn’t involve any change.

People sit in room they hate because they don’t have the energy or the inclination to change the furniture around or to paint the room. People are afraid to look in the mirror or step on the scale because they know they are overweight and to change their result, they would have to change the way they eat. I know people who are afraid to go to the doctor for fear of finding something wrong simply because it would change their lifestyle. This list could go on and on. You can think of dozens of ways people you know fear change. You probably even have areas in your life that you are afraid to change.

As for me, I love change. I have routinely moved offices every couple of years. I move houses a lot too. I would buy a new house and move every two years if I could talk my wife into it. I have lived in my current house for five years which is nearly an all time record for me. Change is exciting to me. It gives me a chance to clean up and clean out and to go to work on a new space. It’s like starting over physically and psychologically. I make changes in my personal life as well. I like to try new things and go new places and do things I haven’t done before.

However, the reality is that most people won’t change – even when they know they should. Why? Lots of reasons. Fear is certainly one of them.

Years ago I read a great little book called, Feel The Fear And Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers. Read the book when you can, but just internalize the title for right now. You are going to be afraid when facing anything new. No way around it. I am afraid quite a bit of the time. Yep, even me. When I appeared on CNBC’s The Millionaire Inside as ‘one of the world’s leading money mentors’ along with David Bach, Jennifer Openshaw, Keith Ferrazzi and Robert Kiyosaki, I felt some fear. I am totally confident when I walk on stage to do my speaking no matter who the group is or how big the group is or what topic I am going to speak about. I never think twice about it. When I was shooting my show, Big Spender, I was always confident in what I was going to do and I never broke a sweat over the experience. However, this was different. I was in a foreign environment with renowned experts, and I was going to need to hold my own on the topic of money. My heart was beating a little hard. Despite the internal questions I had about my ability, I walked out on that stage with confidence, grabbed a stool and did quite well. In fact, looking back at it all, I was pretty amazing. I was scared but I blew through the fear and conquered the situation. I felt the fear, but I did it anyway.

While I am often afraid of what I have to do, I am even more afraid of not doing it. In People Are Idiots And I Can Prove It, I wrote about the ten ways people sabotage their lives, with one of those being “Not Recognizing Consequences.” Every action has a consequence. Some have positive consequences and some have negative consequences. Some consequences are slow to feel and some are immediate. But every NON-action has a consequence too.

If there are no immediate external consequences for non-performance, I create my own. No, I don’t punish myself or ground myself for not doing something. I just create the consequence of disappointment. I am disappointed when I don’t achieve what I set out to achieve. However, not when I’ve done my best. I never beat myself up for doing my best. I am only disappointed in myself when I have done less than my best. And not doing my best is usually the reason I didn’t accomplish what I set out to do.

However, the real disappointment for me is when I don’t achieve something simply because I have been too afraid to even give it a shot.

To begin a journey and not make it is forgivable.Not to begin the journey at all is unforgivable.
What is the worst that could happen?

This is the question I always ask myself when I am afraid to do something. If the worst that can happen is, “I’m going to die,” then I don’t do it. But that is rarely the answer to anything I am going to attempt. Usually the worst that can happen is that I won’t do as well as I had hoped for. Or I might embarrass myself. Is that really so bad? Even if I do it and do it badly, it is better than if I had never attempted it. So I go for it. You aren’t going to die from going after more success, happiness and prosperity either. Ask yourself, “What’s the worst that could happen?” Then go for it. Besides, the worst thing that could happen rarely happens anyway.

Dara Torres, the swimmer, won a Silver Medal during the 2008 Olympics at the age of 41. I watched her in an interview with Matt Lauer where the topic was her age in comparison to other Olympic contenders. She said, “The water doesn’t know what age you are so just jump in and go for it.” The same applies to you as well. Life doesn’t know, or care, how old you are or what other excuse you are clinging to so just jump in and go for it.

Don’t worry that you don’t know everything. Don’t get caught up in what might happen or might not happen. Don’t be paralyzed by fear. Don’t concern yourself with what others think. In fact, don’t over-think the decision at all. When an antelope hears a lion roar, he doesn’t continue to graze and think about whether he should run or not. He runs. No thought is involved. He instinctually moves. Become like the antelope because the lion is roaring. Move. Make taking action instinctive.

“The way to do things is to begin.” - Horace Greeley

Do you know of changes you need to make in your life? Chances are you do. Then follow these simple ideas and get started.

Face your fears and do it anyway.

You are invited to join the Larry Winget Unofficial Fan Club. You can ask him questions and communicate with others who are fans of his “take responsibility” lifestyle.

People Are Idiots And I Can Prove It: is Larry's New York Times Bestseller. If you don’t have your copy yet – why not?