Wake Up Everybody

by Peter Comrie

Hello there everyone on this final day of 2010. There is a plethora of messages all over the place honoring the end of the year, and celebrating the start of a new one. It's no different here.

2010 has proven to be an outstanding year here at Full Spectrum Leadership. The four founders, who frankly can choose to do anything with their lives that they like, elected to build a ten year plan that for the community that will touch thousands. The enterprise launches into the official plan tomorrow and I have to say that we are indeed excited.

In thinking about a simple message that can help us wrap up the year, and launch us officially into 2011, the choices were rich and varied, but simple won out. It's Wake Up Everybody!

John Legend and Roots, with Melanie Fiona and Common, sing us into the message in an outstanding way. This 2010 remake of the 1975 classic R&B song has a message which is every bit as relevant today. As the song says, "The world has changed so very much from what it used to be...The world won't get no better. We gotta change it. Just you and me."

So let's wake up together and work to be the change we wish to see in the world. It's never too late.

We all wish you a very safe, happy and prosperous New Year

I appreciate you all.

~peter~

The Gift of Attention!

by Richard Moss

The greatest gift we give ourselves or anyone else is the quality of our attention.
~ Richard Moss

What is it that I can give to you or you to me that brings each of us pleasure or new insight, that depletes neither of us, and that we can then pass on to others without losing anything of our own? What is it we can give to each other that improves the quality of living for both of us, and does so without exhausting the vital resources of our planet? What is it that cannot be taken from us in the way we can lose a job, our savings, or even a loved one?

This is real wealth. It is our sincere smile, the honest concern that can be read in our eyes. It is a helping hand offered and the pleasure of sharing in something that relieves another's burden. It is something of the wisdom we have garnered from our years of living offered unpretentiously and without attachment to whether it is received. It is the quality of our attention: our willingness not to judge or interpret as we listen. It is the way in which we let someone inside of us, so we can know him or her directly. Or know the sunset, or the light dancing on rustling leaves. Real wealth is a living presence, a soft current of joy that blesses us whenever we are truly present without reaction or defense, whenever our hearts are open and we offer to each moment a deep receptivity and respect.

Real wealth can be passed on and on and no one loses, no one is diminished, energy is not wasted, nothing is harmed. Indeed quite the opposite: In the passing onward of our real wealth, we grow wealthier, more alive, more content. We have no need for any special place to showcase our importance. No stage must be set, no big car in the driveway. We have no need to fill a sense of emptiness by consuming for the sake of consuming. Like any addiction, material consumption just breeds the need to consume more and never fills the empty place. But giving of our caring, offering our attention, really listening to each other, this fills us from within and it is a source that is inexhaustible.

When we are really wealthy, it is not being seen for what we have that fills us, it is how we see.

Synchronicity - Are You Where You Are Supposed to Be?

Posted by Eva Gregory

When I'm trusting and being myself, everything in my life reflects this by falling into place easily, often miraculously.
~ Shakti Gawain

The door opens. The path is lit. A missing piece falls into your lap. The phone rings and the caller is someone you thought of just moments ago. The ever-famous "magic" parking spot opens up. I love it when I seem to just bump into someone I really want or need to see. What are the odds? There are 1,440 minutes in a day. What if I had walked a different route, took an extra minute to read my mail, veered left instead of right? There are 1,439 odds against me bumping into that person...if one goes simply by mathematical calculations. But why on earth would someone choose to do that?

Long before James Redfield wrote of the Celestine Prophecy and Celestine Vision, I held the belief that synchronicity in my life meant that I was on the right track on all levels: spiritually, emotionally, intentionally, physically, mentally. I still choose to believe this: the more synchronicity presents itself in my life, the more in line I am with my goals and desires. It's my equivalent of an ";Atta girl!"; from the Universe, saying, ";Listen up. Here's proof that we are bringing your desires to you. Furthermore, you are believing and behaving in a way that is helping us to help you!";

It calls to mind that quote from the movie Jerry Maguire: ";I am out here for you. You don't know what it's like to be me out here for you. Help me help you."; Can't you just hear the Universe whispering that in your ear? In fact, sometimes, it may be yelling at you to pay attention. Need money? Decide to donate a dollar into a Salvation Army jar. Go grocery shopping. Drop a quarter on the way to your car - and find an instant-win ticket for a $100 on the ground as you open your trunk. It happens, and the more in line we are with our vision of what we desire, the more it happens.

Those blessed moments of serendipity and happenstance are no accident. In fact, though Jung chose to relate them to 'meaningful coincidence', I maintain that there are no such things as coincidences. I find that when I hold clear intentions, a passion for what I desire, and the greater good for those concerned in mind and foremost in my heart - voila! - synchronicity.

We can take this a step further and categorize these synchronicities. There are single synchronicities which may be a one-time occurrence (notice I did not say chance encounter) or an occurrence that may repeat over a span of time. There are series of synchronicities - a succession of them, if you will - when a wake-up call may be needed to move things forward or drive a certain, meaningful point home. There are clusters of synchronicities, groups of them with varied layers of impact and intensity which educe a deeper, more spiritual understanding along with an awareness that the Universe will keep guiding you, perhaps pushing you, with those events as if to say: ";Follow this path. It is best";, until you do so. Love offers an easy way to clarify the above.

Single synchronicity (may repeat itself until you are where you are supposed to be): You know someone for a while, think little of it, bump into them at the gas station and wham. Something clicks and your eyes light up and you know this is now a kindred spirit. Or, as with series of synchronicities, they tend to repeat until we 'get it'.

For instance, ten years ago you met someone you chatted and found you had a few friends and a career in common. You clicked, but the timing seems off or you are otherwise encumbered. Five years later, you bumped into each other again. You remember each other. Time goes by. A year ago, you hit a bit of a rough patch you find strength in your circle of friends. Somehow, one of the circle's best friends happens to be the very same person you met way back when. Who knew? Now, the timing is right for both of you and you begin a relationship easily. This often leads to...

Series of synchronicities: It keeps happening. You bump into him/her... next, at the hardware store, then passing in the car, now at the supermarket, even walking down the street... but it keeps happening! Events and people seem to align to get the two of you in the same place so the relationship progresses.

Clusters of synchronicities: Same as above, but involving several with more intensity, more depth, more impact - usually centered around a particular theme. These add up to be more than a wake-up call or simple call to action they involve a deepening awareness and a true sense of ";this must be right it feels right forget whatever else I might have been thinking this is right";.

Some synchronicities can be simple, some seemingly against all odds (and we know that is irrelevant), but they add up in ways that may seem downright uncanny! Uncanny enough, that is, to make sure you are open, courageous, trusting, and receptive enough to get you to go with that flow and follow that path.

Eva Gregory is a Law of Attraction expert, speaker and author of several programs and books including The Feel Good Guide to Prosperity.

Be Selfish, Be Generous!

by Peter Comrie

Hello there my friends, here we are on Christmas Eve in the lovely Okanagan Valley, and all is well.

Joyce, Doug, Claire and I have been meeting these past few days finishing off some touches to the Full Spectrum Leadership plan, and boy, what a plan it is. To say we're excited would be an understatement, we are simply buzzed.

As I wrap up the week and get ready for Christmas, I'm caused again to consider the potential impact that our students and Alumni have on our world. We have seen already this year the awesome effect that happens when some really grand folks decide to work together for a common good. I'm humbled by their spirit and commitment.

They are at the same time, selfish, and generous. The Dalai Lama once said that the most generous act there is, compassion, is actually a selfish act: "If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion."

What does generosity mean to you? Why do you give? What can you give? Here are some thoughts from a group of volunteers for CharityFocus, an organization that focuses on the practice of selfless generosity and small acts of kindness. As a Full Spectrum Leader of your own life, how would you answer these questions for yourself?

Have a wonderful and peaceful holiday season.

I appreciate you.

~peter~

When You Fall Down, Get Back Up

Posted by Mike Robbins

Have you ever seen a small child learn how to walk? If you have, you know what a remarkable experience it is. I'd heard about this, but had never witnessed it first hand until Samantha, our (almost) five year old, took her first real steps when she was just over a year. She and I were playing in our family room one night and although she'd taken a step or two here and there, and could get around okay while holding onto an adult or a piece of furniture, she hadn't really "walked" yet.

That night I was holding her hands and pulling her across the room with me, as she took some steps. I decided to let go to see what would happen. I did and she took a step or two and then fell down, face first, on the soft carpet. She was fine. She looked up at me and although she couldn't speak, she made it very clear that she wanted me to pick her up so she could try again. I did and this time when I let go she took about four or five real steps and then fell down. I screamed, "You did it!", started clapping wildly, and yelling for my wife Michelle to come into the room.

Michelle came running in. Samantha and I went to the far end of our family room. I held her hands to steady her, started walking with her across the floor, let go, and then it happened - she really walked - all the way across the room, by herself. When she fell down, Michelle and I were so elated and moved, we both burst into tears and joyous laughter at the same time. Samantha, so proud of herself, began to shriek with excitement and to clap her hands as she was lying there on the floor. And, of course, she wanted to get back up and go again.

We all know how to do this - fall down and get back up. Assuming we know how to walk, which most of us are fortunate enough to be able to do, we went through this specific and miraculous experience ourselves when we were very small. We've also gone through it in a figurative sense many other times as we move through the ups and downs of life. The question isn't whether or not we'll fall down; the question is will we be bold enough to get back up again? Too often, sadly, we fall down and then decide we can't get back up. Boldness is about having the courage, willingness, and commitment to get back up when we fall down - even if we're scared or don't think we can.

Resisting, complaining about, or even feeling sorry for ourselves about the "bad" things that happen is totally normal and what we're often encouraged to do by people around us and our culture in general - whether we do it out loud with others or just in our heads. However, these things, while understandable, don't address the real issues, the emotions we're experiencing, or make things better for us. Facing difficulties in our life can actually be an incredibly rewarding and positive experience for us - if we choose to allow our challenges to be opportunities for growth.

Below is a list of some things to appreciate when we "fall down" in life. Obstacles, failures, and challenges can:

   
• Give us important feedback about where and who we are
   
• Provide an opportunity for us to be courageous
   
• Allow us to wake up and notice all the good things that are happening that we hadn't been paying attention to
   
• Give us a great opportunity for learning, growth, and improvement
   
• Allow us to learn to appreciate ourselves, even when things don't turn out exactly as we want them to
   
• Give us an opportunity to get in touch with, take responsibility for, and express our real emotions in an authentic way
   
• Challenge us to play bigger, make adjustments, or re-think our approach

By learning to see our challenges as opportunities, we take our power back from the situations, circumstances, and outcomes of our lives. Our ability to appreciate difficulties, learn from them, and use them to our advantage, gives us an important insight into who we really are and how to create success and fulfillment in a conscious, deliberate, and authentic way.

Being bold, going for what we want, and living with authenticity doesn't in any way mean we won't fail, struggle, or fall short. In fact, if we aren't failing or facing any challenges at all, it's probably a good indication that we aren't playing all that big in our lives. It's important for us to make peace with the fact that we will fall down many times throughout our journey. However, when we make a commitment to ourselves to get back up, dust ourselves off, be real about how we feel and what happened, and not let it stop us from being who we are and going for what we want -we tap into what true power, boldness, and authenticity are all about.

As Mark Twain reminds us in one of his many famous quotes, "Dance like nobody's watching; love like you've never been hurt. Sing like nobody's listening; live like it's heaven on earth."

Mike Robbins is a sought-after motivational keynote speaker, coach, and the bestselling author of Focus on the Good Stuff (Wiley) and Be Yourself, Everyone Else is Already Taken (Wiley). More info -http://www.Mike-Robbins.com

Who You Are!

Posted by Marie Claire Bernards

Show me a day when the world wasn't new.
~ Sister Barbara Hance

The fastest way to happiness and peace is the absolute acceptance of WHO YOU ARE right in this moment. The nature of humanness is divinity. This is evident in many of the daily "miracles" of our existence: our body, the seasons, the supreme organization of the universe. We know this in our cells, our bones. There is a deep resonance to the truth that we are all connected, that divinity expresses ITSELF as us, exactly as we are.

The ego says, "Ok, you have the capacity to love and sure, you might be an expression of the divine, but until you get your spending under control, your weight under control, stop losing it with your kids, take one more class, get one more degree, stop being depressed, get a job, a lover, a clear complexion, be articulate, express your art, eliminate feeling awkward, etc... you are not going to have access to the secret, the happiness, the peace, the abundance, the ones, etc.." You see how this line of thinking does not allow for that very state you seek?

We start to follow a contemplative path, line of thinking or method in order to find that piece which will fit into the empty sucking place in ourselves that calls for more and aches about our flaws while keeping us from peace, money, love, and meaning. When we begin a dialog with ourselves about this, the Ego points to evidence in our daily lives to support all the ways our life is not working according to the our path, method, plan. The Ego will say, "Well, if you are divine, why did you just yell at your kids? Overspend? Eat those fries? Are still alone? Are thirty pounds overweight? I'm just asking. If you really are divine, why does your life look like it isn't working?"

Leonard Cohen, a poet, said, "Forget your perfect offering. There is a crack, a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in. That's how the light gets in." This line illustrates the perfection in the imperfection. We ask for the divine light of illumination, evolution, beauty to shine on us and what we see that is brought into the light is our inadequacy. Our moments of "enlightenment" come when we are desperate and our current reactions to our experience in the world do not feed our souls. Don't separate yourself from yourself. My thinking here doesn't mean you don't take physical action towards your dreams and goals. I am asking you to love your pockmarks, your scars, your size, your inability to be articulate, your awkwardness and all your imperfections. Do not run from these very welts that are a part of you. Stop, turn and embrace your humanness, ALL OF IT. Nurture yourself. Get used to loving who you are right now, with no excuses, no conditions. Good. Breathe.

Your divinity and humanness are one. Trust that the Divine knew what it was doing by creating you, every moment of you.

Marie Claire is a teacher and intuitive consultant.

The Marvelous Power of Laughter

Posted by John Dealey

If you want to feel better, here's a suggestion for you that has worked well for many others:

Do more, be more . . . and LAUGH more!

Laughing is healthy.

It helps the body's immune system, it keeps you healthier, it cures depression, it reduces stress, it induces sleep, it's invigorating, it's rejuvenating, it has no unpleasant side effects and laughing is nothing less than a miracle drug!

Laughing is all natural.

It is organic, naturally sweet, and is 100 percent wholesome. Laughter has no pesticides, no preservatives, and absolutely no artificial ingredients.

There are no movable parts, no batteries to wear out, no periodic check-ups required. Laughter has low energy consumption, and yet has a very high energy yield.

Laughing is inflation proof, non-fattening, has no monthly payments, no insurance requirements, it's theft-proof, non-taxable, non-polluting and, of course, fully returnable.

Laughing is practically perfect.

When you laugh with others you can't help but bounce a little joy back into your own heart. So, think about your own "daily laughter rate" and make a decision to increase it.

Count it, that's right, keep track of how often you laugh for a few days and make a conscious decision to increase the amount of laughter you share with others each day.

If you will do this, and keep it up for 30 days, you will be amazed at the increased happiness coming into your life!

Laughter is healthy. Laughter is organic, naturally sweet, non-fattening, no pesticides, no preservatives, no artificial ingredients and 100 percent wholesome. It cures depression, reduces stress and often induces a pleasant, restful sleep. It's invigorating, rejuvenating and has no unpleasant side effects. Laughter often is nothing less than a miracle in that is totally free, easily shared and brings such great joy to many.

Did you know that children laugh about 400 times a day? No wonder they have so much energy and sound so happy! Unfortunately, by the time we grow up, the average adult laughs less than ten times a day. Perhaps this is one reason why obesity, stress and illness have an increasing impact on the adults in our society.

By learning to laugh more easily and more often again, you can develop a profound and positive effect on your health and well-being. Not only will laughter help you improve your health and increase your longevity, laughing every day will help you enjoy a higher quality of life!

Laughter is practically perfect. There are no batteries to wear out, no movable parts and absolutely no monthly payments. Laughter has low energy consumption, while returning a high-energy yield.. Laughter is non-taxable, non-polluting and, of course, fully returnable.

Have you had your laughter today?

Renowned for his contagious laughter, John is an international MasterMind expert, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and author. He is the founder of "MasterMind Tips" ezine, and also the author of MasterMind, MasterMinding in Europe and the popular Words That Have Changed Lives book series. He has several e-zine publications about Prayer, Gratitude, Love and Climbing Steep Hills that are designed to help people bring even more of what they love into their daily lives.

To learn how you can use the marvelous power of the mastermind to bring even more laughter, joy and things that you love into your everyday life, visit his website at mastermindsoaring.com.

Leadership in Musical Improvisation!

Posted by Peter Comrie

In the world unfolding today there are an amazing amount of leadership examples from which we each get to be inspired with, and learn from. Here's yet another outstanding example of how some very creative young fellows responded to something that would have put most down and out.

In October 2010, little-known New York City band, Atomic Tom, had their instruments stolen. But a little bit of bad luck wasn't going to stop these musicians from doing what they love.

Riding over the Manhattan Bridge on the B train, the band gave an impromptu performance of "Take Me Out"...using four iPhones to simulate the drums, guitars, and piano they had recently lost.

Now that is truly taking a sow's ear and turning it into a silk purse. Enjoy them.

Have a wonderful weekend, and make great music with whatever is at hand.

I appreciate you.

~peter~

Live for yourself.

Posted by Rob McNealy

I learned a long time ago that you should not judge a person by their background or what they have been through, but rather judge them on what they have done with what they have been through in spite of their background.

That message's power and depth has never lost its hold over me. How I translate it and use it in my daily life, is that no matter what pain, happiness, sorrow, or joy you have endured in your past, no matter what abuse or horrors you have seen, smelled or endured, they do not define you. You define yourself. Your actions, your character and your moral endurance are what define you.

Any experience can create concentric waves of chance that radiate around you. You may not know the how or why, but take comfort in the knowledge and light within you, that you can overcome and thrive with whatever you come in contact with. You control it.

Rob is the founder of Contrived Media and the host of StartupStoryRadio.com

Motivation is an Inside Job

Posted by Dr. Alan Zimmerman

"One's dignity may be assaulted, vandalized and cruelly mocked, but it cannot be taken away unless it is surrendered."
~Michael J. Fox, actor

No one is 100% motivated 100% of the time. We all need to be re-inspired and re-motivated once in a while. And there are two ways to get that extra dose of motivation:

One, depend on other people. Other people can certainly help you get the motivation you need. You know from experience that an amazing partner, a supportive family, or an encouraging manager can make you feel better and do more.

Unfortunately, the "other" people in your life will NEVER be able to feed you all the motivation you need. So whether you like it or not, to some extent, motivation is an inside job. That's the second way... YOU have to DO something to get yourself and keep yourself fully motivated.

So you're responsible for your own motivation. Sure others can help motivate you. But you're still responsible for your own motivation. It's an inside job, and here are six ways to get the motivation inside you...

1. Read for inspiration.
Read things that will make you a better person and a better professional. And sorry, newspapers and novels don't count in the self-motivation category. Oh you may learn something from a newspaper and you should enjoy a good fiction read once in a while, but they will seldom give you an extra dose of motivation.

Over the years, I've noticed an amazing phenomenon. The most motivated people don't depend on yesterday's motivation for today's challenges. They spend at least 15 minutes a day putting positive, inspiring information into their minds ... because they know what you think about you bring about.

2. Read for education.
Over the years, I've also noticed that leaders are readers. In fact, you can often judge a person's success by the size of his/her library. So spend another 15 minutes a day acquiring new knowledge because it will make a substantial difference in the results you get. You must never get too busy to get smart.

If you're not already reading for education, start by buying and reading one book a month. Read a book that is related to your professional field or the goals you want to achieve.

And one of the beautiful things about books is you don't have to read the non-fiction book from cover to cover. Simply browse through the "Table of Contents" and select the chapters you're most interested in. Read selectively. Read the best stuff. Read the stuff that will get your mind thinking and your motivational juices flowing.

Just remember: Formal education will help you make you a living, but self-education will help you make you a fortune.

3. Keep a motivation journal.
Note ... journal, not diary. In your journal, record great ideas, inspiring quotes, key insights, important learning's, key phrases, what worked and didn't work, and all kinds of daily observations that are worth remembering. Too often I've had to learn the hard way. I got a great insight, thought I would remember, didn't write it down, and forget it. Then it took me 2 weeks or 2 months or 2 years to come upon that insight once again.

As I tell my audiences, the shortest pencil is better than the longest memory. Write down the good stuff or you may be forced to learn it all over again ... the hard way.

In fact, have some fun with your journal. Write down the humorous lines you hear or read. They'll give you a laugh, and the laugh will add to your overall motivational energy. Here are a few funny lines I came across and put in my journal ... just for the fun of it.

• I asked God for a bike, but I know God doesn't work that way. So I stole a bike and asked for forgiveness.
• I want to die peacefully in my sleep, like my grandfather, not screaming and yelling like the passengers in his car.
• Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
• Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
• The evening news is where they begin by saying "Good evening" and then proceed to tell you why it isn't.
• A bus station is where a bus stops. A train station is where a train stops. On my desk, I have a work station.
• How is it one careless match can start a forest fire, but it takes a whole box to start a campfire?
• Dolphins are so smart that within a few weeks of captivity, they can train people to stand on the edge of the pool and throw them fish.
• I thought I wanted a career ... turns out I just wanted pay checks.
• Whenever I fill out an application, in the part that says "In case of an emergency, notify ..." I put "Doctor".
• Why does someone believe you when you say there are four billion stars ... but check when you say the paint is wet?
• Women will never be equal to men until they can walk down the street with a bald head and a beer gut and still think they are sexy.
• You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice.
• The voices in my head may not be real, but they have some good ideas!
• Always borrow money from a pessimist. He won't expect it back.
• Hospitality: making your guests feel like they're at home, even if you wish they were.
• Money can't buy happiness, but it sure makes misery easier to live with.
• I used to be indecisive; now I'm not sure.
• When tempted to fight fire with fire, remember that the Fire Department usually uses water.
• To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target.
• Nostalgia isn't what it used to be.
• A bus is a vehicle that travels twice as fast when you run after it as it does when you are in it.

You get the idea. Keep a journal. Put all the good stuff you find in there. And go back and read what you wrote once in a while. You'll be amazed at the wisdom you accumulate and the high it will give you.

4. Compartmentalize your problems.
I've got problems. You've got problems. Everybody's got problems. The difference between the winners and the losers is how they handle those problems.

The losers tend to be consumed by their problems. They think about their financial shortages, their rocky marriage, their friend's illness, their ballistic boss, and all their other problems ... almost constantly. And they often use those problems as an excuse for their lack of motivation or performance.

Not the winners, however. They suck it up. For example, if you were flying to Rome on a Boeing 767, you would expect the pilot to suck it up and do the job he was trained to do ... even if he was going through a rough patch in life. You wouldn't want him to be consumed in worry ... forgetting about his flying responsibilities. Oh sure, he can go back and think about his problems and work on his problems later ... but not when he's on the job. It's what self-directed, self-motivated winners do. They compartmentalize.

Self-motivated winners also know how to tuck their problems away ... temporarily. They put them on hold until they can deal with them efficiently and effectively ... rather than have their problems color every part of every waking moment. They know they can hang their problems on an imaginary "Trouble Tree" and come back to them at a more convenient time.

To become more self-motivated, don't sweat the small stuff. And a lot of it is small stuff. As poet Maya Angelou says, "I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights."

And if it's not small stuff, learn from them. As one wise person observed, "The difficulties in life are put on our path - not to OBSTRUCT - but to INSTRUCT." When you look at that way, you will stay motivated.

5. Let go of what's not working.
Back in the days of Columbus, most everybody thought the world was flat. So the sailors hugged the coastlines so they wouldn't accidentally fall off the edge of the Earth. Of course, their thinking simply kept them scared and demotivated. And they never discovered anything new.

Unfortunately, too many people still act like Columbus' contemporaries. They won't let go of some old system that no longer works or let go of some friendship that is no longer healthy. It just seems easier to keep on with the same old same old ... losing their energy, enthusiasm, and motivation in the process.

Listen to Beryl Pfizer, the filmographer, who says, "You have to be careful about being too careful."

6. Remove negative words from your vocabulary.
What you talk about you tend to bring about. As author Florence Shinn wrote, "The game of life is the game of boomerangs. Our thoughts, deeds and words return to us sooner or later, with astounding accuracy." So be very careful about your choice of words.

Avoid the use of such words as impossible, can't, won't, hopeless, and so forth. As the original Henry Ford put it, "Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right."

Action:
Take the 24-hour word challenge. Try to go 24 hours without uttering a single negative word. It will be difficult, but with practice, you will turn your thinking and your motivation around.


As a best-selling author and Hall of Fame professional speaker, Dr. Alan Zimmerman has taught more than one million people in 48 states and 22 countries how to keep a positive attitude on and off the job. In his book, PIVOT: How One Turn In Attitude Can Lead To Success, Dr. Zimmerman outlines the exact steps you must take to get the results you want in any situation. Go to Alan's site for a Free Sneak Preview

Poverty, Money, and Love!

by Peter Comrie

Good day there folks and here we are at the end of another amazing week here at Full Spectrum Leadership. Some incredibly exciting strategies for 2011 are taking shape and are filled with promises we didn't imagine when we began this adventure. Stay tuned for much more news coming during the holiday season that will set us up for a 2011 that is destined to take "personal responsibility" to new heights.

As is always the mission here throughout our weeks is to recognize those wonderful contributors that can be fully honored as Full Spectrum Leaders. Today we have one that is impacting thousands of people and by extension, millions. As a youngster she was inspired to determine what she really felt about people who were "poor", and what "poverty" really meant.

What do you think of people in poverty? Maybe what Jessica once did: 'they' need 'our' help, in the form of a few coins in a jar. The co-founder of Kiva.org talks here about her journey from giving with a mindset of transaction between rich and poor...to giving from a place of love which allows the opportunity to share in the lives of others.

We recognize Jessica as a Full Spectrum Leader.

Enjoy what she has to share.

Have a simply awesome weekend.

I appreciate you.

~peter~

The Incredible Power of Choice!

Posted by John Robert Crawford, PhD

Choices. We're surrounded by a million of them every day; big and small. They affect our professional, private, social and spiritual lives. We want to make excellent decisions, but under pressure it doesn't always seem that easy.

For many years I have been involved in the education of college students. After witnessing some of their stumbling, I began to give a little pep talk at the beginning of each freshman year. The plan was to encourage them to fight the good fight as they continued their education. Many of them were second chance students who were trying to make a major change for the positive, so I talked to them about the importance of their daily choices.

Soon I realized that although good decision-making is encouraged, people are often left on their own to figure out how to make a good choice. That's when I landed on the idea of an acrostic for the word, CHOICE; a simple formula for successful decision-making in any area of life.

C stands for Character.
Character is who you are when you are the only one in the room. No one is watching; no one will ever know. Character is what makes us or breaks us. It is our integrity; our wholeness as a person. It is impossible to have good Character on a part-time basis; either we have it or we don't. If we make our choices based on Character, we will always be true to a positive course in life.

H stands for Habits.
Habits are neither good nor bad. They are simply a tool used by our marvelous brain. Our subconscious allows us to function in life without devoting time to thinking about decisions that have become automatic. For this reason it is imperative that we develop GOOD Habits. That way when our automatic pilot kicks in, we can be sure that we are making choices consistent with who we want to be.

O stands for Optimism.
In psychological circles we hear about "The Self-fulfilling Principle." In short, we get what we expect; we find what we are looking for. If this is the case, why do we spend so much time looking for the negative aspects of life? Let's believe and look for the positive, and make our choices based on optimistic expectations.

I stands for Insight.
We live in a noisy, busy world where concentration is often difficult. Have you ever been in a conversation with someone and suddenly realized they are waiting for an answer to a question, but you have no idea what the question is because your mind was a thousand miles away? Sometimes it's also difficult to concentrate on conversations with ourselves. I recommend finding some quiet time for Insight on a regular basis. Think about decisions that need to be made and possible results. A preacher friend of mine once said that God doesn't shout; He whispers. Let's not miss the insight of that whisper because we are too preoccupied.

C stands for Commitment.
It's tough to be committed in a drive-thru, microwave world. Immediate gratification is the norm. We are used to getting things NOW, but there are some things that require the element of time before we experience the outcome. Imagine the farmer who digs up his crop a week after he plants it because he doesn't see any results. Be committed in your choice making process. The results will come in due time.

E stands for Excellence.
When we make our choices based on Character, Good Habits, Optimism, Insight and Commitment we are well on our way to Excellence. Excellence makes us stand out from the crowd. It is much like being a foot taller than anyone else. When the masses are scanned for the promotion or raise in pay, our Excellence brings us to the forefront. Be the best you can be in every endeavor. Make your choices based on Excellence.

And there it is; a simple formula for making phenomenal decisions on a consistent basis. Our ability to make choices sets human beings apart from the rest of the species on earth. Geese fly south for winter because it is innate; they are programmed to seek a warmer climate for their survival. We have the capability to do the same, but we don't have to. We need to make the decision to do so--and buy the ticket.

With the ability to choose comes the responsibility to choose wisely. If we do not choose wisely we will suffer the consequences. There are a lot of people complaining on a daily basis about their sad situation in life, and there is, indeed a lot of sadness in the world. What we need to realize is that many of these situations have been brought on by a decision that has been made at some point in the past. It may not have been made by the person suffering, but nonetheless has been made by someone.

Whatever our current situation happens to be, we need to understand a simple equation: "The past does not equal the future." We cannot change our past, but we can change our future by the decisions we make in the only window of opportunity that we possess. Today!

As you make your decisions today, remember that even the tiniest can have a butterfly effect which can potentially revolutionize your life. Take a moment and realize the incredible power of choice; then make those choices based on Character, Habits, Optimism, Insight, Commitment and Excellence. ###


John Robert Crawford is the author of The Incredible Power of CHOICE! Six Keys to Making Phenomenal Decisions. He is also the president of Your Life's Destiny, a services organization dedicated to providing educational information which enables individuals and organizations to determine and reach their destiny.

Visit his website: www.YourLifesDestiny.com

John can be contacted at:John@yourlifesdestiny.com

Celebrate Life Now!

Posted by Darcy Keith

Challenges are common... Suffering is optional.
~ Darcy Keith

As I'm typing my thoughts, I am watching my daughter play outside games with her neighborhood friends. First, they played a made-up game of throwing a ball though hula hoops. Next, it was bouncing a ball in the middle of the hula hoop, which had a number point value scribbled with pink sidewalk chalk in the center. How fun it is to watch the girls, aged five to eleven, improvise with the items they have, which were six hula hoops and five balls of various sizes. I'm amazed at how quickly the girls can switch from game to game, making new rules, and having fun. Watching their excitement, giggles, and negotiation skills reminds me of some of the aspects of life that we sometimes don't think about. We don't celebrate life.

Each day, we should celebrate life. No, I'm not talking about living irresponsibly, but enjoy every day given to us. For the past week, my daughter asks me what special thing we are going to do that day. Sometimes, she just wants to go outside and play catch or take a family bike ride to the park. Other times, it's just sitting down to watch a movie with hot, buttered popcorn and a glass of soda. My husband and I try our best to enjoy every day with her by celebrating life and the time we have together.

I must admit, however, that sometimes I wish life away. There are several times that I would have liked to just kiss my daughter goodnight after we read a story and said our bedtime prayer, and then I could go back to whatever I was doing. But when I hesitate, I remind myself of the joy I get from celebrating her life and how, when she gets older, I won't be needed as much to tuck her in. I celebrate the moment, right here and now.

Though there are things in our life to make it easier, how it is that we are busier than ever? Why do we jam-pack our lives with more activities? What are you doing in your life that will cause you to stop and celebrate it? Is it taking time to read a book that you've put off and say that you'll get to it later? What about that diet that you promised yourself that you would start today?

Here are five thoughts to help you celebrate life now:

1. Start everyday with a positive attitude.
2. Take a moment to notice the vibrant color of flowers, the colorful fall leaves, the glistening white snow, or enjoy the sound of the rain while you doze off to sleep in your warm bed.
3. Reflect on the positive things in your life.
4. Tell that special person you love them.
5. Find joy in the everyday things that we take for granted.

 

Known as the "Miracle Child", Darcy Keith is an internationally recognized, award winning speaker and author. As the only unbuckled backseat survivor in a fatal car crash, Darcy, a 22 year-old Ball State senior, had to learn how to begin life all over again - mentally, physically, and emotionally. Injuries she sustained left her in a coma, with paralysis to half of her body and relying on life support to help her breathe. Over the years, Darcy has overcome her many life-altering experiences with success and has emerged as an expert on surviving and thriving through life's challenges and trials.

Today, Darcy has served as the keynote speaker for seminars, conferences, and meetings for corporations, non-profits, and associations. Her most popular Keynote, "Survive and Thrive", has been shared with thousands of people. Darcy has appeared on various television and radio venues around the country, including ABC, CBS, and FOX. Recently, Darcy was recognized and awarded as an Indiana Hero by the Indiana Pacers basketball organization.

Darcy and her husband, Chris, have one daughter and reside in Fishers, IN.

Visit her website: http://www.DarcyKeith.com

How To Be Alone!

by Peter Comrie

Loneliness suggests a longing to be with another person. Aloneness can be a time to see who you are – you have an amazing opportunity to explore your independence and challenge yourself to do things on your own. It can be a valuable time of self-exploration and self-enhancement. With our inter-dependent world, aloneness might not last long, or at least not long enough, but it can be seen as a valuable opportunity.

This charming video pays tribute to the happy wholesomeness of being alone. Tanya Davis recites her poem about the ways of solitude, gently cataloging all the places where aloneness can bring freedom and healing. Whether at a lunch counter, park bench, mountain trail, or on the edge of a dance floor - all you have to do is love yourself enough, to love being alone.

You'll like what comes into your mind with this lovely piece.

Have an outstanding weekend.

I appreciate you all.

~peter~

Yoda's Top 10 Inspirational Quotes

He may be green and funny looking, but Yoda was wise beyond his 900 years…

Yoda was a fictional character from the Star Wars movies. He first appears in The Empire Strikes Back as a Jedi Master, and trains Luke Skywalker in the ways of the Jedi.

Yoda possessed a great knowledge in how to use ‘the Force’. He was capable of great acts of telekinesis, clairvoyance and could tap into his intuition at will…

…and he loved to share his wisdom. Here are 10 of his best quotes -

1) “Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my size, do you? Hmm? Hmm. And well you should not. For my ally is the Force, and a powerful ally it is. Life creates it, makes it grow. Its energy surrounds us and binds us. Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter. You must feel the Force around you; here, between you, me, the tree, the rock, everywhere, yes. Even between the land and the ship.”

2) “Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.”

3) “Always in motion is the future.”

4) “Death is a natural part of life. Rejoice for those around you who transform into the Force. Mourn them do not. Miss them do not. Attachment leads to jealously. The shadow of greed, that is.”

5) [Luke:] I can’t believe it. [Yoda:] That is why you fail.

6) “Do or do not… there is no try.”

7) “a Jedi’s strength flows from the Force. But beware of the dark side. Anger, fear, aggression; the dark side of the Force are they. Easily they flow, quick to join you in a fight. If once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny, consume you it will, as it did Obi-Wan’s apprentice.”

8) “Ohhh. Great warrior. Wars not make one great.”

9) “A Jedi must have the deepest commitment, the most serious mind. This one a long time have I watched. All his life has he looked away… to the future, to the horizon. Never his mind on where he was. Hmm? What he was doing. Hmph. Adventure. Heh. Excitement. Heh. A Jedi craves not these things. You are reckless.”

10) “When 900 years you reach, look as good, you will not.”

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Every once in a while, we’re watching a movie and a character says something profound that sticks in our mind…

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What is your favorite inspirational quote from a movie? Please leave a comment below with the quote and the movie.

The Unruly Mind

Posted by Robert Darby

Learning how to free ourselves from the tyranny of the unruly mind is not easy. Most of us have been the victims of the chaos of our own mind for so long that we don't even recognize that there is a need to do anything about it. What problem? Yet in a very real sense we are slaves to an endless dance of impulsive reaction to the thoughts generated by our mind and the emotions that those thoughts initiate. But even if we somehow become aware of this situation and realize that we probably should develop some level of mental and emotional self discipline, we encounter a strong resistance to such a task. Why?

Why would we want to remain slaves to our unruly mind? Do we not want to be free? Well, like so many things in life today, it just isn't that simple. While the concept of developing self discipline may not be complicated, actually traveling the path to achieve it can get downright ugly. I once read a book where the author compared training the mind to training a wild elephant. You tie the elephant to a stake in the ground and let it rage until it realizes that it isn't going anywhere and settles down, at which point you can begin to feed it and train it.

First Contact With Crazy

I smiled when I read this because I remembered my own early experiences during meditation. You should know that there is one task that is common to almost all forms and techniques of meditation, and that is the development of a certain level of concentration. It is in fact, one of the first requirements in the development of meditation skills. The development of concentration requires that we develop mental self discipline and this means training our mind. What does training a wild elephant have to do with training our mind?

Anyone who has tried to develop skills in meditation eventually discovers the crazy behavior of the undisciplined mind. It is one of the first major challenges that must be overcome before moving on in meditation. And if you have encountered this crazy mind, then you know that it is like the raging elephant that must be calmed before any real work can be done. In the world of meditation, the goal here is called mindfulness. Mindfulness is the state of consciousness that is able to be aware of the activities of the mind without getting caught up in the event cycle of impulsive response and reactions. Mindfulness simply notices everything internally and externally and then lets go of it and brings the minds attention and focus back to some object of concentration.

Resistance To Discipline

The development of mindfulness is the method by which we can develop mental self discipline. The simple act of meditating and watching the chaotic activities of our own mind and mindfully noticing when we have been captured by our own thoughts and have somehow been in the past or future for the last five or ten minutes is the act of mindfulness and when we experience this state of consciousness and bring our awareness back to the here and now and the object of our attention and concentration, we are developing mental self discipline. This is not easy, especially in the beginning.

Why is this so difficult? Why would we resist something that has the potential to set us free from tyranny and essentially give us unlimited power over our own lives? The answers to these questions are not easy either. These answers are found in the scary territory of self awareness, which involves the exploration and discovery of not only what we do, but also why we do what we do or don't do. We may discover that not having any mental discipline serves some purpose that we may or may not even be aware of. We may intuitively perceive that the development of mental discipline will open up doors much like dominoes falling and begin to reveal thing that we invest a great deal of energy into avoiding. Yes! We may be heavily invested in not becoming aware of many things on many levels, and our slavery is a trade off we have accepted somewhere along the way.

Strength Courage And Faith

It all seems to get down to whether we want happiness and tranquility in our lives and are willing to make the effort it takes to acquire these conditions or we have somehow become comfortable with our fear and ignorance and the stress and insecurity that are the consequences and price for our surrender to our weaknesses. Are we willing to be the victims of the whims of life or are we ready to take up the challenge and become the architects and masters of our lives?

Slavery is easy, personal power is difficult. The truth here is that we are the Human adaptation of life and this means that we have unlimited creative power available to us if we have the strength, courage and faith to take possession of it. This is the difference between living in the darkness of fear and ignorance or the light of truth and knowledge. So, make sure that your stake is strong and driven firmly into the ground and tie your elephant securely to it until it settles down and then begin the journey of a lifetime. ###

Robert Darby is a self change and personal development specialist who writes for many organizations including The Agenda Of Life Foundation. He focuses on developing personal power since that is usually the cause of all human problems. Robert takes a practical approach in that he looks at the various tools and techniques out there that are designed to help us achieve our mental, spiritual and emotional goals.