The Universe Loves Speed

A note from peter@thewealthyattitude.com for Thursday June 5 2008

Welcome to the Thursday point of the week.

As we aim to wrap up this theme that we’ve been presenting for the past two weeks, I have to say that although we haven’t even begun to scratch the surface of the topic, great things have been happening. Many of our subscribers have set new intentions for their future as a consequence of fully engaging this amazing subject of “personal responsibility”.

Tomorrow we wind up the topic with an outstanding video offering that neatly puts a bow on the whole initiative here at The Wealthy Attitude. It features someone whom you will clearly recognize, you know of their work, and you probably have a copy of their very famous book.

Anyway, enough teasing (for now). We call on our friend Thea Westra from Australia to give us an offering today. Thea clearly recognizes that level of how we “vibrate” is our responsibility.

The Universe Loves Speed

By Thea Westra

I've often heard it said that, "The Universe loves speed" and this of course includes, the speed of your own personal vibration.


How the world responds to you and therefore the results that you produce, are reliant on the vibrational energy that you put out. You have likely observed it yourself, many times. One person can walk into a room full of people and everyone's head turns and notices. Another person can attend a public event yet when a friend asks where they've been their reply is, "I've been right here!"

The energy that we emit either makes us super attractive and highly visible or else, obscure to those around us. There are people who we want to be near all the time and there are those we tend to avoid, and we can't always quite put our finger on why. It is all related to vibrational energy.

How does that connect to your personal success and happiness? That of course depends on what you define as success and on what you say makes you feel happy. Once these are determined, you then must generate the kind of energy that would move you toward producing that result.
You will know that you are experiencing success and happiness by the emotions you feel. Emotions are your measures. Yet, they are also your access. Some put the cart before the horse e.g. when I have … then I'll feel happy, or then I'll be successful.

When you get into action on projects that would bring you closer to your definition of success, some activities with which you engage will intrinsically provide you high energy and excitement, you've already associated them with fun and the things that you love to do.

Then there are the other activities, they may be things you cannot avoid in bringing your plans to fruition, yet you're not excited by those activities and your vibrational energy drops just thinking about doing them. You say you want the result, yet you cannot seem to drive up the level of personal energy required to engage fully with that particular activity and so you never get started, or you take action with one foot on the brakes.

Essentially, three types of energy exist - universal, personal and physical. Energy is not good or bad - it is simply just that, energy. We and all other matter, is made up of little atoms and it's the nucleus of these atoms that generate energy, creating electromagnetic fields. Thought controls their movement and the fields surrounding one of these, impacts each of the ones alongside.

To feel the emotions of happiness or the feelings that we associate with success, we want to go to work on finding ways of creating those types of energy vibrations. It is our thoughts that we want to be focused on, and directly connected to those thoughts are the words we use when we speak and in turn, the associations that we have connected to those words.

One person can say the word "mother" and feel completely at ease, yet another person speaks or thinks that word and will feel an emotion with a highly negative charge. We would then either want to replace that word with another that holds a positive charge and is therefore more personally empowering, or shift the associations we have with this word to bring us closer to a desired energy state.

For example, imagine you are in a business of your own and things are not faring well. What are all the thoughts you have when you say the word 'business'. As Dr Phil would say, "How's that working for you?" If you are not producing your desired results, could you attach some new thoughts to the word 'business' or give it another label that empowers you? This will help raise your personal, vibrational energy so that your personal actions and results will begin to reflect those newly created electromagnetic fields and attract the kinds of things you'd like.

Continue to work on your personal experience and understanding of what James Allen meant when he said, "All that we achieve and all that we fail to achieve is the direct result of our own thoughts."

Thea Westra is the senior thought leader, at her Forward Steps site. She resides in Perth, Australia with her ultra-supportive partner Greg. Thea publishes a monthly ezine (among many other publications and products) at http://www.forwardsteps.com.au Enjoy her life success blogs at http://www.timeformylife.com/blogs.htm and get personally connected here, http://www.ask-thea-about.com

Enthusiasm: The Magic Recipe of Success

A note from peter@thewealthyattitude.com for Monday May 19 2008

Welcome to brand spanking shining new week.

Last week’s theme of “happiness” most certainly hit the spot with many subscribers and I want to thank everyone for their feedback. Awesome stuff.

This week we’re going to be focusing on the theme of “enthusiasm”. This most necessary element to all successes is often the most elusive. We’re going to touch your senses with it.

We get started with a piece to set the tone for the week.

Enthusiasm: The Magic Recipe of Success

Ralph Waldo Emerson was right when he said, “Nothing great has been achieved without enthusiasm.”

A lot of people confuse enthusiasm with excitement. Enthusiasm is more than just jumping up and down or shouting your lungs out. That is excitement. Nobody could sustain such feeling of excitement for an extended length of time. Enthusiasm is bringing joy into your task.

However, some people could remain to be enthusiastic for long periods of time. Being enthusiastic involves openly expressing your deepest desires and feelings. You can show this by just a simple smile or maybe several shouts of joy. You don’t have to be boisterous to be enthusiastic; you just have to be willing to show your positive feelings.

The first step to improving your enthusiasm is awareness. It is logical not being enthusiastic about things we don’t know much about. If you know the cause, reason or purpose of these activities, it will be easier to develop a sense of enthusiasm towards them. More knowledge also eliminates fear, worry and doubt which are considered the great immobilizers.

Of course, to be enthusiastic, you need to act. True, you may have to discuss, argue, plan, rationalize and do other things which could delay taking action. However, once you work on it, you’ll see that things start to happen, which can keep your enthusiasm level up.

If you find yourself losing enthusiasm in doing repetitive tasks, just ask yourself the same questions why you started those tasks in the first place. Why do I have to do this? Will this help me get to where I want to go five years from now?

Sometimes, you might find it necessary to be involved in less interesting activities. To be enthusiastic even in these situations, just associate yourself with enthusiastic people. Enthusiasm, like optimism, is contagious.

People who show positive feelings on that activity will develop your desire to learn more about that specific task. You’ll soon find yourself reading enthusiastic books and engaging on interesting conversations about that activity.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you think the activity is getting more tedious. Tiring out yourself is not the best way to maintain an enthusiastic outlook. Don’t rush. Take your time to develop an interest in what you do, and don’t forget to accept a helping hand.

Whenever you do something, it would also be helpful if you have some sort of enthusiasm index to monitor each activity. For example, you may rate your level of enthusiasm on this particular activity today and then rate it again tomorrow. You could use a scale of 1 to 10 in rating.

By monitoring your level of enthusiasm, it will be easy for you to improve your enthusiasm level. You will be able to see when you enthusiasm level is going low, and thus, you can immediately correct it. And whenever you’ve noticed that your enthusiasm level is increasing, then you just need to figure out what caused it so you can do it again and again.

Developing an enthusiastic attitude is important to be able to reach your goals. Even if others have long given up on that task or activity, if you are enthusiastic enough, you’ll still have the inner spark that encourages you to continue what you are doing. Through enthusiasm, you can turn your life into an exciting journey.

Goal Setting For Success!

A note from peter@thewealthyattitude.com for Tuesday May 6 2008

Welcome to this fine Tuesday.

As I mentioned yesterday, and as we have just entered the final 2/3rds of 2008, I felt it would be appropriate to focus our attention on “goal-setting”, and manifestation for this week.

It’s often easy to drop the disciplines, especially if we feel that we are not on schedule with what we set “in stone” at the start of the year. However, with 2/3rds of the year left, it is absolutely possible to get everything on track.

Today’s offering is worth spending some time on.

Goal Setting For Success

Goal setting is one technique that directs your subconscious and conscious decisions to succeed. Goal setting strengthens your motivation to attain your business or personal goals. In general, this technique emerged from numerous practical experiences as well as psychology research.

Goal setting helps you decide or prioritize your desires. By knowing exactly what you desire to accomplish, you will have a better focus and concentrate your efforts. Furthermore, proper setting of goals can be extremely motivating. As it becomes a habit, you will discover that your self-esteem is turbo-charged.

Actually, people set goals when they plan what they want to achieve for the day, week or month. These include simple goals like clean the house, do the laundry, finish homework, etc. You make a decision on what you want to do, then discover what is needed to accomplish your goal. From there, you move into complex goals leading to your future.

Here are some goal setting guidelines:

1. Be accurate. You need to set an accurate goal and indicate specific time frame and resources required. Having measurable goals helps in measuring levels of achievement. Doing this will enable you to discover exactly when the goal has been achieved. Furthermore, this will motivate you on setting another goal.

2. Write down your goals. This ties them together and provides reinforcement.

3. Set only goals that are realistic. Take note that you only want to set achievable goals. Disappointment sets in if you set a very high goal and fail to reach it.

4. Set priorities. If you have numerous goals, then you need to number them according to importance. This will help you from feeling overwhelmed, direct your concentration to the most significant ones, and achieve goals one by one.

5. Keep goals manageable. Work on achievable and small goals. If your goal is too big, then it may appear daunting and difficult to achieve. Small and incremental goals provide more reward opportunities. Derive smaller goals from huge ones.

6. Set performance-type goals rather than outcome goals. Set goals wherein you have complete control of the situation.

It is very frustrating to be in situations not within your control. These include bad business surroundings, bad weather, poor judgments, or injury.

When you establish goals based on your personal capability, you can maintain control over your achievement.

7. Never set “low” goals. As it is vital not to establish unrealistic goals, also never set your goals “too low”.

People are inclined to set easy goals because they often fear failure. You must achieve balance in setting your goals. It should not be too low that it would not present a challenge or too high that it becomes unreachable.

Remember this: Goal setting is an important element in achieving success. Also, flexibility and persistence are needed in setting your goals.

When faced with unexpected problems and difficulties, use your determination and persistence to stick with your goals. However, you should also become flexible with your activities and objectives. If your strategies do not work, then try another means and keep on trying until you discover one that really works for you!

Success - There Is No Try

A note from peter@thewealthyattitude.com for Thursday April 24 2008

Say hello to Thursday.

Next week we’ll be celebrating the end of 1/3rd of 2008!

“Egad”, he says, “1/3rd of the year gone by, and I’m not 1/3rd of the way to achieving my dreams and intentions for the year.”

Does this sound like something that you might just be saying to yourself?

Not to fret. The great part of it is that we still have a full 2/3rd’s to get the plan into full and complete fruition. But, we can’t dally!

So, no excuses.

Today’s offering may provide a compassionate “prod”.

Success: There Is No Try
By Dennis Harting

One of the quickest ways to change your life is to raise your standards. The concept of turning unacceptable behaviors into acceptable actions instantly lifts the level that one operates at. A main component of this is to accept responsibility for one's decisions, actions, and results.

To improve everything that you do, it is important to understand that there is no such thing as “try”. This simple statement is what gives people the option of not being successful. In any situation, there is only do or do not. Either the action was taken or it was not. To believe that there are any other options is to open oneself up to deflecting the responsibility. The statement “I'll try” pre-paves the way to offer up an alibi if questioned later.

The successful do not have this in their vocabulary. If one is going to climb the achievement ladder, then a commitment to success must be made. This is done by making a decision to be successful. For many, a true decision cuts off the possibility of any other outcome. Having a “try” mentality does not lead to the definitive action necessary for accomplishment. The more one commits to a positive outcome, the greater the likelihood that will be the result.

Picture in your mind what someone looks like when trying to do something. What are they doing? Is anything being accomplished? Certainly, effort is being exerted. There is some action taking place. However, nothing is really happening. Imagine that I am instructed to move a huge boulder that weighs thousands of pounds. I try to move it by pushing with all my might. For hours I exert effort until I am at the point of exhaustion. What have I done? My response can be that I “tried” to move the boulder. Nevertheless, a successful mindset tells me that I failed to move the object. I simply was unable to complete the task.

A “certain” mind is a powerful weapon. When one states “I will accomplish this”, tremendous forces begin to line up to assist in the completion of the task. People are drawn to others who have that clarity. They also appreciate that commitment. The more individuals see the persistence of another, the better the chance that others will get involved.

Problems are handled easier when one adopts this outlook. Cutting off the possibility of failure enlists the creative forces of the mind. It is amazing how many options one can amass when the absolute commitment to achievement is undertaken. “Trying” leads to a stagnant mind. The idea of offering the excuses for failure is already in motion. Instead of focusing upon a viable solution, the mind begins to concentrate on generating believable reasons for the incompletion. Incidentally, what we focus upon usually creates the results that we experience.

Taking responsibility for all what we do is what leads us to take responsibility for our lives. The talents that are within each of us are much greater than we believe. Also, holding ourselves to a higher standard of accomplishment, rather than excuses, leads to an improved life. Our entire existence is made up of a series of life circumstances. The better each situation, the more success we enjoy. Replacing “try” with the word “will” enables us to claim our power for success. There are incredible talents within each individual that are immediately brought to the forefront.

We move from excuse maker to producer.

Dennis Harting is the Head Coach at Your Rich Life. He is an acclaimed speaker, trainer, and best-selling author. His international best selling books include Your Easiest Million and The Ultimate Procrastination Handbook. He also has had thousands of articles published worldwide. His programs and more information can be found at: http://www.yourrichlifeinc.com

Most People Will Not Be A Success!

A note from: peter@thewealthyattitude.com for Wednesday 16th April 2008

Welcome you to the midweek point.

I want to get right to it today.

I got an e-mail from someone yesterday “moaning” that they just couldn’t seem to get their life, or business, in the order they desired. So, being the nice Scottish soul that I am, I invited them to give me a quick phone call to discuss. I think they might have regretted it. :-)

First thing I asked when we dispensed with the usual pleasantries was, “tell what you have written on the goal cards you have in your wallet?”. I knew immediately that this was going to be a very short conversation, and it was.

When I pointed out to this fellow that, if he were going to set out from his home in Utah to drive and visit a relative in New Brunswick, Canada, he would in reality need a “map”. He agreed. At that point he said, “I think I’ll get back to you later”.

How is it possible in this day and age, with all of the amazing information we have, that some fully grown, adult bodied, able folks, who can read and write, and who own computers, can still think that they can get what they desire in life without a plan. GGGrrrr.

Share today’s offering around……Please!

Most People Will Not Be A Success!

Jerry Moyer

You may not like it but the simple truth is that most people will not be a success. This is not because they don't have the potential but rather because they don't understand how success works.

Let's cut to it. Most of you have heard about goals. Most people know about "goals"...they just don't usually reach them! This isn't how it needs to be. Most people "play" with their goals. If you want to be a success and reach your goals this simply won't do.

When looking at goals, I look at it this way. Goals help you get from where you are to where you want to be. Having an actual goal will help you move from where you are to where you want to be.

Ok...let's get started!

#1. Decide what you want.

#2. Write it down on a card.

#3. Carry the card in your pocket at all times.

#4. Read it as often as possible every day!

The purpose of a goal is to raise the level of conscious awareness. When you're going after a goal...it forces you to stretch yourself, you're striving for something new. The truth is that everyone who is, or ever was successful, either consciously or unconsciously set a goal.

I'm going to finish here with a quick exercise to help you write a goal card.

The wording on the card is of critical importance. We are going to "re-program" the sub-conscious mind. Everything you write must be in the present tense.

Start your card with "I am so happy and thankful now that...."

Present tense. Now that. This isn't a fantasy...we're going to start living the goal right now. Like the farmer who plants the seeds knowing the crop is coming, we are planting seeds.

The remainder of the goal card is up to you. The keys are keeping it in the present tense, making it a "worthy goal", and something that will stretch you. It makes no sense writing a goal that you already know how to do...or have done before.

"I am so happy and thankful now that I am ..............................................................................................".

Go ahead. Fill in the blank with anything you want. You must put it in writing to make it real. Something you just occasionally think about isn't a goal. It's a fantasy and will never happen. Write it down. Make your goal card and you'll be in elite territory. Statistics show that only 3% of the population actually have written goals. Don't fall into the trap. Take the time right now to write a goal down on a card.

A few ending thoughts. You don't need to know how you are going to accomplish your goal. You don't need to have the answers to these type of things at this stage.

What you need is simple. You need to have a "goal".

Three Steps to Instant Success

A note from: peter@thewealthyattitude.com for Tuesday April 15 2008

Welcome to Tuesday.

I seriously fell of my chair laughing yesterday. Wanna know why? O.K. I’ll tell you.

One of our long time subscribers is a teacher/instructor at a fairly well known business school. I’d just love to tell you which one, but I can’t. If I mentioned even the town it’s in, you’d know the school. Anyway, our subscriber friend sent me a “911” e-mail.

What happened was, yesterday he was checking out The Wealthy Attitude website on his laptop, in his class, during his lunch break. His next class were to see a video presentation he had on his laptop, so it was attached to a projector.

Right before the class he was called away for a phone call and he left his laptop open. The class arrived to no teacher, so, being responsible students they clicked the laptop into action, started the projector, and lo and behold, The Wealthy Attitude.

As he had been watching last week’s video, My Stroke of Insight, he was on the Take 5 and Relax Video page. Well, the intrepid students started to click on some video links in the page. When he arrived back his class were deeply into the Tony Robbins video, up on the screen for all to see and hear.

Needless to say, and as he described in his note to me, he had to spend the entire class explaining The Wealthy Attitude website, and here’s the rub, his class want more of it in their class. I’ve even had a number of his students subscribe already to the “Daily Reader”.

Now, why the “911”? He’s asking me to take part in a tele-class for his students to talk about The Wealthy Attitude. What a hoot! Me, the home-based business advocate, in a tele-class with students in a renowned traditional business school. Somebody hold me down! J J

I’ll keep you informed.

Up and on with today’s offering. I go back to our friend Philip today to draw on something that will assist some folks who wrote to me over the weekend. I’m very sure it will also assist you.

Three Steps To Instant Success

This week I reviewed some notes I took at a Seminar with Jim Rohn several years ago, and one of Jim's many amazing insights jumped out at me. Jim has helped thousands of people reach their goals and I want to share just one of the KEY pieces that impressed me.

I was reminded that success is based on a simple 3-step process:

1. What We See

I'm told that the average North American sees over 3000 marketing messages every day. They are everywhere! Fortunately, we have learned to ignore the vast majority of them.

In the same way, at this very moment you are breathing, you are sitting on a chair, and a there are a thousand things going on around you that your brain automatically filters out to let you concentrate. Our ability to "filter" allows us to survive! If we couldn't do that, we would be over-whelmed and unable to function.

Out of all that "data" around us, we select a few things to notice and care about. We respond to a baby's cry. We answer a ringing telephone. We focus on our bank statement, our bills, a lover's touch and so forth, and this is important - high achievers focus on ("see") things differently than failures!

High achievers literally do not "see" the television programs others find captivating! High achievers "see" opportunities others miss. They "see" solutions others ignore.

What you "see" or focus on determines your destiny.

2. How We Interpret What We See

Shakespeare observed that nothing is "good or bad, but thinking makes it so." Most people know the story about the glass that is either "half-full" or "half-empty." Everything we "see" is interpreted and the only difference is that winners constantly interpret life in ways that work to their advantage.

Where one person interprets a slumping economy as threatening their business, another finds an opportunity for growth. Where one person sees a problem, another seizes opportunity.

Winners view things differently. They grasp solutions, seize opportunities and find reasons for optimism.

3. What We DO About What We See

Everything comes down to action. Peak performers actually DO get up a bit earlier, stay a bit later, and work harder (and smarter) than other people. In the end, our lives are not created by our intentions but by the results of our daily activities.

Now, it is true that our actions are shaped by many things! Of course painful experiences and mis-fortune and bad luck play a part. Let's not kid ourselves. But the most important influences on our daily actions are (1) what we see, (2) how we interpret what we see, and (3) how we respond.

The steps to success begin by surrounding ourselves with things that move us forward. Read great books! Listen to great audio programs! Get around smart, talented, creative people! If you see stress and trouble every day, you will be influenced by it. If you see opportunity and optimism, if you see determination and courage and hope, you will inevitably be shaped by these things.

Here are two practical applications of these truths:

1. I no longer subscribe to a daily newspaper. For many years I was addicted to it, but then I noticed that starting my day with 20 minutes of trouble and controversy was not creating the life I wanted. So I took action, canceled our subscription and now I read something more useful.

2. Every week, I work with a coach who reminds me of my values and goals. Every year, I attend at least two personal development seminars. I hang out where the GOOD stuff and the GREAT people are!

Invest in your future. Get where the GOOD stuff is!

The Natural Flow of Success

A note from: peter@thewealthyattitude.com

Getting into April brings thoughts of warmer days, no wind chill, and the lawn greening up. What a fun month it becomes.

As I mentioned yesterday, it is this week where we get a chance to evaluate our progress for 2008. Many people just resign themselves to the same old, same old, and repeat the disappointments of previous years.

But not you, this is the week you get to celebrate being on track, and on purpose. As our good friend Philip says, “You Are in The Natural Flow of Success”.

The Natural Flow of Success
By Philip Humbert

Every human being wants to live a great life. We have dreams and aspirations. We have a picture of how we want things to work out, and one of the essential tasks of adult life is to find a way to make our lives work out well.

We all try a variety of strategies. We work for someone else, or start our own business. Perhaps we choose a life partner, or find a community to put down roots. Some of us climb the "corporate ladder" while others choose life on a farm or in a small town. Whatever our strategy, the task is the same: To create the life we truly want and perhaps leave a legacy for our children.

The question is, whether success starts with achievement in the outer world, or whether it starts on the "inside" with personal development.

While most people SAY they believe success begins with personal development, what I notice is that we ACT as if success is primarily a matter of outward achievement and recognition. I find that most people start by focusing on financial or other external success in the hope that inner peace and personal fulfillment will come with it.

The question is whether this strategy actually works.

For hundreds of years, wise writers have said the natural flow of success is from the inside out. Benjamin Franklin had a list of 13 personal virtues that he worked on throughout his life. About a hundred years ago, James Allen wrote the classic, "As A Man Thinketh" and said that success always begins with our THOUGHTS.

In the 1930''s, Napoleon Hill wrote his famous, "Think and Grow Rich." He argued that our actions are pre-determined by our thoughts and noted that personal development is the spring from which all success flows.

Few people seriously question that success is an "inside job." It begins with our thoughts, with our values and our personal integrity, and FLOWS TOWARD or RESULTS in external success at every level.

I suspect most long-time readers of TIPS agree with this.
And yet we still fall into the trap of thinking that success is mostly or primarily based on external skills or circumstances. We up-grade our computers, change jobs, or in some cases we move to a new city or even change spouses, hoping that if we change the right "things" our personal lives will be transformed. It doesn't work that way.

First, be a person of integrity. First, "know thyself."
First, clarify your values and your priorities. First, know your ultimate purpose, your long-term destination and your most important values, then build on these things.
Success is only partly about marketing or money or getting a promotion, and it has almost nothing to do with the size of your house or the price of a new car. And the ultimate irony is that those nice things (and there's no denying they are nice and they are fun!) often come quickest and easiest to those who start with personal development.

For every hour you spend working on your sales skills, spend an hour getting to know yourself. For every dollar spent on training and professional development, spend a dollar on yourself or your family. For every new tool you buy, read a book on relationships, spirituality or personal growth.

Success is an inside job and the best success comes from a balanced, total approach.

The “Law of Attraction” and “Success”

A quick note from peter@thewealthyattitude.com

This week has been just a ton of fun here at The Wealthy Attitude.

We've got to laugh a lot, learn more about HTML language, get serious about "backing up" computers, and expressing "out loud" both appreciation and gratitude. Now that's living.

Dr Randy Pausch made a huge impact on Monday in his video presentation. He touched deeply many folks who subscribe here.

His impact on me personally was profound. I lovingly borrowed the term "Last Lecture" from his video and applied it to my own life this past week. I went about my tasks with a "what if this is my last" attitude. The outcomes and lessons were incredible.

I was much more conscious of every conversation, every action, and every intention. I became a softer, gentler, listener and speaker. Many things that I had deemed "important" turned out to not really mean much after all. And, the lessons continue.

I'm lovingly suggesting that you try this for yourself. Make a choice to do all that you have to do today, and through the weekend, as if you were doing it for the "last time". Seems weird to think about, but it's actually pretty easy.

Watch what happens!. I promise you that amazing things will occur.

Let me know here how it goes, and some of the many awareness's that come up for you.

Today, a friend of mine provides some "mindset".


The “Law of Attraction” and “Success”
By Peter’s buddy and “Wealthy Attitude” supporter, Ross

Everyone seems to strive to be ’successful’ in life. We all look to apply the ‘Law of Attraction’ to gain ’success’.

But what is ’success’? What makes you successful, and what makes you a ‘failure’?

To answer this question, let’s first take a look at our world. Our societies are completely focused on our five senses of seeing, hearing, tasting, touching and smelling. Our five senses are constantly stimulated. They are enticed and exploited all the time.

It is therefore no surprise that we tend to focus our minds on materialism 24 hours per day. We tend to focus all the time on big cars, big houses, lots of money in the bank, and so on.

There is nothing wrong with that in itself. Neither does this mean that being ’spiritual’ equals being poor and living in a dump. That doesn’t make sense either. The problem is not with the ‘material’ objects themselves. I’ll get back to this later.

First, I’d like to know this… So many people want to ‘attract a new car’. But what is it with cars anyway? Somehow the car has become a symbol of status, of ’success’. I know a number of people (even some well-known ones) who are so obsessed with their cars, they even give names to their car.

A friend of mine had a car and was really proud of it. He called this car ‘Infinity’. Another friend of mine doesn’t care the least bit about what kind of car he drives. Still, he needed to buy a car the other day to be able drive to work. But because he didn’t really care about it, he simply bought the first set of wheels that he liked even just a bit and of which he thought the price was right for him. “If I can drive to work and back with it, then that’s a great car for me”, he thought.

He bought himself a pretty old car to be honest. It certainly didn’t look that fancy. The other friend would have dubbed it a piece of junk. But this guy couldn’t care less. In fact, he could see the fun of it. In response to my other friend who called his car ‘Infinity’, this guy decided to give his car a name too. He called it ‘Finity’.

I kid you not, this is a true story. What it illustrates is the relativity of ’status’ and ’success’. What one person would consider being dignified, could be considered by the next person as pathetic.

Like I said, the trap is not with material objects themselves. These are just frequency patterns anyway. The problem comes when we see those objects as the ultimate goals and the very symbols of success that confirm whether we ‘made it’ in life or not.

It is for this reason that many people look to others to confirm to themselves if they are ‘doing well’ or if they are ’successful’. When you don’t succeed in terms of big houses, big cars, big money, you are often considered as a ‘failure’, and often consider yourself as such.

The whole system thrives on consumption and the constant expansion of consumption, and the more we consume, the more we are considered to be ’successful’. This even leads to many people borrowing more of what they don’t have and getting in even deeper trouble, simply to provide themselves the very things that should testify to others of their alleged ’success’.

So is this the kind of ’success’ you are looking for?

What if I told you that the real success you are looking for is not having all kinds of material stuff, but is actually called ‘happiness’?

After all, why would you want a lot of money, or a big house, or a big car? Why would you want others to approve of you? In the end it all comes down to a desire for a sense of security and happiness, and being able to live life on your own terms. The quest ends when you’re happy and fulfilled.

But when are you happy and fulfilled?

Here’s a hint from what a wise man once said: “Money and fame do not happiness make.”

Don’t get me wrong. There is nothing wrong with having a lot of money, or being well-known, or having big cars and big houses. These are all thought fields and are just experience. The problem is that so many people get absorbed in pursuing the material ‘dream’ that they forget about why they are doing that in the first place.

I believe it was John Harricharan who said this: “Most people are so busy trying to make a living, they forget to make a life.”

He’s right. Most people are ‘human doings’ instead of ‘human beings’.

The funny thing is that the greatest payoff from trying to get what you want through working with the ‘Law of Attraction’ or ‘deliberate creation’ comes from a state of being. It is a state of happiness, contentment and love and gratitude for what IS that gets you what you truly want.

At any rate, the greatest payoff from your attraction efforts does certainly not come from an obsession with ever more material stuff in the merry-go-round that gets faster by the day, for the sole reason to seek approval and confirmation of your ’success’ from others, in order to compensate for a lack of self-esteem that is the cause of this obsession to begin with.

A sense of security, self-esteem and ’success’ is found within yourself, not outside.

And the funny thing is that once you give up the obsession with possession and finally acknowledge your true self, the person who you really are deep inside, you seem to manifest what you want much more easily.

When that happens, you can enjoy all kinds of material stuff as much as you like, if that’s what you choose. You can choose to have a big car if you like. You can choose to live in a big house if that’s what you want.

The difference is that you won’t be controlled by the never-ending pursuit of these things. You won’t be ‘on the path to happiness and success’ anymore. You would just BE happy instead, and from there you will allow things to manifest instead of chasing them forever. It’s a small difference in perception, but with profound effects.

It is then that you will start to live life, instead of life living you.

So what is ’success’?

Success, my friend, is what you define it to be.

Now go manifest your success, whatever that is for you!

There’s No Free Lunch

by Dr. Joseph Murphy

As the old saying goes, "There’s no such thing as a free lunch." Recently I was in a store that was offering a free pack of razor blades if you bought two tubes of shaving cream. Well, of course, the blades weren’t really free—their cost was passed on to the customers indirectly in the price of other things they bought at the store.

Nothing is free.

If you want to be wealthy, you must pay the price for wealth; if you want success, there’s a price for that. The price of achieving these things is applying the law of mind—and not everyone is willing to do that. For example, I knew a wonderful metaphysical teacher in New York City named Mrs. Menier. She lived in the Lucerne Hotel and had a friend who would visit her, borrow books, and accept the old clothes that were offered to her. I asked Mrs. Menier one time, "Why doesn’t this woman listen to you—to your teaching? She doesn’t have to wear your old clothes. She could become successful on her own." Mrs. Menier replied, "She’s unwilling to pay the price. She’s unwilling to pay attention and apply these truths. She prefers old clothes to wisdom."

I think Mrs. Menier was right. Her friend preferred old clothes, secondhand umbrellas, and things of that nature to the application of mental and spiritual laws. All she had to do was take an interest in the great truths, but she was unwilling to pay the price. That’s true of many people. Mrs. Menier was very sympathetic and kept on giving her old clothes, but I don’t think that actually did her friend any good.

Whatever you desire, you must give your attention, devotion, and loyalty to it.

There’s always a price to be paid. When you learned to drive, you had to make a conscious effort to learn how to steer, merge, and park. You can probably do all these things effortlessly now. At this point your subconscious mind is actually driving the car. You paid the price by paying attention to learning how to drive a car, and now you can do it automatically.

The price of getting what you want includes having faith that your desires can be fulfilled—and not everyone has this faith. For example, at a summer seminar I was teaching in Denver on the powers of the subconscious mind a few years ago, I met a woman who had been praying for ten years for her eczema to be healed—with no results. She had applied various astringent lotions and other topical medications without any appreciable relief. Although she had tried to be healed, she had never paid the price, which was to have complete faith in the Infinite Healing Presence and the law of her own subconscious—to trust the law and believe that the Healing Presence would respond and heal her skin. She had been giving power to externals, saying, "My skin is sensitive to the sun. I’m allergic to the cold weather. I believe this eczema is spreading all over my arm due to heredity. It’s my genes and chromosomes that are at fault." After I explained the importance of having complete faith in the One Power, she began to pray as follows:

The Infinite Healing Presence that created my body and all its organs knows all the processes and functions of my body. I claim, feel, and know definitely and absolutely that the grandeur and glory of the Infinite are made manifest in my mind and body. The wholeness, vitality, and life of the Infinite flow through me now, and every atom of my being is transformed by the Infinite Healing Presence. I fully and freely forgive everyone, and I pour out love, truth, and beauty to all my relatives and in-laws. I give thanks for the healing that is taking place now, and I know that when I call, the answer comes.

She repeated this prayer slowly, quietly, and reverently several times every day. She told me prior to my leaving Denver that a remarkable change for the better had come over her entire being and that her skin had completely healed. She had faith and received the gift of healing.

Faith is attention, devotion, and loyalty to the One Creative Power. You have faith when you know that thoughts are things; that what you feel, you attract; and that what you imagine, you become. You have faith when you know that any idea deposited in the subconscious mind comes forth as form, experience, and conditions. For example, a group of hikers was lost in a forest but had faith that they would be guided to safety. They had no compass and didn’t know anything about navigating by the stars, but they sat down and said: "The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. He will lead me to safety. He is guiding me now." They followed the lead (an intuition or hunch) that they received from the Supreme Intelligence, and they found their way to safety.

They paid the price by having faith in the Divine Source and calling upon it. Faith comes through understanding the laws of your mind and applying them diligently in all your affairs. Scientists have faith that their research will lead to a greater understanding of nature. Farmers have faith that the seeds they deposit in the ground will result in a harvest. Before you can receive wealth, you must have faith that you will get it. You must impress your subconscious mind with the idea of wealth, for whatever is impressed on the subconscious is expressed on the screen of space.

There are a number of qualities that contribute to personal success in life. Some of these—such as being born to good parents, in a favorable country or social class, or with natural physical and mental endowments—are completely out of our control. Fortunately, the qualities that really count are the ones that we can cultivate, and the most important of these is persistence. If you examine the biography of any man or woman who has made a lasting contribution to humanity, you will find that the majority exercised uncommon persistence.

Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence.

Talent won’t—nothing is more common than talented people who are unsuccessful. Education alone cannot. The world is full of educated derelicts. Only persistence and determination are omnipotent. Give all of your allegiance and devotion to the God Presence and realize that it’s your guide, your counselor, and the source of all blessings. There’s no other power. Think of the wonders that would happen in your life if you gave your complete attention and loyalty to that great truth.

But if you give power to sticks and stones, to men and women, to the weather, and to all these other things, you’re worshiping many different gods and won’t get what you want. When you awaken to the truth that there’s One Power, One Presence, and One Cause, then your good will flow to you.

In a Nutshell

Nothing is free. If you want to be wealthy, you must pay the price for wealth; if you want success, there’s a price for that. Whatever you desire, you must give your attention, devotion, and loyalty to it; and then you’ll get a response, of course. The price is recognition, belief, and conviction. There’s always a price to be paid.

Give your attention, devotion, and loyalty to any subject and it will yield its secrets to you. If you don’t give your attention to a particular subject—whether it’s chemistry, mathematics, or your job—you’ll remain in darkness about it.

In order for you to receive, you must first give an idea to your subconscious mind. Before you can receive wealth, you must first impress your subconscious mind with the idea of wealth. Whatever is impressed on the subconscious is expressed on the screen of space.

Cast from your mind all preconceived notions, false beliefs, and superstitions; and realize that before you call, God will answer. Whatever you’re seeking already exists in the Infinite Mind. All you have to do is to identify mentally and emotionally with your desire or idea, realizing that it’s as real as your hand or heart.

Excerpted from Dr. Joseph Murphy's Maximize Your Potential Through the Power of Your Subconscious Mind -To Create Wealth and Success. Dr. Joseph Murphy (1898 - 1981), the founder of The Church of Divine Science, produced books, tapes, and radio broadcasts on spiritual matters, the historical values of life, the art of wholesome living, and the teachings of great philosophers—both from the Eastern and Western cultures. Dr. Murphy wrote more than 30 books. His most famous work, The Power of Your Subconscious Mind, was first published in 1963, became an immediate bestseller, and was acclaimed as one of the best self-help guides ever written.

Get Over It!

By: Neil Parmar

Are you obsessing over your shortcomings? Here's a few tips that will help you get on with your life.

Ever get stressed out because you weren't sure what you'd say at that morning meeting? Worried about what you'd look like after squeezing into last year's bathing suit? Have you said something you know you shouldn’t have?

Self-consciousness keeps us fighting that battle to control our self-image. But obsessing over our shortcomings inevitably traps us in embarrassment and shame.

The difference between embarrassment and shame is slight but significant, and the distinction is crucial for building a protective armor of self-esteem. When we introduce our friends to a colleague and forget her name, it's an embarrassing blow to our image, because we think others are viewing us in a negative light. If there are enough embarrassing moments that we begin viewing ourselves badly, then our self-image collapses and we feel that heavy weight of shame.

Creating a pillar of success in our lives is one way to end the dreaded trap of embarrassment and shame. Successfully completing a difficult project at work builds confidence and leads to future success. Similarly, a satisfying relationship is a prideful accomplishment and helps motivate us to seek other such connections.

But how do we take that first brave step away from self-consciousness in order to feel like (and ultimately become) a success?

Kill shame-inducing situations before they become a threat, advises David Allyn, Ph.D., a Harvard-trained social scientist and visiting scholar at Columbia University's Institute for Social and Economic Research and Policy. His book, I Can't Believe I Just Did That, includes a few pointers:

Be on time. Punctuality creates self-discipline and impresses both others and yourself. It's a healthy habit that keeps you calm about the clock.

Stick to the facts. You're bound to get caught lying, so why bother? Lies just set you up with unnecessary opportunities to feel ashamed.

Cut the gossip. Comments made behind your back sting, and don't forget how you feel about those who talked about you. Focus on deep, meaningful talk where every conversation can be a chance to realize a dream or accomplish an aim.

Keep your word. It feels good to be considered reliable, so honor your word no matter what the reasons are for disregarding them. Remember, a promise is a promise.

If the damage is already done and you find yourself at the tail end of an embarrassing situation, you can still avoid that feeling of shame by recovering gracefully. Don't lash out in defense or lie to cover your tracks—you'll just end up feeling worse and likely complicate a relationship that doesn't need complicating.

Try laughing it off or explaining why you made the mistake. Also, don't leave a social situation simply to avoid the people you made a mishap in front of—avoidance will leave you feeling further ashamed and isolated.

Here's a very important point to remember:
People tend to forget others' mistakes and obsess over their own.

50 Life Booster Questions

Developed by Thea Westra, Senior Thought Leader
http://www.forwardsteps.com.au

1. What would you love to do or accomplish, before you die?

2. If you were to begin to achieve that/these, what is the first change you would start to make?

3. What would you need to include MORE of in your life?

4. What would you need to have LESS of in your life?

5. Rewrite your goal(s) so it is ‘moving towards’ something, rather than ‘moving away’ from something?

6. What is YOUR personal definition of success?

7. If you had to guess your life purpose, what would it be?

8. What daily habits could you replace with a better daily habit? List these.

9. What would a massive action ‘look like’ for you?

10. What action would you take, if you knew you could not possibly fail?

11. What has worked for you when accomplishing past personal goals?

12. What can you see about any past setbacks, which may actually benefit you?

13. What are you tolerating/putting up with?

14. What will you do, to completely erase petty things that are bothering you?

15. For what will you take 100% responsibility, from now?

16. If you were your own coach, what coaching would you give yourself right now?

17. Who and what are you listening to, most of the time?
How will you change that, if it needs changing?

18. What do you keep saying to yourself that usually thwarts your progress?

19. What could you now keep saying to yourself, to empower you?

20. What could you get done this week that you know needs doing?

21. For that task, what is the first step and the next step?

22. What could you put in your environment to remind you of your promises to yourself?

23. What could you include in each day to create and hold your vision for your future?

24. What have you 100%, decided to achieve?

25. What ways do you benefit by NOT deliberately moving toward what you want?

26. What activities and new habits will you deposit into your future, this month?

27. On a scale of 1 to 10, how excited to you feel about taking these actions?

28. What could increase that score?

29. What are your highest aspirations for this year?

30. What are the greatest lessons you have learned in life?

31. What is life asking you to do differently?

32. What are you now willing to do that you’ve been unwilling to step into?

33. What non-negotiable decision are you willing to make for your life, and stick to?

34. What in your life needs immediate attention?

35. What strategies could you use to better manage your daily priorities?

36. What is perfect about where you are in your life right now?

37. Describe in detail, your feelings once all your goals are achieved?

38. Which books could you read, people could you call and websites could you visit, to support your goals?

39. In what way are you a better person this year than last year?
What will be your answer, next year?

40. Where will you fine-tune your use of time in the next 24-hours?

41. Is there anything you are ignoring, to which you should be paying attention? Be honest!

42. What are you most excited about now? What are you looking forward to?

43. What ways will you will get more energy into your life?

44. What newly created, personal standard(s) will you abide by; hail, rain or shine?

45. What are your greatest strengths and how will you leverage those?

46. What would you most like to be acknowledged for, so far in your life?

47. What do you need to give to yourself so that you can give more to others?

48. What new belief could you take on to speed up your personal decision-making processes?

49. What do you already know for certain? Is that the truth?

50. List all the benefits that you got from completing this exercise, and what are your next Forward Steps?

An Online Version can be found at: http://www.forwardsteps.com.au/50-Power-Questions.htm