Hidden Gems of Wisdom

A note from peter@thewealthyattitude.com for Tuesday December 1, 2009

Hello there everyone and welcome this first day of 2009's final month. Just think of that, 1/1oth of the 21st Century will soon be behind us. I sit here in the absolute WOW of that. We'll be chatting more on that this month.

I got today's reader passed to me as a consequence of one of last weeks readers. The subscriber sent it to me so that I may not miss the...

Hidden Gems of Wisdom
by Barbara Biziou

Many years ago I was leading a Vision workshop in Nantucket. It is one of my favorite workshops because participants have the opportunity to explore their dreams and create a wonderful vision board.

I started by having people introduce themselves and share what their intention for the weekend. As we were going around the room, we came upon a 90-year-old woman who I assumed was just there for the company.

Instead, to my surprise she stated, "I came to find out what I want to do with the rest of my life." After the workshop she told me that she was planning a trip to Europe and then "who knows!" What a gift to have provided for the group. Sheer proof that life is an unfolding journey with endless possibilities!

Life can offer many gifts if you are open to receiving them. Since experience has taught me that anyone can be a voice of spirit, I tend to pay attention to conversations with strangers. A few weeks ago, I was riding in a taxi in NYC. As we were driving, we began to discuss a large accident that had happened the day before. A crane had broken off from a construction site and crashed into a building...destroying the building and killing many people. It seemed as if the whole city went into shock.

To my surprise, my driver told me that he didn't worry about accidents anymore. Intrigued I asked him why. "I was one of twenty survivors of a plane crash that killed over two hundred people" he shared. "I prayed and asked forgiveness for having harmed anyone in my life and after that experience I know that each day is a gift. Why worry about things you cannot control." Of course, that is exactly what I tell the participants in my classes. It doesn't matter if I am teaching in Corporate America or at a yoga retreat: the message is always the same. Focus on what you can control, let go of the rest and be present to what is.

Our conversation then turned to a discussion on aging. I had just returned from Florida and my mother's 90th birthday celebration. Not only does my mother look 10-15 years younger than she is, but she swims, plays bridge, belongs to a theatre group and has a boyfriend. She is always learning something new and has many friends and interests.

The taxi driver proceeded to tell me that his grandfather, who lives in Romania, was 105 years old. I was fascinated and wanted to know everything about how he was being cared for. Well, it seems that his grandfather was very independent and actually living on his own. "My mother stops by and does all his heavy shopping," he said. Of course, my mind started calculating...his grandfather was 105 so that made his mother around 80 and she did all the heavy shopping?

I asked him about the last time he had visited his grandfather. "Oh, he said, I took my grandfather for his physical. The doctor was a bit concerned that my grandfather had high cholesterol. He warned my grandfather to watch the type of food he put in his body. Smiling, my grandfather told him that he did understand that it was important what you feed your body, but "doctor", he said, "I think it is more important how you feed your soul."

What are you doing to feed yours?

Barbara is the author of The Joy of Ritual and The Joy of Family Rituals, is an internationally acclaimed teacher of practical spirituality. A national television and radio guest, she is president of Blue Lotus Productions, a multi-media company, specializing in wellness and personal growth.

With her never-ending wealth of knowledge, warm, inviting heart, open mind, and natural gift for teaching, she brings her global travels, from Bali to South America, and personal experience to her work, enlightening everyone she meets along the way. She is on the faculty of the American Management Association (AMA), The New York Open Center and One Spirit Learning Alliance.

Barbara has been featured in Body & Soul, Harper's Bazaar, New York Magazine, and Parents Magazine. She also starred on Morgan Spurlock's hit FX show 30 Days and was the everyday ritual expert on New Morning airing on the Hallmark Channel.

Her website is: http://www.joyofritual.com

Amazement

Good day all and welcome to yet another brand shiny new week that you get to play with.

The bulk of my mail last week reflected the feelings many of you had on the subject "Being The Miracle" that you are. My sincere thanks to all who shared your very personal perspectives.

Today's contribution springs from the same vein of thought. You'll see that your really can live with...

Amazement
by Claudette Rowley

If you decided to be amazed, what would you see? Amazement, like any other state of mind, results primarily from our perspective - a cleaned up perspective that is, one that's not clogged with negativity, self-doubt and limited thinking.

What is amazement? It's the capacity to see the positive, the beautiful and the previously unseen in both the everyday and in the spectacular. Amazement requires stepping outside of ourselves, observing who and what surrounds us, and practicing the art of gratitude.

In my experience, gratitude and amazement are kissing cousins whose relationship is symbiotic - one influences the other. Marcel Proust described this well when he said, "The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes."

If you looked through the lens of amazement, what would you see? How would you define it for yourself?

When I discuss amazement with people in life, they sometimes reflect back to me that they simply don't have time to be amazed. They are too busy, too tired and too stressed. But here's the great thing about amazement: it's free, takes no time, and is a fantastic stress reliever. So what blocks our ability to be amazed?

• The usual cadre of negativity: judgment, self-doubt and limited thinking. These three limit our vision drastically and call us to focus on what's not going well, how afraid we are, and how we or other people should have done things differently or better.
• Following a rigid set of rules about how we are supposed to be. Many of us carry around a mental checklist of "rules," regulations and must dos that ratchet our stress levels up to intolerable levels. Hard to be amazed with that monkey on your back, isn't it?
• Worrying, venting or complaining without taking action. Now I can worry, vent and complain with the best of them, and sometimes venting even puts in me in a more positive frame of mind. This only works if I choose to act to improve a situation. Endless worrying, venting or complaining sends you down a circular thought path that leads to nowhere.

Even if you understand these amazement-blockers, it can still be challenging to learn how to tap into the state of amazement on a regular basis. To raise your amazement quotient, consider these tips:

• Cultivate the art of observation. Observe the curve of a child's cheek, the beauty of a flower and the eyes of someone you enjoy being around.
• Watch for something good to happen. Notice the "little things": did someone smile at you today, make your life easier in some way, or help you solve a nagging problem?
• Let yourself feel the full emotional range. Amazement is a heightened sense of joy. What's your capacity for joy? Do you allow yourself joyful moments?
• Shift your perspective. If your usual take on a situation is negative, what would change if you looked through a positive lens?

Recognize that amazement is a choice. You can choose to be amazed or not - it's up to you. Once in a great while, most of us set eyes on a sight that is so compelling, so completely life changing that it takes our breath away. But most of life isn't like that, so it's up to us to make the choice to notice what amazes us on a daily basis. To be amazed or not to be amazed - that is the question.

Claudette Rowley, coach and author, helps professionals identify and pursue their true purpose and calling in life. Contact her today for a complimentary consultation at 781-316-1923 or by email. Sign up for her free newsletter "Insights for the Savvy" atwww.metavoice.org.

Against All Odds

Good day there everyone and welcome to the typical weeks end. And what a week it has been!

Without going into detail, just know that I got reminded over and over again what an amazingly blessed life we each have. Oh I know, you may just be in the midst of a challenge right now, but also know this, you indeed have the solution.

Today's video offering is one we sent out ages ago in another format, and I feel inspired to offer it to you today so that you may have an opportunity over the weekend to reflect on the life and opportunity's that lie before you. I certainly know that you will indeed shine...

Against All Odds!

Jim MacLaren and Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah have what seems like an improbable story. Jim MacLaren was an All-American athlete with a future that knew no bounds. At 22, his life was changed dramatically when he was hit by a bus and lost a leg. He overcame his physical limitations and become a top Ironman triathlete.

Eight years later, Jim had another accident. Where was the meaning in all this suffering? Jim later finds this meaning in the story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah in faraway Ghana. Watch the joint story of these two remarkably courageous men and the incredible connection they share despite being continents apart.

Pursue the Means - Live The Dreams

Have an outstanding weekend.

See you all on Monday.

Take care,

~peter~

The 12 Days of Thanksgiving

A note from peter@thewealthyattitude.com for Thursday November 26, 2009

Good day there everyone and welcome to our American friends Thanksgiving Holiday. Here in Canada it's especially delightful as we celebrated our Thanksgiving holiday in October, and we get top do the turkey thing all over again.

Here is a tongue-in-cheek Ode to the Turkey which a UK subscriber sent us, and a neat recipe that I'm sure you will love.

The 12 Days of Thanksgiving

On the First Day..... We give thanks for the fresh turkey feast and its hot trimmings.

On the Second Day..... We bless the cold turkey sandwiches, sloshy cranberry sauce, and hard rolls.

On the Third Day..... We praise the turkey pie and vintage mixed veggies.

On the Fourth Day..... We thank the pilgrims for not serving bison that first time, or we'd be celebrating Thanksgiving until April.

On the Fifth Day..... We gobble up cubed bird casserole and pray for a glimpse of a naked turkey carcass.

On the Sixth Day..... We show gratitude (sort of) to the creative cook who slings cashews at the turkey and calls it Oriental.

On the Seventh Day..... We forgive our forefathers and pass the turkey-nugget pizza.

On the Eighth! Day..... The word 'vegetarian' keeps popping into our heads.

On the Ninth Day..... We check our hair to make sure we're not beginning to sprout feathers.

On the Tenth Day..... We hope that the wing meat kabobs catch fire under the broiler.

On the Eleventh Day..... We smile over the creamed gizzard because the thigh bones are in sight.

On the Twelfth Day..... We apologize for running out of turkey leftovers. And everybody says..... AMEN

At Christmas in December, we will have the opportunity to experience another excess of turkey, so here is a scrumptious recipe from a top UK Chef, Atul Kochnar, as a more creative Day Six option!

I hope you enjoy it, and have a wonderful Thanksgiving our dear American friends and subscribers.

Turkey Biryani

3 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 cloves

2 bay leaves

1 Star anise

1-inch piece of cinnamon

1 teaspoon cumin seeds

4 medium onions thinly sliced

Salt

1 tablespoon minced ginger

1 tablespoon minced garlic

1 green chilli

1 teaspoon turmeric powder

1 teaspoon coriander powder

½ teaspoon ground black pepper

1 teaspoon garam masala

4-65 medium tomatoes, blended to a paste

1 cup coconut milk

2 pounds cooked turkey meat

1 pound freshly-cooked basmati or other long grain rice

2 tablespoon chopped coriander leaves to garnish.

How to do it

Firstly, cook the rice and keep it warm.

Heat the oil in a pan, and the cloves, bay leaves, star anise, cinnamon stick and cumin seeds. As the spices crackle in the heat, add the onions and pinch of salt. Saute until golden brown.

Stir in the ginger, garlic and chilli and saute for 2 minutes until cooked.

Add the turmeric, coriander, black pepper and garam masala. Saute for one minute.

Add the tomatoes, bring to a simmer, and cook 2-3 minutes.

Add the coconut milk, and simmer 2-3 minutes more.

Check the seasoning.

Now add the turkey meat and heat through.

Carefully stir in the warm rice.

Turn into a hot platter, garnish with the chopped coriander leaves, and serve with raita (cucumber chopped into plain yogurt) if you like it.

Serve immediately - and move on to Day Seven...!

The A-B-C's of Life's Purpose

A note from peter@thewealthyattitude.com for Wednesday November 25, 2009

Good day everyone and welcome to the midweek point.

It appears the little "miracle" reflection yesterday touched many of you. Thank you all who shared with us the "miracles" that abound in your own lives. It inspired one of our favorite readers to share...

The A-B-C's of Life's Purpose
by Hal Elrod

To Love & Create—this is the essence of life. But to be able to create the life you want, you must first be able to love the life you have. When you do, you are then able to enjoy a true sense of freedom and inspiration while engaged in the exciting process of creating the life of your dreams.

Accept Responsibility (For Everything)
From the economy to that difficult person in your life, to the speed of traffic during your daily commute—the external events and circumstances of life are often out of our control. Although we can't always control what happens to us, what we choose to think and do about it is our responsibility.

This is a profound truth, that it is not what happens to us that determines our quality of life, but it is how we choose to respond to what happens that creates our experience of life—good or bad. Even if a circumstance is not your fault, how you deal with it is always your responsibility.

The moment you Accept Responsibility for everything in your life, is the moment you have the power to create anything for your life.

Be Grateful (For Everything)
People often defend their negative attitude by claiming, "I'm not negative, I'm just realistic. Consider this: How is it any more "realistic" to focus on, think and talk about all that is wrong in your life, than it is to focus on, think, talk and Be Grateful for everything that is right in your life? Hmm...

When you choose to focus on the positive in your life and Be Grateful for everything, you have the power to create happiness at any moment of your life.

Commit To The Process (Without Being Emotionally Attached To the Results)
Every result (goal/dream/etc.) that you desire is preceded by a process. If you desire improved health, it must be preceded by a process of healthy eating and exercise. If you desire financial independence, it must be preceded by a process of accumulating, saving, and investing your money.

Most of us are emotionally attached to our results, and we base our level of commitment to each of our processes on how we feel or how things are going. Poor results usually lead to feeling discouraged or frustrated, both which hinder our desire and confidence to keep working towards our dreams.

The secret is to define the process required for each of your goals, then live everyday committed to those processes, and don't worry about your short term results. The process always eventually produces the result, you just have to stay committed and never give up!

You can learn to truly, authentically and unconditionally love the life that you have, and once you do you will find a sense of true joy and fulfillment in creating the life of your dreams. Your pursuit of a better life will no longer be out of fear of not having or being enough. You will be free from the stress and pressures that may have weighed on you in the past, so that you can begin genuinely loving the life you have while you are engaged in the exciting process of creating the life of your dreams!

Be That Miracle!

A note from peter@thewealthyattitude.com for Tuesday November 24, 2009

Good day all and I bid you welcome to this very amazing Tuesday.

Today I'm celebrating miracles. Our American friends are celebrating Thanksgiving in a few days, and yesterday I got to thinking once again of all the blessings I am thankful for. As I wandered through my day, chatting on the phone from my home office with a client two thousand miles away I was struck by some awesome realities.

I live in Canada, and just being here shows that I've won life's lottery.

I was talking on a telephone that operates over the internet (VOIP).

I left home for a meeting in one of the worlds best built SUV's

I got a call on my cellular telephone and was able to resolve an issue from the front seat of my truck.

I got to hear from a potential client, who has all kinds of issues. And every single one of them can be unquestionably resolved with the powers we already had sitting around the table.

I was able to buy Joyce a lovely dinner in a Vietnamese restaurant, and pay for it with a piece of plastic.

While she went to her Toastmasters meeting I was able to work on my laptop computer in the coffee shop and connect with my Twitter friends from around the world, send electronic mail, pay some bills, and read what some contributors sent me for The Daily Reader. I could go on and on, but you get my point.

Good grief folks, it is truly a miracle life that I live, and I am truly thankful for every single moment of it.

Now, how about you? Do you see that miracle that is your experience? Are you being the miracle? Our friend Catherine might just clear the path for you to...

Be That Miracle!
by Catherine Franz

You are a human being, right? You also believe you are either male or female, right? You also have other roles you play in your life, like mother, father, brother, sister, employee, employer, boss, manager, in-law -- and the list, I'm sure, goes on. But have you ever thought of yourself as a miracle. Not in the sense of your birth. Of course, that is a miracle. In the sense of your every day life. Do you walk around all day long and see yourself as a miracle worker?

If you did, just imagine how much taller you would stand, less rushed you would be, and how much fear you would live without. Well, sit straighter right now. Because you are. You are a miracle. You are a miracle worker, if you choose to be. You have been given that choice too.

Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of riding in the limo with Deepak Chopra, on his way to speak at the IONS conference in Crystal City, Arlington, Virginia. And this was one of the topics that morning with everyone in the car. We tossed back and forth the characteristics of a miracle and all the other angles. Although it was just one of many interesting conversations I enjoyed that week, this one instantly changed my life.

When we got closer to the hotel, the car grew quiet except for the purring of the engine. Deepak was meditating, and I joyously recorded the wisdom of our conversation and all that was churning inside of me.

In big bold letters, "If I want to have a miracle, be that miracle," flowed from my pen. I stopped, stunned. I couldn't continue writing nor look up. Tears quietly rolled down my cheek. The message was so powerful it turned into a muffled sob. My skin tingled and my cheeks flushed with embarrassment even though I wasn't sure who, if anyone, was watching me.

A hand touched my shoulder. Our eyes met. The corners of Deepak's eyes were watery too. I knew in that instant he received the same message. No words were exchanged just a nod from him. Later that day, in his stage presentation, he discussed this event incognito.

The power of joined energy is a miracle. The power of our own energy is a miracle waiting for a decision to happen. It begins with our decision. We have the power of miracles.

Miracles take action. It takes generosity. It takes selfishness. It takes a second, a minute, or ten minutes. The bottom line is:

"If you want to have a miracle, be that miracle."

Since this beautiful moment of tying energy this same message, same wording, has repeated itself in a book, and other places. Even though they weren't as powerful as that moment when our eyes locked, it still shows that we need to hear it, be reminded of it, consistently until we decide to inherent it into our daily beliefs and life.

This message doesn't just work during the holiday season. It is there for our choice every waking moment. You are the tree that lives in the forest and help the forest be a forest. It is the tree that falls hard in the forest but gently ripples into the rest of the world.

The miracles you create in the check out line at the grocery store with people in front of you, behind you, and the cashier, are miracles. don't just wish for miracles. Be that miracle, everyday, every second, and it begins with a new way of looking at yourself. Be a miracle to yourself and let it ripple out. Stand tall, walk like the miracle you are. Let it touch everyone today, tomorrow, next year, and the year after.

The world is changing because of miracles. Be that miracle.

Catherine Franz, business and writing coach, resides in Virginia and is a syndicated columnist, radio producer, International speaker, and author. Ezines and other articles: www.abundancecenter.com

The Joy of Going Too Far

A note from peter@thewealthyattitude.com for Monday November 23, 2009

Well hello there folks and welcome to another brand new week.

We've been having a little down time here to discuss the many things and experiences we desire to have show up for us in 2010. It's a very exciting process to first set in the foundational thoughts upon which we are planning our future, and then start to build the dream on that solid underpinning.

Yes, these times are going to be here for a while, it's a new experience for many of you, but know this, all the solutions and power you need, you already have. Now it's time to take what you have a little further. In fact, there is much to appreciate in...

The Joy of Going Too Far
by Philip Humbert

Many people have observed that the only way to have more, earn more, or do more is to first "become more." I've always had a conflicted relationship with that advice.

On the one hand, none of us will ever be one bit "more" than we are right now. We each have, and have always had all the tools, brains, creativity, drive, talent, and resources we need to be fully human. We will never be even a tiny bit "more" than we are right now. So, one part of me objects to the idea that we can "become more."

There are far too many people telling us we are somehow inadequate or less than we "should" be. I reject that! Advertisements are always telling us that to be happy or sexy or rich or powerful (or younger--I love that one!) we should buy their product, join their campaign, or learn some new skill. As an old bald guy, I especially like the ads to "re-grow" my hair so I'll be younger, more attractive and sexy. Right!

On the other hand. There is great truth in the idea that very few of us ever develop all the potential that lives within us. I've always had a dread of dying "with my music still inside me." I hate the idea that fear or laziness or being "too busy" may keep me from exploring my world and living to the full.

One of my values is to end my life by looking God in the face and being able to honestly say, "I did it all. I used all the talent, explored all the opportunities, experienced all the richness life had to offer." I've always shared Henry Thoreau's fear that he might die "and discover that I had never truly lived."

Life is to be lived! We know we're alive because we're growing, deciding, trying, learning, exploring and yes, making mistakes. We know we're fulfilling life's promise by using the talents God gave us. Imagine the insult to life, to God, of "hiding our talents" or being shy about them! Rather, I suspect we honor life and God by "showing off." We honor life by doing stuff, by reaching further, by dancing wildly, by singing (yes, even off-key) and exploring our world. There is something God-like and uniquely human about audacity. Even the "sin" of hubris, the arrogance of going much too far, has a joy that I like. Better to try too much, to reach too far, to dare the impossible than to sit quietly, waiting for death.

I'm convinced that few, if any, of us are ever fully alive, fully human, in the sense of being and doing all we are capable of. To me, that's a terrifying, sad and tragic thought.

At the same time, I understand the fear that holds us back. No one likes to fail or be embarrassed. No one enjoys the pain of trying, only to be ridiculed or laughed at if it doesn't work out as we hoped

But here's a huge secret, only those who risk going "too far" ever discover the joy of knowing how far they can go! And here's a deadly corollary: Those who laugh the quickest and loudest at our "arrogance" are those held most tightly in the grip of fear.

Neil Armstrong went "too far"--all the way to the moon and back. Lewis and Clark went "too far"--all the way to the Pacific ocean and back. Maggie Thatcher and Golda Meir went "too far"--and became the heads of their respective countries. Amelia Earhart regularly went "too far"--and in the end she died, but what a life she lived!

Whatever else you do with your life, be sure to stretch your wings. Regularly, go "too far." Live until you die. Try stuff. Push the limits, take risks, express your opinions and show the world your true colors. The world is not hungering for "average" or "safe!" We need all the greatness we can get! Show us what you can do.

If you wish, start small. Here are some suggestions:

• Read more. In particular, read something you would normally ignore or something you're sure you'll disagree with. Read history or a comic book, science or one of the great novels. Just read. Learn something new.
• Watch better television. Anyone can watch silly comedies or cop shows. But why bother?! Rent a documentary or something controversial. Watch a cooking show, or history, or science or some "talking heads" arguing politics. Let them make you mad. Let them make you think. And above all, argue back!
• Eat something strange. Try a new restaurant you're sure you "won't like." Or, how about worshiping with a friend who practices a different faith? How about learning a new language or attending a cultural festival? You won't die, and you might discover something about yourself.
• Be a beginner. Try a hobby or sport you've never tried. Sign up for a class on a topic you've never considered and see what happens. Try sky-diving or square dancing or take that computer class. I double-dare you!
• Do lunch. Invite someone you've never met to lunch, preferably someone who's very successful in a field you know nothing about. Ask questions, then listen. What's it going to cost? A few bucks? And you were going to have lunch anyway, so see what you can learn. You might gain a friend, or even a new career!

Happiness is partly about becoming all we can be. Happiness and joy are connected to discovery, exploration and daring. If you can, buy a ticket on the space shuttle, but if you prefer to start smaller, start smaller. But start. And keep on going.

Dr Humbert is a Success Strategist, author and popular speaker. Imagine what's possible! To inquire about having him speak to your group or organization, or to schedule an initial consultation, contact him or visit his site at Philip Humbert.com.