How Not to Choke

When my son was a senior in high school, he played baseball. I did not want to miss a game.

One of the games I watched was Mt. Abraham playing against Harwood. When Harwood's pitcher was warming up, the fans on the sidelines thought he looked good and wondered whether our batters might have a tough time against him. He had a good fast ball and seemed to have good control.

Things changed once the game started. Harwood was up first. Mt. Abraham got the first three batters out. Then Harwood's pitcher took the mound. With his first pitch, he struck Mt. Abe's batter in the back; he walked the second batter; and then struck the third batter in the head. Bases loaded. Had the fourth batter not moved out of the way on several pitches, he would have been hit as well. At that point Harwood's #22 was moved to center field. Another pitcher took his place.

Where did the control go? What changed for that pitcher when the game started? Did he not have the ability---the control---to throw strikes over the plate, when during the warm-up it appeared as if he did? Or did he simply lose his ability once the game started?

It appeared that he was a victim of choking. I would love to talk to that player to find out what was happening when he was warming up. What was he thinking? What was his mood? How relaxed was he? What was he feeling? Once a batter stood next to the plate, what changed? Thoughts? Mood? Relaxation? Emotions? Often a coach will tell his athlete, "Relax! You're trying too hard!" Good advice, but not easy to do.

When I was nineteen, I competed in the FIS World Championships in Val Gardena, Italy. Slalom was my best event. After the first run, I was in sixth place. Not bad, but I wanted to do better. I wanted to podium. I wanted to win---at the very least win a medal. As I memorized the course for the second run, that's what I thought about---moving up and winning a medal. How to do that? The more I thought about winning a medal, the more nervous I got. At that point, ski racing wasn't as much fun as it had been.

When I got to the top, I looked for my Dad in the crowd of spectators. He saw me and came to me. I shared my thoughts and nervousness with him. He was so calming! He had a little grin on his face and a glint in his eye, when he said, "I always thought you were the cool cucumber in the family!"

I just broke into a smile and said to myself, "Yeah, I am!" I stopped thinking about how I was going to do. I was confident that I could ski with the best of them. I did my best and ended up with the silver medal.

Two years later, I competed in the Olympics in Sapporo, Japan. This time I won the first run---not by much---three hundredths of a second. As I was memorizing the course for the second run, I could feel myself start to choke. I kept thinking, "I could win today! I could win an Olympic gold medal!!!" But the more I let myself think those thoughts, the more nervous I got. Finally, I told myself, "B.A. (that was my nickname), get a grip on yourself! You've got to calm down!"

I continued on my way. I fought to stay calm. I reminded myself, "I can only do my best." I built up my confidence, "If the French girls can win, I can, too!" I prepared myself for defeat," Even if I don't win, I've won the first run and not very many people have done that. So no matter what happens now, I can always be proud of what I've already achieved!" I thought of my father and the World Championships in Val Gardena. Finally I was calm.

Second run, I ran fifteenth---after everyone who had a chance to overtake me. But I was able to stick to my game plan. I didn't watch anyone ahead of me. I closed my eyes and visualized the course. I stretched and did my warm-ups. And then I slid into the tent.

Danielle Debernard had finished second on the first run. Before my second run, she was leading by about a second. That's huge in ski racing. I didn't know she had skied that well. I'm glad I didn't because I could have easily choked thinking she was so much better than the rest of us on that run. I could have easily choked just thinking that all I needed to do was beat Danielle. Thinking about who you need to beat does not work. It just adds more pressure and increases the chance of choking.

When I slid into the start, I was just going to do the best I could. When I finished, Danielle had won that run by a hundredth ahead of me. But overall, I won by two hundredths.

The trick to not choking? Control your thoughts. Believe in your ability. Enjoy yourself. When you concentrate on the skills, the results will take care of themselves.

About the Author

As a gold medal Olympic skier, Barbara Ann Cochran knows what it takes to achieve peak performance. No matter how much a person has achieved, she helps them climb to their next level by creating success through positive mental preparation.

Visit http://www.sportssuccesscoaching.com/ for more information about her programs.

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Bearing More Than Most

Sometimes what stands out for me in my life is that I have withstood more bearing than most in life. But who am I to make that assessment, and why should I need another to compare my life to, to make such an assessment? Well I guess I don't and neither do you. After all what does it really do on a healing level to compare your burdens to another? Isn't there enough pain in your own hurt to create validation? I have always loved what Susan Jeffers said, "Since when did we ever get into a competition of, 'Who could be the most pathetic?'" I have most definitely learned that lesson and have caught myself many times to keep from returning to that choice of "all that exists to a worm in horseradish is, well horseradish" (an old Yiddish saying-and a great one at that 'eh?).

Although the fact does remain, even in living a healing path, there is no denying that there is pain, there are setbacks, and you do take the hand of fear when you want to move forward. A quote I came across this weekend, was by D'Amato, "Heroes and cowards feel the exact same fear, they just respond differently" The most profound history makers, have all felt fear, that's just it, they FELT fear and they moved through it. That is the point, to not get stuck, but to move in spite of the fear and the challenges.

Pain, loneliness, sadness...How to deal with it, when no one is there to hold you? Can it even be done? Is that even possible? Yes it can and it does. Now how to deal with it is usually the question left lingering. Much of the wisdom I have ever come across has done a really amazing job of telling the what, but I do have to say that so many painful nights I was left not knowing the how, especially all alone. The how, in my opinion goes in the way of coping, well coping done alone can be quite a tumultuous climb, yet most of our pain bearing occurs in isolation. Why is that, I still wonder? Either way, I promised you the how. How will come in many forms and it will be different at any given time. I suppose that is why this topic is left in it's own abandonment many times.

You may have heard these suggestions in different ways, but perhaps not as a menu of choices. When you are feeling beaten down, isolated, and incapable of taking one more breath, first and most importantly, remember YOU ARE NOT ALONE, NO MATTER HOW ALONE YOU FEEL!

I promise you this Truth. The menu of choices available for healing pain are:

Write, journal, call a friend, if no one is available and you need a hug, hug yourself! Music is extremely healing, drive, just go...get away even if only for a few minutes, breathing, deep breathing, even hire a breath work teacher(Google it) Hit a pillow even with a baseball bat to release anger, sleep with guided imagery (Google Belleruth Napartsek) drive and yell with the windows rolled up, cry, hurt, get mad, the point really is to FEEL! When we feel E-motion which is really energy-in-motion we can be a channel to the pain that must pass through less it manifest as something stagnant (a whole other article) Better to let things move through than to camp out and become pain's container. It may not feel that way in the moment of the excruciating emotion, but I assure you the saying, "This too shall pass", was True, maybe not empathetic, but nonetheless True.

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How to Achieve the Unachievable

"I believe in miracles...

Where you from...

You sexy thing..."

Ok - so yes, I am starting this article with a song, but I want to look at achieving the unachievable. I constantly love reminding myself that there is no reality, except for the one I create, so nothing is unachievable unless I decide to believe it to be so.

So this month, I wanted to explore that concept, and see if you can take some of these principles into your riding.

Has anyone seen the movie called 'Miracle' starring Kurt Russel? It came out in 2004 and it tells the story of the miracle of the US Olympic Hockey Team beating the Soviet Union and going on to win Gold at the 1980 Olympics.

For the US to beat the Soviets was truly a miracle at that time. It was unachievable - the Soviets had won four consecutive gold medals from 1964-1976, and were going for their fifth consecutive gold medal in 1980. In 1979 The National Hockey League All Stars played the soviets and lost 0-6.

The US team on the other hand, were untested college students. At an exhibition match shortly before the 1980 Olympics the Soviets played the US team and beat them 10-3.

No one believed the US team could beat the Soviets. Nobody, except a man by the name of Herb Brooks. Herb believed they could beat the Soviets and Herb believed they could win the gold medal. And.... they did.

So how do you achieve the unachievable:

1. Be creative

Herb realised that everyone was trying to beat the Soviets by playing a certain style of game... and it wasn't working! So to beat them, he would have to create an entire new style of playing. He innovated, developed and installed a completely new strategy that was based on extreme conditioning, discipline and speed - his players struggled to learn and master this, but they did, and thanks to Herb's creativeness and thinking outside the box, they won. So be creative in your riding - just because you have always done it 'this' way doesn't mean it should always be done that way. New thinking equals new results. What new ways can you be creative in your riding?

2. It's not all about talent.

Herb did not pick the most talented players for his team, and there were many more talented players on the Soviet team. But Herb knew that talent is only part of the puzzle. He was looking for players who would be part of a team, who would embrace his new methods, and stand up to the demands. This is good news! Riding is not about talent. It's about thinking. It's about working with your horse. It's about so many things, the least of these being talent. So don't worry if you don't have the 'ideal' body type, or find it challenging to master sitting trot - with the right thinking and training, that will all be overcome.

3. Know that adversity inspires!

Herb just missed out on playing in the gold medal hockey team of 1960. But he used that to drive his determination to win a gold as a coach in 1980. Fate had disappointed him once, but he was not going to let himself be disappointed again. He was going to do whatever it took to get the gold. In riding you will miss out, you will have disappointments, and you will have setbacks. WE ALL DO! Believe me! But the only thing that matters is how you use the disappointment - I use it in the same way as Herb - to motivate me to be even better than I can possibly be. How do you manage disappointment? A better question is - how will you handle disappointment now, after reading this?

4. You have to have a MASSIVE goal!

A goal that inspires and even scares you a little bit! When I look at my goals I giggle - I giggle, because they are the most outrageous, insane, HUGE, crazy, brave, sensational goals I have seen..... Great! You can't get excited about a small, insignificant goal. You set a goal to brush your teeth and you do, weeh yay, whatever. But a big goal, a scary goal, a goal that is monumental... well that just gets you going! You jump out of bed in the morning, and stay up late, you do crazy things, and have crazy thoughts, and at the end of the day... you have your goal.

So is your riding goal - outrageous? Bill Gates says don't even bring me an idea unless 3 people have laughed at it. Then I know it will be worth looking at. My measure is as long as people still think I am crazy... then

I am right on track!

And finally

5. You need buddies!

Success is not the results of you alone. To achieve the unachievable you need a team of people coming together for your one goal. Who is part of your team in your riding? Your vet, farrier, coach, horse - they all have to work with you towards the one goal.

To Your Riding Success,

Natasha Althoff-Kelley
http://yourridingsuccess.com/
Visit my website for your free ebook on "How to Achieve Lasting Riding Success"

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Stop Procrastinating With the STING Method

Can a simple five letter mnemonic device help you to stop procrastinating? Many productivity experts would agree that a great way to stop procrastinating is by applying the STING method. The letters in STING stand for the following:

Select one task you've been putting off.Time yourself.Ignore everything else around you.No breaks allowed.Give yourself a reward when the task is done.

Select One Task You've Been Putting Off

A lot of people will procrastinate simply because they have so many things to do, that they're not sure where to get started. The first step in the STING method is to select just one of the tasks that you've been putting off. You can decide between picking a small task in order to feel the satisfaction of crossing something off of your to do list, or you can choose a larger task, break it down into small chunks, and get started with the first small chunk.

Time Yourself

You're going to give yourself a specific amount of time to work on the task. I like to work for twenty-five minutes, and then give myself a five minute break. If the task is likely to take longer than twenty-five minutes, then I repeat this process of working for twenty-five minutes and then taking a five minute break, three times. Other people prefer to work for forty minutes without a break, while others can go for an entire hour. Choose the length of time that works best for you.

Get a kitchen timer, or use an online application, in order to time yourself while you're performing the task. Once you're ready to start working on the task that you've selected, start the timer. Try to get done as much of the task as you can before the timer rings, and your time is up.

Ignore Everything Else Around You

During the time that you're going to be working on the task that you've selected, you're going to ignore everything around you. Make sure to turn off your Twitter and email applications, let the phone go to voice mail if it rings, and close any sites that you may have open on your computer which are not directly related to the task you're working on. If someone comes into your office while you're working, ask them to come back later.

No Breaks Allowed

Be sure to take your restroom trip before you start, and have a glass of water on the desk next to you, because you can't take any breaks during the time that you've allotted for working on the task at hand. If you think of anything else that needs to be done while you're working on the task, such as making a phone call, simply write it down so that you can do it later. You can take a break once the time is up.

Give Yourself a Reward When the Task is Done

A great way to stay motivated while you're working on a task is to have a small reward to look forward to once you're done with the task. This can be as simple as turning on your favorite music and sitting back in your chair for a few minutes, or getting a cappuccino or some other beverage that you enjoy. Remember that what gets rewarded gets done.

Conclusion

As you can see from the explanation above, STING is a very simple method. However, if you go ahead and try it, you'll be pleasantly surprised at how effective it is. As Rita Emmett, author of "The Procrastinator's Handbook" likes to say, this method will take the sting out of procrastination.

Written by Marelisa Fabrega. For more tools, tips, and techniques to help you stop procrastinating, visit How to Stop Procrastinating.

http://EzineArticles.com/6492853

Do You Have What It Takes to Achieve the Next Level of Success?

If you have spent any time in your business or organization reaching for that next level of success, you know that, in most cases, it does not come naturally. As much as we desire to be the best our Creator purposed for us to be, the journey of achievement is usually elusive and sometimes inconsistent. As we have learned, it is imperative that we follow a system that takes us out of our comfort zone and forces us to grow and develop new skills, acquire new confidence, and reach for new levels of awareness.

Thankfully, we do not have to be natural achievers. In fact, "natural achiever" is a contradiction because our natural instincts are always fighting against our achievement. This is because achievement involves change and growth, and that can be intimidating. Our natural instincts are constantly trying to press us into the comfort zone of staying right where we are.

With all that in mind, do you have what it takes to achieve?

Whether you have just started your journey toward greater achievement, or you have been working at this for years, it is helpful to evaluate where you are in the process. The following questions and your honest answers should give you a good idea of where you are in your commitment to achieve.

Commitment to a Goal - Do I have a burning desire to achieve something specific?

You've heard the expression, "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail." This is especially true when it comes to achievement. Without a specific goal in mind, we will default to our safe comfort zone where nothing changes. It is only when we identify that burning desire to achieve a specific goal that we can take the necessary steps to bring it to fruition.

Courage to persevere - Am I willing to follow a system in developing an enhanced level of emotional courage?

The emotion of fear is a protective reflex and is a basic, instinctive, human response when we see or feel a perceived danger. But that fear response ultimately leads to negative, unproductive attitudes. Growth feels uncomfortable and scary because it pushes us out of our comfort zones.

To grow in emotional courage, we must develop our potential, and that potential always lies just beyond our comfort zones. We have to be willing to diligently follow a development system that will help us push past our fear into sustained growth.

Open-mindedness - Am I willing to be coached without being defensive?

This is a tough one. I would say that most of us do not like being told what to do. We like the feeling of being the boss and being in control of our own destiny. But a fundamental part of achievement is keeping an open mind and allowing yourself to be coached by someone who has been there before.

When my colleague Mark Smith joined the Navy, he committed to having an open mind and a heart that was coachable as he soaked up everything he could learn, no matter how trivial. As a result, he was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal six times and Sailor of the Year for the 3rd Marine Division and rose quickly through the ranks. Do you have that level of open-mindedness to learn whatever it takes to succeed?

Accountable for your actions - Will I choose to be accountable for my effective actions?

The choice of accountability is arguably the most significant choice anyone can make regarding their future achievement. Take the time to find a mentor or group of people with like-minded interests to whom you choose to be accountable for your goals. As an example, a dieter with the support of similar-minded people is more likely to be successful in the long run as they feel an obligation to follow through with their healthy eating and exercise plan.

It is the same with achievement. When you know that you must report to a colleague or mentor how you are reaching your goals on a daily/weekly/monthly basis, you will be more likely to follow through.

Have you taken a mental inventory of the four qualifying factors above? Take your time and really be honest with yourself, because it is important to know that there can be no achievement without these characteristics or without a willingness to develop these characteristics.

Let that sink in for a moment.

Are you committed to a goal? Are you ready to develop emotional courage? Can you be open-minded and coachable? Will you be accountable for your choices and actions? If you answered yes to these questions without hesitation, you do have what it takes to achieve. Embrace the achiever in you, and get ready for that next level of success!

Inspiring genuine growth and achievement in leaders, David Byrd has 30 years of experience working with top business executives and their organizations. He is a master of effective leadership and works closely with leaders worldwide to maximize their leadership potential. For more information about The Next-Level Achievement System® or David's book, Achievement - A Proven System For Next Level Growth, visit http://www.authorsup.com/David-Byrd.

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How To Set And Achieve Goals - Focus Is The Key

Are you someone who already has all your life's goals and aspirations nicely mapped out in front of you? For most of us, the answer would be a meek no. This is understandable. We feel very difficult to set goals, because of the fear that we can't achieve them. We don't want to feel like a failure, so we rather not set any goals. However, you do not have to set sky-high goals. A small goal is still a goal. Pulling that off is still an accomplishment. Make sure you celebrate when you achieve your goals, big and small.

Once you learn some simple tips on how to set and achieve goals, you will be more confident and your chances of success increases multiple times. What I'm going to share below may be something you already know, but sometimes, we need a little nudge to the right direction when we are at crossroads.

First things first, your goals should be measurable - meaning they should be specific, regardless whether it's a sales target number you want to achieve or it's personal development that you want to improve yourself on. This precise measurement helps you to know clearly which areas are still lacking and acts as a measurement of how far you have progressed.

At the beginning of each month, it's important to decide where to set your next level of achievement. You can set it at your own pace, however fast or slow, it's entirely up to you. There is a saying: If you don't use your time, someone/something else will use it for you. Think about it - even if you wake up with not a single objective in mind, your day will still be occupied. It will probably be filled with unproductive things like watching TV, surfing the net, chatting on the phone etc. But at the end of the day, when you realize you have allowed a whole day to go by wasted, how does that make you feel? On the other hand, when you know about how to set and achieve goals, your day will be filled with productive activities that move you closer to your desires and dreams.

Focus is the key. For instance, you have difficulty closing sales. If you are focused, when you seek consultation on how to improve that particular skill, you will do it with the intention to learn something useful. You will listen out for pointers on how to close. This can only happen if you have in mind what is your weakness and the specific skill you want to improve. Then, if the results did not happen, you are able to look back at what happened and do a more effective analysis of what went wrong.

Whatever skills you may learn on how to set and achieve goals, intense Focus is of utmost importance. Focus on your immediate milestone; focus on one month at a time. Start with short-term goals. You know ultimately you will get there. But focus on this month first. You have to stay very focused and train the power of your mind on what you want to achieve each day. Get ready to receive when it comes. Because it will come when you ask with intensity.

What is your benchmark on how to set and achieve your goals? It is when upon looking at your goals, your level of Excitement exceeds your level of Fear. Your goals should motivate you, not paralyse you. Once your goals are set, don't change them. Change your strategies instead.

When you focus on the end results (the "Why" you want to achieve), you become more creative. You will start to have many ideas on the varied ways of realizing your objectives, and things will start to happen. That is the "How", and miraculously things will start to fall into place.

So, focus is the key; focus on the present, take one month at a time. When your desire is strong, you will attract the ability of how to set and achieve your goals to reach out to your objectives. In other words, when your "Why" is strong enough, don't worry about the "How", it will come to pass.

I believe we are all constantly looking for ways to change our lives for the better. We can all attract whatever we want and be whoever we want in this world, if only we understand the universal laws and learn the ways to work in harmony with them. Do you want to discover the secrets of how to live a fuller, richer life? I have discovered an excellent resource that has helped me tremendously. If you want to know the secret, check out this website here now.

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Want Great Success? Apply Great Effort!

If you want great success in your life, you need to start following the Law of Applied Effort. Basically, this law states that all major achievements are the result of hard work and dedication. If you want great success, start applying great effort!

"Effort only fully releases its reward after a person refuses to quit." -Napoleon Hill

Almost all self-made millionaires and entrepreneurs credit hard work for their success. It's not where you were born, where you went to school, or who your parents are. Success comes from following the laws of success. This week, focus on the effort you put forth in everything you do. The more effort you invest in a project, career, or family the more you will get out of it!

If you work 40 hours a week, you might be a moderate success. You may slowly climb the company ladder and in time you might be financially independent. Every hour above 40 hours a week you work you will move your career forward. You will stop being average and start being a leader in your field when you put out more effort. Successful people work more hours and smarter hours. Most executives and small business owners work 60 hours a week. They apply more effort and get more results.

"In all human affairs there are efforts and there are results, and the strength of the effort is the measure of the result" -James Allen

If working more hours, scares you then you are probably not in the right career! Successful people who work more hours are doing it not only because they love the results of their work but because they love what they do!

Five Rules to Follow When Using Huge Effort:

1. Great success is the result of great effort. Focus on your most valuable tasks to get the biggest results.

2. Arrive earlier and stay later. Start your day prepared. Plan your day before it begins. Get to work earlier then everyone else and stay a little longer then everyone else. This will allow you to get more done during quiet times, and by planning your day you, can finalize loose ends before you leave.

3. More effort equals more opportunities and luck. The more effort you put out the more opportunities will come your way and the luckier you will be. People that are doing more and working harder become "luckier" because other people see their value.

4. When you are at work, WORK! The average person working 40 hours a week is really only working 30 hours a week! Forget the long coffee breaks, the extended lunches, the personal Facebook account, emails and calls. You will rise to the top if you actually work on high value items all week long!

5. Remember the Law of Cause and Effect. If you want to be better than the average person, you need to become excellent at what you do. Invest more time, gain more expertise, work smarter, and you will make more money and achieve more success than the average person!

Dave Magrogan is the CEO of Kildare's Irish Pubs, Doc Magrogan's Oyster House, Two Men and a Truck Moving Company, and Rhino Living Consulting and Training Group. By clearing the mental clutter, using his subconscious mind, applying the "Laws of the Jungle" and setting big, audacious "Rhino" goals, he has built a 20 million dollar empire in just a few short years! Visit the Rhino Living web page at http://www.rhinoliving.com/ to find out how Rhino Living can help you!

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Getting High School Diploma Online: Useful Tips For Success

The internet has opened doors for millions of people who cannot obtain their education through the traditional means. All you need is a reliable internet connection, a suitable browser and the determination to follow through with your studies. With these, you can obtain your high school diploma online from any location in the world.

Just like it is in the traditional system, distance education also requires students to study, sit and pass tests. You need to figure out how you are going to approach your study in order to obtain your diploma with ease. Here are some useful tips that you can consider applying.

i. Come up with a plan
Once you have enrolled for a distance learning program, you need to come up with a well planned study schedule. While online learning affords you the privilege of flexibility, it is important that you create a study timetable that will ensure that you have sufficient time for your course work and revision.

ii. Have the determination
Having a determination is key when pursuing just about anything in life. Yes, you will encounter a number of challenges during your study. However, this should not persuade you to give up. When the units turn out to be difficult, don't just skip them without referring to your tutor. This is the wrong way of going about distance learning, and you are likely to fail if you follow this road. You need to have open communication with your tutor through emails and online discussions every time you face a challenge.

iii. Be physically ready
Examine yourself to be certain that you are physically ready to pursue your high school diploma online. It is important that you have a fresh mind and a healthy body ready to acquire new knowledge and skills. Also, you have to be serious about completing the program. To help with this, you can set personal goals and a time frame within which you intend to complete your studies.

iv. Have the right tools and facilities
It is important that you have in place the right facilities that you will need for a successful distance learning. Ensure that you invest in a high speed computer and a reliable internet connectivity in order to facilitate your learning and access your study materials with ease. If you do not have good internet skills, ensure that you take some short courses that will enhance your computer and internet skills.

v. Get acquainted with the testing system
It is important that you get familiar with the examination format before enrolling for the tests. If you are not, you can try out free online tests. There are hundreds of websites from where you can take free high school tests online. Besides familiarizing you with the format, these tests will also help you identify your weak areas in order to pay more attention to them in preparation for the actual exam.

With good dedication and discipline, you can get quality education through distance education. The best part of it is that you have the flexibility and the convenience of studying from the comfort of your own home. Better still, it will take you a very short time to obtain your high school diploma online than it would if you went through the traditional approach.

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The Love Bug and the Law of Attraction

I am not a Donald Trump-far from it, but I live a nice, comfortable life and I am now retired from running a successful business. I mostly do what I enjoy and enjoy what I do! Lots of people ask me, how the heck I retired so young especially since I mostly did hard labor in my life. I always put a smile on their face because my answer is that you have to become a love bug so the law of attraction starts working in your favor.

Okay, how do you do that, I am often asked and so I'll answer that question here:

Back in 1987 a woman by the name of Marsha Sinetar wrote a most inspirational book with title, Do What You Love, The Money Will Follow. As much as I like what she has to say, I disagree with the basic premise. I do not believe that anyone finds a job (or career) he or she loves at least for very long. For one thing, every job becomes routine after a while and no job is without its disappointments and challenges. I did not "love" my job-even though I was in business for myself-all the time. I had my days wishing I was doing something else no less than you probably feel from time to time about your own work. Nevertheless, what is called the law of attraction worked positively in my life, I "attracted" a great many customers and clients, and the money really did follow!

Part of my so-called "secret of success" is that I thought in successful terms; I never assumed the negative and my rule of thumb was really simple: if I work hard, treat people fairly and do the job the best that I can, I can't fail. This was more than positive thinking for me, this was my love bug philosophy, to truly care about my customers and devote myself to giving real and conscientious service as opposed to only product. I can tell you now that this formula works. You do NOT have to be in business for yourself to started attracting positive results in your own life.

The first thing you need to know is that no matter what you do for a living, you are at bottom line, in the service business. And so always put in the effort to give a little extra "service" to your boss, to your customers and for that matter to whomever you greet. If you do, I promise you, your world will brighten up and good things will eventually start happening for you. (I say eventually so you won't think that if you do this once or twice success is going to quickly fall in your lap-you must make this the consistent "who and what" you are and when you do this the law of attraction begins to respond...favorably! This means not favoring only your best customers, clients or fellow workers but treating everyone equally as important as everyone else).

Now and then, I will hear someone who I tell this to, say something like, hey, I'm a nice, giving person and I'm still impoverished. The so-called Law of Attraction seems to keep missing me.

There are a few things that I believe about this but my thoughts are best summarized by *religious philosopher, Ernest Holmes who said:

Suppose one has thoughts he lives in poverty year after year, he has thereby personified a law, which continues to perpetuate the condition. If the thought is not erased the condition will remain. A law has been set in motion which says "I am poor" and sees to it that this is so. This is at first an auto-suggestion, then it becomes an unconscious memory, working day and night. This is what decides how the Law of Attraction works for us, because the laws of attraction and repulsion are entirely subjective. Our use of them may be conscious to start with, but it becomes subconscious as soon as it is used.

What the writer is telling us in the above refers to what he calls "Universal Subjectivity" which is a "Creative Intelligence at our disposal." This same observation is made by both ancient and modern-day sagas and, today, by a number of quantum physicists in their references to Universal Mind and/or Consciousness. Paul Davis, **a professor of physics, says, "Nature is a product of its own technology, and the Universe is a mind. Our own minds could then be viewed as localized islands of consciousness in a sea of mind." In this same view physicists like David Bohn who offers that there is a deep implicate order behind matter which we might call Cosmic Consciousness and certainly the psychologist Carl Jung's synchronicity is based on his concepts of a collective unconscious. Wayne W. Dyer tells us that we can manifest our own destinies. And so, we are in good company when we suggest that, most basically, we are in connectedness with a universal intelligence that "streams" through everything in the mysterious realm we call "life" giving rise to our personal projections.

A problem exists, however, in that we do not always have control over our thoughts, even if we "believe" that we do. For example, if a child has been called slow, untalented, bad or a failure enough times by his parents or other authority in his or her life, that child's brain will begin believing this and soon enough these negative self-views will become projections such as, I can never make it...I was born to lose...if it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all...I just wasn't meant to have happiness and so forth. Well, these "beliefs" are not just passing thoughts. They are affirmations and that which we affirm to be true...eventuates into a fixture of our unconscious minds, which is in direct connectedness with what Holmes calls Universal Subjectivity, which believes what you tell it. In simple terms, if you believe that you can't succeed or be happy or accomplish much in your life, you will be given what you are unconsciously asking for; as you are the creator of your own reality. Thus, the Law of Attraction will be working to give you the poverty of spirit and/or impoverished life you are projecting into the Universe either consciously or unconsciously. And, in regard to this, just remember that whatever you project into the Universe is always reflected. (As we have observed over the years, hate and love are, if you will, boomerangs).

Now then, assuming what we are talking about is true we have a problem since we are not always AWARE of our deepest beliefs. For example, on the surface we might be saying something like, I really want to accomplish in my life; make lots of money and live well. But, beneath the surface it is possible that you are thinking something like, nothing ever works out for me, I can never get ahead and so forth. And, because you can't simply or easily change your unconscious beliefs, how do you overcome the negativity in you?

In order to change your mind, you must change your actions. You muster the courage to put your love into your work...you can even "fool" your brain by saying aloud, I love doing this, this job is so much fun and say that everyday until your brain is convinced that you mean it and delivers the message to your unconscious. But more, say silently to yourself, to your fellow workers, your boss and of course your clients and customers, I love you before addressing them or waiting on them. Then make service your goal-not the sale, and see what begins to happen for you. Just keep in the forefront of your mind that upon every opportunity you will give a little more than is expected of you. By putting out these few efforts the Law of Attraction will stop working as the Law of Repulsion in your life and good thing will begin happening for you.

Remember I spoke of Marsha Sinetar's wonderful book Do What You Love, The Money Will Follow. While I believe this to be true, I choose to change the message to Love What You Do, and All the Good Stuff Will Follow. Again, I do not think any of us can find work that we love especially that we'll love all of the time, but we can CHOOSE to love what we do all the time we are doing it. Love is probably the best and most effective magnetism for the Law of (positive) Attraction to work effectively in any of our lives.

You needn't believe any of this of course but what do you have to lose by giving what I am suggesting a sincere try? You can change your mind, by consciously changing your actions; by putting love into your work and into your customer/client care. This is what I term The Love Bug Philosophy in action; a most simple formula for solving our most complex problems!

*SOURCE: The Science of Mind * Ernest Holmes * Tarcher/Putman * 1998 (First copyright 1938)

**SOURCE: Letters to Vanessa * Jeremy W. Hayward * SHAMBHALA * 1997

By: MARK PIERCE

Mark Pierce has a vast and interesting background including being a successful business owner for 21 years. After being retired for a few years he decided that he wanted to do something that was creative, productive and people orientated so he formed Survival Station Publications. Most recently he has completed a most unique book with the title The ABC's of Loving and in his spare time he writes articles on the necessity and dynamics of love. He also busies himself by giving lectures and is co-authoring a study course on marital relationships. You can find out more about Mark at http://www.lovebug.biz/.

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