1. Shake your Body!
Every day find new ways to move your body. Use the stairs rather than an escalator or elevator. Walk your dog (or
a neighbours' dog if you don't have one!) , chase your kids, play ball with friends, mow the lawn. Anything that
moves your limbs is not only a fitness tool, it's a stress buster. Think 'move' in small increments of time. It doesn't
have to be an hour in the gym or a 45-minute cardiovascular class or body pump or kickboxing. Move more and
feel better!
2. Cut the Fat
Don't eat the obvious fat in your diet such as fried foods, burgers and other fatty meats. Eat dairy products like
cheese, cottage cheese, milk and cream low fat versions. Nuts and sandwich meats, mayonnaise, margarine,
butter and sauces should be eaten in limited amounts and even then in their low fat verions. Most are available in
lower fat versions.
3. Reduce Stress
Stress busters come in many forms. Some techniques recommended by experts are to think positive thoughts.
Spend 30 minutes a day doing something you like. (i.e., go back to number one above!, exercise is a great stress
reducer, Soak in a hot tub; walk on the beach or in a park; read a good book; visit a friend; play with your dog;
listen to soothing music; watch a funny movie. Get a massage, a facial or a haircut. Meditate. Count to ten before
losing your temper or getting aggravated. Avoid difficult people when possible.
4. Stop Smoking
All the experts agree on this one. Ever since 1960 when it was announced that smoking was harmful to your
health, people have been reducing their use of tobacco products. Just recently, we've seen a surge in smoking in
adolescents and teens. Warn your children of the false romance or 'tough guy' image of smokers. Find ways to
quit smoking hypnosis, support groups and even prescription medicine such as Zyban is available to help you…
5. Reduce your exposure to Pollution
Not everyone can live in a smog-free environment, but we can all avoid smoke-filled rooms, high traffic areas,
breathing in highway fumes and exercising near busy thoroughfares. Exercise outside when the smog rating is
low. Exercise indoors in air conditioning where air quality is good. Plant lots of shrubbery in your yard. It's a good
pollution deterrent. If you ride a bicycle in traffic, where a small pollution mask over your mouth and nose.
6. Clunk Click every Trip
Statistics show that the wearing of seat belts add to longevity and help alleviate potential injuries in car crashes.
7. Don't Drink too Much Alcohol
Whilst it is true that a glass of wine or one drink a day (two for men) can help protect against heart disease, more
alcohol than that, or binge drinking on a night out, can cause other serious health problems such as liver and
kidney disease and cancer.
8. Floss Your Teeth
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Harvard Medical School studied longevity and found one of the most important contributing factors was daily
flossing! Flossing and brushing your teeth daily can make your RealAge as much as 6.4 years younger. These
studies make a direct connection between longevity and teeth flossing. Nobody knows exactly why. Perhaps it's
because people who floss tend to be more health conscious than people who don't?
9. Maintain a Positive Mental Outlook
There's a definitive connection between living well and healthily and having a cheerful outlook on life. Yes, keep on
smiling and laughing!
10. Pick Your Parents Well !
The link between genetics and health is a powerful one. You can't pick your parents, but just because one or both
of your parents died young in ill health doesn't mean you can't counteract the genetic pool handed you. So follow
the first 9 tips above.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Today's Quote
In this external world, which is full of finite things, it is impossible to see and find the Infinite. The Infinite must be sought in that alone which is infinite, and the only thing infinite about us is that which is within us, our own soul. Neither the body, nor the mind, nor even our thoughts, nor the world we see around us, is infinite.
Complete Works, 2: 175
Complete Works, 2: 175
Friday, June 13, 2008
Today's Quote
Some people are so afraid of losing their individuality. Wouldn’t it be better for the pig to lose his pig-individuality if he can become God? Yes. But the poor pig does not think so at the time. Which state is my individuality? When I was a baby sprawling on the floor trying to swallow my thumb? Was that the individuality I should be sorry to lose? Fifty years hence I shall look upon this present state and laugh, just as I now look upon the baby state. Which of these individualities shall I keep?
Complete Works, 2: 467
Complete Works, 2: 467
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Top 200 Secrets of SUCCESS - 4th 10
The Top 200 Secrets of Success and the Pillars of Self-Mastery
-- Robin S. Sharma
31. Stress is simply a response which you create in the interpretation of an event. Two people
might find that a given event results in quite different responses. For example, an after
dinner speech might strike fear into the heart of an inexperienced speaker while a strong
orator views it as a wonderful opportunity to share his thoughts. Understanding that the
perceived negative effects of an event or task may be mentally manipulated and
conditioned towards the positive, will allow you to be a peak performer in all instances.
32. Read "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" by Stephen Covey. It contains a
wealth of wisdom and powerful insights into further developing your character and
enhancing your personal relationships.
The Top 200 Secrets of Success and the Pillars of Self-Mastery
-- Robin S. Sharma
Page 6 of 26
33. Become a committed audio-tape user. Most personal-mastery programs and books are
now offered in this format. Listen to these inspirational materials on your way to work,
whilst waiting in the line at a bank or while you wash dishes in the evening. Make your
car a college on wheels and use the drive time to make knowledge your best friend. All
down time can be very effectively used in this productive fashion. Use such opportunities
to learn and continually expand your mind and its vast potential.
34. Try fasting one day every two weeks. During these fast days, drink fruit juice and eat
fresh fruits only. You will feel more energetic, cleansed and alert. Fasting also has a
salutary effect on your will-power as you are subverting the otherwise pressing impulses
in your mind calling on you to eat more.
35. Keep a radio-cassette player at your office and listen to soft, soothing music throughout
the day. Place pleasant scents and inspirational pictures in your workplace. By the magic
of association, your work will become something you enjoy even more and arouse a very
pleasant feeling within you. Budget your time on trips such that you can spend half an
hour in the airport bookstore. They always contain the latest and best self-mastery books
and tapes given that those who travel by air are of a group that finds value in these
materials.
36. Read "As a Man Thinketh" by James Allen. And don't just read this little book once, read
it over and over again. It contains an abundance of timeless wisdom on living a fuller and
happier life.
37. Remember that forgiveness is a virtue that few develop, but one that is most important to
maintaining peace of mind. Mark Twain wrote that forgiveness is the fragrance the violet
sheds on the heel that has crushed it. Practice forgiveness especially in those situations
where it is seemingly difficult. By using your emotional forgiveness muscles more
regularly, petty wrongs, remarks and slights will not touch you and nothing will penetrate
your concentrated, serene mindset.
38. Empty your cup. A full cup cannot accept anything more. Similarly, a person who
believes that he cannot learn anything else will stagnate quickly and not move to higher
levels. A true sign of a secure, mature individual is someone who sees every opportunity
as a chance to learn. Even the teachers have teachers.
39. The Two Minute Mind is an excellent exercise for developing concentration. Simply
stare at the second hand on your wristwatch for two minutes and think about nothing else
for that time. At first your mind will wander but after 21 days of practice, your attention
will not waver during the routine. One of the greatest qualities a person can develop to
ensure his success is the ability to focus for extended periods of time. Learn to build up
your concentration muscles and no task will be too difficult for you.
40. Drink a cup of warm water before a speech. Ronald Reagan employed this strategy to
ensure that he maintained his honey-smooth voice. Mastery of the art of public speaking
is a noble goal. So dedicate yourself to it. You will be judged by the calibre of your
communication skills.
-- Robin S. Sharma
31. Stress is simply a response which you create in the interpretation of an event. Two people
might find that a given event results in quite different responses. For example, an after
dinner speech might strike fear into the heart of an inexperienced speaker while a strong
orator views it as a wonderful opportunity to share his thoughts. Understanding that the
perceived negative effects of an event or task may be mentally manipulated and
conditioned towards the positive, will allow you to be a peak performer in all instances.
32. Read "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" by Stephen Covey. It contains a
wealth of wisdom and powerful insights into further developing your character and
enhancing your personal relationships.
The Top 200 Secrets of Success and the Pillars of Self-Mastery
-- Robin S. Sharma
Page 6 of 26
33. Become a committed audio-tape user. Most personal-mastery programs and books are
now offered in this format. Listen to these inspirational materials on your way to work,
whilst waiting in the line at a bank or while you wash dishes in the evening. Make your
car a college on wheels and use the drive time to make knowledge your best friend. All
down time can be very effectively used in this productive fashion. Use such opportunities
to learn and continually expand your mind and its vast potential.
34. Try fasting one day every two weeks. During these fast days, drink fruit juice and eat
fresh fruits only. You will feel more energetic, cleansed and alert. Fasting also has a
salutary effect on your will-power as you are subverting the otherwise pressing impulses
in your mind calling on you to eat more.
35. Keep a radio-cassette player at your office and listen to soft, soothing music throughout
the day. Place pleasant scents and inspirational pictures in your workplace. By the magic
of association, your work will become something you enjoy even more and arouse a very
pleasant feeling within you. Budget your time on trips such that you can spend half an
hour in the airport bookstore. They always contain the latest and best self-mastery books
and tapes given that those who travel by air are of a group that finds value in these
materials.
36. Read "As a Man Thinketh" by James Allen. And don't just read this little book once, read
it over and over again. It contains an abundance of timeless wisdom on living a fuller and
happier life.
37. Remember that forgiveness is a virtue that few develop, but one that is most important to
maintaining peace of mind. Mark Twain wrote that forgiveness is the fragrance the violet
sheds on the heel that has crushed it. Practice forgiveness especially in those situations
where it is seemingly difficult. By using your emotional forgiveness muscles more
regularly, petty wrongs, remarks and slights will not touch you and nothing will penetrate
your concentrated, serene mindset.
38. Empty your cup. A full cup cannot accept anything more. Similarly, a person who
believes that he cannot learn anything else will stagnate quickly and not move to higher
levels. A true sign of a secure, mature individual is someone who sees every opportunity
as a chance to learn. Even the teachers have teachers.
39. The Two Minute Mind is an excellent exercise for developing concentration. Simply
stare at the second hand on your wristwatch for two minutes and think about nothing else
for that time. At first your mind will wander but after 21 days of practice, your attention
will not waver during the routine. One of the greatest qualities a person can develop to
ensure his success is the ability to focus for extended periods of time. Learn to build up
your concentration muscles and no task will be too difficult for you.
40. Drink a cup of warm water before a speech. Ronald Reagan employed this strategy to
ensure that he maintained his honey-smooth voice. Mastery of the art of public speaking
is a noble goal. So dedicate yourself to it. You will be judged by the calibre of your
communication skills.
Top 200 Secrets of SUCCESS - 3rd 10
The Top 200 Secrets of Success and the Pillars of Self-Mastery
-- Robin S. Sharma
21. No one can insult or hurt you without your permission. One of the golden keys to
happiness and great success is the way you interpret events which unfold before you.
Highly successful people are master interpreters. People who have attained greatness
have an ability which they have developed to interpret negative or dis empowering events
as positive challenges which will assist them in growing and moving even farther up the
ladder of success. There are no negative experiences only experiences which aid in your
development and toughen your character so that you may soar to new heights. There are
no failures, only lessons.
22. Take a speed reading course. Reading is a powerful way to gain many years of
experience from a few hours of study. For example, most biographies reflect the
strategies and philosophies of great leaders or courageous individuals. Read them and
model them. Speed reading will allow you to digest large quantities of material in
relatively small periods of time.
23. Remember people's names and treat everyone well. This habit, along with enthusiasm, is
one of the great success secrets. Everyone in this world wears an imaginary button that
screams out "I WANT TO FEEL IMPORTANT AND APPRECIATED!".
24. Be soft as a flower when it comes to kindness but tough as thunder when it comes to
principle. Be courteous and polite at all times but never be pushed around. Ensure that
you are always treated with respect.
25. Never discuss your health, wealth and other personal matters with anyone outside of your
immediate family. Be very disciplined in this regard.
26. Be truthful, patient, persevering, modest and generous.
27. Soak in a warm bath at the end of a long, productive day. Reward yourself for even the
smallest of achievement. Take time out for renewal of your mind, body and spirit. Soon
all your more important goals will be met and you will move to the next level of peak
performance.
28. Learn the power of breathing and its relationship with your energy source. The mind is
intimately connected with your breathing. For example, when the mind is agitated, your
breathing becomes quick and shallow. When you are relaxed and focused, your breathing
is deep and calm. By practicing deep, abdominal breathing, you will develop a calm,
serene demeanor that will remain cool in the hottest of circumstances. Remember the
rule of the Eastern mountain men: "to breathe properly is to live properly."
29. Recognize and cultivate the power of auto suggestion. It works and is an essential tool in
maintaining peak performance. We are all performers in one way or another and it is
particularly valuable to use such techniques of athletes and public figures for our own
enhancement. If you want to become more enthusiastic, repeat "I am more enthusiastic
today and am improving this trait daily". Repeat it over and over. Purchase a legal
notepad and write out this mantra 500 times. Do it for three weeks with regular practice
and feel that this quality is developing. Very soon it will come. This is a strategy that
Indian sages have employed for thousands of years to aid their spiritual and mental
development. Do not be discouraged if the results are not immediate, they will certainly
develop. The spoken word is a powerful influencer of the mind.
30. Maintain a diary to measure your progress and to express your thoughts. Writing out not
only your successes but your troubles is one of the world's most effective methods of
erasing the worry habit, staying in optimum state and developing precision of thought.
-- Robin S. Sharma
21. No one can insult or hurt you without your permission. One of the golden keys to
happiness and great success is the way you interpret events which unfold before you.
Highly successful people are master interpreters. People who have attained greatness
have an ability which they have developed to interpret negative or dis empowering events
as positive challenges which will assist them in growing and moving even farther up the
ladder of success. There are no negative experiences only experiences which aid in your
development and toughen your character so that you may soar to new heights. There are
no failures, only lessons.
22. Take a speed reading course. Reading is a powerful way to gain many years of
experience from a few hours of study. For example, most biographies reflect the
strategies and philosophies of great leaders or courageous individuals. Read them and
model them. Speed reading will allow you to digest large quantities of material in
relatively small periods of time.
23. Remember people's names and treat everyone well. This habit, along with enthusiasm, is
one of the great success secrets. Everyone in this world wears an imaginary button that
screams out "I WANT TO FEEL IMPORTANT AND APPRECIATED!".
24. Be soft as a flower when it comes to kindness but tough as thunder when it comes to
principle. Be courteous and polite at all times but never be pushed around. Ensure that
you are always treated with respect.
25. Never discuss your health, wealth and other personal matters with anyone outside of your
immediate family. Be very disciplined in this regard.
26. Be truthful, patient, persevering, modest and generous.
27. Soak in a warm bath at the end of a long, productive day. Reward yourself for even the
smallest of achievement. Take time out for renewal of your mind, body and spirit. Soon
all your more important goals will be met and you will move to the next level of peak
performance.
28. Learn the power of breathing and its relationship with your energy source. The mind is
intimately connected with your breathing. For example, when the mind is agitated, your
breathing becomes quick and shallow. When you are relaxed and focused, your breathing
is deep and calm. By practicing deep, abdominal breathing, you will develop a calm,
serene demeanor that will remain cool in the hottest of circumstances. Remember the
rule of the Eastern mountain men: "to breathe properly is to live properly."
29. Recognize and cultivate the power of auto suggestion. It works and is an essential tool in
maintaining peak performance. We are all performers in one way or another and it is
particularly valuable to use such techniques of athletes and public figures for our own
enhancement. If you want to become more enthusiastic, repeat "I am more enthusiastic
today and am improving this trait daily". Repeat it over and over. Purchase a legal
notepad and write out this mantra 500 times. Do it for three weeks with regular practice
and feel that this quality is developing. Very soon it will come. This is a strategy that
Indian sages have employed for thousands of years to aid their spiritual and mental
development. Do not be discouraged if the results are not immediate, they will certainly
develop. The spoken word is a powerful influencer of the mind.
30. Maintain a diary to measure your progress and to express your thoughts. Writing out not
only your successes but your troubles is one of the world's most effective methods of
erasing the worry habit, staying in optimum state and developing precision of thought.
Top 200 Secrets of SUCCESS - 2nd 10
By developing
The Top 200 Secrets of Success and the Pillars of Self-Mastery
-- Robin S. Sharma
11. Light a candle beside you when you are reading in the evening. It is most relaxing and
creates a wonderful, soothing atmosphere. Make your home an oasis from the frenzied
world outside. Fill it with great music, great books and great friends.
12. To enhance your concentration and powers of focus, count your steps when you walk.
This is a particularly strong technique. Take six steps while taking a long inhale, hold
your breath for another six steps, and then exhale for six steps. If six steps is too long for
the breaths, do whatever you feel comfortable with. You will feel very alert, refreshed,
internally quiet and centered after this exercise. So many people allow their minds to be
filled with mental chatter. All peak performers appreciate the power of a quiet, clear mind
which will concentrate steadily on all important tasks.
13. Learn to meditate effectively. The mind is naturally a very noisy machine which wants to
move from one subject to another like an unchained monkey. One must learn to restrain
and discipline it if one is to achieve anything of substance and to be peaceful. Meditation
for twenty minutes in the morning and twenty minutes in the evening will certainly
provide you with exceptional results if regularly practiced for six months. Learned sages
of the East have been advancing the many benefits of meditation for over 5000 years.
14. Learn to be still. The average person doesn't spend even 30 minutes a month in total
silence and tranquility. Develop the skill of sitting quietly, enjoying the powerful silence
for at least ten minutes a day. Simply think about what is important to you in your life.
Reflect on your mission. Silence indeed is golden. As the Zen master once said, it is the
space between the bars that holds the cage.
15. Enhance your will-power; it is likely one of the best training programs you can invest in.
Here are some ideas to strengthen your will and become a stronger person:
a. Do not let your mind float like a piece of paper in the wind. Work hard to keep it
focused at all times. When doing a task, think of nothing else. When walking to
work, count the steps that it takes to get all the way to the office. This is not easy
but your mind will soon understand that you hold its reins and not vice versa.
Your mind must eventually become as still as a candle flame in a corner where
there is no draft.
b. Your will is like a muscle. You must first exercise it and then push before it gets
stronger. This necessarily involves short term pain but be assured that the
improvements will come and will touch your character in a most positive way.
When you are hungry, wait another hour before your meal. When you are
labouring over a difficult task and your mind is prompting you to pick up the
latest magazine for a break or to get up and go talk to a friend, curb the impulse.
Soon you will be able to sit for hours in a precisely concentrated state. Sir Issac
Newton, one of the greatest classical physicists the world has produced, once said:
"if I have done the public any service, it is due to patient thought." Newton had a
remarkable ability to sit quietly and think without interruption for very long
periods of time. If he can develop this so can you.
c. You can also build your will-power by restraint in your conduct with others.
Speak less (use the 60/40 Rule = listen 60% of the time and speak a mere 40%, if
that). This will not only make you more popular but you will learn much wisdom
as everyone we meet, every day has something to teach us. Also restrain the urge
to gossip or to condemn someone who you feel has made a mistake. Stop
complaining and develop a cheerful, vital and strong personality. You will greatly
influence others.
d. When a negative thought comes to your mind, immediately replace it with one
that is positive. Positive always dominates over the negative and your mind has to
be conditioned to think only the best thoughts. Negative thinking is a conditioned
process whereby the negative patterns are established over and over. Rid yourself
of any limitations and become a powerful positive thinker.
16. Make an effort to be humorous throughout the day. Not only is it beneficial from a
physical viewpoint but it diffuses tension in difficult circumstances and creates an
excellent atmosphere wherever you are. It was recently reported that members of the
Tauripan tribe of South America have a ritual where they awake in the middle of the
night to tell each other jokes. Even tribesmen in the deepest sleep wake to enjoy the laugh
and then return to their state of slumber in seconds.
17. Become a highly disciplined time manager. There are roughly 168 hours in a week. This
surely allows plenty of time for achievement of the many goals we desire to accomplish.
Be ruthless with your time. Set aside a few minutes each morning to plan your day. Plan
around your priorities and focus on not only those tasks which are immediate but not
important (i.e., many telephone calls) but especially on those which are important but not
urgent, for these allow for the greatest personal and professional development. Important
but not immediate activities are those which produce long-term, sustainable benefits and
include exercise, strategic planning, the development of relationships and professional
education. Never let the things which matter most be placed in the backseat as compared
to those that matter least.
18. Associate only with positive, focused people who you can learn from and who will not
drain your valuable energy with complaining and uninspiring attitudes.
relationships with those committed to constant improvement and the pursuit of the best
that life has to offer, you will have plenty of company on your path to the top of whatever
mountain you seek to climb.
19. Stephen Hawking, one of the great modern physicists of the world, is reported to have
said that we are on a minor planet of a very average star located within the outer limits of
one of a hundred thousand million galaxies. Are your problems really significant in light
of this? You walk this Earth for but a short time. Why not become devoted to having only
a wonderful experience. Why not dedicate yourself to leaving a powerful legacy to the
world? Sit down now and write out a list of all that you have in your life. Start first with
your health or your family - the things we often take for granted. Put down the country
we live in and the food we eat. Do not stop until you have written down fifty items. Once
every few days, go through this list - you will be uplifted and recognize the richness of
your existence.
20. You must have a mission statement in life. This is simply a set of guiding principles
which clearly state where you are going and where you want to be at the end of your life.
A mission statement embodies your values. It is your personal lighthouse keeping you
steadily on the course of your dreams. Over a period of one month, set a few hours aside
to write down five or ten principles which will govern your life and which will keep you
focused at all times. Examples might be to consistently serve others, to be a considerate
citizen, to become highly wealthy or to serve as a powerful leader. Whatever the mission
statement of your life, refine it and review it regularly. Then when something adverse
happens or someone tries to pull you off course, you quickly and precisely return to your
chosen path with the full knowledge that you are moving in the direction that you have
selected.
The Top 200 Secrets of Success and the Pillars of Self-Mastery
-- Robin S. Sharma
11. Light a candle beside you when you are reading in the evening. It is most relaxing and
creates a wonderful, soothing atmosphere. Make your home an oasis from the frenzied
world outside. Fill it with great music, great books and great friends.
12. To enhance your concentration and powers of focus, count your steps when you walk.
This is a particularly strong technique. Take six steps while taking a long inhale, hold
your breath for another six steps, and then exhale for six steps. If six steps is too long for
the breaths, do whatever you feel comfortable with. You will feel very alert, refreshed,
internally quiet and centered after this exercise. So many people allow their minds to be
filled with mental chatter. All peak performers appreciate the power of a quiet, clear mind
which will concentrate steadily on all important tasks.
13. Learn to meditate effectively. The mind is naturally a very noisy machine which wants to
move from one subject to another like an unchained monkey. One must learn to restrain
and discipline it if one is to achieve anything of substance and to be peaceful. Meditation
for twenty minutes in the morning and twenty minutes in the evening will certainly
provide you with exceptional results if regularly practiced for six months. Learned sages
of the East have been advancing the many benefits of meditation for over 5000 years.
14. Learn to be still. The average person doesn't spend even 30 minutes a month in total
silence and tranquility. Develop the skill of sitting quietly, enjoying the powerful silence
for at least ten minutes a day. Simply think about what is important to you in your life.
Reflect on your mission. Silence indeed is golden. As the Zen master once said, it is the
space between the bars that holds the cage.
15. Enhance your will-power; it is likely one of the best training programs you can invest in.
Here are some ideas to strengthen your will and become a stronger person:
a. Do not let your mind float like a piece of paper in the wind. Work hard to keep it
focused at all times. When doing a task, think of nothing else. When walking to
work, count the steps that it takes to get all the way to the office. This is not easy
but your mind will soon understand that you hold its reins and not vice versa.
Your mind must eventually become as still as a candle flame in a corner where
there is no draft.
b. Your will is like a muscle. You must first exercise it and then push before it gets
stronger. This necessarily involves short term pain but be assured that the
improvements will come and will touch your character in a most positive way.
When you are hungry, wait another hour before your meal. When you are
labouring over a difficult task and your mind is prompting you to pick up the
latest magazine for a break or to get up and go talk to a friend, curb the impulse.
Soon you will be able to sit for hours in a precisely concentrated state. Sir Issac
Newton, one of the greatest classical physicists the world has produced, once said:
"if I have done the public any service, it is due to patient thought." Newton had a
remarkable ability to sit quietly and think without interruption for very long
periods of time. If he can develop this so can you.
c. You can also build your will-power by restraint in your conduct with others.
Speak less (use the 60/40 Rule = listen 60% of the time and speak a mere 40%, if
that). This will not only make you more popular but you will learn much wisdom
as everyone we meet, every day has something to teach us. Also restrain the urge
to gossip or to condemn someone who you feel has made a mistake. Stop
complaining and develop a cheerful, vital and strong personality. You will greatly
influence others.
d. When a negative thought comes to your mind, immediately replace it with one
that is positive. Positive always dominates over the negative and your mind has to
be conditioned to think only the best thoughts. Negative thinking is a conditioned
process whereby the negative patterns are established over and over. Rid yourself
of any limitations and become a powerful positive thinker.
16. Make an effort to be humorous throughout the day. Not only is it beneficial from a
physical viewpoint but it diffuses tension in difficult circumstances and creates an
excellent atmosphere wherever you are. It was recently reported that members of the
Tauripan tribe of South America have a ritual where they awake in the middle of the
night to tell each other jokes. Even tribesmen in the deepest sleep wake to enjoy the laugh
and then return to their state of slumber in seconds.
17. Become a highly disciplined time manager. There are roughly 168 hours in a week. This
surely allows plenty of time for achievement of the many goals we desire to accomplish.
Be ruthless with your time. Set aside a few minutes each morning to plan your day. Plan
around your priorities and focus on not only those tasks which are immediate but not
important (i.e., many telephone calls) but especially on those which are important but not
urgent, for these allow for the greatest personal and professional development. Important
but not immediate activities are those which produce long-term, sustainable benefits and
include exercise, strategic planning, the development of relationships and professional
education. Never let the things which matter most be placed in the backseat as compared
to those that matter least.
18. Associate only with positive, focused people who you can learn from and who will not
drain your valuable energy with complaining and uninspiring attitudes.
relationships with those committed to constant improvement and the pursuit of the best
that life has to offer, you will have plenty of company on your path to the top of whatever
mountain you seek to climb.
19. Stephen Hawking, one of the great modern physicists of the world, is reported to have
said that we are on a minor planet of a very average star located within the outer limits of
one of a hundred thousand million galaxies. Are your problems really significant in light
of this? You walk this Earth for but a short time. Why not become devoted to having only
a wonderful experience. Why not dedicate yourself to leaving a powerful legacy to the
world? Sit down now and write out a list of all that you have in your life. Start first with
your health or your family - the things we often take for granted. Put down the country
we live in and the food we eat. Do not stop until you have written down fifty items. Once
every few days, go through this list - you will be uplifted and recognize the richness of
your existence.
20. You must have a mission statement in life. This is simply a set of guiding principles
which clearly state where you are going and where you want to be at the end of your life.
A mission statement embodies your values. It is your personal lighthouse keeping you
steadily on the course of your dreams. Over a period of one month, set a few hours aside
to write down five or ten principles which will govern your life and which will keep you
focused at all times. Examples might be to consistently serve others, to be a considerate
citizen, to become highly wealthy or to serve as a powerful leader. Whatever the mission
statement of your life, refine it and review it regularly. Then when something adverse
happens or someone tries to pull you off course, you quickly and precisely return to your
chosen path with the full knowledge that you are moving in the direction that you have
selected.