Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Short Story Ideas - How To Have Them
Hopefully, when you want short story ideas, you don't sit there waiting for Inspiration. It's better to write anything, and do it right now. English writer Graham Green attributes much of his success to a simple habit: He forced himself to write at least 500 words daily, whether he felt like it or not. Perhaps creative Inspiration can strike at any time, but it strikes more often when there is work instead of waiting.
What do you write though? Here are a couple new ideas for generating new short story ideas.
Explain This
I once created a car travel game called "Explain This. " Someone suggests an unusual scenario in a sentence or two, and then each player explains it in a plausible way. It's an entertaining way to pass the miles, but also a great way to come up with short story ideas.
Just start with an odd scene, anything that pops into your head. You might start, for example , with "Todd handed out the dollar bills to the people as they walked by, trying to distribute as many as he could quickly, before the police could stop him. " Now explain that. Our minds insist on explaining things, so you'll find an explanation if you try. If it's interesting enough, you have your next short story.
As I look at the scene in my mind, I imagine the dollar bills are signed or otherwise identifiable, and they can be traded at a big seminar for a gift worth even more. A person could spend it and get a soda - or get something truly valuable for it. Maybe this will go in the marketing ideas file instead of the short story ideas file.
Maybe Todd is handing out the last of his money as per the instructions of his spiritual leader. Could it be a "get rich quick" cult that requires all members to start from zero? A religious movement based on getting rich? Someone could make it into a plausible story.
Short Story Ideas From Combining Stories
Here's a fun technique that is hopefully useful, but is at least worth a few laughs. Just combine old stories into new ones. The less similar the stories you start with, the better. The story of Adam and Eve combined with "I Robot, " for example , could lead to an interesting new story. Maybe a pair of robots start a new world. "Original sin" might be the arising of their own consciousness, or their rejection of man as their master.
Hmm... "The Miracle Worker" and "Gorillas In The Mist? " Struggles of an ape that learns at last to speak and be independent? "Star Wars" and "Cool Hand Luke? " The story of a man who livens up the deathly atmosphere of a penal colony in space? "Frankenstein" and "Gone With The Wind? " The possibilities are endless. Start cranking out those new short story ideas.
Marketing Basics
Rifle Approach
The least expensive marketing approach is the rifle. Businesses that choose this approach are able to select their target market (niche group). Developing a compelling message to address the audience is the next step. In some circles, this is 'Direct Marketing'.
Identify the target market's lifestyle and demographic related markets for your business. The target market could consist of the following:
· Women
· Men
· Professionals
· Homemakers
· Middle-class
· Upper-class
· Age groups
You get the idea. Of course , not all niche groups fit every industry.
Addressing Your Market
To target your niche group, start with identifying resources that can supply the target pathway for your message.
· Print advertising
· Direct mail
· E-mail marketing
· TV or radio broadcast
· Web site
Take time to research magazines that specialize in your industry. Even the Internet provides a variety of resources to hunt down and analysis your target market. Resources like these can give you fresh ideas of effective direct marketing techniques.
Besides Direct Mail: What other vises are there?
There are other useful tools implemented to drum up business. Of course , what you use and how you use it relies highly on the industry your in. For instance, a professional wouldn't put a banner outside of his/her office to draw up business. But a fitness professional may find a banner outside of the club works wonderfully.
You have to find the commercial materials that work best for you. Here are a few suggestions:
· Banners promoting special events
· Product freebies like videos and CDs
· Accessories with your logo (coffee cup, note pad, pen, etc)
Marketing Tips
Be open to collaborating with other establishments that offer similar services or products, but not identical, is an excellent way to build business for both. Again, this depends on your industry. The best blend is in the example of the CPA and Bookkeeper. Although CPA's do handle business bookkeeping, a partnership would eliminate some of the workload on the CPA and allow for time to pursue other aspects of business.
It's like adding another benefit to using your services or products with an outside company. Apply these few marketing basics and you'll boost visibility, cuts down on marketing expense, and increases business.
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How Exactly Do You Market Your Niche Product or Program?
I was brand new to this nice product marketing thing less than 2 years ago and I have to say that if you feel lost and overwhelmed I know exactly how you feel. (By the way "niche product" and "niche program" are one and the same - both things you are aiming to sell to your niche market) I made many mistakes and lived to tell the tale - and boy did it pay off!
I was the number one computer phobic, clueless dumbo when I first came across this way of doing business. All I knew was this seemed like a way to ditch my 9 to 5 job (that I'd been stuck in for 26 years! ). So I took a deep breath and dived in.
If you are like me you will read everything you can find and soon learn that opinions are like rear ends - everyone's got one. But I realized after a while that I kept coming back to some very basic ways go about marketing niche products - and it is these that are the key to your success.
1. Find a niche market
2. Find a niche program or product.
3. Sell the product to the market.
The first and maybe not so obvious is find your niche market. Notice I said first find your market - not your product. I remember frantically looking for great products I thought would set the world on fire. Guess what? No one else thought the same. Result - no sales. Eventually the penny dropped and I started finding the market first and then finding a product to match.
How do you find a hungry niche market? Find what they are typing into search engines. How? Well there are many great products to help. The one I use the most (Good Keywords) also happens to be free! Just go to Google and type in "Good Keywords Softnik Technologies" and you will find where to download it free.
A great place to find your niche products once you have established your hot market is Clickbank. com - If you are not a member then join now, and you will have access to over 10, 000 digital products that cover every niche there is. And it is digital products that are easiest to start selling if you are new. Clickbank deal with all the order processing and delivery so you just have to concentrate on sendng your customers.
The established way to go on and sell your products is through pay per click advertising or having a website. Both these work but can be difficult to learn in the your early stages - and why make it difficult for yourself?
There is a 100% effective niche marketing strategy, almost "undercover" way to get to the top of the search engine rankings using articles about your niche products. It is a system put together by Nathan Stark and it enabled him to bring in over $3 million in sales in one year. This is something I was totally skeptical about - until I tried it! I have to admit you need to put in a bit of effort, but it soon became apparent that this new technique rewards you thousands of times over in the form of sales. For only 60 - 90 days work an ongoing stream of customers is created for life! Wow - was I taken aback!
I hope you pursue your niche product marketing business because I have to say, hand on heart, it is the best thing I ever did - but remember it's not something for nothing. Do the basics right and you will be richly rewarded.
Gaz Hutchinson Internet Marketer
For details on Nathan Stark's Niche Product Marketing System visit http://www.realmoneysite.com
Six-figure Professionals: Their Seven Secrets
In my work with hundreds of coaches, consultants, and small business owners, I have found that there are specific actions that have created their success. Here are seven success elements that they use effectively to earn $100, 000 plus a year. By focusing on these important elements, you too can grow your business to reach this goal.
Six-Figure Professionals Focus and Target their Efforts Professionals who narrow their market earn more and have less stress. They operate in a market that can afford their service and one that has future potential to keep it up.
They know how to say "no" to anything that detracts from their plans and their goals. They go after their goals with tenacity and never listen to others telling them how hard or impossible whatever they are working towards is. They ask questions to the right sources and listen to those higher than they are on the "food chain. "
They know their target markets well; what they like and do not like. They stay current with the economic conditions of those industries and watch for shifts that can affect their affiliation or revenue. They speak the lingo of their markets and know their problems and challenges like they know the back of their own hand.
Six-figure service professionals act fast when an idea occurs and have a professional support team available that responds quickly and plays full out with them. They have the "adapt and adopt" principle down pat.
Risk and fear is something they kick regularly in the "assets. " It doesn't stop them and barely slows them down. Six-Figure Professionals Have a Strategy
Ninety percent of all six-figure professionals generate some sort of passive income. They know that there are only so many hours in the day and only so high a ceiling they can charge before their market peaks. One of their highest priorities is to generate products that create money 24/7.
Six-figure professionals know that they need to create attractive packages and offers that are irresistible to their market. They create new packages frequently and sell in multiple streams (across multiple media bridges and target markets).
Six-figure coaches fine-tune in seconds. If they do not have an answer, they have generated a source that does. They ask or research it immediately and continue moving. Their strategy is always changing. Sometimes they don't have time to put down all the details in their plan, yet they always have enough time to complete a moving strategy with just enough details so that they know it is worth their resources.
Six-Figure Professionals Have all the Skills they need to Succeed
Since six-figure output requires a higher percentage on the service delivery end, six-figure professionals have the skills needed to run a business and be an expert yet not a perfectionist.
Professionalism is basic for them. It comes easily because they watch and listen well. Their people skills are effective and productive. They do not fool around with doubters or wait around for an answer. Their attitude is "you either have it or you don't. " And when you don't, they are leave quickly and never look back.
Six-Figure Professionals Have a Positive Attitude Even though six-figure professionals try many things, creating excellence instead of perfect as they go, they also have just as many projects that don't work. Most of their projects succeed once out of every ten tries. They don't dwell on the ones that don't for more than a second. They recalculate (adapt) and come back in the game swinging (adopt). Failure is not in their vocabulary.
They expect success and they expect it now -- not later. They move, switch, shift and change 50 times faster than most individuals. In some circles, they are called -- movers and shakers -- only because they don't allow dust to accumulate.
Six-figure professionals don't wait for all the answers before jumping on something hot. If it’s hot, they make room on their agenda and put together key people to help get it completed.
Six-Figure Professionals Have a Steadfast Marketing System Six-figure professionals don't lose a client and then get a new client. They don't gain two and lose three. Their statistics are gain five and send everyone over to buy passive income items. They are more likely to gain five and lose one. Their attrition rate is low and they have a plan that keeps it down. They monitor their attrition rate.
They know what will sell to their target market and what will not. They usually break even and never take a loss. They have developed a dependable marketing system that virtually guarantees results as long as they continue to grease its wheels. They consistently stock the fire of what is fueling their marketing engine.
Six-figure independent professionals have the help they need: either an in-house assistant, part or full-time, or a virtual assistant to handle the administrative duties. They have mastered marketing principles and practice them easily every day. Their learning level focuses on high-end features, benefits, and advantages and watching the economy to see how it is changing and how it affects their customers.
Six-figure professionals write well and know how important communication is to their success. They use editors consistently. They write consistently and have a writing process that supports their goals and objectives. They have learned to write productively and use the material /information over many ways.
Six-Figure Professionals Mastered Their Sales Process Six-figure service professionals have a simple, reliable sales process that they have developed over the course of their growth. It runs smoothly and reliably and only requires occasional maintenance and economic adjusting. They have an effective way of handling their phone calls. They prequalify prospects in ways that don't require their time, using their web site, other personnel, or through an e-mail process.
Six-figure independent professionals have a script for handling every type of objection. They write out new ones as soon as a new objection appears, create the type of response they want, and practice it until it sounds natural. They welcome objections and learn to use them to create writing material for their web site, articles, and scripts.
They say what the client needs to hear, never take things personally, and remain unattached to the outcome. Their listening and intuitive skills are well developed and they use them to the max. They put their clients first and place value before revenue at the top of their list of objectives. Are You a Six-Figure Professional?
Most non-six-figure professionals don't know what it takes to make six figures even though it is their commonly stated goal. They need to remember that each level requires a different way of thinking and the shifts in their thinking need to be mastered quickly and pursued aggressively.
Let me leave you with one of my own personal, favorite quotes: "The level of thinking you are experiencing today will not serve you in the next level you are reaching for. "
Would you like to be able to compare this list with where you are? A self-measuring checklist: Where do you stand now and how do I get to make a 6-figure income. http://www.abundancecenter.com/Forms/main.htm
Article Marketing
An increasing number of website and business owners are turning toward a new approach to advertising and, best of all, it’s free. article marketing, as it is technically known among webmasters, is achieved by translating expertise into a written article and effectively promoting it across the web. This can be achieved by the use of blogs, content directories and direct agreements with webmasters to publish your article in exchange for a link back to your website.
article marketing is somewhat new in its technique, but is very effective if done properly. Free publicity is achieved as the article circulates more and more across the web. If you post your article to content directories, other webmasters may pick up your article and post it to their website with the only requirement being proper credit for the work. At the end of the article, the author’s name is shown, along with their business name and a direct link to their website. As the work circulates onto new sites, more customers will have the opportunity to read the article. If it is interesting and successfully grabs their attention, they will be likely to visit your site in search of more information.
The key to successful article marketing and free publicity for your website is to possess a certain amount of knowledge about your subject. Your expertise will show through in the work that you do and will entice others to want to read more. By sharing what you know with others, customers will respect you and appreciate your willingness to help. For instance, if you operate a home improvement website, perhaps you would write an article detailing some home improvement tips. Try to avoid the commonly known hints and direct your article toward lesser known tips. If you share the rare information that you know, and it works, customers will be so happy with the new tips that they have learned and your business will be given instant credentials in their mind.
The best part of article marketing is the fact that it is free and it generates free publicity for your website. Once you get a new website up and running, you will still have to find a way to spread the word about your new venture. By enlisting the article marketing technique, you will be saving a lot of money on advertising costs. Print publications and other conventional advertising methods can end up costing a bundle of cash and, since many new businesses struggle just to stay afloat in the beginning, it’s a good idea to save as much as you can.
A final thought about article marketing and free publicity for your website is to make sure that your articles are informative, thought provoking and rich in keywords relating to the topic of your website or service. The articles should reflect your website or service in some way and should always be relevant to the product that you are selling.
The Seven Step Marketing Plan
Here's one of the best summaries I've seen for a quick marketing plan from Joel Christopher:
Now you don't need to shell out $4000 a day just to get an idea of how Jay Conrad Levinson's Seven Step Marketing Plan works. This is a must-have for every budding Internet marketer. These are things you have to think over and write down before you go about your business.
Purpose
What is the purpose of your business? This will be your guiding star when it comes to building your business. Your purpose is very important so that you will be able to anchor yourself effectively in the business. Most businesses are created to fill a need. What particular need will your business fill in this big world where purchases are being made left and right?
Benefits
What benefits will the people have in your business? If you were to put yourself in the place of your customer, what will he see from your business that will be most useful to him? Remember, you cannot expect to get people's attention unless they get to benefit from you.
Target Audience
This is also another important question you must ask yourself. Who is your target audience? You cannot just aim your arrows without the right target. In order to be very efficient in what you do, you need to focus your attention somewhere specific. You will not be able to get too many subscribers if your business is too general.
Marketing Weapons
What will you be using to be able to achieve your ends? Will it be heavily on affiliate marketing techniques, display ads, Ezine ads or the like? You can't have everything, especially when you are starting out. So the best way to maximize your resources is by means of naming which of the techniques you would choose to focus on for your business.
Niche or Sub-target
A target audience is a general group of people you want to give your services to. A sub-target or niche are the particular sub-group within the wide group you have chosen to cater to.
Identity
You are not the only one in the world who chose to aim your services at that particular target market you have pre-selected. So if you really want to stand out, you must have that trademark by which the people will remember you by. What will be your business identity? What will you be best known for in the business you have chosen to put up?
Budget
This caps off the seven steps to marketing. The budget aspect is the border which sets the scope of your marketing capabilities. How much are you willing to shell out for your marketing venture? If you are to market with higher degrees of scale and technology, you will be expected to give out as much.
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Monday, May 28, 2012
The Law of Attraction - More Than Goal Setting and Affirmations Alone
Did you know that every thought that we think creates a vibration? Negative thoughts create negative feelings that lead to low frequency vibrations, whereas positive thoughts create positive feelings that produce high frequency vibrations. According to the universal Law of Attraction, "vibes" attract like "vibes". Have you ever noticed how, when you're feeling down and depressed, you attract situations that are in line with your state of mind? So logically, the key to attracting only the things that you desire into your life, is to vibrate positive energy. Okay, that sounds simple enough... but how do you DO that?
"If you want your life to be more rewarding, you have to change the way you think. " - Oprah
We spend far too much time worrying -- about the future, about paying the bills, about upcoming exams, about our health, about getting that promotion. What we're actually doing when we worry about any situation, is concentrating all our energy on something that we don't want. Hate, worry, fear, jealousy, anger, sadness are all emotions that make us vibrate negatively. By focusing on unwanted situations we are actually attracting the exact situations that we want to avoid! We would be doing ourselves a favor by focusing only what we DO want, instead of wasting time and energy on the things that we DON'T want.
Opposites Do Not Attract
Obviously, no one can feel good all day long, every day. The key is to do the things that make you feel good as often as you can. Play uplifting music while you drive to work, avoid the television programs that produce negative feelings, don't read the newspaper if the content affects you negatively, interact only with positive-minded people... just let go and have fun! Learn to monitor your thoughts... if you notice yourself thinking a negative thought, immediately negate its effect by focusing on something that makes you feel good. Remember, there is nothing more important than feeling good! Keep a photo of your kids or pet or favorite actor nearby to help you make that switch. Be grateful for the things that are going well in your life. Do whatever it takes to generate that upbeat feeling, because opposites do not attract... but like certainly will attract like. The Law of Attraction is on the mark each time and it does not make mistakes!
"Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe it can achieve. " - Napoleon Hill
In order to get what you desire in life, you have to give those desires regular attention. Fantasize, dream, imagine, focus... for what you create in your mind, you create in reality. If it's a specific car that you want, order a brochure of it and look through it every day. Think about what color you want and which accessories and options your model has. If it's a fantasy vacation in the Maldives or the Caribbean, compile your own colorful screensaver, fantasize about those white beaches and crystal clear waters abundant with tropical fish. Paste pictures of your dream home or that sleek yacht that you desire on a board and look at it often. Be excited about it! Focus wholeheartedly and with certainty on what you want, and do so in this moment. Believe that you have what you desire now, today, in this present moment. Focus on how good that makes you feel, and try to generate that feeling as often as you can.
Don't confuse the Law of Attraction by being inconsistent in your desires. Don't keep changing your mind, otherwise there's no way for what you ask for to find its way to you. Be consistent, be determined... but leave the "how" out of it. If you decide the method and schedule by which your desires will come to you, you're limiting your possibilities to only what you can think of. After all, what if there's something better out there than what you can imagine? Just trust that it is happening now and allow it to come to you. Follow where your intuition leads you. Don't worry about it, don't look for proof, don't start doubting.
Affirmations are a form of advertising
If you do find that doubts and negative self-talk are getting in your way, you can apply positive affirmations. When used consistently, affirmations will do away with your limiting beliefs and replace them with thoughts that will help you achieve what you desire. Does advertising work? Sure it does - there's a multibillion dollar industry that proves it and affirmations are a form of advertising with only you as the target audience. Affirmations must be stated in the "I" form, in the present tense and always positively. They should also invoke a positive emotion. For instance: "I deserve large sums of money that allow me to have more fun with my family", "I choose to effortlessly earn $100, 000 per year", "I enjoy working out regularly and maintaining a trim and slim body that turns heads", "I choose to attract only healthy and positive people into my life who help me achieve my goals"; "I choose to create a positive, healthy and joyful lifestyle for myself". You can write them down everyday, or use them as a screensaver, or buy special affirmation or goal setting software that you can use on your computer.
If you're skeptical about how the Law of Attraction can affect you, just try being happy and positive for a month. It will amaze you how easy it is to get things going your way in that short period of time. A lot can be achieved in relatively little time -- why waste any of it by being negative? Get out there and manifest what you want!
Copyright 2006 Chonticha Marijne
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Cultivating an Attitude of Gratitude
The practice of gratitude is a powerful tool for recreating your life so that you regularly experience happiness, joy, and contentment. Gratitude is simply a feeling of thankfulness and appreciation for all that is. Grateful thoughts align your heart, mind, and soul.
Opportunities are given to you in every moment to be grateful for what you have and what you experience. Beauty, richness, and love already exist in your life. There are gifts and opportunities in every situation. The core of gratefulness is having an awareness of these opportunities inherent in life events and circumstances, and then thoughtfully choosing your response.
Gratefulness is about enjoying the sights, sounds, smells and abundance all around you, appreciating all of your emotions and feelings, and celebrating the blessings of family and community.
We all have the ability to make our lives even richer and more positive by noticing daily events, appreciating the benefits we receive, and being mindful of surprises. You have the power to control whether your thoughts will be positive and focused on what’s going well in your life or negative and focused on what is not going well.
You can be an example of happiness and gratefulness by expressing appreciation to people on a regular basis. Let the people you care about know that you are grateful they are in your lives – and why.
Having much to be thankful for does not diminish the reality of sadness, disappointment, or discouragement, or the need to feel those feelings at times. You can, though, intentionally reframe painful or disappointing events as opportunities for growth and learning, and deliberately look for the silver linings.
Begin to notice if your words and thoughts are full of complaints about what is lacking in your life. By applying gratitude daily in your life, it’s possible to achieve peace and contentment in a demanding, overwhelming, and sometimes disappointing world.
You can begin right now to see the perfection and beauty in everything and everyone. It’s a habit of mind!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Here are five intentional practices to feel more peace and contentment and to make your life richer and more positive:
1) Gratitude Journal
Create your own personal gratitude journal - a place to list your blessings on a regular basis. Record the small and large gifts and moments that are enriching your life every day. You can also create a family gratitude journal where everyone makes entries.
2) Gratitude Ritual
Create a gratitude ritual. Before going to bed at night, glance back over your day and reflect on moments of grace, abundance, joy, friendship, and contentment – the things that you enjoyed or felt blessed by that day. Nightly, record three things that went well each day and why they went well.
3) Evening Meal Blessing
Pause before your evening meal to acknowledge the things that make your life abundant and meaningful.
4) The Gratitude Alphabet
This exercise works like magic when you need a change in attitude. Either aloud or in writing, beginning with "A", think of the first thing that comes to mind that you are grateful for that starts with that letter and say (or write) ‘I am grateful for . ‘ Do this quickly without too much thought. Continue until you have reached "Z". You might also share this exercise with your loved ones, speaking aloud alternate letters.
I am grateful for Apples
I am grateful for Beauty
I am grateful for Chocolate
I am grateful for DVD’s
I am grateful for Email
I am grateful for Friends
I am grateful for Grass
I am grateful for Hugs
….. you get the idea
5) Gratitude Affirmation
Practice gratitude by reading this affirmation on contentment:
"This day, I am content.
I am grateful for what I have and for what I do not have.
I learn from both joys and disappointments.
I refrain from criticism and fault-finding.
I don't try to change others.
I accept myself as I am and as I change. "
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Trusting Your Inner Guidance
When we begin to feel lost or confused about various aspects of our lives, our first instinct is to search for direction. We feel sure that the answers we need are out there somewhere, and finding them will help us to know the right way to turn.
While seeking advice and guidance from others can be helpful at times, it is not always the best way to help ourselves. Rather than relying on someone else to tell us our truth, we can instead choose to look within and find the answers inside ourselves. Each of us has been given the gift of an inner advisor that will never steer us wrong.
This inner advisor is not pushy, however. He or she will not speak up unless we ask for help. When we finally open our hearts and minds to hear what our inner advisor has to say, the wisdom will begin to flow freely and our lives will begin to change for the better.
So, how do we tap this wealth of wisdom? Is there a request form we need to fill out somewhere? No, it's even easier than that, thank goodness. Following are tips to help you connect with your inner guidance and use it to create your best life:
1) Create a Harmonious Forum - our inner guidance flourishes in peaceful, quiet surroundings. If you've got a lot of noise and chaos around you, you won't be able to tap in and hear the wisdom waiting for you. Try to find a quiet place that you can relax in. You can also surround yourself with beauty by bringing in some fresh flowers, scented candles or incense, or even some soothing artwork. Whatever will help put you in a calm, peaceful mood.
2) Turn Within - if you're not a regular meditator, this can be tricky at first. You might wonder what the heck you're supposed to be turning "toward, " or focusing on. The answer is simple: nothing. Focus on nothing. Simply close your eyes and turn your attention inward, to the silence within you. Random thoughts will probably keep popping in, but gently push them back out and return your attention to the silence.
3) Listen for Wisdom - if you've got a specific situation you're struggling with, this would be a good time to think about it. Try to do so without judgment, and without trying to come to any conclusions. Just ponder the issue and practice acceptance for what it is at this moment. Then ask yourself, "What would be the best course of action for me at this time? " Consider the possibilities before you, and think about how each one makes you feel. Most often, you will notice a difference between something that feels right, and something that feels wrong.
4) Let the Solution Materialize - if you don't recieve any insights initially, put the issue aside for awhile. By going through this process, you've already tapped into your inner guidance and asked for help. Even if the answer doesn't appear immediately, it will eventually. And in my experience, it doesn't take long! Just make an effort to stay open to the answer when it arrives. It will usually arrive in a flash of Inspiration or insight that makes you say, "Ah ha! " Or perhaps it will be more along the lines of a subtle gut feeling, where you just know that one particular course of action "feels" right.
5) Act from the Heart - once you know what you need to do, act with confidence. Don't let worries or fears hold you back. Believe that your inner guidance knows what's best for you, and move forward with courage. Remember that there are truly no right or wrong paths in life, only experiences that we can learn from. By at least examining your options and considering which path is right for you at this time, you are making a wiser decision than you would otherwise.
At all times, strive to be your own master. There is nothing wrong with seeking knowledge and insight from others, but you aren't bound to mindlessly follow where they lead, either. You have the ability to find your own way and decide what's best for you. In your quest for knowledge, you will come across information that feels right to you, and information that doesn't seem to make sense. Use discernment and understand that there are many truths. You just have to find yours.
Three Inspirations for Happiness
The following three Inspirations were adapted from A Daily Dose of Happiness, and they represent three key ways to increase our happiness.
1. FORGIVING FOR HAPPINESS
We like to think we are better than our friends below us in the food chain, such as the octopus and the snail. After all, we have love. We feel happiness. We have empathy. We have a conscience. We can reason.
We can also hold onto grudges.
Grudges are, in fact , prickly little creatures that worm their way into our hearts. Holding onto them is a self-defeating exercise.
Fortunately, forgiveness is also uniquely human. Forgiveness cleanses the spirit. Forgiveness let's us get on with enjoying our lives instead of being preoccupied with someone else's. Forgiveness opens the door to happiness.
2. SUPPORTING FOR HAPPINESS
When things seem to be very bleak, it does not take much to lift someone's spirits. Sometimes all it takes is to let somebody know they are not alone.
That is why it is so important to smile at people, especially if they look down. And if you know what is weighing the person down, let them know they are not alone. Don't go burdening them with all your miseries, but let them know you have been there.
Guess what? You will feel happiness for having helped them, too.
3. ACCEPTING FOR HAPPINESS
There is no such thing as happiness if you are not at peace with yourself. Too many people just don't know how to make peace with themselves.
Peace begins with acceptance. Whether we agree with everything we do (like the environmentalist who sometimes throws out a recyclable container), it is important to accept what we do.
Do we always make the best choices? No . But they are the choices we make.
Do we always treat people with the most respect? No . But it is how we treat people.
Can we improve? Yes, and we should. But that is a project for the future. First we must accept who we are now, rather than condemning ourselves. Then we can move to improve the person we will be tomorrow. Both acceptance today and improvements tomorrow will increase our happiness.
Want To Expand Your Business? Try Walking Barefoot in the Grass!
I hear it all the time. "I want to expand my business, but I don’t know how. " Many online small business owners have this challenge. In all actuality, it’s not a business problem... rather a creativity problem.
For any given industry, there are dozens of ways to expand, reach new customers, develop new products, and offer more services. However , the struggle comes with trying to think of new ideas. "Where do I expand to? " "How do I reach new customers? " "What products or services should I add? " These are all questions that can seem overwhelming to someone stuck sitting in front of a computer all day.
One way to open your mind to new possibilities is to get creative. When your creative juices start flowing, all sorts of ideas pop into your mind. Some may seem silly or inconceivable, but others will cause you to have "light bulb moments" where you’re amazed that you didn’t think of the idea before.
To break the monotony and open the floodgate of creativity, try doing some of the following. They are all "kid-like" activities designed to eliminate the humdrum business thinking you’ve become accustomed to and free your mind to unlimited possibilities.
1. Walk barefoot in the grass. When was the last time you took your shoes off and strolled around your yard? While you’re walking, notice the birds in the trees, the crickets beneath your feet, and the shapes of the clouds overhead. Take time to just relax and dream again.
2. Buy a set of building blocks. Or you can borrow some from your children! Use your imagination to construct anything you want. Be unique... think like a kid and create a true masterpiece.
3. Forget about being wrong. Kids never care if they’re wrong. If you tell them they can’t do something, they simply say, "Oh yes I can! " Rather than looking at new business ideas from a "it’ll probably fail" point-of-view, take the "oh yes I can" stance.
4. Rearrange your office or workspace. Sometimes just the slightest change in your routine can spark creativity. Change the placement of your desk, add some plants, hang an overhead light, or alter some other aspect of your workspace.
When you take the time to nurture your creativity, it will pay off in ways you never imagined. And isn’t that the point? Learn to imagine the unimaginable and make your business soar!
Copyright 2004 Diane Hughes
Elizabeth Gilbert: A new way to think about creativity
Elizabeth Gilbert: A new way to think about creativity
How You Can Boost Your Creativity
Would you like to be more creative? Do you think that increased creativity is something that would improve your life?
Before you answer yes or no to that question, take some time to explore what the word “creativity” means to you.
If you think that creativity is something that you only need if you’re an artist, while you happen to be a middle-manager in a corporation, you may decide that increased creativity is not really important to you. But creativity is actually something far broader than artistic expression, and it’s required in many areas of life.
Your idea of a creative person might be someone who lives in a loft, painting gigantic canvases all day long. Or perhaps a writer at her computer, working on a long novel. Or a musician, actor, or singer performing on stage to an audience. All these people are expressing themselves artistically, and they can all rightly be said to be creative people.
But what about an entrepreneur who has an idea for a new product, who forms a new company to produce and distribute it, eventually employing hundreds of people? Doesn’t this also require creativity?
What about a research scientist toiling in a lab, developing new compounds in an effort to cure disease? Isn’t this creative? What about a single mother who manages to come up with healthy delicious meals on a tiny budget? Isn’t that creativity?
To one person, creativity can mean gluing seashells to a picture frame. To another, creativity might mean solving a grand unified theory in physics. And to another person, being creative might mean coming up with an ingenious new way to speed up a factory assembly line.
When we define creativity only in terms of artistic expression, we miss a lot of other potential applications for creative thinking and problem solving.
An artist painting a picture, or a writer working on a novel, both have something in common with the researcher in the lab, and the entrepreneur, and the person gluing seashells to picture frames.
They are all working on problems and devising solutions that didn’t exist before. These people are using their minds to imagine fresh ways of doing something, putting together existing forms and ideas in new ways.
They may be creating a new idea, a new look, a new product, or new technique. Sometimes the ability to be more creative can lead to personal fame and fortune; sometimes it just provides a deep sense of personal satisfaction.
Can we improve our ability to be creative? Yes, in fact , learning to be more creative can be quite enjoyable and easy to do. Most of us were very creative as children, before we learned the official rules about how things are supposed to be.
We can resurrect our ability to be more creative by exploring some of the many techniques that have been developed to improve creative and artistic ability, as well as to improve creative problem solving.
Some of the techniques that are used to improve creativity include brainstorming, mind-mapping, various forms of hypnosis and meditation, and guided imagery.
The techniques that have been developed to try enhance creativity all have one thing in common. They are all trying to bypass the inner “judge” or “critic” we have in our minds.
Most of us have an inner voice that is running a constant commentary on everything we think and do. We might barely notice this inner voice much of the time, yet it has a great impact on what we can accomplish in our life.
In many of us this inner voice is usually very negative. No matter what we want think about, or want to do, this inner voice is running like a tape in the background of our minds, criticizing our ideas, our performance, and our ability to be successful.
When we come up with a new idea, our inner voice may be saying, “This idea is stupid. ” Or it might tell us, “I should never be mediocre or average, I must be brilliant and perfect all the time. All my ideas should be totally brilliant and innovative. If my ideas aren’t perfect right from the start, I am a failure and it’s better not to even try”.
Our negative inner critic does not always appear as a voice. Sometimes we see visual images of ourselves failing. Or we may have physical sensations of fear and embarrassment that stop us from pursuing new ideas or new actions.
Your inner critic isn’t being evil when it criticizes you, or when it tells you your ideas are not very good. Your critic is actually trying to protect you from being ashamed or embarrassed by the potentially negative comments and reactions of other people to your ideas.
Our inner critic is trying to make us perfect and safe, but it can have an unforeseen damaging effect.
If our inner judgmental dialogue is mostly negative, our creative abilities will suffer.
Instead of helping us to come up with better ideas, this endless barrage of negative inner commentary will hurt our ability to come up with new ideas.
You can’t be creative, and be critical at the same time. These two processes require different ways of thinking. The critical, judgmental, analytical function of the brain is not the part that knows how to generate creative ideas.
Even the types of brainwaves that you generate when you are being rational and analytical are quite different than the brainwaves that go with maximum creativity.
When it’s time for you to be creative, you have to send your “inner critic” out for a walk.
Law Of Attraction Tip: Busting Through Limiting Beliefs
In Manifesting using the Law of Attraction one of the things that we teach is that limiting beliefs often hold us back. While this is true (and in a minute I'll get to some belief busters), I want to point out that limiting beliefs can be a useful part of life.
Limiting beliefs are those beliefs that keep us in our box. Our box defines the parameters of the reality we experience and that can be a good thing because it gives us stability. It allows us certainty for instance that our address will still be the same when we leave work in the evening and that our place of employment will be the same when we get up and go the next morning. It also means that we can go to the grocery store with the confidence that the things we want will be there. So from that perspective, limiting beliefs bring order to our world. Not so bad, eh?
The problem comes in when limiting beliefs hold us back from the things we want. If for instance you want a new job but your belief system says there are no jobs available then you'll be a bit limited in what you can find.
Interestingly, limiting beliefs aren't the absolute truth. Rather, they are your perception of the truth. And when you realize that you're half way to pushing through the barriers they present.
Ok, here are some belief busters. Ponder these questions and see if you don't come away with a slightly different perspective:
1 . It's never ALL or NOTHING - This type of thinking is very limiting because it doesn't allow for any exceptions. Think about the job example above. Is it true for example that in a bad economy NO ONE can get a job? I mean really.... No one? While it may be the prevailing economic situation it isn't true of everyone everywhere. So if someone - even one person - can get a job then it's not all or nothing is it? And if it's possible for one person it can be possible for you too. What all or nothing thinking contributes to your limiting beliefs?
2 . Different cultures have different customs - Here in the USA it is customary to shake hands as a form of greeting. In other counties that custom is not only rejected but may even be frowned upon. So who's right? We all are in our own little corner of the world. Customs contribute to limiting beliefs because it's easy to think that's the way the world is everywhere. What cultural assumptions contribute to your limiting beliefs?
3. It's always been this way - There is a story of a woman who always cut the end off of a ham before putting it in the oven. Her daughter asked one day why she did that and she answered that her own mother had taught her to do it that way. So the daughter asked her grandmother who replied that her mother had done it that way. Of course they had to find out the reason so they asked the great grandmother. Smiling she said quite matter of factly, "I didn't have a pan big enough to fit the whole thing. " There is nothing that has always been that way. It all started somewhere and usually for some practical reason. What limiting beliefs are still lingering because it's always been this way?
4. I can't - These two simple words contribute to more limiting beliefs than probably anything else. How do you know you can't? Have you tried? Have you taken the time to research the possibilities? Or have you talked yourself out of it before even taking the first step? I can't puts up a near impenetrable barrier that kills dreams. What dreams of yours have died because you uttered the words, "I can't? "
Once you begin to see limiting beliefs for what they are you'll be much better equipped to manifest the things you want. That's because once you see the fallacy you can then choose whether to continue buying into it or not. Believe it!
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Manifest Dreams Visualization (law of success napoleon hill)
Manifest Dreams Visualization (law of success napoleon hill)
The Secret to Happiness and Maslow�s Hierarchy
“The secret to happiness is contentment” (Dali Lama)
If we are content with what we have, and where we are, then we are happy.
This means not grasping for attainment of material objects or even spiritual understanding, but being content and just allowing life to happen.
How does this help us to achieve the things we “want”?
I’m glad you asked! This brings me to Maslow’s theory on the hierarchy of human “needs”, the answer to that question is revealed within the following explanation and its accompanying story.
Maslow, was an eminent Psychologist who developed a theory on the psychological need of humans; it is often demonstrated in the form of a pyramid, and referred to in relation to Education, Motivation and Sales training.
A summary of his theory would be: that we humans have “needs” that must be satisfied in an order of priority, before higher ideals can be achieved the lower ideals MUST be met.
The order of these needs doesn’t change from individual to individual, they are as follows:
1. PHYSIOLOGICAL NEEDS, air, water, food, rest, exercise, etc
2. SAFETY NEEDS, shelter, job security, retirement plan, insurance
3. LOVE AND BELONGING, children, friends, partners
4. SELF ESTEEM (1), fame, recognition, reputation, dignity
5. SELF ESTEEM (2) Confidence, achievements, FREEDOM
If we don’t meet all the needs in the lower levels we will always be in deficit and be trying to meet them before we can obtain the highest levels of complete self actualization and FREEDOM.
Here’s a story I wrote to illustrate Maslow’s theory in a practical situation, it’s illustrated in a negative context because most of us will understand it better this way. Note: (L5) means level 5 as per above.
The following is based on a true story; some details have been changed to allow for publishing here.
A Person’s car breaks down on an old dirt road in the Barclay plains it’s a scorching 44 degrees in the shade, but there aren’t any trees to provide shelter, he’s in the middle of nowhere, outback, Australia.
He was on his way to Darwin to give a lecture on Self Defence. He had been giving these talks for some time now and really enjoyed sharing his knowledge, not for the respect that others gave him, but because he is a master of the subject and it felt good doing it. (L4/5)
At first he wasn’t concerned about the situation and he allowed his mind to be free and ‘take in’, the beauty of the landscape, he started to reminisce about his friends and family, wondering what they’re doing at that time, then he turned on the radio and drifted off to sleep.
When he woke up he realized that he was feeling lonely and would love to have someone to talk to. (L3)
After a few hours he started to feel a little uncomfortable and realized that he could be in some danger so he tried to think of a plan for his safety.
After some time he decided to head off in search for help.
It started getting dark and he became really worried; his senses were tuned into every sound. (L2)
Then he realized that he hadn’t eaten since breakfast and that he was hungry and thirsty. (L1)
After two more days his only thoughts were about finding water to stay alive, he wasn’t concerned about eating because his body knew it could survive for weeks without food, but only a few days without water.
So then his immediate concern was for the basic need of water.
SUDDENLY!! Someone jumped on him from behind, and started to choke him he couldn’t breathe! Then his need for air was stronger than his need for water!
It was only a joke; his best friend had come looking for him when he didn’t show up in Darwin on time.
He found the car then tracked his mate to where he found him, looking pretty rugged. Then as all good mates do, he decided to play a practical joke to give him a fright! They are still good friends today.
The end
The simple lesson here is this:
This story shows a person who had met all his needs and was at the highest level. He had truly manifested his dream into reality and how he quickly went into “Needs Deficit” (ND)
Clearly we must walk before we can run, If we can’t breath we aren’t worried about water, we NEED air, our ND is air; this is a very basic example.
To look at it another way we could say that; trying to be a highly regarded successful whatever (4/5) will not be possible if we are in ND of (1, 2, or 3).
Our ND needs attention first; this doesn’t mean that if we don’t have a house and family we can’t achieve our dream ambitions.
On the contrary it means that we should, let go of our graving, yearning and striving to achieve success at any cost type of attitude, and maintain our lower levels of needs so that we can open the path to the higher levels.
Many of us, myself included have been guilty of forgetting about our needs for friends and family when we are trying to obtain the higher ideals of success.
This area can be a particular problem with the internet, because it uses up so much of our time and attention.
If we maintain our basic needs we will be able share our dreams and talk about them and believe in them and be content and happy about them.
Thus allowing our dreams to manifest into reality.
Doesn’t it make sense that with this kind of thinking we will all be able to move on to the higher levels of self actualization?
Maintain your ND and believe in your DREAMS the rest will happen!
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How To Manifest Your Dreams Into Reality