Dreams

How do dreams figure into a program on personal growth? Your dreams are important resource for communicating with your subconscious mind. They can assist in understanding your true desires and allow you to jump – start your creativity. Dreams are a straight shot from the subconscious. So it’s to your advantage to figure out what they mean.

Dream may seem like unintelligible imagery, but they are not insignificant. Dreams are always about us. Always commenting and instructing us about our concerns. They’re often filling in the blanks or waving red flag or giving us a road map. So learning to interpret their messages becomes a valuable resource.

It’s no accident that we dream more often and more vividly when we are under stress. Ever notice that you dream more when starting a new job, or engaged in an unfamiliar area of expertise? Big changes translate to big dreams. We have more to think about and evaluate during these times. Our subconscious is weighing the options even as we sleep. The message it has for us are clouded in the obscure images and the disconnected concepts we often experience in dreams.

Why must we dream in metaphors? Try to hold on to something we couldn’t understand.

Before we develop verbal skills, we still had to communicate with our minds. Without words to rely on, it was necessary to transfer meaning through images. Dreams are like a long-lost language. They’re offering us valuable information. The trick is figuring out what they’re attempting to say.

You may be one of those people who say they can never remember their dreams. You probably have the most to discover. It does take a little time and effort to translate our dreams. But it is fun and enlightening to discover what they are telling us.

Exercise: Journal Code: DRM

Analyze your dream 3-5 days per week. Make notations in your journal about the dream itself as best you can recall and include your analysis of the dream. Also examine how you were reacting within the dream. Were you feeling overwhelmed or in control.

Here are a few tips for interpreting dreams:

1. Start by going to bed at night with the expectation that you will dream about something important and that you will remember the dreams.
2. Be prepared. Have your journal or a notepad and pen within easy reach. By going to bed ready to interpret your dreams. You are telling your subconscious you mean business. You may be rewarded with more meaningful dreams and an easier recall.
3. When you first wake up, a remnant of your dream will probably still be hovering, all wispy and tailing away as if a light silk scarf has been trailed across your face. If you let it get away the dream will disappear. Mentally reach up and gently pull it back. The more you pull back, the more you will begin to remember the characters, actions and symbolism. Reconstruct the dream as carefully as possible in your mind. Set it into conscious mind.
4. Begin writing your newly forged memory of the dream. As you write, be open to new details and plot twists as they present themselves.
5. After you’ve written down the dream, go back and give it a title. Don’t fret over what to call it, go with the first thing that pops into your head. The title is often an enormous clue to the meaning of the dream.
6. When trying to make sense of a dream, it is best not to be too literal. Actions, locations, characters and feelings are often metaphors for a message.
7. Unless you specifically recognize someone you know in your dream, most of the characters are you.
8. Pay attention to the way you were feeling toward a person or event can be a clue to its meaning. For instance, a death in a dream often represents change. So if you were happy observing the death, it means you are welcoming the change.
9. Dreams that repeat themselves are communications trying to break through. They will usually stop only when you get the message.

Don’t be discouraged if it takes some practice before you can consistently recall your dreams. Many people report that they never remember them. But by simply starting with a regular interpretation you will be impressed with how quickly you begin to grash the messages presented to you by your subconscious.

Intuition

In football, the ball is snapped and players from both teams scatter in all directions at top speed. There is hitting and blocking and deception. But there are certain very gifted players who despite the chaos, despite the opponents attempts to take them out, always seem to be in the right place at the right time. The announcers say, “He has a nose for the bal.” What he really has is a well-developed intuition. Granted he may be smart and experienced. He may have prepared will with the game plan. He may have worked his body into top shape. But when the play starts, there is very little time to react. So the great player sniffs out a p-lay with his intuition.

We can do the same with intuition. It is a key a success. A Key to making the correct moves in life at the exact moment in time they must be made. But first we must develop a relationship with our intuition. We must become attuned to the ways it is communicated to us.

Strengthen intuition the same way you would enhance a relationship. Give it attention. Become familiar with it. Look for it when you require help. Let go and trust your intuition and act on it when your feelings are strong.

1. Preparation is always a key with intuition. Get as much information as possible that surrounds the issue you are attempting to address or solve.
2. Allow the normal creative process to take over. There is usually an amount of time required to allow the thoughts to sort themselves and make previously unconsidered connections.
3. Don’t wait on the answer. Getting impatient or tense or demanding only makes it worse. Trust that your mind is working for you.
4. Occupy yourself with other task or pleasurable pursuits. It can be during these “down moments” that the intuitive ideas appear.
5. Learn to recognize intuition and acknowledge its ideas.

It can take a little practice to ensure you are not simply grasping at straws, that the ideas you now have, are in fact intuition. The feeling you get with an intuition thought is one complete certainty. “This is it!” “Its just feels right.” “I’ve never been so sure of anything in my life.” Sometimes the answer you are seeking arrives in your consciousness as if you’ve known it all along. Other times it may sound like that familiar voice inside your head. But normally it’s not so much a string of thought leading to its discovery, as a finished thought arriving to you whole, completely formed, and remarkably appropriate.

More and more, we’re hearing workers being encouraged t think out of the box. What at first may seem like a crazy idea, upon examination, may be a break through concept. Innovation is the faucet at the end of the intuition pipeline.

Exercise

Select an issue or question that you have been thinking about or struggling with. It could be a decision you will soon have to make, or an action you’ll have to take. But it doesn’t even have to be about you. Maybe someone you know has asked for your advice. Tonight, just before bed, spend a few moments allowing yourself to acknowledge your subconscious mind. Feel its power and ability with absolute clarity. Recognize deep down that your mind clearly and decisively what it is you would like to know. Feel your mind beginning to sort and access the information, as if it is a computer clicking away, processing information. Repeat the request if necessary. That’s its. That’s all you have to do. Just be aware that the perfect answer or insight is on its way. And keep your journal at your bedside while you sleep. Be prepared to quickly write down the information and the feelings that will carry it to you. The intuition may come to you as you wake up, or it may appear in your dreams.

Accessing the Subconscious

Have you ever heard the phrase, “I want to sleep on it?” It is actually good bit of wisdom being put into practice. Rather than making a decision solely using the conscious mind, the person is saying they want to access their subconscious for deep, gut level decision.

Accessing the subconscious is not something we are practiced at doing. There is a storehouse of knowledge in our subconscious but it can be like walking into one of those enormous home improvement warehouse. You spend more time walking up and down the aisle filling your basket with needless items, than finding what you came to get.

The subconscious mind does not speak English. It’s an internal guidance system. It communicates through concepts, emotion and feeling. It presents us with options that lead us to our desires. But ultimately, we must make the choice. Turn left or right. Say hello or walk on by.

Part of the problem in accessing the subconscious is that we chase the information rather than allowing it to come to us. There is no easy way to coax the information into your brain, but it normally arrive after you have relaxed and allowed the information to sink in.

Have you ever tried to chase a cat? They are fast little things. The way to catch a cat is not to run after it, but to stand still. Sweet-talk it into coming over. Act as if you don’t care. Next thing you know it is rubbing against your leg. That is the best way to describe how to coax an idea from the subconscious.

Where do you get your best ideas? Some people get them while bating. Other get great ideas while driving, or talking on the phone, or listening to music. It is the relaxed and slightly occupied mind that allows direct access to the subconscious.

Exercise

In your Journal, attempt to recall where and how you had your best ideas –the breakthrough ideas in your life. Were you in bed? Were you relaxed or nervous? Were you busy trying to come up with the idea or did it plop in front of you like a big, nicely wrapped present? List the way you felt when the idea came to you. We are trying to isolate the feeling and methods that will lead us unequivocally to our pure subconscious wisdom.

Usually, it is the rational decisions that end up costing us the most. We out think ourselves. We play if safe, when our true desire demands a leap of faith.

We are all Connected

Some are more directed than others, but no thought enters the universe without leaving some effect.

We have learned that thoughts are energy. And we know that energy never dies, it is only transformed. So where do thoughts go? How are they transformed? Using the power of relaxed yet focused thoughts, the subconscious mind is able to send and receive thoughts that connect us all.

Have you ever felt like you could read somebody’s mind? Ever known what someone was going to say before they said it? In all probability, you did read their mind. The sensitive receiver in your subconscious picked up their message because their thought energy was strong and directed.

Every single thought is beamed from the subconscious into the buzzing hub of the universe, the library of all known knowledge. That is why positive thought is so important.

Think of it this way. If a factory is belching smoke into the air in Michigan, eventually it will make the air less breathable in China. It’s the same with thoughts. The more positive thoughts we contribute to the great beyond, the better off we all become.

Exercise:

Think of the universe as a great bank. Every time you have a positive thought, the bank outs a buck into your bank. And each time you let a negative thought or action into your mind, the bank withdraws a dollar. What would your account look like? In either case it is good to keep ledger. So in your journal , you are going to add up the day’s totals. Since it is too difficult to account for each thought, we are going to account for each action. Give yourself $5 for every good or positive action of the day. Subtract $5 from any activity that was based in negativity. Now be honest. Was this day typical? Did you do more nice things today because you knew you were keeping track? Well there’s no problem with that. Keep it up. Each thought and every action counts.

Reminder

Eon is designed for maximum portability and usefulness. Keep it with you. It will begin to feel like a companion. Take out your Journal and write while drinking your morning coffee. Post affirmations and acknowledgments on sticky pads where you can't miss them. Review your goal cards at least once per day. Clear time for workbook exercises before bed. It may take some rearranging of your schedule, a reworking your current habits, but focus is necessary. Plan for daily practice of the suggested techniques in Eon and in 120 short day you will enjoy personal progress that can change your life forever.

Positive and Negative Energy

Energy is everything and everything is energy.

That is more than just a catchy phrase. It is full of meaning. If you could look through the most powerful electron microscope and examine a rock, you would see a perfect example. The closer you look at the rock, the more movement you would begin to see. Eventually, the matter is broken down into atoms. The rock becomes a swirling, orbiting mass of constantly moving atomic energy. It is the same for every single thing. In their most basic form, all objects, all people, all everything is nothing more than energy.

Thought are also energy. In physics, they like to say. “Like energy attracts.” It means one type of energy is drawn to a similar type of energy. So, positive thoughts attract more positive energy. And of course negative thoughts attract more negative energy. You’ve seen it happen.

It takes a gentleman to suffer ignorance and smile,

If you are a cynical, angry, negative person now, take a look at what negativity has brought into your life. Can you honestly say, “the more negative I am, the better my life becomes?”

Describe people overflowing with positive energy.

1.

2.

3.

Describe the traits of super negative people>

1.

2.

3.

Why would anyone consciously choose to be in the second group? They don’t sound like any fun to be with or around. The positive people are leaders. They set examples. They don’t have time to complain. They are too busy moving forward with rewarding activities.

Do yourself and the world a favor. Blanket yourself in positive thoughts and positive energy. Just that single effort could change your life from one of frustration and anger to one filled with optimism and opportunity.

Remember, it’s easier to see what is wrong in the world than truly appreciate what is right. It may take some training, but start by seeing what you want for yourself and those you love, and simply expect it to happen.

Exercise: Journal Code: NOT

Start your day with Positive Energy Activator. That a few moments three times a week to jot out a quick note or card. Two or three sentences are enough. It is a personal note, It must be a physical object expressing your feelings positive energy. You will see. People hold onto these little expressions like they are treasures.

You will be writing these notes these note three times a week. Write them to anyone who you’d like to give encouragement, or thanks, or advice, or just to say I miss you. You will drop off at the post office or deliver it to a mailbox, or leave it in an envelope on a desk. It can be written to a business associate who has been impressive. Yes, even a thank you note for a present or a recent dinner party will count. Make a gesture to someone who you’d like to know better, or an understanding missive to a friend who could use a kind work. Use your imagination. Begin to line up your contact list. It will grow longer every day. During the next 90 days you may send out close to 40 cards, and you will be spreading a tangible example of positive energy.

Now you should know that at first, people may mot know what to make of your notes. We are not used to getting unsolicited support. They may be suspicious that you have an ulterior motive. So don’t get discouraged if you are not immediately contacted in return. But you will be filled a vault with positive energy, much of which will returned in unexpected ways. Your recipients will file away your gesture and look for a reason to do something nice in return, creating a cycle of positive energy.

Yes, this requires you to put yourself out there. You are making the effort to activate positive energy. For those who are sky or don’t like to write, it is even more important tjo do this exercise. Id you run out of people, get creative. Remember old friends you haven’t spoken to in years. Write to a congressman or a child from an orphanage. Send notes of encouragement to anyone you admire. Repeat notes to the same people are allowed. Some lucky cardholder will look forward to more. They may have a drawer full of them eventually. Think of how many people will keep them and read them and smile all over again.

Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confident.

If you search for the positive in life, positive energy will find you.

This is not just a saying. There are scientifically measured methods that help make it so. One of them is the Reticular Activating System, it’s actually a filter. If you can program yourself to allow specific, positive and useful information to enter your consciousness, all sorts of doors will begin to open.

Our conscious mind is able to sort through 30,000 bits of information per second. There’s much more that that coming at our senses at any given time. But 30,000 bits is more than enough information for us to be able to function. In essence, your subconscious mind is offering information on a need to know basic. Potentially dangerous situations are always red-tagged with emotion. That which is familiar or things you admire are almost always given priority.

For instance, if you’re ever bought a car you will soon notice that everyone seems to be driving the same model. Or you might have heard a new word or phase, and suddenly it seems to be on everyone’s lips.

It may seem that anything you’ve invested with emotion is fast tracked to your brain. And that goes for negative things as well. If you are really bothered by people cutting into line in front of you, then you will notice it happened all the time.

So begin to program yourself to see good, and there will be more good. If you are lacking in opportunities, know that opportunities abound. By noticing and feeling good about opportunities where ever they occur and to whomever they occur, you will be opening your RAS sensitivity to opportunities that may be tapping you on the shoulder.

Keep in mind this important point. These techniques are a means of changing the way we approach life from the inside out. You may really, really want a new car. But that doesn’t mean you’ll get it. Crossing your fingers and hoping for better life, pretty much guaranteed you’ll never get it. We have to adjust the way we think first. It’s always a new way of thinking that comes first, before our circumstances ever change.

All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think, we become.

The Subconscious Mind

Subconscious Mind

Up unit this point we’ve really focused on the conscious mind. It is easy to relate to this part of our mental capacity. The conscious mind is the part of our brain that deals with our daily reality.

But there is a second mind you’ve also probably heard about: the subconscious mind. It operates simultaneously and in conjunction with the conscious mind, yet functions quite differently. Test your own knowledge of the subconscious.

How far back does your memory go?

What percentage of brainpower do you use on a daily basis?

Body functions operate independently of our conscious minds. True or False?

In making a tough decision, people often advise, “go with your gut.” They are referring to your subconscious.

The subconscious mind carefully evaluates all information it encounters. True or False?

Read on for the answers.

The subconscious mind, your subconscious mind, is your closest friend, loyal ally and most trusted advisor. Learning how to access, connect, program and response to the subconscious mind gives us the ability to rise above the fray of everyday living, and achieve another level of greatness. The subconscious mind is where our unlimited power lies.

The general consensus is that we use about 1% of our brainpower. But before you say that seems like a really low estimate, consider this. Some researchers insist it is really a much smaller fraction, one-thousandth of a percentage point or even less. That would mean we have a mind-boggling brain capacity. That brainpower is to be found in the subconscious.

Our normal body functions, the ones we don’t really think about, are all controlled by the subconscious mind. Our hearts beat and lungs breathe and nerves fire without any conscious effort. But our mind controlling and regulating these vast functions that are keeping us alive. Can you imagine it any other way? If the conscious mind controlled body functions, then after you had a meal you would literally have to concentrate on your stomach to begin digesting your food. You’d also be putting a tremendous effect into sending blood through each and ever vein. You see that we’d never get anything done. Think of it this way: if our subconscious didn’t control our bodily functions then as soon as we lost consciousness, like when we sleep, we would die. Can you imagine? You sleep, you die! That is how important our subconscious mind is to our body.

Most of us don’t have much of a memory before the age of 4 – 5. And some of us can’t even remember what we had for breakfast this morning. But etched in our subconscious mind is every event, every single thing we’ve every said or done, read or seen, heard or even overheard. Each and every ache or pain. They’re all inscribed in detail, in our subconscious minds. That’s pretty impressive. But there’s more. The subconscious mind is responsible for intuition and creativity. Even dreams emerge from your subconscious mind. The subconscious offers us guidance and ‘gut reactions.”

Not done yet. There’s another function of our ever-active subconscious mind that is even less understood. Have you ever heard the phrase “we are all one?” Through the power of focused thought, the subconscious mind is able to transmit and receive thoughts that connect us all in integral way.

Finally, the subconscious is able to direct our thought, desires, and purpose. When focused with regular and heart felt repetition and set in motion through synchronicity, a transformation of thought energy can transform into physical reality.

You’ve probably heard the old adage, you reap what you sow. That bit of wisdom, passed on through the ages, describes the interaction between the conscious and the subconscious. The subconscious has been likened to a fertile garden. The conscious mind, its gardener. Whether you know it or not, you intensely felt thought and beliefs are the seeds that you are planting. So be very careful what you place in your head. Good thoughts or bad thoughts can be the difference between a garden filled with weeds, or one overflowing with roses. You seeds, your thoughts, absolutely will and so make the difference.

This is how our two minds work together. The conscious mind is the evaluator, the instigator. It can discern right from wrong, lie from truth, beauty from beast. In the previous example, it is the conscious, “the gardener” creating the type of garden, choosing which flowers, which colors, which texture make the most striking combination.

The subconscious mind “the garden” will accept any passionately felt thought or belief. Whatever “seed” is pressed upon it. It doesn’t matter if it’s true or false, positive or negative. The subconscious is unable to evaluate, as the conscious mind is able to do.

It is a provider. A plowed field can’t determine what it will grow. It simply waits for the seeds to be planted in it’s midst, eager to nourish them and provide to gardener with splendid bounty.

The point is that the conscious and subconscious work in tandem but are absolutely dependent upon each other. The soil is at the mercy of the gardener. If the gardener has acute vision, creativity, a love of beauty and willingness to carefully tend the garden, then the soil will provide an exquisite out growth of his vision and care. Neglect the garden and return is a dusty patch of dirt and weeds.

Likewise the gardener is reliant upon soil. Plants roses on rocks and you still have rocks. He is gardener with no garden. Without the resource of the soil, he cannot nurture his vision into a reality.

Acknowledging

Are you guilty of this? Are you the first one to notice your own flaws? Are you the last to acknowledge your achievements? Well don’t (continue) to beat yourself up. This is very common.

Early on, we are taught that someone who is “stuck up” or full of themselves” or “on an ego trip” is a jerk. We’ll often hide the pride we feel after having succeeded grandly. We are conditioned generally not celebrate our wins or even acknowledge when we’ve been very good.

We are certainly never tempted to rub our successes in the faces of those we’ve vanquished, right? That would be considered bad sportmanship.

But ignoring our own accomplishments or refraining from the occasional pat on the back, is a beg waste of energy surrounding a success. We’ve all seen success energy. It is almost an explosion. A team wine the World Series and they all run and pile on top of each other. A basketball player sinks a winning shot at the buzzer and lifts his arms in triumph. The world loves a winner, so don’t be afraid to acknowledge your success to your self or to others.

Having conquered one achievement, we often move right on to the next. Focusing on the next step on the ladder, or the next milestone in our goal. As our new desires become the focus, we can lose touch with the vibration of success we felt after our last win.

A good thing to do is to create a book of your wins. You can even use scrapbook or a photo album to document wins. It’s good to include a picture or any other memento along with a written description of what it took to achieve this win. Also note how you feel about your accomplishment. Imagine the stored energy inside this book of wins. It will be available to revel in each time the pages are opened. Of course, we are not suggesting you endlessly wallow in past glories, but it is important to recall the impact your wins had on your life.

And why stop with your wins? Sometimes we make progress slowly and steadily. It is progress nonetheless. Take the time to look at what you have gained, how you have grown, what the cumulative effect of your accomplishments in life have brought to you and to those around you.

By constantly focusing on what we still have to attain, we put out an unconscious message to our brains that we are lacking. To counteract that, it is worthwhile to focus, from time to time, on our victories and achievements. Create a vibration of success in the present tat is vital for attracting further success.

Exercise: Journal Code: AKN

Take just a few minutes after your morning visualization session to acknowledge the blessings all around you. And don’t stop with the obvious. Look deeply for the little miracles in life that have made you thankful. This is a give and get world. When you get, give back thanks in return and it will keep the cycle of energy flowing around you.

Exercise:

Acknowledging is also a good way to provide support during the process of achieving your specific goals. Once you have established a goal, it is advisable to list the qualities you already posses which will help you attain your objective. What do you bring to the party? Make your list long. Refer t it often.

Within us, we have the power to change and improve our reality. By mastering techniques that utilize the unique power of the mind, we can create and control our own consciousness. And our consciousness can literally turn our thoughts into physical reality.

Affirmations

The first and most fundamental thing in achieving what you really want out of life is just simply saying it.

This is a practice that is no muss or fuss. It’s as simple as it sounds. Say what you want. Either silently or aloud. Do it anywhere or any time. Write down who you want to be. Utilize your sticky pads! Put them where you can see them regularly. Surround yourself with positive affirmations and positive results will begin to emerge. It really is that simple.

If your mind is convinced you are a great writer, or the best mother, or an ‘A’ student, your behavior will begin to support that conviction. It is easiest to attain a goal when you begin your quest with the end result already ingrained in your mind.

Affirmations work as place holders for positive, supportive thoughts. Your mind can only entertain one thought at a time. An affirmation fills that slot with a specifically targeted belief that furthers your goals.

Affirmations are portable, so they can be utilized anywhere, anytime for specific purposes. Say you have a job interview. You are sitting in the waiting room feeling confident. All of a sudden it hits you. “This is a job that could make or break my career. I really want this.” Now, the nerves start to set in. You begin to sweat. You have butterflies. Affirmations to the rescue. Simply repeat to yourself. ‘I am confident and relaxed. I am confident and relaxed.” Say it to yourself repeatedly and with meaning. ‘It is my best interview ever. It is my best interview ever.” Take a deep breath. You will notice that you suddenly regain your posture and begin to feel more comfortable and confident. Clear your mind of doubt and absolutely know you are about to ace the interview. Crisis averted.

Of course there are few suggestions to get the most from affirmations.

1. Affirmations are always made as positive statements and usually in the present tense.

Do Say: I am passing this test.

Don’t Say: I’m not flunking this test.

2. Keep affirmations short and to the point.

Attempt to affirm the following sentence. “ My speech is going great because people see me as a leader with charisma so they get my jokes and take my words with the weight of the wisdom that they truly are.

Did you understand all the nuances at first glance? As a desired outcome, it is a lot for your mind to absorb. It becomes over kill.

Keep it simple. It is more effective.

3. Affirmations work, even if your don’t believe them.

How great is that? By simply repeating the affirmation, without trying to force yourself to believe it, your conscious mind will still accept the implications. They are then transferred into the subconscious mind where they become ingrained as fact.

As an example, let’s say you are always late arriving at appointments, work, social events, everything. You decide to affirm: ‘I am always punctual.” Your mind at first will answer back, no I’m not. I’m late for everything. But ignore that and continue to affirm “I am always punctual.” With the repeated insistence of the affirmation, your mind will take it on. You’ve begun a chain reaction by changing your way of thinking. Your behavior will change accordingly. You’ll start to become more keenly aware that time is running short before a schedule appointment. You may become a better judge at the length of time a task will take so that you can better estimate and budget your time. Your emotions may start to escalate when you are in danger to being tardy. In essence, your mind begins to implement the appropriate measures that will ensure you are punctual.

Be cautious that you don’t unknowingly use affirmations to undercut your goals. Sometime when we react to negative events, we take them on by commenting on them.

I am so stupid. I am sorry, I am an awful cook. I am uncoordinated.

Everyone makes mistakes. But affirming that the mistakes are part of who you are, you can actually make them constants in your life.

Exercise: Journal Code: AFM

Start each day by looking at your calendar, evaluating your day and deciding an affirmation that will be of benefit to the events you have planned. Repeat the affirmation throughout the day. Do this each day. Write down the various affirmations you have utilized in your journal and note which have has the most impact. Also take note of the way an affirmation can affect the way you are feeling.

Visualization

Visualize this thing that you want, see it, feel it, believe in it.

Make your mental blue print, and begin to build.

This is a technique that has been used by successful athletes, actors, politicians, and businessmen. And it offers startling results. Visualization ties your imagination to reality.

Visualization is nothing more than using your imagination. Inside your mind you are creating a picture or a little film of yourself in a place you want to be, doing what you want to do, having what you want to have. A visualization is normally quite pleasant. You can actually make the object of your visualization seem very real. You can almost see, hear, smell, touch or taste it.

It’s good idea to begin visualizing after shifting our minds into a relaxing state. During the section “Be conscious of your Consciousness,” we took ourselves through an exercise repeating the phrase. “Every in every way I’m getting better and better.” This is the perfect warm –up exercise for a visualization. After you finish repeating the phrase around 20 times, allow your mind to settle, and then begin. Here are the steps to follow.

1. determine what you want to visualize. Skydiving from an airplane. Meeting a long, lost relative. Finding your dream home. Winning a big account.
2. Find a soothing, quiet spot where you can take a deep breath, relax, and concentrate inward.
3. Once you feel your mind turning from without to within, spend several minutes running a vivid film of your imagined reality before your eyes. Feel the visualization as if it’s happening all around you in real time. Don’t let it end until you are ready. Keep your mind focused.

A visualization plows the ground for goals. We pour energy into our goals like concrete into a foundation. The structure you build upon the foundation is the successful realization of your goals.

But this is crucial. You will not experience results unless you imprint the visualization over and over into your mind. It may take months of rewinding and repeating that same little movie in your head to evoke the desired effect. Think of it this way, by the time your visualization becomes reality you will not be surprised. It will feel as if you expected it, as if you’ve already achieved to reality. And be prepared. If for instance you were visualizing a new home you wanted, you may be astonished to find that the house you do find will closely, maybe even exactly match your vision. And by the time you move in, it may even feel anti-climactic. It may seem like you had already taken possession moths before when your visualizations began. It is that powerful!!

Practiced sporadically, visualizations can be a pleasant diversion, like daydreaming. But when practiced vividly and practiced daily without exception, it acts as a powerful tool, drawing you toward the achievement of any goal. Repetition is the key.

Here is a tip. Visualization are turbocharged when you not only picture them in your mind, but also add sights, sounds and emotions. Engage all of your senses and your feelings in a visualization. In a film, if the actors just walking through the senses, going through the motion and lamely reciting the dialogue it would not have much power to engage its audience. Add a dynamic soundtrack. Act out your visualization in your mind. Feel your heart race, shed tears of joy, tenderly touch, smile broadly, give the performance of your life! Why not, it’s all inside your head anyways…at least for now.

Exercise: Journal Code: VIZ

Spend 5 – 10 minutes visualizing at least once per day. And write about them in your journal. If you are visualizing a new home for instance, sketch out the floor plan in your journal. Where would the kitchen be? Do you want a big deck out side? Make your thoughts real by bringing them into a physical form.  

Goals

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit."

-Aristotle

If you like your life and want to tweak it a little, goal setting is essential. If your life is due for sweeping changes, then goals setting is essential.

Goals are the foundation of personal growth. They represent the journey and the destination. In soccer or hockey you get it into the net and it is a goal. It is both the process of playing the game and the object to winning the game.

Without goals you can live a nice life. But good luck. Better hope the wind of fate just happen to blow you toward a sheltered port in the inevitable storm. Still, you have to ask yourself , why bob on the water aimlessly when you can trim the sails and set a course that’s direct and true.

I’m always amazed at the number people I meet who tell me they have never had a goal in their life. Never once set a goal. I get excited about introducing them to the concept, because I know that with goal, they can make huge strides in their lives.

With goals, every sunrise can mark a new beginning. The only question is when to start? Well, you already have started. Earlier you jotted down a couple of paragraphs detailing your ideal life. Why not create goals that get you there? So now let’s devise a series of steps that will help take you to your ideal life. Each step is a goal.

Let’s pause for a second. You may be one of those folks whose eyes glaze over about now. Self-help books are always hyping goals aren’t they? You may not like the added structure in your life. Too much pressure. You want to live free and easy.

All we can say is please stay with us. We’re not going to hold your feet to the fire by forcing you commit to an enormous goal you’ll never reach. It’s a process. We take it one step at a time. Remember, you are setting you own goals. This is a game you can win.

Let’s start by getting your feet wet with a small goal. It’s stunning how easy and satisfying it can be. The following goal is one that’s beneficial even if you’ve been a goal setter your entire life.

Exercise:

Your goal today is to call, talk or write to any one person who has recently, or ever assisted you in any way. Your goal is to let them know how much you appreciate their help, advice, compliment, present, or dead. Your time frame is by the end of the day today.

Take out a piece of paper or your Your Personal Journey notes and write your goals. I am calling “so and so” to express my appreciation by the end of today. When you’ve accomplished your goal, please feel free to put a bug check mark across the goal. You’ve done it. Mission Accomplished. Notice how empowered you feel. Notice the touching reaction you probably got from the person you contacted? Win win.

How does an ant eat an elephant? One bite at a time. How does a person totally transform their life? By achieving one small goal after another. You have now taken a step toward success. With every goal achieved you gain that much more power and momentum. The key is to keep stretching further with each new goal.

Choose a goal wisely. It should be a part of an overall plan. It should reflect your heartfelt passion and your vision for the future. If you’re not sure what you want out of life, then it’s time to take inventory.

Lets talk about the proper way to set goals.

1. Short Term Goals of the day, one week or one month, should be pretty straightforward. It should be probable that they can be achieved within the time-frame you set.
2. Medium Term Goals, anywhere from ninety days to six months, require a little stretching. Approach the upper limits of your zone, bordering on your failure zone.
3. Long Term Goal of a year or more are set to challenge your current belief system. These goals should scare you. You’ll have no idea how to accomplish the goal.

When a young bird is pushed from the nest for the first time, it has no idea how to fly. But with the ground rushing up, the bird starts furiously flapping it’s wings and a little miracle happens. Once you get off the ground and attain a long-term goal. Immediately set another long-term goal. Your new view of the horizon will look a whole lot different.

4. Goals are measurable and specific. They must have completion date. If your goal is to buy a new car for instance, your goal would include the make and model, options, even the color inside and out. Test drive the car and perhaps even snap a picture of yourself behind the wheel. Know exactly what it will cost and tell the sales person the date you will be back to take possession.
5. Write goals in the present tense as if it is actually happening at the time of your writing. For example, here is a five-year goal for a 28 year-old single man: I am moving into a modern, three bedroom home I just purchase with my gorgeous, loving wife. The big yard is a great place for our two young children to play.
6. Work toward your goal until the last minute of the last hour of your deadline. This is of utmost importance. It is not uncommon for a series of goals enabling events to fall into place at the very last possible minute. Even if it appears all hope is lost, never give up.
7. Time has run out. Once in awhile it happens. You didn’t accomplish your goal. A little disappointment is natural, but always remember, striving for a goal is every bit as important as it ultimate achievement. Review your steps. Determine what could have been done differently to assist in setting your next goal. Don’t be discouraged. Acknowledge the progress and congratulate yourself for the effort you put forth. You can’t win them all.
8. Don’t force it. It is mistake to “try too hard.’ Relax , concentrate and focus on the process of achieving your goal. Be aware of the desired result but do not obsess on the outcome. Perform the necessary steps with confidence and faith in your pursuit of the goal. Literally see the goal achieved as if it was destined. But remove yourself slightly from the end result. Excessive emotional attachment to results can actually undercut progress toward achievement.

Exercise: Journal Code: GOL

Set your term, medium term and long term goals. Write them out on your Your Personal Journey goal cards. Keep them with you. Write about them in your journal. Refer to them at least once every morning and before bedtime.

Think Big. By setting a goal with a grand purpose, or an inspired or lofty achievement, your mind is forced to race beyond it normal boundaries.

Focus

Focused energy is a powerful thing. A laser beam is a perfect example. We can all bask in the suns rays, but harness and then focus those same rays of light into a laser and you can burn through solid steel.

The energy we emit from our minds, if focused, can have similar effect and more widely felt impact.

Each of us is an integral part of the world, and we affect our surroundings just as much as we are affected by them. We see and experience the world, not as it is, but as we are. Think about that.

Fill in the blank to the following questions honestly and accurately, as they relate to your daily experience.

Each day is another

People I meet are basically

Honesty is the best policy, yes or no?

I am _______ By human nature.

There are no wrong answer to these questions. The person who said they’re appalled by human nature, no doubt has just as many reasons to support their contention as does someone who is constantly empowered by human nature. Even though the answers are contradictions, they will both be true. What you believe becomes what is right for you.

You see, reality is more complicated than it may seem. We assume that we are objective, and only reporting back our unbiased experiences, but that’s not the case.

We literally create our own reality.

Exercise

A one month media fast.

If we are in the process of creating a better reality for ourselves, then this exercise can help us shut out distractions and focus only on the desired reality. The life we deserve. There is good and bad in the media. Radio, TV news, TV programs, movies, newspapers, magazines, the internet –they have made the world smaller and inspired millions with stories of tragedy and triumph. They can also be the epitome of crass commercialism and unrelenting sensationalism. Bottom Line: the constant bombardment can be a distraction.

In addition, it is surprising to see how much more exciting our lives get by eliminating source of artificial excitement. We actually turn to ourselves for entertainment. We can explore new horizons. We notice more time on our hands. We can go out dancing or hiking, catch up with old friends, study Beyond Freedom or take up gardening. Suddenly we begin doing. We develop new interests and expertise.

Alter one month, you may even decide to continue. You’ll be impressed with the way your reliance on media outlets has disappeared.

Document your observations in your journal. Notice the changes in your energy levels, the clarity in your thinking, and an increased ability to focus.

Having soon discovered to be great,

I must appear so, and therefore studiously avoided mixing in society,

and wrapped myself in mystery, devoting my time to fasting

You cannot dream yourself into a character;

you must hammer and forge yourself one.
-Henry David Thoreau

The Gap Between Knowing and Doing

There is a huge gap between knowledge and action. For example, we all learned about the basic food groups in grade school. We want told that it’s healthy to eat at least one serving of each group, every single day. But how many of us follow the advice?

Just because we know what to do, doesn't mean we'll do it. So how do we bridge that gap?

Success is spurred by a desire for positive results, and knowing what you must sacrifice in order to achieve your goal. You know, you can love ice cream and want to lose weight. But unless you’re ready to give up one, you won't get the other.

Here are some steps to greatly increase our chances of success in any endeavor.

Step 1 : Figure out your why.

By identifying our reason for wanting to make a change, we can make a more compelling case when it comes to actually changing our habits and behavior. And look below the surface for reasons. For instance, our ice cream lover from the last paragraph may ask himself “why do I want to lose weight?” His first answer is “ I'm too fat.” As he is poised to lick an ice cream cone, his mind may then respond, ‘yea will what else is new, one ice cream cone isn't going t to change that.’ And so he goes ahead and has the ice cream. You see, it’s not easy breaking habits.

To really figure out his way, he must look deeper. Why do you want to lose weight. “Well, I was always teased as a kid for being too heavy. When I look in the mirror I hate what I see. I can't lift my daughter onto my shoulders. I want to be around to see my grandchildren.” Ok, now we're getting somewhere. With those answer, the ice cream cone suddenly doesn't seem so important.

Step 2: Get out of your comfort zone.

We get in a rut and we stay there because it is easier to lay motionless than to pull ourselves up. Change is uncomfortable. But that discomfort is temporary. It will soon be replaced with energy and enthusiasm.

Take a good look around. Make an honest assessment of your current situation and pinpoint the areas in your life where you deserve better. Become uncomfortable with those deficiencies and vow to remove them from your life.

Step 3: Think of your excuses now and plan around them.

You will find 101 reasons why your new desired behavior can’t be sustained. They will be legitimate reasons, but they must be overcome. You can do that with proper planning anticipation and an ironclad bond that allows nothing to get in your way. For instance, our ice cream man will want to clear his well-stocked freezer of any tempting sweets. Having healthy snacks on hand will help to overcome cravings.

Step 4: See both sides of the coin.

One person’s adversity is another’s opportunity. Find the opportunity in any situation. Look for the ways the world is supporting your decision to change. List five ways that you be supported in your decision to change.

Step 5: Ready or not here I come.

Don't wait for everything to be ideal in your life before you decide to jump into changes. There is no such time. Make up your mind to change. Know your reasons, make a promise to yourself, set the date and the time for your new beginning and then start. Why wait until tomorrow? You are ready now. Don't get stuck in the “getting ready to get ready” trap.

Exercise

Go through the five steps above and write out your responses for each step.

Step 1 Figure out your why 

Step 2 Get out of your comfort zone.

Step 3 Think of your excuses now and plan around them.

Step 4 See both sides of the coin

Step 5 Ready or not here I come.

The worst thing you can do is to start and then quit, start and then quit. This destroys the pact you’ve made with yourself. The promises that must be honored first and foremost are the ones that you’ve made to yourself.

We must learn to say what we mean and mean what we say. Our word is our bond. Yet even those with impeccable integrity, those who honor their word to others unfailingly, will let it slip when it comes to a promise they make to themselves. Why honor and respect others and not yourself? Keep self-promises.

“When faced with a challenge, look for a way, not a way out." 
---David Weatherford

Exercise: Journal Code: PRM

Once a week (you choose the day), you will make a promise to yourself in the morning and keep the promise during that day. This may seem simple to some and impossible to others.

You may want to start out relatively easy with a promise you know you can keep before progressing to more challenging vows. You will be creating a habit of honoring self-promised action. Pay particular attention to the way you feel when you have completed the promised action. It may seem silly at first, but make sure you give yourself plenty of credit for your accomplishment. In the evening, you will write in your journal about the promise, how you completed it, who it impacted, any obstacles thrown your way, and most importantly, how you feel when keeping your word to yourself.

Promises are the uniquely human way of ordering the future,

making it predictable and reliable to the extent that this is humanly possible.  ~Hannah Arendt

Living With Intent

Think of yourself as an author, sitting down to write a book. You require a subject for your book. A compelling character to anchor the story. What are you going to write about? Here’s the answer ---your own life. Your story is very compelling. But everything that you have experienced so far in your life is back-story. It can inform and shade your character, but it will not be in the book you, the author, are about to write. Your new story begins right now. Page one starts with today. Now what are you going to write about?

As an author you will begin by talking your character and plotting out a series of events. Remember it should be plausible. Your character can’t be a secretary one day and a rock star the next. There has to be progression and continuity. But a secretary could evolve into a rock star. Plot out the way it could happen. You are going to take your character from this point in time until his or her death. It takes some planning doesn't it? It takes active imagination. It takes intent. This is the way we should all be living our lives. With specific intent. With a happy ending in mind, so that when you turn the last page of the book, you break into a warm knowing smile, maybe dry a small tear of heartfelt emotion and know it was a life well lived. A life accomplishment. A legacy of purpose.

Exercise

For those bold and brave souls who want to begin writing that book, it is a perfect way to begin writing in your journal. For everyone else, a method to begin plotting your course in life is to list 101 things you want to experience before you die.

1. _______________________________________________________

2. _______________________________________________________

3. _______________________________________________________

…

101. _____________________________________________________

It is necessary to put the power of thought into active motion. So many of us have deep whisper in our minds, but show no effort or intent to turn our internal thought into reality.

This outlines the most common thought process most of us follow. Start with belief. We all have beliefs. We acquire them through experience, observation and conditioning. They are the baseline upon which we operate, and we are conditioned to protect our beliefs. They do not change easily.

Our beliefs drive our actions. For example we have learned that by stepping on the gas pedal, a car accelerates. We believe that to be true. So when we need to go somewhere, what do we do? We get in a car and step on the gas. That action leads to a result. The car moves. We have just reinforced our belief.

Our thoughts process has now come full circle and here’s where the transition occurs. Most often we allow our results to dictate or revise our beliefs. Then the circular thought process starts all over again.

The problem with allowing results to modify our beliefs is that results can vary. There are any number of factors that can result, and many of them we may not be able to control, or even know about.

If you had never been in a car before and all you know was that stepping on the gas made it go, then you might be in for disillusioning experience. You get in, close the door and press the pedal. It doesn’t go! Well you may not have turned the ignition yet, or the car may be out of gas, or in need of repair. Still, you don’t know anything about cars. All you know is it didn't work no matter how many times you touched the accelerator. You come away from the result of your action with a damaged belief. Heck, you may never drive again.

In many cases the results of our actions are not what we anticipate. Sometimes things just don’t work out. So, imagine starting the process all over again but with a damaged belief. Maybe you think it's your fault. Or that all cars are unreliable. Or the whole driving thing is way overrated. Low self-esteem, lack of confidence and just a bad attitude are all common side effects from damaged beliefs.

Instead of a circular thought process, it can lead to a downward spiral. You become emotionally involved with negativity. It’s a steep and slippery slope.

Next thing you know, you are living a life filled with negativity, let downs and unhappiness. We see people like this all the time---grumpy, bitter old folks who never have a good word to say.

Don’t let it happen to you. By simply creating a new starting point in our thought processes, we can ensure an upward spiral instead. How? It’s done by adding goals to the flow chart.

First set your goal, outrageous goals. Believe wholeheartedly in them and you’ll find it very easy to add emotion to the mix. Let’s face it, your goals are going to provide a fun and exciting life. Goals are only the stepping stones, but they give you a sense that anything is possible.

Now make the decision to act on your goals. Keep in mind that your goals matter. Results of your action should never affect the belief in your ability to achieve your stated goals.

Now here’s the key. Chances are with vigorous and directed action, you’ll reach your goals. But even if your results are not what you expected, the goals are still what are important. Once you've achieved one goal, you move to the next passionate goal. It can even be a revised version of the first goal. Remember, we won’t let results affect our belief in our ability to achieve, but we can learn from our results. We can make adjustments and tweaks in our actions that will help us move forward to the nest goal.

This is a pattern of intent that can serve you for life.

Be Conscious Of Your Consciousness

We are like magnets - like attract like. You become AND attract what you think

Law of attractions:

You get want you focus on. That sounds simple enough. But often, the more things seem simple, the more complex they are below the surface. And vice versa.

For instance, you are focused on someone with whom you’d like to have a relationship. They are seemingly the perfect person for you. Your feelings are deep. You want it badly. You are focused like a laser beam. You want that person. Since you focus is n strong desire, the result is that you get more of that. More desire, more longing.

If they don’t feel quite the same way about you, most likely that will be a major concern to you. Wondering if you are not good enough. Bemoaning the fact that your attention isn't being returned. Again, you are getting more of what your mind is focused on. More unreturned love. More feelings or inadequacy.

So how can you do it differently? Instead of focusing on your outgoing need and desire for the person, you instead concentrate on their incoming attention and respect toward you. That is really what you want anyway. Replay in your mind, how the object of your affection desires you and would benefit from a relationship with you. Your mind will behave in ways that are consistent with your new concentration. A likely result is that your attitude and behavior change. Instead of portraying a lovesick image, you instead portray desirability. Instead of focusing on your own overwhelming need, your mindset becomes mutual contentment. You become more intriguing  more confident, more of an equal partner, and thus more suitable. It is a different way of seeing things, a different way to think.

You get what you focus on, so be careful of the way you focus.

A simple thought doesn't travel far, but like a ray of light, a thought is most powerful when it is concentrated, centered and repeated. Think of a magnifying glass, and how, by focusing light into a small and powerful beam, and holding it still and true, you can create fire. It is the same with thought. Its power lies in the intensity, consistency and focus. The more the thought is repeated and formed, the more power and energy it generates.

We do far too little thinking and too much doing. Our conscious mind will always have something to keep us occupied. There are a million tasks to divert our attention. There’s another thing to do every time you turn around. But take a moment. Stop constantly reacting to the endless bombardment of events and demands, and face yourself. Look inside. The real power is within you. It’s not what you do, but how you think. To make progress toward the true desires you have inside, you must first engage the inner mind. Think and live as if you already are in possession of you goals. Live out your dreams inside first, and you will be astonished at how the daily events in your life will then support your progress.

Exercise: Journal Code: AFM

Set aside a time each day when you know you can think clearly. Put it on your calendar. Set a timer. Find the time. Utilize this time to set your inner priorities and focus on their attainment. Once you get the hang of it, you will only require 5 to 10 minutes. But it is essential time that is uninterrupted and dedicated to your personal growth.

Start by sitting comfortably. Close your eyes if need be. Take a breath and let out all the tension and thoughts that will be rushing to your mind. Begin by repeating short and supportive sentence, either silently or aloud. Whatever feels natural. Repeat it twenty times. Let it settle into your mind. Perhaps the following phrase will work for you. It’s been used throughout the years and was once immortalized in a John Lennon song.

Every day in every way, I'm getting better and better.

Say it with feeling. Understand each word completely as you repeat and ingrain them into your mind. In between the sentences, you may want to add a few specifics. ‘ I'm a better speaker. I’m a more loving father.’

Later on in Your Personal Journey we will add some additional mental exercises to perform during this time. But think of this as stretching. Begin now with setting aside the time for yourself. Time you own yourself. Time you deserve.

Some Simple Truths

To begin living a fulfilling life, we first have to understand some simple truths. When we commit ourselves to excellence, and we do whatever necessary to bring about the best in our lives, remarkable changes take place. You can change your reality, literally, by the hour. By the minute, By the moment.

Within your mind is all your knowledge. We’ll call it what you know. It is an immense amount of information. What you know is not simply book learning. It’s everything you’ve ever learned from tying bows on your shoe to balancing your checking account. It includes all your experiences, feelings, and observations—everything from the best steak house in town, to the fact that ladybugs are cute and harmless.

There’s also a whole lot of information that you know you don’t know. You are least aware that this information exists. Einstein’s Theory of Relativity or Bebe Ruth’s lifetime batting average, or the reason for the Pelopenisian Wars. An immense amount of information you have stored in the ‘what you know’ category, there’s much, much more in the ‘know you don’t know’ file.

Finally, there is the information that you don’t even know you don’t know. You’ve never even heard about it. The amount of information in this category is mind boggling. But most importantly, it’s within this body of knowledge that your ultimate success is located.

For most of us, life could be a bed of roses. If only we knew how and where to find the exact information required to live out our fondest dreams. And how to utilize that information once we did find it.

There is no magic pill. But that doesn’t mean there is no magic.

The knowledge we require is out there. And believe it or not, the knowledge required to find it is within us, right inside our heads.

For everyone it is different. For anyone who truly wants it, it is there. We are all on a journey, Your Personal Journal simply directs you to the path.

Remember, everything in the universe affects everything else. The universe is dynamic. Alive and very connected.

Nothing splendid has ever been achieved except by those who dared believe that something inside them was superior to circumstances. - Bruce Barton

What is Possible?

What did you want to be when you were a child? The President of the United States? An astronaut? Quite literally, the sky was the limit, right? Well what happened? Who told you to “get real?” When did ‘paying the bills’ become more important than following your passion? Can you even remember that exact moment when you gave up on your dreams? The good news: its never too late.

Now that you know the ways of the world and the skills you have to offer: how much money do you think you could earn in a year? Under the best possible employment circumstances, what is the best you can do? Please write that figure down on the dotted line below.

_____________________________

By the end of this program, that figure will seem ridiculously low.

Limiting beliefs are usually the culprit that keeps us down. They limit what we will attempt, thus limit our possibilities. It’s your beliefs that are probably keeping you from the magic six-figure or seven figure income that you deserve. Limiting beliefs that you will soon learn to release.

If personal development was easy everyone would do it. At first, opening our minds to new beliefs can feel like a new day in the sun. All we see are the possibilities. But our old limiting beliefs will attempt to block out the light. They don’t just go away. We are pushed out of our comfort zone. We’re forced to change our behavior. We face setbacks. Doubt creeps in and then sometimes we just give up.

Something must have happened to you lately that derailed some sort of progress you were making. What was it that make you go off your diet? What kept you from getting the promotion? Really think about it, and write it down.

Now what did you write? What was your excuse? Be honest. Were there any possible ways you could have succeeded in spite of the hardships or troubles you encountered? Can you even think of one? You may have had to sacrifice something, but there was a way, wasn't there? Think about it. And write it down.

Be creative and make a choice. We are capable of more than we know.

Success is a choice. There are a zillion ways to make a million bucks. No kidding. Fun ways to make a million.

Exercise:

Take a few minutes right now to write out a paragraph or two describing the ideal you. Remember, no limits or restrictions whatsoever. This is your pie-in-the-sky-life. You can be who you want to be, do anything this world has to offer.

It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power. - Alan Cohen