The Worst Advice Ever

By John Laframboise

If you don't think you are capable of being a visionary and making a difference in the world, then read on. The human brain is capable of extraordinary things. Visionaries like Albert Einstein, Henry Ford and Bill Gates are all equipped with generally the same type of brain we all have. With that perspective in mind, the worst advice I hear commonly preached is 'Don't think, live in the moment', or 'Don't think about the future, just be in the now', or the closely related, 'Don't take life too seriously.' This type of advice is generally accepted and thought of as a sound principal to hopefully embracing self-fulfillment.

Apparently the best way to use our advanced brain power is to just spontaneously live our lives 'not thinking' and 'just being', never planning out our future. Usually this method of thinking leads to other forces dictating your decisions, whether it be media, advertising or other people. It can also lead to a personal vice taking control of your life, such as, but not exclusively, drugs or alcohol. To use the most advanced tool known in the universe (the human brain) has become somewhat archaic in recent times. Human beings now easily allow the media to shape their beliefs and behaviours. For example, thanks to paparazzi and media, following movie stars has become common practice for some people, a behaviour that is hardly self-fulfilling. Or, thanks to advertisements, a lot of people feel they need a new car every 3 years, therefore becoming slave to a large monthly car bill, when a used car 5-10 years old is a much more financially thoughtful decision. You wouldn't believe how many people have a $500.00 car payment every month, yet are in debt $20,000.00. This situation leads to unwanted stress and a feeling of financial insecurity.

To me, 'living in the moment' is a quick way to normalcy and personal dictatorship. At the end of it all, I would feel much more self-fulfilled knowing that I chose my own path and didn't just follow the masses and let others dictate my actions, which can happen by blindly 'living in the moment.' You can begin doing this by acting more independently and thinking logically for yourself. Questions like, 'Is this a waste of my time/money/energy?', or 'Could A really equal C, even though most people think A equals B.', should often be asked to challenge whatever society throws at you.

Looking at past visionaries, it's easy to see that they did not just follow the masses and let others dictate their decisions. Visionaries continue to learn new things, continue to challenge the common practice and dare to run with an idea that may seem crazy. The crazy ones usually change the world, because they are crazy enough to think they can.

Breaking down barriers in your mind that have been built up by society and generally accepted common practices, can be a fantastic way to begin following your dreams and set you on a path to self-fulfillment. By challenging the common advice, "Don't think, just live in the moment', one can begin to actually use their brain. Why wouldn't you use the greatest tool in the universe?

John Laframboise is founder and author at http://www.riseofamillionaire.com, a personal finance Blog that follows his progress to become a millionaire. John has held positions within the Canadian banking industry and has a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Windsor in Canada.

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Fear of the Dentist - Overcoming Dental Phobia

By Edward Davey

Huge numbers of people are afraid when they go to the dentist. In Britain 40% of the population is so afraid that they just don't go and in the United States 30-40 million people either receive inadequate dental care or avoid going to the dentist altogether because of the fear of dental procedures. This is clearly a massive problem.

A person in the grip of a terrible fear or phobia is suffering and it may ruin their whole life. My own terror of the dentist was so extreme that it was almost painful. I couldn't look at the outside of a dental surgery or at pictures of them in newspapers, magazines or on the television and if someone suggested I should go to the dentist it could result in a huge row.

When one of my front teeth broke and looked really horrible I was finally forced to go to the dentist. I was lucky because I had trained in Hypnotherapy and self-hypnosis. Using the techniques I had learned I was able to overcome my fear to the point where I actually liked my dentist. In the past I would never have thought it possible that I could 'like' a dentist. I wrote the techniques I used down in a small book so that others may use them too. The techniques I used are simple and very effective.

There are various techniques and treatments available to help you overcome the fear of going to the dentist and other phobias. The unorthodox ones that I recommend include: Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP), The Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) and Hypnotherapy, either from a qualified therapist or using self-hypnosis.

Neuro Linguistic Programming works on the supposition that our brains run programmes and that a phobia is simply one of these programmes. Other programmes you will have include a programme for driving a car, riding a bicycle, brushing your teeth and so on. By changing the programme, either with help from a NLP practitioner or by using the techniques in a book, you can overcome your phobia.

The Emotional Freedom Technique is one of the Meridian Therapies and is also known as psychological acupuncture. By tapping on certain acupuncture points whilst using a set up phrase and repeating affirmations you can create great beneficial changes for all sorts of problems including trauma, phobias and addictions, etc.

A Hypnotherapist may use various techniques and also, whilst you are in trance, NLP to help you overcome your phobia. With self-hypnosis you can use the power of suggestion and visualisation to help free you from your phobia.

So don't suffer unnecessarily. Find out what therapies are available in your area or buy a suitable book and help yourself. Very soon your fear or phobia could be a thing of the past and you can look forward to a happier, less fearful future. You can do it so just go for it!

Edward Davey has been interested in Personal Development for over 20 years and is the author of "Stress Free Dentistry. The easy way to overcome your fear of going to the dentist" available at http://www.lulu.com. He is also an occasional blogger at http://www.phobiacoach.blogspot.com. He is a qualified Hypnotherapist, Masseur and Aromatherapist and is a trained practitioner of NLP, EFT, Reiki and Reconnective Healing. He has also trained in Life Coaching.

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BE the Master of Your Life and BE Yourself All the Time

By Carele Belanger

BE the Master of our self, of our life, is the solution to a wonderful life. BE the master is to live each moment by being our self, because being is living.

We are writing our book of life. When we are in our mom's belly, we are all new. We are like a brand new computer. The hard disk is empty and in it, we will install brand new programs so the computer can work at it best potential, at least what we think is the best potential

When we are in our mom's belly, people on the outside already give us new programs from the best of their knowledge. This is normal because the baby can not function without having directions to follow. Where it starts to get complicated, is after babies are born and adults stop them from living their own life, so they can grow up and continue to live in their true being.

To help children continue to live their lives in their being, it's good to understand that in life there is nothing good, nothing bad, there are only experiences and life's perceptions. A child is only asking to grow and live in his true being. A child is simplicity, is pure, with unconditional love. Unfortunately, the child is growing in a stressful environment led by adults.

BE the Master of your life and BE yourself all the time.

The 1st principle, to be the master of your life, is to BE grateful for who you are. The first thing to do in the morning when we wake up is to be filled with gratitude for who we are. Often people tell me that the most important person in their life is either their wife, husband, parents, kids, friends..... When someone chooses to BE the Master of his life, the first most important person in his life will be himself. Everything starts with our self.

Imagine a life where you do whatever you want, at your rhythm, without having the fear of what others think about you. When will people stop following others, like a herd of sheep, instead of listening to their own heart, what they have inside. When we are aligned with who we are, in our heart, we achieve great things, big dreams. We are every one of us, the master of our life. So why always move forward with the influence of others. It is not necessary to do as others do. What others say or think come from their own personal experiences, and are only suggestions. It is up to us to decide if their suggestions work for us.

One important thing when you decide to BE the real you is: RESPECT. Respect for yourself and respect for others. BE nice to people, they are not like you and they have a different perception of life than you. BE patient. People won't necessarily like the way you think all the time, the way you are, in your Being. So instead of getting angry and mad at them, stay calm and breathe. Accept who they are. Do not judge others.

Lots of exercises exist so you can stay aligned with your Being. BE the Master will show you the art of being. By teaching you the 7 principles of Being so you can apply them and live in your being.

The 1st principle is to be filled with gratitude for the phenomenal person you are. And this is sincerely the first step to go through because everything starts with our self.

We want to receive love, respect from others, it won't be possible if you don't love or respect yourself first. In life, the others are the mirror of our self, our life to help us grow at every moment. Heal yourself first and shoot out the beautiful light of your true being, of who you really are. We are all miracles of life and we have all the power within for creating a wonderful and accomplished life.

Don't think to change everything about yourself in one day because you will risk creating a big choc. Allow yourself to transform one step at a time. Practice being yourself every day. Start with one thing, one event for 15 minutes per day. Connect with your cells. Feel what's inside of you. When you are confronted with a situation and inside of you it says No, just don't do it. If it says Yes, move forward and do it. Don't be afraid to follow your intuition.

For sure, this all sounds simple and easy for others than for you. However, I would suggest you to start transforming yourself slowly and getting stronger with some simple exercises and do them one step at a time and move on when you are ready.

You can discover more directly on our blog about articles, offers, meditation, cards and more at: http://www.BeTheMaster.com.

Gratitude,

Carele Belanger

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Is This a "Yes" Society?

By Michael G A Brown

Do we tend to agree with everything that happens in society or do we question things that are incorrect or wrong. In order to have a balance society it is important for people to be able to disagree when things are wrong. If the society does not question the decisions that are made by the leaders it could have the effect that a balance view of the society is not heard. So it would be essential that the views of everyone in society should have a platform.

Democratic Societies

In many democratic societies it would be hoped that people would have the option to express their views. The idea of a "yes" society could indicate that everyone is not able to express their opinion. It could also suggest that every one is not getting a true view of the truth. The important thing in a democratic society is that every one has a right to vote. The ability to vote gives everyone the ability to say if they agree with or disagree with the current ruling government.

The Right of Voting

This right to vote has been won by many years of struggle on the part of many groups in society. Indeed we have seen women have needed to speak out in order to win the right to vote. So because of this right to vote has cost many in terms of suffering, it is essential that every one exercises their right to vote. The only way that we can really consider the society as a balanced society is where everyone ensures they do vote at elections. By voting we should be able to avoid having a "yes" society and should have a more balanced society.

The need to Understand the Political Process

People in the country should be aware of the political process in order to have a healthy society. Children being taught the process of government is an essential part of keeping a healthy society. Also the idea of the debates of parliament being televised is an effective way of allowing the general public to take part in the governing process.

Correct Information from Media

So the fact that democratic societies exercise the right to vote, can help to ensure that we do not have a "Yes" society. Also indeed it is essential that people receive the correct information from the media, because only by doing this will ensure that people can make informed decisions when voting at general elections. So we can see that by allowing elections in a democratic society can aid in allowing a balanced society. But people need to receive correct information from the media to enable them to make good decisions when voting at general elections. So by having the right to vote can possibly ensure that the society is not a "Yes" Society.

M G A Brown (c) July 2011

MGA Brown is the Author of winning book "Thoughts To Make You Think"
To find out how you can benefit go to Http://www.toolsofsuccess.co.uk/

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Empowerment and Insignificance

By David B Wolf

"With the power of intention you create the life you want." "From a stance of 100% personal responsibility I manifest the future of my highest vision."

Such empowering perspectives characterize a life of self-development and creative expression. The process of personal transformation inspires us to recognize and appreciate all the qualities of our essential self.

Humility in the face of our insignificance is also a hallmark of the self-realized person, and we might wonder about the relationship between our insignificance and personal empowerment.

Consider the stars. Each has its unique features, and shines and beautifies the sky in its special way. Still, with respect to the millions of billions of stars in the sky, it might be said that any particular star is relatively unimportant.

Besides God's handiwork, does not man's fade into insignificance?" - Mohandas Gandhi

So with ourselves, in our personal growth process, often it is supportive to emphasize our specialness, our unique qualities and contribution. Neglecting that, we may find ourselves less than completely alive, withholding vital aspects of our nature from the universe. Not only do we lose out, but in living life with such a lack of self-awareness, or courage to authentically express our God-given qualities, we deny others the opportunity to enrich their lives with what we may offer.

Pride comes before the fall, and perhaps the reader, like the author, has experience of how immersion in our qualities, our growth, our empowerment, etc., can be self-absorption, and a stumbling block on the path of self-realization. At such times, focus on our insignificance can prove essential.

Freedom from false pride is described in the Bhagavad-gita as the first and primary quality for one seeking spiritual advancement. Such freedom is marked, not by an insincere modesty borne of frustrated desire, but rather by genuinely humble realization of our intrinsic nature as servant.

The material conception of "servant" might connote "servile", or "humiliation". Cultivation of conscious living entails realizing our spiritual nature as servant, which means, metaphorically, that we know how to water the root of the tree. Directing our efforts to separately watering each leaf or branch would be inefficient, even foolish, and when we give water to the root, all parts of the tree are nourished. Similarly, spiritual realization means discovery of how to dovetail our innate propensity to serve in a win/win manner, such that all living entities are benefitted (trillions of wins), not just a particular set of branches, twigs or leaves (a particular family, community, species, etc.).

Perhaps we're thinking, "Well, I'm not going to serve anyone, or anything." If we think about it, though, we can't get away from service, whether it's to our nation, our partner, an ideology, our belly. The question, then, is where best to give our service.

This servant attitude goes along with humility, realizing that we're not the center. Our nature is to enjoy, as secondary enjoyers; that is, by serving the divine, the root of the tree, and by enhancing the growth of others. To the extent that we align our service inclination with watering the root, we empower ourselves to utilize all our qualities in their fullness, for their most sublime purpose. Understanding our relative insignificance as one amongst multitudes of servants of the Supreme is humbling, and through such humility, perhaps ironically, we connect with potency beyond mundane conception, as I allow myself to be an instrument for profound purpose.

Learn more about assertiveness training at Satvatove.com.

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10 Procrastination Busters

By John Drury

Embracing uncertainty and stepping out where it is easy to fail sounds exciting when you first get the creative idea but in the midst of implementation it can all seem too hard and it is so so easy to find reasons to hold off, slow down, wait until tomorrow, wait until it feels right, etc.

Most people know about procrastination. It can especially be a problem when you are doing things you have never done before.

Procrastination Causes: 

1. Fears - it is amazing how the fear of getting it wrong, of not being good enough, of people rejecting me, or variations on these fears can paralyse us, so we sabotage ourselves before we even get started.
2. Lack of knowledge - not knowing where to start in an overall sense or with a new project that seems daunting. The unknown is always somewhat daunting.
3. Unclear priorities - Even when you have started to gain some knowledge it is easy to get overwhelmed when you have too many things all coming at you at once. We, like the lion, will be tamed into passivity if we focus on too many things at once.
4. Poor self-management - Even when you know your stuff, have some experience and a clear plan all laid out and working, if you do not look after yourself emotionally as well as physically, you can experience a drop in energy levels and motivation that makes everything seem very hard - so you procrastinate and often do not know why.
5. Feeling very alone - The fog of procrastination can become totally overwhelming when you feel alone in a new venture.
6. A recent failure - can knock the stuffing out of you so it is difficult to get going again because the wounds are still raw. Fear of failure can be debilitating. (See 1. above)
7. Add your own here_______________________________________________

10 Procrastination Busters: 

1. Action, Action, Action! Nothing breaks the paralysis of procrastination like lots of action steps. I find as long as I am taking some kind of action every day, no matter how small, it keeps me moving, and I resist the feeling of being stuck which procrastination creates.
2. Identify and admit your fears. Everyone has fears. In fact everyone faces the same 3 fears with various degrees of intensity - of not being enough, not being loved and not belonging. So the key is to identify and name your fear. Take control of it by naming it and get ready to take action anyway.
3. Get educated! The best way to become empowered, as long as it is not just theoretical training. Be careful to learn from people who have actually done what you want to do. Learning should always lead to action.
4. Get focused! Know what it is you really want. It is so important to begin with the end in mind. When you know what you want (or where you are headed) it is easier to focus and priorities are easier to set. Always, and of everything, ask how does this help me to achieve my goal?
5. Get organised! There are all kinds of systems available. You may prefer to work with lists, with schedules, with a paper diary, with Outlook diary, with your iPhone organiser, with a secretary or EA or VA. You have to find a way to get organised that works for you. If you know what you want, and have your priorities reasonably clear getting organised is just a matter of self-discipline.
6. Look after yourself -a.Physically (diet, exercise and sleep), b.Emotionally (do something you love that is not work at least once a week), c.Relationally (prioritise time with family and friends) and d.Spiritually (make sure your work is somehow connected to purpose and your personal values).
7. Get inspired! Listen to motivational stories; read motivational material; go out of your way to mix with people who understand your entrepreneurial journey and who will inspire you to go for it. Force yourself to get out and see people regularly especially when you are feeling overwhelmed.
8. Connect with a Mentor - Find someone who has done what you want to do or something similar and buy them lunch and ask them 100 questions. They are often more willing to spend time with you than you are to ask.
9. Hire a Coach - If you are serious about becoming successful hire a coach to assist you who will help you keep perspective in the midst of the confusion of busyness and hold you accountable to action.
10. Have a huge reason WHY! It may be your lifestyle, it may be your children, a bigger house or to serve the poor. Focus on your WHY every day and you will be amazed how much easier it is to bust through procrastination.

Do yourself a favour and keep this list nearby so you can identify early where your procrastination comes from and quickly find the key to bust through the inertia and to continue to take action to achieve your goals.

Have I about covered it?

Anything to add?

What helps you bust through procrastination?

I'd love to hear from you.

John Drury is a Leadership Strategist and Coach based in Sydney Australia. He is the owner of Summit Leadership Solutions, a company that assists businesses and organisations to GROW by providing leadership solutions relevant to their needs.

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How to Find the Genuineness In Other People

By Sheila C Skillman

Do you have a message to communicate to others, or a wonderful service you want to motivate people to buy, or something good you've created that you want to offer to the world? If so, how do you find the people who will respond positively? Do you go out and knock at doors blindly, not knowing who is behind them? Or do you take your message to those who are already favourably disposed towards you - those who are genuine? If so - how do you find them?

This is probably the biggest question the advertising industry asks itself, and why, of course, market researchers are constantly in business, seeking people to answer their surveys, so they can identify those who may have an interest in their product. This also provides much to reflect upon when we consider the desperation that leads companies to employ telesales staff specially to cold-call people chosen randomly from lists of telephone numbers.

In the Bible we may find Jesus' opinion of cold-calling. St Luke tells us in chapters 9 & 10 of his Gospel that Jesus sends his disciples off to all the surrounding villages "to drive out demons and to cure diseases." But he tells his team to take nothing with them, and to go only to people who welcome them. In other words, they are not to go to those who are hostile or indifferent - only to those who are noble and pure, otherwise known as "people of peace." If the members of Jesus' team find they are not welcome, they are to "shake the dust off" their feet, and leave. "People of peace", he says, will welcome them, give hospitality, and listen to them.

Clearly those cold-callers with their lists of telephone numbers have given up on trying to identify "people of peace" who will receive their message positively!

Most creative writers know the pain of sending their manuscript out to publishers and agents, and being either ignored, or coldly rejected. It seems as if you simply cannot prevail against the huge wall of indifference, you cannot make inroads into hearts and minds. So how do those with something good to offer find people of peace? It seems that we are to go out with no pre-conceptions, be willing to be vulnerable, be willing to ask. Certainly this would appear to be a huge challenge in today's world. Who can we trust? And yet it seems a law of life that somewhere, we have to trust. Without it, how can we even get started?

I believe, therefore, that the essential quality necessary to finding the genuineness in other people is the willingness to trust - despite all the evidence of the world, ultimately you have to step out in trust. It is not possible to go far in an atmosphere of suspicion - witness the difficulties encountered by those who invade countries with the avowed intention of saving a population from an unjust dictator, and fail to consider how they are going to gain the trust of the people, in order to create a just society after the dictator has fallen.

So perhaps the answer to the question "How may we find the genuineness in other people?" is first to look at ourselves, and our own agenda. What do we bring with us? Are we open-hearted? Do we come with no pre-conceptions, no cynical reserve? This is not the first time I have cited the example of Rabbi Lionel Blue - vulnerable, self-revealing and real in all that he writes and says and is - no wonder he is loved and admired by so many. Simplicity, honesty and openness gravitates to its own - and so finds genuineness in others.

S.C. Skillman is the author of exciting new psychological thriller novel "Mystical Circles". The word "mystical" in the title is used ironically to mean "mysterious behaviour, events that keep you guessing, and people playing at cross purposes". Reviewers have enjoyed Skillman's "exploration of a community of complex characters who inhabit an eerie and atmospheric retreat" and have found it "a very entertaining read with plenty of action and sparky dialogue." If you are interested in people and their foibles you will enjoy this book. You can buy the novel on Amazon and through the Kindle Bookstore or visit the author's website to find out more. Click the secure payment gateway to buy a signed copy at http://www.scskillman.co.uk.

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