Have The Best Year Ever

January 16, 2010

If you have been reading my articles for the last few weeks, I’m sure you have decided to crawl into your bed and pull the covers up and over for the rest of the year. The economic forecast is dismal. States’ unemployment figures are high. Many jobs are going by the wayside due to technology. There is so much bad news, people are beginning to wonder if there are any more reasons to be happy. Some people are going so far as to call our economic status “The New Depression.”

I don’t know about you, but I refuse to throw in the towel and let the economy get the best of me. At the beginning of this New Year, we all made our resolutions to lose weight, exercise more, eat less junk food, walk up the stairs instead of taking the elevator, etc. Is everyone working on your resolutions or have you forgotten all about them? That’s what usually happens to New Year’s resolutions. You make them on New Year’s Eve, and three weeks later they are forgotten.

Dr. Joe Vitale tells us to forget about resolutions. He says that our resolutions are based on magical thinking, wishful thinking, and they lack any real commitment or plan. If you think about this, we usually write down the same resolutions every year hoping that one of these times, we’ll succeed. For the most part, resolutions are for wimps. We need to change the term to “Positive Predictions!” I really like the term Positive Predictions better, don’t you?

The difference between New Year’s Resolutions and Positive Predictions is with the resolutions, you write them down on paper at the beginning of the year and by February 1st, they’re forgotten. With Positive Predictions, you decide what you want, write them down as if they have already happened, and then attract them. If you do this correctly, you will attract your positive prediction, and the operative word here is “positive.” Let me show you how this works.

As Dr. Joe Vitale says, it’s a fun and creative exercise that allows you to visualize the future, contemplate unlimited possibilities, and actually begin to attract the new reality to you.

Of course, all too often individuals fixate on negative future predictions. 1984, Y2K and 2012, are just a few of the dates that come to mind. It seems there’s always an apocalyptic event looming on the horizon. Unfortunately, when these dates come and go without incident, they are quickly replaced by new, even more menacing predictions. Ho hum.

There’s a better way. Instead of imagining a doom and gloom scenario, let’s imagine a happy and prosperous one. Let’s make 2010 the year of Positive Predictions. For example, here’s a sampling of the Positive Predictions Dr. Vitale  added to his list for 2010:

Buoyed largely by the creative ideas of marketers, inventors and entrepreneurs, the United States explodes out of the current recession by harnessing several new technologies. People experience prosperity again! (Keep these positive thoughts going!)

Alternative sources of energy and innovative automobile technologies begins to reach a level of critical mass, resulting in dramatically lower demand for fossil fuels. We exit 2010 at an average price of $1.90 per gallon of gas — and falling. (Hoo Rah, Hoo Rah, Hoo Rah)

I climbed to the top of my 15 foot climbing rope with my arms only and it becomes an inspiring YouTube video. (I would have to work on this one really hard, wouldn’t you?)

Dr. Joe’s free book Attract Money Now is translated into every major language, is downloaded by tens of millions of people worldwide, and becomes a New York Times bestseller after a publisher pays me a huge seven-figure advance for the rights to it.

Operation Yes makes a major impact in ending homelessness in America.

Dr. Vitale launched the first ever Billionaire Bugatti Mastermind.

The Attract Miracles Community reaches critical mass and transforms the planet with a single thought projected around the world – by thought alone.

Dr. Vitale went on David Letterman, Jay Leno and Jon Stewart’s TV shows, showing his incredible Alien Guitar.

Dr. Vitale’s hydrogen-gas super car, The Scorpion was delivered mid-year and got front page news across the world as the first truly sexy environmentally friendly muscle car. He loves that car!

joe_scorpion smaller

As you can see, this exercise is exciting. You might also note the “predictions” are written as if they are after-the-fact reports. It’s based on a process Dr. Vitale calls “Nevillizing,” named after famed mystic Neville Goddard. Dr. Vitale discusses the practice of “Nevillizing” your goals in both The Attractor Factor and more recently in Attract Money Now.

“Nevillizing your goal” is imagining or visualizing what life would be like if your goal were already achieved today. The objective is to make an emotional connection to your future. You pretend it has already happened. This allows your subconscious mind to believe it’s possible, as well as to program the Universe to bring that vision into your reality.

Neville himself said –

“There is only one cause, and that is consciousness. Your consciousness is the center from which your world mirrors and echoes the state you presently occupy.”

Consider the act of making a prediction. Generally, meaningful predictions require that you step out of your comfort zone and take a risk. Dr. Vitale is not talking about unimportant predictions that anyone can make. He is talking about “worthy” predictions that make your subconscious mind take notice and say “Wow, this guy/gal isn’t fooling around!”

Contrast this to the standard practice of creating New Year’s resolutions. If you are like many individuals, you may write down a list of resolutions for the year. This ritual has become so routine that very little emotion if any permeates to the subconscious. Not to mention there’s virtually no personal accountability tied to the resolution.

Need proof?

You need look no further than your local health-club or gym. As of today, January 16, 2010, most are bursting at the seams with new members. Check back with these same clubs in July and you’ll notice that their attendance has dropped back to late 2009 levels.

Generally, resolutions are easy to forget or dismiss. However, Nevillized Positive Predictions have much stronger emotional ties and longevity. They will begin the process of attracting a new reality based on the Law of Attraction and the power of intention.

So here’s my personal challenge to you: Create a list of Positive Predictions. Do it today. Right now.

Have fun with it. Like Dr. Vitale’s, some can focus on world events. Others can be personal challenges that really stretch your boundaries. If you have already created a list of resolutions, you can easily convert them into predictions. Just remember to make them worthy. And be sure to write them as if they already happened. And record your excitement.

A great way to ensure that your Positive Predictions become a reality is through Mastermind Groups and Personal Coaching. Both can provide the necessary accountability, access to creative ideas, and insights to make your wildest predictions come true.

Here’s something most people don’t know:

Years ago Dr. Vitale walked into his Mastermind Group at the time and stated that he wanted to be in a movie. Not just any movie, and not as some fly on the wall. He wanted a noteworthy part.

At the time he had no movie experience or connections. But he stated his goal and let his Mastermind Group support his intention with their good thoughts.

That’s it.

He didn’t try to get an acting job.

He didn’t send out resumes or sexy photos of himself.

He just waited, expecting his miracle, and ready to take action when inspiration or opportunity appeared.

Three months later a woman named Rhonda Byrne read Dr. Vitale’s book, The Attractor Factor, and called him, asking if he would like to be in her movie, called The Secret.

The rest, as they say, is history.

This is the power of Positive Predictions, Mastermind Groups, and Personal Coaching.

There are many excellent coaching programs available. Take for example, Triune Training Systems – a program designed to help individuals and business owners become successful entrepreneurs in the Milwaukee area.

The Mastermind Center - a mastermind group open to members of Triune Training Systems. For more information about the coaching program and the mastermind group, please leave a comment with your email address so I can contact you.

Go out and make 2010 the best year ever!


By Diane | Posted in An Attitude of Gratitude, Breaking Bad Habits, Positive Attitude & Thoughts, The Power of Education, The Power of Positive Thinking | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

Are You Ready to Fly This New Year?

January 9, 2010

Well, here we are in a brand new year. Everyone has decided on new goals: new diets, exercise plans, new business plans, a new job, new clothes we got for Christmas, and perhaps a new lease on life. 2010 is a new year and the beginning of a new decade. We are ready for whatever life brings even if we are in a recession. We are not “…out of the woods” by any means yet, but if we put our nose to the grindstone, or some such thing, we can make the new year better than the previous year.

I’m sure you are looking at the paragraph above and saying, “Oh brother! Another person with a positive attitude! The fact is, the economy sucks no matter how you look at it. From what the experts say, nothing is going to get better for at least two years, not until 2012.”

We can look at these words and agree with them or we can look deep within ourselves and realize that the means for making things better for ourselves has been within us all along. You are probably thinking, “Oh sure! Tell me more fairy tales!”

Many families are having a hard time right now because they have lost faith in themselves. Many of us have put our faith in our employers to provide our livelihood. We work hard because that is what our parents, grandparents, and great grandparents told us to do to get ahead. All right, I’ve worked hard all my life and two years before retirement my company is broke. No job! No pension! No security! Now what should I do? Is it too late for me to retire? I’m 62 or even 65 years old! The only thing I know how to do is what I did for my company for the 40 years I worked for them. I don’t have any other marketable skills. Do I go back to work because I can’t afford to retire?

There are more than 75 million baby boomers asking themselves the same question as I write this article. Hopefully, many of these people invested wisely even though the stock market has been all over the graph in 2000-2003 and in 2008 through the present. How can people benefit when unemployment is at an all-time high and baby boomers are looking for jobs instead of looking forward to the fruits of their labor, a relaxed retirement?

EDUCATION! Everyone, the young as well as those of us that have worked hard all of our lives, need financial education and a deep sense of Spirit. Financial education needs to start when our children are in Kindergarten and should continue through high school, college, and adult life. We shouldn’t be relying on advice from our plumber, mechanic, or a family member who has no idea what he or she is talking about. Will we listen to someone who has no training in finance rather than a professional whose life’s work is helping people to make wise financial decisions?

Many people would rather act on free advice from a total stranger rather than do what their financial planner or investment adviser representative tells them. The fact is, most people are afraid of change. They are afraid because they don’t understand what the adviser or representative is telling them and would rather not change their investment strategies right now even though their investments have lost money in the past. Is that logical? Why would an intelligent human being decide to leave their investments in a mutual fund that has lost thousands of their dollars?

People think they know about their investments because a sales person told them that if they leave their money in for the long term, sooner or later the market will go up and they will profit in the long run. Buy and Hold! I lost thousands of dollars in the last five years in Buy and Hold investments until I found out that I no longer need to do this. There is another alternative out there. I invested my money with a money manager that will watch my investments very closely. If the market makes a downward fall, like it did in 2001-2002 and again in the last two years, my money manager will take my money out of the falling investments and put it into money market funds, cash, or inverse funds that make money other funds are losing money.

Please don’t get me wrong. Having my money in actively managed investments doesn’t mean I won’t lose money. What it does mean is that I won’t lose as much because my money manager will take my money out before the market goes down any further. Wouldn’t you like your money in an actively managed strategy where the money manager is watching your investment to make sure you are making as much money as the market will allow? That’s the strategy I want and have for my investments. My investment adviser representative has watched my strategy and the investment  and has shown me how to watch it on the website.

Right now everyone needs financial education in these uncertain times. Saving money is difficult when everything you have goes to pay bills and buy food. For those who have a few extra dollars, save it don’t spend it. Put it away in a jar. When you get $100.00, put it in the bank. Save a dollar or whatever you can. If you have the intention to save a dollar or two a day, the money will make itself available to you. Write down on a piece of paper what you want to save every single day and read it every day. Before you know it, you will have it. The money will be there for you to put in your jar every day. That is how the Law of Attraction works. If you believe that the money will come, it will. If you have any blockages or you don’t believe, the money will not come to you.

Financial education is necessary for people of all ages and it needs to begin now. We all need to believe that if we write down our intentions for money, abundance, prosperity, or whatever, read it every day and know we will receive it, the Law of Attraction will bring it to us. Think about it, practice it, and prosper!

By Diane | Posted in Breaking Bad Habits, Educational Opportunity, Financial Independence, Self Help Information, The Power of Education | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (0)

Change Negative Thoughts to Positive Ones

January 2, 2010

Are you normally a positive person or a negative one? As you can probably guess, I’m a positive person for the most part. But after hanging around my mentor, Mike, I have to say that I’m more negative than I thought. That is probably the reason I’ve not done as well in my life as I would have liked. One of my problems is I’m happy if I don’t have to get out of my comfort zone. In other words, if I don’t have to call someone I don’t know on the phone I’m happy. How in the world am I going to succeed in my new business if I’m uncomfortable calling people on the phone?

The fact is I’m not going to have to make any cold calls. If I do, one of my goals for 2010 is to live out of my comfort zone. When I make a call, even if it is to someone I know, I will ask the person if I’m calling at a good time.  Another goal that will be achieved in 2010 is to have confidence in my abilities. I always tell my children that they can achieve whatever they set their mind to; therefore, I’m going to follow my own advice. My confidence is going to soar from now on.

Passing the Series 65 test to become an Investment Adviser Representative is the first goal of 2010 to achieve. After failing the first test, I know where I’m deficient. As a result, I’m focusing on the two areas that I scored in the lower 50’s percentile, however I should not forget the other two areas that I scored in the 75th percentile. A score of 63 is pretty close to 70, but I want to score higher than the new required passing score of 72. That means I will study the Investment Vehicles and Strategies from Testeachers much more carefully than I did the first time, and I will use another source to learn more information from a different point of view. My friends have offered to help me study and I’m going to take them up on their offers.

A very important part of changing your thought processes is to try to figure out why your thoughts are negative instead of positive. Do you feel like you never get a break in life? Is your view of yourself negative? When you look in the mirror, do you see the wrinkles on your face instead of your gorgeous brown eyes or beautiful clear skin? I won’t go any further because I think you get the picture. For one thing, you are not helping anyone by looking at yourself and seeing all your faults. You are hurting yourself. Don’t do it. You need to see your positive attributes because if you don’t see them, no one else will.

What I’m trying to say is, negative thoughts only hurt you. However, you can hurt your children if you teach them to think negatively. Children are very impressionable. If they hear their parent talk negatively about himself or herself, they can only think that there is something wrong with them. Don’t let this happen. If you need professional help to change the way you feel about yourself, please get it. Otherwise, work on changing your thoughts one at a time. Focus on your strengths and feel good about them. If there are things about your personality that you don’t like, work on changing one thing at a time. Reward yourself when you succeed. Changing a behavior or habit takes about three weeks according to the experts. You are never too old to change your behavior for the better.

If you change your thoughts from negative to positive, you will be a happier person and live longer. If your life is not what you want it to be, you are the only one that can change it. If your job makes you negative, think about a position that would make you feel happy and excited to go to work every day. Right now, while the economy is in a trough working toward expansion, think about a job that would make you happy. When the time is right, make the change. Making yourself miserable and coming home and making your family miserable is not the way to live. You might say, “If I change jobs now, I will lose my retirement.” If that is the reason you won’t change jobs, then you might think of transferring to a new division in your company. Perhaps the change in location, co-workers, and immediate supervisor will be enough to change your negative attitude to a positive one.

If you are unhappy or negative about anything in your life, think about what it would take for you to be happy and make the necessary changes. You are responsible for your life and whether you are happy or not. No one is to blame if you are not happy. You can blame your mother, father, brother, friends, boss, co-worker, etc., but in the long run, no one else is responsible for your happiness or sadness, except you.

We have just started a new year and decade, 2010. If you have the goal of changing your negative attitude, I give you as much encouragement as possible. This is a very important goal and in order to accomplish it, you must work on it every minute. You won’t fail if you continue to work on it. If you need help, get your family to help you. Everyone wants you to succeed because your happiness is important. When you start reaping the rewards from thinking positively, you will know you have succeeded. Changing your negative thoughts to positive ones can only help you to succeed personally as well as in business. Take care and keep up the good work.

By Diane | Posted in Breaking Bad Habits, Positive Attitude & Thoughts, Self Help Information, Setting and Attaining Goals, The Power of Positive Thinking | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

New Year’s Resolutions

December 28, 2009

Are you going to be making New Year’s resolutions this year? Everyone makes resolutions like “I’m going to lose 10 pounds by Valentine’s Day,” or “I’m going to quit smoking this year,” or “I’m going to do more reading instead of watching TV,” etc. I could go on, but the idea here is, “Resolutions don’t matter because people never keep them.” If resolutions are not kept, why are they made?

That’s a good question! My opinion on New Year’s Resolutions is they are a tradition. Every year since I was a child, I remember everyone I knew made resolutions on New Year’s Eve in preparation for the New Year. Apparently, 75 percent of all resolutions made are broken. Can you believe that? I’m sure it is true.

Every year since I was about 10 years old I made New Year’s resolutions. One year, when I was 15, I decided to make the resolution (at the beginning of the school year and at New Years) to have a boyfriend. I went to a Catholic high school and wore a green plaid pleated skirt, a white shirt, and a black blazer uniform. At 15, I was as round as I was tall. None of the boys in my class or any of the other classes liked me, but I didn’t lose hope. I was so determined to have a boyfriend that year that I started exercising and dieting. In October, I turned 16. Still no boyfriend. I lost 10 pounds and my little round belly. My girl friends were very happy I had lost weight. They thought for sure I would have a boyfriend in a few months. Christmas came and went. Valentines Day came and went. By the time school was out for the summer, I still didn’t have a boyfriend. Actually, when I finally got a boyfriend, I was 18 years old and in nursing school. So much for that year’s resolution.

The media hype acclaiming the new year encourages people to change something about themselves to make life better. There are so many people trying to lose weight, stop smoking, do more exercise, be less lonely, start new businesses, etc. Those who usually make a resolution to change themselves or their lives may start out strong, but after a few weeks they lose steam and quit. For those folks trying to change their image or quit smoking, they work hard at it for awhile, but because our society is used to having what we want right away, when we don’t lose weight or we can’t quit smoking we quit trying. There is no willpower anywhere or our resolutions are not serious.

I’ve come to realize that New Year’s resolutions are a game. When we are with friends, we make resolutions to keep up with them. When we are alone, we have no intention of keeping resolutions. If everyone who made a resolution was accountable to someone other than a family member or co-worker, I bet more people would keep their resolutions. That is the reason I don’t make resolutions any more at New Years or at any other time. Saying a resolution out loud is tantamount to being accountable and I would have to go through with it.

You will have to do what you think is best when it comes to New Year’s resolutions. If you feel like you can go through with it, go ahead and make as many resolutions as you can keep.

By Diane | Posted in Breaking Bad Habits, Exercise is Important For Everyone! | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

Losing Weight

December 22, 2009

Have you ever thought, “I will do everything possible to lose weight, I don’t care what it is?” That was what I thought about later in life as it became more and more difficult to lose weight. When I was in my twenties and had gained many pounds as the result of pregnancies, I used the original Weight Watchers Diet to lose a total of 60 pounds. Every time after that when I only needed to lose a few pounds, I used Weight Watchers and learned to use the new and improved versions of a terrific weight loss system. As I aged, however, every time I tried to use Weight Watchers, the diet became more and more unique and since I didn’t go to the meetings, I didn’t know how to use the diet to its maximum efficiency, so it didn’t work for me anymore.

The only other thing I could think of to do was to start smoking again. Was this a smart thing to do, definitely not, but it was the only appetite suppressant I could think of to use that would work. Not only did I start smoking again, but I also used the laxatives I was already taking for irritable bowel syndrome to increase my metabolism and get rid of the extra calories. I thought this was a great way to lose weight. Did it work? Of course it did! Is it the healthiest way to lose weight? Heavens NO!

Fortunately, I came to my senses in January 2006 and stopped smoking so my lungs could start healing, not necessarily to decrease my appetite. However, I didn’t stop using the laxatives because they have always helped me with regularity issues, not just to increase my metabolism. However, I decided to use Phillips Caplets because the magnesium did not cause cramps. I was regular with Phillips and I didn’t have to suffer through the abdominal cramps that other laxatives caused. What a deal!

I just want to let you know what can happen when you use Phillips caplets consistently every day for an extended period of time. The magnesium works very well in your system to help your bowels move, to the point of making bowel movements soft. After using this brand for awhile, I started leaking loose stool from you know where. How embarrassing is that? I couldn’t believe this was happening, but when it first started, I didn’t equate it with the Phillips product. To keep from leaking, I rolled toilet paper and put it on the rectum to keep from leaking (I truly hate to report this because it is embarrassing, but I need to let people know about it in case others are having the same difficulties). I reported the situation to my primary care doctor, who scheduled a colonoscopy right away. The colonoscopy didn’t find a loose sphincter, which might cause the leaking, however, it did notice my use of laxatives.

I’ve had to use laxatives all my life, but I have never abused them. Ever since I was a child, I was always bound up. At the age of 6 or 7, I can remember taking Milk of Magnesia or Citrate of Magnesia to help me go. As I got older, my difficulty was always there, so I’ve always had to use laxatives. When I was pregnant with my children, my condition got worse, to the point of hemorrhoids. I’m sure you ladies reading this are totally agreeing with me.

After the colonoscopy, I started to suspect the laxatives I was taking so I checked the side effects of the “Senna” and the Phillips caplets. Neither one had leaking as a side effect so I didn’t think about it anymore; however, the problem continued. I finally decided to start taking “Docusate Sodium Stool Softeners” and decrease the Phillips caplets. The stool softeners took a little while to start working in my system; but, when they did, I was able to decrease the Phillips caplets. As I decreased the Phillips caplets, the leaking diminished. This was a terrific revelation. Now I know what was causing the leaking. What a relief not to have that happen anymore.

Right now, getting the word out about leaking as a result of using Phillips Caplets for an extended period of time is most important right now. I’m sure there is a disclaimer on the bottle that the product is not to be used for an extended period of time. The bottle states that you shouldn’t use Phillips caplets for more than 14 days without telling your physician.

If anyone has had this type of experience no matter what laxative they have used, please comment on this article. I would like to find out if my experience has ever happened to anyone else and what they have done about it. Please let me know, so I can let the company know about this side effect.

By Diane | Posted in Breaking Bad Habits, Lose Weight, Medication Information | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

Are You A Complainer? I Hope Not!

November 8, 2009

Have you ever worked with a person who complains all the time about everything? At one point or another, everyone has. All this co-worker can do is take time away from his/her work and complain, first to one co-worker and then another. By the time the day is done, every co-worker has heard about this individual’s problems and can’t wait to get away from the office.

This is a very difficult situation to deal with. The boss should take the complaining worker aside and let him/her know that if there is something wrong in the workplace, the individual’s supervisor needs to know about it. Otherwise, if the worker is complaining about something in his private life, he/she needs to keep it under wraps and not take work time to talk about it.

Although it is very important that this worker get his/her frustrations out in the open, he/she does not need to talk about it with everyone. Under ordinary circumstances, when a person gets frustrations out in the open, he/she usually feels better. Unfortunately, when an individual complains to anyone and everyone who will listen, pretty soon no one will want to speak to this complainer anymore.

When we deal with an individual who is constantly complaining, the usual reaction is to avoid him/her. Then, this individual not only has no one to talk to, but he/she also begins to feel isolated and picked on. While it is understandable for people to avoid the constantly complaining individual, it is also true that the individual now finds himself/herself with no friends.

The moral here is that individuals need to realize that complaining all the time alienates spouses, co-workers, friends, neighbors, etc. If this person does not quit this type of behavior, he or she will not have any friends and will feel completely alone. Loneliness is hard to bear,  especially when the individual refuses to understand that he or she is part of the problem.

First of all, this individual has to admit that he/she has a problem. Once that hurdle is overcome, the next step is to eliminate the habit. Complaining is not an easy habit to break, but if a person really wants to, anything is possible.

Now that the individual has admitted the problem and is determined to break the habit, he or she needs allies; that is, people who are willing to help. The allies can alert the person when he/she begins to complain. That way, he/she can stop talking and walk away. Pretty soon, the individual will catch himself/herself before complaining.

The individual will start making friends again and a bad habit will be broken. Congratulations! This technique can be used to break any habit, as long as a person has not alienated all of his/her friends. In order to overcome a problem like this one, a person has to admit that a problem exists.  If the person cannot help himself/herself with the problem, he/she needs to consult a psychologist for assistance and be willing to follow instructions.

The above solution sounds simple, doesn’t it? Well, it isn’t. Breaking a habit takes time and persistence. Once someone decides to do something as difficult as breaking a habit like this, it is very important for people to be around to help. After all, people need one another. An individual can overcome this type of situation if he/she is strong enough; however, it is always easier when there are others available to help.

Tomorrow is Monday. Remember, don’t complain. This is the start of a brand new week. Surprise your family, co-workers, and friends. Everyone will be pleasantly surprised.

By Diane | Posted in Breaking Bad Habits | Tagged | Comments (0)