Archive for December, 2007

AIN’T NOTHIN’ YOU CAN DO

Thursday, December 20th, 2007

Jewish humor has it that a rookie recruit for the New York City Police had passed all of his examinations except public health. The police surgeon said, “Well, Murphy, you’ve done very well. I’ll ask you one question and if you do all right on that, you can become a cop.”

He wanted to ask him how he would respond if a rabid dog bit somebody; for instance, what does he know about the disease, how would he treat the victim, whom would he call and so forth. The doctor said, “Now, tell me, what is rabies, and what are you going to do about it?”

“Well, Captain,” Murphy replied, “rabies is Jewish priests, and there ain’t nothin’ you can do about it.”

There “ain’t nothin’ you can do” about quite a few situations! And it’s true with people, too. There ain’t nothin’ you can do about the way they are, so it is fruitless to try to change them into something else. You are wise to learn to accept them without conditions,
understand them the best you can and love them anyway. For they probably won’t change much and there just ain’t nothin’ you can do
about it.

Sam Keen Christine said, “We come to love, not by finding a perfect person, but by learning to see an imperfect person perfectly.” It’s all about acceptance.

– Steve Goodier

This is YOUR LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEM, a free newsletter sharing life, love and laughter, published by Steve Goodier.
http://www.lifesupportsystem.com

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You are a Genius – Unlocking the Power of the Mind

Thursday, December 20th, 2007

Hi, Jim Rohn here. This month we focus on accelerating our learning processes. How exciting! First, understand we possess the ability to improve and accelerate our learning curve. And second, this creates the potential of what we can continue to become. Wow! So let’s get started. Here is an overview of the month.

1. You are a Genius. In week one, we discuss ways to unlock and tap into the incredible powerful potential you have in your mind. We will also cover the attitudes of successful learners and show how your attitude about learning will determine how far you go in your life and career.

2. Six Stages of Learning. In week two we will talk about how to accelerate your learning and discover what your unique learning strengths and weaknesses are. We will also cover the topic of finding your particular learning style, and how to best tailor your learning to fit your unique needs.

3. Improve Your Memory. In week three we will talk about how the mind and memory works and how to train it to remember more. We will also cover basic speed reading techniques and show you the importance of reading and how to develop a basic reading plan.

4. Life-long Learning. In week four we will discuss the importance and benefits of being a lifetime learner. In addition, we will talk briefly about a basic plan for life-long learning and how to keep your mind tuned for success, as well as how to win the battles of thought that take place in our minds.

You are a Genius – Unlocking the Power of the Mind

This month we focus on the learning that comes through the power of the mind. Take care to feed and stimulate your brain, and you will expand your mind. A healthy brain is central to a healthy mind. Because the two are inextricably connected, I would like to start this month by giving an overview of the astounding complexity of the brain. Many of these facts may be familiar to you, but they are important reminders of this incredible tool God gave us. We again need to see the human brain and mind with wonder, awe and inspiration.

But first, what do we mean by “learning?”

Here are how some dictionaries define it:

–the act, process, or experience of gaining knowledge or skill –knowledge or skill gained through schooling or study –behavioral modification especially through experience or conditioning –to gain knowledge, comprehension, or mastery through experience or study

Keep this in mind as we go through the month. Learning is gaining knowledge through various means.

Now, a little about the brain:

The brain is the equivalent of a human supercomputer. Your brain is more complicated than any computer mankind has ever made. Maximizing your brain’s ability is essential to becoming the success you desire to become – because it controls who you are. It is the command center involved in and controlling absolutely everything you do. Your brain determines how you think, feel, and act.

Simply put: When your brain is working at peak performance, it allows you to be your best, because it controls the rest.

Here are some facts about the brain:

It is about 2% of body weight.
It consumes about 20-30% of the body’s energy.
There are about 100 billion neurons in the brain.
Each neuron or nerve cell is connected to other nerve cells in the brain.
There are over 1,000,000,000,000,000 connections in the brain.
Each one of these neurons is a little “learning center” capable of storing knowledge.

Needless to say, most of us have barely scratched the surface when it comes to tapping into those neurons!
 
There are some basic influences on the brain that shape how it functions and how far it develops. Some of these include genes, health, injury, self-talk, life experiences, stress, and study (or lack of it). Notice I said that these influence the brain, but they do not determine how far you can go or what you can learn, except perhaps in the case of severe injury or mental retardation. In other words, you have the incredible opportunity to go as far as you desire!

So with such a tremendous tool at our disposal, what keeps so many from experiencing the possibilities that this tool can bring? There are some simple barriers that many people face that can have the potential to wreak havoc on our learning if we allow them to.

Barriers to Finding Your Genius

Lack of Belief. Many people do not believe that they can learn, master knowledge, or become “smart.” These are deeply held beliefs for many, and ultimately if you do not believe it, you will not achieve it.

Lack of Knowledge. What keeps some people from learning is that they choose not to access or do not have access to knowledge. Knowledge comes from experiences, books, people and other “knowledge dispensers.” We must tap into that knowledge.

Lack of Desire. Some people simply do not have the desire to learn. They may be lazy, or they may not see the positive impact that learning would have on them. They have no passion inside that drives them to learn.

Lack of Hard Work. Gaining knowledge–learning–is hard work and takes a lifetime to master. It is an ongoing discipline that is never complete. I am getting on in years and I am still learning. I am still doing the hard work to expand my mind. It would be easy to give up and coast, but I love the challenge of continuing to learn.

So how do we overcome or break through these “barriers?” The key to breaking through these barriers is to do the opposite.

Let’s look at how to knock down those barriers:

Change Your Beliefs. It is up to you to do the work of changing your beliefs. And when you do you will be opening up new worlds – literally! This month Chris is going to talk about winning the thought battle, which will help you keep negative beliefs out and positive beliefs and thoughts in. Feed your mind with information that will change your belief. By taking part in this One-Year Plan, you are doing just that. But also ask yourself if you are doing that with belief. The truth is that you have an amazing mind with a capacity for learning that is beyond your comprehension. You must believe this. And when you do, you will be unlocking the potential of your mind!

Get the Right Knowledge. Words–if they are not true–are meaningless. I hear children say, “I read it in a book.” But is it true? Just because someone says it or writes it, doesn’t mean it is true. As learners, we want to get the right knowledge, not just information or opinions. It is our job to seek out information and knowledge and then test it and run it through our minds to see if it is true, and if it can be rightfully applied to our lives in order to make them better and help us succeed. We need to weigh and measure what we learn in order to gain the right knowledge. And when we do, we will be unlocking the potential of our mind!

Become Passionate about Learning. This will take some work, but the only way to do it is to begin learning about things that have an immediate impact in your life. When you learn about a new financial concept that helps you earn money or get out of debt, that will get you fired up. When you learn about a way to communicate that helps you sell more product, that will energize you. When you learn about how to interact with your family in a healthy way and your relationships get better, that will inspire you! Become passionate about learning. And when you do, you will be unlocking the potential of your mind!

Discipline Yourself Through the Hard Work of Study. Learning will take work. Until someone comes up with modules that can plug into your mind and give you instant access to knowledge, you are on your own, and that takes work. The process of learning is a long one. Yes, we can speed it up, but it is still a process of reading, listening, reviewing, repetition, applying the knowledge, experiencing the outcomes, readjusting, etc. Simply put, that takes time. Slowly but surely, when you discipline yourself, you gain knowledge and learn. And when you do, you will be unlocking the potential of your mind!

Learning is possible, no matter what your age. You are never too young or too old. Your mind was created to learn and has a huge capacity to do so. This week, make a commitment to unlock the potential of your mind!

Until next week, let’s do something remarkable!
Jim Rohn

This week’s article by Jim Rohn, “You are a Genius – Unlocking the Power of the Mind”, is excerpted from Week 44 of the Jim Rohn One-Year Success Plan. Sign-up this week for The Jim Rohn One-Year Success Plan and receive all your books, CD’s and DVD’s prior to the March launch of a new session. See #5 below “Would You Like to be One of the Top 1% in Your Marketplace?” for more details or go to http://jr1.jimrohn.com to enroll today!

This article was submitted by Jim Rohn, America’s Foremost Business Philosopher. To subscribe to the Free Jim Rohn Weekly E-zine go to www.jimrohn.com or send a blank email to subscribe@jimrohn.com
Copyright © 2007 Jim Rohn International. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Establishing Dreams and Goals

Thursday, December 20th, 2007

One of the amazing things we have been given as humans is the unquenchable desire to have dreams of a better life, and the ability to establish goals to live out those dreams. Think of it: We can look deep within our hearts and dream of a better situation for ourselves and our families; dream of better financial lives and better emotional or physical lives; certainly dream of better spiritual lives. But what makes this even more powerful is that we have also been given the ability to not only dream but to pursue those dreams and not only to pursue them, but the cognitive ability to actually lay out a plan and strategies (setting goals) to achieve those dreams. Powerful! And that is what we will discuss in detail this week: How to dream dreams and establish goals to get those dreams.

What are your dreams and goals? This isn’t what you already have or what you have done, but what you want. Have you ever really sat down and thought through your life values and decided what you really want? Have you ever taken the time to truly reflect, to listen quietly to your heart, to see what dreams live within you? Your dreams are there. Everyone has them. They may live right on the surface, or they may be buried deep from years of others telling you they were foolish, but they are there.

So how do we know what our dreams are? This is an interesting process and it relates primarily to the art of listening. This is not listening to others; it is listening to yourself. If we listen to others, we hear their plans and dreams (and many will try to put their plans and dreams on us). If we listen to others, we can never be fulfilled. We will only chase elusive dreams that are not rooted deep within us. No, we must listen to our own hearts.

Let’s take a look at some practical steps/thoughts on hearing from our hearts on what our dreams are:

Take time to be quiet. This is something that we don’t do enough in this busy world of ours. We rush, rush, rush, and we are constantly listening to noise all around us. The human heart was meant for times of quiet, to peer deep within. It is when we do this that our hearts are set free to soar and take flight on the wings of our own dreams! Schedule some quiet “dream time” this week. No other people. No cell phone. No computer. Just you, a pad, a pen, and your thoughts (you get to do this in the workbook exercises this week).

Think about what really thrills you. When you are quiet, think about those things that really get your blood moving. What would you LOVE to do, either for fun or for a living? What would you love to accomplish? What would you try if you were guaranteed to succeed? What big thoughts move your heart into a state of excitement and joy? When you answer these questions you will feel Great and you will be in the “dream zone.” It is only when we get to this point that we experience what Our dreams are!

Write down all of your dreams as you have them. Don’t think of any as too outlandish or foolish – remember, you’re dreaming! Let the thoughts fly and take careful record.

Now, prioritize those dreams. Which are most important? Which are most feasible? Which would you love to do the most? Put them in the order in which you will actually try to attain them. Remember, we are always moving toward action, not just dreaming.

Here is the big picture: Life is too short to not pursue your dreams. Someday your life will near its end and all you will be able to do is look backwards. You can reflect with joy or regret. Those who dream, who set goals and act on them to live out their dreams are those who live lives of joy and have a sense of peace when they near the end of their lives. They have finished well, for themselves and for their families.

Remember: These are the dreams and goals that are born out of your heart and mind. These are the goals that are unique to you and come from who you were created to be and gifted to become. Your specific goals are what you want to attain because they are what will make your life joyful and bring your family’s life into congruence with what you want it to be.

Until next week, let’s do something remarkable!
Jim Rohn

This article was submitted by Jim Rohn, America’s Foremost Business Philosopher. To subscribe to the Free Jim Rohn Weekly E-zine go to http://www.jimrohn.com/or send a blank email to mailto:subscribe@jimrohn.com
Copyright © 2007 Jim Rohn International. All rights reserved worldwide.

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The Power of Gratitude

Monday, December 17th, 2007

To those who have more will be given, and to those who don’t have even the little they have wil be taken away.

I never understood this verse in the Bible as it seemed a very unfair statement. Nobody could really give me a satisfactory explanation, which would change that view. That was until recently when I finally understood what I think its “true meaning” is.

“To have” or “not to have” as meant by this verse doesn’t necessarily mean tangible wealth or possessions as most people who heard this verse thought, although it has a bearing on whether you will keep tangible possessions or not.

Rather it refers to an “attitude” as most scriptures in the Bible do. The verse says, that those who have, will receive more but those who don’t have will lose even the little they have. Lets get a little practical here and see if I make any sense.

What this means is you may not have tangible possessions and yet you may Have More than someone who Has tangible wealth. Those who HAVE, acknowledge that they have received and are therefore grateful. This feeling of gratitude is reflected in the way they Live their lives.

People who HAVE often gives and helps others, which is a sign that they HAVE, because in nature you can only Share or Leave over for others when you have enough. People who are like this Will Receive even More.

Everybody loves people who Give, don’t you? We want to do things in return for them, including wanting to do business with them. Let me give you a practical example. The most successful internet marketers have realized that in order to sell, they have to give something away. Those who give the most away are often the most successful.

If you are stingy and you want people to buy your products, but you are not prepared to Give, then know that you won’t last long no matter how good your product is.

What is your attitude? Do you think you have or do you think you don’t have? Have you ever heard someone who proclaims that he can’t actually do something great?

Just look around you and you’ll find that more than 80% of those who have achieved something in life think that “they Have” and that “they CAN.” Compare that with those people in life, who are really struggling, and you’ll find that they feel they don’t HAVE and that they CAN’T.

“To have” also means to recognize that “You Can,” which is only possible because you have received unique skills and talents.

What this verse merely says and which is confirmed by tangible reality is that your attitude determines your reality. The only way you CAN and WILL GET and KEEP real wealth is when you change your attitude.

Those who Do not Have, as described by this verse are always complaining, about how difficult things are. Don’t you know people who are like that? They are stingy and are often critical of others. They believe they owe nobody nothing and doesn’t do anything unless they get something in return.

The difference between those who have and those who don’t have is this. Poor people want to receive tangible things such as wealth and possessions first, before they “recognize” that they HAVE.

Unfortunately the Universe doesn’t work that way. You must first recognize what you HAVE, including your talents, your health, good eyesight, hearing, good legs to walk with and use these, and only then will you receive the tangible things you seek such as wealth and happiness.

If you “DON’T HAVE”, it is perhaps because you don’t have the ATTITUDE of those who have. That’s why you constantly find that nothing seems to work for you. It is as if there’s a hole in your pocket. Even the little you make seems to just slip through these holes.

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