Between stimulus and response...

Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom. - Viktor E. Frankl

Success Lessons From A Vampire??

I read something interesting today in this blog about how we create our own future. The blog talked about the tv show Angel. The blog quoted one of the lines 'We live our lives as though the world is what it should be, to show it what it can be'. Very powerful statement. My interpretation is that if I see the would/life as I want it then I will eventually make it that way. So, if I am always seeing or looking for the bad, ugly, evil, ...., than that is what I will find. On the other hand, if I am seeing prosperity, beauty, love, caring, charity, ... then eventually that is how my life/world will be. This starts with myself. If I see my self as wealthy, prosperous, charitable, loving, caring, ..., then that is how I will be.

"The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes of mind." - William James (1842 - 1910)

"Man is what he believes." - Anton Chekhov (1860 - 1904)

Suggested Reading:
The Power of Your Subconcious Mind
The Secret

Lifes Bumper Sticker

Work like you don't have to work

Live like you will die tomorrow

Love like you will live forever

Be postive in your thoughts and dealings with others.

I am reading 'The Attractor Factor' by Joe Vitale. He describes 5 steps for creating well anything. Step 1 - Spring Board is about paying attention to my thoughts and conversations and how much negativity there is. This will let me know where I am at in my life. Also, I should keep negativity out and try to have positive thoughts and conversations. This also means to stay away from tv, newspapers, etc. Usually the just report on the negative that is going on. The Beyond Freedom program has you go on a media fast, i.e. not tv, radio, movies, newspapers, for 30 days.

This goes well with 'The Seven Habits - Habit 3' CD I am listening to, while driving. Stephen Covey talks about being loyal to those that are not present. Meaning to not say or pass on negative things about others. People will notice that and then wonder what I am saying behind there backs.

Best Advice I ever received

What is the best advice I ever received? It was from my manager at my first 'real' programming job. I was a contractor for DOD, writing software for wharehouse tracking. My manager had information/education meetings once a week. When we first start on the contract the first meeting he told all of as to 'Never Stop Learning'. Does not really matter what to learn, just keep on learning something new as often as possible.

This fits in so well with personal development. I have been involved in personal development ever since then. I read personal development or self-help books. When I found Liberty Leageue International and the Beyond Freedom program, it was as if I had been looking my whole life for it. I am starting theBeyond Freedom program again this week. Every time I go thought it I learn something new about myself, and the world I live in.

Keep moving forward

I watched a great movie this week, Meet the Robinsons, by Walt Disney Pictures. The main message of this move is never give up. The moto is 'Keep Moving Forward'. I like the end where Lewis decides not to meet his mother, but to live for the present and for the future but to learn form the past mistakes. For me learning from my mistakes has been hard, still is. I believe this will end up being on of my favorite Disney movies.

Reach for the stars

“When you reach for the stars, you may not get one, but you won't come up with a handful of mud, either.”

Unknown

Don't just sit there do something, take action

I was watching a DVD of Andy Andrews. One of the 'Seven Decisions for Success' he talks about is 'I am a person of action'. He considers it the most important of the Seven Decisions. Steven R. Covey talks about something similar. To paraphrase him, To know a thing and not do is not really not to know.

Live life from the end

I imagine my 85th birthday. Who is there, where it is at and what is being said. My family and friends are talking about me, I imagine what they say. I also imagine my funeral. What is said, who is there. I really try to experience these events in my mind. It is the end of my life and I know what people are going to say about me. Like watching the last 5 minutes of a movie, I know how it is going to end. Now all I do is follow the script to get the end of my movie.

Fear of change

Seth Godin talks in his blog 'fear of switching' about the fear of switching word processers and relates it to the fear people have of new things. So getting them to join your network you have to get my those fears.