A note from peter@thewealthyattitude.com for Thursday May 7 2009

Good day there all you good folks and welcome to Thursday.

Let me jump right to the point. Over the past few weeks I’ve been having a bunch of conversations with people who have great hearts, are genuinely nice folks, but who have been finding themselves feeling downright angry. The diversity of issues that is spurring the anger is as rich as the folks are themselves. The common emotion though is simply that, anger.

As is my way, when I’m faced with issues of this nature, I go to the files. Lo and behold, right on top, is an offering by one of our newest contributors that addresses exactly what I feel will help everyone who ever has to deal with….

Anger

by Edwin Harkness Spina

After fear, anger is probably the next most debilitating emotion that humans must confront. Unlike fear, anger is a complex emotion. And unlike fear, which usually paralyzes, anger can spur you to take action, though not necessarily in a beneficial way. Reacting to anger-provoking events will usually make things worse.

If you analyze why you or anyone else ever gets angry, it’s almost always because expectations did not match reality. Here’s a simple example: You order butter pecan ice cream from a Baskin Robbins store and they tell you they don’t have any. You’re angry. Why? Because you expected to get butter pecan ice cream from an ice cream store with 31 flavors, but the reality was they didn’t have any.

Now, if you had ordered ice cream from a Starbucks and they told you they didn’t have any, you wouldn’t be so angry. Why? You still didn’t get your ice cream, but since coffee shops don’t generally serve ice cream, you wouldn’t have expected to get any. Not getting what you want by itself does not make you angry – only when your expectations are not met do you get angry.

Expectation is a quality of the mind. We have built up our expectations based upon our past experiences and how we’ve interpreted them. We then project these expectations into the future. Consequently, anger is a quality of the mind. As such, “folk remedies” such as jumping, running or punching a bag or pillow will be largely ineffective. Following these suggestions will make you tired, but you’ll still be angry. And yelling at people whenever you feel angry is also counterproductive. (Not to mention, increasing the likelihood of receiving a beating from people who don’t appreciate getting yelled at.)

The pop psychology “let it out” anger reactions are also mostly unproductive. This is because as a mental quality, you cannot use lower vibrational, physical energy to diffuse your anger. As Einstein said, “No problem can be solved at the same level of consciousness that created it.” This means you can’t use physical means, or even a mental means, to solve a mental problem. You need to invoke a higher level of consciousness. You need a spiritual approach.

What to do? Immediately accept the reality of the situation and become fully present. Only when you are present can you consciously decide if it’s best to take action now or continue to accept the reality. Do not resist the reality. Your only two healthy choices are to act or to accept.

Complaining is nonacceptance, which will perpetuate your anger. It turns you into a victim, which the Law of Attraction tells us will bring you even more of the stuff you’re complaining about.

Suppressing your anger is also nonacceptance. You still have your anger; you just buried it. It will still attract more anger, and, most likely, it will resurface when you least expect it. You must act or accept.

Anger has no benefit, other than to tell you that you are acting unconsciously, that is, REACTING, based on habit or past experience. Getting angry is a habit that we all have experienced. If you catch yourself, you have taken a step towards higher consciousness.

Here’s a more specific example: You’re attending your annual performance review. You did a great job for your company and expect a pay raise. You present all your accomplishments to your boss, pointing out the value you added to your company, and you request a raise. Your boss says “no.” What should you do?

Remember, act or accept. Anger has no place in this equation. You’ve already acted to give yourself the best chance for a raise. Further action, at this time, is not likely to change things. Given this, you must accept the situation completely and totally, without judgment or anger.

Assume that everything is exactly as it’s supposed to be. You were not supposed to get a raise. The universe conspired to get you exactly what you and your higher self requested. This could be the stimulus to get you to take enlightened action in another direction. You will want to meditate and figure out what that is. Then you can choose to act consciously to create the preferred reality that matches what you want.

This may involve updating your resume and networking with industry contacts for a new job. Or it may involve working on plans for your own business. In either case, taking conscious action will uplift you. You will be amazed at the amount of abuse you can tolerate, when you know that the situation is only temporary because you are taking action to create the reality that you want.

You don’t even have to tell anyone else; all you need to know is that you are taking enlightened action. Your spirit will soar.

The fundamental principle at work here is that you are not your mind. Since expectations are creations of the mind, they are not needed. Your true self is beyond the mind.

In a longer term course of action, you will want to dis-identify from or eliminate the thoughts and emotions lodged in your energy bodies that are framing your expectations. In many cases, these thoughts, feelings and beliefs are not even yours! They were instilled in you by your parents, teachers, religious leaders, peers, co-workers, bosses, the media, etc. You accepted them and they are framing your experience of reality today.

When you recognize this is what’s happening, you will more easily release them. One of the best ways to do this is while meditating; by being fully present with the single-minded intention to clear them from your being.

To eliminate lower-vibrational, negative energies that lead to stress, anger, pain and suffering, and infuse yourself with higher-vibrational energies that help you connect to your true self, visit Energy Center Clearing.

Edwin Harkness Spina is an award-winning author and speaker. Ed is dedicated to presenting practical mystical techniques to improve people’s lives and expand their minds. His workshops and seminars emphasize the practical application of these techniques to help others manifest their dreams.

A note from peter@thewealthyattitude.com for Wednesday May 6 2009

Hello there good folks and welcome to the midweek point.

As I mentioned on the weekend, The Wealthy Attitude will be re-locating this month to the lovely Okanagan Valley in British Columbia. The buzz about the move is inspiring some ripples that will have a great impact on The Wealthy Attitude Conference scheduled for the Fall of 2010 in Vancouver.

Some of North America’s very best authors, speakers, and presenters in the field of personal growth and business development have been in touch with us expressing interest in the event. In preparation for the main 2010 event, have committed to host a number of smaller seminars where we’ll be showcasing a select group of outstanding speakers. We’ll keep you all aprised as these events come on line.

Today though, we stick with practices and principles that will help you sustain a winning position in “your” economy. Our contributor today will share why it’s very important to have….

A Strong Inner Offense

by Karla Brandau

I grew up playing the piano and trying to be fine and refined. When I fell in love, I fell in love with a man who had played quarterback on the football team. One of the first experiences I had with Steve and football was his choice of a movie: a made for TV show about the Green Bay Packers and the legendary coach, Vince Lombardi.

When Lombardi was hired to be the Packer coach, a press conference was held. Lombardi confidently announced that they would have a winning season in spite of the demoralizing losses the Packers had just experienced.

The reporters began needling Lombardi. After several snide questions, one reporter went too far when he asked: “So when you say you are going to have a winning season, does that mean you will win 2 games next year”?

Lombardi had had enough. He looked at the reporter and in controlled rage blurted out, “Let me tell you what winning is, Mister. Winning is being willing to work harder than the next guy, it is being willing to give more than anyone else. If you are smaller, you better run faster. If you are slower, you better hit harder. That is what winning is and if you’d put that to practice in your life, you’d be winning Pulitzer Prizes instead of sitting here in a snow storm asking stupid questions.”

I’ve never forgotten that scene because even though I didn’t know anything about football, I understood perseverance, hard work, and the determination to win.

Lombardi and the Green Bay Packers are legendary: five league championships over a seven-year span that culminated with victories in the first two Super Bowls. One of his winning tactics was a strong offense.

The Lombardi philosophy applies to our lives right now: you might be down on luck but you don’t have to stay there. Through desire, drive, and strength of mind your human spirit can find a way out of seemingly impossible situations. Finding your personal answers requires contemplation, research into options, and the ability to listen to your gut feelings and impressions.

One could say that our world today is a football game in the mud… not very pretty. Winning requires an inner offense that can stop believing the entire world is against you. Winning requires the ability to throw off the human feeling of powerlessness and turn your energy toward finding opportunities behind every door that appears to be shut. Winning requires seeking the answer to “What can I do to turn this around?”

When you find that answer, your inner offense will kick in and your “I will not fail” attitude will make you a prize winner as you make it through these economic times with dignity and an increased capacity to win against all odds.

Karla Brandau, Certified Speaking Professional, is a workplace consultant and an expert in leadership and professional development. She works with organizations who want to be competitive in the 21st century global marketplace. Sign up for her monthly newsletter, From the Desk of Karla Brandau by going to Karla Brandau.com. Contact Karla at 770-923-0883 for a free consultation or to check the availability of dates to bring Karla to your organization.

A note from peter@thewealthyattitude.com for Tuesday May 5 2009

Hello there all and welcome to this very fine Tuesday.

All I can say is “wow”! Some very courageous subscribers shared with me that they saw themselves exhibiting one, two, three, or even more of the behaviors mentioned in yesterday’s reader. They are courageous for “fessing” up, and for doing so, they have the awareness with which to make the necessary changes. Isn’t personal growth an amazing thing?

To establish a counter-balance to yesterday’s list we turn to a very favorite contributor, and true to form, he delivers an outstanding perspective. You’ll very clearly see why it’s important to spend time….

Defining The Principles of Greatness

by Philip Humbert

This past week I read another little book listing the “principles of success,” in this case they had twelve of them and I thought they were excellent. But more importantly, it got me thinking that a great life really is built on a remarkably short list of key principles.

You may have your own list–in fact, I strongly believe you SHOULD have your personal list! Every high achiever I’ve met knew what they believed, where they were going and how they were going to get there. Winners don’t win by accident. They have a personal set of “Basics” or “Fundamentals” or “Principles” that guide them.

Unfortunately, I am convinced that most people never decide what they stand for. They never choose their basic beliefs or the central focus of their lives and so, not surprisingly, they are doomed to wander through life, never quite reaching their desired destination.

Remember the old saying that “no wind blows in favor of a ship without a destination?” It’s true.

Author Cherie Carter-Scott has a series of books around the theme of “the rules” and in one of them she boils success down to “ten rules for a fulfilling life.” In “The Richest Man in Babylon” (one of the best books on financial independence ever written), George Clason boiled financial success down to seven principles that are high-lighted in a box near the front of the book.

In one of his early and most famous presentations, Jim Rohn talked about “the four things” that make all the difference.

We live in such a fast-paced world that it can be difficult to slow down and stay focused, but success requires discipline. Many people have observed that while “success is not easy, it is remarkably simple!”

High achievers know the value of honesty, integrity, and persistence. High achievers have the courage to set goals and make real commitments to completing them. How often do we “commit” to something, only to change our minds when it becomes difficult or inconvenient? The winners in life make commitments that last!

Successful people know the value of time and stay “on task.” They stay focused. They are patient and determined.

And successful people work HARD! Yes, they are efficient and use effective strategies, but they also get up early, stay late, and work hard all day long. They know what they want and they WORK to achieve it.

They avoid distractions. I am continually impressed by how relatively simple, even Spartan, the lives of highly successful people can be. They have a small number of priorities, and NOTHING is allowed to distract or interrupt them.

Finally, I would add that unusually effective people have high levels of “Positive Self-Awareness.” They know who they are, and are comfortable with themselves. They can stand alone, if necessary, because they like and trust themselves. They are confident because they know their values, their goals, and the principles they live by.

In the busy-ness of life, it is inevitable that we will be “blown off-course.” Things happen, we get confused or stressed or distracted and, from time to time, we end up working very hard on meaningless projects. From time to time, we all “major in minor things” and when that happens, it is absolutely critical that we have a clear set of principles to guide us back to the important things in life.

Determine your “basics” and write them down. List your values and your priorities. Keep it simple, and post your list where you will see it every day. Keep it handy, like a life-jacket, and the when storms of life start tossing you around, you’ll know where to go for safety and guidance to get back on track.

A note from peter@thewealthyattitude.com for Thursday April 30 2009

Hello there folks and welcome to this last day of the first 1/3rd of 2009.

This week has been exeptional with just great feedback from subscribers who really take a “stand” for the principles they work with in their day-to-day activities. It warms me that these folks are out there leading in amazing ways.

The issue of “solving Vs resolving” came up a few times in some of the feedback and we’ve invited another new contributor to help us in understanding….

How to Resolve Instead of Just Solve Problems

by Valery Satterwhite

I have heard there are troubles of more than one kind. Some come from ahead and some come from behind. But I’ve bought a big bat. I’m all ready you see. Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me!” – Dr. Seuss

In these hectic, often stressful days, many people measure themselves on their ability, or inability, to solve problems or “put out fires” in their daily life. A successful day is a day when problems are solved. However, the same kinds of problems keep coming up. Perhaps not every day but often enough to notice a pattern if one only stops for a minute to examine the series of problems that they keep solving over and over and over again.

Is it better to solve a problem or resolve a problem? There is a distinction.

The dictionary defines the word solve as to find the solution to a problem or question or understand the meaning of a problem or question. The word resolve means decide, bring to an end; settle conclusively. It’s an important distinction.

I was watching the television show Numb3ers one night and one character lamented to the other about how nice it would be if they could stop people from shooting each other. The other character responded that it would be even better if guns and bullets were no longer manufactured. Yes, there are a few holes in that argument but the point is well taken. Often we continue to put band-aids on symptoms, outcomes, rather than clear up the root cause of the problem.

Lousy job? Get a new job, problem solved. Or is it? Many people go from one lousy job to the next. The jobs may be truly lousy or the person isn’t pursuing work that excites or inspires his natural calling. Either way, that person is just creating the same, or similar, problem over and over again and applying the same solution each time. To resolve the problem, to stop the pattern of lousy jobs, he would have to get a good job that he enjoys.

We see the same problem patterns in the various relationships some people have. Whether it be with their spouse, family member, friend or romantic relationships, the same problems occur over and over again. Each problem is eventually solved only to have another same or similar type of problem recur later on. The band-aid came off of the root issue and the sore is still festering.

Solving a problem works to a point. It works until the problem shows up again in some form or fashion.

To resolve problems it is essential to mindfully examine the problematic experience to dig down deep to discover the root cause. For personal problems, the best place to start is within. What within me is creating this problem? A bad decision that was based in fear? Making erroneous assumptions? Allowing yourself to be a victim to other people’s “shoulds”? Taking the path of least resistance?

Remember, everyone is always doing the best they can. No one gets out of bed in the morning and wonders how they can create problems for themselves that day. As such, is it important to leave judgment out of the equation when examining what role you played in creating the problem. If it is a problem within a company, look within the company. What within the company is creating this problem? An outdated system? Inexperienced employees?

When you discover the root cause of the problem make the corrections. The root cause is then removed, the festering sore is healed, the pattern of similar problems is ended. For good.

Don’t just solve your problems; resolve your problems.

“Convert difficulties into opportunities, for difficulties are divine surgeries to make you better.” ~Author Unknown

Valery Satterwhite is an Artist Mentor who specializes in empowering people to create more passionately, profoundly, productively and profitably. Learn how to trust your intuition, acknowledge your truth, and disarm your fear and self-doubt. Valery developed a proven unique “Inner Wizard” methodology to empower the Wizard Within to actualize and express your full creative potential. Join now at InnerWizard.com. Get Free “Inner Wizard Empowerment tips” too!

A note from peter@thewealthyattitude.com for Wednesday April 29 2009

Good day there folks and welcome to the midweek point.

Did our reader yesterday hit some folks dead on or what? My mailbox flowed steadily throughout the day. People were tying together Monday’s offering and yesterday’s message together and coming to realize that life can be oh so very different.

Today one of our favorite contributors is continuing the theme as she shares…

Five Principles That Will Change Your Life

by Marcia Wieder

Here are five important practices designed to enhance your life and help you achieve your dreams.

1. Intention – It is the setting of an intention that will call in wonderful resources, opportunities and people. What do you intend to do, create or accomplish? You could set an intention every day, even every moment of each day. Do you intend to live on purpose? Do you intend to learn and grow? Do you intend to be loving and kind?

You set an intention and then you take action. We also want to have deeper, meaningful intentions about how we live. How do you intend to feel every day? How do you intend to express your love? How do you intend to express your creativity? How do you intend to have fun, to make a contribution, to take a risk? How do you intend to live?

2. Integrity – If you were to survey big dreamers on the qualities that they value most, at the top of the list is usually integrity. Keeping your word and delivering on your promises is essential. When you have cleaned up your past and are free to move forward, not only are your dreams more attainable, they are richer, deeper and more rewarding. You have the opportunity to honestly assess your entire life and to become more alive than you ever imagined. Through simple steps, you can free your past and make room in the present, so you can dream and live the life you long for.

3. Share Your Dream – With newfound clarity (from your intention) and new found freedom (from living with integrity) the world is your oyster. Now when you speak about your dream or vision, people will relate to you differently because you will feel different about yourself. You can move forward with confidence, knowing that you can trust yourself and therefore, others can trust you.

A visionary is someone with a vision or a dream. But a visionary also articulates their dream with such clarity that others understand what it is and with such passion that others want to participate with them. A visionary inspires with greater purpose. And a visionary brings voice to their vision. They let their dream be heard and have impact. Sometimes it is a popular message and sometimes they are one lone voice. Regardless, they hold true to what they believe in, to what inspires them, and they bring it alive in the world through their convictions, words and of course, actions.

4. Take action – It is essential that you put everything you have learned into action. It is through the steps you do take, that you can actually see what you have learned, the progress you are making, where you are stuck and where you need help. Without action, we are “just” dreamers. Taking action is power.

People judge us much more based on what we do, not just what we say. What action will you take to move your dream forward? What are you doing to make your dreams real? Specifically, what are you doing to create a dream come true life? What’s one thing you could do today, right now, to demonstrate your commitment to your dream?

5. Build your Dream Circle – Once you know what you want to accomplish, you can experience the ease and joy from sharing your dream with others. The single most powerful thing you can do to achieve your dream is to build Dream Circles. Join ours at http://www.amazingdreamers.com/

Begin with one person who believes in you and your dream and then seek out others. Inspire them with your vision and passion. Show them you are serious through the action you take every day. Invite them to join you as you encourage them to dream bigger dreams. It’s never been a more important time to stand for what matters to you most. Stand up, speak out and be heard. Your dreams matter and will impact the lives of many others.

Help Others Achieve Their Dreams

Share Marcia’s 10 dream e-books with your friends, colleagues and loved ones. Use this link to help others. It only takes a minute to be generous and we’ve made it easy! www.dreamcoach.com/gift

A note from peter@thewealthyattitude.com for Tuesday April 28 2009

Good day there everyone and welcome to this last Tuesday of April.

Very little preamble today as the reader is a tad longer than normal, but very important.

Here at this desk we often get the statement, “I need a new life” from very nice folks who just need a leg up to see what a “new life” can look like. Today a new contributor offers each of us a very clear window to….

A New Life

by Gary Bate

We are all here, individually and collectively, to evolve ourselves and thus humanity as a whole, beyond our existing known boundaries. This means that individually we are to change from our existing state of being to become a higher, more evolved state of being.

Our existing personalities are a combination of our inherited genes and the social conditioning of the society in which we live. Different cultures impose different conditioning upon the minds of their citizens by virtue of their way of life. It all amounts to a limitation of mind.

To change from the personality we’ve ‘picked up’ into a new personality of our own design, is the evolutionary task we all face. This is a task that flies in the face of family, tradition, culture, religion, colour, status, wealth, fashion, gender, fame etc. Indeed, it flies in the face of all the accepted values in our societies.

Never before have we been given so much knowledge to challenge our inherited belief systems and to intimidate the self-imposed limitations of our minds. How we develop into the future can only be limited by our own level of acceptance and our own willingness to let go of the past. And our unwillingness to let go of the past is evidence of our own lack of understanding or outright stubbornness towards change.

What we need to develop is our own ideal, not one that we have been conditioned to accept but one that is our own creation. How do we want to be? Notice I didn’t say what role or status do we want to play or achieve within an existing framework. We are not here to simply fit in with modern-day society, although our politicians would want us to think that way!

Evolution is not about being accepted by an existing image but is about changing and moving beyond the boundaries of that accepted image; the exact image that is pressed to us everyday by mind-control techniques, which company advertising and marketing is so good at.

So we must become like the caterpillar that transforms itself into the beautiful butterfly. The caterpillar represents the old personality and the butterfly represents a new life that has yet to unfold. In evolutionary terms, we are all the same as the caterpillar that has yet to embark upon its remarkable transformation.

We can never evolve beyond our own level of acceptance. Very few people will be able to accept that they can be a master until they witness, first hand, somebody else being in that state of purity. Even then their own acceptance will rely on their acceptance of equality with the Christ-like personality. One’s understanding and acceptance of the story of involution (described in detail in Rantha’s A Beginner’s Guide to Creating Reality) is essential to this acceptance of equality. Involution is when something turns in upon itself. In philosophy, involution is the inner path of the human soul to the Self, which may be seen as the ‘ascent’ back to God.

Your ideal is not supposed to fit any existing image because that is just image worship. What is important is that your ideal is greater than your past and that you genuinely strive to become it. It is far greater to have an ideal that you struggle to become than have no ideal at all or one that represents no more than social acceptance.

the template has been designed in your mind then the individual components can be formulated and worked upon. These are the elements of the Great Work that spiritual masters have spoken about. A diligent effort is required to replace the demons from your past thinking. Only when the new knowledge is added to the quagmire of your mind, will the alchemical process start to take place. The metamorphosis of the caterpillar is likened to the human alchemical process of turning the lead of the past into the gold of spiritual truth.

Whether it is the raising of the Phoenix from the ashes, the emergence of the butterfly from the caterpillar or the flight of a dove, it’s all symbolic of one thing – the flight of FREEDOM.

Becoming a master is the ultimate ideal from the point of view of humanity. It is the crowning glory. Any climb down from that point is a compromise to any evolved mind. At the same time, we must realize that our own evolution progresses at the rate of our own acceptance of new knowledge and its integration into our lives, which can only come from our own desires and willingness to open ourselves up ‘to know’.

A friend once said to me, ‘you can do anything’. This I found to be inspiring but is it a question of what we can do or what we can be? For instance, can we train our minds to be everything and nothing at the same time, just like God is? Or is our viewpoint always going to be limited by our own design? We are the creators of our future destiny – be in no doubt about that!

Designing a new life for yourself that bears no resemblance to your past and then choosing to live as the butterfly instead of continuing to be a caterpillar, is a hard task indeed. Why is this? It is because change is uncomfortable, not only for yourself but also for those who observe it in you. You are moving forward in your life and they are standing still. They can no longer relate to you because you are at a loftier vantage point and you have to continue to play the game with them, if you still want them in your life. Can you really afford to compromise or do you fly away and leave them standing in their own confusion, hoping that one day they will follow your lead?

The more spiritually advanced we become the more difficult we find it is to fit in with the accepted values of society. We eventually reach a point when we cease trying to ‘fit in’ and realize it is only our truth that matters to us.

In the absence of your own ideal, there is one ideal that you can focus upon, which is not currently in abundance in human consciousness. It is unconditional Love. Moving your mind to the blue window can be the structure (the skeleton if you like) of the butterfly you are trying to unfold from within. In love there is no lack; there is not the loss of energy that occurs when the energy is split into polarities.

In practice, being more loving is a matter of changing one’s attitude. For instance, can you replace a lustful attitude with a loving one? You can if it is your will to do so. Can you move beyond your pain and suffering? You can if it is your will to do so. Can you let go of your need to be controlled or to be in control? You can always let go if you love unconditionally. Whatever you are perplexed by in your life, you will always find the answer in love. Are you looking out of the blue window or is your view blinded by the light (the yellow window)? [The colored window analogy is detailed in my book We are here to know ourselves.]

Life then is not about you acquiring more and more money or your sex life or being a somebody or keeping up with the Jones’s or living to be acceptable to others and to your society. No, it is really about fulfilling the journey of your soul in its quest for self-mastery.

Gary Bates has written three thought-provoking books that serve to unchain a person’s mind from genetic and social conditioning. The ideas discussed in the books can help people to improve all aspects of their lives from love and relationships to job prospects, health and wealth. He says: “All of the books are designed to move people to adopt a more objective state of mind so they can see the bigger picture for themselves. It’s all about knowing, understanding and advancing your consciousness.” More at: What Stress

A note from peter@thewealthyattitude.com for Monday April 27 2009

Good day there folks and welcome to this brand new week.

This week we end 1/3 rd of the year 2009, and it begs the usual questions.

1. Are you on track to achieve your goals and intentions for the year?

2. If not, why not?

3. If not, what are you going to do about it?

4. What must you “stop” doing to get yourself on track?

Boy, that should be enough to keep you busy for a while. However, you don’t get off that easy.

We went to our friend Philip asking for insights that would help in getting us on track, and keeping us there. He un-hesitatingly directed us to living….

The Principle-Driven Life

by Philip Humbert

I’m convinced that much of the frustration and lack of achievement in life comes from fuzzy thinking about our core principles and our first priorities.

This week I read a little manifesto by author and conservative talk-radio personality, Mark R. Levin. The book, Liberty and Tyranny, criticizes President Obama from a conservative point of view and offers alternatives Levin believes would work better. This reader isn’t about politics and I’m not going into it here, but his argument that policies and action must be based upon principle did ring a bell for me.

Very few of us routinely re-examine our core beliefs or write down the principles that guide our lives. Think about it for a moment. How often are you challenged to explain your guiding principles? How often do you write out your basic beliefs, or explain them to a friend or loved one? How often do we even think about where we’re going in life or what we absolutely, positively stand for?

My grandmother used to say that if we “don’t stand for something, we’ll fall for anything.” I think she was right. It’s vital not only to “do” stuff–our world encourages lots of work, busy-ness and activity!–but to think clearly about what it all means.

It’s long been known that under stress we all have a tendency to narrow our focus until we miss even the most essential things in life. When distracted and stressed by a small glitch or anomaly, airline pilots have even forgotten to lower their landing gear! Perhaps a more common example is being so busy we forget to eat lunch or being so stressed we forget to tell our children we love them. How much easier is it to compromise our basic principles in the push to make a sale?

Too often we “major in minor things” or as my friend, Michael Angier says, we “get lost in the thick of thin things.” I love that phrase and hate the results!

In a world filled with hundreds of requests to spend our time, our money, our energy and our talents on other people’s preferences, it is vital that we stay anchored and focused on the life we choose. I love the story that on a particularly hectic day Mahatma Gandhi once said, “I have so much to do today that I must spend twice as much time in meditation.” I think he understood something we often miss.

Here are some steps that can help:

1. Define your fundamentals. If you haven’t done so in a while, take time to affirm the things you know to be true. If you have a particular religious faith, what are it’s core tenants? How do you see the world and your place in it? What would you fight for? What would you die to defend or stand up for at all costs? Know your fundamentals, the principles that guide your life.

2. Review them with a friend or loved one. At least once a quarter, explain your principles to a skilled listener. Invite a friendly, respectful and compassionate debate. Test your beliefs to see if they stand up to questions and if you can defend them reasonably and clearly. If you can’t explain them to a child, perhaps you don’t understand them as well as you think you do.

3. Keep a daily journal. I’m a huge fan of writing out our core principles as often as possible. It need not be lengthy or elaborate, but periodically take note of what you believe and how you live it in your daily life. Note where you’ve gone astray or violated a core value. Be honest with yourself and get back on track as soon as possible. I think it helps.

4. Match your schedule to your values. Periodically review your schedule, your checkbook and your commitments to see if they reflect your principles. Do your core values show up in the time you spend with your family? Do they show up in how you spend money and in the commitments you make to your work? If not, you want to quickly notice when you are off course, while minor adjustments are still possible.

For thousands of years, sailors have known the value of keeping an eye on the north star. They keep their hands on the tiller and check their course often. In modern life, we are rarely encouraged to do the same and it’s easy to be led astray. We get so busy with our daily tasks that we easily lose our way.

Don’t let that happen to you!

Know your guiding principles and stick to them.

A note from peter@thewealthyattitude.com for Friday April 24 2009

Good day all and welcome to the end of the typical week, and what a week it has been.

I am incredibly blessed to be able to communicate each and every week with great people who work to find ways to make their life experiences rich and contributing. When I sit back for just a short moment to think it about who touches my life, I see clearly that I truly am wealthy beyond compare.

Yes, many of this intrepid group have attracted to them a rich variety of conditions to cause them to work and grow to their next level of awareness. They are discovering that they are volunteers to their life experiences, not victims of them. Now that’s powerful lessons. Just imagine what would happen if everyone knew that?

As is our usual practice we wrap up the week with a video offering. This short piece carries within it a profound message. Take it seriously folks.

Stir Your World

Make a difference in someone’s life this weekend.

See you on Monday.

Take care,

~peter~

A note from peter@thewealthyattitude.com for Thursday April 23 2009

Hello there all and welcome to this fine post Earth Day Thursday.

As I mentioned yesterday, the celebrations included lunch out and yes, ice cream. The day unfolded in some amazing ways with folks offering up lessons in awareness that entirely complimented the day.

One of the critical awarenesses that continually arises is that we, each and every one of us, is 100% responsible for our entire life experience, and this past Earth Day brought that home loud and clear. Also, it continues to become clearer and clearer that each of us can learn……

How to Want Whatever Happens to You!

by Guy Finley

The more we imagine a fearless life created by conditions outside of us, the more compelled we feel to try and control those same conditions. Our fear being that any change in them will return us back where we started: searching for a way to be fearless. Yet, the more we resist change, the more afraid we become of it. We find ourselves applying more and more pressure to life in order to escape the mounting pressure born of our own demands. And gradually, instead of being a vital human being — receptive and naturally responsive to any and all life-altering impressions, we become static and psychological “shut-ins” –captives of our own aversion to a fear we unconsciously create.

We do not have to remain the victims of this dark and downward trending circle of self. The truth is there is no real reason at all to resist the world as it turns. In fact, rather than fearing what cannot be foreseen, one day you will be grateful for it, and here’s why: we are not just created to go through constant change, our True Self is the changing ground of life itself. From out of its unfathomable depths pour the unseen forces that design, drive, and ultimately perfect the transformation of consciousness. Can we see how the realization of such a truth about our own higher Self would have to spell the end of fear?

Practically speaking, as our fear diminishes, our confidence increases; we grow in patience; a true optimism about life pervades everything we do, even when we run into obstacles. For us it isn’t a question if things will work out in our favor; our only wonder is when that gift will present itself. We stop running; we know now there is nowhere we have to get to — and that there is nothing for us to get away from. We are the life we want, and the Life we are is without fear because it is one with the Light.

A note from peter@thewealthyattitude.com for Wednesday April 22 2009

Hello there folks and welcome to the midweek celebration.

Today I’m celebrating! Not for any particular reason, simply because I’m in celebratory mood.

I have avowed to celebrate in all I do today. By the time you’re reading this I’ll likely have had a celebration breakfast and be well into my plans for the day. I plan on celebrating Spring with some ice cream at a couple of points in the day.

I am certainly planning to make sure that everyone I speak with knows I’m celebrating, and if they can possibly join me, they can have some ice cream also, as I will be celebrating the fact that they are relevant in my life.

I will undoubtedly be asked, “what are you celebrating”? My response will be, “because I can”! If pressed further, it will be because……

Happiness Is Only Ever Now!

by Karl Moore

 

“Few of us ever live in the present, we are forever anticipating what is to come or remembering what has gone.” – Louis L’Armor

Many pubs in the United Kingdom have an infamous sign hanging above the bar:
“Free Beer Tomorrow!”

It’s funny because, of course, “tomorrow” never comes.

But when you think about it, how many of us truly live our lives like that?

We spend so much time thinking about the past, or contemplating the future, that we forget to live in the moment. We fail to realize that happiness can only EVER be now.

Let me give you an example.

You’re driving through the city and your favourite song hits the radio. You’re stuck in traffic, but loving the music – and you start to crazily sing along. You really get into it. You’re in the moment. But then you catch a few jealous faces in nearby cars, and go all shy and timid.

Suddenly you’re no longer living in the moment. You’re wondering what they’ll think about you. You’re concerned they’ll disapprove. You freeze up. Your happiness has gone, and your inhibition has arrived.

You’re no longer in the moment, in the NOW – you’re stuck thinking about wanting approval from these people, worried what they’ll think of you outside that moment.

Try to catch yourself at some random point today – and just check what’s on your mind. If you’re like most people, you’ll be somewhere other than here and now.

You’ll be thinking about whether you made a good impression with that guy earlier today. You might be thinking the holiday you have planned for next September. Or how all of your problems will be solved this time next year.

You’ll be anywhere but in the MOMENT. In fact, we each spend 95% of our time in the past or the future.

But here’s the thing: Life is transient. The past has gone. The future is just a dream. The only time that truly exists ever is RIGHT NOW.

In other words, RIGHT NOW is the ONLY time you can do or change ANYTHING in your life.
You are only ever what exists in THIS MOMENT.

So, are you HAPPY right now? Are you doing EVERYTHING you’d like to – and feeling THRILLED with life, as you read these words? If you’re not, then make the decision to be happy.

NOW.

And if you’d like, put down this book, and go fly a kite. Or tell your partner that you love them. Or get your groovy flares on and head out to the nearby disco.

NOW is the only time you can change anything. And NOW is the only time you have.
So, make that simple decision – to be happy NOW.

Karl Moore is one of the 12 key teachers in The Meta Secret movie and the founder of Self Dev Radio. This is an extract from his new book The 18 Rules of Happiness.