BEEING KNOW ABOUT YOURSELF

                                                     KNOW ABOUT YOURS

     YOU SPOKE EARLIER ABOUT THE IMPORTANT OF HAVING DEEP ROOTS WITHIN OR INHABITING THE BODY. CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT YOU MEANT BY THAT?

     THE BODY CAN BECOME A POINT OF ACCESS INTO THE REALM OF BEING. LET'S GO INTO THAT MORE DEEPLY NOW.

     I AM STILL NOT QUITE SURE IF I FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU MEANT BY BEING.

     WATER? WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT? I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT. THIS IS WHAT A FISH WOULD SAY IF IT HAD A HUMAN MIND.

     PLEASE STOP TRYING TO UNDERSTAND BEING. YOU HAVE ALREADY HAD SIGNIFICANT GLIMPSES OF BEING, BUT THE MIND WILL ALWAYS TRY TO SQUEEZE IT INTO A LITTLE BOX AND THEN PUT A LABEL ON IT. IT CANNOT BE DONE IT. IT CANNOT BECOME AN OBJECT OF KNOWLEDGE. IN BEING, SUBJECT AND OBJECT MERGE INTO ONE.

     BEING CAN BEFELT AS THE EVER-PRESENT I AM THAT IS BEYOND NAME AND FORM. TO FEEL AND THUS TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE AND TO ABIDE IN THAT DEEPLY ROOTED STATE IS ENLIGHTENMENT, IS THE TRUTH THAT JESUS SAYS WILL MAKE YOU FREE.

    FREE FROM WHAT?

       FREE FROM THE ILLUSION THAT YOU ARE NOTHING MORE THAN YOUR PHYSICAL BODY AND YOUR MIND. THIS "ILLUSION OF THE SELF" AS THE BUDDHA CALLS IT, IS THE CORE ERROR. FREE FROM FEAR IN ITS COUNTLESS DSGUISES AS THE INEVITABLE CONSEQUENCE OF THAT ILLUSION-THE FEAR THAT IS YOUR CONSTANT TORMENTOR AS LONG AS YOU DERIVE YOUR SENSE OF SELF ONLY FROM THIS EPHEMERAL AND VULNERABLE FORM. AND FREE FROM SIN, WHICH IS THE SUFFERING YOU UNCONSCIOUSLY INFLICT ON YOURSELF AND OTHERS AS LONG AS THIS ILLUSORY SENSE OF SELF GOVERNS WHAT YOU THINK, SAY, AND DO. 

   

MOTIVATIONAL THOUGHTS

                                                  POSITIVE THOUGHTS

                                                             😚

      * YOU HAVE TO GROW FROM THE INSIDE OUT. NONE CAN TEACH YOU, NONE CAN MAKE YOU SPIRITUAL. THERE IS NO OTHER TEACHER BUT YOUR OWN SOUL.

     * IN A CONFLICT BETWEEN THE HEART AND THE BRAIN, FOLLOW YOUR HEART.

     * IN A DAY, WHEN YOU DON'T COME ACROSS ANY PROBLEMS-YOU CAN BE SURE THAT YOU ARE TRAVELLING IN A WRONG PATH.

    * IT IS THE COWARD AND THE FOOL WHO SAYS, "THIS IS FATE". BUT IT IS THE STRONG MAN WHO STANDS UP AND SAYS, "I WILL MAKE MY FATE".

    * ALL POWER IS WITHIN YOU; YOU CAN DO ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING. BELIEVE IN THAT, DO NOT BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE WEEK, DO NOT BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE HALF-CRAZY LUNATICS, AS MOST OF US DO NOWADAYS.  YOU CAN DO ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING, WITHOUT EVEN THE GUIDANCE OF ANYONE. STAND UP AND EXPRESS THE DIVINITY WITHIN YOU.

                                                                                 😍

   * THE GREATEST RELIGION IS TO BE TRUE TO YOUR OWN NATURE. HAVE FAITH IN YOURSELVES.

  * THE GREAT SECRET OF TRUE SUCCESS, OF TRUE HAPPINESS,, IS THIS, THE MAN OR WOMAN WHO ASKS FOR NO RETURN, THE PERFECTLY UNSELFISH PERSON, IS THE MOST SUCCESSFUL.

  * ALL LOVE IS EXPANSION, ALL SELFISHNESS IS CONTRACTION. LOVE IS THEREFORE THE ONLY LAW OF LIFE. HE WHO LOVE LIVES, HE WHO IS SELFISH IS DYING. THERFORE LOVE FOR LOVE'S SAKE, BECAUSE IT IS THE ONLY LAW OF LIFE, JUST AS YOU BREATHE TO LIVE.

  * DARE TO BE FREE, DARE TO GO AS FAR AS YOU THOUGHT LEADS, AND DARE TO CARRY THAT OUT IN YOUR LIFE.

 * ANYTHING THAT MAKES WEAK-PHYSICALLY, INTELLECTUALLY AND SPIRITUALLY, REJECT IT AS POISON.

 * BE NOT AFRAID OF ANYTHING. YOU WILL DO MARVELOUS WORK. IT IS FEARLESSNESS THAT BRINGS HEAVEN IN A MOMENT.

 * WE ARE WHAT OUT THOUGHTS HAVE MADE US, SO TAKE CARE ABOUT WHAT YOU THINK. WORDS ARE SECONDARY. THOUGHTS LIVE; THEY TRAVEL FAR.

 * THEY ALONE LIVE, WHO LIVE FOR OTHERS.

 * ARISE, AWAKE, STOP NOT UNTIL YOUR GOAL IS ACHIEVED.

 * COME UP, O LIONS, AND SHAKE OFF THE DELUSION THAT YOU ARE SHEEP, YOU ARE SOULS IMMORTAL, SPIRITS FREE, BLEST AND ETERNAL, YE ARE NOT MATTER, YOU ARE NOT THE SERVANT OF MATTER.

                                                                                 😘

 * IT IS THE TOUCH OF THE SENSES THAT BRINGS ALL THIS QUALITY OF EXISTENCE, HEAT, COLD, PLEASURE AND PAIN.

 * DON'T GIVE ANY CHANCE FOR OTHERS TO STOLE YOUR SMILE. BECAUSE THE MOST VALUABLE ASSET THAN ANYTHING IN YOUR LIFE.

 * DON'T DO ANYTHING MORE FOR YOUR BODY THAN YOU DO FOR JOHN.

 * AS SUCH HE CANNOT EXPERIENCE THE NATURE OF THE SOUL.

 * THAT IS THE TEST OF EVERYTHING. RENOUNCE EVERYTHING. IT IS THE CREATIVE FACULTY THAT BRINGS US INTO ALL THIS ENTALEMENT.

 * WHERE ONE SEES ANOTHER, ONE HEARS ANOTHER SO LONG AS THERE ARE TWO, THERE MUST BE FEAR AND FEAR IS THE MOTHER OF ALL (MISERY)

 * WORK FOR WORK'S SAKE. THERE ARE SOME WHO ARE REALLY THE SALT OF THE EARTH IN EVERY COUNTRY AND WHO WORK FOR WORK'S SAKE, WHO DO NOT CARE FOR NAME, OR FAME, OR EVEN TO GO TO HEAVEN.

 * ONLY WHAT IS DONE AS DUTY FOR DUTY'S SAKE.. CAN SCATTER THE BONDAGE OF KARMA.

 * HE HAS SEEN THE GLORY OF THE SELF.

 

DON'T SEEK YOURSELF IN THE MIND

                                                THE SECRETS OF NOW

       I FEEL THAT THERE IS STILL A GREAT DEAL I NEED TO LEARN ABOUT THE WORKINGS OF MY MIND BEFORE I CAN GET ANYTWHERE NEAR FULL CONSCIOUSNESS OR SPIRITUAL ENLIGHTENMENT.

      NO, YOU DON'T. THE PROBLEMS OF THE MIND CANNOT BE SOLVED ON THE LEVEL OF THE MIND. ONCE YOU HAVE UNDERSTOOD THE BASIC DYSFUNCTION, THERE ISN'T REALLY MUCH ELSE THAT YOU NEED TO LEARN OR UNDERSTAND. STUDYING THE COMPLEXITIES OF THE MIND MAKE YOU A GOOD PSYCHOLOGIST, BUT DOING SO WON'T TAKE YOU BEYOND THE MIND, JUST AS THE STUDY OF MADNESS ISN'T ENOUGH TO CREATE SANITY. YOU HAVE ALREADY UNDERSTOOD THE BASIC MECHANICS OF THE UNCONSCIOUS STATE; IDENTIFICATION WITH THE MIND, WHICH CREATES A FALSE SELF, THE EGO, AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR YOUR TRUE SELF ROOTED IN BEING. YOU BECOME AS A "BRANCH CUT OFF FROM THE VINE" AS JESUS PUTS IT.

       THE EGO'S NEEDS ARE ENDLESS. IT FEELS VULNERABLE AND THREATEND AND SO LIVES IN A STATE OF FEAR AND WANT. ONCE YOU KNOW HOW THE BASIC DYSFUNCTION, OPERATES, THERE IS NO NEED TO EXPLORE ALL ITS COUNTLESS MANIFESTATIONS, NO NEED TO MAKE IT INTO A COMPLEX PERSONAL PROBLEM. THE EGO, OF COURSE, LOVES THAT. IT IS ALWAYS SEEKING FOR SOMETHING TO ATTACH ITSELF TO IN ORDER TO UPHOLD AND STREGTHEN ITS ILLUSORY SENSE OF SELF, AND IT WILL READILY ATTACH ITSELF TO YOUR PROBLEMS. THIS IS WHY, FOR SO MANY PEOPLE, A LARGE PART OF THEIR SENSE OF SELF IS INTIMATELY CONNECTED WITH THEIR PROBLEMS. ONCE THIS HAS HAPPENED, THE LAST THING THEY WANT IS TO BECOME FREE OF THEM, THAT WOULD MEAN LOSS OF SELF. THERE CAN BE A GREAT DEAL OF UNCONSCIOUS EGO INVESTMENT IN PAIN AND SUFFERING.

     SO ONCE YOU RECOGNIZE THE ROOT OF UNCONSCIOUSNESS AS IDENTIFICATION WITH THE MIND, WHICH OF COURSE INCLUDES THE EMOTIONS, YOU STEP OUT OF IT. YOU BECOME PRESENT . WHEN YOU ARE PRESENT, YOU CAN ALLOW THE MIND TO BE AS IT IS WITHOUT GETTING ENTANGLED IN IT. THE MIND IN ITSELF IS NOT DYSFUNCTIONAL. IT IS A WONDERFUL TOOL. DYSFUNCTION SETS IN WHEN YOU SEEK YOUR SELF IN IT AND MISTAKE IT FOR WHO YOU ARE. IT THEN BECOME THE EGOIC MIND AND TAKES OVER YOUR WHOLE LIFE.

LIFE MEANINGS

                            POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE THINGS IN YOUR LIFE

   "LOVE IS AN ELEMENT WHICH THOUGH PHYSICALLY UNSEEN

     IS AS REAL AS AIR OR WATER. IT IS AN ACTING, LIVING,

    MOVING FORCE... IT MOVES IN WAVES AND CURRENTS

    LIKE THOSE OF THE OCEAN"

     

     THE KIND OF LOVE THAT THE GREATEST THINKERS AND SAVIORS OF THE WORLD TALKED ABOUT IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM WHAT MOST PEOPLE UNDERSTAND LOVE TO BE. IT IS MUCH MORE THAN LOVING YOUR FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND FAVORITE THINGS, BECAUSE LOVE IS NOT JUST A FEELING, LOVE IS THE POSITIVE AND GOOD. THERE ARE NOT A HUNDRED DIFFERENT POSITIVE FORCES IN LIFE, THERE IS ONLY ONE.

   NATURE'S GREAT POWERS, LIKE GRAVITY AND ELECTROMAGNETISM, ARE INVISIBLE TO OUR SENSES, BUT THEIR POWER IS INDISPUTABLE. LIKEWISE, THE FORCE OF LOVE IS INSIBLE TO US, BUT ITS POWER IS IN FACT FAR GREATER THAN ANY OF NATURE'S POWERS. THE EVIDENCE OF ITS THERE IS NO LIFE.

    TAKE A MOMENT TO THINK ABOUT IT. WHAT WOULD THE WORLD BE WITHOUT LOVE? FIRST OF ALL, YOU WOULDN'T EVEN EXIST, WITHOUT LOVE YOU COULDN'T HAVE BEEN BORN. NONE OF YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS WOULD HAVE BEEN BORN EITHER. IN FACT, THERE WOULDN'T BE A SINGLE HUMAN BEING ON THE PLANET. IF THE FORC OF LOVE CEASED TODAY, THE ENTIRE HUMAN RACE WOULD DECREASE AND EVENTUALLY DIE OUT.

      EVERY SINGLE INVENTION, DISCOVERY AND HUMAN CREATION CAME FROM THE LOVE IN A HUMAN HEART. IF IT WERE NOT FOR THE LOVE OF THE WRIGHT BROTHERS, WE COULD NOT FLY IN AN AIRPLANE. IF IT WERE NOT FOR THE LOVE OF SCIENTISTS, INVENTORS, AND DISCOVERERS, WE WOULD NOT HAVE ELECTRICITY, HEARTING OR LIGHT, NOR WOULD WE BE ABLE TO DRIVE A CAR OR USE A PHONE, APPLIANCE, OR ANY OF THE TECHNOLOGY THAT MAKES LIFE EASIER AND MORE CORFORTABLE. WITHOUT THE LOVE OF ARCHITECTS AND BUILDERS, THERE WOULD BE NO HOMES, BUILDING OR CITIES. WITHOUT LOVE, THERE WOULD BE NO MEDICINES, DOTORS, OR EMERGENCY FACILITIES, NO TEACHERS, SCHOOLS, OR EDUCATION. THERE WOULD BE NO BOOKS, NO PAINTINGS AND NO MUSIC, BECAUSE ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE CREATED FROM THE POSITIVE FORCE OF LOVE. TAKE A LOOK AROUND YOU RIGHT NOW. WHATEVER YOU SEE THAT IS A HUMAN CREATION WOULD NOT BE THERE WITHOUT LOVE. 

           

GRAVITING POWER OF LOVE

                                 UNLIMITED WAYS TO RECEIVE LOVE

     MONEY IS ONLY A TOOL FOR YOU TO EXPERIENCE THE THING YOU LOVE IN LIFE. WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE THINGS YOU CAN DO WITH MONEY, YOU WILL FEEL MUCH MORE LOVE AND JOY THAN WHEN YOU THINK ONLY OF MONEY. IMAGINE BEING WITH WHAT YOU LOVE, DOING WHAT YOU LOVE, AND HAVING THE THINGS YOU LOVE, BECAUSE YOU WILL THEN FAR MORE LOVE THAN YOU WILL IF YOU ONLY THINK ABOUT MONEY.

   THE ATTRACTIVE FORCE OF LOVE HAS UNLIMITED WAYS FOR YOU TO RECEIVE WHAT YOU WANT, AND ONLY OF THOSE WAYS INVOLVES MONEY. DON'T MAKE THE MISTAKE OF THINKING THAT MONEY IS THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN RECEIVE SOMETHING. THAT IS LIMITED THINKING AND YOU WILL LIMIT YOUR LIFE!

     MY SISTER ATTRACTED A NEW CAR THROUGH THE MOST ADVENTUROUS SEQUENCE OF EVENTS. SHE WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND SHE GOT CAUGHT IN A FLASH FLOOD AND HER CAR STOPPED IN THE WATER. AT THE INSISTENCE OF AN EMERGENCY RECUE WORKER SHE WAS CARRIED TO DRY LAND, EVEN THOUGH THE WATER WAS NOT DANGEROUSLY HIGH. SHE LAUGHED HER WAY THROUGH THE WHOLE EXPERIENCE, AND HER RESCUE EVEN MADE THE NIGHTLY TELEVISION NEWS. MY SISTER'S CAR WAS IRREPARABLY DAMAGED BY THE WATER, AND WITHIN TWO WEEKS SHE WAS GIVEN A LARGE CHECK, AND SHE BOUGHT HER DREAM CAR.

       THE MOST WONDERFUL PART OF THIS STORY IS THAT MY SISTER WAS RENOVATING A HOUSE AT THE TIME, AND SHE DIDN'T EVEN IMAGINE HAVING A NEW CAR. SHE HAD ATTRACTED THE BEAUTIFUL NEW CAR TO HER BECAUSE SHE HAD CRIED TEARS OF JOY WHE SHE HEARD THE NEWS THAT OUR OTHER SIBLING HAD GOTTEN A NEW CAR. MY SISTER WAS SO HAPPY AND GAVE SO MUCH LOVE FOR OUR SIBLING RECEIVING A NEW CAR THAT THE LAW OF ATTRACTION MOVED EVERY ELEMENT, CIRCUMSTANCE, AND EVENT TO DELIVER A NEW CAR TO HER TOO. THAT IS THE POWER OF LOVE! ALL THINGS CAN COME TO YOU IN AN UNLIMITED NUMBER OF WAYS.

STAY WITH POSITIVE FRIENDS

                                         EVALUATE YOUR FRIENDSHIPS

        IT'S CRUCIAL THAT YOU EVALUATE YOUR FRIENDSHIPS FROM TIME TO TIME-EVEN THOSE YOU'VE MAINTAINED FOR MANY YEARS. TRUST ME, THIS ISN'T A MINOR ISSUE. THOSE WHO OCCUPY YOUR TIME HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON YOUR MOST PRICELESS POSSESSION-YOUR MIND!

      ARE YOU SURROUNDING YOURSELF WITH NEGATIVE FRIENDS AND SPENDING A LOT OF TIME WITH THEM IN YOUR LEISURE HOURS? IF SO, I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO THINK ABOUT SPENDING MUCH LESS TIME WITH THESE PEOPLE-OR EVEN NO TIME AT ALL WITH THEM.

      SOUNDS HARSH, DOESN'T IT? I'M SUGGESTING THAT YOU LIMIT - OR ELIMINATE- YOUR INVOLVEMENT WITH SOME LONG-STANDING FRIENDS. WHEN I TELL PEOPLE  THIS AT MY SEMINARS, INVARIABLY SOMEONE WILL RAISE A HAND AND ACCURE ME OF BEING COLD OR UNCARING. THE AUDIENCE MEMBER WILL TYPICALLY SAY, SHOULDN'T WE TRY TO HELP OUR NEGATIVE FRIENDS INSTEAD OF DUMPTING THEM?

      WELL, YOU'RE FREE TO DO WHATEVER YOU THINK IS BEST, AND EACH SITUATION MUST BE DEAL WITH ON ITS OWN UNIQUE FACTS, HOWEVER, I'VE FOUND THAT IN MOST CASES, HANGING AROUND THESE NEGATIVE FRIENDS, DOESN'T HELP THEM- AND IT DOESN' HELP YOU, EITHER! EVERYONE GETS DRAGGED DOWN BECAUSE MOST NEGATIVE PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO CHANGE. THEY JUST WANT SOMEONE TO LISTEN TO THEIR TALES OF WOE.

         IF YOU HAVE A STRONG URGUE TO SPEND TIME WITH NEGATIVE FRIENDS, ASK YOURSELF; WHY AM I CHOOSING TO BE WITH THESE PEOPLE? CONSCIOUSLY OR UNCONSCIOUSLY, YOU MAY BE CHOOSING TO HOLD YOURSELF BACK-TO BE LESS THAN YOU ARE CAPABLE OF BECOMING.

           BY THE WAY, I THINK IT'S WONDERFUL TO TRY TO HEPL SOMEONE OVERCOME THEIR NEGATIVITY. BUT IF YOU'VE BEEN TRYING FOR SEVERAL YEARS... AND AREN'T GETTING ANYWHERE... MAYBE IT'S TIME TO MOVE ON!

       LET ME CLARIFY ONE IMPORTANT POINT. I'M NOT MAKING A JUDGMENT HERE THAT NEGATIVE PEOPLE ARE ANY LESS WORTHY THAN OTHER PEOPLE. I'M SAYING THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES IF YOU SPEND TIME WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE NEGATIVE. WHAT ARETHE CONSEQUENCES? YOU'LL BE LESS HAPPY AND LESS SUCCESSFUL THAN YOU COULD BE. 

   

THE AMAZING STORY

                                                          THE STORY OF OUR LIFE

     THE REAL STORY IS THAT YOU ARE AN UNLIMITED BEING. THE REAL STORY IS THAT THE WORLD AND THE UNIVERSE ARE UNLIMITED. THERE ARE WORDS AND POSSIBILITIES THAT YOU CANNOT SEE, BUT ALL OF THEM EXIST. YOU HAVE TO START TELLING A DIFFERENT STORY! YOU HAVE TO START TELLING THE STORY OF YOUR AMAZING LIFE, BECAUSE WHATEVER STORY YOU TELL, GOOD OR BAD, THE LAW OF ATTRACTION MUST MAKE SURE YOU RECEIVE IT, AND IT WILL BE THE STORY OF YOUR LIFE.

     IMAGINE AND FEEL WHATEVER YOU WANT AND THOSE WILL BE THE PICTURE YOU RECEIVE BACK IN YOUR LIFE. GIVE LOVE AS MUCH AS YOU CAN AND FEEL AS GOOD AS YOU CAN, AND THE FORCE OF LOVE WILL SURROUND YOU WITH PEOPLE, CIRCUMSTANCES, AND EVENTS THAT YOU LOVE. YOU CAN BE WHATEVER YOU WANT. YOU CAN DO WHATEVER YOU WANT. YOU CAN HAVE WHATEVER YOU WANT.

     WHAT DO YOU LOVE? WHAT DO YOU WANT?

    LET GO OF ANYTHING YOU DON'T LOVE ABOUT YOUR LIFE STORY AND JUST KEEP THE THINGS YOU LOVE. IF YOU HOLD ON TO NEGATIVE THINGS FROM YOUR PAST, THEN YOU KEEP PUTTING THEM INTO YOUR STORY EVERY TIME YOU REMEMBER THEM, AND THEY GO BACK INTO THE PICTURES OF YOUR LIFE-NOW!

     LET GO OF THE THINGS YOU DON'T LOVE ABOUT YOUR CHILDHOOD, AND KEEP THE THINGS YOU LOVE. LET GO OF THE THINGS YOU DON'T LOVE ABOUT YOUR ADOESCENT AND ADULT YEARS, AND KEEP THE GOOD THINGS. JUST KEEP THE THINGS YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR WHOLE LIFE. ALL THE NEGATIVE THINGS OF THE PAST ARE DONE, FINISHED; YOU ARE NOT THE SAME PERSON AS YOU WERE THEN, SO WHY KEEP PUTTING THEM IN YOUR STORY IF THEY MEKE YOU FEEL BAD? YOU DON'T HAVE TO DIG NEGATIVE THINGS OUT OF YOU FROM THE PAST. JUST DON'T PUT THEM IN YOUR STORY ANYMORE.

SUCCESS DEFINITION

                                                   DEFINING SUCCESS

     WHAT'S THE KEY TO SUCCESS? WHY DO SOME PEOPLE SUCCEED WHILE OTHER FAIL?

        EARL NEGHTINGALE, THE GREAT SUCCESS WRITER, BROADCASTER SPEAKER, ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE IN HIS FAMOUS RECORDED MESSAGE ENTILED "THE STRANGEST SECRET" IN THIS PROGRAM, HE IDENDIFIED THE KEY TO SUCCESS IN JUST SEX WORDS. OF COURSE, HE WENT ON TO EXPLAIN IT IN MORE DETAIL-BUT THE FOUNDATION OF HIS SUCCESS SECRET IS ONLY SIX WORDS.

        YOU'D LIKE TO KNOW THE SIX WOULDN'T YOU? WELL, BEFORE I TELL YOU THE KEY TO SUCCESS, YOU MIGHT BE SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT THE SAME SIX WORDS ARE ALSO THE KEY TO FAILURE!

       ARE YOU READY FOR THE KEY TO SUCCESS? HERE IT IS:

    WE BECOME WHAT WE THINK ABOUT.

ON A GUT LEVEL, DOES THAT MAKE SENSE TO YOU?

     IN HIS RESEARCH ON THE SUBJECT, NIGHTINGALE FOUND THAT ALL OF THE GREAT WRITERS, PHILOSOPHERS AND RELIGIOUS LEADERS HAVE AGREED THAT OUR THOUGHTS DETERMINE OUR ACTION, HERE ARE THE OBSERVATIONS OF A FEW GREAT THINKERS ON THIS VERY POINT. 

     NAPOLEON HILL SAID, "WHAT THE MIND CAN CONCEIVE AND BELIEVE, THE MIND CAN ACHIEVE"

     THE BIBLE CONTAINS NUMEROUS REFERENCES TO THINKING INCLUDING THESE

        ACCORDING TO YOUR FAITH BE IT UNTO YOU.

        AS A MAN THINKETH IN HIS HEART, SO IS HE.

        IF YOU CAN BELIEVE, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.

        

    RALPH WALDO EMERSON PUT IT THIS WAY, " A MAN IS WHAT HE THINKS ABOUT ALL DAY LONG"

   ROBERT COLLIER OFFERED THIS INSIGHT: " THERE IS NOTHING ON EARTH YOU CANNOT HAVE-ONCE YOU HAVE MENTALLY ACCEPTED THE FACT THAT YOU CAN HAVE IT"

  AND FINALLY, THERE ARE THE WELL-KNOWN WORDS OF HENRY FORD, WHO SAID, "WHETHER YOU THINK YOU CAN-OR THINK YOU CAN'T YOU'RE RIGHT"

     

THE POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE RESPONSE

                                                POSITIVE RESPONSE

     THEN, THERE'S THE POSITIVE APPROACH. THESE ARE THE ENTHUSIASTIC PEOPLE WHO SAY:

  * TERRIFIC

  * FANTASTIC

  * GREAT

  * EXCELLENT

  * SUPER

  * I'M ON TOP OF THE WORLD

  * IT DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER

    THOSE WHO USE POSITIVE WORDS LIKE THESE HAVEA BOUNCE IN THEIR STEP AND YOU FEEL A LITTLE BETER JUST BY BEING AROUNG THEM. BE HONEST. HOW DID YOU FEEL AS YOU READ THE POSITIVE LIST? I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I'M ENERGIZED AND EXICITED AS I REVIEW THAT LIST. THESE ARE THE PEOPLE I LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING TODAY. THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE MORE LIKELY TO GET MY BUSINESS.

     WHO NOT GO BACK AND RE-READ THE NEGATIVE LIST AND THE MEDIOCRE LIST. SAY THEM OUT LOUD. HOW DO THEY MAKE YOU FEEL? BUMMED OUT, FOR SURE!.

      YOU SEE, IF GIVEN THE CHOICE, I'D RATHER BE AROUND PEOPLE WHO ARE POSITIVE AND FULL OF LIFE.... AS OPPOSED TO THOSE WHO ARE NEGATIVE AND LISTLESS . IT'S LIKE THE OLD SAYING THAT EVERYBODY LIGHT UP A  WALK OUT! YOU WANT TO BE THE WHO LIGHTS UP A ROOM WHEN YOU WALK OUT! YOU WANT TO BE THE ONE WHO LIGHTS UP A ROOM WHEN YOU WALK IN!

      AS FOR ME, WHEN SOMEONE ASKES ME HOW ARE YOU? I USUALLY RESPOND WITH TERRIFIC! IT PROJECTS A POSITIVE ATTITUDE TO THE OTHER PERSON AND THE MORE I SAY IT, THE MORE I FEEL TERRIFIC!

                                                 NEGATIVE RESPONSES

        THE NETATIVE REPLIES TO HOW ARE YOU? PHRASES SUCH AS:

    * LOUSY

    * TERRIBLE

    * I'M TIRED

    * IT'S NOT MY DAY

    * THANK GOD IT'S FRIDAY

    * A DAY OLDER AND A DOLLAR BROKER

    * DON'T ASK

   

      WHEN SOMEONE RESPONDS WITH "DON'T ASK", I KNOW IN FOR TROUBLE. THAT PERSON IS GOING TO UNLEASH A MULTITUDE OF COMPLAINTS AND MAKE ME SORRY FOR ASKING HOW ARE YOU? IN THE FIRST PLACE!

     AND I REALLY PITY THOSE WHO TAKE THE "THANK GOD IT'S FRIDAY" APPROACH TO LIFE. THINK OF WHAT THEY'RE SAYING. "MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, AND THURSDAY ARE BAD DAYS EVERY WEEK". FOR THESE PEOPLE, FOUR-FIFTHS OF THEIR WORK WEEK IS LOUSY! THE FIFTH DAY, FRIDAY, IS "BEARABLE" ONLY BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEY'LL HAVE THE NEXT TWO DAYS OFF! IS THIS A WAY TO LIVE YOUR LIFE? ARE YOU BEGINNING TO SEEN HOW THESE NEGATIVE PHRASES CAN POISON YOUR ATTITUDE.... AND TURN OFF OTHER PEOPLE?

STAGE POINTS

                                   SUMMARIZE YOUR POINTS

               EVEN IN A SHORT TALK OF THREE TO FIVE MINUTES, A SPEAKER IS VERY APT TO COVER SO MUCH GROUND THAT AT THE CLOSE THE LISTENERS ARE A LITTLE HAZY ABOUT ALL HIS MAIN POINTS. HOWEVER, FEW SPEAKERS REALIZE THAT. THEY ARE MISLED INTO ASSUMING THAT BECAUSE THESE POINTS ARE CRYSTAL CLEAR IN THEIR OWN MINDS, THEY MUST BE EQUALLY LUCID TO THEIR HEARERS. NOT AT ALL. THE SPEAKER HAS BEEN PONDERING OVER HIS IDEAS FOR SOME TIME. BUT HIS POINTS ARE ALL NEW TO THE AUDIENCE; THEY ARE FLUNG AT THE AUDIENCE LIKE A HANDFUL OF SHOT. SOME MAY STICK, BUT THE MOST ARE LIABLE TO ROLL OFF IN CONFUSION. THE HEARERES ARE LIABLE, LIKE LARGO TO, "REMEMBER A MASS OF THINGS BUT NOTHING DISTINCTLY"

             SOME ANONYMOUS IRISH POLITICIAN IS REPOTTED TO HAVE GIVEN THIS RECIPE FOR MAKING A SPEECH, "FIRST, TELL THEM THAT YOU ARE GOING TO TELL THEM, THEN TELL THEM, THEN TELL THEM THAT YOU HAVE TOLD THEM," NOT BA, YOU KNOW. IN FACT, TOLD THEM, " BRIEFLY, OF COURSE, SPEEDILY- A MERE OUTLINE, A SUMMARY.

           HERE IS A GOOD EXAMPLE. THE SPEAKER IS A STUDENT OF MR.BILLS'CLASS IN PUBLIC SPEAKING. HE IS ALSO A TRAFFIC MANAGE FOR RAILWAYS.

          INSHORT, GENTLEMEN, OUR OWN BACKDOOR YARD EXPERIENCE WITH THIS BLOCK DEVICE, EXPERIENCE IN ITS USE IN THE EAST, IN THE WEST, IN THE NORTH-THE SOUND OPERATING PRINCIPLES UNDERLYING ITS OPERATION, THE ACTUAL DEMONSTRATION IN THE MONEY SAVED IN ONE YEAR IN WRECK PREVENTION, MOVE ME MOST EARESTLY AND UNEQUIVOCALLY TO RECOMMEND ITS IMMEDIATE INSTALLATION ON OUR SOUTHERN BRANCH.

           YOU SEE WHAT HE HAS DONE? YOU CAN SEE IT AND FEEL IT WITHOUT HAVING HEARD THE REST OF THE TALK. HE HASSUMMED UP IN A FEW SENTENCES, IN SEXTY-TWO WORDS, PRACTICALLY ALL THE POINTS HE HAS MADE IN THE ENTIRE TALK.

           DON'T YOU FEEL THAT A SUMMARY LIKE THAT HELPS? IF SO, MAKE THAT TECHNIQUE YOUR OWN.

DON'T GIVE UP

                                                             CHEER UP

           ONE TIME A YOUNG MAN WHO ASPIRED TO STUDY LAW, WROTE TO LINCOLN FOR ADVICE, AND LINCOLN REPLIED; IF YOU ARE RESLUTELY DETERMINED TO MAKE A LAWYER OF YOURSELF, THE THING IS MORE THAN HALF DONE ALREADY... ALWAYS BEAR IN MIND THAT YOUR OWN RESOLUTION TO SUCCEED IS MORE IMPROTANT THAN ANY OTHER ONE THING.

                                                   THE ART OF SITTING DOWN

        ISN'T IT WELL FOR THE SPEAKER HIMSELF NOT TO SIT FACING THE AUDIENCE BEFORE HE BEGINS? ISN'T IT BETTER TO ARRIVE AS A FRESH EXHIBIT THAN AN OLD ONE?

      BUT, IS WE MUST SIT, LET US BE CAREFUL OF HOW WE SIT. YOU HAVE SEEN MEN LOOK ROUND TO FIND A CHAIR WITH MODIFIED MOVEMENTS OF A FOXHOUND LYING DOWN FOR THE CHAIR, THEY DOUBLE UP AN WHEN THEY DID LOCATE A CHAIR, THEY DOUBLED UP AND FLOPPED DOWN INTO IT WITH ALL THE SELF-CONTROL OF A SACK OF SAND.

      A MAN WHO KNOWS HOW TO SIT FEELS THE CHAIR STRIKE THE BACK OF HIS LEGS, AND WITH HIS BODY EASILY ERECT FROM HEAD TO HIPS, HE SINKS INTO IT WITH HIS BODY UNDER PERFECT CONTROL.

                                              WHAT IS MEANT BY PREPARATION

           DOES THE PREPARATION OF A SPEECH MEAN THE GETTING TOGETHER OF SOME FAULTLESS PHRASES WRITTEN DOWN OR MEMORIZED? NO, DOES IT MEAN THE ASSEMBLING OF A FEW CASUAL THOUGHTS THAT REALLY CONVEY VERY LITTLE TO YOU PERSONALLY? NOT AT ALL. IT MEANS THE ASSEMBLY OF YOUR THOUGHTS, YOUR IDEAS, YOUR CONVICTIONS, YOUR URGES. AND YOU HAVE SUCH THOUGHTS, SUCH URGES. YOU HAVE THEM EVERY DAY OF YOUR WALKING LIFE. THEY EVEN SWARM THROUGH YOUR DREAMS. YOUR WHOLE EXISTENCE HAS BEEN FILLED WITH FEELINGS AND EXPERIENCES. THESE THINGS ARE LYING DEEP IN YOUR SUBCONCIOUS MIND AS THICK AS PEBBLES ON THE SEASHORE. PREPARATION MEANS THINKING, BROODING, RECALLING, SELECTING THE ONES THAT APPEAL TO YOU MOST, POLISHING THEM, WORKING SOUND LIKE SUCH A DIFFICULT PROGRAMME, DOES IT? IT ISN'T . IT JUST REQUIRES A LITTLE CONCENTRATION AND THINKING TO A PURPOSE. 

    

               

      

THE NECESSITY OF PERSISTENCE

                                                                  PERSISTENCE

       WHEN WE START TO LEARN ANY NEW THING, LIKE FRENCH, OF GOLF, OR PUBLIC SPEAKING, WE NEVER ADVANCES STEADILY. WE DO NOT IMPROVE GRADUALLY. WE DO IT BY SUDDEN JERKS, BY ABRUPT STARTS. THEN WE REMAIN STATIONARY A TIME, OR WE MAY EVEN SLIP BACK AND LOSE SOME OF THE GROUND WE HAVE PREVIOULSLY GAINED. THESE PERIODS OF STAGNATON, OR RETROGRESSION, ARE WELL KNOWN BY ALL PSYCHOLOGISTS; AND THEY HAVE BEEN NAMED, " PLATEAUS IN THE CURVE OF LEARNING". 

        STUDENTS OF PUBLIC SPEAKING WILL SOMETIMES BE STALLED FOR WEEKS ON ONE OF THESE PLATEAUS. WORKS AS HARD AS THEY MAY, THEY CANNOT GET OFF IT. THE WEAK ONES GIVE UP IN DESPAIR. THOSE WITH GRIT PERSIST, AND THEY FIND THAT SUDDENTLY, OVERNIGHT, WITHOUT THEIR KNOWING HOW OR WHY IT HAS HAPPENED, THEY HAVE MADE GREAT PROGRESS. THEY HAVE LIFTED FROM THE PLATEAU LIKE AN AIROPLANE. ABRUPTLY THEY ACQUIRED NATURALNESS AND FORCE AND CONFIDENCE IN THEIR SPEAKING.

         YOU MAY ALWAYS, AS WE HAVE NOTED ELSEWHERE IN THESE PAGES, EXPERIENCE SOME FLEETING FEAR, SOME SHOCK, SOME NERVOUS ANXIETY THE FIRST FEW MOMENTS YOU FACE AN AUDIENCE JOHN BRIGHT FELT IT TO THE END OF HIS BUSY CAREER, SO DID GLADSTONE; SO DID BISHOP WILBERFORCE; SO DID A  SCORE OF OTHER EMINENT SPEAKERS. EVEN THE GREATEST OF THE MUSICIANS HAVE FELT IT IN SPRITE OF THEIR INNUMERABLE PUBLIC APPEARANCE. PADEREWSKI ALWAYS FIDGETED NERVOUSLY WITH HIS CUFFS IMMEDIALTELY BEFORE HE SAT DOWN AT THE PIANO. NORDICA FELT HER HEART RACING. SO DID SEMBRICH. SO DID EMMA EAMES. BUT IT VANISHED QUICKLY, ALL OF THIS AUDIENCE FEAR, LIKE A MIST IN THE AUGUST SUNSHINE.

        THEIR EXPERIENCE WILL BE YOURS, IF YOU WILL BUT PERSEVERE, YOU WILL SOON ERADICATE EVERYTHING BUT THIS INITIAL FEAR, AND THAT WILL BE INITIAL FEAR, AND NOTHING MORE. AFTER THE FIRST FEW SENTENCES, YOU WILL HAVE CONTROL OF YOURSELF. YOU WILL BE SPEAKING WITH POSITIVE PLEASURE