THE PRINCIPLE REASON FOR FAILURE

 

                           UNDERSTAND THE TRICK

                     THE PRINCIPLE REASONS FOR FAILURE ARE : LACK OF CONFIDENCE AND TOO MUCH EFFORT. MANY PEOPLE BLOCK ANSWERS TO THEIR PRAYERS BY FAILING TO FULLY BLOCK ANSWERS TO THEIR PRAYERS BY FAILING TO FULLY COMPREHEND THE WORKINGS OF THEIR SUBCONSCIOUS MIND. WHEN YOU KNOW HOW YOUR MIND FUNCTIONS, YOU GAIN A MEASURE OF CONFIDENCE. YOU MUST REMEMBER WHENEVER YOUR SUBCONSCIOUS MIND ACCEPTS AN IDEA, IT IMMEDIATELY BEGINS TO EXECUTE IT. IT USES ALL ITS MIGHTLY RESOURCES TO THAT END AND MOBILIZES ALL THE MENTAL AND SPIRITUAL LAWS OF YOUR DEEPER MIND. THIS LAW IS TRUE NEGATIVELY, IT BRINGS TROUBLE, FAILURE, AND CONFUSION.

                     WHEN YOU USE IT CONSTRUCTIVELY, IT BRINGS GUIDANCE, FREEDOM, AND PEACE OF MIND.

                      THE RIGHT ANSWER IS INEVITABLE WHEN YOUR THOUGHTS ARE POSITIVE, CONSTRUCTIVE, AND LOVING.

                     FROM THIS IT IS PERFECTLY OBVIOUS THAT THE ONLY THING YOU HAVE TO DO IN ORDER TO OVERCOME FAILURE IS TO GET YOUR SUBCONSCIOUS TO ACCEPT YOUR IDEA OR REQUEST BY FEELING ITS REALITY NOW, AND THE LAW OF YOUR MIND WILL DO THE REST. TURN OVER YOUR REQUEST WITH FAITH AND CONFIDENCE, AND YOUR SUBCONSCIOUS WILL TAKE OVER AND ANSWER FOR YOU.

                     YOU WILL ALWAYS FAIL TO GET RESULTS BY TRYING TO USE MENTAL COERCION- YOUR SUBCONSCIOUS MIND DOES NOT RESPOND TO COERCION-YOUR SUBCONCSCIOUS MIND DOES NOT RESPOND TO COERCION, IT RESPOND TO YOUR FAITH OR CONSCIOUS MIND ACCEPTANCE.

                     YOUR FAILURE TO GET RESULTS MAY ALSO ARISE FROM SUCH STATEMENTS AS, THINGS ARE GETTING WORSE, I WILL NEVER GET AN ANSWER. I SEE NO WAY OUT, IT IS HOPELESS, I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO, I AM ALL MIXED UP, WHEN YOU USE SUCH STATEMENTS, YOU GET NOT RESPONSE OR COOPERATION FROM YOUR SUBCONSCIOUS MIND. LIKE A SOLDIER MAKING TIME, YOU NEITHER GO FORWARD NOR BACKWARD, IN OTHER WORDS, YOU DON'T GET ANYWHERE.

                   IF YOU GET INTO A TAXI GIVE HALF DOZEN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS TO THE DRIVER IN FIVE MINUTRES, HE WOULD BECOME HOPELESSLY CONFUSED AND PROBABLY WOULD REFUSE TO TAKE YOU ANYWHERE.

                   IT IS THE SAME WHEN WORKING WITH YOUR SUBCONSCIOUS MIND. THERE MUST BE A CLEAR-CUT IDEA IN YOUR MIND. YOU MUST ARRIVE AT THE DEFINITE DECISION THAT THERE IS A WAY OUT, A SOLUTION TO THE VEXING PROBLEM IN SICKNESS. ONLY THE INFINITE INTELLIGENCE WITHIN YOUR SUBCONSCIOUS KNOWS THE ANSWER. WHEN YOU COME TO THAT CLEAR-CUT CONCLUSION IN YOUR CONSCIOUS MIND, YOUR MIND IS THEN MADE UP, AND ACCORDING TO YOUR BELIEF IS IT DONE UNTO YOU.

                              THE RESULT OF YOUR

                              SUBCONSCIOUS MIND

                A WONDERFUL WAY TO GET A RESPONSE FROM YOUR SUBCONSCIOUS MIND IS THROUGH DISCIPLINED OR SCIENTIFIC IMAGINATION. AS PREVIOUSLY POINTED OUT. YOUR SUBCONSCIOUS MIND IS THE BUILDER OF THE BODY AND CONTROLS ALL ITS VITAL FUNCTIONS.

                 THE BIBLE SAYS, WHATSOVER YE SHALL ASK IN PRAYER, BELIEVING YE SHALL RECEIVE. TO BELIEVE IS TO ACCEPT SOMETHING AS TRUE. OR TO LIVE IN THE STATE OF BEING IT. AS YOU SUSTAIN THIS MOOD, YOU SHALL EXPERIENCE THE JOY OF THE ANSWERED PRAYER.

THE POWER OF BELIEF

 

                           THE LAW OF LIFE IS BELIEF

                     ALL RELIGIONS OF THE WORLD REPRESENT FORMS OF BELIEF, AND THESE BELIEFS ARE EXPLAINED IN MANY WAYS. THE LAW OF LIFE IS BELIEFS. WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE ABOUT YOURSELF , LIFE AND THE UNIVERSE? IT IS DONE UNTO YOU, AS YOU BELIEVE.

                     BELIEF IS A THOUGHT IN YOUR MIND, WHICH CAUSES THE POWER OF YOUR SUBCONSCIOUS TO BE DISTRIBUTED INTO ALL PHASES OF YOUR LIFE ACCORDING TO YOUR THINKING HABITS. YOUR MUST REALIZE THE BIBLE IS NOT TALKING ABOUT YOUR BELIEF IN SOME RITUAL, CEREMONY, FORM, INSTITUTION, MAN, OR FORMULA. IT IS TALKING ABOUT BELIEF ITSELF. THE BELIEF OF YOUR MIND IS SIMPLY THE THOUGHT OF YOUR MIND. IF THOU CANST BELIEV, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE TO HIM THAT BELIEVETH.

                  IT IS FOOLISH TO BELIEVE IN SOMETHING TO HURT OR HARM YOU. REMEMBER, IT IS NOT THING BELIEVED IN THAT HURTS OR HARMS YOU, BUT THE BELIEF OR THOUGHT IN YOUR MIND, WHICH CREATES THE RESULT. ALL YOUR EXPERIENCES, ALL YOUR ACTIONS, AND ALL THE EVENTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF YOUR LIFE ARE BUT THE REFLECTIONS AND REACTIONS TO YOUR OWN THOUGHT.

                                   THE BEST WAY TO 

                        ACHIEVE THE GOAL IS PRAYER

                       PRAYER THERAPY IS THE SYNCHRONIZED, HARMONIOUS, AND INTELLIGENT FUNCTION OF THE CONSCIOUS AND SUBCONSCIOUS LEVELS OF MIND SPECIFICIALLY DIRECTED FOR A DEFINITE PURPOSE. IN SCIENTIFIC PRAYER OR PRAYER THERAPY, YOU MUST KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND WHY YOU ARE DOING IT. 

                     YOU MUT THE LAW OF HEALING. PRAYER THERAPY IS SOMETIMES REFERRED TO AS MENTAL TREATMENT, AND ANOTHER TERM IS SCIENTIFIC PRAYER.

                      IN PRAYER THERAPY YOU CONSCIOUSLY CHOOSE A CERTAIN IDEA, MENTAL PICTURE, OR PLAN WHICH YOU DESIRE TO EXPERIENCE. YOU REALIZE YOUR CAPACITY TTO CONVEY THIS IDEA OR MENTALIMAGE TO YOUR SUBCONSCIOUS BY FEELING THE REALITY OF THE STATE ASSUMED . AS YOU REMAIN FAITHFUL IN YOUR MENTAL ATTITUDE, YOUR PRAYER WILL BE ANSWERED. PRAYER THERAPY IS A DEFINITE MENTAL ACTION FOR A DEFINITE SPECIFIC PURPOSE.

                       LET US SUPPOSE THAT YOU DECIDE TO HEAL A CERTAIN DIFFICULTY BY PRAYER THERAPY. YOU ARE AWARE THAT YOUR PROBLEM OR SICKNESS, WHATEVER IT MAY BE, MUST BE CAUSED BY NEGATIVE THOUGHTS CHARGED WITH FEAR AND LODGED IN YOUR SUBCONSCIOUS MIND, AND THAT IF YOU CAN SUCCEED IN CLEANSING YOUR MIND OF THESE THOUGHTS, YOU WILL GET A HEALING. YOU, THEREFORE, TURN TO THE HEALING POWER WITHIN YOUR OWN SUBCONSCIOUS MIND AND REMIND YOURSELF OF ITS INFINITE POWER AND INTELLIGENCE AND ITS CAPACITY TO HEAL ALL CONDITIONS. AS YOU DWELL ON THESE TRUTHS, YOUR FEAR WILL BEGIN TO DISSOLVE AND THE RECOLLECTION OF THESE TRUTHS ALSO CORRECTS THE ERRONEOUS BELIEFS.

                         YOU GIVE THANKS FOR THE HEALING THAT YOU KNOW WILL COME, AND THEN YOU KEEP YOUR MIND OFF THE DIFFICULTY UNTIL YOU FEEL GUIDED, AFTER AN INTERVAL, TO PRAY AGAIN. WHILE YOU ARE PRAYING, YOU ABSOLUTELY REFUSE TO GIVE ANY POWER TO THE NEGATIVE CONDITIONS OR TO ADMIT FOR A SECOND THAT THE HEALING WILL NOT COME. THIS ATTITUDE OF THE CONSCIOUS AND SUBCONSCIOUS MIND, WHICH RELEASES THE HEALING POWER.

TYPES OF SELF-TALK

 

                         THE DEFINITION OF SELF-TALK

 

                            WHAT IS SELF-TALK, AND HOW DOES IT WORK? THE DEFINITION OF SELF-TALK, AS WE'RE USING IT THROUGHOUT THIS BOOK, CAN BE SIMPLY STATED. SELF-TALK IS A WAY TO OVERRIDE OUR PAST NEGATIVE PROGRAMMING BY ERASING OR REPLACING IT WITH CONSCIOUS, NEW POSITIVE DIRECTIONS. SELF-TALK IS A PRACTICAL WAY TO LIVE OUR LIVES BY ACTIVE INTENT RATHER THAN BY PASSIVE ACCEPTANCE.

                              WITH SELF-TALK, WE HAVE A WAY TO GIVE NEW DIRECTIONS TO OUR SUBCONSCIOUS MINDS BY TALKING TO OURSELVES IN A DIFFERENT WAY, CONSCIOUSLY REPROGRAMMING OUR INTERNAL CONTROLS CENTERS WITH WORDS AND STATEMENTS THAT ARE MORE EFFECTIVE, MORE HELPFUL TO EVERY PART OF US THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO IMPROVE. THE SELF-TALK STATEMENTS PAINT A NEW INTERNAL PICTURE OF OURSELVES AS WE WOULD MOST LIKE TO BE.

                             SELF-TALK GIVES EACH OF US A WAY TO CHANGE WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE, EVEN IF WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO SO IN THE PAST, IT OFFERS US THE CHANCE TO STOP BEING THE OLD SELF AND START BEING A DIFFERENT, BETTER SELF, A SELF THAT IS NO LONGER THE PRODUCT OF CONDITIONED RESPONSE BUT GOVERNED INSTEAD BY PERSONAL CHOICE.

                     ACTUALLY, THERE ARE SEVERAL KINDS OF SELF-TALK. EACH OF US, EACH DAY, MAY USE ANY OF FIVE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF SELF-TALK . EACH LEVEL IS SPECIFIC AND DISTINCT FROM THE OTHERS. SOME OF THE LEVELS WORK FOR US, AND SOME WORK AGAINST US. THE MORE YOU KNOW ABOUT EACH OF THEM, THE FASTER AND MORE EASILY YOU WILL BE ABLE TO MASTER USING THE RIGHT KIND OF SELF-TALK FOR YOURSELF.

                THE LEVEL OF NEGATIVE ACCEPTANCE

                  THE FIVE LEVELS OF SELF-TALK AT THE LOWEST, LEAST BENEFICIAL LEVEL. AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LIST - AND THE MOST HARMFUL SELF-TALK WE CAN USE - IS LEVEL 1, THE LEVEL OF NEGATIVE ACCEPTANCE. THAT IS SELF-TALK BY WHICH YOU SAY SOMETHING BAD OR NEGATIVE ABOUT YOURSELF, AND YOU ACCEPT IT.

                    EARLIER, WE DISCUSSED SEVERAL DOZEN COMMONLY USED SELF-TALK STATEMENTS AND PHRASES. ALL OF THEM WERE LEVEL 1 SELF-TALK. THIS LEVEL IS EASY TO SPOT. IT IS ALMOST ALWAYS CHARACTERIZED BY THE WORDS, "I CAN'T... OR IF ONLY I COULD ... OR I WISH I COULD ... AND SO ON. ALL LEVEL 1 SELF-TALK WORKS AGAINST US, AND UNFORTUNTELY, IT IS THE MOST FREQUENTLY USED SELF-TALK OF ALL.

                    I JUST DON'T HAVE THE ENERGY I USED TO, "I COULD NEVER DO THAT, I JUST CAN'T SEEM  TO LOSE WEIGHT, WELL, I JUST DON'T KNOW, TODAY'S JUST NOT MY DAY, AND I JUST CAN'T ARE TYPICAL OF THE KINDS OF DOUBTS, FEARS, MISGIVINGS, AND HESITATIONS WE PROGRAM OURSELVES WITH WHEN WE SAY ANY LEVEL 1 SELF-TALK PHRASE TO OURSELVES, OUT LOUD, SILENTLY, OR TO SOMEONE ELSE. REMEMBER, THE SUBCONSCIOUS MIND IS LISTENING AND WAITING FOR OUR INSTRUCTIONS, AND IT DOESN'T CARE WHAT WE TELL IT, IT JUST DOES WHAT WE INSTRUCT IT TO DO!

                     LEVEL 1 SELF-TALK REPRESENTS EVERYTHING FROM OUR SIMPLEST MISGIVINGS TO THE WORST FEARS WE HAVE ABOUT OURSELVES. IT IS OUR WAY TO TELLING TO HESITATE, QUESTION OUR CAPABILITIES, AND ACCEPT LESS THAN WE KNOW WE COULD HAVE DONE, HAD WE ONLY GIVEN OURSELVES A CHANCE. IT IS OUR WAY OF TIMIDLY HIDING IN THE SHADOWS INSTEAD OF BOLDLY THRIVING IN THE SUNSHINE.

                    THERE IS NO WAY TO ESTIMATE THE AMOUNT OF HAVOC AND MISDIRECTION THAT LEVEL 1 SELT-TALK WREAKS IN OUR LIVES. IT CLUTTERS,BLOCKS, AND CONFUSES. IT TURNS SELF-ASSURANCE INTO SELF-DOUBT AND CHAOS.  IT CRIPPLES OUR BEST INTENTIONS AND SEDUCES US INTO BECOMING SATISFIED WITH MEDIOCRITY. IT IS THE HEART OF A "GET BY" ATTITUDE, ITS SUBTLE WHISPERS TELLING US TO PASSIVELY ACCEPT A FATE FAR LESS GREAT THAN WE HAD ONCE DREAMED OF ATTAINING. IT IS THE MYTHICAL SIREN THAT DRAW US ONTO THE SHORE, DASHING OUR HOPES ON REEFS OF DESPAIR AND COMPLACENCY.

                      IMAGINE GOING THROUGH YOUR LIFE USING THAT KIND OF SELF-TALK ON YOURSELF!

THE KEY OF LIFE

 

                            FORGETTING THE KEYS 

                                  AS YOU BECOME SUCCESSFUL,

                        DO NOT FORGET THE KEYS TO HAPPINESS.

                     HAPPINESS RESIDES NOT IN POSSESSIONS, AND NOT IN GOLD,

                     HAPPINESS DWELLS IN THE SOUL'.

                     IT MAY HAVE BEEN A MISTAKE TO PUBLICLY ANNOUNCE THAT MY FAVOURITE CUISINE COMES FROM THE SOUTH OF INDIA, BECAUSE THE WHOLE YEAR, IT WAS SAMBER FOR BREAKFAST, SAMBAR FOR LUNCH AND SAMBAR FOR DINNER. INFACT, SAMBARS FOLLOWED ME EVERYWHERE I WENT. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DO NOT KNOW, SAMBAR IS A LENTIL BASED VEGETABLE STEW,  WHICH ACCOMPANIES FAMOUS RICE-BASED DISHES SUCH AS DOSA OR IDLI. FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM TO AUSTRALIA, EVERYONE WHO INVITED ME TO THEIR HOME FED ME THEIR VERSION OF THIS MUCH-LOVED LENTIL SOUP. HAVING HAD SO MUCH OF IT, IT WAS ONLY NATURAL THAT I BECAME A CONNOISSEUR OF THE DISH, I KNEW WHERE TO FIND THE BEST SAMBAR IN ANY TOWN, LET ALONE MY OWN. AND THAT IS WHERE OUR STORY BEGINS.

                     ALTHOUGH I GREW UP IN PUNE, MY HEART LIES IN A SIMPLE ASHRAM, PARADOXICALLY SITUATED AMIDST THE SKYLINE OF DOWNTOWN MUMBAI.. I HAVE LIVED THERE AS A MONK FOR TWENTY-TWO YEARS, WHERE I HAVE NOT ONLY BEEN STUDYING ANCIENT EASTERN WISDOM FOR MY ENRICHMENT, BUT ALSO LEARNING HOW TO SHARE ITS PRACTICAL APPLICATION WITH THE WORLD. PEOPLE WHO ATTEND MY LECTURES REGULARLY INVITE ME TO HAVE LUNCH AT THEIR HOMES BUT, TO THEIR DISSAPPOINTMENT, I USUALLY DECLINE. AS A MONK, I HAVE TO BE CAUTIONS OF OVERINDULGENCE, IT IS ESSENTIAL TO STAY REGULATED IN OUR HABITS. BUT AFTER MONTHS OF PLEADING, I HESITANTLY ACCEPTED AN INVITATION TO GO TO MR. AND MRS IYER'S HOME, A DECISION WHICH WOULD DEEPEN MY UNDERSTANDING OF HAPPINESS IN THE LONG RUN.

                     MUMBAI IS NOTORIOUSLY HUMID IN MID-MAY. IT'S THE TYPE OF STICKY HUMIDITY IN WHICH YOUR SWEAT CAUSES YOUR SHIRT TO STICK TO YOUR BACK. BUT ONE ONLY FELT LIKE THAT AT SEA LEVEL, NOT IN THE CLOUD-BOUND APARTMENT OF HARIPRASAD AND LALITA IYER SITUATED IN A HIGH-RISE IN ELEGANT. WORLI. THIS AREA OF MUMBAI LONDON.  INDEED, IF THERE WERE A VERSION OF THE BOARD GAME MONOPLY FOR MUMBAI, YOU WOULD BE PAYING A HEFTY PRICE IF YOU LANDED ON WORLD'S DISTINGUISHED TOWERS. PALAIS ROYALE OR OMKAR 1973. AND, HERE I WAS, A MONK WITH HARDLY A RUPEE TO MY NAME, ENJOYING THE COOLING BREEZ FROM THE ARABIAN SEA ON THE TWENTY-EIGHTH-FLOOR HOME OF MY GRACIOUS HOSTS. A WORLD OF CAUTIONS I HAVE CHANGED THE NAMES IN THIS STORY. THIS ADJUSTMENTS  IS NOT ONLY TO BE SENSITIVE TOWARDS THE COUPLE WHOSE SECRETS I AM ABOUT TO SHARE, BUT ALSO TO AVOID OFFENDING THOSE WHO HAVE EVER FED ME SAMBAR THAT DIDN'T LIVE UP TO THE STANDARD SET BY THE IYERS.

                        

          

MOTIVATION OF THE DAY (SELF-TALK)

 

                                    

                                            SELF-TALK

                      THE RADIO TALK SHOW HOST WAS SAYING, "MY GUEST TODAY IS A MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER AND AN AUTHOR IN THE FIELD OF MOTIVATION". HE CONCLUDED HIS INTRODUCTION TO THE PROGRAM BY TURNING TO ME ACROSS THE MICROPHONE AND SAYING, "SHAD, ARE YOU ONE OF THESE GUYS WHO GETS AUDIENCES JUMPING IN THE AISLES AND READY TO RUN OUT AND CONQUER THE WORLD"?.

                     I THINK MY ANSWER SURPRISED HIM. MY RESPONSES WAS, NO, I'M NOT. IN FACT, I REALLY DON'T BELIEVE IN MOTIVATION".

                      THE NEXT FEW MOMENTS MAY HAVE BEEN THE FIRST TIME THERE WAS THAT MUCH DEAD SILENCE ON HIS RADIO SHOW. HE HAD BEEN PREPARED TO TALK ABOUT EXCITING WORLD OF MOTIVATION, AND HE HAD JUST REALIZED THAT HIS GUEST WAS ABOUT TO SAY IT DOESN'T WORK.

                       BUT LET ME CLARIFY. SOME MOTIVATION WORKS. IT'S JUST THAT MOST OF IT, MAYBE 95 PERCENT OF IT, DOESN'T , I RECALL READING THE COMMENT FROM THE TRAINING DIRECTOR OF A LARGE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATON. HE WAS INTERVIEWED BY A NATIONAL MAGAZINE, AND THE TOPIC WAS ON WHAT IS NEW IN TRAINING - PRINCIPALLY IN THE FIELD OF CORPORATION AND LARGE ORGANIZATIONS. HE SAID THAT HIS COMPANY HAD DECIDED TO STOP HIRING SPEAKERS WHO WERE MOTIVATIONAL WITHOUT BEING INSTRUCTIONAL. A MOTIVATIONAL TALK, HE HAD CONCLUDED, WAS MUCH LIKE THE OLD SAYING ABOUT EATING CHINESE FOOD FOR LUNCH, AN HOUR LATER, YOU'RE HUNGRY AGAIN. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S REALLY TRUE ABOUT CHINESE FOOD, BUT IT IS TRUE ABOUT MOTIVATION. MOST MOTIVATION SIMPLY DOESN'T STICK. IT DOESN'T STAY WITH YOU.

                   THERE ARE DIFFERENT KINDS OF MOTIVATION, AND DIFFERENT KINDS OF MOTIVATORS, ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR KINDS OF MOTIVATION CONSISTS OF AN AUDIENCE OF LISTENERS, SITTING ENTHRALLED WHILE A DYNAMATICALLY ENTHUSIASTIC SPEAKER WEAVES FOR THEM A WEB OF PURE MAGIC, THE SPUN GOLD OF RICHES AND SUCCESS. FOR AN HOUR OR TWO HE WILL IMBUE HIS LISTENERS WITH A NEW SENSE IF DESTINY, A GRAND NEW VISION OF THEIR UNLIMITED SELVES, ALL OF THEM CAPABLE OF SCALING THE HIGHEST MOUNTAINS OF THIER IMAGINATION, IF ONLY THEY BELIEVE THAT THEY CAN.

                         THE MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE ARE GIVEN A NEW LEASE ON LIFE, THE OLY PAYMENT REQUIRED IS THAT THEY BEGIN THE NEXT DAY AS THE NEW PERSON, CONQUERING ALL ODDS, LAYING WASTE TO THEIR LIMITATIONS, FOCUSING ON THE GOAL AND GOING FOR IT. IF YOU HAVE EVER ATTENDED A MOTIVATIONAL TALK SUCH AS I AM DESCRIBING, YOU KNOW THAT I MAY BE UNDERSTANDING THE MAGNITUDE OF THE MESMERIZING THAT TAKES PLACE.

                    COMPANIES AND GROUPS OF ALL SIZES AND DESCRIPTIONS RELY ON THAT KIND OF MOTIVATIONS TO PEP UP THEIR PEOPLE, GIVE A HIGH POINT TO THEIR CONVENTIONS AND SALS MEETINGS, AND SEND THE TROOPS AWAY, READY TO GO OUT AND FIGHT DRAGONS, CLOSE MORE SALES, FIX PROBLEMS FAST, AND REACH NEW HEIGHTS OF ACHIEVEMENT.

                       POPULAR SPEAKERS, DYNAMIC ORATORS, ENLIGHTENING THE FAITHFUL WITH THE CONTAGIOUS ZEAL OF THE GREATEST SUNDAY MORNING SERMONS, CONVINCE THEIR LISTENERS OF THEIR ULTIMATE POTENTIAL. AND THEY DO THEIR BEST TO DO WHAT THEY CAME THERE TO DO, TO MOTIVATE.

                        THESE MOTIVATORS DO A GOOD JOB OF GETTING PEOPLE THINKING. THEY PAINT PICTURES, A GALLERY OF SUGGESTED DREAMS, THAT SHOW OTHERS WHAT THEY CAN BE, AND WHAT THEY CAN DO. THEY PAINT THE PICTURE OF SUCCESS, LEADING THE  AVERAGE WOULD-BE ACHIEVER TOWARD SOMETHING BETTER. THEY STIMULATE MINDS, INSPIRE NEW IDEAS, AND REAFFIRM THE RESOLVE TO GET AT IT, GET SOMETHING DONE, ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING WORTHWHILE, SET SOME GOALS, TACKLE THE PROBLEMS, AND MOVE FORWARD.

                      BUT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THAT KIND OF MOTIVATION. NO MATTER HOW GOOD IT IS, IT IS EXTERNAL,AND  IT DOES NOT LAST.

                   EXTERNAL TEMPORARY MOTIVATION

                         ALL EXTERNAL MOTIVATION IS TEMPORARY. EXTERNAL MOTIVATION IS THE KIND THAT MAY WAY UP, BUT IT WILL NOT KEEP YOU AWAKE FOR LONG. EXTERNAL MOTIVATION IS MOTIVATION THAT COMES TO YOU FROM THE OUTSIDE. IT MAY INFLUENCE YOU TO MAKE A CHANGE, BUT IT CANNOT MAKE THE CHANGE FOR YOU. AND IT CANNOT KEEP YOU FROM DRIFTING OFF COURSE WHEN THE MOTIVATOR IS GONE. IT IS THE EXTERNAL COACH WHO SUPPORTS, ENCOURAGES, DEMANDS, AND REWARDS. BUT WHEN THE COACH IS GONE, SO ARE THE SUPPORT, THE ENCOURAGEMENT, THE DEMAND, AND THE REWARD.

                    LET'S SAY THAT DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS, YOU PLAY SOFTBALL ON A TEAM THAT HAS THE GOAL OF WINNING THE LOCAL TOURNAMENT. YOUR TEAM IS FORTUNATE TO HAVE AN EXCEPTIONAL COACH. HE EXPECTS A LOT FROM YOU, BUT HE ALSO GIVES YOU A LOT OF ENCOURAGEMENT. HE PICKS YOU UP WHEN YOU GET DOWN, HELPS YOU BELIEVE THAT YOU CAN WIN, AND LETS YOU KNOW IT WHEN YOU'VE DONE A GOOD JOB. HE'S A GREAT MOTIVATOR, AND HE TAKES YOUR TEAM ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP. HE IS YOUR FRIEND, YOUR ALLY, AND YOUR STRONGEST SUPPORTER. YOU RELY ON HIM FOR YOUR MOTIVATION, AND YOU GET IT.

                   THEN THE SEASON IS OVER, AND THE COACH GOES HOME. WHAT DO YOU SUPPOSE HE TAKES WITH HIM? YOUR MOTIVATION. HE WAS YOUR MOTIVATION. NOW HE IS NO LONGER AROUND, YOU YOU HAVE TO GET, YOUR MOTIVATION FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE. WHY? BECAUSE THAT MOTIVATION WAS EXTERNAL. IT ALL CAME TO YOU FROM THE OUTSIDE OF YOU. AND IT WAS ALL TEMPORARY MOTIVATION.

                     ALL OF OUR EXTERNAL MOTIVATION WORKS THE SAME WAY. KEEP GIVING US THE MOTIVATION, AND WE WILL DO BETTER. TAKE IT AWAY, AND WE WILL MOVE, MENTALLY, BACK TO WE WERE BEFORE THE MOTIVATION BEGAN. WE MAY HAVE PROGRESSED OR GROWN OR ACHIEVED SOMETHING IN THE PROCESS. BUT WE DID SOWITH SOMEONE ELSE'S ENERGY, IT WAS NOT OUR OWN.

               THAT IS WHY SO MANY OF THE HOPEFUL ATTENDEES AT SO MANY MOTIVATIONAL TALKS GET PUMPED UP FULL OF ENERGY, READY TO CONQUER THE WORLD, AND THEN SLOW DOWN OR STOP DEAD IN THEIR TRACKS WEEKS, DAYS, OR EVEN HOURS AFTER THE SPEECH IS OVER. THE INSPIRATION THEY FELT SO STRONGLY DURING THE MESSAGE IS NO LONGER THERE. THE ENERGY AND ENTHUSIASM THAT WELLED UP INSIDE OF THEM IS GONE. THE MOTIVATOR LEFT TOWN. AND SO DID MOST OF THE DREAM. ALL THAT OFTEN REMAINS IS ENOUGH LEFT OVER TO REMIND THEM OF WHAT THEY COULD HAVE DONE, BUT DIDN'T DO.

DONT DO IT

 

                           WAKE UP WITH POSITIVITY

                  WHILE MOST SELF-TALK IS EITHER UNCONSCIOUS OR GOES UNNOTICED, SOME SELF-TALK IS GLARINGLY OVBIOUS, AND, NOT SURPRISINGLY, CLEARLY, SELF-DEFEATING. ALTHOUGH SOME OF THE SELF-TALK PEOPLE USE IS CONSTRUCTIVE AND BENEFICIAL, MOST OF IT IS THE OPPOSITE - THE KIND OF SELF-TALK THAT IS COUNTERPRODUCTIVE AND SELF-DEFEATING.

                   FOR A PERIOD OF TIME DURING MY QUEST FOR A MORE PRACTICAL PATH TO LASTING SELF-IMPROVEMENT, TO SEE JUST HOW PERVASIVE NEGATIVE SELF-TALK MIGHT BE, EACH TIME I HEARD AN EXAMPLE OF THIS KIND OF SELF-TALK, I WROTE IT DOWN. IN TIME, I HEARD AN EXAMPLE OF THIS KIND OF SELF-TALK, I WROTE IT DOWN. IN TIME, MY LIST INCLUDED HUNDREDS OF SELF-TALK STATEMENTS THAT ARE MADE BY PEOPLE - EVERY DAY. MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO USE NEGATIVE SELF-TALK ARE NOT AWARE OF WHAT THEY ARE SAYING. AND FEW, IF ANY, OF THEM ARE AWARE OF THE POWER OF THE PROGRAMMING - THE NEGATIVE PROGRAMMING - THEY ARE GIVING THEMSELVES.

                  IF EVERTHING YOU TELL YOURSELF ABOUT YOURSELF BECOMES A DIRECTIVE TO YOUR SUBCONSCIOUS MIND, THEN ANYTIME YOU MAKE A STATEMENT ABOUT YOURSELF THAT IS NEGATIVE, YOU ARE DIRECTING YOUR SUBCONSCIOUS MIND TOMAKE YOU BECOME THE PERSON YOU JUST DESCRIBED - NEGATIVELY.

                 HERE ARE JUST A FEW EXAMPLES OF FREQUENCY USED NEGATIVE SELF-TALK. AS YOU READ THEM, SEE IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO SAYS SOMETHING SIMILAR, OR IF YOU HAVE SAID SOMETHING LIKE ANY OF THESE YOURSELF.

                  * I CAN'T  REMEMBER NAMES.

                  * IT'S GOING TO BE ANOTHER OF THOSE DAYS.

                  * IT'S JUST NO USE.

                  * I JUST KNOW IT WON'T WORK.

                  * NOTHING EVER GOES RIGHT FOR ME.

                  * THAT'S JUST MY LUCK.

                  * I'M SO CLUMSY.

                  * I DON'T HAVE THE TALENT.

                  * I'M JUST NOT CREATIVE.

                  * EVERTHING I EAT GOES RIGHT TO MY WAIST.

                  * I CAN'T SEEM TO GET ORGANIZED.

                  * I ALREADY KNOW I WON'T LIKE IT.

                  * NO MATTER WHAT I DO I CAN'T SEEM TO LOSE WEIGHT.

                  * I NEVER HAVE ENOUGH TIME.

                  * I JUST DON'T HAVE THE PATIENCE FOR THAT.

                  * THAT REALLY MAKE ME MAD.

                  * ANOTHER BLUE MONDAY.

                  * WHEN WILL I EVER LEARN.

                  * I GET STICK JUST THINKING ABOUT IT.

                  * SOMETIMES I JUST HATE YOURSELF.

                  * I'M JUST NO GOOD.

                  * I'M TOO SHY.

                  * I NEVER KNOW WHAT TO SAY.

                  * WITH MY LUCK I DON'T HAVE A CHANCE.

                  * THINGS JUST AREN'T WORKING OUT RIGHT FOR ME.

                  * I DON'T HAVE THE ENERGY I USED TO.

                  * I AM REALLY OUT OF SHAPE.

                  * I NEVER HAVE ANY MONEY LEFT OVER AT THE END OF THE MONTH.

                  * WHY SHOULD I TRY, IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK ANYWAY.

                  * I'VE NEVER BEEN ANY GOOD AT THAT.

                  * MY DESK IS ALWAYS A MESS.

                  * THE ONLY KIND OF LUCK I HAVE IS BAD LUCK.

                 * I NEVER WIN ANYTHING.

                 * I FEEL THAT I'M OVER THE HILL.

                 * SOMEONE ALWAYS BEATS ME TO IT.

                 * NOBODY LIKES ME.

                 * I NEVER GET A BREAK.

                 * IT SEEMS LIKE I'M ALWAYS BROKE.

                 * EVERYTHING I TOUCH TURNS TO BLEEP.

 

                       IMAGINE SITTING DOWN AT YOUR PERSONAL COMPUTER KEYBOARD AND TYPING ANY ONE OF THOSE DIRECTIONS INTO THE COMPUTER'S PERMANENT MEMORY STORAGE. AND IMAGINE THAT YOUR COMPUTER WILL DO WHATEVER YOU PROGRAM IT TO DO.

                      THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT DO TO OUR BRAINS. NO WONDER THINGS GO WRONG. NO WONDER THINGS DON'T WORK OUT RIGHT! IF YOUR MENTAL COMPUTER - THE ONE THAT FLIES YOUR PLANE - IF PROGRAMMED WITH THE WRONG DIRECTIONS, YOU CANNOT POSSIBLY BE AS SUCCESSFUL AS YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE, YOU CANNOT GET WHERE YOU WANT TO GO.

THE USES OF SELF-TALK

 

                         WHENEVER YOUR NEED

                                   OR POSITION IN LIFE

                       WHEN YOU BEGIN TO ACTIVELY PRACTICE SELF-TALK, WHAT YOU FIRST USE IT FOR WILL DEPEND ON WHAT YOU WANT TO FIX FIRE HABIT - THE MORE YOU USE IT, THE MORE YOU USE IT - ITS SUCCESS WILL DEPEND MORE ON GETTING STARTED THAN ON WHAT YOU DECIDE TO USE IT FOR FIRST.

                        IT MAKES TO DIFFERENCE WHAT YOU DO FOR A LIVING, WHAT YOUR EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND IS, WHAT YOUR PROBLEMS MAY BE, OR WHAT YOUR GOALS ARE. IT DOESN'T WHETHER YOU HAVE SUCCEEDEDOR FAILED IN THE PAST, THE WORKINGS OF THE HUMAN BRAIN ARE COMPLETELY INDIFFERENT TO YOUR SITUATION IN LIFE. ANYONE CAN USE SELF-TALK AND BENEFIT FROM ITS RESULTS.

                 TO GIVE YOU JUST A FEW EXAMPLES OF THE MANY WAYS IN WHICH THE USE OF ACTIVE SELF-TALK CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE, LET'S LOOK AT SOME OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES IN OUR LIVES THAT CAN BE HELPED OR IMPROVED WITH THE KIND OF SELF-TALK WE'RE DISCUSSING. THE POSSIBILITIES FOR USING SELF-TALK ARE LIMITED ONLY BY THE INDIVIDUALS. THERE ARE AS MANY USES AS THERE ARE PEOPLE WITH NEEDS. MOST OF THESE EXAMPLES, AT SOME TIME AND IN SOME WAY, APPLY TO ALL OF US.

                IF YOU WANT TO CONQUER A PROBLEM 

                        OR OVERCOME AN OBSTACLE:

                         CHANGING YOUR SELF-TALK CAN FIX  MANY KINDS OF PROBLEMS. THE PROBLEM CAN BE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO CONQUER - LARGE OR SMALL. YOU MAY WANT TO USE SELF-TALK TO CHANGE ATTITUDES OR ACTIONS - OR CHOICES YOU MAKE REPEATEDLY THAT CAUSE YOU PROBLEMS. SOMTIMES EVEN A SMALL AMOUNT OF EXACTLY RIGHT SELF-TALK WILL HELP YOU TAKE A MINOR STEP THAT CREATES MAJOR RESULTS. IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEMS OF ANY KIND, ASK YOURSELF THE QUESTIONS, "IS MY OLD SELF-TALK CONTRIBUTING TO THIS PROBLEM? COULD CHANGING MY SELF-TALK HELP ME FIX IT?"

                       IF YOU WANT TO REACH GOALS

            PRACTICING SELF-TALK WHILE YOU'RE SETTING GOOD GOAL IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT MEANS TO ACHIEVING THEM THAT I HAVE EVER FOUND. SETTING GOALS, AND WORKING AT REACHING THEM, IS PART AND PARCEL TO BECOMING HEALTHY, WEALTHY, AND WISE, WORTHY GOALS ARE ESSENTIAL TO TRUE AND LASTING SELF-FULLFILLMENT.

                  IMAGINE SETTING WORTHWHILE GOALS - AND THEN FUELING THEM WITH THE NONSTOP ENERGY OF SELF-TALK. YOU COULD ACHIEVE THEM WITHOUT IT, PERHAPS, BUT THE ROAD WOULD BE HARDER, GIVE LIFE TO YOUR PATH. GRANT YOUR JOURNEY THE ASSURANCE OF A SAFE ARRIVAL. SET YOUR GOALS, WORK AT ACHIEVING THEM, AND TALK TO YOURSELF EVERY DAY ALONG THE WAY.

                SETTING GOALS AND POSITIVE SELF-TALK GO HAND IN HAND. BUT TALK TO YOURSELF IN EXACTLY THE RIGHT WAY, AND YOU WILL FIND THE ROAD EASIER TO FOLLOW. IF YOU ARE NOT YET SETTING GOALS - AND WRITING THEM DOWN - YOU SHOULD. IF YOU ARE NOT ARE ALREADY AN ACTIVE GOAL-SETTER, GIVE TO YOUR GOALS THE GIFT OF YOUR OW SELF-ASSURANCE. ADD THE WORDS OF DAILY DIRECTION AND ENCOURAGEMENT OF SELF-TALK TO YOUR GOALS. AND WELL-SET GOAL DESERVES THE BENEFIT OF WELL-SAID WORDS. 

                 IF YOU WANT TO IMPROVE YOUR JOB

                   IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, WE ARE ALL SUBJECT TO THE DIRECTIONS OF OTHERS. WE ALL HAVE RULES THAT WE HAVE TO FOLLOW. HOW YOU VIEW YOUR JOB, YOUR VOCATION, YOUR ASSOCIATES, AND YOUR EMPLOYER, BOSS, OR SUPERVISOR WILL HAVE AN IMPORTANT EFFECT ON HOW WELL YOU DO AND HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT YOURSELF IN THE JOB YOU ARE IN. IF YOU TELL YOURSELF THAT YOU DO NOT LIKE YOUR JOB- YOU PROBABLY WON'T. IF YOU TELL YOURSELF THAT YOU ARE UNHAPPY WITH YOUR MANAGER OR EMPLOYER, YOU PROBABLY WILL BE.

                   GIVE YOURSELF AN ADVANTAGE. TALK TO YOURSELF ABOUT YOUR WORK AND THE PEOPLE YOU WORK WITH IN A WAY THAT MAKES YOUR WORK WORK FOR YOU.

                  IF YOU EVER FIND YOURSELF FALLING INTO THE HABIT OF FINDING FAULT WITH COMPLAINING ABOUT, CRITICIZING, OR RESENTING YOUR JOB, STEP ASIDE AND TALK TO YOURSELF. THERE ARE OTHERS WHO HAVE IT FAR WORSE, SOME OF THEM WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY THAT YOU NOW HAVE. YOUR JOB, OR YOUR OCCUPATION, DOES A LOT MORE THAN PAY THE BILLS. IT GIVES YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXCEL, TO EXCEPT THE BEST OF YOURSELF AND TO PUT THAT EXPECTATION INTO PRACTICE. YOUR SUCCESS WILL ALWAYS DEPEND ON WHAT YOU THINK, WHAT YOU TELL YOURSELF MOST. EXPECT THE BEST, AND THEN TELL YOURSELF THE BEST. IF YOUR DO, THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE THAT IS WHAT YOU WILL GET.