ABOUT SELF-DISCIPLINE (THE LIFE CHAPTER)

 

                              DINNER BEFORE DESERT

                    

                        THE SIMPLEST RULE IN THE PRACTICE OF SELF-DISCIPLINE IS TO EAT "DINNER BEFORE DESSERT". IN A MEAL, THERE IS A LOGICAL ORDER OF DISHES, AND DESSERT COMES LAST. FIRST, YOU EAT THE MAIN COURSES AND CLEAN YOUR PLATE, ONLY THEN DO YOU HAVE DESSERT.

                           THERE IS A CUTE BUT MISLEADING BUMPER STICKER THAT SAYS, "LIFE IS SHORT, EAT DESSERT FIRST".

                             JUST THIKN WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF YOU COME HOME AFTER WORK AND, INSTEAD OF EATING A HEALTHY DINNER, YOU ATE A LARGE PIECE OF APPLE PIE WITH ICE CREAM. WHAT KIND OF APPEPITE FOR HEALTHY, NUTRITIOUS FOOD WOULD YOU HAVE AFTERWARD? WITH ALL THAT SUGAR IN YOUR STOMACH, HOW WOULD YOU FEEL? WOULD YOU FEEL RE-ENERGIZED AND EAGER TO DO SOMETHING PRODUCTIVE? OR WOULD YOU FEEL TIRED AND SLUGISH AND READY TO WRITE OFF THE DAY AS LARGELY FINISHED?

                     YOU GET THE SAME RESULT WHEN YOU GO FOR A DRINK OR TWO AFTER WORK AND THEN COME HOME AND TURN ON THE TELEVISION. THESE ARE SIMPLY DIFFERENT FORSM OF "DESSERT" THAT LARGELY ELIMINATE YOUR ABILITY TO DO ANYTHING USEFUL FOR THE REST OF THE EVENING.'

                  PERHAPS THE WORST PART OF ALL IS THAT, WHATEVER YOU DO REPEADTEDLY SOON BECOMES A HABIT. AND A HABIT, ONCE FORMED, IS HARD TO BREAK. THE HABIT OF TAKING THE EASY WAY, DOING WHAT IS FUN AND ENJOYABLE, OR EATING DESSERT BEFORE DINNER BECOMES STRONGER AND STRONGER, AND IT LEADS INEVITABLY TO PERSONAL WEAKNESS, UNDERACHIEVEMENT, AND FAILURE.

                                        THE HABIT OF SELF-DISCIPLINE

                     FORTUNATELY, YOU CAN DEVELOP THE HABIT OF SELF-DISCIPLINE. THE REGULAR PRACTICE OF DISCLINING YOURSELF TO DO WHT YOU SHOUD DO, WHEN YOU SHOULD DO IT, WHETHER YOU FEEL LIKE IT OR NOT BECOMES STRONGER AND STRONGER AS YOU PRACTICE IT. YOU REFUSE TO MAKE EXCUSES.

                  BAD HABITS ARE EASY TO FORM, BUT HARD TO LIVE WITH. GOOD HABITS ARE HARD TO FORM, BUT EASY TO LIVE WITH. AND AS GOETHE SAID, "EVERYTHIG IS HARD BEFORE IT'S EASY".

                   IT IS HARD TO FORM THE HABITS OF SELF-DISCIPLINE, SELF-MASTERY, AND SELF-CONTROL, BUT ONCE YOU HAVE DEVELOPED THEM, THEY BECOME AUTOMATIC AND EASY TO PRACTICE. WHEN THE HABTIS OF SELF-DISCIPLINE ARE FIRMLY ENTRENCHED IN YOUR BEHAVIOR, YOU START TO FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE WHEN YOU ARE NOT BEHAVING IN A SELF-DISCIPLINED MANNER.

                  THE BEST NEWS IS THAT ALL HABITS ARE LEARNABLE. YOU CAN LEARN ANY HABIT YOU NEED TO LEARN IN ORDER TO BECOME THE KIND OF PERSON THAT YOU WANT TO BECOME. YOU CAN BECOME IN EXCELLENT PERSON BY PRACTICING SELF-DISCIPLINE WHENEVER IS CALLED FOR.

                  EVERY PRACTICE OF SELF-DISCIPLINE STRENGTHEN EVERY OTHER DISCIPLINE. UNFORTUNATELY, EVERY WEAKNESS IN DISCIPLINE WEAKENS YOUR OTHER DISCIPLINES AS WELL.

                   TO DEVELOP THE HABIT OF SELF-DISCIPLINE, YOU FIRST MAKE A FIRM DECISION ABOUT HOW YOU WILL BEHAVE IN A PARTICULAR AREA OF ACTIVITY. YOU THEN REFUSE TO ALLOW EXCEPTIONS UNTIL THE HABIT OF SELF-DISCIPLINE IN THE AREA IS FIRMLY ESTABLIGHED. EACH TIME YOU SLIP, AS YOU WILL, YOU RESOLVE ONCE AGAIN TO KEEP PRACTICING SELF-DISCIPLINE UNTIL IT BECOMES EASIER FOR YOU TO HEHAVE IN DISCIPLINED WAY THAT TO BEHAVE IN AN UNDISCIPLINED WAY.

                                      
                                                          THE BIG PAYOFF

                        

                     THE PAYOFF FOR DEVELOPING HIGH LEVELS OF SELF-DISCIPLINE IS EXTRORDINARY! THERE IS A DIRECT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SELF-DISCIPLINE AND SELF-ESTEEM.

                             * THE MORE YOU PRACTICE SELF-MASTERY AND SELF-CONTROL, THE MORE YOU LIKE AND VALUE YOURSELF.

                             * THE MORE YOU DISCIPLINE YOURSELF, THE GREATER IS YOUR SENSE OF SELF-RESPECT AND PERSONAL PRIDE.

                            * THE MORED YOU PRACTICE SELF-DISCIPLINE, THE BETTER IS YOUR SELF-IMAGE. YOU SEE YOURSELF AND THINK ABOUT YOURSELF IN A MORE POSITIVE WAY. YOU FEEL HAPPIER AND MORE POWERFUL AS A PERSON.

                      THE DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF THE HABIT OF SELF-DISCIPLINE ARE A LIFELONG TASK, ON ONGOING BATTLE. IT NEVER ENDS. THE TEMPTATION TO FOLLOW THE PATH OF LEAST RESISTANCE AND THE EXPEDIENCY FACTOR LURK CONTINUALLY IN THE BACK OF YOUR MIND. THEY ARE ALWAYS WAITING FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO POUNCE, TO LEAD YOU ASTRAY INTO DOING WHAT IS FUN, EASY, AND UNIMPORTANT RATHER THAN WHAT IS HARD, NECESSARY, AND LIFE-ENHANCING.

                    NAPOLEON HILL CONCLUDED HIS BESTSELLING BOOK OF THE SAME NAME BY SAYING THAT "SELF-DISCIPLINE IS THE MASTER KEY TO RICHES". SELF-DISCIPLINE IS THE KEY TO SELF-ESTEEM, SELF-RESPECT, AND PERSONAL PRIDE. THE DEVELOPMENT OF SELF-DISCIPLINE IS YOUR GUARANTEE THAT YOU WILL EVENTUALLY OVERCOME ALL YOUR OBSTACLES AND CREATE A WONDERFUL LIFE FOR YOURSELF.

                    THE ABILITY TO PRACTICE SELF-DISCIPLINE IS THE REAL REASON WHY SOME PEOPLE ARE MORE SUCCESSFULAND HAPPY THAN OTHERS.

KNOWLEDGE OF THE DAY

 

                                       TAKE CONTROL

                 ANOTHER DEFINITION OF SELF-DISCIPLINE IS SELF-MASTERY. SUCCESS IS POSSIBLE ONLY WHEN YOU CAN MASTER YOUR OWN EMOTIONS, APPETIES, AND INCLINATIONS. PEOPLE WHO LACK THE ABILITY TO MASTER THEIR APPETIES BECOME WEAK AND DISSOLVE, AS WELL AS UNREALIABLE IN OTHER THINGS AS WELL.

               SELF-DISCIPLINE CAN ALSO DEFINED AS SELF-CONTROL. YOUR ABILITY TO CONTROL YOURSELF AND YOUR ACTIONS, CONTROL WHAT YOU SAY AND DO, AND ENSURE THAT YOUR BEHAVIORS ARE CONSISTENT WITH YOUR LONG-TERM GOALS AND OBJECTIVES IS THE MARK OF THE SUPERIOR PERSON.

                 DISCIPLINE HAS BEEN DEFINED AS SELF-DENIAL. THIS REQUIRES THAT YOU DENY YOURSELF THE EASY PLEASURES, THE TEMPTATIONS THAT LEAD TO DO ONLY THOSE THINGS THAT YOU KNOW ARE RIGHT FOR THE LONG TERM AND APPROPRIATE FOR THE MOMENT.

               SELF-DISCIPLINE REQUIRES DELAYED GRATIFICATION, THE ABILITY TO PUT OFF SATISFACTION IN THE SHORT TERM IN ODER TO ENJOY GREATER REWARDS IN THE LONG TERM.

                                                      THINK LONG TERM

                    SOCIALOGIST DR.EDWARD BANFIELD OF HARVARD UNIVERSITY CONDUCTED A FIFTY-YEARS STUDY INTO THE REASONS FOR UPWARD SOCIAECONOMIC MOBILITY IN AMERICA. HE CONCLUDED THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT SINGLE ATTRIBUTE OF PEOPLE WHO ACHIEVED GREAT SUCCESS IN LIFE WAS "LONG TIME PERSPECTIVE", BANFIELD DEFINED "TIME PERSPECTIVE" AS "THE AMOUNT OF TIME AN INDIVIDUAL TAKES INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN DETERMINING HIS PRESENT ACTIONS".

                     IN OTHER WORDS, THE MOST SUCCESFUL PEOPLE ARE LONG-TERM THINKERS. THEY LOOK INTO THE FUTURE AS FAR AS THEY CAN TO DETERMINE THE KIND OF PEOPLE THEY WANT TO BECOME AND THE GOALS THEY WANT TO ACHIEVE. THEY THEN COME BACK TO THE PRESENT AND DETERMINE THE THINGS THAT THEY WILL HAVE TO DO - OR NOT DO - TO ACHIEVE THEIR DESIRED FUTURES.

                   THIS PRACTICE OF LONG-TERM THINKING APPLIES TO WORK, CAREER, MARRIAGE, RELATIONSHIPS, MONEY, AND PERSONAL CONDUCT - EACH OF WHICH IS COVERED IN THE PAGES AHEAD. SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING THEY DO IN THE SHORT TERM IS CONSISTENT WITH WHERE THEY WANT TO END UP IN THE LONG TERM. THEY PRACTICE SELF-DISCIPLINE AT ALL TIMES.

                    PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT WORD IN LONG-TERM THINKING IS SACRIFICE. SUPERIOR PEOPLE HAVE THE ABILITY TO THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES MAKE SACRIFICES IN THE SHORT TERM, BOTH LARGE AND SMALL, SO AS TO ASSURE GREATER RESULTS AND REWARDS IN THE LONG TERM.

                   YOU SEE THIS WILLINGNESS TO SACRIFICE IN PEOPLE WHO SPEND MANY HOURS AND EVEN YEARS PREPARING, STUDYING, AND UPGRADING THIER SKILLS TO MAKE THEMSELVES MORE VALUABLE SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE A BETTER LIFE IN THE FUTURE, RATHER THAN SPENDING MOST OF THIER TIME SOCIALIZING AND HAVING FUN IN THE PRESENT.

         

              LONGFELLOW ONCE WROTE:

                  THOSE HEIGHTS BY GREAT MEN, WON AND KEPT,

                  WERE NOT ACHIEVED BY SUDDEN FLIGHT.

                  BUT THEY, WHILE THEIR COMPANIONS SLEPT,

                   WERE TOILING UPWARD IN THE NIGHT".

                       YOUR ABILITY TO THINK, PLAN, AND WORK HARD IN THE SHORT TERM AND TO DISCIPLINED YOURSELF TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT AND NECESSARY BEFORE YOU DO WHAT IS FUN AND EASY IS THE KEY TO CREATING A WONDERFUL FUTURE FOR YOURSELF.

                     YOUR ABILITY TO THINK LONG TERM IS A DEVELOPED SKILL. AS YOU GET BETTER AT IT, YOU BECOME MORE ABLE TO PREDICT WITH INCREASING ACCURACY WHAT IS LIKELY TO HAPPEN TO YOU IN THED FUTURE AS THE RESULT OF YOUR ACTIONS IN THE PRESENT. THIS IS A QUALITY OF THE SUPERIOR THINKER.

MIRACLES OF SELF-DISCIPLINE

 

                                       SELF-DISCIPLINE

                         WHY ARE SOME PEOPLE MORE SUCCESSFUL THAN OTHERS? WHY DO SOME PEOPLE MAKE MORE MONEY, LIVE HAPPIER LIVES, AND ACCOMPLISH MUCH MORE IN THE SAME NUMBER OF YEARS THAN THE GREAT MAJORITY? WHAT IS THE REAL "SECRET OF SUCCESS"?

                       OFTEN I BEGIN A SEMINAR WITH A LITTLE EXERCISE. I ASK THE AUDIENCE, HOW MANY PEOPLE HERE WOULD LIKE TO DOUBLE THEIR INCOME"?

                          ALMOST EVERYONE SMILES AND RAISES THEIR HANDS. I THEN ASK, "HOW MANY PEOPLE HERE WOULD LIKE TO LOSE WEIGHT? GET OUT OF DEBT? ACHIEVE FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE"?

                      AGAIN, EVERYONE SMILES, SOME PEOPLE CHEER, AND THEY ALL RAISE THEIR HANDS. THEN I SAY, "WONDERFUL, ! THESE ARE GREAT GOALS THAT EVERYONE HAS. WE ALL WANT TO MAKE MORE MONEY, SPEND MORE TIME WITH OUR FAMILIES, BE FIT AND TRIM, AND ACHIEVE FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE.

                      NOT ONLY DO WE ALL WANT THE SAME THINGS, BUT WE ALL KNOW WHAT WE HAVE TO DO TO ACHIEVE THEM. AND WE ALL INTEND TO DO THOSE THINGS, SOMETIME. BUT BEFORE WE GET STARTED, WE DECIDE THAT WE NEED TO TAKE A LITTLE VACATION TO A WONDERFUL FANTASY PLACE CALLED "SOMEDAY ISLE".

                      NOT SURPRISING, THEIR EXCUSES ARE LARGELY THE SAME, "I DIDN'T HAVE A HAPPY CHILDHOOD, " I DIDN'T GET A GOOD EDUCATION,"  " I DONT HAVE ANY MONEY", MY BOSS IS REALLY CRITICAL", "MY MARRIAGE IS NO GOOD", NO ONE APPRECIATES ME", THE ECONOMY IS TERRIBLE".

                     THEY HAVE COME DOWN WITH THE DISEASE OF "EXCUSITIS", WHICH IS INVARIABLE FATAL TO SUCCESS. THEY ALL HAVE GOOD INTENTIONS, BUT AS EVERYONE KNOWS, "THE ROAD TO HELL IS PAVED WITH GOOD INTENTIONS".

                     THE FIRST RULE OF SUCCESS IS SIMPLE. VOTE YOURSELF OFF THE ISLAND!

                     NO MORE EXCUSES. STOP USING YOUR INCREDIBLE BRAIN TO THINK UP ELABORATE RATIONALIZATIONS AND JUSTIFICATION FOR NOT TAKING ACTION. DO SOMETHING. DO ANYTHING. GET ON WITH IT! REPEAT TO YOURSELF, " IF IT'S TO BE, UP TO ME!".

                     LOSERS MAKE EXCUSES, WINNERS MAKE PROGRESS. NOW, HOW CAN YOU TELL IF YOUR FAVORITE EXCUSE IS VALID OR NOT? IT'S SIMPLE. LOOK AROUND AND ASK".. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO HAS MY SAME EXCUSE WHO IS SUCCESSFUL ANYWAY"?

                 WHEN YOU ASK THIS QUESTION, IF YOU ARE HONEST, YOU WILL HAVE TO ADMIT THAT THERE ARE THOUSANDS AND EVEN MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD IT FAR WORSE THAN YOU HAVE WHO HAVE GONED ON TO DO WONDERFUL THINGS WITH THEIR LIVES. AND WHAT THOUSANDS AND MILLIONS OF OTHERS HAND DONE, YOU CAN DO AS WELL - IF YOU TRY.

                IT HAS BEEN SAID THAT IF PEOPLE PUT AS MUCH ENERGY INTO ACHIEVING THEIR GOALS AS THEY SPEND MAKING SPEND EXCUSES FOR FAILURE, THEY WOULD ACTUALLY SURPRISE THEMSELVES. BUT FIRST, YOU HAVE TO VOTE YOURSELF OFF THE ISLAND.

                                             HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

                      VERY FEW PEOPLE START OFF WITH MANY ADVANTAGES. PERSONALLY, I DID NOT GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL. I WORKED AT LABORING JOBS FOR SEVERAL YEARS. I HAD LIMITED EDUCATION, LIMITED SKILLS, AND A LIMITED FUTURE. AND THEN I BEGAN ASKING THAT QUESTION. WHY ARE SOME PEOPLE MORE SUCCESSFUL THAT OTHERS? THIS QUESTION CHANGED MY LIFE. 

                OVER THE YEARS,  I HAVE READ THOUSANDS OF BOOKS AND ARTICLES ON THE SUBJECTS OF SUCCESS AND ACHIEVEMENT. IT SEEMS THAT THE REASONS FOR THESE ACCOMPLISHMENTS HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED AND WRITTEN ABOUT FOR MORE THAN 2,000 YEARS, IN EVERY CONCEIVABLE WAY.

                 ONE QUALITY THAT MOST PHILOSOPHERS, TEACHERS, AND EXPERTS AGREE ON IS THE IMPORTANCE OF SELF-DISCIPLINE. DISCIPLINE IS WHAT YOU MUST HAVE TO RESIST THE LURE OF EXCUSES.

                    IT IS SELF-DISCIPLINE THAT ENABLES YOU TO "VOTE YOURSELF OFF THE ISLAND". IT IS THE KEY TO A GREAT LIFE, AND WITHOUT IT, NO LASTING SUCCESS IS POSSIBLE.

                   THE DEVELOPMENT OF SELF-DISCIPLINE CHANGED MY LIFE, AND IT WILL CHANGE YOURS AS WELL. BY CONTINUALLY DEMANDING MORE FROM MYSELF, I BECAME SUCCESSFUL IN SALES AND THEN IN MANAGEMENT. I CAUGHT UP ON MY SCHOOLING AND TOOK AN MBA DEGREE IN MY THIRTIES, WHICH REQUIRED THOUSANDS OF HOURS OF DETERMINED STUDY. I IMPORTED SUZUKI VEHICLES INTO CANADA BEFORE ANYONE ELSE, SET UP SIXTY-FIVE DEALERSHIPS, AND SOLD $2.5 MILLION WORTH OF THE VEHICLES, AND THIS IS ALL AFTER I HAD STARTED WITH NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE INDUSTRY. WHAT I HAD, HOWEVER, WAS THE DISCIPLINE AND DETERMINATION TO LEARN WHAT I NEEDED TO KNOW AND THEN APPLY WHAT I NEEDED TO DO.

                     I GOT INTO REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT WITH NO KNOWLEDGE OR EXPERIENCE, APPLIED THE POWER OF DISCIPLINE, WHICH WAS THEN BACKED BY HUNDREDS OF HOURS OF WORK AND STUDY. I THEN WENT ON TO BUILD SHOPPING CENTERS, INDUSTRIAL PARKS, OFFICE BUILDINGS, AND RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISIONS.

                  WITH SELF-DISCIPLINE, I HAVE BUILT SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS IN TRAINING, CONSULTING, SPEAKING, WRITING, RECORDING, AND DISTRIBUTION. MY AUDIO AND VIDEO PROGRAMS, BOOKS, SEMINARS, AND TRAINING PROGRAMS HAVE SOLD THAN $500 MILLION IN THIRTY-SIX-LANGUAGE AND FIFTY-FOUR COUNTRIES, OVER THE YEARS I HAVE CONSULTED FOR MORE THAN 1,000 COMPAINIES AND TRAINED MORE THAN 5 MILLION PEOPLE IN LIVE SEMINARS AND TALKS. IN EVERY CASE, THE PRACTICE OF SELF-DISCIPLINE HAS BEEN ESSENTIAL TO MY SUCCESS.

                       I DISCOVERED THAT YOU CAN ACHIEVE ALMOST ANY GOAL YOU SET FOR YOURSELF IF YOU HAVE THE DISCIPLINE TO PAY THE PRICE, TO DO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO, AND TO NEVER GIVE UP.

TAKING RESPONSIBILITIES

 

                                           RESPONSIBILITIES

                       I TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR EVERYTHING ABOUT ME - EVEN THE THOUGHTS THAT I THINK. I AM IN CONTROL OF THE VAST RESOURCES OF MY OWN MIND.

                      I ALONE AM RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT I DO AND WHAT I TELL MYSELF ABOUT ME. NO ONE CAN SHARE THIS RESPONSIBILITY WITH ME.

                      I ALSO ALLOW OTHERS TO ACCEPT THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THEMSELVES AND I DO NOT TRY TO ACCEPT THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THEM.

                        I ENJOY BEING RESPONSIBLE. IT PUTS ME IN CHARGE OF BEING ME - AND THAT'S A CHALLENGE I ENJOY.

                        I ALLOW NO ONE ELSE, AT ANY TIME, TO ASSUME CONTROL OR RESPONSIBILITY OVER MY LIFE OR OVER ANYTHING THAT I DO. MY RESPONSIBILITY TO OTHERS IS AN EXTENTION OF MY OWN RESPONSIBILITY TO MYSELF.

                     I CHOOSE TO LEAVE NOTHING ABOUT ME UP TO CHANCE. WHEN IT COMES TO ME - AND ANYTHING IN MY LIFE - I CHOOSE TO CHOOSE.

                  MY CHOICES ARE MINE ALONE TO MAKE FOR MYSELF. I DO NOT, AT ANY TIME, ALLOW ANYONE ELSE TO MAKE MY CHOICES FOR ME. AND I ACCEPT FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR EVERY CHOICE AND DECISION I MAKE.

                  I ALWAYS MEET ALL OF THE OBLIGATIONS THAT I ACCEPT. AND I ACCEPT NO OBLIGATION THAT I WILL NOT MEET.

                 I AM TRUSTWORTHY. I CAN BE COUNNTED ON. I HAVE ACCEPTED WINNING RESPONSIBILITY FOR MYSELF - AND I ALWAYS LIVE UP TO THE RESPONSIBILITIES I ACCEPT.

                 THERE IS NO "THEY" ON WHOM I LAY THE BLAME, OR WITH WHOM I SHARE MY OWN PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITIES. I HAVE LEARNED THE GREAT SECRET OF MASTERING MY OWN DESTINY. I HAVE LEARNED THAT "THEY' IS "ME".

                 I HAVE NO NEED TO MAKE EXCUSES AND NO ONE NEEDS TO CARRY MY RESPONSIBILITY FOR ME. I GLADLY CARRY MY OWN WEIGHT - AND I CARRY IT WELL.

                  EACH DAY I ACKNOWLEDGE AND ACCEPT THE RESPONSIBILITY - NOT ONLY FOR MY OWN ACTIONS BUT ALSO FOR MY EMOTION, MY THOUGHTS , AND MY ATTITUDE.

                   I ACCEPT THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR LIVING MY LIFE IN A WAY THAT CREATES MY STRENGTH, MY HAPPINESS, MY POSSITIVE, HEALTHY BELIEF, AND FOR MY PAST, MY PRESENT AND MY FUTURE.

                        THAT'S  A GOOD ATTITUDE - THE KIND OF ATTITUDE THAT MOST OF US COULD DO WITH A LITTLE MORE OF. IT IS AN ATTITUDE THAT GETS US TO STAND UP FOR OURSELVES AND BE COUNTED. IT IS AN ATTITUDE THAT WE CAN, IF WE CHOOSE, EFFECT IN OUR OWN LIVES ANYTIME WE WANT. BUT IT IS JUST ONE ATTITUDE OF MANY THAT EACH OF US CAN ADDRESS AND PUT INTO MOTION JUST BY RECONVINCING OURSELVES - BY OVERRIDING THE OLD PROGRAMMING THAT TOLD US THAT OTHER PEOPLE, BY SOME STROKE OF FATE, COUNT MORE THAN WE DO.

                 THERE ARE MANY SUCH ATTITUDES. SOME OF THEM ARE LESS LOFTY, AND PERHAPS NOT AS DEMANDING. BUT THEY ARE MADE UP OF PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT SELF-TALK OF ALL -THE SELF-TALK OF SELF-BELIEF. THAT IS WHAT ATTITUDES ARE ALL ABOUT.

                   HERE IS AN EXAMPLE OF ATTITUDE - CHANGING SELF-TALK THAT ANY OF US COULD USE FROM TIME TO TIME. IF I WERE EVER AGAIN TO TEACH IN A CLASSROOM. I WOULD ADD THE LESSON OF THIS SEFL-TALK TO MAY EVERYDAY CURRICULUM.  IT IS ON OF THE MOST BASIC AND PRIMARY FORMS OF SELF-TALK. BUT THE ATTITUDE IT CAN CREATE IN US TOUCHES EVERY PART OF OUR LIVES. IT IS THE FABRIC FROM WHICH ALL SUCCESS IS WOVEN. IT IS THE GOD, GIVEN BIRTHRIGHT THAT ALL OF US WERE BORN WITH, AND DESERVE TO RETRIEVE, EMBRACE, ENJOY, AND POSSESS FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES . IT RESTORE US AND BUILDS US UP. IT STRUCTURES OUR CHARATER, SUSTAINS OUR STRENGTH, AND FORTIFIES, OUR COURAGE. IT IS THE INTERNAL SUBSTANCESOF SELF-BELIEF - IT IS THE SELF-TALK FOR SELF-ESTEEM.

SOME MOTIVATING THOUGHTS

 

              

                   THE COMPETITIVE OF DAILY LIVING 

               THROUGH A NATURAL LAW OF CAUSE AND EFFECT, WHEN WE IMPROVE OURSELCES, THE THINGS WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE IN OUR LIVES FOLLOW NATURALLY. IMPROVE WHO YOU ARE , AND BY THAT SAME LAW, YOU WILL IMPROVE YOUR LIFE. THE MORE SUCCESSFUL YOU BECOME INSIDE, THE MORE SUCCESSESS YOU WILL AUTOMATICALLY CREATE ON THE OUTSIDE. BUT MAKING CHANGES ON THE INSIDE IS SELDOM AS EASILY ACCOMPLISHED AS WE WOULD LIKE IT TO BE.

                 WHEN WE WANT TO IMPROVE OURSELVES IN SOME WAY, WE ARE NOT JUST COMPETING WITH OUR OLD PROGRAMMING, WEARE COMPETITING WITH REQUIREMENTS OF DAILY LIVING. EACH OF US HAS THREE RESOURCES THAT ALLOW US TO GET THROUGH ANY GIVEN DAY. THOSE RESOURCES ARE OUR TIME, OUR ENERGY, AND OUR MIND (WHAT AND HOW WE THINK).

                   OUR DESIRE TO IMPROVE OURSELVES COMPETS WITH THE TIME WE SPEND WORKING, TAKING CARE OF OUR FAMILIES, AND TAKING CARE OF THE REST OF OUR NEEDS. IT COMPETS WITH THE ENERGY WE CONSUME DOING EVERYTHING NECESSARY JUST TO KEEP OUR LIVES IN SOME REASONABLE ORDER. SOMETIMES, MOST DAYS FOR SOME OF US, THERE IS JUST NO ENERGY LEFT. SOMETIMES, MOST DAYS FOR SOME OF US, THERE IS JUST NO ENERGY LEFT. OUR DESIRE TO IMPROVE OURSELVES COMPETS WITH THE DEMANDS THAT WE OR OTHERS HAVE PLACED ON US MENTALLY, AS WELL. WE HAVE SO MANY THINGS TO FIGURE OUT, PROBLEMS TO SOLVE, THINGS TO CONSIDER, UNDERSTAND, AND DEAL WITH.

                 WE ARE SO BUSY TAKING CARE OF FIRST THINGS FIRST THAT WE HAVE NO TIME, ENERGY, OR THOUGHT LEFT TO TAKE CARE OF THE ONE THING THAT COULD MAKE ALL OF THE OTHER THINGS WORK BETTER. WE ARE TOO BUSY FIXING THE TRAIN TO REALIZE THAT WE ARE ON THE WRONG TRACK.  WE ARE TOO BUSY STAYING ALIVE TO FIGURE OUR HOW TO LIVE.

                 I REMEMBER THE EXCITEMENT I FIRST FELT WHEN, MANY YEARS AGO, AS A YOUNG FATHER GOING BACK TO SCHOOL, I HAPPENED UPON WHAT I THOUGHT TO BE THE MOST EXCEPTIONAL SELF-IMPROVEMENT IDEA I HAD EVER ENCOUNTERED. IT WAS A SIMPLE IDEA, NEW AT THE TIME, I HAD EVER ENCOUNTERED. IT WAS A SIMPLE IDEA, NEW AT THE TIME, THAT WOULD REQUIRE ONLY THAT I SPEND TWENTY MINUTES  EACH NIGHT WRITING MY GOALS, REVIEWING MY PROGRESS, AND MENTALLY VISUALIZING REACHING EACH GOAL I WAS SETTING. I DIDN'T HAVE TO BE CONVINCED THAT IF I SPEND EVEN THAT SMALL AMOUNT OF TIME EACH DA CONCENTRATING ON MY GOALS, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT JUST BEFORE I WENT TO SLEEP DREAMING ABOUT THEM, THAT I COULD ACHIEVE ANYTHING I WANTED. IT'S STILL A GREAT IDEA, ONE OF THE CLASSICS - AND IT CAN WORK.

                 WHAT I DID NOT KNOW THEN, BUT SOON LEARNED, WAS THAT EVEN TWENTY MINUTES A NIGHT IS SOMETIMES HARD TO COMY BY. WHEN YOU ARE, AS I WAS AT THE TIME, HOLDING DOWN A JOB, RAISING A FAMILY, AND ALSO GOINT TO SCHOOL WITH A FULL-TIME COLLEGE-LEVEL COURSE LOAD, JUST TRYING TO GET FIVE OR SIX HOURS OF SLEEP A NIGHT IS  CHALLENGE. WHEN MY MIND WAS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN STUDYING FOR A PSYCHOLOGY EXAM AND FINISHING A BUSINESS PLAN THAT WAS DUE AT EIGHT O'CLOCK THE NEXT MORNING AT THE OFFICE, THE TWENTY MINUTES I WAS SUPPOSED TO SPEND EACH NIGHT WORKING OUR MY GOAL PLAN AND "IMPROVING MYSELF" SOON MOVED FROM AN EXALTED POSITION OF IMPORTANCE TO AN IMPOSSIBILE CHORE. IT'S HARD TO STUDY YOUR GOALS WHEN YOU CAN'T KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN.

                  THE EXPERIENCE WITH SELF-IMPROVEMENT WAS NOT UNIQUE. THE NIGHTY GOALS IDEA ITSELF MIGHT HAVE BEEN GREAT, BUT , AS I WAS TO LEARN LATER, I WAS NOT MENTALLY READY TO MAKE THE IDEA WORK. I HAD NOT FIRST WIRED MY BRAIN WITH THE RIGHT MENTAL TOOLS TO MAKE THE IDEA WORK.

                                                        THE RIGHT TOOLS

                     TO THIS DAY, COUNTLESS PEOPLE HAVE TRIED THE SAME KINDS OF MARVELOUS IDEAS, WITH THE SAME RESULTS. OF THOSE, TOO FEW OF THEM STUCK IT OUT AND STAYED WITH IT. I APPLAUD THOSE WHO HAVE. BUT I FEEL DEELPLY FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NOT, DESPITE THEIR DESIRE TO ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS. THEY JUST DIDN'T HAVE THE RIGHT PROGRAM IN PLACE TO GET THE JOB DONE. THEY WANTED TO ACHIEVE, AND IF THEY HAD FIRST REWIRED AND REPLACED SOME OF THEIR PROGRAMS, THEY WOULD HAVE.

                   HOW, THEN, CAN ANY GOOD AND TRUE IDEA THAT CLEARLY COULD IMPROVE OUR LOT IN LIFE HOPE TO SUCCEED WHEN FEW OF US HAVE THE TIME, PHYSICAL ENERGY, OR MENTAL ENERGY LEFT OVER TO EVEN GIVE IT A TRY? THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION IS VERY IMPORTANT. IT IS THE ANSWER THAT WILL MAKE ONE GOOD IDEA WORK WHEN ANOTHER WILL NOT. FOR ANY PERSONAL GROWTH CONCEPT TO BE SUCCESSFUL, IT HAS TO BE SIMPLE. IT HAS TO BE EASY TO USE. IT HAS TO BE EASY TO PUT INTO PRACTICE. AND IT HAS TO WORK.

WE LEARN TO BELIEVE

 

                            THE POWER OF BELIEVE

                         WHAT ADULTS TELL US AND WHAT WE LEARN TO PERCEIVE ABOUT OURSELVES AS CHILDREN HAS AN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT EFFECT ON US. IT INFORMS WHAT WE BELIEVE ABOUT MOST OF WHAT IS GOING ON AROUND US, AND ALMOST EVEYTHIN THAT WE COME TO BELIEVE ABOUT OURSELVES.

                       I STILL REMEMBER THE TIME WHEN, AS A MIDDLE-SCHOOL STUDENT, I WANTED MORE THAT ANYTHING I COULD THINK OF TO PLAY A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT AND BE A MEMEBER OF THE SCHOOL BAND. ALONG WITH TEN OR TWELVE OTHER STUDENTS FROM MY CLASS, I DECIDE TO TRY OUT FOR THE BAND. AFTER BEING HANDED A COMPLETELY ALIEN MUSICAL INTRUMENT AND TRYING TO GET IT TGO MAKE MUSIC IN FRONT OF THE BAND INTRUCTOR, MY TEACHER, AND THE OTHER STUDENTS, I WAS DISMISSED.

                  I KNEW THAT I HAD ONE DONE WELL. BUT IT WAS AN HOUR LATER, AFTER THE LAST STUDENT OF THE DAY HAD PERFORMED, THAT I OVERHEARD THE BAND DIRECTOR TELLING MY TEACHER THAT NOT ONLY COULD I NOT PLAY IN THE BAND, BUT I ALSO NO MUSICAL ABILITY AND WOULD NEVER ABLE TO PLAY AN INSTRUMENT. WHAT INCREDIBLE PROGRAMMING FOR A TWELVE-YEAR-OLD BOY WHO HAD HIS HEART SET ON LEARNING HOW TO PLAY!

                IT WORKED. I HAD HEARD FROM SOMEONE ELSE THAT I HAD SO MUSICAL ABILITY, AND I BELIEVED IT. I ACCEPTED AS FACT THAT I HAD NO MUSICAL TALENT, AND THAT I NEVER WOULD. IT WASN'T UNTIL YEAR LATER THAT I FINALLY GOT UP ENOUGH COURAGE TO RENT A PIANO, LEARN SOME NOTES, AND PLAY IT SECRETLY WHEN NO ONE WAS AROUND TO REMIND ME THAT I COULD NOT PLAY. I NEVER DID DEVELOP THE SKILL I WANTED. BUT I LERNED, AFTER SOME TWENTY FRUSTRATING YEARS, THAT OUR SCHOOL BAND DIRECTOR WAS WRONG. AND I HAD BELIEVED HIM.

               HERE IS AN OPPOSITE EXAMPLE. MICHAEL, WHO AT THE AGE OF SIX OFTEN VISITED THE ELDERLY GENTLEMAN NEXT DOOR FOR AFTERNOON CHATS, WAS SAFELY OUT OF SIGHT BUT WITHIN HEARING DISTANCE AT THE TOP OF THE STAIRS ONE EVENING, READY FOR BED, WHEN THE NEIGHBOR STOPPED BY. LITTLE MICHAEL OVERHEAD THE OLD MAN TELL HIM MOTHERTHAT MICHAEL WAS VERY CREATIVE, AND HE KNEW THAT MIKE WOULD GROW UP TO DO THINGS THAT WERE CREATIVE.

               DECADES LATER, MIKE VANCE WOULD BECOME DEAN OF DISNEY UNIVERSITY. LATER, THROUGH HIS PERSONAL CONSULTING AND HIS WORK WITH MAJOR CORPORATIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, HE WENT ON TO BECOME ONE OF THE PREMIER CREATIVITY TRAINERS IN THE UNITED STATES, LITTLE MICHAEL, BY ACCIDENT, OVERHEARD ONE SMALL "PROGRAM" ABOUT HIMSELF. AND MICHAEL BELIEVED IT.

                   UNFORTUNATELY, LITTLE OF OUR OWN PROGRAMMING HAS DONE AS MUCH ON OUR BEHALF. CAN YOU IMAGINE THE NUMBER OF TIMES SOME CHILD WAS HEARD THE INNOCENT BUT THOUGHTLESS WORDS, "YOU'LL NEVER AMOUNT TO MUCH" OR WAS TOLD "THAT SPORT", THAT CARRER" JUST IMAGINE WHAT OUR EAGER AND OPEN YOUNG MINDS PERCEIVED AND BELIEVED.

 

                                UNCONSCIOUS CONDITIONING FROM OTHERS

                 SOME OF OUR PROGRAMMING IS OBVIOUS. BUT MOST OF IT IS NOT, MOST OF IT HAS BEEN MUCH MORE SUBTLE. EVERY DAY WE RECEIVE AND ENDLESS STREAM OF COMMANDS, DIRECTIVES, CONTROLS, INDUCEMENTS, AND EXPECTATIONS FROM OTHERS. EVERYTHING AROUND US NUDGES, DEMANDS, OR PERSUADES. EVEN AS ADULTS , WE ARE MET WITH A TORRENT OF INFULENCES, WE ARE NOT EVEN AWARE OF MOST OF THEM. WE ARE SHIPS WITH COUNTLESS CAPTAINS, ALL SEEKING TO DIRECT US ON THEIR OWN COURSES, FOR THEIR OWN PURPOSES, NOT EVEN KNOWING THEY ARE LEADING OUR SHIPS ASTRAY.

              AS LONG AS YOU AND I ALLOW OTHERS TO PROGRAM US IN A WAY THAT FITS THEIR CHOOSING, WE ARE, WITHOUT A DOUBT, OUT OF CONTROL, CAPTIVE TO THE WHIMS OF SOME UNKNOWN DESTINY, NOT QUITE RECOGNIZING THAT WHAT HANGS IN THE BALANCE IS THE FULLFILLMENT OF OUR OWN FUTURES.

                WHY DO SO MANY THERAPISTS TAKE THEIR PATIENTS BACK TO A TIME IN THEIR CHILDHOOD WHEN THE PROBLEM WAS FIRST CREATED ? BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE THE BELIEFS BEGAN. THAT IS WHERE THE FEAR, THE TRAUMA, OR THE SELF-IDENTITY FIRST BEGAN TO TAKE HOLD. OUT OF THOSE EARLY YEARS, EACH OF US FORMED A COMPOSITE PICTURE OF OURSELVES. IT MADE LITTLE  DIFFERENCE WHETHER   THE PICTURES OF OURSELVES THAT WE CREATED WERE TRUE OR NOT. OUR EXPERIENCES, BECAME THE FOUNDATION FOR THE MENTAL PROGRAMMING THAT DIRECTS US TODAY.

                 OF COURSE, NOT ALL OF OUR PAST PROGRAMMING HAS BEEN THE WRONG KIND. SOME OF IT HAS BEEN GOOD. MOST OF US HAVE EXPERIENCED THE LOE AND CARING OF OTHERS. AND MOST OF US HAVE TOUCHED FROM TIME TO TIME WITH VISIONS OF POSITIVE SELF-BELIEF. MANY OF US HAVE HAD PARENTS WHO COUNTERED THEIR MISGIVINGS WITH ENCOURAGEMENT. WE HAVE HAD COACHES, TEACHERS, AND FRIENDS WHO SAW THE BEST IN US. AS WE GREW, ALL OF US, FROM TIME TO TIME, HAVE HAD OUR SUCCESS.

                   BUT, AT OUR BEST, WE HAVE BEEN LIVING WITH ONLY A PART OF OUR LIFE'S PROGRAMS WORKING FOR US. IMAGINE THAT YOU COULD DO IF YOU COULD OVERRIDE THE PROGRAMS IN YOUR SUBCONSCIOUS MIND, THOSE THAT STILL WORK AGAINST YOU, AND REPLACE THEM WITH A REFRESHING NEW SET OF PROGRAMS OF ABSOLUTE BELIEF, AN ALMOST UNCONSCIOUS, AUTOMATIC NEW SET OF PROGRAMS THAT WOULD GO TO WORK FOR YOU - REPLACING THE BARRIERS WITH A REFRESHING NEW LOOK AT THE LIFE YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU.

                

                 THINK WHAT YOU COULD DO, BEGINNING TOMORROW, IF THE SHACKLES OF BAD HABITS, OLD CONDITIONING, AND SELF-DOUBT WERE SUDDENLY GONE.

                    I ONCE ASKED A WOMAN WHO HAD LOST 120 PONDS WHAT THE FELT LIKE AFTER SUCCEEDING IN HER GOAL TO LOSE THE WEIGHT, HER ANSWER WAS, I FEEL LIKE I'VE LOST A HUNDRED AND TWENTY POUNDS"! I UNDERSTOOD HER JOY. SOMETIME, WHEN YOU ARE A HEALTH SPA OR GYM, GO OVER TO THE WEIGHT-LIFTING SECTION AND TRY TO PICK UP 120 POUNDS.

                      AND THE MENTAL WEIGHT WE SO OFTEN CARRY WITH US I FAR HEAVIER TO BEAR. IMAGINE LOSING, EVEN FOR ONE DAY, ALL OF THE EXTRA WEIGHT OF SELF-DOUBT AND DISBELIEF WE CARRY WITH US. THINK HOW FAST YOU COULD RUN.

                     BECAUSE OF OUR BRAIN'S NEUROPLASTICITY, FREEDOM OF MIND IS POSSIBLE, AND NOT BEYOND THE REACH OF ANY OF US. NOT ONLY CAN YOU ACHIEVE THAT FREEDOM FOR YOURSELF, BUT WE ARE ABOUT TO SEE THT THERE ARE A FEW PRACTICAL STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TO MAKE THE FREEDOM OF A SELF-DIRECTED MIND A PERMANENT PART OF EVERY DAY OF YOUR LIFE.

                     YOU ALREADY HAVE ALL OF THE NECESSARY EDQUIPMENT. YOU WERE BORN WITH EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO LIVE YOUR LIFE IN A MOST EXCEPTIONAL AND WORTHWHILE WAY. IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE WHAT YOU HAVE THOUGHT OR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE IN THE PAST. FROM THIS DAY ON, YOU CAN, IF YOU CHOOSE, CHANGE A LITTLE TO GAIN A LOT.

TRY IT

 

                             THE NEW WORK TO YOUR                                                           SUBCONSCIOUS MIND

                       I REALLY VERY SPECIAL. I LIKE WHO I AM AND I FEEL GOOD ABOUT                                     MYSELF.

                       ALTHOUGH I ALWAYS WORK TO IMPROVE MYSELF AND I GET BETTER EVERY DAY. I LIKE WHO I AM TODAY. AND TOMORROW, WHEN I'M EVEN BETTER, I'LL LIKE MYSELF THEN, TOO.

                       IT'S TIME THAT THERE REALLY IS NO ONE ELSE LIKE ME IN THE ENTIRE WORLD. THERE NEVER WAS ANOTHER ME BEFORE, AND THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER ME AGAIN.

                      I AM UNIQUE - FROM THE TOP OF MY HEAD TO THE BOTTOM OF MY FEET. IN SOME WAYS I MAY LOOK AND ACT AND SOUND LIKE SOME OTHER BUT I AM NOT THEM. I AM ME.

                    I WANTED TO BE SOMEBODY - AND NOW I KNOW I AM. I WOULD RATHER  BE ME THAN ANYONE ELSE IN THE WORLD.

                   I LIKE HOW I FEEL AND I LIKE HOW I THINK AND I LIKE HOW I DO THINGS. I APPROVE OF ME AND I APPROVE AND I APPROVE OF WHO I AM.

                   I HAVE MANY BEAUTIFUL QUALITIES. I HAVE TALENTS AND SKILLS AND ABILITIES. I HAVE TALENTS THAT I DON'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT YET. AND I AM DISCOVERING NEW TALENT INSIDE MYSELF ALL THE TIME.

                  I AM POSITIVE. I AM CONFIDENT. I RADIATE GOOD THINGS. IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY, YOU CAN EVEN SEE A GLOW AROUND ME.

                  I AM FULL OF LIFE. I LIKE LIFE AND I'M GLAD TO BE ALIVE. I AM A VERY SPECIAL PERSON, LIVING AT A VERY SPECIAL TIME.

                 I AM INTELLIGENT. MY MIND IS QUICK AND ALERT AND CLEVER AND FUN. 

                I THINK GOOD THOUGHTS, AND MY MIND MAKES THINGS  WORK RIGHT FOR                    ME. 

              I HAVE A LOT OF ENERGY AND ENTHUSIASM AND VITALITY. I AM EXCITING                        AND I REALLY ENJOY BEING ME.O

               I LIKE TO BE AROUND OTHER PEOPLE AND OTHER PEOPLE LIKE TO BE AROUND ME. PEOPLE LIKE TO HEAR WHAT I SAY AND KNOW WHAT I THINK.

                I SMILE A LOT. I AM HAPPY ON THE  INSIDE AND I AM HAPPY ON THE OUTSIDE.

              I AM INTERESTED IN MANY THINGS. I APPRECIATE ALL THE BLESSINGS I HAVE, AND THE THINGS THAT I LEARN, AND ALL THE THINGS I WILL LEARN TODAY AND TOMMORROW AND TOMORROW AND FOREVER - JUST AS LONG AS I AM.

               I AM WARM, SINCERE, HONEST, AND GENUINE. I AM ALL OF THESE THINGS AND MORE. AND ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE ME. I LIKE WHO I AM, AND I AM GLAD TO BE ME.

                    WHAT A SIMPLE WORDS THEY ARE. WHAT TRUTHS THEY TELL US ABOUT THE SELVES WE CONTAIN INSIDE OF US. PLACED WITHIN  THE BELIEFS OF ANY ONE INDIVIDUAL, THOSE SIMPLE WORDS POSSESS A POWER THAT FEW OF US HAVE EVER HOPED TO ATTAIN. AND YET THAT SELF-BELIEF, THAT SENSE OF SELF-ESTEEM, IS AVAILABLE TO ALL OF US. CAN YOU IMAGINE LIVING THAT WAY EACH DAY - AND KNOWING IT?

                  IMAGINE CHILDREN GROWING UP WITH THOSE KINDS OF WORDS INDELIBLY INSTILLED IN THEIR BELIEVING, EAGER YOUNG  MINDS, IMAGINE BEGINNING TO BELIEVE THE VERY BEST ABOUT YOURSELF, EACH DAY, ALL OF THE TIME, IN ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, ALWAYS BEING SURE OF ATTITUDES THAT SUPPORT YOU, GIVE YOU FAITH, PROP YOU UP, AND GIVE YOU THE COURAGE AND THE CONVICTION TO LIVE LIFE IN ITS MOST FULFILLING, MOST POSITIVE WAY.

 

                IF THAT SOUNDS IMPROBABLE, LET ME REMIND YOU THAT IT IS YOUR OLD PROGRAMMING THAT TELLS YOU IT CAN'T WORK THAT WAY. THAT IS BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT IT WAS WIRED TO BELIEVE. AND IT IS WRONG.

                                      THE STOCK OF YOUR ATTITUDE

                    LOOK AT YOUR ATTITUDE. TAKE STOCK OF YOUR BELIEFS ABOUT YOURSELF. TAKE MENTAL INVENTORY OF YOUR ATTITUDE - GOOD AND HAD - AND DECIDE FOR YOURSELF WHICH OF THOSE ATTITUDE WORK FOR YOU AND WHICH DO NOT. THE ONES YOU DON'T WANT TO KEEP - THROW OUT. GET RID OF THEM. KEEP THE ONES YOU LIKE. CHANGE THE ONES YOU WANT TO CHANGE. TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR ATTITUDE. PUT YOURSELF BACK IN CONTROL. THE LEAST THAT COULD HAPPEN IS THAT YOU WOULD GET A LITTLE MORE OF YOUR REAL SELF BACK AGAIN.

                   START THE ADVENTURE. DISCOVER THE JEWELS AND GEMS THAT ARE PART OF YOUR OWN MIND. SEEK OUT AND FIND THE RICH RESERVE OF ATTITUDES WITHIN YOU HAVE BEEN WAITING TO STEP OUT AND LIVE AGAIN. START TALKING TO YOURSELF THE RIGHT WAY.

                      LITLE CHANGES IN ATTITUDE CAN MAKE BIG CHANGES IN LIFE. YOUR ATTITUDES AFFECT ALL OF THE IMPORTANT THINGS AROUND YOU. THEY AFFECT HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT YOURSEFL. THEY AFFECT YOUR WORK, YOURF FRIENDS, AND YOUR LOVED ONES. WHEN YOUR ATTITUDES GET BETTER, SO DOES LIFE. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A CHANGE OR TWO, FIXING AN ATTITUDE AND MAKING LIFE A LITTLE BETTER ISN'T BAD PLACE TO START.

                                                                         👀👀👀