Category Archives: Mindset

Why People Struggle And Fail – Is This You?

Horizons restless-shores-phil-koch

“Buckminster Fuller said, ‘You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.’

There is so much going on in the world today that people react against. They put time, money, energy and emotion into fighting people, the economy, government, illegal drugs and so much more.

They put this same kind of energy into fighting their personal demons, their lack and poverty, their poor health, romance problems, family issues, their sad lives and lackluster careers.

What You Resist Persists

What you resist persists. Whatever you give energy to grows. None of the USA’s war on anything ever made a significant difference. It seemed to only exacerbate the problems. You have to stop fighting.

Fuller said, ‘build a new model, one that makes the existing model obsolete.’  A simple dictionary definition of obsolete means ‘no longer produced, used. Out of date.’ Expired is a good word.

What do you do with expired food or a pair of worn out shoes. Most likely you give it away, or throw it out. My guess is you don’t spend too much time concentrating on it, but I could be wrong.

Life Is Not Governed  By Circumstances

You get rid of it without fanfare or drama. Without celebration. You let go of it and replace it with something newer. ‘Build a new model that makes the old one obsolete’. That is what Gandhi did.

When fighting oppression he didn’t use violence or hate. He used peace, love, meditation and mobilized millions against forces who had invaded his country. He did something no one expected.

Because it was new and unexpected they didn’t even know how to combat it. They were used to battles. What do they do with this. Gandhi prevailed. Imagine that! Gandhi presented a new model.

Life Is Governed By Attitude

Use your imagination. Build something new. Focus on what you want. In your mental movie theater imagine yourself already in possession of it. Feel what that feels like. It is yours right now!

Don’t focus on your bills, your poor health, your broken relationship, how much you hate your job or how your career is stalled, focus on what you DO want. Focus on the good you want to enjoy!

Napoleon Hill stated, ‘Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe the mind can achieve.’ You can live your dreams instead of your disappointments. You need to learn to condition your mind.

You Are Where Your Thoughts Brought You

You need to learn to condition you mind for success. Do that and you can be, do and have anything you desire. Stop fighting and start creating. Create what you want and believe it can be yours!

If you firmly believe it, and you truly want it, you will find a way to make it happen. When you condition your mind for success your mind alerts you to resources and opportunities. It is time to act!

It is time to get your mind on your side! Your life is a refection of the thinking you have been doing up until now. Thought creates reality and thought precedes action. Thoughts becomes things!

You Will Be Where Your Thoughts Take You

All human productions first began as an idea. Everything begins as a thought. Think success day and night and it will come to you. Think it now, as if you have it, in the present, not off in the future. NOW!

The mind doesn’t now today from tomorrow. It doesn’t care if it is a penny or a million dollars. It doesn’t care whether you are positive or negative. It doesn’t care if you think you can or you think you can’t

Whatever you program your mind for is what you get back. Whatever your mind has been programmed for is what you have been getting. Don’t fight. Build a new model. Create something grand! Your mind is your singular most powerful tool! Use it!

Make Your Thoughts Work For You

Make the old lifestyle obsolete. Create an entirely new one to your liking. You can if you believe you can. Decide today whether or not you will. If you can conceive it and believe it you can achieve it. Create what you want by imagining it first in your mind. Create it!

Think about it day and night. Affirm it. Feel it. Celebrate it. Be grateful about it. Live within as if you already have everything you need. Repeat these affirmations frequently throughout each day. Repetition builds habit; habit conditions the mind. Make it work in you favor. It will do what you want when and only when you take control of it. Most people don’t. Don’t be one of them!” Rex Sikes

This day will be however you determine it to be.

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Horizons photo used with permission of Phil Koch.

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The Power In Positivity Is Immense: Don’t Miss Out!

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“Pretend for a moment that the Law Of Attraction is absolutely valid. Imagine this IS how everything operates. You get what you spend most of your time thinking about or dwelling on. If it is positive you get back the positive. If it is negative you get back the negative. What if the universe works this way? Would you do it?

If there was only a 50/50 chance the Law Of Attraction is real wouldn’t you prefer to err on the positive. Wouldn’t you want to get the positive back instead of the negative? It takes no more energy to think positive than it does to think negative. Wouldn’t you want to get what you want instead of what you don’t want?

What You See Is What You Get

Why not decide for what feels best? Why not do whatever it takes to create the most enjoyable life and positive circumstances you are able to? That makes sense, right? Yet, people whine and complain that positive thinking is too hard. They complain their life sucks. The choice one has to make; Live a suck life or make it better!

If life sucks because you think positive thinking is too hard, or you think it doesn’t work, what are you left with? You don’t like where you are at. BUT In order to have something different you must DO something different. You can’t continue the same ole way and expect it to be something else. That is craziness! It doesn’t work.

What You Say Is What You Get

Positive thinking is about thinking good and feeling good. It is seeking the best in situations. It is believing the best about yourself, others and the world. It seems that, in and of itself, is incredibly valuable. It seems to me, for this reason alone it is worth doing. Start thinking positive and discover the power. Affirm the positive.

When you master the art of controlling your thinking; when you are able to aim it and direct it you are able to make your future wants a reality. Become the master of your thoughts and feelings because the pay off is incredible. You won’t know if you don’t master them. Feel good! Affirm what you want! Speak to bless, heal and prosper!

What You Feel Is What You Get

Within these numerous blog pages are tips,suggestions and secrets for making your life work. Contained herein is the key for being, doing and having whatever it is your heart most desires. All you have to do is put it to work for you! Seek and you will find! You will discover you have everything you need to do it right, right now!

Review the blogs. Implement the practices, principles and exercises. When you do you will begin to transform your life in amazing and wonderful ways. It will surprise and delight you beyond anything you can presently imagine. Begin today and get the changes you want and you deserve. If you can have it all, why wait? Do it now!” Rex Sikes

It is a beautiful new day just for you!

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Horizons photo used with permission of Phil Koch.

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To Have Anything You Want In Life You Must Do This!

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“Einstein purportedly said, ‘The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.’

However, it appears the quote actually belongs to Bob Samples, reflecting on ideas expressed by Einstein. We know Albert highly regarded the intuitive mind. He valued imagination over logic in many, many ways.

It may be that Samples was paraphrasing János Plesch who said, “When I examine myself and my methods of thought I come to the conclusion that the gift of fantasy has meant more to me than my talent for absorbing positive knowledge.’

If You Can Dream It You Can Be It

Einstein, did apparently say, at another time, ‘And certainly we should take care not to make the intellect our god; it has, of course, powerful muscles, but no personality. It cannot lead, it can only serve; and it is not fastidious in its choice of a leader.’

Okay, I have tried to provide some historical background for the sake of accuracy. Just a smidgen. I like the first quote whether brilliant Albert said it or not. I think there is much value in it. It may have been Bob Proctor who stated, ‘We look at the report card and let it control what we are like.’ I agree with this assessment too.

While we are all somewhat different on the outside, and from varied backgrounds, and individual programming and conditioning through environmental factors people are very much the same inside. Our conscious minds differ but our subconscious minds work the same.

What You See (Inside) Is What You Get

We have been conditioned or trained to use our senses to approach the world and believe that our senses don’t lie. In fact they do. Not just a little bit but a lot. Still, we believe them. We look at the world and think the world is what we see. We look at the report card and declare it so.

The fact is, everything originates within us. It is from within that we look out at the world. We have been trained to do it backwards and that is why we encounter so much difficulty being and doing and having what we want. It is from within that we make things happen.

This is why attitude and mindset determine how far one gets in life. This is why what we think is what we get. Because if we can’t think it, if we don’t conceive of it, we won’t ever know or imagine it is possible. It will be outside the range of our choices. It starts inside!

What You Say (To Yourself) Is What You Get

This is why if you focus on poverty it is unlikely you get rich. If you focus on disease it is unlikely you get well. If you focus on hate and violence it is unlikely you will have harmony and peace. What you focus on determines what you get. It begins on the inside of us.

Instead,  people look at their bank accounts and fear they won’t be able to make ends meet. That then becomes their destiny. They have decided they are stuck there and they can’t see a way out. AND THEY ARE CORRECT in that assessment. They will remain stuck.

BECAUSE that is what they are focused on. In order to get out of it you have to envision the way out of it. You need to imagine first the better life and focus on the better life. You have to imagine what you want day in and day out not what you do not want.

Declare It! Command It! Be In Charge! And So It Is

When you imagine clearly what you want you tell your subconscious mind what you want it to work on. You tell it to problem solve for you. You tell it to get to work creating the means by which you can have what you desire. When combined with strong positive emotion it will do as you tell it to.

OTHERWISE it will continue to create the means to keep you poor. BECAUSE that is what you tell it to do when you focus on being and by feeling poor. When you feel really badly about something you are telling your subconscious to give you more of that. This IS HOW it works. Your feelings and thoughts run the show.

The outer circumstances don’t dictate to us what the world is like we create our outer circumstances. What we think and how emotionally charged we are thinking about it determines what we get back. We determine our circumstances. I’m not suggesting that people born to poverty or in the ghetto. There are.

If It Is To Be It Is Up To Me

But there are those who don’t let their birth conditions rule their life, and there are those who do let it rule them. The difference is not in the birth conditions but in how one thinks about them. Some see them as the end point. ‘I was born poor I will always be poor.’ Yes, then they will always be that way.

Another uses the very same conditions as a launching pad to leave the conditions of birth behind. It is our thoughts that make the difference not what is going on around us. Millionaires and billionaires are made when the economy is good or when it is bad.

There are people born well who blow it. They become alcoholics, disturbed, or worse. They’re bred into the finest conditions but it is what they do within that determines what they make of it. It is NOT the outer world that makes us who we are. It’s OUR inner world. We become who we decide to become! It is always our choice!

Attitude Determines What You Do Or Don’t Do

Attitude determines whether you will or you won’t. ‘Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you are right’, said Henry Ford. ‘Imagination IS more important than knowledge,’ said Albert Einstein. We should honor the gift more than the servant. Use the inner to create the outer how you want it to be.

Within these blog pages, I have shared with you, in various ways, repeatedly, what you can do to live the good life IF you want that. Everything you need to live it is already within you. You simply have to tap into it! You only have to access you inner resources. You don’t have to be a victim of circumstances you can live as a victor, a winner and a champion.

You can be, do and have anything you think yourself into. Whatever the predominant thoughts are in your mind day and night is the world you create around yourself and for you. Circumstances are a reflection of what is going on inside you. From within to without.

If you don’t like your circumstances change your thinking about them. Dictate what the circumstances will be and YES your life will change. YOU be in charge. TAKE CONTROL! Become the captain of your soul and the master of your fate. Learn how to control your thinking and you will learn how to have anything you want in life!” Rex Sikes

Discover what is good and new today!

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Horizons photo used with permission of Phil Koch.

NEW BLOG SITE LAUNCHES SOON – Do you get this blog emailed to you? You will have  to again subscribe to this blog, newsletter. I’d hate for you to miss anything when it switches. Subscribe and Follow Daily Inspiration and Gratitude!

What Are You Waiting For? Do This Now! Start Succeeding!

horizons we-cannot-let-our-angels-go-phil-koch

“Some people wait until they feel ready to begin. They wait until they know what to do. They think if they wait they will feel more assured. Usually, that never happens and they just end up waiting. There is no perfect time. There is never THE perfect moment to begin. Consider this in the reverse.

Death always interrupts us from something we are doing. We don’t get to complete it. Whatever we are doing is left unfinished. Apply this thought to the beginning: We don’t have to be ready to begin. There is never THE right time.  We  just need to start it now. We will never be ready enough. Just do it.

It is now or never! Sure it might be scary. New things tend to  be. If you wait until the fear goes away you could wait for ever. It is normal for people to be apprehensive when doing something new. It is completely normal, so get over yourself and your drama around it and go do it! The longer you wait the longer it will take. Get it?

The Past Is Gone The Future Hasn’t Happened Now Is All We Have

In, ‘ A Year Of Growing Rich’ Hill states, ‘If you want to achieve success make today the day you stop drifting. Decide upon a definite goal. Write it down. Commit it to memory.’

‘Decide exactly how you plan to achieve it. Then begin putting your plan into immediate action. Your future is what you make it. Decide now what it shall be.’ Napoleon is pretty clear. This isn’t rocket science. Okay?

Don’t put it off. Do it now! He who waits, waits. That is all that will happen if you put it off; you will only delay it further. So begin now. Know this, your plan doesn’t have to be perfect. It most likely will change anyway, as you move forward. That is normal.

The Present Is A Gift To You

Once you are on the road, even though you’ve planned your trip, you may wish to deviate, take a side road, a detour, remain longer in one place than another, bypass a particular location altogether. Plans changes. Just make one you can implement and start doing it now.

Do something today. Do something tomorrow. Work you plan. Ask yourself each day, ‘What can I do today to move closer to getting my goal’. At the conclusion of the day ask, ‘What did I do today that moved me closer to having my goal?’ Both times and both questions are important.

Ask and answer. If you didn’t do much do more tomorrow. Make a list, a short list so it is manageable. Cross off things you accomplish. Little by little you will accomplish a lot. Don’t wait, Do! Feel how good it feels to get things done! Notice Napoleon Hill’s last two lines in the quote above.

‘Your future is what you make it. Decide now what it shall be.’ Whatever it is going to be you make it so. It is your decision. Decide now! No one else makes it for you. No one else can decide for you. No one else can do it for you. Only you choose your future and only you make it happen. Accept this and begin moving forward now.

The Only Thing We Have To Fear Is Fear Itself

The Wright Brothers didn’t know how to fly until they had already done it. Until they did it they were simply trying things to find out what worked. They kept doing until they succeeded. You should to. Keep doing, keep trying, keep experimenting. Your devotion will pay off. If you do nothing you get nothing. So what is it going to be?

Don’t wait for the perfect plan, you will never have it. It will never come and you will just waste time waiting and hoping. Instead just do it! Be grateful and acknowledge your positive productivity. Then determine what you will do tomorrow. The next morning begin again. In this manner each day you close in on your destiny. Feel proud as you move forward.

You’ll get further along and closer to where you want to be. Soon you will arrive! Have fun along the way. Take it all lightly! Then the journey will be enjoyable and seem to pass more quickly.  Celebrate and delight in everything. Enjoy each moment. Why not? If you have to do it anyway, you might as well make the best of it, right? Okay, get moving!” Rex Sikes

Celebrate and plan today!

If you like these posts please subscribe. If you think these posts would help others please share them. Help Spread the word. 

Horizons photo used with permission of Phil Koch.

NEW BLOG SITE LAUNCHES SOON – Do you get this blog emailed to you? You will have  to again subscribe to this blog, newsletter. I’d hate for you to miss anything when it switches. Subscribe and Follow Daily Inspiration and Gratitude!

What To Do When Things Turn Rotten

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“I am frequently asked what to do when things go rotten. I thought I would attempt to answer with another example. It can be tough for the positive thinker when suddenly things mount up, circumstance seem  to turn south and nothing works as one would hope. What do you do? First thing.  I prefer to think in terms of ‘less than glorious.’

A couple posts back I referred to my New Years’s Eve. I got a flat and plans interrupted. I will continue with the events post NYE but let it be known; some may think what I relate is nothing, not challenging at all. Others may think it quite the ordeal. I think of it as It IS what it IS. It is because, of how others may regard these events it serves the purpose to illustrate ‘less than glorious’ or when plans change.

I had no luck on the New Year day finding a place open that could change the tire, fix the tire or sell me a new one. EVEN Walmart said nope. On Saturday I found a dealer not too far away from me, hooray! They might be able to fix or replace the flat. Months earlier the other front tire was flat, but I added ‘fix a flat’ and hadn’t had a problem.

Hey, You! Things Change

Since, I was getting the one worked on I thought might as well do two. Neither could be repaired one because of the ‘fix a flat’ the other where the hole was.  They said they’d call me when done. They close at 6pm. At 5 I had still not heard back. I called them. It turned out I needed a new wheel for one.

As it was close of day, Monday would be earliest they MIGHT be able to find one. Dealer new or aftermarket. The price significantly different. On Monday they searched. Close to mid afternoon they announced no luck locally. They could get a used one in but it would take two business days. The wheel cost around 300.00. I already paid for the two tires so the install would be free.

‘Good thing I am rich’, I always think. ‘There is more where that came from’. I am doing my share keeping money circulating. That is when money actually has some value when it is changing hands.  Life is life. Things cost. Little things out of whack or big things out of whack it is virtually the same. Little blessings and big blessings. What is IS! Celebrate and enjoy.

Get Over Yourself

Disclaimer: I am telling you my thoughts and what I think. Wealth is an attitude. Abundance is a state of mind. I have less than some and more than others at varying times. What I have access too, we all do is beyond imagination. There is plenty everywhere, OR, there is scarcity everywhere. It depends on how you view it. How you view it determines how you feel. How you feel determines how you view it!

The time I spent at the tire store on Saturday meant I missed an important tech phone call to fix computer issues. It will have to be re-scheduled for sometime in the future. I know not when. Such is life. The wheel appointment is set for Wednesday. I have to cancel another meeting, that was set for the same time, because it is the only time the party could make it.  Oh, well.

Change is what life is all about. We change, we grow. We grow, we change. Days change, weather changes, everything changes. It is when we resist change that we seem to suffer so much. It is much better to learn to be able to go with the flow. This is why I think, ‘Things ALWAYS work out the best for me’, even when it is not obvious how, yet. Attitude is everything! Things work out always!

Things Always Work Out In The Long Run

I had an appointment today and had to use my car. Luckily, I made my appointment and back without trouble. I stopped to pick up Thai food for dinner with my daughter. After sitting and waiting for about 20 minutes the server announced they ran out of chicken. They had enough for one chicken dish but not two.  I cancelled one, kept a chicken dish and a beef dish I had ordered.

Some minutes later they brought my food. I paid the bill, sans the one meal and went home ready for a nap. I was completely exhausted today. On the way home my son calls to remind me I had promised to take him snow boarding today. I totally forgot. I now scramble to make sure to pick him up and then remember my tiny spare issue.

This meant I had to commandeer my other car away from my daughter and disrupt her plans. The car with the tiny spare isn’t safe to go on the freeways, nor is it wise, since I no longer have a spare to utilize. My daughter, god love her, I do, accepts that she can take my tiny wheel car but not where she wanted to go. She can use it, just locally.

Change Is A Constant – Might As Well Learn To Embrace It

Those are my restrictions. I don’t want her stuck in the cold at night. We swap cars. Hers of course is out of gas, but dad fills it. I had to fill mine too on the way home. I get home. The way they packed the food in the containers, meant most of the sauce is now in the bottom of the bag. I remove containers dripping wet. I open the food and there is virtually NO chicken in the dish.

There are a few, four or five tiny thinly sliced pieces, lost inside a big container of sauce and vegetables. In no way could anyone call this a chicken curry. Curry yes, vegetable curry, yes. chicken, nope! Again, oh well. I scooped out a couple pieces of chicken along with the curry sauce and vegetable and rushed my meal so I could get my boy. What was there was tasty. Our plans for the evening changed.

The dinner I looked forward to, and had called her to ask what she wanted, wasn’t going to happen together. I had forgot about my prior commitment to my son. She’ll eat alone later. She ate with her boyfriend and said, ‘hey you ate all the chicken’. I hadn’t, I split what was there with her. She wasn’t upset. She was just commenting. Both of them enjoyed the food. It was his first time. They were good.

Feeling Stressed And Angry Won’t Make You Feel Better

I got my son, we got gas, we went to the ski hill. I love watching him snowboard when I can locate him on the hillside. He saw me sitting at the window and gave me a big wave. All is good. In fact, all has been good. I made it through the day, with a good attitude and steady emotions. I mentioned in my other post years ago I’d be pissed, seething. Little things bugged me.

Now, I realize sooner this is what is going on. Life is happening. There is nothing to do about it. To complain and lose my cool won’t change anything. It may only make them worse. I know I’d sure feel worse. I’d feel stressed, unlucky, a victim of circumstances. THIS is simply how things are. Accept it, enjoy what is. Who knows how it will turn out. I expect it will turn out well, if not now, eventually.

If you can’t change it accept it. Embrace it. Dive into it because you may just discover something wonderful. Hindsight is 20/20. Nothing may seem apparent right away but perhaps, down the road. Maybe even a year or two from now I’ll look back on the days of my NYE and beyond tire/wheel fix and realize something great was happening. Who knows? I certainly don’t. Anything and everything is possible. All is as it is. Go with the flow and enjoy the adventure.

What Do You Want To Feel?

All I can do is trust and remember, ‘I always land on my feet.’ It is awesome to be alive and enjoy so many incredible people, places, things and opportunities. I am able to drive and go places. Others may not be so lucky. Given this, I prefer to celebrate everything instead of bitch about it. I prefer to let go of problems and count blessings. I prefer to feel blessed no matter what is occurring.

Do I always. Nope, can’t say that I do. Do I get hooked and caught up, of course. It is less frequent but it happens. I realize sooner, rather than later that I have a decision, a choice to make; suffer and burn, OR let go and accept. The freeway surrender meditation helps a lot. It is all about learning to go with the flow. Learning to surrender, to accept what is, We need to learn how to feel blessed, always.

Some days go more smoothly, other days less smoothly. That is just the way it is. If we can feel in harmony more of the time life is better. If we feel discord less, life is better. It is our choice at any moment. We need to learn to respond instead of react. Most of us grew up reacting to what goes on instead of consciously responding to what happens. We can learn the difference and we can learn to respond.

What Is Important To You?

Hey, I am no example. I am not claiming to be. I am just pointing out that not everything goes according to plan just because you think positive. However, because you think positive, disruptions small or large don’t have to be so bad. Positive thinking takes the sting out of it. A positive attitude does make everything better. It isn’t magic but it seems like it at times. There is no substitute for a positive mindset!

Let go. Live! Enjoy! Prioritize. Determine how you want to spend your moments. Would you rather burn and be mad or is celebrating and enjoying more important to you? That is good to keep in mind. Personally, I  prefer the latter one. It is more fun and desirable. If it is for you too, congratulations and kudos. If it isn’t yet, it can be! You will get the knack of it. I promise, you will. Let go and delight! Embrace and enjoy the adventure! It isn’t over yet!!”  Rex Sikes

Everyday counts!

If you like these posts please subscribe. If you think these posts would help others please share them. Help Spread the word. 

Horizons photo used with permission of Phil Koch.

NEW BLOG SITE LAUNCHES SOON – Do you get this blog emailed to you? You will have  to again subscribe to this blog, newsletter. I’d hate for you to miss anything when it switches. Subscribe and Follow Daily Inspiration and Gratitude!

It’s A New Year! Life Plans Change. So What? Do This

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“What do you do when life throws your a curve ball? Something happens other than what you hoped for. Everything gets shaken up a bit. You have an opportunity to go with the changes or try to fight to keep the old way from slipping away. What do you do? You can react or respond to whatever is happening.

It was New Year’s Eve and I was to dinner party with dear friends. I purchased a nice bottle of wine and some expensive cheese to bring. I was looking forward to the evening with fine people. I prepared, got ready and went out the door. The evening cold, in the 20s. F

I got about 2 blocks from the house and noticed the car ride a bit strange. I stopped, got out, but since it was dark I couldn’t see behind the headlights. I felt the passenger side front tire and it was pretty pancaked. I had a flat. Luckily, there is a service station another couple blocks.

Sometimes Things Don’t Go As Planned

If I can get there without slicing up the tire, great. I can purchase a can of ‘fix a flat’ hope that works and fill the tire with air and be on my way. I get there and park near the air pump. I go in to borrow a tire gauge and get the can of tire foam. These station doesn’t sell anything like that, I am told. WOW! Well okay, I actually have one in my car.

BUT it is too cold to use. I try but nothing will come out. So I go for the air. Nope, the pins don’t line up and the air won’t go in. My hands at this point are becoming numb. A guy, in a truck, pulls up, asks me what’s wrong. Turns out he overheard me while in the station trying to secure a warm can of ‘fix a flat’. He throws a spot on.

He tries to put air in the tire too. Nope, it is not going in. My hands hurt. He says, ‘why not leave it here. It is open 24 hours. I’ll give you a lift home.’ I move the car, grab the wine, but drop it, it shatters. Grab the cheese and go in to return the gage. Turns out I can keep the car there but not where I parked it. So I move it.

Do You React Or Respond

I get in Kevin’s truck. I asked his name, told him mine, we shook hands. ‘Do you like cheese?’ I asked the odd ball question. ‘Here is some nice cheese’. And I put it on his console. He drove me home. I said thanks and Happy New Year. Entered the house. Called my daughter, wished her a nice evening and hunkered down.

New Years Day, I have a date with a tow truck. Hopefully, I can get the tire fixed or replaced. I could have called a tow truck, put on spare and traveled on, but really didn’t want to spend time waiting in a gas station. I could have. Home was more comfortable. I called my friends, told my host the news, apologized, and enjoyed some time alone.

What IS is. What to do about it? I was pleased none of this ruffled my feathers. Years back, I would not have been so even about it. I would have reacted poorly. Now, this time, it was different. More how I would hope it to be. Still, I did nothing special other than accept what was going on. I simply responded to what was happening.

Do You Like Cheese

I was quickly able to realize this is what IS. There is no reason to fight it or be dismayed. No reason to curse or swear or get upset because things went differently than anticipated. Maybe something good will come of this I can’t yet see. Who knows? Maybe maybe not.

My practice of surrender on the roadway seems to be paying off. You can find it within this blog in other posts of mine. I have mentioned it before.  BUT in a nutshell here it is:

I have a theory that the best modern day opportunity to learn surrender and ‘going with the flow’ is in traffic. If anything presses our buttons it is getting stuck, a’hole drivers going to fast or riding our ass. Stupid slow drivers who can’t move fast enough or turn and get out of our way. Yup, traffic is a great place to let it all go.

Some may be tempted to think, ‘well that NYE thingee really is all that big of deal’ and no it wasn’t. Rehearse and practice acceptance with little things, and you can inch your way up to bigger things. Practice letting go and accepting what is in traffic, and in everyday life.  Ultimately you build a habit of learning to respond.

Life Is Ultimately What You Make It

Fewer things will get us. We freak out less. We increase our batting average but we may never be perfect. OR maybe we will, who knows. It is pretty much going to be up to what we believe it will be like. Our expectations shape our reality. Life seems to be about learning and evolving. We learn to evolve to let go and enjoy more!

So, I watched some TV, read a little. I was going to open a bottle of wine and pour a glass but I didn’t. Soon, I fell asleep, just nodded off. New Year’s Eve came and went. I must have needed the rest. I woke at 2:39 am and realized I had yet to write my blog. Well, this is it. Happy New Year Everyone!!!

If you can’t change it don’t fight it. Accept it. There is something else available for you when you allow for it. I had a pleasant, uneventful evening at home. The year changed over and now wonderful new opportunities exist. They always exist! Opportunity is there when you need it. As are good samaritan’s, frequently. Thanks Kevin!” Rex Sikes

It is a new day! Celebrate!

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Whatever You Want Is Just A Thought Away!

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“Whatever you want is just a thought away. Thoughts precede actions. Thoughts become things. Thoughts are the ideas which become reality. Whatever you want begins with a thought. It doesn’t begin any other way. I repeat, It doesn’t begin any other way!

It doesn’t begin with hard work. It doesn’t begin with hopes or wishes. It begins with your thinking. The issue for most people is that they don’t think it. Oh, they ‘think’ they do. They ‘believe’ they do but they actually don’t. Nope, they simply don’t! They DO NOT.

They may claim they do. What they ACTUALLY do is say the thought to themselves without feeling it. There is no emotion behind it. No conviction. They merely utter it but don’t accept or believe it. They doubt it. They think it and then think, ‘nah that won’t happen.’ They doubt, fear, or worry more than they think it is possible.

They Merely Utter It But Don’t Accept Or Believe It

They come up with all the reasons why it won’t happen. They come up with all the reasons why they won’t think it. They don’t want to be disappointed if it doesn’t work. THAT is NOT THINKING THE THOUGHT!!!! That is thinking everything BUT the thought. That is entertaining a passing fancy. That is ‘lip service’.

THAT is NOT thinking the thought! That is thinking everything BUT the thought!  We become what we think about most of the day. They utter a thought and then spend most of their time either thinking it won’t ever happen or thinking other things. They don’t spend time thinking that thought. Instead, they are distracted. The thought never becomes a predominant idea. It has no power, no legs.

THAT is not using your mind well. That is not thinking the thought. That is a passing fancy which is dismissed for numerous other reasons OR it is considered and then lost among countless other considerations. The issue is most people don’t THINK. Most people don’t know how to think. Heck, we were never taught how to.

We Are Influenced By The Predominant Thoughts We Hold

Sadly, most people, thinking mostly the same chronic, habitual thoughts today that they thought yesterday, ‘think’ they are thinking. They aren’t! They are merely playing old tapes inside their head; old programming. Old worn out, negative, limited programming, for the most part, is what they are doing. It is not new, powerful thought. They aren’t thinking new thoughts.

It is mostly the same stuff you have thought again and again. If you always do what you always did you will always get what you always got. If you want to your life to change you have to change things in your life. You can’t do the same thing over and over and expect different results BUT this is what most do! Admit it, I do too!

If you conceive of it and you believe it you can make it happen. Will it magically appear, I doubt it. Still, I am not saying it won’t. Others can do that. I suspect YOU actually have to create it. Sadly, though you most likely never will unless you think you absolutely will in the first place. You have to conceive of a new reality FIRST in order to behave in that reality.

Thoughts Are Things

‘Whatever you want is a thought away’ IS an accurate statement. If you don’t think what you want is that close, well then it most likely isn’t. You declare it. You assert it. You determine what it and your future will be like. You create your present. Most people just won’t acknowledge that this is what we do. You and I create our reality!

Reality is of our own making. Reality is of your own making. You think and your reality is a reflection of what goes on inside your head AND what doesn’t. Results in the real world are YOUR doing. Most people just won’t willingly shoulder the responsibility for what they have or don’t and where they are at.

They want to blame it on others because it is easier and it let’s them off the hook. Most were brought up believing it was someone else’s fault anyway so it is nearly natural they would think that. The fact of the matter is YOUR thinking is absolutely powerful. Your life conditions are a reflection of what thoughts you have thought.

If It Is To Be It Is Up To Me

You CAN absolutely BE and DO and HAVE anything you want WHEN you absolutely THINK YOU CAN. Become a CAN DO person. Discover your creative power to make things happen. Take charge, be in control. Your destiny is in your own hands, between your ears, within your being. MAKE IT WHAT YOU WANT IT TO BE.

Whether you think you can or you think you can’t YOU ARE RIGHT!!!” Rex Sikes

Enjoy today!

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How To Think Your Way To Money And Success! A True Story.

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“When it comes to success who succeeds? Do you know the factors, the characteristics, the actions necessary to make it happen? You do realize those who are absolutely committed and passionate about what they want AND must accomplish get further than those who hope and wish and dream, don’t you?

Some people have a lot of energy, even passion, but it is scattered. It is not focused. It is all over the place. They even know what they want. They wish for things and hope for them, but not very much. It is nice if they make it but,  just in case, they have plenty of other options if they don’t. They don’t work all that hard to get anywhere.

Thoughts Are Things

Edwin Barnes story continues: Consider all the things Barnes did. He had a wish. He turned it into a white hot definite desire. He visualized and affirmed what he wanted, day and night repeatedly, until it became his dominant desire. He rehearsed and prepared in his mind. It occupied his consciousness most of the day.

He saw himself working for Edison. He saw himself conversing with Edison. He imagined Edison bringing him on board. He planned his future in his mind when there was no evidence of any of it ever happening. He kept at it. According to Hill, he impressed what he wanted on his subconscious mind through autosuggestion. He made plans. Nothing detoured him, nothing prevented him, he never quit!

If You Pay Attention You Can Learn And Use The Secret

He was willing to accept any opening opportunity just to work with Edison. He made the journey. Traveled by ‘blind baggage’ not even in a passenger car. He looked like a tramp but thought like a king. He did what he had to to get to Edison. He stated, that he put Edison ‘on notice’ that he wanted to partner and provide value to Edison.

Edison was impressed by his demeanor and conviction. He hired him for a menial job and wages.  He got his foot in the door. He got to Edison. He got Edison to meet with him. He got Edison to know who he is. He impressed Edison with the strength of his character. He got Edison to hire him.  He made it happen.

He Burned His Boats There Was No Retreat

It is not only who you know that is important. It is who knows you! It’s how they think of you. Opportunity can come from any place and anyone. If you are known as a person of worth, who adds value and are pleasant to be around doors may open up for you. If you go the extra mile and are a positive influence you stand better chances.

Barnes worked for five years, biding his time, adding value, and demonstrating his worth, waiting for the right opportunity to present itself. During that time he intensified his desire. He continued to build it in his mind. He kept the faith and worked diligently.

Nothing Could Stop Him

When the opportunity presented, it came in an unexpected way. Edison’s new invention wasn’t selling well and his sales people weren’t able to move the product. Barnes leapt into action. He told Edison he could sell it. Edison gave him the chance.

Sell it he did! Others thought it too difficult but Barnes made it happen. He sold it and sold it. Edison gave him a contract  to market and distribute it all over America. He ended up becoming a multi millionaire too. His partnership with Edison lasted more than 30 years.

Opportunity May Come Through The Back Door

When Barnes was ready the opportunity presented itself. All the while he kept the faith. Even when it appeared that nothing was happening  he kept the faith! He didn’t have a Plan B. He knew he wanted and was convinced he would ultimately make it happen.

We can all learn a lot from Edwin C. Barnes. Hill says this about him in Chapter 1 of Think and Grow Rich, ‘(Barnes)… has made himself rich in money, but he has done something infinitely greater, he has proved that one really may ‘Think and Grow Rich.’  How much actual cash that original DESIRE of Barnes’ has been worth to him, I have no way of knowing.’

Nothing Is Impossible For Those Who Truly Desire

‘…whatever it is, becomes insignificant when compared with the greater asset he acquired in the form of definite knowledge that an intangible impulse of thought can be transmuted into its physical counterpart by the application of known principles.’

‘Barnes literally thought himself into a partnership with the great Edison! He thought himself into a fortune. He had nothing to start with, except the capacity to KNOW WHAT HE WANTED, AND THE DETERMINATION TO STAND BY THAT DESIRE UNTIL HE REALIZED IT.’

Purpose, Desire, Faith, Persistence Work Magic

‘He had no money to begin with. He had but little education. He had no influence. But he did have initiative, faith, and the will to win. With these intangible forces he made himself number one man with the greatest inventor who ever lived.’

He did, Think and Grow Rich! And so can you! Study these principles for success. Read about them, over and over again. More importantly, put them to work. Put them into practice. DO what is required for success and you will be successful. It won’t come from the reading but from applying what you read. DO it! Do it today!” Rex Sikes

Celebrate and enjoy your day!

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How To Take Advantage Of Opportunity And Succeed

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“What mindset makes a winner? How does your self talk influence you? Do you monitor and make certain it is positive? Is it helpful 80% of the time or is it 80% less than glorious or unhelpful? These are important, critical, considerations.

We have been discussing Edwin C. Barnes, in previous posts, and what was his mindset and self-talk were like? Napoleon Hill uses Barnes’ story as an example, in chapters 1 and 2, of Think and Grow Rich. He states Barnes traveled to New Jersey confident and positive; he knew inside he would eventually partner with Edison.

‘When he went to Orange, he did not say to himself, ‘I will try to induce Edison to give me a job of some sort.’ He said,  ‘I will see Edison and put him on notice that I have come to go into business with him.’ He did not say, ‘I will work there for a few months and if I get no encouragement, I will quit and get a job somewhere else.’

He Knew Inside

Remember, Hill said he may have looked like a tramp but his thoughts we those of a king. Further, he said, that while Barnes aim may have begun as a wish he turned it into his dominant chief aim. He made it a burning desire and had complete faith himself to accomplish the outcome he sought. Barnes left himself no other options.

Hill continued, ‘He did say, ‘I will start anywhere. I will do anything Edison tells me to do, but before I am through, I will be his associate.’ He did not say, ‘I will keep my eyes open for another opportunity in case I fail to get what I want in the Edison organization.’ (He wasn’t trying it out to see ‘if it might work,’ Barnes would make it work!)

‘He said, ‘There is but ONE thing in this world that I am determined to have, and that is a business association with Thomas A. Edison. I will burn all bridges behind me and stake my ENTIRE FUTURE on my ability to get what I want.’ (There was only one thing he wanted!! He burned all his bridges. There was no escape route; no plan B.)

I Will Start Anywhere I Will Do Anything

‘He left himself no possible way of retreat. He had to win or perish! That is all there is to the Barnes story of success.’ I love this, he had to win or perish! Hill closes the discussion with, ‘that is all there is to Barnes story  of success.’ It is that simple and that extraordinary!

Napoleon Hill points it all out for us in the very beginnings of his book. He says he was commissioned by Andrew Carnegie to study and model 500 of the most successful business men of the day, He was to release his findings as a practical, teachable, formula and philosophy anyone else could apply to succeed. He spent 20 years.

His first book ‘Laws Of Success’ was based on the principles he uncovered. Later, he released, ‘Think and Grow Rich’. In both, he succinctly present the information and says, make a study of this and do these things. ACTUALLY do them, practice them, day and night, don’t just read about them, and you will be successful.

His Thoughts Were Those Of A King

You can be, do and have anything you desire when you apply these principles. A strong claim backed up by the fact that more millionaires have been made by reading Think And Grow Rich, and putting his methods to work than apparently in any other ways. HIs methods have stood the test of time. Would you like to be one too?

If you answered yes, then do what he says. Study the works. Make it your ambition. Then do what he outlines. Look at Barnes, do what he did. After all Hill says, ‘…that is all there is to Barnes success.’ You should read and study the rest of the book to learn how Barnes got to that point. BUT you must implement the practice, not just read!

Still, I will simplify much of it right now. You can’t be a wimp you must be deliberate about what you intend to make happen. You can’t be half assed you must be all in. You can’t call the shots you must begin wherever you are and take advantage of any opening opportunity that presents itself. You must know what you want.

You must continue in the absence of evidence to intensify what you want and know that if you stay with it, and not quit but persist, you will make it happen. Hill goes on to add some very important things. You must have a pleasing personality so people want to help you. You must attract others with your mindset and actions.

I Will Stake My Entire Future On My Ability To Get What I Want

You must add value and go the extra mile to those you work for and with. You should be the first in and the last out and demonstrate your worth to all concerned.  You must believe in yourself and make whatever adjustments are necessary all along the way to the win. You must be ultra-confident but humble too.

Always keep your goal in sight. Visualize it, as if you already have it. Affirm it with your speech. Remain positive inside and out. Do these things and you too will succeed. It does require effort. That is why not everyone who begins continues the journey to the end. If you are committed, and are ‘all in’ you will. Journey and complete it!

You will make you dreams reality when you do these things whole-heartedly and fully. When you are completely committed there will be no stopping you. Just make sure you aren’t doing anyone else any harm in pursuing your goals. When everyone wins and benefits you are assured to win and benefit. Commit! Start making your dreams come true today!” Rex Sikes

Today is yours!

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If You Must Have It You Can Make It Happen!

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“How does one create opportunity? How do you advance you career, your dreams, you income? How do you harness your personal power to create what you want? How do you lead a happy, fulfilling life? These are important considerations.

What did Edison see in Barnes that made him give Barnes an opportunity? Edison said it was the look on his face, that let him know Barnes was absolutely committed. Though he dressed like a tramp his thoughts were those of a king.

Those thoughts were his strength, his attitude. Those powerful thoughts were reflected in his countenance and demeanor. He exuded something and Edison could tell. He had a confidence, an air about him, a look that told Edison this man meant business.

Hill states, ‘It is a remarkable illustration of the power of a DEFINITE DESIRE. Barnes won his goal because he wanted to be a business associate of Mr. Edison MORE than he wanted anything else. He created a plan by which to attain that purpose.

You Become What You Think About All Day Long

‘But he BURNED ALL BRIDGES BEHIND HIM. He stood by his DESIRE until it became the dominating obsession of his life— and, finally, a fact.’ Emerson said, ‘we become what we think about all day long’. His desire became the dominating obsession of his life!

Barnes dwelt on his chief aim. He repeatedly saw it in his mind. He felt it. He heard what he said to Edison. He rehearsed his future again and again in his mind. He prepared himself mentally. He knew what he wanted! Day and night he lived his destiny.

As Hill pointed out, and I referred to in previous posts, it wasn’t a far off wish. He didn’t imagine it as ‘some day’ this might happen. Barnes saw himself already as a partner of Edison. His future took place now! In his mind he already WAS a partner.

He was  living the partner life, doing what partners do. He saw it, heard it, felt it! It took place in the present in Barnes mind not someday in the future. Some day never comes. The subconscious mind only knows right now. This is what you and I must do!

Act As If It Is Already Yours And It Is

Live the future in our minds as if it IS the present. Dwell on it. Be passionate! Be enthused! Have faith and know, be convinced of it. Rehearse it over and over. Live it day and night. Keep the white hot fires burning white hot. Passion and faith make it happen.

During the ensuing 5 years, Hill said,  Barnes intensified the desire. He did not let it wane when nothing in his circumstances appeared to change. During that time he intensified his desire and his faith. This is what you must do. Intensity is important!

You must be willing to own it, command it, declare it, and live it night and day inside until you manifest it on the outside. This isn’t magic, though magical, it is intentional deliberate creation. When you get to that place inside yourself you KNOW it IS YOURS. Then, it truly is!

When you know it is yours you are ready to have it. When you are ready IT will happen. You will make it happen. This is HOW you think and grow rich. You create what you want by taking control of your thoughts and feelings and putting them to work for you.

You Find What You Expect To Find

It means you affirm what you want without doubt, fear or fail. You are absolutely committed to getting your goal. You burn the ships so that you have every reason to win. You leave yourself no other option! This is the mind of a champion. This is the mind of a victor!

Stop putting control outside of yourself. Stop blaming and whining about circumstances. Take 100% responsibility for making it happen. YOU determine what will happen not the circumstances.

During tough economic times some people make millions. It isn’t the outer that is most important it is your INNER world that is most important! YOU make your dreams come true. YOU do this be taking charge and never letting anything stop you. YOU are the key!

This is the mindset of a creator. Every thought, every action says, ‘this is mine. This is what I create and make happen.’ Your thoughts and actions align. You move congruently with purpose and total dedication. You become unstoppable! You make it a MUST have! No other option.” Rex Sikes

Have a beautiful day!

If you like these posts please subscribe. If you think these posts would help others please share them. Help Spread the word. 

Horizons photo used with permission of Phil Koch.

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