Category Archives: Mindset

Does What Others See Inside You Determine Your Value?

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“Can the difference between success and failure be seen from the outside? Do you reflect all that is going on within? Can people read you like a book? Does it make a difference? The answers are a resounding ‘Yes!’. What goes on inside you definitely shows and others can see and are affected by it.

Not only are they affected by it but may or may not offer opportunity depending on what you display. I mentioned Barnes, in my recent blog, and will continue today. This is what I understand about him from my reading of Think And Grow Rich.

‘When Edwin C. Barnes climbed down from that freight train in Orange, N.J., he may have resembled a tramp, but his thoughts were those of a king!’

His Thoughts Were Those Of A King – Are Yours?

That says it all. His outward appearance was poverty and lack, that of a tramp but his inner world, rich, vibrant, and powerful. His thoughts were those of a king! Could Edison tell? Did this matter? It most definitely did. Does it matter to people you meet? You bet it does!

A few paragraphs later, Hill writes, ‘Years later, in speaking of the first meeting between Barnes and Edison, Mr. Edison said, ‘He stood there before me looking like an ordinary tramp, but there was something in the expression of his face which conveyed the impression that he was determined to get what he had come after.’

Edison saw something in the young man. Something in his eyes, his expression spoke volumes. Edison could tell he was determined to get what he had come after. Can others read you? Of course they can? What are they seeing? He continues.

I Saw He Made Up His Mind To Stand By Until He Succeeded

‘I had learned from years of experience with men that when a man really desires a thing so deeply that he is willing to stake his entire future on a single turn of the wheel in order to get it, he is sure to win. I gave him the opportunity he asked for because I saw he had made up his mind to stand by until he succeeded.’

He points out that he realized Barnes had made up his mind already. From the first meeting, he knew Barnes would stick with it until he succeeded. These are powerful statements. Would someone say that about you? If not, you might want to explore how you can have those kind of powerful thoughts and feelings, that determination, that will affect people in positive ways.

Hill wrote about Barnes as he made his way from the train tracks to Edison’s office that,  ‘his mind was at work. He saw himself standing in Edison’s presence. He heard himself asking Mr. Edison for an opportunity to carry out the one CONSUMING OBSESSION OF HIS LIFE, a BURNING DESIRE to become the business associate of the great inventor.’ Barnes spent time in his mental movie theater. Mental rehearsal is a key!

What You See Is What You Get

He visualized what he want he wanted. He saw it, he heard it, he felt it. His mind was at work. He absolutely knew what he wanted, without doubt, fear or any question. It was a burning desire and nothing would prevent him from getting what he wanted. His thoughts were definitely those of a king. Are yours?

This was not the first time he imagined this. He lived these thoughts and images for years. His original wish became a  burning desire through auto-suggestion. He repeatedly imagined and affirmed what he wanted, again and again in his mind. Eventually, he hopped a train to make his dream come true.

‘Barnes’ desire was not a hope! It was not a wish! It was a keen, pulsating DESIRE that transcended everything else. It was DEFINITE.’ Hill points out, Barnes was of singular purpose, completely congruent. Totally focused. He knew his destiny and he went forth to make it happen.

It Was What He Thought That Counted

Hill says, ‘Just what young Barnes said to Mr. Edison on that occasion was far less important than that which he thought. Edison himself said so! It could not have been the young man’s appearance which got him his start in the Edison office, for that was definitely against him.’

He wasn’t dressed for success on the outside but he was on the inside. What mattered most to Edison was Barnes’ attitude of determination. Hill continues, ‘It was what he THOUGHT that counted. If the significance of this statement could be conveyed to the person who reads it, there would be no need for the remainder of this book.’

IT WAS WHAT HE THOUGHT THAT COUNTED! What does Napoleon say after that? ‘IF the significance of this statement could be conveyed to the person who reads it, THERE WOULD BE NO NEED FOR the remainder of this book.’ What do you think? What do your thoughts reveal about you? Do you GET how important this is?

From Within So Without 

Thoughts of a king! If your thoughts are strong, rich, and powerful, on purpose and persistent there would be no need for the book. If you can see and hear and feel yourself already in possession of the good you desire you are on your way. Claim it, own it. Make it happen. A king would! A champion would. Will you?

There is a reason the book is titled THINK and grow rich. Our thoughts create our present and future reality. Learn to control your thinking! When your thoughts are aligned, completely congruent, and you are convinced that your future destiny is yours, there will be no stopping you.

You will radiate and reflect that inner strength. You will look and sound powerful and persuasive. You will be a force to be reckoned with! Never let your thoughts stop you! Make them support you! Through consistent practice and by developing positive, powerful thought habits YOU CAN make yourself indomitable. You too, like Barnes, can make your dreams come true.” Rex Sikes

Today is your day!

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Horizons photo used with permission of Phil Koch.

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If You Read Nothing Else Read This: What To Do When Troubled

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“People say, ‘you are always so positive are you ever troubled?’ There are good days and not so good. That’s just how it is, right? Times can be troublesome? Sometimes you are riding high and you get knocked down very far and hard. What to do?

There are days when I don’t feel thrilled. There are days that are difficult. There are times when everything seems oppositional. At times, events and circumstances turn for the worse.

There are moments when I wonder what I am doing. Sometimes, I feel a sucker and want to throw in the towel. Sometimes, I don’t want to feel positive or feel good. Sometimes, I feel blah or resentful. I have rough days and good days. Some very difficult.

What I have learned from my practice is that ultimately I am in charge and I am in control. What used to swamp my boat no longer does. When disappointments come the lows are not nearly as low as they have been in the past. I have learned and benefit from my practice.

You Have To Learn That You Control Your Thoughts

Sometimes, deals don’t manifest. Sometimes, someone else gets the role. I get angry at my family for no apparent reason. Yes, things happen. I lose out on an opportunity or a job. Money may be tight. Kids don’t do what I ask. I feel overwhelmed. I feel distant, or sad, or angry.

In the past few months I didn’t get a part I had hoped for. A few deals fell through. Some money issues presented. Someone, had stalled me for months on something that I needed to get handled. A lot goes on each and every day.

There are everyday life concerns, kid concerns, relationship concerns, friend concerns, business concerns.  You name it, we can get caught up. I have. I do. Life is whatever it is. It just is. We determine whether we react or respond to it.

Recently, a young friend of our family, took his life. It really ripped me up. I felt so sorry for he and his family. I am still shocked and saddened. Still, sad and angry at him for not giving it another day. What he did hurt, not only himself, but everyone who cared for him.

Thankfully, I fall back on my practice when I realize times are turning tough. Sometimes, I notice right away. Sometimes, it takes me awhile. It is a much shorter time now, than it was years ago that is for certain.

You Direct Your Mind By What You Put Your Energy Into

It means as soon as I realize I am feeling or thinking less than gloriously I begin to direct my mind back to the positive. I become aware that less than glorious feelings mean I must be thinking less than glorious thoughts. So I change my thoughts and my feelings.

I use questions. I discovered this for myself back in 1980. I direct my attention back towards what I know I want to focus on. I ask questions about how I want to feel. I steer my thoughts and feelings back gently in a productive way.

I have written about using questions a number of times in these blog pages. I encourage you to go back, find and read so you can too, if you would like to. I utilizeDirected Questions™ all the time.

Soon enough, sometimes, now, almost immediately, I begin to notice a shift toward  feeling better. When you think better you feel better! Questions work wonders because there is far less resistance to an innocent, well intentioned question.

What You Focus On Is What You Get

I remind myself that athletes and troops often don’t feel like it but continue to train or do whatever they must do to continue to move forward. I then do my best to follow through. Like it or not I continue to affirm and visualize and focus on what I want to make happen even when I don’t feel like it.

I have learned to push through it. Eventually, it gives way and I feel better. I remind myself when things don’t work out that obstacles and disappointments are they way I learn to direct my mind.

If everything were easy I would never have to learn how. I have learned to embrace tough times, more often than not, now. The kite rises against the wind. There are learnings and lessons in challenge.

There is great value to these times. I used to try to avoid or escape them. Now, more often, I say bring it! Give me your best shot because I will prevail! I will learn, benefit and prevail! All is good!

A boxer wants a challenging fight.There are rock finger climbers who hang hundreds of feet above rocks without safety harnesses because they want the challenge. I say bring it on!

When things don’t happen or I lose out on something I remind myself that I am a creator and attractor. Yes, I  wanted this OR something better.

If it is not this, then something better is on the way. I will ultimately manifest something much better. Sometimes, you have to clean out the closet to make room for the new stuff. I will create something better then!

Whatever Follows The Words I AM – IS – What You Are

Sometimes, we need to clear the way for better things. If I don’t get what I wanted I look for what better something is on the way. This isn’t some  fairy tale magic. This is keeping myself open and available and receptive to other good things and possibilities.

I recognize that I only see a fraction of life at any second. There is much more happening than I can ever be aware of. I surrender to the possibility that I don’t know everything. Ultimately everything works out for the best. It always has.

I always, no matter what, have landed on my feet. I have faced some tremendous challenges in life and have managed to get through them. So, even when things look bleak, I have a pretty good life. I remind myself to remember that. AND I do!

I practice gratitude and remember to count my blessings. I celebrate life and the ups and downs. I think, I am divine and am playing one heck of a game on myself.

Whatever Follows The Words I HAVE – IS – What You Have

I am a divine trickster seeing if I can ruffle the poor human and make him squirm or rise up to the occasion and overcome all difficulty. I begin to claim my power and my authority.

I realize like David facing Goliath that this is a day to claim victory and rush the giant, or my problems, to meet them head on, and to not whine, or blame. Yes, sometimes I vent to another.

Fairly quickly, I try to remember to only speak to bless, heal and prosper. I attempt to remember that what I say is what I get and to not further difficulties but talk solutions and speak positively. Loose lips sinks ships.

Life is whatever life is. Up and down. I am learning through it all not to try to run or escape tough times, low times or disappointments but to find the seeds of opportunity and advantage within them.

Everyday can be a day to celebrate. Just because circumstances suck it doesn’t mean I have to suck for the circumstances. I can be a champion in times of trouble.

Your Attitude Determines Your Altitude

I am learning that I do have all the resources at any moment to make any change. If I think I am defeated I am. If I think I am troubled I am. If I think I am poor I am. Whatever I think and declare myself to be is what I am. I make it so by my own words.  No one else does, but me.

HOWEVER, if I think I am victorious, even when it doesn’t yet appear that way, I AM. If I think I am free and living the good life, even when it may not seem like it, then I AM. If I think I am rich, even while paying bills, then I AM. I determine who I am, what I am, how I am.

I am the one in charge. I am the one who turns difficulties into opportunities by changing how I feel and what I focus on. I steer my mind toward the goodI want to focus on. I have learned that if I focus on troubles I only get more of them.

I have learned that if I want to get to my destination, though the waters may be severely troubled, I need to stay the course and be the captain of soul and the master of my fate. No one can or will do it for me even when I have support and love around me.

You Don’t Get Uphill Thinking Downhill Thoughts

If it is to be it is up to me. Yes, there are dark times but I have learned how to find the light. Anyone can. Little by little, inch by inch, step by step. I have learned to nudge myself along in a better, more positive direction. If I can’t leap into bliss I can inch my way into it.

I wrote of Barnes in my last blog and I will again in upcoming ones. When nothing seemed to be happening for a significant period of time, Hill states, Barnes intensified his desire to make his dream come true.

He did not lose faith. He did not give up. He did not quit and seek something else to do. He kept at it until, one day, five years later he was beginning to live the destiny he wanted. He was persistent.

We need to be persistent and consistent in our dedication to ourself in living the best life we can at any given moment. The difference between me now versus then, what I have learned and done that is successful, is that I eliminated some old detrimental habits and replaced them with more productive, positive ones. New habits!

We need to learn to laugh in the midst of adversity, troubles and tears. We need to find our inner joy, our bliss and celebrate all the wonderful things each second because our troubles are only a portion of all life offers. The more we do the more we can do!

What You Focus Expands

Yes, they look large and may seem to be all encompassing BUT actually they are not. They are small in comparison to everything else that is going on and that is available. There is so much more going on in any instant. You just need to look and  find the good.

If you look for it you will find it. Believe it is there and you will discover it. That is the job of the Reticular Activating System (RAS) remember, to find examples in the outer world that match your inner convictions and beliefs. Believing is seeing.

Believe all is good. Believe unexpected good is coming your way even though you can’t yet see it. Keep the faith. Believe that you always land on your feet.

My life is so incredible. I live a blessed life. Does it mean I have the best of everything. Nope, not yet, at least. It does mean I make the best of all I presently have. I make the best of the past and look forward to a marvelous future.

The present is glorious EVEN when it isn’t. Times may be tough but not for as long. New thought habits replaced the old. New wine skins for new wine. Everything becomes new! Most of the time I have learned to feel wonderful regardless of what is going on. THAT is what this practice is all about.

You Become What You Think About Most

I repeat, I have learned, through my practice that attitude determines your altitude and what you are capable of doing. Most importantly, I have learned, if it is to be IT IS UP TO ME!

I am responsible for how I live each moment. SO I make the most and the best of each moment. Once the moment is gone it is gone! Believe that something better is on the way and YOU will soon discover it. Decide to make the best of whatever life gives you!

Have faith! Keep the faith! Prevail! Be a champion over your difficulties. Take tiny steps if you must. Free yourself from the mental bindings that have held you. You can, you know. Think new thoughts, develop new habits and all of life changes.” Rex Sikes

Celebrate this day and everyday!

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Horizons photo used with permission of Phil Koch.

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Why Most People Fail – How You Can Succeed!

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“There is a reason why many people don’t reach their goals. There are reasons why most don’t live the life they hope to. Do you want to stop failing and start winning more often? You can. You can begin to win more reliably too. Success is pretty much scientific.

Most people will think it depends on largely on luck. They put the success factors on the outside of themselves and in the hands of others. If you want to succeed you must be the one in charge. Yet, most fail to do this.

One of the most marvelous books ever written is ‘Think And Grow Rich’ by Napoleon Hill. You must read it if you haven’t. If you have read it you must read it again and again. It is a  book to be studied, ingested and digested. It is so rich with everything we need to know to get ahead and the reasons why most people don’t.

Know Your Definite Chief Purpose

I read a chapter over each day for 30 days at a time. I have done as many as 3 chapters at a time. Especially, chapters 2, 3,and 4. Today, I want to examine a sentence or two from chapter 1. Hill discusses Edwin C. Barnes burning desire to work with Thomas Edison. He emphasized that Barnes really did discover that ‘people THINK And GROW RICH’.

The title itself speaks volumes. Hill doesn’t say work hard and grow rich. Get a job and grow rich. Invest and grow rich. He says, think and grow rich and then explains how to make this happen. His book is amazing. The next two sentences are the ones I want to examine. Keep in mind that Barnes discovered people think and grow rich.

‘His discovery did not come about at one sitting. It came little by little…’ and we stop there. The difficulty people have applying the Law Of Attraction or Science of the Mind or these principles is because today we have grown up expecting everything to happen quick and easy. Certainly, it may but lot’s of things in life don’t. Many things take time.

Develop Passion – A White Hot Burning Desire

It takes time for seeds to grow; for you and I to grow up. To cook a nice meal. To travel from point A to point B. To watch a movie from beginning to end. Still advertisers have promised us magic for a fee, quick, easy, effortless. Magic pills, magic bullets, magic time frames. We have instant on television, high speed internet and so many things that spoil us for those that take time.

Barnes made his discovery but not at one sitting. IT CAME LITTLE BY LITTLE. Once you decide you want to become a deliberate creator or attractor you need to realize most things aren’t revealed all at once. It comes bit by bit. There is no genii in a bottle it is a progression, evolution, an unfolding. You grow into the abilities to make things happen.

Yes, some may be quicker at it than others but if any one person attempts and persists, and does not give up, that person, assuming they are following instructions, rightly using the principles, will succeed. It doesn’t work for some and not all. It works for everyone! Sadly, not every one keeps at it until it works.

Develop Faith – An Indomitable Belief In Yourself & Your Abilities

People try and, after awhile of not having instant results, abandon ship! They jump. Then they state, ‘I tried it and IT didn’t work’. It isn’t it that doesn’t work it is YOU that didn’t keep at it.

SORRY that is the truth, cold, hard and painful as that may be, the only failure there is IS giving up. Stop blaming IT and learn how to make it work instead. Stop whining and do it, is the advice. Persist don’t quit.

Step by step you get to your destination. ALL along the way IS the journey. ALL along the journey is discovery. Ultimately, if you keep going you will get there AS long as you don’t permanently stop trying. Along the way you will learn the ropes. It is a process that unfolds. It is magical but not fairy tale magic.

If you really, REALLY want it. Focus on it. Concentrate on it to the exclusion of most everything else. Believe you can get it. Have total faith in yourself. Then go after it and don’t stop trying until you get it. That is the formula for success. Get your mindset on right so the rest follows. THINK and grow rich. Drop by drop fills the tub.

Daily: Affirm & Visualize Using Strong Positive Emotions

You will accomplish your dreams if you pursue them relentlessly and don’t let anything deter you or stop you. In order to do that you must absolutely want it and not anything else. You must believe that you can do it and make it happen. Then you must take positive, productive steps to get there. THERE is no other way.

It didn’t happen for Barnes overnight. From the time he first thought it, to the time he got to Edison, is anyone’s guess how long that was. From his first meeting with Edison until he was working WITH Edison took 5 years. He didn’t start at the top he started at the bottom but he never let anything deter him from his goal. He knew his destiny and he kept at it until he fulfilled it.

Another important sentence, ‘ But something important was happening in Barnes’ mind. He was constantly intensifying his desire to become the business associate of Edison.’  Why do most fail? Because they wimp out, quit, whine and complain. They want it easy and overnight. They want it handed to them. They put responsibility outside themselves.

Persist – Never, Ever Give Up If You Want To Get There

Nothing appeared to be happening. For the five years his dream was only in his mind. There was no visible evidence of it in the world. His circumstances were that he was a lowly worker for Edison.

All that time ‘he was constantly INTENSIFYING his desire..’ He was intensifying it! Most people would whine and complain and look for something else to do. Not Barnes! He stuck with it! Most people who bail. Barnes knew he what his destiny was. He believed!

How do you succeed? You follow the rules, the instructions, the principles and you keep applying them until you have the success you want. You intensify your desire. You keep the faith and believe in yourself. You expect yourself to prevail.

It seems hard but it is simple. It may not always be easy but it is still simple. The formula is right here. Too many people are flighty like the bee from flower to flower. Still, the bee is on a singular mission and so must you be.  How to succeed is all spelled out. Stop wishing and start doing it. It begins with your thoughts.

Success comes from within you. Ultimately you will succeed as long as you keep at it. If you are determined to no matter how long it takes YOU WILL! In the mean time, INTENSIFY YOUR DESIRE! Make it happen! Prepare your mind! Develop an unstoppable determination, a steel will, and make your dreams come true!” Rex Sikes

Celebrate today!”

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Horizons photo used with permission of Phil Koch.

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Why You And The Rich Lose

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“Why is it everything can be going great and then turn for the worse? What screws it up? Why do you have problems? Why do the fabulously successful fail? If they made it to the top why don’t they stay there? Is it all luck or is it something we do? How does one succeed and remain successful?

If you don’t become an intentional deliberate creator you risk losing everything while trying to hang on. That is why some people who reach the pinnacle lose. They create it and get to the top. Once they have it, once they are there, they get greedy and try to hold onto it. They attempt to horde it. You can’t clutch a butterfly!

Instead of living in abundance and continuing to create more they lose what they have because they become fearful of losing it. They attempt to hang onto it or horde it. Their mindset goes from ‘I’m wealthy and deserving’, ‘there is plenty for everyone’,  to frightened they may lose. If you focus on losing you will lose.

You bring about what you think about. What you focus on is what you get. Affirmations can be positive or negative. If you are fearful you create and attract more reasons to be afraid. If you are negative things worsen. The more you do the more you can do. YOU get WHATEVER you focus on. Birds of a feather flock together.

Lottery winners go broke usually. They win big BUT they never develop the wealthy mindset nor the responsibility that comes with money and power. Instead they spend it all away. To be wealthy you need to feel wealthy. Wealth is a mindset not lots of cash. You can be rich with or without any money. Money is only a part of true wealth.

What We Think About We Become

Those who ‘luck into it’ frequently return to what they had. They return to the lifestyle that their mindset governs.  Since they aren’t wealthy in between the ears they don’t know how to manage and keep wealth. Those who succeed and stay successful continue to create and manifest.

Those who remain successful operate from a mindset that there is plenty for everyone. They manifest for others as well as themselves. They aren’t afraid of losing because they are having too much fun creating and winning. They enjoy their wealth and their money.

They aren’t fearful they are bold. It is a matter of course that they will make great things happen each day because they make good use of the time they have here. Some of us waste time, lord knows I have. Some of us struggle. I sure have.

It rains and it shines. Through it all is your attitude. If you attitude is as wonderful when it rains as when it shines you are on the right track. Do not get discouraged if circumstances sour, keep the faith. You must not let obstacles and challenges get the better of you.

You must fix your mindset such that you welcome tough times as much as you welcome easy times. Realize you are a champion and whatever comes your way you are resourceful enough to navigate. You, and perhaps with the help of others, perhaps not, can make it through anything. Decide this is they type of person you are.

Stay focused. Do not get greedy and needy when things don’t work out, keep the faith. Your attitude determines you altitude. Do not succumb to trying to hang on and hoarding. Celebrate everything. It is an abundant world we live in. Live without fear but with confidence. Live with passion. Live with delight! Have fun, enjoy it! Stay true!” Rex Sikes

Count your blessings!

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Horizons photo used with permission of Phil Koch.

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Never Break Your Promise To Yourself Or Others!

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“When you break your word you may develop a bad reputation. Your word is your bond. In order to be known as a person of value you want to and need to keep your promises and follow through on your intentions. When you break your word you let everyone down including yourself.

When you break your promise to yourself you sabotage yourself for the future. It harms you just as it harms others when you do it to them. Stop self sabotage. Keep your word. A promise made to yourself is one of the most important promises you can make. Keep it!

When you break your promise you become untrustworthy. It is the same when you don’t follow through on those you tell yourself. No matter how small that broken promise may be. You make it more difficult to follow through on larger ones. You let yourself down too.

If You Really Want To Do Something You Find A Way

If you say tomorrow I shall arise at 6am. Do it! Or don’t think it. If you don’t make it a condition for arising tomorrow it isn’t an issue. The issue is when you determine to do something, intend to do something and then don’t follow through.

Stop doing that. Keep your promises to yourself and to others. You are only as reliable as your word. Your word should be golden. Use it to create what you want. Use it to attract what you want. Do not use it to criticize yourself or others. Live your word. Follow through on your positive intentions. Stop making excuses for your behavior.

One way to learn to do this. Make a small list of things you intend to do tomorrow. A small list is fine to start. I intent to get up at 6am. I intend to finish report at work by three. i intend to pick up groceries for dinner on way home. Something like that. Then do each and cross it off.

If You Don’t Want To Do Something You’ll Find An Excuse

Keep up this practice for awhile. Determine what you intend to do and do it. Cross it off. After a few weeks add a couple more. There is a great reason for doing this I shall explain later.  This forms the foundation for good things that follow.  An immediate benefit is you and others get used to you following through on your word, That is a good thing! Celebrate it! Celebrate everything!” Rex Sikes

Delight in the day!

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Horizons photo used with permission of Phil Koch.

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Breaking News! Success Won’t Make You Happy But This Will!

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“Breaking news! Success won’t make you happy. Wait, there is more. Borne out by science and decades of research; Success won’t make you happy BUT happy can make you successful! Yes, again, I repeat, happiness leads to success. Happiness leads to success!

From ancient times until now it has been pointed out that happiness and positive thinking and optimistic thinking is healthy and leads to better health, wealth, and abilities. Happiness makes you better at what you do and makes what you do much easier. Sadly, most people, through the centuries, got it backwards.

Sadly, people believe the right job or success, the right partner or mate,  money or things would make them happy. They thought happiness came as a result of something else happening first.

Sad again. They only discovered that they delayed feeling good, if at all, and that even acquiring many things still left them feeling empty. It is because IT really is the other way around! It IS the other way!

It is time to straighten everyone out. The happier you are the healthier you tend to be. Happiness affects your health, your well-being, you ability to handle or process stress, your thinking and clarity and your productivity. The happier you are the more you can accomplish.

Happiness Is Its Own Reward And Has Multiple Benefits

Since the early 80’s I have been teaching workshops pointing out that by practicing happiness and positivity you could develop new neural pathways.You could develop wonderfully supportive habits, live more delightfully, successfully and happily, easily and nearly effortlessly.

You could open up your neurology to be capable of evolving yourself in positive ways. I suggested you could create positive habits which would positively serve you.

In my workshops we practice daily gratitude, asking positive directed questions, smiling more, laughing meditation, feeling good and accessing wonderful and powerful resource states, imaging a better future, scanning for positive and new moments each day and more. A lot more. But these were core rituals or practices.

We had rituals we did each class session and each day. I pointed out that making a habit requires a minimum of 21 days repeated practice or rehearsal. What people began as practice during my  10 or 14 day programs they were encourage to continue back home.

Habits Come From Rituals And Rituals Become Habits

Rituals are things we do everyday. For some people that includes hygiene, brushing teeth and washing. We eat, sleep, go to school or work. We may read the paper or get online. Have a cup of coffee. There are things we do regularly each and every day; sometimes multiple times throughout the day.

Spaced repetition builds habit. Correct spaced repetition builds reliable skill. Reading instructions doesn’t change you but implementing what the instructions tell you to do can change you. This is why I suggest doing these practices as often as possible each day.

I called it rehearsal, from my acting background, or the kind of conditioning athletes go through or practice professional sports teams undergo to build reliable skill sets for performance.

Create The Happiness Habit

I was harshly criticized in a number of books and publications as promoting pseudoscience and pie in the sky thinking. I was even accused (rightly) of utilizing the placebo effect.

How cool of me! Then again, they scoffed because I told people we could deliberately utilize the placebo effect. Some finally are catching on. Some Psychologists, as are scientists, catching up.

I and others pointed to things like ‘mirror neurons’ prior to their discovery. We knew through mediation, rapport studies, and other practice that many things were ‘contagious’. Smiling, rapport, happiness, peace, relaxation are infectious.

One person, neurologically, can affect another. Large groups practicing the meditation or laughter or peace have a dynamic, synergistic effect and affect others, even those not practicing. Hooray, some are finally catching on! Not nearly enough though.

Decades later research has verified what I knew back then, and far greater minds than mine have known for centuries. The better you feel the better you do. I repeat. The better you feel the better you do. Happiness leads to success and not the other way around.

Happiness is a choice! Practice feeling better a little bit each day. By practicing daily you eventually make it a reliable habit AND grow new neural pathways and connections thereby overall evolving yourself!!! Research Neuroplasticity and evolving your brain.

Here is the rub with science. IT is usually behind not ahead except for some cases. Scientific testing works this way to test a theory. Scientists make a claim, or stated hypotheses.

Happiness Is A Choice

Then they try to disprove the hypothesis. If it can’t be disproved it is accepted as the best theory you currently have for explaining what is going on. In research validation, they seek independent replication of results.

Science takes time to verify and establish new theories and validate. Not all science is equal, nor is it all good, nor is testing or reporting or publishing or disseminating the findings reliable or always upright.

BUT STILL much of science is what we hope it to be. Rigorous and trustworthy. OPEN and flexible. Because science is supposed to update theories, as better explanations become available, through testing.

Choose To Be Happy And You Will Be

There are many abstracts citing the research and conclusions. You can look them up. Look up topics such as happiness, optimism, placebo, overcoming depression naturally, mindfulness, meditation, relaxation, mirror neurons,  etc.

There are many, MANY, books written citing the research in health, healing, attitude, psychology, meditation, spirituality. One I want to refer you to (not only because it concludes and incorporates many of the practices that I and others have taught for many years but) because they really delved into researching the topic.

You can read Shawn Anchor’s findings and the research conclusions in The Happiness Advantage: The Seven Principles of Positive Psychology That Fuel Success and Performance at Work. He has since published other books. Available at amazon. Check out the research and the results.

Why Would You Ever Choose To Not Be Happy

If you aren’t going to read it then at least stay tuned to this blog. I will bring you the latest and greatest as well as the oldest and the tried and true.

HAPPINESS is something that you can have more of anytime. If you do certain things you are guaranteed to become happier. It can be as easy as a couple minutes spent daily.

While, it probably won’t occur overnight it will occur in time as you stick with it. One of the greatest life transforming things you can do, is to practice gratitude. Feel gratitude, live it daily.

In my workshops I had people create list of 25 things they were grateful for each night. Shawn has them do as few as three every day. Something so simple can be so profound.

We’ll discuss more. We have happiness, beliefs, and a number of topics currently in play here. So keep reading and re-reading. Most importantly, begin doing, if you haven’t already, and keep doing.

You can rewire your brain, feel better, be healthier, think more clearly and enjoy more success and prosperity as you do! SO Celebrate everything!” Rex Sikes

Have a wonderful day!

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Stop Being Stuck It Doesn’t Have To Suck! Live The Life You Want!

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“What happens when we don’t think we can’t accomplish something because it is too difficult? Since, thoughts determine our reality shouldn’t we be more careful what we believe? Can we do something about self-limitations ? How do we overcome what seems to hold us back?

Switch your thoughts! Stop thinking what you are thinking and begin to think new, different productive thoughts. You may exclaim, ‘but that is hard’. Yes, if you think it is, it most probably will be. THAT is but another thought!

Thoughts determine our reality. Everything begins with thought. Are you really going to let a thought prevent you from seeking the highest good? Are you? You would let a mental packet of energy, or an internal feeling prevent you from being and doing and having everything you want? Really? Sad, that seems pretty wimpy.

At some point you simply have to face it. If you want things to change you must change some things. You can’t keep doing the same things over and over again and expect anything to be different. It doesn’t work like that. So give it up and face the fact that YOU have make some alterations if you want the clothes to fit. So to speak.

Why Would I Ever Choose To Believe That

You need to think more positive, productive thoughts. So whenever you discover yourself thinking or saying something less than productive or counter to what you want you challenge it.

When you encounter a limiting belief and recognize it as such ask yourself, ‘why would I ever choose to believe that?’

Your answers will be more of your paradigm of your limiting beliefs. More grapes from the cluster may appear. If you treat them as no big deal they will be no big deal. They are conditioning from your past that you accepted from other people. If you treat them as big things they will be big things.

You determine whether your responses will be minor or a big problem for you to deal with them.  How you feel about them will determine whether it’s  difficult or whether it is something you can easily and effortlessly change. YOU decide! Again, YOU DECIDE!

You can change effortlessly and let all your limiting beliefs go.

Whenever you encounter a limiting belief, from time to time, celebrate be happy. When you encounter something and you think ‘I can’t do that’ celebrate that you uncovered it because that’s the moment when you can become free.

Even If That Were True Why Would I Ever Choose To Believe That

If you become aware of a limiting belief then you can do something to change it. If you’re not aware of it it will just remain obscure. So as they come up, notice and let them go. Treat them as minor incidences. Ask yourself, ‘why would I EVER choose to believe that?’

You will get answers that are other reasons.  Continue to ask that. You can even state, ‘EVEN if that’s is true why would I choose believe that?’  The answers may sound logical, even plausible but be willing to simply gently challenge or question the belief statements.

For example, you think, ‘I can’t make a lot of money’ or ‘Other people get all the luck’, whatever the limitation statements may be THINK ABOUT IT – WHY ON EARTH would you EVER choose to belief that? WHY would YOU ever choose to limit yourself in this way? Who says you can’t?

How would your life be different if you didn’t believe that? Why would you ever accept that as true? Even if it were true why would you chose to believe it? Ask and repeatedly ask. You may find you get into a recursive loop of, ‘just because I do.’

Who Says? According tTo Whom?

The reason why most of our beliefs have some sort of power is because the assumptions within them go unchallenged. Questions have a way of helping you bring light to the darkness. Once illuminated you have some choices to make. Adopt new ones or continue with old.

There are many other questions you can ask, ‘ How do you know?’ ‘Who says’ or ‘According to whom?’ “How specifically does X cause Y?’ or “How do you know this causes that?’ ‘How does thinking this limit me?’ ‘How does X mean Y?’ ‘How does thinking this stop me from doing what I want?’ ‘Whose fault is it that I have this problem?’

‘How does this limitation benefit me?’ ‘What can I learn from this limitation or problem, or negative thought?’ ‘What seed of opportunity or advantage can I discover hidden within this?’ There are other questions.

Realize it is your choice. At some point you just let it go. IF you could be, do and have anything you want in the world why would you ever let a negative thought stop you? Yup, there might be that answer? BUT so what, that answer is only another thought.

Who Is Wearing Your Pants?

YOU could be, do and have anything you want in the world. It’s unlimited. Give yourself permission! Allow yourself to discover who you are without limitations. Seek the positive, the highest good for yourself and everyone else and enjoy what life offers.

In addition to the previous questions you can also ask,  ‘What do I want?’ ‘When, where and with whom do I want it?’  ‘What positive benefits and opportunities are there for me to explore?  ‘When I get what I want, what else will improve?’

What stops me from having the what I want already?’ (Yep, this question again explores the negative, limitation, or problem aspect of any situation) ‘What resources do I have to help me achieve what I want?’ or ‘In how many different ways am I resourceful?’

Time For You To Realize You Are In Charge – You Decide

‘What are the many different ways I am able to overcome it being a limitation?’ ‘What am I going to do to accomplish my goals and dreams?’ ‘What can I easily do to begin making it happen?’ ‘What will I do next?’ ‘How much fun can I have making my dreams come true?’

Don’t suck for your paradigm.  Don’t suck for a cluster of limiting beliefs you unconsciously adopted while growing up. Don’t let negativity and limitations hold you back from the positive good things in life. BUT treat them all lightly. They are not big things even when they may seem like it. They are what they are. Routine, patterned though habits.

There are not things in your unconscious you need to get rid of. If you worry about your paradigm you will worry about your paradigms and create another problem for yourself. Don’t be silly in this way. Others want you worried about your paradigms but you need not be. Be free instead! Be free. Enjoy life and have fun!

They are simply, old habits, familiar, comfortable ways of thinking because you didn’t think differently. Yes, they are traps, but they are only thought habits. They hold fast but they are no big deal. YOU can overcome negative thought habits and create new powerful positive thought habits. Let go of them. Keep it simple. Have fun. Enjoy!

Just remember to THINK that they are easy. THINK this will be easy. THINK This is easy. You probably have already thought for years that they are difficult. THIS TIME, right NOW, you determine how it is going to be instead of letting them call the shots.

When You Drop Your Keys You Don’t Try To – You Just Drop Them

Decide it will be easy and it will be a heck of a lot easier than if you decide it will be hard. That is how this thing works. Do not take them seriously or make an issue of them. Determine to keep it simple, easy, fun and free and it will be. Put your energy into what you want!

Declare yourself to bigger, larger, freer. You are unlimited. You are powerful. Assert it, affirm it, declare it with gusto and you will be! Remember, whatever you affirm negatively you will end up with too. You decide what you will affirm and declare. YOU make it so! You are the one who decides what and how life will be! Make it what YOU want!” Rex Sikes

Why not celebrate everything today!

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Horizons photo used with permission of Phil Koch.

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You Get Exactly What You Accept; Nothing More Or Less!

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“Do you want more from your career, your relationships and your life? Would you like to be the best you you can be? Would you like to be more successful and happy?

Do you want better health and fitness, wealth and adventure, fun and enjoyment? Would you like things to simply work out and be more delightful?  Well, guess what:

‘Remember, no more effort is required to aim high in life, to demand abundance and prosperity, than is required to accept misery and poverty. A great poet has correctly stated this universal truth through these lines:

“I bargained with Life for a penny, And Life would pay no more, However I begged at evening When I counted my scanty store.

“For Life is a just employer, He gives you what you ask, But once you have set the wages, Why, you must bear the task.

“I worked for a menial’s hire, Only to learn, dismayed, That any wage I had asked of Life, Life would have willingly paid.” Napoleon Hill, THINK AND GROW RICH

Not much more need be said does it? Life gives you what you ask and expect from it. YOU should set the terms not accept them. You determine your circumstances. You dictate how things will be. That is what it means to be a deliberate, intentional creator.

You either live richly or poorly. It is completely up to you and no one else. Yet, most people blame everyone and everything else. The truth is, it is up to you! If you are living in lack it is because you have accepted living that way.

If you want something else make something else happen. It is not about working harder it is about thinking smarter. Think and Grow Rich is the title of the book NOT work hard and grow rich.

NO, it does not mean you don’t do anything at all it means YOU take control and you make it happen. Everything first begins with your thoughts.

Know your destination. Set your course and keep going until you get there. Never stop, never give up and you will one day successfully arrive. Settle for nothing less. The reason you don’t have a million dollars is you don’t SEE YOURSELF with a million dollars, yet.

Determine to positively have the ife you want and deserve. If you want a better life thought precedes action. Think Rich and become rich. There is a formula.  Begin today!”Rex Sikes

Make today even more marvelous!

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Develop Some ‘Huevos Muy Grande’ And Never Give Up!

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“Said another way, sometimes you just need ‘realmente grandes botas’.  Sometimes, you have to burn the boats to win the battle. You need to leave yourself no way out but to face your obstacles and conquer them.

You need intestinal fortitude, steel will, indomitable spirit. You need really big balls and just need to keep going. You need the mindset of a winner. You need to look at all your problems and shrink them down in your mind.  Do not let them loom over you LOOM over them instead!

When things get tough you need to cry out, ‘Go ahead! Give me your best shot. I will prevail!’ Let the universe know you are not daunted by anything it hurls at you. Come what may you will succeed! You are confident in yourself! You believe in you!

If You Think You Can Or You Think You Can’t You Are Right

You. need to  know, believe and declare, that no matter what, ‘I always land on my feet!’ ‘Things always work out the best for me.’ ‘Ultimately great good will come of this!’ NO matter what! NO MATTER WHAT! Keep this in mind!

Anything.  Any challenge or obstacle is only a temporary inconvenience, a speed bump, and you will continue regardless. You are relentless and persistent. You are committed to your future and dedicated to well being. You will not let anything stand in you way.

It is time to stop sniveling, whining, complaining. excusing and blaming. Rise up, stand strong and claim victory.  Face the giant Goliath, and even, rush the giant, as the biblical David did.

David didn’t shrink back from this looming monster of disaster. He ran towards Goliath after having stated ‘today God will be victorious!’ He charged into his problems.

The Mind Is As Strong As Its Weakest Think

David told Goliath, ‘This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.’ 

‘All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.’

‘ As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead.’

‘The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground. So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.’1 Samuel 45-50.

You Are Where Your Thoughts Take You

Whether true or just a story, the point is the same. David declared victory in the face of his problem. He declared victory prior to the fight. David had faith. David’s faith gave him courage and determination. David asserted how it was going to go down.

David ran toward his problem and conquered it! Keep in mind David was young and slight and Goliath a giant among man whom had killed scores of men and was deeply feared but not by David. David believed. David knew. David came, saw and conquered.

You must develop this kind of faith. You must develop the kind of faith that whatever comes your way you know you can, and you will, handle it. You won’t let anything get the better of you but YOU will get the best of problems.

If You Really Want To Do Something You Will Find Away

You know absolutely you will prevail. You are an emperor and you love a good challenge. You like a tough fight. The true champion doesn’t flee a strong opponent. The champion welcomes the tough opponent. So grow a pair! Develop steel will! Trust yourself!

The true champion fights the fight and continues on. Let nothing bring you down or get in your way. ‘Burn the boats!’ Leave yourself no recourse but to win AND you will be victorious.

You can find positivity in every situation. You can learn from every obstacle. Your worst moments most likely will be your defining moments. Search for the good, trust in yourself, believe you can get through the darkest hour. Create the circumstances you want!

Know inside yourself that you can find the utmost good for all concerned. Raise the bar don’t lower it. Don’t succumb to negativity, or let hatred, anger and fear fume and fester. Tackle your problems with a positive and powerful mindset of resourcefulness.

You Go Where Your Thoughts Take You

Become someone who overcomes. Solve you problems cheerfully. Be thankful not fearful. What you think about you bring about. Don’t attract more difficulty by thinking on your troubles instead know a better day will come and focus on that.

Concentrate on the invisible future goodness you want to create. Why do I say invisible? Because you haven’t manifested these results yet, but you will if you stay focused. You will change your circumstances by the sheer power of your will if you stay focused on what you want to create AND not on troubles.

You may have thought, ‘yes, but how?’ I have already told you how so many times within these pages. Within in you YOU already know how. I’ll share more in upcoming posts. When you master faith and this attitude you will master much more of great importance.

Attract positivity. Create goodness. Celebrate everything. Face your fears bravely and with a smile and a laugh. Do not let things bring you down. Let your attitude determine your altitude. Soar high! Fly above the troubles. Set down in the promised land.  Do it!!” Rex Sikes

Make it marvelous!

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Stop! Whatever You Are Doing And Learn How Not To Fail!

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“Life can be much better. You know that don’t you?  It doesn’t have to be limited in any way. It really doesn’t.  Life can be absolutely incredible! Your life can be marvelous! Have you heard the saying, life is what we make it? You may not believe that is accurate but it is.

You are the one who determines how your life goes whether you believe that to be the case or not. The reasons are clear. They are even backed up by science. Your thoughts determine your reality and here is why. Everything humans create first begins in the mind.

Thought precedes action. Everything begins in thought. Our thoughts make up our reality. Reality is only our own interpretation. What we think and believe is what we find in the world. We think, we look at the world and we draw conclusions.

We Experience The World From First Within

Those conclusions determine the kind of life we will have. We conclude we can or can’t. We conclude the world is friendly or not. We are whomever we think we are. You can think you have nothing, you can ‘know’ you are poor and in debt or you can believe you are rich and destined to be richer.

In order to succeed, and get anywhere in life you must set the course. You must specify or choose your destination. Once you determine where you are headed the way there will become obvious to you. You won’t be able to see the path until you pick your end point.

The GPS in an automobile or your phone doesn’t chose the route until the address is entered. Once entered, the route and alternatives become available. Your internal GPS to happiness and success works similarly. You must make the decision. This is what activates your internal GPS resources to get you there.

Choose Your Destination Set Your Course And Go For It

Our universe works on attraction. Your brain works on attraction. It is a ‘yes’ world, and you have a ‘yes’ brain. Whatever you believe is what comes to you, it is what you attract and create. If you think you are poor, ‘yes’, you will be. If you think yourself rich, ‘yes’, you will be. Our results are due to how we think.

Your limitations are caused by your habitual routine, patterned thinking. You maintain your problems and issues because you think about them again and again. Stop maintaining your difficulties and they will disappear. Focus on what you want NOT what you don’t.

Change your thinking and you change your life. Form new, positive thought habits and everything will change. Thought initiates everything and precedes action. Once your thought habits change you will automatically

It serves you better to imagine, to visualize, to affirm and believe you are rich and worth millions that you haven’t yet put into the bank than to focus on your bills and your debt and worry about how to pay them. What you see is what you get.

Whatever You Imagine Is Possible Is Possible

The only reason you don’t have lots of money yet, is because you don’t yet see yourself with lots of money. You haven’t claimed it in your own mind and made it yours. You live as a pauper instead of an emperor.

By thinking you are wealthy you have chosen an end point. The path to your destination will become clear as you stay focused. When you change yourself everything else changes. Your habits will change. All will become new. You must first, however, decide to make this change.

Becoming successful, happy and accomplishing your goals and desires  is a process. You must become what you want to attract. This requires your full effort and commitment. You must persist and be relentless. You must adopt the right mindset and never quit moving forward.

If You Don’t See It And Don’t Claim It – It Will Never Be Yours

Obstacles cannot prevent you but  will teach you what to do to succeed. Challenges  are great for learning, if you are willing to learn from them. Most people mistake temporary defeat as permanent and give up. The only failure that is permanent is when you quit.

You must not. You must be fully engaged and committed. Most people never actually go after their dreams. They will live a life of excuses and settle for whatever they get. You can achieve great things and greatness when you decide you want to.

‘If you can conceive it, and believe it, you can achieve it’, says Napoleon Hill. Don’t settle for less. Go for gold! Make your dreams come true. Don’t be part of the 90 some percent who do nothing with what they have. Make yourself and your life what you want!” Rex Sikes

Take time and enjoy your day!

If you think these posts would help others please share them using your favorite means; Facebook, Twitter, email, reblog, Google etc.

Hit the Like Button. Please Help Spread the word. Then you benefit by giving them a gift too!

Please leave comments too. Thank You!

Horizons photo used with permission of Phil Koch.

LAUNCHING THE NEW BLOG SITE SOON – The site has a new look and feel. Do you get this blog emailed to you? You will have  to again subscribe to this blog, newsletter.

Stick with me. I’d hate for you to miss anything when it switches. Subscribe and Follow Daily Inspiration and Gratitude!