"The thing always happens that you really believe in; and the belief in a thing makes it happen" - Frank LLoyd Wright

No matter what your spiritual or philosophical views may be, there is no greater force that directs human behavior than belief.  Your beliefs are what make you who you are, shape your life and guide you to your destiny.  Another word for your particular set of beliefs is faith.When you read the headline for this article you may have thought it was a typo or that I had written it backward by mistake.  It wasn't a mistake.  In fact, the truth contained in that simple phrase is a significant part of the foundation on which I have built this blog, and am building my life.  "Believe It to See It" simply means that before we see anything manifest in our lives, we must first believe it.  Another way of looking at it is: What we see in our lives is a result of what we believe!

"By believing passionately in something that does not yet exist, we create it"         - Nikos Kazantzakis

"Men often become what they believe themselves to be.  If I believe I cannot do something, it makes me incapable of doing it.  But when I believe I can, then I acquire the ability to do it even if I didn't have it in the beginning"  - Mahatma Gandhi

A Call to Action

Empowering beliefs have the opposite affect of limiting beliefs.  Whereas limiting beliefs hold you back, empowering beliefs propel you forward.  Holding to beliefs that empower you will always result in action.  They will not allow you to fall asleep in your comfort zone, but will keep you on the move.

I write this article very much in the "now" because my beliefs are moving me into action.  For a long time I have worked hard to fill my mind and heart with empowering beliefs and they have taken root in me, so much so in fact, that they define who and what I am.  That being the case, I am compelled to leave my comfort zone (again) and enter uncharted waters.  I hold to my belief that I will experience great things and that I will succeed.

I'd like to leave you with this thought.  No matter what you may profess, you are always living what you actually believe.  Take a close look at your life.  What does it tell you about your beliefs?  Are you being held back or compelled to take action?

Okay gang, it's 2010!  I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and are now ready for a year filled with opportunities, because it will be!  I know you have goals you want to achieve, so let's start this year off right by laying down a basic method that will definitely take you where you want to go!

This is a Test of The Reticular Activating System!

Have you ever heard of the Reticular Cortex?  It's a complex net of neurons that emerge from the brain stem and touch many, or perhaps all, parts of the human brain.  Basically, the Reticular Activating System (RAS) is the attention center of the brain and is where the world outside of ourselves and our inner world of feeling and thought meet.  Here is an example of how it works:

Imagine you're in a crowded room, filled with the background noise of dozens of conversations, music, laughter and cell phones ringing.  How much of this noise is actually brought to your attention?  Not very much.  You hear it all but you are not focused on each individual sound.  Out of this chaotic din comes the familiar voice of a friend calling your name and suddenly your attention is switched on!  This is one way the RAS works.  It automatically brings relevant information to our attention as it filters out non-relevant information.

Here's another example:

Have you ever purchased a type of car that you've never owned before and now it seems you suddenly see them absolutely everywhere?  That's your RAS at work!  It is bringing to your attention information that is now relevant to you.  I promise you that those cars have been there all along, but you just had them "tuned out" because they weren't relevant to you at the time.

Attract!

All of that is important because this is how you can begin the process of actually reaching the goal you have set for yourself.  The RAS can be programmed to work for you and this is done by choosing the exact message your conscious mind sends to your sub-conscious mind. 

Here's what I mean.  The more you think about your goal and how to achieve it, the more you will begin to "attract" the people, opportunities, resources and ideas that will help you move toward your goal.  Because you are constantly thinking about your goal, and ways to achieve it, your conscious mind is continually sending these messages to your sub-conscious mind. Your sub-conscious will then program your RAS to bring to your attention all information that is relevant to that goal.  It is very likely that these people, opportunities and resources have been there all along but you did not see them.  Why? Because your RAS had not been programmed to bring that information to your attention!  Do you see how powerful a tool the RAS is when it comes to reaching goals?

Inner = Outer

What and how you think will have a direct effect upon how you experience life.  If you focus on negative things and attitudes then that  is what you will see because that is what you have programmed your RAS to bring to your attention.  Conversely, if you focus on positive attitudes and things your RAS will bring to your attention the same.  Your outer world is a reflection of your inner world!

Simple as 1, 2, 3

1) Be clear.  State exactly what your goal is.  Clarity is required.

2) Think on this goal, and methods you will use to achieve it, constantly.  Must have intense desire.

3) Notice what is now being brought to your attention.  Be prepared to act upon opportunities and avail yourself of resources that will now come to your attention.

What goal(s) do you want to reach in 2010?  Do you think an understanding of RAS will help you achieve it?

Keeping It Real

Get Real Specific!

The New Year is upon us and while many people are making their annual list of things they'll never do (ironically called "resolutions"), I propose that we take the time to reflect.  Let's reflect on this years' accomplishments as well as what we wanted to accomplish but did not.  Now, let's grab some pen and paper and get busy making some specific goals for this coming year.  Remember to also include a written plan for their attainment!  Keep in mind that an average person with a clearly defined goal will always outperform a genius who has no idea what he or she wants.  Every time.

*Hint* State your goals using "I am" phrases.  For example, if more money is your goal for 2010 state it like this: "I am earning an additional $50,000 in income this year" instead of "I want to earn more money this year".  The latter example is really just wishful thinking.

Knowledge is useless if it is not applied, so write down your plan for reaching your goal.  You don't have to wait until you have everything figured out before you begin.  If you do you will never begin because you simply cannot know everything beforehand.  It's just like driving your car down the highway at night.  You can't see your destination, in fact, you can't even see one mile down the road, but you can see the next few hundred feet and that's all you need to make the journey!  Go. Create your plan, put it in writing and start implementing it right away.  It wont be a perfect plan, there's no such thing, and you'll be making changes along the way.  Any plan is better than no plan and taking action is almost always better than taking no action!

No matter your age, your educational background, or your current level of success, the process of growth and learning never ceases.  There will be no lasting outward changes in your life until inner changes have taken place in you!  It has been said that "you don't get what you want in life, you get what you are", so be prepared to learn, grow and put forth effort while in pursuit of your goal.  You have the ability to learn anything you need to learn so you can achieve your goal.  In the words of Les Brown "To achieve something you have never achieved before, you must become someone you have never been before"

Make the decision to never quit, never get lazy and to keep trying until you succeed!  When faced with an obstacle that has resisted all of your attempts to conquer it, until you're finally at the point of throwing in the towel, remember this: There is always one more thing you can do!  'nuff said.

Your goal need not cause you to feel overwhelmed.  After stating your goal and putting it in writing (including your plan of action) just take it one day at a time.  Just do something every day that will take you closer to your goal.  If you do this each and every day, reaching your goal becomes inevitable.  I repeat, Daily Action!]

Are you ready to kick some serious butt (figuratively speaking of course!) this year!  Have your goals clear in your mind and an action plan ready to go?  If not, then go do it!!  If you do then let's get this show on the road!

PS  My blog is one year old!!  I want to take a moment and thank all of you, from the bottom of my heart, for all of your comments, thoughts and insights this past year.  I have learned so much, even as I have sought to share what I have learned.  I have lots of things in the works these days, one of which will be a brand new blog that will launch in early 2010!  I'll share more about that soon!  Again, Thank You All!!

"If you are not willing to risk the unusual, you will have to settle for the ordinary" ~ Jim Rohn

The dictionary defines "Risk" as being "the possibility of suffering harm or loss".  I believe that definition is a little pessimistic and lop-sided.  While taking a risk may involve suffering harm or loss, it most certainly also contains the potential for benefit or gain!  Let's closely examine every area of our lives.  What have any of us ever gained that did not involve an element of risk?  I dare say nothing! 

Have you ever fallen in love? 

Have you ever had children? 

Have you ever started your own business?

Have you ever driven your car to the grocery store?

All of these acts involve taking a risk and if we hadn't taken the risk what would we have gained?  Yes, that's right.  Nothing.

"Never let the odds keep you from doing what you know in your heart you were meant to do." ~ H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Why does risk make us hesitate at times?  The answer, of course, is fear.  We are afraid because of the unknown issues that may arise as a result of the risk we have taken.  When you stop and think about that statement it's almost funny!  Unknown issues may arise from any decision or action we ever take!

Understand, the type of risk-taking I am speaking of here isn't the sort that is characterized by ill-considered haste or recklessness.  What I am speaking of are the decisions we are faced with that, if we are willing, have the potential to change our lives (and the lives of others) for the better.  A chance to live out our passion, dreams and our hearts desire.  An opportunity to be the difference and make a difference in this world, starting within our own sphere of influence. 

"Progress always involves risks. You can't steal second base and keep your foot on first."  ~ Fredrick B. Wilcox

The best antidote to fear is action!  When we have an opportunity to move forward in our life and fear rears it's head, what do we do?  Do it anyway!  Fear is really based upon future possibilities that may or may not happen.  In other words, it isn't based on reality.  If you act in the moment, where fear cannot exist, you will overcome.  Repeat this whenever faced with this type of fear and you'll eventually develop a new "mental-trigger".  You will develop the habit of moving into fear instead of away from it.

Let's not let fear paralyze us, keep us from living to our full potential and cause us to fall short of our goals.  Let's dare to live, to face life with such passion that we are ablaze with vitality.  It's time to be bold.  "Why now?" you ask.  I answer, "Why not now?"  Why not start today, in this very moment, to live your potential?  If you don't start now, when will you start?  Tomorrow? Next week?  Make it today and you will thank yourself a million times over. 

"Risk more than others think is safe. Care more than others think as wise. Dream more than others think is practical. Expect more than others think is possible." ~Cadet Maxim