Victor Frankel Quote

“Ultimately, man should not ask what the meaning of his life is, but rather he must recognize that it is he who is asked. In a word, each man is questioned by life; and he can only answer to life by answering for his own life; to life he can only answer by being responsible.”

GREAT QUOTE

“To believe in the things that you can see is no faith at all, but to believe in the unseen is both a triumph and a blessing” Abraham Lincoln

The Power of Practice

When I first attended Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health back in 1990, the instructor of my yoga class invited everyone to commit to doing their yoga practice for 30 days after returning home. I thought to myself that is going to be easy. Then I thought again and again and had lots of reasons why not to commit. Some of them were: I have to be on my mat and do the yoga postures for 30 days straight and how is that possible. How am I going to do that? It will interfere with work, my kids and my social life. Will I have time to eat? How will my house get cleaned? What if I fail? It will be a waste of time. How can being on my yoga mat for 30 minutes a day for 30 days do anything, much less transform my life as suggested by the instructor?

I decided to make a commitment to 30 days. The first 3 to 4 days were just fine. Then my mind told me that this really was not making a difference. I decided to keep at it anyway.
Then came day 10 and there was no major changes going on. I had a cold on the 12th day and really thought I would skip a day, but I was reminded about my commitment from a friend. So a cold, dripping nose, aching body and all, I got on the mat and practiced my yoga. I was now to my 16th day and there were still no major changes. I thought to myself, I have been wasting a lot of time and could be spending it doing something else. Then on the 19th day, a friend who was a chiropractor stopped me while I was working out at the local YMCA and he asked if something had happened to me. I asked, “What do you mean?” He said, “you look much more centered and relaxed than I have ever seen you before, you seem to be standing much straighter and you seem more confident.” I told him that I had been practicing yoga everyday for the last 19 days and then he understood. I continued to my 30th day and by then, I had noticed major changes in my mind, my heart and my body. I had transformed. I was truly a different person.

I continue to practice my yoga, but not on a daily basis. I wonder sometimes if I should make another 30 day commitment. The lesson I learned from this experience is the value of practice. Practice in and of itself is transformative. I have used this lesson in other areas of my life, from starting a business, to studying for an exam, to meditation, to loosing weight and to learning a new skill. I realize that practice is and of itself transformative. I have come to learn that I have to be willing to go through long periods of practice with no visible results. I call them the plateaus. Then one day, I transform.

I see this also in my executive coaching clients. We can go weeks and never see any measurable results, and then one day, all of sudden, there is transformation. I encourage everyone to commit to a practice. Do it today.

States vs Stages: Ken Wilber

“You cannot, however, be introduced to all the qualities of higher stages of consciousness without actual growth and practice. You can have a peak experience of higher states (like seeing an interior subtle light or having a feeling of oneness with all of nature), because many states are ever-present, and so they can be “peek”-experienced right now. But you cannot have a peak experience of higher stage (like being a concert-level pianist), because stages unfold sequentially and take considerable time to develop. Stages build upon their predecessors in very concrete ways, so they cannot be skipped: like atoms to molecules to cells to organisms, you cannot go from atoms to cells and skip molecules. This is one of the many important differences between states and stages.

However, with repeated practice of contacting higher states, your own stages of development will tend to unfold in a much faster and easier way. There is, in fact, considerable experimental evidence demonstrating exactly that. The more you are plunged into authentic higher states of consciousness-such as meditative states-the faster you will grow and develop through any of the stages on consciousness. It is as if higher-states training acts as a lubricant on the spiral development, helping you disidentify with lower stage so that the next higher stage can emerge, until you can stably remain at higher levels of awareness on an ongoing basis, whereupon a passing state has become a permanent trait. These types of higher-states training, such as meditation, are part of any integral approach to transformation.

In short, you cannot skip stages, but you can accelerate your growth through them by using various types of state-practices, such as meditation, and these transformative practices are an important part of the Integral Approach.”

--Ken Wilber

The Power of the Question

The questions that we ask ourselves everyday are very powerful. What we are actually doing is asking our other than conscious mind to give us an answer. The other than conscious mind is actually infinite and unlimited and will provide us with an answer if we ask the right questions. It has been estimate that this part of our mind has the processing capacity of 16 billion to one of that of the conscious mind and we own both. Asking the right questions are very important in getting the answers we want. The most important thing to remember when working with powerful questions is to focus on the positive and try to stay away from questions that start with ‘why” because they lead to analysis and do not provide solutions. We also need to be patient and not force an answer. When we are facing a challenging or complex situation, all we need to do is gently ask ourselves a powerful question. Agonizing will not solve the problem. The information needed will be revealed.

The following are some powerful questions that you can use in your life, your business and your career:

1. What do I want in this situation?
2. How can I ………………………? Add whatever you are trying to do.
3. Who is a good prospect?
4. What am I focusing on?
5. What action can I take?
6. What can I learn today?
7. Whom can I serve today?
8. What is working in my life?
9. How can I move forward?
10. What am I willing to let go of?
11. Who am I?
12. Where am I?
13. Why am I here?

Using questions helps others take their focus off of what they do not want and put it on what they do want. It creates a change in perception. It allows them to dream about fresh, new possibilities for their lives or their business. They focus on what they want and not on what they do not want or the past. This is the real power of conversation. It provides a space and a place for miracles.

Ask yourself powerful questions everyday.

Is Transformation a Necessity?

Is transformation a necessity? What do you think?

I like the words of Eckhart Tolle, in his book Stillness Speaks.

“The transformation of human consciousness is no longer a luxury, so to speak, available only to a few isolated individual, but a necessity if humankind is not to destroy itself. At the present time, the dysfunction of the old consciousness and the arising of the new are both accelerating. Paradoxically, things are getting worse and better at the same time, although the worse is more apparent because it makes so much ‘noise.’”

Health and Nutrition

One of the seven steps of Practical Empowerment is health and nutrition. If you exercise and eat the right foods, you will most certainly be empowered. You will have more energy, your weight will be exactly were you want it to be, your hormones will be in balance, you will have beautiful skin, the digestive issues will go away and you will have less cravings and addictions. You will strengthen your will and it is the will you use to focus on and create what you want. What do you really want?

Your body is made from the foods you eat. Healthy bodies are not made from pizza. I invite you to add the following to your diet.

· A teaspoon of cod liver oil everyday. This will give you beautiful skin and improve your immune system. It will also help with the seasonal depression.

· Water-Our bodies are 75% water and we need sufficient water for optimum brain function, digestion, detoxification and energy production. Please go purchase a real good water filter that you will use for the next 20 years. Bottled water not only is not very good for you, but all those plastic bottles end up in the land fill and will be there for another 200 years. Divide your weight in pounds by 2 and drink that many ounces of filtered water per day from your own tap.

· Eat fermented foods that are organic and preferably you make yourself such as sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir and high quality yogurt.

· Coconut oil is anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, weight-loss promoting, and very tasty. Cook with it, put it on steamed vegetables or grab a teaspoon full and just eat it.

· Bone broth is not only good for your immune system, but settles the nerves after a hard day and is full of minerals. I make my own organic chicken broth and use it in my cooking everyday.

· Celtic Sea Salt-This is more that sodium chloride, this amazing stuff is an energetically charged mineral supplement, especially high in magnesium and balance with potassium and it really tastes great. Celtic sea salt will not create the health problems that our processed and bleached table salt does.

Now you might look at this list and be overwhelmed. Please do not be. Think of it as something you are going to do to be healthier, stronger and more vibrant. Start with just one new item per week and add it to your diet. Will it feel funny? Yes, because it is change and change always feels different. Welcome the change into your life for a more balanced, happier and healthier you. You will feel the best you have ever felt, I guarantee.

Your Personal Power

As I sit here to write this article, I realize that we actually create our own personal power and it all starts from a decision. The decision is to decide what you really want. The decision is to decide on your definite purpose in life. The problem is that when you ask people what they really want, they usually are not clear. If they do know, they are usually things they want to get away from, or simply another material thing to be used for a day or year or a lifetime and then discarded.

I always ask my executive coaching clients to tell me what they would do if they knew they could not fail. I tell them for just a moment to believe in themselves as infinite and unlimited beings with no limits and no barriers. What would they want to be? What would they want to do? What would they want to have? I believe personal power comes from being clear on what you want. In addition, I believe it is having a purpose that involves collective wants. It could be the wants of your family, your community or your world.

My definite purpose is to inspire and touch people in such a way that they make the decisions and take the actions necessary transform to their life and the result will be a better and more beautiful world for everyone. For one of my clients it is to spread joy everywhere, everyday. What is yours? Your personal purpose usually exists at a level of consciousness that can never be fully conceptualized. This does not mean that it is inaccessible. The best way to discover your definite purpose is to ask yourself the question, “What is my definite purpose” or “Why am I here.” In addition, writing, meditation and taking walks in nature are really helpful, along with discussing your purpose with a friend or an executive coach like me.

I like how the writer James Allen wrote about purpose.

“A man should conceive of a legitimate purpose in his heart, and set out to accomplish it. He should make this purpose the centralizing point of his thoughts. It may take the form of a spiritual ideal, or it may be a worldly object, according to his nature at the time being; but whichever it is, he should steadily focus his thought forces upon the object which he has set before him. He should make this purpose his supreme duty, and should devote himself to its attainment, not allowing his thoughts to wander away into ephemeral fancies, longings, and imaginings. This is the royal road to self-control and true concentration of thought. Even if he fails again and again to accomplish his purpose (as he necessarily must until weakness is overcome), the strength of character gained will be the measure of his true success, and this will form a new starting point for future power and triumph.”

Once you have your purpose, you will want to create a vision of how to achieve it in your marvelous and incredible imagination. It is the picture of the future you want to create. Having a personal vision is very important. It is the key that will unlock the enormous power of your purpose. Your vision is the vehicle that will bring purpose into your very acts and commitments. It is where you finally say, ‘I will do whatever it takes.” My vision is to be one of the best executive coaches in the world.

Author Joel Barker says, “Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. Vision with action can change the world”

Every person who has done remarkable things in their lives has had a clear vision, stemming form a deep and pervasive sense of purpose. It seems a creative power is released when an individual’s vision and personal purpose are aligned. Results are easier to create, the vision gets clearer, there is more commitment to the vision and life seems to all fall into place.

I believe that personal transformation precedes organizational and world change. If it is going to be, it is up to me. If you really want to change the world, just build a better you.

Start today and decide on your purpose, then create your vision and then take the first step towards your goal. Tell me what you want and I will show you how to get it.

I Will Do Whatever It Takes

I was at a seminar one time in Minneapolis and my friend Pauline asked me what I really wanted to do. I told her that I wanted to create a business that made a meaningful and positive difference in people’s lives and filled my life with joy and abundance. She told me that was really wonderful and that I should create an affirmation around what I wanted to do. I thought to myself, what a great idea.

So I created the affirmation, “I am now creating and providing a service that makes a meaningful and positive difference in people’s lives and fills my life with joy and abundance.” Again, Pauline told me that the statement was really good and made her feel inspired, but that there was still something missing. She invited me to consider adding the following words, “I will do what ever it takes.” Wow, I thought to myself, that phrase now makes me committed to my affirmation. No longer were they just pretty words.

My new affirmation then became, “I will do whatever it takes to create and provide a service that makes a meaningful and positive difference in people’s lives and fills my life with joy and abundance.” As I look back upon this experience and the lesson I learned, I am so ever grateful for the presence of Pauline in my life at that time and always.

“I will do whatever it takes,” means the following to me.

-Seeing all my daily tasks through to completion.
-Keeping my commitments.
-Practicing when I do not want to practice.
-Not violating the rights of others.
-Giving up something of a lower nature to achieve something of a higher nature.
-Walking straight ahead towards my goal, no matter what and realizing all my fears are just an illusion.
-Being persistent and not giving up.
-Being willing to release all my ideas as to how something should be or look like in order to move forward.
-Trusting in the process and being grateful on every step of the journey.
-Being willing to fail and then get up and try again and again and again.
-Being open to and willing to listen to the advice of other people.
-Constant and never ending improvement of myself.
-Accepting other people as they are.
-Being patient.
-Asking for help.
-Having the wisdom and understanding that the good I desire is already here, and that all I need to do is get in harmony with it.
-Saying please and thank you to everyone.

Health and Nutrition - What to Remove from Your Diet

We are what we eat! Eating is a conscious choice that affects are lives, our attitudes, moods and emotions. There are many types of foods we may not be conscious of their impact. I thought it might be a good idea to invite you to consider removing some items from your diet. Here is a short list.

• Soda - The average American drinks an estimated 56 gallons of soft drinks each year, one can of soda can be loaded with sugar, artificial sweeteners and food colors and sulphites. Studies have linked soda to osteoporosis, obesity, tooth decay and heart disease. Drink water or a cup of organic free trade herbal tea.

• High Fructose Corn Syrup – This is one of the biggest contributors of the obesity and type II diabetes epidemics we are experiencing. High fructose corn syrup is everywhere because it is cheap and plentiful and it is easy to incorporate into processed foods. I personally would not give it to my dog if I had one. It disrupts our sugar metabolism. It is also genetically modified as are the enzymes used to produce it.

• Trans Fats – This is a must. These are outlawed in Denmark and have no place in your diet. If you eat out, you are sure to be getting big doses of Trans Fats in your diet. Eat at home and enjoy the experience. Use organic coconut oil, olive oil, organic butter or ghee, and flax oil.

• White Foods – These white foods are highly processed grains and sugars and oils. A good example would be white flour and white sugar. In order to process these empty foods, we have to rob our body of nutrients to use them. Eat whole grains and whole foods everyday.

• Artificial Sweeteners – These are toxic chemicals and mess with the natural signals in our bodies. Try a moderate amount of organic maple syrup, honey or molasses.

• Artificial Colors, Preservatives and Flavors – All of these are toxic chemicals, contributing to allergies, asthma, depressed immune systems.

As I have said before, you do not have to do this all in one day, and you do not have to be perfect. Making dietary changes is usually not easy. Be kind to yourself and be patient. I invite you to remove one of the items form the list each week. Then you will wake up one day and realize that that can of soda really does taste awful and really does mess with your emotions and energy levels.

May you be happy and well!!

Practicing Compassion

There is a Buddhist meditative practice that teaches how to be more compassionate. It is called Metta. Metta is the Sanskrit word for love. The meditation focuses on consciously evoking feelings of love and compassion both for oneself and others. The Metta practice is built around repetitively reciting a series of phrases to one’s self. The phrases are as follows:

May I be filled with love and kindness.

May I be free of suffering.

May I be peaceful and at ease.

May I be happy.

After a certain period of time, one is instructed to replace the “I” in each phrase with specific family members, then friends and acquaintances, and eventually even one’s enemies.

The Focus of Your Mind

One of the statements I always tell myself and encourage my clients to use for themselves is the following:

"All bad feelings are focusing on what I do not want. I always focus on what I want. The power of decision is my own. I have the power as to how I focus my mind."

The Intention Experiment

I have been reading a book titled ‘The Intention Experiment” by Lynne McTaggart. I find it to be an incredible book. The book is a revolutionary and groundbreaking exploration of the science of intention. It draws on the findings of leading scientists on human consciousness from around the world. The book demonstrates that thought is a thing that affects other things and that thought generates its own energy that you can use to improve your life, to help others around you and to change the world.

The book forces you to rethink what it is to be human. As it proves, we are connected to everyone and everything. The idea that we are connected to everyone and everything requires that we pay closer attention to our thoughts, intentions, words and actions.

You read the book and let me know what you think. You can also go to her website and learn more about “The Intention Experiment” The Intention Experiment - the largest mind-over-matter experiment in history

Letting Go...

Letting Go

To “let go” is not to try to change or blame another; it’s to make the most of myself.

To “let go” is not to nag, scold or argue, but instead to search out my own shortcomings and correct them.

To “let go” is not to adjust everything to my desires, but to take each day as it comes and cherish myself in it.

To “let go” is not to deny but accept.

To “let go” is not to judge, but to allow another to be a human being.

To “let go” is not to cut myself off; it’s the realization I can’t control another.

To “let go” is to admit powerlessness, which means the outcome is not in my hands.

To “let go” is not to be protective, it’s to permit another to face reality.

To “let go” is not to be in the middle, arranging all the outcomes, but to allow others to affect their own destinies.

To “let go” is not to enable, but to allow learning from natural consequences.

To “let go” is not to regret the past but to grow and live for the future.

To “let go” is not to fix but to be supportive.

To “let go” is to fear less and love more.

To “let go” is not to care for but care about.

To “let go” does not mean to stop caring; it means I can’t do it for someone else.

Meditate Your Way to Health

I was having some health challenges about 25 years ago, and someone suggested I meditate. I did and my health improved and so did my whole life. So here are some great reasons to meditate.

You will have improved concentration and a clear mind makes you more productive, especially in creative disciplines like writing. I am very productive when I meditate.
You will focus more on what you want.
You will be less bothered by little things. Do you sometimes allow yourself to get upset by little things? It is the nature of the mind, which is not who you are, to magnify small things into serious problems. Meditation helps us detach. We learn to live in the here and now, rather than regretting the past or worrying about the future. We do not worry about little things, but are able to see the big picture.
You will have better health. There are numerous studies, too many to count, pointing to the health benefits of meditation. The reason is that meditation reduces stress and alleviates anxiety. If we can reduce stress, many health benefits follow.
You will have a deeper understanding and knowledge of yourself. Meditation helps us to have a deeper understanding of our inner self. Through meditation we can gain a better understanding of our life’s purpose

Meditation has nothing to do with philosophy or religion, but is about consciousness.

Meditation is the cornerstone to personal growth and transformation. I recommend that all of my clients meditate if they are truly committed to personal transformation and growth. The “Holosync Solution” from Centerpointe Research Institute is the best way I have found to meditate. It is simple, easy and effective. All I have to do is push a button and put on the head phones and in just a few minutes I am in a very deep meditation. Since using the products, my meditations are deeper, longer and more beneficial. I feel more relaxed, happier, confident, positive and creative. I am really able to focus on my goals, and let all the distractions just go by. Everyday seems to just get better and better! Highly Recommended!

Follow the link Marty McEvoy - Practical Empowerment and order the demo disc today. Let me know how you like it.

Nature is Part of Us

I was reading in a book by Ken Wilber, called A Brief History of Everything and he writes the following:

“Molecules awoke one morning to find that atoms were inside of them, enfolded in their very being. And cells awoke one morning to find that molecules were actually inside of them, as part of their being. And you might awake one morning and find that nature is part of you, literally internal to your being. You are not part of nature, nature is part of you. And for just that reason, you treat nature as you would treat your lungs or your kidneys. A spontaneous environmental ethics surges forth from your heart, and you will never again look at a river, a leaf, a deer, a robin, in the same way.

This sounds very weird and far out – until you have that experience. You might ask the Apollo astronauts about it.”

Free! Three Great Books!

I have uploaded three of the greatest books of all time to my website. The three books are:

• Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
• As a Man Thinketh by James Allen
• The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace Wattles

These are the books that inspired the movie and the book, "The Secret".

The three books are in the public domain and therefore available for downloading and distributing. The books require Adobe Acrobat Reader to view them (they are PDF files).

The link for the book downloads is here. Scroll to the bottom of the page.

Enjoy!

Praise for "Think and Grow Rich!"

"This is the best single book on personal success ever written; it made me a millionaire—-starting from nothing."
-- Brian Tracy, author of Getting Rich Your Own Way

"It's the classic of all classics."
-- Harvey Mackay, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Swim With The Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive

"The cogent advice articulated by Napoleon Hill is as relevant and pertinent today as the day it was written.”
-- Donald R. Keough, former President and CEO of Coca-Cola, now Chairman of Allen & Company, Inc.

“I first read Think and Grow Rich! 30 years ago at age18. I found it to be the most fascinating book I had, or have ever read, excluding the word of God. It is much more than instructions on how to obtain wealth. It strengthens your spirit, your soul, and promotes the proper attitude to achieve peace, endurance, and a loving family—the real measures of success in life. My life has been richly blessed as a result of reading and rereading Think and Grow Rich!. Dr. Hill performed a wonderful work for mankind and was a useful vessel for God when he wrote this book for all people and all ages. I know all readers will be enriched upon reading this new edition of Think and Grow Rich!."
-- Emerson B. Hall, President of TruBody Shaving Gels

"Think and Grow Rich! has had a tremendous impact on my life. My company, Contours Express, would not exist if not for this book. And now, seven years, 15 additional readings, and more than 350 fitness centers later, I still find new personal and business applications each time I read it. Without question this is the greatest business book ever written."
-- Daren Carter, founder of Contours Express fitnesscenters, located in six countries

“Dr. Hill’s original work transformed the 20th century. This newly revised version will do the same for the 21st century. No writer, thought leader or guru of personal growth and development comes close to Napoleon Hill. This landmark work takes his stature to an even more monumental level.”
-- Bill Brooks, author of The New Science of Selling andPersuasion

“Here comes the all time classic self-help bestseller gently adapted to be most relevant for the challenges we all face today. If you believe pursuing self-improvement is important for enjoying a full and meaningful life, you will want to make sure you have this book in your personal development library.”
-- Charles C. Manz, author of Temporary Sanity: InstantSelf-Leadership Strategies for Turbulent Times and co-author of Fit to Lead

"Ross Cornwell has made it easier than ever to learn from a giant of a leader and thinker. Napoleon Hill's wisdom applies to us all, any generation, any background and station in life! Napoleon Hill has served as Mentor to Millions. Why not you?"
-- Ty Boyd, CEO of Ty Boyd Executive Learning Systems and author of The Million Dollar Toolbox

“I thought Think and Grow Rich! was a classic and could never be improved. I was wrong. I am sure Dr. Hill would be greatly pleased to see how his work has been honored and enhanced by this outstanding new edition.”
-- Wally Amos, founder of Famous Amos Chocolate Chip Cookies, author of The Cookie Never Crumbles:Inspirational Recipes for Everyday Living

“Think and Grow Rich! is timeless and will continue to change lives. It’s powerful in turning people's dreams and passions into life-long realities. It did mine and still remains my number one reference book."
-- Don L. Price, professional speaker, author,sales/marketing & positive change solution provider

“It took me 17 years to become World Champion, but I always knew, deep down, that I would win the 'big one' someday. Napoleon Hill's Think And Grow Rich! changed my life. It inspired and excited me, and with the belief in myself I received through its pages, I, too, passed the 'persistence' test and achieved my lifetime goal. This life-changing book will help you achieve your goals too!”
-- Peter Ebdon, World Snooker Champion 2002

“Think and Grow Rich! was one of the first motivational books I ever read. Often I pick it up and read a chapter....the ideas NEVER go out of date."
-- Patricia Fripp, CSP, CPAE, keynote speaker, speech coach, sales trainer, Past President of the National Speakers Association

“Zen teacher Richard Rose said a spiritual seeker could find Enlightenment by following Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich!, and substituting ‘God’ or ‘Truth’ wherever the book says ‘money.’”
-- August Turak, founder of Raleigh Group International, Elsinore Technologies, Inc., and the Self Knowledge Symposium Foundation

"I was introduced to Think and Grow Rich! as a high school student. This book was recommended to me by my teacher who taught a class called 'Everyday Living.' At that point in my life I suffered from low self-esteem, and this book was a motivating factor for me. It gave me a new lease on life when I realized I could do anything if I had the desire and believed I could achieve my goals."
-- S. Truett Cathy, founder, Chairman and CEOof Chick-fil-A, Inc

The best way to truly learn the value of this book is through a study group. Please contact me via email to register for my online book Study of "Think and Grow Rich".

Bottled Water - Think Again!

"Millions and millions of dollars are spent each week on advertising campaigns to give consumers the perception that bottled water comes from some pristine mountain spring or magical underground aquifer assuring purity and quality. However, the fact is that bottled water is often times little more than just tap water in a bottle... sometimes worse!

You see, the Federal regulations that govern bottled water only require it to be as good as tap water, not better. There are no assurances, regulations or requirements that bottled water be any higher in quality than tap water, and according to some recent studies, it may often be of lower quality."

Click here to learn more.

Think and Grow Rich Online 6 Week Seminar

Think and Grow Rich Webinar
6 Week Online Book Study
Beginning October 2nd @ 7:00 PM

This is your chance to be part of a MasterMind group that will be studying the classic book, Thick and Grow Rich, by Napoleon Hill. This is a book that will change your life!

From Wikipedia:

Think and Grow Rich! (ISBN 1-59330-200-2) is a classic motivational book. Written by Napoleon Hill and inspired by Andrew Carnegie, it was published in 1937 at the end of the Great Depression. In 1960, Hill published an abridged version of the book, which for years was the only one generally available. In 2004, Ross Cornwell published Think and Grow Rich!: The Original Version, Restored and Revised (Second Printing 2007), which restored the book to its original content, with slight revisions, and added the first comprehensive endnotes, index, and appendix the book had ever contained.

The text of Think and Grow Rich! is founded on Hill's earlier work, The Law of Success, the result of more than twenty years of research based on Hill's close association with a large number of individuals who managed to achieve great wealth during the course of their lifetimes.
At Carnegie's bidding, Hill studied the characteristics of these great achievers and developed fifteen "laws" intended to be applied by anybody to achieve success. Think and Grow Rich! itself condenses these laws further and provides the reader with 13 principles in the form of a philosophy of personal achievement.

Reflected in these principles is the importance of cultivating a burning desire, faith, autosuggestion and persistence in the attainment of one's goals. Hill also discusses the importance of overcoming many of the most common fears that can adversely affect one's thinking and potential.

Hill in his introduction to the book refers to the "Carnegie Secret", a conception which he reports is the foundation of all success and appears to be the premise of the book. Hill promises to indirectly describe this "secret" in every chapter, but never state it plainly, believing the use of the secret is only available to those who possess a "readiness" for it, a disposition Hill describes as essential to the concept itself.

Think and Grow Rich has sold consistently since its first publishing. According to one publisher, the book has now sold more than 30 million copies worldwide. Think and Grow Rich is currently ranked #9 on the BusinessWeek Best-Seller List for paperback business books and has been on the aforementioned list for 22 months as of April 2007.

“Desire is the starting point of all achievement, not a hope, not a wish, but a keen pulsating desire which transcends everything.” -Napoleon Hill

Cost: $89.00 (price includes the book “Think and Grow Rich”)
Payment Method: Check or Cash

Contact Marty McEvoy at marty@martymcevoy.com to regsiter!

Make checks payable to Practical Empowerment, LLC

If mailing a check please mail to:

Practical Empowerment
114 FS Drive, Suite D
Viroqua, WI 54665

Napoleon Hill Quotes

A goal is a dream with a deadline.

Action is the real measure of intelligence.

All achievements, all earned riches, have their beginning in an idea.

All the breaks you need in life wait within your imagination, Imagination is the workshop of your mind, capable of turning mind energy into accomplishment and wealth.

Any idea, plan, or purpose may be placed in the mind through repetition of thought.

Before success comes in any man's life, he's sure to meet with much temporary defeat and, perhaps some failures. When defeat overtakes a man, the easiest and the most logical thing to do is to quit. That's exactly what the majority of men do.

Big pay and little responsibility are circumstances seldom found together.

Cherish your visions and your dreams as they are the children of your soul, the blueprints of your ultimate achievements.

Create a definite plan for carrying out your desire and begin at once, whether you ready or not, to put this plan into action.

Desire is the starting point of all achievement, not a hope, not a wish, but a keen pulsating desire which transcends everything.

Don't wait. The time will never be just right.

Edison failed 10, 000 times before he made the electric light. Do not be discouraged if you fail a few times.

Education comes from within; you get it by struggle and effort and thought. Effort only fully releases its reward after a person refuses to quit.

Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed on an equal or greater benefit.

Every person who wins in any undertaking must be willing to cut all sources of retreat. Only by doing so can one be sure of maintaining that state of mind known as a burning desire to win - essential to success.

Everyone enjoys doing the kind of work for which he is best suited. Fears are nothing more than a state of mind.

First comes thought; then organization of that thought, into ideas and plans; then transformation of those plans into reality. The beginning, as you will observe, is in your imagination.

Great achievement is usually born of great sacrifice, and is never the result of selfishness.
Happiness is found in doing, not merely possessing.

Hold a picture of yourself long and steadily enough in your mind's eye, and you will be drawn toward it.

Ideas are the beginning points of all fortunes.

If you cannot do great things, do small things in a great way.

If you do not conquer self, you will be conquered by self.

If you must speak ill of another, do not speak it, write it in the sand near the water's edge.

It has always been my belief that a man should do his best, regardless of how much he receives for his services, or the number of people he may be serving or the class of people served.
It is always your next move.

It is literally true that you can succeed best and quickest by helping others to succeed.

It takes half your life before you discover life is a do-it-yourself project.

Just as our eyes need light in order to see, our minds need ideas in order to conceive.

Man, alone, has the power to transform his thoughts into physical reality; man, alone, can dream and make his dreams come true.

Money without brains is always dangerous.

More gold has been mined from the thoughts of men than has been taken from the earth.

Most great people have attained their greatest success just one step beyond their greatest failure.

Nature cannot be tricked or cheated. She will give up to you the object of your struggles only after you have paid her price.

No accurate thinker will judge another person by that which the other person's enemies say about him.

No man can succeed in a line of endeavor which he does not like.

No man ever achieved worth-while success who did not, at one time or other, find himself with at least one foot hanging well over the brink of failure.

No man is ever whipped until he quits in his own mind.

One must marry one's feelings to one's beliefs and ideas. That is probably the only way to achieve a measure of harmony in one's life.

Opportunity often comes disguised in the form of misfortune, or temporary defeat.

Patience, persistence and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success.
Persistence is to the character of man as carbon is to steel.

Procrastination is the bad habit of putting of until the day after tomorrow what should have been done the day before yesterday.

Reduce your plan to writing. The moment you complete this, you will have definitely given concrete form to the intangible desire.

Strength and growth come only through continuous effort and struggle.

Success in its highest and noblest form calls for peace of mind and enjoyment and happiness which come only to the man who has found the work that he likes best.

The battle is all over except the "shouting" when one knows what is wanted and has made up his mind to get it, whatever the price may be.

The best way to sell yourself to others is first to sell the others to yourself.

The ladder of success is never crowded at the top.

The majority of men meet with failure because of their lack of persistence in creating new plans to take the place of those which fail.

The man who does more than he is paid for will soon be paid for more than he does.

The most interesting thing about a postage stamp is the persistence with which it sticks to its job.

The starting point of all achievement is desire.

The starting point of all achievement is desire. Keep this constantly in mind.

Weak desires bring weak results, just as a small amount of fire makes a small amount of heat.

The way to develop decisiveness is to start right where you are, with the very next question you face.

The world has the habit of making room for the man whose actions show that he knows where he is going.

There are no limitations to the mind except those we acknowledge.

There is one quality which one must possess to win, and that is definiteness of purpose, the knowledge of what one wants, and a burning desire to possess it.

Think and grow rich.

Think twice before you speak, because your words and influence will plant the seed of either success or failure in the mind of another.

Understand this law and you will then know, beyond room for the slightest doubt, that you are constantly punishing yourself for every wrong you commit and rewarding yourself for every act of constructive conduct in which you indulge.

Victory is always possible for the person who refuses to stop fighting.

War grows out of the desire of the individual to gain advantage at the expense of his fellow man.

We begin to see, therefore, the importance of selecting our environment with the greatest of care, because environment is the mental feeding ground out of which the food that goes into our minds is extracted.

When defeat comes, accept it as a signal that your plans are not sound, rebuild those plans, and set sail once more toward your coveted goal.

When your desires are strong enough you will appear to possess superhuman powers to achieve.
Wise men, when in doubt whether to speak or to keep quiet, give themselves the benefit of the doubt, and remain silent.

You can start right where you stand and apply the habit of going the extra mile by rendering more service and better service than you are now being paid for.

You give before you get.

You might well remember that nothing can bring you success but yourself.

Your ability to use the principle of autosuggestion will depend, very largely, upon your capacity to concentrate upon a given desire until that desire becomes a burning obsession.

Your big opportunity may be right where you are now.

World Day of Prayer

On September 13, 2007, more than 1 million praying friends from around the world are joining in prayer with Silent Unity. Unity World Day of Prayer 2007 Please join us in this day of prayer. Your prayers do make a difference.

Light a Candle for the Victims of 9/11

Click here to go to the site.

As a Man Thinketh...

"What we think, we become."
Buddha quotes (Hindu Prince Gautama Siddharta, the founder of Buddhism, 563-483 B.C.)

"A man is but the product of his thoughts. What he thinks, he becomes."
Mahatma Gandhi quotes (Indian Philosopher, internationally esteemed for his doctrine of nonviolent protest, 1869-1948)

"If you think you can do a thing, or think you can't do a thing; you're right"
Henry Ford quotes (American industrialist and pioneer of the assembly-line production method, 1863-1947)

"We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world."
Buddha quotes (Hindu Prince Gautama Siddharta, the founder of Buddhism, 563-483 B.C.)

"Any thought that is passed on to the subconscious often enough and convincingly enough is finally accepted."
Robert Collier quotes (American motivational author, 1885-1950)

"A man is what he thinks about all day long."
Ralph Waldo Emerson quotes (American Poet, Lecturer and Essayist, 1803-1882)
"If you realized how powerful your thoughts are, you would never think a negative thought."
Peace Pilgrim quotes (American Teacher and Spiritual leader and Peace Prophet, 1908-1981)

"When we think of failure; Failure will be ours. If we remain undecided; Nothing will ever change. All we need to do is want to achieve something great and then simply to do it. Never think of failure For what we think, will come about."
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
"One comes to believe whatever one repeats to oneself sufficiently often, whether the statement be true of false. It comes to be dominating thought in one's mind."
Robert Collier quotes (American motivational author, 1885-1950)

"Life is a mirror and will reflect back to the thinker what he thinks into it."
Ernest Holmes quotes (American author and founder of the Religious Science Movement 1887 - 1960)

Trying to Solve the Problem at the Level of the Problem

I had a great teacher wants tell me that I could not solve the problem at the level of the problem. This meant I had to step out of the problem and look at it objectively. I had to look at it from the outside looking in. This is where a good coach is really valuable. I have tried to solve some business and personal problems by myself and could never find a solution. Then one phone conversation with my coach or mentor and just like that the problem is solved.

How is that so? Well, let me explain.

You and I make decisions and solve problems based on our own individual map of reality, which is only the map and not reality. The term the map is not the territory is a remark by Alfred Korzybski. His view was that an abstraction derived from something, or a reaction to it, is not the thing itself, e.g., the pain from a rock falling on your foot is not the rock; one's opinion of another person, favorable or unfavorable, is not that person; and so on. One of the principles of Neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) is the map is not the territory. NLP has been described by its creators as “the study of the structure of subjective experience.” The subjective experience is how people experience and conceive reality.

So we make decisions and solve our problems based on our map of reality. In the book, A Course in Miracles, which is really an incredible way to train your mind, the first six lessons are as follows:

1. Nothing I See Means Anything.
2. I have given everything I see all the meaning that it has for me.
3. I do not understand anything I see.
4. These thoughts do not mean anything.
5. I am never upset for the reason I think.
6. I am upset because I see something that is not there.

Another way to look at all of this is that within your mind you have beliefs, values, filters, meta programs and then throw in your conditioning, self-image/confidence, barriers of self-limitation and your personality. This is your map of reality. It is not reality. Your map of reality can be changed and that starts with a decision by you.

For any outcome you want, there is a certain way of thinking and acting that will get it for you. What are you thinking and how are you acting. The results that you are getting in your life are based on your map of reality. You are both the director and the actor. You can change your map and change your results. The truth is all things are possible and all we need to do is decide what we want and to really go for it.

Who would you be, what would you do, and what would you have if you knew you could not fail?

A Practical Suggestion

We have an intellectual faculty that has been given to us called our Will. Now most people think that the Will is like something we force, brute determination. But it is not like that at all. The functions of the Will are to decide, place, shift or remove attention. The word attention is derived from two Latin words, ad meaning towards and tendere meaning to stretch. This control of attention is done as either a self-determined act of personal will or in obedience to outside influences. Attention is the creating energy that brings about your reality. Energy flows to where attention goes. The Will can be strengthened through use and with proper nutrition and exercise.

All bad feelings are focusing on what you do not want. When you focus on what you do not want, you are both unhappy and you get what you do not want. Use your will and take your attention off of what you do not want and put your attention on what you do want. The power of decision is your own. You have the power as to how you focus your mind.

Every One of Us Has the Power

I read a beautiful quote by Dolores Huerta last night that I wanted to share with you. She writes, “Every one of us has the power. We need to use it and not be afraid to use it. We need to share what we learn. We have to go beyond our fears. If we don’t come out of our own comfort zone we can’t do anything.”

Dolores Huerta is one of the most significant labor leaders in U.S. history. http://www.doloreshuerta.org/ Along with Cesar Chavez, she co founded the United Farm Workers union in 1962, and dedicated her life to the struggle and dignity of migrant farm workers.

Stress Reducers

52 PROVEN STRESS REDUCERS

1. Get up fifteen minutes earlier in the morning. The inevitable morning mishaps will be less stressful.

2. Prepare for the morning the evening before. Set the breakfast table. Make lunches. Put out the clothes you plan to wear, etc.

3. Don't rely on your memory. Write down appointment times, when to pick up the laundry, when library books are due, etc. ("The palest ink is better than the most retentive memory."- Old Chinese Proverb)

4. Do nothing you have to lie about later.

5. Make copies of all keys. Bury a house key in a secret spot in the garden. Carry a duplicate car key in your wallet, apart from your key ring.

6. Practice preventive maintenance. Your car, appliances, home and relationships will be less likely to break down "at the worst possible moment."

7. Be prepared to wait. A paperback book can make a wait in a post office line almost pleasant.

8. Procrastination is stressful. Whatever you want to do tomorrow, do today; whatever you want to do today, do it now.

9. Plan ahead. Don't let the gas tank get below onequarter full, keep a well- stocked "emergency shelf'' of home staples, don't wait until you're down to your last bus token or postage stamp to buy more, etc.

10. Don't put up with something that doesn't work right. If your alarm clock wallet, shoe laces, windshield wipers-whatever-are a constant aggravation, get them fixed or get new ones.

11. Allow 15 minutes of extra time to get to appointments. Plan to arrive at an airport one hour before domestic departures.

12. Eliminate (or restrict) the amount of caffeine in your diet.

13. Always set up contingency plans, "just in case." ("If for some reason either of us is delayed, here's what we'll do..." Or, "If we get split up in the shopping center, here's where we'll meet.")

14. Relax your standards. The world will not end if the grass doesn't get mowed this weekend.

15. Pollyanna-Power! For every one thing that goes wrong, there are probably 10 or 50 or 100 blessings. Count 'em!

16. Ask questions. Taking a few moments to repeat back the directions that someone expects of you, etc., can save hours. (The old "the hurrieder I go, the behinder I get" idea.)

17. Say "No!" Saying no to extra projects, social activities and invitations you know you don't have the time or energy for takes practice, self-respect and a belief that everyone, everyday, needs quiet time to relax and to be alone.

18. Unplug your phone. Want to take a long bath, meditate, sleep or read without interruption? Drum up the courage to temporarily disconnect.

(The possibility of there being a terrible emergency in the next hour or so is almost nil.)

19. Turn "needs" into preferences. Our basic physical needs translate into food, water, and keeping warm. Everything else is a preference. Don't get attached to preferences.

20. Simplify, simplify, simplify.

21. Make friends with nonworriers. Chronic worrywarts are contagious.

22. Take many stretch breaks when you sit a lot.

23. If you can't find quiet at home, wear earplugs.

24. Get enough sleep. Set your alarm for bedtime.

25. Organize! A place for everything and everything in its place. Losing things is stressful.

26. Monitor your body for stress signs. If your stomach muscles are knotted and your breathing is shallow, relax your muscles and take some deep, slow breaths.

27. Write your thoughts and feelings down on paper. It can help you clarify and give you a renewed perspective.

28. Do this yoga exercise when you need to relax: Inhale through your nose to the count of eight. Pucker your lips and exhale slowly to the count of 16. Concentrate on the long sighing sound and feel the tension dissolve. Repeat 10 times.

29. Visualize success before any experience you fear. Take time to go over every part of the event in your mind. Imagine how great you will look, and how well you will present yourself.

30. If the stress of deadlines gets in the way of doing a job, use diversion. Take your mind off the task and you will focus better when you're on task.

31. Talk out your problems with a friend. It helps to relieve confusion.

32. Avoid people and places that don't fit your personal needs and desires. If you hate politics, don't spend time with politically excited people.

33. Learn to live one day at a time.

34. Everyday, do something you really enjoy.

35. Add an ounce of love to everything you do.

36. Take a bath or shower to relieve tension.

37. Do a favor for someone every day.

38. Focus on understanding rather than on being under stood, on loving rather than on being loved.

39. Looking good makes you feel better.

40. Take more time between tasks to relax. Schedule a realistic day.

41. Be flexible. Some things are not worth perfection.

42. Stop negative self-talk: "I'm too fat, too old, etc..."

43. Change pace on weekends. If your week was slow, be active. If you felt nothing was accomplished during the week, do a weekend project.

44. "Worry about the pennies, and the dollars will take care of themselves." Pay attention to the details in front of you.

45. Do one thing at a time. When you are working on one thing, don't think about everything else you have to do.

46. Allow time every day for privacy, quiet and thinking.

47. Do unpleasant tasks early and enjoy the rest of the day.

48. Delegate responsibility to capable people.

49. Take lunch breaks. Get away from your work in body and in mind.

50. Count to 1,000, not 10, before you say something that could make matters worse.

51. Forgive people and events. Accept that we live in an imperfect world.

52. Have an optimistic view of the world. Most people do the best they can.

From The American Lung Association

Back to School

This is the week that most children will start back to school. I have the deepest respect for the job that teachers do and for all of their hard work.

Most of us, who have 35-40 hour per week jobs, have no idea the hours that teachers work. Yes, most teachers are able to take some time off in the summertime, but they also use this time for continuing education and learning new skills for the classroom. Teachers spend hours preparing for class, teaching in the classroom, talking with parents and helping students outside the classroom. They spend time looking for the right word, the right book, the right picture or the right song that will inspire the child to the greatness that lies within them. Do you realize the commitment that it takes to be a teacher? I do not think we do. The really great teachers never read the story, they tell the story and that takes practice and more practice. The story is a metaphor for learning. The songs they sing to our children have to be memorized and practiced.

The word education comes from the Latin word educere. This means to draw out from within or to bring out something. It is not about memorizing more facts and figures. I believe the knowledge and the wisdom is within us already. The teacher brings forth the knowledge and wisdom that is within us and shows us how to express it. So it takes a lot of work to bring out the greatness and uniqueness in every child, especially when the world that they live in everyday is all about conformity and sameness.

The results we experience in life are an expression of our awareness. How do we expand our awareness? Through effective education, mentoring and coaching.

So this week, take a moment and say thank you to a teacher. Tell them that you appreciate all that they do to make a difference in the lives of children. One of my favorite teachers who I have great respect and admiration for her work is Ms. Shannon, who is the early childhood kindergarten teacher at the Pleasant Ridge Waldorf School, in Viroqua, Wisconsin. Pleasant Ridge Waldorf School: Faculty. If you read about her work at the website, you will understand why she is a teacher. Today, Labor Day, she is in her classroom preparing and rehearsing for the week so that her students receive the best. That is commitment.

The Limited Liability Company

The limited liability company (LLC) is a business entity created by statute in every state. The LLC is essentially a combination of a corporation and partnership. The owners, usually called members, enjoy the liability protection of a corporation and the taxation and operation options of either a corporation or a partnership. It is also possible to have a single-member LLC which can operate as a sole proprietor or a corporation. These attributes have caused the LLC to be a preferred choice of entity for many new businesses.

Each state has its own unique LLC statutes. Some of the statutes are binding upon the LLC, such as formation issues. That is, each LLC must submit articles of organization precisely as the statute states. However, most of the statutes are merely default rules for when the LLC members either have no operating agreement or no agreement on a specific issue covered by a default rule. For example, most states’ default rule for voting provides that each member has a vote equal to his ownership interest. However, since this is merely a default rule, the members may agree to override the default rule and have a per capita system of voting.

The LLC combines desired attributes of a corporation and a partnership. Previously, anyone setting up a business typically decided between a corporation and a partnership. Some people would opt for a corporation for its liability protection while others would choose a partnership for its pass-through taxation and more informal structure. With the creation of LLCs, people can now have both.

Most states allow LLC members to determine the management structure of the company. Except for a few states that require a centralized corporate-like structure, the LLC members can choose between centralized management and management by the members. Most members of LLCs choose a partnership-like, member-managed governance structure since this system is very flexible and allows for management by committee, management by a sole member, or management by a nonmember manager.

Flexible Tax Structure
Check-the-box tax regulations allow LLC business owners to elect the desired status for federal tax classification. If no election is made, a single-member LLC is taxed as a sole proprietorship and a multi-member LLC is taxed as a partnership. However, circumstances may be such that a corporate tax classification will be advantageous for the LLC. In that case, the owners merely “check the box” and elect a corporate tax classification. The check-the-box regulations make tax classification a very simple matter. You can always research tax information at Internal Revenue Service.

In addition, you can contact me at marty@martymcevoy.com

Magical Thinking Will Not Get You What You Want

There is a big difference in wishing for something and actually doing what it takes to make it happen. What I have discovered is that everyone wants something greater. The problem is most of us never go after what we really want. We settle for something far short of our wants and desires. Then we create stories, excuses and reasons to prove to ourselves that everything is just fine. It is called mental gymnastics. It is the insanity of doing the same thing and expecting different results. We want to earn more money, we want our relationships to be more meaningful, we know we should lose weight or exercise more or that we should play our part in creating world peace.

What do you really want? Sit quietly and ask yourself the questions, “What would I do if I knew I could not fail” “Who would I be” “What do I really want” or “Why am I here?” You decide.

The real value in having a personal coach is that the process will take you from wishing to acting. How do I know this? I have experienced the coaching process for myself. I have used some of the best coaches in the world. Follow this link and learn what coaching is all about: Marty McEvoy - Practical Empowerment.

I remember teaching swimming lessons at age 14. I had to move the child from wanting to get in the water, to being in the water. That took a decision from the child and the action of stepping into the water and lots of support and encouragement.

No matter what you want, there is a price to pay for it if you really want it. The results you are currently getting in your life are a result of how you have been thinking, feeling and acting. If you want to have different results in your life then you need to think, feel and act in a way that will bring about those results. Magical thinking is only part of the formula. You must take action. The value of the thinking is that it will motivate you to take action. The problem is that most people do not follow through with the action because it makes them feel uncomfortable.

The easiest way to do all of this is to uncover how you are thinking and acting now to produce the results you are currently getting. Then change the way you think and act so that you get what you want. Say for example you are just getting started in real estate sales. This is what you should do. Go speak with all the successful producers in your company and area and ask them how they think and act everyday. Successful people are always happy to talk with someone who wants to learn. Spend an hour with them. You will be amazed at how they think and act.

So today, start thinking and acting in a way that will give you the results you really want. I can help you do that. Contact me at marty@martymcevoy.com. By contacting me, you are acting in a different way. You decide...

Your Imagination

Napoleon Hill in his book, Think and Grow Rich Think and Grow Rich! The Original Version, Restored and Revised, says “The imagination is literally the workshop wherein are fashioned all plans created by human kind.” He goes on to say, “It has been said that anything can be created which a human being can imagine. The only limitation is that which one sets up in one’s own mind.” This means that anything that you can create in your marvelous mind can be created on the physical plane.

Everything in the room that you are sitting in, from the clothes you are wearing to the chair you are sitting in, was at one time, only a thought in the mind of an individual. You can literally create the life you want by first creating it in your imagination.

Your imagination is your ability to build big, beautiful, wonderful pictures in your life. This is really the workshop of the mind. Thomas Edison had carved into his desk, “imagination is more powerful than knowledge.” We are always imagining something, but we are not always imagining the right way. See most people imagine all the reasons why things cannot be done. They imagine all the obstacles and why things will not work. We have not used our imagination properly in most cases since we left the sandbox. What we want to do is focus on what it is we want and to build it in our imagination, over and over. We want to decide right now the income we want to earn, the home we want to live in or the relationship we want to have and start building it in our imagination.

You should go and read about Nikola Tesla. He had developed for himself an incredible imagination and used it to create all his inventions. He would literally create an invention in his mind, start it running and come back weeks later to see which parts had worn out. You can do the same thing.

Here is a practical method to really improve your imagination. Look at an object, then close your eyes and remember all the details of the object you were just looking at. Then, open your eyes and look again for something you did not see before. Then close your eyes again and picture all the details again. Do this a few times on one object and then go to another and do the same thing. Do this everyday for a few weeks, and you will develop an incredible imagination.

Put your imagination to work today and build the life you want. If you have any questions, please contact me at marty@martymcevoy.com

Forgiveness is the Key to Happiness

We have been told by every great spiritual teacher to forgive. In the bible it says, ‘And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye.” So let’s look at forgiveness from a very practical viewpoint. When we don’t forgive it robs us of our free attention and it is our free attention that we need to create what we want in our lives. The definition of attention is the creative energy that brings about reality.

So how do I forgive? It is a process and starts with a decision. I realize that forgiveness is better than holding a grievance. I realize that the power of decision is my own. I realize that happiness is a choice and is up to me if it is going to be. I realize that an unforgiving thought is focusing on what I do not want versus what I want.

Once I make the decision to forgive, I then realize that I might have to forgive not 7 times 7 times, but 70 times 70 times. I have found the following prayers to be very helpful and were given to me by some of my greatest teachers.

TRUE FORGIVENESS

A thought process example

From: The Disappearance of the
Universe

By Gary R. Renard

You’re not really there. If I think you are guilty or the cause of the problem, and if I made you up, then the imagined guilt and fear must be in me. Since the separationfrom God never occurred, I forgive “both” of us for what we haven’t really done. Now there is only innocence, and I join with the Holy Spirit in peace.

---

Fear binds the world. Forgiveness sets it free.

---

There is a very simple way to find the door to true forgiveness, and perceive it open wide in welcome. When you feel that you are tempted to accuse someone of sin in any form, do not allow your mind to dwell on what you think he did, for that is self-deception. Ask instead, “Would I accuse myself of doing this?”

40 Day Forgiveness Prayer
By Carol Canova

Must be done for forty consecutive days or the soul knows you need more time, so you start over if you miss a day. Do the prayer before bedtime.

Get completely relaxed, until you feel as though your body is floating – Relax – allow now your muscles to open and the tension to float free – now tell your heart to open and to allow all the hurts you’ve felt to be encapsulated in little balloons and to float freely to the Father to be blessed and healed.

Visualize now the face of the one you’re forgiving – and know that you’re speaking to their very soul. Visualize your soul speaking through you to their soul and know that this is so. Then speak inwardly (or aloud if possible), saying: “_____, I forgive you for all the times you’ve hurt me consciously and unconsciously since the beginning of time, and ______, I’m asking forgiveness of you for all the times I’ve hurt you consciously and unconsciously since the beginning of time.”

Let your soul turn and look at your own self and say to yourself, “______,

I forgive you and I love YOU.”

Then say, “Father God, forgive me for everything in this situation and relationship and release me. Thank You for this beautiful forgiveness. Thank You for this release from the memories and distorted perceptions.”

Amen and Amen.

Have a great day - Marty

Unity Church Presentation

I drove to Eau Claire, Wisconsin on Sunday to do a presentation to the Unity Christ Center. Lots of rain on the drive, but still incredibly beautiful. If you have never been to Wisconsin, you should plan a visit.

The title of my presentation was "Practical Empowerment…Seek what lies within you now". The purpose of the presentation was to remind each and every person that they are as God created them….made to perfection and in the image and likeness of God. To tempt each person to rediscover their purpose and vision - the one that lies within them– without barriers preconceived notions, or limits. And then to give each person some practical tools helping them realize your greatest desired potential, which is infinite and unlimited.

I thought the presentation went well and I received lots of compliments after the presentation. I really enjoyed meeting everyone at the church.

If you ever are near Eau Claire, Wisconsin on a Sunday, you should make it a point to attend the 10 am service at Unity Christ Center. The minister is Rev Sandra J. McKinney and she is a beautiful person. You will be welcomed with open arms from my friends in Eau Claire.

I will be in Eau Claire, Wisconsin again on September 15, 2007, speaking at the First Annual Wisconsin Wellness Expo. Wisconsin Wellness Directory I hope to see you there.

A quote from: The Dore Lectures on Mental Science

“My mind is a center of Divine operation. The Divine operation is always for expansion and fuller expression and this means the production of something beyond what has gone before, something entirely new, not included in past experience, though proceeding out of it by an orderly sequence of growth. Therefore, since the Divine cannot change its inherent nature, it must operate in the same manner in me; consequently in my special world, of which I am the center, it will move forward to produce new conditions, always in advance of any that have gone before.”

-Thomas Troward

Quote by U.S. Anderson

“When you paint success pictures in your mind, you initiate an inner process whereby your attitudes, hopes, aspirations, and enthusiasm are elevated in response to an image of a more promising future. Every person who aspires must first sell themselves hope, the promise of a better life.”

Law of Compensation by Raymond Holliwell

Crowd out all inferior thoughts by superior thoughts, evil thoughts by good thoughts, ugly thoughts by beautiful thoughts, distressing thoughts by pleasant thoughts, and you will begin to overcome the growth of all negative and confused states of wrong and discord. In other words, learn to think constructively of all persons, all things, all events, and all circumstances. Appraise them from the ideal point of view. As you do this you will gradually transform your whole existence for the better. These are the means whereby you may steadily promote your welfare and advancement.

As you train yourself to mentally look for the good, you will move towards the good; and, as you form higher and larger conceptions of the good, these elements will begin to find expression in your words, acts, character, person, talents, powers, attainments, and achievements; that is, all things in your life will commence to improve as the direct result of your improved thinking.

This process does not imply, however, that you are to ignore the wrongs of life, the empty places, and the undeveloped states of being; but that you are to think right through and beyond them towards the hidden good or the principle within that is ever seeking a higher and fuller expression. You will, therefore, cease to condemn and to criticize in a destructive manner; instead you will seek to bring out the good in yourself and in others, and to discover and develop the greater possibilities everywhere.

Commonly Missed Tax Deductions

Many business taxpayers fail or neglect to deduct otherwise eligible business expenses or fail to fully deduct qualifying business expenses. As a result, millions of dollars are overpaid to the Internal Revenue Service every year. Below is a listing of some commonly missed deductions or deductions that you may not be fully utilizing. You may wish to carefully examine your records to determine if you may be missing any of these deductions.

Home Office Deduction: If you use part of you home as a home office, you may be entitled to deduct expenses related to the home office based on the percentage of square footage the home office occupies. Related expenses include mortgage interest, property taxes, utilities, and repairs, etc.

General Business Expenses: If you use your personal funds for business expenses such as office supplies, these are qualifying business expenses, which you may deduct.

Meals and Entertainment Expenses: If you have used your personal funds to pay for meals and entertainment expenses, these expenses qualify as a business deduction, subject to limitations. In addition, you should keep detailed records on each expense.

Personal Assets Converted to Business Use: If you have contributed personal assets, such as a computer, the fair market value of these assets qualify as a business deduction, subject to depreciation limitations, beginning with the date of conversion.

Self-Employed Health Insurance: As a self-employed taxpayer, you may deduct 100 percent of your health insurance premiums.

Communications Expenses: Expenses related to the business use of your personal telephones, cellular phones, and internet connections may be deducted.

Automobile Expenses: Mileage and other related automobile expenses might be deducted when your personal vehicle is used for business purposes.

Universal Flag

Around the globe, hundreds of millions of people go to bed hungry every night. Over a billion have inadequate access to water. Tens of thousands of children under five years old die each day due to poverty related causes. Why is it that the richest nations allow the poorest ones to suffer any lack at all? According to Brian McClure, creator of the Universal Flag, the answer lies in “our perception, which is the only thing that we can ever change.”

In order for us to heal the planet and evolve as a species, we must shift our perception to one of inclusion rather than exclusion. This requires a remembering of who we are and what our place is in the world. A visit to the Universal Flag’s website will provide you with some food for thought on these issues. It outlines five fundamental “Truths” shared by all humans: 1) You are One with All, 2) You are Divine Presence, 3) You are Eternal, 4) You are Truth, 5) You are Interdependent on All.

By displaying the Flag, we remind one another of these greater Truths. When people ask what the Flag means, we tell them. In so doing, we extend an invitation to consider new possibilities. Without making anyone wrong for their beliefs, we offer a kinder, more expansive lens through which to view the world.

The power of symbol cannot be underestimated. Our dreams guide us through symbolic language. Politicians use symbols to gather and mobilize support. Ancient healing arts such as Reiki use symbolic hand signs to restore balance and flow to the physical body. And, corporations have made good use of their logos to create effective, very profitable brand loyalties. (Who can think of golden arches and not reminisce about their favorite way of eating a french fry?) Now, the world has a new symbol and it is one that calls forth our greatest promise and potential as a species. The Universal Flag is a beacon of our future.

The end of global poverty will come when each of us understands the Truth of who we are. That we are each inextricably connected to one another, to our earth and to our divine Source. When any one being suffers, it has an effect on all beings. Every time we see a Universal Flag symbol, the part of ourselves that desperately longs for peace is stirred awake and given greater legitimacy to exist. When we see the Universal Flag flying outside of any home, anywhere in the world, we know that we have found a friend. Instead of being greeted by limitations, we meet each other in an endless horizon of opportunity; and thusly, the world is changed.

McClure, intends for the Flag “to serve as a reminder, or a sign post, of our Oneness with All.” Rather than representing any one particular group, race, religion or nation, the Universal Flag represents all of life. Woven into its design are elements that express a commonality all beings share. The white background represents the purity from which we come; the colors signify vibrations of energy common to all (think chakra system); the waves represent the ups and downs of life; and, the gold band encompassing the symbol reminds us of the Golden Rule, “Treat others as you want to be treated.”

If you’re wondering why we need a universal flag, since it will never be used to distinguish us as separate from anything else….Well, that’s exactly the point. Let’s consider the consequences of a separated humanity by revisiting a few scenarios from our recent past: Hundreds of soldiers with swastika armbands marching the streets of Nazi Germany…The Israeli government banning the Palestinian flag and forbidding use of its four colors in artwork…Students in California protesting proposed immigration laws by raising a Mexican flag over an upside down American one. Not one of these situations led to greater peace or abundance for the parties involved. The world is filled with symbols of our human differences, when instead it could be enhanced by expressions of individual gifts or fortified by testaments to our collective strength. We all seek a sense of belonging, yet we’ve forgotten that our ultimate belonging is to each other.

The Universal Flag Foundation is a 501C3 company. To purchase a flag, or to learn more about upcoming projects and ways to get involved, visit www.UniversalFlag.com

Brian McClure can be reached at Brian@universalflag.com Brian is a personal friend of mine and an incredible individual.