Viral Happiness

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The old year is gone. The New Year is now upon us.

What plans did you make at the beginning of 2008 that didn’t work out for you? What would you like to do in 2009?

We all make plans. We all have wishes, dreams, and desires, and the New Year tends to bring these wishes, dreams, and desires to the forefront of our thinking. Now is the time to do everything you can to pave the way for a better year. Now is the time to discover what has been stopping you from reaching those heights you know you should reach.

So, what’s stopping you?

I believe that the only thing that can keep you from achieving your dreams is………..

You.

That’s right. You are the culprit. You are the reason that you are not where you want to be. And I’m not saying this as a way of blaming or chastising. I’m preaching the exact same sermon to myself as I preach it to you.

I am the only person that can stop me from reaching my goals, from realizing the fulfillment of my desires. It’s me.

We may couch it in other terms. We may want to say that it’s because of our crappy jobs or the stock market or the government or a spouse or our negative upbringing or a million other superficial things that are easy to point to and blame.  But, none of that matters.

Once you cut away all the layers of excuse, we are at the core of our imagined reasons.

Now I understand that you may not be able to do everything you’d like to do immediately to change your life. But, you can do something everyday. You can decide where you’d like to be and begin taking steps in that direction.

I’ve been working on creating a system for transforming a life in 28 days, and I’ve pulled 10 specific directives for transformation out of that research and experimentation. One of these directives fits well with what I’m writing today. And that is…

Act now.

Now is the only time we have. It’s where all worthwhile action takes place. We can dream about the future and learn from the past, but the only time to act is now.

So, chart your course and act now. You don’t have to take giant steps. Just do those things everyday that take you in your desired direction.

Begin by taking ownership of your life. Accept the fact that you are the only person who ultimately gets in your way. Even if it seems that, for example, “I can’t enjoy a moment of quiet contemplation daily because my family won’t understand,” it’s not your family or anyone else that’s stopping you. It’s your concerns about how your family or boss or friends will react that’s stopping you, and that decision is your own.

There’s a Donovan song that’s a favorite of mine called “New Year’s Resovolution.” I’ve been listening to it a lot lately. Allow me to share some of the lyrics with you.

“So many times, I was the one who stopped myself from doing things.
So many times, I was the one who grounded myself and clipped my wings.”

Don’t ground yourself. Don’t clip your wings. In this ‘mystery’ of why we aren’t where we want to be, we are the culprit. We are the thief of our dreams.

It’s time to get out of your own way and soar.

This is day 28 of my 28 Day Transformation Experiment, and I offer you this initial thought:

‘Encompassing all progress and transformation is the practice of constant, never-ending education.’

Don’t become satisfied with what you think you know. If what you currently know is enough, then you would already be where you want to be. You would have already accomplished everything you wish to accomplish. Reach further by exploring more. Be willing to question your current beliefs.

Don’t be afraid of ideas. Good ideas will appeal to you and stick with you. Bad ideas will fall by the wayside. Knowledge is never something to fear.

I have much to share with you about the past 28 days. The full report will take more reflection and thought on my part, and I plan to offer insights as they are ready to share. But, initially, I want you to understand that over-arching all progress and all successful transformation is the practice of constant, never-ending education.

Expect another update within the next few days.

Today is December 14th, and I am at the half way point in my 28 day transformation experiment.

I’ve already learned a lot.

I am breaking down this process into ten distinct, easily followed directives. Each directive alone will lead to vast improvement. And once you put them all together, you will be a transformation machine!

Each day for ten days (beginning December 1st) I have concentrated on one distinct directive. Then, for the past few days, I’ve been letting my mind play wherever it wants to play. Beginning Monday (tomorrow), I’ll once again review one directive a day for the next ten days. That will leave a few days at the end of the process to mull things over once again.

Since today is a play day in this part of the process and I have allowed my thoughts to go where they will,  they have led me into the area of radical belief.

To paraphrase Wallace Wattles, thinking is the toughest job you’ll  ever undertake. And he wasn’t referring to just any type of thinking; he was referring to believing things that are not immediately supported by what we are currently seeing and experiencing.

People commonly say, “I’ll believe it when I see it.”

But uncommon thinkers say, “I’ll see it when I believe it.”

That’s radical belief - the kind of belief that you employ when you are successfully transforming and manifesting.

Here’s the simple breakdown. First, get a vision. Then, radically believe, no matter how things appear and no matter how hard it might be to hold  that belief. And sometimes, particularly when you first begin, believing in spite of what you see will be hard work, just like Wattles says.

But, like everything else, the more you learn, the easier it gets. And it also gets easier with practice, and, just as soon as  you experience some success, it’s downright fun!

Once I finish the 28 day process and put all of the pieces together, you’ll be able to easily see how radical belief works in this process. It’s one very important ingredient in your continuing transformation.

I believe in going with the flow.

When you go with the flow, you float effortlessly down life’s stream. When you fight the flow, it’s like struggling to swim upstream. So I decided a long time ago to try and not fight the flow. I always intend to just go with it.

Recently, I’ve been working hard on developing a teleseminar; actually, I’ve been planning to develop a series of teleseminars. And that work has been going fine, but, like I said in the previous sentence, I’ve been working “hard.” And if you are going with the flow, things should never be “hard.”

So when inspiration hit me a week or so ago, I gladly succumbed to its influence, because inspiration is never hard. Inspiration is fun and challenging and, yes, it puts you right in the flow. Inspiration occurs when your thinking and feeling and intending all come together in a glorious doing. And who could ever say no to that?

I said yes. And that decision has led to a 28 day experiment. I’m calling it my “Transformational Sabbatical.” I’m taking a sabbatical from the way I’ve been doing things (the hard way), and I’m designing a program that will transform specific areas of my life in easily measured ways; and this transformation will happen in 28 days.

For those who  have purchased ‘Mastering Your Power of Release,’ you already know that I’ve developed extremely effective methods for achieving happiness and success by releasing the baggage that holds you back. And I’m definitely using some of the same methods during my new 28 day experiment.

And I’ve been studying dynamic insights form some of the best transformational minds teaching today and from some of the great old classics. I’ve also been doing a lot of thinking; I mean really taking specific moments to just sit and think. And I’m integrating the best of what I’m learning into my 28 day transformation.

So far, it’s been a blast!

I’ll definitely have a lot to report when I’m done. I’ve set very specific goals, and I’m interested to see how this all works. My intention is that I will create a series of easily followed suggestions that will transform any life in 28 days.

I plan to offer updates as I go. And when I’m through with the 28 days, I’ll review all of the information. And I’ll ask for feedback as I tweak the process.

But, for now, the most exciting thing is that I’m working with my inspiration, and I’m going with the flow. And that approach always makes life more effortless, dynamic, and fun.

Why do we find it so hard to trust?

Recently, I sent an email offering assistance with anything that might be a problem or issue for my readers. I genuinely wanted to know what they were facing. I wanted to know what I could do to help them.

There were no strings attached, and I tried to make this fact very clear. I wasn’t selling anything; I just wanted to help.

Before I sent the email, I wondered how many of my subscribers would take me up on the offer. It occurred to me that some people would just automatically ignore my email. I’ve found that lots of people sign-up for email updates and then ignore them.

But now I’m wondering how many people chose to ignore it because they were skeptical about my sincerity.

One of the people who did respond told me honestly that their first reaction was to wonder, “What does he want from me?” In other words, what’s his angle?

At first, that reaction surprised me. At least, it surprised me until I mulled it over for a little while. And as I sat and pondered, this thought popped into my mind: if one of my ‘gurus’ had sent an email with the same offer, I might have had the same skeptical reaction.

And I really can’t explain why.

I’m associated with lots of honest, helpful, and sincere people. As a matter of fact, I’d say that the vast majority of the teachers and experts I know put service first. So why am I skeptical?

More importantly, what breakthroughs might I miss because of my skepticism? That, my friend, is a valid question.

There are people on my list who missed out on some free help because they were skeptical of my offer. Now I’m forced to wonder what help I may miss out on because of my own skepticism. That is a GREAT and unexpected lesson. One that I intend to take to heart.

So, what do you think? I really want to know.

What makes us so skeptical?

Okay.

The election is over, so everyone just take a minute to breathe. What are your hopes after this historic outcome?

My hope is that the personal acrimony I’ve seen from both sides will stop. Right now. I’ve never seen a more polarizing election.

I’ve heard friends who were against Obama spout some of the most outlandish ‘facts’ that I’ve ever heard. I’ve heard friends who were against McCain say some of the most hate-filled things I’ve ever heard. These are just men, that’s all - flesh and blood like me and you.

Some of Mr. Obama’s support has taken on an almost religious, cult-like attitude. Now that he has won, we will NOT see the dawning of the Age of Aquarius.

By the same token, much of his opposition has also attacked him with religious fervor. I assure you that we have not just elected the anti-Christ.

Both sides have been deifying and demonizing the other side. And that has got to stop.

This is a good lesson for all to remember. The people who govern us are just people. They are not larger than life. They do not possess super-human qualities. They are just people, like you and me.

They have highs and lows. They have certainties and insecurities. They have successes and failures. They are human, not demons and not divine.

They want to make a good living and have friends and be loved and enjoy fuilfilling work and make a difference. And that’s exactly what I want to do. I would guess that’s what you want to do, too.

So, if you are tempted to think (after this election) that all of our worries are over or that the worst thing in the world has just happened, let me assure you that neither is true.

You need to simply keep on working on you and trust that God and this Universe are loving and friendly toward your personal development.

No matter where you stood in this election, just get on with your own personal development and know that expanding your development is the BEST way to assure that everything is going to be alright.

“I just can’t trust these gurus!”

Have you ever thought that?

Or maybe you’ve thought something like this…

“These ‘gurus’ only want one thing, and that’s abundance
at my expense.”

Admit it, this thought has crossed your mind before,
hasn’t it?

If that’s really what you think, maybe that one thought
is keeping you stuck right where you are.

I get emails from many of the same gurus that you do. Some
are good; some are great; some are so-so.

But I celebrate them all!

Would you like to know why?

It’s because they are doing SOMETHING!

They are pursuing their passion as they see fit, and they
are unashamedly putting that passion out there.

Some of these gurus resonate with me, and some don’t.

Some of these same gurus may resonate with you and others won’t.

That’s okay.

But if you find yourself ridiculing them or complaining
about them, I suggest that you stop it right now.

When you employ that kind of negative energy, you hurt
yourself. And you just may stay stuck right where you are.

And being “stuck” is deadly.

It kills your drive and it kills your confidence.

I know because I’ve been there. I’ve been stuck before,
and I know that it’s a deadly place to be.

It’s why I’m serious about teaching you to master your
power of release.

It’s why I’m willing to tell you that your attitude about
others may be part of what’s keeping you stuck.

If you’re getting emails from someone you don’t like
or respect (even if it’s me), you need to get off of
that person’s list. But WHATEVER you do, don’t make
fun of them, don’t complain about them, don’t even
think poorly of them.

The ancient philosopher Seneca said: “Admire those
who attempt great things, even if they fail.”

When these writers and speakers and coaches offer their
instruction and inspiration, they are attempting great
things. And you should celebrate that fact, even if you
feel that they have failed you in some way.

Even if you feel that all they care about is their
abundance at your expense.

So, if you have allowed yourself to slip into cynicism
and negativity about any of these gurus, just remember
that negativity breeds negativity.

And you can never reach a positive outcome when
employing a negative outlook.

So resolve right now to celebrate the passion and drive
and effort of those writers and speakers and coaches who
offer to connect with you.

When they reach out to you they really are attempting
great things.

Thanks for reading!

“If you want to be somebody else,
If you’re tired of fighting battles with yourself,
If you want to be somebody else,
Change your mind…”
Sister Hazel

I heard this song on the radio when it was first released, but I didn’t pay it too much attention. Then one day, my teenage daughter said, “There’s a Sister Hazel song that sounds just like the gospel you continually preach. Listen to it, and you’ll love it.”

So I did. I listened to it carefully, and I googled the lyrics. My daughter was absolutely correct.

Those of you familiar with my work know that I believe and teach this: the only way to change anything in your life is to change your thoughts -  and the only way to change everything in your life is to change your thoughts.

Are there things in your life that need changing? Do you long for more happiness? More abundance? More passion for living? More satisfaction? More success?

It all begins by changing your thinking.

That’s the basis of my teaching in ‘Mastering Your Power of Release,’ and in ‘7 Days Away From Powerfully Positive Living.’

Changing your thinking, particularly as it relates to releasing those things that need to be released in your life, is what we’ll be discussing during a free teleseminar that I’m hosting very soon (would have been sooner, but my laptop died and my new one is supposed to be here tomorrow). I’ll have more info coming about that teleseminar next week.

And changing your thinking is one of the keys taught in a brand new in-home retreat that I’m planning to offer, complete with teaching teleseminars, unlimited email coaching, and one-on-one personal telephone consultation (that’s a very rare offering for me these days because of time constraints). Expect an announcement about this very soon.

In the meantime, go to itunes and download “Change Your Mind” by Sister Hazel. Google the lyrics and read them, particularly the chorus. Don’t ignore the truth in these words just because this happens to be a pop song. Believe me, whoever wrote these lyrics is a genius, because the secret to changing anything is to change your mind.

Tags: change, Happiness, success

Tonight, I had ice cream for supper.

Was I supposed to have ice cream for supper. Nope, I really wasn’t. My doctor recently told me that my cholesteral needs to drop a few points. But, that’s what I wanted, and sometimes, we just have to do what we want to do.

And, guess what - I can start over tomorrow.

Some of you may be saying, ‘that’s a cop-out’…but I don’t think it is. I think that starting over is one of the most powerful tools at our disposal. Because, let’s face facts: at times, we’re going to make wrong choices; we’re going to forget some of our own life rules: we’re going to screw-up.

But we can ALWAYS start over.

Are you accomplishing all you’d like to accomplish?
Have you mastered everything you intend to master?
Are you where you want to be?

Don’t beat yourself up. Just start over.

Tomorrow, I’ll have oatmeal for breakfast and fruit for a snack. I’ll have tuna for lunch and a salad for supper. I’ll drink my water and be sure and have lots of fiber. I’ll exercise. I’ll start over.

You can always begin again.

———————————-

If you need a little help starting over, you can find plenty from many different sources. You might want to consider ‘Mastering Your Power of Release.’ It’s the method that allows me to pursue happiness and success daily.

Be blessed!
Buz

Tags: begin again, Happiness, Release, starting over, success

I received an email from a reader recently about Mastering Your Power of Release. And she was hoping that the methods in the product would be something brand new and earth-shattering. And, if you’ve never tried them, they are brand new. If you learn these methods and use them, they can be earth-shattering. But, from the tone of her email, it seemed to me that she was looking for magic.

These methods are not magic.

Nothing is. Some things may work so well that they seem like magic. As a matter of fact, my very first sharing of these methods with a wider audience was in a self-published paperback book entitled, “Almost Like Magic.” And, once you see how easy it is to change your life, you might be tempted to call this magic.

But it’s not magic.

You can call it effective. You can call it life-changing. And I appreciate the people who have written to say that it has absolutely changed their lives for the better.

You can call it uncomplicated, because it actually is downright simple. And, even though it takes some study and some practice, once you get the hang of it, you really can change your life from negative to positive…from struggling to happy.

But don’t expect a magic phrase that, once uttered, does all the work for you. Because there’s no magic bullet. It’s simply applied science, and that means it takes some application on your part.

So, no, it’s not magic.

It just feels that way.