What Do You Accept?

When I was a student back in high school, each of my teachers had different standards of work they would accept. With some, I could easily get by handing in mediocre work. The standards of other teachers were much higher, so I had to submit higher quality work. The assignments I did were based on the “acceptability” standards of each teacher.

As I reflect on this years later, I realize that all of us as human beings can relate to the above example. Instead of school work, I relate it to life circumstances. For example, some people accept mediocre circumstances. They may not exactly want below average results, but they still accept them without trying to move ahead. Other people will not accept procrastination, or lack of success. Instead, their standards are higher and they will only accept high quality circumstances.

Where do you fall here? Are you unsatisfied with unfulfilled potential and unaccomplished goals? Do you just accept this fate and believe there is nothing you can do to move ahead? If so, I challenge you to increase the standards you accept in your life. Raise your level of expectation and ideals of success. Don’t accept just average. Only accept the absolute best for yourself.

You may be agreeing with me, but are unsure how to proceed. I am not always sure either. However, what helps me is prayer and reflection. Keep in mind that the Spirit of God dwells in you. Look to this power you have to take you to the higher level. Pray for the direction to go, then take the steps to get there in the unlimited power of the Spirit. The next step is to envision the success you are seeking. When you visualize success, it becomes engrained into your subconscious. Once that happens, you will only accept the ideal circumstances that you are seeking. You will no longer accept the status quo, even though that is still what you may be seeing. However, with persistence, that will soon change.

I believe these steps are simple and helpful. I don’t know about you, but I am done accepting anything except the ideal circumstances I am seeking. God has so many great things in store for my life, and for yours too. Look to His power, have faith, and act with confidence. As a result, your life will not be average any more. Enjoy the blessings : )

Rejoice In The Success Of Others

…”there should be no division in the body, but its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it. If one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is part of it” 1 Corinthians 12:25-27.

I begin with this quote because I have heard or seen this concept in several places recently. I guess that means I should be listening : ) Anyway, it is very true. The good news (or should I say great news) is that, even though we live in mortal bodies,  we are spiritual beings. We all originate from the one Spirit of our source and creator. We also reap the power of this wonderful Spirit. The bad news is that too many people live their lives seperate from that Spirit, and separate from other people.

This concept ties in to other things I’ve talked about on this site. Because we are all one in Spirit, what we think about others ultimately affects us. For example, when you think negatively about someone else, you are bringing these negative thoughts upon yourself. When you resent the success of someone else, you are basically resenting the fact that you would ever enojoy this success. We are all one body, remember? The opposite is also true. When you rejoice at the success of another person, you are adding positive and thankful thoughts to it. This ultimately helps manifest good to you too and adds to your own positive karma. We’re all one, remember?

This is not always an easy concept. I know there are times when I have deep desires, but the accomplishment of my goal seems nowhere in sight. Then I see another person enjoying the very success I am seeking. It is easy to become resentful or jealous. This is true even if it is someone close to us, even those that we love. However, the advice I am learning is that we cannot think negatively towards them. Instead, sincerely rejoice and thank God for their success. You are one in Spirit with these people, so these positive thoughts will affect those people, yourself, and everyone else around you. It’s some powerful stuff. Use it for your good, and the good of those around you. Enjoy the blessings : )

7 Excellent Positive Affirmation Tips

Ok, I’ll admit it. Yes, that was me you saw talking to myself as I was stopped at the red light. But it’s ok. I’m not losing it, going crazy, or anything like that. I was telling myself great things that I need to hear, and I need to believe.

You may recognize this as positive affirmations. I discuss the topic often at this site. It is a very effective way to replace negative beliefs held deep in your subconscious with positve, uplifting ones.

What am I supposed to say, you ask? Whatever you need to believe. Is it more confidence you seek? Remind yourself how much you have. Trying to be a better friend? Remind yourself of how you are a valuable person whose company is a treat.

There are many ways to incorporate positive affirmations into your day. Today, I will share some helpful tips from an article I read recently. It provides excellent information on how to use positive affirmations. I will share the link at the end of the post:

1. Make all statements positive. No negatives.
2. Use present tense, as if you already have what you are seeking. Avoid using future tense statements.
3. Use affirmations that create positive emotions.
4. Don’t worry about any resistance you may be receiving from your subconscious mind.
5. Have fun with this!
6. Once you have said the affirmations several times move on and do something else.
7. Be patient. You may not see immediate results, but be persistent and you will begin to see the changes you seek.

It is amazing how powerful affirmations can be. I will sometimes be reminded to use them at points in my day when I am struggling. As a result, my thoughts are immediately shifted from negative to positive, and the day changes for the better. Follow the guidelines listed above, and you will be pleasantly surprised by the results. Enjoy the blessings : )

http://www.laurentaykwalker.com/utilizing-power-affirmations-improving-life-7-tips

Set The Goal Extra High

I read a quote from “The Secret” earlier. It says, “set the goal so high that, if you achieved it, you would be blown away.”

I believe we all need to be reminded of this thought on a regular basis. How many of us live each day just to get by? It’s very easy to do in this fast-paced society where there is much more to do than hours available to do them. I know there are days I am so busy that I am satisfied just to get to the end of it unscathed.

I have quickly learned that if you constantly live each day hoping to get through it, you may or you may not. And your chances of moving to a higher level are limited. However, if your aim is to take your life to the next level, the above philosophy is one that you need to live by. If you look at miracles and great feats that have happened in history or to people around you, it’s because these individuals dreamed big and had the faith to see their dreams realized. Some of these people shared stories of being completely healed of incurable sickness. Others have provided things like light bulbs, airplanes, and a world wide web of information. It’s people like this that were not satisfied to just get through the days and accept the status quo. Instead, they all dreamed big and experienced “impossible” miracles.

Let us strive to reach the next level. Set goals according to your desires that are so high, it would be miraculous to reach it. You have the faith, see it happen in your mind, do your part, and let God do His. Soon those great achievements won’t be miracles anymore. They will become regular occurences.

Set the bar high and go for it. I encourage you to share your victories with us here, and with those around you. Enjoy the blessings : )

How To Direct The Subconscious Mind

There is much power in the subconscious mind. The subconscious is something that we all have. However, many people are unaware of how to use it. Even more people are unaware of the power they possess by using the subconscious mind to their advantage.

Before I explain how to direct the subconscious, let me first provide a crash course about how it works. All of the beliefs and experiences that build up in our lifetime are stored in the subconscious mind. It is this part of the brain that maintains are core beliefs, and it is this part of the brain that ultimately directs our actions. That is because the conscious (thinking) part of our brain is influenced by the subconscious. For example, let’s say you struggled in school, and some peers, parents, and teachers told you that you were not intelligent. The core beliefs in your subconscious tell you that you are not intelligent. Then you believe it, and ultimately take actions which ending up “proving” to your subconscious that it is right. If you are struggling with weight, your experiences and possibly people telling you that you’re fat, are stored in your brain and you believe it yourself. No matter how hard you try to lose weight, you continually act towads confirming the belief of being overweight.

After seeing all this, you may wonder, how can I change this? Since your subconscious beliefs have been formed by what you’ve seen and what you’ve been told, you change the beliefs by changing what the subconscious sees and is told. It’s a matter of replacing the old beliefs with new ones. Here’s a 3 step process to get your subconscious mind to work for you instead of against you:

1. Think of what you want and see it happening. If you want more money, pick an exact amount, and “experience” having that amount and all of the resulting benefits. If you want to lose weight, think of the exact weight you want to be, and see yourself there, again enjoying all of the benefits.
2. Direct your subconscious by telling yourself that you are wealthy, you are at the perfect weight, you are an excellent marraige partner, or whatever you want it to believe.
3. Take the necessary action. When you take action with these new thoughts, you no longer have your negatively established beliefs holding you back. Instead, you have your positively-inspired beliefs pushing you forward.

In order for this to work, you need to do it consistently. I try to do it a few minutes (5-10) a day, about 3 times during the day. That is how your beliefs gradually change. Keep at it, even if you have conflicting thoughts the first few times. That is simply your subconscious trying to prove you wrong. Once you direct it enough though, those new thoughts will take over and you will experience less and less resistence.

The subconscious mind is a powerful tool that can work for you or against you. Follow these steps to help move you forward today. Your faith will increase as you do, resulting in more positive progress. Enjoy the blessings : )

How To Let Your Light Shine

This little light of mine. I’m gonna let it shine. This…oh, I’m sorry. I had this song stuck in my head and didn’t realize it was time to start writing. Most of us know this song somehow, either from our own church experience or someone else’s. An appropriate Bible verse that goes along with it is Matthew 5:14-17, which says…you are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it in a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men , that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven”

So let’s go back to our song, along with this verse. It tells us to let our light shine. However, it doesn’t tell us how to do it! Is there a way to let our light shine? I was reading the Life Application Bible, and they actually mention 6 ways we hide our light. Those are:

1. Being quiet when we should speak.
2. Going along with the crowd.
3. Denying the light.
4. Letting sin dim our light.
5. Not sharing our light with others.
6. Ignoring the needs of others.

Due to the fact that I like to focus on the positive, I turned these ideas around. Instead of discussing ways we hide our light, let’s instead talk about how we can shine our light:

1. Share positive and encouraging words whenever possible.
2. Express the parts of your personality that make you unique.
3. Be willing to let God’s light shine in you.
4. Do your best to do things right. Nobody’s perfect, but do your best to be your best.
5. Look for opportunities to share the light with others.
6. Serve others as much as possible and do what you can to meet their needs.

If you are seeking for ways to shine that little light of yours, I think this is a great way to do it. Not only will others be blessed, but you will notice a greater positive light shining on your own life as well.

Enjoy the blessings : )

Can Mind Triumph Over Matter At The Olympics?

Another olympic fornight has come to an end. I always enjoy watching talented, hard-working individuals from all over the world complete in various types of games. I also enjoy learning the various lessons that are associated with it.

One of those lessons is that success at these games is not based solely on physical talent. Much of the athletes’ success at the Olympics is based on what lies between the ears. In other words, the power of the mind is just as important as the power of the body.

I was reminded of this fact by an article in a Malaysian newspaper. The article criticized some of the athletes for not being strong enough mentally. The article says, “the athletes were competitive at this level, but lost out where it mattered most. They clearly lacked the psychological edge where the mind provides the extra push needed to be a winner.” The article stressed that the Malaysian sports people have not given this aspect enough attention.

This information is not only true in Malaysia, or even in sports for that matter. It is a fact that the most successful people in life are the ones with not only the skill or talent to excel, but also those with the most mental strength and determination to be a winner. Going back to the olympics…how many times have we seen athletes with less talent win because of their determination and strengthof their will. Or how many superior athletes have we seen fall short because they did not possess the mental strength necessary to succeed? It happens all the time, in all aspects of society.

You may be asking…how can I make my mind strong for success? The answer is that it can be easily done. The secret is holding the picture of success (whatever that is for you) in your mind and never letting it go. See yourself accomplishing the goals you set. Feel the satisfaction as if you have already accomplished those goals. This may seem like an over-simplification, but it is extremely powerful. When we envision success and feel the positive emotions associated with it, we believe it as it is embedded into our subconscious. Then we are more likely to act successful and take the necessary steps with confidence in order to achieve it.

It is sad to know that these London olympics are gone forever. However, the lessons will remain. Now it’s time to put them to use.  Have an excellent day : )

I have included a link to the article I referenced below….

http://thestar.com.my/sports/olympics/story.aspx?file=/2012/8/12/olympics/11844548&sec=Olympics

10 Ways To Increase Your Confidence

I have done an extensive study into the power of the mind to enhance the quality of life. One of the most helpful resources I’ve encountered is the book, “The Power of Positive Thinking”, by Norman Vincent Peale. The book is loaded with information to help increase positivity and power. He also provides simple, easy to use action steps to carry out in order to reach your desired goals.

One of my favorite parts of this powerful book is a list of tips to increase self-confidence. I can testify first-hand that these steps work if used on a regular basis. As mentioned, they are simple, logical, and easy to carry out. Here are the 10 steps:

1. Hold a picture of you succeeding in your mind. In every situation, view yourself as successful, and avoid doubting the success that you are seeing. Instead, hold onto it and continually watch these scenes of success.
2. Whenever a negative thought about yourself enters your mind, immediately replace it with a positive one. Be sure not to fight the negative thoughts. That only seems to make it worse. Instead, acknowledge it, but remind yourself that the positive thought is the real truth about yourself, and let it gradually take over.
3. Do not build up obstacles in your mind. Deal with them accordingly, but instead of seeing them as mountains, see them as a temporary challenge that will only increase your confidence and character.
4. Be your best self. Avoid comparing yourself to others.
5. At least 10 times a day, affirm “God is for me so no one can be against me” (Romans 8:31).
6. Seek help when you need it. No one ever said you have to do everything on your own. Know that people are there to help, and utilize their services.
7. At least 10 times a day, affirm, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philipians 4:13). This is an extremely powerful statement, the most helpful for me. When this is drilled into your head, you will feel virtually unstoppable,
8. Make a true estimate of your ability, then raise it 10%. Do your part the best you can, then let God help you go above and beyond.
9. Affirm the following, “I am completely in God’s hands. Then actually put yourself there, knowing He is fully in control. His outcomes are better than anything you can come up with.
10. Believe that you now and constantly receive power from God.

Honestly, how difficult are these to do? They don’t take much time, and when done consistently, they put your mind in a positive, powerful state, helping you firmly believe you can accomplish anything. I certainly recommend you take a few minutes a day to affirm and visualize these thoughts. As always, I would love to hear about how this information helps you. Have an excellent day : )

3 Power Steps To The Next Level

I am a firm believer in doing what it takes to bring life to a higher level. I am very happy with many things in life, but at the same time, average just doesn’t do it for me anymore. Many posts I write here are geared to help my readers and I take life to a higher level.

I received a newsletter from one of my favorite pastors/authors Joel Osteen the other day. It is titled, “3 Keys To Experiencing the Next Level”. As you can imagine, it certainly had my attention in a hurry! I found the information very helpful and interesting, and I would like to share it with you. Here are the 3 keys Joel mentions:

1. Believe that God has great things in store for you and wants to bless you. He quotes Psalm 37:4 which says..take delight in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.
2. Release every negative thought and bad experience to God and trust His plan. The verse he mentions here is 2 Corintians 5:17…if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation. The old has gone, the new is here.
3. Receive the promises of God for your life and live with confidence. He uses Matthew 21:22 which says…you can pray for anything, and if you have faith you will receive it.

I agree with Joel Osteen and firmly believe God wants to take us to a higher level in our lives. I find his 3 step process very helpful, and very simple to do consistently. It can certainly work for you too. For more information on this, go to http://JoelOsteen.com/elevate

Have an excellent day!

A Generous Dose of Info To Help Receive What You Want

Is there a special formula that gives you a better chance to receive what you want? In one way, I would have to say no. There are many factors involved. However, if you are looking for a way to enhance your success, reach your goals, and receive the blessings you are looking for, I have something that can help you get there.

How do you get want you want? The answer is quite ironic and may surprise you….give it away! What? How can I give away something I don’t even have? I will say that in most cases, you already do have it. For example, some people are looking to be appreciated more. In that case, the best way to receive that appreciation is to show greater appreciation for others. Seeking more money? Be more willing to share what you already have. Many of us say we don’t have enough time. If that’s the case, give yours away. Spend time helping and serving other people, and watch how much time you will find that you really have. The same is true with the other examples. By appreciating others, you will find people appreciating you more. By sharing your money, you will find it coming to you from unexpected sources. It’s amazing how it works.

This information is well backed in the Bible. “A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed” Proverbs 11:25. “Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap” Luke 6:38. These are just some of the many verses that stress the importance and benefits of generosity.

A key concept is to avoid doing things for others simply because you want to be blessed yourself. Don’t go seeking the blessing. When you do for others, you will atomatically have it done for you. Besides, there is the verse in Matthew 25 where Jesus says, whatever you do for the least of these people you do for me. You are doing it for Him and His glory. You will be blessed as a result. In addition, think of how you feel when you give to someone else. Doesn’t it feel great? That great feeling will give you more positive energy, and you will feel like you can do more with your time. The desire to give to others simply becomes natural.

Today, think of what you can do for someone else. Think especially of what it is that you are seeking in your life. Then give as much as you can of it to someone else. You will see major blessings for them, and especially in your own life. I encourage you to make it happen. Please share your results : )