Can We Receive A Million Dollars From A Song?

I’ve always enjoyed the song “If I Had A Million Dollars” by BNL. It’s a catchy song by a bunch of Canadian guys having some fun. If you haven’t heard it, the song is about what the guys would do and have, and what life would be like if they had a million dollars.

Some people enjoy listening to the song and dreaming along with them. Others discard the thought. “I don’t have a million dollars or a way to get it, so why should I even bother thinking about it?”, they say.

The song is a humorous and laid back way of thinking those million dollar thoughts. However, learning what I have in the past few years, I think these guys have something more than a good song here. I have learned that it’s a great idea to think about things as we want to experience them. If we do it deliberately, and add the emotion of already having it, the thought becomes more than just a dream. It becomes our reality.

When you use your imagination, focus on the most exact and specific details, and experience the strong positive emotions associated with the desired success, your subconscious mind begins taking it as being true and real. Then when you take the appropriate action, you are acting in a confident manner that will bring you the very success you imagined. Your confidence and faith grows, and as long as you keep thinking and acting positively, the success will continue.

For those of you who are afraid to dream because you find your goals unreachable or impossible, you will prove yourself correct. However, if you refuse to see a million dollar dream of any kind as a childish fancy, and want to move yourself towards it, play these crazy imaginary games, and enjoy the experience. Take it a step further, and take time each day to deliberately use your imagination to create the positive, faithful emotions to help create the success you are seeking.

I realize this is just a song, and a bunch of guys having a good time. However, if you’re having any doubts about following the ideas of a music group, I will remind you of one thing…THEY’RE MILLIONAIRES!!!

Have an excellent day!

How To Create More Problems In Your Life

I was discussing the concept of reverse psychology with someone the other day. It’s funny that it especially works with kids. You know, when you purposely tell them to do one thing when you want them to do another. For example, when you say “don’t smile”, and actually get them to smile.

I figured I would try to use reverse psychology on this blog today. The above title goes against something I would usually write about. My goal is positivity and to assist myself and others avoid problems instead of creating them. We’ll see if it works  in getting your attention and the point of what I have to say today : )

The sad thing is that most people create their own problems in life. Yes, I know some good people get bad breaks and situations they totally don’t deserve. However, what most people don’t realize is that they create many of their own problems, and continue to make them worse. Some do this in a completely unconscious manner.

What is one way you or anyone else can create more problems in life? Drum roll please…the best way to add more problems to life is to complain. We all do it. Unfortunately when you do, it just adds fuel to the fire.

I often share about the power of the mind, and that we receive what we think about. When you complain, you are thinking about the problem and focusing on it whether you relaize it or not. The result is that you receive and experience more of the problem. Is your boss making things difficult for you at work? Gossiping about it to the other employees will only make it worse. That’s because it is what you are focusing on. Lamenting that your bank account balance is too low? Once again, the continuous focus on it will only bring more red instead of black. Sharing about how your spouse or partner is getting on your nerves? I don’t think I have to say it again. Hopefully you are figuring out that complaining only makes a bad situation worse because you are focusing your thoughts on that negative situation.

How do we reverse the negative trend? Simply focus on the solution. Instead of communicating about the negative situation in your life, think and talk about the positive that it will create. For example, if the problem is at work, focus on the fact that this will motivate you to do better work or the new, better job you will find as a result. If money is the issue, think about having a fat bank account and focus your efforts and actions on making it happen. If you are having relationship difficulties, think about all of the positive traits of that person, and picture the relationship you want to have. Then act towards that positive goal.

I conclude with the reminder that we receive what we focus our thoughts on. When you complain, you are placing your focus on the negative situation, thus creating more of it. When you focus on the solution or the ultimate goal, your action will coincide, thus moving you away from the negative, and towards the desired outcome. That is certainly not something to complain about : ) Have an excellent day!

The Story Of The Quiet Superstar…And How You Can Become One

I was talking to my daughter the other day about basketball. She said she is currently playing it in Gym class. She added that she enjoys it, but she was struggling. After all, she is short for her age, and basketball is a tall person’s game. She said she was trying to play well and improve. The problem is that her lack of confidence was eveident. As a result, the other kids aren’t even throwing the ball to her.

I tried to think quickly. Although I very much enjoy the game and have decent athletic ability, I am not good at basketball. So what could I tell her? As I thought about it, I thought of my favorite college and NBA players. My favorites are the ones who are not seven feet tall, and not even the ones that score the most points. They are the ones who rack up the assists and do the little things to help the team win. Basically, they are the ones that help the superstars and the high point scorers look good. These players are the ones that find the big guys and get them the ball for the easy shot. Again, they help the stars succeed and look good.

I advised my daughter that she could be this type of player. Basketball is a team game for a reason. The biggest guys get the inside dunks and block shots from the opponents. The shooters are the ones scoring the long 3 pointers. Then there are those I mentioned that have a high number of assists and do what’s necessary where needed. Everyone has their role. Each player that has reached the college and professional level is there because of ability, but also because they were smart enough to figure out the best way to contribute to a team based on their size and ability.

I explained this to my daughter. She is not tall, nor has she had much practice shooting the ball. I explained to her how to find the players that could make the basket and do her best to get the ball to them. That’s something that, based on her ability, she could work to get better at. Once the other kids figure out that they would get the ball from my daughter to score, she would get the ball more. In other words, if they figure out that my daughter can help make them look good, they will of course give her more opportunities to do so. She would be considered a valuable member of the team.

What’s the point of all of this? You too can be considered a very valuable team member wherever you are. You can help yourself stand out. How? By helping others look good. This goes against the normal way of thinking. Most people attempt to stand out by bringing the attention on themselves. It is human nature to do this. However, you are more likely to be noticed when you help others get noticed. You are more likely to look good when you help others look good. In a nutshell, you succeed when you help others succeed.

I began following this suggestion and I certanly see its truth. I challenge you to do the same.  Remove the focus from yourself, and see what you can do to help others shine. If you do this consistently, you will begin to see the spotlight shine on you more often. You will feel great for helping others, and will experience significant rewards yourself.

I challenge you to increase your assist total. You can score some baskets too, but the key is to help others succeed and look good. They will be blessed, and so will you. Then you will all be winners. Have an excellent day!

Thankful Ideas

I often discuss the importance of being thankful for what we have. We are still several weeks away from Thanksgiving, but I believe every day should be spent finding something to be thankful for in our lives. I firmly believe that the more thankful we are for what we have, the more new blessings we will receive in our lives.

Even though we all have things to be thankful for, it is sometimes difficult to think of things, especially the little ones, to be thankful for. I recently received an email from a friend about exactly that…some of the little (or sometimes bigger)things we can be thankful for. I felt the need to share that list here. It’s called 21 days of Thanksgiving. It presents one idea per day to focus on being thankful for. Of course, you can always add more to the list…

21 days of Gratitude

Be thankful for one thing each day

A friend

Health

A family member

A teacher (someone who has taught you something)

A time of day

An emotion

A freedom you have

A co-worker/classmate

A skill/talent you possess

A restaurant

A physical activity you can do

An experience you had

Something in your room

Something in your kitchen

Something in your home

A gift you received

A deficit that made you stronger

The one thing that you can’t part with

An animal

A trait that someone that you are close to possesses

Creation, nature

A book that has been meaningful in your life

The one thing that you love most about you

Your mom and dad

Have fun with this. Feel free to use other ones as well. Either way, being thankful is a great way to put a smile on your face and make your day better. Enjoy the blessings : )

 

Uncomfortable Success

Ah, the comfort zone. Everyone craves it. It’s just the way we are wired. There are not many things better than comfortably enjoying the goodness of life. Everything is better when we are comfortable, right?

Be careful before you answer that question. I agree that I would much rather be comfortable than not. The potential problem is that sometimes people become too comfortable. As a result, they don’t try new things, take risks, or seek new challenges. As a result, life becomes stagnant, and people don’t progress as far as they would like.

You may ask…how do I change this? After all, it is difficult to come out of my comfort zone. This is true. It is sometimes very dificult. Why is that? It’s because of the set-up of our subconscious mind. Your subconscious tries to set things up so that you reach and live in that comfort zone. This comfort zone is the truth that you have come to know. Your subconscious doesn’t like when something goes against this truth. Sometimes this truth is that you can only handle the job that you currently have, no matter how difficult it is or how much you dislike it. Sometimes this truth is that you cannot be a positive partner in a relationship. Sometimes this truth is that you cannot reach the weight you are seeking. Or that you can only a reach a certain level of income. Or…this list can go on and on.

So how does one defeat this cycle and change the truth? It’s a matter of telling your subconscious a different story to create a new truth. There are three main ways to do this. One is by positive affirmations. Tell yourself a new truth. Tell yourself that you can and will reach your goals. Second, is to visualize the success you are craving. It’s amazing that your subconscious mind cannot tell the difference between a real or imagined event. The more it sees the positive pictures you create, the more it believes it as being true. Third and most important is to take action. You need to do things that are outside of your comfort zone. As mentioned, this is difficult at first. However, the more you do it, the easier it becomes. For me, I always had difficulty speaking in front of crowds. I didn’t think I was an effective speaker. However, because of my college major of Communications and the radio field I wished to enter, I was forced to speak in front of people on a regular basis. As I did it, it became easier. I actually began to enjoy it. I spent several years in radio. Now, I confidently speak in front of students everyday as a teacher. I always loved to write. However, it was usually just for me. The prospect of blogging caught my attention, but I held back because I doubted that anyone would be interested in what I would have to say. Still, I came away from the comfort zone. Now I am lucky enough to receive positive responses from hundreds of readers on various blog sites. It would have never happened if I would not have stepped away from the comfort zone.

I have recently been challenged, and I relay this challenge to you. Every day, do at least one thing (or even more) that is outside of your comfort zone. Anything from trying a new food, a new outfit, a new sport/activity, or doing something that you’ve been holding back on for a long time. This type of action on a regular basis will take you steps ahead of where you are now. Your subconscious will ultimately find and create those new truths that you are seeking. You will reach your goals faster, and create success in all areas of your life.

The bottom line is this…It is ok to enjoy comfort and the good things in life. However, you cannot avoid straying from that comfort zone that has been created. Take some chances and seek new challenges. You can and will meet them, and your life will be taken to a higher level. That’s something you can be very comfortable with. Enjoy the blessings : )