And then it all came crashing down…

Apocalypse: any universal or widespread destruction or disaster: i.e. - the apocalypse of nuclear war.

Skipping the non-biblical references (for the purpose of universal agreement on the term), the above definition of the word apocalypse should illustrate for you - dear reader - just what we are talking about here.

Or, to be more specific, we are talking about the end of all things here in the blogosphere:

What would you do if the concept of "blogging" was about to suddenly and completely go away forever? Would you shed a bitter tear? Would it matter to you at all?

More importantly, would you have succeeded in getting your message across to the people who needed to hear it??

These are the kinds of questions that have been asked by The Urban Monk in a group blogging project for charity that he has coined 'The Blog Apocalypse'.

Having started my own project called Simply Successful Secrets, and then also partnering with Alex Shalman for Gotta Get Goals, I was originally not very excited about the idea of running through this again.

However, The Blog Apocalypse has the potential to truly open up some hearts and minds about why people do what they do in the blogosphere, and more importantly - if you should even care!

So, with no further introduction, I invite you to check out The Urban Monk's instructions, and I implore you to see this as a chance to really learn something not just about bloggers, but about why you read what they write, and the Urban Monk will make a donation to charity just for you making the effort.

Also, if you see the value in this project as I have, you can participate by putting together your own apocalyptic blog scenario and sharing it with your readers! Here we go.

The end of the Blogosphere

Well, Grasshopper, it looks like you are finally going to be on your own.

I started this blog when I realized that blogging was the best way to consistently and easily share knowledge with you that would one day allow you to become empowered and self-reliant, and to embrace a true excitement about your life.

I have worked at attaining those goals by holding absolutely nothing back when I have written to you, and it is my sincere desire that you have recognized that fact as you have read my words.

When I taught you about the Law of Attraction, I gave you workable strategies for using that amazing belief system, but I kept it all grounded at the same time by maintaining an objective point of view whenever possible.

When I taught you the unlimited power of Gratitude, my own heartfelt gratitude should have jumped from the pages as you read those words, because I am truly grateful for you, for me, and for this existence as a whole.

When I taught you ways to consciously create your life, or to get rid of your self-limiting beliefs, it was my sincerest desire that you actually practice the methods that I taught you, and not just continue to cruise through your life without making the positive changes I knew you were capable of.

When I taught you about positive thinking, personal development, and self improvement, I truly gave you every bit of knowledge that I had, hoping that just one more word, or one more moment of clarity would help you to finally leap the barriers that you had put around yourself, and allow you to finally become the person that I always knew that you could be.

But, alas, our time has come to an end, Grasshopper, and you must now stand upon your own two feet, as my teachings will no longer be available to you.

As the blogosphere comes to an end, so to does my means of continuing to be a guiding force in your life. However, I walk away from this teaching post with neither a regret, a concern, nor even a tear, for I know that you have been taught well!

I know that this tome of knowledge - this "blog" - contains all of the answers that you will ever need in order to literally do whatever it is that you want to do with your life.

You can have, do, or be anything - and the knowledge of how to make that happen is indeed contained in the very pages that are before you at this moment.

So I will end my final message to you, Grasshopper, not with a final bit of a advice, one last nugget of wisdom, nor even a parting vote of confidence.

Those trinkets are unnecessary, because, you see, the power that is inside of you right now - the very knowledge that fuels your existence - has always been there.

My words simply helped you to awaken it.

Remember to seek not the advice of others, but to realize that your answers are - and always have been - right there inside of you.

It is up to you to let them out, Grasshopper.

I will not say Goodbye at this time, for we are all one, and I will most certainly see you "out there".

Create Life in Your Image!

Exercise of the Day: 1-Legged Cross Hop

Think that you need some fancy cardio equipment to get your heart rate up? Think again!

Be sure to visit Fitness Generator to get access to thousands of exercise graphics as well as instructions on using bodyweight, dumbbells, resistance bands, and more!

1-Legged Cross Hop

Many people discount their ability to get a great cardio workout using absolutely no equipment, when in fact not only can you get a great workout using just bodyweight, but the exercises are more natural as well. In the case of the 1-Legged Cross Hop, choose a distance of around 10-feet and hop from one side to the other on one leg, and then go back using the other leg. Be sure to focus on the working knee and keep it slightly bent at all times. Also, start with hops of very low height and then work your way up to higher vertical hops as you get more conditioned.

Has your experience with MySpace been {ahem}…less than positive?

If you have ever used MySpace, yet found it lacking, or if you have ever wondered if there was a simple, yet effective way to network with others for your success, then the wait is over!

First of all, I want to practice what I preach by giving due respect to the hard work of others. Even though I am about to tell you about a glorious alternative to MySpace and other social networking sites, I do want to give credit to the hard work that others have done in the online social media circles.

If you are talking about simply being entertained, there are plenty of online groups like MySpace that you can join. However if you want to get something more concrete out of the time that you spend online, I have come up with a system that will do exactly that.

I need YOUR help to make it successful though, and I'm willing to give you some goodies as a perfectly legal bribe!

The basic problem with networking - both online and offline - is that actually finding people with similar interests is problematic at best.

As huge and far-reaching as the Internet is, the sheer size of the Internet makes it difficult to find people who are looking for networking opportunities in the specific area that you are also looking.

Add to that the fact that it is human nature to always ask "What's in it for me?" and it becomes even more difficult to find people who are willing to go out of their way to help you achieve your goals.

Personal Development Partners is going to change all of that by providing a simple, yet powerful interface that will allow you to find and network only with people who are willing to work together in partnerships and/or "mastermind" groups so that everyone gets what they want out of that relationship.

In addition to finding partners who share your interests, another issue is that you can't always find someone in your corner of the globe, and Personal Development Partners is going to change that as well.

Here is a list of the features that have already been put on the drawing board for PDP, and you will also have the chance to give feedback on features that you think would be useful:

- Individualized profiles, including almost unlimited customization. You will be able to add all of the common online profile features including pictures, text, areas of interests, etc.

- In addition to the standard profile information, you will also be able to choose very specific goals that you want to accomplish, thus making it very simple to find others with similar goals, and also for others to find you.

- A powerful search feature that will allow you to do WAY more than just keyword searching. For example, if you wanted a workout partners in Chicago, you would be able to not only search for the keyword "Chicago," but you would also be able to search for people in Chicago who had also specifically listed weight loss as one of their goals.

- The search feature will also include the ability to search by personal development modality. For example, you could specifically look for people who believe in the Law of Attraction, or people who are looking for a mastermind group, or who would be interested in attending local seminars.

- You will also be able to search for people by their availability for certain activities. Each person's profile will list the interactions that they are available for, such as teleconferencing, one on one or group meet ups, memberships to social bookmarking sites such as Digg, Stumbleupon, and Netscape.

- The system will have built in forums or message boards where people with similar interests will be able to correspond and assist each other. Unlike a lot of the message boards on the Internet, these forums will be SPAM and FLAME WAR FREE, yet will allow each member to promote themselves or seek guidance in a professional manner.

- Friend/Buddy lists will also be a standard feature. You can choose to network with as many people as you like, or you can keep your list of friends to only the people who are going to assist you in attaining your goals.

- There will also be Bulletin Boards that - much like MySpace - will allow you to send messages to everyone on your your Friends list all at the same time. Imagine being able to instantly share your latest weight loss success, to instantly ask all of your friends for advice on how to handle a relationship or career issue, or even being able to send your latest blog post to everyone on your list and ask them to help you promote it on Digg, Stumbleupon, etc.

- Instant messaging will also be available. Again, rather than using one of the standard instant messaging programs, you can limit your time spent chatting online by only chatting with the people from your PDP friends list, rather than everyone who already knows your AOL, Yahoo Messenger, or ICQ chat name.

WOW! I just looked up and saw how long this list of features is!

Here is where you come in, though. Everything that you just read came straight from my own experience on the Internet, and I have no doubt that you have other ideas that would make this even more powerful, so I am going to ask for your help in 2 different ways:

1) Give me your feedback! Based on everything that you just read, can you think of anything that I missed? Are there features that you would like to see that aren't already going to be part of the program?

Give me your thoughts and start the conversation about Personal Development Partners by leaving a comment below, or just send me an email with your thoughts.

2) As much as I pride myself on being in touch with my inner-geek, I can't build the type of software needed for all of that great stuff you just read about, so I will be buying it myself and hosting it on my own server.

My intention is to - literally - get MILLIONS of people using Personal Development Partners, but there will never be any cost to the end users.

So, donations are being accepted to finance this little project!

We are not talking thousands of dollars here, but if you are excited about the prospect of having free access to an amazing tool like this, and you would like to donate a few bucks to the cause, please feel free to do so using the donate button below.

In return for your donation, not only will you help this entire project to get off the ground that much faster, but I am willing to give a free copy of two of my eBooks to everyone who puts up a donation of any amount:

In addition to potentially giving a donation, please also feel free to use the social bookmarking links below this post to get the word out about Personal Development Partners.

The more people who know about PDP, the more benefit it will have for everyone who joins!

Don't forget, it's free, it's incredibly useful, and - with your help - I will have it launched by May 1st! Thanks in advance!

Exercise of the Day: Medicine Ball Toss Up

Much like the Medicine Ball Throwdown, this exercise allows you a full range of motion throughout the entire repetition

Be sure to visit Fitness Generator to get access to thousands of exercise graphics as well as instructions on using bodyweight, dumbbells, resistance bands, and more!

Medicine Ball Toss Up

When throwing the medicine ball into the air, remember that the idea is to make this a "whole body movement". By squatting down before you toss the ball, and beginning to move your arms upward as you stand up, you will be creating energy. Also, be sure not to "throw" your arms behind your head at the completion of the movement. Your arms should be straight overhead and roughly on either side of your head when you release the ball.

Personal Development Roadblock: Are you specializing too soon?

Human beings have no shortage of motivation once they have decided to do something, but is it possible that you may be jumping the gun in your personal development efforts?

Most people get involved in a personal development or self improvement program with a very specific end-result in mind. For some people it is to lose weight, for some it is financial success, others are looking for fulfilling relationships, while some people are simply trying to figure out what to do with their lives.

However, in each case we tend to jump on the first great idea that comes to mind, thinking that this one concept or plan for success is going to be our ticket to fame, fortune, and happiness.

Now, that is not to say that any given idea won't serve as a huge step in the right direction. However, if you think about the original mission, you may realize that you have purchased your ticket to Success Land a bit prematurely:

PERSONAL development.

SELF improvement.

These terms say nothing of financial windfalls, incredible career opportunities, rapid weight loss, or romantic bliss. Those may be the results that you are looking for, but if you haven't "taken care of your own backyard" so to speak, the opportunities for success in those areas will still only lead you right back to where you were when you started.

People who suddenly find themselves with a lot of unexpected money almost always find a way to either lose that money very quickly, or to allow their lives to fall apart as a result of suddenly having a lot of cash, yet not knowing how to handle it.

People who hire a top-notch personal trainer and lose 50 lbs in 6 months tend to invariably end up putting the weight back on because it wasn't their own state of mind that allowed the weight loss, but rather the order-barking, non-yielding personal trainer who forced that person to clean up their act.

People who have consistently failed to maintain happy and fulfilling long-term relationships will continue to fail in that area of their life, even if they suddenly find themselves surrounded by an excessive amount of potential suitors. Until they figure out the self-destructive trigger that has caused them to sabotage past relationships, no amount of new relationship opportunities is going to change how they handle a new partner in their life.

Each of us carries around a nasty little virus called the Self-limiting Belief. It causes us to find ways to sabotage our own success, no matter how great of an opportunity or a learning experience is put before us.

Self-limiting beliefs cause us to shoot ourselves in the foot, as it were, to make sure that we are never able to cross the finish line of any success path that we put ourselves on.

The only way to ensure success - in any area of life - is to find out why we have failed to be successful in that area in the past, recognize our own shortcomings, and then take whatever action is appropriate to eliminate the self-limiting beliefs.

The irony of this situation is that once a self-limiting belief has been recognized, the mere act of recognizing it is often enough to eliminate it's negating effect on our lives.

If you want to practice personal development or self improvement, don't run right out and buy the newest program or system that is going to walk you from point A to point B to point C.

First, ask yourself why - deep down inside - you haven't already achieved success in that area.

When you have that answer, then it will be time to specialize in bringing that success into your life by finding the proper system for doing so.

Exercise of the Day: Medicine Ball Throwdown

Not only is this a great exercise, but it also allows you to vent some frustration at the same time!

Be sure to visit Fitness Generator to get access to thousands of exercise graphics as well as instructions on using bodyweight, dumbbells, resistance bands, and more!

Medicine Ball Throwdown

This exercise may look like it isn't going to accomplish many things, but looks are deceiving in this case. Most exercises require a very definied stopping point that your brain knows about in advance. The body's instinctive desire to keep itself from harm will cause you to slow down the output of energy as a result of anticipating that stopping point. In an exercise such as the Medicine Ball Throwdown, that stopping point doesn't exist, so you can put a full-out 110% effort into every single repetition. Be sure to raise your hands all the way up over your head to recruit the maximum muscles in your back and shoulders, and also to squat slightly during the downward thrust.

Shama Hyder - An interview with the Amazing “miracle working” Success Coach!

To say that I have met a lot of knowledgeable and powerful people in the blogosphere would certainly be an understatement.

However, few of them have impressed me as completely and as rapidly as the massively talented Shama Hyder!

Shama and I decided right off the bat that we needed to work together, and I am very excited about the possibilities that are presented by being in league with someone of Shama's character and professionalism.

To get things started, we have agreed to exchange online interviews with each other so that both of our audiences can learn more about each of us. My interview on her site can be found right here, and you can learn what Shama brings to the table by reading through her story below. Enjoy!

Shama, as a Success Coach, I'm sure that you have seen many different ways that people define what "success" is. Is there a definition that you teach people, or is it up to the individual to decide what success means for them?

Success is when you look forward to Monday mornings Aaron - at least for me! I think success is achieved when a person is living a truly divine and charmed life. And divine and charmed mean different things to different people. They make their own definitions - I help them get there.

At the Divine Reach Coaching website, you list the fact that you are the creator of the WOW Coaching Process, and that clients have referred to you as the "miracle worker". Those sound like some pretty big shoes to fill. Can you give us some more details?

The WOW process I use is simple yet powerful. It gets to the core of an issue and gets results. As for the “miracle worker” part, I think that comes from people’s own sense of empowerment. When they see how powerful the law of attraction is and they start attracting amazing things into their life - they are floored. Miracles are supposed to be a natural part of life! I teach my clients how to get out of their own way to let them happen. In that sense, I guess the title fits. = )

The "coaching" field in general seems to be growing as more people realize that it is okay to work with others in order to achieve success. However, the lines may also seem blurry to someone who doesn't really know what a "coach" is. Can you give us some clarification?

All successful people have coaches Aaron. The athletes, the musicians, the artists. Everyone who is really serious about making it big needs a coach. I think the difference is that more and more people realize that they too can have that success. It is not reserved for a select few. I end all my newsletters with this quote from Michael Neil - "A therapist fixes what's broken (usually you!), a consultant tells you what to do, and a coach, like the single-decker vehicle, is comfortably equipped and trained to help you get wherever you want to go." That is the perfect definition of a coach!

On your blog you call out many different aspects of who you are as a person - which is very cool, by the way. Do you feel that there are certain aspects of your personality that are the primary driving forces behind your success, or is it a combination of the many sides of Shama?

You ask the neatest questions Aaron. I draw from different aspects of myself as I see fit. As for the primary driving force, I think that comes from the part of me that wants to serve others and help them realize their potential. I absolutely love what I do Aaron. I see my work as my ministry - not in the religion sense, but in the sense that being a success coach is truly my calling and I serve my clients the best I can. For example, I make it a personal rule to always give them double what they pay for. If they pay 500 dollars, I make sure to give them a 1000 dollars worth of coaching. It is extremely fulfilling.

You use concepts from the Law of Attraction in your coaching practices, which I think is great. However, there are a lot of "naysayers" out there who think that it's all a bunch of nonsense. You and I both know that you get what you focus on, so we won't participate in negative debates on the issue. However, can you give us a brief statement about the LOA that you would say to people who are non-believers?

The Law of Attraction states that we get what we vibrate (thoughts= vibrations), Aaron. What we focus on expands - whether that is good or bad. The better we feel, and the more we allow things to flow - the better it gets. Life is naturally blissful. We weren’t meant to struggle through it. I think most of the naysayers don’t realize how the Law of Attraction really works. It isn’t magic or wishful thinking - it’s a way of life.

You write valuable and insightful posts over at ShamaHyder.com, and your writing is no doubt inspired by your experiences in life, as well as with your coaching clients. When you write, who is it that you are writing for? Clients, the blogosphere in general, yourself? What drives your "pen to paper," as it were?

Thank you Aaron. The blog is my way of paying it forward so to speak. I share my knowledge and insight, and don’t plan on charging for any of it. I write each post as if it was a lone standing article. I am writing for an audience who believes in personal growth, and is hungry for more.

What is next for Shama Hyder? Will you still be the "miracle working" success coach in 5 years, or do you have other plans that people should know about?

What a fun question, Aaron! Yes, I intend to continue coaching and expand my services. I will continue to do workshops and seminars around the country. My first book is going to be published in a few months. It is called the “The Secret to College Acceptance - A guide to attracting your ultimate education.” It is about how to leverage the power of the law of attraction to attract the best education for oneself. I am co-authoring it with Larry Hochman, a guidance counselor and fellow coach, from Connecticut. This book was inspired by my past work experience as a private teacher for students with learning disabilities. It is going to be the first book of its kind to blend metaphysics and education in such a positive and empowering manner. It is truly an innovative piece of work that we are really proud of.

The best way to keep up with all the wonderful upcoming events and such is to subscribe to my free bi-monthly “Absolutely Divine” e-zine. I use it to convey lots of wonderful tips and strategies to reach for success. The content is valued at over $197.00. I urge anyone interested to sign up at www.divinereachcoaching.com.

Thank you so much Aaron for asking such terrific questions!

-Shama

There you have it folks - the inside scoop from a walking, talking, success story!

I highly recommend that you frequent Shama's blog, and be sure to sign up for her Absolutely Divine e-zine!

I'm not sure what the future will hold for Shama and I - and ultimately for YOU - but I am sure that you don't want to miss it!

Thanks for tuning in!

Self Improvement and Law of Attraction Link Love, Volume 9

This is Volume 9 of the Self Improvement and Law of Attraction Link Love series.

This series will be published weekly and will be comprised of links to quality blog posts that have proven to be extraordinary in their ability to assist, inform, or empower the reader. Enjoy!

1) Chief Happiness Officer - In the post Top 10 reasons why happiness at work is the ultimate productivity booster, it is clearly shown that life - and work - are better for the person who actually wants to do whatever it is that they are doing.

2) Christy's Coffee Break - The Importance of Forgiveness is a topic that I have touched on in the past, and Christy does a great job of illustrating the fact that holding a grudge hurts exactly one person - YOU!

3) Evolving Times - Edward Mills and his daughter bring us a valuable lesson not just about having the right attitude at work, but about how doing so will very likely help you when you are NOT at work as well. Check out Lessons I Learned From The Garbage Man.

4) Be Conscious Now - In her post What happens when you shower kittens (or kids) with unconditional love?, K-L Masina - with a little help from Seth and Neptune - brings home the fact that you get what you give when it comes to how you treat the world around you.

5) Breathing Prosperity - Having goals and then buying books or programs that will help you to accomplish those goals is a waste of time if you don't get your head straight first. Shauna does a great job of illustrating why that is in her brief post called Motivation: Are You Looking in the Right Place?

6) Live the Power - Karen brings us yet another bit of wisdom in her post - Only one Elvis. She talks about the fact that you can buy the "expert's" products all day long, but YOU are the only person who brings your unique combination of knowledge and experience to the table - no purchase required!

7) My Self Development - For you Law of Attraction junkies (as well as naysayers), the post The Seven Principles Of Hawaiian Huna demonstrates the fact that contrary to popular belief, not just the creators of 'The Secret' believe in our ability to consciously create our lives.

8) The Positivity Blog -If you read only one story today, make it The Story of the Mexican Fisherman. What a great way to illustrate what is truly important in life!

9) North Star Mental Fitness - Some people swear by affirmations, while some people claim they don't work at all. In his post Why Affirmations Don't Work, Dr. Hal Sommerschield gives us some "under the hood" answers as to why some achieve success, while others don't.

10) Ririan Project - This is a great website that has recently started picking up the pace on their powerful posts. In Ten Commandments for a Simpler Way of Life, they combine some biblical dialect with some of today's common issues for a Top 10 list of success tips that will help make your life a better place to be!

That's it for this week. Have a safe and Happy Easter!

Good-natured Easter humor compliments of Darren Hardy, president of
The Success Training Network:

Exercise of the Day: Dumbbell Chest Press on Exercise Ball

Using your exercise ball as a bench or platform for traditional exercises is a great way to build up your core stability while at the same time increasing your levels of neuromuscular coordination.

Be sure to visit Fitness Generator to get access to thousands of exercise graphics as well as instructions on using bodyweight, dumbbells, resistance bands, and more!

Dumbbell Chest Press on Exercise Ball

A common mistake when doing this exercise is to rest the small of your back against the ball, which eliminates much of the core stabilizing effect. Instead, rest only your shoulders on the ball, and be sure to use your core muscles to keep the rest of your body parallel to the floor throughout the entire exercise. Also, if you've done the Dumbbell Chest Press on a standard bench DO NOT use the same weight on an exercise ball, since you will not be able to lift as much weight on the unstable surface.

Wonder Twin Powers - ACTIVATE!

Okay, I know I am dating myself by even posting that title, but if you know what it means, then you can consider yourself dated as well!

However, for those of you who have no idea what I am talking about, here is a brief primer, to be followed by how modern society can use this power for our own benefit.

Back in the {ahem} late 70's, one of the most popular cartoons that featured Superman was called The All-New SuperFriends Hour. It was a remake of the original SuperFriends, and it featured a few new characters, including Zan and Jayna, also known as The Wonder Twins.

The Wonder Twins had the power to transform themselves into various animals or watery creations in order to help save the day, as it were. To do this, they had to physically touch each other and say the words - you guessed it - Wonder Twin Powers - ACTIVATE!

It was all very exciting and entertaining, and the takeaway that I want you to remember is that they could only use their powers if they worked together!

Individually, they were just aliens with a pet monkey called Gleek.

So, why is that relevant to anyone who reads this blog seeking self improvement or personal development?

Simple - not only can everyone get help by also helping others, but by referring to the usage of the Law of Attraction, the more people who focus on something, the more powerful the affect becomes.

A now famous doctor named Masaru Emoto realized that large groups of people - working together - who focused on various bodies of water at the same time could effect actual vibrational change on that water by offering feelings of gratitude and love towards it.

Check out details of the on-going experiments in that area at the Love and Thanks to Water website.

The human body is comprised almost exclusively of water. Hmmmm…that brings up possibilities, doesn't it?

Now, whether or not you choose to believe in the large-scale effect that human emotions can have on the world around us, there is no denying that this process exists on a smaller scale.

Consider the following:

1) If there is disharmony in your household, and both parents decide that they are going to stop yelling, start being more patient, and start being more understanding, the tension and stress-level in that household goes down almost immediately.

Compare that to what happens if those parents agree to that course of action, but only one of them follows through on the intention.

2) Think of what happens in the workplace when a team of 8 or 10 project workers all get together and decide that they are going clean up their customer service practices, start showing a positive attitude in all aspects of their job, and begin to put focus exclusively on the "greater good".

Compare that to an empowering and uplifting company meeting that leaves everyone ecstatic to even work there, but then a week later each of those employees has gone back to the exact same daily practices and attitudes that they had used previously.

3) Think of a night out on the town when you and 5 of your friends decide that you are going to go out and have fun no matter what, and you are all simply joyous and grateful to be out together taking some well-deserved time off.

Compare that to what happens on that same night on the town when half of your group does nothing but moan and complain about how much they hate their job, how their spouse is being a jerk, and how their kids can't ever seem to stay out of trouble.

In each of these examples (and any other example you can imagine), when each of the participants made an honest, heart-felt, and consistent effort to focus on the positive, then positive results came to all of them on a massive scale, including all of the people who interacted with them.

Coincidence? Hardly.

Feelings are the key to this process, so if you can't muster up the actual emotions of whatever it is that you are trying to accomplish, you might as well not even bother trying.

Saying that you are going to focus on a positive home atmosphere doesn't do a bit of good unless you actually create the feelings - on a consistent basis - of positivity, patience, and understanding.

Saying that you are going to create a positive working environment where the customers, the company, and the employees all benefit will do nothing unless you consistently feel positive and act from a positive mental point of view.

Saying that you and your friends are going to have fun, but then failing to feel stress-free, joyous, and happy to be there will fail to create a stress-free, joyous, and happy environment.

Although it is 100% true that you are only responsible for your own feelings at any single moment in time, it is just as true that if one person feels good, and then another, and another, and another, the effect will multiply exponentially.

So, if you want to sit inside a self-imposed shell of "it's all about ME," you do have the power to be ecstatically happy inside that one little shell.

However, why not break out of the shell and share your ability to consciously create joy and gratitude with others who also choose to exercise that ability?

What have you got to lose?

Exercise of the Day: Lateral Step Ups

The Lateral Step up can be done on any stable surface, and in addition to the muscular benefit, it is great for building up cardiovascular endurance as well as balance.

Be sure to visit Fitness Generator to get access to thousands of exercise graphics as well as instructions on using bodyweight, dumbbells, resistance bands, and more!

Lateral Step Ups

When choosing a surface to step up onto, keep in mind that the higher that surface is, the more you will get out of this exercise, and the more difficult it will be. Also, you can add in a higher level of balance training as well as muscular involvement by lifting the non-working leg as high as possible into the air on each repetition.

Exercise of the Day: High Jump

The High Jump is one of those exercises that looks easy, but it's not! This basic movement that requires no equipment is more effective in some ways than using the high-tech cardiovascular training equipment at the gym.

Be sure to visit Fitness Generator to get access to thousands of exercise graphics as well as instructions on using bodyweight, dumbbells, resistance bands, and more!

High Jump

This exercise is hard on the knees if you are not accustomed to jumping type of movements, but do not let that stop you from starting out slow and working your way up. The biggest variable in this movement is the vertical distance that you actually jump, so start out by just barely getting your feet off of the ground, and then move on to increasing heights after your joints have had a chance to recuperate from previous workouts.

Exercise of the Day: 8-Count Bodybuilder

This exercise hits every major muscle group at some point during the movement, and gives you a great cardiovascular workout at the same time.

Be sure to visit Fitness Generator to get access to thousands of exercise graphics as well as instructions on using bodyweight, dumbbells, resistance bands, and more!

8-Count Body Builders

After you do the push-up portion of this movement, remember to kick your legs apart and then back together before returning to a fully upright standing position for the next repetition. If you are not strong enough to do a regular push-up, you can substitute a supported push-up where your knees are on the ground, but bring your knees back up before kicking your legs apart and back together for that portion of the movement.

Self Improvement Strategy: How to Elimate Fear from your Life

Fear is keeping us from living our lives to the fullest, and in most cases, it is keeping us from achieving anything even close to what we are capable of.

Fear is elusive, however, and is often disguised as something a bit less debilitating, which is why it is not always seen as the true culprit behind so many of our shortcomings.

I am not talking about fear as in being afraid for your life itself, but rather fear that any given situation is not going to turn out the way that we want it to.

Whenever we get into an argument with our spouse or other family member, it is because we are afraid that the situation is not going to be resolved the way we feel that it should be.

• Maybe we are afraid that the other person will not see our point of view, and will then make the wrong choices because they were unable to understand what we were saying.
• Maybe we are afraid that the person will not see us as a valuable and needed part of their lives, and will then leave us behind.
• Maybe we are afraid that we will hurt their feelings or damage their ability to get through life, so we tip-toe around our true beliefs and desires in order to better serve their needs.

Let's look at another example - our careers.

• Many people go to college or some sort of vocational school because they are afraid that without "formal" education, they will not be able to get a good job.
• When someone is already working for a particular employer, they are sometimes not 100% satisfied with their job or that employer, but they stay there anyway because they are afraid that they will not be able to find a better job that pays the same, or that has the same benefits as their present job.
• We often put up with behavior or negative attitudes from our co-workers because we fear that "rocking the boat" at work will cause us to get fired, lose the respect of our co-workers, or that no one will like us.

What about health and fitness? Is that driven by fear as well?

• People get involved in fitness programs every day because they get bad news from their doctor, and they become afraid that their actual life expectancy will be limited if they do not start exercising and eating right.
• People start trying to lose weight because they become afraid that they will not be able to find an attractive and successful companion unless they look like one of the actors or models that are all over television, movies, and magazines.
• Weight loss programs are started all the time by people who are about to attend a family or class reunion because they are afraid they will be looked down upon by their family members or old classmates unless they appear to be fit, confident, and in control of their lives.

These examples could go on and on and on to encompass every single aspect of the human existence here on planet earth. However, you do not need to read endless examples to see the affect that fear has on your own life every single day.

Simply start examining any given situation that you are feeling anxious or nervous about, and ask yourself what it is that you are afraid of in that situation.

You will find across the board that there is always a resounding reason why you feel anxious about everything from where to find a parking space to whether or not to accept a marriage proposal, or a job offer.

Your fear that something bad will happen if you make the wrong decision is what is driving the thought process for pretty much every decision that you ever make.

Do you really think it is a very good idea to make every decision that you make in your life based on a negative emotion such as fear?

The answer, of course, is No, and you can start eliminating fear from your life right now. All you have to do is realize the simple fact that whatever it is that you are afraid of is going to happen anyway, whether you are afraid of it or not.

In fact, believers in concepts such as the Law of Attraction will recognize that by expressing fear about something, you will only serve to cause the thing that you are afraid of to actually happen.

However, whether or not you believe in your ability to consciously create your life, it is a rock-solid fact that if you express fear about something, no good will come about as a result of that.

Should you respect things that could potentially cause negative circumstances to manifest in your life? Absolutely.

Should you prepare for things in order to minimize the chance that you will not be happy with the results of any given situation? Sure.

However, being afraid that life in general is not going to go your way will only serve to make you ACT from a position of fear. That will very often have implications for your life that are at least as negative as - if not more so - than what would have happened if you had never expressed that fear in the first place.

Remember the following very wise quote:

"Anything that doesn't kill us only makes us stronger."

Unless you are in a situation where your life is in actual danger, always ask yourself if being afraid at that moment is even worth it.

Personal Development Sabotage: Playing the Blame Game

Blaming your lack of blissful happiness on anyone but yourself is a crutch - period.

This habit that human beings have of allowing people or circumstances to dictate the level of happiness in their lives boils down to nothing more noble than sheer laziness.

We always want to look at every situation like we did everything 100% perfectly, and if the situation did not turn out 100% perfectly, there most certainly must be someone else to blame for that.

It is certainly easier to find a flaw in another person or in the details of any given event than to admit the fact that we ourselves could have probably worked harder in order to manifest a more positive outcome to that event.

Believers in conscious creation, the Law of Attraction, and even Ho'oponopono will have no problem admitting that anything that has happened in their lives is there as a direct result of the things that transpired prior to that event.

However, you don't have to believe in or understand concepts such as those in order to admit that YOU are responsible for whether or not you are happy with your life. Here are some examples:

Blame: I can't get a good job because the economy is bad

Truth: No, you can't get a good job because you have not applied yourself enough. Maybe you need more education, maybe you need to work harder at the actual job search process, or maybe you just need to improve your self-confidence and attitude about the entire project. If your life depended on it, I bet you would find a way to get a good job.

Blame: I can't lost weight because I have poor metabolism and I don't have time to exercise and eat right.

Truth: Although genetics do play a role in the overall health of people, there is no genetic condition - including metabolic rate - that cannot be modified, and normally it can be done fairly easily.

As far as not having enough time, that it total crap. Every person who has ever lived has had 24 hours in their day. If they could do it, you can do it.

Blame: My spouse or significant other is completely unreasonable and is causing chaos in our home.

Truth: Your spouse or significant other could be a cold-blooded killer, but unless there is an actual danger to you or your children, you CHOOSE to allow that person to affect your life in a negative way.

Either step up to the plate and do what it takes to be happy with your situation, or leave the situation. And no, I don't want to hear "It's not that easy." Yes, it is.

I am going to stop with the Blame/Truth scenarios now, because if you are reading this with an open mind and an ear towards the truth, you have already absorbed and internalized this message.

However, on the other hand, if you are the "victim" in every scenario of life that you are finding less than perfect, no matter how many examples I give, you are still going to answer with the thought, "Yes, but…"

No buts. If you don't like an aspect of your life, then change it.

Will it be hard? Probably. Will it cause chaos in your life? Maybe. Will it cause you to make some hard choices, face some hard realities, and let go of some of the security that you have had in your life up to this point? Very likely.

Or, you could just do nothing and stay unhappy with your circumstances. After all, it is fast, easy, and sometimes even rewarding to point the finger at everyone else as being the cause for YOUR unhappiness.

If it's everyone else's fault, then by default, YOU must be perfect, right?

Doing it Differently Blog Carnival

One of my goals with the Today is that Day website and blog is to help people to realize that success IS something that every single person can attain!

However, a lot of the "how-to" information that is available in the world is just the same old information that has been re-packaged, re-purposed, or simply copied and pasted from information that was already available.

In order to put an end to the constant recirculation of the same data over and over again, I have decided to start a new blog carnival that will be dedicated exclusively to blog posts that detail new and innovative ways to live life!

I'm calling it the Doing it Differently blog Carnival, and this post is both the official announcement about the new carnival, as well as the first Call for Submissions!

My regular readers will be familiar with blog carnivals about personal development and the Law of Attraction that I have hosted in the past, and I will take this opportunity to once again thank both Lyman Reed as well as Edward Mills for the chance to host those blogs here at Today is that Day.

It is my intention to add even more value to the "blogosphere" by adding this new and unique blog carnival that will be hosted here at the Today is that Day blog. One major thing to note, however, is that the Doing it Differently Blog Carnival will NOT be restricted to blog posts about personal development, self improvement, etc.

The whole point of this new carnival will be for people to publicize their methods for living life "outside of the box," and I want everyone to have free reign to write about anything and everything that falls into that category.

Some possible subjects could include - but not be limited to - things such as relationships, making money, recreation, building businesses, exercise and physical fitness, art or other self expression, etc.

I cannot emphasize enough that if you have or come up with a way of doing things that the "average joe" doesn't know about, your information is welcome at the Doing it Differently Blog Carnival!

The very first edition will be posted on April 15th, 2007 (tax day, yikes!), and you can get some more details as well as access the carnival submission form by clicking right here.

I'm looking forward to receiving your submissions and to growing this new blog carnival as a way to help people find new and unique ways to achieve success and to enjoy their lives!

The Agony of Victory: Personal Development Breaking Point

This could very well be the single most important personal development concept that you are ever exposed to.

I give my wife full credit for saying the following, although I don't know if she originated the saying or not. Regardless of who the original author was, you would do well to read, remember, and internalize the following words:

In order for people to change, the pain of change must become less than the pain of staying the same.

That concept is so telling about why people do or do not achieve lasting self improvement results, and I want to thank Steve over at The Fast Lane for his post that reminded me to share that quote with my blog readers.

There are very few people (if any) who do not have dreams, ambitions, or fantasies about living a life that is an improvement over their present life in some way. Although we should all be living in and enjoying every single moment, this urge to move forward is a part of the very evolution of our species.

Why, then, do so many people fail to make the positive changes that they want so desperately?

The answer is so simple and has been in plain sight all along: It is simply easier for a person to stay where they are and to deal with whatever discomfort is in their lives than it is to make themselves uncomfortable enough to effect permanent, positive, long-term changes.

Most people want more money or some other form of abundance, yet they don't actually strive for it because their day to day needs are already being met.

They must have enough food, shelter, and clothing to survive, because if they didn't, they would be dead! However, find someone who is about to lose the job that pays their bills, or are about to lose their home to bill collectors, and you will also have found someone who will literally live without sleep in order to turn their circumstances around.

The world (especially the United States) is full of overweight people or people who have negative health conditions that could be eliminated or lessened as a result of eating right and exercising, yet they don't do everything and anything in their power because the pain of continuing to be out of shape is still easier than exercising and eating right every day.

However, find someone who is constantly ridiculed, shunned, or who is repeatedly the victim of prejudice because of their weight or their physical condition, and often times that person will "flip a switch" that turns them into a workout junkie because they have decided that leading a healthy lifestyle is easier (less painful) than the alternative.

People are constantly visiting online dating websites, message boards, and chat rooms in order to find romance and friendship, yet when push comes to shove, they don't make the long-term commitment needed for successful relationships.

The occasional bout of lonliness or sexual frustration by an unattached person is still easier to deal with (less painful) than the risk of getting emotionally and/or financially involved with a long-term partner, roommate, or even just a good friend.

However, someone who has finally "had enough" of their solitary lifestyle will pull out all the stops in order to achieve relationship success. They will also achieve that success because they have decided that the pain of taking a chance on a relationship is less than the pain of being emotionally and/or financially alone.

You can plug this formula into any human equation that you can imagine, and the results will ALWAYS be the same!

People don't make the changes in their lives that they "claim" they want to make because when push comes to shove, even if their life isn't perfect, it is still easier to keep walking the same path than it is to carve a new path through a dense and potentially dangerous jungle.

So, the next time you feel like whining because you don't have enough money, or because you're lonely, or because you're fat, I invite you - with all due respect - to stop whining about it, and to get outside of your comfort zone and to do something about your situation.

You are - after all - the only person who has the power to do that.

Gotta Get Goals

As most of you will recall, awhile ago I started the Simply Successful Secrets interactive research project.

I am proud to say that the project is still going strong and I haven't tallied up the responses yet because so many people are still participating.

Also, my buddy Alex Shalman has put together a wonderful addendum to this project called Gotta Get Goals, and I am very happy to help Alex get his version of this idea off the ground.

As with the Simply Successful Secrets project, Alex's version is truly going to help people by causing them to take a moment and actually write out the details of what makes them tick.

This has proven to be an invaluable effort that Simply Successful Secrets participants have made, and when it comes to the subject of Alex's version - Goal Setting - I see a huge similar benefit for the people who participate.

Alex, is the model of "giving back" as you can see from his many posts, not the least of which being his awesome Donation Contest.

So, without any further rambling from me, let's get this party started!

Summary of the Rules

In a new post, write about the top 5 to 10 goals that you "gotta get" so that you can truly say you have achieved your wildest dreams in life. These have to be your best, most exclusive, and over-the-top goals.

Put a link and/or a trackback to Alex's original post so he can track the project, and also so he can put up a link to your website after the project has run its course.

Tag as many people as you like, and be sure to put a link in your own post back to the site of the person who tagged you.

These "memes" are not about utilizing your valuable time, but rather about interacting with, learning from, and supporting each other. Spread the link love and the love will come right back to you!

That's it, that's all. Easy and fun to do, and also beneficial to you, as well as to all who read your list.

On that note, here is MY list, and you will see from reading it that I aim for the stars because I know that I can reach them. I encourage every single one of you to do the same!!

Aaron's Gotta Get Goals

1) Build my business ventures so that they bring in $50,000 per month in residual income.

Why $50,000, you ask? Isn't that a bit greedy? Hardly.

That money will be used to pay healthy salaries to employees, to sock away enough cash for all of my family members to live comfortably forever, and for me to travel the world helping my friends and family members, as well as spending quality time with them on a VERY regular basis. Come to think of it, I might need more than $50,000 each month…

2) Travel frequently to visit the aforementioned friends and family, and have complete time and financial freedom during those visits.

I have lived in many places, and I have been an Internet junkie since the get-go. I know and care deeply for people all over the U.S. and my goal is to be able to visit them often, and stay for long periods of time.

3) To maintain a high level of health, and to live for a very long time.

Anyone who knows me well also knows that I like to party and have a good time. However, most people will also attest to the fact that when the party is over, my body goes looking for a salad and some exercise.

I enjoy physical fitness so that I can also enjoy bouts of not worrying about every single calorie that I ingest. Everything in moderation!

4) Travel just for the sake of travel.

I love being on the open road, and it is a rare occasion when I will turn down a road trip.

Whether you are talking about the sands of Key West, the Na Pali Coast (thanks Michelle for the picture and the memories), or just kicking around whatever town I happen to be in, I am all about exploring the world.

Europe, Africa, Australia, Alaska - yup, they are all on the list, and many more!

5) The beach, Bitterman! You know how much I LOVE the beach!

(Sorry, Arthur reference)

My daily visualizations include me standing on the back deck of the house that I own in St. Augustine, FL. I only live about 45 minutes north of there right now, so that journey is already well underway!

6) A beautiful house in the mountains.

The only thing that trips my homesteader trigger as much as having a house on the beach is having a house in the mountains.

I love to hike and would like to learn to ski sometime, and I also FULLY appreciate the majesty and the timelessness of mountain and hill country.

The ideal spot will include a huge back deck that looks down into a lush, green valley, beyond which mountain peaks can be seen for miles. The Pacific Northwest is the likely geography, probably north of Seattle, WA.

Well, I think that about covers it!

I did not include things like successful relationships because I feel that I create those from moment to moment. I am already married and I have a great family and a lot of wonderful friends. The "people factor" in my goals is to just keep what I already have, and to meet new people as well.

I also did not include the cars and other mechanical or technical toys that I want because although I enjoy those things, they are secondary to things like seeing the world, having nice homes, and spending time with the people that I care about.

Tagging

Alex has already tagged a lot of the people that I want to hear from, but here is an addendum to his original list:

Chris Garrett - Chris Garrett on New Media

Drew McLellan - Drew's Marketing Minute

Kathy Mallary - The Inspired Market-her's Blog

Kelly - A Yoga Coffee Outlook

Grigor - Behind the Glasses

Christine Kane - Christine Kane Blog

Shauna and Ophelia - Breathing Prosperity

Liz Strauss - Successful Blog

Gayla McChord - MomGadget

Johan Holmberg - The Probabilist

Antonio Thornton - ThinkBanc

Don't forget! Everyone has goals, so tag to your little heart's content! Maybe if we can find out what is making us humans "tick," we can also start creating a world where those things are available in abundance!

p.s. - This is a chance to write in stone (aka - on the Internet) what you are planning to accomplish in your life. If you can't even take the time to write it down, what makes you think you will take the time to actually do it?

The 4 Hidden Secret Steps to Starting or Maintaining a Successful Business

Although this blog is primarily about personal development, self improvement, and the Law of Attraction, I don't know very many people who are not involved in some sort of business venture.

Even people who do not "work" in the traditional sense of the word are still involved in various endeavors that they wish to attain or maintain success in.

If you define success as the attainment of a given goal, whether that goal is personal or professional, understanding the effective success strategies is just as important.

So, whether your "business" is a business in the traditional sense of the word, or if it is merely the day to day plan that your life follows, your success can be assured by knowing the following secret steps:

1) Realizing that the success of your business is not a hard and fast destination.

By considering a point in the future that you will deem yourself as having accomplished the mission or achieved success, you are already limiting the energy that you will put into your efforts to get to that point.

A simple way to demonstrate this is in the physical fitness arena. Almost all exercises are done with a defined stopping point where you have crossed the finished line, finished moving the weight, completed the movement, etc.

In repeated studies, it has been shown that athletes, as they near the end of any particular event or movement, begin to anticipate the completion point, and start to measurably decrease their effort.

Athletes who were made aware of this tendency before their event put forth a more explosive and sustained effort every single time, and as a result lifted more weight, used more muscle fibers, ran faster, etc.

Don't anticipate the "end" of your endeavors. Whether your endeavor is as simple as ordering a cup of coffee, or as complicated as building a multi-national business, never foresee the end.

Play full-out in every single thing that you do, with absolutely no end in site.

Pretend that every action you take is the one single opportunity that you will have to bring success into your life, and give that action the attention and the effort you would give it if that were actually the case.

2) Realizing that it is all about You.

In every single moment of your life there is one person - and only one person - who dictates whether or not that moment is a success. That person is, of course, you.

However, especially when we get involved in larger and more complicated endeavors, we tend to start being critical of how others are performing, even to the point of laying blame when something goes wrong.

Well, things will go wrong. That is just the nature of life. However, it is your individual reaction to both the successes as well as the roadblocks that are part of your project that will deem whether or not that project is ultimately a success.

If you "roll with the punches" as unexpected things happen, and then you get back up with a smile on your face, ready to face the next challenge, then every challenge you face will become something that can be overcome.

However, if you let the performance of other people (or lack thereof) become a defining factor in how you feel about your success, then you instantly put the success of your endeavors (or lack thereof) into the hands of other people.

On the other hand, by remaining calm, centered, still, and strong no matter what happens, you will remain in control of everything that is involved with you attaining success.

3) Focusing on the goal, regardless of the circumstances.

If you have ever worked in a corporate environment, you have probably heard a manager use some sort of buzz-phrase like "team cohesion" or had them refer to the company's "mission" as an end-around way of saying that you need to modify your plan of attack for the "greater good".

Those of you focused on a family or socially-centered goal may have heard this referred to as "taking one for the team".

Ummm….what is the best way to put this?

NO!

Don't do it. A lack of focus on a defined goal is the cause of more sub-par results in life and in business than could reasonably be measured on any scale that I have ever heard of.

By allowing yourself to be distracted by the circumstances and events that unfold after you have gotten started on your path to goal attainment will only allow you to get cleanly and efficiently OFF of that path!

I am not saying that you shouldn't consider the needs of others, or that you should not give time and consideration to the other people who are affected by your actions.

However, there is a difference between throwing your own plan of action out the window vs. modifying your plan so that you can remain focused and effective while also being flexible enough to handle unexpected factors.

Use your "peripheral vision" as needed to adjust the course of your own path, but never take a completely different road because something unexpected happens.

If you take your eyes off the prize, someone may steal it when you aren't looking!

4) Remembering why you are doing it to begin with.

Everyone has great ideas about having success in various endeavors, and there is usually a large amount of excitement in the beginning.

People who start exciting new positions, get involved with a great new weight loss program, or simply decide to start making some positive changes in their lives are all very into the idea at first.

However, it is human nature to not sustain a high level of emotion about anything for any extended period of time. Whether you are talking about extreme happiness or extreme sadness, eventually the "effect" wears off and the feelings aren't as strong as they once were.

In order to combat this issue, you need to remind yourself frequently - preferably on a daily basis - about why it is that you are involved in that endeavor to begin with.

Some people are firm believers in affirmation and visualization techniques, while others think such non-measurable practices are less than effective.

Regardless of which of those camps you fall into, one clear benefit of visualizing and affirming your success is that you are constantly being reminded of what it is that you are working towards.

Someone who is proficient at affirming and visualizing also knows that in order to really get the most bang for their buck, they must also use the power of emotion.

By constantly putting yourself into the feeling place of having accomplished your goals, you will also constantly remind yourself of why you want to accomplish them. There is a certain feeling that goal attainment will bring into your life, and you want that feeling.

Remember, it's not the cars, the houses, and the money that we are after, but rather the way that the cars, the houses, and the money will make us feel.

Find a way to remind yourself daily of what feelings you are trying to bring into your life.

Bringing it all together

As you have seen, these "secret steps" are not tasks that you need to accomplish in order to achieve success, but rather something far more important - your state of mind.

Your state of mind is far and away the most productive tool that you have at your disposal, but if used improperly, it can also be the most destructive tool as well.

Do not allow yourself to be caught up in the day to day details of how to be productive, how to dot your i's and cross your t's, or how to stay on the "right" path to achieve success.

By keeping your state of mind where it needs to be, you will find a way to ensure that every road ultimately leads to your destination!