How to Grow a Life by Writing a Eulogy

Ever written your own eulogy? You should try it - it is an amazing personal growth experience! Link to Full Story

Law of Attraction Party at Evolving Times

Having a party based around the Law of Attraction and including some awesome prizes is just a fun thing to do, and Edward Mills has done it with style! Link to Full Story

Self Improvement and Law of Attraction Link Love, Volume 22

Attention Splatter, intuition, health, happiness, kisses, and even lessons from someone who has been at the helm for almost a century. Be sure to check out this edition of Self Improvement and Law of Attraction Link Love! Link to Full Story

Self Improvement Hack: I am NOT that kind of a Person!

Would you believe that there is a simple and effective self improvement program that takes less than 5 minutes to implement, yet has incredible results? Link to Full Story

No Love for the Links!

A temporary break from the weekly Link Love series, but still some valuable information about upcoming content. Link to Full Story

Why isn’t the Law of Attraction working?

If you are confused about why the Law of Attraction isn't working, there are some real - and down to earth - answers about how the whole thing works. Link to Full Story

Can you Shut Up for just a Minute?

Can you change your life by just learning the fine art of actually listening when people speak? I think the answer is obvious, don't you? Link to Full Story

Vulcan Success Principles: Victory through Emotional Mastery

Personal development and victory as taught by the success principles of Vulcans! Link to Full Story

10,000 Fists to Freedom

Think you have what it takes to make a 90-day
self improvement commitment and actually STICK to it?

Then put your money where you mouth is and prove it!

Link to Full Story

Book Blog Tour: Life on Purpose - Six Passages to an Inspired Life

My review of a very enlightening book that discusses purposefully creating the life that we want, rather than just being "victims" of the life that we are living. Link to Full Story

Self Improvement and Law of Attraction Link Love, Volume 17

This week's self improvement and law of attraction information runs the gamut from productivity to happiness to visualization to wake up calls. Check it out! Link to Full Story

Happiness Quotient - What Blueprint are you Creating?

Is your blueprint for life one that will ensure the building of a life of joy and contentment, or one that will be dependent on certain circumstances in order for you to be happy? Link to Full Story

How to Live Out Loud

Did you ever stop and wonder if your life is hurtling past you while you just hang on trying not to fall off, rather than you consciously creating a life that is full of happiness and joy?

Having just returned from an absolutely wonderful weekend in Panama City, FL where my wife and I attended the wedding of one of my closest friends, I have had the chance to give some serious forward-looking as well as retrospective thought to life in general, and posting those thoughts for the benefit of my readers immediately came to mind.

My desire is for everyone to enjoy life on this planet as much as possible and in as many ways as possible. The phrase "live out loud" popped into my head, and I saw that as a great way to describe a life that is consciously created to be full of fun and frivolity. Here are some tips on doing exactly that!

Smile and Laugh Often

Although the concept of laughter being good for us in nothing new, that hasn't stopped people from consistently taking life WAY too seriously! None of us is getting out of life alive, so why would you squander the opportunity to have a good time while you're here?

Yes, you've got issues. Financial considerations, personal demons to battle, family problems, health concerns, career considerations, blah, blah, blah. So does everyone else.

If you sit around waiting for all of your "stuff" to be handled before you can start laughing and smiling all day, you'll be laying on your death bed wishing that you had spent more time laughing and smiling.

Do What you Want to Do

Each of us is an individual and we choose what we want to do with our lives. However, in addition to choosing a direction for your life, you can exert that same free will on a daily basis in your home, your place of business, out in public, and when visiting others.

Yes, you should consider the needs of others as a general rule, but that does not mean that you are here for the sole purpose of serving others! Quite to the contrary, actually - you're job here on earth is to serve yourself. You are here to learn and have fun.

If you spend your entire life - or even an entire day - not doing what you truly want to do, then refer once again to what I said earlier about what you'll be saying on your death bed.

Expect the Unexpected

You can try to foresee all of the different things that may be a part of your experience in life, but no matter how hard you try, unexpected things are still going to happen. For many people, this is a huge part of the reason why they are not enjoying their lives as much as they could be.

Whenever something happens that is outside of a person's "plan," they tend to immediately focus on trying to find a way to deal with this bump in the road. Dealing with the bump is not the issue, however.

The issue is that whenever someone comes upon one of these bumps in the road, what they consistently forget is that they still need to focus on being happy and having fun. In a world that offers a lot of negativity and plenty of opportunities for stress, our "default mode" is one of being negative and stressed out.

Consciously creating a life of living out loud means exactly that - consciously creating. If you stop focusing on being happy, you can probably guess what will happen to your level of happiness. When something unexpected happens, deal with it from a position of power, and then keep on cruising along being happy and creating joy.

See Value in Each Experience

After something unexpected happens in your life, that is a prime opportunity for you to ask "What was the value in that experience?". Every experience has something to offer, although it is not always as obvious as other times.

For example, if someone that you care about almost dies, it is hard to see the value in that. However, as you quickly realize that you now have a better appreciation for that person still being alive, it becomes apparent that there was some value in that situation after all.

Every single experience in life fits into that same mold, so I will not pass out endless examples here. However, trust in the fact that no matter how bad something may seem, not only does that thing have some sort of value, but in most cases it will also help you to live a happy and joyful life.

Refer back to the example of almost losing someone that you care about and you will see an immediate opportunity to start enjoying your life more by spending more of it with that person.

Be Who you Want to Be

I saved this one for last because I feel that it is the very cornerstone of happiness. There are many people who define happiness by material possessions, certain experiences, various opportunities, etc. However, each of those things will only hold value for that person based on that person's 100% unique view of the world.

So, by trying to serve the "greater good," or by living your life by standards that have been set down by anyone other than yourself, you are just setting yourself up to live a life that you don't truly want to be living.

The only way to truly enjoy life is to be the person that you actually want to be! Your friends, family, co-workers, mentors, counselors, and advisers cannot tell you to be - or not to be - a certain type of person. Their input can be incredibly valuable and I certainly advise seeking guidance from anyone who has an opinion that you respect. However, when all is said and done, you are the only person who is qualified to decide if you actually want to listen to them.

---

At this time you have the opportunity to give yourself a little "pop-quiz" to see if you are on the right track to start Living out Loud:

1. Are you going to nod your head and say that this blog post makes some great sense, run around for the next few hours feeling inspired, give some serious thought to creating the life that you truly want to be living, and then follow those thoughts up with some consistent action?
2. Or, are you going to let all of this go in one ear and out the other because you are already late for some task that you need to accomplish, and you just don't have time for this mamby-pamby, feel good nonsense?

The choice, of course, is yours. However, I believe that in a day, a month, a year, and a decade, the people who chose option number one are going to have lived a far better life than the people who chose option number 2!

Self Improvement and Law of Attraction Link Love, Volume 12

This is Volume 12 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) Intensive Care for the Nurturer's Soul - In the very appropriate context of "keeping it simple," Hueina Su brings on guest blogger Kevin Gianni who teaches us the 10 Commandments of the Best Exercise and Weight Loss Programs.

2) LifeHack - Adrian Savage has a great post called Has Your Fire Burned Low? which includes some great tips on bringing our desires back to a roaring flame, as well as a great bit at the end of the post that you don't want to miss about what happens with fire.

3) Abundance Journal - Still having trouble deciding if the whole Law of Attraction thing works? Belle's great post "It's Not Working!" does a very effective job of addressing the common pitfalls that people experience, and what to do about them.

4) Optimist Lab - Cardin Routh has an incredible post called Keeping Your Precious Things Precious. She discusses how our feelings always tell us if we are on the right track or not, and also how we can achieve maximum success by listening to our own inner voice, rather than what other people tell us. Great wisdom!

5) Life Optimizer - Having trouble getting the job done? Donald Latumahina's post What is the Key to Productivity? brings up the very real fact that many of us are too focused on things that are not mission critical - thus causing us to not always accomplish the mission!

6) Inspiring and Empowering Lives - Do you find yourself thinking that the grass is always greener on the other side? Take a peek at Jacklyn's post Why Is It Important To Improve Your Self? and follow her great advice to stop saying, "If only…"

7) Coffee2Code - Not a personal development site, but if you use WordPress for your blog, make sure to grab the Customizable Post Listings plug-in. See that section down below that says "Random Great Posts from the Past"? That is the Customizable Post Listings plug-in in action!

Blogs that have recently featured Today is that Day

MUCH gratitude to all of the following bloggers who shared the Link Love by telling others about posts here at Today is that Day!

Christy's Coffee Break - I am truly grateful to Christy for picking Today is that Day for this edition of her Best of the Blogs positive blog review series. You rock, Christy!

Something Good - Lorna referenced the Today is that Day blog in a GREAT post that she put together called Creating and Using Affirmations. Awesome stuff, Lorna - and thanks!

Debra Moorehead - In her post Your Magic Wand, Debra packs a lot of information into a small space, including a list of motivational, educational, and inspirational sites that includes the Today is that Day blog. Thanks, Debra!

Abundance Tips - The web links section of the Abundance Tips site is a great (and growing) list of powerful places to visit on the web, and they were kind enough to list Today is that Day among the other click-worthy entries. Thanks a bunch for the Link Love as well as the great format of the list!

Live the Power - Karen has put together a very cool feature called Joy Links, and she referenced the recent Today is that Day post about affirmations. Ironically, I also mentioned her site in that post. Reciprocation of reciprocation? I love the blogosphere! Thanks a million, Karen! Love the Joy Links concept!

Blog Carnivals that have recently included Today is that Day posts:

Personal Development Carnivals - The Urban Monk showed the post 'The Agony of Victory: Personal Development Breaking Point', and Balanced Life Center included 'Personal Development Roadblock: Are you Specializing too Soon?'.

Law of Attraction Carnival - Edward at Evolving Times put out another great edition, and he featured the Today is that Day post 'The Death of the Law of Attraction'.

Carnival of Powerful Living - Another information-packed edition hosted over at Verve Coaching which featured the post 'You're about to get hit.'.

Positive Mindset and Wealth Creation - The Women Internet Marketers site put together a huge list of posts about staying positive, making money, and achieving success! The Today is that Day post 'No Rocket Science Required: Self Improvement Starts Now!' was piled in with the rest of the quality knowledge included in that blog carnival.

That's it for this week, and if that list doesn't keep you busy learning and growing, then I don't know what will! Thanks as always to the many bloggers who contributed their time, knowledge, and their generosity!

Random great posts from the past:

Naked pictures of Antonella Barba Kill Captain America!

How was your Day?

Do You Deserve it, or are You Mistaken?

Self Improvement and Law of Attraction Link Love, Volume 8

Self Improvement Task: Affirmations that really Work

Insert Your Mental Reprogramming System of Choice Here: Affirmations, Visualization, Hypnosis, Meditation, Self-talk, Brain-wave Synchronization, and on and on the list goes…

There are so many ways to reprogram your mind these days that I'm beginning to wonder if we're all just running around in a brain-wash induced state of self-imposed denial.

OUCH! That came out a bit more harshly than I had intended! However, in truth, there is a slight grain of irritation here, because, much like the Law of Attraction, there is so much confusion about how to use some of these tools that their meaning is starting to get lost in the shuffle. This post is my attempt at setting the record straight on one of the most popular systems: Affirmations.

To cut right to the heart of the matter, the question on the table is "Do affirmations work"? The answer to the question is "Yes, if your affirmations really work". Confused yet? Allow me to clear the fog a bit.

As Karen Lynch points out in her post "Words," the end result that you are after with an affirmation is a feeling. That's it. That's all you get.

You can't manifest a new house or a new car with affirmations. You can't bring forth a huge pile of money with affirmations. You can't conjure up a rewarding career, nor magically create a loving and loyal romantic interest.

Affirmations, do not do any of those things. In fact, affirmations don't "do" anything - not in the 3-dimensional world anyway. The job of an affirmation is not to conjure up the things that we want to have in our lives, but rather to conjure up the feeling that having those things will create in our lives.

Then, once you have that feeling, you Law of Attraction junkies will recognize that the feeling will then create the vibrations which will speed the house, the car, the job, the money, the mate - whatever - directly to you at a rate that is proportionate to your level of allowing and belief.

However, for those of you who aren't so sure about the whole LOA thing, don't despair! You can use affirmations just as effectively to generate feelings of happiness and success.

You see, by feeling what it will be like to attain your goal, what you are doing is building something.

Oh yes, Grasshopper, you are building something truly wonderful. You are building something as large as the tallest building, as far-reaching as the infinite dreamscape, and as real to you as anything ever possibly could be.

You are building Belief.

By constantly creating the feeling of having something that is not (yet) physically in your life, you are creating a new belief system from scratch. This belief system will allow you to "know" what it is like to have the things that you desire because - in your mind - you already have them.

By continually reaffirming the feeling of having the things that you want, you will find ways to bring those things into your 3-dimensional existence. This may be through a burst of inspiration, a sustained motivation to take action, or it may happen by you actually coming across the method needed to bring you what you want.

So, the question of whether or not affirmations actually work, and if so, how to create affirmations that really work for you, is answered simply by asking yourself the following question:

"What can I tell myself that will create the feeling of having {insert the thing that you are affirming for here}?"

Here are a few examples from my own life, and I use them to reaffirm whenever something actually happens, so that the feeling that the thing generates is clear and present in that moment in time:

"Money comes to me easily and frequently." - Stolen from 'The Secret', I say this every single time I get money in any amount. Since I "work" on the Internet, I receive revenue from many different sources, and every time I get a check or a deposit into my PayPal account, I say this affirmation - no matter what the sum of money is.

"I am so grateful for…" - Gratitude is one the keys to success, and I practice it all day, everyday. From saying "I am so grateful that I don't have to get out of bed yet" to saying "I am so grateful that today was a good day with my family," not a day goes by that I don't actually say some rendition of a gratitude affirmation several times throughout the day.

"Since I live …" - One of my primary life goals is to own a house on the beach in St. Augustine, FL. I live in northeast Florida already, so anytime anything "beach-like" crosses my mind - even in a visualization - I reaffirm it. "Since I live on the beach, I can spend my upcoming day off there." "Since I live on the beach, I can run along the shore as the sun is rising." "Since I live on the beach, I can hear the surf from my window as I am working in my home office".

These are just examples, and are obviously specific to my lifestyle, but that is also why they work! If I ran around all day affirming things that had nothing to do with me, or that were so far out of my belief system that it would not be possible for me to take my affirmations seriously, then those affirmations wouldn't do me much good.

If you try to affirm "wild and crazy" success into your life with off the wall affirmations, the only feeling that you will be creating is one of disbelief, and that will get you nowhere.

So, if you want affirmations that really work, think of affirmations that work for you. Once you have done that, it is just a matter of repeating them as often as you want to feel that feeling of success!

Random great posts from the past:

Self Improvement and Law of Attraction Link Love, Volume 4

Shortcut to Success using the “Easy Button”

The Consistent Inconsistency of Self Improvement

Law of Attraction Naysayers and Rampant Capitalism

5 Simple Methods for Banishing Negative people from your Life

Negative "energy vampires" are not living a life full of happiness and success, yet they will happily drag you down to their level unless you escape their clutches before it is too late!

Use these 5 basic guidelines as an outline that will help to safeguard you from negativity, and will also help you to identify negative people so that you can remove yourself from their sphere of influence.

Once you have internalized not practicing the following unsuccessful habits, you will suddenly start noticing people in your life who consistently practice them on an almost daily basis.

No Gossiping

It doesn't matter how justified you think you are in talking about other people's perceived shortcomings, doing so will never serve to bring about positive results.

When people do things that you don't agree with or that you don't understand, all that demonstrates is that they do not see life in the same way that you see it. It doesn't it make them a bad person, it just means that their understanding of any given situation is different than yours.

Granted, in many circumstances it may seem painfully obvious that someone could have handled a situation in a more positive manner. However, even if that is the case, rehashing the details with other people will only perpetuate the negativity.

In addition, many people thrive on discourse and chaos, so by participating in negative discussions about others, all you are doing is indirectly giving people permission to continue adding fuel to that fire. When you are seen as a "negative fuel source," you will invariably find that people will continue stopping by to get a fill-up!

No Whining or Complaining

Let me ask you this: Does whining or complaining about any given situation actually do anyone any good whatsoever?

I'm not talking about constructive criticism, learning from our mistakes, or recognizing pitfalls so that we can avoid them in the future. No, I'm talking about when a situation is already clearly less than desirable, yet you continue to talk about how undesirable it is!

When the office thermostat is broken and it is cold as a deep-freeze in your building, will anything be gained by continuing to repeat the obvious? If your spouse or significant other is being (in your opinion) unreasonable, are you going to gain anything by constantly spouting off about how upset you are about the situation?

Complaining accomplishes absolutely nothing other than drawing attention to an already less than favorable set of circumstances. If something is worth complaining about, then it is also worth taking action on. Stop whining, and start taking action, because if you don't, all of the whiners and complainers will crowd around you in order to get their negativity fix.

No Co-Dependency

All of us have friends, family members, or co-workers who bring real-world negative issues to us, and ask for our input. Sometimes they are looking for advice, while other times they just want to "vent".

In either case, however, pumping up their already negative point of view by agreeing how terrible any given situation is will only serve to cement in their minds how terrible that situation is! In addition, you will be sending them the clear signal that you are willing to be a sounding board for their complaints in the future.

Rather than rallying the forces of negativity in order to combat someone's issues, instead just provide for them a calming, reassuring voice of reason when their lives are in turmoil. Don't turn your back on them, but don't fuel their point of view that they are the "victim" either.

Instead, listen with a compassionate ear while keeping your own feelings in check. You will do them much more of a service by helping them to find a positive spin on their situation rather than becoming a participant in their negativity.

No Cross Contamination

It is impossible to swim in a river full of muddy water, yet still be able to get out of that river without a speck of dirt on you. The only way to avoid that dirt - or that negativity - is to refuse to take a dip into that river in the first place.

From an emotional standpoint, it is not possible for you to participate in negativity, and then go back into your positive bubble without dragging some of that negativity in with you.

Most people would say that it is not possible for them to completely avoid negativity, and I would tend to agree. However, just because you are physically present in a situation does not mean that you need to actually participate on an emotional level.

You can be involved in a discussion or in the resolution of a negative situation without allowing your own emotional set point to drop down to a less-than positive level. When life throws negativity at you, stay in the game, but practice equanimity in order to handle the situation without allowing the negative vibrations to affect you on an individual level.

No Being "Holier than Thou"

After finding all of these great ways to recognize and avoid negativity, it becomes very easy to think that you are somehow "different" than everyone else. You start to feel "enlightened" and you recognize how a large number of the people in your life are on planes, trains, and automobiles that are all headed in the wrong direction.

Here's a clue: get a grip on yourself! You are no better, nor any worse than any of those people. Those people are neither better, nor any worse than you.

The only difference between the "enlightened" you and the people who practice negativity is that you see things from a different point of view than they do. It is not appropriate for you to try to force your way of thinking onto those people, and in most cases it is also quite impossible.

By running around life with an attitude that you are somehow better than other people, all you will do is serve to alienate most of the people around you. Then, before you know it, other "holier than thou" individuals will start to flock to your side. Then all you will have accomplished is serving to divide your circle of influence into people who live on the "right" or the "wrong" side of the tracks - from your point of view.

Conclusion:

By following guidelines similar to the methods that you just read, and by practicing the fine art of being positive, you will begin to enjoy your life and consciously create it to be whatever it is that you want it to be.

That's the prize.

However, be advised that these success habits are just that - habits. Only practicing them when it is convenient for you to do so will only bring about positive results in small doses. Consistency is key.

Also, be prepared to burn some bridges in the process. Right now in your life there are probably people who will fade away completely when they realize that you will not be participating in their drama anymore.

The ladder of success is never crowded at the top!

The Death of the Law of Attraction

Have you ever had to sit by and watch a wonderful thing die a slow, humiliating death?

That's pretty much how I feel right now as I watch from the sidelines as the glorious Law of Attraction is being both misunderstood by non-believers, and perverted into some grand money-making scheme by supposed followers.

The whole thing makes me ill, yet being a true believer and a true follower of the proper ways to utilize conscious creation in my life, I neither dwell upon nor give consistent thought to these negative circumstances.

Why, then, am I writing a blog post that calls attention to these things? After all, the LOA teaches only to notice - not to dwell upon - things that do not resonate with our desires.

I am writing - dear reader - so that you can see the difference between hype and hope, and so that an actual objective account of this situation can be given in order to avoid seeing a headstone like this one on display in public record.

There are two very basic reasons why the movie The Secret and subsequent teachings about the Law of Attraction have caused so much potential negativity in the world, and it boils down to nothing more exotic than human nature.

The need for Security

As a race, we have always had an instinctive need to know that "everything was going to be alright". This need goes back as far as the days of prehistoric man seeking shelter in rock-solid caves, and continues as an integral part of society all over the world.

This quest for security has led us to scientific discoveries, philosophical understandings, and religious belief systems. Science, philosophy, and religion have been part of the human condition since time immemorial, yet suddenly an idea has come into the mainstream that challenges all three.

According to the Law of Attraction, science as we know it may not be as we know it anymore. Need proof? Go find me a quantum physicist who says he has all of the answers.

Philosophy itself has also been challenged by people who now say that humans have always had the ability to consciously create their lives. This throws historical record itself into chaos when you consider that this belief would have changed the very face of history had it been widely practiced centuries ago.

And what about religion? By using the LOA, are you denouncing your deity? Are you saying that there is no God? Are you saying that each of us IS God???

Whoa! This whole thing is starting to get a little bit out of control, isn't it? Challenging science? Challenging philosophy? Challenging RELIGION??

I'm sorry, but this is just bringing up way too many questions that humans just don't have answers for. Better to go bury that whole "attraction" business under a rock somewhere. We'll all feel a lot better - a lot more secure - when things are back to the way they used to be and we had answers for all of this stuff.

Greed

I'm sorry to have to be the messenger for this less than savory bit of news, but it's true. Greed is running rampant and everyone wants to cash in on the deliberate creation money train!

Ya know, it's really funny that this is the case, because true believers know that abundance is everywhere and that greed itself is not only unnecessary, but that it will actually retard the power of the LOA, leaving the greedy person without the pot of gold they were hoping for

This greed has come up in every way imaginable, including teaching and coaching programs, books, seminars, audio programs, teleclasses, eBooks, and last, but not least, let us not forget the SPECIAL REPORT!

Whatever is in the SPECIAL REPORT must be really special, because this blog alone gets at least half a dozen spam comments every single day from alleged LOA practitioners who are offering the SPECIAL REPORT, and it's FREE!

Okay, here's a clue from me to you, SPECIAL REPORT PROVIDERS: I already know how to consciously create my life. If you had read through this blog you would know that I teach my readers how to create their lives, and your SPECIAL REPORT is of no interest to me or to my readers, which is why your daily spam comments keep getting deleted.

What about the rest of these product and service providers, though? There must be someone who really knows how to teach people to take control of their lives by using these principles.

You are absolutely right! Please don't mistake my previous comments to mean that you shouldn't listen to - and even pay for - the teachings of people who truly understand these concepts.

However, on that same token, do your homework. Any products or services that are being offered to you should at a bare minimum come with a money-back guarantee, and the seller or coach should have plenty of data to back up his/her expertise.

A blog that teaches about the Law of Attraction, a list of articles that teach about conscious creation, or a decent track record are all positive indicators. If someone has none of those, yet they are claiming to be an expert, what exactly are they an expert in, I wonder?

After reading all of this, is this really the end?

No, of course not! The principles of deliberate creation have been around literally since the dawn of time, and no present day insecurities or levels of greed are going to change that.

However, greed and insecurity are at the moment still an integral part of human nature. For that reason you will continue to see plenty of negativity surrounding these concepts, and you will continue to see a lot of people exercising their greed in order to take advantage of those insecurities.

Here is the takeaway that you need to remember:

Draw your own conclusions! Don't believe me, and don't believe your friends, co-workers, or family members.

Do your own research and decide whether or not you want to believe in and practice the many wonderful concepts that make up the Law of Attraction.

At a bare minimum, these concepts will make your life a happier and more positive place to be, and that is a fact that I am willing to share with you free of charge, no security blanket needed.

You’re about to get hit.

Despite what you may see in movies or on television, getting smacked in the face is not very glamorous. You can, however, improve your life by learning how to take a punch.

If you've never had the dubious pleasure of getting punched or slapped, please do not run right out and do it so that you can equate to what I am talking about here. It hurts - just trust me on this one, okay?

So how does that knowledge help you to improve your life? Simple: by teaching you how to keep your guard up!

You see, as a general rule, people do not go through life ready for action. In fact, most people go through life not really ready for anything!

They just sort of float along in a reactionary state, waiting to see what life is going to throw at them, and then they react appropriately or inappropriately when the time comes.

That's not exactly conscious creation! In fact, that's not exactly living, in my opinion.

The way to break out of this self-induced funk is to realize that every single moment of your life is an opportunity for you to be aware.

The easiest way to be aware is to act exactly as you would if you were in a potentially dangerous physical situation.

Think about it. Have you been outside at night and felt like you might be in danger? Your senses are all very fine-tuned, you are constantly watching and listening for any sight or sound that might herald the onset of actual peril, and you are primed and ready to fight or flight with a split second's notice!

Compare that to how you walk around at your job.

Compare that to how you react when you see your spouse, your kids, or your friends.

Compare that to how you approach an upcoming workout that you don't really want to do.

In the types of situations that I just described, you wouldn't feel like your life was in any real danger, so you wouldn't feel the need to really focus on what is happening during those times.

In general, you simply float along knowing that this cubicle leads to the next cubicle, that your spouse, kids, and friends are all going to act a certain way, and that your next workout is going to be just as boring and listless as the last one was.

Now, consider what would happen in each of those situations if you actually thought someone might come up to you out of the blue and just belt you right across the face!

Would you be more aware of your surroundings? Would you notice what people were doing and saying, and whether or not you were going to be affected by that? In short, would you pay attention?

Of course you would!

• Your eyes would consciously register - not just look at - all of the things in your field of vision.
• Your mind would consciously make note of - rather than just observe - what people were doing, saying, or even what they were wearing.
• Your posture would stay strong, and firm, ready to instantly take action on anything that happened in your environment that might affect you.
• Your awareness of your own physical stature would increase, thus exponentially increasing the mind/body connection.
• Your memory of events would increase since you consciously made note of each aspect of your surroundings, rather than just floating through, barely even aware of yourself, let alone what other people were doing.
• Your ability to respond physically, emotionally, or mentally to the world around you would be sharper and more directed, rather than just having instinctive reactions which might or might not serve you.

Do you think that your life would be better if you started actually participating in it, rather than just having a front row seat, and asking the other non-aware person next to you to pass the popcorn??

I am not saying that you should run around looking for a fight all day every day, or that you live your entire life as if you are waiting for the other shoe to drop.

However, I am saying that by consciously being aware of - and thus being consciously prepared for - your life, that you will automatically start creating your life, rather than just reacting to it.

So, are you ready to attack life with a gusto, or are you just sitting around waiting to get sucker-punched?

Do you know the 3-Letter Formula for Personal Development Success?

If you can say your ABC (skip the rest of the alphabet), you can consciously and successfully create the life of your dreams.

Back in my network marketing days, I was taught a very useful acronym for success called A.B.C. - Always Be Closing. In a nutshell, it meant that everywhere you went and in everything that you did, you always acted as if you were "closing" the sale.

Everything was done with confidence, poise, and surety of purpose. It was (and still is) GREAT advice. However, I have come up with a modified version of that acronym, which I think is even more powerful - regardless of your career field or what your individual goals are:

It seems overly simplistic to say what I am about to say, but it certainly must not be as simple as it sounds, because most people - even the supposedly "enlightened" people - still have trouble grasping this on a day to day basis:

You always have a choice about how you react to life.

Sure, everyone claims that they know and understand this concept, yet they still don't practice it.

Whenever a job interview doesn't go their way, they CHOOSE to get upset and to start having fears about their career status.

When someone's spouse or significant other is acting in a negative way, they CHOOSE to have a negative reaction to that, which invariably leads to plenty of continued negativity.

When a scheduling issue causes chaos in someone's daily activity, they CHOOSE to throw up their hands in despair and just give up, cursing their bad luck. Then they resolve to allow that scheduling problem to change the entire course of their day.

In each of those examples, there is no doubt that each of those situations did not go the way that the individual would have preferred. However, it was not the circumstances themselves that caused problems, but rather that person's reaction to those circumstances.

If a job interview does not go your way, you can choose to either get upset and let fear and doubt begin to cloud your future judgment and actions, or you can choose to see it as a positive thing.

For all you know, there is a very good reason why you didn't get that job, and a better or more appropriate opportunity may be right around the corner. You will not see that next opportunity if you are busy wallowing in self-pity, however.

If your spouse or your boyfriend/girlfriend is being argumentative or causing negativity in your environment, how do you know that an opportunity isn't being presented to you?

Fate/God/The Universe or whoever might be tapping you on the shoulder to get your attention. Maybe you need to open up communication lines with your mate and frequent arguments are a telltale sign of that. Maybe that person really isn't for you and you are being guided to make that realization.

However, if you just get angry and start shouting back, what is going to be accomplished? Nothing positive, that's a safe bet.

What about when a scheduling issue causes chaos for you? How do you know that by getting caught by a slow train that you didn't just miss a drastic 10-car pile up that would have happened if you had made it to the other side of the tracks?

How do you know that what you perceive to be a day that has been ruined because of a blown schedule is not a great opportunity for you? Maybe you need to reevaluate your scheduling practices, reassess your daily task list, or maybe you are just getting a big wallop to your ego telling you that you need to slow down and stop trying to get so much done every single day.

Do you know that Americans work longer hours yet have less life-happiness and contentment than any other country in the world?

All of the examples that I just gave are merely random circumstances that I came up with while I was writing this post, and there are millions of other situations that could apply specifically to you. However, in each case, the lesson is still the same.

No matter how many curve balls that life chooses to throw at you, no matter how much negativity you are exposed to, and no matter how much your "mettle" is tested, there is always one - and only one - way to deal with it:

The way you CHOOSE to deal with it.

By choosing negative reactions, you will ensure continued negativity in the future. By choosing positive reactions, you will always give yourself a fresh start, a fresh perspective, and in some cases, a completely fresh slate from which to start all over again.

So, are you going to be a victim in life, or you are you going to choose to be in control?

The, uh, choice - is yours.

Doing it Differently Blog Carnival, 1st Edition

Welcome to the very first edition of the Doing it Differently Blog Carnival!

This carnival is dedicated to the concept of stepping outside of the box and living our lives in ways beyond the "norm"!

Whether you want to learn unique ways to think or act differently, or if you want to share your own unique ideas, this carnival is for you!

There will be a new edition of the carnival posted every two weeks, on the 1st and the 15th of every month. You can click here to learn more, or click here to submit a post for the next edition, which will be posted on April 30, 2007.

Many thanks to all of the authors who brought us their Doing it Differently wisdom for this ground-breaking very first edition!

1) In her post Perfect Mess, Perfect Day, Karen Lynch of Live the Power reminds us that whether you are a neat freak or you thrive on clutter, both ways are the right way as long as you can be true to yourself and also keep things in perspective.

2) Over at Sharp Brains, learn about alternative ways of dealing with stress that are outside of the commonly understood methods by reading the post I am a busy executive with a challenging job. How is brain fitness relevant to me?

3) The post Creating a Culture of Productivity and Success at Verve Coaching brings home the fact that in order to maximize effectiveness, a culture of success - rather than just standard practices - will consistently produce better results for your organization.

4) At Fish Creek House - INNside Innkeeping, 3 success tips are written out in the post Time has Come Today. I especially liked the "Do it Now" tip because as the author points out, it eliminates "brain clutter" and the need for a to-do list.

5) In her post How to fake it until you make it, K-L Masina dishes on one of my favorite subjects, that of consciously creating our life experiences. She spells out the thought/feeling process and offers a real-life example of how she successfully used the process in her own life.

6) Praveen at My Simple Trading System gives us the inside scoop on a unique system of stock trading that he has come up with. In the post My Stock Trading System, concepts such as Zen and Tao are mixed with some financial advice for a one of a kind stock trading mentality.

7) In his post You Create Your Own Reality, Kevin Kinchen of Creative Power of Thought talks about our tendency to accept a view of the world that has been presented by other people, thus causing us to create our lives "by default" rather than deliberating creating our own unique world view.

8) Over at Campus Grotto Ted Reimers has a great list of ways for eating dirt cheap. Be sure to bring your appetite when you read Top 10 Cheap Foods/Drinks for the College Student.

9) What is more important - loving yourself or loving others? In her post Beloved - Part II, Joice of Joysoriano.com gives a great comparison along with a large list of ways to keep love in your life.

10) At Energies of Creation, Lexi Sundell brings us a story of remarkable beauty on earth while at the same time discussing ways of using her earthly journeys as a way to develop from the inside out as well. Check out An Unusual Way to Develop Intuition.

11) At the Actors And Acting Informational Blog we are given a candid look at the trials and tribulations of finding success in the acting business. Check out Acting - So You Want To Be A Movie Star? and decide for yourself if that lifestyle is as glamorous as many people think it is.

12) Conan Stevens brings us the post Getting Started - Get On Track Today, which discusses the common task of making a list and prioritizing, and also adds in uncommon concepts like planning your recreational time as well as your "work" time so that your relaxation time is just as effective as your work.

13) At Renovate Your Life with Craig, the post Do It Yourself Prison finds Craig Harper sharing some great wisdom about how we can get out of "the big house" by doing things differently and getting outside of our well-known comfort zones.

14) Are You Sure You Know What You Really Want? over at 360 Degree Success is a very telling piece that talks about the fact that many people are chasing dreams that are not even their own. After reading it, ask yourself honestly if you do the things that you do because YOU want to do them.

15) At Creating Abundant Lifestyles, Wanda Grindstaff brings us the post Be the Rhino, A Life of Purpose and Intention, which shares the wisdom that following your path - regardless of what everyone else is doing - is always the shortest route to success.

16) At The Digerati Life, common methods are mixed with seriously unusual ways to save money in the post Seriously Thrifty? Some Wild Ways To Save (Part 1).

17) The post Things To Do Once in a Life Time over at Live Your Inspiration points out the very real fact that each of us is living a lifetime right now - no matter how many lifetimes we believe we have - or don't have - to live. Jane Chin discusses not just 3 things to do with that lifetime, but also talks about seeing the value behind doing those things.

18) Can you use your BRAIN to lose weight? You can if you know how to program it, which is exactly what is discussed over at The Fit Shack in the post How To Use Your Brain to Lose Weight.

That's it for the very first edition of the Doing it Differently Blog Carnival!

Thank you once again to all of our authors, and thank YOU as well for showing your support by checking out the information that they all shared.

Don't forget, the next edition will be posted on April 30th, and the closing of this edition is also the official call for submissions for the next one! Get the inside scoop on what this carnival is all about and access the submission form as well by clicking right here.