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.

Exercise of the Day: Calf Raises with Exercise Ball

Ever wanted to get a great calf workout, but standard calf raises just weren't doing it for you? Try Calf Raises with an Exercise Ball!

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!

Calf Raises with Exercise Ball

When doing this movement, lean into the ball at about a 10-degree angle. You want enough of an angle to both cause the exercise ball to be needed as a stabilizer, and also to change the angle on your calves as you do the exercise. Be sure to go all the way up as far as you can onto your toes with each repetition, and also hold that peak contraction for 2 seconds before returning to the start position. Also, once you start a set, never let your heels touch the ground until that set has been completed.

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.

Self Improvement and Law of Attraction Link Love, Volume 10

This is Volume 10 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) HELLO, my name is BLOG - Scott Ginsberg brings us more of his common sense wisdom with the post Make your best one your last one. Imagine how great life would be if everything you did was done with the attitude that you only had this ONE shot to do that thing in the best possible way?

2) Contemplate This - If you've been looking for an up to date list of websites that offer plenty of recent information about the Law of Attraction, look no further. Check out the post Law of Attraction Blogs for the complete scoop.

3) Getting Your Music Out There - Mark Spivey is a musician composer who does a GREAT job of sorting out the difference between real and "make believe" in his post What's Wrong with 'American Idol'?. His message: YOU are in control of your destiny, regardless of what the rest of society may be telling you.

4) Sky Windows - One of the participants in the Simply Successful Secrets project put together what I consider to be one of the most no-nonsense guides to successful parenting that I ever seen. What does that have to do with self/personal development? Try being successful while your kids are running your life! Must read for parents or would-be parents: Simply Successful Secrets - Parenting.

5) The DO-Follow Movement - A lot of people don't know it, but many blogs prevent search engines from finding your blog or your website after you post a comment on their blog. It's called a no-follow reference, and it is a total outrage to people who participate in online discussions. A number of people (including Today is that Day) have banded together to start a DO-Follow Movement. Check out the details and some of the thought leaders at Essential Keystrokes, MomGadget, and Randa Clay Design.

6) Scott H. Young - Guest blogger Leo Babauta writes an excellent post called Do Less to Be More Productive in which he not only discusses the real value of quality over quantity, but he also puts forth a simple system that you can use to find and prioritize the tasks that are most worthy of your valuable time.

7) Success from the Nest - Regular readers of this blog will recognize Tony Clark's frequent wisdom, and 15 Minutes as Your Model of Success is no exception. Tony talks about how you can set yourself up for success by getting "inside the head" of a role model. I concur 100% and will also add that by so doing, you may actually redefine what you consider to be "success".

Blogs that have recently featured Today is that Day

Cardin Routh at the recently re-designed Optimist Lab has put together a powerful edition of the Carnival of Deliberate Creation. Many thanks for featuring my post, Cardin, and for your positive feedback as well!

Dr. Hal Sommerschield over at North Star Mental Fitness discusses the very cool concept of Ho'oponopono in his post Four Miraculous Phrases. Dr. Hal delivers a lot of great information about Ho'oponopono in a short period of time, and he references one of my recent posts, as well as some wisdom from Shama Hyder, who was recently interviewed here at Today is that Day.

That's it for this week! Thanks as always to all of our authors for their continuing efforts to keep us all informed, empowered, and entertained!

p.s. - Don't forget - The very first edition of the Doing it Differently Blog Carnival will be up here at Today is that Day on Sunday, April 15th. I've received a ton of great submissions, so look forward to learning about some ways to handle your life that you might not otherwise have thought of!

The New WWW: What’s Worth Wanting?

If you could have anything at all that you ever wanted, but you could only make one wish, what would you wish for?

QUICK! Don't think - just answer!

The problems start when we start thinking, which is where the whole process of getting what we want out of life starts to break down - almost immediately.

We are powered by our conscious minds which control all of the decisions that we make seemingly "on purpose," but our subconscious minds are the real powerhouse behind our thought processes - and thus - our results in life.

In the example above, you may have had a gut reaction to the question, like wanting a million dollars, or world peace, or the perfect mate, etc. However, as soon as your conscious mind started to analyze the situation, it immediately started throwing out reasons why you can't have whatever it is that you thought of.

So the challenge before you now is to ignore for the moment what you think you can have, and be totally honest with yourself about what you would want if you could literally have anything that you could imagine. Is it something Worth Wanting?

Dr. Rob Williams and Dr. Bruce Lipton are the founders of the amazing Psych-K system of destroying the self-limiting belief systems that are often responsible for holding us back from attaining our peak potential.

However, in an interview that Dr. Williams recently did with Kelly Howell of BrainSync.com, he explained that getting rid of self-limiting beliefs is just the first stage of personal development.

It isn't really that difficult for our conscious mind to grasp that unhealthy, unethical, or irresponsible practices are not good for us. However, many people fail because they are then stuck with answering the question of what it is that they do want.

Based on our almost instinctive ability to rationalize or use logic to determine whether or not it is even possible for us to attain any given goal, most human beings simply lack the internal programming needed to allow ourselves to believe that we can truly attain our most heartfelt desires.

So, rather than actually wanting to attain something that we have a burning desire for - something that we deem Worthy - we instead "settle" for what our internal programming says it is possible for us to actually get.

In the Psych-K workshops, Dr. Williams, Dr. Lipton, and several dozen other instructors around the world use a popular belief testing system called "muscle testing" to determine if the statements that we make about our lives are deeply rooted in the subconscious, or if those statements are just our conscious minds rationalizing and categorizing our beliefs about the world around us.

So, although this post is far from an infomercial for the Psych-K system (I've never been to one of their workshops), I do feel strongly about at least bringing up the very real truth that many people are going through their lives chasing after dreams that they think they can someday catch.

Knowing that is the case, ask yourself the following:

"If I could have anything that I wanted - no matter how far-fetched or unrealistic it seemed - what is worthy of me actually wanting it?"

When you have your answer, you'll also have a direction for your life.

Pretty cool, huh?

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.