There are a lot of bloggers talking about the changes that have taken place in our society the past weeks. Today I will add my two cents worth.

There are no such things as accidents. What has taken place was meant to be. We begin a new time in the life of the United States of America. This is a time that shows that anything is possible. That we should not be surprised that seemingly impossible things happen.

I am of a generation that remembers segregation. A time when in the south I had to sit in the balcony of the movie theater and being in the military and yet could not go into the USO club because of my color.

I grew up in Detroit, Michigan and in 1968 lay in my bedroom listening to bullets whistle by my window outside. This was a year of race riots in many parts of the country.

I have heard it said that since we have an African American in the white house that this is a time of post racism. Well don’t you believe it. There is still racism in this country, it is only more subtle.

Our white next door neighbor has a sister living in Tennessee. She told us that her sister told her that her minister said that Obama is the anti-Christ. She says that her sister believes everything that her minister tells her. Before the election he told her that we could not have a black man as president, it was against the laws of nature.

So there are still those amongst us who hold on to their racist views. But things are changing. I never in my wildest dreams imagined that we would have a black president in my life time.

I think that there is more happening than just an election. There is shift in consciousness going on, especially in our young people. But even some of our older citizens have come to the conclusion that there are more important things than the color of a persons skin.

President Obama represents change on a national level. What is happening also represents change on a personal level, or at least the opportunity for change. It represents hope for a better tomorrow. This energy is available to each and everyone of us for hope and change in our personal lives.

The Universe awaits your decision to make the changes necessary in your life to make it what you have dreamed of. The time is now to get serious about working on your goals and desires.

It is predicted that things will get worse before they get better. Well, for each of us, whether that happens in our personal life is up to us. Keep your mind open to the possibilities which remain unlimited. Don’t allow yourself to fall into the trap of pessimism.

TODAY’S TIP: Remember that no matter how bad things have become there have always been people who have prospered. Believe that you are one of those people.

How will you greet tomorrow?

It is said that everyone has something to teach us. Sometimes this is very hard to understand, but there are no accidents and each experience has a lesson.

We should also learn from our parents and ancestors. We do not seem to be learning as much as we could. We look around and see the same mistakes committed over and over, generation after generation.

In our personal life this does not have to be the case. We can open our hearts and minds and learn from those who have gone before us. This is especially important in manifesting our dreams and desires.

We have all heard that we should surround ourselves with people of like minds. This makes traveling our path a little easier. Those of like minds will encourage us and often provide insight into what we are trying to do.

We can then take that concept to a highter livel. If we want to get better at what we do we need to associate with people who are better than we are. In other words, if you play tennis you will never get better by playing only people you can beat. To get better you must play those who are better than you and thereby increase your skill.

This is why mentors are so important. In choosing a mentor you want to be very careful. Your mentor should be someone who has done what you want to do and has done it successfully. Your mentor should be humble enough to share their knowledge and expertise with you in a kind and thoughtful way.

Mentors are teachers so must be able to teach, but they are more than that. A good mentor must also be a friend. They must care about you and have a sincere desire to make you a better person, not only in the area of their expertise but in all areas of your life.

Mentors may spend months or years with you, or they may only spend minutes with you. It is best to have more than one mentor. Anyone you come across who has something that will help you achieve your goals is a potential mentor.

Seek out experts in your field and spend as much time with them as you can. If you see someone who you think can help you, ask for their help. Invite them to lunch and pick their brain. You will find that most successful people are flattered to have someone seek their advice.

This is a great way to accomplish your goals. Find someone who has done what you want to do successfully and imitate them. Do what they have done. It makes sense that if it worked once it can work again.

TODAY’S TIP: Do not be intimidated by those who have more expertise than you. They can be a great help in achieving your goals.

Who will be your mentor?

Have you ever tried to do something that you had to do over and over before you accomplished the task? At what point do you decide to give up? It probably depends on how important it is to you.

This is how life is . The importance you place on a particular task will determine how much effort you put into it. There is the saying, “if at first you don’t succeed, try, try, try again.” How important are your goals?

With some soul searching we might come up with other reasons why people quit. Perhaps they don’t feel that they deserve it or it is something that they “should” do. Maybe someone else wants it for them and they are trying to please that person.

As you can see there are many reason people give up before they succeed. This is the reason you should seek absolute clarity before you start the process of realizing your dreams. You want to be sure that those goals are core desires. You should be sure that you will do whatever is necessary to make those dreams come true.

There have not been many, if any, successful people who have not had to try something numerous times before they succeeded. Perhaps what they were trying to do would or could not work. Then they had the strength to realize and accept that and make adjustments so that it would work.

Remember to keep the end result in mind and not get hung up on the process. Success is not whether a step in the plan works or not, but whether you get to the destination. Persistence is the key.

Edison tried 10,000 times before he achieved success with the electric light bulb. Many people have given up when it would only have taken one more try to achieve success. How would you know that the very next attempt would be the one that worked?

In the endeavors that matter you must cultivate a burning desire to achieve. You must also strengthen and renew that burning desire along the way. Each and everyday you must remind yourself of your goals and why they are important to you.

Anytime you encounter discouragement or have someone put down your ideas remind yourself of the end result and tell yourself why it is important. If you know that people are not going to embrace your idea do not discuss it with them.

Persistence is a must have characteristic for creation of your dream reality. Do not allow anyone or anything to divert your focus and instill doubt or hopelessness in you.

When training people in the gym I would tell them, “do as many repetitions as you can and one more.” It’s that one more that does the most good.

TODAY’S TIP: When you feel like quitting tell yourself, “just one more time.” This may be the time it works.

Will you keep going?

We all control our destiny, but many of us give up that control for various reasons. It seems to be inbred in man to want to control his environment and others. Many times that person has no control over themselves.

We are controlled from our birth and through out our lives until we decide to take control of our own lives. This can be difficult because often we don’t realize what is controlling us or even that we are being controlled.

As children it was necessary that we accept control. Control from our parents, from our schools and our religious institutions. If we did not we were considered rebels and there were consequences. Often, even through we did not agree, it was just easier to go along with the program.

This attitude served us well as we grew up but it also instilled a habit and susceptibility to being controlled as adults. Depending on how rigid the restraints were often determines how hard it is to break free as adults.

The desire to please others is also a reason we let others control us. This is a part of the conditioning we went through growing up. We wanted to please our parents, our teachers, our minister. As adults we want to please our spouse and our boss.

I am not saying that we should not please others. I am saying that all interactions with others should be “for the good of all concerned.” It should not be necessary to give up something that you do not want to give up just to please someone else.

The only way you will ever succeed is to take control of your life. It is alright to be selfish as long as it does not take from someone else. There will always be people around you who knowingly or unknowingly want you to do it their way. There will always be those who think they know what is best for you more than you do.

I grew up in a family that would only tell me what I could not do. I could not sing, or dance or play football or anything else I thought I wanted to do. I realize that my parents were only trying to protect me in the only way they knew how, but it made me question my talents and abilities.

There came a time when I had to cut off all communications with my family for several years because I felt that it was the only way I could get in touch with who I really was. My family did not understand but for me it was a time of healing and growth.

TODAY’S TIP: Decide that no one knows more what is best for you than you. Take control of your life and follow your heart.

Does that not feel better?

The reason some people never achieve their goals is because they are not willing to put forth the energy and do what is necessary to complete them. Are you ready to put forth the energy?

Once you have written down your goals it is time for some soul searching. Write down the steps that you will have to take to reach your goals. Then write down the actions you must take at each step.

It is now time for honest evaluation. Ask yourself, are you willing to put the energy into the action necessary at each step. If not it is alright. This just tells you that your goals are unrealistic. You would then simply go back over your goals.

Look at the scope of your goals. Is it that they are just too grand? If you cut back on them are you then willing to put the energy into them. Are the goals you have set for yourself completely beyond what you are willing to do?

You will also want to look at your motives. Why do you want to accomplish these goals? Is it because you are trying to match someone else? Is it because someone else, like a spouse or sibling, wants it or thinks that you should have it?

It is very important that your motives be clear and selfish. The only way you will accomplish your goals is if they are what you want for you. You cannot want them for someone else or someone else want them for you.

We hear a lot about  how the best way of having abundance is by giving and helping others. In Internet marketing they say that the way to success is by helping others achieve success. While this is true it is not the whole story.

The desire to be of service and help others must come from deep inside as an urge to do so unselfishly. It must be done without expectation of return or getting something out of it. If you are going to help others simply because you believe it will bring you wealth you will fail. Life does not work that way.

Your Universe, your soul or higher self, knows your motivation. If it is not pure it will backfire. We have heard of the rich giving to the church or charities, yet they are still not happy with their lives. Some give as a way to pay for their sins, the greed and ruthlessness that it took for them to get where they are.

So, look into your heart and find goals that are pure in motive. Use the tools you have and you will find success just around the corner.

TODAY’S TIP: Once you have decided on a course of action go forth with conviction and determination. Enjoy the journey.

Have you decided what to do?

You can have all the tools, all the knowledge, and all the desire; but if you don’t put in the energy and effort nothing will happen. This is why it is important to organize your days to get the most out of the time you spend.

Time organization and time management are difficult tasks for most of us. There are some things we can do to make it easier.

First, stay focused. You want to develop a one track mind. In doing this there is a line that you do not want to cross. That one track should be on the outcome, not the process. It should also be on the total you and not just one area of your life.

If you develop a one track mind about money you will miss out on other things that are as important or more important, such as your marriage or health. This is true of single minded focus on any one area of life.

You want to stay focused on your plan and the work that will make that plan a reality. Use whatever tools you are aware of to make that a habit. All the tools we have talked about the last few days will help you do that.

Write out your daily work schedule. To give you an idea of what I mean here is mine.

5:30 I get up, take care of my bathroom needs and have a cup of tea – 6:00 half hour meditation – 6:30 QiGong practice (about 45 minutes) – 7:30 exercise about one hour – 8:30 shower – 9:00 breakfast – 10:00 to 12:00 work on computer (blog post and emails) -12:30pm dinner (the heaviest meal of the day) – 1:30 to 3:30work on business – 4:00 eat a light meal – 5:00 to 7:00 read or listen to materials on personal and business development – 7:00 snack – 8:00 half hour meditation – 8:30 to 9:00 relax maybe personal reading. 9:00 start getting ready for bed.

This is my schedule. For me this is 6 days a week. On Sunday I do not schedule anything. I do not exercise or do QiGong This is my day to rest, after all even God rested on the seventh day. If you try to maintain your schedule seven days a week you will burn out. Also notice that their are several times during the day where I can take a break..This is not a rigid schedule, so it will vary.

You do not want to cast your schedule in stone because things will happen so you will have to adjust your schedule. If you do not you may find that you become discouraged and it will be harder to progress.

Keep a journal because it is easier to see your progress. When you accomplish a goal celebrate. Do something that makes you feel good. However when you miss a deadline do not beat up on yourself.

Take a look at the reason you did not meet your deadline and if there is anything you can do to prevent it from happening again do so. If you feel that it was unavoidable except that and move on.

TODAY’S TIP: If you have a family you will want to include some time in your daily schedule to spend time with them. This is a very important part of living in harmony.

How do you spend your day?

We have talked about the big four and now lets talk about some other tools that you may find helpful in manifesting your dreams. The more tools you have, as long as they are useful for the purpose you seek, the better you are.

The first tool I want to talk about is very helpful in strengthening your visualizations. That tool is a vision board. Find pictures to represent the things you want to accomplish. Place them on a cork board or other type of board and place the board somewhere that will be visible, like in an office or other room where you spend time.

If you do not have a space where you can put a vision board, or even if you do, place copies of those pictures around the house, like on the bathroom mirror and in your car. The more often you look at your pictures the better. When you look at them imagine how you will feel and act when you have them. This strengthens the desire which speeds up the process.

Another tool is to make a PowerPoint presentation of your pictures and create a shortcut to the file on your desktop. Every time you turn on your computer, run you presentation. Run your presentation several times during the day. Again the more the better.

Find yourself an accountability partner. It can be a spouse or friend. Keep them informed as to your plans and dreams. Meet with them at least once a week and go over your plans. Tell them what you will be accomplishing that week and at the next meeting let them know if you did or did not fulfill your plans.It would be helpful if that partner was on a similar quest. That way you could act as each others accountability partner.

Knowing that if you do not attain your weekly goals you will have to admit it to someone else gives you more incentive to keep on track. The closer this person is to you the better this works.

The last tool I want to talk about is Mastermind groups. Join a Mastermind Group that is dedicated to similar things as you are. If you cannot find such a group then start one. The value of Mastermind Groups cannot be overstated.

Not only will such groups help to keep you motivated and on track, but can offer suggestions as to how to enhance your progress. They can even help to give you more clarity and offer ways of achieving that you may not have thought of. The power of any group increases the power of each individual involved.

Your Mastermind group should meet regularly. Try to meet on the same day each week or every other week. You may not want to meet more often than weekly. Your group may become unproductive and dissolve.

TODAY’S TIP: Organize your activities and days to take advantage of as many of the tools presented as possible.

Do you keep your eye on the prize?

Have you heard the saying that you are your thoughts? Everyone hold a running conversation with themselves. It is only when you start talking out loud that you run into problems. What do you talk about?

Unfortunately most people’s conversations with themselves are, for the most part, negative. I suggest to my clients that they do a little experiment. I tell them to get a 3 x 5 notebook and take it with them at all times for two weeks. Then when ever they think about it to write down what they are thinking about at that time.

At the end of the two weeks they are to review their book. Most find that the great majority of their thoughts were non productive and negative. I then tell them to begin to make a conscious effort to direct their thoughts in a positive direction.

I recommend that you do the same thing. Keep a log of thoughts for two weeks and then begin to direct your thoughts in the direction you want them to go. One of the tools to do this is self talk.

We talked about Mohamed Ali talking to himself in front of the mirror as a young teen. He was engaged in using three of the tools we have talked about. He was using visualization because he saw himself in his mind. He was using affirmations because he repeated his phrases over and over. He was also using self talk because he talked to himself in front of the mirror and when he wasn’t in front of a mirror.

Affirmations are a form of self talk, but it is not all there is. You can go beyond affirmations by holding conversations with yourself to enforce and strengthen your future visions of where you want to go and be.

Tell yourself how much you love yourself. We are taught that self love is somehow wrong. It is not self love that is wrong, it is self conceit that is a problem. You must love yourself or you cannot love another.

Keep telling yourself how your life will be when you have achieved your dreams. The more you tell yourself, the more vivid your visualizations will become and the sooner your dreams will be achieved.

Spent as much time as possible holding these conversations with yourself. Just don’t start talking out loud in public. However speaking out loud when you are alone increases the effectiveness.

TODAY’S TIP: Don’t pass a mirror without looking into it and into your eyes and saying something nice about you.

What are you going to tell yourself?

The third major tool in your quest for realizing the the Ultimate Healthy Lifestyle is affirmations. This is another very powerful tool when used correctly.

Muhammad Ali is a perfect example of the power of affirmations. In his autobiography he tells of standing in front of the mirror when he was about 11 or 12 years old. He would tell himself how great he was and what he was going to accomplish in life. He did not know what he was doing but you can see the results. He did indeed become the greatest.

It is said that if you repeat something long enough you will believe it. This is one of the techniques of our society. We are told something so often that we will begin to believe it whether it is actually real or not. This is often the way public opinion is formed.

With faith and perseverance affirmations can be used to instill beliefs that we want to believe in our minds. With the discipline of affirmations we can gain control over our thoughts and destiny.When practiced with the other three disciplines of meditation, visualization, and positive self talk; there is nothing we cannot accomplish.

The wording of your affirmations is all important. Your affirmations must be in present tense. When you use phrases such as; I will or I want, you leave room for doubt. Your Universe will interpret your affirmations as something you will want sometime in the future and not act on them.

You want to use positive words as I am or I have. The universe then knows that you want it now and will begin to assist you in obtaining your desires.

Repetition is another very important factor. The more you repeat your affirmations the sooner they start to become a part of your reality. Some say that you must repeat your affirmations 36,000 times before they start to become effective.

This means that if you repeat them 1,000 times a day it will take you 36 days before you start to see changes. For this reason you want to repeat your affirmations as often as you can through out the day.

The most powerful times to go over your affirmations is first thing in the morning, preferably before you get out of bed, and the last thing at night. At night it is again preferable that you be in bed and ready for sleep.

The reason for this is that the mind is most receptive and clear when you first wake up in the morning. At night your mind is also open as you relax for sleep and you carry those thoughts into your dream state, where they can be worked on at a higher level.

TODAY’S TIP: Repeat your affirmations while you are walking or doing other tasks that will allow you to set up a rhythm. For instance, I repeat, I am healthy, I am wealthy, I am wise in time with my steps while I am running.

I AM, are you?

In the beginning there was the word. Since there were no words in the beginning could it be a symbol for an image in the mind of God? In other words did God visualize the Universe before he created it?

Everything begins in the mind. You must think of something before you do it. Before the automobile someone had to see an automobile in their mind. This is visualization.

You can create anything you wish if you can see it in your mind and believe it. You create your personal universe, so why not create one that you can enjoy. The problem is that most of us simply let our universes be created for us by outside influences.

Using the art of visualization along with meditation will enhance the manifestation of the life you dream of. Visualization can be used to improve any and all areas of life. You want more money, see yourself with more money. Have health problems, see yourself healthy.

With discipline and persistence the pictures in your mind can become a part of your reality. That is, if you believe it. How does one practice visualization?

Find a quiet place where you will not be interrupted. Begin as you would meditation. Relax the muscles of your body and quiet your mind. Then see a movie screen inside your mind. You have the power to project anything you wish onto that screen.

If you want to improve your health, see yourself on that screen healthy and whole. If you want more money, see yourself on that screen acting as you would when you have the money you want.

It is good to write out a script of how you will act when you have achieved the goal you seek. Use that script to formulate the movie in your head. Play it over and over for 5 or 10 minutes.

You can combine your sittings to include both meditation and visualization. However, remember that you can not do both at the same time. So schedule time for each. You may want to meditate for 20 minutes and visualize for 10 minutes for a 30 minute session.

Also use visualization as often during the day as you can. It is like daydreaming only you are doing it with purpose. These sessions could be short, perhaps only a couple of minutes at a time.

The more you practice visualization the stronger the images become. The stronger they become the closer they are to becoming a part of your reality. Be sure to use the same scenario in your visualizations until they are realized. If you change your script often will not be successful.

TODAY’S TIP: You can use visuals to enhance your visualizations. We will talk about how to do that in a few days.

What can you see?