POSITIVE IDEAS...new book every month...learn...apply...LIVE THE BEST YOU CAN!
December 1999
"The Power of Positive Living" by Norman Vincent Peale
Click on the book cover to see how to get this book.
Following is an excerpt from this month's Power Book:
"When you become a believer in yourself,
you are on the road that leads to where you want to go. Belief in depth is not easy, but it is vital.
Belief comes easy when it involves the commonplace. We push a switch, believing the light will turn on. We make a hotel reservation, believing our room will be waiting. We order a product through the mail, believing it will be delivered.
It's the important things with which we seem to have trouble. The dictionary tells us that the word believe means 'To have faith or confidence - usually with in or on; as, to believe in a person.'
So simply accepting something is not the same dynamic thing as believing it. All of the early American colonists appreciated liberty. But it was those who believed in it who fought for it.
Yes, truly believing in something makes all the difference. As the philosopher F. W. Robertson wrote: "To believe is to be happy; to doubt is to be wretched. To believe is to be strong. Doubt cramps energy. Belief is power. Only so far as a man believes strongly, mightily, can he act cheerfully, or do anything that is worth the doing."
And most dynamic is the promise of Jesus: "All things are possible to him who believes." (Mark 9:23)...
Regardless of how much trouble you are having, how hard the going seems to be, keep your thoughts on a high and positive level. Be a believer, a strong positive believer and do it no matter how difficult, how unreasonable a situation may appear to be.
Do not let yourself ever believe in the dismal pronouncements of Samuel Butler that life is "one long process of getting tired," or with Sigmund Freud that "the chief duty of a human being is to endure life." Believe that life is something to take hold of and master by getting on top of it.
Always remember, there is more strength in you than you have ever realized or even imagined. Certainly, nothing can keep you down if you are determined to get on top of things and stay there. Draw upon your fantastic inner power, for it is there, waiting to be used. Fantastic is the only adequate description of that power.
And always hold the thought that you can, if you think you can."
January 2000
"Healing and the Mind" by Bill Moyers
Click on the book cover to see how to get this book.
Following is an excerpt from this month's Power Book:
"MOYERS: Just exactly what is the mind? When you talk about your body, I can see it there, sitting in front of me. When you move your body, I see what you're moving. But when you're talking about your mind, what are you talking about?
0RNISH: Philosophers have wrestled for centuries with the question of whether the brain and the mind are the same thing. I tend to view the mind as one's consciousness, what defines us as separate people. The brain is simply the organ that processes that. But we're more than just a collection of neurons and synapses. I think that consciousness really goes beyond that.
MOYERS: In your lecture you referred to consciousness as another form of energy.
ORNISH: I think, ultimately, everything is a different form of energy. Even matter that seems solid as a rock is energy. We know from Einstein that energy and matter are interconvertible. Now, what I find interesting is that when you can focus energy, you gain more power, for better and for worse.
For example, if your mind is focused, then its effect on the body becomes enhanced, also for better and for worse. Unfortunately, in our culture we tend to have our minds most focused when we're angry, upset, afraid, or worried. You know, someone once said that anger wonderfully concentrates the mind. That's really true, but that form of concentration can have a negative effect. Your heart rate goes up, your blood pressure goes up, the arteries in your heart may begin to constrict, and the blood may clot. But we can use that same principle in a healing direction rather than in a harmful one by learning to concentrate mental energy.
I am coming to believe that anything that promotes isolation leads to chronic stress and, in turn, may lead to illnesses like heart disease. Anything that promotes a sense of intimacy, community, and connection can be healing. Most of us have had moments when we felt as if we were part of something larger than ourselves. Some describe this in a religious context as "God," and others in a more secular context as "consciousness." On one level, of course, we are separate: you're you, and I'm me. But on another level we are part of something larger. Sometimes people describe this as the light behind the images projected in a movie theater.
The ancient yogis and swamis and priests and rabbis didn't develop yoga, meditation, and prayer just to lower cholesterol or blood pressure or to unclog arteries; these are tools for transformation, for giving people the direct experience of this consciousness.
MOYERS: Is stress the primary condition that mind/body alternatives address?
ORNISH: It depends on how you define stress. We tend to think that we have a choice between being productive in an interesting but stressful world, or retiring to sit under a tree and watch our life go by. Maybe we live longer or maybe we're so bored that it seems as if we're living longer. But that really isn't the choice, because stress comes not simply from what we do, but, more important, from how we react to what we do. So then you could ask, "why do we react in ways that are stressful?" It's not because the world is suddenly a more stressful place than it once was.
People tend to think about modern culture as somehow more stressful because we have fax machines and cellular phones, and because modern life is so much more fast-paced. But our ancestors had to wonder whether the crops were going to come in, or whether their children were going to die of polio before they reached the age of thirteen.
Clearly, that has to be as stressful as whether the fax has come in on time.
But something has changed. What is different now is that cultural isolation is so pervasive in our culture. We used to have extended families, and at the church or synagogue or workplace or in the neighborhood we felt a sense of safety and community. We often don't have that now. Two-parent households are the exceptions rather than the rule. There aren't many places where people can feel safe enough just to be who they are without having to create a mask or a facade to experience the intimacy and the community that we are all looking for."
February 2000
"Raising Positive Kids in a Negative World" by Zig Ziglar
Click on the book cover to see how to get this book.
Following is an excerpt from this month's Power Book:
"At one time Andrew Carnegie was the wealthiest man in America. He came to America from his native Scotland when he was a small boy, did a variety of odd jobs, and eventually ended up as the largest steel manufacturer in the United States.
At one time he had forty-three million-aires working for him. In those days a millionaire was a rare person; conservatively speaking, a million dollars in his day would be equivalent to at least twenty million dollars today. A reporter asked Carnegie how he had hired forty-three millionaires. Carnegie responded that none of the men had been millionaires when they started working for him but had become millionaires as a result. The reporter's next question was, "How did you develop these men to become so valuable to you that you have paid them this much money?" Carnegie replied that men are developed the same way gold is mined. When gold is mined, several tons of dirt must be moved to get an ounce of gold; but one doesn't go into the mine looking for dirt-one goes in looking for the gold.
That's exactly the way parents develop positive, successful kids. Don't look for the flaws, warts, and blemishes. Look for the gold, not for the dirt; the good, not the bad. Look for the positive aspects of life. Like everything else, the more good qualities we look for in our children, the more good qualities we are going to find.
When you find something good (and it will be easy to do), tell your child specifically what you found that you like. Applaud your child. Do it often. Millions of parents love their kids, but, unfortunately, they never tell them. That's too bad, because applause is an effective confidence builder.
Applause is so effective that in the world-renowned Suzuki method of teaching violin, one of the first things the children are taught when they are two, three, and four years old is how to take a bow. The instructors know that when the children bow, the audience invariably applauds. And "applause is the best motivator we've found to make children feel good about performing and about themselves."
Despite this fact, however, a study by the National Parent-Teachers Organization revealed that in the average American school, eighteen negatives are identified for every positive that is pointed out. The Wisconsin study revealed that when kids enter the first grade, 80 percent of them feel pretty good about themselves, but by the time they get to the sixth grade, only 10 percent of them have good self-images.
Applause is a great encourager, but real encouragement is more than being given a slap on the back or a position as a cheerieader. It is positive, affirming input from parents, which also affirms authority in the most positive way.
High school principal Dr. Frank Rainaldi says that our kids really need to hear a continual reminder of the things they do well. Any time we see our kids being good or doing good, we need to let them hear that approval. Our encouragement and praise should be specific. Not "You look really neat this morning," but "I like the way you matched your skirt and blouse. That really looks nice." And being good encouragers requires us to be good listeners. We need to hear what our children want us to hear."
March 2000
"The Woman's Book of Soul" by Sue Patton Thoele
Click on the book cover to see how to get this book.
Following is an excerpt from this month's Power Book:
"I FIND THE BUDDHIST CONCEPT OF BEGINNER'S
mind incredibly refreshing. As adults, we've spent so much time and energy filling our minds with information that they begin to resemble cluttered attics, so glutted with stuff that we can hardly move through them, let alone find what we're looking for.
The idea of beginner's mind is to empty, not fill, in order to be ready for anything and open to everything. It's about going back to a time where we knew nothing and therefore took nothing for granted.
It's actually very relaxing to practice beginner’s mind. For example, before I was to give a talk to a large group that had labeled me an "expert on relationships," I was anxiety-ridden to the point of sleeplessness. To make matters worse, the “expert" and her husband were not on the best of terms right then. (Don't you hate it when that happens?) I was afraid I wouldn't remember all that I knew, that somehow the audience would know that Gene and I were in a hard place, and that I would embarrass myself, my hosts, and the planet. You know, the usual.
Thankfully, just before I was supposed to leave for the talk, I ran across a quote by Suzuki Roshi that said, "In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, in the expert's mind there are few." Quick as a wink I dropped the "expert" label and gave the talk as a sister pilgrim on the sometimes rocky path of relationships. My relaxed attitude seemed to translate to the audience because we had a great time.
Anxiety slams the door shut on our mind's attic, whereas beginner's mind not only keeps our attic door open but opens the door to the attic of intuition, which is a vast storehouse of wisdom and joy.
Just for the fun of it, put the book down and look at your surroundings with new eyes. Really see the objects or vistas. Explore your space with the openness of a curious child. Fill yourself with the wonder of beginner's mind."
April 2000
"Bringing Out the Best in People" by Alan Loy McGinnis
Click on the book cover to see how to get this book.
Following is an excerpt from this month's Power Book:
"12 Rules for Bringing Out the Best in People
1. Expect the best from people you lead.
2. Make a thorough study of the other person's needs.
3. Establish high standards for excellence.
4. Create an environment where failure is not fatal.
5. If they are going anywhere near where you want to go,
climb on other people's bandwagons.
6. Employ models to encourage success.
7. Recognize and applaud achievement.
8. Employ a mixture of positive and negative reinforcement.
9. Appeal sparingly to the competitive urge.
10. Place a premium on collaboration.
11. Build into the group an allowance for storms.
12. Take steps to keep your own motivation high."
May 2000
"Beyond Success and Failure" by Willard & Marguerite Beecher
Click on the book cover to see how to get this book.
Following is an excerpt from this month's Power Book:
"We cannot take action until our mind gives the body a clear direction
and command. Moves must be toward or away from, up or down, yes or no.
The body cannot stand up and sit down simultaneously.
Each movement is either on a clear command out of our own initiative,
or we move at the initiative of another person. We must be constantly
aware whether we initiate our action or take our direction from outside...
There is no up without down, good apart from bad, end without a beginning.
In reality, every end is a beginning. Opposites cannot be separated.
They never lose sight of each other, and we deceive ourselves if we
believe we can have the one without paying for the other.
Self-reliance is initiative. You must start with initiative,
keep initiative and end with initiative. Your welfare is your own
at all times. If you do give up your initiative, you have no one
to blame except yourself - and your complaints are not justified,
since you invited and earned the consequences."
June 2000
"Target Success" by Don Dwyer
Click on the book cover to see how to get this book.
Following is an excerpt from this month's Power Book:
"The way you communicate with yourself determines how you'll
communicate with others. Think of this: If I talked to you the way
you talk to you, you would never talk to me again!
For example, say you drop something and break it. "You clumsy
idiot, you did it again!" you say to yourself. If a friend spoke to you
that way, you might never talk to him again. So why is it OK for you
to do it to yourself? Every time you use negative self-talk, you tear
down your all-important self-image.
What you say to yourself, about yourself, accumulates below the conscious
level of your mind and exerts significant control over your present and
future thoughts abd behaviors. What you communicate to yourself via
body language does the same thing. Would you rather say and do
positive things, or negative things?
Negative self-talk, and negative target visualization (picturing negative
images of yourself) is what keeps alcoholics drinking, smokers smoking,
gamblers gambling, and overweight people overeating. The fortunate
people who have tried self-talk techniques know what tremendous
benefits they can deliver when used positively.
____________________________________________________________
Catch yourself in the act of doing something right, and praise
yourself for it. Make a point to stop every time you act "successfully" and tell
yourself, "That was a good job!"
____________________________________________________________
July 2000
"The Survivor Personality" by Al Siebert
Click on the book cover to see how to get this book.
Following is an excerpt from this month's Power Book:
What about life and death situations? Chapters 13 through 16 offer insight into what others have done when thrown into the worst possible
circumstances. While there is no prescription for survival in crises, disasters, and torturous conditions, we can learn from what others have gone
through. The value in learning about many kinds of survival is that one person's way of surviving cancer, for example, may carry just the right clue for
someone struggling with months of unemployment.
The best survivors are those who find a way to convert misfortune into good luck. Chapter 17 explains why a talent for serendipity is a primary
indicator of a survivor personality, and how you can develop it.
There is no way of existing on this planet that does not have its drawbacks. Chapter 18 lists some of the difficulties survivors encounter because they
are survivors.
And lastly, during my research I stumbled onto something quite unexpected. We humans are transforming to our next level of development.
Chapter 19 describes how old ways of thinking and old personality patterns that once were normal have become a handicap in today's constantly
changing world. Employees, executives, professional people, and the owners of home businesses who are best at adapting, coping, and thriving are
much different than people in the past. The difference is so great we need new concepts and new descriptions of what a truly resilient, psychologically
healthy person is like.
Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche once said "That which does not kill me, makes me stronger." This book shows how to do that. It shows how to cope
with disruptive change, tap into the will to survive, and gain strength from adversity. It shows how to convert distressing, unfair experiences into
something good for you."
August 2000
"Tracks in the Psychic Wilderness" by Dale E. Grafft
Click on the book cover to see how to get this book.
Following is an excerpt from this month's Power Book:
"You may be satisfied simply knowing that we are all interconnected in some way.
That knowledge alone is valuable. It shows that our current understanding of the
physical universe is incomplete and that we are deeply connected with one another
and with our environment. Our thoughts and intentions are not isolated events, but
can reach out to others even when we are unaware they are doing so. However,
as you develop proficiency, you may want - or need- to apply your new skill.
You may have opportunities to use your skills for locating something you or
someone else have lost - a ring, for example. Are any of your loved ones or friends ill,
or even in danger? You may want to remote view the future to detect anything coming
your way that may call for preparation or even avoidance.
There are a variety of practical roles for remote viewing talent.
As you continue experiencing remote viewing, your subliminal sensitivities become
sharper. You will notice an increase of synchronicities in your life. You will become
more intuitive. You may feel "luckier." Psychic dreams will increase.
Since remote viewing and creativity are closely related, the pursuit of remote viewing
proficiency may help in a variety of creative endeavors. You will gain insight and life
for new projects such as writing, music, dance, designing, or communication. You may
discover buried talents. Your increased sensitivity will help you relate to the situations
of others and improve your interpersonal skills. Remote viewing touches deep layers
in our psyche and can stir up healing energies that enhance our sense of well-being
and state of health.
Explore to see how remote viewing works best for you.
Let your spirit of adventure and imagination be your guide."
September 2000
"The Courage to be Rich" by Suze Orman
Click on the book cover to see how to get this book.
Following is an excerpt from this month's Power Book:
"Where there is a flow, any flow, of money, even a trickle, you have the power to increase it. Believe it or not, it almost doesn't matter
how little money you have coming in every month. All money has the power to grow or to dwindle, and when you unleash powerful
thoughts over even small amounts of money, you are turning toward more. What will begin to make you richer is how you think about
yourself, your circumstances, and all the possibilities that lie ahead.
Where do your thoughts take you? They take you to your words, the words you use - or don't use - when you talk about your money.
The connection between our words and our wealth is a subtle one, and one that hasn't been explored very much, but it's a connection
that has fascinated me ever since I became a financial planner and began to hear, really hear, the words we use when we talk about
money. In my practice, I have seen people who are clearly preoccupied with their debt but whose words try to obscure the damage.
I have seen husbands and wives married many years who've never talked honestly about money...
Do our words always reflect our true thoughts about money? Not always. But if the overriding goal is to create more, than your
thoughts and words must be in alignment - toward the truth, toward the goal, toward the means to the goal. When you talk about money,
you have to be very careful of what you say, because just as your destiny begins with your thoughts, your words bring you closer to
that destiny...
Think thoughts of poverty, speak words you don't believe, and you will never take the actions necessary to achieve wealth.
You'll never be rich, either, if you think grand thoughts and speak only of poverty.
It takes rich thoughts to lead to rich words. It takes rich words to lead to rich actions.
All our thoughts, all our words must be compelled in the same direction to inspire the actions that lead to wealth."
October 2000
"Prescriptions for Living" by Bernie S. Siegel, M.D.
Click on the book cover to see how to get this book.
Following is an excerpt from this month's Power Book:
"Encouragement
The helium of life
WHAT IS THE THING that can make your life feel like a baloon ride? What brings you the sensation of floating
free, silently carried by the wind? What lifts your spirits and allows you to overcome difficulties? The answer
is very simple: encouragement.
That's right, encouragement. Not success. Knowing that our efforts are appreciated is more important than
being successful. Encouragement removes the burdens we carry and allows us to go on with confidence.
Hemingway is supposed to have said that confidence is the memory of past success, and I agree that succcess
can beget success. But think about very young children: They don't have any past successes. If we need success
to be successful, then how did any of us learn to walk? What made you get up again, each time you fell?
You got up and tried again because your parents held out their hands and encouraged you to try. "You can make
it," they said. Walk. Use a spoon. Ride a bike. Think of the things you learned because your parents encouraged you.
Watch a child learn to crawl, walk, or play ball again after surgery for a brain tumor, and you'll see how important
encouragement is.
The key element in encouragement is to stop being judgemental. The important thing isn't the grade your son got;
it's the effort he put out. It isn't whether your daughter hit a home run; it's that she went up to the plate and took a
swing. The effort is what matters, because as we are trying we are fulfilling our mission...
Here is the prescription for encouraging the people you love:
Say good things about them to their faces and behind their backs. And don't worry about exaggerating. An overdose of
love has no recorded adverse side effects..."
November 2000
"The Journey Home" by Phillip L. Berman
Click on the book cover to see how to get this book.
Following is an excerpt from this month's Power Book:
"Near-death experiences and mystical experiences have much to teach us about the meaning
of life. I say this because I am convinced that such experiences are moments of profound
spiritual illumination that provide us with glimpses of an answer, hints of an explanation
not only of what our deths will be like, but of what our lives should be like.
This is why my aim in writing this book is not so much to prove the existence of life after
death as it is to prove that death holds far less fear for those who have learned to live.
As I hope to show, each of us has the capacity, on a daily basis, to expand the sense of deeper
meaning without having to undergo an NDE. In fact, if we sharpen our spiritual sensitivities,
I believe we can all come to see, taste, and smell the unity of life with such an intensity that
our sense of belonging to the universe will dispel any fears we might have that our deaths are
in any sense final. The ultimate proof of life after death is unlikely to arise in a laboratory -
it must emerge from our own spiritual experiences...
Drawing his inspiration from the idealistic writings of Plato, Ralph Waldo Emerson believed
that each of us, at heart, is "part and parcel of the Divine." In his famous essay on the subject,
'The Oversoul,' Emerson wrote about the divine nature that resides within us. He was convinced
that spiritual growth hinged almost entirely upon our ability to rediscover this oversoul within
ourselves.
One of the most fascinating features of the NDE generally, and the life-review process in particular,
is that it appears as if something very much like this oversoul emerges powerfully within experiencers,
because they appear to achieve a widened sense of mental and emotional acuity that far transcends
ordinary human consciousness. Experiencers not only obtain a more universal and impersonal
viewpoint of their lives (a bird's-eye view, you might say), but also an enormous degree of empathy
and compassion, not only for themselves but for all creation."
