Browse Guided Imagery and Visualization

Festival of the Imagination is a message for the unidentified person. It contains essentials for thoughts and teachings of our imagination also revealing the impact upon mind, and how it profoundly affects us. Included throughout this book is a system to aid in illuminating and activating so that the reader may unlock and begin to radiate their own unique energy signature. This is the first time I am mentioning this... Whilst writing this book I completely zoned out. It can be likened to completely detaching from the physical self, a trance like state.

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“Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree. Merry, merry king of the bush is he. Laugh, Kookaburra! Laugh, Kookaburra! Gay your life must be.” – Marion Sinclair, 1932 What is Gay? It depends on who is answering it! The Oxford dictionary states: • (of a person, especially a man) homosexual. • Light-hearted and carefree. • Brightly colored; showy. The Merriam-Webster dictionary states: • sexually attracted to someone who is the same sex • relating to, or used by homosexuals • happy and excited: cheerful and lively The Urban dictionary states: • jovial or happy, good-spiritedr

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Every invention also leads to the creation of a new knowledge. Knowledge is created to fulfill the necessity of the human beings. How does the necessity or the desire of people get converted to knowledge?” The answer lies in the ability of human beings to imagine what is beyond the sensory perception- sight, sound, taste, smell and feel.

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I don’t usually write this kind of article, it’s long and you probably need vacation time to get through it, but I am so excited and if I can make you feel good today, I’d really love it! The paperback proof of my new book arrived. I was so excited and I even hugged it. While I was holding this book the excitement flowed into gratitude. Wonderful people, great experiences, prosperity and well-being keep coming my way and all I could do was feel this good fortune. However, it also reminded me of where I had come from.

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Everyone, at some point or another, feels like they don’t truly have their own unique identity. Regardless of how we feel about ourselves, we have massive potential to see any or all ideas and desires come into being. Imagination is something many of us have come to believe as a limited concept. By this I mean that some believe their imagination is not so great or it is something they were good at in youth. This is far from the truth. Imagination is something that lives with us each and

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I am a slave to no man, no person not even myself. And more importantly I am not a slave to my paradigms, the interpretations taught from birth to now by the network of influences of our environment with which I walk every moment, every day.

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The word imagination in past years and today carries many definitions. Some of these definitions include: imagination is something to be achieved, something only some are good at, a fantasy or a far-fetched; whimsical idea. And for some simply childs’ play. However, imagination is more than this! Imagination IS the use of our mind and mental creative ability. It is what we do every day, every moment and what we have done to achieve the results we have experienced. Nothing can exist without it first appearing in the imagination!

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“Success is not to be pursued; it is to be attracted by the person you become.”— Jim Rohn Our lives are driven by our habitual behaviors and we do this unconsciously.

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The ancient wisdom texts of the West are a wellspring of information for medically understanding the roots of illness and imbalance from a mindbody perspective. Over my many years of clinical practice, I have been struck by the insidiousness of doubt in its contribution to the development and ...

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These days all of us are aware that most of our illnesses and our suffering is the result of the choices we make – how we, as individuals, eat, sleep, exercise, and live our lives. We now need to be aware of the two kinds of stress, and the two realms in which stress expresses itself – the inner and the outer. What is Stress? Stress is, most simply, “the nonspecific response to a perceived demand.” The way to evaluate the presence and degree of stress is by observing its symptoms. According to the Mayo Clinic, these symptoms include (but are not limited to): Physical Symptoms

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At the physical level, light; At the mental level, consciousnessr At the emotional level, love; At the spiritual level God. What is love? Hard to say. Plato believed that Love is the pursuit of the whole. In Our Culture on the Couch,I stated: “Although ‘love’ is an excruciatingly overused and abused word, there is a common factor involved whenever it is used. In every case, the active principle has something to do with togethe ess, attraction, unity and unification, a joining together in some way – be it physical, emotional, philosophical, esthetic or otherwise.

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Some of my worst decisions in life have been made from a state on anxiety, fear, or uneasy needfulness. Take for example having licked my wounds after a business failure, I through myself into the next venture without stepping back to ask if this was what I really wanted. The anxiety related with the previous failure was weighing heavily on me, and you won't be surprised to learn it did not take off and cost me yet more money. This article explores the importance of your state, and how when making decisions the wrong state can lead to undesirable results.

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If you’re where you want to be in life and are fully content, then please either continue to read this book out of curiosity so you can pass on the wisdom, or pass on the book to someone who needs it. If however you answered yes to any of the above questions then one somewhat simple but somewhat painful question, what holds you back? Spend a minute to sit and ponder this question, and when you’ve got the answer, if it were not that, what else could it be?

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In this world of instant gratification, high speed technology and a ‘quick fix’ mentality it seems that many people have abdicated responsibility for taking care of themselves. This is evidenced by the growing obesity rate, the rise in substance abuse and even the number of stress related dis-eases that take their toll every year. These may include high blood pressure, heart disease/attacks, diabetes and lung disease from smoking.

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Our world is changing with ever increasing speed and many people are finding it difficult to keep pace and cope on a daily basis. Although no one can control the world at large, individuals do have the power to be in charge of their personal world by controlling stress and their responses to it.

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What would you like to change in your life? Did you make a New Year’s Resolution to exercise more, stop a negative habit or behaviour, manage your weight or learn a new skill? Or would you simply like to find a natural way to manage STRESS? Hypnotism sessions can assist you in making any (or all) of these changes. In fact, just about anything that you desire to change/improve will benefit from suggestions that directly affect your subconscious mind, rather than your ‘logical or analytical’ conscious mind.

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As you begin reading this article and contemplating your own life, I’m sure you can think of many ways to create a happier life. What I’d like to share with you here are three ways that I’ve learned over the years. These lessons have not always been easy or (emotionally) painless but they have served me well and I hope in sharing they will do the same for you.

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Don't Just Set Goals - Achieve Them! Recently we have heard a great deal about goal setting and the power of clearly defined and written goals. It is well documented that people throughout history that we view as successful have had written goals. Abraham Lincoln said "Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other one thing".

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Do you feel like our world moves faster and faster every day? Have you ever woken up in the night with tightness in your chest or realizing that you’ve been clenching your teeth? Are there times during the day when you believe that just one more thing going wrong might send you over the edge?

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This mind-set has to exist before any objectives or goals can be realized. Optimism - “ism” means “a belief in” and “optim” comes from the word “optimal” and the Latin word “optimus,” which means “the most, the max, the best, all the way, the top of.” So optimism, for our purpose here, means “The strong belief that the best is possible and probable in my life.” Your life reflects your belief system. The benefits of being optimistic are: - Improved relationships - An experience of more positive rewards and positive people - Others are affected by your positive energyr

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The Law of Attraction says that whatever you think about, you bring about. The way we think is a choice that we make. We can think good thoughts - OR - We can think bad thoughts. We can think about what we really want - OR - We can think about all the problems that are overwhelming us. We can think about the health and all the good that we have physically - OR - We can think about the infirmities, other aches,pains,and discomforts that we have.

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Universal spirituality is a very important concept. Unfortunately, most of us have not been exposed to the idea of spirituality that is presented here. I am going to describe spirituality as it differs from “religion” as most of us have been taught and experienced in the various churches, synagogues, ashrams, mosques, and temples. There are many “religious” paths and the right path is the one that is right for you. That choice is wholly (holy?) yours. That is not what I will be describing in this article.

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We can see spirituality manifesting in our lives daily. When we obey our parents, we are being spiritual. When we share our toys, we are being spiritual. When we feel and show love to our family members and nonmembers, we are being spiritual. When we forgive others and ourselves, we are being spiritual. When we are manifesting excellence in our lives, we are being spiritual. When we are demonstrating empathy for others, we are being spiritual. When success of our marital relationships is bigger than our egos, we are being spiritual.

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When I read books like "The Science Of Getting Rich" and several others, the authors discuss the scientific aspects of how the universe works. They talk about the law of attraction, frequencies, vibrations and how the basic building blocks of the universe are put together and stay together. When I read these treaties, I agree with what is said, but I always try to find a way to see how it works in real life. I think we all know there are radio frequencies, magnetism and unseen attractions, and vibrations. These are unseen, but we know they are there.

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When I was a young man I read the book "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill which was written after the author interviewed 500 successful industrialists, philosophers and invertors during the industrial revolution. That book had a big influence on my life. However, implementing it's techniques seemed to never happen at that time. Now I have realized just what my problem was. It was belief. Mr. Hill told me how to get money, he also said I could get any amount of money I wanted. Of course, I wanted a million dollars.

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Since Descartes' said "I think therefore I am" the rational mode of consciousness has been the dominant mode in Western culture, almost to the exclusion of other ways of knowing. What have we missed? Einstein used his imagination to ride on a beam of light in the process of developing his theory of relativity. He said "The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift." Other men have stood out in history by contacting their intuitive minds.

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“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning to dance in the rain" Anonymous I was told I had Wegener’s Granulomatoses Vasculitis (WGV), severe cardiomyopathy and at one point the whites of my eyes had started to melt and I was blind. I was too old, too sick, and too weak to get on the list for a new heart, which seemed to be the only solution to the heart problem. I was also told the heart doesn’t heal itself. I have to admit, it was always difficult for me to say, “I have” Wegener’s Granulomatoses Vasculitis.

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In your genes, and I am not referring to your Levi's, you have DNA lying dormant that, when activated, can rejuvenate your body and reinvigorate your life. Nature equipped you before you were born with a set of unimaginably complex and intelligent instructions in the form of DNA. Contained within this blueprint is everything you need to take you to new levels of vitality and health. All of your ancient ancestors had one thing in common--they were survivors who overcame daunting obstacles and hardships in their natural world.

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our intention sets the universe in motion so it is important to be clear of your exact intention in any situation. If you are absolutely clear on your intent your subconscious success mechanism will support you in getting there. One of the "mistaken certainties" or misconceptions most people operate under is that you get what you want in life by what you DO, or through the actions you take. Most people believe that DOING or action is what makes things happen.

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You have within you an amazing power that can bring about miraculous outcomes. The power that you have has been known to cure incurable diseases, build billion dollar empires, paint masterpieces, create great sports dynasties, and build lifestyles with abundance, great friends and loving families. The light switch that turns all this power on is visualization. We all use visualization either consciously or unconsciously. The people who systematically and consciously use visualization in their daily lives create amazing success.

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When I was a young man I read the book "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill which was written after the author interviewed 500 successful industrialists, philosophers and invertors during the industrial revolution. That book had a big influence on my life. However, implementing it's techniques seemed to never happen at that time. Now I have realized just what my problem was. It was belief. Mr. Hill told me how to get money, he also said I could get any amount of money I wanted. Of course, I wanted a million dollars.

Published · 1,467 views · Rated 3.5/5 from 2 votes

When I first started visualizing, even with a guide I wasn't sure I was doing it right. In this article I am going to attempt to explain further about how to visualize. I keep getting emails from people who claim they can't visualize, even with a guide. Everyone, unless they have a brain defect, visualizes. Visualization is an example of a situation where something happens unconsciously, so you assume it isn’t happening. Let me help you become more conscious, of these unconscious processes. You are visualizing. You just aren’t aware of it.

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In Part #1 of ‘Negative vs. Positive Thinking’, I gave you an overview of the conscious and unconscious mind and a glimpse into positive and negative thinking. Review on link below: https://www.jamesmapes.com/james-mapes-blog/negative-vs-positive-thinking-part-1/ In Part #2, we are going to explore the dark side of positive thinking and how to embrace and manage this dark point of view.

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“Don’t saw off the branch you are sitting on.” rn- International Proverb “Don’t shoot yourself in the foot!” I heard this warning from my grandpa when he addressed my childhood anger issues. What does it really mean? Shoot yourself in the foot: “To damage or impede one's own plans, progress, or actions through foolish actions or words.”rn-Farlex Dictionary of Idioms It means: “Don’t sabotage yourself!” Self-sabotage is when you consciously or unconsciously undermine your own goals and values. Your unconscious mind rules all your conscious choices.

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“You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.” rn– Maya Angelou I’ve been pondering writing this article for some time. What has prevented me is every time I sit down to write, I have an immediate sensation of feeling frustrated which - makes me grumpy. Yes, grumpy.

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When you think of PTSD, (post-traumatic stress disorder) what comes to mind? The most common traumas that lead to PTSD are soldiers returning from war, firefighters, police, and sexual assault victims. Some who suffer divorce or loss of a loved one show signs of PTSD for years. After the recent hurricanes in St. Thomas (my second home), many of my friends have been dealing with PTSD. However, there is an unacknowledged form of PTSD that is pervasive in this Covid and post-Covid world.

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“Human dignity is the same for all human beings: when I trample on the dignity of another, I am trampling on my own.”rn-Pope Francis When my book, Quantum Leap Thinking: An Owner’s Guide to the Mind was published in 1996, I hoped most individuals would conclude that we are all connected. I wanted people to understand that their actions, beliefs and values have a huge impact on family, community and business, and realize to embrace and live from positive values is of primary importance to live an exceptional life.

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If you have always done it that way, it is probably wrong. rn—CHARLES KETTERING, inventor of the electric starter for automobiles/ Founder of the S-Kettering Foundation We are in a time of turbulent change in every area of our lives. The impact on our mental and physical health is massive. Learning how to manage change in today’s environment is key to managing your negative stress and your health. Let’s look at the nuts and bolts of how to manage all change by applying these 14 steps.

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“The simple act of paying attention can take you a long way.”rn-Keanu Reeves, actor My suitcase disappeared on one of my trips recently. It just failed to show up. I stood there in the baggage claim area stupidly watching everybody else’s luggage before I finally admitted it was lost and reported to the baggage claim. I could feel my irritation grow as I filled out the forms in triplicate.

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Fruitcakes in the kitchen Fruitcakes on the street Struttin' naked through the crosswalkr In the middle of the weekr Half-baked cookies in the oven Half-baked people on the bus There's a little bit of fruitcake left in every one of usrn-Jimmy Buffett In my lifetime, I never dreamed we would be slammed with five frightful international events: the battle with the Coronavirus pandemic, the rapid education of race, a widening political divide, a possible economic depression and a struggle for political realignment.

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“Sometimes the worst place you can be Is in your own head.”rn-Unknown I feel like a mime lately. All the COVID-19 “air hugs” and using my hands more to be understood makes me feel a bit awkward. I also find myself raising my voice to penetrate the barrier of a mask. And, like many, I must give myself an extra mental energy boost to write or perform mundane chores around the house and office. There are many who find their social anxiety increasing.

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“When home feels out of control, no matter what the reason, unsettledness and anxiety can seep in, and then the chaos becomes internal as well as external.” rn—Myquillyn Smith You can either let the coronavirus destroy your emotional self with mind-numbing fear and inaction or- you can use your isolation to create a healing and nurturing space for creativity and peace. This blog was inspired by so many who feel totally helpless and frozen to inaction.

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“Fear makes us stupid!”rn-James Mapes The dictionary defines ‘idiot’ as a stupid person. While the word is not socially acceptable, it serves a purpose here. Fear and uncertainty are not your friends. When we are fearful, we catastrophize. Without knowing it, we make a lot of ‘doom & gloom’ scenarios up. I task you to help yourself and, help others make friends with reality. Refuse to get sucked into panicking. Deal with what has to be dealt with.

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Red phosphorus and potassium chlorate are stable chemicals when kept in isolation, but when they are mixed together and shaken, they explode. There is undeniable energy and a transformation takes place. Quantum Leap Thinking, or QLT, is a collection of ideas, concepts, distinctions, and skills that, when combined like active chemicals, naturally explode in their own way, catapulting you to a higher level, a level of increased energy, excitement, and options.

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” I love creating partnerships; I love not having to bear the entire burden of the creative storytelling, and when I have unions like with George Lucas and Peter Jackson, it's really great; not only do I benefit, but the project is better for it.” rn- Steven Spielberg We create partnerships for a variety of reasons, but the primary reason is for strength and resources. The bottom line is that we can do more when we have help. We also create partnership for safety, for teamwork, and for love.

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“Boundaries define us. They define what is me and what is not me. A boundary shows me where I end and someone else begins, leading me to a sense of ownership. Knowing what I am to own and take responsibility for gives me freedom.” rn– Henry Cloud, American author Do you set boundaries for your family, personal and business relationships? Or, are you stuck in guilt when you even consider this question?

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LEARNING CAN BE A LIFETIME PROCESS ONLYr WHEN THE CIRCLE OF LEARNING IS IN CONTINUOUS MOTION. Kids are fascinated with asking questions, but the question stage is supposed to be part of a process, not an end in itself. Children often get stuck in the question mode. They ask questions and happily accept the answers. Some grown-ups are like that, too. When that happens, learning stops. We’re supposed to think about those answers. Contemplation provides a pause in which we generate our next move: the idea. ‘” Never, never rest contented with any circle of ideas, but alwaysr

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Study, learn, but guard the original naivete´. It has to be withinrnyou, as desire for drink is within the drunkard or love is withinrnthe lover.rn—HENRI MATISSE, French painter I have always thought that my formal education was a bust. I disliked most of my classes, not because of the subject matter, but because of how they were taught. I hated learning. I hated hearing, ‘‘Memorize such-and-such. We’ll have a quiz tomorrow.’’rnr

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“Always plan ahead. It wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark.”rn-Richard C. Cushing, author, “Mission of the Teacher” While in college working on my master’s degree, my mentor said to me, “James, it’s never enough in life to have a ‘Plan B’.” If you’re going to stay ahead of the curve, you better at least have a ‘Plan C’ too.” I wasn’t sure what he meant then, but I do now. It all comes back to the Boy Scout motto, “Be prepared.”

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“When people talk, listen completely. Most people never listen.”rn— Ernest Hemingway Communication—particularly loving communication—is a two-way street, the second means of setting the stage for it is active listening. Listening is much more than just sitting still and looking at the other person. Following are three keys listen actively.

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Liming: Caribbean Dictionary: Referring to the art of doing nothing while sharing food, drink, conversation and laughter. Chilling or hanging out. Idle: American Dictionaryr Adjective: Avoiding work or being lazy. Verb: spend time doing nothing. Running in idle: Mapes’ Dictionary: Recharging, turning inwards, contemplating, daydreamingrnr

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“Risk! Risk anything! Care no more for the opinion of others, for those voices. Do the hardest thing on earth for you. Act for yourself. Face the truth.”rn—KATHERINE MANSFIELD, British short-story writer I invite you to watch this three-minute video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/8oH2me1GoQE There was that one moment when I felt my entire body go into frozen horror. I was staring down 13,000 feet, and then I was hurtling out into space. The leap out of the plane may have been only two or three seconds, but in part of my brain I had experienced death.

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Please watch is two-minute clip before you read the article: https://youtu.be/JpCrCJL26ic I define connection as the energy that exists between peoplernwhen they feel seen, heard, and valued; when they can give and receive without judgment; and when they derive sustenance and strength from the relationship.” rn~ Brené Brown, The Gifts of Imperfection rnr

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Communication: 1: A process by which information is exchanged between individuals rnthrough a common system of symbols, signs or behavior. 2. Personal rapport (a relationship characterized by agreement, mutual understanding, or empathy that makes communication possible or easy.)rn-Merriam Webster Dictionary Welcome to Part 2 of “Nine Keys to Achieve Breakthrough Communication.” In the last article we explored the first four keys. I suggest you follow the link below to review these. https://www.jamesmapes.com/nine-keys-to-achieve-breakthrough-communication-part-1rnr

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As a gift for the holidays and for the New Year, I want to give you something I consider far more important than achieving resolutions. When you master successful communication, you have the principal tool for building exceptional relationships.

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Love is the medicine for the sickness of mankind. We can live if we have love.rn—DR. KARL MENNINGER, American psychiatrist Think about the books and poetry you have read, and the movies and television programs you have seen. What force is almost always at work? It’s the struggle to love. Relationships venture into the heart. A relationship touches the very center of what it means to be human, but when we choose to open ourselves up, we risk being hurt. Loving makes some people feel out of control.

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“Future shock is the shattering stress and disorientation that we rninduce in individuals by subjecting them to too much change in too short a time.”rn—ALVIN TOFFLER, Future Shockr Since we will always move away from what creates the most pain to what creates the least, the question becomes ‘‘How much pain are you willing to endure before you decide to make a change?’’rnr

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“A strong positive mental attitude will rncreate more miracles than any wonder drug.” rn-Patricia Neal, American actress How does your attitude meter read?

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Some of us think holding on makes us strong; but sometimes it is letting go. rn-Herma Hesse, Poet I strongly suggest you read Part 1 of this series:. http://www.jamesmapes.com/how-to-let-go-of-the-rope-part-1 FYI: (The Conscious Mind=The Rider; The Unconscious Mind=The Elephant) What Letting Go Meansr

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“In the beginning, it is difficult letting go. But as you get into the swing of it, you will feel lighter and fresher and better able to see what you really need. That is what I imagine spring cleaning is truly about.”rn—SUSAN JEFFERS, END THE STRUGGLE AND DANCE WITH LIFE FYI: (The Conscious Mind=The Rider; The Unconscious Mind=The Elephant) IMAGINE: You are engaged in a horrendous tug of war. You and your opponent stand on either side of a slimy, filth-infested, muddy pit full of unseen, unspeakable horrors, each of you gripping the end of a long rope.r

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Sow a thought, reap an act; Sow an act, reap a habit; Sow a habit, reap a character; Sow a character, reap a destiny.rn--Anonymous When my doctor told me, “You need heart surgery immediately,” I thought it was the end. Of course, he was trying to communicate that a successful operation would save my life, but all I could envision was my heart stopping and the horrifying darkness of death. I was scared out of my wits.

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It never fails that when the holiday season rolls around, stress and anxiety rear their ugly head. Apply these 9 strategies and keep your sanity: 1. Let go of guilt and… Don’t "Should” On Yourself Guilt, guilt, guilt is…the most devious of fears because underneath it all, we are afraid that we are not enough, don’t give enough, don’t do enough. We aren’t perfect! Reconcile yourself right now that the holidays won’t meet your view of the Norman Rockwell painting and that your picture of the holiday will NEVER meet your unrealistic expectations.

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Get action. Do things; be sane, don’t fritter away your time . . . take a place wherever you are and be somebody; get action.rn—THEODORE ROOSEVELT, twenty-sixth president of the United States In 1973, on an eighty-nine-day cruise around the world, I met a very special person. He was Bruce (Tolly) Burkan, the ship’s magician. I had been hired to design and direct theatrical productions on the cruise ship.

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If you have always done it that way, it is probably wrong. rn—CHARLES KETTERING, inventor of the electric starter for automobiles/ Founder of the S-Kettering Foundation In my previous blog (available on my site: http://www.jamesmapes.com/insights-managing-change-by-james-mapes ) I addressed how and why resistance gets in the way of creating positive change. Learning how to manage change in today’s environment is key to managing your negative stress. Let’s look at the nuts and bolts of how to manage all change by applying these 13 steps. 1. Be Aware.

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Insights: Managing Change Change is the law of life and those who look only to the pastrnor the present are certain to miss the future.rn—IRVING JANUS, GroupThink Clasp your hands together as demonstrated in the diagram below: Now take your hands apart and clasp them back together, moving your fingers over one digit. How would you describe the difference between the two positions? Is the feeling strange, weird, unbalanced, different, uncomfortable, odd, silly, awkward, wrong?

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A must-read book: Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich. Someone gave it to me as a joke, but it was a catalyst that changed my life. Being rich took on a whole new meaning for me. It went far beyond the accumulation of money and material possessions. Hill spoke of being rich in experience, relationships, and life. To make a major quantum leap in your life, you must be willing to both ask for and give support. Break through the Illusion of Separateness.r

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The future belongs to those who believe in dreams. rn—ELEANOR ROOSEVELT, humanitarian and diplomat A tiny speck appears on the horizon. It’s hard to see. It begins to move closer and closer. It looks like a shapeless blob, but as it moves closer, it starts to take form. The form becomes real, and unexpectedly you are suddenly within the form. The memory of the creation fades because you are now part of the form itself. This is your reality and it is continually growing and shifting. And then another speck appears on the horizon. . . .

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As long as you’re green, you’re growing; as soon as you’re ripe, you start to rot. rn—RAY KROC, founder of McDonald’s Learning is a never-ending cyclical process of discovery. We uncover possibilities within ourselves, transform them into reality, and discover new possibilities again. Following are the four levels of the cycle, listed from lowest to highest. Level 4: You don’t know you don’t know. This is the lowest level in the Cycle of Discovery. You are unaware of anything but what you believe to be true. You can’t yet see possibilities. For you, possibility does not exist.

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Over many years of speaking on the power of the mind and creativity I searched for the ideal metaphor to describe the conscious and subconscious. For a short period I used Plato’s imagery in Phaedrus, in which Socrates refers to our conscious, rational self as a charioteer who is holding on to the reins of two horses, one disciplined and the other unruly, which together represent our subconscious.

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“All men should strive to learn before they diernwhat they are running from, and to, and why.” rn—James Thurber, “The Shore and the Sea” In my new web-enhanced book - with 21 coaching video clips - IMAGINE THAT! Igniting Your Brain for Creativity & Peak Performance, you learn how to fire up your imagination, manage your thinking, and create and live what I refer to as an “exceptional life.” What is an exceptional life? Is it always being happy and having a good time? Does it guarantee having perfect relationships, making a lot of money or devoting your time to helping others?

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If you focus your attention on the lack of money, that’s what will get reinforced. Where you put your mental attention is what gets nourished. Poverty comes to the person who is emotionally and intellectually prepared for it. Prosperity is attracted to the person who is emotionally and intellectually ready to accept it, expect it, and enjoy it.rn—JERRY GILLES, as quoted by David Gershon and Gail Straub, Empowerment: The Art of Creating Your Life as You Want Itrnr

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You have the power to heal your life, and you need to know that. We think so often that we are helpless, but we are not. We always have the power of our minds…r Claim and consciously use your power.rn-Louise Hay Throughout history, events and happenings that could not be logically explained or threatened our sense of order, often created fear. The knee-jerk reaction was to label the event as witchcraft, sorcery, wizardry, voodoo, black magic or white magic, the benevolent counterpart of malicious black magic.

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The secret is not to give up hope. It's very hard not to because if you're really doing something worthwhiler I think you will be pushed to the brink of hopelessness rnbefore you come through the other side. rn–George Lucas Everyone experiences emotional or physical trauma. Perhaps due to the loss of a loved one, being fired, passed over for a promotion or having to declare bankruptcy. Trauma might be the result of bullying, terrorism, rape, murder or a health crisis.

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You may be whatever you resolve to be. Determine to be something in the world, and you will be something. “I cannot” never accomplished anything; “I will do” has wrought wonders.rn-George Gissing – English novelist and teacher How many times have you broken your New Year’s resolutions? What happened to your so-called “commitments”? In order to understand the “why.” it is a must to realize how your mind works.

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Recently, the Critics’ Choice Awards were televised and, the Golden Globe nominations were announced. I am fascinated because I LOVE movies. They have been a staple part of my life since my earliest childhood. Films have entertained, influenced, informed, educated and ignited my creativity.r

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Let's strip away the rose-colored glasses, let go of guilt and do a reality check. For many people the holiday season can feel like anything but a celebration. If one isn’t careful, the Christmas season can turn people into frenetic, anxious, and crazy - holiday survivalists. Below are 7 surefire strategies to keep your sanity and experience the celebration the holiday season is meant to be: 1. Plan ahead and prepare your mind for the worst case scenarios.

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My previous blog explored the value of creating a team model based on the makeup of a hologram. A short recap: What happens when a hologram is cut or divided or cut into a number of pieces? Amazingly, each piece contains the information of the whole from a slightly different perspective. This is the ideal metaphor for a super-charged team which. I call this model a Holographic Team. In order to have each piece contain the information of the whole from a different perspective it is necessary to look at what barriers prevent the model from being effective.

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“If a problem is fixable, if a situation is such that you can do something about it, then there is no need to worry. If it's not fixable, then there is no help in worrying. There is no benefit in worrying whatsoever.” rn— Dalai Lama XIV Do any of you recall “duck and cover” from the 1950’s? Probably not. "Duck and cover" was supposed to provide a degree of protection against the effects of a nuclear explosion to people situated outside the radius of the nuclear fireball.

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It is the obvious which is so difficult to see most of the time. People say 'It's as plain as the nose on your face.' But how much of the nose on your face can you see, unless someone holds a mirror up to you?”rn— Isaac Asimov, I, Robot The key to successful coaching is also the secret to successful communication in relationships, empathic listening. Empathetic listening means that you listen to the other person without judgement and with the intention of seeing the world as he/she sees it.

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Without question, your subconscious rules your conscious choices and has its own set of rules. Rule #1: The subconscious does not think in the traditional sense but reacts out of the brains primitive fight or flight programming. Rule #2: The subconscious moves us towards what gives pleasure (even if what gives us pleasure is destructive) and moves us away from anyone or anything that causes us fear or threatens our survival – even if the threat is perceptual. Rule #3: The subconscious is the center of our emotions and the storehouse of our memories (real or imagined.)

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Without question, your subconscious rules your conscious choices and has its own set of rules. Rule #1: The subconscious does not think in the traditional sense but reacts out of the brains primitive fight or flight programming. Rule #2: The subconscious moves us towards what gives pleasure (even if what gives us pleasure is destructive) and moves us away from anyone or anything that causes us fear or threatens our survival – even if the threat is perceptual. Rule #3: The subconscious is the center of our emotions and the storehouse of our memories (real or imagined.)

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What is the imagination? It’s elusive. Mark Twain said, “You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus.” And, Albert Einstein wrote, “Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions.” The imagination is like a rambunctious, slightly crazy, often out-of-control ‘Wild Child’ who can lose its focus in the blink of an eye. If focused on fear, the result is guilt, anger and stress. When focused on love, the outcome is gratitude, compassion and forgiveness.

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Paul Newman’s “The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp” Vision Expands - by James Mapes More than two decades ago, Paul Newman had a vision of possibility with no idea how to make it a reality. As all great visions begin, he started with a “What if…” question. What if children with serious illnesses had a chance to just be children and have fun in a safe and nurturing environment? Paul Newman, being a great prankster, could not avoid adding, “…and a place where children could raise a little hell.”

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Creativity is intelligence having fun.rn -Albert Einstein, physicist Do you think fun is frivolous? If so, perhaps you should think again. Pause at the end of this paragraph – just for a few seconds – to recall a very happy, joyful, engaging moment from your life. Please stop and reflect now. Odds are that you just remembered a time that involved some sort of play. There’s a good chance that memory was from your childhood. If so, how do you compare that feeling with your adult self?r

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“Learn to pause ... or nothing worthwhile will catch up to you.”rn -Doug King, Poet & Educator Imagine that you have a magic remote control so that - when life got too overwhelming or you needed to replenish your energy - you could simply push the “pause” button. In a sense, you have the ability to do just that. All you have to do is make the choice to – pause.

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First, let’s get some facts straight. Research shows that more than 80% of us fail at keeping our New Year’s resolutions because we unconsciously set ourselves up for failure. One of the main reasons is, without awareness, we focus on the downside of not achieving their goals. That means we're giving power to fear instead of to desire and passion. These tips are based on the latest brain research. Apply them you will give yourself an edge for success:

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“Public speaking is one of the best things I hate.”rn-Baseball great Yogi Berra You’re hyperventilating. You’re dripping perspiration. You’re legs are wobbly and you have the distinct desire to flee. What’s going on here? Are you being pursued by a pack of rabid dogs? No. You are about to speak before an audience.r

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“Surprise occurs the moment we realizernour view of the world no longer matches reality.”rn-Wayne Burkan, author, WIDE ANGLE VISIONrnr

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Those who do not have power over the story that dominates their lives, the power to retell it, rethink it, deconstruct it, joke about it, and change it as times change, truly are powerless, because they cannot think new thoughts. —Salman Rushdie Stories are the creative conversion of life itself into a more powerful, clearer, more meaningful experience. They are the currency of human contact. — Robert McKeernr

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As strange and odd as this may sound, your “mind,” as opposed to your “brain” is, figuratively speaking, divided into two parts. These parts are invisible, and dramatically different, yet they must work together if an individual is to live an exceptional life. The two parts are ubiquitously called the “conscious” mind, the “subconscious” mind.r

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Creating and presenting my TEDx talk was one of the greatest challenges of my career - and an ultimate learning experience. Having a solid background in acting and speaking for more than three decades gave me the belief, or so I thought, that this would be an easy task. In fact, it tested my perseverance. Here are the barriers I discovered and the lessons learned: LESSON #1: Identify your passion and find your story.

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Drag your thoughts away from your troubles... by the ears, by the heels, or any other way you can manage it.rn - Mark Twain Catastrophic thinking is the imagination run amuck, worry heightened to the power of ten. It happens when we allow our emotions to dictate how and what we think. It happens when we focus or dwell on the worst possible outcome of something. It happens when we obsess. “I will look like a fool if I mess up this presentation.” “My boss didn’t show any enthusiasm over my proposal. What if I get fired?” “She, or he, is going to leave me. “rnr

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Each person holds so much power within themselves that needs to be let out. Sometimes they just need a little nudge, a little direction, a little support, a little coaching, and the greatest things can happen.rn-Pete Carroll, American football coach What’s your opinion of peak performance coaching or, as it is commonly referred to, life coaching? Have you ever considered that people who are successful have the mental tools, strategy and support to achieve and maintain success? Where does that come from?

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Why brand yourself? For one primary reason. Branding shines a light on you and your business. Branding reveals the essence of who you are and what you offer. Your brand separates you from the crowd. Branding is mandatory for any entrepreneur’s company to be noticed, respected, in demand and profitable. We are living in world where consumers need to feel they are connected directly with the source, the entrepreneur. They not only want to know what your company does, they also want to know your purpose. In a sense, they want to FEEL your presence and FEEL connected.

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“Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or softened the fiber of a free people. A nation does not have to be cruel to be tough.”rn-Franklin D. Roosevelt Are you a kind person? Do you like to be treated with kindness? Why should you be kind? What if I told you that demonstrating kindness is good for your heart, slows aging, improves relationships and enhances the joy of your life, and - is a lot easier than exercising or changing your diet?

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Do you think creating successful business teams is more or less important in today’s world than in the past? The reality is that it’s a collaborative world that depends on teams of people working together across time zones and continents. However, do managers and leaders really consider how to create a high-performance team? It’s not so easy.

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Risk taking is a subjective experience. One person’s risk may be another’s hobby. Sometimes risk is forced on you. Your mate of 20 years suddenly demands a divorce, or your job is terminated after thirty years. Imposed risks are often perceived as negative. Sometimes taking a risk involves change. Sometimes taking a risk means committing to remain in your present circumstances.

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Risk taking is a subjective experience. One person’s risk may be another’s hobby. Sometimes risk is forced on you. Your mate of 20 years suddenly demands a divorce, or your job is terminated after thirty years. Imposed risks are often perceived as negative. Sometimes taking a risk involves change. Sometimes taking a risk means committing to remain in your present circumstances.

Published · 1,264 views

Risk taking is a subjective experience. One person’s risk may be another’s hobby. Sometimes risk is forced on you. Your mate of 20 years suddenly demands a divorce, or your job is terminated after thirty years. Imposed risks are often perceived as negative. Sometimes taking a risk involves change. Sometimes taking a risk means committing to remain in your present circumstances.

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“If you put yourself in a position where you have to stretch outside your comfort zone, then you are forced to expand your consciousness.” rn-Les Brown, author, speaker “Why would I hire a life coach? I’m intelligent, aware, strong-willed and can make my own decisions without someone telling what to do. It wouldn’t work for me.” Those three sentences sum up the reason many people refuse to seek out a life coach. After more than three decades of coaching, I have heard every excuse in the world. Most stem from misinformation but mostly from fear.

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I have realized and accepted the harsh fact that I sometimes keep myself busy without being productive, that is - I procrastinate. Recently, guilt has begun to creep into my consciousness and guilt in any form is unacceptable to me. So, here I am writing about how to break through procrastination.

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Without question, your subconscious rules your conscious choices and has its own set of rules. Rule #1: The subconscious does not think in the traditional sense but reacts out of the brains primitive fight or flight programming. Rule #2: The subconscious moves us towards what gives pleasure (even if what gives us pleasure is destructive) and moves us away from anyone or anything that causes us fear or threatens our survival – even if the threat is perceptual. Rule #3: The subconscious is the center of our emotions and the storehouse of our memories (real or imagined.)

Published · 1,542 views

Without question, your subconscious rules your conscious choices and has its own set of rules. Rule #1: The subconscious does not think in the traditional sense but reacts out of the brains primitive fight or flight programming. Rule #2: The subconscious moves us towards what gives pleasure (even if what gives us pleasure is destructive) and moves us away from anyone or anything that causes us fear or threatens our survival – even if the threat is perceptual. Rule #3: The subconscious is the center of our emotions and the storehouse of our memories (real or imagined.)

Published · 1,478 views

Without question, your subconscious rules your conscious choices and has its own set of rules. Rule #1: The subconscious does not think in the traditional sense but reacts out of the brains primitive fight or flight programming. Rule #2: The subconscious moves us towards what gives pleasure (even if what gives us pleasure is destructive) and moves us away from anyone or anything that causes us fear or threatens our survival – even if the threat is perceptual. Rule #3: The subconscious is the center of our emotions and the storehouse of our memories (real or imagined.)

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Without question, your subconscious rules your conscious choices and has its own set of rules. Rule #1: The subconscious does not think in the traditional sense but reacts out of the brains primitive fight or flight programming. Rule #2: The subconscious moves us towards what gives pleasure (even if what gives us pleasure is destructive) and moves us away from anyone or anything that causes us fear or threatens our survival – even if the threat is perceptual. Rule #3: The subconscious is the center of our emotions and the storehouse of our memories (real or imagined.)

Published · 1,375 views

What is the imagination? It’s elusive. Mark Twain said, “You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus.” And, Albert Einstein wrote, “Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions.” The imagination is like a rambunctious, slightly crazy, often out-of-control ‘Wild Child’ who can lose its focus in the blink of an eye. If focused on fear, the result is guilt, anger and stress. When focused on love, the outcome is gratitude, compassion and forgiveness.

Published · 1,569 views

What is the imagination? It’s elusive. Mark Twain said, “You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus.” And, Albert Einstein wrote, “Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions.” The imagination is like a rambunctious, slightly crazy, often out-of-control ‘Wild Child’ who can lose its focus in the blink of an eye. If focused on fear, the result is guilt, anger and stress. When focused on love, the outcome is gratitude, compassion and forgiveness.

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After going through a list in my mind of what to write to help people thrive in the New Year, I settled on an out-of-the-box subject – Magical Thinking. Thank goodness for magical thinking. What would we do without the possibilities of miracles? For humans, hope springs eternal. We wish. We pray. We repeat affirmations. We hope. We have limitless and often nonsensical symbolic rituals to insure success. We cross our fingers, wait for the planets to align, wear the same piece of clothing to insure success and on it goes.

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The single biggest problem in communicationrnis the illusion that it has taken place.rn-George Bernard Shaw, playwright Communication is the glue that holds relationships together. So, the question is – Do you believe that you communicate often enough and in the right way to create and sustain positive relationships in all areas of your life?r

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The single biggest problem in communicationrnis the illusion that it has taken place.rn-George Bernard Shaw, playwright Communication is the glue that holds relationships together. So, the question is – Do you believe that you communicate often enough and in the right way to create and sustain positive relationships in all areas of your life?r

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You are not here merely to make a living. You are here in order to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world, and you impoverish yourself if you forget the errand.rn- Woodrow Wilsonrnr

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‘A child of five would understand this. Send someone to fetch a child of five.’rn-Groucho Marx, comedian If I guaranteed you would lower your anxiety, calm your mind, renew, recharge, think more clearly, reduce your fear response and enhance your creativity – just by investing two five-minute periods of time, twice-a-day – to meditate – would you commit to do it?r

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Upon reading – Seeing the Glory, as Mental Preparation for the Winter Games in the February 23, 2014, New York Times, I let out an internal whoop of joy. The validation of mental rehearsal by Olympian athletes leaves no doubt that visualization and imagery contribute enormously to athletes’ success. And the skill of visualization goes well beyond sports.r

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Thomas S. Kuhn introduced the concept of paradigms to the scientific world twenty-five years ago in The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. Kuhn, a scientific historian, considered paradigms a whole new way of looking at and predicting possible outcomes. He wrote that scientific paradigms are ‘‘accepted examples of actual scientific practice, examples which include law, theory, application, and instrumentation together . . .

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“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”rn-Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple Here’s to the dreamers, visionaries and risk takers! Here’s to the entrepreneurs!

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“What you do is create a vision of what yournwant to be and then live into that picturernas if it were already true.”rn-Arnold Schwarzeneggerrnr

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“Public speaking is one of the best things I hate.”rn-Baseball great Yogi Berra You’re hyperventilating. You’re dripping perspiration. You’re legs are wobbly and you have the distinct desire to flee. What’s going on here? Are you being pursued by a pack of rabid dogs? No. You are about to speak before an audience.r

Published · 2,457 views