OK, One More Time...How Does Attraction Work?

If there is one thing we can all agree on, it's the fact that, given the chance, people like to disagree.

There are some professions and careers that are propelled by disagreement. Lawyers and politicians are obvious examples. Scholars and researchers disagree with their predecessors, write theses and get PhDs. Members of religious factions sometimes take their disagreements to the point of killing or being killed. The list goes on. This contentiousness seems to include almost everyone. It is remarkable, therefore, that for over a hundred years, there has been a near consensus on how a person can attract abundance into their lives From the British author Wallace Wattles writing in the early 1900s, to Napoleon Hill, W. Clement Stone a generation or two later, to those who today are publicizing what is surely the world's worst kept "Secret," the basic principles and practices have remained the same.

Here's my own personal 5 step Cliff Notes summary of how to transform your life by attracting into it all that you desire. This is a blended distillation, combining elements from those listed above and more.

1. Know what you want
2. Establish habits of affirmation and visualization
3. Get enthusiastic--no, make that passionate--about having what you want
4. Take action
5. Monitor your thoughts and feelings

Let's look a little closer.

Knowing What You Want. This, actually, is harder for some folks than you might think. Of course, everyone has a ready answer, such as "What I want is a million dollars." But this doesn't tend to work. As Bob Doyle in his excellent online program "Wealth Beyond Reason" has eloquently pointed out, having a million dollars actually doesn't change anything. Money that isn't exchanged for something, is just paper. Better to think beyond the pile of cash, to what the cash can do for you. Even better, is to identify precisely and in detail what your new, abundant, transformed life would actually be like as a lived experience. And by the way, state when you want this transformation to take place. Give yourself just enough time to make it believable, but don't push it too far off into the future. Goals that are too distant are likely to become hazy. They lose their power to motivate because they don't impress themselves sufficiently on your present. Worse, they may even be forgotten.

Establishing Habits of Affirmation and Visualization. This practice is what keeps your vision alive. More important, as Napoleon Hill, Stone, and the presenters in the film "The Secret" all concur, the habitual re-creation in the present of your desired future state actually draws that state towards you, provided--and this is important--that your visualizing and affirming is accompanied by strong emotion. The next topic will provide a few more details on this.

Many people may be uncertain about how to start their routine of visualization and affirmation. Fortunately, there is a wealth of information of the subject. "Creative Visualization; Using the Power of Your Imagination to Create What You Want in Your Life," by Shakti Gawain is a classic. It had its 25th anniversary edition 2002...which means the original was published "in the days of the flower power" to use an amusingly inept phrase from Abba. Since then, she has gone on to write other books and workbooks which will certainly be helpful to many. If you feel yourself astrally challenged (I certainly have), you may prefer to begin with "Creative Visualization for Beginners," by Richard Webster. You can then move on to other helpful titles such as "A Practical Guide to Creative Visualization: Manifest Your Desires" by Osborne Phillips and "Create Your Own Affirmations" also by Gawain. (These titles are all available in our online store "The Dog Pound.")

Books in this genre and their authors have been hilariously lampooned by comedians such as Al Franken in his Stuart Smalley persona. This is not wholly unwarranted. There's a lot of new age huckstering still going on out there. All the same as a tool, visualization--along with affirmation, its accompanying discipline--are time tested and ultimately practical. Go ahead and be skeptical, but try it on anyway and see what it has to offer.

Get Passionate About Having What You Want. The idea here is that your emotions charge your thoughts and visions with energy. Throughout the last century, it was taken for granted that this energy was an effective force even though the actual process was not understood. Today, many Law of Attraction mavens are turning to quantum physics to advance the notion that this energy is real and interacts with the vast unbroken field of energy which is the universe at its most fundamental level. What they are saying is that, following the principle of "like attracts like," the energy you infuse into your vision of your desired future actually functions like a magnet pulling that future toward you. Now, a theory is a story someone has mistaken as a fact, but whether you buy this particular explanation or not, it does appear that passionate desire joined with thought is more effective than thought alone. So...get yer geeter heated.

Take Action. Believe it or not, there is actually some debate on this. There are those who think that the Law of Attraction is so powerful and the universe so efficient and economical in the way it delivers, that the actions we take in pursuit of our goals may actually be counter-productive. Saner voices prevail. When you know want, get busy.This is when the left brain comes into its own. Draw up your lists, set deadlines, be S.M.A.R.T. But also be open to the possibility that there may be better ways to get where you're going.

Monitor Your Thoughts and Feelings. Change is difficult. Resistance to change is common. Family, friends and loved ones may be deeply skeptical. But the most powerful source of resistance comes from our own thoughts and feelings. This is especially true with mid-lifers who over the years have deeply ingrained patterns of thought and behavior.

There are two ways that negative thoughts and feelings slow us down--or stop us dead!--in our efforts to change. First, we can talk ourselves out of even trying. We offer ourselves a host of plausible-sounding excuses. We tell ourselves that we're too old or that the risk is too high or that it won't make any difference. Probably, this is nothing more than anxiety-ridden defensiveness. Listen, be grateful...and move on.

But there is another way in which monitoring your thoughts and feelings is vitally important if you subscribe (as I mostly do) to the theory known as The Law of Attraction. Here's how this works.

Thoughts and feelings are energetic. This energy is real, even measurable, and as such it interacts with the energy around us in ways that actually construct our reality. Super-charging our desires with strong emotion makes them more magnetic, more attractive; therefore, it is the power of our emotions rather than our thoughts that brings change about.

So, here's the program.

Find something that you want in your life, something you want passionately.

Keep the vision of your desires vividly present in your mind's eye and burning your heart though the continuous practice of visualization and affirmation.

Take action as co-creator (with the universe, with God, with Whomever or whatever you choose) to bring your desires into tangible reality.

And watch what you think. Make sure that your thoughts and feelings are aligned with where YOU want YOUR life to go.

When you get there, write home. Make ém jealous!
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OK, One More Time...How Does Attraction Work?

If there is one thing we can all agree on, it's the fact that, given the chance, people like to disagree.

There are some professions and careers that are propelled by disagreement. Lawyers and politicians are obvious examples. Scholars and researchers disagree with their predecessors, write theses and get PhDs. Members of religious factions sometimes take their disagreements to the point of killing or being killed. The list goes on. This contentiousness seems to include almost everyone, it is remarkable, therefore, that for over a hundred years, there has been a near consensus on how a person can attract abundance into their lives From the British author Wallace Wattles writing in the early 1900s, to Napoleon Hill, W. Clement Stone a generation or two later, to those who today are publicizing what is surely the world's worst kept "Secret," the basic principles and practices have remained the same.

Here's my own personal 5 step Cliff Note's summary of how to transform your life by attracting all the abundance and prosperity you desire. This is a blended distillation, combining elements of all those listed above.

1. Know what you want
2. Establish habits of affirmation and visualization
3. Get enthusiastic--no, make that passionate--about having what you want
4. Take action
5. Monitor your thoughts and feelings

Let's look a little closer.

Knowing What You Want. This, actually, is harder for some folks than you might think. Of course, everyone has a ready answer, such as "What I want is a million dollars." But this doesn't tend to work. As Bob Doyle in his excellent online program "Wealth Beyond Reason" has eloquently pointed out, having a million dollars actually doesn't change anything. Money that isn't exchanged for something, is just paper. Better to think beyond the pile of cash, to what the cash can do for you. Even better, is to identify precisely and in detail what your new, abundant, transformed life would actually be like as a lived experience. And by the way, state when you want this transformation to take place. Give yourself just enough time to make it believable, but push it too far off into the future. Goals that are too distant are likely to become hazy. They lose their power to motivate because they don't impress themselves sufficiently on your present. Worse, they may even be forgotten.

Establishing Habits of Affirmation and Visualization. This practice is what keeps your vision alive. More important, as Napoleon Hill, Stone, and the presenters in the film "The Secret" all concur, the habitual re-creation in the present of your desired future state actually draws that state towards you, provided--and this is important--that your visualizing and affirming is accompanied by strong emotion. The next topic will provide a few more details on this.

Many people may be uncertain about how to start their routine of affirmation and visualization. Fortunately, there is a wealth of information of the subject. "Creative Visualization; Using the Power of Your Imagination to Create What You Want in Your Life," by Shakti Gawain had its 25th anniversary edition...which puts the original publication "in the days of the flower power" to use an amusingly inept phrase from Abba. Since then, she has gone on to write other books and workbooks which will certainly be helpful to many. If you feel yourself astrally challenged (I certainly have), you may prefer to begin with "Creative Visualization for Beginners," by Richard Webster. You can then move on to other helpful titles such as "A Practical Guide to Creative Visualization: Manifest Your Desires" by Osborne Phillips and "Create Your Own Affirmations" also by Gawain. (These titles are all available in our online store "The Dog Pound.")

Books in this genre and their authors have been hilariously lampooned by comedians such as Al Franken in his Stuart Smalley persona. This is not wholly unwarranted. There's a lot of new age huckstering still going on out there. All the same, as a tool visualization--along with affirmation, its accompanying activity--are time tested and ultimately practical. Go ahead and be skeptical, but try it on anyway and see what it has to offer.

Get Passionate About Having What You Want. The idea here is that your emotions charge your thoughts and visions with energy. Throughout the last century, it was taken for granted that this energy was an effective force even though the actual process was not understood. Today, many Law of Attraction mavens are turning to quantum physics to advance the notion that this energy is real and interacts with the vast unbroken field of energy which is the universe at its most fundamental level. What they are saying is that, following the principle of "like attracts like," the energy you infuse into your vision of your desired future actually functions like a magnet pulling that future toward you. Now, a theory is a story someone has mistaken as a fact, but whether you buy this particular explanation or not, it does appear that passionate desire joined with thought is more effective than thought alone. So...get yer geeter heated.

Take Action. Believe it or not, there is actually some debate on this. There are those who think that the Law of Attraction is so powerful and the universe so efficient and economical in the way it delivers, that the actions we take in pursuit of our goals may actually be counter-productive. Saner voices prevail. When you know want, get busy.This is when the left brain comes into its own. Draw up your lists, set deadlines, be S.M.A.R.T. But also be open to the possibility that there may be better ways to get where you're going.

Monitor Your Thoughts and Feelings. Change often can feel difficult. Resistance to change is common. Family, friends and loved ones may be deeply skeptical. But the most powerful source of resistance comes from your own thoughts and feelings. This is especially true with mid-lifers who over the years have deeply ingrained patterns of thought and behavior.

There are two ways that negative thoughts and feelings slow us down--or stop us dead!--in our efforts to change. First, we can talk ourselves out of even trying. We offer ourselves a host of plausible-sounding excuses. We tell ourselves that we're too old or that the risk is too high or that it won't make any difference. Probably, this is nothing more than anxiety-ridden defensiveness. Listen, be grateful...and move on.

But there is another way in which monitoring your thoughts and feelings is vitally important if you subscribe (as I mostly do) to the theory known as The Law of Attraction. Here's how this works.

Thoughts and feelings are energetic. This energy is actual, even measurable, and as such it

Read more!

Review: The Landmark Forum

This is a tall order: reviewing a program which takes place over an entire weekend and involves hours and hours of conversation. But, for me, as a grateful alumnus, I feel compelled to share what I now know. The Landmark Forum (LF), developed and presented by Landmark Education, is a life-changing experience.

It would be impossible in the space of a short article to describe how the process works; furthermore, I don't feel that would be ethical to divulge Landmark Education's proprietary methodology. What I can share is my own experience and comment on the insights I came away with.

The fundamental issue that an LF weekend examines--or, to be more accurate, the issue I looked at deeply for myself--is the process of story creation and storytelling. Our lives are narratives that we create but which then to some extent create us and our experience. We don't see it, not usually, but everything that arises is given meaning by us and made to fit into the greater, longer narrative we have been creating and living since we could first put words together.

Of course, none of this new. People have been giving meaning to their lives through the telling of stories since the dawn of human civilization, and myths, the greatest of all stories, for many people straddle the line between the line between fact and fiction, art and actuality. For centuries philosophers have told us the same, and, more recently, in the 20th century, great thinkers such as Viktor Frankl have pointed out that meaning-making is the quintessential human activity. But what the Landmark Forum does is to present storytelling in a new light, one that is both more conscious and more critical, and by doing so delivers it into our hands as a tool.

The weekend was intense, beginning on Friday morning and continuing all day and well into the night Friday, Saturday and Sunday and, finally, continuing for a few hours on Tuesday. Over the course of this time, it was evident that everyone who permitted themselves to really engage the process benefited from powerful breakthroughs and profound experiences of personal transformation.

This was certainly true in my case. Recently separated after 22 years of marriage to a woman who deserved much better than she got and leaving behind two beloved children, I arrived at the hotel conference room with an enormous burden of guilt and shame. By the time Sunday rolled around, I knew two things which preserved my sanity and maybe even my life.

First was the lesson that there is nothing more powerful than taking complete responsibility for everything that occurs in one's own experience. By assuming what I now call "radical responsibility," I retain my personal power. How? By avoiding blame. Whenever we blame others, we empower them by making ourselves passive, turning ourselves into victims. Learning this lesson prevented me from making excuses for my own behavior. As a result, I have today an amicable and harmonious relationship with my first wife, which has spared my children a great deal unnecessary further suffering.

Just as important is what I learned about personal integrity. This is fundamental to the program, as it is indeed to life itself. This is not to say that I have consistently upheld a lofty standard of integrity since completing my Landmark Forum weekend. But the standard is there, and knowing that progress toward that ideal is both a safeguard and a basis for happiness keeps me on the right track.

There is much more that could be said, and others just as appreciative as I would perhaps say different things. But this, I hope, will give you a glimpse of what this powerful program has to offer. I have no hesitation in recommending that you invest both the time and the money required.

Go with an open mind...and be fulfilled.
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Your Thoughts: Prison or Paradise?

Fifty-six thousand.

That's how many thoughts a reasonably thoughtful person will think each day. (I didn't sit around counting. This comes from the National Science Foundation.)

So you have to ask yourself: "How many of these thoughts are actually under my control?" Or perhaps even more important: "How often am I myself actually controlled by these thoughts...many of which remain unconscious?"

The answers to these questions have serious implications.

First of all, most of our thinking functions on auto-pilot, producing a constant stream of background chatter of which we are only half aware. But that doesn't mean it produces no effect. On the contrary, the current of these thoughts, like a current of electricity, charges our lives with positive or negative energy. These states tend to be self-perpetuating. If we are feeling anxious we tend to continue being anxious unless we take some action to change our thinking and state of mind. Fortunately, it works the other way around: happiness begets more happiness, although often it seems that this condition is more delicate.

Secondly, our thoughts do more than condition our experience; they actually construct our world. And the effects of this mental construction become more pronounced as we mature. By mid-life many people are actually hemmed by a thicket of thoughts, opinions, and prejudices. The objective world--to the extent that there is one--is made to conform to constructs fashioned decades earlier, and anything that doesn't fit is either unseen or is seen and rejected. And because the contemporary world increasingly fails to correspond to our preconceived notions of what "ought to be," we may be tempted to retreat into a smaller and smaller space where we try to console ourselves with the memories of things past. Will it work? Yes, after a fashion, but we pay a heavy price for our imprisonment.

What about a jail-break? Is it possible?

Yes.

The good news is that this entire process can be reversed. We can quite easily uncoil our thoughts and open them--and ourselves--to the world around us. Doing so requires only two things: the intention to do so, and a technique.

The intention I leave up to you...your choice.

As for the technique, you have many options. A religious person may turn to his or her faith. Even so, other hands-on options exist. I specifically recommend techniques that deal directly with the content of our thinking. Self-hypnosis and NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) are both excellent tools. Another terrific resource is the weekend introductory program offered by Landmark Education. This program creates the opportunity for you to look critically at the stories you tell about your life and whether they limit or liberate you. If you have the time--and the money--you can pack a whole lot of transformation into just a couple of days. (For more information, check the list of links on the left side of this page, or visit our online store, "The Dog Pound."

But whichever path you choose, remember your thoughts pave the way: either to a world that continually opens to novelty and enJOYment, or one that shrinks in around you.

It's worth thinking about.
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Tools, Tools and More Tools

Here's some good news.

Anyone these days who is interested in making changes--even big changes--in their lives, can take advantage of an abundance of resources that is greater than at any time in history. From books to DVDs to website (free and paid). from online coaches to weekend seminars, there is a wealth of tools available suited to any personality and budget.

It will be my commitment on this site to find and share as much information as I can about the programs and recourses I discover. Not everything will right for you, but you can be sure that with a little patience, you will find just the thing to make all the difference. So check out our online store and visit the pages on our links list, read the articles in our Newsreel feed. Let me know what you think.

And listen, if you come across something that should be included here, let us know...from one old dog to another.

Happy hunting.
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Get Over It! Overcoming Your Resistance to Personal Success

What's going on?

You've done it all. The affirmations. The meditations. You've drawn up you list of goals and created your vision board. But nothing seems to be happening! "What," you ask yourself, "am I doing wrong?" You may feel discouraged. You may even feel that it's time to give up.

But hold on! A few simple insights may help you finally overcome those blocks to personal success that have been holding you back.

Let's take a look.

First of all, it's important to understand exactly where these personal blocks come from. Then we'll suggest five ways to overcome them once and for all.

The sources of resistance or personal blocks are essentially self-protective mechanisms. It is really important that you "get" that before moving on. There is a part of you that is very concerned with protecting you. This anxious hidden presence is constantly fretting that change is bad, that no matter how grim things may seem now, change will only make it worse. This fretful voice is quick to remind you of all your past mistakes and lost causes are proof that anything you do will only bring disaster. Although you may not recognize this part of you right away, it is without doubt your most potent source of resistance and the chief explanation behind your blocks to personal success.

OK. So you have a neurotic little stowaway troll that is keeping you stuck. What do you do about it? Here are five things you can do right now. Expect immediate results.

First, be grateful. Yes, that's right. Stop calling this part of you names (like "neurotic troll") and recognize that like it or not, this voice within you cares deeply about you and wants to protect you from all possible harm. Your expressions of gratitude will let this part of you know that it's being heard (or at least listened to), and it will soon begin to loosen its grip.

Second, "re-frame" these blocks to success. Instead of seeing them as problems or personal defects, see them as indicators that help you measure your progress. No Olympic athlete would ever expect to get the gold without overcoming obstacles along the way. See your blocks as benchmarks on your road to success.

Third, define them. Describe these personal blocks. Write them down. Clearly. What you understand fully is always less frightening than something that is vague and shadowy. Once you have done this, you will have a list things for you to work on that will have incredible leverage. Work away at this list and you will find your personal success becoming more tangible every day.

Fourth, create a list of specific daily actions that will help you demonstrate to yourself that these blocks are illusions. For example, if you believe that you can't achieve success because you are not a "people person," give yourself a goal of going out and striking up a conversation with a stranger. And do it today! It doesn't doesn't have to be much: just ask someone for the time. Even this will show you that you can do it. Start there and build daily toward more significant demonstrations that your fear of relating to others is not real.

Fifth, and finally, work on your "self talk." When you approach a new situation, what do you tell yourself? Do you say that it's scary and threatening? Try changing that to "What can I learn from this?" or "What opportunity does this situation have for me right here right now?" Techniques such as self-hypnosis can be a great help here. I have included a few of programs that I use and value highly in the links list to the left. Try them out. Some have free trial periods. If they work for you, make them a daily habit.

Overcoming blocks to personal success, getting past "stuck," is a universal phenomenon. Equally universal, time-tested, and reliable, are techniques such as the ones I have described above.

The journey to fulfillment and personal success is your journey. The blocks and experiences of resistance are merely milestones along the way, showing you how far you have come.
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