Self Improvement Newsletter- Issue # 505

Self Improvement Newsletter
Issue # 505, May 13-14, 2008

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* Self Improvement and Personal Growth Weekly Newsletter *
Issue # 505, Week of May 13-14, 2008
Publisher: David Riklan - http://www.SelfGrowth.com

In this issue:

-- Quotes of the Week
-- Recommended Product of the Week
-- Article: Who Are We, Really? - By Bruce D Schneider, Ph.D., MCC
-- Article: Are You a Prisoner of Poverty or a Producer of Wealth? - By Melissa Zollo
-- Book Review: 30 Days to a New You: Get What You Want Through Authentic Change - By Monica Magnetti, BFA/CPCC
-- Brief News of the World
-- How to Subscribe and Unsubscribe from this Newsletter

Current Subscribers - 266,599 subscribers
Removal instructions are listed at the end of the newsletter.

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*** Quotes of the Week ***
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Individual commitment to a group effort -- that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work. - Vince Lombardi, 1913-1970, Hall of Fame American Football Coach

Kindness is the golden chain by which society is bound together. - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1749-1832, German Poet/Dramatist/Novelist

Time has no meaning in itself unless we choose to give it significance. - Leo Buscaglia, 1924-1998, American Author and Expert on Love and Human Relationships

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*** Recommended Product of the Week ***
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* Did You Know ADD/ADHD Didn't Exist Before WWII? *

Yet today it is among the most common psychiatric disorders. It causes distressing and debilitating symptoms, as well as considerable functional impairments. In just a few steps, you eliminate negative symptoms, such as restlessness and increase your concentration skills with this easy-to-follow plan. Click here to learn how.

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*** Article: Who Are We, Really? - By Bruce D Schneider, Ph.D., MCC ***
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Whether I'm gazing at a majestically sculptured building, reading of a startling medical breakthrough, or soaring over the earth during a transcontinental flight, I'm always awed by the genius of humanity.

The world is millions of years old, and yet, in only a comparatively short period of time, the accomplishments of humanity can no doubt only be referred to as miraculous. Question after question, and challenge after challenge arose, testing and stretching the explorers -- the most brilliant scientists, doctors, engineers, artists, and philosophers -- to put forth great effort to answer and conquer anything in the way of our understanding and control of life. The most profound questions and monumental challenges didn't stop the explorers, who offered all they could to assist humanity in creating a happier and healthier life.

And yet, two questions have persisted throughout the beginning of life on earth. These questions are, actually, the very basis for our existence and our ultimate challenge. Until answered, these questions seem to place all our worldly achievements in proper perspective, reminding us how young and naīve we still are. The questions are: "Who am I?" and "Why am I here?" and all of humanity's worldly achievements are dimmed by the lack of insight that would be alleviated by these questions' elusive answers.

While most of my work is dedicated to helping people figure out how to share their gifts and how to get the most from life, which is, essentially, the "Why am I here?" part, this article focuses on the other question "Who am I?" My intention is not to offer you the answer, although I wish I could, but to enlighten you to know that you are not alone in not knowing. And that there is deep peace in the fact that, while we're here, we'll never really know.

So many people struggle to find themselves. They look in the mirror with hopes of seeing something they'd like to see, but are usually discouraged by the image of who they think they see. Worse is, that it's not just our own image we see in the mirror; it's the picture of how we think everyone else sees us as well. It's no wonder why we don't know who we are; how could we? We aren't at all in touch with our authentic self, only an illusion of shoulds, coulds, and usually musts that we feel we have to accomplish to finally be our true self. Think about what this means. We will never really know our true self, because all we are is a definition given to us by the past, others, and even our own self.

It's so confusing and challenging to figure out who we really are because we have no basis other than from outside of us. So most of us give up trying to figure it all out and decide instead to play a game of distraction. Distracting ourselves from the pain of not remembering our true self and burying our search in the questions and challenges outside of us, which were far easier to comprehend and overcome.

We are so unwilling to let our light shine. We'd prefer to remain distracted for fear of actually being responsible for our lives. We are actually blinded by the darkness -- unwilling to grow and so, unwilling to really live. In "Relax, You're Already Perfect: 10 Spiritual Lessons... to Remember," I present the nature of our true self as Unconditional Love. This cannot be seen in any mirror. But we'll still look for it, hoping that one day we'll see the truth. The truth cannot be seen. The truth cannot be spoken, nor heard. In fact, trying to discern the truth from any physical sense is like trying to salt your fries with whipped cream -- just the wrong tool for the job.

Please don't get me wrong; I never said playing the game of distraction was a bad thing to do. It's all a game; there is no good or bad. What I am saying is that the key to remembering more of our true self lies in our own hands, but we can't see it. The key is hidden beneath fears, doubts, limiting beliefs, and yes, whipped cream.

High upon a mountain, conversing with a burning bush, Moses was told that God has not a name, but is a level of consciousness called "I AM." The I AM consciousness is the highest level of awareness in the Universe. It is the image and likeness of God from which we were created.

Ultimately, the answer to the question "Who am I?" is "I AM." This seems so simple and yet is so complicated. This is because I AM -- the nature of our true selves -- is immeasurable.

In the Jewish tradition, the word God is usually hyphenated as G-D. Jews are taught that you don't take God's name in vain, as by writing the word. And while this may mean different things to different people, I find a very profound message in this: By writing the name of God, we automatically limit God by trying to define that word by our words. You cannot define the indefinable. You cannot limit the limitless. And as expressions of God, we are, by our very nature, indefinable, limitless, and indescribable. Why try to figure it out? Don't bother. Instead, consider the idea that we are a mystery. We are not who we see in the mirror. We are so much more.

Please ask yourself this: if you were to accept yourself as a beautiful mystery, and didn't distract yourself in the process, how would your life be different? I maintain that there is deep peace when you let go of your ego and not have to know. Instead of having to know, try having faith -- faith that you will never know and don't have to, faith that you are beyond human description, and faith that regardless of the image you see in the mirror, you are always, and in all ways, more than you think you are.

So where do we go from here? I wish I coined the slogans from NIKE, "Just do it," and Nissan, "Enjoy the Ride." But I will combine their wisdom and suggest a direction to go. Regardless of our inability to figure out the mysteries of life, we're here anyway. So regarding life: Just do it, and... enjoy the ride!

About the Author:

Bruce D Schneider, Ph.D., MCC is a Master Certified Coach, licensed psychotherapist, Reiki Master, founder and director of the Institute for Professional Empowerment Coaching, and author of "Relax, You're Already Perfect: 10 Spiritual Lessons...to Remember" (Hampton Roads Publishing, 2002). Go to http://www.IPECcoaching.com

Check out the Experts page for Bruce Schneider, the Official SelfGrowth.com Guide to Life Coach and Life Coaching.

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Join Bruce D Schneider as he interviews David Riklan, founder of SelfGrowth.com, on The E-Factor conference call show -- Tuesday, May 13, at 12 noon (Eastern time). In the interview, David will discuss his self-improvement journey, his own definition of success, and why developing your brand properly can take your business to places you've only imagined. Do not miss this show! Go here to register for the call: http://www.selfgrowth.com/products/efactor.html

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* Did You Know ADD/ADHD Didn't Exist Before WWII? *

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*** Article: Are You a Prisoner of Poverty or a Producer of Wealth? - By Melissa Zollo ***
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Are you a prisoner of poverty, debt, loss, lack of happiness, feeling overloaded, frustrated, and an inmate to failure? Noted author and American born mystic Neville says: "There is no fiction. Tomorrow's world is today's fiction." (The definition of Fiction being something invented or created by ones imagination.)

The Primary Cause of Poverty is a Poverty Mindset (consciousness). The Primary Cause of Wealth is a Prosperity Mindset (consciousness). States of mind (consciousness) are passed down from one generation to the next. A poverty state of mind will cause you to see, hear, think, feel, and act in alignment with lack.

The Law of Attraction states that your thoughts and feelings create a force field of energy that radiates out from you and draws back into your life people, things, and situations in tune with them. In other words, you become what you believe and feel to be true. Poverty is an outcome produced by way of our thoughts and feelings. Therefore, it becomes clear that forces act along parallel lines. The challenges to our personal, professional, and financial success are for the most part self-created in our very own imagination.

You are here to lead a balanced life.

* Would you like to express your true talents, feel appreciated, and have peace of mind and perfect health?
* Why be satisfied with making ends meet when you can activate your imagination and enjoy the riches of your consciousness?
* Why allow the doubts and fears of others to focus your attention toward recessions, economic crises, fluctuations at the stock market, and war leaving you ashamed of your dream for financial success and harmonious relationships?
* Do you fear being successful? Why fear failure and ultimately fear your own success when it is your spiritual birthright to lead a full, rich, rewarding, and wonderful life?

Now is the Time to Live Abundantly.

The joy of living the abundant life can be achieved once you understand that you were born to succeed and realize your dreams. You are fully equipped to become the master of your destiny. We humans fear change until we awaken to the truth that within the depths of our consciousness is an Infinite Power. Knowing how to tap into it empowers us to move forward beyond all the sorrow, guilt, grudges, and fearful beliefs buried in our memory. The miracle working power of imagination enables us to take action, Image First and get results, regardless of how unfairly we were treated in the past.

There is No One to Change but Yourself.

Obstacles, a scoundrel of a boss or employee, a difficult situation and or event will not change on their own. However, once you awaken to your spiritual and mental powers, connect to a positive focus, understand and apply the Laws of Life (not just the Law of Attraction), you will find yourself meeting all demands and challenges head on. You will refuse to allow people, situations, and things to rob you of your focus and happiness. You will develop your confidence.

8 Choices You Can Make Today that Will Change Your Habits and Influence Your Life:

Since the direction of our lives is primarily determined by the choices we make each and every day, I am offering you a selection of choices you can make -- choices that will assist you in walking the road to riches, happiness, and the fulfillment of your dreams.

1. Choose a new mental diet. One of the most powerful activities you will ever participate in is uplifting self-talk. Be your own head coach. Change your inner conversations. Instead of talking about what you are afraid of or worried about, decide to consciously choose words that are consistent with your financial goals. For instance, I feel great. I am doing my best. I expect the best. I can accomplish my goals. I believe in myself. The negation of others cannot touch me. I am in the winner's circle of life.

2. Choose to activate your imagination. My "Discover the Power of Imagination" CD program and my "How to Unleash the Power Within and Attract Money" are the perfect tools to assist you to reimage/refocus/rebuild/rethink/ receive!

3. Choose to focus on your dreams and empower yourself. This sounds simple but many people only wish to experience wealth and success. They rarely choose to change their money habits nor do they seek to express themselves at a higher level of being. Make a decision today to get on the road to personal empowerment and self-improvement. Practice the Art of Creative Imagining.

4. Choose to plant seeds of hope, happiness, and harmony. Instead of proceeding to treat yourself poorly, you can opt to treat yourself as a valued, accepted, appreciated person. (Decide to plant seeds of high self-esteem no matter how others have treated you in the past or try to mistreat you now.) Try this and in time you will be sleeping peacefully and waking joyfully.

5. Choose to break one financial bad habit. Decide to tackle your debt, spending habits, or something associated with money and give yourself the right to succeed. Exercise your power to Image First and design a new financial blueprint until your subconscious mind compels you to activate it and express financial rewards.

6. Choose to become balanced spiritually, mentally, emotionally, physically, and socially. Our lives work best when we feel balanced. Invest quality time re-training your imagination, and you will become spirituality, emotionally, physically, and financially fit.

7. Choose to make time for fun and self-renewal. Make a play date with yourself and turn off your cell phone.

8. Choose to spend quality time with those important people in your life. Make a decision today to heal those relationships that need mending -- be they with your parents, siblings, significant other, beloved spouse, friends, or children. Choose to forgive and watch your energy, self-motivation, and enthusiasm soar.

What are Your Money Habits?

* The key to changing your money habits lies in your ability to make decisions and choices from the perspective that the Life-Principle is within you. Knowing how and why the Universal Laws of Life never fail frees you from making choices rooted in outer events and negative situations around you.

* Remember, money is an idea. It is up to you to turn it into financial success. Financial education begins with a desire to make friends with the idea of money. To accumulate money and riches, you must become very comfortable with the idea of deserving wealth and feeling secure and protected.

* Next, you must make a conscious decision to cleanse your mind of all superstitious ideas and beliefs concerning money that you learned or acquired. Then you must choose to stop regarding money as dirty, or the root of all evil. Should you proceed to confuse greed with money, you will continue to repel it and cause it to fly from you rather than be attracted toward you.

* Know how to develop your confidence. The most powerful antidote to self-doubt is self-confidence. Successful people have high levels of self-confidence. They have an attitude that they are unstoppable and will achieve their goals.

* Understand Spiritual Principles until you can apply them in any situation.

* Turn within, to your own wonderful human imagination.

* Remind yourself daily that externals showing up in your life are effects; they are not causes. Decide to change your thought-seeds (causes) and you will change your harvest (effects)

Your money dreams can make you rich. Creative answers exist within you. The triumph of a life lived in harmony with a disciplined imagination and spiritual laws will bring you peace and make you a producer of money, wealth, and riches and never again condemn you to be a prisoner of poverty.

Never close a door on a dream -- your dreams are calling you!

Melissa Zollo

About the Author:

Melissa Zollo, imagination and self motivation specialist, is the author of "Discover the Power of Imagination" and "How to Unleash the Power Within and Attract Money" CD audio programs. FREE daily tips and newsletter available at http://www.PresentMemory.com

Check out the Experts page for Melissa Zollo, the Official SelfGrowth.com Guide to Imagination.

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* Did You Know ADD/ADHD Didn't Exist Before WWII? *

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*** Book Review: 30 Days to a New You: Get What You Want Through Authentic Change - By Monica Magnetti, BFA/CPCC ***
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"Life isn't always about safe and comfortable." That is one of the first lines from Monica Magnetti, a life coach and business coach who is out with her new manual on how to get ahead in the word, professionally and (by extension) personally.

I think a lot of people hear the words "safe and comfortable," and think "Gee, wouldn't THAT be nice!" It's true, one person's paradise is not always another's. But if you are a driven individual who wants to live life to the fullest and achieve your potential, you'll find some good rules to live by in Magnetti's words.

But, lots of self-help books do that. What I like about "30 Days to a New You" is that Magnetti challenges you to think first, and do second. I know lots of people spilling over with passion, that charge off in 30 different directions. Often, they only actually arrive at a few of them. A shame, really.

Instead, the advice here is to ask yourself who you are, who you want to be, and whether your purpose and vision have any commonality. She also encourages the reader to be curious, a trait I happen to think is priceless.

The other thing I like about this book is how it combines text with a workbook element. This way, you sort of have a checklist. Her ideas are thought-provoking, but then she helps remind you what it is you've just read.

We've all read those dreamy "intertwine your soul with the cosmos" self-help books, which sound delicious when we read them but, kind of like cotton candy, while they tend to taste great, they're not always so filling.

If you're "comfortable" in life, this book may remind you there may just be more out there that you haven't found yet. But if you're already looking for growth, this could be a convenient handbook for your journey. --Kurt Leavins

About the Author:

Monica Magnetti is an internationally renowned and sought-after life, business, and wellness coach, motivational speaker, and author. Monica's company, Luna Coaching, is a full-service life/business coaching practice, and she holds a certification with the Coaches Training Institute of California. Monica is committed to continually developing programs and products for people interested in creating long-lasting changes in their life. With a deep personal conviction and practical, worldly experience that demonstrates the effectiveness of coaching, Monica is passionate about guiding her clients down a path of self-discovery that leads to increased confidence and life balance.

Check out the Experts page for Monica Magnetti.

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Learn more about this book at http://www.lunacoaching.com/products_30Days.htm

The list price of this book is $19.95. To purchase it from Amazon.com for $15.56, a 22% discount, go here.

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*** Brief News of the World ***
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Positive:

* Robotic Treadmill Helps Once-Paralyzed Woman Walk on Her Own Again *

A woman who was paralyzed after breaking her neck in a trampoline accident has regained the ability to walk using a robotic treadmill-like device, according to the U.K.'s Daily Mail. Jeanette Sykes, 39, broke her neck while jumping on a trampoline at a friend's barbecue in July 2006. She was told she would be in a wheelchair for the rest of her life, according to the report. After five months of rehabilitation at the Spinal Injuries Center at Pinderfields Hospital in West Yorkshire, England, doctors decided to try a new piece of equipment it was testing on her called the Lokomat. (Click here for complete news story)

* Man who lost homes in Katrina claims $97M Powerball prize *

A construction company owner who lost two homes in Hurricane Katrina claimed a $97 million Powerball prize, a jackpot won off a ticket he bought at a convenience store where he stopped to buy his wife a gallon of milk. When he turned in the winning ticket, Carl Hunter became the largest Powerball winner in Louisiana's history. He won the jackpot in January, but the 73-year-old small businessman waited nearly four months to claim the prize. (Click here for complete news story)

* Oldest gorilla in captivity turns 55 at Dallas Zoo *

A gorilla recognized as the world's oldest in captivity celebrated her 55th birthday by munching down a four-layer frozen fruit cake and banana leaf wrapped treats. Jenny's caretakers at the Dallas Zoo say she's having a few joint issues and her eyesight isn't what it used to be but she still looks good for an old ape. "It's a special milestone for us," said Todd Bowsher, curator of the zoo's Wilds of Africa exhibit. "It signifies that we've made great strides in veterinary care, nutrition and animal husbandry." (Click here for complete news story)

** For more positive news, please visit http://www.selfgrowth.com/news.html

Other:

* Seaweed provides clues to earliest inhabitants of Americas *

Remains of meals that included seaweed are helping confirm the date of a settlement in southern Chile that may offer the earliest evidence of humans in the Americas. Researchers date the seaweed found at Monte Verde to more than 14,000 years ago, 1,000 years earlier than the well-studied Clovis culture. And the report comes just a month after other scientists announced they had found coprolites -- fossilized human feces -- dating to about 14,000 years ago in a cave in Oregon. (Click here for complete news story)

* 'Virtual watercooler' makes workplace more fun *

Once upon a time, people bonded with their co-workers on office softball teams and traded gossip at the watercooler. OK, so those days aren't gone yet. But as big companies parcel Information Age work to people in widely dispersed locations, it's getting harder for colleagues to develop the camaraderie that comes from being in the same place. Beyond making work less fun, feeling disconnected from comrades might be a drag on productivity. (Click here for complete news story)

* In-Body Sensors Could Warn Doctors: Experts Say Sci-Fi-Like Idea Could Easily Become Future of Medicine *

In the next 10 to 20 years, the technology that allows us to use wireless headsets to chat on our cell phones could keep doctors in the loop on your blood sugar levels, your blood pressure and if you have a sudden heart attack, according to a report released in the United Kingdom last week. According to a report released by Ofcom, the independent regulator and competition authority for communications industries in the United Kingdom, humans could one day have "in-body networks," a series of sensors implanted in a patient's body to let doctors monitor the body remotely. (Click here for complete news story)

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