When we look at well known successful people, like Bill Harris, James Ray or Anthony Robbins, to name but a few one just sees the icing of the success cake. These people, like many others have arrived at the pinnacle of their careers through two things: Working with solid determination towards their goals and finding out in the process those things that work and those which do not.

You never see how Anthony Robbins has a team of people around him now who build him up so that he can appear in front of his audience always full of the amazing energy we have all have come to appreciate and admire about him.

Anthony Robbins, like Bill Harris and James Ray have all been close to bankruptcy too, as they will readily tell you. In fact, these were the defining moments when they turned their lack of success around and became the people we see now.

Much has been written about the hallmarks of successful people and you already know that your mind set is a vital pre-requisite to becoming successful and ultimately happy.

The really big question though is this: Just how do you follow in the foot steps of the big masters and create worthwhile success for yourself?

I will share with you the one secret that I have found to be more powerful than anything else on the journey. The secret is acceptance, acceptance acceptance. Believe me, if you can come to a point in your life where you can accept life as it is, even if you are right now in a place of deep distress, feeling insecure about your financial future, or your relationship has broken up, accept it for what it is.

What do I mean by accepting things for what they are? Simply, I am asking you to stay out of judgement of your situations. Try not to see things in terms of good, or bad. Remove your emotional self as much has you can from the events in your life, because in the final analysis they have no meaning. At least not the meaning you believe they have.

I want you to go through this little exercise: Think of a situation in your life when you thought something really bad happened to you only to find further down the line that the bad event was not that bad at all and actually brought you opportunities you would not have had if this seemingly bad event had not happened.

You think, there are no such events in your life? Try again, I promise you if you search deeply enough you will find them.

So, what I am saying here is simply that these bad events in your life are not fixed, just like nothing in the universe is fixed but in a constant state of flux. Whether you view something as good or bad depends entirely on your vantage point. It is a choice you make when you judge the events in your life. Unfortunately, whenever you do this, particularly, when you choose to see some happening in your life as bad, you are cutting yourself off from perceiving the hidden opportunities and learnings that could propel you forward towards a better career, happier relationship or improved health.

Staying in neutral territory mentally, even if your world seems to be collapsing around you is your mental powerhouse. Your internal light that will in time turn your fortunes around. I am not asking you to be happy when something makes you feel sad, But I am asking you to practice simple acceptance, a mental neutral or zero point from which you can then re-group and build a better future.

The Buddhist meditation practice of tonglen is a very powerful tool to build your mental muscle and flexibility. I teach it in all my workshops. You can also learn Micro EFT to help you shift stale mental stuff quickly. All suffering comes from being stuck. Either being stuck in a feeling of self pity, imagined helplessness, anger or fear.

We have been conditioned to engage in these emotions. There is a part in us that believes we have to feel like this. It is part of who we are, part of our character. Well, I have news for you: Such beliefs are a giant delusion. You are not your anger, fear or self pity. You are an energy vessel that is capable of receiving many different frequencies all at the same time.

In order to be a receiver you need to be open though and this is what acceptance of your lot will give you. When you are in this state, you will automatically move forward, free from limiting thoughts that make you give up too early or hide the obvious opportunities from you which are right in front of you. When you are in alignment with universal forces through acceptance success will follow.

Author's Bio: 

Mercedes Oestermann van Essen is a human development coach, energy therapist and author. She has created the Happy Venn Diagram for environment, body and mind and teaches integral life principles in her books, audios, workshops and retreats. Visit throughhappiness.com.