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	<title>Leadership Training, Personal Development,  &#38; Life Hacks &#187; Visualization Exercise</title>
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		<title>Make a Binding Agreement with Yourself for the Life of Your Dreams</title>
		<link>http://cultivategreatness.com/2008/05/13/dream-life-agreement</link>
		<comments>http://cultivategreatness.com/2008/05/13/dream-life-agreement#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 13 May 2008 20:30:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Travis Wright</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Achievement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Attitude]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Business Development]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Goals & Goal Setting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Gratitude]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Law of Attraction]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Morning Ritual]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Prosperity Consciousness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visualization Exercise]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cultivategreatness.com/2008/05/13/dream-life-agreement</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Date: May 13th, 2008
I, the undersigned, commit and agree to furnish all materials and labor necessary to design and create the LIFE OF MY DREAMS.
I hereby commit to doing whatever it takes while being honest and truthful to achieve the greatness that I know is within me.
I will pay the price that is necessary to [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p><img src="http://z.about.com/d/forestry/1/0/5/m/contract.jpg" alt="life hacks" style="float: left; padding-right: 10px;" width="175" class="reflect rheight15" title="leadership training"/>Date: May 13th, 2008</p>
<p>I, the undersigned, commit and agree to furnish all materials and labor necessary to design and create the LIFE OF MY DREAMS.</p>
<p>I hereby commit to doing whatever it takes while being honest and truthful to achieve the greatness that I know is within me.</p>
<p>I will pay the price that is necessary to reach my life&#8217;s dream and destiny, because I know that not fulfilling my destiny will leave me feeling short-changed in my life.  And I deserve to achieve and cultivate greatness!</p>
<p>I understand that my life&#8217;s design plan is going to be reached one step at a time, with each step, bringing me closer to the LIFE OF MY DREAMS.</p>
<p>I will only settle for achieving the LIFE OF MY DREAMS.</p>
<p>I have the power, I have the knowledge, and I have what it takes to make my dreams come true.  </p>
<p>Enjoy each moment.  Be here now.  With Love, Joy, and Gratitude.</p>
<p>____________________________________<br />
Signature of Commitment</p>
<p><font size="1">Inspired by <a href="http://onecoach.com">John Assaraf&#8217;s The Foundation, Self-Study Program</a></font></p>
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		<item>
		<title>8+ Ways To Train Yourself To Be Creative</title>
		<link>http://cultivategreatness.com/2008/02/27/8-ways-to-train-yourself-to-be-creative</link>
		<comments>http://cultivategreatness.com/2008/02/27/8-ways-to-train-yourself-to-be-creative#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 27 Feb 2008 16:36:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Travis Wright</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Brainstorming]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Creativity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Highly Recommended]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Imagination]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Innovation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inspiration]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Strategic Thinking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visualization Exercise]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cultivategreatness.com/2008/02/27/8-ways-to-train-yourself-to-be-creative</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[flickr image by Dalydose
by John Hoff @ eVentureBiz.com
A short time ago I received an email from a young entrepreneur asking me how he was suppose to compete in a marketplace where the competition was high and more established companies had big advertising bucks. I mentioned a few ideas to him but the one that concerned [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><div class="guestpost" align="center"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/143/324264361_f3d62682bc.jpg" alt="life hacks"  class="reflect rheight15" title="leadership training"/><br /><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/dalydose/324264361/">flickr image by Dalydose</a></div>
<p><a href="http://eventurebiz.com/blog/8-ways-to-train-yourself-to-be-creative"><strong><em>by John Hoff @ eVentureBiz.com</em></strong></a></p>
<p class="first">A short time ago I received an email from a young entrepreneur asking me how he was suppose to compete in a marketplace where the competition was high and more established companies had big advertising bucks. I mentioned a few ideas to him but the one that concerned him the most was creativity. Give him numbers and he’ll work them, but tell him to come up with some creative idea, forget it.</p>
<p>He said he doesn’t have a creative bone in his body.</p>
<p>People who tell themselves that have already lost <em>unless</em> they decide to do something about it.</p>
<p><img src="http://www.eventurebiz.com/blog_articles/images/becoming_creative/caveman.jpeg" alt="life hacks" style="float: left; padding-right: 10px;" class="reflect rheight15" title="leadership training"/>
<p>The development of a creative thought process is no different than learning martial arts.  At first, someone shows you how to stand, execute proper body movement, and teaches you a Kata (a.k.a <em>form</em> &#8211; a set of movements that help develop your technique).</p>
<p>Once these techniques are learned you must practice them to become a good fighter. When fighting, it is taught that the best place for your mind to be is no where at all, called <em>Mushin (means “no mind”)</em>. The point of Mushin is to blank out your mind so that you are in a state of “openness.” In other words, it allows you to simply react and not worry about what might happen when fighting.</p>
<div class="tipr">
<p>To be creative, you have to first believe you <em>are</em> creative.</p>
</div>
<p>The same can be said when learning to be creative. You first learn what techniques help develop a creative thought process and then you have to practice them while keeping your mind open to endless possibilities no matter how ridiculous they may seem.</p>
<p>But how do you train your mind to become a well-oiled creative thinking machine?</p>
<p>Like the first sentence of this post says, you have to first believe you are a creative person. Following that you need to exercise your mind in various ways.</p>
<p>Let’s take a look at some creative mind-pumping ideas and activities that will help widen your mind’s creative eye.</p>
<h2>I. Listen</h2>
<p><u>Don’t Jump the Gun</u><br />
It is important listen to everything and not judge or come to your own conclusion prematurely. This is vital if you are to create a product that wins in the eyes of your customers <em>and</em> employer. Remember, listening does not equal simply hearing.</p>
<p><span id="more-706"></span></p>
<p><u>Examining</u><br />
Try listening to a different radio station (or TV channel). See if you can figure who the intended audience is. Who would be the dedicated listeners and who might be the occasional? What influential people might be listening to this station? What is it’s market?</p>
<h2>II. Brainstorm</h2>
<p>Brainstorming can be an effective way to generate creative ideas; however, before brainstorming about your subject at hand, try warming up the creative juices.</p>
<p><u>Warming Up</u><br />
Grab a pencil and blank piece of paper and just start writing. If nothing comes to mind, write that, then write whatever comes to your mind next no matter what it is. Then expand.</p>
<p>In another example, grab yourself a pencil and paper and create something new and describe it, no matter how absurd it may seem. Try creating a new life form. Where does it come from? What is its goal? Or try creating a person. Who is she? Expand on the idea.</p>
<p>These are good exercises to get you in the mindset of thinking outside the box.</p>
<h2>III. Counter the Negatives with Positives</h2>
<p>This is probably one of the more important ones to do. Whenever you want to do  something but your mind tells you that you can’t, write that thought down and  then next to it write down 2 or 3 reasons why you can. Do this quickly and  often. Soon you will notice that you have trained your mind to automatically  react with a positive thought whenever you think of a negative one.</p>
<h2>IV. Be Ready</h2>
<p>If you’re searching for creative ideas, keep a pen and pad handy at all times, you never know when a thought might pop into your head &#8211; or maybe someone else’s thought spawns a new thought of your own that you can build off of.</p>
<p>For example, one of my favorite shows is  <a href="http://www.fox.com/kitchennightmares/" target="_blank">Kitchen Nightmares</a>. I was watching an episode one night and Gordon Ramsay was offering up business advice to the store owner. During the show, I kept getting up and jotting down a few ideas that he had mentioned that I wanted to expand on for my blog. The result was <a href="http://eventurebiz.com/blog/a-lesson-learned-by-watching-kitchen-nightmares/">an article you can read here</a>.</p>
<h2>V. Learn</h2>
<p><img src="http://www.eventurebiz.com/images/books_apple_thumb.jpg" align="right" height="74" width="56"> Obviously, the more you know about everything, the more you can come up with creative ideas by linking things together. You wouldn’t know how Physics and landscaping might go together unless you knew at least a little bit about both.</p>
<p>Therefore, the more you know, the more you can create.</p>
<p><u>Ideas to help you expand your horizons</u></p>
<ul>
<li>read blogs</li>
<li>take classes</li>
<li>read books</li>
<li>try something you’ve never done before</li>
<li>teach something to someone</li>
<li>participate in a group or online community</li>
<li>talk to people you might not otherwise talk to</li>
</ul>
<p>Can you add to the list?</p>
<h2>VI. Evaluate</h2>
<p>Often times I find when I’m stuck in a rut and can’t come up with a creative idea, I evaluate things.</p>
<p><u>Magazines</u><br />
If you’re stuck, try flipping through a magazine and evaluate the ads. Which ones catch your attention and why? Who is the target audience? What might you do differently if you were to write the ad? On the ones that catch your attention, how can you modify what they did to what you’re doing?</p>
<p><u>Your Competition</u><br />
Get online or flip through the yellow pages and evaluate your competition. See if something they are doing spawns an idea for you. Is there something there you can build on that they could have but didn’t?</p>
<p><u>Self-Evaluation</u><br />
Grab a piece of paper and draw a line down the center. Label the left side “My Weaknesses” and the right side “My Strengths.” List all your weaknesses and then under the strengths side, combat those weaknesses with your strengths that might compensate.</p>
<p>You now have a blueprint of what you need to work on and what you have to build off of.</p>
<p><u>Ask Questions</u><br />
When stuck on the problem of trying to be creative, ask a series of questions to gain a new perspective of your product or idea.</p>
<ul>
<li>What can I substitute?</li>
<li>What can I add to it to make it a little better?</li>
<li>What is not needed?</li>
<li>What is the opposite of this?</li>
<li>Where did this come from?</li>
<li>How has something like this been used?</li>
<li>What else can it be used for?</li>
</ul>
<p>Can you add any?</p>
<h2>VII. Exercise Your Creative Thought Process</h2>
<p>Try some of these activities from time-to-time.</p>
<ul>
<li>Every day pick any topic and write it down; then create a flow chart and see where the flow takes you.</li>
<li>Think of a product. How could it have been invented in a different way but produce the same result?</li>
<li>After reading half a book, close it and write or think about how you would end the story.</li>
<li>Read non-fiction books and solve the problem before it’s answered.</li>
<li>Do crossword puzzles, it gets you thinking about all kinds of stuff.</li>
</ul>
<p>After a while, by doing these exercises you’ll find that your mind approaches ideas in new creative ways.</p>
<h2>VIII. Travel</h2>
<p>One of the best ways to generate creative ideas is to go to new places or simply just get out and go for a walk. Don’t have the money to travel? No problem. Go where you need to go but get there in a different way.</p>
<p>New experiences and going to new destinations is a great way to gain new perceptions that can generate creativity.</p>
<p>So there you go, 8+ ways to to mold you into a creative thinking machine.</p>
<p>Do you consider yourself creative?</p>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Imagination is Power!</title>
		<link>http://cultivategreatness.com/2008/02/18/imagination-is-power</link>
		<comments>http://cultivategreatness.com/2008/02/18/imagination-is-power#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 19 Feb 2008 03:16:13 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Travis Wright</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Achievement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Imagination]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Law of Attraction]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Manifesting & Intention]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visualization Exercise]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cultivategreatness.com/2008/02/18/imagination-is-power</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
By Melissa Zollo
John Lennon entitled a song “Imagine.” Thoreau once said: “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you&#8217;ve imagined.” Neville once said: “Imagination is the very gateway of reality.”
Are you waking up to a new way of being? Can you feel something rumbling deep within you, calling out to live [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><div align="Center"><img src="http://www.cultivategreatness.com/assets/lennon.jpg" alt="life hacks"  title="lennon imagine"/></div>
<p><a href="http://www.presentmemory.com/">By Melissa Zollo</a></p>
<p class="first">John Lennon entitled a song “Imagine.” Thoreau once said: “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you&#8217;ve imagined.” Neville once said: “Imagination is the very gateway of reality.”</p>
<p>Are you waking up to a new way of being? Can you feel something rumbling deep within you, calling out to live more creatively, successfully, joyfully? The fragmented ways of your old thinking cannot bridge the divide between mind and matter, body and soul, challenges and dreams. What if you build your finances, your business, your health, your relationships and your life around imagination and use your mental images, thoughts and feelings to attract the fulfillment of your dreams? By intentionally shifting into new states of consciousness you can change your blueprints of reality and affect your world. Imagination is power and you have it! Imagination creates reality.</p>
<p><strong>Life is a banquet<br />
</strong><br />
Life is a banquet, so why are so many starving to death with unfulfilled desires? Laziness, complacency, no time, fear of the unknown – you name it and the excuses line up. It&#8217;s up to you to impress your subconscious mind with beneficial images of success. Doing this allows you to shift from undesirable patterns of being disempowered into habits that empower you.</p>
<p>Everything begins with a dream, a purpose or a goal. Being able to focus and concentrate in the midst of chaos gives you the winner&#8217;s advantage. You are a “focuser of energy.” Focus plus uplifted emotional moods are the keys to your success. Whatever you do, never lose focus!</p>
<p><strong>Everybody Wants a Better Life</strong></p>
<p>Everybody wants a better life, but if you do the same old things in the same old way you will get the same old results. If a farmer plants corn seeds, he gets corn; he doesn&#8217;t get tomatoes. If you focus on failure, poverty, or violent ideas how will you harvest (attract) success, wealth, or peace. If you want to change the results you are getting, you must change your images, because thought is creative. How to begin? First you must have a desire that is far greater than what you are currently experiencing.<br />
<span id="more-702"></span><br />
<strong>The World</strong></p>
<p>The world is a series of pictures, frames in a piece of film, or states of consciousness. What you are conscious of is real to you because you think and feel it is real. Your world is your very own personal mirror, forever mirroring your thoughts. It is your dream or your nightmare. What would you dare to dream if you knew you could not fail? What would be different in your life and how would you feel if you realized your dream?<br />
<strong><br />
Intentional Creation</strong></p>
<p>The key to Intentional Creation is to know that everything is first created in your own imagination from an idea. It is then projected out into the world as experience. If your experiences aren&#8217;t fulfilling, or what you had hoped for, then perhaps it is time to shift into a new state of awareness!</p>
<p><strong>Just Imagine</strong></p>
<p>Images or mental pictures are your prayers. Your inner blueprints (images) determine your behavior and the results you attract in life. They set the boundaries for what you can and cannot accept. Living your life without a proper success image is like building a house without a blueprint.</p>
<p>• Do you know how to design a success blueprint?<br />
• Is your dream worthy of your talents and time?<br />
• Would having it enable you to help those you love?<br />
• What will becoming a conscious imagist do for you?</p>
<p>Here are 8 Keys to Fulfilling Your Dream and Achieving Your Goal:</p>
<p>1. Design a mind-compelling blueprint for success that has deep meaning for you to complete.</p>
<p>2. Propel yourself into action. Never despair over the time it takes for your dream to become a living reality.</p>
<p>3. Focus! Concentrate on your goal, not the challenge and you will burn a hole in anything that stands in the way of your success.</p>
<p>4. Expand your thoughts as you modify your habits and behavior.</p>
<p>5. Be patient. Recycle feelings of anger and fear into joy and gratitude.</p>
<p>6. Be receptive and responsive to inner guidance and outer assistance.</p>
<p>7. Success in any endeavor is measured by your belief in your deeper self.</p>
<p>8. Walk in the awareness of answered prayer.</p>
<p>What kind of mental image do you hold of yourself? Everything you attract is an expression of your beliefs. Every person, your job, income, kinds of friends all correspond to your inner blueprints. Nothing is impossible to Imagination – not poverty, stress, and not even adversity. Riches are within your reach. Anything you dream of- a healthy body, gainful employment, loyal friends, or a greater understanding of the Source of Supply can be summoned, once you consistently apply the Laws of Attraction to yourself. Imagine what you will attract once you know how to consciously use the Power of Imagination on your own behalf.</p>
<p>Your ability to succeed is unlimited. Never close a door on a dream – your dreams are calling you! </p>
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		<title>God Creates No Garbage</title>
		<link>http://cultivategreatness.com/2008/02/09/god-creates-no-garbage</link>
		<comments>http://cultivategreatness.com/2008/02/09/god-creates-no-garbage#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 09 Feb 2008 07:59:30 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Travis Wright</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Achievement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Creativity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Manifesting & Intention]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mantras & Affirmations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Meditation & Relaxation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mental Physical & Spiritual Fitness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visualization Exercise]]></category>

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This is a Guest post from Blog Carnival participant, Edith Yeung.  She is a powerhouse.  Check out her blog.
What motivates you to get up every morning?  What put a smile on your face before you go to bed at night?  Why do you do what you do every day?
Imagine you are [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><div align="center"><img src="http://www.exoduspodcasts.com/Audio/CDImages/Thumbnails/heaven.jpg" alt="life hacks"  class="reflect rheight15" title="leadership training"/></div>
<p class="guestpost">This is a Guest post from Blog Carnival participant, <a href="http://www.edithyeung.com/2007/10/24/god-creates-no-garbage">Edith Yeung</a>.  She is a powerhouse.  <a href="http://www.edithyeung.com">Check out her blog</a>.</p>
<p class="first">What motivates you to get up every morning?  What put a smile on your face before you go to bed at night?  Why do you do what you do every day?</p>
<p>Imagine you are given a vault to open. Inside this vault lies the answer to your life’s purpose.</p>
<p>This is a big iron vault. If you force it open, you will damage what’s inside. The easy way is to find the key to the vault, but you have no idea where the key is…</p>
<p>Sometimes you may find keys which look like they could work, but when you try them with the vault, you only leave with disappointment and sadness.</p>
<p>You can’t wait to open the vault and find out your true purpose. You know the answer is inside and it is only one turn of the key away.</p>
<p>We are all here for a reason. For a purpose. We are here to serve. To dream. To fulfill a purpose that our creator has designed for us.</p>
<p>The key to understanding your purpose is to find the key to your vault.</p>
<p>Lots of people would pass you by and tell you what the right key is. But no one really knows except you.</p>
<p>The trick is that only you will be able to find the right key to your own vault. And, the only way to find out is to closely listen to your heart.</p>
<p>Trust your intuition. Not your mind. Not your intellect. And definitely not anyone else’s.</p>
<p>You can and you will find the right key. Once you find that key, it will be easy (like a breeze) to open what seem to be a complicated puzzle.<br />
<span id="more-701"></span><br />
You just need to find that key. That purpose. That very one thing that motivates you in the morning and put a smile on your face at night.</p>
<p>So now, turn that frown upside down. Remember God creates no garbage. If you haven’t found your key yet, it is just a matter of time.</p>
<p>The key is not to give up on your vault.</p>
<p>Spend some time to listen and pay attention to you. Cut out all the noise and distractions around you. You always have the answer. You know you have had the answer all along and you just need to listen.</p>
<p>Think About It…<br />
It is time for you to slow down, pay attention and find your key. Your vault is waiting to be opened.</p>
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		<title>10 Imaginitive Ways to Pump your Mind for Ideas</title>
		<link>http://cultivategreatness.com/2008/02/07/10-imaginitive-ways-to-pump-your-mind-for-ideas</link>
		<comments>http://cultivategreatness.com/2008/02/07/10-imaginitive-ways-to-pump-your-mind-for-ideas#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 07 Feb 2008 22:22:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Travis Wright</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Creativity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Focus]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life Hacks]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Positive Thinking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visualization Exercise]]></category>

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Ever play with Tinkertoys as a kid?  This toy where you had wheels with peg holes in it, and wood stems of various sizes in which you could create anything.  Well, I ran across this book,  Thinkertoys: A Handbook of Creative-Thinking Techniques, by Michael Michalko, has inspired my creativity&#8230; I&#8217;m [...]]]></description>
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<p class="first">Ever play with Tinkertoys as a kid?  This toy where you had wheels with peg holes in it, and wood stems of various sizes in which you could create anything.  Well, I ran across this book,  <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1580087736?ie=UTF8&#038;tag=mediathinklab-20&#038;linkCode=as2&#038;camp=1789&#038;creative=9325&#038;creativeASIN=1580087736">Thinkertoys: A Handbook of Creative-Thinking Techniques</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=mediathinklab-20&#038;l=as2&#038;o=1&#038;a=1580087736" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />, by Michael Michalko, has inspired my creativity&#8230; I&#8217;m only about 28 pages into it!</p>
<p>He has ten ways to help drive your creative juices.  I have paraphrased them for us to use.</p>
<p>	<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1580087736?ie=UTF8&#038;tag=mediathinklab-20&#038;linkCode=as2&#038;camp=1789&#038;creative=9325&#038;creativeASIN=1580087736"><img border="0" src="http://www.cultivategreatness.com/assets/Thinkertoys.jpg" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;" width="250" class="reflect rheight15"></a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=mediathinklab-20&#038;l=as2&#038;o=1&#038;a=1580087736" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /></p>
<p><strong>1. Set an Idea Quota.</strong> &#8211; Give your mind a workout every day.  Set yourself a n idea quota for a challenge you are working on, such as finve new ideas ever day for a week.  you&#8217;ll find the first five are the hardest, but these will quickly trigger other ideas.  The more ideas you come up with, the greater your chances of coming up with winner. <em> Having an idea quota will force you to actively generate ideas and alternatives rather than waiting for them to occur to you.</em></p>
<p><strong>2. Get Tone.</strong> &#8211; Fighter pilots say, &#8220;I&#8217;ve gone tone&#8221; when their radar locks onto a target.  That&#8217;s the point at which the pilot and plane are totally focus on the target.  &#8220;Getting tone&#8221; in everyday life means paying attention to what&#8217;s happening around you.</p>
<p>Ordinarily we do not make the fullest use of our ability to see.  We move through life looking at a tremendous quantity of information, objects, and scenes, and yet we <em>look</em> but do not <em>see</em>.  Paying attention to the world around you will help you develop the extraordinary capacity to look at mundane things and see the miraculous.</li>
<p><strong>3. Don&#8217;t Be a Duke of Habit.</strong> &#8211;  Stretch yourself and take a the road less traveled occasionally. Deliberately program changes into your daily life.  Make a list of the things you do by habit.  Try driving a different route to work.  Change your sleeping hours, Read a different newspaper, Try different recipes.  Take a bath instead of a shower.  You would be surprised how your mind reacts to new things in this way.</p>
<div class="tipr">The Brain that doesn&#8217;t feed itself, eats itself. <em>-Gore Vidal</em></div>
<p><strong>4. Feed Your Head.</strong> &#8211; Leaders are Readers.  So are creative people.  Lets feed our heads full of amazing information, and have a larger database in which to pull ideas from.  Read Magazines on varied subjects.  Read Nonfiction.  When reading them, practice thinking up solutions for any problems presented in the book, before they reveal it in the book.  Think as you read, and take notes.  Write in the margins of your book, write in a notebook the ideas you have captured from the book, highlight passages.  Also, feel free to OUTLINE a book prior to your reading it, to help you know what you are going to learn.  Also, maybe you could outline the book after you read it, without looking at the table of contents.</p>
<p><strong>5. Do a Content Analysis.</strong> &#8211; Check things out!  Do a scan of your junkmail before you throw it away, in fact, put all your junkmail in a big box for about a month, then scan it to see if there are any emerging trends or ideas to be gleamed from it.  When you are on the road, scan local newspapers for interesting ideas.  Observe popular culture and find out what people are interested in and why they are popular.  Attend many business lectures and seminars as you can.  Listen to different radio stations every week to get a variety of input. </p>
<p>	<img src="http://locus.cwrl.utexas.edu/jbrown/files/idea%20box.gif" alt="life hacks" style="float: left; padding-right: 10px;" title="leadership training"/><br />
<strong>6. Create a Brain Bank.</strong> &#8211; I love this idea.  Collect and store ideas like a pack rat.  Keep a container (coffee can, Tupperware, shoebox, etc) of ideas and idea starters.  Begin collecting interesting ads, quotes, designs, pictures,questions, cartoons, doodles and words that might triggers ideas by association.
<div class="tipr">Each day, remind yourself that you are working on disciplines everyday that making you better and better. -<em> Jim Rohn</em></div>
<p>When looking for a new idea, shake up your BrainBank and pull out a couple ideas and free associate, you will be pleasantly surprised how this will help you.</li>
<p><strong>7. Be a Travel Junkie.</strong> &#8211; When you are bored, GET UP AND GO SOMEWHERE!  Go to a trade show, a quirky store, an antique shop, museum, or flea market&#8230; just go.  And when you are there, walk around with an open mind and allow yourself to be DRAWN to something.  Once there, use your mind to make a connection to something else in your life, and it may creatively help you solve some problem.</li>
<p><strong>8. Capture your Thoughts.</strong> &#8211; Record your thoughts,  Carry around a little moleskin in your back pocket.  Scientists say that we can keep 5-9 ideas actively in our mind, then they float away.  We remember some, and some are gone.  By, keeping the notebook in your backpocket, you will capture the thought when it is there.  Then you can review it, and perhaps your mind may be able to make a better connection with it later on.</p>
<p><strong>9. Think Right.</strong> &#8211; Consciously work to make your thinking more fluent with your thinking.  So,  making descriptive lists as a way to capture thought fluency.</p>
<p><strong>10. Keep an Idea Log.</strong> &#8211; Take a Moleskine or a Composition book, and divide it into sections that you want to captures ideas.  Marketing ideas, Home Improvement Ideas, special projects, planning ideas, comedy skits, or whatever you wish to capture.</p>
<p>After you read the book, you may want to consider purchasing the accompanying <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1580087728?ie=UTF8&#038;tag=mediathinklab-20&#038;linkCode=as2&#038;camp=1789&#038;creative=9325&#038;creativeASIN=1580087728">Thinkpak: A Brainstorming Card Deck</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=mediathinklab-20&#038;l=as2&#038;o=1&#038;a=1580087728" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /> which gives you additional exercises to help you tap into your creativity.</p>
<p>Hope this helps you!</p>
<p>Successfully,</p>
<p>Travis Wright</p>
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		<title>10 Ways to Develop a Prosperity Consciousness</title>
		<link>http://cultivategreatness.com/2008/01/22/10-ways-to-develop-a-prosperity-consciousness</link>
		<comments>http://cultivategreatness.com/2008/01/22/10-ways-to-develop-a-prosperity-consciousness#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 22 Jan 2008 16:13:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Travis Wright</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Habits]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Law of Attraction]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Personal Finance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Prosperity Consciousness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visualization Exercise]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wealth & Money]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[
Prosperity consciousness is based on the idea that our thoughts create the reality we see and experience on a daily basis. By using a specific set of tools, we can root out the negative thinking which is causing us to experience lack and transform our lives on all levels and attract a bounty of abundance.
Steps [...]]]></description>
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<p class="first"><strong>Prosperity consciousness</strong> is based on the idea that our thoughts create the reality we see and experience on a daily basis. By using a specific set of tools, we can root out the negative thinking which is causing us to experience lack and transform our lives on all levels and attract a bounty of abundance.</p>
<p><strong>Steps toward a Prosperity Consciousness</strong></p>
<p>   1. Set aside at least twenty minutes a day to study and visualize your new life.</p>
<p>   2. Buy a loose leaf binder and label it &#8220;Dreams Unlimited.&#8221; This is where you will workshop the life you are creating for yourself and get clear on what you really want. This will be the place where you write your affirmations, make notes about the process, collect uplifting quotes, make collages of the things you are manifesting, and keep track of the things you accomplish.</p>
<p>   3. Develop an affirmation for yourself based on what you are attempting to attract into your life. It should be present tense and contain only positive statements. An example would be &#8220;I am rich beyond my wildest dreams.&#8221;</p>
<p>   4. Write out your affirmation at least ten times a day and put it in your notebook. When you are tempted to dwell on the negative, repeat it silently over and over in your head while you take deep breaths.</p>
<p>   5. Ignore the naysayers, dream killers, and negative people who tell you that it can&#8217;t be done. If someone else has ever done it before, then you can too.</p>
<p>   6. Spend a few quiet minutes every day breathing deeply and visualizing your goal as already completed. Picture exactly how you want it to be, but be willing to accept something better. Don&#8217;t limit yourself.</p>
<p>   7. Read books on creative visualization, prosperity consciousness, and positive thinking.</p>
<p>   8. Live &#8220;as if.&#8221; If a circumstance in your life is not how you want it, withdraw your attention from it. Whatever you focus on expands. Live as if all of your dreams are a reality now.</p>
<p>   9. &#8220;Follow your bliss.&#8221; Experience the joy life offers at every turn if you know how to look for it. Share your love where ever you can. Wear comfortable clothes in colors that you love. Drink a wonderful cup of tea and watch a sunset. Do only that which brings you joy.</p>
<p>  10. Let it go. Trust that the Universe has heard your request and is doing everything It can to bring it about. Forget about it. Don&#8217;t worry or fret. Live in the moment and watch how all of your needs are met. When you lose faith, call on your childlike resources and pretend.<br />
<span id="more-689"></span><br />
<strong>Tips</strong></p>
<p>    * Whatever you focus on expands. Focus on the money you *do* have, the things you *do* know, the people who *do* love you, etc, and ignore the rest.<br />
    * You have only one life to live. Live it free of misery, negative ideas and people, and choose to take control of what you experience now.<br />
    * You have an infinite untapped power that will guide you and direct you if you allow it to.<br />
    * Trust yourself.<br />
    * Take quiet time every day.<br />
    * &#8220;You&#8217;ll see it when you believe it.&#8221; Let go of negative programming.<br />
    * The only limits that exist for you are the ones you create.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.wikihow.com/">[via WikiHow]</a></p>
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		<title>Keeping Things in Perspective</title>
		<link>http://cultivategreatness.com/2008/01/14/keeping-things-in-perspective</link>
		<comments>http://cultivategreatness.com/2008/01/14/keeping-things-in-perspective#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 14 Jan 2008 15:14:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Travis Wright</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Attitude]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inspiration]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Meditation & Relaxation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Stress Reduction]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visualization Exercise]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cultivategreatness.com/2008/01/14/keeping-thing-in-perspective</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
Mountains have always captured our imaginations, calling us to scale their heights, to circle and worship at their feet, and to pay homage to their greatness. Mountains can be seen from thousands of miles away, and if we are lucky enough to be on top of one, we can see great stretches of the surrounding [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p><img src="http://www.dailyom.com/articles/2008/photos/doi-20080114.jpg" alt="life hacks" style="float: left; padding-right: 10px;" width="150" class="reflect rheight15" title="leadership training"/>
<p class="first">Mountains have always captured our imaginations, calling us to scale their heights, to circle and worship at their feet, and to pay homage to their greatness. Mountains can be seen from thousands of miles away, and if we are lucky enough to be on top of one, we can see great stretches of the surrounding earth. As a result, mountains symbolize vision, the ability to rise above the adjacent lowlands and see beyond our immediate vicinity. From the top of the mountain, we are able to witness life from a new perspective—cities and towns that seem so large when we are in them look tiny. We can take the whole thing in with a single glance, regaining our composure and our sense of proportion as we realize how much bigger this world is than we sometimes remember it to be.</p>
<p>Mountains are almost always considered holy and spiritual places, and the energy at the top of a mountain is undeniably unique. When we are on top of a mountain, it is as if we have ascended to an alternate realm, one in which the air is purer and the energy lighter. Many a human being has climbed to the top of a mountain in order to connect with a higher source of understanding, and many have come back down feeling stronger and wiser. Whenever we are feeling trapped or limited in our vision, a trip to our nearest mountain may be just the cure we need.<br />
<span id="more-679"></span><br />
There’s a reason that mountain views are so highly prized in this world, and it is because, even from a distance, mountains remind us of how small we are, which often comes as a wonderful relief. In addition, they illustrate our ability to connect with higher energy. As they rise up from the earth, sometimes disappearing in the clouds that gather around them, they are a visual symbol of earth reaching up into the heavens. Whether we have a mountain view out of our window or just a photograph of a mountain where we see it every day, we can rely on these earthly giants to provide inspiration, vision, and a daily reminder of our humble place in the grand scheme of life.</p>
<p>via <a href="http://www.dailyom.com">[DailyOM]</a></p>
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		<title>Skip New Years Resolutions &#8211; Create A Life Vision</title>
		<link>http://cultivategreatness.com/2008/01/13/skip-new-years-resolutions-create-a-life-vision</link>
		<comments>http://cultivategreatness.com/2008/01/13/skip-new-years-resolutions-create-a-life-vision#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 13 Jan 2008 07:57:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Travis Wright</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Brainstorming]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Goals & Goal Setting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Law of Attraction]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visualization Exercise]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cultivategreatness.com/2008/01/13/skip-new-years-resolutions-create-a-life-vision</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[By Bonnie McFarland
It&#8217;s January, a time that many people, hoping to improve their lives, make New Year&#8217;s resolutions. Unfortunately experts say that in less than a month the majority of those resolutions will already be broken.
So why not completely skip the resolutions and create a &#8220;lights on&#8221; vision for 2008 instead? A vision of what [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p><img src="http://www.cultivategreatness.com/assets/resolutions.jpg" alt="life hacks" style="float: left; padding-right: 10px;"  class="reflect rheight15" title="leadership training"/><a href="http://www.labellavia.com"><em>By Bonnie McFarland</em></a></p>
<p class="first">It&#8217;s January, a time that many people, hoping to improve their lives, make New Year&#8217;s resolutions. Unfortunately experts say that in less than a month the majority of those resolutions will already be broken.</p>
<p>So why not completely skip the resolutions and create a &#8220;lights on&#8221; vision for 2008 instead? A vision of what you truly want that can energize you and guide you as you make this your best year ever!</p>
<p>****************************************<br />
My Vision Became a Reality<br />
****************************************<br />
In 2002 I realized how much I would love to have a water view house. I shared my dream with Denny, my husband, who then joined me in looking for a new home.</p>
<p>We drove around countless neighborhoods, searched on the internet, let people know we were looking, checked out any likely possibility, made calls, and wrote letters to property owners. For five years!</p>
<p>During this time, I used my &#8220;life tools,&#8221; (many of them over and over again): getting clear about my vision, setting my intention, creating a vision map, calling on my allies, following our lights (what energized and enlivened us) and our curiosity, noticing what was and wasn&#8217;t showing up, shifting my attention away from Monkey Mind and toward what I wanted, de-cluttering our existing house, and releasing the outcome.<br />
<span id="more-678"></span><br />
Many times we became discouraged and frustrated (especially me!). I would give up for a while. Then I would return to my vision of what I really wanted, refining it over time and still knowing I truly wanted a house with a view of the water. Denny stayed patient and persistent, trusting it would happen, persevering.</p>
<p>On December 7, 2007 &#8212; nearly six years after we began the process &#8212; my vision became a reality. On that day, we picked up the keys to our water view home!</p>
<p>It is different than my original vision. It&#8217;s on Samish Island, rather than in the Seattle area. It&#8217;s a house in need of some updating and remodeling, rather than a new home. It doesn&#8217;t even have a garage, which my car-loving husband wouldn&#8217;t have thought he could do without.</p>
<p>And we love it!</p>
<p>This new place is so much more than I ever dreamed. The property is more than water view; it is waterfront, so close to the water it seems as if we&#8217;re sitting on a boat. On Samish Island, we unexpectedly and delightedly have found community and an ever-growing circle of friends. We love the quiet and natural beauty of this area.</p>
<p>We had a vision. It took us a long time and we faced a number of challenges. We didn&#8217;t give up our vision, though, and now our dreams have come true.</p>
<p>****************************************<br />
In Your Life<br />
****************************************<br />
How can you make your own dreams come true? Try these steps:</p>
<p>1) Get clear about what you truly, deeply want for this year.</p>
<p>What lights you up? What do you love? If anything were possible, what would you ask for?</p>
<p>Imagine the life you desire. Sense it. See it. How will you feel when this comes true?</p>
<p>The more specific and detailed your vision, the better. Don&#8217;t worry if you&#8217;re not yet crystal clear. Start with what you do know and let that evolve and become clearer over time.</p>
<p>2) Make it concrete and keep your focus on it.</p>
<p>Write it down. Create a drawing or collage that represents your vision. Post your vision where you&#8217;ll see it frequently so it will remind you of your desires and your commitment to create your vision.</p>
<p>3) Use whatever life tools work for you.</p>
<p>You may well face challenges and obstacles. As I mentioned, I used many of my life tools over and over during this process. What are your most effective tools for living? Use them.</p>
<p>4) Take &#8220;lights on&#8221; actions.</p>
<p>Follow your curiosity and your energy to choose action steps. The steps can be big or small; what matters is that you are moving in the direction of your vision.</p>
<p>5) Notice and be open to what shows up.</p>
<p>Life sends little clues to guide you, clues that may look different than expected.</p>
<p>Denny was lights on about spending time on Samish Island. When we did that, we fell in love with the island and shifted our home search there, 100 miles from where we had been looking. Samish Island turned out to be just the place we were meant to be and it was very different from our initial vision.</p>
<p>6) Balance between focusing on your vision and releasing it.</p>
<p>We first heard that our new home might be coming on the market nearly a year ago. In the months that followed, we sometimes joyously thought the house would be ours; sometimes disappointedly believed it was sold to others.</p>
<p>We did our best to ride this roller coaster. We repeatedly returned to our clear desire to own a home on the Island and our trust that it would be that particular one if it was for our highest good or, if not, something better would appear (even if we had no idea what that could possibly be!).</p>
<p>The key is &#8220;Don&#8217;t give up your dream.&#8221; It may take longer than you&#8217;d like (not that it has to take you six years!). It may look different than you thought it would. And don&#8217;t give up your dream.</p>
<p>May all your dreams come true &#8212; and even better!</p>
<p>Enjoy!<br />
<a href="http://digg.com/submit"><img src="http://digg.com/img/badges/100x20-digg-button.png" width="100" height="20" alt="Digg!" /></p>
<p>Author&#8217;s Bio</p>
<p>Bonnie McFarland works with women at midlife who are bored, stuck, or restless and wondering what to do with the rest of their lives. Bonnie’s e-book, &#8220;What Lights You Up? Your Guide to Pleasure, Passion, and Purpose in Life,” as well as “Light Matters,&#8221; her ezine with tips and tools for getting more of what you truly want, are both available free at www.labellavia.com. </p>
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		<title>Seven Easy Steps to Improve Your Concentration Powers</title>
		<link>http://cultivategreatness.com/2007/05/11/seven-easy-steps-to-improve-your-concentration-powers</link>
		<comments>http://cultivategreatness.com/2007/05/11/seven-easy-steps-to-improve-your-concentration-powers#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 11 May 2007 14:36:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Travis Wright</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Concentration & Focus]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Strategic Thinking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visualization Exercise]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cultivategreatness.com/2007/05/11/seven-easy-steps-to-improve-your-concentration-powers</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[By Leon Edward
Perhaps you have heard the old saying “If there is a will, there is a way”. Many say that the same holds true with concentration. If you can learn to harness your power of concentration, then you will have the willpower to do just about anything.

Perhaps you have even heard the ever popular [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p><a href="http://www.justvisualizeit.net"><em>By Leon Edward</em></a></p>
<p class="first">Perhaps you have heard the old saying “If there is a will, there is a way”. Many say that the same holds true with concentration. If you can learn to harness your power of concentration, then you will have the willpower to do just about anything.<br />
<img src="http://www.cultivategreatness.com/assets/concentration.JPG" alt="leadership training" class="right" title="leadership training"/><br />
Perhaps you have even heard the ever popular News caster known as Diane Sawyer, when she was asked about what the secret to her success was. She replied that her big secret was paying attention. So the big question is still, “How does one basically maintain focus and concentration?”</p>
<p>Below is a list of great tips to help you no matter what you are up against. Whether it is a business meeting, a certain project, school and even everyday work obstacles.</p>
<p><strong>1. Go with one step at a time</strong><br />
There will be many times that your mind is racing and you can’t stay focused as you are being pulled in many different directions.</p>
<p>Instead of trying to keep focused on so many different things, take time to prioritize your list and do only the things that needs to be done at that time. This will allow you to stay better focused and get more accomplished.<br />
<span id="more-531"></span><br />
<strong>2. Take the initiative and do just five more things</strong><br />
As we all know, there are just two types of people in the world, the first is those who are the doers, they do as they see fit. Then there are the watchers, who watch the doers, wishing they could have the confidence to do it all like the doers.</p>
<p>Keeping yourself focused and making yourself do just five more things for the day, will help you to gain better control and get ahead in your endeavors.</p>
<p>For example, When you feel like giving up on the treadmill, make your self do just 5 more minutes, or if you are trying to get your homework done and are overwhelmed, just do 5 more problems.<br />
<strong>3. Keep a note pad handy</strong><br />
Keeping a note book close at hand will help you when those great ideas pop into your head at the most impossible times. Without the notebook, you may get distracted and loose your train of thought.</p>
<p>Keeping your thoughts jotted down on paper is a great way to stay focused.</p>
<p><strong>4. Tunnel Vision for Better Focus</strong><br />
It might even help to give your self tunnel vision by cupping your hands around your eyes to help you to get focused at the task in front of you</p>
<p>For example, you are working on a project at your desk but your co-workers are being loud and it is hard to stay focused. Put your hands around your face, cupping your eyes. This will help your brain get focused and help you get your task complete with less distraction.</p>
<p><strong>5. Take a break</strong><br />
Sometimes you need to stop and take a break. If you try to run yourself without one you could loose focus and what ever you are working on will show the harsh results.</p>
<p>By taking breaks every now and then, you can take care of many tasks and prioritize your day better. So get up and walk away from your desk every so often to clear your head and improve your concentration.<br />
<strong><br />
6. Keep track of your time for tasks</strong><br />
People do not realize that by keeping g track of their start and end times when working on something, can greatly improve their concentration. You can see where your concentration has wandered and where you need improvement.</p>
<p><strong>7. Stagger your tasks</strong><br />
In order to not get bored with the jobs at hand, try to vary them to keep your minds eye sharp.</p>
<p>If your mind gets bored you will find it most difficult to stay focused on anything.</p>
<p>By practicing these tip sand trick on a daily basis, you will improve your concentration and notice that you are more focused than ever.</p>
<p>Author&#8217;s Bio</p>
<p>Leon Edward helps people improve IQ, focus, memory, concentration, creativity, speed reading, public speaking, time management and reducing stress.<br />
Download his IQ Mind Brain Memory Self-Help library at his website http://www.IQMindBrainLibrary.com</p>
<p>Also, Leon Edward helps people improve in Leadership Development, Goal Setting, Success, Motivation, Self-Improvement, Happiness, Memory Improvement, Visualization, Stress Reduction and more at http://www.AwesomeSuccess.org or learn to program your subconscious at his website http://www.justvisualizeit.net</p>
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		<title>Hacking Knowledge: 77 Ways to Learn Faster, Deeper, and Better</title>
		<link>http://cultivategreatness.com/2007/04/09/hacking-knowledge-77-ways-to-learn-faster-deeper-and-better</link>
		<comments>http://cultivategreatness.com/2007/04/09/hacking-knowledge-77-ways-to-learn-faster-deeper-and-better#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 09 Apr 2007 15:45:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Travis Wright</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Concentration & Focus]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Continuing Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fitness & Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Self-Discipline]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Strategic Thinking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visualization Exercise]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cultivategreatness.com/2007/04/09/hacking-knowledge-77-ways-to-learn-faster-deeper-and-better</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
If someone granted you one wish, what do you imagine you would want out of life that you haven&#8217;t gotten yet? For many people, it would be self-improvement and knowledge. New knowledge is the backbone of society&#8217;s progress. Great thinkers such as Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Edison, Benjamin Franklin, Albert Einstein, and others&#8217; quests for [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p><img style="margin: 3px 0pt 10px 10px; float: right;" src="http://oedb.org/assets/images/knowledge.jpg" width="225" alt="knowledge">
<p class="first">If someone granted you one wish, what do you imagine you would want out of life that you haven&#8217;t gotten yet? For many people, it would be self-improvement and knowledge. New knowledge is the backbone of society&#8217;s progress. Great thinkers such as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonardo_da_Vinci">Leonardo da Vinci</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Edison">Thomas Edison</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Franklin">Benjamin Franklin</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein">Albert Einstein</a>, and others&#8217; quests for knowledge have led society to many of the marvels we enjoy today. Your quest for knowledge doesn&#8217;t have to be as Earth-changing as Einstein&#8217;s, but it can be an important part of your life, leading to a new job, better pay, a new hobby, or simply knowledge for knowledge&#8217;s sake — whatever is important to you as an end goal.</p>
<p>Life-changing knowledge does typically require advanced learning techniques. In fact, it&#8217;s been said that the average adult only uses 10% of his/her brain. Imagine what we may be capable of with more advanced learning techniques. Here are 77 tips related to knowledge and learning to help you on your quest. A few are specifically for students in traditional learning institutions; the rest for self-starters, or those learning on their own. Happy learning.</p>
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<h2>Health</h2>
<ol>
<li><strong>Shake a leg</strong>. Lack of blood flow is a common reason for lack of concentration. If you&#8217;ve been sitting in one place for awhile, bounce one of your legs for a minute or two. It gets your blood flowing and sharpens both concentration and recall.</li>
<li><strong>Food for thought: Eat breakfast</strong>. A lot of people skip breakfast, but creativity is often optimal in the early morning and it helps to have some protein in you to feed your brain. A lack of protein can actually cause headaches.</li>
<li><strong>Food for thought, part 2: Eat a light lunch</strong>. Heavy lunches have a tendency to make people drowsy. While you could turn this to your advantage by taking a &#8220;thinking nap&#8221; (see #23), most people haven&#8217;t learned how.
</li>
<li><strong>Cognitive enhancers: Ginkgo biloba</strong>. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gingko_biloba">Ginkgo biloba</a> is a natural supplement that has been used in China and other countries for centuries and has been reputed to <a href="http://intelegen.com/nutrients/ginkgo_reverses_memory_loss_in_r.htm">reverse memory loss</a> in rats. It&#8217;s also suggested by some health practitioners as a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nootropic">nootrope</a> and thus a memory enhancer.</li>
<li><strong>Reduce stress + depresssion</strong>. Stress and depression <a href="http://intelegen.com/nutrients/memory_loss_it_is_always_age.htm">may reduce</a> the ability to recall information and thus inhibit learning. Sometimes, all you need to reduce depression is more white light and fewer refined foods.
</li>
</ol>
<h2>Balance</h2>
<ol start="6">
<li><strong>Sleep on it</strong>. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxwell_Maltz">Dr. Maxwell Maltz</a> wrote about in his book <em><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psycho-Cybernetics">Psycho-Cybernetics</a></em> about a man who was was paid good money to come up with ideas. He would lock his office door, close the blinds, turn off the lights. He&#8217;d focus on the problem at hand, then take a short nap on a couch. When he awoke, he usually had the problem solved.
</li>
<li><strong>Take a break</strong>. Change phyical or mental perspective to lighten the invisible stress that can sometimes occur when you sit in one place too long, focused on learning. Taking a 5-15 minute break every hour during study sessions is more beneficial than non-stop study. It gives your mind time to relax and absorb information. If you want to <a href="http://www.43folders.com/2006/09/07/ultradians/">get really serious with breaks</a>, try a <a href="http://ernestrossi.com/ultradia.htm">20 minute ultradian break</a> as part of every 90 minute cycle. This includes a nap break, which is for a different purpose than #23.</li>
<li><strong>Take a hike</strong>. Changing your perspective often relieves tension, thus freeing your creative mind. Taking a short walk around the neighborhood may help.
</li>
<li><strong>Change your focus</strong>. Sometimes there simply isn&#8217;t enough time to take a long break. If so, change subject focus. Alternate between technical and non-technical subjects.
</li>
</ol>
<h2>Perspective and Focus</h2>
<ol start="10">
<li><strong>Change your focus, part 2</strong>. There are three primary ways to learn: visual, kinesthetic, and auditory. If one isn&#8217;t working for you, try another.</li>
<li><strong>Do walking meditation</strong>. If you&#8217;re taking a hike (#25), go one step further and learn <a href="http://www.wildmind.org/meditation/walking/overview.html">walking meditation</a> as a way to tap into your inner resources and your strengthen your ability to focus. Just make sure you&#8217;re not walking inadvertently into traffic.</li>
<li><strong>Focus and immerse yourself</strong>. Focus on whatever you&#8217;re studying. Don&#8217;t try to watch TV at the same time or worry yourself about other things. Anxiety does not make for absorption of information and ideas.</li>
<li><strong>Turn out the lights</strong>. This is a way to focus, if you are not into meditating. Sit in the dark, block out extraneous influences. This is ideal for learning kinesthetically, such as guitar chord changes.</li>
<li><strong>Take a bath or shower</strong>. Both activities loosen you up, making your mind more receptive to recognizing brilliant ideas.
</li>
</ol>
<h2>Recall Techniques</h2>
<ol start="15">
<li><strong>Listen to music</strong>. Researchers have long shown that certain types of music are a great &#8220;key&#8221; for recalling memories. Information learned while listening to a particular song or collection can often be recalled simply by &#8220;playing&#8221; the songs mentally.</li>
<li><strong>Speedread</strong>. Some people believe that speedreading causes you to miss vital information. The fact remains that efficient speedreading results in filtering out irrelevant information. If necessary, you can always read and re-read at slower speeds. Slow reading actually hinders the ability to absorb general ideas. (Although technical subjects often requirer slower reading.) If you&#8217;re reading online, you can try the free <a href="http://www.spreeder.com/">Spreeder</a> Web-based application.</li>
<li><strong>Use acronyms and other mnemonic devices</strong>. <a href="http://www.web-us.com/memory/mnemonic_techniques.htm">Mnemonics</a> are essentially tricks for remembering information. Some tricks are so effective that proper application will let you recall loads of mundane information years later.
</li>
</ol>
<h2>Visual Aids</h2>
<ol start="18">
<li><strong>Every picture tells a story</strong>. Draw or sketch whatever it is you are trying to achieve. Having a concrete goal in mind helps you progress towards that goal.</li>
<li><strong>Brainmap it</strong>. Need to plan something? Brain maps, or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mind_map">mind maps</a>, offer a compact way to get both an overview of a project as well as easily add details. With mind maps, you can see the relationships between disparate ideas and they can also act as a receptacle for a brainstorming session.</li>
<li><strong>Learn symbolism and semiotics</strong>. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semiotics">Semiotics</a> is the study of signs and symbols. Having an understanding of the symbols of a particular discipline aids in learning, and also allows you to record information more efficiently.</li>
<li><strong>Use information design</strong>. When you record information that has an inherent structure, applying <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_design">information design</a> helps convey that information more clearly. A great resource is <a href="http://infosthetics.com/">Information Aesthetics</a>, which gives examples of information design and links to their sources.</li>
<li><strong>Use visual learning techniques</strong>. Try <a href="http://www.gliffy.com/">gliffy</a> for <a href="http://www.agiledraw.org/index.php/Main/Examples">structured diagrams</a>. Also see <a href="http://www.inspiration.com/vlearning/index.cfm?fuseaction=techniques">Inspiration.com</a> for an explanation of webs, idea maps, concept maps, and plots.</li>
<li><strong>Map your task flow</strong>. Learning often requires gaining knowledge in a specific sequence. <a href="http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifehack/course-of-actions-task-flow-mapping-your-day.html">Organizing your thoughts</a> on what needs to be done is a powerful way to prepare yourself to complete tasks or learn new topics.</li>
</ol>
<h2>Verbal and Auditory Techniques</h2>
<ol start="24">
<li><strong>Stimulate ideas</strong>. Play rhyming games, utter nonsense words. These loosen you up, making you more receptive to learning.
</li>
<li><strong>Brainstorm</strong>. This is a time-honored technique that combines verbal activity, writing, and collaboration. (One person can brainstorm, but it&#8217;s more effective in a group.) It&#8217;s fruitful if you remember some simple rules: Firstly, don&#8217;t shut anyone&#8217;s idea out. Secondly, don&#8217;t &#8220;edit&#8221; in progress; just record all ideas first, then dissect them later. Participating in brainstorming helps assess what you already know about something, and what you didn&#8217;t know.
</li>
<li><strong>Learn by osmosis</strong>. Got an iPod? Record a few of your own podcasts, upload them to your iPod and sleep on it. Literally. Put it under your pillow and playback language lessons or whatever.</li>
<li><strong>Cognitive enhancers: binaural beats</strong>. <a href="http://www.web-us.com/thescience.htm">Binaural</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binaural_beats">beats</a> involve playing two close frequencies simultaneously to produce alpha, beta, delta, and theta waves, all of which produce either sleeping, restfulness, relaxation, meditativeness, alertness, or concentration. Binaural beats are used in conjunction with other excercises for a type of super-learning.</li>
<li><strong>Laugh</strong>. Laughing relaxes the body. A relaxed body is more receptive to new ideas.
</li>
</ol>
<h2>Kinesthetic Techniques</h2>
<ol start="29">
<li><strong>Write, don&#8217;t type</strong>. While typing your notes into the computer is great for posterity, writing by hand stimulates ideas. The simple act of holding and using a pen or pencil massages acupuncture points in the hand, which in turn stimulates ideas.</li>
<li><strong>Carry a quality notebook at all times</strong>. Samuel Taylor Coleridge <a href="http://gaming.unlv.edu/Xanadu/poem.html">dreamed the words</a> of the poem &#8220;In Xanadu (did Kubla Khan)&#8230;&#8221;. Upon awakening, he wrote down what he could recall, but was distracted by a visitor and promptly forgot the rest of the poem. Forever. If you&#8217;ve been doing &#8220;walking meditation&#8221; or any kind of meditation or productive napping, ideas may suddenly come to you. Record them immediately.</li>
<li><strong>Keep a journal</strong>. This isn&#8217;t exactly the same as a notebook. Journaling has to do with tracking experiences over time. If you add in visual details, charts, brainmaps, etc., you have a much more creative way to keep tabs on what you are learning.</li>
<li><strong>Organize</strong>. Use sticky colored tabs to divide up a notebook or journal. They are a great way to partition ideas for easy referral.
</li>
<li><strong>Use post-it notes</strong>. Post-it notes provide a helpful way to record your thoughts about passages in books without defacing them with ink or pencil marks.
</li>
</ol>
<h2>Self-Motivation Techniques</h2>
<ol start="34">
<li><strong>Give yourself credit</strong>. Ideas are actually a dime a dozen. If you learn to focus your mind on what results you want to achieve, you&#8217;ll recognize the good ideas. Your mind will become a filter for them, which will motivate you to learn more.
</li>
<li><strong>Motivate yourself</strong>. Why do you want to learn something? What do want to achieve through learning? If you don&#8217;t know why you want to learn, then distractions will be far more enticing.</li>
<li><strong>Set a goal</strong>. W. Clement Stone once said &#8220;Whatever the mind of man can conceive, it can achieve.&#8221; It&#8217;s an amazing phenomenon in goal achievement. Prepare yourself by whatever means necessary, and hurdles will seem surmountable. Anyone who has experienced this phenomenon understands its validity.</li>
<li><strong>Think positive</strong>. There&#8217;s no point in setting learning goals for yourself if you don&#8217;t have any faith in your ability to learn.</li>
<li><strong>Organize, part 2</strong>. Learning is only one facet of the average adult&#8217;s daily life. You need to organize your time and tasks else you might find it difficult to fit time in for learning. Try <a href="http://www.neptunehq.com/">Neptune</a> for a browser-based application for &#8220;getting things done.&#8221;</li>
<li><strong>Every skill is learned</strong>. With the exception of bodily functions, <a href="http://www.audiblox2000.com/prin.htm">every skill in life is learned</a>. Generally speaking, if one person can learn something, so can you. It may take you more effort, but if you&#8217;ve set a believable goal, it&#8217;s likely an achievable goal.
</li>
<li><strong>Prepare yourself for learning</strong>. Thinking positive isn&#8217;t sufficient for successfully achieving goals. This is especially important if you are an adult, as you&#8217;ll probably have many distractions surrounding your daily life. Implement ways to reduce distractions, at least for a few hours at a time, else learning will become a frustrating experience.
</li>
<li><strong>Prepare yourself, part 2</strong>. Human nature is such that not everyone in your life will be a well-wisher in your self-improvement and learning plans. They may intentionally or subconsciously distract you from your goal. If you have classes to attend after work, make sure that work colleagues know this, that you are unable to work late. Diplomacy works best if you think your boss is intentionally giving you work on the days he/she knows you have to leave. Reschedule lectures to a later time slot if possible/ necessary.</li>
<li><strong>Constrain yourself</strong>. Most people need structure in their lives. Freedom is sometimes a scary thing. It&#8217;s like chaos. But even chaos has order within. By <a href="http://headrush.typepad.com/creating_passionate_users/2006/10/how_to_make_som.html">constraining yourself</a> — say giving yourself deadlines, limiting your time on an idea in some manner, or limiting the tools you are working with — you can often accomplish more in less time.
</li>
</ol>
<h2>Supplemental Techniques</h2>
<ol start="43">
<li><strong>Read as much as you can</strong>. How much more obvious can it get? Use Spreeder (#33) if you have to. Get a breadth of topics as well as depth.</li>
<li><strong>Cross-pollinate your interests</strong>. Neurons that connect to existing neurons give you new perspectives and abilities to use additional knowledge in new ways.</li>
<li><strong>Learn another language</strong>. New perspectives give you the ability to cross-pollinate cultural concepts and come up with new ideas. As well, sometimes reading a book in its original language will provide you with insights lost in translation.</li>
<li><strong>Learn how to learn</strong>. Management Help has a <a href="http://www.managementhelp.org/trng_dev/methods/on_line.htm">resource page</a>, as does <a href="http://www.siast.sk.ca/virtualcampus/aboutvirtual/learningmethods.htm">SIAST</a> (Virtual Campus), which links to articles about learning methods. They are geared towards online learning, but no doubt you gain something from them for any type of learning. If you are serious about optimum learning, read Headrush&#8217;s <a href="http://headrush.typepad.com/creating_passionate_users/2006/01/crash_course_in.html">Crash course in learning theory</a>.</li>
<li><strong>Learn what you know and what you don&#8217;t</strong>. Many people might say, &#8220;I&#8217;m dumb,&#8221; or &#8220;I don&#8217;t know anything about that.&#8221; The fact is, many people are wholly unaware of what they already know about a topic. If you want to learn about a topic, you need to determine what you already know, figure out what you don&#8217;t know, and then learn the latter.
</li>
<li><strong>Multi-task through background processes</strong>. Effective multi-tasking allows you to bootstrap limited time to accomplish several tasks. Learning can be bootstrapped through multi-tasking, too. By effective multitasking, I don&#8217;t mean <a href="http://headrush.typepad.com/creating_passionate_users/2005/03/your_brain_on_m.html">doing two or more things at exactly the same time</a>. It&#8217;s not possible. However, you can achieve the semblance of effective multitasking with the right approach, and by prepping your mind for it. For example, a successful freelance writer learns to manage several articles at the same time. Research the first essay, and then let the background processes of your mind takeover. Move on consciously to the second essay. While researching the second essay, the first one will often &#8220;write itself.&#8221; Be prepared to record it when it &#8220;appears&#8221; to you.
</li>
<li><strong>Think holistically</strong>. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wholistic">Holistic</a> thinking might be the single most &#8220;advanced&#8221; learning technique that would help students. But it&#8217;s a mindset rather than a single technique.</li>
<li><strong>Use the right type of repetition.</strong> Complex concepts often require revisting in order to be fully absorbed. Sometimes, for some people, it may actually take months or years. Repetition of concepts and theory with <em>various</em> concrete examples improves absorption and speeds up learning.</li>
<li><strong>Apply the Quantum Learning (QL) model</strong>. The <a href="http://www.newhorizons.org/strategies/accelerated/deporter2.htm">Quantum Learning</a> model is being applied in some US schools and goes beyond typical education methods to engage students.
</li>
<li><strong>Get necessary tools</strong>. There are obviously all kinds of tools for learning. If you are learning online like a growing number of people these days, then consider your online tools. One of the best tools for online research is the <a href="http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/">Firefox web browser</a>, which has loads of extensions (add-ons) with all manner of useful features. One is <a href="https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/2517/">Googlepedia</a>, which <a href="http://www.technologyevangelist.com/2006/11/googlepedia_my_favor.html">simultaneously displays</a> <a href="http://www.google.com/">Google search engine</a> listings, when you search for a term, with related entries from <a href="http://wikipedia.org/">Wikipedia</a>.</li>
<li><strong>Get necessary tools, part 2</strong>. This is a very niche tip, but if you want to learn fast-track methods for building software, read <a href="http://gettingreal.37signals.com/">Getting Real</a> from <a href="http://www.37signals.com/">37 Signals</a>. The <a href="http://gettingreal.37signals.com/toc.php">Web page version</a> is free. The techniques in the book have been used to create <a href="http://www.basecamphq.com/">Basecamp</a>, <a href="http://www.campfirenow.com/">Campfire</a>, and <a href="http://www.backpackit.com/">Backpack</a> web applications in a short time frame. Each of these applications support collaboration and organization.</li>
<li><strong>Learn critical thinking</strong>. As <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keegan-Michael_Key">Keegan-Michael Key</a>&#8217;s character on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MADtv">MadTV</a> might say, critical thinking takes analysis to &#8220;a whole notha level&#8221;. Read Wikipedia&#8217;s discourse on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_thinking">critical thinking</a> as a starting point. It involves good analytical skills to aid the ability to learn selectively.
</li>
<li><strong>Learn complex problem solving</strong>. For most people, life is a series of problems to be solved. Learning is part of the process. If you have a <a href="http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifehack/the-art-of-complex-problem-solving.html">complex problem</a>, you need to learn the <a href="http://www.idiagram.com/CP/cpprocess.html">art of complex problem solving</a>. [The latter page has some incredible visual information.]</li>
</ol>
<h2>For Teachers, Tutors, and Parents</h2>
<ol start="56">
<li><strong>Be engaging</strong>. Lectures are one-sided and often <a href="http://www.brainbasedbusiness.com/2006/10/lectures_work_against_the_brai.html">counter-productive</a>. Information merely heard or witnessed (from a chalkboard for instance) is often forgotten. Teaching is not simply talking. <a href="http://www.brainboomer.com/2006/10/16/youd-have-to-be-brain-dead-to-listen-up/">Talking isn&#8217;t enough</a>. Ask students questions, present scenarios, engage them.</li>
<li><strong>Use information pyramids</strong>. Learning happens in layers. <a href="http://www.audiblox2000.com/prin.htm">Build base knowledge</a> upon which you can add advanced concepts.</li>
<li><strong>Use video games</strong>. Video games get a bad rap because of certain violent games. But video games in general can often be an <a href="http://wistechnology.com/article.php?id=243">effective aid to learning</a>.</li>
<li><strong>Role play</strong>. Younger people often learn better by being part of a learning experience. For example, history is easier to absorb through reenactments.</li>
<li><strong>Apply the 80/20 rule</strong>. This rule is often interpreted in dfferent ways. In this case, the <a href="http://headrush.typepad.com/creating_passionate_users/2006/01/crash_course_in.html">80/20 rule</a> means that some concepts, say about 20% of a curriculum, require more effort and time, say about 80%, than others. So be prepared to expand on complex topics.</li>
<li><strong>Tell stories</strong>. Venus Flytrap, a character from the sitcom <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077097/">WKRP in Cincinnati</a>, once taught a student gang member about atoms, electrons, and protons by saying that an atom was one big neighborhood, and the protons and neutrons had their own smaller neighborhoods and never mixed. Just like rival gangs. The story worked, and understanding sparked in the students eyes.</li>
<li><strong>Go beyond the public school curriculum</strong>. The public school system is woefully lacking in teaching advanced learning and brainstorming methods. It&#8217;s not that the methods cannot be taught; they just aren&#8217;t. To learn more, you have to pay a premium in additional time and effort, and sometimes money for commercially available learning tools. There&#8217;s nothing wrong with that in itself, but <a href="http://headrush.typepad.com/creating_passionate_users/2006/11/why_does_engine.html">what is taught</a> in schools needs to be expanded. This article&#8217;s author has proven that a nine-year old can learn (some) university level math, if the learning is approached correctly.</li>
<li><strong>Use applied learning</strong>. If a high school student were having trouble in math, say with fractions, one example of applied learning might be photography, lenses, f-stops, etc. Another example is cooking and measurement of ingredients. Tailor the applied learning to the interest of the student.
</li>
</ol>
<h2>For Students and Self-Studiers</h2>
<ol start="64">
<li><strong>Be engaged</strong>. Surprise. Sometimes students are bored because they know more than is being taught, maybe even more than a teacher. (Hopefully teachers will assess what each student already knows.) Students should discuss with a teacher if they feel that the material being covered is not challenging. Also consider asking for additional materials.</li>
<li><strong>Teach yourself</strong>. Teachers cannot always change their curricula. If you&#8217;re not being challenged, challenge yourself. Some countries still apply country-wide exams for all students. If your lecturer didn&#8217;t cover a topic, you should learn it on your own. Don&#8217;t wait for someone to teach you. Lectures are most effective when you&#8217;ve pre-introduced yourself to concepts.</li>
<li><strong>Collaborate</strong>. If studying by yourself isn&#8217;t working, maybe a study group will help.</li>
<li><strong>Do unto others: teach something</strong>. The best way to learn something better is to teach it to someone else. It forces you to learn, if you are motivated enough to share your knowledge.
</li>
<li><strong>Write about it</strong>. An effective way to &#8220;teach&#8221; something is to create an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FAQ">FAQ</a> or a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiki">wiki</a> containing everything you know about a topic. Or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blog">blog</a> about the topic. Doing so helps you to realize what you know and more importantly what you don&#8217;t. You don&#8217;t even have to spend money if you grab a freebie account with <a href="http://www.typepad.com/">Typepad</a>, <a href="http://wordpress.com/">Wordpress</a>, or <a href="http://www.blogger.com/">Blogger</a>.
</li>
<li><strong>Learn by experience</strong>. Pretty obvious, right? It means put in the necessary time. An expert is often defined as someone who has put in 10,000 hours into some experience or endeavor. That&#8217;s approximately 5 years of 40 hours per week, every week. Are you an expert without realizing it? If you&#8217;re not, do you have the <a href="http://headrush.typepad.com/creating_passionate_users/2006/03/how_to_be_an_ex.html">dedication to be an expert</a>? </li>
<li><strong>Quiz yourself</strong>. Testing what you&#8217;ve learned will reinforce the information. Flash cards are one of the best ways, and are not just for kids.</li>
<li><strong>Learn the right things first</strong>. Learn the basics. Case in point: a frustrating way to learn a new language is to learn grammar and spelling and sentence constructs first. This is not the way a baby learns a language, and there&#8217;s no reason why an adult or young adult has to start differently, despite &#8220;expert&#8221; opinion. Try for yourself and see the difference.</li>
<li><strong>Plan your learning</strong>. If you have a long-term plan to learn something, then to quote Led Zeppelin, &#8220;There are two paths you can go by.&#8221; You can take a haphazard approach to learning, or you can put in a bit of planning and find an optimum path. <a href="http://oedb.org/library/continuing-education-for-adults/time-management-tips-for-continuing-education-students">Plan your time</a> and <a href="http://oedb.org/library/continuing-education-for-adults/balancing-your-job-and-your-classwork">balance your learning and living</a>.
</li>
</ol>
<h2>Parting Advice</h2>
<ol start="73">
<li><strong>Persist</strong>. Don&#8217;t give up learning in the face of intimdating tasks. Anything one human being can learn, most others can as well. Wasn&#8217;t it Einstein that said, &#8220;Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration&#8221;? Thomas Edison said it, too.</li>
<li><strong> Defy the experts</strong>. Dyslexia, in a nutshell, is the affliction of mentally jumbling letters and digits, causing difficulties in reading, writing and thus learning. Sometimes spoken words or numbers get mixed up as well. In the past, &#8220;experts&#8221; declared dyslexic children stupid. Later, they said they were incapable of learning. This author has interacted with and taught dyslexic teens. It&#8217;s possible. Helen Keller had no experience of sight, sound, or speech, and yet she learned. Conclusion: There is more than one way to learn; never believe you cannot.</li>
<li><strong>Challenge yourself</strong>. People are often more intelligent than they realize. In a world that compartmentalizes and categorizes everything, not everyone is sure where they fit in. And genius can be found in many walks of life. If you honestly suspect that there&#8217;s more to you than has been &#8220;allowed&#8221; to be let out, try an IQ test such as the one offered by <a href="http://www.mensa.org/">MENSA</a>. It&#8217;s unlike the standardized IQ tests given in many schools. You know the kind — the ones which traumatize many young students into thinking they are stupid, simply because the tests don&#8217;t really assess all student&#8217;s knowledge and learning ability. And the ability to learn is far, far more important than what you already know.</li>
<li><strong>Party before an exam</strong>. Well, don&#8217;t go that far. The key is to relax. The worse thing to do is cram the night before an exam. If you don&#8217;t already know a subject by then, cramming isn&#8217;t going to help. If you have studied, simply review the topic, then go do something pleasant (no more studying). Doing so tells your brain that you are prepared and that you will be able to recall anything that you have already learned. On the other hand, if you didn&#8217;t spend the semester learning the ideas you need, you might as well go party anyways because cramming at the last minute isn&#8217;t going to help much at that point.</li>
<li><strong>Don&#8217;t worry; learn happy</strong>. Have a real passion for learning and want to share that? Join a group such as the <a href="http://www.joyfuljubilantlearning.com/">Joyful Jubilant Learning community</a> [via <a href="http://www.lifehack.org/articles/studying/the-new-world-of-today%e2%80%99s-student.html">LifeHack</a>].</li>
</ol>
<h2>Sources For This Article</h2>
<p>This is only a partial list of sources, focusing only on Web sites. Many of the ideas presented above come from long years of experience, with information gleaned from dozens of books and tapes on learning and, more recently, Web sites. The Web sites below either present original articles related to the ideas above, or summaries of ideas with links to other Web sites. In the latter case, such Web sites have likely been linked above. Book sources have either been long forgotten or mentioned above.</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://headrush.typepad.com/">Headrush</a>.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.lifehack.org/">Lifehack</a>.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.43folders.com/">43Folders</a>.
</li>
<li><a href="http://www.calstatela.edu/dept/chem/chem2/Active/">Active learning for the college classroom</a>.
</li>
<li><a href="http://www.stevepavlina.com/">Steve Pavlina</a>.
<p><a href="http://oedb.org/library/college-basics/hacking-knowledge">Via Online Education Database</a></p>
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		<title>The Art of Creating Powerful Intentions</title>
		<link>http://cultivategreatness.com/2007/04/03/the-art-of-creating-powerful-intentions</link>
		<comments>http://cultivategreatness.com/2007/04/03/the-art-of-creating-powerful-intentions#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 03 Apr 2007 12:28:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Travis Wright</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Manifesting & Intention]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Personal Development]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Positive Thinking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visualization Exercise]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[By Thomas Herold
Intentions are indeed very powerful if they are created in the right way. There are a few basic rules you will want to understand, otherwise your intentions may simply evaporate, or even backfire. By backfire, I mean they create just the opposite of what you wanted.

The Purpose of Making Intentions
We use intention to [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p><em>By Thomas Herold</em></p>
<p class="first">Intentions are indeed very powerful if they are created in the right way. There are a few basic rules you will want to understand, otherwise your intentions may simply evaporate, or even backfire. By backfire, I mean they create just the opposite of what you wanted.<br />
<img src="http://www.cultivategreatness.com/assets/intention.jpg" alt="personal development" class="right" /><br />
<strong>The Purpose of Making Intentions</strong><br />
We use intention to guide our attention in a new direction, in order to create a new or different reality. For example, maybe you’d like to change your job. Most people would start with the intent to have a better job, as the old one doesn’t satisfy anymore. However, trouble may be brewing here already…</p>
<p>If you move on from something you don’t like, to something you prefer, you may deny your current situation. In order to make successful intentions, it is important to deal with the current situation first, and do some analytical thinking about it.</p>
<p>Understand that you created this situation, so don’t blame anybody else for it. Take full responsibility, and understand that you are the only person responsible for the current circumstances.</p>
<p>Do away with any judgments of your current situation, until you can see it from a neutral perspective. There was a point in your life when it was the perfect decision. Don’t compare the now with the past, as you have since had new experiences and gained a different viewpoint.<br />
<span id="more-483"></span><br />
This is a common mistake in thinking; it is like a loophole in the mind. You jump from one time-line into another time-line, and then compare them. This leads to false conclusions. Besides that, leave the past; don’t reinvent it.</p>
<p><strong>Evaluate Your Current Situation</strong><br />
If you look at your current situation without judgments, you empower yourself. Only from a neutral standpoint can you make a powerful new decision. This new decision will be based on deliberate intent instead of reaction to circumstances. This is where choice and free will comes in.</p>
<p>Now, at the point of being neutral, you can ask yourself the following questions:</p>
<p>* What do I like about my current job?<br />
* What do I want to improve in my next job?<br />
* What would be the perfect job for me?<br />
* What would I like to feel from my next job?<br />
* What am I good at?<br />
* In which areas is this job supporting me to live my full potential?</p>
<p>Write down the answers to these questions, and start to craft a few full sentences out from your answers. Include all the positive points. Make these sentences as precise as possible.</p>
<p>It could read like this: “My next job is exciting; it flows with me, makes me happy, and I am able to learn and grow with it.</p>
<p>When you are done, read it out loud. If you have trouble saying the sentence, or even memorizing it, then it is not ready. Simply take a few moments and refine it.<br />
<strong><br />
Overcoming Pitfalls when Creating Intentions</strong><br />
Intentions are formed in your conscious mind; however, it’s your subconscious that receives these commands and creates the necessary opportunities in your life. In other words, your conscious mind deciding on this new opportunity creates a new reality.</p>
<p>* Use only positive words<br />
* Include a time frame<br />
* Remove negations<br />
* Be precise</p>
<p>Here is a simple test. Don’t think about a blue elephant! What happened? You thought about the blue elephant, you may even imagined it. The subconscious does not work analytically; it cannot understand words like ‘don’t’ or ‘not.’ It works mostly in images, sounds, and smells.</p>
<p>You want to avoid use of any negative words in your intentions. Always formulate your intentions in such a way that they reflect the outcome of what you’d like to create.</p>
<p>Example of how not to do it:<br />
- I don’t want to have so much responsibility.</p>
<p>Better Example:<br />
<em>- In my new job I feel comfortable with my responsibility.</em></p>
<p><strong>Including a Time Frame:</strong><br />
There is a difference between creating in your own universe or in the physical world. When you create inside yourself there is no time involved &#8211; your consciousness is timeless!</p>
<p>For example, if you’d like to change your attitude toward your boss, you don’t need to set a time frame. You can simply create the intention: “I appreciate my boss,” or, “I value my boss’ viewpoints and beliefs.” It will work instantly if there is no other belief or intention in its way.</p>
<p>When you deal with the physical world, setting a time frame becomes important. The physical world works within time and space. If you build a new house, first you have a plan, and then you move dirt, assemble wood, install plumbing, and move furniture, until the house is complete. It takes time and effort.</p>
<p>So if you make your intention but you leave out the time frame &#8211; your intention becomes doubtful. Example: “I am working in my dream job.” Well, you would say right away – I’m not. It sounds more like an affirmation than an intention. Include the time frame, and this example turns into: “6 months from now I am working in my dream job.”</p>
<p>Pay attention to any reactions you have when you formulate your intention. Your mind may interfere and tell you: “No way, I will never get this,” or “this is impossible.” If you encounter these instant judgments, formulate your intentions differently, so that they feel more do-able. Sometimes you may want to break a big intention into smaller pieces.</p>
<p>For example: <em>“In 2 weeks I am a Millionaire” is an intention that may not work for most people. However, an intention like: “Every day I have more money to spend” may bring you there.</em></p>
<p>New Years Intentions Vs. Birthday Intentions<br />
Many people make new year’s resolutions on first night, which is a good thing. However, making them on your birthday is more efficient.</p>
<p>Why is this? A new year is an artificial point of time, it just means that one year passed, and is not related to you in any way – it’s impersonal. If you make your new year’s resolution on your birthday, it is personal, because on this specific day the sun is in the same position as it was when you were born. Astrologers call this point a sun-sun conjunction. It is a very powerful point in time, as a new individual cycle for you starts.<br />
<em><br />
May all your dreams come true.</em></p>
<p><a href="http://www.dreammanifesto.com/">Thomas Herold</a> is the founder and CEO of Dream Manifesto. The quantum method for manifesting your dreams. To learn more about creating your dreams with the Dream Manifestation Wizard software visit:<br />
<a href="http://www.dreammanifesto.com/">Dream Manifesto &#8211; The Quantum Method for Manifesting Your Dreams</a></p>
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		<title>FLOAT Above It All.</title>
		<link>http://cultivategreatness.com/2007/03/30/float-above-it-all</link>
		<comments>http://cultivategreatness.com/2007/03/30/float-above-it-all#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 30 Mar 2007 07:52:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Travis Wright</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Courage & Fear]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cultivate Greatness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Highly Recommended]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inspiration]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Love & Relationships]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Peak Performance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visualization Exercise]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cultivategreatness.com/2007/03/30/float-above-it-all</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[by Travis Wright

When a situation doesn&#8217;t turn out as you would liked it to, take a moment to reflect and visually float above it all.  Seriously.  Imagine that your are like a spirit floating above this moment in time.  Now, take look from a  new angle. Sometimes, you will find a [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p><em>by Travis Wright</em><br />
<img src="http://www.cultivategreatness.com/assets/float.jpg" alt="personal development float" class="left" />
<p class="first">When a situation doesn&#8217;t turn out as you would liked it to, take a moment to reflect and visually float above it all.  Seriously.  Imagine that your are like a spirit floating above this moment in time.  Now, take look from a  new angle. Sometimes, you will find a certain ridiculousness about the situation than you initially thought.  </p>
<p>Many of us like to think that we are logical 100% of the time.  We would like to think that we are rational 100% of the time.  But in reality, we make irrational and illogical choices every so often&#8230; probably more frequently than we would like to admit.</p>
<p>So, I propose taking a moment and being purposeful, fanciful and pretend to be omnipotent.  Rise above the situation, and perhaps view it as if were an optimal situation.  Do a 360 angle pan around the event in your mind&#8217;s eye, if you wish.  </p>
<p>What would it take to make it happen and become the best it can be?  How could you have acted and reacted in that event, to make this optimal situation occur?<br />
<span id="more-476"></span><br />
What can we do that will effect the greater good, in the most effective way?</p>
<p>By rising above, we are able to look at a situation either short term or long term from a different point of view.  It may seem silly, but if we spend too much time in either the right brain or our left brain for too long, we begin to lose a bit of our ability to tap into the depths of our potential.</p>
<p>Say you are in a romantic relationship, you may find out that your partner is often one of your greatest teachers.  As much as our significant other can frustrate and anger us, remember that their love is what completes us.  Learn something about yourself when someone or something else flusters you. Why does it frustrate you? Why do you let it have control over you?  Why do you allow things to control your emotional expression, instead of your being in the flow?</p>
<p>Float above it all.  Look differently at situations.  Monitor your existence.  Check yourself.  Maintain the course, and proceed with excellence.</p>
<p>Rock on.</p>
<p>With much love and success,</p>
<p>Travis Wright</p>
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		<title>The Three Things That You Must Do To Effectively Use The Law Of Attraction.</title>
		<link>http://cultivategreatness.com/2007/03/19/the-three-things-that-you-must-do-to-effectively-use-the-law-of-attraction</link>
		<comments>http://cultivategreatness.com/2007/03/19/the-three-things-that-you-must-do-to-effectively-use-the-law-of-attraction#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 19 Mar 2007 14:36:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Travis Wright</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Achievement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ancient Wisdom]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Energy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inspiration]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Law of Attraction]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Mantras & Affirmations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Personal Development]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Personal Growth]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[by Stuart Amyes
The other day I listened to the conversation Anthony Treas had with Bob Doyle from Anthony’s 12 Week Life Transformation Series, Bob was discussing his experience using the Law Of Attraction and his cameo appearance in the movie, The Secret. Bob said, “…..The law of attraction explains how our experience is our experience. [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p><em><a href="http://www.stuamyes.com">by Stuart Amyes</a></em></p>
<p class="first">The other day I listened to the conversation Anthony Treas had with Bob Doyle from Anthony’s 12 Week Life Transformation Series, Bob was discussing his experience using the Law Of Attraction and his cameo appearance in the movie, The <img src="http://www.cultivategreatness.com/assets/lawofattraction.gif" alt="personal development" class="right" width="225"/>Secret. Bob said, “…..The law of attraction explains how our experience is our experience. It is the reason that everything is around us. That is our life, it’s everything that is around us and is our life.”</p>
<p>For years I have been wanting to make significant changes to my life, to get it working again after a series of disasters in my financials and relationships where I seemed to be absolutely stuck at the bottom. Those words definitely got my attention.</p>
<p>But, my inner critic quickly came into voice, “Just another ploy to get you separated from your limited money. Been there, done that and it won’t work any better than the others.”</p>
<p>I guess we have all been there and in my case I really wanted that Law Of Attraction to be working for me!</p>
<p>“The Law Of Attraction explains how our experience is our experience,” kept ring in my mind.</p>
<p>Damn the voice! I just kept listening!<br />
<span id="more-464"></span><br />
“….But if you can get just the vibrational resonance part (right), every thought that we have, every feeling that we have, is putting out a vibration and the universe is bringing (responding) toward it, It’s a vibrational match.”</p>
<p>So what is happening when we talk about the Law Of Attraction?</p>
<p>Here it is: The world you experience, the things that happen to you, the way people treat you, badly as well as the good, the amount of money you have at any given time, etc., etc., etc., is directly the result of the type of thoughts you have about those things.</p>
<p>The same idea put another way: If you want to change something in your life &#8211; anything at all &#8211; no exceptions, no “ifs or buts” &#8211; you first have to change the way you think about that “something” &#8211; consciously.</p>
<p>A very simply proposal, but the most difficult thing to actually do in my experience.</p>
<p>And there is more! The thoughts you have about that “something” lead to how you feel about that “something.” The feeling you have establishes the resonance with the Universe to line up with you and deliver what you ask for.</p>
<p>The confusion about action: “I am thinking, I am feeling good, so where is my stuff?” I hear you ask. And it is here that I got myself stuck with only minimal results, for years!</p>
<p>Clearly, there was a major mismatch between what I thought I wanted and the resonance (Where is it?) I was sending out. I needed a guided process that would move me from the “knowledge” of the Law Of Attraction to the effective manifestation of my desires into my physical experience.</p>
<p>These are the Three Simple Steps I use:</p>
<p>Step 1: Accept what you are experiencing now is the result of:<br />
a) Your emotional response to your perception (a thought) of the circumstances as only you can see it.<br />
b) The circumstance is directly happening as a result of your previous thinking patterns coming to fruition; i.e. The Law Of Attraction in action.<br />
This acceptance step is vital in my experience and often overlooked. It is sometimes referred to as the “Gratitude” step. Be grateful for what you have now. The Law Of Attraction indicates that all and every circumstance you deal with is directly the result of previous thinking patterns. Therefore you need to recognise that you are actually experiencing the results of past thought. What you do next, consciously, in the Now, becomes your future; which basically means that you can’t actually do (in the physical sense) a lot about changing right now what has already happened except how you choose to react to it.</p>
<p>Step 2: Decide (not easy at first) exactly how you would like it to be.</p>
<p>This is actually easier to understand than Step 1, because that step is simply an acknowledgment of The Facts of the situation and this second step is the part where you actually get to do something. Most people are more focused on doing something and that makes this one easier to understand. So, simply do it.</p>
<p>Before we go further I want to discuss what is meant by “emotional response” to give you an idea of what that means and how you identify it.</p>
<p>I want you to notice (think about it now) how you generally respond when someone tells you what great work you do or how great you look. Notice how you most frequently want to minimize these generous comments about yourself, even to the point of arguing against them. Can you see that by so doing, you say to yourself that you are not very good at all? This includes how you see yourself in the mirror. Every imperfection, body shape, hair colour/length. etc., etc., etc. you would want to change and all ideas of where you could be, or do better; all that negatively comparing yourself to others, who are always better than you are, is the main game in your mind. Simply notice how you do it to yourself.</p>
<p>By saying these things to yourself almost constantly you start to believe them and then you unconsciously act that out and all sorts of funny, unwanted events and things begin to occur in your life directly as a consequence of your own thoughts.</p>
<p>Most people I have met do this to themselves, including myself. It is often referred to as the Inner Critic and we need to recognize how devastating that constant self criticism can be in undermining our genuine efforts to become a better person in all of the ways we wish that to be. The point is: Constant thoughts along a single, general line become beliefs, which then operate non-consciously to give us what we consciously say we don’t want.</p>
<p>Happily, we can use this very process to structure the automatic, non-conscious thoughts that we do want to give yourself the life experience you do want.</p>
<p>You simply decide what you do want (Step 2.) and only think about yourself as if you already have it. This can be a fun game as it seems you are telling yourself lies; when you look, what you do want is not actually there at all; but you say to yourself that it is. This process can be proved scientifically in Quantum Physics, but all you need to accept is that it is a very important conscious thought process and is the only way you can replace the old thoughts and beliefs that reside within your non-conscious now.</p>
<p>Step 3: Picture and feel the way you would like it to be.</p>
<p>You simply imagine how you would like the new situation to feel (being happy and complete is a good one to use here); and you do this as often as you can remember to during your waking hours. I am talking about doing this at least 20 times throughout every day! Writing something short and sweet on a sheet that you can have with you and read as often as possible is a good way to do this. And then you do it, do it, do it and do it some more. The minimum time is scientifically known to be 28 days before any new, permanent structures appear in the brain to show that a new belief has developed. However, if you are dealing with a long held old belief, that time can run to months and sometimes years.</p>
<p>The “Link” Step: When in doubt, feeling frustrated, feeling depressed, less than, or any negative about your “current” circumstances, refer to Step 1!</p>
<p>And it really works: I have been without a car for the past few months and it was getting to me that I had not manifest a new one in a timely manner. For the last 4/5 weeks I have been (dare I say?) religiously using these Three Steps. Yesterday I became the proud owner of my new motor car.</p>
<p>Yes. it really works, but it takes some guts and determination that had been missing for me up until one month ago.</p>
<p>The best idea is to have fun with it. It is real, it is the natural way of the universe and you get the hang of using it, eventually! We are doing it all the time; we just don’t know how we are doing it, but we can learn and have a wonderful, prosperous, loving life as a consequence.</p>
<p>Have fun, Stuart Amyes</p>
<p><a href="http://www.stuamyes.com">Take a look at www.stuamyes.com</a></p>
<p align="left"><a class="tt" href="http://twitter.com/home/?status=The+Three+Things+That+You+Must+Do+To+Effectively+Use+The+Law+Of+Attraction.+http://is.gd/c6yKz" title="Post to Twitter"><img class="nothumb" src="http://cultivategreatness.com/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/icons/tt-twitter-micro3.png" alt="Post to Twitter" /></a> <a class="tt" href="http://twitter.com/home/?status=The+Three+Things+That+You+Must+Do+To+Effectively+Use+The+Law+Of+Attraction.+http://is.gd/c6yKz" title="Post to Twitter">Tweet This Post</a> <a class="tt" href="http://digg.com/submit?url=http://cultivategreatness.com/2007/03/19/the-three-things-that-you-must-do-to-effectively-use-the-law-of-attraction&amp;title=The+Three+Things+That+You+Must+Do+To+Effectively+Use+The+Law+Of+Attraction." title="Post to Digg"><img class="nothumb" src="http://cultivategreatness.com/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/icons/tt-digg-micro3.png" alt="Post to Digg" /></a> <a class="tt" href="http://digg.com/submit?url=http://cultivategreatness.com/2007/03/19/the-three-things-that-you-must-do-to-effectively-use-the-law-of-attraction&amp;title=The+Three+Things+That+You+Must+Do+To+Effectively+Use+The+Law+Of+Attraction." title="Post to Digg">Digg This Post</a> <a class="tt" href="http://stumbleupon.com/submit?url=http://cultivategreatness.com/2007/03/19/the-three-things-that-you-must-do-to-effectively-use-the-law-of-attraction&amp;title=The+Three+Things+That+You+Must+Do+To+Effectively+Use+The+Law+Of+Attraction." title="Post to StumbleUpon"><img class="nothumb" src="http://cultivategreatness.com/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/icons/tt-su-micro3.png" alt="Post to StumbleUpon" /></a> <a class="tt" href="http://stumbleupon.com/submit?url=http://cultivategreatness.com/2007/03/19/the-three-things-that-you-must-do-to-effectively-use-the-law-of-attraction&amp;title=The+Three+Things+That+You+Must+Do+To+Effectively+Use+The+Law+Of+Attraction." title="Post to StumbleUpon">Stumble This Post</a></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>10 Creative Ways to Manifest Your Dreams</title>
		<link>http://cultivategreatness.com/2007/02/25/10-creative-ways-to-manifest-your-dreams</link>
		<comments>http://cultivategreatness.com/2007/02/25/10-creative-ways-to-manifest-your-dreams#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 25 Feb 2007 14:51:54 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Travis Wright</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Achievement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Goals & Goal Setting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Law of Attraction]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mantras & Affirmations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Meditation & Relaxation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mentoring]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Personal Growth]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Quantum Physics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visualization Exercise]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[by Anisa Aven
Enhance your power to manifest the life of your dreams using these ten creative methods:
1) Keep the end in mind. Ask yourself, what specific quality of life will the object of my desire bring to me? Why do I want this? Will it bring more Love, Harmony, Joy, Peace, Wisdom or Prosperity? Once [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p><a href="http://www.creatavision.com/creative-manifesting.htm"><em>by Anisa Aven</em></a></p>
<p class="first">Enhance your power to manifest the life of your dreams using these ten creative methods:</p>
<p><strong>1)</strong> Keep the end in mind. Ask yourself, what specific quality of life will the object of my desire bring to me? Why do I want this? Will it bring more Love, Harmony, Joy, Peace, Wisdom or Prosperity? Once you identify your real goal, do your best to assimilate that quality without the object and you will be deliberating achieving a vibrational harmony with the object you desired in the first place. When you acquire vibrational harmony <img src="http://www.coloraddict.com/images/dreams.jpg" alt="dreams" width="200" class="right"/>or magnetic sameness with your desire &#8211; the object of your desire or something better HAS to come into your life &#8211; for it is the Law!</p>
<p><strong>2) </strong>Identify what you want. The number one rule to Manifesting your Dreams is to &#8220;keep your eye on the ball.&#8221; The Universe does not process negatives &#8211; only energy. Therefore the question to ponder is &#8220;What do I want?&#8221; The question is NOT &#8220;What do I not want?&#8221; except to identify more of what you DO want.</p>
<p><strong>3)</strong> Expect your dreams to come true. Expectation propels your desire and opens the runway for your dreams to land quickly, easily and gently. Additionally, with expectation as your fire, you will be less likely to run out of &#8220;desire fuel&#8221;!<br />
<span id="more-424"></span><br />
<strong>4) </strong>Imagine it in the now. Imagine how it FEELS to have what you desire RIGHT NOW! Abraham through Jerry and Esther Hicks says, &#8220;Your point of attraction is now.&#8221; Therefore, whatever you are feeling and focused upon right now is what you are in vibrational harmony with and are attracting into your life.</p>
<p><strong>5) </strong>Be energy efficient &#8211; be conscious of your &#8220;energy.&#8221; Keep in mind that like energy attracts like energy &#8211; therefore &#8220;what you sow you shall reap.&#8221; Feeling the lack of something only attracts more &#8220;lack of that something.&#8221; On the other hand, deliberately choosing positive feelings and focal points will keep you in alignment with your desires.</p>
<p><strong>6)</strong> Maintain a laser focus on what you want. Give it your attention. Use tools such as setting goals, writing and repeating affirmations, visualization, gratitude journalizing, creative collage, treasure mapping, creation wheels and meditation. Relax, listen to yourself, state the affirmation and visualize the accompanying action and feeling. Remember, &#8220;Wherever you go, there you are!&#8221; &#8211; therefore, BE mentally and emotionally where you want to GO physically.</p>
<p><strong>7) </strong>Be unattached. Maintain your desires but be unattached to the specifics of the outcome. Never limit the Universe by being disappointed if it isn&#8217;t in your life right now or isn&#8217;t coming as fast as you think it should. Be careful of being attached to the how, when, where, and who details. Turn it over to God and release your dream with statements such as &#8220;This or something better is manifesting in my life right now. I let it go and prepare to receive my good.&#8221; ALLOW the universe to let it flow to you easily!</p>
<p><strong> <img src='http://cultivategreatness.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_cool.gif' alt='8)' class='wp-smiley' /> </strong>Go on an appreciation rampage and preserve an attitude of gratitude. Relish the moment and be appreciative of all that you have. Be aware of every opportunity that comes your way and honor where you are on your path. Look at each experience as neither good nor bad, but as an opportunity to learn and grow. Don&#8217;t scold yourself when you make a mistake. Develop an affirmative statement describing your correct performance in the present tense, and allow your light to shine! See through the eyes of love. Choose to live in joy and spread it to all you meet!</p>
<p><strong>9)</strong> Let Go of the past and follow your heart! Once and for all. Release the fears and prejudices that come from previous experiences. &#8220;Heaven&#8217;s not beyond the clouds; it&#8217;s just beyond our fears.&#8221; Regret and fear are the thieves that rob us of today. Accept responsibility for your life. Know that there are no victims. This means really forgive and forget, live without opinions, throw out your old baggage and live fully present in the moment at hand while following your heart&#8217;s guidance and desires for tomorrow. Your heart will never speak in fear &#8211; only in love. Follow your heart and you will have all that you desire.</p>
<p><strong>10)</strong> Dream big! Ask for more than you &#8220;need.&#8221; You are the child of a rich father in heaven &#8211; claim your Divine birthright to unlimited Prosperity, Peace, Joy, Love and Harmony. Ask for all that you desire (in alignment with your values) and have the faith to relax and enjoy the journey. &#8220;I tell you the Truth, If ye have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, move from here to there: And it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.&#8221; Matthew 17:20</p>
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		<title>The Secret Teachers on Oprah, Jack Canfield Wed, Feb 8th</title>
		<link>http://cultivategreatness.com/2007/02/07/the-secret-on-oprah-jack-canfield</link>
		<comments>http://cultivategreatness.com/2007/02/07/the-secret-on-oprah-jack-canfield#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 07 Feb 2007 10:46:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Travis Wright</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Achievement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ancient Wisdom]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Career & Work]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inspiration]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Law of Attraction]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Manifesting & Intention]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visualization Exercise]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cultivategreatness.com/2007/02/07/the-secret-on-oprah-jack-canfield</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A few weeks back the People who created the Secret were on Larry King for 2 one-hour episodes.  Now, They are gonna be on the Grandaddy of all Talk Shows, OPRAH, this Wednesday Feb 8th.  TIVO!!

This is a very special Oprah Winfrey Show dedicated entirely to The Secret movie - http://WhatIsTheSecret.tv
Special guests are [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p class="first">A few weeks back the People who created the Secret were on Larry King for 2 one-hour episodes.  Now, They are gonna be on the Grandaddy of all Talk Shows, OPRAH, this Wednesday Feb 8th.  TIVO!!<br />
<img src="http://images.usatoday.com/life/_photos/2006/09/25/oprah.jpg" alt="Oprah The Secret Canfield" class="left" width="200"/><br />
This is a very special Oprah Winfrey Show dedicated entirely to The Secret movie -<a href="http://whatisthesecret.tv"> http://WhatIsTheSecret.tv</a></p>
<p>Special guests are the Secret teachers Michael Beckwith, Jack Canfield, Lisa Nichols and James Ray.  Also Rhonda Byrne, the creator of The Secret, will be on the show. </p>
<p>Let everyone know about this wonderful opportunity to share The Secret.  Set your Tivo!  DVR!  VHS!  heh. </p>
<blockquote><p>
I thought you and your readers might be interested in this&#8230;</p>
<p>The Oprah broadcast of &#8220;The Secret&#8221; will be February 8th. I also just found out that it will be followed by an International Law of Attraction Teleconference. If you want more info go to http://www.lawofattractionteleconference.com.</p>
<p>Also, the more posts that Oprah gets on her message boards about a particular topic, the more inclined she is to repeat the topic. So go to www.oprah.com and find the message board for The Secret to let her know that you want more of the same!</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Thanks to our Friend Barb at http://www.buybackwarehouse.com  who informed me of this by email today.  Sounds like something you may enjoy!</p>
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		<title>Creating Your Day With The Quantum Field</title>
		<link>http://cultivategreatness.com/2006/12/19/creating-your-day-with-the-quantum-field</link>
		<comments>http://cultivategreatness.com/2006/12/19/creating-your-day-with-the-quantum-field#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 19 Dec 2006 20:51:54 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Travis Wright</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Manifesting & Intention]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Quantum Physics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Subconscious Mind]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visualization Exercise]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[
The most often referenced interview in the film “What the #$BLEEP*! Do We Know!?” is Dr. Joe Dispensa’s comments on creating his day. The following is the transcript of that part of interview.
“I wake up in the morning, and I consciously create my day the way I want it to happen. Now, sometimes, because my [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p><img src="http://www.whatthebleep.com/images/orig_00047.jpg" alt="Joe Dispensa"/></p>
<p class="first">The most often referenced interview in the film “<a href="http://www.whatthebleep.com/" target="_blank" onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outbound/www.whatthebleep.com');">What the #$BLEEP</a>*! Do We Know!?” is Dr. Joe Dispensa’s comments on creating his day. The following is the transcript of that part of interview.</p>
<p>“I wake up in the morning, and I consciously create my day the way I want it to happen. Now, sometimes, because my mind is examining all the things that I need to get done, it takes me a little bit to settle down, and get to the point, of where I’m actually intentionally creating my day. But here’s the thing.”</p>
<p>“When I create my day, and out of nowhere, little things happen that are so unexplainable, I know that they are the process or the result of my creation. And the more I do that, the more I build a neural net, in my brain, that I accept that that’s possible. Gives me the power and the incentive to do it the next day.”</p>
<p><span id="more-310"></span></p>
<p>“So, if we’re consciously designing our destiny, if we’re consciously, from a spiritual standpoint, throwing in what the idea that our thoughts can affect our reality or affect our life, because reality equals life. Then, I have this little pact that I have when I create my day.”</p>
<p>“I say, I’m taking this time to create my day, and I’m infecting the Quantum Field. Now, if it is in fact, the observer’s watching me the whole time that I’m doing this, and there is a spiritual aspect to myself. Then, show me a sign today, that you paid attention to any one of these things that I created, and bring them in a way that I won’t expect.”</p>
<p>“So, I’m as surprised as the- as the- at my ability to be able to experience these things, and make it so that I have no doubt that its come from you. And so, I live my life, in a sense, all day long, thinking about being a genius, or thinking about being the glory and the power of God, or thinking about being Unconditional Love.”</p>
<p>“I’ll use living as a genius, for example. And as I do that, during parts of the day, I’ll have thoughts that are so amazing, that cause a chill in my physical body, that have come from nowhere. But then, I remember that that thought has an associated energy, that’s produced an<br />
effect in my physical body.”</p>
<p>“Now, that’s a subjective experience, but the truth is is that I don’t think that unless I was creating my day to have unlimited thought, that that thought would come.”</p>
<p>Movie DVD available at Amazon:<a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=mediathinklab-20%26link_code=xm2%26camp=2025%26creative=165953%26path=http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html%253fASIN=B0006UEVQ8%2526tag=heroldmarketi-20%2526lcode=xm2%2526cID=2025%2526ccmID=165953%2526location=/o/ASIN/B0006UEVQ8%25253FSubscriptionId=0EMV44A9A5YT1RVDGZ82" title="View product details at Amazon" onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outbound/www.amazon.com');">What the Bleep Do We Know!?</a><br />
Also on DVD from Joe Dispenza:<a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=mediathinklab-20%26link_code=xm2%26camp=2025%26creative=165953%26path=http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html%253fASIN=B0009I7D9E%2526tag=heroldmarketi-20%2526lcode=xm2%2526cID=2025%2526ccmID=165953%2526location=/o/ASIN/B0009I7D9E%25253FSubscriptionId=0EMV44A9A5YT1RVDGZ82" title="View product details at Amazon" onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outbound/www.amazon.com');">Mastering the Art of Observation</a></p>
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		<title>The Art of Rapid Manifesting</title>
		<link>http://cultivategreatness.com/2006/12/12/the-art-of-rapid-manifesting</link>
		<comments>http://cultivategreatness.com/2006/12/12/the-art-of-rapid-manifesting#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 12 Dec 2006 18:43:03 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Travis Wright</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Achievement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Manifesting & Intention]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Spirituality & Enlightenment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Subconscious Mind]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visualization Exercise]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wealth & Money]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cultivategreatness.com/2006/12/12/the-art-of-rapid-manifesting</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Learn how you can easily manifest your abundance and the life your deserve. There is no secret just simple steps to follow, achieving prosperity and abundance is simpler than you may think. 
I had my first experience of manifesting a few years ago, after I read a book called Telepsychics: The Magic Power of Perfect [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p class="first"><strong>Learn how you can easily manifest your abundance and the life your deserve. There is no secret just simple steps to follow, achieving prosperity and abundance is simpler than you may think. </strong></p>
<p>I had my first experience of <strong>manifesting</strong> a few years ago, after I read a book called <em>Telepsychics: The Magic Power of Perfect Living by Joseph Murphy</em>, the author claimed that, If I entered a deep state of relaxation and I pictured what I wanted with clear intent and great exception, it will manifest, I just had to let it go after I did the manifesting process. </p>
<p>When I finished the book, I decided to gave it a try, at night before falling asleep I pictured a sum of $125 on my bank account, at that time I was a 17 years old student with small money, $125 was huge for me. I pictured the sum with laser like clarity, I added great feeling of joy soon after, I let it go and felt asleep. The day after, I had completely forgotten about what I did but for some reasons I was attracted to check my bank account statut. At my biggest surprise, I saw an added amount of $150 . At this instant, I remembered of what I did the last night, the technique works, It was fantastic from then I knew, I will never ever to struggle financially If I follow the principle in the book known as the law of attraction. I never knew where this $150 where from and it doesn&#8217;t matter. With this extra money I bought other books on the topics of manifesting, I became very knowledgeable on the topic. All books put emphasis on the fact that, <strong>we always get more</strong> and It was true for me, I got $150 instead of $125. </p>
<p><span id="more-300"></span></p>
<p>One time, I was reading an article in a computer magazine about a Toshiba Laptop a high end model. I imagined myself using and having it, enjoying working with this great quality computer after this, I completely forgot about my reading and my day dreaming with the laptop. 4 days later, I had the visit of my aunt, she said she received a laptop and had no need for it, so she told me I can keep it until she need it. It was a Toshiba laptop not the model from the magazine but it was a good one nonetheless. I was then able to make the connection between my reading and the receiving of this laptop. This story doesn&#8217;t end here another couple of day, my uncle this time also offered me a laptop he said, he had no need for it and I can keep, it was a Toshiba high end model. I was once again more than surprise I got 2 laptops . Always more than excepted. </p>
<p>Since then, I have manifested so many things and far bigger things than that. I have always followed the same process. </p>
<p>1 / <strong>A deep state of relaxation</strong>, now I know the state I was is called theta. Nowadays, I able to reach it easily. A way to reach theta is to use music of binaural beat. I will provide a list of CD you can use to reach theta. </p>
<p>2/ <strong>Visualization</strong> of what I want with clear clarity and intent of purpose. </p>
<p>3/ Let it go, <strong>detachment</strong> is essential part of the success, forgetting about the process is important, doubt, worries will defeat the process. </p>
<p>Now, to manifest bigger thing such as an entire lifestyle or a very large sum of money an additional step is necessary for most of us. This is to clear emotional blocks, they will certainly arise as you try to develop higher qualities. These blocks usually come from childhood conditioning. A good way to work with emotional block is through a technique called the script from <a href="http://www.psychic101.com/cgi-bin/store.cgi?item_id=0911207023&amp;search_type=AsinSearch&amp;locale=us" title="truman">Karol K. Truman</a> you can find the technique in her very good book &#8216;<a href="http://www.psychic101.com/cgi-bin/store.cgi?item_id=0911207023&amp;search_type=AsinSearch&amp;locale=us">Feelings buried alive never die..</a>&#8216; you will learn how to remove emotional fear, work with trauma, fear, bad behavior and illness. Another good clearing technique is the one by <a href="http://www.psychic101.com/cgi-bin/store.cgi?item_id=1577312295&amp;search_type=AsinSearch&amp;locale=us" title="Creative viz">Shakti Gawain</a> in her <a href="http://www.psychic101.com/cgi-bin/store.cgi?item_id=1577312295&amp;search_type=AsinSearch&amp;locale=us">Creative Visualization book</a>, the book is great and teach you about visualization and meditation as well. Which are important step to manifesting. </p>
<p>At some point, you may want stop working with the man-made rules of getting-things and solely use your mind to get things. I have find out that it is possible to build wealth and good quality of life without struggle on a constant basis. You will need to train your mind to do that, to make a change. I know of two ways, 2 years ago, I read a book called <a href="http://hop.clickbank.net/?nyagera/h4pbooks" title="mks">The master Key System</a> this book has a 24 weeks plan to follow, which consist of 15 minutes on themed meditation to have total control over your mind. There is huge reward if you can complete the master key course. Because after you will be able to literally live in a state of rapid manifestation. This is a life changing experience and if you are ready for it, I can only encourage you to take it now. What is 24 weeks, if at the end of the training you can create the life you always wanted to have. Now, the Master Key System requires you to be at least disciplined and well organized, if you lack these qualities the Master Key System cannot be for you but still there is other very effective method to be a master of manifestation . </p>
<p>Gerald O Donnell from the <a href="http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/aftrack.asp?afid=106335" title="aofRV" target="_blank">Academy of Remote Viewing</a> developed a course to allow people to create the reality they want, the course is called <a href="http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/aftrack.asp?AFID=106335&amp;u=www.probablefuture.com/remote_influencing.htm" title="ri" target="_blank">Remote Influencing</a> and it guide you step by step to all the thing you need to know to be a master, he teach you how to relax and reach theta , an audio CD come with the course to help you with that. He teach you how to create the thing you want and the course also will guide you on resolving negative and limiting beliefs you may have picked up during your life. This is one of the best investment if not the most important investing you can do for your life. </p>
<p>If you embark into the becoming a master of manifestation journey, you want may want to read books that support your change during the journey . I recommend four books <a href="http://www.psychic101.com/cgi-bin/store.cgi?item_id=0875165516&amp;search_type=AsinSearch&amp;locale=us" title="dynamic laws of prosperity">The dynamic laws of prosperity</a>, from this book you will learn many important principles of manifesting such as giving , making vacuum to let go of the old. </p>
<p>The book <a href="http://www.psychic101.com/cgi-bin/store.cgi?locale=us&amp;input_string=Excuse+Me%2C+Your+Life+Is+Waiting%3A+The+Astonishing+Power+of+Feelings&amp;mode=books" title="lynn">Excuse me, your life is waiting</a> by Lynn Grabhorn is excellent from this book you will learn concrete techniques to work with your feelings at your advantage, it is a must read book for manifestation. The book Born Rich by Bob Proctor is also excellent you will learn what is the law of attraction and you will get examples of many people who successfully use the skill in their life. It is a really inspiring book, I read it a countless number of time. <a href="http://www.psychic101.com/cgi-bin/store.cgi?locale=us&amp;input_string=Creating+Money%3A+keys+to+abundance&amp;mode=books" title="Prosperity">Creating Money: keys to abundance</a> by Orin and Sanaya Roman is also an excellent read the book teach how to use your energy to attract things in your life, such as money, people, clients and so on. Good book, if you know how to work with energy, the techniques in the book are more powerful if you completed the <a href="http://hop.clickbank.net/?nyagera/h4pbooks" title="Dominant Power Archive">Master Key System</a> or the <a href="http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/aftrack.asp?AFID=106335&amp;u=www.probablefuture.com/remote_influencing.htm" title="ri course">Remote Influencing Course</a>. I wish you success in your journey to a master in manifestation. </p>
<p><a href="http://http://www.psychic101.com/manifesting.html">Article Source</a></p>
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		<title>Getting Rid of the &#8216;Pink Panther&#8217; Cloud of Doubt</title>
		<link>http://cultivategreatness.com/2006/10/26/getting-rid-of-the-pink-panther-cloud-of-doubt</link>
		<comments>http://cultivategreatness.com/2006/10/26/getting-rid-of-the-pink-panther-cloud-of-doubt#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 26 Oct 2006 16:59:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Travis Wright</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Achievement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Attitude]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Courage & Fear]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Energy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inspiration]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Optimism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Positive Thinking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Stress Reduction]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visualization Exercise]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[by Travis Wright
Do you remember the old Pink Panther cartoon where he would walk around all sad and the rain cloud would follow him everywhere?  Anywhere he would walk, that rain cloud would only rain on him.  Do you ever feel like that?
I liken this rain cloud of the Pink Panther as our [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p><em>by <a href="mailto:travis@NOSPAMcultivategreatness.com">Travis Wright</a></em><img src="http://www.cultivategreatness.com/images/1/pinkpanther.jpg" alt="pink panther" class="right"/>
<p class="first">Do you remember the old Pink Panther cartoon where he would walk around all sad and the rain cloud would follow him everywhere?  Anywhere he would walk, that rain cloud would only rain on him.  Do you ever feel like that?</p>
<p>I liken this rain cloud of the Pink Panther as our own personal &#8216;Rain Cloud of Doubt&#8217;.  Doubt can get the best of you and leave you in a state of insecurity.  Sometimes its difficult to get rid of that doubt and lack of confidence, however with a new technique, perhaps you can overcome this and move forward with strength and belief in your ability to conquer whatever is in your path.</p>
<p>What is Doubt anyway?  Is it fear of failure?  Is it fear of not being accepted by others?<br />
<span id="more-208"></span><br />
doubt  /daʊt/ Pronunciation Key &#8211; Show Spelled Pronunciation[dout]<br />
–verb (used with object)<br />
1.	to be uncertain about; consider questionable or unlikely; hesitate to believe.<br />
2.	to distrust.<br />
3.	Archaic. to fear; be apprehensive about.<br />
–verb (used without object)<br />
4.	to be uncertain about something; be undecided in opinion or belief.<br />
–noun<br />
5.	a feeling of uncertainty about the truth, reality, or nature of something.<br />
6.	distrust.<br />
7.	a state of affairs such as to occasion uncertainty.<br />
8.	Obsolete. fear; dread.</p>
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<p>Maybe you are terrified of speaking in front of others?  Well, I do this everyday at my job teaching technical training to students who are wanting to become web developers and graphic designers.  I got up in front of hundreds of people in the 90&#8217;s when I did stand up comedy.  And Im still alive, no mob of people attacked me due to my performance on the stage or with my presentation.  </p>
<p>Are we worried about what other people think about us?  Well, if I go and talk to 50 different people.  Well, those 50 different people are gonna have 50 different opinions about me.  I am unable to control how they feel about me, however, I can control how I feel about how they feel about me.  It is a conscious choice to not let others bring you down which sometimes triggers a feeling of doubt in your own abilities.  </p>
<p>You have to confidence in yourself to make things happen, and that when you do them, you are confident that they are going to be done to the best of your ability.  Just have faith in yourself.</p>
<p>Okay, how can we rid doubt?  How can we eliminate the feeling of fear in any situation?  Well, first we have realize that it is all mental imagery anyway that is really laying the doubt on us.  So we need to change the visual pattern of doubt to visual image of total confidence.</p>
<p><strong>Here is a method that I devised to get out of the feeling of doubt:</strong></p>
<p>First, I imagine that I have a &#8220;Pink Panther Rain Cloud of Doubt&#8221; over my head, clouding my thoughts with a cloud of doubt&#8230;. it is right above my head, and somewhat over my eyes.  So, Im gonna take 3 breaths and &#8216;vacuum&#8217; up this cloud of doubt by breathing it in, and imagining the doubt going through my body and OUT my belly button area in a lightning bolt!</p>
<p>On my first breath, I breathe in deeply and vacuum up about 1/3 of the cloud of doubt&#8230; maybe a bit more than 1/3 of the cloud.  I then breathe out and imagine it Shooting a rocket fast lightning bolt from my core.  I already begin to feel better after this step.</p>
<p>On the second breath, I breathe in deeply and capture about another 1/3 of the Rain Cloud of Doubt&#8230;  again, it shoots out my belly with a fierce lightning bolt of energy, which revitalizes my whole existence.</p>
<p>And on the Final breath, I breathe in and vacuum up the small remainder of the Doubt Cloud and exhale this doubt through my belly with the fierest lightning bolt that I can imagine.  </p>
<p>By then, I am competely devoid of doubt, and I feel that I can accomplish anything at that very moment.  This works perfectly if you are getting ready to do something that you feel is very challenging and are a bit fearful of undertaking.</p>
<p>Try it out, its my gift to you.   Lets rid ourselves of unwanted doubt by visualizing it turning into unbelieveably powerful confident energy.</p>
<p>Much Love-</p>
<p>Travis Wright</p>
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