Ordinarily, when we think
of "success," we envision a solid level of achievement that occurs
over an extended period of time. Never does it occur to us that success
can occur instantaneously, and even infinitely --
contradicting our ordinary notions of what is logical and possible.
Such instantaneous vast
results can occur when we shift our consciousness to the positive. When
we overcome our limiting behaviors, attitudes, and beliefs, life outside
ourselves tends to respond with sudden good fortune. Such wondrous
occurrences are instances of what I call "Life Response." With
that in mind, here are several strategies to help you attract sudden and
abundant success and happiness in life.
Accept the Givens; That Which Life Puts
Before You -- Life is constantly putting situations before us that we
can accept, neglect, or reject. If we accept and take up these givens of
life, sudden good fortune can come our way. For example, when a
salesperson overcame his reluctance and accepted a request to work a
second consecutive weekend shift on his job, he instantly
attracted the biggest sales of his life. Likewise, when an executive
overcame his reluctance to accept his role as head of the company, the
firm suddenly blossomed thereafter. Action Plan:
Consider which aspects of your life you've
been reluctant to embrace. Once you understand the cause, make the
concerted effort to overcome your reluctance or hesitation. Watch life
suddenly and abundantly respond thereafter! (For
additional thoughts on this topic, click
here.)
Reverse Your Wanting Attitudes
--
The majority of the problems we encounter in life originate in our
wanting attitudes. However, if we reverse ourselves and make them
positive, life can suddenly and abundantly respond. For example, one
woman gave up her ill will toward her co-workers, and suddenly attracted
a full-time job position -- her first in nearly a decade of trying.
Action Plan: Consider the negative attitudes you have towards others,
and towards life itself. (Examples are dishonesty, ill will, disrespect,
callousness, arrogance, intolerance, suspicion, obsequiousness,
indifference, reluctance, low self-esteem, pessimism, impracticality,
irresponsibility, pridefulness, laziness, and procrastination.) Then
make a concerted effort to overcome one or two of the most problematic
ones. When you do so, the infinite potentials of life will rush to your
doorstep! (For additional
thoughts on this topic, click
here.)
Make the Full Effort
-- We normally
believe that putting out a certain amount of physical effort will
produce a commensurate result. Though, this is of course true, there is
also another perspective. It is that if we give in to life and make the
necessary full effort -- expending all of our energies --
life will take over and complete the work in no time. For example, when
a consultant overcame his hesitation and fully took up a difficult and
challenging work, he realized half way through that the remainder had
already been completed! There is yet another dimension to making a full,
determined effort. Whenever you work hard, more work, more money, and
new opportunities are likely to fly your way in the days that follow --
often arriving from the most unexpected sources. Action Plan: As
situations arise, consider where you can make a greater effort. Then
take up that work in full. Thereafter, notice if life supports your
effort with sudden good fortune.
(For additional thoughts on this topic, click
here.)
Increase Your Psychological Strength
--
Inner, psychological strength is an important determining factor in your
ability to succeed in life. We have seen that those who are strong,
succeed; while those who are weak, fall back or fail. We have also
noticed that if you make the effort to exercise strength in areas where
you have demonstrated weakness in the past, life can suddenly and
abundantly respond. For example, one man moved from weakness to strength
by bringing up an important issue with a business partner that he was
previously reluctant to raise. As a result, not only did he resolve that
particular problem, but a six-month neck ache instantly
disappeared! Action Plan: Think
about ways you have been, or are currently expressing psychological
weakness in your work, in your relationships, or in other areas of your
life. Consider what was, or is at the root of the problem. Now come up
with a plan to exercise your strength, and then carry it out. Watch as
life responds miraculously thereafter!
(For additional thoughts on this
topic, click
here.)
Increase Your Level of Organization
-- At first glance, "organization" does not seem like a very
exciting topic for discussion. However, our own experience is that there
is no faster way to attract success than by adopting a higher
level of organization in life. There are a number of ways to organize
yourself -- through higher levels of cleanliness and orderliness, by
further systemizing your accounts and records, by organizing your time
through a to do list and calendar, and even by organizing your thoughts,
ideas, and concepts for greater logic and clarity. Such efforts at
higher organization have a tendency to attract sudden good fortune. One
man went through his accounting books, and out of nowhere received a
check for $5000. A consultant cleaned his filthy refrigerator and
suddenly received months' worth of consulting work when just earlier
there was no work in sight. Similarly, a business owner cleaned his
stocks of slow-selling inventory, suddenly attracting a buyer who not
only purchased the slow selling stocks, but six months' worth of
additional orders! Action Plan: Consider various areas of life
where you can raise your level of organization, and develop a plan for
improvement. Then make the full effort to carry out your plan. Watch
life suddenly and abundantly respond from all directions!
(For additional thoughts on this
topic, click
here.)
Increase Your Knowledge & Skills
--
In an ever more complex, technology-driven society, it is important to
have the highest levels of knowledge and skills. Raising either will not
only increase your capacity for success in your work, but the effort
itself can attract sudden good fortune. For example, one consultant made
the effort to learn a new software program in order to upgrade his
professional skills, and suddenly attracted a
contract consisting of months' worth of high-paying work. Action Plan: Consider the
critical skills that you lack in work or other areas of your life --
including the technical skills required of your job; as well as
interpersonal skills, such as listening, writing, presenting,
communicating, capacity to work through problems, decision making, and
so forth. Then develop a plan to upgrade them, and carry it out. Watch
as opportunities open up for you from the most unexpected quarters!
(For additional thoughts on this
topic, click
here.)
Take Responsibility in Life
--Throughout our lives, we are confronted by situations and circumstances
that challenge our sensibilities. It is how we respond to these
challenges that often determine whether or not we truly achieve in life.
Those who take responsibility, accomplish and grow as people. Those who
blame others, or otherwise ignore the symptoms, achieve less and
stagnate. For example, a man realized that his arrogance and pride were
responsible for the negative situations that were occurring in his life.
When he made a conscious decision and effort to change those qualities,
life brought him two magnificent responses from life. One Step
Further: Having said this, there is an even higher form of
responsibility available to us. By moving to a deeper level of
consciousness, we can begin to perceive that everything occurring around
us -- including the negative situations and circumstances that come our
way -- are a direct reflection of our own inner condition. If we then
"take responsibility" in such situations by discovering and then
reversing the corresponding negative elements in our selves
-- i.e. in
our false actions and behaviors, and in our limited attitudes, opinions,
and beliefs -- life outside us can suddenly respond with great fortune.
(For additional thoughts on this
topic, click
here.)
Give Objects, People Greater Attention
-- Everything in life -- including people, objects, stocks of
inventory, and money -- respond positively to attention. For example,
one manager decided to give his staff more attention by training each of
them on a new physical skill. That effort not only energized his people,
but caused the machinery they were working on to suddenly operate at
double their rated capacity! In addition, for no apparent reason, there
was suddenly a tripling of sales for their products! Action Plan:
Consider which individuals and what objects around you require more
attention, and then come up with a plan for improvement. When you
implement your plan, not only will the objects of your attention blossom
before your eyes, but the infinite potentials of life can suddenly rush
to your doorstep.
(For additional thoughts on this
topic, click
here.)
Grow by Giving
-- The happiest
people have one characteristic in common -- they are continually giving
of themselves. While most of us are fully absorbed in our daily concerns
and routines -- driven by our own needs, desires, and ambitions -- the
happiest of people literally lose themselves in the feelings, thoughts,
and aspirations of others. For example, one man noticed that whenever he
went shopping, and shifted from his own concerns to those of the person
he was with, everything began to flow perfectly thereafter. Likewise, a
stingy individual noticed that whenever he loosened up and spent money
on others, shortly thereafter good fortune would come his way -- often
in the form of inflow of money exactly equal to the amount he had just
spent! Action Plan: Try a little experiment. The next time you
meet with someone, immediately put yourself in that person's shoes --
concerning yourself only with what is on their mind. Listen carefully to
their thoughts and feelings, showing genuine interest. Also, make the
effort to control your own opinions. Make the effort to embrace the
other person's point of view -- even if it differs substantially from your
own. You will notice thereafter that the other person has become
energized, animated, and involved. You may also notice how unthought of
points of view, or fresh perspectives are raised in the conversation.
(They may in fact turn out to be more interesting and beneficial to you
than anything that might have been on your own mind.) Shifting your
focus to the concerns of others has this extraordinary capacity to
attract freshness and wonder.
(For additional thoughts on this
topic, click
here.)
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Apply Personal Values in Your Life
-- A value is a belief, a mission, or a philosophy that is meaningful to
you. Values can range from the commonplace, such as the belief in hard
work, self-reliance, and punctuality, to more psychological values, such
as concern for others, and harmony of purpose. Other examples of
personal values are openness, tolerance, honesty, loyalty, perfection in
work, respect for the individual, and family feeling. Applying personal
values in the details of our daily lives generates a great power for
success and happiness. For example, a woman in college was about to take
a test for admission to a company. Her fellow students knew the answers
in advance -- thereby substantially reducing her chances for admittance.
However, she decided not to get the answers because she valued honesty.
As it turned out, when the day of the test arrived, the class was
cancelled. Not only that, but she was later accepted at that very same
company -- a result that came to her as a complete surprise! Applying
personal values not only has the magnificent power to ennoble and uplift
life, but can also evoke marvelous responses from life as well.
Action Plan: Think about two
or three important personal values that have shaped your life. Now
develop several strategies to recommit to them. Or, come up
with one or two new values, and fully implement them in each of
your most critical daily activities. From that point on, life will
continually be fresh, and filled with meaning and wonder.
(For additional thoughts
on this topic, click
here.)
Follow the Process of Growth and
Accomplishment -- Normally, when we make progress, it is a result of
our response to the pressures and challenges of life. This is for the
most part an unconscious form of growth. Conscious growth,
on the other hand, takes place when we self-conceive that which we want
to become. We consciously grow when we aspire to accomplish
something, organize the details of our vision, and then carry
it out until our vision becomes a living reality. This is, in
essence, the process of growth and accomplishment -- the most direct and
powerful approach for bringing about long-lasting success and happiness
in life. Action Plan: Consider taking up a new opportunity, or
developing a new skill, or making a major change in your career, or
adopting an important personal value in your life. Begin by envisioning
what you want to accomplish, and from there establish the major goals to
achieve that vision. Then organize the goals into practical strategies
and plans of action. When you systematically carry them out -- supported
by your highest high skills, your most positive attitudes, and by making
the full, persevering effort -- the infinite potentials of life will
suddenly open up before you!
(For additional thoughts on this
topic, click
here.)
Use the Power of Spirit
-- Though we
can take up any of the above strategies, there are often extenuating
circumstances of life that are beyond our control. The net result is
that despite our efforts, we may find ourselves short of our goals.
However, by utilizing the power of Spirit, you can bring these
random conditions under your control -- enabling life to fully cooperate
with your efforts at improvement. This can occur by opening to the
spiritual Force that is there in the atmosphere before undertaking any
activity. For example, an instructor's class was going very poorly in
the morning. When he "consecrated" the remaining afternoon session by
opening to the Force, every conceivable thing went right thereafter. Not
only did every aspect of life seem to cooperate with his efforts, but
there was also a palpable peace felt in the room throughout the
remainder of the day. Action Plan: Before you undertake any major
activity, open yourself to the Force. Ask that its Light and Power come
into the work or activity you are about to embark on. Later on, when you
consider the progress you have made, you are likely to be astonished at
the wondrous results that came your way. That is indicative of the vast
power of the Spirit in our lives.
(For additional thoughts on this
topic, click
here.)
For
additional Growth Online thoughts on the keys to achievement in life, click
here.
