Best Self Help

10 Wishes, by Marci Shimoff

Today is my birthday (52, but who’s counting!). Do you remember the childhood excitement of celebrating a birthday? Perhaps my favorite part was making a wish and blowing out the candles. I never doubted my wish would come true, and it always felt like magic!

This weekend I got a blast from the past when my whole family gathered for an early birthday celebration in my mother’s home. We sat around the same dining room table (circa 1954) as we had done so many times in the past.

As the cake came out and everyone sang to me, I was so excited to get to make a wish and blow out the candles (they kindly included only seven). I felt like I was 7 years old again, getting to wish for ANYTHING I wanted–and have it!

Wishes are magic. They are the energetic opening to life’s full potential–they open your heart to possibilities. Unlike goals, wishes are your fantasy dreams. You can hold them more lightly than goals. They put you in a childhood place of innocence. Being in touch with your heart’s desires is a way to connect more deeply with yourself.

Birthdays remind us that our days on earth are numbered. Some Eastern traditions believe we are given a specific number of breaths at the time of our birth, which inspires me to make the most of each day, even each moment. As Jonathan Swift said, “May you live all the days of your life.”

It’s easy to take our days for granted and spend them carelessly, as if they were an unlimited resource. What if instead we cherished each one, even treating it as we would our last?

A dear friend of mine passed away unexpectedly in October. I’m still trying to absorb the loss and the simple fact that I will not see him again in this lifetime or hear his unique laugh or goofy jokes. With each passing year we feel the richness of this life more intensely. We realize life is a gift–one with a non-negotiable expiration date!

This year I wish to make each day as full to the brim as possible. One of my early spiritual teachers said we should write down ten wishes on our birthday, because on this date the planets align for us, and our wishes are 1,000 times more powerful than on any other day of the year.

Writing down your wishes can be freeing–and you can be happy just thinking about them. Will you join me now? Remove all limits. Open your heart and believe again.

Here all’s you do:

Write 10 wishes for the year. If you could have anything, what would you wish for?
Post your wishes where you will see them every day. Remind yourself that you deserve they all come true.
Every morning ask yourself: What would I do today if I knew it was my last day on earth? Then do it!

Today I’m celebrating in Tumbes, Peru, where I’ll be speaking tomorrow, and I’m about to go off to the beach to write my wish list. It’s sure to include: appear on Dancing with the Stars, learn how to sing in tune, and complete a fabulous manuscript for Love for No Reason (that’s definitely a goal, too).

At the top of my list is my wish for you…

I wish you great happiness, health, and well-being and a life overflowing with the fulfillment of your wishes to your heart’s content. Most of all, may you be happy for no reason every day of your life!

Happy Day to you,

Marci Shimoff

About the Author:
Marci Shimoff is a celebrated transformational leader and #1 New York Times best-selling author (click here to purchase her fantastic book Happy for No Reason: 7 Steps to Being Happy from the Inside Out).
To learn more of her powerful techniques for establishing deep and authentic happiness and well-being, visit www.HappyForNoReason.com

How to Change a Bad Habit: 5 Steps for Lasting Success

Whether you bite your nails or eat too much chocolate, chances are you’re living with a bad habit that you want to kick.

Habits are behaviors that come naturally to us, so it can sometimes be difficult to give them up even if we know they are bad for us. However, with patience and a plan you can be sure that your bad habits will change.

1. First, you need to take stock of how serious you are about changing the habit. You need to be committed if you want the bad habit to change. If you need more motivation, think of all of the problems that the bad habit is causing in your life.

Make a list on paper of all of the ways your life will be better once you stop the bad habit. For example, if you stop eating so much chocolate, maybe you’ll lose weight, sleep better and have more of an appetite for heathier foods.  You may also save money by not buying so much chocolate. Think about all of the benefits and write down as many as you can think of.

2. Next, start keeping track of how often you’re taking part on the bad habit. Take a small notebook with you and write down your actions. Also write down what happens just before you find yourself taking part in the bad habit. For example, you get a large project at work and start biting your nails. You get stuck in traffic and have a craving for a cigarette. By writing down when you take part in the habit or when you want to take part in the habit, you are building your awareness of your motivation behind the habit.

3. Now ask yourself what the habit is doing for you. Is it helping you deal with stress? Is it helping you overcome boredom or release anxiety? Is it helping you release anger? Many of us form habits from one or more of these reasons.

4. After you identify the reason, you can come up with different alternative behaviors that will accomplish the same thing. Instead of eating chocolate when you are stressed out, you can practice some deep breathing techniques. When you are bored, try some brain games or read a book.

5. After you’ve decided on your alternative behaviors, you need to incorporate them into your daily life. Try to catch yourself when you are about to do the bad habit or are already doing it. Stop yourself and start the alternative behavior. It may be hard at first, but, with time, you’ll be able to replace your old habit with the new one. With practice, you’ll get better and better.

You can break the bad habit with support from friends and family. Let them know you are trying to stop your habit and then they can help remind you about your alternative behavior. The social support will make a big difference in your success.

You might also want to consider hypnosis for changing bad habits. Weight Loss hypnosis programs have helped people achieve success, and there are many other hypnosis program titles to choose from. Check out these titles from The Hypnosis Network and see if they can help you break your bad habit.

(BestSelfHelp is an affiliate of The Hypnosis Network.)

Save up to 50% on Hay House events and seminars

October 2, 2009 – Excuses Begone! – Chicago, IL
Dr. Wayne W. Dyer
In this all-new lecture, Wayne will take you through the seven questions that constitute the Excuses Begone paradigm, and show you how it worked for him and how it can work for you. If you are truly serious about changing any long-established habits of thought that have led you to use excuses as your rationale for staying on the same self-defeating path, then you are encouraged to follow the principles and practices presented in this lecture!

October 3 & 11, 2009 – Many Lives, Many Masters – Atlanta, GA & Sacramento, CA
Brian L. Weiss, M.D.
Dr. Brian Weiss astonished the world of psychiatry with the theories of past-life regression therapy detailed in his best-selling book, Many Lives, Many Masters. Brian has become known as the nation’s foremost expert in the field. This highly experiential intensive workshop explores the latest in hypnotic regression therapy.

October 3, 2009 – The Answer is Simple… – Atlanta, GA
Sonia Choquette
In this uplifting and powerful all-day workshop, six-sensory instructor and intuitive Sonia Choquette teaches you ten simple yet necessary steps that will allow you to make a connection with your authentic Spirit and experience your truth. Fuel your Spirit with the healing power of creativity and laughter and learn to choose to be true to yourself no matter what!

October 4 & 11, 2009 – You Can Heal Your Life Conference - New York, NY & Seattle, WA
Louise Hay, Gregg Braden, Suze Orman, David Hamilton, Cheryl Richardson, Caroline Myss, & Bruce Lipton
Louise Hay invites you to take the next step of your journey at the new You Can Heal Your Life Conference where you will discover the immense power of your thoughts and beliefs and learn that by changing just one thought, you can improve the quality of your life. See Louise Hay and four more of the most inspiring teachers of our time in New York and Seattle this fall!

October 13 & 18, 2009 -Defy Gravity! – Chicago, IL & New York, NY
Caroline Myss
In this workshop, visionary author and intuitive Caroline Myss introduces the subject of her new book, Defy Gravity, which explores the mystical qualities involved in the experience of healing.

October 16-18, 2009 – Mediumship – Santa Monica, CA
Lisa Williams
An entire weekend with Lisa Williams—Medium and Clairvoyant, star of Life among the Dead and Voices from the Other Side—where she will share with you the techniques and skills that will help you connect with the Other Side.

October 17, 2009 – A Day for Women – Boston, MA
Dr. Christiane Northrup, Cheryl Richardson
Join us for an intimate conversation with women’s health pioneer Dr. Christiane Northrup and lifestyle expert Cheryl Richardson, as they take your questions and discuss the pitfalls and pleasures of practicing good self-care. SAVE 50% when you use priority code BOSTON at check-out! Offer valid for online purchases only. Not valid on previous orders. Cannot be combined with any other offer.
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October 23-25, 2009 – Excuses Begone! – Maui, HI
Dr. Wayne W. Dyer
In this weekend intensive, Wayne will take you through the seven questions that constitute the Excuses Begone paradigm and show you how this paradigm worked on him and how it can work for you. Wayne will show you how you can increase your prosperity, experience vibrant health, find meaning in all you do, and live your destiny—simply by changing the way you think.

October 24, 2009 – Choice Point 2012 – Boston, MA
Gregg Braden, Bruce Lipton, Ph.D. Alberto Villoldo, Ph.D.
If you know where to look in the past, you’ll know what to expect, when the same conditions repeat in the future! In this powerful multimedia presentation filled with new discoveries, true-life accounts, and crystal clear examples, discover for yourself how to wake up from the collective nightmare of history’s war, lack, and suffering to a life of courage and grace! SAVE 50% when you use priority code BOSTON at check-out! Offer valid for online purchases only. Not valid on previous orders. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Offer expires 10/22/2009.

November 19-22, 2009 – I Can Do It! Tampa Conference!
Over 35 Authors
Preferred Seating is already sold out! We still have plenty of General Admission tickets available so don’t pass up this opportunity to earn commission when your customers join their favorite authors for a weekend retreat in Tampa, Florida November 19 – 22, 2009. Your customers will save 50% on a Pre-Conference Workshop when they order a Full Conference Pass.

“I Can Do It” Conference specials from Hay House Events

The I Can Do It! Conference gives you the opportunity to relax and enjoy a forum where each speaker offers the opportunity for spiritual and body enlightenment. There are a variety of conference packages available for every budget including Full Conference and Special One-Day Only packages.

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Continuous Learning, by Brian Tracy

Continuous Learning
By Brian Tracy

Throughout the developed world, we have moved from an era of manpower to an era of mind power. We have moved from the use of physical muscles to the use of mental muscles. Today the chief sources of value in our society are knowledge and the ability to apply that knowledge in a timely fashion. In the information age, knowledge is king, and those people who develop the ability to continuously acquire new and better forms of knowledge that they can apply to their work and to their lives will be the movers and shakers in our society for the indefinite future.

When you learn and practice the techniques for rapid learning, when you join the learning revolution, you will learn how to unlock the incredible powers of your mind. You will learn how to become smarterfaster than ever before. You will learn how to become a master of your fate rather than a victim of circumstances. You will learn how to take complete control of your present and future destiny so that you can accomplish and achieve anything you want in life.

The answer to almost every question and the solution to almost every problem in the world of work is to learn and practice something new and different. When you learn how to use the incredible power of your brain to absorb and apply new ideas and information, you will be able to lead the field and rise to the top of any profession or occupation.

Here’s another question for you: What is your most valuable asset? In terms of cash flow, what is the most valuable thing you have? Well, unless you are very rich, or have a family trust account, your most valuable asset is your “earning ability.” It is your ability to earn money. It is your ability to apply your knowledge and skill in a timely fashion to get results for which others will pay.

Specific knowledge and specific skills will become obsolete with the passing of time, but learning how to learn is a permanent skill that you can use all the days of your life. The people who join the learning revolution, and who learn how to learn faster, like those people who first learned how to operate computers, or learned how to become excellent in their fields, will be able to earn more in one or two years of work than the average person earns in perhaps five or ten years.

By joining the learning revolution, you will enhance every area of your life. You will be able to help your spouse and your children unlock and realize more of their individual potentials. You will be a better friend in helping your friends use more of their abilities. And you will be a better manager, developing the skills that will enable you to get far more out of yourself and other people than ever before.

Copyright Brian Tracy. Published with Permission

Brian Tracy University — where you can learn exclusively from Brian Tracy to reach your goals faster — Enroll Today!

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Free 2-hour workshop download when you pre-order Excuses Begone by Wayne Dyer

In Excuses Begone, Dr. Wayne W. Dyer reveals his powerful seven-step paradigm that will change
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Wayne presents a compendium of conscious and subconscious crutches employed by virtually everyone, along with ways to cast them aside once and for all. You’ll learn to apply specific
questions to any excuse, and then proceed through the steps of a new paradigm.

You’ll ultimately realize that there are no excuses worth defending—and the joy of releasing them will resonate throughout your very being and you’ll awaken to the life of your dreams.

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I Can Do It Conference: San Diego

I Can Do It! San Diego The Mind, Body, and Soul Retreat April 30 — May 3, 2009 Expand your mind, nourish your soul. Now you can spend the weekend listening to some of the most inspiring authors of today in a unique setting, the I Can Do It! Conference. Meet your favorite authors up close and personal. With over thirty new sessions to choose from, you can meet your favorite authors and see them live. You will enjoy the opportunity to listen to them speak in either keynotes or workshops, for either one day or an entire weekend event, with optional pre-conference workshops. Reconnect with your true self. This annual conference gives you the opportunity to relax and enjoy a forum where each speaker offers the opportunity for spiritual and physical enlightenment. Don’t miss this highly recommended and unforgettable experience at the venue of your choice. We are looking forward to meeting you there! Full Conference Pass - $475 preferred seating / $375 general seating includes Friday evening keynote, all day Saturday, all day Sunday, and discounts to pre-conference events. Thursday Pre-Conference Keynote (featuring Doreen Virtue) – Only $75 preferred seating / $50 general seating! Friday Pre-Conference Pass – $150 features your choice of all-day workshops: Gregg Braden, Sonia Choquette, Bruce Lipton, John Holland and Lisa Williams, and Dr. Brian L. Weiss. Friday Keynote Pass (featuring Wayne Dyer) – Only $75! Saturday All Day Pass – $215 features welcome by Louise Hay and keynote by Dr. Christiane Northrup AND your choice of workshops. Sunday All Day Pass – $215 features keynotes by Dr. Bruce Lipton and Caroline Myss; AND your choice of workshops. CLICK HERE for complete details and to register online. The I Can Do It! conference events are held at The San Diego Convention Center from April 30-May 3, 2009.

Brian Tracy University

Brian Tracy is a man of many ventures. He has had a long and prosperous relationship with the business and corporate world — thus his experience is very valuable to others.

Brian Tracy University is an online education program focused on independent, self-reliant entrepreneurs and salespeople who don’t have the time or patience for the multi-year, multi-hour courses and programs.

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Go to an I Can Do It Conference

See if you can make it to an I Can Do it! conference this year.

The I Can Do It! Toronto Conference is April 2-5, 2009
The I Can Do It! San Diego Conference is April 30 – May 3, 2009
And the I Can Do It! at Sea Alaskan Cruise is July 11 – 18, 2009

You can now register for these events now with prices starting at just $50.

Spend the weekend getting inspired and expanding your mind with help from some of today’s most inspiring authors in a unique setting.

You’ll have more than 30 new sessions to choose from, and you can meet your favorite authors and see them live. Choose to spend one day or an entire weekend, with optional pre-conference workshops.

You’ll also enjoy feature presentations of Wayne Dyer’s new movie: Ambition to Meaning: Finding Your Life’s Purpose and Louise L. Hay’s movie, You can Heal Your Life.

Learn more about I Can Do It! Conferences and check for today’s special pricing here

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