Why affirmations (sometimes) don't work

I've read hundreds of self help books and I'm frequently struck by the claims that many authors make for repeating a daily affirmation. Over the years I've known many who subscribe to this advice and yet have seen few who actually benefitted from affirmations. Why?

By writing this blog I've had a lot of fun playing with ideas to see what will work for me. So in the interest of displaying my lack of wisdom I've tried;

* repeating affirmations word for word as recommended various authors

* listened repeatedly to affirmations on tapes, videos, CDs and on the computer

* wrote my own affirmations out and tried repeating them daily

* tried affirmations once per day and up to 20 times per day

NONE of those techniques worked for me! There are several reasons why it didn't work for me and probably won't for you either;

* you say the words but you don't believe what you are saying

* you are not employing your brain power with mindless repetition of a phrase

* your brain gets bored and tunes out

* a confused mind says NO

For those of you who follow this blog, you know by now that I have some pretty wacky beliefs that I am quite proud of. Crazy beliefs like:

"Life was meant to be fun, easy and abundant"

I certainly didn't have a belief like that for most of my life. But today I totally believe that statement. So how did I change my belief (and my life). Here is my big secret.....with 3" X 5" index cards. This has also become my de facto method to;

* make it easy to write articles like this

* generate business ideas

* plan parties

* solve problems

* seduce the world (not ready to share this one with the world yet, but soon)

* write speeches

* and much more...

"as a friend said, this is so damn simple and easy...just like you Eduardo"

So lets take a common problem and show how my simple method works. Let's imagine that you have a weight problem. In your head your self talk might be something like...."I know I'm fat, I can't loose weight...it's too damn hard" A belief like that is like a bent coin in a vending machine, it just won't work!

Ah hah, I can hear you saying....dumb ass Eduardo....try saying it in a positve way like, I am healthy and fit. Good idea but that doesn't work either. Yes, it is positive but it is also not believable since you know you are fat and lazy and not healthy and fit. And after a short while your brain becomes bored and drifts away to thoughts of ice cream and chocolate instead of salads and the gym.

Here's the little change that makes the big difference! Change the affirmation to something like this.....HOW I AM BECOMING FIT AND HEALTHY or WHY I LOVE BECOMING FIT AND HEALTHY. Now your logical brain says...ok, I'm not fit and healthy but I can become it one day. So your brain buys into the logic...you can start to believe it. And more importantly you have given yourself something to think and daydream about...the how and the why.

"lazy brains like to daydream and that's why they are more productive"

This is getting interesting, right? Ok, here's the final part. Now write out your affirmation on an index card and put it where you will see it often...in the car, on the computer or bathroom mirror. Now when you glance at the card go ahead and daydream about it. Think about being healthy and fit AND how you are going to do it. When inspiration wacks you upside the idea with some idea, jot it down on the reverse side of the card. Easy...simple!

As you go about your daily duties, allow yourself to daydream about being healthy and fit and the benefits you will recieve. Mostly pay attention to how you will feel. And keep jotting down those little thoughts about how to get there on the back of the card. Just repeating an affirmation like a robot won't get you anthing but collecting thoughts and ideas will do wonders.

Now, you are using your brain power just like Einstein and Plato, contemplating where you want to go. And what it will feel like when you get there. Just try it, you have nothing to lose.

Smile, it is easier and a lot more fun to seduce life then it is to try and conquer it!

Eduardo

You matter when...

You matter when....

When you love the work you do and the people you do it with.

When you are so gracious and generous and aware that you think of other people before yourself.

When you leave the world a better place than you found it.

When you continue to raise the bar on what you do and how you do it.

When you teach and forgive and teach more before you rush to judge and demean.

When you touch the people in your life through your actions (and your words).

When kids grow up wanting to be you (or inspired by you).

When you see the world as it is, but insist on making it more like it coul be.

When you inspire a Nobel prize winner or a slum dweller.

When the room brightens when you walk in.

And when the legacy you leave behind lasts for hours, days or a lifetime.

CONFESSION TIME; I swiped this from Seth Godin's excellent blog!

Eduardo

BONUS; If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there would be a shortage of fishing poles!

Commedians as Philosophers

I got thinking to myself, where are the philosophers? Who are todays version of Plato and Socrates? Well amigos I found a group of people who qualify and they are the comedians. If you don't believe me, check out some of things they had to say and even though some are funny, see if you don't agree with me...there is wisdom!

Robin Williams (my personal favorite)

"if women ran the world we wouldn't have wars, just really intense negotiations every 28 days"

"see the problem is God gave man a brain and a penis, and only enough blood to run one at a time"

Groucho Marx

"time wounds all heels"

"I must say that I find TV very educational. The moment someone turns it on, I go read a book"

Jack Benny

"age is strictly a case of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter"

Bob Hope

"if you haven't any charity in your heart, you have the worst kind of heart disease"

Bill Cosby

"a word to the wise isn't necessary, it's the stupid one's that need the advice"

"every closed eye is not sleeping and every open eye is not seeing"

"sex education may be a good thing in schools. Just don't give the kids homework"

"women don't want to hear what we think. They want to hear what they think, only in a deeper voice"

Woody Allen

"it's not that I'm afraid to die, I just don't want to be there when it happens"

Rosanne Barr

"of course men are better at reading maps. Only the mind of man could conceive of one inch equalling a hundred miles"

Erma Bombeck

"never lend your car to someone you gave birth to"

George Best

"I spent all of money on booze, fast cars and women. The rest I just wasted"

Will Rogers

"the only time people dislike gossip, is when it is about them"

Smile, and enjoy your weekend

Eduardo

Inner calmness

I am passing this on to you because itdefinitely works, and we could all use a little more calmness in our lives.

By following simple advice heard on the Dr. Phil show, you too can find inner peace. Dr. Phil proclaimed, 'The way to achieveinner peace is to finish all the things you have started and have never finished.'

So, I looked around my house to see all the things I started and hadn't finished, and before leaving the house this morning;

I finished off a bottle of WhiteZinfandel,

a bottle of Bailey's Irish Cream,

a package of Oreos,

the remainder of an old Prozac prescription,

the rest of the cheesecake,

some Doritos, and a box of chocolates.

You have no idea how freaking good I feel rightnow. Pass this on to those whom you think mightbe in need of inner peace

Eduardo

P.S. This was sent to me by my amigo Yoda, thanks for the laugh!

Happy Birthday Jared and Antowaine

(that's my son Jared on the right and his little amigo Antowaine who both have birthdays this week)

Love Dad

It's not who you know...

"it's not who you know,it's who you know that likes you"

I've been writing for the last year about how to make our lives; fun, easy and over-flowing with abundance. Lately, I've been wondering...what is the easiest way to accomplish that? If there was just one thing that could impact our lives in a positive way, what would it be?

In search of an answer, I tried to think of who I knew that seemed to have a charmed, happy and profitable life? I could think of many people, some I knew and some I read about. So I asked myself, what do they have in common? And the answer is....."they are all likeable"

People who are likeable tend to get the best jobs, build the best companies, have more friends, better relationships and enjoy life more. Sounds good, right? But that doesn't even touch the benefits of being likeable. Here are a few more benefits;

* Doctors give more time and better care to patients they like

* Likeability is the most consitent predictor of election results

* Likeable people inspire others to give more

* They get better and quicker service from retail businesses

* Likeable students get better marks from teachers

* They get forgiven quicker for misdeeds (I need that one)

* They have better physical and mental health

* Live longer and happier lives

There's more but you get the point. Things come quicker and easier for likeable people. We favor them and do what we can to make their lives fun, easy and abundant. And this amigos is one of the biggest secrets I've ever learned...

"it isn't the choices we make about other people that makes life enjoyable, it's the choices they make about us"

There will always be the foolish few who actually prefer to go it alone. Their attitude is I don't need other people to make it. And with supreme effort, they still succeed. I'm just not one of those who wants to make any more effort than is necessary to reach my desires. If others want to help me out and make my life easier, I say welcome onboard.

Life is fun, easy and abundant when others want you to succeed because they like you. I've decided that at Eduardo's Happy School, the first subject taught will be....How to be more likeable! I can't think of a more important subject. My graduates will all be taught this vital skill and as a result will be world leaders in likeability.Now that we have established that the most important skill to attain in life, is likeability, the obvious question is how?

I've been researching and applying my limited brain power to provide you some answers. Appreciating the limited brain power aspect you will have give me more time.....so come back tomorrow! I promise you some fresh insights. I might even go into more depth than the ever popular method of...buying the first round.

Smile, I really, really like you!

Eduardo

Zen

"to be calm while others are losing
their heads is an incredible advantage"

I've been reading a couple of books about Zen Buddism and am fascinated with the benefits and teachings of it. I'm not about to become a disciple or try to convert you to anything. I do though find some value in it for me. I think we are all in need of a little extra serenity and calm in our lives. This seems like a valid path.

Research is increasingly showing that we have too much stimulation in our lives. Stress levels are getting out of control especially with the current world economic situation. And when things aren't going our way we pile on worry, another negative emotion.

So whether we listen to calming music, take a walk in the park or meditate, we need some way of calming ourselves and decreasing the stimulation. This is especially true if you live in an urban setting. It's near impossible to think clearly when our brains are over-loaded with stimulation.
Just like we need sleep to rest our bodies and mind, we also need calm during our day to refresh and recharge the mind. Think of it as an adult recess break. The key here is to slow down the stimulation.

"he who is of a calm and happy nature,
will hardly feel the pressure of age,
but to him who is of an opposite disposition,
youth and age are an equal burden" Plato

Smile, who knew...doing nothing was the answer again?

Eduardo

BONUS; I was standing in the park wondering why Frisbee's got bigger as they got closer. Then it hit me! (unknown)

Are you expanding or contracting?

"when was the last time you did something for the first time"

I'm not talking about your waist size. I'm talking about your life bucko. We've all heard that old cliche that says, in nature eveything is either growing or dying. When it comes to your life you are either expanding or shrinking. When we are young we are always learning new things and having new experiences (expanding). However, as we age there is a tendency to shrink.

Sometimes we think we know everything. We quit seeking new experiences, skills and knowledge and our world starts to shrink. Get old enough and even your friends start die off and you shrink your social life. As we age we have that tendency to cocoon and pull back from life.

For some their only day planner is the TV Guide. We exercise less, get out in nature less. We fall into the trap of playing it safe. The tried and true, old and comfortable become our new norm....we start to shrink!

So be honest with yourself, are you expanding or shrinking? Thinking about this got me to evaluate my life. I reached the conclusion that while I was still expanding, I could do much more (and I'm not talking about my hat size). So then the question came to me....How do we become shrink resistent?Here 12 fun ways to make you shrink resistent;

1. Learn a new language

2. Learn a new skill

3. Take up a new hobby

4. Read more

5. Write

6. Travel

7. Do cross word puzzles and Sadorka (No sure about the spelling of that)

8. Do charity work

9. Change vocations

10. Commune with nature

11. Seek silence, solitude and stillness (doing nothing works too)

12. This will be a favorite.....try new sex positions.

Of course thinking about this I must practice what I preach so this is what I'm playing with right now;

1. Learning to sail

2. Take a scuba lesson

3. Making a new friends

4. Very, very, slowly learning more Spanish

5. Writing more

6. Planning a trip to a new destination

7. Taking an online course

8. Take up kayaking

9. As soon as I find the right partner, I'll work on number 12 above

Phew, makes me tired just looking at that list....I just might have to quit work early, I wouldn't want to risk straining my poor brain...

Smile, the more we expand the more fun life is!

Eduardo

The miracle of immaturity

"you will never realize a fullfilled life without embracing the miracle of immaturity"

Immaturity gets a bad rap! Nothing brings a smile quicker to an adult than to see kids at play. Their goofiness reminds us what joy feels like. Joy is unbridled elation. How silly to think it should be the exclusive domain of children. Why must we restrict ourselves to experiencing joy vicariously through our kids. A life that is joyless is hardly worth living and certainly not fulfilled.

"it's not my inner child that I fear losing track of, it's my outer adult"

I know a gal who can't resist taking every swing she passes for a spin. Myself, I've occasionally taken a ride on shopping cart in the grocery store. Yes, it's true...I've been blessed with an exceedingly high level of immaturity (but don't worry, there is still room for improvement)Others wouldn't dream of such childishness. And the reason....

"the biggest impediment to happiness is worrying what others may think"

It's that insecurity that we feel by thinking that others will have a lower opinion of us. Oh, they hide their criticisms behind comments like....why don't you act like a grownup? Well, some of us don't want to act like anything, we want to be ourselves. And if that happens to be goofy at times, so be it. We believe...

"we may as well be ourselves....everyone else is already taken"

When it comes to adults the serious team is way too crowded. And let's face it, they are not having much fun anway. Now the goofballs always have room for one more and will welcome you with open arms. It is a far more exclusive club. But it takes courage to brace your immaturity.

"only an idiot would be childish all of the time...unless he was a child"

I haven't completely lost my marbles, yet! Responsibility has it's merits, but I'm assuming you are bright enough to figure out I'm not advocating we quit our jobs and meet at the playground. (we can do that after work).

Smile, life is too important to be taken seriously!

Eduardo

BONUS; Laughter is the shortest distance between two people (Victor Borge)

Can it get any better?

"putting off a trip to the beach right now is a lot like putting off sex until you get old"

In my never ending quest to find ways to make life fun, easy and abundant, sometimes even I am blown away with what researchers keep discovering. But there it was in my morning paper...The Sunshine Vitamin Makes Men Smarter!

That would be 'Vitamin D' they are talking about. And sadly for some of you, it only works for middle aged men and older. (I qualify...yahoo) Sorry but you ladies and young men will have to make do with your exisiting brain power.

The benefit of the Sunshine Vitamin for us guys is improved cognitive brain function, which measures attention and how fast the brain process information. This is in addition to the other benefits;

*keep bones healthy

*protects against cancer, heart attacks and stroke

* protection from autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis and Type 1 diabetes

And what is so exciting about this is; we get Vitamin D from the sun. So when us guys are out fishing or watching the girls on the beach, we are actually making our brains work better. AND it is healthy, and that's what you ladies want for us....right? PERFECTO!

So amigos, lets do a quick review; a few months ago, research proved the health benefits of beer. And now, its sunshine (guys only). Does it get any better? We only do it for our health's sake! Homer Simpson once said.....BEER, now there's a temporary solution! Stupid Homer didn't know that its now a pernament solution!

Smile, this is more proof that God wants me to be happy!

Eduardo

BONUS; When choosing between two evils, I always pick the one I have never tried before. (Mae West)

Carpe Momento

"seize the moment. Think about all of those women on the Titanic, who waved off the dessert cart" (Erma Bombeck)

I have friends (Pierre and Cynthia) who own a houseboat which is named 'Carpe Diem' which means seize the day. Now that's a great name for a boat but it got me thinking.....

"to live a happy fulfilled life, all that is required is to take care of this moment"

So I'm thinking the expression should be...Carpe Momento (seize the moment). I've tried to control a whole day without that much success. Too many things happen unexpectedly to screw things up. As the boxer Mike Tyson once said...'it's great to have a plan, until someone hits you in the head'.

The only thing I can control or react to properly is one moment...this moment. And that's all that is really required.

Smile, wine is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy!

Eduardo

BONUS; They say money doesn't bring happiness. I'm not denying that. I just want to find out for myself!

Why be optimistic?

"within every adversity lies the seed of a benefit so magnificent, that once realized, will bring you to your knees in gratitude"

Alex Tan had this to say...."perhaps our eyes need to washed by our tears once in awhile, so that we can see life with a clearer view again" I doubt that brought much comfort if your stocks and savings are taking a beating?However, being the eternal optimist I'm looking for reasons to be optimistic. Being true to myself I even found some humor which I'll be only too happy to share with you....

"a pessimist is a man who thinks that all women are bad,an optimist is one who hopes that they are" (Chancey Depew)

Feeling better? Not yet? Well, here are a few thoughts that might help...

1) Nothing is static pernamently. Everything in nature is operating in cycles. Even after the worst possible storm comes the sunshine.

2) Bad times make people nicer. It is usually in the worst of times that we see the best in people.

3) Maybe this will be end of consumerism run amuck. This endless desire to get something newer, bigger or fancier than our peers hasn't brought us anymore happiness. Maybe, this is the time to strive for voluntary simplicity. Time to learn to appreciate what really matters and ditch our rediculous egos.

4) As quick as things turn sour, they can turn around.

5) We are insanely lucky! We could have been born in Darfur or Somolia. We won the gene pool lottery and don't even know it (or forgot)

6) Everything is not as it seems....it is much better. What a beautiful opportunity for me to live my own philosophy!

Feeling better now? Great! (see how opitimistic I am?) Ok, one last feel good thought (I made up just for you)

"if we could only see ourselvesas God sees us....now that would be really funny"

Eduardo

Daydream Believer

"the limits of my daydreams are the limits of my world"

Throughout my undistinquished and limited scholastic career there was always one constant I can remember. Every report card I carted home to my disappointed mother always seemed to be annotated with this....."Edward could do much better but he spends too much time daydreaming". Lucky for me, as Mark Twain said...I never let me schooling, interfere with my education.

My teachers were in full agreement that the only thing that seperated me from doing my mother proud was my lack of discipline and interest. I'm sure if they could of, they would have advised mom to lower her expectations with this child. But little did they know that while I was daydreaming about riding my bike or that pretty little thing across the aisle, I was actually developing my creative muscle. I was growing more neuron connections for future use.

"our brains are much more activated when we daydream"

That is the findings of a recent study published by the prestigous Academy of Sciences. They discovered that the activity of numerous regions of our brains increases as our minds wander. Previously they had believed that our brains went dormant when we daydream. The common belief was that mind-wandering was associated with laziness.....FOOLS!

"we can spend one third of our waking time daydreaming" (unless you are Eduardo, in which case it can be much longer)

This latest study shows that our brains are very active when we daydream. And it is in doing routine tasks (like doing homework I presume) that the brain goes on vacation and slows down. HUH!

"so what does this mean"

They could have saved their money on this study. Just look at Mr. Big Brains....Albert Einstien, he discovered the 'Theory of Relativity' by daydreaming about riding on sunbeam (and you thought I was nuts). Truth is most of the great creative discoveries are made by daydreaming. In short us daydreamers are the one's that change the world. We should be admired and given free tropical vacations that last all winter long. We could save your little planet if you but recognized the source of our brillance.

"putting off daydreaming until the work is done, is a lot like putting off sex until you get old"

Now if you will excuse me, I'm going to find a place in the sun and do some serious daydreaming!

Eduardo

BONUS; Hard work has a future payoff, but laziness pays off right away (unkown)

The God you choose

"God is a commedian playing to an audience too afraid to laugh" (Voltaire)

At times I've been accused of being a little overboard in my writings. And since I'm not about to change, if you are sensitive to discussions about God that don't match your own beliefs...best to skip this article.

"we see God, not as he is but as we assume he ought to be"

Almost everyone who professes a belief in God, assumed the beliefs of their parents. It is rare to find someone who went against the teachings they were brought up with. And yet, since there are so many religions, we can't all be right, can we? Well maybe we can all be right. Maybe we get the God we choose!

"Dear God, please protect me from your believers" (I can't remember who wrote that but I find it both profound and funny)

In the book 'How God Changes Your Brain' the authors discuss the effects on your brain, based on the type of God that you believe in. Their research is based on brain imaging studies of nuns, Buddists, Sikh's and Sufi's. Their findings are remarkable.

"The God we choose to love, changes us into his image, whether he exists or not"

Now that is a sobering concept to contemplate. Contemplating a God that is loving, strengthens portions of our brain where empathy and reason reside. Contemplating a wrathful God empowers that part of the brain were aggression and fear reside. Scary huh? Sort of explains why some people will strap a bomb to themselves and go kill innocents. As for me, I call my God the Cosmic Jokester....hmmm I wonder how that affects my little brain?

"I don't go to religion to make me happy, I always knew a bottle of port would do that" (C.S. Lewis)

So there you have it from the latest scientific research....you become like the God you contemplate! I'm sticking with the Cosmic Jokester...I like him!

Smile, the God's are fond of a good joke (Aristotle)

Eduardo

Willpower is greatly over-rated!

"The quality of our thoughts and ideas are dependent on our ability to focus without effort"

Bull crap said a friend of mine when I proposed my latest ephiphany. Now my friend is one of those who actually possesses terrific willpower. His business success and his personal life are a testament to his willpower. So he is of course a big believer and scoffs at the idea that much in life is achieved without it. Fair enough, but is it true...

"willpower only works for the highly disciplined and the intensely motivated"

So where does that leave the rest of us? Are we doomed because we have not mastered willpower? I don't think so! There is always more than one path to choose from. There is no 'one way' to success or happiness.

"the use of willpower has been a tragic failure"

Think of the millions of folks who have plunked down billions of dollars in hopes that the latest fad and a little willpower will help them lose weight and keep it off. We keep trying and we keep failing. Willpower has worked very poorly to solve the problems of quittting smoking and drug addiction. So what is the solution?

"the quality of our thoughts and ideas are dependent upon our ability to focus without effort"

Sorry just had to repeat that because it holds the promise of an answer. It takes little effort to hold our attention when we focus on something we love. Those who are fortunate enough to have employment doing something they really like have a tremendous advantage over those who are just putting in time. Those who love their bodies are going to have an easier time maintaining weight and fitness then those who view their bodies with disdain. You get the idea...

"if you hate what you do....do something else or change your attitude towards it"

If your friends continually bring you down, don't waste your energy trying to reform them....get new ones. If your partner demeans or treats you with disrepect, maybe its time to replace them. And with those things we can't just replace like our bodies....learn to love it more.

Smile, everything is not as it seems...it is much easier!

Eduardo

P.S. Some wise guy once said...the only way to rid yourself of temptation, is to give into it!

Reasons for optimism

"within every adversity lies the seed of a benefit so magnificent, that once realized, it will bring you to your knees in gratitude"

Alex Tan had this to say...."perhaps our eyes need to washed by our tears once in awhile, so that we can see life with a clearer view again" I doubt that brought much comfort if your stocks and savings are taking a beating?However, being the eternal optimist I'm looking for reasons to be optimistic. Being true to myself I even found some humor which I'll be only too happy to share with you....

"a pessimist is a man who thinks that all women are bad,an optimist is one whohopes that they are" (Chancey Depew)

Feeling better? Not yet? Well, here are a few thoughts that might help...

1) Nothing is static pernamently. Everything in nature is operating in cycles. Even after the worst possible storm comes the sunshine.

2) Bad times make people nicer. It is usually in the worst of times that we see the best in people.

3) Maybe this will be end of consumerism run amuck. This endless desire to get something newer, bigger or fancier than our peers hasn't brought us anymore happiness. Maybe, this is the time to strive for voluntary simplicity. Time to learn to appreciate what really matters and ditch our rediculous egos.

4) As quick as things turn sour, they can turn around.

5) We are insanely lucky! We could have been born in Darfur or Somolia. We won the gene pool lottery and don't even know it (or forgot)

6) Everything is not as it seems....it is much better. What a beautiful opportunity for me to live my own philosophy! Feeling better now? Great! (see how opitimistic I am?)Ok, one last feel good thought (I made up just for you)

"if we could only see ourselves as God sees us....now that would be really funny"

Eduardo

Sudden insights...

"I get a lot of epiphany's (sudden insights). It's probably because I thought I knew so much when I actually knew so little"

So off the top of my head, here are some of great epiphany's over the past year. I will give them to you without comment. See if any of them resonate with you?

* I have everything I need

* The answer is always love and the way love is expressed is kindness. Love and happiness are the same thing.

* The world needs and craves enlightenment. Anyone and anything can be a teacher.

* Most people don't like to think and are happy to let someone else do it for them

* Manifestation of what you want, requires imagination. Imagination requires play. Therefore, getting what you want is fun and easy.

* Life is easier if I accept complete responsibility for everything in my life.

* I tend to forget lessons learned, so I need constant reminders.

* I tend to remember best, what I think is important or funny.

* Be wary of people who rarely laugh or smile, whatever it is that they have...might be contagious!

Eduardo

BONUS: The guy who smiles when something goes wrong, has just thought of someone to blame (unknown funny person)

Deprogramming

"we are born into greatness and then programmed into mediocrity"

I had a conversation with a friend this morning in which we discussed among other things, the way we are programmed first as kids and then as adults. We reached the conclusion, that it is no wonder we have so many messed up minds on this planet. The programming we usually receive is negative and very limiting.

"we are not born stupid, you have to watch a heck of a lot TV to get that way"

Driving back to my office, I pondered what it would be like if we could find a grumpy negative person and kidnap them for the purpose of deprogramming. You know that kind of person who is always complaining about some injustice and yet does little or nothing about it. Sure it's illegal to kidnap someone against their will but it would be for their own good?

"a positive attitude may not solve all of your problems, but it will annoy enough people to be worth the effort" (Herm Albright)

The purpose of the deprogramming session would be to make them aware that they have been running on automatic (or even worse operating on someone else's thoughts and not their own). To make them conscious that life can be fun, easy, and over-flowing with abundance. By the time we were done with them they would leave with a big goofy grin and be laughing and dancing their way down the street.

"light travels faster than sound, that is why some people appear bright until they speak" (unknown)

They would become super positive people willing to take on any worthy challenge. And as new converts I think they would be trying to convince others of the merits of their new found happiness and if not, then recommend them for deprogramming as well.

Now that is what I call a great daydream!

Eduardo

P.S. I've even heard of people who were programmed to cheer for the New York Yankees and some to even cheer for the Toronto Maple Leafs......isn't that sad?

Tweet your brain...

"you will learn life lessons, but humans are programmed to forget"

CONFESSION; I am a world class forgetter! Yes amigos, I hereby admit that I've learned many valuable lessons in my life only to forget them. I've made bold new discoveries then forgot where I hid them. I've read hundreds of books full of wisdom and yet remember only a fraction of what penetrated my little brain.

Do you want to know why the Law of Attraction doesn't work for 99% of the people?

Lucky for you I've figured it out and for a few pesos I'm willing to reveal all! This is one of those discoveries that scientists will one day figure out and the world will be astounded. Yet lucky you, you will be one of the informed and enlightened one's and all because you visited this site. So let the bells ring out and the banners fly, here is the the reason we are not all rich and happy....

"there is no one in charge of your brain"

Oh you think you are calling the shots and so did I. Poor little misguided fools that we are, we've been deluded. Sure we try to maintain control by reading self help books and blogs. True many of us put cute little messages on our refrigerators to try and remind ourselves to think positively. But the truth is, when it comes to our brains.....

"the light is on but no one is home"

I remember when the movie and book called The Secret was published. Wow, there was excitement and the boob tube was full of its praises. Oprah and Larry King had specials and blogs were all pumped up. And yet, poof the air came out as millions of people got no tangible results. Why?

"the mind is like a 3 year old, it can be having a blast one day and then the next day it can't hardly remember what all the fuss was about"

Our minds have just too much information pouring in and most of it we are not aware of. First there are our thoughts and then the thoughts of everyone else. Friends, family, co-workers, customers, strangers etc. Toss in radio, TV, papers, magazines and the internet and our poor little brains are bombarded with information overload. So we do whats easy and natural...we give up control.

"men are not born ignorant and stupid.....you have to watch a hell of a lot of TV to get that way"

But fear not, I've made an incredible discovery! Brain control will soon be yours. I will teach you how to TWEET YOUR BRAIN! You will gain more control of your mind in a fun and easy way. Sound too good to be true? (probably is but what the heck, it's worth a try).

So come back tomorrow and all will be revealed!

Smile, it looks good on you!

Eduardo

"who was the first guy to look at a cow and say to himself....I think I'll squeeze those pink dangling things and see what comes out? And then I'll convince others to drink the stuff" (unkown)

Paradox #1

"the greatest lesson in life is that....it's not about you"

I've believed for some time now that the Cosmic Jokester (some of you call him God) left a clear path to obtaining everything. In fact you could think of it as a fun easy game we call 'LIFE'. The Cosmic Jokester didn't want to strain your little brain too much, so he made it easy and put the answers right under our noses.

"the answer to everything can be found in a paradox"

A paradox is a seemingly contradictory or even absurd statement that expresses a possible truth. For instance consider this; the best way to impress someone is to be impressed with them. Or, 'the best leaders are the one's that serve others'. You get the idea!This is an emerging concept for me, so don't bother asking me to develop a paradox for every problem you have. Just go look for one yourself. The Cosmic Jokester didn't put me here to provide you a short cut, just to explain the rules.

"life was never meant to be hard and difficult, but rather like a gentle stroll down a tropical beach"

To most that would sound like an absurd statement. But I'm willing to wager that if your thought about for a long while you would start to find a grain of truth in that seemingly absurd idea. "if you only learn one thing about life...learn this

"It's not about you!

If you are looking for the solution to obtaining; happiness, abundance, business success, acceptance, love, recognition or for that matter anything. All you need to know is the greatest paradox...it's not about you. Now put that in your pipe and smoke it!And grasshopper when you've deciphered this paradox, your life will be instantanously easier and more abundant. Then you can join me on the beach!

Smile, the Cosmic Jokester (and Eduardo) are on your side!



Eduardo

P.S. If you are like many and think I'm a little nuts, then I will make you a challenge. Print the card you see above or write it on a card and put it where you will see it daily. Just think about it and after a week, I'm betting you will be a little nuts as well (and happier)

10 Things I wish knew when I was younger

"youth is wasted on the young"

Wouldn't it be nice if we hadn't made so many mistakes in our past? Some things it seems we just have to learn the hard way. But others we learn through experience and we can pass it on to our kids or others. Here are some of those things that I wished I'd known earlier in my life....

1. Everything is easier than you think.

2. Everything takes longer and costs more than you think.

3. Whatever you want to do, has probably been done by someone successfully before, so if you can get their advice in person or from a book you will save time, money and grief.

4. No matter how complicated something is, it can be broken down into simplier parts.

5. Always ask yourself....who can help?

6. Small gradual improvements (Kaizen theory) can lead to big and impressive results.
7. Spend less than you make (enough said)

8. Take more risks. I'm not talking about betting the family farm on the stock market. Doing things like public speaking can be a terrific high and worth the risk. Or how about starting that business you've dreamed about. We all would benefit from getting outside our comfort zone occasionally.

9. It's not who you know that counts, it's who you know that likes you.

10. When life gives you lemons....make a margarita!

Ok, now its your turn to pass on some wisdom! Tell us what you wished you had learned years ago.

Eduardo

P.S. And when your sweetie asks you if she looks fat in that dress....suck up your courage, look lovingly into her eyes and...... LIE!

Good Times straight ahead

"everything is not as it seems...it is much better"

Ok, I admit that sometimes even I don't feel like I believe myself. But just when the economic news is getting to me, along comes the latest research from teenagers. I have to admit, I didn't see this coming....

Today's teens less likely to drink, smoke or take drugs!

Yep, that wasn't a typo or me dreaming in technocolor, you read it right. The kids are actually learning something from all their parents nagging. Here are some of things revealed in a study of 4,500 teens by the University of Lethbridge;

* 8 out of 10 teens receive a high level of enjoyment from their mothers
* 7 out of 10 teens receive a high level of enjoyment from their fathers.
* 56% of teens have never had sex (up from 51% in 2000)
* They smoke less
* Less likely to drink or take drugs

The future is bright!

Todays teens are optimistic about the future. They foresee; large happy families, stable marriages and jobs that they want and not merely good jobs. A shocking 95% of teens believe they will get to where they want in life. In short they have some kind of a 'hope chip' embedded in their little skulls.

Phew!

That makes me feel better....now all I have to do is convince Mom and Dad to quit worrying and get on with the realization that.....

"everything is not as it seems....it is much better"

Smile, the trick to life is in growing up without growing old!

Eduardo

Zen

"to be calm while others are losing

their heads is an incredible advantage"

I've been reading a couple of books about Zen Buddism and am fascinated with the benefits and teachings of it. I'm not about to become a disciple or try to convert you to anything. I do though find some value in it for me. I think we are all in need of a little extra serenity and calm in our lives. This seems like a valid path.

Research is increasingly showing that we have too much stimulation in our lives. Stress levels are getting out of control especially with the current world economic situation. And when things aren't going our way we pile on worry, another negative emotion.

So whether we listen to calming music, take a walk in the park or meditate, we need some way of calming ourselves and decreasing the stimulation. This is especially true if you live in an urban setting. It's near impossible to think clearly when our brains are over-loaded with stimulation.

Just like we need sleep to rest our bodies and mind, we also need calm during our day to refresh and recharge the mind. Think of it as an adult recess break. The key here is to slow down the stimulation.

"he who is of a calm and happy nature,

will hardly feel the pressure of age,

but to him who is of an opposite disposition,

youth and age are an equal burden" Plato

Smile, who knew...doing nothing was the answer again?

Eduardo

BONUS; I was standing in the park wondering why Frisbee's got bigger as they got closer. Then it hit me! (unknown)

How I define a really good day

"To laugh often and much;

to win the respect of intelligent people

and the affection of children.

To leave the world a better place

to know even one life has breathed

easier because you have lived.

This is to have succeeded"

That is a pretty good definition of a life well lived by old Ralph Waldo Emerson. I don't think I can improve on that. But I've been thinking about how I would describe a successful day as opposed to a sucessful life like Waldo did. So then here is how I describe a successful day for me...

1. To have learned something new

2. To have completed an act of kindness

3. To have had some fun

That shouldn't be that hard for me to do. I enjoy learning and reading. I have a naturally inquisitive mind. And those that know me will agree that there is a ton I need to learn.

An act of kindness can be as simple as smiling at a homeless person or holding the door for someone. I don't want to set the daily bar too high. I wrote this a long time ago to remind myself of how little effort it takes to be kind;

insignificant effort

a kind gesture

a smile

a gentle touch

to a wounded soul

your insignificant effort

can mean so much

to the lonely

to the depressed

feelings are intense

your karma echoes

you changed the world

the psychic reward

will be immense

Now for my final point of having daily fun, I am pleased to report that I have this one mastered. As long as I have friends that make easy for me to make fun of I'll breeze through this requirement. As the buddist's say....laughter is the language of the God's. And I must be on a first name basis with them.

So there you have it, how I describe a really good day. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a very important task ahead of me.....I need to go have some fun!

Smile and remember what the billionaire guy Warren Buffett said....it's only when the tide goes out that you know who was swimming naked!

Eduardo

Still amusing myself....

I am easily amused

"the guy who can laugh at himself, is always amused"

It seems to me that a lot of folks make their lives a lot more difficult than it need be. Life is full of disappointment and things that disgust us. But this doesn't need to be so. We can choose to be amused instead.

Imagine what our lives would be like if we chose to replace our tendencies to react with anger and disgust and replaced it with amusement. We would always be in control. Also, it would position us to take advantage of most any situation. The gal who is easily amused doesn't carry around a lot of stress.

"everything amuses great minds"

They say small things amuse small minds, but big minds are amused by everything. I figure this must be the gateway to enlightenment. The person who is enlightened becomes an observer and not a just a reactor to life. It's hard to think clear when we are angry or disgusted but not so when we are amused. In a state of amusement we don't have need to take everything so personally.

"we learn best when amused"

I always remember my favorite teacher in school. He was a bit of a goofball and it was easy to see that his students amused him greatly. I also got my best grades in his classes. He may have been the only teacher I ever had as a kid who didn't tell my mom, I was always daydreaming in his class. I'm thinking now, he was onto something!

"the easiest way to control the masses is to amuse them"

I've been watching with great interest how popular the President Barack Obama has become all over the world. His humor and big smile seem to melt sceptical minds all over. I find it amusing to watch him on TV. I'm guessing I'm not alone.

We can, if we try be amused at most anything. And to prove my point, just read this and ponder....

"the statistics on sanity, are that 1 out of every 4 people suffer from mental illness. Look at your 3 best friends. If they're ok, then it's you" (Rita Mae Brown)

"I have great faith in fools....my friends call it self confidence" (Edgar Allan Poe)

Smile, I'm easily amused!

Eduardo

Tell the truth....are you boring?

"if your life is boring, it's because you are boring"

Just thinking about that feels like a slap on the face to me. The last thing I would like the world to think of me is I am boring. And if a person is boring, it is for one one reason. You are playing the game of LIFE too safe!

"the person who says yes most often, has the most fun"

Obviously I don't want to say yes to everything or I would now be the proud owner of 243 time shares in Mexico. However, many times we deny ourselves the zest and juice in life because we let little fears get in the way of excitement and discovery.

"a safe life doesn't come cheap"

Doing what is safe in your life is comfortable and predictable. Seems like it would be worth the price, right? Not so fast bucko. Playing it safe all the time, denies you the opportunity to make new friends, have new experiences and most important finding out who you really are. That's a big price to pay!

"the density of life today is so thick, that we too soon forget the first lesson we learned as children....the purpose of life is to enjoy it"

I think playing it safe is mostly born from a desire to protect our fragile ego. We don't want to fail in front of our peers. We sure don't want to look foolish when by doing nothing we can be safe. Meanwhile the goofball in the group is having all the fun. Nope, no one will think us stupid or foolish if we do nothing. But they may think us boring! YIKES

"isn't it time you broke a few rules"

Remember this...when you obey all the rules, you are doing what others want you to do. You are living a life controlled by the thoughts of others. This is just one of the reasons I like Mexico so much. They have far fewer rules and repressive laws. And they don't seem to mind bending some of them or at least cutting you a little slack. I'm not talking about robbing banks or harming people. Just little things like not wearing a helmet on a bike or strolling down a beach with a drink in your hand. No harm to anyone, except possibly myself.

"ego is usally the problem"

We are mostly raised in western society to comply and to step outside of the norm is to risk the criticism of others. Our poor little egos hate being criticised. So we stick to the safe and boring. Maybe, the world needs a few more goofballs? I have always admired those who controlled their egos as opposed to those whose ego controlled them. There are way too many people on the serious team, so I joined the other side..

Smile, there is always room for one more goofball!

Eduardo

"the hardest thing kids face today is to learn how to live a fun life...without ever seeing a good example"

Live lightly my friend

I came across an article about living lightly and wondered what it was about. Turns out it was about living green and leaving the smallest possible carbon print on the planet. That's nice but it got me thinking....

How else can we live lightly?

By my definition of living lightly, I mean living an effortless life. That would involve a lot of things. Not carrying around excess baggage, being happpy and loving etc. Here are a few quick thoughts about how I try to live lightly: Be Opimistic I expect things to work out for me. I easily envision that my life will improve. I'm never sure how, other than I anticipate that the universe is on my side.I decide how to interpret what happens. Because I've decided that the universe is on my side, when something goes wrong, I assume it is for a good reason. Somehow, I will find a benefit. Sometimes I don't find the answer until years later but it always seems to show up.

Let go

And when things go wrong and misfortune strikes, I try to let go of it, as soon as I can. This is when I say to myself...it is what is! Some things you just can't do much about, it has happened and the only course is to let it go or if possible take some positive action.

Good for you

There was a time (not so long ago) when I would read or hear about some good fortune that came to someone, who I maybe didn't like or admire. This would bring feelings of jealousy. Now, I've trained myself to just say quietly in my head...good for you! I decided that if good things can happen to those who I think don't deserve it, then even better can come my way.

Be kind to everyone and everything

I try to smile and act friendly to everyone I come into contact with. This means the homeless guy begging for change and the ill tempered waitress who is run off her feet. Being kind to people is easy but try being kind to things. I was real kind to my car this morning when I took it to the car wash. The damn thing didn't even say thank you! It did look much better though.

Laugh at everything as often as I can

Some of my best stories that amuse friends were tales of my misfortunes. It takes the sting out of problems when you can laugh about them. And for some dang reason it pleases the heck out of my amigos when they get a laugh at my expense.

I have a purpose on this planet.

Even before I figured out what the purpose of my life was, I assumed that I had one. It was only a matter of time before I figured it out. I just never knew it would take so long. Having a purpose gives me meaning beyond just surviving until I die.

Life was meant to be fun, easy and over-flowing with abundance

Sure I made that up myself! Who cares, it's served me better than any other personal thought or philosophy I've ever had. Ever since I adopted that mantra, quess what....my life has become fun, easy and abundant. So who's the fool?

I wrote a poem as a reminder to myself I usually keep them to myself (for obvious reasons), however I've shared this one before so here goes, it's called

'Go Gently'...

go gently like the cool summer breeze that refreshes

be open to inspiration as the flower is to the morning sun

make no more effort than the river on it's journey to the sea

be not fixated on the destination for that is the end

it is the journey to be enjoyed and cherished

your destinyis free will just say thank you

live without effort

carry no burden for none is necessary

know that life is meant to be fun, easyand over-flowing with abundance

Hey, I'm just getting warmed up, but before I start rambling, I'll give it a rest and ask you....how do you live lightly?

Eduardo

The benefits of silence

"all of man's misery derives from not being able to sitquietly in a room alone"
Blaine Pascal

We live in a noisy world and for most of us, we have been conditioned to accept the constant din. If its not the TV or the radio, its IPODs and people who won't or can't stop talking. About the only time most people get any quiet is during a holiday that includes being in nature.
So conditioned are we to noise that when we do experience silence, we have the urge to create some noise by turning on the TV or radio. Some people even buy machines that create 'white noise' so that they can sleep at night.

"don't slow down...calm down"

Silence is frightening to people who are constant and compulsive talkers. They have no idea what they are missing or the benefits that come with silence. I'm convinced the reason for this is that when they are silent, they are forced to listen to their own thoughts. Since most people let thoughts enter unfiltered into their heads, they are inundated with negative thoughts and images. Best not to think!

"we are drowning in noise and starved for silence"

There is in nature, no such thing as empty space or empty time. Whenever silence occurs, thoughts rush in to fill the void. Through meditation you can learn to control the flow of thoughts. But greatness and achievement are lost by rushing to fill the void with noise. In the stillness you can find serenity and connection with a higher intelligence. It is in the silence that the thoughts that can change a life are born.

"ah, there is nothing like children to make you appreciate silence"

It takes practice but if you try being alone with your thoughts and control them by only permitting the positve energy thoughts, you will soon become additcted to the silence. The ideas and inspirational thoughts that follow will lift your spirit. You then have the opportunity to become what only you can be..
And if what I said doesn't convince you, remember these words from Mark Twain...

"it is better to keep your mouth closed
and be thought a fool, then to open
your mouth and remove all doubt"

Eduardo

BONUS; Everyone is more interesting when they talk less!

My world plan

Imagine what the world would be like if everyone was humble?

That's it...my plan! Ok, I've got a few details to work out, like how to humble everyone on the planet. If you have any ideas, I could use some help here.

I figure that if everyone was humble then we would all be nice to each other. There would be no jealousy, envy, arrogance and the world would be a far nicer place. If we were all humble we would treat each other with dignity and respect. How cool would that be?"maybe, our greatest gift to mankind, is to be humble"

"if you haven't learned to be humble, don't worry, sooner or later the universe (or spouse) will teach you"

I was thinking about people like Donald Trump, he must be a contender for the world's most arrogant human. I must admit, the Donald has a pretty good life style, but I'm wondering is he a good human being? I have no idea if he contributes to charities or does anything but build up his bank account. I do suspect that when science eventually finds the center of the universe, that he will be crushed to find out that it is not him. Unfortunately the media portrays people like him as being strong and powerful. Personally, I beg to differ.

"humility is the greatest show of strength"

All of those 'big brains'like Aristotle, Einstien and Socrates were actually quite humble. They didn't brag about the size of cerebral cortex, instead they were smart enough to realize how much they didn't know and that humbled them. And when I think of the people who changed the world like; Jesus, Mohammed, Ghandi, Martin Luther King and Budda, these guys were the epitomy of humble. They didn't even bother with possessions, just the clothes on their backs was all they needed. No need for a Armani suit, like the Donald. They were quite aware of their power to inspire the masses and yet still remained humble.

"When I think of mankind, I think of this....fools of feather, flock together"

I hope you don't get the idea that I've mastered this ability to be humble. There have been times when I've been a little too cock sure of myself. Just ask my last squash opponent if I'm humble? Not to worry though, the universe keeps on finding new ways to humble me, so I'll get it figured out sooner or later. Right now I'm a work in progress!

"why is it that the few that seem to have it all, so often end up feeling like they have nothing"

So that's it, my plan is to humble everyone on the planet and then it will be nicer place. Now, how to do that......

Sincerely,

Your humble Eduardo

Final word is from Socrates; "if a man is proud of his wealth, he should not be praised until it is known how he employs it" (and if he even shares a little with us, we'll praise him till the cows come home)