Love Makes You a Believer

As a wise person once said (a.k.a my grandmother) it would be a better world if people believed - no matter what in, so long as they believed - but mostly in themselves, and in the power of love.

Let's take a look at the traffic of trouble that congests the world as it turns in June 2012. People continue to hurt each other, sometimes for no other account than a piece of land, or their religion and race, and they continue to hurt our world.

A team of scientists have warned that life on Earth may be on the way to an irreversible "tipping point" due to forests and fish stocks declining, water demand rising and lack of action on climate change.

It seems humanity's path is anything but sustainable. New technologies have brought about their own form of decline, especially to old money making trends. The many ways of getting content for free (and my blog is one of them) have slashed the profits of the professionals in their respective fields.

I pride myself on producing 100% original content, and this isn't a copyright or piracy issue - that is a separate issue which has always been around and just came online when we did. The issue here is one of productivity and cutting out the middle-men that patrolled the tollbooth to the transition of amateur to professional; anyone can become a singer, a writer, a celebrity without having to leave the comfort of their own homes to reach the masses.

Some say that because of that taste has declined, but what is good taste and bad, has always been in the eye of the beholder. It's a general trend affecting music, print journalism and mainstream movies - and even the porn industry is in crisis from declining hard copy DVD sales because of the freedom the digital genesis of our lives has given us. Developing technology has made sex so accessible, that porn has become blasé. We can all be porn stars in our own homes - and become stars of the small and silver screen, too.

Fans making their own websiodes of their favourite shows are getting just as much attention as their revered franchise. Institutions like Star Trek have even seen past actors get in on the act. Indie film-making has gone virtually mainstream.

And accessing information has become so easy that some have begun to fear original content is in decline. It seems everyone just wants to copy and paste these days - and even important organisations have been caught out with their important reports.

So does this show that, compared to past generations, our brains are getting lazier? Although scientists believe the scare stories about changes to the brain brought on by use of digital technologies are overstated, there is evidence that the science shows a definite effect on the brain, particularly in children.

With technology increasingly becoming such a big part of the family home, parenting has become divided into two - offline and online parenting. Experts warn that parents should worry less about cyber-bullying on Facebook and Twitter, and more about sleep and memory disruption when children use technology at night, such as texting on their smartphones.

Parents used to have to worry about their kids catching one type of virus, now they have to be taught intelligent surfing so as not to infect the family's home computer with all sorts of malware. And it's not just cyber-criminals making malware and viruses, nations have got in on the act to bring their offline warfare, online.

Should we begin to despair - or is this just a case of more choice? It's seems that rather than brains getting lazier, we have simply discovered more ways to be deviously innovative. The oddities of our planet can amuse, surprise, horrify and mystify - but sometimes it's the weirdness that oddly gives life its personality.

There are those that believe it is foolish to fear advancements in technology, when in actuality, with science and technology changing our lives at such a fast rate, we have the potential for an interesting - if not brighter - future.

The humans whose ancestors thought of building vampire-slaying kits in Victorian times, are now producing gadgets like ultra-thin wraparound glass to banana pianos. Wacky inventions have gotten a new lifeline with ever increasing avenues opening up by technology. The oddities of our humanity has been given a new voice.

Are we, however, imbuing too much of our humanity into things? Can machines ever have a soul? Technology is not that advanced at any rate - and some believe that people were created to be loved, while things were created to be used. The reason why the world is in chaos, some state, is because today the opposite is true - things are being loved and people are being used.

But could practising spirituality actually be the lifeline many of us are grabbing out for? Dogma and differences in religion can cause us trouble, but faith can be a healer.

For example, here's an unusual health tip for improving the health of your heart: practice praying - at least meditatively. I touched upon the importance of meditation before (it forms part of my 90 day mind healing programme) but this health advice comes courtesy of researchers at the Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, in Ontario.

Love is the spirit doctor

The research team noted that previous studies have suggested that meditative contemplation measured during religious services could provide small yet important protective benefits against coronary heart disease (CHD) and CHD risk factors (e.g., diabetes, hypertension). However, they stated that the extent to which these benefits apply to Canada deserves study, because approximately one-third of adult Canadians attend religious services at least monthly.

In light of that statistic, they devised a clinical trial to examine the association between frequency of religious service attendance and prevalence of CHD, diabetes, and hypertension in Canada. The researchers used data from the Canadian Community Health Survey.

After controlling for demographic, socio-economic and health behaviour variables, the association between religious service attendance and prevalence of CHD was not deemed significant. However, persons who attended religious services more than once a week exhibited lower prevalence odds of diabetes and hypertension compared to persons who attended less than once a year.

The findings of this study represent the first bit of health news that suggests religious service attendance may be associated with a lower prevalence of CHD risk factors.

If you've been thinking about connecting with your spiritual side, this study provides some excellent motivation. Along with being heart healthy, attending weekly services could prompt you to engage in more social connections with family and friends. Even without strong religious beliefs, a positive faith based belief system studies are suggesting can create a meditative place to contemplate your life. You may also find yourself more connected to your community, perhaps engaging in some volunteer activities.

This will help feed your spirit, mind and body, so that the glitter on the inside will help you glitter on the outside. Don't tie your happiness to things, tie your happiness to the love you accumulate inside. The more love inside, the more immune your spirit will be to the negativity that inevitably comes along in life.

Personally, I feel happy with both myself and how things are progressing for me, even though the world seems to have been stuck in a rut of late. But we can share out the positive flow of our own life, to help others change, and in doing so change the world into a better place for future generations.

I have been thinking about a few different ways to ensure that the year continues to be filled with positivity and happiness, and everything I've implemented seems to have rubbed off on my twin flame, close friends and acquaintances.

So, in addition to believing in something, here are 10 powerful tips for you to start using in your life to ensure that the rest of 2012 is a successful year for you, irrelevant of global events - because we must nurture the peace at home first that we wish to see in the world.

1. Know that you are unique and incredibly special. There is no other person on this planet as unique as you are. You are one of a kind no matter what anyone tells you. Know, believe and be proud of this.
2. Appreciate everything that you have. Happiness goes hand in hand with appreciation of the things that we have in our lives. That goes for even the smallest of things like having the pleasure of eating nice food, and enjoying friends company.
3. Approach each day with optimism. From the moment you get out of bed, think of all the great things that you achieve each day. Negative and positive views are only interpretations, why not go with an interpretation that makes you happy?
4. Set a new, fun and interesting goal for yourself. We always try and improve, that's just how we work as human beings. Set a small goal that you can achieve each day to fuel the warm fire of accomplishment.
5. Adapt to the constant changes that are happening.Change is all around us and sometimes there is little we can do about it. One of my twin flame's role models, Bruce Lee once said: "Be like water my friend." So take change as an opportunity to better yourself.
6. Live each day as though it was your last. Remember that no matter what you do, one day will actually be your last. So why wait until the last day to appreciate life to the fullest.
7. Love yourself. Love is a power that can move mountains. Love and appreciate yourself. This will give you an extra bit of self confidence as well.
8. Understand the people around you. Try and see the world from their eyes. Usually when you do this, you will feel sympathy or empathy and you will become a little bit wiser, a little bit gentler and a little bit less concerned about things that might be worrying you.
9. Stop trying to be perfect. It is impossible to be perfect all the time. The sooner you let go of this idea, the sooner will you feel a nice sense of relief.
10. Laugh! This is probably my favourite. When you go through the day with a smile on your face, it seems like problems stay away from you. We live by intervals of reason under the sovereignty of humour and passion, and it's always best to have a solid sense of self but never to take yourself too seriously. Laughter is one of the oldest medicines of our world, it will help you achieve a long, positive and healthy life, and enjoy the time you have.

Ask yourself how have things been going for you so far? If you don't like the answer you get, test these tips out for yourself, it will give you an accurate testimonial as to how it makes you and others around you feel.

Sometimes it's just a matter about finding peace in the midst of chaos and the clutter that technology can add to our lives. Meditate the point, see what you come up with - but don't get me wrong, inanimate things do have an important part to play in our lives.

As I mention in my "Love Your Imagination" post, technology isn't evil, it is our capacity for evil and how we use technology and its advancements that need to be checked, but I think I'm onto something when I say that adding glitter inside, will make you glitter on the inside.

Because then our innovations in technology will reflect our humanity within, not be the substitute for it. When we learn to love each other, we discover that there is no metal substitute to feelings; we must appreciate and embrace things, but we must cherish all living things.

I believe that, because love has made me a believer. And if you believe, it can make a believer out of you, too.

Yours in love,

Fuel Yourself With Love

Look at your body as if it were a race car. Would you put in cheap fuel? Absolutely not. Yet that is what millions of people do every day, even though they have high demands on their mental and physical performance (especially in the workplace).

But poor fuel leads to poor performance and low energy. Love is a great fuel, and combining fuel for our thoughts with the primary fuel for our bodies, food - you can fix your performance problems by eating for all day energy.

That's the little secret experts want to let you in on. The best sources of energy don't come from an energy drink in a can or a shot in the arm. They come from your plate. Read on to find out what experts say you need to get energised.

A note on energy drinks

Now experts are not saying that energy drinks don't make you more alert, but many of these drinks contain caffeine, sugar and other ingredients which can over stimulate your body, and if consumed over time, can lead to adrenal burnout (leaving you chronically fatigued).

Take note that the research of caffeine in coffee is still in its infancy, and I'm not saying that because I like my cup of joe. There has been evidence that caffeine or coffee is linked to a reduced risk of diabetes and dementia. Results show that older adults who have mildly impaired memories won't worsen to Alzheimer's disease thanks to about three cups of coffee a day. The results support previous findings in mice.

Is coffee healthy for you?

Blood caffeine levels at the beginning of the study were 51% lower in people with mild cognitive impairment who progressed to dementia in two to four years of follow-up. Meanwhile, those who had stable mild cognitive impairment had caffeine levels equivalent to several cups of coffee. In fact, none of these people with that level of caffeine developed Alzheimer's disease during the study period.

Coffee v smoothies: Which is better for you?

In mice, the researchers had found that caffeine interacts with some ingredient in coffee to boost blood levels of a critical factor that fights against dementia. While they do not say that drinking coffee will definitely shield you, moderate consumption could reduce your risk of Alzheimer's or delay its onset.

Moderate caffeine/coffee intake also appears to reduce the risk of several other diseases related to ageing, including Parkinson's disease, stroke, type II diabetes, and breast cancer. Green tea also has caffeine, and according to experts regularly drinking green tea could protect the brain against Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia. The benefits of green tea are explained more later, as it's one of the suggestions for energy given by the experts in the list further down.

Does green tea guard against dementia?

However, nutritionists warn that energy drinks are a different story entirely. I recently met a nutrition colleague who knew first hand the consequences of regularly consuming energy drinks. When she was in college, Sarah used to work for a very well-known energy drink company. She and her friends would regularly receive cases of the drink to take home after their shifts. At first, she really liked having constant access to the product; she would drink a couple of cans a day and the energy boost would last throughout most of the day.

After the first two months, those two cans a day turned into four cans and Sarah discovered that she didn't function as well without the drink. After realizing her dependence on it, she began to cut down on her consumption and eventually eliminated it altogether. During this time she experienced caffeine withdrawal symptoms, such as headaches, anxiety and irritability.

Sarah's story is more common than you think; many people in this country regularly consume energy drinks on a daily basis in an attempt to make up for a lack of sleep or a poor diet. I'll admit that the idea that a flashy can filled with liquid will give you energy that lasts for hours is pretty sweet. But in real life, that energy always comes at a price.

If you want the benefits of an energy boost without the crash, pay close attention to the below statement.

"A proper diet is the key to long lasting energy."

Here's what experts suggest you can use food to refuel your body and truly deliver all-day energy.

1. Blast fatigue with Bs. B vitamins fuel your energy levels. It's not so much that B vitamins shock your body with energy, as much as they help to maintain healthy energy levels. B vitamins, B-12 in particular, feed your nervous system and encourage mental clarity and concentration and memory function. B-12 is also involved in red blood cell formation, which is crucial in preventing anaemia (the deficiency of red blood cells). Anaemia can also cause fatigue and low energy levels and a B-12 deficiency can lead to anaemia (or make someone who is anaemic worse). B vitamins also boost your mood and help ward off feelings of depression.

   Eating a diet rich in B vitamins is key to sustain a steady influx of energy all day long. Foods rich in B vitamins are:

   • Avocados
   • Dairy
   • Meats/seafood
   • Organ meats
   • Eggs
   • Caviar
   • Green Peas
   • Yams
   • Broccoli
   • Asparagus
   • Turnip Greens
   • Bell Peppers
   • Spinach
   • Peanuts
   • Sunflower seeds
   • Cashews
   • Hazelnuts

   Nutritionists recommend eating at least one serving of B vitamin rich food with each meal for sustained energy that lasts.

2. Get your zing with zinc. Zinc, like B vitamins, is crucial for your energy levels. Zinc is an essential mineral that is needed for a healthy immune system, and supports growth and development. Zinc is also involved in energy production because it helps to make enzymes that we need in order to make energy. Symptoms of zinc deficiency include lethargy and low stamina. And for you guys reading this article, another reason to sneak in more zinc into your diet is that it increases libido. Oysters are very rich in zinc, are also a well-known aphrodisiac.

   Foods that contain the most absorbable form of zinc are:

   • Shellfish (particularly oysters)
   • Eggs
   • Poultry
   • Liver
   • Meat
   • Yoghurt

   Foods such as: Shitake mushrooms, spinach, asparagus, pumpkin seeds and green peas are good sources of zinc, but the zinc in these foods are not as well-absorbed as those listed above.

3. Antioxidant C. Vitamin C is not known for energy boosts. This antioxidant generally doesn't improve energy levels independently, but works in conjunction with other nutrients to encourage healthy energy levels. For example, I briefly discussed further above in this article how experts suggest a deficiency in B vitamins can cause or add to an existing anaemia. Anaemia occurs when there are a lower than normal number of red blood cells. Red blood cells are responsible for bringing oxygen to your body's tissues. Iron is needed to create healthy red blood cells; without sufficient iron levels, a person will develop iron deficiency anaemia and can develop constant fatigue and low energy. Vitamin C increases the absorption of vegetarian forms of iron (non-heme) found in foods such as, eggs and spinach, so that your body gets the iron it needs and so your energy levels stay high.

   If you're anaemic, be sure to eat foods rich in heme iron (meats, seafood organ meats) and non-heme iron and remember to always include a little Vitamin C.

   Foods rich in vitamin C include:

   • Strawberries
   • Citrus fruits
   • Bell Peppers
   • Kiwi
   • Guavas
   • Papayas
   • Broccoli
   • Cauliflower
   • Brussels sprouts
   • Red and green hot chilli peppers
   • Kale
   • Mustard greens
   • Thyme
   • Parsley
4. Green tea - grab the green. Green tea consumption has exploded in recent years. One of the reasons for its popularity is its antioxidant levels, which have anti-cancer properties. Green tea also has B vitamins, which help to maintain normal energy levels and aid in how your body metabolises carbohydrates. If you are worried about your caffeine intake, although green tea contains caffeine (on average 15-50 mg per 8 oz. cup), it's still lower than an 8oz cup of coffee, which can contain anywhere from 90-120mg.

   If you want to further minimize stimulant intake, consider purchasing a green tea with lower levels of caffeine, such as Japanese Bancha or decaffeinated green tea. Also buy loose green tea, loose green tea contains less caffeine than tea in a tea bag.

The next time you feel your energy levels dropping, instead of reaching for a cold energy drink, fill your plate with the energy boosting foods the experts suggest, you won't be disappointed.

Food is as powerful as drugs

If your diet consists of processed foods and highly caffeinated processed beverages like pre-packaged energy drinks, you're setting yourself up for even more stress than your day is already throwing at you. Some research shows that excessive consumption of caffeine can lead to anxiety. The solution is to use diet to calm your stress, rather than elevate it. Experts warn we need to religiously nourish our body with proper nutrition, exercise, recreation, sleep and relaxation techniques.

Nutrition experts say that a prescription for healthy living, and one which pretty much guarantees to flip your fat-burning switch to the "on" position by avoiding the trigger of excess insulin to make you fat, is the group four foods. Food you can hunt, fish, gather, or pluck.

Slash your stress using your diet

What can bring down the strongest individual down, but cannot be avoided? Stress. It's a silent but deadly killer. Stress can break your body down both mentally and physically; it can lower your immune system and can create inflammation in the body.

Foods that relieve stress.

However, it's not all gloom and doom - the good news is your body can repair itself when given the right materials. One of your body's best defences against stress is food. If you're stressed out, a lack of a nutritious food will make a bad situation worse.

If your daily diet consists of vending machine treats, fast food and cola and averages about four hours sleep per night, then you're in for a fall. Eventually, the lack of sleep and poor diet and onset of stress which these will bring is certain to drain you mentally and physically.

You'll feel physically weak and notice you pick up colds pretty easily. But even when we see the signs, we refuse to listen to our bodies. Despite feeling "out of sorts", we will obstinately chalk up our low energy to life or on-the-job stress.

If this strikes a chord with you, do some damage control. See how you feel inside. Do you feel hollow? Are you unable to get rid of your sluggishness?

These are signs you need to change how you eat, and fuel yourself with some much need love - with the right foods.

Experts say this can be done by rebuilding your diet from the ground up. You will still have to deal with stress, but your diet will help to counteract it.

Your diet will be a work in progress, but that's life! The point is, your diet will help to heal your body of stress related damage.

The key components of fighting stress with food that experts have shared are centred on healing the body, while simultaneously promoting calm. I provide an example of one such nutritional plan below. Some will be an emphasis on informatioon already shared above, but with a focus on zapping stress.

1. Healing your adrenal glands. The adrenals are small glands that sit on top of the kidneys; they look like little top hats. At first glance, these tiny glands seem insignificant, but don't be fooled - they pack quite a punch.

   The adrenals are made up of two distinct parts: the medulla and the cortex. The medulla secrets adrenaline, which helps your body deal with high stress; the cortex releases cortisol which reduces inflammation within the body. The adrenals will try to keep your body balanced by producing the necessary hormones, however, if you've been under stress for a long time, you run the risk of adrenal fatigue. Many people suffer from adrenal fatigue without even knowing it; one of the tell-tale symptoms is a constant, tired feeling.

   The adrenals need specific nutrients to function well: protein, water, fat, salt, B vitamins and Vitamin C. Good examples of ideal, healthy fats are: Extra virgin olive oil, Omega 3 rich wild caught salmon, avocados walnuts, chia and flax seeds. Quality sources of protein include: Chicken, fish, red meat, eggs and nuts. The B vitamins present in the foods spinach, parsley, broccoli, beets, mustard greens and asparagus are great for promoting a healthy nervous system - an important component to managing stress. Great sources of Vitamin C include: Berries, peppers, kiwi, guava, papaya, citrus fruits and tomatoes.

   The great thing about tomatoes is that they get better for you once you cook or process it, as they are packed full of an important nutrient called Lycopene. The cooking process can actually increase Lycopene content by 50%, which can protect the skin against the Sun's UV rays, and which scientists think may cut the risk of certain diseases.

   Let's not forget the salt, as the adrenals need it. I know that a lot of people are fearful of sodium, but the salt that I am talking about is quality, unrefined sea salt, such as Celtic sea salt. This salt is rich in trace minerals, the adrenals need these minerals to function correctly. You can find Celtic Sea Salt online or in your local health food store.

   Stress causes inflammation and feeding your adrenals helps to keep inflammation low. Inflammation is responsible for causing pain and disease - two things that everyone can do without.

2. Ante up with antioxidants. Antioxidants help to protect cells from damage. Every day we are faced with toxins in our air, food and water that cause oxidative stress in the body; antioxidants act as tiny soldiers that fight back against these toxins. Think of oxidative stress as rust on a metal pipe - antioxidants help to prevent this rust from forming. If you are under serious internal stress and dealing with environmental stress, antioxidants should definitely be part of your diet.

   Antioxidants are key to ageless beauty.

   The most common antioxidants are Vitamins C and E. Foods rich in antioxidants are as delicious as they are powerful. Foods that contain antioxidants are: Berries, citrus fruits, avocados, spinach, sunflower seeds and almonds. Green tea also contains antioxidants, such as catechins. According to a 2004 Harvard health publication, catechins are even more powerful than vitamins C and E in preventive oxidative stress. Drinking green tea also reduces the risk for several cancers, including, skin, lung, breast, bladder and colon.

3. Silence stress with serotonin. Do you know the warm, tingling you feel when you're in a good mood? That's the rush of the hormone serotonin being released from your brain. Serotonin is the "feel good hormone" and is crucial to battling stress. Your serotonin levels are directly related to your mood. The higher your levels of serotonin, the better you'll be able to handle stress.

   Serotonin is produced from the amino acid, tryptophan. Tryptophan is found in a variety of foods; the foods with the highest levels are:

   • Shrimp
   • Turkey
   • Cod
   • Tuna
   • Chicken
   • Halibut
   • Calf Liver
   • Spinach
   • Venison
   • Asparagus
   • Salmon
   • Mustard greens
   • Kelp
   • Eggs
   • Cheese

   A word on cheese, we do worry about our waistline when eating cheese due to its high fat content, and alkaline diets label it is highly acidic, but it's worth remembering that cheese has protein, and calcium which is also necessary for strong bones and teeth. The chewiness and flavour of cheese also stops the erosion of our teeth by counteracting the acidity of foods like fruit and sugary drinks, as it stimulates saliva (the body's own defence system) neutralising the mouth against acid. If we keep our portion sizes moderate, it shouldn't be a problem. Use a mature cheese, as it has a stronger flavour, and less will go a lot longer.

   Serotonin is also released when you exercise. This makes sense since a workout is one of the best stress relievers - yet another great reason to get out there and bust a sweat!

We can't hide away from the world, isolation is not the answer, so we need to learn how to cope with stress. You can definitely take action to minimise it. That's how you can beat stress through good nutrition.

And when you fuel yourself with love, you'll discover you have the energy to take on the stress of the world!

Yours in love,

Love Makes Everything Work

The life we lead is because of the choices we make. These are the friends we've chosen. This is how we've decided to spend our time. This is how we've decided to take care of ourselves. Our choice alone. If we want our lives to change, we have to take responsibility for the world we create for ourselves. When we learn how to do this we can make our dreams come true.

Tell me if this sound familiar to you: Nothing works. You keep trying but nothing works. You've tried everything - or so you tell yourself.

The truth is: you've tried everything you know. And everything you know doesn't work. But you keep trying anyway. Because that's all you know. It's all your subconscious knows.

You want to make more money but you just can't find a way. You have these blocks that stop you from making the kind of money you want.

These blocks are planted on your subconscious mind. No matter what you do or try nothing works. And it's only because you've given your subconscious the wrong instructions.

Click here to rewire your mindset for success!

Instead of getting it to bring you the wealth you want, it's creating more struggle. Why? Because it's just following your thoughts and beliefs about money.

Do you think it's hard to make money? That you don't know how to make money? That you can't make ends meet? That you have to work hard? Or that you're just not one of the lucky people? That you weren't born into wealth.

If you think or believe any of the above or anything similar you'll always struggle to make money. No matter what you do, nothing will work and nothing will change. And it will only get worse. Because the longer you hold these limiting beliefs about money, the longer you continue leave those blocks in place - the worse things will get.

So turn things around today. Begin removing those blocks that prevent you from making money. Get rid of the limiting beliefs that stop you from making and having more. Get your subconscious to bring you the money you want.

You can make more money. You can make as much as you want and more. When you believe you can, you will.

And you can. You can get your subconscious mind to bring you the wealth you want. You can attract the money you need. You can make the right choices. You don't have to struggle. You don't have to work hard to make more money. You don't have to sacrifice everything. Believe in yourself and get your subconscious mind to create the wealth you want and deserve.

Make your dreams come true

I've spent most of my life learning how to make my dreams come true. It's my passion and my obsession. Today I want to share the top 5 lifestyle strategies from the experts so you can do the same.

This stuff doesn't require superhuman effort and it isn't restricted to a fortunate few. I spend every day doing the things I love, with people I respect, to create products and art I believe in. I had no special advantages. Anyone can do this stuff - including YOU, no - strike that - ESPECIALLY you.

Start by focusing on these 5 strategies.

1. Get clear on your purpose. Want to make your dreams come true? Clarifying your purpose is the single most effective thing you can possibly do.

   Having a clear understanding of your purpose allows you to make decisions quickly and easily. It keeps your goals on track. It helps you avoid mistakes and keeps you out of trouble. And it forms a simple quick-reference check-list for evaluating any commitment or action.

   Everything in your life is oriented around the compass needle of your purpose. If you're not sure what your purpose is, don't worry. That's normal. Get a notebook and pen and write down the vision for your life.

   And remember: your purpose must be relevant to you. Why? Because its YOUR purpose. Although it's great to "do more to serve your community" or "build a healthy body" or "enrich your vocabulary by reading the classics", if you don't care about those things then you'll be doing them a disservice to do them half-heartedly - and doing yourself a disservice most of all! Don't buy into a salesman's hype that they know what you need is what they have to sell you. This short life is yours to live as you see fit. Get comfortable with yourself, and know that it's okay to like the things you like and to pursue your own path. If your passion is good, and connected to true inner source, then it will be the right path - for you.

2. Follow a plan. You might reach a goal or two through guesswork and intuition, but that's just luck at best. And without a map you'll probably circumnavigate the globe to walk across the street. Maximise your effectiveness - and keep your weaknesses in check - by following a plan.

   It's actually pretty simple to chart your way to any goal IF you use these two strategies: deadlines and accountability.

   Deadlines force you to get serious, to meet your targets, and to own up when you're not staying true to your plan. Without firm deadlines it's too easy to make excuses in life, for instance to get caught up in endless email checking loops, or to sidetrack yourself with busywork that has nothing to do with your goal.

   And that's where accountability comes in. You need some way to keep yourself on track. I'm not saying you're going to lie to yourself and dream up all these great stories about things you've never really done - although I've known a few people who fall into that trap. I'm saying memory is fallible, and it's easy to imagine you're accomplishing more than you really are, just because you're "working on it". A system of accountability gives you a way to track your progress.

   These are your tools. Use them and you can accomplish any task you set for yourself.

3. Houseclean your life. Recognise that you can't possibly do everything, and you can't be all things to all people.

   Know also that in choosing to do one thing, you're also choosing not to do an awful lot of other things. Commit to people, actions or things only when they're in line with Item 1 on this list - your Purpose. Now if you make your purpose LOVE, to help others, then there can be no passion more powerful to help blast away the cobwebs of a life stagnant from procrastination.

   And for most of us, that requires some housecleaning. It's important to "clean house" on a regular basis, and to remove from your life those material things, practices and relationships that are no longer aligned with your goals. That includes people who drag you down, who you spend time with out of sheer obligation, who prey on your good nature, or who pull you back into bad habits when you're trying to change.

   Remove the superfluous from your life, and like a sculptor carve away absolutely everything that doesn't match the ideal vision in your head. When you do, new opportunities you never imagined will rush in to fill that space. You'll find it much easier to focus on those things that truly matter to you, and those dreams you're determined to make come true. If you're clear on your purpose, you'll also find it much easier to keep fresh clutter out of your life.

   Remember to pause every 4 to 6 months to reassess. Clutter has a way of creeping back in, just like dust in a room. Houseclean any new distractions and get back on track.

4. Embrace responsibility for your life. I think it needs to be said flat out, because so much of society sends us the opposite message. YOU are responsible for yourself. Responsible for what you do. Responsible for who you are. Responsible for the way you face the world and deal with it. You aren't a victim of your childhood or your past or your circumstances - unless you choose to be. There are no excuses.

   That's a tremendously empowering realisation, or at least it was for me. When I realised I was responsible for myself, I stopped making excuses and I stopped waiting for others to help me. Instead, I started changing my life.

   No, it's not easy. Nothing worthwhile is. But it DOES get easier if you're clear about your purpose and you embrace it with passion. When you're driven by that purpose, when every action you take is aligned with it, it's easy to stay on track and nail every goal you set for yourself.

5. Focus on direct alternatives. The actions you take to solve a particular problem or to make a change in your life break down into two categories: direct actions and indirect actions.

   Indirect actions are things that require the cooperation of other people. In other words, they aren't entirely in your control. If you think the only way for you to be happy is for your spouse to work out with you, then you've based your happiness on an indirect solution to your needs.

   Direct actions, on the other hand, are actions that you can take right now. They don't require asking permission. They don't require changing the world. They don't require attempting to force someone else to do something.

   When it comes to setting goals, all or almost all the steps you take toward your goal should be based on direct actions. That puts YOU firmly in control of your own destiny. To do anything less is to hand someone else control of your life.

So that's it. There's no magic potion. Dreams aren't bestowed from above. You have to reach out and take them. All it requires is hard work, strategy and the determination to see it through.

The truth about productivity

Many people believe there is a fancy, complex answer for being productive. Alas, it's simply "just doing it" and staying focused. But multi-tasking is so much more fun. However, slow and steady beats multi-tasking every time, because nothing ever comes to one, that is worth having, except as a result of hard work.

At a press conference early in his presidency, Dwight Eisenhower was asked for the name of his favourite author. "Harry Sinclair Drago," said Eisenhower.

The reporters looked puzzled. They obviously hadn't heard of Drago, even though he'd written several classics of western fiction, including Suzanna: A Romance of Early California and Whispering Sage.

So they asked Eisenhower for his second favourite. "Bliss Lomax," replied Eisenhower. If nothing else, this proved that Eisenhower was consistent, because that was a pen name used by, you guessed it, Harry Sinclair Drago.

Drago used at least eight additional pen names. He needed all those names because he wrote a lot. Over the course of his career, he wrote short stories, screenplays, articles, and more than a hundred novels. More than three full-length novels a year for 30 years.

When Syracuse University announced that it would be the custodian of Drago's papers, the thing that seemed to fascinate reporters the most was the amount he wrote. One of them asked him: "How did you write over a hundred books?"

"Four pages a day," replied Drago. That was an indication of his strategy, of making things work for you, one small step at a time.

1. Take one bite out of life at a time. Harry Sinclair Drago knew that, often, the secret of accomplishing big things is to break the big task into lots of small tasks. There's an old joke that illustrates the point.

   Question: "How do you eat an elephant?"

   Answer: "One bite at a time."

   You can make it a big bite or a small one. I bet Drago didn't start out writing four pages a day. It might have been as little as one hundred words.

   By breaking your big projects into little action steps and doing at least one step a day, you can accomplish great things. Just don't keep all your action steps in your head.

2. Get out of your head. I've met people who get the "baby steps" concept, but they still don't get anywhere because they never get to the action part. They come up with action steps like "Think about the plot for the novel" or "Analyse marketing options" or "I'll do this tomorrow".

   Those sound like action steps, but they're not. They don't result in real action. Real action is something out in the physical world that others can witness.

   Instead of "Think about the plot for the novel," try "Draft plot outline." Instead of "Analyse marketing options," try creating several specific action steps. They might include: "List three sources of information," "Contact source A," and "Prepare report on costs and benefits".

   Make a call. Make a list. Send an e-mail. Write a report. Do something. If you make it visible, you won't fool yourself about whether you're making progress. And to keep things moving, define action steps that are small enough that you're sure to succeed.

3. Make it small enough to get you going. You're more likely to succeed at small, easy action steps. So when you're feeling overwhelmed by all the things, or the big thing, you have to do, make your action steps smaller and easier. One clue that you need to break your goal into smaller chunks is when you find yourself procrastinating.

   Say that you know you need to get the house painted, but you're not doing anything about it. So make it smaller.

   What's the first thing you need to do? It could be: "Get some estimates." If getting estimates is still blocking you, make your next action step even smaller. Try: "Call three painting companies." If you're still procrastinating, choose a smaller step. How about: "Make a list of five painting companies to call?"

   At some point, you'll be down to an action step that moves you forward but isn't so big it stops you in your tracks. That gets you moving and gives you momentum.

4. Savour the small wins The principle of using small wins to build psychological momentum was presented in a Ph.D. dissertation at Stanford University in 1977. The theory: It works because it's a truly brain-friendly concept.

   When someone praises you, you feel good because your brain produces a chemical called dopamine. When you praise yourself by checking off a completed action step, you get the same physiological result. As you achieve one small win after another, you find it easier and easier to take the action steps that generate the wins.

   One way to keep things moving is to keep score. At the end of every day, Ben Franklin would ask himself: "What good have I done this day?" You can ask the question: "What have I done today to move my life and career forward?"

   Think about the action steps you took today. Think about how they helped you achieve your goals. Savour your victories. Remember that success usually isn't a result of achieving great big things all at once. Eat the elephant of a big achievement one bite at a time.

   Identify the next small step. Make it visible. Reward yourself for achievement. Then identify the next small action step.

These lifestyle strategies worked for me, and they'll work for anyone. Embrace them and you'll be well on your way to creating the life you've always dreamed of. Remember learn from others who are also learning. This gives you exponential learning results.

But most of all remember, what YOU do is what matters, and when you make love the life you lead, love makes everything work.

Yours in love,