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Living In The Now

Living in the jungle was both boring and exciting. It all depended on what was happening and could change in an instant. Living in the now became commonplace. There wasn’t a lot of time to be thinking about the past or worry about the future.

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We Were Living In The Now

Life inside our base camp was mostly monotonous. We look forward to going on operations and getting into the jungle. I spent a lot of time cleaning and prepping gear, as well as reading. The temperature inside the tent would quickly reach 100 degrees. I don’t remember ever being cool or dry; I was always sweating.

One day as I was lying in my bunk reading and sweating, I was suddenly startled by the “burp” of a machine gun. I saw bullet holes appearing in the roof of the tent. I immediately rolled off my bunk onto the floor, grabbing my weapon. My teammates and I made our way outside the tent. Much to our dismay, we saw the Peruvian commander standing outside the barracks across from our tent holding an Uzi machine gun.

The weapon was seized on a mission the day before, and the commander wanted to test fire it. Not being familiar with the weapon, he did not know how to handle it. Without any warning, he pointed the weapon at the sandbag wall facing our tent and squeezed the trigger. The Uzi recoiled violently up into the right. He lost control, and the rounds went over the wall, into our tent. We had to be living in the now because these events can happen at any time.

Always Ready

Our base camp was in the Upper Huallaga Valley in Peru. This area was controlled by the Sendero Luminoso communist terrorist organization. They would protect the narco-traffickers and did not like us gringos. Occasionally, they would attack our base camp. We always had to be ready.

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My Jungle Days

One night I was dead asleep when I was awoken by two explosions. Thinking it was another attack, we proceeded to our defensive positions. Later we found out it was just a Peruvian police officer. He’d gone a bit crazy and attacked others inside the base camp with grenades and rifles. Luckily no one was injured.

Situational Awareness

The other day as I was reminiscing about life in the jungle, I realized that most people are not aware of what is happening right now. They are too busy thinking about the past and the future. Learning to live in the now is important. Your thoughts are mostly comprised of your past and future. If something bad happened yesterday, you dwell on it for days. It can create anger which boils inside of you. If your thoughts are constantly about the future, are you wondering how things will turn out? Wondering can create anxiety and worry.

You can take control of your thoughts by focusing on what is happening right now. Look for all the good things going on around you. Concentrate on living in the now. I was lucky to learn this growing up, even though I didn’t know I was doing it. I didn’t realize how important it was, but I did it.

Thank You Dad

My father inadvertently taught me how to live in the now. He loved the outdoors, and we spent vacations camping, hiking, and enjoying nature. Dad always taught me to stop, look around, and observe everything. Observe the plants, animals, and sky. Everything that God had created. Many people go on a hike and never lookup. They don’t stop and enjoy the beauty.

In the jungle, outside of the base camp, we had to be living in the now. There was no time for the past or future. Many things can kill you including, snakes, insects, animals, and narco-traffickers.

I had to be aware of everything around me at that precise moment. Listening for unusual sounds and looking for any movements. I had to be able to tell if anything was out of place. I had to be aware of where I was stepping and where I would put my hands. Thinking about the past or future would get me killed. I was forced to focus only on living in the now.

Still Serving Me

The lessons from the jungle serve me well today. I still have thoughts about the past and the future, but today they are controlled. Because I control my thoughts, I am living in the now even when I am thinking. If I feel negative feelings creeping in, I stop and focus on what is happening now to cause those feelings. I use my five senses to immerse myself in the now.

If you are experiencing anxiety, stop, open your five senses, and begin living in the now. Think about what is causing these feelings and how you can stop them. Experience everything around you as it is happening. Let your worries float away and be happy to be alive.

Cites

https://unsplash.com/@mikeblank

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The Fear Of Success

Here we are in December, and the year is quickly coming to an end. Now is a great time to do a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis and see how far you have come in 2021. When you look at your weaknesses, check if any fears hold you back. Many people overlook a big reason they aren’t moving forward, the fear of success.

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Do You Have Fear Of Success?

Take a moment and ask yourself, what am I afraid of? There are many fears which can be reasons for your lack of success. One of the most prevalent fears is the fear of criticism by others. Some people care more about what others think of them than their success. Are you one of them? If so, stop! No one is more important than you.

My Fear Of Heights

I have a fear of heights or, a better way to put it, a fear of falling from great heights. Recently, I was able to experience this fear once again. My wife and I went to the Boca Museum of Art to see the Machu Picchu exhibit. There were almost 200 gold and pottery exhibits from the Incan Empire. In addition, there was a virtual reality experience.

I walked into the room, climbed into a pod, sat down, and put on my VR headset. After some brief instructions, I was standing in Machu Picchu. An Incan spirit guide appeared before me and how it all began. Next, we were given the power of flight by the Condor God and began rising above the great city. It happened so quickly that my fear of heights immediately kicked in.

It is incredible how real it seemed. I was not a few feet off the ground but thousands of feet in the air. Of course, this was all in my mind. In reality, my feet were only about a foot off the floor. I had to control my fear and keep telling myself where I was. Soon, my fear was under control, and I was enjoying my time flying above Machu Picchu.

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Deinition Of Success

My definition of success is making the most out of the gifts you are given at birth in your lifetime. One thing that can hold you back is the fear of success. You might not even realize this fear exists in you. How can you be afraid of the one thing you strive to become? For example, a lot of people would like to become famous but their life would have to change to do so. The brain is resistant to change therefore you, have a fear of success.

The fear of success is powerful and deceptive. It can take the form of procrastination and excuses. If you are successful, you would have to establish another level of comfort. A promotion at work could mean more responsibility. Your fear of success in your mind could sabotage this goal.

Created In Your Mind

Whatever fears you have are created in your mind. You can learn to control your mind and also control your fears. Learn to make peace with your fears instead of trying to eliminate them from your mind. As many times as I have jumped out of airplanes and flown in helicopters, I still cannot eliminate my fear.

Take control of your life and go out and get what you deserve. Never let any fears get in your way of accomplishing your goals. By being honest with yourself, you can see if you have the fear of success. Once you have identified it, you can control it like you can control all your fears. Nothing can stop you!

Cites

https://unsplash.com/@trastornada13

https://unsplash.com/@minhphamdesign

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Believe Like A Child

My podcast post on Wednesday was about believing in yourself. Today I want to continue with the topic of belief. Many people lose sight of their dreams when they enter adulthood. We forget how to believe like a child. Our childhood beliefs become replaced by anxiety and worry as adults.

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Believe Like A Child

The holiday season is a wonderful time to reflect on your childhood. As a child, you believed all things are possible without question. A man in a red suit, sleigh, and flying reindeer will fly around the world, in one night, and deliver presents to every child.

If you have been good all year, you get the nice present you asked for. In contrast, if you have been a bad boy or girl, you will find coal in your stocking. These unquestioned beliefs resulted in many a wonderful childhood. You might have grown up, but you should continue to believe like a child.

Believe

Believe in your dreams with the same unquestioning passion you had as a child. The only reason you stopped believing was you entered adulthood. Family, bills, your career, all of the situations associated with adulthood kill your dreams.

Find your inner child and begin to believe you can change. The Bible says, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” Mark 11:24 NIV. As long as you believe and do not doubt, it will be yours. The timing though is up to God.

Ask, Believe, Receive

This is how the Law of Attraction works, Ask, Believe, and Receive. Belief, mixed with emotion, is the key ingredient in this formula. You must erase all doubt. You might ask for something but do not believe it in your heart, therefore, you never receive it. Ask God to release all doubt within you.

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When you believe like a child, you have no doubt. Doubt comes into your mind through your experiences in life. As a child, your parents told you that Santa would come down your chimney and deliver presents on Christmas Eve. The next morning, Christmas Day, you wake up and find the gifts you asked for under the tree. You asked, believed, and received. There was never any doubt.

Reflection

Today, reflect on your childhood and remember those wonderful days. If you’re not living the life you want to live, decide to make a change. Commit to your decision and begin to believe like a child. Dust off your forgotten dreams and start dreaming again.

Begin to develop daily habits of prayer, affirmations, and meditation. Tell yourself every day, “I release all doubt,” “I release everything that is holding me back.” Do this several times a day, every day, and begin to build belief. In time, your doubts will appear less often, and you will feel the belief building inside of you.

Ask God

Ask God for what you want and believe in your heart that you will receive it. Remember that the Bible also tells us to ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. James 1:5-8 ESV.

I wish everyone happy holidays. Enjoy this time with friends and family and, give thanks for your blessings. Take some time for yourself to relax and reflect on your childhood. Find your ability to believe like a child.

Cites

https://unsplash.com/@mikearney

https://unsplash.com/@aka_opex

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Believe In Yourself

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I have excellent conversations with several people who think as I do. We believe that your life is based on your thoughts. If you control your thoughts and think positively, you will lead a positive life. I began thinking about these people and realized something important. Most of them spend money to attend self-improvement seminars, workshops, and weekends. Many are not living the lives that they are seeking. I wondered why not. If you are one, maybe you do not believe in yourself.

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Believe In Yourself

Are people looking for an authoritative figure in their lives? If they spent money going to retreats to feel better, do they ever make permanent changes to their lives? Why not? Possibly, they see the speaker as a celebrity. They put them on a pedestal, and by doing that, they believe that that person is better than them. Therefore, they do not change because they do not believe they are good enough.

Belief is an essential part of changing. You must believe you can be the person you are trying to become. There are leaders, and there are followers. Leaders believe they can lead, and followers do not. Belief is difficult to come by and must be developed. You are battling everything that you have been told and thought in the past.

Belief

No one is better than you! Stop chasing the so-called gurus and realize they are no different from you. Every one of them was where you are before they believed they could change. Most of them genuinely want to help. They are not scam artists just looking for your money. It is the audience that never makes the change. They do not continue it long enough to develop belief.

My unsolicited advice is to find a mentor who teaches a process. Follow the process and commit to it for life. Do not be in a hurry. You have little control over the timing. Trust in the process

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Thoughts

There is a difference between words and thoughts. We first begin journal statements, a gratitude pad, etc., we think about what we are writing. As time goes by, we know what we want to write and do not think about it as much. Our journal becomes words on paper, not thoughts. Take time to meditate and think about what you wrote.

The Process

Change begins in your mind. I am living my life today based on my thoughts in the past. Now that I understand this concept, I can determine my future by controlling my thoughts. It is the process I use to accomplish this:

  1. I make my pre-dominant thought that of which I want to become. I think about what my life will look like in the future.
  2. When I go to bed at night, the last thing I do before going to sleep is to think about my life in the future. I visualize in my mind what I will be doing, and how I will be living.
  3. I spend time in the morning meditating and visualizing my future life.
  4. When I visualize the life that I am living, it must feel natural and normal. I am not living someone’s life; I am living mine.
  5. Before visualizing, I elicit emotions. I think about the first time I saw my wife, and it brings up the emotion I had at the time. Adding emotion and feeling to your thoughts is the ingredient to turn them into reality.

Believe in yourself. If you don’t have belief, then begin developing it. Start speaking and thinking like the person you want to become. Do this every day, and you will develop belief. Continue to develop your belief until it turns into faith. Faith is an unstoppable force. You were born for greatness, believe it.

Cites

https://unsplash.com/@aurorafox

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Dealing With Resistance

My normal course of action is to schedule my posts ahead of time, especially before I go on vacation or during holidays. Last week I did not do that because I was dealing with the resistance. I did not have any inspirations to write. My mind was blank.

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Dealing With Resistance Is A Pain

I did have a great Thanksgiving week full of the 4 F’s, food, family, friends, and football. The holiday fell at the perfect time for me because I knew I wanted to take a break. I knew I was dealing with resistance.

When you experience resistance, you find the lessons that you are meant to learn

– Jon Gordon

I wanted to get out of my daily routine for a short time. Every day I start by giving thanks, praying, exercising, journaling, and meditating. I felt it was becoming just a drill, and I was not getting everything out of it. Every once in a while, it is good to step back and take a break.

The tendency to follow the path of least resistance guarantees failure in life.

– Brian Tracy

I believe in doing everything in moderation. I am the type of person that can get obsessed with one thing and ignore other important things in my life. My years of experience have taught me that moderation is a better course for me.

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Resistance To Writing

So last week, I went a couple of days without any inspiration to write; I knew I was dealing with resistance. Resistance is that feeling inside you that you want to do something but are also unmotivated to get it done. It is a force to counter your forward progress. If you have ever attempted to create something, you have probably experienced resistance at some point. No one is immune to it.

The real problem has far less to do with what is really out there than it does with our resistance to finding out what is really out there.

– Barbara Brown Taylor

I knew I was dealing with resistance when I began to notice my thoughts. The question, Why was prevalent in my thoughts. Why was I writing? Why was I starting another business? I began to focus on my lack of progress or success in certain areas. I ignored all the progress and success that I am having in many more areas. It was resistance.

If I have resistance to something, it means there’s something wrong. The resistance to me is a sign of fear.

– Billy Corgan

Do Not Wait

Resistance is the reason most younger people do not live out their dreams. They believe there is always time. There is no sense of urgency. More people today are living to be 100 than when I grew up. If you are 20 years old, that gives you 80 more years to achieve your dreams. The lack of urgency is why many people do not get wealthy until their 40s and 50s. We live in an unlimited universe, but we do not have unlimited time.

Resistance cannot be seen, touched, heard, or smelled. But it can be felt.

– Steven Pressfield

No Promises

No one is promised tomorrow. Last week marked the first anniversary of the passing of my friend Tom. He appeared healthy one day, and a few days later, he was gone. Never take today for granted. You might not have tomorrow.

If you find yourself dealing with resistance, ask yourself two questions.

1. If you were told you had a week to live; what would you do?

2. If Death appeared before you today and said, It is time; what regrets would you have?

The main question is, What are you waiting for?

Cites

https://unsplash.com/@kellysikkema

https://unsplash.com/@m_skalij

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15 Habits That Will Make You Wealthy

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Most people in the world are not wealthy. It is said that 96% of the wealth in the world is created by 1% of the population. When you look at this statistic, what do you see? I see opportunities. We live in an unlimited universe. Each one of us can create wealth. You can increase your wealth by changing your thoughts and developing new habits. Below are 15 habits that will make you wealthy.

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15 Habits Of The Wealthy

What is wealth? Wealth is an abundance of valuable material possessions or resources. Wealth is subjective. What you consider wealth could be different from what I do. Is it a certain amount of money? For some, the answer is yes. For me, I relate wealth to being financially independent.

Financial independence means the following three things in my mind. First, it means time. You no longer trade time for money. You can now spend more time doing the things you love. We all have the same amount of time each day, 1440 minutes. How do you spend yours? Second, it creates options. You are no longer limited to doing things based on price. Eat at the most expensive restaurants and order what you want. Finally, financial independence means peace. Unexpected situations will arise in life. If money is not a problem, these situations are easier to manage.

Wealth Mindset

What is the difference between people with wealth and others? It comes down to one thing, your mindset. Do you have a wealth mindset or a poverty mindset? Begin to cultivate a money mindset. To do that, you must change and become a different person. You have to leave the old you behind. Create thoughts seeing how you want to live in the future. Visualize these thoughts. Your thoughts will become your reality. Eliminate negativity from your life and create new habits.

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15 Habits

Here are 15 habits that will make you wealthy:

  1. They always have a vision. They know what they want and visualize it daily. Their definite purpose is always on their mind.
  2. The wealthy do not work for money. They have learned how to make money work for them. Trading time for money will provide you with a good life but not a great one.
  3. They eat healthy & exercise. Taking care of their bodies gives them more energy to be productive.
  4. Wealthy individuals live in the future. They know that their current thoughts will become their reality. It doesn’t matter where you came from; it’s where you’re going.
  5. Rich people are not afraid to fail. Failure is part of the process of becoming wealthy. They learn from their failures until they succeed.
  6. They wake up early. This gives them time to think and meditate. It prepares their mind for the challenges of the day.
  7. Wealthy people give thanks every day. They show gratitude for what they have and realize it can be taken away.
  8. The rich don’t waste time with television or social media. They realize that the negativity that comes from all forms of media. 70% watch an hour or less a day.
  9. They love to read. The wealthy spend time every day reading and expanding their minds. Develop a habit of reading daily for self-improvement.
  10. The wealthy have mentors. They develop a mastermind group to help them gain knowledge that they don’t have.
  11. Goal setting is a priority. They set goals, develop a plan, and work towards accomplishing their goals.
  12. They eliminate negativity in their life. This includes thoughts, habits, and/or people. Hanging onto negative people gets you nowhere.
  13. Wealthy individuals are always learning. They learn how to manage their finances and daily lives. Most importantly, they learn how to market themselves.
  14. They believe in abundance. Our universe provides an unlimited supply for everyone. The wealthy have learned how to tap into that supply.
  15. They make each day productive and driven by results. So much of your day can be occupied by nonproductive activities. Wealthy people avoid them.

Are You Satisfied?

Men and women who are financially independent do things differently than those who aren’t. By creating the same habits in your life, you can begin to change. Your habits have gotten you to where you’re at right now. If you’re satisfied, keep doing what you’re doing. To improve your situation, begin filling your day with these 15 habits that will make you wealthy.

If this post is helpful to you in any way, please leave a comment and let me know your thoughts on it. If it wasn’t your cup of tea, let me know also. I’m always looking to improve, and your comments help.

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What Matters More?

Developing the right habits is essential if you want to change your situation. Doing the same things that you are currently doing will get you nowhere. You must change your mindset. This includes developing new habits. If you are having trouble developing new habits, remember this question. What matters more?

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Kobe Responded, What Matters More?

A great story to illustrate this point comes from the late, great Kobe Bryant. He was being interviewed by a reporter who was questioning him about what time he wakes up. When Kobe told him he wakes up at 3 AM to get to the gym at 4 AM, the reporter was stupefied. Why so early? He asked. Kobe replied because my competitor gets to the gym at 5 AM.

The reporter couldn’t believe Kobe would wake up so early. He said, don’t you like to sleep? I know I do. Kobe didn’t reply, so the reporter asked him if this was a trait with which he was born. Did his father wake up early? Kobe replied, no. Then how do you get up so early, he asked? Calmly, Kobe responded, it comes down to what matters more.

Sleep or Winning

What matters more, sleep or winning? For Kobe, it was winning. He developed the habit of waking up early so he could get in more practice time than his opponents. Whatever type of person you want to become, you must develop new habits. If you desire to be a great athlete, research the habits of great athletes. Are you an artist? Then research habits of great artists. Here is a post about the habits of the wealthy.

Develop New Habits

Developing new habits is difficult. You must be consistent in practicing these new habits. It takes 21 days in a row before a habit will start to form. Some days are going to be more difficult than others. When you go through these days, ask yourself, what matters more?

Stretch Your Comfort Zone

Changing your routine means getting out of that zone of comfort you are currently living in. For example, most successful people wake up early. Just like Kobe, they want to take advantage of every minute of the day. But sleeping is good, and your bed is oh so comfy. You are safe and warm in your bed.

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You are feeling so good that it is simple to close your eyes and go back to sleep. At that moment, ask yourself, what matters more? Becoming the person you want to be or going back to sleep? By getting up, you have time to read, meditate, exercise, journal, etc. One decision will change your lifestyle, while the other will keep you where you’re at in life. What matters more?

Irene Sendler

Look at my post about the heroic deeds of Irene Sendler. Irene risked her life during World War II by smuggling Jewish children out of the Warsaw Ghetto. For Irene, what mattered more, was the lives of innocent children over her life.

Are you happy where you are at this point in your life? If not, you must change and begin stretching your comfort zone. Get a little comfortable being uncomfortable. Begin your change by researching and developing the habits of the person you want to become. If you want to improve your relationship, develop habits of people in good relationships. Do you want to be wealthy? Research the habits of rich people. If it becomes difficult to change, remember to ask yourself, what matters more?

Cites

https://unsplash.com/@thevoncomplex

https://unsplash.com/@iyunmai

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Colorado Trip Part 4

Colorado Trip Part 4. Day 5 began with another beautiful sunrise. Our plans today were to make the two-hour trek to Estes Park. Estes Park, Colorado is the home of the Stanley Hotel. The idea to visit the Stanley Hotel was given to me by my sister. She is a big Stephen King fan.

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Our Trip To Colorado Part 4

The Stanley Hotel inspired King to write his book, The Shining. He stayed in room 217 while writing the book. I’m not much of a Stephen King fan, but I knew of the Stanley from watching shows about the paranormal. The Stanley is supposed to be one of the most haunted places in America.

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You Don’t See This From The Highways

Once again, we were provided with a route among the backroads to get to Estes Park. The drive was stunning as we were driving through a gorge with walls of rock on either side of the road. Arriving in the town of Blackhawk, I was surprised by the many casinos. It is a mini Las Vegas in Colorado.

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The Stanley Hotel

Looking For Ghosts

As we pulled into Estes Park, we saw the hotel on our left. It was huge. It is a beautiful, all-white building with a red roof. We pulled up to the gate, paid our parking fee, and parked at the bottom of the hill. Walking up the steps to the lobby, we kept our eyes open for ghostly apparitions. I can confidently say that we didn’t see any.

Because the Stanley Hotel is a working hotel and a tourist destination, only guests are allowed above the first floor. I overheard the employee behind the front desk say that all the room keys on the wall were fake except for room 217. That was the original key. We proceeded downstairs to a little café where we drank hot chocolate, and I had a piece of cherry pie.

A Great Historical Tour

I had booked a historical tour of the hotel, which is well worth the money. During the tour, we were told that the founder F. O. Stanley had grown up in a lower to middle-income family. During that time in history, people had to sit still for 45 minutes to an hour to get their picture taken. Stanley figured out a way to reduce the time down to 45 seconds to a minute. He noticed a pain point and figured out a solution. This made him very wealthy.

Within a few months, he was making over $100,000 a month. Today that would be equal to $3 million a month. Stanley’s home is just down the road from the hotel. He built the hotel to house his wealthy friends when they came to visit him. His friends were named Vanderbilt, Rockefeller, Carnegie, all the wealthiest people of the day.

Did Jim Carrey See A Ghost?

During the tour, we were told various stories of people having paranormal events while staying at the hotel. One of the stories was of Jim Carrey. Carrey was supposed to stay in room 217 while filming the movie, Dumb and Dumber. He only lasted three hours when he ran downstairs in his boxers, demanding to be moved. He refused to stay in any building on the grounds, instead opting for the Holiday Inn down the street.

After our tour, we ate at the hotel restaurant and whiskey bar. The food was tasty, and I chose a rare Japanese whiskey which was very smooth. The bar was used in the film, Dumb and Dumber and even has the New York Times article about the first moon landing hanging on the wall (not the original, it was stolen).

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No Way. That’s Great. We Landed On The Moon!!

The Blue Owl

After purchasing some items at the gift shop, we began our drive back to the B&B. This time we went through the city of Boulder and then stopped at the town of Nederland. We were told about the Blue Owl bookstore/ice cream/coffee shop. On our way to Estes Park, it had been closed. Luckily for us, it was open, and we enjoyed a nice cone. It was a great way to end the day.

Day 6

Day 6 was spent in the ski resort town of Breckenridge. Breckenridge is a beautiful town, but a little too touristy for my taste. We traveled there with Sofia’s friends and saw bison on the way. We ate at a busy restaurant, and I enjoyed a bison burger. It is very lean meat and tasty. Afterward, we boarded a gondola which took us to the top of the mountain. We looked up at the ski slopes, which would soon be covered in snow. Today though, they are covered in grass, and people traverse them on mountain bikes.

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Neighbors

Our last full day in Colorado ended with us pulling into our friend’s neighborhood and being greeted by 40-50 elk. They were all over her neighborhood grazing. What a sight! Colorado is a different place to live. To be continued.

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Making A Decision Will Defeat Procrastination

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I am continuing to talk about the book Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. Today I will discuss the seventh step, Decision, The Mastery of Procrastination. I am sure that you, like me, have faced that evil known as procrastination. To be successful and to build wealth, procrastination is an enemy you must conquer. Making a decision will defeat procrastination.

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A Decision Defeats Procrastination

If you’re looking for self-improvement, you will need to change some of the habits that you are currently doing. You will have to decide to change. Congratulations, you are halfway to success! You see, making the right decision is 50% of the solution. The other 50% is commitment. You have to commit to your decision to change.

Back in the 1930s when Hill was writing his book, a study was undertaken with 25,000 men and women who had experienced failure. They came up with a list of 30 major causes of failure. Lack of decision was near the head of the list. Indecision causes procrastination and making a decision will defeat procrastination. Conversely, each of several hundred people who had accumulated fortunes had the habit of reaching a decision promptly. Also, successful people would take their time in changing their decision.

Don’t Be Influenced When Making Decisions

The majority of people who fail are easily influenced by the opinion of others. They permit the media and other people to do their thinking for them. Opinions are the most abundant thing on earth. Everyone has one and, they can be as different as night and day. You will not succeed if you take into account the opinion of others.

Your mind is yours and only yours; reach your own decisions. Keep them to yourself and discuss them with only like-minded individuals, such as your Master Mind group. When researching to gather information for your decision, do so without disclosing your purpose.

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How Do You Know?

How do you know when the decision you made is the right decision? That is a difficult question to answer because you won’t know the answer until you have succeeded or failed. You have to listen to those inner voices. If your decision makes you feel happy and it is the right decision. On the other hand, if you feel cautious or negative, you should reconsider your decision.

In most cases, making the right decision is not that difficult. Deciding to solve a challenge in your life is personal. These are decisions for your self-improvement. A personal decision affects you and the people close to you. Some decisions not only affect the person making the decision but also have an impact on many others.

Great Decisions In History

Throughout history, people have been tasked with making decisions that changed history. Abraham Lincoln decided to issue the Proclamation of Emancipation. General Dwight Eisenhower decided to launch the D-Day invasion. Last July, I wrote an article about 56 men who made one of the greatest decisions of all time. They signed the Declaration of Independence knowing that it could potentially cost them their lives.

Making the right decision always takes courage, some more than others. It may not cost you your life but, it could cost you your health or financial independence. Making the right decision to improve your income or health comes with a price. You never get anything without giving up something. As long as you’re willing to pay the price, your decision for self-improvement could be the greatest decision you make.

Decide Today

Speaking of great decisions, decide today what you are worth. Now that you know your value go out and get what you are worth. Never settle for anything less. Lock that number in your mind and think about it every day. Don’t stop until you reach your value. Too many people today settle for what they are given and not what they’re worth.

Be quick in your decisions and slow in changing them. Don’t be influenced by the opinion of others or the media. Have the courage to make your decision for self-improvement. Decide what you are worth and get it. Remember, making a decision will defeat procrastination.

Do you find yourself procrastinating? Are you influenced by the opinion of others? Let me know your thoughts in the comments section. As always, I appreciate your likes, comments, and follows. Let me know if there is a  topic you would like me to cover in future articles.

Cites

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10 Quotes On Planning For Success

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I am continuing to talk about the book Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. Today I will discuss the sixth step, organize planning. It is through organized planning that you turn your desire into action. By setting up solid plans for your future, you will be able to turn your dreams into reality. I have also included 10 quotes about planning for success to help you understand the importance of a good plan.

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Quotes On Planning For Success

Now that you have your desire or definite purpose, you want to tap into your imagination to help create your plan for the future. I discussed in last week’s post, imagination can be thought of as your workshop where your plans are created and organized. I have also talked about in previous posts, the six steps for turning your thoughts into reality. The formation of practical plans is one of the steps. Some good tips on planning for success are:

  • Find a group of like-minded individuals to help you create your plan;
  • Decide what form of compensation that you will trade for their help;
  • Meet with the group at least twice a week;
  • Maintain perfect harmony between yourself and every member of your group.

Master Mind Group

This group of like-minded individuals is what is known as a “Master Mind” group. It can consist of as many people as you may need. One person might suffice, or you might need many more to tap into their “specialized knowledge.” Let’s face it, it is difficult to accomplish anything alone. We don’t have all the knowledge necessary to create our plans for the future.

“Our goals can only be reached through a vehicle of a plan, in which we must fervently believe, and upon which we must vigorously act. There is no other route to success.”
~ Pablo Picasso

“Setting a goal is not the main thing. It is deciding how you will go about achieving it and staying with that plan.”
~ Tom Landry

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Everything begins in the mind as a thought. It will take a solid, practical plan to transform that thought into an actual physical item, such as money. Once you have your plan, go to work. Do something every day and continue to take advice from your “Master Mind” group.

“It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan.” ― Eleanor Roosevelt, the former first lady of the United States

“The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining.” ― John F. Kennedy, former U.S. President

“Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.” — Warren Buffett, investor

Planning and Failing

Your first plan might not be your best plan, and you find it doesn’t work. No worries, most first plans fail. Henry Ford built two automobile businesses that failed before he started the Ford Motor Company. Thomas Edison failed 10,000 times before he invented the light bulb. If you fail, go back and redo your plan and try again. Keep reworking your plan until you find one that works.

“Always plan ahead. It wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark.” ― Richard Cushing, American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church

“Few people have any next, they live from hand to mouth without a plan, and are always at the end of their line.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson, poet, and essayist

“Every minute you spend in planning saves 10 minutes in execution; this gives you a 1,000 percent return on energy!” ― Brian Tracy, author, and motivational speaker

Why Plan?

Working on your plan will help prevent procrastination, self-doubt, and anxiety. As you continue to work on your plan you will build belief in yourself and your plan for the future. As your belief turns to faith, then nothing can stop you.

“Plans are nothing; planning is everything.” ― Dwight D. Eisenhower, former U.S. President

“The more time you spend contemplating what you should have done… you lose valuable time planning what you can and will do.” ― Lil Wayne, rapper

Final Thoughts

I hope you enjoyed these 10 quotes about planning for success. Are you looking to improve yourself and make a better future? If so, I encourage you to check out my courses and subscribe to my email group. Everyone who subscribes gets sent my monthly newsletter with quotes and tips on self-improvement.

I appreciate all my followers and am grateful that you read my blog and listen to my podcast. Don’t forget to like and leave a comment. I enjoy reading your thoughts on my different topics. My next podcast will be coming out Wednesday.

Cites

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InspireChief4 Comments