Powerful Ideas for an Extraordinary Life

[Guest guest]

131

Develop a sense of wonder about the world. Be an explorer. Find pleasure in the

things that others take for granted. Stop and actually listen to that wonderful

street musician playing the trumpet. Read that classic book your father loved so

much. Plan to get away from the city next week and visit a secluded, powerfully

natural place for a few days. Take a mini-retreat and care for your mind, body

and spirit. It will profoundly improve the quality of your life.

 

132

Send cards on birthdays and little notes from time to time showing that you care

and were thinking about your relations. We are all busy but if you spend just

five minutes a week to send a card to a friend or family member, by the year end

you will have sent out 52 cards. This is a small investment for the dividends

that are guaranteed to follow.

 

133Remember and use people's names when you talk to them. A person's name is a

uniquely sweet sound to them.

 

134

Go outdoors and look up into the blue sky for half an hour. Note the supremely

strong feeling that you get when you are connected to Nature. Get away from your

rigid schedule today and spend the afternoon in a beautiful setting. Walk in the

woods and sit by a cool stream. Go fishing or rent a canoe. Getting away from

your routine will provide a refreshing release and make you feel wonderful when

you eventually return.

 

135

Once every few weeks, leave your watch at home. In this society we often become

bound to the clock and soon it governs our every action like a rigid taskmaster.

Go through the day doing precisely what you wish to do and for however long you

wish to do it. Spend time with that special person without having to run off to

your next appointment. Savour the moments and focus on what is truly important

rather than those mundane things that somehow take on a greater importance than

they really deserve. Lose the clock and gain some quality time.

 

136

Laugh at work and be known as a positive achiever who adds outrageous value to

all you do.

 

137

An idea gives rise to a mental image. A mental image will then generate a mental

habit out of which a mental trait ultimately blossoms. Master your thoughts and

you master your mind; master your mind and you master your life; master your

life and you master your destiny.

 

138

Recognize the tremendous power of opposition thinking. This simple technique

simply involves the substitution of a positive thought each and every time a

negative or limiting thought enters your mind and begins to detract from your

focus. For example, on a Sunday evening, you may think " I wish I did not have to

return to work tomorrow after such a pleasant and relaxing weekend. " Immediately

replace this defeating thought pattern before it begins to take hold by thinking

the opposite. For example you might think " I cannot wait to return to the office

given the exciting projects on the go and the wonderful sense of accomplishment

I receive after a productive, challenging week. " Then think how fortunate you

are to have a job and one that you can advance in through your own efforts and

productivity. Make a list of all of the positive attributes of your position and

repeat them over and over. Soon the negative pattern will be broken and you will

look toward the exciting week ahead with that most fabulous of qualities:

enthusiasm.

 

139

Get deep into the habit of personal introspection. Ben Franklin called this one

of the most important strategies for personal effectiveness. Spend ten minutes

every night before you go to bed in self-examination. Think about the good

things you did during the day and the bad actions you may have taken which you

must change in order to excel and grow. Successful people are simply more

thoughtful than others. Daily reflection will soon allow for the eradication of

your negative qualities (ranging from procrastination to gossiping to insulting

others) and will sharpen the mind. After steady practice, a time will eventually

arrive when the mistakes you make are few indeed and your personal power will

move to the highest level.

 

140

The most efficient and effective alarm clock ever developed lies within our own

minds. If you do not believe this, try the following:

1. Sit in an easy chair approximately ten minutes before you go to bed.

2. Shut your eyes and gently rest your hands on your knees.

3. Breathe deeply for a few minutes (inhale to the count of five, hold to the

count of ten and exhale fully).

4. Repeat the following command to yourself at least twenty times: " I will awake

at (the desired time) feeling fresh, alert and enthusiastic. " This command must

be said with feeling and emotion.

Then take a few seconds to visualize yourself waking up at the desired time (the

more detailed the mental picture the better) and imagine how great you will

feel. You will soon wake up at the desired moment after little or no practice.

 

By Robin Sharma

 

to be continued...