"Mix a little foolishness with your serious plans: it's lovely to be silly at the right moment."

-- Horace

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Ask Yourself 3 Little Questions in a Specific Order and You'll Completely Change Your Life

That sounds like a bold claim doesn't it? But, it's absolutely true.

3 Questions that will change your life

These are such simple and quick questions. But, by taking the short time to answer them provides you with clarity, understanding, and allows your mind to see solutions to move you forward rather than getting stuck in the emotional aspects of the situation.

http://www.consultpivotal.com/A3_questions.htm

"For all those years you’ve protected the seed. It’s time to become the beautiful flower."

-- Stephen C. Paul

"Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least."

-- Goethe

"All our dreams can come true - if we have the courage to pursue them."

Walt Disney

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Does this sound like you?
Have you ever been frustrated with yourself for failing to remember even the simplest things in life?

Things like birthdays, telephone numbers or even places where you left your keys?

If you blame all that to having a naturally poor memory, you are about to read something that will improve the quality of your life dramatically!

http://www.consultpivotal.com/Amemory.htm

"Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength."

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Create that winning feeling

I believe we would all agree that having a winning feeling is prerequisite to achieving outstanding results. A person can't possibly expect to win if they're constantly focusing on failure! The real secret here is to capture that winning feeling of success as often as you can to create the environment necessary to succeed.

Article continues

"Letting go of our suffering is the hardest work we will ever do. It is also the most fruitful. To heal means to meet ourselves in a new way -- in the newness of each moment where all is possible and nothing is limited to the old."

-- Stephen Levine

Smiling: a Simple Way to feel good

Smiling changes your attitude, raises your confidence, and makes you more attractive.

By Devlyn Steele

As we rush through our busy days accomplishing our tasks– work, kids, shopping, cleaning, and eating on the go, we often complain that we don’t feel good. There is a simple and effective way to feel better throughout the day and be more attractive.

All you have to do is smile more.

Smiling changes your attitude, whether you realize it or not. If you have any doubts, the next time you feel down, start smiling and thinking positive thoughts and see what happens.

You can’t help but have a better attitude when you smile.

Smiling also raises your confidence.

Smiling affects our emotions because of a brain-body connection. It triggers scientifically measurable activity in the left frontal cortex, the area of the brain where happiness is registered.

In fact, there is science dedicated to the study of facial expressions and responses called FACS – Facial Action Coding System. Your face has 44 muscles between the skin, cartilage, blood, and bone that you flex and contort. This lets you make over 5,000 different types of expressions. That’s a lot of expressions! Moreover, each will have a different affect on your feelings and those looking at you.

We instantly become more attractive when we smile. Admit it, when someone is smiling, aren’t you drawn in? Don’t you enjoy that person’s company more? We all do. Smiling is an important part of connecting and getting to know someone.

It is amazing how good smiling is. As your life-coach, I offer you this push. I want you to smile. Go ahead. SMILE!

Let’s do it again but this time breathe in through your nose, let it out through your mouth and smile as you let the air out. Doesn’t that feel good? The breathing is very important. Your nostrils are attached to the limbic system. The limbic system controls your emotions, and when you breathe in deep through your nose, it has a calming effect on you. So breathe in and smile.

Let’s add a final touch, positive thinking. It doesn’t hurt to get excited and say to yourself out loud, “I feel good and I am taking control and finding my opportunities!” Go ahead and do it. Feel that positive energy in your body and the release of tension.

Now that you know how good smiling is for you, make a conscious effort to use this smile exercise a minimum of six times throughout your day. When you smile, remember to breathe in through your nose and think positive thoughts. This I guarantee will make a positive impact on your day and in your life.

In fact, the result from this simple exercise will have a huge effect because a basic fact about energy is that energy is attracted to energy of a similar frequency. So when you smile not only will you be making yourself feel better, you will also be attracting positive energy into your life.

So smile!

About Author:
As a Life-Coach Devlyn has made helping people find ways to improve their lives his personal mission and passion. He is a public consultant, a private counselor, an author and creator of Tools To Life. He has hosted his own radio shows called “Tools To Life” and “Love beat” and has been a guest on over 150 various shows. You can read his articles and advice all over the Internet. Devlyn has often been referred to as “America's Leading Life-Coach.”

Devlyn's Mission: There is something I want you to know. I 100% believe in your ability to create the life you want. In order to get new results, you have to have the desire, be willing to take action and have a roadmap to get where you want. What I have set out to do is provide for you if you have the desire and are willing to take action a roadmap that is easy fun and will get you the results you want.

About Tools To Life Developed by Life Coach Devlyn Steele, Tools To Life is a revolution in self- development, a 77-day program in which thousands have implemented successful changes in their lives. Devlyn Steele is a public consultant, a private counselor, a radio host and an author. He has hosted his own radio show, "Tools To Life" and has been a guest on over 150 various shows. For more information, visit: www.lifecoachadvice.com.

"Never bend your head. Always hold it high. Look the world straight in the face."

Helen Keller

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Become unstoppable

You probably already know that the most successful people have incredible levels of self-confidence. They have accomplished great levels of success and happiness in their lives and seem to be unstoppable in everything that they do.
The fact is, that when you develop unshakable self-confidence your whole world will change for the better.

"Build Rock Solid Self-Confidence and Achieve All of Your Goals"

"The more tranquil a man becomes, the greater is his success, his influence, his power for good. Calmness of mind is one of the beautiful jewels of wisdom."

James Allen

15 Great Inspiration Sources

There are many Wells of Inspiration available to us at any given time. When I refer to Inspiration, I mean the state of mind that can lead to great art, and also to that feeling that makes one want to commit to living their life as a work of Art. Not only a means to an ends but a goal unto itself- to live an Inspired Life! To support that noble goal I have gathered together this list of 15 places that you may go when you could use a dip in the Well.

1.) Nature

Get out of the house and out of your head. Go for a walk in a park, or better yet go hiking in a wild place. Sit or lay under a tree and contemplate it for 30 minutes. Sit at the ocean or on a mountain or in a garden and let yourself be reminded of the vast scale and intricate intelligence of these beautiful ecosystems. Nature is a great source of renewal, calm, beauty, and inspiration. I have found the most simple and profound universal laws so eloquently embodied and expressed through nature.

2.) Your own Music Collection

Whatever your current mood or state of mind, you can subscribe yourself music that will help. Uplifting if you are down, emotive if you need to wallow in it a bit, powerful if you are gearing up to take on the world... Look for singer/songwriters who have a quirky, profound and unique way of seeing life and let their perspectives enrich your own. Bored of your own music collection? Then ask your friends (the ones with good taste) to burn you a couple of CD's, and reciprocate the favor. Get a free account on Pandora.com and let it show you music similar to what you know you like. Bounce around on cdbabay.com or myspace or Itunes and add new elements to your musical apothecary.

3.) Books

Chances are you have some gems sitting in your shelves gathering dust. Try closing your eyes and pointing to 1 book at random and reading excerpts from it. Scan your bookshelf for titles that 'jump out' at you at any given time. Need new books? Do the above at your good friends bookshelf and ask to borrow the jumpiest ones. Look here (link) for my own Inspirational book recommendations. Coffee table photo books and Poetry Compilations are great places to get quick snippets of beautiful images or words to touch you.

4.) YouTube

Write a list of 3 things you have always wanted to know more about or see more of. Now go onto youtube.com and type in these words or phrases. I am not a big tv watcher and have been known to lose a couple hours geeking out on youtube watching videos about obscure interests like asian fan dancing and body percussion. I encourage you to do the same and you can make a free account and add the gems of your search onto your favorites so that you have a customized gallery of inspiring videos on call at any time.

5.) Inside Yourself

The words carved in stone at the entrance of the great Oracle of Delphi said "Know Thyself". Our lives these days are so cluttered with media, communication, opinions and information. It can easily lead to a state of overwhelmed over-stimulation, which can be hard on our nervous systems and our creativity. It is hard to hear the voice of the muse amongst all the clammer and static. It is very healthy to practice shutting out the worlds input and listening to your own. This turning in can be achieved in many ways. Some recommended methods include meditation, journal writing, a speaking fast, or a self-reflection retreat. Though I did have a consistent mediation practice in one chapter of my life, my all time favorite most trusted self-reflection tool is journal writing. Whatever I am going through, I can clarify, process and explore it in the ripe space between me and the page. I could write a hundred testimonials about the great merits of journal writing. However you can, cultivate and deepen the connection to your inner voice, your essential self.

6.) Movies

Watch movies that take place in the time period that most inspires you. Write down what it is about that time that you love and how you can bring more of its qualities into your life. Watch movies from other cultures, independent films, and anything soul searching or epic. If there is a character that you are inspired by, reflect on what exactly it is about them and how you can strengthen those qualities in yourself.

7.) The Internet

When you have the time, let yourself follow the golden thread (of your own intrigue) through the maze of the world wide web. Start by typing in some word or phrase that seems compelling to you in the moment and see what interesting places your key words take you. Keep following the thread of inspiration and keep a sticky note or word document open to pull url's, quotes, or ideas from off the sites you find. That way if you stumble upon treasure, you can mark it on a map so you can return to it next time you are in need of an Inspiration treasure hunt. You can go blog hopping or google images hopping and lose many an hour finding endless images and sites to inspire your artistry.

8.) Role Models

It can be incredibly motivating and inspiring to see someone who has made great achievements in a career that you aspire to. No matter how quirky your calling, there is a small or large handful of people out their with a similar calling who are some decades ahead of you. With the internet it is now much easier to track these human beacons down. I have a word file called "Role Models" and in it I clip a bio, summary, and web site of anyone who's career I am extremely jealous of. : When I go through a phase of amnesia about my life work, I look at these files and these living examples help remind me what is worth working for. If you are very lucky, you may get to have a personal relationship with one of these role models, which is a mentorship. If you have that kind of relationship, make sure to cherish it and find ways of feeding it. Dead, alive, accessible or virtual, role models can serve as a sort of measuring stick to hold yourself against to inspire you to grow to greater heights.

9.) Your Journal or memory

I have kept a journal since I was only 8 years old. On rare occasions I go into my cherishables box and read over my thoughts and captured memories from my childhood. But more often than that, I will glaze over my more recent journals, and mine them for their treasures. It can be insightful and inspiring to relive past joys and to see the connecting threads that run through the years. What has been compelling to you throughout the various phases of your life? Where have you changed and where have you remained much the same? Unlike skimming through other people's writings in search for inspiration, going through your own will bring you to content that is very uniquely reflective of you in your uniqueness. If you don't have journals, you can lay down in a hammock with a little digital audio recorder and scan your memories for experiences and stories that stand out. Be sure to capture the lessons you learned, so that you (and possibly someone else) will benefit from your experiential wisdom down the road.

10.) Spirituality, Religion, or Faith

Regardless of the form or depth of your spiritual beliefs, they can be a source of comfort and inspiration. If you belong to a religion and church, get more involved in the church and in reading the texts sacred to it. If you are open to different traditions, then delve into some study of the words of devotion and faith in different cultures. Mystical poetry, (such as Hafiz, Rumi, Mirabai, Goethe, etc...), psalms, spiritual novels, and devotional song books can all provide a nice taste of spiritual inspiration. Reading about or listening to people who have devoted their lives to service of God/Creator/Spirit can give us a perspective that can uplift our own motivations and aspirations. Wherever you feel closest to the sacred, go to that experience and use the energy you find there to fuel your work in the world.

11.) Collage or Vision Board

Collect and aquire as many magazines as you can. Pick a rainy or uninspired day and go through them seeking any image that strikes your fancy. Immediately cut out anything that strikes you in any way and gather a nice big pile. Once you have extracted the juice from your magz, recycle the husk and create a nice file or large envelope for your chosen images. Play with arranging them into relationship on paper or on a chair or table or chest. When you have found a compelling arrangement, get out the glue and viola- you have a collage. You can make a themed collage, such as one for healing or for reminding you of a specific goal, sort of a visual affirmation. You can also make a vision board that includes words and images representing your key goals for the year, and you will be amazed by the manifestation power of clearly identifying what you want and regularly anchoring it in your consciousness. (I lead a mini workshop leading this process if you want to gather some friends and have it facilitated) Place these creations in a highly visible place where you know you will take in their symbolic messages often.

12.) The Library

There are these magical buildings in almost every town where the fruits of the best intellects and imaginations of multiple eras is available for free. In the last couple years I rediscovered how awesome libraries really are. Your local library is not just a great source of books on almost any topic imaginable, (who's merits I already covered in #3) but also of magazines, periodicals, very cool oversized reference books, and often cd's and dvd's. Not all libraries are created equal, so I seek out the ones that do actually inspire me. The quiet is also very peaceful and makes for a good sanctuary for getting research and work done. The first month of writing my poetry book I would go to the best library in my county and force myself to focus on the book for at least an hour. (that sounds like nothing, I know, but at that time my one pointed focus muscle was so flabby that 1 hour was considered an achievement) If you find yourself suddenly compelled by some left field topic, you can go to the library and borrow some books on it. Like a search engine but more tangible, and cheaper than an amazon.com addiction, believe me.

13.) Survey the Greats of your Artistic Medium

You can get an easy inspiration boost by letting your mind dwell on the "greats" of your art form(s). Seek to be reminded of those who have reached great heights with their skill and acclaim. If you had a class that did this in the past, track down the textbook or syllabus and re-familiarize yourself. If you have never gone on a quest to expose yourself to the masters of their/your craft, I recommend it. Be careful though, because sometimes looking up to "experts" and "masters" can lead to looking down on yourself. Don't beat yourself up for being where you are. Do get inspired by where you can be by examples from where others have gone.

14.) Go to the theatre, dahrling...

Give yourself the treat of going out for a night at the theater, or to a dance performance. There is something about sitting in a theater witnessing live acting or dancing that t.v. and even movies don't compare to. Dance and theater companies work very hard and could use your support. Keep your eye out for interesting live performances coming through your area. Dress up and bring a date or great friend. Chat about it afterwards in a late night café and make a night out of it.

15.) Your own Inspiration Files

When you do have a lot of great inspiring ideas- write them down! Put them all on one piece of paper and put it in a file. I highly recommend that you make at least 2 files labeled Inspiration- one on your computer and one on your desk. Then anytime an image or article or news online or in a magazine strikes your fancy, you have the perfect place to put it. Then on the days when you really need it, you have your very own personalized well of inspiration to dip into. In fact, you can add this article to your inspiration file and pull out my tips at a time when you could use some ideas of where to get your mojo back.

Author: Audette Sophia is a multidisciplinary artist and certified coach specializing in helping creative entrepreneurs synthesize their offerings into dynamically successful career strategies. She is also an educator and branding/promotional consultant.

Get a fabulous and free Promotion & Productivity Resource Package when you sign up for the Museletter- http://www.catalystarts.com

C.A. Blog- Creativity, Media, & Tools for the Creative Entrepreneur- http://www.catalystarts.wordpress.com

"Have a bias toward action -- let's see something happen now. You can break that big plan into small steps and take the first step right away."

Indira Gandhi

Million Dollar Smile

Million Dollar Smile

Each year this organization of men came to the Children's Home Society Orphanage.

All the boys and girls would get two dollars each. The men would take us in groups of five to downtown Jacksonville, Florida, to do some Christmas shopping.

I remember going with this one gentleman three years in a row. He would take us shopping, then he would ask us if we wanted to go to the movies. I remember watching him closely when we got to the theater. I watched him as he pulled out his wallet to pay for our tickets. He looked over at me and just smiled with his great big smile. During the movie he bought us all the popcorn and candy that we wanted. I remember thinking how wonderful it was that someone would spend their own money on someone like us.

We all laughed at the funny movie and had a really good time. The man would laugh really hard and then he would pat me on top of the head. Then he would laugh really hard again and reach over and rustle my hair. I would just look at him, and he would just keep smiling with his great big wonderful smile.

That trip to the movies was the first time in my life that I ever felt as if someone really cared about me. It was a wonderful feeling which I have never forgotten, even to this day, decades later. I don't know if that man felt sorry for me, but I do know this: If I ever win the big lottery, that man will find out that he carried a million-dollar smile.

This is why I believe it is so important that organizations and clubs, such as the Shriners and Jaycees, continue to reach out and help the children who are less fortunate. In my particular case, it was this one man's personal act of kindness that will be remembered for years to come. Just one little simple act of kindness.

It is these little-tiny acts that will insure that when some confused child goes off the deep end one day, he or she will forever remember that small glimmer of kindness that was shown to them by someone. That little speck of hope, that little dim light of goodness that will forever be stuck somewhere in the far reaches of their confused mind.

I thank you, kind Sir, for a memory which I now share with my children and grandchildren fifty years later.

Roger Dean Kiser, Sr.

Learn more about the wonderful work that Roger is doing by going to: www.rogerdeankiser.com

“Don’t discard your fantasies as merely wishful thinking. Honor them as messages from the deepest part of your being about what you can do and directions you can choose.”

-- Sanaya Roman and Duane Packer

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Find your answer to the life long question “Who Am I?”

To understand life, you must first understand yourself. Uncover different aspects of who you are and where you are going in life.

Become clear through self discovery.

How to reinforce a positive attitude

After a speech one day, Zig Ziglar was approached by someone in the audience who said:
"Zig, it was a great speech, but...motivation doesn't last."

Zig said, "Bathing doesn't either. That's why I recommend it daily!"

Like me, Zig loves quotes and believes that the right quote can provide "a-ha" moments and can help to reinforce a positive attitude. Here's what he said:

"Reading has been my fuel for motivation. If the "a-ha" I get when I'm reading is not already reduced into one or two sentences, I'll take the essence of what I've read and chunk it into easily remembered bites of information. That information is what becomes "quotable." You would not sit still for me to read every book I've ever read to you. But if you're the least bit like me, you'll jump at the chance to bypass all the churning and scoop the cream right off the top - that is what quotes are...the cream of our learning."

Sixty Minutes said, "He's a legend in the industry. He's the Bill Gates, Henry Ford and Thomas Edison of enthusiasm." What we love about Zig, however, is his heart. His ability to help people realize their potential is unsurpassed and his belief that, "You can have everything you want, if you will just help enough other people get what they want," has been the foundation of all he's accomplished.

Inspiration 365, is a beautiful, 160 page, coffee table book that will be a perpetual source of inspiration for years to come. It's a collection of 365 quotes (each day of the year) from Zig himself, and many others that have motivated him over the years.

To read 20 of Zig's favorite quotes, and to watch his beautiful 3 minute inspirational movie, just click here.

"I'm not going to limit myself just because people won't accept the fact that I can do something else."


-- Dolly Parton

"If you believe in unlimited quality and act in all your business dealings with total integrity, the rest will take care of itself."

Frank Perdue

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Take your life back - Take control

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"For all sad words of tongue and pen, the saddest are these, 'It might have been'."

-- John Greenleaf Whittier