Think and Grow Rich
by Napoleon Hill

I wrote this review in 2001, and it is still relevant today. It was one that rocked my world, helping me get back on the path after a time of turmoil.

This book is a classic in motivational literature. But it teaches so much more than just how to “grow rich.” Mr. Hill explains what to do to reach your dreams, whatever they might be. The techniques in this book are easily understood, and can be used to manifest whatever your desire might be. He goes into great detail about how to use visualization to achieve your goals.

He not only addresses how faith can be increased through affirmations, but also how to use affirmations to reap the benefits from them. Further in the book, he explores what ideas or behaviors might be blocking your desire. In one of the chapters, Mr. Hill discusses the “Master Mind” principle, which is when you have two or more people focusing on the same purpose. This concept is amazingly successful.

If you’ve avoided reading this book because of the prosperity or motivational angle, don’t let that dissuade you anymore. It gives specific instructions on how to realize your dreams.

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Question: How can empathy make people overlook the consequences of the actions of another person?

Answer: When we’re empathetic, we feel another’s pain. Because it hurts us, we want to fix it (their pain) and make it go away so it stops hurting us. Many times, this means that we excuse an offender, let them get away with inappropriate behavior, so that they feel better/feel better about themselves (so we think), and our pain eases. The problem with that is that they don’t learn from their mistake. We take away the motivation for them to learn from it, by excusing them. In so doing, we make ourselves part of the problem.

It’s not easy to let someone take the consequences of their actions, when we’re sensing their inner pain. But the only way many people learn is to be in enough pain to finally decide to change. In 12- Step programs, this is called “hitting bottom.” Sometimes, an intervention can help to make the alcohol/drug abuser uncomfortable enough to accept help. But during an intervention, the consequences of not accepting help have to be severe enough, and decided enough, to make them realize that they’re not going to be allowed to continue taking advantage of others.

When do we nurture and when do we let them fall flat on their face? Unfortunately, most people only learn to treat others well by experiencing some discomfort.

Copyright 2009 Linda Ann Stewart
All Rights Reserved

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by Lynne McTaggart

The book The Lost Symbol – an international phenomenon that has captured the imagination of millions of readers – appears to rest on a preposterous premise: that thoughts can affect physical reality.

Brown’s central character, ‘noetic’ scientist Katherine Solomon is particularly interested in the power of many minds thinking the same thought at the same time, claiming that this magnifies the effect. As proof, she cites the experimental work of a real web-based laboratory, and its architect.

Such architects create a web-based global laboratory by enlisting scientists in prestigious academic centers such as the University of Arizona, Pennsylvania State University, University of California at Davis, Princeton University, and other prestigious universities in Europe. Every few months, such web-based laboratories recruit thousands of readers from 90 countries around the world to send thoughts to targets created in one of the scientist’s rigorous laboratory settings.

To date, many web-based experiments have shown positive results -demonstrating that intention can alter the essential properties of water and living things, and even be used to lower violence in a war-torn area. Participants of these web-base experiments are invited from around the globe to send intention to one of the chosen set of seeds, in all of the six experiments the seeds sent intention grew significantly faster and higher than – and sometimes twice as high as – three sets of controls.

Gary E. Schwartz, Ph.D., professor at the University of Arizona, reported the results of these six Germination Experiments in a scientific paper presented at a Society for Scientific Exploration conference in June 2008. Distance doesn’t seem to have any bearing on the outcome. In one experiment, participants in Sydney, Australia successfully sent intention to seeds sitting at the University of Arizona’s labs in Tucson.

Such web-based laboratories have also embarked on a series of experiments with Russian physicists and scientists at Pennsylvania State University and the University of Arizona to investigate whether intention can improve the quality of water. Thus far, they’ve run five experiments demonstrating that intention can change certain essential qualities of water.

Most recently the University of Arizona ran two rigorous studies showing that thoughts can change the energy footprint of tap water to something similar to that of mineral water. In earlier studies with Russian physicist Konstantin Korotkov, measurements taken with sophisticated equipment showed that even a simple positive frame of mind among the participants sending intention to the water changed its essential properties.

In September 2009, a large-scale experiment was emabarked to study whether mass thought can lower violence in war-torn Sri Lanka. At the time, Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tigers, one of the world’s most well-trained terrorist organizations, with the highest number of suicide bombers, were firmly in control of the conflict, after capturing and cutting off the north of the country.

After the week-long focus of the intention groups, a team of scientists, including Jessica Utts, professor of statistics at University of California at Davis, tracked that the violence increased dramatically and then suddenly plummeted. After analyzing two years’ worth of weekly violence data, the scientific team concluded that the week of intention appeared somehow ‘pivotal’ in the course of the war.

Almost immediately after this large-scale experiment, the Sri Lankan government gained control, and within a few months drove the rebel forces out of the north. A few months after that, the 25-year war was over. It was noted that more experiments will have to be done to demonstrate the power of thought to lower violence.

Nevertheless, to critics of this work, responses have been that studies of the power of thought are simply the stuff of true scientific investigation. ‘Frontier science is the art of inquiring about the impossible. All of our major achievements in history have resulted from asking an outrageous question. What if giant metal objects could overcome gravity? What if there is no end of the earth to sail off?

‘All of the discoveries about the power of thought proceed from a seemingly outlandish question: what if our thoughts could affect the things around us? But the most important part of scientific investigation is just the simple willingness to ask the question.’

Copyright 2009 Lynne McTaggart
All Right Reserved

Lynne McTaggart, one of the preeminent spokespersons on consciousness and the new physics, is the award-winning journalist and author of five books, including the worldwide bestsellers The Field (Harper) and The Intention Experiment (Free Press). To find out more about her Intention Experiments and to participate in her global experiments, just register on her website, The Intention Experiment.

inspiration

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Question: What is the difference between meditation and hypnosis?

Answer: Hypnosis works in the same way meditation does because you are in the same mental state with both of them. It’s just that with traditional hypnosis, you have a goal in mind. But many guided meditations also have a goal, of understanding oneself better, or inner exploration. And when a person uses affirmations in meditation, it’s the same as using suggestions in hypnosis. An hypnotherapist doesn’t control a subject’s mind anymore than someone leading a guided meditation does.

With hypnosis, a person is opening up to greater possibilities, and empowering oneself to achieve greater potentials than before. They’re accessing a deeper level of soul than when they are being analytical. Creativity and intuition can be tapped into, just as when a person meditates.

There really isn’t much difference between meditation and hypnosis, except that with meditation, a person listens to the still small voice a tiny bit more than with hypnosis. The aim is slightly different. The awareness is similar.

Copyright 2001, 2009 Linda Ann Stewart
All Rights Reserved

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by Linda-Ann Stewart

Like me, when you were growing up, you probably heard, “It’s better to give than receive.” I know the intention was to make sure we didn’t become takers, always expecting something for nothing, and to teach us the benefits of giving to others. However, to me, the message meant that if you gave, you were “good,” and if you received, you were “bad.” So I became resistant to accepting anything, even if I needed help.

If it’s better to give, what does that subliminally say about a recipient? Does that mean they’re inferior to the generous person? Is the helpful person superior to the one on the receiving end of the relationship? Learning to give is important. It helps to be aware of others’ needs, to get over our self-involvement, and to recognize the joy of pleasing someone else. But receiving is also important. There has to be a balance of giving and receiving to allow the Universe to flow.

I know many people have a hard time accepting gifts, help, or even something as simple as a compliment. There are several reasons why you may have a hard time receiving good.

• Just like me, you were conditioned that you shouldn’t accept gifts from others, without reciprocating. If you do, you feel guilty or uncomfortable. I couldn’t even ask the Universe for help.
• If you do accept something, you feel obligated to the giver. Somehow, you’ve translated being in the receptive role as being under their control. And that somehow they now expect something greater in return.
• When you give, you’re actually trying to buy others’ approval. Gift giving is a game of one-ups-man ship. If you accept anything from others, you feel that they’re somehow superior to you and have won the game.

Catherine Ponder states, in one of my favorite books by her, “Open Your Mind To Receive,” that “Overgiving to others and undergiving to yourself unbalances the law and keeps your good from coming through.” When you give to others, and don’t accept anything in return, then you’re blocking the flow of Universal good. It’s like sowing seeds in a garden, tending them, then when you harvest, you give all the fruit away, leaving you with no food and no seeds to replant.

Remember how good it feels to give to others? By accepting other people’s outpouring of good, you’re giving them the joy of sharing their essence with you. When you deny someone that pleasure, you’re actually blocking the Universe from pouring Its bounty into your life. The Universe is using them as a channel to funnel good to you. You don’t have to reciprocate to that specific person. If you choose to be in the role of giver, you can keep the flow going by giving to someone else.

If you’re stuck in your life, and nothing good is coming into it, giving is beneficial to get good moving. Remember that Universal good is just energy. Clean out your closets and donate your clothes to Goodwill. Volunteer to serve at the local shelter. This gets the ball rolling. Any energy streaming out will create a vacuum that attracts good to you. And it may come in ways you don’t expect.

You must open your mind to be willing to receive and accept more. Practice graciously receiving what is given, whether it’s a cup of coffee (or tea), a compliment, or even a penny on the sidewalk. This opens the valve to let more good come your way. When I finally learned that it was okay to accept from others, then more good flowed my way. It will be do so for you, too.

Affirmation

I open my mind to receive good from the Universe. When someone gives me a gift, I simply say, “Thank you.” The Universe works through people, and the giver is the conduit for Universal good. I recognize that giving and receiving are simply ways the Universe has to keeping the energy flowing. Only good flows from me and only good comes to me.

Copyright 2009 Linda Ann Stewart
All Rights Reserved

A nationally known hypnotherapist, writer, speaker and coach, Linda-Ann Stewart helps people rediscover their power and sense of self-worth. Visit “Secrets To The Law Of Attraction” to download your copy of this free ebook

self improvement, self help, personal growth, personal development, inspiration

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Jeff and I went to nearby Prescott, AZ to Christmas shop and watch the Christmas Light Parade. Several years ago, we just happened to be in Prescott the night they held it and found it enchanting. It’s so much more unusual than a regular Christmas parade.

They hold it just after sundown and the route wraps around the Courthouse Square downtown. Floats and vehicles are decked with Christmas lights that make them seem like a fairyland in the dark.

Although the weatherman called for rain and snow all day, it didn’t start until an hour after the parade ended. And then it was light and sporadic, so we had no trouble on the drive home. Everything worked in Divine Time and Divine Order that day. Yay!

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The Secret Of The Ages
by Robert Collier

Years ago, I knew I had two copies of this book. One was hardback, and one was paperback. I hadn’t read either of them, until I discovered a third copy, another hardback. Now, I know how I got the first two copies came. A friend sold some of the books in his library, and two other friends bought them for me. I have no idea where the third copy came from. After I found the third copy, I decided it was a message for me to read this book. I’m so glad I did. It’s main theme is about the consciousness of success, but this book contributes so much more to the world of metaphysics and awareness.

One of the best explanations of the conscious, subconscious, and superconscious minds that I’ve read is in this book. It gives a clear and concise description of the method to create what you want in your life. By giving directions of how to decide on what you want, and the role that your desire for change plays in creating it. The author explains that you are one with the Infinite, and have already been given all you could want.

“The Secret of the Ages” was written before “Think and Grow Rich,” and inspired “The Secret.” This book made a huge impact on my life, helping me deepen my understanding of my relationship to my mind and the Universe. As a motivational book to keep your thoughts positive, knowing that what you want is already yours, this book is without equal.

I’ve discovered that there are several abridged versions of this book being sold by various publishers. The one I’m reviewing and recommend is the complete, original and official one sold by the author’s publishing company.

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Question: Why is it so hard to accept myself?

Answer: From childhood, you’ve been told that who you are isn’t acceptable to the people around you. You were taught to reject parts of yourself to conform to others’ rules and regulations. “Don’t be so enthusiastic,” “Stop acting like a child,” “Don’t be so serious,” “Don’t ask so many questions,” “Don’t be mad,” “You don’t really feel/think that,” and on and on. You did your best to conform to what the people close to you wanted. If you acted in a way that they didn’t like, you were punished. You accepted their judgement of you, that somehow parts of you were “bad.” Now, when you try to accept yourself, you feel like you’ll be punished, criticized, or rejected. So you correct yourself first, before anyone else can, to try to keep yourself safe.

When I began to accept myself, I felt very threatened, as if my world was going to collapse. But with time, I found that the world I knew transformed into something much better. However, transformation means that some old thought forms must dissolve to make room for new ones. Your attitudes, like the world is a dangerous place, or you have to give pieces of yourself away to be loved, may be dear to your heart, but you must let them go. It’s difficult to do this, because your life has been built around them, but you must to allow new ones to be created. Again, it’s scary to transform them, because you don’t know what will fill their place. But the Universe created you whole. When you accept the wholeness of yourself, the Universe will support you in it.

Copyright 2001, 2009 Linda Ann Stewart
All Rights Reserved

self improvement, self help, personal growth, personal development

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