Luckily, research (probably done by chocoholics), has shown that eating chocolate actually releases happy hormones reducing the stress of depression which in turn helps you stay youthful, mentally and physically.

Bring it on!

At this time of year, amongst all the marketing hype surrounding the rich brown temptation, you might not realise it, but when you take a sublime mouthful of Easter Egg or Bunny, it is in fact, loaded with symbolism.

You’re actually connecting with an ancient pagan feast in honour of Eastre the Goddess of spring, dawn and fertility whose symbols were the egg and the hare. At the end of a long dark winter it celebrated the arrival of the northern spring and with it – new life!

Then around 2AD, the festival was co-opted by Christian missionaries to commemorate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In this way, it remains a tribute to an ending and a new beginning.

Easter today – more than an expanding waistline!

And so today, ancient paganism and more contemporary religious beliefs are woven beautifully together resulting in an Easter fabric that embodies hope.

We will all celebrate in our own way, however it seems that the great gift of Easter then, is opportunity. You could use it as your chance to herald in new growth, even the miraculous.

Why not use your Easter holiday to revive yourself, especially after what may have been a long and dark winter.

Revitalise with the help of your Positive Mind Management program (or if you don’t have one you can get one by clicking here).

Make some time to breathe new life into your work, your family, your community and your future by writing some fresh goals. You can’t get away from the fact that you are a goal seeking, cybernetic being and you absolutely must have goals to continue to thrive!

As for chocolate – how did this sweet bliss get into the act anyway?

Again, any excuse will do – we’ll have to blame those chocoholics.

Until next time, may Easter be a special time for you.

Gary Haseldine

P.S. Have you enjoyed this post? Why not forward to your friends and share this information?

According to Chinese astrology, we have just entered the year of the Dragon – the Water Dragon to be precise.

The Dragon conjures up contrasting thoughts. In the West it’s considered to be a frightening and fiery beast worthy of slaying! In the East, it’s believed to be a divine, mythical creature said to bring abundance, prosperity and good fortune.

In fact many Chinese believe the year of the Dragon is the most auspicious year in which to be born and even plan to have a child during this once-in-12-years event.

Bruce Lee, an inspired martial artist and actor, was a man of great philosophical insight. He said,

“If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits….”

He was right! There are only your own self imposed limits, springing from your deep subconscious self image, that can handcuff you to a mundane, fearful and largely unfulfilled life.

Lee continues, “There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them.”

You will know when you are experiencing a plateau… it’s a flat spot, where you stall. You feel stuck, unable to progress. This is a time for a major overhaul of your life. It’s a time to toss out what isn’t working and set some new goals for what is.

So, staying with Eastern philosophy, why not use the powerful energy expected in this year of the Dragon as a catalyst to break free of those shackles that may be binding you?

Negative feelings are actually alarms, like the red light on your motor car’s dashboard. They alert you to a possible problem with your self image - your mental blueprint to all success or defeat.

Yes, this could be the perfect time to recalibrate your self image. Give it a major service and then fine tune as you would your car. Give yourself a psychological fresh start.

To help clear out old ways of thinking, begin with this very effective exercise that I always recommend to my clients. It’s taken from Psycho-Cybernetics (Dr. Maxwell Maltz)…

Each time you catch yourself saying “I can’t or I’m no good, or I’m afraid” ask yourself the following questions …

1. Is there any rational reason for such a belief?
2. Could I be mistaken in this belief?
3. Would I come to the same conclusion about some other person in a similar situation?
4. Why should I continue to act and feel as if this were true if there is no good reason to believe it?

Take these questions seriously. Wrestle with them. Think hard on them. Get emotional about them. You may see that you have cheated yourself and sold yourself short not because of “fact” but because of an irrational and erroneous belief.

Once you have cleared your mind of some false beliefs, continue to make regular adjustments to your self image for the rest of your life. This is like giving your engine a service or a steam clean.

Here are three simple things you can do every day.

1. Relax. Physical relaxation brings about mental relaxation and a relaxed attitude helps control negative thoughts and reactions.
2. Visualise. Use visualisation to relive past successes. This will boost your confidence. And visualise the successful achievement of future goals. This gives your powerful creative mind a definite target.
3. Have an achievable goal. When you succeed, congratulate yourself. It feels great and is a natural boost to your self image.

And of course if you have the Positive Mind Management™ audio program use it regularly! You already know that the process of developing and maintaining a high self image is all done for you. It is easy and effortless.

If you don’t have it you can invest in yourself here.

The physical manifestation of your psychological overhaul is continuing motion. When you come to a plateau your self image never lets you stop and give up – a very good thing as you know it takes great energy to get moving again.

Continue to recalibrate your self image, adjusting, modifying and tweaking as you go. You’ll soon be rolling steadily on the road leading to abundance, prosperity and good fortune in this year of the Dragon!

I’ve recently been at the receiving end of some incredible kindness and it’s true, it makes you want to give it back in spades!

Have you had a kindness shown?

Pass it on

‘Twas not given for thee alone,

Pass it on;

Let it travel down the years,

Let it wipe another’s tears,

‘Til in Heaven the deed appears –

Pass it on.

Henry Burton

Yes, kindness is a virtue and definitely has a sort of karmic quality.

Unconditional kindness goes hand in hand with adversity. Here on our wonderful blue planet so often, we feel the full force of nature. You’ve seen it and possibly experienced it.

Natural disasters like flood, fire, and earthquakes bring enormous suffering, however the aftermath motivates care and compassion for others – as Shakespeare so eloquently wrote in Macbeth – the milk of human kindness.

Have you ever checked your KQ (Kindness Quotient)?

Perhaps you haven’t been receiving much kindness in your life lately. Would this be a good time to reflect on your KQ?

A low KQ could be revealed by things like being grumpy; growling at the family; friction with co workers; road rage or being an angry sports fan.

High KQ in action is having empathy; walking a mile in the other Indian’s moccasins. High KQ is catching others doing something right and giving gentle feedback on mistakes – replacing constructive criticism with Constructive Caring.

You will always catch more ants with honey than with vinegar.

“By swallowing evil words unsaid, no one has ever harmed his stomach”.

Winston Churchill

High KQ is all about stopping to smell the roses and handing out a few bunches. You could start with simple things like paying a compliment; making someone a cup of tea; holding the lift door open for the last person in; saying “sorry” or “I love you”.

If someone is mean to you, understand they aren’t necessarily an unkind person, they may just be having a very bad day. We all have them!

Undoubtedly, there’s boomerang effect – you get back what you give out. Your kindness will likely be returned when you really need it – when you’re having your very bad day!

So never wait for someone to be kind to you – get into the kindness habit even if you don’t feel like it. You’ll find that the world is indeed, a wonderful place.

Here are three ways to increase KQ around you.

• Set an example:

One of the best ways to learn is to teach. Take time to show the kids in your family how to be kind. Encourage them to lend a hand so they will understand the power of kindness. By setting a great example you’ll be a kindness leader encouraging caring and compassion in your world.

• Develop your empathy and understanding.

If you have the Positive Mind Management™ program, listen to Audio Program 4 which has the Right Thought Information for developing the good productive habit of Empathy & Understanding.  Or you can write a simple affirmation on a card. Read and visualise every day for 28 days.  For example:

I show kindness to at least three people every day.

• Implement a Kindness Star of the Week award.

At work or home, appoint a monitor each week whose job it is to report on all the random acts of kindness they observe. The person who has been the kindest receives the award.

Most important of all, be kind to yourself. We are often our own unkindest critic, beating ourselves up unnecessarily. Always remind yourself, you are one of a kind, nature’s greatest miracle!

If you have the Positive Mind Management™ Audio Program use it regularly! You already know that the process of developing and maintaining a high KQ is all done for you. It is easy and effortless.

If you don’t have it you can invest in yourself here.

And finally remember …

Kind hearts are the gardens

Kind thoughts are the roots

Kind words are the flowers

Kind deeds are the fruits

Take care of your garden

And keep out the weeds

Fill it with sunshine, kind words and kind deeds.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Keep practising your kindness daily. Trust me it will be returned. And you’ll finish up smelling of roses!

Until next time, all the very best

Gary Haseldine

When the bird hatches, it will almost definitely do what it’s meant to do. If it’s a sparrow, it’ll look like a sparrow, it will fly like sparrow and it will do sparrowy things. Then it will produce eggs containing other sparrows. And so on. To all intents and purposes, it will reach it’s full potential.

Yes, potential, it’s a popular word. What does it really mean?

A dictionary definition says potential is latent qualities or abilities that may be developed and lead to future success or usefulness.

We were on a business trip, flying to Perth. On the refreshments tray, amongst other things, was a cup, a plastic spoon and some sugar. Berenice pondered over the spoon and then put it into her handbag. Why?

Well, she explained, “I don’t take sugar, so I won’t need to use that spoon. It’s such a nice design. If it’s thrown into the rubbish, it’s not going to reach its full potential and that doesn’t seem right. I’ll take it home and use it for something else”!

(She also squeezes the last scrap from the toothpaste tube, apparently for the same reason!)

According to Texas gridiron coach, Darrel Royal, “Potential means you ain’t done it yet!”

Athletes, writers, singers, artists, just about anyone who has reached the top of their field can be said to have reached their full potential – in that area. What about the rest of their lives?

Psycho-physical trainer, Jack Schwartz said …“We are hoarding potentials so great, that they are just about unimaginable”

He talks about potentials – plural.

This is what sets us apart from birds. We’ve got the ability to realise many potentials. The ability to become everything we can be in countless life areas.

Are you hoarding some potentials? What do you want to be when you grow up?  Have you let life get in the way and steal your dreams? Have you buried your talents under a mountain of busy-ness in the process of making a living? Perhaps you’re not doing what you love?

It’ll soon be 2012! May I suggest that you take stock of your talents, your abilities and most importantly your dreams and set some goals and some plans to release your potentials before it’s too late.

“There are powers inside of you which, if you could discover and use, would make of you everything you ever dreamed or imagined you could become.”       Orison Swett Marsden

Here are three things to do straight away:

1. Write down your life’s definite purpose – what is it you really want to do?
2. Now write a goal that excites you – not a fantasy goal, rather one that will stretch you a little. Ensure that the goal sets you in the direction of your definite purpose.
3. Lastly, if you have the Positive Mind Management Program – use it regularly! It is a valuable resource to keep you firmly going in the direction of your dreams and to reaching your full potential!
   All the best
   Gary Haseldine

What a great way to start each and every day!

Especially when you are feeling particularly challenged.

Using your imagination to conjure up half a dozen astonishing impossibilities would create a new chemical formula in your brain. Perfect for improving your mood! The flow on effect would be immense. For the rest of the day you would attract circumstances that please you. And if something unfortunate did happen, you would easily adopt a positive attitude towards it.

I know you know this!

And I know you know that it’s relatively easy to achieve when things are going well. It’s when things are not going well; with your finances, your relationships, with your health; that it’s a tough call.

To think success when you are surrounded by failure, to think wealth when surrounded by lack, to think health when surrounded by sickness, that is supreme.

It’s the ultimate choice isn’t it? To choose what you think!

For years, I’ve been advising my clients to “think of what you want, not what you don’t want”.

You must do it. Instead of being reactive to the circumstances around you, be creative!

The more you do it, the easier it becomes, as a matter of habit. Repetition strengthens your command of your natural gift.

Be amazed at what transpires in your life as a result of this good productive habit.

Soon you’ll be experiencing 6 “impossible” things before breakfast.

For inspiration, I invite you to read Don Quixote’s song (by Joe Darion) – and then I’ll finish with 5 tips to lend more power to your quest.

To dream … the impossible dream …

To fight … the unbeatable foe …

To bear … with unbearable sorrow …

To run … where the brave dare not go …

To right … the unrightable wrong …

To love … pure and chaste from afar …

To try … when your arms are too weary …

To reach … the unreachable star …

—

This is my quest, to follow that star …

No matter how hopeless, no matter how far …

To fight for the right, without question or pause …

To be willing to march into Hell, for a Heavenly cause …

—

And I know if I’ll only be true, to this glorious quest,

That my heart will lie will lie peaceful and calm,

when I’m laid to my rest …

And the world will be better for this:

That one man, scorned and covered with scars,

Still strove, with his last ounce of courage,

To reach … the unreachable star …

Here are 5 tips to help

1. SCRAP. Whenever a negative thought starts to form, say this acronym.

S - Stop the negative thought

C - Cancel the thought

R- Rewind your mind to before the negative thought

A - Affirm the next thought, which of course will be …

P - Positive

2. Become vigilant about the words you think and the words you say. Eliminate “can’t” and “try”. Never say “I’m just” or “I’m only”. Refrain from talking about your woes – speak only of what you want.

3. Appreciate and offer thanks for what you have at the moment. Concentrate on the positive aspects of your life.

4. Eliminate doubt. How? Dale Carnegie said “inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy”.

Nothing ever stays the same, tomorrow could be the day that things turn around. Remember…

“Doubt is a pain too lonely to know that faith is his twin brother”. Khalil Gibran

5. Build up your self belief. With a high self image you overcome challenges much more easily.

If you have the Positive Mind Management Program – use it regularly.

If not, you can buy it on this website.

It can be challenging to go it alone. Please contact me if you’d like my help.

gary@garyhaseldine.com

We began our last Winner’s Ways with an expression of heartfelt sympathy for all those suffering the ravaging effects of flood, fire and drought.

Unfortunately, we begin this Winner’s Ways with a similar sentiment. This time our hearts go out to our brothers and sisters in Christchurch, New Zealand in the wake of the recent devastating earthquake.

It’s as if Mother Earth is manoeuvring us to experience a powerful shift in our consciousness.

In all instances, immediately we witness golden acts of kindness, compassion, generosity and bravery. With every catastrophe we see the human spirit spring into action. People selflessly helping people.

What is worrying however is what happens to those who’ve suffered the brunt of the calamity after the armies of helpers leave.

I believe any adversity unveils to what degree our personal development supports us.

Hardly a week goes by without me saying to a would-be client – you clean and feed your body every day, why do you neglect to feed your mind? Personal development is your insurance against such future shock creating, as it does the knowledge of internal self management.

The inner turmoil caused by dreadful events can last for years, if not a lifetime, if no practical steps are taken to alleviate it. For it is our perceptions and our reactions to circumstances that colour the emotions we experience.

I urge anyone who has been touched in any way to seek guidance from a qualified counsellor and not be tempted to go it alone.

There is an inescapable natural process through which we all must proceed. Once you know what to expect and how to deal with each step of the experience, ultimately despair loses its power and darkness gives way to a fresh vision of the future.

For within every disaster is opportunity.

Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit.

Napoleon Hill

One of my favourite daily affirmations is that no matter what, something good comes out of everything. From personal experience, I assure you, it may not always be evident at the time, however when grief subsides, this concept has you looking for that good. Be assured, your automatic guidance system will find it, and let’s face it, we simply must move on.

Every trial endured and weathered in the right spirit makes a soul nobler and stronger than it was before.

James Buckham

We can no longer labour under the misapprehension that the mind is a separate entity from the body. There is just too much scientific evidence to indicate that unresolved emotional issues will inevitably lead to ill health.

Unnecessary stress is indeed, one of our society’s biggest killers. I encourage you to become familiar with how it will, over time, make you very ill as well as very unhappy.

So if you are struggling with grief, emotional meltdown or even feeling generally gloomy, I urge you to seek professional help.

In the meantime here are three simple personal development habits (just like brushing your teeth), you can add to your daily routine:

1. When you are showering – repeat to yourself “something fantastic is going to happen to me today”

2. When having your lunch, think of at least three things you appreciate or that you are grateful for

3. As you prepare for bed, review all the positive things that happened during the day

Do this consistently for at least 28 days. By then the fog will have lifted and your life will seem brighter.

And for those dear readers who have the Positive Mind Management program, I will add a fourth very good habit:

4. Read a goal and listen to your audio program – either CD 4 or CD 5.

In conclusion, I think the following poem says it all …

Looking into the future – something my past didn’t see -

The outcome of my experience has allowed life to transform me.

Longing to be alive, for within I was dead,

Darkness was my company and each day I’d dread.

Walking with a lost soul, understanding nothing at hand,

I once had a goal, then my dreams turned to sand.

Seeking comfort to captivate my distressed mind

I can’t give up on life! Hope, I must find!

Thankfully, I found hope in the midst of the dark.

Pursuing to find some light until it penetrated my heart.

Now that I’m blessed with life and have allowed it to transform me.

I’m excited about the future – something my past didn’t see …

Anon

At these times we need to draw on our reserves of inner strength.  If you are, for whatever reason, feeling somewhat overwhelmed and you are a valued Positive Mind Management client, remember this is when you can turn to your audio program for support.

Now it’s a new year and this time, a new decade.  May it hold better fortune and ultimately bring to fruition your loftiest aspirations.

Each new year psychologically brings with it new hope.  Oddly, when the clock strikes 12 midnight; after the toasts; the hugs and kisses and the fireworks; 12.01 on the 1st of the 1st seems like a great opportunity for a fresh start doesn’t it?  A chance to do better than last year, to reset the compass.

If that’s the case for a new year, how are you feeling about a new decade, the next ten years?   That’s a vastly wider perspective isn’t it?  And it’s that long term view, I find many have real difficulty envisioning.

For avid goal setters, it’s a breeze, which just goes to show, you need get started now.

I’m sure you’ve heard it’s best to begin with small, short term, achievable goals.  Doing this, you’ll find each success systematically builds your self image until you can confidently stretch your time frame and comfort zone.

Having said that, it’s so important to stay flexible.  Give yourself some margin allowing for any unforseen circumstances.  Your attitude can easily be bent out of shape if you don’t achieve a goal by your set time.

Now here’s something you should know, an insidious factor of which you mightn’t be aware.

My advice is, always refrain from sharing your goals with negative people – for obvious reasons.  However, now I’m going one step further.

It is a fair bet that your goal setting success will be affected by those people with whom you associate.

James Rohn, the late philosopher and my personal mentor, encouraged us to pose these three questions:

“Who am I around? What effect are they having?  Is that acceptable?”

Take some time to evaluate your associations.  Who touches your life on a daily basis?  What reputation do they have?  Are they productive, knowledgeable and respected?  What have they accomplished?

If your assessment reveals that you have allowed in some negative influences, it’s vital you take steps to distance yourself.  Failure to do so usually results in you being nudged, little by little from your dreams.

A negative comment here – nudge.
A cynical remark there – nudge.
A wisecrack – nudge.
A scoff, a raised eyebrow – nudge, nudge.

It’s barely noticeable as it happens, however, “all of a sudden” a decade has passed.  And you realise you are way off course!  You’ve been nudged bit by bit and are now in the same rut as them, the people you’ve been around.

Yes, over a prolonged period, the accumulation of all those nudges that don’t really seem to matter much at the time, ultimately destroy your aspirations. Your life!

So be vigilant, be discerning as to who you spend your precious time with and by the end of this new decade, you’ll be exactly where you planned to be!

By the way, if you didn’t already download your complimentary copy of my ebook, Ten Top Tips For Great Goal Setting and Achieving – simply click the link and it’s yours.

Now here’s some good news, especially for busy people.

If you haven’t already got a comprehensive goal achieving system, the Positive Mind Management™ Advanced Goal Setting system is an easy, step by step method and is immediately available.

Here’s a link so you can read more about it. If you think it’s a wise investment, you can click here.

However, if you don’t feel like going it alone, you can attend the Positive Mind Management™ Advanced Goal Setting Short Course with me either in person or face to face on Skype. If you’d like to make an appointment, you can contact me here.

All the best with your goals.

Hello [wpmlfield name="first_name"]

May your goals come to fruition in 2011, making it healthy, happy and prosperous!

We look forward to staying in touch throughout the year!

Enjoy life and life will enjoy you!

All the best

Gary

Are you missing some of your targets?

Big goals can be as tantalising as cheese to a mouse. However, the trap is, life often throws in a few major obstacles, just to make sure you’re serious.

That’s interesting because the word goal originated back in the Middle Ages and in those days “gol” meant obstacle or boundary!

Everyone experiences a hurdle from time to time and right now you could be feeling frustrated and scratching your head. What’s going on?

So in a moment I’ll give you 7 probable causes for getting snared in the goal setting mousetrap.

However first, I’m sure you remember how important it is to have a self image that is in harmony with your goals. Occasionally when you are going for a very high goal, one that is a real stretch, old doubts surface and you start to question your ability.

As Dan S. Kennedy says in The New Psycho-Cybernetics, the minute that we change our minds and stop giving power to the past, the past with its mistakes loses its power over us. With a high self image you can ignore past failures and forge ahead. And how do you do that? That is what Positive Mind Management^® is all about!

And/or it may be one of these:-

1. Your goal is not written down, or it’s written incorrectly

2. It may not be what you really want

3. It’s not aligned with your most strongly held values

4. Your time frame is unrealistic

5. You aren’t focussed enough, or you’re thinking of too many goals at once

6. You are being susceptible to the negative influences of other people (SNIOP*)

7. You are having a temporary setback, caused by other people

Finally, keep in mind that wise Zen saying – The obstacle is the path!

All the best with your goals

Gary

P.S. If you haven’t already got a goal achieving system, the Positive Mind Management Advanced Goal Setting system is an easy, step by step method and is immediately available.

Here’s a link … click here and you can read more about it and if you think it’s a wise investment, click here to purchase.

However, if you don’t feel like going it alone, you can attend the Positive Mind Management Advanced Goal Setting Short Course with me either face to face or on Skype.

P.P.S. If you didn’t already download your free copy of my Ten Top Tips For Great Goal Setting and Achieving – simply click the link and it’s yours.

All the best

Gary

*Zig Ziglar

Copyright © garyhaseldine.com.au 2010.

Psychologically, the clocking over of 2010 to 2011 would seem to be the perfect opportunity for a new start – a reason to put yourself into action. It’s a bit like wanting to start a new diet on Monday isn’t it?

Why do we feel the urge to make changes?

I think it must be in our genes – an ancestral linking to forebears who survived, thrived and evolved through millennia. Think about it!

The human race has grown from a desire for constant and never ending improvement. Inventive and curious, with a zest for discovery, we can also dream, gifted as we are with a fertile imagination. Not only do we have the ability to travel into the future in our minds eye, we can also create it!

We are goal seeking by design – you know that by now. It’s natural and essential for the continuation of our species and for our individual success.

This year has been a bit of an obstacle course hasn’t it? And plenty of us have been affected, either directly or indirectly by world events beyond our control. Well, 2010 is now almost over and we can only learn from it.

If you have a balanced portfolio of written specific goals, doubtless, they have provided a sense of purpose and a feeling of optimism to carry on despite the outrageous eddies and impossible rips that life has thrown down.

On the other hand, if you aren’t feeling motivated by the advent of 2011, it could be time to stimulate your natural human drive. Here are three simple things you can do straight away.

1. Write a list of things you want to achieve in 2011 – give your Creative Level of Mind the instructions it needs. You will be amazed how you are directed to unexpected opportunities and assistance. Simple, however highly effective.

2. Take your learnings from 2010 and apply them to 2011. What worked? Keep doing that! What didn’t work – refrain from doing that again! Pretty simple!

3. Take a lesson from ants. The late, great motivational speaker, E. James Rohn said a study of ants could teach us so much. Put an object in the way of an ant and you’ll find that little guy is so focussed on its goal, it’ll discover a way to get over, under or around the obstacle. Your goals need to be worth finding your way over, under or around any roadblocks you encounter. Couldn’t be simpler.

By the way, if you didn’t already download your complimentary copy of my ebook, Ten Top Tips For Great Goal Setting and Achieving – simply click the link and it’s yours.

Now here’s some good news, especially for busy people.

If you haven’t already got a comprehensive goal achieving system, the Positive Mind Management™ Advanced Goal Setting system is an easy, step by step method and is immediately available.

Here’s a link so you can read more about it. If you think it’s a wise investment, you can click here.

However, if you don’t feel like going it alone, you can attend the Positive Mind Management™ Advanced Goal Setting Short Course with me, either in person or face to face on Skype. If you’d like to make an appointment, you can contact me here.

All the best with your goals.

Copyright © garyhaseldine.com 2010.