The imagination is probably the most powerful tool that we have at our disposal. Everything that man has created was born out of the imagination. The difference between the life of a pauper and the life of a king is mostly due to how well or how badly the imagination was used.

It is through the imagination that our Universe is defined and that our reality is created. It could be said that our imagination is the seat of our consciousness and the house of our awareness. Everything that we consciously perceive is colored by the flavor of our imagination.

Given all its power and importance, should the imagination be allowed to run free and unbridled? That would be like sending off a nuclear aircraft carrier without a Captain. A certain recipe for disaster.

The imagination is a faithful servant when it has a strong master but it will become a tyrant when allowed to run free and unchecked. The main reason for that is the fact that the imagination is easier stirred by tragedy and negativities than it will be by beauty and creativity.

More people will stop to see a gory accident than pause to reflect on a beautiful and inspiring sunset. A novel without some tragedy would not sell and “good news” newspapers never got off the ground. Bad news circle the Globe in a matter of minutes but a superb achievement will only stir modest attention.

The imagination will obey the will. It answers any question that we may ask. It will focus wherever it is directed. And most importantly, it will take whatever slant it is instructed to take on any subject under the sun. That is, the imagination can look at a situation with a bright and optimistic outlook as it can do it veiled with the shadows of gloom and doom.

That is where imagination control becomes all-important. Any situation, condition or prospect can be viewed in a way that will brighten the picture and highlight its positive aspects. We see beautiful examples of this many times when people face hardships and find ways of seeing the sun shine in a very cloudy sky.

On the other hand, we’ve also seen people who were sitting on what looked like the top of the world and only saw sadness and desolation in their lives. It’s not what happens to us that defines our reality; it’s how we use our imagination to view the outside circumstances that creates our internal affective world and defines what it means for us.

As toddlers, a cardboard box could become a beautiful house and we could see a precious gem in a colored rock. Unfortunately, much of that magic has been repressed as we grew up. We became more sophisticated and more discerning – thinking that it was the smart thing to do. Not really. All that we accomplished was to hide one of our most precious gifts – the capacity to define our own world.

Imagination is one of the greatest gift and most versatile tool that was given to man. Used judiciously, it can perform magic. Left to its own wile it can have devastating effects. It can be a dutiful servant or a demonic tyrant. We get to decide what we make of it.

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One of the major roadblocks to self-expression is the fear of rejection. People will go to their grave with the song still in them because of that fear. Wonderful opportunities have been lost and the quality of life has been dwarfed for many because of it. The fear of rejection, in the best-case scenarios, is very annoying and in extreme cases, it’s a debilitating curse.

Before we can learn how to handle successfully the fear of rejection, we need to understand its nature. The fear of rejection is a phobia. It’s an excessive fear of something that is innocuous or harmless. It’s an exaggerated reaction toward an imaginary threat. Nothing else.

The worst that a rejection can cause is a bruised ego. Nobody ever died of a bruised ego. However, that is not what a person in the throe of the fear of rejection will perceive. Just as is the case of any phobia, the response to the threat is highly exaggerated and the fight or flight response may become be activated.

When that happens, a benign threat will be perceived as an eminent danger that could have devastating if not of deadly consequences. That’s what a person affected with the fear of rejection will feel and that’s what his reality will be. No wonder that the response takes on such a disproportionate dimensions.

Eliminating the fear of rejection is affected primarily through a desensitizing process. The possible effects of rejection must be carefully and logically scrutinized. The following questions must be carefully examined, “What will happen to me if someone manifests, in words or in action, some expression of disapproval, criticism, resentment or rejection?”

If we have to be honest and sincere about it, the worst that can follow a rejection is a bruised ego. And that is only in the cases where we will allow our ego to be affected by the incident. Words by themselves have no power to hurt us – that is, unless we allow it to be.

The more we explore the real effects of rejection, the more we understand that it has little consequences or significance. Someone does not like us or disagree with us; so what? Everyone his entitled to an opinion and we certainly don’t have to share it.

No one can rise in the social hierarchy without gathering a proportional share of people who will disagree, show unwarranted resentment and express some form of rejection. It goes with the territory. Champions, winners and mover and shakers know that and understand that it’s a very small price to pay for the life that they live and enjoy.

In the Stone Age, rejection meant that you could be excluded from the clan and left out of support and resources. This is no longer the case. In today’s world, rejection might even be seen as a sign of personal success. If you’re a nobody, no one will criticize and reject you; you’re not worth the effort. On the other hand, as you rise above the crowd, some opposition is to be expected.

No one enjoys criticism and rejection. On the other hand, incidents involving opposition have to be seen in the proper context. If someone else is on a different wavelength, it’s not necessarily a reflection on our self-worth. It takes a big person to be understanding, forgiving and tolerant. Not everyone has reach that level. So, let’s not be overly affected when we come across one of those poor souls who tries to rain on our parade. It’s not worth the time or efforts.

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It would be almost impossible to overstate the importance of the self-image. It molded our personality, defined our character, and it directs our behavior. The self-image is the way that we perceive ourselves to be. It defines how we behave, it sets the boundaries of what’s possible for us and it shapes the way that we present ourselves to the world.

The self-image is responsible for the quality of life that we’ll enjoy or the lack thereof. For all these reasons and many more, our self-image is of capital importance. Every possible effort should be made to have the best possible self-image.

Before we attempt to change the self-image, it must be understood that the self-image is a personal belief and nothing else. It is not something that we were born with or that is inscribed in our genes or DNA. As far as the self-image is concerned, we were born with a clean slate that we filled by accepting suggestions that were given by parents, friends, teacher and peers and through some personal observations.

We were the ones who accepted those suggestions and made those observations so, even if were not consciously aware that we were accepting those suggestions, we must take full responsibility for the process.

Changes are only possible by taking responsibility for what concerns us. No change is ever possible by taking on the victim stance. The reason for that is simple. We have control over what we created or have allowed to be created in our brain but if we adopt the beliefs that it was due to outside influences, there is little if anything that we can do to change it.

Once we have accepted responsibility for our self-image, the second thing that has to be done is to write down what that image is. It is impossible to try to change some vague notion. Just as we would not try to redecorate the inside of a house that we have not seen, it would be foolish to attempt to change a self-image of which we only have some vague concepts.

Formulating the description of our self-image demands some introspection. The best way to do that is by sitting down and writing a paragraph describing who we perceive ourselves to be. That paragraph is simply a rough draft. It won’t be perfect and we should not even try to make it perfect.

However, in days to come, that draft has to be reviewed and corrected until we have an accurate description of what we perceive ourselves to be. It may take days and it may take weeks but the exercise should be done until we are satisfied with the finished product.

Once that this is done, we must define and write down what we believe that we could be if we were all that we could be. That is our ideal self-image. That’s the image that we want to fill; that’s the person that we want to become. That’s how we want to see ourselves – it’s our new and improved self-image.

We now come to the final stage of the exercise. That ideal self-image must be placed where it can easily be seen and read over and over again with conviction until it is completely believed and accepted.

People who have tried this technique were amazed at the results that were achieved in a relatively short period of time. Every time that the ideal self-image is read, it reinforce the belief and eventually turns it into a conviction. That’s the power of autosuggestion. It’s the ideal tool to change a negative self-image into the glorious image of what we fundamentally are.

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Our little trip on Planet Earth is a one-time deal and it does not last forever. Depending on how we look at it, that may be a very somber thought or it could be a tremendous source of motivation. One way or another, it certainly changes the perspective from which we view life.

When we take an honest look at the fact that our time is limited, everything changes. There is no more time for pettiness, there is little time for worries and all that really matters is what we truly want to accomplish before the final curtain falls.

With maturity we get to understand that life is about productivity. It’s about doing, achieving and growing in the process. We also get to understand that life is about engagement. It’s about contribution, it’s bout making a statement, and it’s about fulfilling our manifest destiny.

Seen in this light, our mortality becomes a great motivator. It gives us a sense of purpose and a sense of urgency. It’s a wakeup call. It incites us to focus on what is important and what really matters. It’s a constant reminder of how precious and important life is.

To be truly effective, the awareness of the fact that we have been given a limited existence has to be exercised with balance. If that awareness becomes excessive it may create a paralyzing obsession. On the other hand, if completely ignored, it could lead to a purposeless existence.

Chances are that there is little that we can do to extend the time that is given us except to follow the sensible rules that we all know regarding personal health care. However, even if there is little that we can do to expand the time that we have been allotted, there is much that we can do to fill that time with more life.

Intensive living is the result of passion. The kind of passion that can be found while pursing goals and objectives that are larger and bigger than we are – through goals and objectives that will demand complete involvement and complete dedication.

The kind of passion that feeds the thirst for knowledge and discoveries. The passion for self-discovery and self-actualization. The passion for life and everything in it. The kind of passion that is felt when we are involved in something that matters, is important, vital and essential.

Passion is the fuel that generates energy, flames the imagination, opens doors and bolsters courage. It is what gets us up early in the morning and keeps the flame burning until late in the night. Passion equates vitality and confidence as it creates the charismatic aura essential to success. With enough passion, almost anything is possible. Without it, everything is an uphill battle.

The kind of passion that we are talking about here is closely associated with caring. It’s caring enough about who we are to understand that we were placed on Planet Earth for a mission. It’s caring enough about ourselves to have a sense of purpose and destiny. It’s caring enough about ourselves to realize that we count and that we matter. In one word, it’s caring enough to see the grandeur of man and to live up to that vision.

Our time on Planet Earth is limited. We can use this fact as a reminder that time is precious and should be used judiciously. Seen in that light, it becomes a source of inspiration and a great motivator. The gift of life is the greatest there is. Let’s make the most of it while we still can.

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Attitude is everything. It’s not what happens to us that really matter. What does make all the difference in the world is how we interpret what is happening to us. Each and every one of us looks at the world through different lens. Those lenses are defined by the self-image.

Whether a person believes to be designing and building his life or is in survival mode depends exclusively on how that person sees himself. The survivor and winner will always be in a growth mode and the victim of circumstances will always be in survival mode, no matter what.

We see life and we interpret reality in a way that conforms to the views that we have about ourselves. Nelson Mandela was leading his country from the confines of a jail cell. In his mind he was a leader and a force for justice. That was his self-image and it also was his reality.

On the other hand, we have the sad story of a man who was a legend in his lifetime, Elvis Presley. Elvis was almost universally adulated. He had fame, fortune and the world was his oyster. In spite of all that, he literally destroyed himself.

Two legends, two self-visions, two vastly different outcomes. Outside circumstances matter little. Perceived identity means everything. We behave, respond, evaluate and perceive in ways that conform to the image that we have of ourselves.

Yet, for all its importance, that self-image is only an amalgamate of beliefs. Beliefs that were mostly passed down to us by parents, friends, teachers, peers, societal influences and a few from personal observations.

At one point, we need to sit down and take a good hard look at how we see ourselves, how we perceive ourselves to be. We need to re-evaluate the beliefs that we have about ourselves. How much of those beliefs are genuine and how much of them are fiction.

All personal breakthroughs begin with a change in beliefs. What we can or cannot do, what we consider possible or impossible, is rarely a function of our true capability. It is more likely a function of our beliefs about who we are.

The first thing that needs to be done by anyone serious about changing his life’s scenarios from survival mode to designing and building a life of choice is to sit down a write a brief description of his perceived identity. That description should focus on what the person could be if he gave his all and was determined to use his full potential.

This written self-description could be the most important document that a person possesses. It contains a clear view of what is possible. It sets the boundaries and scope of one’s possibilities. It sets the scenario that will guide the main protagonist (ourselves) in the story of our life.

We were all born winners; we were all given the talents necessary to take our rightful place in the grand scheme of the Universe. Our mission is to find and exploit our full potential. That mission starts with a search for self-discovery and once that this is done, everything else just falls naturally into place.

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Every moment that we are awake, the little chatterbox in our mind is active. It’s a bit like a radio that cannot be shut off and, just like a radio; we have many different stations that we can tune in. Some of these stations are upbeat and uplifting while others are filled with gloom and doom and altogether very depressing.

There is however a major difference between our little chatterbox and a radio. The chatterbox is interactive. If we wish, we can participate in the conversation that goes on.

The importance of that chatterbox is the fact it controls our feelings and the way that we see life. It also controls our state of mind, which in turn controls the level of our performances. Given these facts, it becomes evident that we should do everything in our power to maximize the quality of what comes out of this all-important chatterbox.

The best way to do that is by tuning into the channel that focuses on our life’s purpose. Of course, if it’s not already done, we have to begin by defining what that life’s purpose is all about. The first step to get to know what that purpose is would be to ask the question, “What is most important for me?”

At first sight, it seems to be an awesome question with no evident answers. However, after some reflection it becomes quite evident that what we want the most and what is most important is to feel good. Of course, that answer will bring up another question, which is, “What makes me feel good?”

Now, that is the primordial question and one that will bring a different answer depending on the individual’s values. For some, it might be personal growth. For others, it might be pursuing a cause that is larger than they are. The answers will vary depending on the individual but what is truly important is finding the answer to that question. The quality of our life depends on it.

The reason that it is so important is that we have two choices in life. We can either run away from something that we fear or run toward something that we want. Either way, we’ll be running. There is no standing still in life.

Without a purpose to run toward, we’ll be running away from fears. There is no shortage of those. They are like a pack of wolves howling at the moon. We can either listen to those scary sounds or listen to the sweet music of accomplishment.

By being invested in a purpose that is big enough, noble enough and grand enough, there will be little place in our lives for fears and other negativities. We cannot focus on two different topics at the same time. Either our eyes are staring at the stars or they’ll be glazing at the abyss.

Helen Keller said it best, “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.” Either we stand for something or we mean nothing. Either we have a purpose in life or life will use us to serve its purpose. Either we create and grow or we vegetate and wallow.

Life is too important to be wasted. To live it to the utmost, a purpose is needed. A purpose around which we can wrap all the other elements in our life and see it all shine gloriously as it creates the statement that we were born to be.

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It may be hard to believe but most of us go through life literally in a hypnotic trance. That is, we have been hypnotized by outside influences into believing that life is biographical, that our past equates our future. We have been mesmerized into thinking that who and what we are is a reality that cannot be changed and that what happened to us in the past is likely to be what we’ll experience in the future.

Changing that stinking thinking is what self-improvement is all about and that is why it’s a pro-active process and not a passive one. In most cases, changing beliefs is a lot harder than learning new material. One of the reasons that it is difficult is the fact that we don’t actually assimilate what we see or hear.

Instead of assimilating messages the way they were intended to be understood, we’ll find a way of distorting the words so that they confirm what we actually believed in the first place. Having an open mind is a myth. We’ll go to almost any length to preserve our beliefs and convictions.

An example of those phenomena is seen when trying to convince someone who has an alcohol or substances problem that the habit is not good for them. They will hear the words perfectly however the message simply will not get across. Somehow, they will remain confident that what they do is not a problem.

New concepts almost always face stiff resistance. As long as we believe something, our brain operates on automatic pilot, filtering any input from the environment and searching for references to validate our belief, regardless of what is it.

Self-improvement implies changes. We cannot improve and remain the same. Self-improvement is not about a superficial makeover. It’s about changes in beliefs and changes in character. Until that is done, there is no self-improvement. We can hide the stripes on a Zebra but it will still be a Zebra.

True changes require a modification of the way that we see ourselves, a change of identity if you will. As an example, someone could learn everything that there is know about how to set goals and achieve those goals but very little will happen until the person sees himself as a winner and an achiever.

We behave as we perceive ourselves to be. One of the strongest and most fundamental forces that control our behavior is the need to be true to our identity. To change our behavior, our character and our thought patterns, we must change our identity. That is the aim of self-development.

Our identity is simply the beliefs that we use to define our own individuality. As we develop new beliefs about who we are, our behavior will change to support the new identity. Shifting, changing or expanding identity can produce the most profound and rapid improvements in the quality of your life.

So, the ultimate objective of our work in self-development is to affect a change in how we perceive ourselves to be, in our identity. That can only be done by shedding the parts of that identity that does not serve us and replace them with positive and empowering beliefs. A daunting but not impossible task.

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Life is about balance and equilibrium. One of the best ways to learn and grow is by emulating the Greats of this world. On the other hand, since each of us is basically different, we must at times be willing to leave the beaten path and forge ahead in uncharted lands. That’s when we need to start thinking outside the box.

Thinking outside the box is creativity at its finest. That’s how some of the greatest breakthroughs came about. While most people were thinking about reinventing the proverbial “better” mousetrap, someone said, “Hey, how could I make a million dollars using my computer?” The rest is history – hundreds of new billionaires.

While everyone was mailing resumes, someone said, “How could I create my own job?” Result, hundreds of new entrepreneurs making tons of money and having the time of the lives. Again, the magic of thinking outside of the box.

It is said that, “People do what people do because people do what people do.” What that saying does not say is that when people do what other people do, they also get what other people get. We don’t have to look around very long to find out that maybe we don’t want what others have. That’s not being cynical; it’s being factual.

Thinking outside the box is simply the pursuit of a seemingly outlandish or impossible dream. It is done by asking ourselves the simple question, “Why not?” It is done by exploring what may seem to be a fantasy at first sight, something that had never been done before. The simple fact that something has never been done before does not mean that it cannot be done or should not be done.

When we approach the autumn of our live, most of our regrets are not over things that we have done but about what we should have done and did not have the courage to do.

We don’t know what we are capable off until we try. We have personal resources that we don’t even suspect that we have. They just lay there waiting to be discovered and exploited. It is said that we only use a fraction of our god-given talents. A statement that has never been disputed.

Napoleon Hill said, “What ever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve.” It takes courage and fortitude to believe and heed those words. They are powerful words and once integrated into a personal fundamental belief, they can unleash astonishing personal resources.

Thinking outside the box creates diversity. It opens new channels of expression and reveals new worlds. Often times it creates the channel to what was hitherto impossible, and in doing so, brings life to a new level. The story of man’s progress is the story of thinking outside the box.

Thinking outside the box is to think differently, unconventionally or from a new perspective. This is sometimes called a process of lateral thought. A technique that is especially useful when encountering a solid wall while pursuing an objective or developing a theory. When that happens, the only thing that can be done is lateral gravitating in search of the opening that will allow further progress.

Faith in the knowledge that, “where there’s a will, there’s a way” is the essential element to spur on and flame the process of thinking outside the box. A technique that could be called “life saving” for moribund concepts.

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The best way of climbing the ladder of success is by outgrowing the situation that we are presently holding. A person’s worth leaves clues and these clues don’t go unnoticed. Sooner or later, we gravitate to our level of competence.

Contrary to popular belief, it is not crowded at the top. There is plenty of room available just waiting for someone ready to fill the positions. The problem is not the lack of room; it’s the lack of people ready to fill the shoes that need to be filled.

Until we are ready to accept that belief, our chances of climbing the stairs of corporate or entrepreneurial success are considerably affected. No real progress is possible until a situation has been correctly assessed and established.

The problem is that we tend to follow the Pollyanna principle also called, “Positivity bias.” That principle says that, when doing a self-evaluation, we have a tendency to focus on our strong points instead of doing an inclusive survey of our real competences. In other words, we may not be as good as we think that we are.

In today’s fast paced world, being good at what we do is not good enough to rise in the corporate hierarchy. We are expected to be good; that’s what we get paid for. Being excellent will not do it either. Being excellent only means that we are filling our present place. It’s no reason to be promoted or to see an increase in our entrepreneurial revenues.

To be noticed, to be invited to fill a higher and more rewarding position, we must be outstanding. That is where the money is. That’s where the train that leads to the top starts. That’s where we get the wings that will allow us to soar above the crowd and reach the rarified air of the mountaintop of success.

Jim Rohn said it best, “Formal education will make you a living; self education will make you a fortune.” It is by working every day to improve ourselves that we can acquire the competence to become outstanding and in doing so, become a magnet for opportunities and advancement.

The self-education that Jim Rohn talks about is not restricted to our area of expertise. It also encompasses the entire gamut of the disciplines covered in the self-improvement world. It’s about life’s philosophy, character building, communication and relationships along with the multitude of subjects being covered in the self-help movement.

Self-education is about personal growth in all its facets. It’s about learning how to make finer distinctions and about taking wiser decisions. It’s about better self-control and about leadership abilities. In one word, it about becoming a better and more complete person. Smarter and wiser.

Greater success is the natural result of inner growth and self-actualization. Just as the tree depends on quality soil to reach maximal growth, success depends on the abundance of the intellect to bloom and flourish.

Make no mistake about it. There is plenty of room for advancement in the corporate world and plenty of room for growth in the entrepreneurial world. What is needed is not more room it is more qualified candidates.

There are plenty of opportunities out there just waiting for those who have the courage and wherewithal to spend some time every day on self-improvement. Victory belongs to those who have earned it – not to those waiting for some lucky star that won’t ever show up.

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A lot of people who are attracted to the art and science of self-improvement are motivated by the lure of money. They want to know better and more expedient ways of climbing the ladder of financial success. It’s no accident that the bible of the self-improvement world is called, Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill.

That is really unfortunate because financial success is really only a relatively small part of what self-improvement should be about. First and foremost, self-improvement should be about finding ways of having a more successful life and money is only a part of that equation.

Until that is understood, all the personal work done in self-improvement is next to useless. Money may be essential to a happy life but it’s only an aspect of the whole picture. This has been clearly demonstrated in the stories of people who have achieved great levels of financial success and were left so disillusioned that they ended up committing suicide.

Self-improvement is mostly about acquiring the tools and the knowledge necessary to take control of our life in all of its aspects. It’s about learning how to control the internal Master System that directs all human behavior.

Man is without a doubt the most sophisticated and complex creation or invention on Planet Earth – yet it did not come with an Owner’s Manual. That is what the science of self-improvement is all about. It’s the next best thing to that Owner’s Manual.

The emphasis in self-development should be on Personal Control and not exclusively on financial success. This point cannot be stressed enough because it’s the number one reason that people get into any of the self-help disciplines and fail.

The science of making money is not all that complex. It could be summed up in a few sentences: 1) Be obsessed with money. 2) Keep on trying to find new ways of making money. 3) Work very hard and save. Anything added to that is superfluous. Nothing else is needed.

On the other hand, real self-improvement is a life-long process. It’s not about learning new tricks on how to influence people. It’s about understanding why we do what we do, about fundamental personality change and about character building.

The title says it all, self-improvement. It’s about improving who we are as humans. It’s about learning that our past does not equate our future. It’s about coming to grip with the fact that it is possible to change and finding out how those changes can be affected.

The time invested in self-improvement can yield amazing returns. It can open the door to great achievements, transform lives and turn a meaningless existence into a world of greatness. No one has ever achieved anything worthwhile without using the principles found in the science of self-improvement.

Like any other discipline, self-improvement requires going through the theory and practice parts of that science. Learning without doing is moot. It does require work, discipline and diligence. It is a lifelong process, nothing that can be done overnight. The results are proportional to the time and efforts invested.

In one word, self-improvement is about understanding what motivates us to do the thing that we do and about character building. Once that this is understood, we are ready to plunge into the wonderful world of self-improvement knowing that our expectations will be met.

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