Music has the power to change your life.

Music is a powerful tool that you can use to better yourself and improve the quality of your life.  The good news is that this tool is available to you right now and it is guaranteed.  Songs have a way of connecting with us and hearing them can bring up certain emotions.  It is automatic and it normally happens on a subconscious level.  Think about it, isn't there a song that when you hear it instantly takes you back to your childhood?  Or maybe a song that makes you think about a certain someone?  Or how about a Beethoven or Mozart piece that inspires you and makes you think or write more clearly?  Maybe you have a song that makes you feel extremely relaxed or calm?  Is there a song that makes you feel like you are in love?  Anyone who has played sports almost certainly has a number of songs that can them pumped up and ready for physical action.  If you have songs that affect you in any of the ways I described, keep reading.  In the steps that follow I will show you how to use the songs you already like to trigger the emotions that will make your life better.

1. Identify the songs that you already really like.  You know the ones that you can't help but sing along to.  The ones you play over and over.  There is a reason that you like them. 
   
2. Make a Feel Good CD.  Make sure that these songs are on a playlist or put them all together on one CD.  Label it - "Feel Good Songs" or "Happy Songs".
3. Listen to your new playlist or CD first thing in the morning.  Try this out for a few days and experience the amazing change it will make in your life.
4. Identify the songs that you don't like.  You know the ones that make you feel like crap.  Delete them, get them off of your iPod, mp3, out of your car or throw them away.
   

 

If you find this exercise valuable in triggering your own positive emotions repeat the process with other types of songs that give you different feelings.  Some ideas are songs that make you feel sexy or that put you in the mood for romance.  Make another set that can get you inspired to write or to think.  Make another set that turns on the emotions to get you ready to workout.  Just about any emotion can be triggered by music but only you know the songs that will do it for you. Take a few minutes to identify the songs that are already connected to your emotions and then use them to change your life.  If you try this out, come back and let me know how it worked for you.

 

 

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The world's largest cave has been found in Vietnam.

See photos of the worlds largest cave

 

Sometimes manifesting takes a long time and sometimes it happens spontaneously.  I can hear you already, "You don't have to manifest clean underwear you just have to wash them!"  A few days ago I found myself looking into an empty underwear drawer.  If you have ever run out of underwear you know that I was feeling almost as empty as the drawer itself.  My wife, the most wonderful woman in the world, does my laundry.  It is my job to carry the folded laundry upstairs and put it in the dresser.  After deciding that I would like to put this chore off for at least a few more hours, I reasoned that wearing underwear was not absolutely necessary.  I grabbed a clean pair of folded jeans from another drawer and pulled them on one leg at a time.  I zipped very carefully to avoid a "There's something about Mary" incident and then I noticed a bulge in my jeans.  Don't worry, the bulge I refer to is not the one that you are thinking of.  This particular bulge was just above my left ankle and I was pretty sure it was a dryer sheet or maybe a sock.  I reached down, slipped 2 fingers between the cuff of my jeans and my ankle and grabbed hold of the foreign object.  In one quick motion I yanked it out and raised it to eye level for inspection.  To my surprise, and eventual delight, it wasn't a sock, or even a dryer sheet, it was a pair of clean underwear!  I got that warm fuzzy, spine tingling, happy-joy feeling and it reminded me just how easy manifesting can be if you know what you want. 

So how can YOU manifest cotton briefs, silk boxers or even a pile of cash?  

Step 1:  Know what you want and why.

Step 2:  Give thanks like you already have it.

Step 3:  The rest takes care of itself.

California Assemblyman Joel Anderson, a Republican from El Cajon, is proposing in a measure dubbed "AB-255."

This bill would prohibit an operator, as defined, of a commercial
Internet Web site or online service that makes a virtual globe
browser available to members of the public from providing aerial or
satellite photographs or imagery of places in this state that have
been identified on the Internet Web site by the operator as a school,
place of worship, or government or medical building or facility
unless those photographs or images have been blurred. The bill would
also prohibit that operator from providing street view photographs or
imagery of those buildings and facilities. An operator that violates
these provisions would be guilty of a crime and subject to a fine of
not less than $250,000 for each day the operator is in violation of
these provisions. In addition, an operator who is an executive
officer or member of a board of directors who knowingly violates
these provisions would also be subject to imprisonment in the state
prison for one, 2, or 3 years. 

Read full text of proposed bill 

Hopefully, you are feeling great!  Hopefully you are living the life of your dreams and everything is wonderful!  If you feel that way, good for you!  By all means, keep on doing what you're doing!  If you aren't feeling great because you suffer from stress, anxiety or depression, now is the time for you to learn to TAKE CONTROL.

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Sometimes when we notice something is wrong we don't notice that its "wrong" for a reason.  Today, I got into the car and backed out of the driveway as usual, stopped at the sign, signaled, turned, stopped at the light, turned again, waved at some neighbor kids and then noticed that the side mirror on the van was flat against the door.  The mirror is designed to do this so that it doesn't snap off when you use the big yellow concrete poles as a parking-guide.  Noticing that it wasn't right and wanting to check things out, I pulled into the next parking lot and moved the mirror back to its proper location.  I was pleased that the glass and mirror were still intact and a small yellow scuff mark was the only witness of the adjustment.  I went about my day and eventually found myself sitting on the inside of a coffee shop window looking out at the parking lot.  After a few minutes a lady parked next to the van on the same side as the mirror.  Apparantly the 4 inches of snow covering the parking space stripping made it hard to judge the space needed for a safe and comfortable exit.  She managed to squeeze out of her car just fine.  She was not aware that her parking would be a source of LOL funny!  She closed her car door and proceeded to walk toward the entrance and was stopped in her tracks by the mirror-cade.  My mirror and her mirror made it impossible for this large chested woman to make it through.  It didn't matter how she twisted, short of pushing my mirror forward, yellow pole style, she wasn't getting through there. She walked around the car and found refuge in the wide open spaces between her passenger side and the car that parked next to her.  She started chatting with the guy from the car on the fairer side.  I was going to approach her and tell her about how my wife had so thoughtfully adjusted the mirror for her the night before.  I was going to apologize for my preemptive action that had caused her to take a different route.  As it was, she was very engaged in conversation and didn't need interrupting.  As I sat there I wondered if they had just met in the parking lot?  Maybe.  Our drama certainly did play itself out, just as I have told the story, and watching it gave me great joy. Maybe you can feel the joy too.  Enjoy your day and never underestimate the power that you have to change the world.

This year I started Christmas morning with the greatest gift ever!  Then I explained my strange gift. That is my brother George, what a great sport.  He was not in on the gift and had no idea why he would be getting a sleeve of beans as the first gift of Christmas.  He smiled anyway, what a guy! This is a recap of the short speech that I gave before we tore into the real gifts...

There are 7 cans of beans taped together and each one is here for a different reason.

The GREEN BEANS are included to remind us to stay young and to remember how rich and blessed we truly are.

The BAKED BEANS are included to remind us to be patient with each other.  Good People, like baked beans, need time to perfect.

The REFRIED BEANS are included to remind us to forgive each other.  Because sometimes you need a do-over.

The PORK & BEANS W/TOMATO SAUCE are included to remind us that together we are so much better than just pork, or beans or tomato sauce.

The MEXICAN STYLE CHILI BEANS are included to remind us that everyone is different and that is ok.

The KIDNEY BEANS are included to remind us to eat, drink and be merry!  But not so Merry that you hurt your kidney.

The BUTTER BEANS are included to remind us to choose our words carefully.  What you say and how you say it matters.  (The footnote here is that Butter Beans are nothing more than lima beans.  Butter beans sounds much better.)

I certainly got a few looks and a few laughs but Christmas morning went off without a single cuss word, fistfight or brawl!  Now I just hope that those beans get made into chili before George gets a chance to re-gift them to me.

 

A man sat on a park bench feeding the pigeons.  After a few minutes two men walked past and sat on the next bench about 20 feet away.  The man kept his eyes on the pigeons in front of him and listened as the men talked.


Man 1: So what else is going on?

Man 2: Well like the holidays you mean?

Man 1: No, well maybe that too, you have some negative associations there too.

Man 2: Do not!

Man 1: Do too!  And you have only gotten worse.

Man 2: That was Harsh.

Man 1: You sometimes need it harsh. (Gives a look of knowing that obviously refers to something else.)

Man 2: (Rolls eyes and makes an ugly face) Are we really going back to that?  Really, that?  Are we still on that?

Man 1: Well it still comes up.

Man 2: Why?

Man 1: I don't know but surely you do.  You have had long enough to think about it.

Man 2: I guess deep down I really want it to keep coming up.

Man 1: Why do you suppose that is?

Man 2: It is the place I always return to.

Man 1: That is in your mind.  There is nothing in this experience that cannot be re-programmed.  You have done it before.  In fact, now you are even aware of how to install the replacements.  You have already taken the first steps.

Man 2: First steps (sigh), What is it about first steps?  The word first implies that there are many more to follow (deeper sigh).  Also walking away and letting something else go.  

Man 1: But you only feel badly about that when you put it into those negative terms.  That is when you are focusing on all of those things that you will need to do.  Rather than being joyous that there is always an adventure to be lived.  You stop yourself short of living in the adventure today because you decide that the future will be exhausting.  

Man 2: Doesn't it seem like it will be exhausting?

Man 1: You will never run out of energy to chase your passion.  What about doing what you love is exhausting?

Man 2: There is just so much to do.

Man 1: That is an illusion.

Man 2: It is?

Man 1: Yes. You can only do the next thing that needs doing.  You are too busy worrying about how you will afford the roofing tiles when you should be carrying the bricks to lay the foundation.

Man 2: Right, and then I get frustrated or overwhelmed and go hide.  I avoid doing anything because there is so much to do.  I use sleep to avoid the challenges that I need to overcome in order to grow.

Man 1: Ah ha!  So do you realize that you need the challenges to grow?

Man 2: Need the challenges?  

Man 1: Have you some other way to measure your progress?  Challenges are a tool to measure your maturity level.

Man 2: Are you saying that I am immature because I don't embrace the challenges?

Man 1: That depends on the reason for putting off the challenges.

Man 2: I wish that I could say that I was trying to get every last ounce of joy out of life.  The truth is, I avoid those joyful situations as much as the potential challenges.  

Man 1: I can understand trying to avoid pain but Why would you avoid joy?

Man 2: What if I get the joy and then lose it?

Man 1: So you are worried about losing something that your current way of thinking has you avoiding at all costs.  

Man 2: I see what you mean.  That's about 100% ridiculous and maybe a little immature.

Man 1: You need a plan.  Then you need to focus on the simple tasks that you can complete or start on now. Forget the roof tiles and carry the bricks.  

Man 2: Back to the foundation. (sigh)

Man 1: Why do you do that?  Why not recognize that you have made progress?  Why not celebrate the victories that you have had?  

Man 2: But look at me, I am not there.  The progress hasn't been enough.  It is never done.

Man 1: Get that idea out of your mind.  You will never be "done".  Live!  Enjoy moving closer to your goals every day.  Each completed task adds another piece to the puzzle, unlocks another door and more importantly changes your final destination.

Man 2: I think we had better get going.  I have a few things I want to do today.

Man 1: Like What?

Man 2: I just need to carry a few bricks and start living.

Man 1: Call me when you are done with those bricks and we can celebrate together.  I know a guy with a bunch of left-over roofing tiles he is trying to get rid of.

This morning, when she first woke, I got to spend some time with my daughter. 

It was just the two of us, no interruptions, nowhere else to be and nothing else to do.  I wasn't long in terms of time, perhaps we spend as much time everyday, getting ready for school, having breakfast and walking her to the bus stop.  Lately though, it feels like something has been missing and our connection has been weak.  In the absence of a schedule and an agenda, we got to talk about stuff.  What she likes, what she wants for Christmas, what her friends have, say and do.  I got to see her happiness in preparing for Christmas and the joy she got from imagining her day.  We sat outside in the cold on the front porch for a few minutes.  Somehow the cold of the snowy morning transformed the few minutes into an eternity within the moment.  I sat on the cold sandstone step and she sat on my lap.  Her barefeet in the morning chill and our breath visible in the crisp air.  I suggested a game and she accepted my challenge to see if we could sit out there until the 5th car passed on our street. We snuggled and fidgeted as we anticipated, celebrated and counted the cars.  After we had reached 5 we paused, looked at each other and then hurried back inside.  Sometimes the most ordinary moments can be profound if you let them.