Other People's Programming

Have you ever stopped to wonder how and why we have the values/ideas/mindet that we do ? Is it us or is it a by product of things we have been taught ? Is what we think and feel all at the teachings of others and not really our own ideals or thoughts ?

Have you ever thought about the difference between a cult and a religion? What is it that separates the two? I believe the only difference is the conditioning we received which leads us to our conclusions. The programming of others is what establishes the beliefs that we carry with us each day.

Cults have the reputation for brainwashing people. Many who lead these enterprises are manipulative people with a self-serving (and sometimes evil) agenda. They are often delusional individuals who prey upon the weak. Those who fit a particular profile are targeted. Many believe that it is the weak who fall prey to this type of manipulation.

However, couldn't we say the same thing about the world's religions? People get their belief system from the "church" which tells them what is going to happen. They are instructed of how they are to live, what to worship, and with whom to interact. All stages of life, and thereafter, are often spelled out. Yet millions of people show up to their places of worship every Sunday.

Thinking About Things Differently

When you sit and think about things, what do you picture yourself doing, where are you, how are you ? Are you happy, sad, uncertain, scared or estatic ? How you think is how your life tends to be, think about being happy and no doubt you will remember something that made you smile, think about being scared and your mind will go to a time you were frightened about something, your mind controls so much of your life and it has the power to make or break your ambitions and dreams.

The world is coming to an end. At least that is the impression that one could get by reading the headlines doled out by the media. While not believing that the end is near, I will grant that we are in some trying times. This worldwide debacle has the potential to eclipse the Great Depression in severity. People are going to see things we have not witnessed in a few generations.

For this reason, I feel it important for people to change their mode of thinking. Many in the press made an issue of the fact that all stock profits gained by the bull market run over the last decade were wiped out in the last 6-9 months. This completely destroyed the buy and hold model of stock investing. People who adhered to this philosophy realized major losses recently.

This is just one example of how people's thinking needs to change. Another example is the idea of security in one's job. The days of lifetime employment left us 15 years ago. However, many still clung to the illusion that there is safety in a job. Understand this: there is no security in a job. This is something that can be lost at any time. We are witnessing well over half a million people losing their security each month in the United States alone.

http://dennisharting.blogspot.com/2009/04/thinking-about-things-differently.html

Fear of Failure

Do you ever find yourself not trying something in case you can't do it ? Do you ever wish you had the courage to persue your dreams and ambitions but won't as you are scred to fail? What about that new job you really want, but don't go for in case they say no?


We are taught that failure is something that is to be avoided. And, it is for that very reason why people live in a cocoon. The fear of failure, ingrained in us since we were young, is one of the most power motivators (demotivators) that exists. It serves to crush more dreams than anything else.

Failure is a wonderful thing. Here is something that I want you to remember: the most successful person is the one who failed the most. Imprint that idea on your memory. Understanding this single concept will change your life.

Babe Ruth is recognized as one of the greatest homerun hitters of all-time. Did you know that he held the record for strikeouts longer than the homerun title? Warren Buffet, known as the Oracle of Omaha for his stock picking, lost $25 billion last year in the stock market. How many people have that much money to lose? Colonel Sanders was rejected over 1,000 times before someone accepted his recipe for chicken. Who among us is not familiar with his creation, Kentucky Fried Chicken?

http://dennisharting.blogspot.com/2009/03/failing-is-not-bad-thing.html

Thoughts Have Power

what is the most distructive thing in the world ? What has the power to destroy more things than a bomb ? It is your mind, your thoughts, your fear of things in your mind that can make or break so many dreams and hopes. When you think, you project your fears or postive thoughts, they are the things that make or break dreams.

http://dennisharting.blogspot.com/2009/04/thoughts-have-power.html

Have you ever stopped to consider the power of the mind? If not, perhaps it is time that you really pondered how much force exists between your ears. Regardless of who you are, there is enough energy in your mind to create whatever you desire. People just like you developed the atomic bomb, build monasteries, erected skyscrapers, and tore down others. The mind is the most powerful computer in the world.

Sadly, this item is commonly used for destruction. Most of the energy which comes from it is negative. We allow the mind to control us through the use of fear. In turn, it creates a reality for us which is completely different then we desire. One day we wake up only to realize that our life "past us by".

Each thought you have has the power to either create or destroy. The results of your thinking is solely up to you. Mastering this force takes practice yet it is within reach. We learned to think negatively, thus we can reverse this practice. In the end, it will be what changes your life.

Other Cultures

We live in a world that is full of amazing things, cultures and beliefs that are so different from ours, that does not make them right or wrong, just different. How often have you opened your mind to what is out there ? How often do you close your eyes and imagine what your life would be like in another place ?

I like to write about mindset on this blog. One of my favorite pastimes is to learn/study different cultures of the world. It is amazing how much you can learn from this practice.

There is a large world out there. Too often, we get so focused upon our own "little world" that we see in front of us. Realizing that there is so much more removes the mental limitation we often put upon ourselves.

http://dennisharting.blogspot.com/2009/03/other-cultures.html

Perspective

Is your glass half empty or half full ? Is it a glorious hot day or is it hotter than hell ? Do you see something as a bargain or as a waste ? How we look at things can impact our lives in so many different ways without us even knowing

Perspective

This is one of the fundamental differences between those who succeed versus those who struggle. Successful people have a different perspective than the average person. It is this viewpoint which allows them to take the actions others fail to take. Einstein said that a problem could not be solved on the same plane that created it. Human beings tend to "pigeonhole" their ideas. We believe that what we perceive is correct. Sadly, this mindset is often the cause of great discomfort in our life.

http://dennisharting.blogspot.com/2009/03/perspective.html

In Awe of It All

We look at things around us and at times become overwhelmed at the intensity of life in general, every problem and every step we take seems to be so huge, but when you think about it, really its not that big, look around you, the world is just one small planet in the galaxy, there is so much more out there, and when looked at it that way, there is so much more in our lives out there waiting for us .....................


I write a lot about focus. Often, the most successful people have the ability to concentrate their focus like a laser beam. This is one of the things that separates then from the pack. However, there is a time when we need to step back to look at things from a different perspective.

Last night, I came home and flipped on the television. There was a rocket being shown on the launching pad at NASA. Being so close, I decided to go outside and watch it. Rockets launched at night are an amazing display. I personally saw the shuttle go up at night half a dozen times. It is always amazing to see that in person.


http://dennisharting.blogspot.com/2009/03/awe-of-it-all.html

What Really Creates Success?

What really creates success? What makes one different to another ? People are basically the same yet some achieve greatness, some don't and the reasons are really simple when you think about it, and this article can say it much better than I could ever hope to

This is a question that has plagued mankind since the earliest of times. What is it that separates those who achieve from those who do not? There are thousands upon thousands of books written on the subject; all utilizing a different theory. Some believe it is motivation; others mindset. However, what is the one thing that really creates success?

Through my years of research, I understand there is a common trait among those who are successful. I believe this is the single factor which determines success. Concentrate on this quality and you will attain all that you set out to do. This trait is "action".

http://dennisharting.blogspot.com/2009/03/what-really-creates-success.html

Long Term Thinking

The most powerful weapon known to man is his mind, to think it makes it more of a reality......or does it ? Negative thoughts as we know can bring us down, positive thoughts can lift us, so how can we keep the right thoughts in our head ? How can we work towards making sure what we think can only help us ?


Mindset is critically important for success. One of the common traits of the super successful is that they focus on the long term. The unsuccessful, on the other hand, tend to concentrate on short term results. This single difference has dramatic impacts in the life you lead.

Short term thinking causes long term problems. A prime example of this is often the political world. Politicians take steps thinking about the time frame to the next election cycle. They do not truly consider the long term impacts of their decisions.

http://dennisharting.blogspot.com/2009/02/long-term-thinking.html

We are Shaped By Our Thoughts

Your thoughts are what determine your mind set

Victimization

There are times when life happens, when things beyond your control have an impact on your life and you have no control on the event ......... but you do have some control on the outcome.
How you deal with things, how you think and act can all have an impact on what happens next, your mindset is something you can control.


People love to play the victim. This absolves them of any personal responsibility. It also provides for an excuse as to why one did not succeed. After all, it was because of (fill in the blank).

Being a victim is a way to ensure you will never be successful. Always reaching for an alibi becomes a habit that will eventually stifle action. Take a look at the most successful people and tell me how many claim victimization. You will find this is not a common trait among this group of people.

http://dennisharting.blogspot.com/2009/01/victimization.html

Successful Outlook

We think therefore we are.........but what if we think wrong ? What if we focus on the negative and not the positive ? Sometimes life happens, there is nothing we can do to stop it, its how we then move forward from lifes blows that counts

A great article defining how we look is how things can be, mindset and positive thinking is something we need to look at in our lives

http://dennisharting.blogspot.com/2009/02/successful-outlook.html


Focus is what makes the difference. It is what we focus upon that determines the direction that our life goes in. Too many people choose to concentrate upon the fear in their life. They picture how things can go wrong. That is their consistent focus.

Want to make a radical shift in your life? Change what you choose to focus upon. Instead of looking at all the negativity, think continually about good things. I wrote the other day about positive expectations. Successful people concentrate their thoughts on how things are going to turn out in their favor. The rest always look at how things will go wrong.

Presupposition

A lot is said about how your mind is your most powerful friend, but it can be your most vicious enemy as well, how you think is sometime how you start to believe, and that can be good, or it can be very harmful as well, from my favorite writer there is a good article on what this actually means to the average person






A powerful technique for success is the concept of presupposition. A presupposition is a belief that something will happen before it occurs. One supposes something to be a certain way. This is often prevalent in science when someone makes a presupposition which will influence the results of the experiment. Nevertheless, we can us this technique in our daily life to increase the benefits we receive.

Most of us have some type of "to do" list. This is another tool that many utilize for success. However, what if we have a "to be done" list instead of a "to do" list? Do you notice any different between the two? This is more than just semantics. Using the name "to be done" presupposes that you are going to get the items on that list completed. The word done instills the idea of something being finished. This is how a presupposition works.

http://dennisharting.blogspot.com/2009/02/presupposition.html

The Mindset Breakthrough

A lot is said about the mind being a persons most powerful weapon, and it is. with your mind there is only the limits you place on it, only the doubts and fears you feed it. The mind is a wonderful tool if used right, are you using yours to its full potential ?


I wrote a great deal of late about mindset. Many teach the value of the proper mental outlook. This is not something that I developed. It stretches back many thousands of years. Most of the spiritual texts written deal with this same subject. For example, there is the saying "as you think, so shall you be". No truer words were ever written.

The other day I had an epiphany about what this all means. What is the true difference between successful thinking and unsuccessful thinking? How are they different and what can be a simple way to "see" it? Then it came to me. The major difference is expectations. Successful have positive expectations while others
have negative. It is that simple.

http://dennisharting.blogspot.com/2009/02/mindset-breakthrough.html

Project The Image

Imagine your life as a success, your mind is your most powerful tool

Determination

"The man who can drive himself further once the effort gets painful is the man who will win."
Roger Bannister

"The spirit, the will to win, and the will to excel are the things that endure. These qualities are so much more important than the events that occur." Vince Lombardi


"The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a person's determination."
Tommy Lasorda

"Nothing great will ever be achieved without great mean, and men are great only if they are determined to be so." Charles De Gaulle

"If your determination is fixed, I do not counsel you to despair. Few things are impossible to diligence and skill. Great works are performed not by strength, but perseverance."
Samuel Johnson

"What this power is I cannot say; all I know is that it exists and it becomes available only when a man is in that state of mind in which he knows exactly what he wants and is fully determined not to quit until he finds it." Alexander Graham Bell

"I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?" Bible

"Nothing can resist the human will that will stake even its existence on its stated purpose."
Benjamin Disraeli

"The longer I live, the more I am certain that the great difference between the great and the insignificant, its energy - invincible determination - a purpose once fixed, and then death or victory." Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton

"You can do what you have to do, and sometimes you can do it even better than you think you can." Jimmy Carter

"We will either find a way, or make one!" Hannibal

"A determined soul will do more with a rusty monkey wrench than a loafer will accomplish with all the tools in a machine shop." Robert Hughes

"Every worthwhile accomplishment, big or little, has its stages of drudgery and triumph; a beginning, a struggle and a victory." Ghandi

"Bear in mind, if you are going to amount to anything, that your success does not depend upon the brilliancy and the impetuosity with which you take hold, but upon the ever lasting and sanctified buldoggedness with which you hang on after you have taken hold."
Dr. A. B. Meldrum

"A failure establishes only this, that our determination to succeed was not strong enough."
John Christian Bovee

"The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand."
Vince Lombardi


"It takes a little courage, and a little self-control. And some grim determination, If you want to reach the goal. It takes a great deal of striving, and a firm and stern-set chin. No matter what the battle, if you really want to win, there's no easy path to glory. There is no road to fame. Life, however we may view it, Is no simple parlor game; But its prizes call for fighting, For endurance and for grit; For a rugged disposition that will not quit."
Navy SEAL Masterchief

"The only good luck many great men ever had was being born with the ability and determination to overcome bad luck." Channing Pollock

"When nothing seems to help, I go and look at a stonecutter hammering away at his rock perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it. Yet at the hundred and first blow it will split in two, and I know it was not that blow that did it - but all that had gone before." Jacob Riis

"Obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it." Michael Jordon

"Self-determination is fine but needs to be tempered with self-control."Anonymous

"What this power is I cannot say; all I know is that it exists and it becomes available only when a man is in that state of mind in which he knows exactly what he wants and is fully determined not to quit until he finds it. "Alexander Graham Bell

"A failure establishes only this, that our determination to succeed was not strong enough."
Christian Nestell Bovée

"Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education alone will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan "press on" has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race."John Calvin Coolidge

"I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward."
Thomas Alva Edison

"We will either find a way or make one."Hannibal

"Decision and determination are the engineer and fireman of our train to opportunity and success."Burt Lawlor

"It’s a very funny thing about life; if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it."William Somerset Maugham

"A resolute determination is the truest wisdom."Napoléon I

"Determination is the wake-up call to the human will."Anthony (Tony) Robbins


"It was courage, faith, endurance and a dogged determination to surmount all obstacles that built this bridge."John J. Watson

"I learned about the strength you can get from a close family life. I learned to keep going, even in bad times. I learned not to despair, even when my world was falling apart. I learned that there are no free lunches. And I learned the value of hard work." Lee Iacocca


"A leader, once convinced that a particular course of action is the right one, must....be undaunted when the going gets tough." Ronald Reagan

"Fight one more round. When your arms are so tired that you can hardly lift your hands to come on guard, fight one more round. When your nose is bleeding and your eyes are black and you are so tired that you wish your opponent would crack you one on the jaw and put you to sleep, fight one more round – remembering that the man who always fights one more round is never whipped." James Corbett

"He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how." Friedrich Nietzsche

Mind Set

Your mind will either help or hamper you, its how you look at things that makes a big difference

Accept Change In Your Life

Accept change in your life, embrace it and welcome it

Be Your Own Thinker

This is another fine article from my favorite author, I must say what this man has to say and the advice given really does make sense, and it gives you something to think about, I know that I have started to instigate some of his advice into my life and it seems to make things easier, you can read the complete article here at
http://dennisharting.blogspot.com/2009/01/be-your-own-thinker.html




In the past I wrote about the power that societal conditioning can have over us. This is the major reason why people have difficulty forging their own thoughts. Simply, we are taught what to believe. Social pressure exerts great force on us. We all want to fit in. The idea of being singled out is not something that many are attracted to.

If you ask the average person, he or she will tell you that they are in control of their thoughts. However, the sad truth is that few take the time to monitor what is going on inside one's head. For example, have you ever taken a look at where your beliefs came from? Are they something that you made a decision to be true or were they put there by someone else? We are all products of our environment. This results in us mirroring those who are around us.

Stairway To Heaven

You choose the path you are taking