Quiet thoughts....

"Physical inertia favors mental passivity and renders the mind more receptive to suggestion."  Joseph Murphy

Be still and know that I am God.  Psalm 46:10

Ready, Able AND Willing?

"The first step to learning something is to be aware that you don't know it."  Hilton Johnson

"It's less embarrassing to get help than to fail!"  Eric Jensen

Out With the Old?

Spring is a natural time for new growth.  If you want to have a garden, this is the the time to plant the seeds for what you want to grow.
If the area for your garden already has things growing there - weeds - would you just ignore them and plant your seeds amongst those weeds?  Why not?  You know that you will have a more successful garden if you clear out the weeds and make the area more welcoming for the nurture and growth of what you plant there.

Hmmm...  How might this apply to some of the areas of your life?  In order to have improved results in health, relationships, finances we often think that we need to "plant" some new ideas.  If you do something different that's how you create a different result.  Sounds good, right?  Consider this - if you just "plant" a new idea amongst the existing weeds how well can it be expected to do?  How can you increase the chance of it thriving? 

Time for a little weeding?

Shannon

Great coaches, great advice

I have just listened to a call with 2 successful business men, Nido Qubein and JT Foxx.  I thought I would share on my blog a thought shared by each of them.  There was a lot of information packed into a 30 minute call.  I think these two nuggets are significant.

From Nido - when asked by JT what 3 things should people do, starting right now, to create success in their lives.  "First is to learn, continually keep learning, second is to focus and the third execute."  He expanded on each, however I couldn't write fast enough to capture it correctly to share it in writing.  I wanted to at least share the essence so there you go :)

From JT - near the end of the call.  "Successful people don't make excuses, they make things happen."  I know that I often catch myself making excuses.  It is easy to try to justify an excuse as a legitimate reason, however upon serious reflection it is often revealed for what it is, just an excuse.  Thanks JT for the reminder!



 

The Passion Test

I had heard of the Passion Test - created by Chris and Janet Atwood - a while ago.  I saw Janet Atwood on a video demonstrate it.  Well, tonight I met with a group and we had a local Certified Passion Test Facilitator, Solah Nightstar go through the test with us.  Very interesting!  This is another great "discovery" of mine now!

What's holding you back?

I came across a new teacher, Noah St. John, he talks about "Afformations" vs Affirmations.  The main difference is that Afformations are in the form of a question instead of a statement.  I have been thinking about that a lot and noticing when I hear (or say) questions vs statements. 

Someone asked me some time ago, "What's holding you back?"  I have had the same question posed in a few different ways by different people since then.  Just this morning I thought, it's a question, but is it the right question?  Maybe I should change the question - maybe that will help me.  I decided that the question I am going to ask myself from now on is "What's moving you forward?" 

Opt out info

OK, now that I have this

Spring Cleaning Anyone?

For many people spring is a time for cleaning out some closets - getting rid of some outgrown, broken or out dated items.

This spring, don't just clean out your physical space - put some time and effort into cleaning out your mental space. Do you have ideas or habits that you have outgrown? Do you keep doing things, out of habit, that are more harmful than helpful to yourself? It might be time to clean them out. Decide today to work on developing a new, beneficial, habit or two.

"The individual who wants to reach the top in business must appreciate the might of the force of habit and must understand that practices are what create habits. He must be quick to break those habits that can break him and hasten to adopt those practices that will become the habits that help him achieve the success he desires."

J. Paul Getty
1892-1976, American Oil Tycoon

Out with the old, in with the new!

Shannon

L is for Learning

I was talking to a friend the other day and relating a story of something, not so clever, that I had done recently.  In order to "illustrate" my point I put my hand on my forehead with the thumb extended to form the letter "L".  You probably know what I mean, I was not being very kind to myself - indicating that I was a "loser".  I loved her reaction, she told me that L must be for Learner.  It was her way of reminding me not to be so hard on myself and that I can and did learn something from the situation.  I hope you all have some friends like that, who don't let you be too hard on yourself, they are such a blessing! 

A quote I found recently by Mark Twain said "The proper office of a friend is to side with you when you are wrong.  Nearly anybody will side with you when you are right."

A friend (when you are) in need (of encouragement) is a friend indeed!

Robert Louis Stevenson - Daily Dozen

I found a hand typed copy of this in a picture frame.  There are definitely some good thoughts in here.

Daily Dozen

1.  Make up your mind to be happy.  Learn to find pleasure in simple things.

2.  Make the best of your circumstances.  No one has everything, and everyone has something of sorrow intermingled with the gladness of life.  The trick is to make the laughter outweigh the tears.

3.  Don’t take yourself too seriously.  Don’t think that somehow you should be protected from the misfortunes that befall others.

4.  You can’t please everybody.  Don’t let criticism worry you.

5.  Don’t let your neighbour set your standards.  Be yourself.

6.  Do the things you enjoy doing, but stay out of debt.

7.  Don’t borrow trouble.  Imaginary things are harder to bear than the actual ones. 

8.  Since hate poisons the soul, do not cherish enmities, grudges.  Avoid people who make you unhappy.

9.  Have many interests.  If you can’t travel, read about new places.

10.  Don’t hold postmortems.  Don’t spend your life brooding over sorrows and mistakes.  Don’t be the one who never gets over things.

11.  Do what you can for those less fortunate than yourself.

12.  Keep busy at something.  A very busy person never has time to be unhappy.

Personal creed of Robert Louis Stevenson 

11 Forgotten Laws

One of the first programs that I studied when I got involved in personal development was a great foundation for so many of the concepts that I have heard about and studied since. It is by my mentor, Bob Proctor and another amazing teacher, Mary Morrissey.

It is called The 11 Forgotten Laws. 

There is so much talk about and attention to The Law of Attraction lately.  This program, based on the book, Working With The Law, by Raymond Holliwell, helps you understand that, although the Law of Attraction is amazing, there is so much more than that.  I have found it to be a resource that I go back and listen to again and again.  Maybe you will find it as useful as I have.  Check it out.

"Always make it a point of moving forward in your mind, ever seeking to unfold your power of thought and to develop hidden possibilities."   Raymond Holliwell

Onward and Upward,
Shannon

Berate or motivate?

To coach someone is an awesome privilege.  I heard somewhere that after a session with a good coach, you don't think "Wow, they are a great coach!", you think "Wow, I am amazing and capable of amazing things!"  A good coach, like a good parent or manager, draws the best out of whoever they work with.

Of course, there are some people who think that coaching (or parenting, or managing) is yelling at someone, pointing out their faults and basically shaming them into doing better.   It might work for some people by making them mad and moving them into an "I'll show them" attitude.  Unfortunately, that attitude isn't a good one to perpetuate.

I prefer to encourage, en-courage by helping someone see what wonderful outcomes are possible.  Helping someone to dream and then plan how to create that dream in reality, step by step, that is my preferred "modus operandi".

Technical help needed.....

OK, I highlighted the text and chose the size to be the same for all and my post doesn't look like I expected....  What am I doing wrong?  I seem to find that this happens when I cut and paste from somewhere else.  Is there some instructions imbedded that I can't see.  If anyone has a solution for me I would be so grateful for the assistance......

Thanks

5 weeks!

Below is an excerpt from an email I sent out yesterday. It is now exactly 5 weeks to my next live seminar!


I continue to learn and grow at an amazing rate! Every day I am discovering more about human behaviour and human potential. If you want to get a full day of what I have learned you will want to attend my upcoming seminar on Saturday April 14. Info and Registration

"It's Up To You - Choose Your Future" is a full day seminar where you will find out some of the best information that I have discovered/studied in the last 3 years and how you can use this information to transform your life - that is, if you choose to. Attendance is limited to 30 people, so act fast to be sure of getting in. Only $199 + HST I absolutely expect it to be sold out!

Networking anyone? - Bring your business cards and use the opportunity to exchange information and maybe set up getting together at a later date. People at the event are action takers, they are likely the type of people you want to keep in touch with!

"If a man empties his purse into his head, no one can take it from him."
Benjamin Franklin

"In a time of drastic change the learners will inherit the future. The learned usually find themselves equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists". Eric Hoffer

Are you ready to learn?

Register for April 14

Shannon

That drives me determined!

A few months ago I was talking to my sister and noticed something we both had said.  The thing about awareness is how helpful it can be to yourself and others (if they are open to it).  Anyway, what she and I both had said, was that something was "driving us crazy"....  Do you ever say "that drives me crazy" or "she or he drives me crazy"? 

Think about the law of attraction.  What are you attracting by phrases like that?  Do you want to protect your mental health?  When I noticed that we both, in a short conversation, had said that something was driving us crazy I said "We have to change what we think and say when we are going in that direction."  I came up with a replacement phrase when I start to think or say this or that "drives me crazy".  It is "That drives me determined!"  Now, whenever I hear anyone say that something is driving them crazy, I share this alternative and most people like it.  Now, I have shared it with all of you, my blog readers.  I hope this one little shift will help preserve and protect some mental health in our "going crazy" world.

KONY 2012

Talk about awareness!  43,354,020 views and climbing! A half hour you won't forget....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4MnpzG5Sqc

Note to Technology - I really do want to be friends!

I thought I was so clever :)  We were going to be away for a few days so I set up my posts to automatically appear (in the blogger instructions this is called scheduling).  Very handy.  I love this feature with my online banking so I can post date a payment and then file the bill away instead of keeping it on my desk and having to remember to pay it on the day I want.

I played around with it and figured out how it worked.  At first I missed a step.  After setting up the date and time I wanted it to post on I needed to actually press the "publish" button.  When I looked in my list of blogs then it showed as "scheduled" instead of "draft"....  Aha!  I had discovered the missing link!   So, I proudly saw this work successfully and decided to do it again.

I was surprised this morning to see that my intended post for yesterday, about a great TED talk I wanted to share, was not posted :(   It was waiting there as a draft because I had forgotten one critical step - pressing the Publish button.  It was so obedient - only doing what I had asked, not anticipating what I meant to do but did not "ask" for it to do.  Once I get to be clear in what I want from technology and get good at asking for what I want I am sure we are going to be very good friends!!  I will "keep you posted" (pun intended) on the progress of our friendship :)

Lollipops from TED

I LOVE TED!  And those of you who know my husband's name is Brian might be a little concerned right now :)  Not to worry, TED is not a person, it is an amazing one of my "discoveries" the last year or so.  TED talks are popping up all over the internet.  They come to me from facebook, in emails all recommended by someone as something amazing to watch.  They are on such a diverse range of topics it is astounding!!   I did go to the website and just start watching and had to stop.  I could be there forever.....

So, now I have a filtering process of sorts.  If someone I know recommends or sends me a TED talk then I watch it.  If I think it is amazing as well, I will share it.  All TED talks are not for everyone so I will share the ones on my blog that I think are relevant or would appeal to a wide audience.  If you like them, leave a comment and then I will know what more to share.  

This one is from TEDx Toronto - Drew Dudley "Leading with Lollipops"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVCBrkrFrBE

Persistence

I am always collecting quotes.  Here are two on the power of persistence. 

"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 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."    Calvin Coolidge

"There is no substitute for persistence!  It cannot be supplanted by any other quality!  Remember this, and it will hearten you, in the beginning, when the going may seem difficult and slow.  Those who have cultivated the habit of persistence seem to enjoy insurance against failure."  Napolean Hill

A whole chapter was devoted to persistence in Napolean Hill's book, Think and Grow Rich.  That's certainly something to think about! 

Onward and Upward,

Shannon

Are you ready for "The Shift"?

Here is the last of my first few emails I sent out using my newly created data base.  I send one out once a week, usually on Tuesdays, and I wanted to put the ones that were sent out before I started my blog on here.  From now on my Tuesday blog post will be the same as my weekly email....  Probably too much information, right?  


You may have some things you want to look into "someday", me too.  Offerings cross my path on a daily basis.  I keep a list of items that I want to look into and order - "someday"...

I finally got it! - a movie I had heard about and wanted to get for a while now -
The Shift, by Wayne Dyer. 

I watched it the day it arrived and then I watched it again the next day!  The CDs are in my car, I have already listened to the first one and I am looking forward to hearing the rest. 

Dr. Dyer has written many books, and I am an avid reader.  It is just that watching a DVD or listening to CDs are such easy ways get information!

Anyway, I just wanted to share my excitement with you!

I got this set through Nightingale Conant  It is a great resource!

Are you ready for a "Shift"?  Maybe this is crossing your path for a reason too..... "Stop acting as if life is a rehearsal." Wayne Dyer

Onward and Upward,
ShannonShannonTressel.com

March forth!

I love words, I like how they can mean different things even when they sound the same.  Puns are so fun!  Every year when March 4th comes along I think it is a day to get going on something - to march forth - into new territory, on a new adventure....  What are you going to march forth toward today?

Sing Your Own Song

I heard that Liza Minnelli was told by her mother, Judy Garland "You never have to sing my songs".  This just seemed to me to be such a neat thing for a famous singer to tell her child.  If your child wants to "follow in your footsteps" that is a wonderful thing, even more wonderful is when they sing their own song.

It's Not Too Late

Actually, it's never too late - to do better.  Better is such a great word.  When you think of things that you could have, would have or should have done, just decide to do better from now on.  You know you cannot change the past so don't go there.  Look forward.  It's not too late.

Stop and smell the roses

Every day has amazing opportunities in it.  It is so easy to be distracted and disconnected.  I see people everywhere focused on their phones, texting, reading texts or emails....  Often they are alone, sometimes they are with other people.  It is a real gift to practice being present in the present moment - only.  Not thinking about the "to do" list, fretting over what didn't get done yesterday (and is now added to the list for today - or that elusive "someday"....).  Who is right where you are right now?  Who can you connect with, live and in person?  Set aside the electronic devices for a moment or two each day and just take a few deep breaths, look at your surroundings, especially if you get the opportunity to be outdoors.  You don't have to spend an hour watching the sun go down to appreciate a beautiful sunset.  Grab those special "moments" and encourage those around you to slow down and enjoy the ride too.