The Outside Counts, TooWritten by Debbie O'Meara
A couple of years ago, I decided that cycling sounded like a good hobby. I bought a bike and one Saturday morning put on a t-shirt and shorts and lugged my bike out to meeting place of a local cycling club. What a surprise I got when I showed up and everyone else there was in full cycling gear — jersey, bike shorts, shoes, whole thing. I felt intimidated and nervous. Sure, I knew how to ride a bike, and I was in pretty good shape, but how could I keep up with these people, who obviously knew what they were doing? I was plenty insecure at first. But I stuck with it, and after a while got shorts, and jerseys, and even special shoes that clip onto special pedals. I looked like I fit in. Now, I’m a fairly strong rider, but I’m not very fast. It’s often a struggle to keep up with group. But only group knows that. When I go out for a solo ride, I put on my jersey and shorts and shoes and pedal along at my less-than-breakneck pace. But when I pass people in shorts and t-shirts (and I do!) I know what I look like to them. Like I know what I’m doing. And they treat me that way, just because that’s impression I’m giving on outside. They don’t know that I’m a little slower than my friends. They just know I look like a “real” cyclist, so they assume I am one. In their eyes, I am. We know from our studying that prosperity is largely an inside job. We manifest it on outside based on what we think on inside. But outside counts too. I convince people on street that I’m a cyclist based on what I wear. But that’s only while I’m cycling. What does my day-to-day appearance tell universe - and myself – about who I am?
| | Change Your AssociationWritten by Daniel N. Brown
Do you know any people who seem to attract bad luck?I had a friend years ago that just could not seem to get it together. He was in and out of jobs, had poor relationships, had no money, and had a bad attitude. I used to think he had bad attitude because he had problems. Now I know he had problems because he had bad attitude. I know, becuse I was right down in pit with him. Years later, I saw a quote that hit me like a ton of bricks. It was this: "There's no way you will ever fly like an eagle if you're pecking around in dirt with chickens." I quickly caught on to this "thinking" stuff and learned to get around more positive thinking people. The key to changing your life for better is to change your belief system. The key to changing belief system is changing your thoughts. I know this is easier said than done because manner of thinking you are engaged in has been your way of thinking most of your life. It's a habit. But, like any habit, you can change it. The best way to change your thoughts is by changing your association. If you're hanging around with negative, broke, and fearful people you will develop a tendancy to think same way. I eventually developed a friendship with a guy that everything he touched seemed to turn to gold. Because he always pictured himself as a great success he became a powerful magnet that attracted positive outcomes. The effort he put forth to achieve his goals came naturally. The work did not seem like work because he enjoyed what he did. The guy just amazed me and I wanted to be like him.
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