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6 Stages Of Retirement

6 Stages Of Retirement

Bell Rock, Sedona, AZ
Bell Rock, Sedona, AZ

 

Recently, I retired after several months of medical leave.  It’s the best thing I ever did!  Much more relaxing and less stress then the daily 9-5 and long commuting.  But, I discovered that retiring can throw you for a loop emotionally and psychologically.  You might find yourself questioning your purpose, value and who the heck you are as a person.  That’s a shocker.

Below is a great article on the stages of retirement.  There are many different ideas about the effects of retirement but this is a good article to start with.  Happy Retirement!

 

Journey Through The 6 Stages Of Retirement By Mark P. Cussen, CFP®, CMFC, AFC

Most major life-changing events, such as marriage or divorce, involve an ongoing process of emotional adjustment. Retirement is no exception. Marriage, divorce and other family-related issues have been the focus of decades of research and analysis by both clinical therapists and religious institutions.

Unfortunately, the emotional and psychological frontier of retirement has remained virtually unexplored until recently. However, while research on this subject has barely begun, it is clear that the psychological process of retirement process follows a pattern similar in nature to the emotional phases accompanying other areas of transition. Read on to discover the six stages of retirement and what you can do to prepare for this important life transition. (For related reading, see Life After Retirement.)

Retirement: The Final Frontier
Retirees must face what is essentially the last transition in their lives. The first transition comes when we leave the security of home to begin our school life in kindergarten, and after school we have the rest of the day to ourselves. Another major transition comes when we join the working world. Now we work all week but still have the weekend to ourselves. Then finally comes retirement, a time when careers are over and the work is done. Retirees have the rest of their lives to themselves. The transition into retirement can be broken down into six main phases. Let’s take a closer look at each of these phases.

1. Pre-retirement – Planning Time
During the working years, retirement can appear to be both an oncoming burden and a distant paradise. Workers know that this stage of their lives is coming, and do everything they can to save for it, but often give little thought to what they will actually do once they reach the goal – the current demands that are placed upon them leave them little time to ponder this issue. Many people face retirement like a running back on the football field who dodges or plows through one defender after another until reaching the end zone. It’s hard for many workers to think seriously about what their lives will be like in 20 or 30 years when they are trying to stay on top of their mortgage, put their kids through college and have a little fun in the meantime. They want to reach the end zone, but other issues will tackle them long before then if they don’t take immediate action. (For more insight, check out Enjoy Life Now And Still Save For Later and Life Planning – More Than Just Money.)

2. The Big Day – Smiles, Handshakes, Farewells
By far the shortest stage in the retirement process is the actual cessation of employment itself. This is often marked by some sort of dinner, party or other celebration, and has become a rite of passage for many, especially for those with distinguished careers. In some respects, this event is comparable to the ceremony that marks the beginning of a marriage.

3. Honeymoon Phase – I’m Free!
Of course, honeymoons follow more than just weddings. Once the retirement celebrations are over, a period often follows where retirees get to do all the things that they wanted to do once they stopped working, such as travel, indulge in hobbies, visit relatives and so forth. This phase has no set time frame and will vary depending upon how much honeymoon activity the retiree has planned.

4. Disenchantment – So this is it?
This phase parallels the stage in marriage when the emotional high of the wedding has worn off and the couple now has to get down to the business of building a working relationship together. After looking forward to this stage for so long, many retirees must deal with a feeling of letdown, similar to that of newlyweds who must get down the the business of living once the honeymoon is over. Retirement isn’t a permanent vacation after all; it also can bring lowliness, boredom, feelings of uselessness and disillusionment.

5. Reorientation – Building a New Identity
Fortunately, the letdown phase of retirement doesn’t last forever. Just as married couples eventually learn how to live together, retirees begin to familiarize themselves with the landscape of their new circumstances and navigate their lives accordingly. This is easily the most difficult stage in the emotional retirement process and will take both time and conscious effort to accomplish. Perhaps the most difficult aspects of this stage to manage are the inevitable self-examination questions that must be answered once again, such as “Who am I, now?”, “What is my purpose at this point?” and “Am I still useful in some capacity?” New – and satisfying – answers to these questions must be found if the retiree is to feel a sense of closure from his or her working days. But many retirees cannot achieve this and never truly escape this stage – make sure you do!

6. Routine – Moving On
Finally, a new daily schedule is created, new marital ground rules for time together versus time alone are established, and a new identity has been at least partially created. Eventually, the new landscape becomes familiar territory, and retirees can enjoy the last phase of their lives with a new sense of purpose.

Conclusion
Life planning is an important key to successful retirement. Workers that have given serious time and thought to what they will do after they retire will generally experience a smoother transition than those who haven’t. Dreams and goals that cannot be achieved with a single trip or project may translate into long-term part-time employment or volunteer work. But it is never too soon to begin mapping out the course of the rest of your life. (To get started, read A Pre-Retirement Checkup.)

As with all emotional processes that can be broken down into separate phases, it is not necessary to completely achieve one phase before beginning another (except, of course, for the actual cessation of employment). But virtually all retirees will experience some form of this process after they stop working. Their ability to navigate these uncharted waters will ultimately determine how they live the last phase of their lives.

Original post at http://www.investopedia.com/articles/retirement/07/sixstages.asp

For more on the emotional transition to retirement, see Money Can’t Buy Retirement Bliss.

Read more: Journey Through The 6 Stages Of Retirement | Investopedia http://www.investopedia.com/articles/retirement/07/sixstages.asp#ixzz41yfnRlVV
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Thanks for stopping by.  Hope to see you again soon, John

Secret to Success

Secret to Success

successonbricks2

A Thought For Life

We all have dreams of Success in many areas of life.  We want Success in our careers, relationships, love, with and for our kids, and to get what we want in life.

In my life, I’ve had a lot of struggles and disappointments in school, relationships and career.  My negative thinking made it harder than it really was and harder than it had to be.  I could of eliminated a lot of physical and mental stress had I know two simple “facts of life”.  Now that I’ve realized this and am using these facts of life, I’m much happier.  Life is good!

So, what are those two vital facts of life?

First,  I learned that our brains are the most powerful computers known to mankind.  What we think about the most becomes our reality.  Thinking and seeing in a positive, optimistic way and speaking positively will turn your life around.

The second fact of life, and there are many more you’ll read about here soon, is there’s only so much thinking and planning you can do.  Ultimately, you have to start Doing.  You must take Action.  When I did this things starting falling in place, I was happier, I learned what I like and experienced life and became happier.

Today, I’m focused on taking action and doing.  Each task or action I DO brings me closer to my dream life.  Go ahead, try it!

Thanks for stopping by, John

Are You A Disappointment to Yourself

Are You A Disappointment to Yourself

Norway
Norway

Greetings, we don’t want to feel trapped or all alone in life, we all want to be HAPPY in life rather than a DISAPPOINTMENT to ourselves or others.    Often, that disappointment you’re feeling inside is because you’ve set unrealistic expectations for yourself. Or you’re trying to meet someone else’s expectations.  You aren’t perfect, nor is anybody else.  Learn to be your own best friend!  Learn to be easier on yourself.  Life becomes a lot easier when you look deep inside and find your Authentic Self.  When you do, you’ll find yourself in your natural FLOW and you’ll start to live your life more fully.

Here’s an article I found on TinyBuddha.com that will help get you started.

Are Your Expectations Setting You Up for Disappointment?

Man Sitting

“Waking up to who you are requires letting go of who you imagine yourself to be.” ~Alan Watts

For a long time, I felt like I was standing on a riverbank just watching the water of life go by, too scared to jump in and play. I was waiting for the perfect current to come along that I could ride all the way to the completion of my intensely detailed life goals.

I didn’t want to move until I felt like success was guaranteed and I was certain it was the “right” thing. Life was flowing, and I wasn’t doing anything. You can never be certain about the future.

Around this time, I graduated engineering school and instead of feeling excited and free, I felt like a large weight was dropped on my shoulders. I had a lot of expectations to meet, all of which were self-imposed.

After all, I had an engineering degree. By the world’s standards, I was bound to be successful, get a great job, and make money.

The thing is, I couldn’t shake the feeling that the path of engineering in the traditional sense was not right for me. I also couldn’t seem to function with the weight of these expectations. I got depressed, frustrated, and disappointed with myself for not pursuing engineering right way.

I expected myself to be successful, which eventually escaladed into expectations of perfection in all the areas of my life.

One day, I was on a walk with my Dad and he said to me, “Amanda, you just have to jump in the river and swim! You might wash up on the shore of the riverbank a little ways down, but at least you’re moving. Plus, you never know who or what will be there on the shore waiting for you. Just jump in and stop trying to set expectations for the future. Jump in and ride whatever current looks good now.

That’s exactly what I did. Instead of focusing on what to do, where to go, and how I was going to accomplish everything I thought I wanted in life, I focused on releasing the expectations I had about it all.

I focused on what I wanted to and could do now. I finally jumped in. 

The following are some tips and lessons I learned while making the transition from expectation overload to the lightness of exploration. 

Less Expectation, More Exploration And Trust

Oh, this is so juicy! When expectations rule our lives, we set ourselves up for disappointment. Then guess what? We judge ourselves harshly for it.

For example, I had a list of specific measurable goals for where I thought I should be when I graduated engineering school. When I finally did and realized I didn’t meet any of my goals, I felt disappointed and started telling myself I was a failure. Of course, this behavior got me nowhere.

The most important thing I learned is to release my expectations about how I think my life should go, and approach life from a place of exploration. This opens you up to experiencing things that are beyond your wildest dreams. It’s okay to have goals, but make sure to leave room for something even greater to come along.

Maybe the most peaceful and quickest way to achieve something is a way you haven’t thought of yet. Be willing to go with the flow.

This requires trust. I learned that when I let go and trust I will receive everything I need, I always do. I often find myself saying at the end of the day, “Wow, this day was amazing and I had no plan, yet I accomplished everything I needed to.”

Explore through life knowing deep down that you are always guided to exactly where you need to be. Plus, doesn’t exploring sound like more fun than expecting?

Look Beyond Your Distractions

A lot of us want external things because of the way we think they will make us feel. I wanted a skinnier body because I thought it would make me feel happy and loved. I wanted a successful career because I thought I would feel fulfilled. I wanted a relationship because I thought it would relieve my loneliness.

These things can distract us from looking within ourselves for answers.

When they fail to do what we want, we fell disappointed and angry. In order to release this cycle of disappointment, we need to release the belief that they will save us.

If you want to experience more love, start giving more love. If you don’t want to feel lonely, then start healing the belief that you are alone. If you want to feel like you’re worth something, start treating yourself like you are worth something, because you most definitely are.

When you heal the beliefs that run wild in your mind, you can still enjoy the externals, but you’re no longer trying to get something from them. You know you’re already fulfilled, happy, and complete, so if your circumstances change, you can maintain your joy.

Relax More, Judge Yourself Less

I’ve learned that the loving voice within, also known as our inner guide, has a bigger plan for us than we have for ourselves. I don’t know about you, but I want that plan!

As it turns out, right now you are exactly where you need to be. Phew.

The only thing you need to do in order to follow the path of your inner guidance is listen to it by releasing your judgments about what you think is happening. You don’t have to have everything figured out right now.

Get quiet and listen for guidance about what to do in this moment. Any advice coming from love will be something you can do now. The thought of doing it will make you feel lighter and excited.

Change Your Thoughts

If you are feeling disappointed, it’s because of the thoughts you have about the situation. So if you don’t want to feel disappointed, change your thoughts.

The first thing I do when I feel any disturbance to my peace of mind is say to myself, “I am determined to see this person/situation differently.” This is how you step into your power. Everything happens for you, not to you.

You’ll be amazed at the shifts in perception that occur when you become willing to release fear and see love instead.

When you focus on releasing the thoughts about how you imagined your life to be, your most loving, truthful self can come forward and guide you. There is nothing to figure out.

Photo by janoma.cl

Avatar of Amanda Christian

About Amanda Christian

Amanda is the hiking yoga buddy you always wanted but never had…until now! She’s a miracle-fueled yoga instructor and a modern day voyager with lots of strange ideas. (Strange ideas that just might be what you’ve been waiting for.) Over on her site you’ll find weekly Soul Workouts with practical ways to experience more peace and personal power.

 

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Thanks for stopping by.  I hope your enjoyed this post.

Thanks, John

Death

Death

“Memories of our lives, or our works and deeds will continue in others.” Rosa Parks

On July 7th, 2012, as I was waiting for a fallen state troopers funeral procession to pass, my Mom passed away. For some reason I was meant to solemnly experience the grief of the Troopers mourners rather than to be at Mom’s side during her passing. I’ve heard it said, “Even death has a heart.”. I guess it’s true.

“Life is pleasant. Death is peaceful. It’s the transition that’s troublesome.” Isaac Asimov

And so it was with Mom. She enjoyed life, getting the most out of each moment and sharing it with her sons and others. You could tell when something touched her, she would use phrases like, “It’s just wonderful, wonderful, wonderful.”. “Look how RED the earth is here.”. She would say to my wife, “when we’re together every moment is a holiday.”

“Every mans life ends the same way. It is only the details of how he lived and how he died that distinguish one man from another.” Ernest Hemingway

As they removed Mom’s body, a gusty wind blew hard, holding the door open, the rain began, and lightening and thunder were in the sky. And then it was quiet again, the cleansing and passing complete.

Now, memories of her passion and love are all we have.

I miss you already, love, your son, John.

Love Is The Highest Power

Love Is The Highest Power

In the flow.  Remember that feeling?  For some of us it’s been a long time since we have been in the flow, feeling like the world is ours to take, where everything is smooth and easy.

As we age, we get tired of the hustle and bustle, pushing to be the best, climbing the corporate ladder,  while we forget our true wants, desires, dreams and natural talents.

But now, it’s time to change that.  It’s time to be true to our soul, share our talents with the world, express our love for others and reach for our dreams and get into the flow again.  The flow that feels effortless, smooth and exciting.  Pause, relax, take three deep breaths, exhale slowly, expelling your stress.  Now stand up straight, and get your swagger on.  Don’t waste any more time, reach for the moon now.

The little piece below explains one important element, that of love.  Enjoy your life and help make the world a better place.

From The Secret Daily Teachings

Love is the highest power we possess to be in complete harmony with the law of attraction. The more love we feel the greater our power. The more selfless love we feel, the more unfathomable our power.

The law of attraction has been called the law of love, because the law itself is a gift of love to humanity. It is the law by which we can create incredible lives for ourselves.

The more love we feel the greater our power to create a magnificent life of love, joy, and harmony.
May the joy be with you,

Rhonda Byrne
The Secret… bringing joy to billions

 

Thanks for stopping by today, hope you finish your day with a spring in your step and a helping hand for friends and strangers.

John

Life Expectations

Life Expectations

When life doesn’t match your expectations or wants, you will be unhappy, in pain, even depressed.

How do you overcome this problem?

The short answer is, write down you expectations, clearly leaving 3 lines between each one.

Under each expectation on the first line, write down your current status of achieving or living that expectation. Most importantly, did deep into your mind and past programing, and decide if each one is Still a Valid Expectation. Is it something you still want to have or achieve in life? Is it really? If not, get ride of it, get it out of your mind and praise yourself for making positive change!

On the next line, write down what you have to do to reach and live that expectation. Do you need to go to school for it, get a licensed, move to another city, take lessons, or network with people already doing it.

Finally, review your life and expectations as they are now and decide if you want to add new expectations or maybe revise the old ones.

This is all about you and what you want in life. You are writing the movie script of your life and the finished product will play on your Big Screen of You Mind. So make it exactly what YOU want. Dream big.

As I like to say,
Think Good Thoughts
Speak Good Words
Do Good Things

Start writing your life script NOW!

Thanks for stopping by, John

Words Change Your life

Words Change Your life

So, when you have a hard decision to make, or you’re struggling at your job or with your finances. Maybe you think your spouse is being mean or unreasonable or you just found out you have a serious physical problem.

Who do you go to for help and how do you listen to? You have lots of choices. Some are better than others. But, I’ll bet you are forgetting the most important person to list to.

Do you know who it is?

It’s YOU! Your brain is the most sophisticated computer in the world. It’s the words you use when you talk to yourself. Our parents gave us our original programing and it’s probably out of date. Is your software program up to date. Is it telling you the right things, for the current day? Probably not. Your original programing is filled with limiting factors that are holding you back from getting everything you want from life.

What can you do to improve your self talk? Upgrade to Operating System 2012.1. Wipe out your old limiting self talk and upgrade to enabling self talk.

Here some help to get you started. Enjoy.

Your Words will bring Your Victory

I hope you enjoy the video. It pretty powerful.

Bottom line, talk nicely to yourself, use powerful words to create the health, happiness and wealth you deserve.

Thanks for stopping by, John, the Messenger.

Depression Ruins Ambition

Depression Ruins Ambition

Whether we like it or not, we all get “down” a little. Others carry a dark cloud with them all the time. Sometimes it’s caused by family genes, sometime a chemical imbalance is your body, and other times by life’s circumstances.

Depression effects all parts of our lives. We go through life at a slower pace, we don’t want to do things we normally love. We withdraw from friends and family. The holidays often make the depression greater. It takes away all your ambition to do things you love.

When depression strikes, it’s time to review our lives and find the good things we have and focus on them. Exercise is another way to get the blood pumping, get the endorphins flowing, even though it’s the exact opposite of what you want to do.

There’s hope, lots of good ideas on the web that will help. Here’s a great article I found that might help you start living life again.

6 Steps Toward Freedom From Depression
6 Steps Toward Freedom From Depression

After trying 23 medication combinations, 7 psychiatrists, two hospitalization programs, and every form of alternative therapy available–from homeopathic remedies to yoga, I assumed I was one of those unfortunate statistics with treatment-resistant depression, a Humpty-Dumpty type that would never recover from the fall of a nervous breakdown.

There was no magic that happened between then and now, the month my book about my recovery hits the shelves. I just kept on getting out of bed. Even on the days where my thoughts were cemented in the black stuff, in negativity and toxic emotions, I tried to pick up one foot and place it in front on the next.

Here are the tools I picked up along the way, the basic lessons that help me in my mission to stay Beyond Blue, or at least out of black for as long as possible.

1. Laugh.

From my 12 years of therapy I have learned at least one thing: I use sarcasm as a defense mechanism. But I’m keeping the jokes and the acerbic tone because Abe Lincoln and Art Buchwald, two of my mental health heroes, said wit was essential to sanity, that comedy can keep a person out of the psych ward (not really). And if you’re laughing, you’re not crying … even though the two look similar from 10 feet away.

2. Sweat.

As a recovering addict, I love any buzz I can get. Working out–any exercise that gets my heart rate over 140 beats per minute (into the cardiovascular zone) does the job. And in a safe way, so I don’t have to cheat on my sobriety. I’m probably as addicted to exercise as I was to booze, but this is one mood-altering activity that doesn’t deteriorate my marriage and my other relationships.

The right kind of exercise actually acts like an antidepressant: increasing the activity of serotonin and/or norepinephrine in your brain and releasing those coveted endorphins and other hormones that reduce pain, induce euphoria, have a calming effect, and combat stress.

3. Eat the right stuff.

The more I investigate–both through research and nonscientific experiments with body–the more I realize how my diet affects my mood.

Here are the bad boys: nicotine, caffeine (it’s a drug, which is why I’m addicted to it), alcohol, white flour and processed food (what you live on when you have kids who won’t touch tofu and spinach); and sugar … that’s a whole other blog post.

Here are the good guys: protein (eggs, milk, cheese, yogurt, meat, fish, chicken, seeds, nuts); complex starches (whole grains, beans, potatoes); vegetables (broccoli, spinach, squash); vitamins (vitamin B-complex, vitamins E and C, and a multivitamin); minerals (magnesium, calcium, and zinc); and omega-3 fatty acids.

4. Sleep!

Sleep is crucial to sanity. Let me repeat: Sleep is crucial to sanity.

Because sleep disturbances can contribute to, aggravate, and even cause mood disorders and a host of other illnesses. You see, if you’re not sleeping, your brain doesn’t have an opportunity to do all the stuff it needs to do without the constant interruption of your thoughts. The brain works night shifts. And when it doesn’t get all the work it needs to do done … well, it gets a tad irritable, like you do when you can’t get your work done. And it takes it out on you.

According to one recent study, sleep deprivation can cause a decline in cognitive performance similar to the intoxicated brain. That’s right! Drunks can reason and judge better than you if you’ve gone too long without getting some zzzzs.

5. Light up.

Have you ever noticed all the crabby behavior in November and December?

Changes in the amounts of daylight a person gets alters circadian rhythms, the internal biological clock which governs fluctuation in body temperature and the secretion of several hormones, including the evil one, Cortisol. When a person gets less daylight than she needs, her circadian rhythm starts to act like a high-maintenance houseguest – getting all flustered over small stuff (i.e. the wrong kind of soap). That’s why light treatment is so effective for fragile human beings like me. If I can’t get outside for at least a half hour a day, I try to sit under my mammoth HappyLite, a lamp with 10,000 lux, and think happy thoughts.

6. Rely on friends.

I used to be a loyal support-group kind of girl. But since I’ve had kids, getting to meetings is much more difficult. So I’ve found my support in other ways–in phone calls and e-mails and visits to friends and relatives who also suffer from depression or bipolar disorder. That lifeline kept me alive during my suicidal days, and continues to empower me every single day.

During the darker days of my depression, I walked around with six phone numbers in my pocket. Because I didn’t want to wear out any one friend or relative, I’d call two people a day, and rotate the numbers. I spent hours on the phone and writing e-mails and visiting friends because I needed constant support.

Click here for six more steps…

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Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 25 Jan 2010
Published on PsychCentral.com. All rights reserved.

What are you worth in this economy?

What are you worth in this economy?

Live Your Dreams!

The answer is simple.

It’s up to you!

“Our self-worth and identity are not determined by mysterious, outside forces.
They are determined by our own powerful self-talk.”

Now, more than ever, it’s important to be your own best friend and always use positive words when thinking or talking about yourself, your health, happiness, and future.

Stand up strong and be brave and great!

©John McFadden

Brain Re-programmed for Happiness and Success

Brain Re-programmed for Happiness and Success

Most often I write my own posts. But, there are times when I find something by someone else that powerful and needs to be shared. This is one of those times.

This article, from Success Magazine, talks about how the things in your head, thoughts, usually are automatic, pre-programmed from your past. I good, positive, loving, helping thoughts were pre-programmed then you’re doing well.

Most people, however, are not that lucky. They have lots of limiting and negative thoughts. You don’t have to act on and live those bad thoughts and limit your life! Assess, review your pre-programmed thoughts and replace them with positive and empowering thoughts and watch how your life improves.

Here’s the article:

What’s In Your Head Determines What’s In Your Wallet
Acquiring the Attitude of Abundance
Darren Hardy April 25, 2011

Look Within or Go Without

In the book The Instant Millionaire by Mark Fisher, the old millionaire asks the boy who has sought his advice, “Why aren’t you rich already?” That’s a good question to ask yourself. We live in an era of unprecedented wealth and opportunity. More people have become wealthy in the last 20 years than any other time in human history—why haven’t you? Your answer to this question will reveal a lot about yourself. Your answers will expose your self-limiting beliefs, your doubts, your fears, your excuses, your rationalizations and maybe some justifications.

Reprogram Your Mental Hard Drive

One of the greatest limitations to achieving financial abundance is a deep-seated belief that somehow money is wrong and people who have a lot of it are inherently evil. This belief is invented fiction. It goes back to early childhood conditioning when a growing child is often told this because of other people’s envy or desire to rationalize away their own financial failures.

The fact is money is good. It takes money to build hospitals, churches and shelters. Money is also needed to buy homes, cars, clothes, food, vacations and other glorious experiences in life. Life is limitless abundance. To acquire money is not to take it away from someone else. Money is granted to the creator, the one who has built something where nothing existed before. Money is the instrument of exchange for valued production. Money is earned only by the producer. The accumulation of wealth is accomplished only by consistently applied effort and discipline. Money has an energy of its own, and it is largely attracted to people who understand its virtues and respect its power. Money tends to flow toward those people who can use it in the most productive ways to produce valuable goods and services, and who can invest it to create employment and opportunities that benefit others. At the same time, money flows away from those who use it poorly, or who spend it in nonproductive ways.

To Have More, You Must Become More

You have heard the phrase, “water seeks its own level,” right? Fortunately, or unfortunately (depending on your level), the same is true about money. Money will meet you where you are. Stated another way, your net worth will equal your self-worth. These are not just clever quips, they are wise truths—and stark realities for some. We all have read the stories about someone who earns $30,000 a year and wins $5 million, $10 million or $20 million in the lottery, then within one to three years they have spent it all and are back to making $30,000 a year, living paycheck-to-paycheck. We’ve watched once-wealthy celebrities also play out that saga. Why does this happen? The money was far greater than their level of self-perceived value. The disproportionate money to self-esteem ratio made them uncomfortable. At an unconscious level they did whatever they could to try to rebalance the inequity—ultimately losing it all—thus returning to the comfort level of their self-worth. As Jim Rohn says, “If you win a million dollars, the first thing you should do is become a millionaire.” So learn the character, habits, disciplines and, most importantly, attitudes of a millionaire.

Is your attitude about money attracting it to you or pushing it away? If we build a negative relationship with the dollar bill, it’s reflected in our thoughts, feelings and actions. Worry is one of the most costly attitudes. Worry is a fear emotion. Fearful thoughts deplete your creative energies and inhibit your ability to make smart choices and take progressive action, which ends up pushing us farther away from prosperity.

Conversely, when we have an attitude of abundance we attract money toward us. This isn’t voodoo; it’s plain and simple. You see what you are looking for and get what you expect. When we are confident about money and grateful for what we have, it changes how we see things, how we talk and how we act. This mindset, outlook and behavior stimulate your inner creativity and attract other like-minded people and circumstances that come with money-making insights and opportunities. Positive, ambitious, abundance-minded people like to associate and do business with people of the same ilk. They avoid those with nervous or pessimistic attitudes about what’s possible.

Getting Money Flowing to You

What would make you happy and boost your sense of well-being? You might be surprised. You may realize you really don’t require any more money than you already have. Sometimes a simple change in attitude is all that’s needed to feel good about your life. People often think, “If only I could get a promotion or a new car, I’d be happy.”

Take inventory of the great wealth you already have. Ask yourself, “What do I feel grateful for in my life?” Take a couple of minutes right now to write it down. Show that list to most people around the world and they will indeed call you wealthy. Feel thankful for all you have, and you will feel instantly wealthy. Once you feel wealthy you will continue to think wealthy and act wealthy, and it will charge the magnet that will attract more wealth to you.

People become wealthy because they decide to become wealthy. Those who believe they can become wealthy and are worthy of great financial wealth are the ones who will be. Because they believe this completely, they act accordingly. They consistently take the necessary actions that turn their beliefs into realities. Decide now that you are worthy of great wealth, and it will be your first step toward great prosperity.

America is the “land of milk and honey.” Opportunity is everywhere. No matter where you look, you will find someone pursuing their dream and being rewarded with great abundance. For centuries, people have sacrificed life and limb just to get here. You are here. People with far more difficulties and much greater obstacles and limitations have gone on to become incredibly wealthy—why not you? People who are less intelligent, poorer, who had more difficult childhoods, fewer privileges and no support have gone on to make great fortunes. So can you. If you think you can, you will. Your attitude will determine your destiny.

Thanks for stopping by. Hope you enjoyed it and learned something to make your life better.
It’s all between your ears. Thanks, John