Passion Vs Obsession

By Derek Fredrickson

What am I passionate about? Skiing - pretty much everything about it. I ski every weekend from November to April and do the same with my kids. I like other crazy and outrageous outdoor activities but pretty much anything to do with snow on the ground and two boards on my feet will make me a happy camper.
However, I'm beyond passionate for skiing. I have to say I am obsessed with skiing. Ask any member of my family. And when I say obsessed I mean beyond just having ski pictures and posters in my office or at home (which I have).
I read ski magazines on summer vacations at the beach. My iPhone wallpaper is skiing. When we play family games about favorites (what's your favorite color, favorite food, etc.) - mine all have to do with skiing. I keep every issue of all four (yes, there are 4) ski magazines. I mostly wear t-shirts to work and they all have skiing references or photos on them (my favorite is the spin off from the "Got Milk" campaign and says 'Got Powder?') I follow the top ski racers on Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, etc. I even bid (and won) on a pair of autographed Lindsey Vonn skis for my daughter.
I think my obsession is good - it teaches my kids to focus on what you believe in passionately - no matter what. My 7 year old daughter Claire now wants to grow her hair really long so she can wear it in a pony tail like Lindsey Vonn. How crazy is that? She's passionate about skiing and almost obsessed. I don't think that's overdoing it.
I see myself as I write this article - I could continue on and on and on - but maybe not everyone is as crazy obsessed with skiing as I am. And, wondering "what does this have to do with authentic internet marketing?" But, it does show people how it is good for the soul (and the business) to embed obsession into their values.
Now, I'm also obsessed with authentic Internet marketing. It started out as a hobby when I began working with my wife under 2 years ago. I read some books, studied some courses online, and followed some of the best online mentors. I learned everything about online marketing and then some. I took this passion and then went even further - to see what I could do for our business.
You could say I took my wealth of online marketing knowledge and turned it into something really authentic. Something people can learn from easily in a step-by-step manner to implement in their own business so they can see similar results. Now, I'm obsessed with teaching and sharing how you can authentically market your business on the Internet.
Your Assignment:
What are you passionate about? Make a list of the 5 things that first come to mind when you ask yourself that question. They must be the first 5 that come to mind. If it takes longer to think about it, they are not front of mind and something that you're probably not always thinking about. They can be values, work, hobbies, etc. For me, it's about helping people, learning, family, skiing and doing the right thing. Now, which of these could you do all day long for free? If you were given $1 million dollars tomorrow, which of those 5 would you still wake up each and every day saying - "I can't wait to get started." This is your obsession. Follow that and do everything you can to make it a reality and good things will come.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5180696

The Law of Attraction and the Six Principles for Success

By Manuel Karkafiris 

Our emotions play a pivotal role in not only in the way we feel, but they are a good indication of the results that we can expect in our life. This means that when we consistently follow principle emotions in our life, we increase the probability of success.
The following summary of the six principles for success indicate how we can attract more good in our life, which ultimately leads to better health, more prosperity and outstanding relationships.
1. LOVE: it is important that you love and accept yourself. If you do not accept yourself with love, then how are you going to love someone else? When you start to appreciate yourself, you in turn start to appreciate others.
No comparisons to others, either! This is a fruitless exercise, for you are unique. Has there ever been anyone else like you, will there ever be anyone else like you? That consideration alone, you need to love.
2. GRATITUDE: Gratitude is a powerful energy, so by you expressing a grateful attitude towards what you have in your life, you are locking into the attraction of abundance in your life. Gratitude can be likened to gravity: you throw it up; it comes back down to you. You get more of what you are grateful about. You need to express it.
3. FORGIVENESS: The first step in this process is to FORGIVE YOURSELF FIRST. The act of unforgiveness can be likened to you carrying around a heavy sack of rocks on your back. It basically means that you are carrying around more baggage than is healthy. The key to fulfillment in life is to release the baggage and walk free!
An effective way of achieving forgiveness is by the act of writing a letter to those you wish to release from your mind and body. (Please note that you DO NOT have to send the letter- it is the intention of experiencing the emotional release.) The idea is to do this quickly, unconsciously, without forethought. You are training your mind to let the unresolved resentment go.
The aim is to bring out the negative associations beginning with anger, sadness, fear and hurt until you can climb the ladder of emotion to love.
Begin the letter with "I am angry that..." and let your letter flow where it may, making sure that you cover all the relevant points. The ultimate aim is to allow yourself the gift of liberation so that you may live your life in peace.
Should the act of forgiveness of others prove difficult to you, it would pay to keep in mind a crucial consideration. Just because that person was in a bad state before, it does not mean he/she will always be in such a state. This alone will assist in your act of forgiveness. There is no such thing as an unresourceful person, only unresourceful thoughts. It was that person's thoughts at that time that made him/her to act in the way that has lead to your needing to forgive them.
4. CONTRIBUTION/GIVING. As in the case in forgiveness, it is essential for you to contribute to yourself first. You can do this by rewarding yourself whenever you have achieved something worthwhile.
When it comes to contributing to others, you will discover that in the act of giving, you have a variety of gifts at your disposal. You can contribute your time, love and knowledge, in fact anything that serves to enrich the lives of others.
The process by which the Universe works is known as the law of reciprocation. If you give to someone, that person will want to give something back to you and so the continuum proceeds.
The key point to remember about the act of contribution is:
IF YOU WANT SOMETHING, YOU NEED TO CONTRIBUTE IT FIRST.
If, for example, you want more love in your life, you need to give love first. The same principle applies to money. Contribution is energy, it has a rebounding effect.
5. ACCESSING PEACE: When you are at peace with yourself, you are actually at your highest connectedness to the Universe and in the state of highest creativity. It is therefore essential to engage in activities that engender peace. Meditation. Fasting. Being close to nature. Detoxifying/cleansing your body. Prayer.
Meditation is vital for accessing peace.Sit silently, ponder and mentally ask questions and the answers that are already there will come to you. You just need to take that first step.
6. FAITH: Faith overcomes fear. Faith and fear are mutually exclusive. Like oil and water, they simply don't mix.
The fact is, that you practice faith on a daily basis. You have faith that your car and your driving skills will get you from A to B, or that the bus driver will deliver you safely to your destination. The key is to actively practice faith in your life. Remember: you will see it when you believe it!
Begin to visualise your life's goal and emotionalise it. Have faith in its manifestation and take the necessary action to bring it into your life.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6497369

Professional Results With Niagara Spray Starch

By Wynne Dillon

Looking your best is key in any professional environment. Having a crisp and clean appearance is every bit an indication of the professional you are presenting, as the work you perform. So when it is time for an individual to look his or her best, it is important to know how to prepare clothes correctly.
While it is true that most loads of laundry can be completed with simple detergent alone, not square peg fits into that proverbial round hole. In fact, many articles of clothing need an extra touch of TLC before being worn. In these specific cases, ironing make all of the difference in the world, as it go a long way to improving the appearance of clothing. However ironing is only half the battle, as the true ingredient to a crisp appearance lies in the use starch.
The lynchpin in the dry cleaning industry, starch has been a common ingredient to laundry for decades. The simple additive has been proven to add extra crispness to clothes, allowing fabrics retain their shape and appearance throughout the day. Although there have been several ways to apply starch over the years, the preferred option is through spray starch. The easy-to-apply convenience of the spray option offers a simple and time-saving way to maintain a sharp appearance throughout the day. Although there are many spray starch options to chose from, most industry professionals have trusted Niagara Spray for decades. Any savvy shopper knows that whatever the pros use, is typically the best combination of price, and quality, leading many to use the Niagara brand.
Perhaps the easiest application process in its industry, the Niagara Heavy Starch Spray offers a clean and quick application system. Packaged in a convenient non aerosol can, the Niagara Spray effortlessly and easily aims, and delivers, providing an even coat throughout each release. This application system ensures that a starch job can be done efficiently and correctly, with minimal waste. This way, regardless if the applicator is a seasoned professional dry cleaner, or a residential homeowner, anyone can use Niagara Spray Heavy Starch, and receive the outstanding and professional results they need.
Overall, Niagara Heavy Spray Starch is seen as the industry standard for high-grade laundry products, providing clothing with an unmatched crisp, sharp, polished appearance. By strengthening clothes, Starch Spray can easily help improve the appearance and lifespan of any fabric. Many have already invested in the continued fresh, professional look that Niagara Spray Starch provides.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6475863

Law of Attraction - Not Sure You Can?

By Jenn Prothero 

Have you been trying to work with the law of attraction in your life, and it's just not working? Are you wondering what is wrong with your thinking that you can't do it? What is wrong with you, don't you deserve to be happy like they say? Do you even get to the point where you feel good one day, then down in the dumps others and you wonder if you are bi polar? If so, relax, you are not alone, and you are not bi polar.
There are many people working with the law of attraction and there are just as many trying to teach you how to do it, or saying they have just the right technique for you to be able to master it. Let me just say that the techniques are great, but in the end all you need is your focused intentions.
I am speaking from experience here, I have felt all of these feelings, and thought all of these thoughts. What I have found out, is that we are here having a human experience, and we like to complicate everything, we like to get caught up in our thoughts and all the drama in life. This is where we fail at the law of attraction. Myself included. This is what I have learned.
It is very important to take control of my thoughts as soon as I wake up, I want to start positive so I can attract more positive. I heard it said, and I'm not sure who said it but it is brilliant, stay positive until 10 am and the rest of the day will look after itself. It's true. Positive affirmations may sound silly, but they are very powerful in attracting good to you. I start every day off with an affirmation, I even take it one step further and add a vision to that affirmation. For example if I were trying to manifest money, I would say, I say yes to all the new opportunities that come my way today to generate income. I will then envision myself with money floating all around me, and just stay with that as long as I can. The trick is to bring all of these thoughts and visions into your heart and feel that energy.
The next step is to go about your day, staying in tune with what you want, and keeping your energy and vibrational level high. In other words, stay with the heart energy, do things from the heart, listen to the heart. When things start to show up that are not in alignment with what you want........in other words the exact opposite of what you want.......simply say thank you and don't give it any other energy. When we put thought into why did this show up, or I don't want that, what we are doing is giving it energy, anything we give energy to will grow. Meaning you will attract more of it. Perhaps it is showing up to let you recognize it and say no, I want this, specifically. The law of attraction is very specific in fact its exact. Look at what showed up and look at exactly what you asked for and exactly where your thoughts have been.
This is the frustrating part, this is where people give up, this is where people begin to think they just can't do it or just aren't deserving enough. One of the laws states that we are willing to sacrifice for what we want, that includes our thoughts. That includes constantly looking for "the good "to show up. That also includes giving up anything that blocks us from having what we want such as limiting beliefs or even physical things we have that we are holding onto. We need to release the old in order to make room for the new. So when the old keeps showing up, just say no, that's not what I want.
I have been trying to manifest a new car, which requires money. My old car was continually breaking down costing me money I wanted to be saving to get a new one. I was always asking how can I save money for a car, when I am always putting it out for repairs. Then I got a brain wave thought, I had to give up the old in order to make room for the new. The brakes went on the car last week, and without any resentment or anger I simply took it off the road, and said you are done. I became grateful for what the car had done for me over the years. I was grateful for learning this value able lesson. I was grateful that I was healthy enough to walk until the said new car shows up. I started to realize how lucky I was. I also was finally able to really start dreaming about the new car I wanted. Prior to this, it was a passing fancy, but now it's real, I can feel myself driving it, I can feel how comfortable and safe I feel in it. That is real manifesting thoughts.
What my problem was that I was too caught up in the past, with what I already had, that was making me unhappy. With that I could not focus my thoughts on what I wanted.
You see even if we think we are doing a great job with our thoughts and energy we always have work to do. In fact this is often the only work we have to do in order to receive what it is we have asked for. The journey is about preparing ourselves to receive, about learning what is blocking us and removing those blocks. That is work enough in itself.
Next time you see something show up that is opposite of what you want, don't get down, don't get negative and don't beat yourself up about it. Simply recognize it, and move on. Train your eye to look only for the good, and to be very grateful for what is in your life. Make a list each day of what your grateful for. There are so many positive things you can do to keep your energy high even when things are not working. Keep a list of things you can try, this way when you are having an off day, rather than staying in your head you can try something that works.
Here are a few ideas,
Light a candle, allow spirit in to help you.
Go for a walk in nature.
Listen to music
Dance, move your body, it shifts energy
Cry if you want to
Write out how you are feeling then throw it out.
Positive affirmations.
These all help to stay out of the mind and stop us from becoming attached to our thoughts. Meditation works wonders to move us back into the heart and out of the head.
The worst thing we can do is give up, beat ourselves up, or give thought to why things are not showing up. With persistence and vigilant watch over our thoughts and emotions, we will bring to us that which we want. It starts out small almost as if wanting us to recognize it and say yes, more please. See the small things, and celebrate them, be peacefully thankful for them and they will grow. We all have the same manifesting abilities, we all deserve to have our desires met, we are all capable of doing this, just keep doing it, it gets better, in fact make a game of it.

Jenn Prothero is an angel therapy practitioner, reiki practitioner, crystal healerIntuitive Life Coach, Author Teacher and Radio Personality. I enjoy empowering people to live the life of their dreams, to assist them in letting go of the past and moving forward into a brighter light.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6446270

Take Action: Dealing With Emotional Triggers

By April E O'Leary

One of the most challenging steps anyone can take in the process of goal achievement, parenting, financial success, career advancement, weight loss, emotional health or any such personal endeavor is realizing that triggers are not external annoyances as much as they are internal indicators. Once you accept that it is your responsibility to deal with your own triggers, and the best (and only) way to do this is by looking inside of you, rather than trying to control your outside circumstances or the people around you, you are ready to take action!
MAKE A LIST OF ALL YOUR TRIGGERS
The second step to dealing with triggers is to take action and make a complete list of all the triggers you notice that surface in your life on a regular basis. How do you know if something is a trigger? The litmus test to identify a trigger is if you are responding emotionally. Maybe at 5:00 everyday you are impatient to the point of yelling at your children? Maybe when the topic of money comes up with your spouse you get defensive? Maybe when you talk politics with your father you get angry? Maybe there are certain types of people you can't tolerate? Maybe certain foods cause an emotional response? Don't overlook it. Write it down.
It is best to compile as long and complete a list as possible, so you can really SEE on paper what you are dealing with. Think of situations, people and locations. Think of topics of conversation. Try to notice patterns. The idea is that the list of triggers opens up your awareness. Maybe your children fighting causes you to jump in and play referee, so you write it down. Then the next day you notice this same thing happening again. Ah! There it is! You noticed it again. Now you are making progress!
It is not better if it is a short list, or worse if it is a long list. The fact that you are taking ownership of your reactivity and trying to identify personal patterns is in short, amazing! For now it is enough to just make the list. Don't worry about what to do next. That will come. For now, keep listing. Keep a paper taped inside of your kitchen cabinet and add to it over time. After you react, think about it. Try to identify what it was that triggered you and write it down. Congratulate yourself for having the courage to look more deeply and start slowing down when you sense a trigger is coming on. You'll be amazed how slowing down will diffuse a lot of those trigger moments.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6448847

How You Can Learn to Create Your Own Affirmations

By Kevin Sinclair 

Affirmations are effective tools that anyone can utilize so as to have a life they dream of having.
What are affirmations?
Simply put affirmations are positive statements that you say aloud and regularly. The objective is to re-program your subconscious mind so as to be able to remove negative thoughts which keep you from reaching your dreams.
Essentially they operate by overwriting with positive thoughts the negative ones that we keep stored in our subconscious mind.
What are the Benefits of Affirmations?
Each of us has mental recordings that replay in our minds over and over again. Many of them can be traced back to when we were children and they have been responsible for the action we have taken throughout our lives. Sadly, most of these old recordings are actually feeding our minds with nothing but negativity.
While these negative recordings do not always result from the direct statements of others, they are rather more general and we grow to believe them as applicable to our situation and with regards to ourselves.
For instance, if your parents used to often warn you about strangers you will probably have developed the mind-set that the world is a dangerous place. Those who come from financially secure families may exhibit limited beliefs when it comes to their own finances which actually hinder them in either attaining wealth or keeping it when they have it.
But there is good news! You can actually override these destructive messages by using the power of positive affirmations! They will reinforce the good behaviors while at the same time changing those that need to be changed. But to be able to make the changes you have to have affirmations that you identify with because that is how they are able to aid you in improvement.
What should you remember about creating effective affirmations?
1. Affirmations must be in the present tense. Our subconscious minds do not possess the ability to accept a promise of future behavior. "I will eat healthy food" will not allow your subconscious to identify a timeline or deadline for you to honor this promise to yourself.
Your affirmation must be said as though this is something you are already exhibiting, for example: "I always choose healthy food". This is in the present tense and your subconscious is then able to accept it as fact.
2. In order for affirmations to be effective they must be in the first person. So you can't say: "You must eat healthily". Instead your affirmation must be begun with "I" otherwise it simply won't matter to your subconscious.
"I will choose to eat healthy food" is an example of a personal, first person statement that your subconscious can apply to your own behavior.
3. Lastly, an affirmation must be said positively. "I must cease to eat junk food" doesn't send your subconscious mind a clear message and therefore it can just as easily be interpreted as: "I eat junk food". Rather than leading you in the direction of your goal it will do the opposite.
Rather, "I choose fresh, healthy snacks whenever I am hungry" is a better affirmation because it is positive in nature and lets your mind know precisely what behavior is desired.
How do you Use Affirmations?
To start with choose affirmations that are short and clear and pertain to those things that you want to see transpire in your life.
Here are some examples you could try out:
- I enjoy exercising daily.
- I enjoy nutritious and fresh foods in healthy portions.
- When I no longer desire to smoke I am able to breathe clean and fresh air.
- I have what I need in order to be both content and happy today.
Another method is to write you affirmations down and keep them with you where you can get to them with ease. When you have a few moments to spare you can take them out and read them aloud to yourself.
Make sure that when you say your affirmations you do so in a firm and pleasant voice, smile while you say them. This will help you to be more aware of positive vibrations that are part and parcel of the affirmation and so therefore enable them to have easier access to your subconscious.
When you use positive affirmations each and every day you are able to enjoy the benefits that come as a result such as boosting the positives in your life. Begin using these wonderful tools right now and you will be bringing about the changes you want as well.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6408933

Have You Got Your Energy Balance Right?

By Dr Lisa Turner 

Did you know that your success in life is largely down to having a good balance of both masculine and feminine energy? When you have too much or too little of one it can cause your life to seize up like a very stuck thing, or wreak havoc and chaos.
Masculine energy is...
Rational Thought, Logic, Systems, Process, Control, Heat, Stillness, Light, Discipline, Steady State, Status Quo, Consciousness, Structure, Order. It says "NO".
Feminine energy is...
Creative, Inspired, Raw Power, Cool, Dark, Movement, Change, Flexibility, Chaos, Intuition, Permitting, Dynamic. It says "YES".
For example, a project will be a success if you take inspired creativity (feminine energy) and channel it systematically, with a logical plan (masculine energy). The result is you have fabulous finished project. But when the balance is out the result could be very different.
Here are some of the signs your energy is out of balance.
Too Much Feminine Energy

1. Fuzzy thinking, you can't concentrate, start things but then get distracted and fail to finish things. Is your home or office full of unfinished projects?
2. You can't focus, you have lots of projects on the go at the same time.
3. You say yes to things and later regret it.
4. You find it really difficult to make decisions, and agonise over them for days, weeks or months.
5. You are disorganised, lose things, forget things or have a "head like a sieve". Sometimes you can't even remember what you said in a meeting yesterday or last week.
6. Your life is rather chaotic, with your days lacking structure or plans.

Too Much Masculine Energy

1. You find it very hard to take risks, even if you know it's the right thing and miss great opportunities as a result. Have you ever kicked yourself for saying no to something that later turned out to be a great idea?
2. You like to have everything planned out to the last detail. You get very stressed when you have to change your plans at short notice or if there isn't a plan.
3. When circumstances change and you need to adapt, you often don't notice until it's too late.
4. Others accuse you of being rigid, inflexible or a stickler for rules.
5. You like to know the "rules" and what's expected. You can't stand it when things seem to be disorganised or if others are making it up as they go along.
6. You regularly try to make changes in your life, but things just go back to how they were.

Signs You Have Low Energy Generally

1. You try to manifest money, or things but it never works
2. Others don't listen or ignore to you. You lack power, authority and presence.
3. At the end of the day you have been really busy and are exhausted but have little or nothing to show for it.
4. You attract lots of interest and attention but it's often from people who you really don't want to be around. You find them repellent, but can't seem to shake them off as they stick to you like glue and keep showing up wherever you go.
5. Your personal relationships aren't working or nonexistent.
6. You try to get the attention of people who you know will be able to help you and they give you the brush off, you can't connect with them.
7. You are very spiritual but find it hard to bring your spiritual insights into physical reality. You have great spiritual wisdom, but no-one will listen to you.

But when your energy is working, and you can maintain a dynamic balance of both polarities, success becomes almost inevitable.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6329059