Daily Gratitude: Boy can I attest to this. My life used to be so very narrow. I was afraid of everything that involved interacting with people (outside of work). It was funny how I would become a different person when I walked through the doors of the ER, almost like Clark Kent (for those who know who he is). Not that I would become Superman but that I would strip off my cape and become a different type of person.

It took me over 70 years to shed some of those fears and to develop my courage (again i attribute that to IFS). As more and more courage came through the mucky goo concealing it for so long, my life really did expand. I began to be more comfortable around people. It was and continues to be a process but I am here to tell you that it’s worth every second of it.

One reason I write so much and do my daily call is that I hope I can help others change their lives sooner than 70 years. They deserve to enjoy everything and everyone much much earlier.

Make a commitment to yourself that you will make the journey into your inner self so you can find out where your stumbling blocks, your swamps and quicksand are. And as you come to each, do whatever it takes to clean them off so your courage can rise to the surface.

Daily Gratitude: I think this is important for us at this time. But since I know many people won’t be able to embrace this on a macro level, I want you to think about this statement defining “world” as your world – your family, your career, your friends etc.  

Think about some disagreement or even just a less than pleasant discussion you may have had with someone.  The further back in time the better to start with.  

Does it still bother you? Was it something really that much of an issue?  Is it important today? Or have you moved on to other issues perhaps?  Was it even as bothersome the next day or did you cool off some. Or perhaps as they say was it overcome by events (OBE)? 

Remember that when you get upset or angry (and even just anxious) your frontal lobes shut down. When they stop working, you’re not responding with any logic or careful thought. 

Can you take that pause (from the two arrow concept- the pause between arrows) and wait before you decide how something is going to affect you? So what if someone cut you off in traffic? Do you really believe that the other driver intended to make you made and is a bad person? Of that you’re a victim all the time and that makes you mad? Is it worth that much to get so upset? What are you really upset about?  That is the key question. 

We are what we repeatedly do

Daily Gratitude: Understanding this should keep us from making up excuses such as us not having enough talent or “luck” or anything like that. As Dr Gilbert of Success Hotline says “it’s not that you have a bad memory. It’s just an untrained memory” and you can substitute any activity for “memory” in that sentence.

Big sports heroes are usually not born fantastic. They practice over and over. Masters of music can practice their trade for thousands of hours (some say that 10,000 hours is needed to master anything).

Michael Jordan didn’t make the varsity basketball team in high school. So how did he become so great. Through repetition.

What is it that you would love to e better at? Don’t blow off this question thinking it’s impossible. Tell yourself that you just haven’t practiced enough. And then get with it and start making a habit.

For instance, I became pretty adept at using my non-dominant left hand during just 6 weeks that my right arm and hand was in a sling. It happened because I had to use it for everything. I had no choice. Repetition improved this talent. I was actually pretty surprised at the results. It certainly proved this point to me.

How can you come up with a plan that includes repetition/habit to improve something you really want?