Welcome to Michael's Article Collection

How To Improve Communication By Really Trying

Do you ever feel misunderstood? Do you explain your side of things in what you believe is reasonably well-phrased English only to have the other person respond in such a way as to prove he/she did not get it? I'll admit to having this experience and I find it extremely frustrating, which is why a recent happening held so much meaning for me.After Christmas, I spent two weeks in Europe where I s. . .

What Success Really Is

Success has to be defined by each person individually. When asking yourself what you will have to achieve to enjoy success, you should really be asking what would make you happy. Not rich, but happy. Success entails more than just financial freedom. Success is a combination of living comfortably and being truly happy with your professional and personal lives. In order to be successful, you must. . .

Who Is Stuart Goldsmith and Why Is He One of My Mentors a...

'Stuart Goldsmith? Who is Stuart Goldsmith?' you may be asking.I met Stuart at his retirement seminar in London at the end of 2002. I couldn't miss the chance of seeing for myself if he was 'for real'. He didn't disappoint me!In his books, courses and newsletter he is very controversial. He explained that this is a deliberate shock tactic used to make people wake up and take action.Here is a sa. . .

Are You Stopping Yourself From Becoming Rich?

What is your opinion of people with money? Are they kind and generous? Are they snotty and snobbish? Do they think they’re better than people without wealth? When you see a really expensive car on the road do you sense negative feelings rising in you? These beliefs come from everywhere – your parents, the media, your work environment, etc.Your inner belief system may be in conflict with yo. . .

What Is The Right Action That Leads To Your Ultimate Goals?

What is the right thing I need to do to bring forth my desires? What actions do I need to take Now? Am I doing the right thing or the wrong thing? These are the questions that most of us constantly ask ourselves in the mind. Most of the time, we are asking unconsciously. We are constantly judging what we are doing, because we are afraid of making mistakes. Let me now show you how to choose the . . .

The Fastest Way to Achieve Impossible Dreams

When we were young, we had many dreams, we never thought anything was impossible, we were not afraid to dream anything. However, when we grew up, we slowly began to lose our dreams, we started to accept the "REALITY". We began to accept the constraints and the limitations of this world. We know that there are certain things we can not do, and there are certain things we can't achieve. Did you r. . .

Baby Steps

I remember with delight when our first child was learning to walk. We happened to be traveling with a musical program at the time. Chris had joined us and about 125 other people "on the road" when he was three months old. One of the advantages in this unusual arrangement was that Chris had a large and appreciative audience to applaud every milestone. Walking was no exception.One day Chris attem. . .

Money's Sad Lack of Intrinsic Value

A good number of my columns deal with finances and money-related issues. Obviously, these are issues we have to confront everyday. However, I have to try to keep in mind the fact that money has only a limited value in our lives. Many of us, including myself, often lost sight of the fact that money is a means to an end, not an end in itself. It has no intrinsic value. It is only worth the benefi. . .

How to Improve Your Study Habits

If you’re a student attending classes, you have probably experienced many moments when it was hard to make yourself settle down and study, even when an important exam was coming up. If you’re like most students, you put off studying until the very last minute. The night before the exam, you’ll stay up all night cramming, getting little or no sleep. In the morning, you’ll drag yourself out of . . .

How To Be Confident And Relaxed When Speaking Before A Gr...

1. Prepare thoroughly. Prepare the message of your speech thoroughly. Know exactly what it is you want to bring across to your audience...and why. Knowing the purpose of your speech will help focus and organize your thoughts, thus allowing you to be relaxed when it comes time to make your presentation. In addition, others find it helpful to rehearse their presentation “physically” (or aloud—as . . .

Being An Effective Public Speaker

Many people find it hard to speak in public. There are many reasons, namely the fear of being rejected or forgetting one’s train of thought. This will lead to stage-fright.Even with the emergence of many multimedia devices that can spruce up a presentation, the importance of public speaking cannot be denied. The reason is that the individual has to be persuasive in bringing forward his views. F. . .

Self Management And Rational Thinking

Recently, there have been great advancements in the field of self-management. Rational and authentic living is certainly the ultimate goal of self-management. Fortunately, we have all the endowments to live up to this goal, if we just discover ourselves, and seek to recover from the self-limiting beliefs and self-defeating behavior. The Author (2005) Suppo. . .

Rule Your Senses, Rules The World

How our senses are responsible for level concentration, peace of mind & flow of harmonized thoughts? How’s it beneficial for students & everyone ? How we can control, manage, enhance our power of senses & ratio of success.Yoga has different meanings in different perspective one of the divine & supreme meaning of yoga & essence of yoga is to “CONTROLING your SENSES” & “BALANCING” them. And here . . .

Smokin’ Up a Storm: Clothing, Smokers, and the Job Interview

You’re nervous. You’re so nervous that you crave a smoke. So you light up, and as you puff away, it feels so relaxing, right? Well, what’s good for your nerves is not so good to when you’re job hunting. What?! What does smoking have to do with job hunting? It has to do with the fact that if you-the job hunter-are a smoker, and your interviewer is a non-smoker, then your chances of getting hired. . .

Use Psychic Powers To Choose Winning Lottery Numbers

I am often asked by my friends how I managed to win the lottery, and the answer usually surprises them! My win, although not huge by modern standards, was achieved with very little effort, and almost no expense. The secret? Using the psychic powers we all have in order to predict the winning lotto numbers.The method is simple, and easy to use, and should work just as well for you as it worked f. . .

Top 10 Ways to Change Your Life by Changing Your Memes

Memes. funny word, big concept. Memes are essentially the building blocks for how we move through life. From “Where’s the beef” to “Nice guys finish last”, they are made up of ideas, behaviors, styles or usages that spread from person to person within a culture. They form the boundaries and limits we use to operate in the world. When we were infants, we soaked them up like a sponge and learned . . .

Immigrants – The True And Untold Story Of America

During economic and social uncertainty people feel the urge to find a scapegoat. So they blame their misfortunes on somebody, anybody, just so they don’t have to take personal responsibility and look in the mirror first. The fear of the unknown, which is inherent in human nature, eventually leads to the overwhelming and irrational urge to hate accompanied by the desire to destroy or get rid of . . .

The Keys to Martial Arts Life Mastery, Key #2: CHARACTER ...

In the philosophical teachings which form the foundation for the Ninja Warrior's lifeways, there is a principle known as the 'law of interdependence.' This so-called 'law' is not a must-do rule which one must follow, nor is it to be confused with dependence or co-dependence as it is seen today where one or more individuals who cannot or choose not to provide for themselves, lean on and 'depend'. . .

Who Is Randy Gage and Why Is He One of My Mentors and Her...

Who is Randy Gage? I first read about him in a newsletter by his friend, and another of my mentors and heroes, Stuart Goldsmith.At first he came across as a bit too much 'in-your-face' for my liking but, as he was challenging some of my long held beliefs, I came to realise that I was in a state of denial.I will always be grateful to him because, by forcing me to face up to reality, I made some . . .

Got Purpose?

Is your life on purpose? Does just the question stop you in your tracks? Have you been so caught up in the pace of our world that you've not even thought lately about whether or not your life is going in the right direction?Of course, living a life on purpose starts with knowing what your purpose is. Are you crystal clear about what the purpose of your life is? If you aren't sure, then you’ve j. . .

Decide

Where do you want to be in a year? In five years? In ten years? Is what you’re doing now -- the way you’re living, your friends, your habits, your focus -- Are all of these things moving you in the direction of your goals? How does it look?Are your habits the kinds of habits that the person you’re going to be in two years would have? Are your friends or associates, or whatever you call the peop. . .

Adversity Prescription...Inhale Faith Regularly

Being a social scientist, I have been trained to find comfort in numbers, although I am equally dependent upon faith. In research, if we set a certain standard and can measure whether an idea or a result exists, then we have a construct for at least a theory. In fact, we just might have the basis for a belief. Just last week, I gained further insight on this concept, when I took both my sons ou. . .

Wine, Wine, Wine

,pWhat in the world is up!Was there a full moon or something? As I went through this past week I was struck by what seemed to be the theme for the week. I came to the conclusion that there are some career whiners out there. I mean people whine about any and everything. Let me just float this out there... Whining is not going to fix a problem!Now God only knows I surely have my challenges, and d. . .

The Keys to Martial Arts Life Mastery, Key#1: The Power o...

"What do you want to be when you grow up?"Remember that question from your younger days? Adults seem almost programmed to ask it, don't they? Maybe you remember asking your own or another's child recently that same question. Remember?I do.And - do you remember any of your answers to that question? I know it probably changed many times throughout the process of "growing up" but can you remember . . .

You Gotta Be Positive!

The most uplifting, encouraging and energizing songs I’d ever heard. Don’t’ believe me? Well, here is the chorus: “You Gotta Be Bad, You Gotta Be Bold, You Gotta Be Wiser. You Gotta Be Hard, You Gotta Be Tough, You Gotta Be Stronger. You Gotta Be Cool, You Gotta Be Calm, You Gotta Stay Together. All I Know, All I Know, Love Will Save the Day.” Now, repeat that to yourself 10 times (or bet. . .

The Role of Zen in Martial Arts

In the ancient traditions of warriorship which found their way into Japan, we can find Buddhist influences and martial practices melding as if made for each other. This article focuses on the influence of Zen on the martial arts and presents a sample view of Zen Master Taisen Deshimaru who often wrote and spoke of Zen and the principles of bushido, "the way of the warrior," which grew,in part. . .

Acknowledging Emotions and Feelings

We’ll begin with a question:What is a moral?I'd say it's something you have an intense feeling or emotion about, generally so intense you would never cross its boundary.Agree?Have you ever crossed a moral boundary? It doesn’t feel good does it. But why? Morals are not a physical thing – i.e. They can't be touched, purchased or photographed. They are an emotion manifested in a feeling; they man. . .

Acknowledging the Existence of Your Soul

Talking about your “soul” and the deeper things in life is so frequently considered as spun out or weird in modern, take-away-eating, order-it-on-the-internet life, but if you are one of these people, you’ll find that letting go of socialistic trends like these will free you in a way that you simply cannot be freed in a materialists world.The end result is inner peace that no material possessio. . .

The Supreme Imperial Dragon

The supreme imperial dragon is a very positive feng shui item which provides help in different life aspects. Dragons are one of the most important icons for the oriental cultures and therefore this item contains this added value to its symbolism. A supreme imperial dragon is a very powerful Chinese and feng shui object which can add authority and control to the environment in which he is as wel. . .

The Gift of Listening

Give something different this Valentine's Day instead of chocolate or flowers. (Save the chocolate for me.) Give something precious and unique, something that only you can give. Something suitable for all ages and all relationships. Give the gift of listening. Really listening.How often do we sit down and listen to our loved ones? The vast majority of our conversations with others occur while w. . .

The Importance of Friendship

My studentsand clients have constantly heard me stress that our Martial Art is more than just a physical discipline; that it is a discipline that develops both the mind and body. This is so important that Soke Masaaki Hatsumi, the grand master of our lineages, has made it the primary thrust of just about every one of his books about Ninpo and Martial Arts in general.The presence of mind that y. . .

The Powers Of The Mother Of Pearl

Oriental and Chinese cultures as well as many occidental ones follow traditions based on the belief that some precious stones have important symbolisms and powers. The mother of pearl is one of them, and it is often used for feng shui practitioners in order to attract a benefit towards a strategic house point or to improve a specific life area.Some stones are believed to have the power of attra. . .

Invisible Slavery System

Invisible puzzles are mechanisms hidden inside products and services you use, and the social/political systems you interact with. They are invisible due to the use of manufactured perception and deniability-tactics. These puzzles are designed to harness everyone's efforts to silently maintain and operate an Invisible Slavery System...What would happen to the world economy if global problems lik. . .

You Are Not Your Stuff

We humans are a funny, funny breed. We spend our entire lives working and working and working to acquire ‘stuff’. We buy and surround ourselves with the biggest, fanciest this or that when all the while what we really need and want is something you can’t buy anywhere. The thing we all spend our time doing is looking to experience a feeling of significance. It seems most of our actions are roote. . .

Why Do You Want Money?

We all want more money, but have you ever stopped and asked yourself why you want it? Is it to buy the things that give you pleasure or maybe you want to provide better for your family? Whatever it is that you want to buy, whatever it is that you to do with the money, it can often be traced back to some more basic human need or want.So stop for a moment and answer the question: Why do you want . . .

Worldly Balance

Take a look around; do you think things are balanced in our world?Balance, now here is a topic that has been hounding me since the day I was born. An understanding of balance seems to be a very important idea when it comes to living a happy, 'balanced' life here on Earth. It has come to my attention that the Universe and everything within it is governed by the principle of evenness between posi. . .

What’s Important Now? Get the WINning Edge

"I thank God I live in a country where dreams can come true, where failure is sometimes the first step to success, and where success is only another form of failure if we forget where our priorities should be."- Harry LloydOver the past decade I have noticed an increase in the number of clients who report that they have ADD -- Attention Deficit Disorder. Although some have been officially diag. . .

SPIRITUALITY: The Bottom Line

Whadda ya know?Seriously. With absolute certainty, what do you know? Put aside all opinions, beliefs and theories for a moment and address this one straight question: What do you know for sure? Or, as Thoreau put it:"Let us settle ourselves, and work and wedge our feet downward through the mud and slush of opinion, and prejudice, and tradition, and delusion, and appearance, that alluvion which . . .

Life – The Teacher

You’ve probably heard the phrase "repetition is the mother of learning" well apparently it’s also the mother of teaching. Often it seems, Life – The Teacher uses the tool of repetition to imprint into our brains the lessons it’s needing to impart to us. At least this has been my experience.It has become clear to me that life gives the same tests over, and over and over again until we demonstrat. . .

A Call To Do Better

I’m calling you out. Issuing a Challenge. Relax, It's not to a dual or anything quite that complicated or dramatic.Here's what I'm thinking...The thought has occurred to me how much better the whole world would be if I, in my own way were able to be a better person myself and get 10 others to focus on themselves and do the same. What do I mean? Glad you asked. Listen up--There are reason’s and . . .

Higher Vibration Is Not Necessarily Better....

"Higher Vibration is not Necessarily Better or More Loving &How our Judgments have "Colored" our Experience."There is an underlying assumption, a prejudice, especially in spiritual circles, that higher vibration is automatically better, somehow closer to God, to Love. This is a fundamental misunderstanding that has caused problems and ripple effects throughout the universe and for the manifeste. . .

Addiction to Complaining

Complaining is a way of life for some people. It was certainly a way of life for my mother. I don’t remember a day going by without her complaining, endlessly. I don’t think I ever heard a word of gratitude out of my mother’s mouth. No matter how good things were, she would manage to find something wrong. No matter how perfect I was – and God knows I tried to be perfect! – she always found some. . .

Surrounded by Signs and Landmarks

Take a right. Bear left. Turn left. Straight. Left. Right. Left into the parking lot. I drive to the grocery store without even thinking about it. There are many places I drive to each day or week without giving it a second thought. Sometimes I don't even give it a first thought!But when someone asks me for directions, I have to stop and think. How do I get to the grocery store, my hair salon, . . .

Hold That Elevator!

As Prince, or whatever his name is now put it in one of his songs, "When Life’s elevator tries to bring you down go crazy, punch a higher floor!"Well..., This way to the next level!Kids for the past couple of weeks I’ve experienced one of those periods I both love and hate at the same time. Hate’em because they’re painful. Love’em because they’re great measuring sticks and opportunities to see . . .

Selfishness versus Self-Responsibility

One of the last things any of us want to be called is “selfish.” We often end up doing things we don’t want to do to avoid being seen as selfish. In my counseling work with people, I often hear the questions, “Aren’t I being selfish if I take care of myself instead of take care of everyone else? Am I being selfish if I do what I want instead of what someone else wants me to do?”The problem occu. . .

Life is The Way It Is!

To quote Virginia Satir: "Life is not the way it is supposed to be. It is the way it is. The way you cope with it is what makes the difference." How you cope with life is determined by your mental attitude. How you view any situation depends on your beliefs and your values. How you cope with challenges can strengthen or weaken you. Some people have faced numerous challenges in their lives, yet . . .

A Lasting Leadership Lesson: How One Leadership Talk By G...

Leadership lessons come in many guises. One unforgettable lesson comes from George Washington and his contribution to the most important victory of the Revolutionary War. That victory occurred neither at Saratoga or Yorktown but in a log hut in 1783 with a few heartfelt words that literally changed the world. And it's not just a history lesson, it's a leadership lesson -- for all leaders. . . .

Successfully Yours

How do you define success? Have you given it much thought? Does the definition vary according to what you are doing? Is the definition based on your own criteria or that of the people around you? I was faced with this question this week as I began promoting a series of virtual (over-the-phone, from-your-home) workshops based on my book GLOW: Renew Your Spirit & Release Your Inner Beauty. How wi. . .

Share This With Your Friends

Have you ever received an e-mail that promises you your dreams will come true within 7 days if you forward the story, poem, or prayer to ten people within the next five minutes? At one time I probably received three or four such notes a day. Now that number has dwindled to one or two per week... or perhaps I've just stopped reading and counting them.Today I received one from a new friend. The s. . .

Subtle Addictions

Many people are aware of the fact that addictions are used to avoid pain, and most of us are aware of the common addictions: food, alcohol, drugs, gambling, TV, spending, work, sex, rage and so on. Most people, however, are not aware of the more subtle addictions, the addictions that are often so covert and pervasive that they are as invisible to us as the air we breathe. Yet these addictions m. . .