Welcome to Michael's Article Collection

How You Can Unite Meditation, Divine Essence And Personal...

1. Meditation:Meditation is a sacred practice. Shamans, gurus, priests, medicine men and other wise beings have practiced meditation for over 5000 years. In the 20th century, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi popularized one form of meditation he named Transcendental Meditation, (TM). This is a simple form of mantra meditation, easy to learn and to do.We meditate by sitting quietly, eyes open, and concentr. . .

Top Ten Tips for Living Authentically

1. Know your purposeAre you wandering through life with little direction – hoping that you’ll find happiness, health and prosperity? Identify your life purpose or mission statement and you will have your own unique compass that will lead you to your truth north every time.2. Know your valuesWhat do you value most? Make a list of your top 5 values. Some examples are security, freedom, family, sp. . .

Coping as a Tool of Enchantment

Many of my readers write to me about the tensions of everyday life. Not only do people wonder how to relax, but people often ask, "How do I learn to better cope with what faces me? Can THE ENCHANTED SELF help with the overwhelming frenzy of everyday life? Can it help when I am really down or something really goes wrong?" Absolutely!In my newsletter, I often talk about the power of our positive . . .

Your Personal Treasure Chest

Sometimes it is helpful to review several of the basic components of THE ENCHANTED SELF. That's what I've decided to do this time. Discovering your ENCHANTED SELF is a new way for you to achieve better mental and physical health. It is based on research documenting that within each of us there resides the capacity for achieving states of well-being again and again.What makes THE ENCHANTED SELF . . .

Coming To Your Senses, Again and Again!

When we talk about the Enchanted Self we are referring to positive states of mind and body that are unique to each of us. We are also referring to the process by which we tap into our Enchanted Self. (The name I have given to this delightful, happy, elevated part of us that knows how to have fun, feel alive and be joyful.) One step in the process is learning how to heighten and how to return. . .

Magic Potions We All Need This Time of Year

As winter descends we begin to feel the chill of shorter days and less sunlight. For many of us, less hours of light combined with colder temperatures results in us feel less light emotionally. For some of us, who actually have SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) gloom really sets in. This gloom often has to be offset by either full spectrum lighting and/or various psychotropic medications.For . . .

Do You Make Less Money Than Your Taller Peers?

A recent study at the University of Florida found that over the span of their careers short people earn less money than their taller counterparts. In terms of cold hard cash, each extra inch in height equals roughly $800 difference in annual pay. So, essentially a person standing at 5 ft 8 inches tall will make about $9600 less annually than someone standing at 6 ft 8 inches tall. It's surprise. . .

Pioneering Insanity

“They’re crazy!” That’s what they’re saying about us. The majority of the people in America at this time in history do not channel spirits, do not converse with angels or aliens, do not astral project, do not know about any kind of higher vibration, and do not talk about Starseeds, Indigo Children, nor Lightworkers. They don’t know anything about ancient secrets being coded into crystals nor. . .

Quick! Throw Me A Line!

I was reminiscing with a friend recently about his ‘dark night of the soul’ that he’d just experienced. During his pain, he turned his back on God. Raised in a traditional Catholic family he found himself very angry at God and at the church during an especially ugly divorce and custody battle. As he’s coming back into himself, we’ve been talking and processing together through a lot of what . . .

Cheerleaders

This week’s article assumes that you have chosen a goal, dream, or task for yourself. You may or may not have started implementing your step by step plans yet. Are you a bit shaky in your faith though? Maybe you have a tendency to doubt your ability to carry this thing out to completion. You need a support system that will hold you up when the road gets rocky.Think about the people you know. . .

Things Are Good Because I Say They Are

The subject of positive self talk regarding our goals and dreams reminds me of the childhood story, The Velveteen Rabbit. The boy loves the toy so much that a magic fairy comes and turns the toy bunny into a real rabbit. She tells the bunny it has been loved so much that it has earned the right to be real. Wouldn’t it be great if all we had to do was to love our dreams and fantasies until a . . .

Five Tired, Worn Out Speaking Cliches

The subject of public speaking is riddled with tired, worn out cliches we ought to throw out. Here are a few to let go of:1. "Public speaking is the #1 fear." You can count on hearing this one any time you take a presentation skills class. The problem is, there's nothing to substantiate it. The quoted source for this "fact" is usually The Book of Lists, which, even in current editions, shows a . . .

Calendars and Personality Type

I recently conducted a survey to look at the relationship between an individual’s personality type and his or her organizing and time management style, and noticed that the majority of participants said they have a calendar system that works for them. As there are so many time management systems available, both paper-based and electronic, I thought it would be interesting to find out which cale. . .

The First Step

Today is an anniversary of sorts for me. Three years ago today, I publicly launched Tomorrow’s Edge after years of getting ready, talking about how I was someday going to do it, and researching everything but advertising! It was a huge first step in the middle of a bunch of first steps that I had taken up to that point. Naturally, it fell flat on it’s face because of my lack of education in . . .

The Shameful Secret of Illiteracy in America

The word is not just a sound or a written symbol. The word is a force; it is the power you have to express and communicate, to think, and thereby to create the events in your life.- Don Miguel RuizOne New Jersey woman, “Maria,” read at a third grade level. She held a job and fudged her way through everyday tasks without reading. When she would go to a restaurant, she would order what she knew w. . .

Breaking Even ... When is Enough, Enough?

I had the most interesting discussion today with a friend of mine. He and I were chatting about the economy, his job, families, and life in general. The one point that he kept raising was that of his "needing to do more" to pay the bills, be with his family, get promoted at work, fix the hot water heater, etc. It's always the "need to do more" to better accommodate more.I had to stop and thin. . .

Examination Strategies

1) Prepare a realistic time-table for your study preparation. Take into account that you may still have to go back for remedials and tests.2) Look at you examination time-table. Are there days that you may have sit for 2 papers? Strategise and be prepared.3) Check the marks allocation. Go through the different ways in which you can get distinctions. There could be some sections that you are con. . .

The A To Z I Beheld

I beheld the sky and its wonders and saw AstonishmentI beheld the earth and its flowers and saw BeautyI beheld the animals and beasts of the air, land and water and saw the hand of the CreatorI beheld the fullmoon and to me was it , like a blooming DaisyI beheld the rivers and saw its EffusionI beheld the star that led the East and saw the FirmamentI beheld the sun and saw the GloryI beheld th. . .

Greed and Selfishness ... Knowing The Difference And Lovi...

I hear many people discuss how selfishness leads to greed, or that being greedy is part of being selfish. I simply have to say that "greed" and "selfishness" are not the same things. These are "value words" and are based on ideas and information drilled into our heads when we were younger as something known as "basic morals."As you grow and change, you find that these value words don't seem t. . .

How I Get Joy as a Value

*In the last couple of months, I have been fortunate to be able to share the troubles of others. Why fortunate? I believe that the ability to be very close to the pain and fears of others has allowed me to realize how utterly fantastic my life is. *As with many of us, I am always able to find something that might not be going just as I would like, something I wish to be better, or different, o. . .

Three Inspirations for Happiness

The following three inspirations were adapted from A Daily Dose of Happiness, and they represent three key ways to increase our happiness.1. FORGIVING FOR HAPPINESSWe like to think we are better than our friends below us in the food chain, such as the octopus and the snail. After all, we have love. We feel happiness. We have empathy. We have a conscience. We can reason.We can also hold ont. . .

The Family

Direct Answers - Column for the week of January 19, 2004I grew up in a very abusive family. Physical, mental, and emotional abuse were the norm. My father was the most abusive, but my mother echoed his sentiments and couldn't see why we were unhappy with what he was doing to us. Add to this sexual abuse suffered at the day care center they dumped me at, and I was hurt, confused, and losing m. . .

Adversity to Victory

The following is a true story about a young friend who lives in St. Louis...Andy was born with a developmental disorder. The two sides of his brain were not joined normally with each other. The right side of his body could not communicate with the left. At age three, it was difficult for him to walk, speak, and play. He could only echo back a few words, and walk slowly while someone held each o. . .

No Happiness Without Patience

I'm searching for modern happiness. The old-fashioned kind takes just too long. That happiness requires patience and I don't want to wait. I want upgraded happiness. I want release 4.02, the "new and improved" version.This is the 21st century and I demand instant gratification.Once upon a time, you had to wait to eat your meal. Even when the Mammoth Burger walk-through was open, they offer. . .

Attitude Adjustment 101: Nine Ways to Transform You From ...

“Work on your career and you’ll make a living. Work on yourself and you’ll make a fortune.” - Jim RohnRegardless of the number of college credits or degrees you have, the truth is that much of your success is determined by your attitude. Education is worthwhile but a good attitude is priceless. If you search for a college that has a concentration of study entitled “Attitude,” you will come up e. . .

Finding Your Inner Flame: Finding Passion Series - 3 of 3

Why is it that some goals have a fire and a passion behind them that creates an almost self-propelled drive towards completion, while other goals are left dead in the water before they've hardly even begun? What causes that level of motivation to manifest itself? Can we harness it? Can we predict when and where it will hit? The answers lie in finding out if the person setting the goal is in tou. . .

Discover Your Purpose In Life

Everyone has a life purpose; a unique and special something each of us is supposed to do in LIFE. A life purpose is not a specific job or career, it is much deeper and much more fulfilling. Now, you can uncover your own life purpose. You can do it the easy, fast, modern way, using a modestly priced online program, or you can uncover your own life purpose using the more difficult (but free) old-. . .

Drawing On Creativity: How To Trick Your Brain

Can you draw? Your answer to that question reveals a surprising amount about your brain and the way you integrate your right and left hemispheres. (In this article, the left side will be referred to as the dominant one, which is by far the most likely scenario.) You see, the left side of the brain excels at verbal, analytical, rational and logical tasks. It's the dominant half. It takes over mo. . .

The Lies We Live By

How many times have you lied to get your way ? Many cameras today focus automatically on things both far and near. You are inclined to be like that. See, almost everything that you view "in focus" that is important, desirable and with some thinking is within your reach. What are principles ? A principle is defined as a general or fundamental truth: a comprehensive and fundamental law, doctrine,. . .

The Most Powerful Persuasion Skill You'll Ever Learn

Criteria ElicitationThis is without a doubt the most important persuasion skill that you can learn. If you’ll learn to apply this to every situation in which you find yourself you’ll be amazed at the positive results! Many of the hypnotic skills I’ll be sharing with you have a parallel in old sales training techniques. This one is no exception! Lets say that you are needing to convince someone . . .

Finding Direction: Finding Passion Series - 2 of 3

In order to find the right direction for ourselves, we have to do some soul searching. What is it I want to accomplish? Why? What kind of person do I want to become? Is it so weird to be in our thirties or forties and ask ourselves, "So, what do I want to be when I grow up?" What would make us jump out of bed excited and motivated to get the day started? Before getting into these big questions,. . .

Finding Yourself: Finding Passion Series - 1 of 3

We have been told that the things we don't like in our children are the same things we don't like in ourselves. We are told that we project our own flaws and issues onto our perceived enemies in an attempt to work them out within ourselves. We stereotype people according to who they hang out with. Birds of a feather flock together. We're attracted to people like ourselves, with the same flaws. . . .

Becoming Excellent: Outsmarting Racism

Thinkers know better than to be racist. It's generally understood that racists are, well, not thinkers. It's not that racists are necessarily stupid--it's that they are ignorant. We like to think that racists are choosing to hang on to their bias because they don't know any better. Those of us who are educated--or who think--can overcome any bias through information and intention. Right?Tell th. . .

Overcoming Seductive Sadness

Unhappy moods can be like comfortable sweaters, those old ones: familiar, worn and with the right kind of smell. When we're in a sad place, or actually with any dissatisfied feelings, we want that comfy sweater. We actually can feel really safe wearing it. It's dark and cozy. Choosing to feel the full feeling of those emotions are powerful. In some way wrapping that sweater tight, we are po. . .

Going Seamless: Dissolving the Brain Divide

Are you a right-brainer or a left-brainer? The greatest thinkers are at a loss when it comes to answering that question. Just as we admire athletes who are able to hit a tennis ball or throw a javelin with either arm, we should emulate thinkers who engage fully in all kinds of activities without regard to whether or not it suits their specified brain orientation. Labeling yourself as a certai. . .

Five Surprisingly Hip Politicial Ideas From Plato

Don't you love politics? Me, neither. But I do like thinking about politics. And wouldn't you know it? Just when you think you've come up with a dazzling opinion, you find out someone else had that same idea hundreds of years ago. So much for being original. Still, it's delightful to discover that you share opinions with great thinkers. Political pundits have a fabulous time skewering pol. . .

Free Will To The Rescue

Today's society and your private world are the results of free will. We have arrived here today through intention, ignorance or abuse. Some people understand and use free will daily. Some people completely deny it. And other people simply mock it and complain it "doesn't work." Free will gives you the power of choice. You always have a choice. You can choose the same behavior or path you usuall. . .

Give Your Attitude A Little Altitude

Need a way to make your life a better place to live?Life is our perception of what it is, not necessarily the reality of what it is.Let's see if I can explain that. Life can sometimes be great, and at other times, not so great. It all depends on how we are feeling at the time. If we feel good, life is good. If we feel bad, life is a bummer.The reality is life hasn't changed at all, only our att. . .

Stay Inspired

Two years ago I was in a wheelchair and told I would be paralyzed for life. Today I can jog on a treadmill. How did this happen?Well, I can’t tell you how it happened exactly. My recovery truly was a miracle. But what I can tell you is how important it was for me to stay focused and inspired throughout my recovery.People tell me my story has inspired them. Let me tell you how to find this. . .

The Rate of Change

There have been many discussions and grumblings in the Western world about the ever increasing pace of change and the ability of the brain to accept it. The Internet (something uninteresting that the American Military was developing) suddenly became a required household feature. Digital Mobile Phones suddenly give new meaning to taking photographs and all those gimmicks from James Bond Movies h. . .

Top Ten Ways to Achieve Your Goals

1) Write them down! Statistics show people who write down their goals have over an 80% higher success rate of achieving them. Start a Goals journal. Make sure they are SMART goals- specific, measurable, achievable, results-oriented and time-limited.2) Create a plan made of small doable steps to get you where you want to be, with timelines. Review your plan monthly. 3) Write down your compellin. . .

Simplifying Simple

I have a 440-page guide on how to simplify my life, but I haven't found the time to read it. Like you perhaps, my once-quiet world now clatters with the joy of a large family. Amid the din, I've had to simplify my quest for the simple. The advent of a simpler life can be launched with a concept so simple it takes only a few words, yet its implications and manifestations have given birth to enti. . .

A Bad Hairdresser Day

"Hey everybody!" Hairdresser Lady called out. "It's The Happy Guy.""Don't try buttering me up, Hairdresser Lady," I warned. "It's not going to work.""What's not going to work?" she demanded."You can't cover up your gross incompetence with a 'Hey everybody' cheer.""Gross incompetence?" "That's right. Just look at my head. Go ahead, take a real close look.""Why, it's a family of sparrows. Wh. . .

Unguided Men

Humanity - the sole endeavor of sanctity in every man, the moribund symphony serenading in all perceptions, the extinct deference suggestive of life—humanity. Something already sold to that trait of the individual defined as war. War is never introduced but is in the presence of man as in birth, it is left to man to either seek its vice or pertain himself to the fountainhead of life – humanity. . .

Seven Steps To Change Your Life

The quality of your life is directly related to your standards.  A standard is a personal rule or expectation about the level of excellence you require in something, and when you raise your standards you change your life.In my work as a professional coach, I've found that most people haven't taken time to define their standards.  Invariably, they've inherited rules from others, leadin. . .

Conspiracy of Silence

Direct Answers - Column for the week of January 12, 2004I'm hoping you can help me with a moral problem that crops up every now and then in my personal and professional life. Sometimes I find myself being blamed for an error or lack of judgment that actually occurred on someone else's part. For example, I asked someone at work about using a certain location for a display, was given the go-ahe. . .

The S.W.P.D. Recipe for Success

A wonderful quote by author and scholar William A. Ward relates a time-tested recipe for success. Think of it as the S.W.P.D. success recipe. This simple and powerful formula has brought success to many men and women who have put it to use. S.W.P.D stands for studying, working, preparing, and dreaming."Recipe for success: Study while others are sleeping; work while others are loafing; prepare w. . .

Constructive Tips About Retrenchment

This article provides constructive tips about facing retrenchment and moving on with new career opportunities.1) Don’t take it personally. Your retrenchment should not lower your self-esteem. You have to pick up your confidence as your family needs your financial contribution. A job does not define the true worth of a person. 2) Find out more about the industry. Do some research and learn about. . .

Resolutions? Try this!

Several articles and newsletters with the message that New Year’s resolutions are a worthless exercise and a poorly disguised setup for failure have passed across my desk this last week, and the year before, and the year before that. I do not believe in failure! There is always something good to be found in any learning experience. Besides, if we always succeeded at everything we did, we would . . .

Encouraging Blossoms of Achievement

The tiny dogwood sapling was only a twig when my mother planted it years ago. At age four, with a red wagon and bucket, I was happy to carry water to anything that grew, even to the full grown, flowering apple trees in my grandfather's orchard.Thrilled with the promise of a flowering dogwood, I happily nourished the new sapling with both water and anticipation. Yet weeks later, to my naive impa. . .