Your own responsibility.  No matter what you think, when it all boils down to it that is the absolute truth.  Your happiness is your own responsibility.

Most people look outside themselves for happiness, when in all actuality, real true happiness always comes from within.  It’s a decision we make.  We decide whether to be happy or not.

We look to our spouses, boyfriends, girlfriends, mother, father, son, daughter, friend, etc., to make us happy.  But it is YOU that makes you happy, not someone else.  You make the choice to be happy or not.

However, most people don’t think they have a choice in the matter.  This or that happens and our tendency is to react in a pre-programmed way.  We look at the situation and then our mind goes back over how we’ve reacted to similar situations in the past, then spits out the appropriate reaction.  And this all takes place in the matter of a few milliseconds.  That’s what makes it difficult when we first decide to make a conscious decision as to whether we are going to be happy or not.

But in order for us to take back control of ourselves we must work to catch these automated responses and change them to the desired response that we want to experience.

Our brains are like super computers and there are connections running all through it.  These are actual physical connections in our brains that are the result of all the input we’ve received since birth.  And they constitute habitual ways of thinking.

When we think negatively about ourselves, we are always following a preprogrammed mental pathway that leads to nothing more than more negative thinking.

We think we’re not good enough, or we think that we can’t do something or other, or we think that someone disapproves of us.  I could go on and on and list numerous negative thoughts, but I’m sure your own mind can easily come up with a long list itself.

So where do these negative thoughts that make us unhappy come from? Everywhere. They come from out parents, teachers, brothers, sisters, and anyone else we have interacted with up to this point in our lives.  We are constantly bombarded with negativity and limiting thoughts and beliefs, from the morning gossip at the local restaurant, to our own dinner tables.  Negativity is everywhere and it is so easy to get caught up in.  One great source of negativity is the mass media.  Just turn on the evening news and see how much negativity comes at you.

Fortunately for us there are many different outlets to experience the positive side of life.  Many people go to church, others choose the more esoteric path of spirituality, while others choose to surround themselves with positive people, such as close friends or even family members.

There are all kinds of ways for you to have positive experiences that will ultimately lead to your own deep inner happiness.  The kind of happiness that you see radiating from some people.  The kind that is infectious and breeds more and more happiness.  That true, soulful happiness that comes from deep within you.

Make the choice to be happy today no matter what happens and see how things work out for you.  You’ll be surprised at what transpires.

Now after reading the title of this article, you might wonder about my sanity.  You might be saying to yourself, “Yeah right, I am already abundant.  So where’s it at?”

Well, the short answer is, right in front of you.

That’s right, your abundance stares you in the face, each and every day, but if you are like most people, they never even see it.

You see, if you live in pretty much ANY industrialized nation, you have so much abundance at your fingertips already that to some people it would seem outrageous for you to claim otherwise.

It’s all in your perspective though – and by the time you’ve finished reading this, I hope that perspective has at least started to change.

Let me tell you about people in Bangladesh.  I’m sure you wondering, “What has Bangladesh got to do with Abundance?”  Just read on and you will soon see.

First off, according to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, as of July 2008 the average income is $589.  That’s the average annual income.

How many of us in the developed world could even think about living on $589 a year?

One rickshaw driver was quoted about his income and he stated that he makes about 6,000 taka a month.  Just so you know, that’s about $86, which means his annual income would be just $1,032.

How many of you would be able to even think of living on $1,032 a year, much less actually do it?

Could you live on $1,032 a year?  I guess I could, although I would imagine that I would only be able to do so if I moved to the woods somewhere and set up camp, but really, even that could be considered a luxury to the people of Bangladesh.

The thing is, this rickshaw driver is living above the average for Bangladesh, so he would probably be seen as doing very well for himself. Good for him.

But seriously, think about it for a minute, what all do you have around you already?  How did you acquire all this stuff? I’m sure it didn’t just magically appear out of nowhere, you had to go out and get it.

Now, here’s where it gets good.  If you weren’t already abundant to begin with, you wouldn’t have been able to go out and get any of that stuff! Zip, nada, nothing is what you would have if you weren’t already abundant.

One of the best things to help you see your own abundance is to do something that we’ve heard people say many times before, and that is “count your blessings.”

That’s right, daily examine your life and take stock of all that you do have already.
•    Are you healthy?
•    Do you have a source of income?
•    Do you have a home?
•    Do you have a spouse or significant other?
•    Did you see the sun shining this morning?

I could go on and on asking you a bunch of questions, but really, you need to be asking yourself these things already.  And daily at that!

One thing I recommend to my clients is to keep a Gratitude Journal.  In this they write 5 things each day that they are grateful for, and they can’t be the same thing as yesterday’s list either.  As a matter of fact, I tell my clients not to repeat anything on their daily lists for two weeks.  Also, they can’t just make a list and that be the end of it.  Nope, there’s more that I ask them to do.  I ask them to write 2 or 3 short paragraphs on why they are grateful for that specific thing.

See, I ask them to actually sit and think about being grateful for everything on their “list.”

As you count your blessings every day in your Gratitude Journal, always express true, heartfelt gratitude for each and every thing, person, pet, whatever, you have in your life and soon you will begin to see that you have true abundance… right now.

Gary L. Glasscock is a Master Certified Life Coach and a Master Spirit Life Coach and has helped people from around the world see their true abundance and live happier, more fulfilled lives. To find out about his “Dare To Dream” Group Coaching Program go to www.ManifestingYourLife.com/dtd.html

by Rosanna E. Tufts

Whenever you are looking to manifest anything, it may help you to ask yourself, “who am I really doing this FOR?” Who is the “end user” of the thing you want to manifest?

A case in point is the first full-length musical I ever composed in 1997, “According To Us,” which I wrote in collaboration with Charles Butler. He wrote the book and lyrics, and “thunk up” the melodies, while I took his musical ideas and fleshed them out into full orchestrations. It’s the story of three homeless people who’ve been willed the garden of a church by its Rector, and they each tell of how the Rector rehabilitated them and gave them a sense of direction.

Since Charles is the son of a minister, he knows firsthand the kind of people that he turned into these characters for the show. And at first he thought the show would make a good “chancel drama,” as a fundraiser for homeless ministries..

But despite the obvious merits of the show, both musically and narratively, it wasn’t “pulling.” We kept putting on the show in church fellowship halls, to extremely meager attendance. And I knew that the challenging music wasn’t being done justice by the amateurs he was recruiting. Playing the Rector, I was routinely the most professional person in the cast – and a performer is only as good as his/her co-stars. But, as Charles was so often “poor as a church mouse,” having to put this thing on with a shoestring budget, he didn’t think he had the wherewithal to make it a professional production, with FOUR equally strong leads!

We had a bit of a falling-out over this. With my musical theatre experience, I also came to the conclusion that we were playing the show in the wrong places, for the wrong people. “Churches don’t know how to promote musical theatre,” I pointed out. “That’s not their job. It’s no wonder that hardly anybody from the congregations are even showing up. You need to get this show picked up by a legitimate theater, with its own marketing department, that can promote the thing PROPERLY!” I challenged him to do this, and “THEN come back and talk to me!”

A year later, he saw me actually “put my money where my mouth was,” mounting a professional production of my own show, “The Passion of Persephone,” at a theatre festival – and did it with an even more challenging score and a larger cast. And he knew I was serious. If he wanted to keep me, he was going to have to step up, and go beyond what he thought he could do.

Over the next year, he DID IT. He found a local community theatre with an open weekend, and he booked the show into that time slot. He recruited several players from the “Persephone” cast, expanded the show to include four more supporting players, and actually devised a proper set and lighting cues. Even better, sponsor-funding materialized to cover the set design, and one of the performances was recorded for airing on a local public-access cable channel. Best of all, we actually decent audiences! For five performances in a row!

On closing night, he was astonished at himself. I congratulated him, saying, “Now you can’t go back. Now that you know you CAN pull it off, you won’t ever be able to settle for anything less..” And he realized that I was right, both about this and about WHERE the show should be played, and for whom.

As Manifestations go, this one was pretty good. And I’m pleased to know that I was the “Catalytic Converter” that lit the fire under him.

So: Whether you think you can, or whether you think you can’t, either way you’re right.

And: If you believe in yourself, other people will believe in you too.

Rosanna E. Tufts is the author of “Don’t Start a Business without ME!”, available at www.DontStartABusinessWithoutMe.com. Excerpts from her rock opera, “The Passion of Persephone,” can be seen and heard at www.myspace.com/passionofpersephonerockopera. To hear more from her and ask her questions LIVE on the air, tune in on Wednesday, June 3, at 7 pm!

As we go through life, sometimes things get us down and we lose our motivation to keep going after our dreams.  This is a natural phenomenon though and is explained by the Univeral Metaphysical Law of Cycles.

But still, what can we do to get out of that funk and get back to being motivated and regain the confidence we once had?

To boost your confidence, here’s a list of the top 10 power words and tips to keep you motivated and passionate, no matter what life throws your way:

1. Purpose. Whenever you’re feeling discouraged or disappointed, always remember your original purpose. Reminding yourself of the original reason for venturing down your path in the first place will help refresh your mind when things go awry.
   
   
2. Planning. Though you may think that you’ve done enough planning towards the fulfillment of your goal, thinking it through again will help eliminate aspects of your plan of action that may be causing you setbacks. Put all your thoughts down on paper, from the smallest details to the larger movements.
   
   

· Being able to see the timeline of your mission will help you focus on taking one step at a time to reach your goals.

1. Acceptance. Accepting that you’re a human being who’s bound to have ups and downs is absolutely crucial to your success. Without this self-acceptance, you’ll be subject to a foggy mind that’s unable to think positively, clearly, and innovatively.
   
   

· Acceptance of what hasn’t worked in the past helps you gain a better knowledge of what will work in the future.

1. Reward. When your motivation starts to wean, it’s crucial to give yourself rewards along the way. This is one of the best ways to stay motivated on your path to success.
   
   

By giving yourself a taste of what you’re working for – whether it’s financial freedom, career responsibility, or your dream lifestyle – you won’t feel like you’re working so hard for nothing. This refreshes your mind and helps you work more productively.

1. Health. You know what this entails: moderate exercise, a healthy diet, and 7-8 hours of sleep per night. Feeling worn-down will make it almost impossible to pursue your goals and vision with the same clarity and vigor you had when you first set out.
   
   

· Take care of your basic needs first, and you’ll be strong enough to pursue your dreams.

1. Motivation. Research motivational books, CDs, and seminars. Sometimes hearing motivational tips from a different perspective can greatly motivate you to act and succeed.
   
   

· Find a source or two that touches you in some way and keep them close for those moments when you feel discouraged. After all, we all get discouraged at one time or another.

1. Organization. Ever feel depressed and worn out, and then you clean your surroundings and instantly feel more focused and motivated? The same applies to your goal. Organize and clean house when it comes to the operation of your goal.
   
   

· Organizing yourself gives you a fresh start and a feeling of clarity. In doing so, you’ll be able to attack your short and long-term goals more vigorously and effectively.

1. Refresh. Refresh your plan with something new. It could be a different tactic, setting, or career. Whatever it is, break out of the pattern you’re in and try something new. Even if this new tactic doesn’t yield positive results immediately, at the very least it will make you aware of the availability of your options.
   
   
2. Networking. Reach out to people in your industry or those who share your life goal. You can do this a number of ways: check out local clubs, find a plethora people online, or talk to existing contacts that may have already succeeded in your goal.
   
   

· Having someone to voice your struggles, questions, and experience to will invigorate you to keep moving forward.

1. Action. Taking action, despite doubts and setbacks, will further your progress. By moving on, despite any pessimistic thoughts, you will motivate yourself by the sheer momentum of doing something proactive to change your circumstances.
   
   

Whenever you feel like your progress has stalled, or you simply want some quick inspiration, look to these 10 powerful words and strategies to spur you on. You’re sure to find something to get you back on track toward success!

To Your Continued Success!

Gary

Do you have the ability to accept the things you can change and the things you cannot change? Do you have the ability to accept that other people are apt to change them, rather than you changing them? Do you accept that you are who you are, regardless of what others think? Can you accept the many changes that take place in your life?

If you answered yes to one or all of these questions then you are off to the start of improving your personal life. If you are willing to accept, you have the ability to laugh, even when something is not funny. For instance, if someone pushed you, you could stand back and laugh. The push is only a threat to your emotion, which you will see, accept and find a way to gain control of the situation.

When you can accept things in life, including you and others you find a way to take control. When you are in control, it helps you to see how you can improve your personal life. When you learn to accept you will learn to discover you.

Individuality is personal, which philosophers over generalize this subject. Many people in the world believe that when we act the same way at all times, we have established our identity. Politically incorrect! We have emotions, thoughts, behaviors, actions, and have been plagued by a world of influences both good and bad. Each day we will feel something new, which causes our personality to reflect on these changes. Therefore, when you see someone laughing one minute and crying the next, you are seeing a shift in emotions, which is a normal pattern of identity for this person. Unless the person’s eyes change, behaviors change dramatically, friends change regularly, etc, and you are seeing common behaviors.

We live in a world that desensitizes us. We are surrounded by billions of influences on television, in the media, on radio, in households, government, schools and so forth. Each to their own, but everyone is judging someone at some time, which is something we have to accept. We cannot change these people’s behaviors and way of thinking, but we can change ours. This is a part of learning and accepting. The best way around the world is become your own influence and allow other influences to make someone else’s life miserable. Only rely on sources that prove truthful with their actions, behaviors and words. Positive reflections are the key to living happier.

Once you learn to accept you will be eager to laugh. For instance, if someone makes you mad you will see the humor in his or her actions. You may see the humor in your actions if you make a mistake and feed into their stupidity.

Once you start to see the humor in life, you will feel better inside. We are involved in an unruly world filled with greedy people, envious souls, lusty tigers, and so on. We have to learn how to work around these people, accept us and move on. Once you learn to change to better you, other people may follow. Good conduct has proven far more effective than words to encourage others to change.

As you grow you will feel a new hunger, and that hunger will guide you to discover new ways to better you. In time as you start to feel better, you will see a need to exercise, eat right, and hang out with positive influences and so on. Once you feel this hunger, you will feel inspired to labor to achieve your goals.

If you’d like to get working on removing the blocks that have been holding you back from attaining your desires (possibly for a LOOOOOONG time), go to <a href=”http://www.ManifestingYourLife.com/free50.html”>Manifesting Your Life</a> and complete the form you find there.