~ For Success, Use With-Legs Words ~

    I had spent fifteen minutes explaining to my ninety-year old friend, Mary Lou Clarke, the importance of avoiding the words ~ hope and try.
     She thought for a time, then said slowly, "Oh, I see, the words do not have any legs under them."
     "Legs?" I questioned.
     "Without legs," she replied, "they can not move."
     A truly wonderful and accurate explanation!
     Such words as dream, hope, if, maybe, perhaps, pray, try and wonder are No-Legs words.
     I overheard an excellent example in a store.  One woman said to another, "If my husband ever makes any money, maybe, someday, perhaps, we could ~ ."  Her complaining affirmations can only delay, if not stop, the wished for project.
     Plan the project, do not wait for the money (or whatever is needed) to come before detailing the venture.  A famous quote, "Step out in faith, knowing that that for which you affirm will become so."  Stepping out in faith, proclaiming it, knowing with a certainty that it will become so ~ makes it become so ~ if, of course, it is for the highest good of all concerned.
     Are you one of those people who say, "I've been sort of dreaming about someday maybe going to a Caribbean Island during the winter sometime."  Focus, direct your attention to the project.  Look at a calendar, decide on feasible dates.  Read books about the subject, write your itinerary, make a list of the clothes and things that you will take with you and purchase something to be used only for the trip.  Be exact in your affirmations.  For example, "Next February 3rd. I will be flying to Barbados for an enjoyable two-week vacation."  Purchase a manila envelope, then on both sides write the trip destination in bold black letters.  Devise a system to get money into the envelope.  For example, every time you get change that includes three five dollar bills, put one into the trip envelope saying firmly with conviction, "This is for my trip to Barbados next February."  Avoid saying No-Legs sentences such as, "This will never be enough."
~ For it is the intent that brings about reality.
     I heard about a woman, Helen, who suddenly began to have increasingly strong feelings that she should go to Egypt, although she had never traveled or ever been especially interested in doing so.  She was a single mother on a tight budget, even so, she purchased a large map of Egypt and laid it out on the dining room table.  She and her two sons began to read and to focus on Egypt.  One of the children did a school project on Egypt.  Helen started saying regularly to herself and others, "I don't know how I'm going to get to Egypt, but I will get there."  The children told many, "Mom's going to Egypt."
     Several months later, about a week and a half before a school vacation, she received a telephone call from a history teacher in another town.  Helen was told that a group of students was going on a trip to Egypt for two weeks and that one of the chaperons had just notified them that she was unable to go.  They were frantically looking for a replacement, but everyone they had telephoned had other plans.  Was there any chance that she would like to go to Egypt?  Someone had told him that Helen was good with children.  The caller proceeded to tell Helen that there would be no expense to her, only what she might want to use for stray meals or to purchase gifts.
     While she was recovering from this amazing news, a friend telephoned to tell Helen that during school vacation, she, her husband and their son were going to their vacation house and to invite Helen's two sons to go with them.  When told of the trip, the friend said that they would be glad to keep the boys another week.
     Helen worked in a school office so she already had one week of vacation and knew that she should be able to get another week.  Then her neighbor came over and asked if she could borrow Helen's cat for a few days while her granddaughter was visiting.  Suddenly, within an hour's time, Helen was going to Egypt and everything was arranged!  ~ And ~ none of those people knew of Helen's Egyptian Affirmations.
     Some With-Legs Words are: absolutely, can, definitely and will.
     One more wonderful quote from my friend, Mary Lou Clarke, who is always so interested in hearing about my many and varied projects.  "You have feet under your dreams."

Make certain that the words, phrases and sentences that you say

are not the sitting or lying down variety

but are rather the type With-Legs (and/or feet)

and that they move. 

Do You Honor Yourself?

     The word ~ Honor ~ may seem an old fashioned word and concept ~ ~ 18th century men engaged in a duel with swords or pistols willing to face death in order to defend their honor.

     "But what, you may be asking, "does that have to do with me in this modern age?"

     There is no time limit on Honor, it is ageless.

     Another word for the concept of honoring one's self is ~ Respect ~.  There are two parts
          1 ~ Insist on Respect from others.
          2 ~ Insist that you Respect yourself.

     Friend Ruth and I met for supper, then attended an opening night production of a local Little Theater Group.

     When the curtain opened, an actor walked across the stage speaking such foul, vulgar words that the entire audience gasped in shock.  As the play progressed, all the actors spoke in that manner.

     After less than ten minutes, I told Ruth rather more loudly than expected, ~ "I am leaving, I will not allow anyone to dishonor me as they are doing."

     Ruth said she would stay as she did not want to hurt the actors feelings by leaving.

     I told her that they had no feeling or they would not have disrespected themselves in this way.

     As I neared the door, I was surprised to see that the cashier had come out from behind her table and handed me cash, the amount of the ticket; as she did so, she said "I am glad to give this back, I told them not to waste time on such filth even if the new director wanted it.  And I'm resigning, I don't want to even be near people who talk like that."

     I waited until I was outside to stop to put on my coat, as I was doing so, people began to come out the door, each of whom stopped to thank me for making them aware of the Honoring One's Self concept.

     Ruth telephoned me the next day to say that she had stayed until intermission, then she had waited near the door to see if anyone else would leave, and everyone had except for three people sitting together at the front

     Why had they stay?  In doing so, they were dishonoring themselves.

     Dishonoring one's self could be going to a party and drinking too much, excusing doing so by saying to yourself, "I don't want to hurt my host's feelings by not taking a refill when he keeps coming around and offering.  You could say to yourself or out loud, "I could do that, but it would be dishonoring myself to do so."

Make certain to

make Respect for yourself

a major part of your life.

Click. . .Click, I Do Not Know What That Is?

     That statement almost guarantees that the source of the sound will never be known because a negative "do not know" was initially stated.

     The words "do not know" are door-closers to the mind, leaving no space for the truth to be discovered.

     All such words are an insult to the speaker for proclaiming failure before even trying.

     A simple "What is that?" or better yet "What is the source of or reason for that sound?" triggers the mind to go into its private detective mode.

     Detectives ask many questions both inwardly and outwardly of others to discern the truth.

     When an unwelcome situation appears in your life, do you lament, "Oh no! I don't know what to do?"

     Now look what you have done to your Mind Detective! Not just once, but twice, a double negative ~ "no" and "don't"; two major mind-blockers to finding the correct and best solution.

     Now you know when the next Life Question arrives to firmly state ~ "What is the best way to resolve this situation?"

     Between those times, regularly compliment your mind ~

"I know with certainty

that my inner clever detective

will bring forth the proper questions

that will result in the needed answers"  

Joan Eastman-Bennett

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Only Jumping I Do Is For Joy

     There is a monkey, a squirrel and a rat racing up to the top of a coconut tree, which one do you think will get to the bananas first?

     Of the many people asked this question, 98% answered incorrectly, by saying that it was the monkey.  How did you respond?  If you also guessed ~ the monkey ~ reread this blog's title and the question.

     Or did you join me in the 11/2 %, who immediately knew that the question was not valid because bananas do not grow on coconut trees.  The remaining 1/2% of people said one of the other animals.

     Those animal people (not you, of course) jumped to a conclusion before listening to the end.

     One astute woman said, after she learned the correct answer, "I believe that I and all the other people who said the monkey were unconsciously connecting monkeys and bananas.  This is a good illustration of the role that our unconscious mind influences our decision making."  Indeed a wise woman.  Thank you bank teller Kate.

     Many of those 98% people often wonder why their lives take so many unexpected turns, rarely realizing that they had acted or reacted to information that they had not listened or read to the end; they had impatiently jumped to a conclusion before the conclusion.

     Then there are the people who when in conversation with you, rarely allow you to complete even a sentence without interrupting, saying when you complain, "That's all right, I know what you are going to say," then proceed to right angle turn the intent of your thought.

     There is a famous Pennsylvania Dutch (originally "deutsch" German for the word meaning german) sentence, using that language's sentence structure ~ "He threw his mother from the train, ~ ~ the jumpers would have had ~ him ~ arrested and jailed without waiting to learn the whole sentence ~

     "He threw his mother from the train, a kiss."

Get your life's "Kisses"

by avoiding

any conclusion jumping.

Is Your Underwear Harming Your Body?

     This is an important question for both women and men.

     Through many years, the people on South Pacific Islands wore only a wrap-around covering on their lower bodies.

     Europeans learned of this mode of dressing primarily through the paintings of the French painter Paul Gauguin.

     The paintings came to the attention of various Christian clergy, who were horrified at the shameful immodesty of the bare-breasted women; so missionaries were sent forth to convert the people they considered obviously heathen' to the Christian way of religious thinking.

     These Victorian virgins persuaded the converted Christians to cover their breasts with clothing.

     In addition, converts were not to engage in any of the many nifty, enjoyable ways to have sexual intercourse.  The only allowed way was with the woman on her back and the man on top of her, which is why this position has been termed by many people through the years as the missionary position.

     The British started towns along the coast and soon trained, then employed, the "native" women to work for them, thus requiring them to wear European heavy, tight clothes.

     It was an astute British doctor (name unknown) on one of the islands, who made a major medical discovery after observing women with breast cancer, British women and the "native" women both the workers in town and those who did not work.  There had never been any breast cancer among the "native" women, but the rate for the other workers was the same as the British women.

     The wise doctor concluded that the difference was that the women who wore the breast-restrictors were the ones getting breast cancer.  The tightness restricted the necessary circulation in the breasts; but fashion and custom prevailed and the bras became even tighter and breast cancer rates have risen. 

     In these modern times, it is Dr. Oz who repeatedly speaks about the dangers of tight bras.  He stresses the need to at least, remove a bra as soon as one gets home from work or as often as possible.

     Dr. Oz also warns of the dire consequences to a woman of sleeping on her stomach, of wearing a sleep bra and the health hazards of under wired bras.

     The author of a recent book on the many hidden dangers in people's lives currently said that the underwire in bras is nickel, which is toxic, especially near heat.

     Known for many decades is that the healthiest fabric to use for underpants is cotton because it allows air flow, unlike man-made fabrics.  This "breathable" fabric does not hold in body heat, a condition that fosters a variety of unwanted, very uncomfortable infections.

     Many couples wanting to have a baby have been unsuccessful, not because of any problem with the woman, but rather a low sperm count.  Men are advised to avoid hot tubs and hold-in-heat outer pants, especially jeans.

     As the numbers of cases of prostate cancer continue to rise, there is the should-be-obvious connection between that cancer and the advent of slim, tight jeans and tight briefs worn under them.

     Like breasts or any part of the body, the prostate requires good circulation to remain healthy.

     Loose types of underpants, like boxer shorts, are preferable to many types of constricting briefs.

     In the 1990's, at a European Medical conference, the results of a major study proved that many prostate cancers were caused by constrictive clothing.

     Like the harmful wearing of the sleep-bra is the unwise habit of many women, many men sleep in the tight briefs they have worn all day, thus never allowing any freedom of natural movement within any part of that area.  It is better to wear loose pajama pants, but best yet authorities say, is for both men and women are loose night shirts to fully allow for good air and "inner juices" circulation.

     Before deciding whether to pursue fashion or the good health route, talk with or read detailed accounts of people who have those types of cancer.

    ~ Is Your Underwear Harming Your Body? ~

Are You Polite And Respectful To Yourself?

     No doubt you would be surprised or annoyed or dismayed or angry if someone was to say to you ~ "You're stupid," "Idiot," "loser," "you never do anything right," and "no one likes you."

     These are only a few of the dreadful comments typical of what far too many people regularly say to themselves.

     You can not control what others say, but you can control what you say to yourself.

     Regularly said words and phrases are affirmations, and affirmations become reality.

     Do you really want what you have been repeatedly affirming for yourself?

    In my work as a Life Improvement Advisor, one of my clients had two major concerns ~ ~ that she was not as efficient in her work as she had previously been and that people seemed to be avoiding her.

     Knowing that often situations come into being by what is said, I advised Allison, to purchase a small plain black covered note book with a small attached pen, then to start wearing clothes with a pocket into which the note book could hide when not in use, yet readily be available.

     The note book's purpose is so that she can note any phrases that she uses (says or thinks) that contain the word ~ I ~ as well as single derogative words.  (Add the date and time to each entry.)

     "I will do as you suggest," Allison said, "but I don't know how this could possibly solve my problems."

     Just four days later, Allison telephoned to tell me ~ "I wrote the Affirmation you gave me in the front of my new little black note book, I had hardly finished doing so, when I realized what I had just said to myself ~ 'I'll never remember to do this; 'This won't help me.'  Before I even got to the office, I had six entries.  As you advised, I said the affirmation to myself just as I entered, and for the first time, I really heard myself saying all of what you call Lethal Words, my note book is almost filled."

     There are two kinds of Lethal Word/Phrase speakers ~ those who know what they are saying but do not realize the harm of doing so and then the other people like Allison who are unaware of the lethal words they say because they have said them so often that it has become an automatic response.

     It is usually easier to replace or substitute than it is to eliminate, besides in the case of Lethal Words, the damage done needs to be repaired with a strong dose of positive affirmations, such as, 'I am a smart person,' 'I am proud of myself,' 'you did a good job.'

     Do not wait for others to compliment you, inwardly tell yourself complimentary words.

     If you drop something, substitute your usual "Clumsy" with a simple "Whoops" unless there is major damage, then another response is needed, but speaking harshly of yourself will not help the situation in the slightest

     Following my advice, Allison explained to her co-workers what she had learned, asked for their help in discovering the "put down" words she said to herself and apologize to them for having to listen for so long.  In helping her, many of them discovered needed changes in their own vocabulary.

 

I use positive words and phrases

that indicate the fact that

I am always polite and respectful to myself.  

Do You Know The Other Side Of Yourself?

     Look closely at your life, have you always done what is termed "usual."?

     What talents and abilities lie in the never seen deep shadows of your every day life?

     Have you dared to be daring?  Not a risky or dangerous or illegal or immoral type of dare, but rather what might be usual in the lives of other people, just not in yours.

     It is smugly gratifying to do, at least several times in your life, an activity that results in family, friends and even new acquaintances to exclaim in astonishment
"Wow, I can't believe you did that!!!"

     Two, of many, such occurrences in my life were:
     1~  During college, I had the opportunity to learn to milk a cow, although never thought of before.  I joined a Dairy Club, learned how to groom a cow, Debbie, then to show her in a judged Dairy Show;  a unique and enjoyable experience for someone raised in suburbs. 

     2~  Many years later, I regularly taught at a large Adult School, whose brochure listed a multitude of different courses.  At the beginning of each semester, I checked the brochure to see where my courses were listed, in so doing, I kept seeing a course on Belly Dancing.  One such encounter, followed by my usual sarcastic, "Why would any one want to do that?!" brought forth from my Inner Self, the surprising words, "Why not you?"

     "Ridiculous!" replied my every day self.  Upon further thought however, I dared myself to take the course, not telling any one about doing so except Mora, who I convinced to go with me despite her reluctance.  The result, I did poorly, possibly because   I laughed so much at my mirrored reflection, but I learned a basic move that is a good waist thinner.

     However, Mora did so well that the instructor hired her to preform together.  Mora dared to take the course, thus discovered a talent that she had no idea that she possessed.

     After hearing one of my talks, a man laughingly dared himself to take a knitting course, which he expected to be boring, but found it so interesting that he soon became an expert in intricately patterned sweaters of his own design.  This talent led to a small business of individually custom designed and knitted sweaters for people glad to pay well.

     A dare is one you quietly make to yourself, never one put forth by someone else. 

     A true dare is done alone,

     stepping out into an unknown

     to make it an in-known. 

     ~ Find Some Of The Other Sides Of Yourself ~

 

~ Dare To Be Daring ~