Category: General

A powerful (yet simple) way to shift your energy and results over the next 30 days

How’d you like to learn a simple process that takes about 5
min’s (or even less) but gives you 6-8 hours worth of results?

Imagine compounding that every day for the next 30 days…

Now this is so simple that you’ve probably heard it (or
something like it) before…but do you realize how powerful it
is…and are you deliberately practicing it on a daily basis?

Here it is:

Choose what you’re thinking about…and what thoughts, feelings,
and images are playing in your mind…just before you fall
asleep.

Many people are letting the news or something distressing
they’ve just watched be the last thing that’s playing in their
mind before going to bed.

Others end the day with frustration or fears and burdens that
are weighing them down.

These thoughts and feelings in a way are continuing to “marinate”
and draw more of that feeling and energy to you throughout the
night.

So instead, how about deliberately practicing thinking about
something that makes you feel good – something or someone you
appreciate…that you’re thankful for…that you love.

It could be a success or a smile or a hug from earlier that day
that’s now gotten pushed out of your mind by other “tasks” and
burdens that have come to you since…or it could be the things
you love – music, biking, a sunset, or something you’re looking
forward to.

Just taking a few moments to deliberately think about something
you love and appreciate – about things that make you feel good –
things you’re thankful for – can immediately shift how you feel.

And doing this right before you fall asleep sets the “path”, in
a way, for what your subconscious will be exploring…or “marinating”
in…while you sleep.

I had a powerful experience with this practice just this weekend.
My wife and I were both a little tired and cranky at the end of a
long day apart, and actually “snapped” at each other just before
going to bed.

So when my head hit the pillow – all of a sudden I felt miserable –
my shoulder ached, I was frustrated, and I didn’t feel like I
could fall asleep.

Then I remembered this practice, and started silently offering thanks
– particularly for my family…and ultimately my wonderful wife…
and within moments, my energy totally shifted…

I had a mini (or perhaps not so “mini”) reconciliation with my wife,
and a wonderful night’s sleep awakening with a “happy feeling” even
before I remembered what I was happy about.
(And my wife was very happy, too…)

And here’s the key – moments before giving thanks, I was on a totally
different “path” headed for a miserable night…and any other option
was not even “Visible” until I actually started giving thanks…

So here’s the trick – knowing this is not enough…what can you do
right now to set an intention…or a reminder…to do this tonight…
and every night for the next 30 days?

Look forward to hearing about your own practice and results in the
comments below!

Dr. Ben

Why I chose Network Marketing

Have you ever questioned what you’re doing, or wondered what
you “should” be doing to make a living and make a difference?

The other day I was listening to one of the founders of the
company I’m partnered with talking about how when he grew up,
people would say, “Do what you love.”

Probably something you’ve heard before and thought about, too,
just like me. 

He said that phrase was confusing for him, though, because he
loved to play basketball and he loved to ski, but he wasn’t
sure how he could make money doing those things.

It was later on in life that he discovered that the key for
him was to find something to do that was in alignment with his
values.  From there he could derive passion and purpose.

So as I reflect on my journey into network marketing – from
electrical engineering to medicine, and now to developing an
international business team from the comfort of our home in a
resort town in Michigan, I remember a vivid & key moment for
me about eight years ago.  I was standing in our first home at
the edge of our small kitchen facing the end of our living-room
couch, and found myself asking God to enlarge my heart for people.

I don’t remember what pre-ceded that moment, but I distinctly remember that moment.  Perhaps you’ve had moments like that which still stick in your memory today.

It was shortly after that that I was introduced to the business team that would transform both mine and my family’s life. 

And as I’m sitting here on the roof of Joe’s overlooking the harbor (that’s where I was when I recorded a quick message to myself with these tho’ts), one of the things that stands out to me is the answer to this question:

What are the values that have brought me here to network marketing?

And I realize that the core value that’s brought me here is the desire, and the purpose, and the passion to empower people.

That’s one of the things I love about network marketing – much like what was at the heart of what I did as a physician – the opportunity to work with people to improve their lives.

What drove me here was a desire for freedom and flexibility to be with my family, and what’s kept me here is the opportunity to work with people to change their lives – people whom I might otherwise never have known.

Oh, and my wife’s leaning over to say in my ear, “I love our life” as I’m listening to the soundtrack of Prince Caspian and typing this doesn’t hurt either…as well as the whole world of learning and growth that has opened up to us and our children through the doorway of entrepreneurship.

But it wasn’t always this way – there’s definitely been a journey and a process…and having a core vision and values – even ones that have developed, been tested, and become more clear along the way have been key.

So here’s a question for you – what are your core values?

What’s important to you?

And how can you connect what you’re doing daily to what’s important to you?

Look forward to hearing your own thoughts in the comments below, and in the meantime, here’s a video shared with me by my 13yo daughter – and choreographed by a very gifted young choreopgrapher in the Chicago area. Both the song and the dance communicate a simple yet radiant joy and spirit that I think you’ll appreciate as well. 

Enjoy!

Dr. Ben

The Call

Create “Mini Vacations”

As a followup to last week’s post on magnifying your good by celebrating highlights of your day, here’s a quick video tip I shot on the shores of Lake Michigan while out with my wife and youngest two kids this morning.  You’ll actually see our youngest son run by me halfway through the video – he knows how to “dive right in”…to water…and to life…

Enjoy!

Dr. Ben

P.S.  Would love to hear about your own “mini vacation” ideas – ways you refresh & recharge & connect to what you love, in the comments below.

How to Magnify Your Good (no matter how your day is going…)

While taking an evening bike ride a little while ago, I was
reminded of a practice that has propelled me forward & created
significant anchors for me in the past year, regardless of how
my day was going.

I recorded a video tip on this back in January, and here’s
some further thoughts to ponder:

Every day, take note when you’re feeling especially good…

when you’re particularly enjoying something…

and celebrate that moment as a “highlight” of your day.

That way no matter what happens the rest of the day…no matter
what disappointments or frustrations…or how well you’re doing
in school or in your business or with your work goals…

…or with your family and relationships…

you can celebrate at least a moment of something “good” in your
life…

something you enjoyed…

something you appreciate.

Someone once said a happy life is a series of happy moments
strung together…

But there’s something about the way we’re wired that if we
actually take note of them when they occur, we anchor them
further and can even “appreciate” or “magnify” them in a way
that brings them more and more into our experience.

About a week ago I enjoyed a conversation with a wonderful
businessman from Hawaii who has “re-invented” himself and
expanded into new arenas multiple times in his life, and he
shared with the few of us who were listening how key it is
to “appreciate” rather than “depreciate” each step of good
that comes to us in a new venture, regardless of how small
it may seem to us compared to something we’ve already
accomplished in the past.

He emphasized when creating something new, let go of “remember when…”
and focus on appreciating each step of progress now. 

This practice allows more to come to you and truly “appreciates”…

or magnifies and multiplies…

the good that you’re enjoying.

This practice of appreciating reminds me of the advice from
Louise Hay about tomato plants – when you plant some seeds,
and the first sprouts appear, you don’t stomp on them and say,
“but I wanted a tomato plant!”

Rather, you celebrate that your seeds are starting to sprout…

and you continue to nurture and cultivate them until they grow
into a full-grown plant that bears fruit.

Food for thought…

How about practicing finding, creating, and celebrating “highlights”
of your day each day this week, and appreciating…

rather than depreciating…

each sign of progress and each “sprout” of good that comes your way.

Would love to hear some of your own experiences and insights
in the comments below!

To a blessed and wonderful week!

Dr. Ben

What Areas Are You Sowing In Today?

In the midst of coaching members of my business team this past
week and a half, two factors have repeatedly come to the surface
that are key to creating new and desirable results in our lives.
As I’ve percolated on these keys and just finished enjoying some
raisins with my 21 month old daughter, I had the inspiration to
write them for you here:

1) Decide what you want

2) Sow in the areas that are important to you with intention
every day.

Maybe it’s a relationship with God, your family, or someone else in
particular…

The image that comes to mind is of colorful jars or containers –
and each day you get to choose which ones you open and give some
attention – which ones you sow into each day.

If we’re not intentional, then what’s most urgent and demanding, or
what’s most familiar based on past patterns and habits, can get all
of our time and attention.

But if we realize we want to sow something different today, we can
specifically set aside time to sow into the areas we’re choosing
intentionally today.

It might be a 10 minute walk to commune with God or nature or simply
get some mental space and clarity.

It may be reading a story to our kids, or taking a break and having
a conversation with someone that’s important to us.

And it may be taking a new step in your business or professional
pursuits that’s a bit challenging, even a bit scary, but also
exciting and potentially very rewarding.

Take a chance.

Take a step.

Be deliberate.

And choose what “jars” you’re sowing into today.

To your freedom, prosperity, and joy!

Dr. Ben

P.S. I think I’ll take a quick walk up the hill and then enjoy some
lunch with my family 🙂

What Drives Behavior…

Last night I watched a 20 minute “talk” on TED.com shared with
me by a business associate that succinctly and articulately
identifies fundamental keys to what drives behavior…and
“how great leaders inspire action.”

The talk was by former student of anthropology Simon Sinek,
and I’ve posted it below, with a few intriguing quotes from
Simon here:

     People don’t buy what you do; people buy why you do it.

     And what you do proves what you believe.

     The goal is not to do business with everybody who needs what
     you have; the goal is to do business with people who believe
     what you believe.

     When we communicate from the inside out, we’re talking directly
     to the part of the brain that controls behavior, and then we
     allow people to rationalize it with tangible things we say and
     do.

     If you talk about what you believe, you will attract people who
     believe what you believe.

Take a few moments to watch the video here, and then here’s a key:

Note for yourself how Simon’s perspective can impact your own
thinking and actions in something that matters to you.

Would love to here your comments below…Enjoy!

Dr. Ben

Lewis Carroll, Purpose, & Time…

Just saw two blog posts this week that were so impactful to
me and so broadly applicable that I felt compelled to share
them both with you here.

The first began with the quote from Lewis Carroll –

“Cheshire Puss,” asked Alice. “Would you tell me, please, which
way I ought to go from here?”

“That depends a good deal on where you want to go,” said the Cat.

“I don’t much care where,” said Alice.

“Then it doesn’t matter which way you go,” said the Cat.
                               ~Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking Glass

This quote alone makes a powerful point.  I found it on
wonderful blog post from Jane Perdue which further delivers, in
just a few moments, key quotes & questions for designing your
life, and you can visit the post here.

Next, how many of you cringe or at least feel a bit bored when
the phrase “time management” comes up? 

And yet how many of you often experience “never enough time” or
at times feeling your energy and focus scattered and less effective
than you’d like it to be?

Well, Craig L. Sanders from right here in Michigan just sent me his
awesome and insightful post on this very subject, and he delivers
such refreshing clarity and insight that I’ve been percolating on
and practicing the ideas he gives already to powerful effect in
the last 24 hrs.  You can view his post here.

Would love to hear your own “take-aways” from the posts above. 

What impacted you the most?

What do you intend to take action on right away?

Look forward to hearing from you!

Dr. Ben

Follow me on Twitter @drbenlo
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Shifting Paradigms…

While walking my daughter to sleep just before lunch, I was
pondering the Bob Proctor video I watched late last night on
shifting our paradigms – the “unseen” programs that run much
of our lives beyond our conscious awareness.

Ever wonder why, despite the best of intentions to change
something, you often find yourself falling back into the same
patterns over and over?

Well, as Bob explains so clearly (and many others before him
have indicated), much of our lives are run by subconscious
programming that we’ve accumulated over years.

The good news is, we can change that programming…and the
habits and patterns that arise from them.

But it takes both a desire and an intention to change, and
then a “recipe” of specific steps.

My question for you today is, what’s one area that you want to
change now?

Something in your health, your energy, your weight, your family
or relationships or how you spend your time, or perhaps your
finances or business results?

Next, what’s one step you can take, or new habit you can implement,
during the next 21 days to start shifting in this one area?

How about posting your decision, thoughts, or comments below –
I look forward to hearing from you.

Here’s to shifting our paradigms and creating more and more
consciously in our lives!

Dr. Ben

P.S. If you’d like to see the video from Bob Proctor and some of
his examples on how to shift your paradigms, you can do so here
(takes you to a registration screen that’s a bit “hypey” but the
content is really good).  Enjoy!

Food for thought…

In discussion with a business colleague and fellow coach
yesterday, some key thoughts came to me that created a great
“Aha!” for her and are still percolating in me this morning,
so I wanted to share them with you.

Namely, in the midst of all your plans and activities for 2010…

…all the things calling for your attention…

…and all the “doing”…

are you creating space “to be”?

Whether it’s a few moments of sitting quietly, enjoying a warm
bath or shower, or walking or biking without your cell phone or
radio on, have you set aside 3-5 min’s…or even 10…per day to
just “be”…to connect to that sense of who you are that extends
beyond the doing…

That “being” that has value and is “there” regardless of what
you do…and regardless of what others think of what you do,
or whether what you’re doing is currently “successful” or not…

Allow yourself to connect to that sense of being…

…give yourself space to be…

Then as you return to your “doing”, you will come from a much more
powerful and centered place, and can approach your doing with a
sense of anticipation, excitement, and even joy…without feeling
that success or failure threatens who you are…

And now, as you return to the doing, here’s a couple questions
to ask yourself as we enter the second month of 2010:

Setting aside the “how to” for a moment, what would you most like
to be doing, if anything were possible?

Take a moment with this…

Perhaps even jot down what comes to you…

Next, with what you’re currently doing, what do you actually love?

What is it you love about it?

Perhaps there’s a way to carry forward aspects of what you love
in other forms or other arenas…while at the same time letting go
of other aspects that no longer serve you and the purposes you’re
choosing for yourself now.

Food for thought…and I look forward to hearing your own comments
below!

Dr. Ben

New Year’s Tip: Celebrate Highlights In Your Day

Just recorded this on the back deck earlier today (my daughter Gigi was the “cameraman”)…a simple but powerful practice I’ve been enjoying and wanted to share with you for the New Year – Enjoy!

Let me know your own experience with celebrating “highlights” in your day in the comments below!