The Law of Inertia

 

The Law of Inertia declares,
“an object in motion stays in motion, an object at rest stays at rest.”
This scientific law was explained by Sir Isaac Newton in the late 1600s and is considered his first law of motion.
It's also a very apt description of our lives.

It is the reason when things are going great in my life, and in yours, it is easier to keep it going great.
Much like the law of attraction, the better it gets, the better it gets.
Of course it follows, the worse it gets, the worse it gets.

Why?
Because inertia does not care whether things are going right for you, or wrong for you. It simply states that unless an energy with more force is applied to the situation to change that movement, things will continue to move in the same direction.
How clean is that?

All I have to do then, and you as well, is get a little positive momentum going, and by law of inertia, without doing anything more, my positive momentum will continue, and continue.
And it will continue to grow like a snow ball rolling down a hill.
I am amazed at how much easier life can be with the wind at your back.
All you have to do is get the positive momentum started.

Einstein once said, "Nothing happens until something moves".
Being your own wingman is all about finding that spark and letting inertia take over. Get something, anything moving for yourself in a positive way
and allow it to continue. 
I've heard it said, a journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step,
well, here's an easy first step.
Think about what you want and allow your thoughts to "marinate".
We all know how one small idea can grow, if we allow it.

Here’s the problem. It works both ways.
If you’re in a negative place right now,
the law of inertia will keep that negativity growing.

Failure is not the falling down, but the staying down.

We all have fallen and allowed ourselves to stay down because it is easier to do so. That's the thing about inertia, it's easier to keep things moving in whatever direction they are currently moving.

Great news when things are going great. Lousy news when they're not.

Somehow, you must find or provide that spark of energy to change that movement, to get the ball rolling in a more positive direction.
Be that spark.

Maybe it's helping someone else.
Maybe it's just taking a walk or getting some exercise.
Maybe it's doing something that you've been putting off.
Maybe it's facing that problem you've been avoiding.
Maybe it's just asking yourself, "what's going right in my life"?

Do something, anything that gets your momentum moving in a positive direction, and let the law of inertia, Sir Isaac Newton's first law of motion take over.

Thanks for allowing me to be your wingman today.

In Appreciation,

Michael

Thanksgiving morning

My car died thanksgiving morning as I returned from my morning walk in the woods.  And so began my day of giving thanks. 

As a flood of negative thoughts invaded my mind, the one that made the most sense to me at that moment was a practice I developed and speak about with my individual coaching clients and at corporate training presentations.  

I call it Hocus, Pocus, Change My Focus and while it doesn't have a very corporate sounding name, the feedback I get from executives and employees is very positive. 

I decided if I was going to have an enjoyable thanksgiving I better "practice what I preach" so I sat right down and thought, "What would my wingman say"? 

As I had been walking with a trusted friend and wingman, I didn't have to wait long.

"Well, you said you were looking for a sign about your car, you certainly got one." 

Hmmm.  Not exactly what I wanted to hear, but not a bad start either.  I have had some issues with this car over the last couple of years and, while my gut instinct has told me to get rid of it, my habit of procrastination has kept it in my driveway.   

Just like Abraham says, if you have a situation, and you avoid dealing with it, don't worry, it will get bigger.  Truer words were never said concerning my car. 

Once you finally accept this fact you will find you begin to deal with any procrastination you have.  For some of us, it just takes a little longer.  

People often ask me, “how”? 

How can I see a positive when my car is sitting there, broken down, needing to be towed, and will probably cost more than I have currently available to get back on the road? 

As my own wingman, I now know the answer.  Practice!

A positive attitude does not happen overnight. 

But if you begin practicing tonight, I assure you, tomorrow will look a little bit better.  

Let me give you an example of how you might practice in this specific situation. 

Being as its thanksgiving, it's a good time to learn. 

You start by finding something positive, anything you can be thankful for.

My car was in a very safe spot, no one was hurt and

I knew I had some time to think of the best way to handle this ordeal. 

Wow!  Did I just come up with three positives? 

Watch out world, I'm on my way.   

I had been looking for a sign and here I just received one.

I will have the car towed to the dealership, have them fix it and even though the car is out of warranty, have them help me with the cost because it has been a problematic car and they will want to do right by me.

I will then give this car back to the dealership in exchange for fair market value.

My daughter, because she works in the city, is now moving into the city and was looking for a way to save money.  She will not need her car as much so I will share her car with her, thus saving us both money. 

Wow!  I’m almost glad this happened.  NOT! 

Folks, let’s not get crazy here. 

I'm in no way saying I'm glad my car broke down. 

However, I am saying when you can learn to find something, anything to be positive about; somehow you will begin to get more things to be positive about. 

Perhaps it is, as Dr. Wayne Dyer says,

“When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change”. 

Or perhaps science has a better explanation with its Law of Inertia,

which states… An object in motion stays in motion, an object at rest stays at rest.   

When you are in a "positive" motion,

by definition, you tend to stay in positive motion.

That's it.  There it is, wrapped up nice and easy for you. 

            1.  Find something, anything to be positive about.

            2.  Let the Law of Inertia take it from there. 

                 As you surround yourself with a more positive vibe,

                 you will attract more positive energy, helping you feel more positive.

            3. If something unexpected happens and changes your feeling,

                repeat step 1. 

I hope you found much to be thankful for as this holiday season began.

I know I did. 

Thank you for allowing me to be your Wingman today.

In Appreciation,

Mike

Michael Yale Seletsky

A wingman succumbed to his physical battle a week ago.  He was a great friend to many.

Strange, for I feel I’ve spoken with him often these past few days. 
I find his words and mannerisms being part of me. 
I notice I’m smiling a bit more as I think of him.

Michael had that effect on you as he stared into your eyes, hearing your every word. 

When I was with Michael, I saw my world as a better place. 
If you had met him, you would know what I mean.

We wouldn’t be done the first course before solutions made problems disappear.

By dessert, and Michael did love a great dessert, we'd be laughing hysterically. 
But always there was a sense of calm.

One late night, many years ago, as evening turned to morning, I met up with Michael.  Not surprisingly, we were soon in his car going to a pancake house. 

As we got out of the car, there in the parking lot, we were ambushed by five drunk and angry guys. 

As I felt the fear rising within me, I’ll never forget his words. 

“Just relax, it will be ok, I’ve got this.  Can you hold my coat?”

I only had to hold it for what seemed like seconds, as Michael dispersed of them powerfully and efficiently.  As I handed him back his coat, I actually felt like I had assisted.  Like holding his coat was an important part of what needed to be done.

That was the essence of Michael; he would always carry the load but make you feel indispensible.  

I will always remember that feeling…

As George Eliot said, “Our dead are never dead to us, until we have forgotten them”.

Michael will never be forgotten by those of us who were fortunate to have known him.

We’ll always remember how his physical presence would fill a room and his laughter would fill our hearts with joy.

Michael was a true wingman though, and I believe his spirit was far greater then any physical body could contain.  I know I felt him this morning as I walked through the woods, and feel him now as I write these words. 

I don’t eat pancakes much any more, but I often think back to that night, especially in times of stress.  Now however, it’s his confidence I feel permeating my being.

“Just relax, it will be ok, I’ve got this.” And with him as my wingman, I know I do.  

I know I speak for many when I say...

“Thank you, Michael, thank you for being such a fantastic Wingman”. 

It is my honor to present a Wingman of the week award to Michael Yale Seletsky. 

In Appreciation,

Mike

Panic Point

Lately I’ve been reading a lot about people physically getting sick as they approach an exciting opportunity for growth.  I’ve seen it termed an upper limit or a terror barrier.

It’s that point where your nerves overtake your exhilaration of the moment.  It happens to all of us, whether you’re a big time professional, or a child entering their first day of school.  It happens in little league and it happens in the World Series.  It happens in local theatre and it happens on Broadway.  You’re scared stiff. 

It’s when fear takes over and pushes all your enthusiasm for the moment aside.

I call it your Panic Point. 

"Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear."  Mark Twain
                                                                                   

Do you understand?  There is always fear.  We all get scared.  And while it’s easy for me to say don’t let fear stop you, when that moment arises, and you feel your heart pounding and your stomach rising up into your throat, that is your time.  If you don’t define it, it will define you.

“If you are going to go through hell, keep going."  Sir Winston Churchill

Easier said then done.  Keep going, but how? 

How do we keep going when our anxiety has our feet rooted to the ground? 

How do we practice courage in the face of fear?

One way I’ve found to practice is to visualize the moment.  Not by dreaming about it but by preparing for it.  Visualize how you want the moment to go.  Think about it.  Plan it. 

Too many of us let our fear take control, and get so consumed with it that we forget to prepare. 

Remember taking your driver’s test when you were a teenager?  Remember the fear building up inside you?  Who wasn’t scared as the instructor entered your car?  

But you were prepared because you had practiced.  You practiced turning and braking and parking, and when it came time to parallel park, even though your hands were sweating and you couldn’t catch your breath, you did it. You did it because you couldn’t wait to drive.  You beat down your fear and afterward were laughing about it with friends.

That’s how fear is.  You build it up so much in your mind you just want to run away.  But just like passing your driving test, or any challenge you encounter, fear is like a smoky fog, and preparation the strong wind blowing it away.

Preparation breeds confidence, and confidence generates courage, and courage masters fear.

Eleanor Roosevelt said, “We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face... we must do that which we think we cannot.”

Each occasion brings you another opportunity to practice, and on the path to being your own Wingman, practice and preparation are vital.

Thanks for letting me be your wingman today.

In Appreciation,  Mike

The Owl...

The Owl...

"Be cool this morning Monte,” I said to my dog, “I want to see something". 
He'll often chase away deer before I can I get a real look at them.

Immediately, the Owl to my left called me over.
As many of you know, to hear an Owl is one thing, to see one, so much rarer. 
This one called me straight to him. 

Over our morning juice I told my wife about the owl.  "What's so amazing, you're in the woods, you see owls."  "Not like this", I replied. 
Clearly I had been expecting a different reaction.

"Do you recall my conversation with Bill, the insurance executive at that big meeting I attended last month?  I know this sounds a bit strange but I feel like I had the same conversation today with the owl?

"Really, tell me about it." I think I saw her reach for her phone and start dialing 911.

“Remember, I had thanked him for inviting me to the meeting and expressed some doubts about some business issues”.

He replied, "Don't worry, it will all work out, you'll see" in such a way, I felt I was being inducted into some kind of secret society.
My "conversation" today with the owl was the same. 
In his hooting, I heard, "Don't worry, it will all work out, you'll see".

"Perhaps you should wash the kitchen floor."
That was my wife's way of saying I'm losing it and need to do something productive.  Generational wisdom passed down through the years.
At least she put down the phone.

"Ok", I said dropping it, but I knew more research was needed. I had another meeting scheduled with Bill, my straight laced insurance executive friend, so, at the risk of really being institutionalized; I mentioned the owl story to him.

"You know Mike, I'm from the country and I've seen a few owls… but I'll tell you something, there are things in our world many people don't ever get to see, but we know they are there".

"I know” I said way too excitedly, for at that moment I was certain he was speaking of angels, wingmen and wise owls.  Or was it something else entirely? 
I never got to ask, for at that moment he was called away and our conversation ended.

I returned home, picked up the mop, and started on the kitchen floor.

Thanks for allowing me to be your wingman today.

In Appreciation, Mike

Success begets success.

And the better it gets, the better it gets.

Fresh off my 10 day fruit and vegetable cleanse I'm feeling pretty darn good.

Not that physically I'm feeling that much better, but emotionally, spiritually and mentally I feel fantastic, like if I can do that, I can do anything.

I was amazed at how my mindset toward food changed in only 10 days.  The last day we fasted, and it was not even hard for me, as I was no longer eating for enjoyment, only for nourishment.

It became very clear to me how our minds are fantastic tools with which we can use to create any situation we desire.  However, we must make sure it is us who are in control of our own mind and not our ego or some addiction.

The success of this week taught me I have the power, the power to organize and command my mind.  After many small steps, I just took a giant one in my personal growth and development. My "wings" are expanding and I feel great.

I urge you to do the same.  Set up a challenge for yourself, nothing too big, but something that does challenge you.  Spend a little time and consider it.  Put a plan in place, and maybe even a back up plan.  And be prepared to soar.  Start with something simple, something you know you can succeed at, and then succeed.  

Delight in the gratification of achievement, and then do it again.  

General Patton was totally correct, “Accept challenges so that you may feel the exhilaration of victory”. 

I can tell you, I’m feeling victorious, and that is a great feeling to be walking around with.

Thanks for allowing me to be your Wingman today.

In Appreciation,

Mike

A Time to Forgive

I have read and heard much discussion during this past week about forgiveness for wrongs done against God and against other human beings.  According to Jewish tradition, at the end of today, this Day of Atonement, I am to consider myself absolved by God for those sins.

But what about forgiving myself? 

Will I be able to pardon myself, to forgive and forget the things I’ve done?  Or will I continue to hold onto my mistakes and carry them around with me for another year. 

If God is able to forgive me shouldn’t I be able to as well?

In his book “The Four Agreements” Don Miguel Ruiz discusses how humans are the only species on earth that pays for a mistake 1000 times.  We dwell on it, we stew on it, we just don’t let it go.  And by law of attraction, it continues to impact our lives in a negative way.  

“That which is like unto itself is drawn”

If I’m holding onto something on a “vibrational” level, something for which I can not forgive myself, it seems to reason that I will attract more of that which I can not forgive myself.

If God is able to forgive me shouldn’t I be able to as well. 

But how? 

In one of my favorite movies, House of Games, Lilia Skala, as Dr. Maria Littauer says, “When you have done something unforgivable,

I'll tell you exactly what to do.  You forgive yourself.”

And so, today, I began a practice of self forgiveness, and I ask you to join me as well in this exercise… as my own wingman sees it.

First, I looked at the situation to see what good may have come from it.

Second, I looked at the situation to see what lessons I could learn from it. 

Third, I studied those lessons so as to learn from my mistakes.

Fourth, I looked again at what good, now has come from it.

“If defeat has more to teach us than victory, then perhaps a defeat is a victory unto itself.

                                                Miron Stabinsky, Zen and the Art of Casino Gaming

And fifth, I cast it aside by breathing in one of Deepak Chopra’s meditations, derived from a course in miracles, “Every decision I make is a choice between a grievance and a miracle.  I relinquish all regrets, grievances and resentments and choose the miracle”.

Hope this helps you as much as it does me.

Thanks for allowing me to be your wingman today.

In Appreciation, Mike

Changing My Mindset.

Two days into my fruit and vegetable detox and I realize it's just another practice.

A far more advanced exercise, but an exercise none the less.

My hope is to have this physical cleansing and mental challenge not only help me physically, but bring me more clarity as well.

I also realize how again, it’s just a matter of changing my mindset.

This realization came to me 3 days ago as I was walking with a friend.  I was whining and complaining about this upcoming challenge when, out of nowhere, a giant bee, either a wasp or a cicada killer, flew right into me and stung me.

Along with the pain I felt, was the awareness that my wingmen were there with me, telling me to shut the hell up and just do it.

It was at that point I knew.  Quit my yapping and start preparing. 

Or to paraphrase from one of  my favorite children's book, "The View from Saturday" by E.L. Konigsburg, "You're not preparing to begin, you've already begun".

So begin I did.  I stopped complaining and mentally initiated my cleanse.  We were having a family luncheon the next day, so although physically my plan would not commence until 3:00 pm Thursday, emotionally I was no longer preparing to start, I had started.

Challenge accepted.  Ten days of only fruits and vegetables.  I was told to think of how much good I was doing for my body, but that didn’t motivate me. 

My inspiration was to come from a different place, my spirit.

I have worked hard on being my own wingman, on training my mind to achieve what ever I desire.  This will be a more difficult aspiration but one I felt ready for.

I found myself getting excited.   What better way to assess how far I have come. 

This was just the next test along my path, and I was prepared.

I decided I would view this as one of survival.  For ten days, I am in a jungle, a suburban jungle, but a jungle nonetheless.  I am eating to live, to survive.

And so, now 2 days into it, I'm still feeling optimistic. 

Without salt, sugar and coffee my detox has begun.

Being a Philly guy and watching the Phillies in the playoffs on television without beer and cheese steaks felt very strange.  I do love challenging myself though, so it was a green juice and a bowl of vegetables with a watermelon chaser. 

Eight days left and physically I’m having some headaches, mentally I feel strong.

As George Patton once said,

“Accept challenges so that you may feel the exhilaration of victory”.

In my work with the law of attraction I have found having that exhilarated feeling leads to more elation, and the better it gets, the better it gets.

Thanks for allowing me to be your wingman today.

In Appreciation, Mike

Ten Days

My 21 year old son had come to stay with me and I am embarrassed by how challenging it became for me.  After all my radio shows, my meetings and all my practice.

It was too easy.  How could I revert to this person I no longer wanted to be?

Screaming, yelling, irritated. 

I was surprised at how quickly I fell into the old dynamics of our relationship.

 

It wasn’t completely dreadful though, as together, we were able to accomplish

some pretty great work that needed to be done.

I now choose to focus on that. 

Which gave me an idea.

If I could change so unfavorably during that 10 day period, perhaps I can take the same amount of time and push myself to change in a more healthy direction.

My timing coincides with the Jewish New Year which begins Thursday with Rosh Hashanah and ends the following Saturday, on Yom Kippur.  This 10 day period is known as a time for serious introspection, to consider the sins of the previous year, and repent. Among the customs of this time, it is also common to seek reconciliation with people you may have wronged during the course of the year.

And so…In honor of my son’s ability to hang with me for 10 days and be who he needed to be, I am embarking on a 10 day journey of my own (of course you can join me) in which I will eat or drink only water, fruits and vegetables.  Only raw, juiced or steamed.

No salt, no oil, no anything.  Not even one cheese steak.

My plan is for this physical cleanse to kick start a deeper practice of exploration of myself and our universe.  I hope you can join me.

Thanks for allowing me to be your wingman today.
In Appreciation, Mike

Inspired Thought.

Yesterday I experienced another sign and I’m beginning to believe what I’m thinking about at these moments is inspired thought.

On my morning walk through the woods, I heard a loud “Crack” and a tree limb crashed down right next to me; a happening my hiking friend calls a “widow maker”.

Thus was my morning.  I was in the midst of my staff meeting, doing my high five (5 things I’m thankful for from the prior day) when I considered a business seminar I had attended.  I've been asking for “money to flow to me” and I reflected on how this meeting may assist in bringing more income to my business. 

How wonderful I felt as I recognized I was actually helping the universe help me.

And it hit me.

Whatever you desire, whatever you ask for, whatever you want… it’s best to help the universe help you receive it. 

Help them help you.

My thoughts turned to the movie, "Jerry Maguire" with Tom Cruise and Cuba Gooding Jr.   There’s a great scene where Jerry (Tom) is begging Rod (Cuba),

"Help me, help you. Help Me, Help You. Help me, help you.”

So I asked my wingmen.  “Help me help you.”

And what came back was… “help us, help you.  Help us, help you.”

Crack. Whoosh.  Thump.  And the tree limb crashed down.

Help them help me.  Hmmm.  What would that look like?

Help them, help me.

In effect, help ME, help me. 

Help the larger part of me, my soul or my spirit,

help the physical me attract all that I long for.

Are you looking for money, maybe make a few phone calls, set a meeting.

Looking for a lover/partner, maybe get out of your house and do something you enjoy.

Better health?  Maybe get off the couch and take a walk.

They say, “Ask and it is given”. 

Perhaps if we can practice this we can actually receive all the universe has delivered in response to our desires. 

Thanks for allowing me to be your wingman today.

In Appreciation, Mike

My patch of sun.

When walking this morning I noticed a small patch of sunlight, and went straight towards it.  I love seeing these “sun patches” so my focus was clear and my route direct. 

In this beautiful forest I saw only “my little patch of sunlight”.

And then it hit me. 

How many times in life do we know what we want,

but get distracted by what we don’t. 

How often do we try and change that which we don’t desire to be more to our liking.

Ask and it is given. 

So today I’m asking for help in choosing what I want, and focusing ONLY on that. 

Please join me in this exercise, for where ever you are right now, we are all at the buffet table of life… and it’s our choice. 

We can choose family and friends being healthy, happy, loved and respected.

We can choose laughing with the one we love as we enjoy the energy of the city, the salt air of the ocean, or the crisp breeze of the mountains.

We can choose to be passionate about our work.

We can choose those things that bring a smile to our face when we think of them.

We can choose to relax, knowing that money will come to us in abundance, like air and water.

How enjoyable is this view of life?  Only giving attention to that which you wish for. 

Do not get distracted by concentrating on things you do not desire. 

And beware of what you ask for.

Do not ask, “to learn how to be more patient”, for you will be given more to be patient about.

Do not ask, as I repeatedly have, to better understand Shakespeare’s quote,

“Nothing is either good or bad, just thinking makes it so”, for you will receive much to help you learn that lesson.

Instead just say…

“I choose to be happy and healthy and wise.

I choose to love and be loved.

I choose to help others and be respected.

I choose to embrace life and live with passion.

I choose to have money coming to me in abundance.

I choose to appreciate all the blessings in my life.”

Choose your patch of sunlight, and focus solely on that. 

Thanks for allowing me to be your wingman today.

In Appreciation, Mike

Thanks Dad.

Thanks Dad.

My dad was clearly around me yesterday as my son not only mentioned him, but on my daily walk, right in the middle of my path was a $.25 cent piece face up that made me think of him.  While we didn't have the best relationship back when I was younger and he was alive, I am thankful for his presence and appreciate him being in my life now.

It was therefore no surprise this morning when in the midst of my walk I felt him again.  This conversation ensued:

“Hi Dad.  I feel you around me and I appreciate it.  Do you have a message for me?”

“Yes.  You're doing great. They can handle life. You're doing great. Don't worry so much about it.  You pushed my buttons just like yours are now being pushed, and then you blow up and move on.  Focus on how you’ve helped and what you’ve learned.  It's now time for you to move on.  Think about where you are right now and how much you now understand.  It seems a great deal more than before. 

Be thankful for that. Be appreciative of that, and enjoy everything you've now learned.

Keep practicing as best you can.  Don't stop because something gets in your way.  There is nothing wrong with taking a break from it.  There is nothing wrong with feeling bad.  As a matter of fact, feeling bad can be a great day.  It can help you think about what you really want and help provide real clarity.  Focus.  Enjoy it. 

Don't get so tied up and wrapped up and worried about it.  Enjoy what happens, and keep on practicing to be the person, or better, the wingman you want to be. 

Help people. Figure out how to help others and not only will this lifetime be happy, but you will help make others happy as well.  Just keep practicing being a wingman. 

Look for progress, not perfection.

Practice asking… "How can I help you?" 

Those 5 words will get you started on a beautiful path and you will not believe how happy you can be.  How can I help you?  It’s as simple as that.

How can I help you?  A toast… To being a wingman.”

“Thanks Dad, is there more?

Dad…  How can I help you?”

“You have, but there is one thing…can I get your Wingman of the Week award?”

And so, for all those times you were there for me, allow me to present my “Wingman of the Week Award” to my father, Robert Gross.

Thanks Dad.