"But Master...

If I can create that entire week, why can’t I create my desired ending?”

“Ah, Grasshopper, if you created the entire week, then didn’t you, in fact create the ending.  And what of Hamlet’s quote you are so quick to preach?”

“There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.”

Yes, I’ve mentioned this quote from Shakespeare a thousand times.  Said how I love it, using it almost like a mantra, beating it to death. 

But I never really had to practice it.

Flying back from Vegas broke, busted and feeling just plain beat up I was in no mood to discuss Law of Attraction and its many merits.  I was far from “Glad no matter what”, nor did I want to think a better feeling thought.  I was down, depressed and disappointed, and this was just about not winning my way into the World Series of Poker, or not winning money.  It wasn’t anything serious like death, divorce or serious illness.

I have been the self proclaimed “poster boy” for Law of Attraction and friends will say I inspire them by living it.  Yet, instead of thinking about my fantastic week, I seem to be focusing on a miserable ending.

“Nothing is either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.”

More practice is definitely needed.  Thinking of my High Five from the trip is certainly a step in the right direction.

1)     Spending time with my son Lyle, helping him get set up in Los Angeles, seeing life through his eyes, the nervousness of moving on your own to a new city for the first time.  While he was nervous and excited, I was only felt his excitement.

2)     It is easy to be vegetarian.

3)     Having breakfast with Sark at the precise moment Lyle called about hitting a pole with his car.  The same pole I had repeatedly warned him about.  The timing couldn’t have been better as Sark and I discussed Law of Attraction.

4)     The lesson… to practice separating my ego from myself, but how?  Perhaps by not trying to, but by allowing.  By not being emotional about the outcome.  By taking 3 seconds of thought before action.  Much more practice.

5)     The understanding that I created this entire week, which demonstrates that I can create anything I desire.

I had a remarkable week. 

One in which I totally created, including the ending. 

Knowing that, why would I choose this ending? 

The Poster boy needs more practice, much more. 

In Appreciation,  Mike

My Father's Day... The Week I Created.

I did it.  I have asked for this week for a long time and I have now created it.  It took a great deal of practice, but I have done it. 

And if I can do it, anyone can... Including you.  How?  I started small, asking for primo parking spots and lo and behold, they started being there for me.  I then worked on improving my mood by playing my High Five game, finding things to appreciate and thinking better feeling thoughts.  My training continued and I have now created this week, which I am so looking forward to.  Is it really as simple as Abraham says, "Ask, and it is given"?

Well, I've been asking, and it has been given. 

The week begins with me flying out to Los Angeles with my son Lyle, where he will be taking some film classes at UCLA and looking for a job and an opportunity to build his life there. I've been wanting to spend time with him, and to be able to be there for him at such a pivotal time in his life feels good to me.  I can't think of a better way to spend Father's Day.

The week will end with me attending the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas where I will attempt to earn my way into "the Big Game".  My brother and I always discussed doing so, but never got around to it.  My brother passed away 8 years ago but I know he will be there with me.  I'm getting chills as I write this.  I can't wait.

To add a bit of spice to my week, I am having breakfast with Sark prior to flying to Vegas.  How cool!

 I LOVE the Law of Attraction and my practice of it has helped me create this entire week.  And if I  can create this, doesn't it follow that I can create anything I choose to.  I started out getting parking spots and now I'm creating dream weeks.  Please join me, start by creating something small, parking spots, a free cup of coffee, anything, just begin.  As the Zen saying goes, "a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step". 

If I can do it, so can you.  There is no rush, you have plenty of time.  You don't have to be perfect, you just have to begin.

In Appreciation, Mike

HIGH FIVE!

HIGH FIVE!

In the aftermath of my miserable Monday I have found a fantastic new game to play each morning.  I initially read of it in Sark’s book, “Glad No Matter What” described as Pollyanna’s (from the best-selling 1913 novel by Eleanor H. Porter) Glad Game.  I’ve changed it slightly, and named it HIGH FIVE!  It’s simple.  Find 5 things you loved about yesterday.  If you’re currently not in a good place, maybe you can find 5 things that just didn’t suck yesterday?  Just play the game once.  See if your real game, the game of life, opens up and becomes a whole lot more fun. 

Give me a HIGH FIVE!  I love it.

My HIGH FIVE! from yesterday…

1)   Had dinner with my daughter Alex and everything seems to be going well for her.  It’s great to see her confidence so high. 

2)   My stepdaughter Hannah coming right home and getting a job.  Truly demonstrating how a positive outlook and an expectation of good always works out well.

3)   My son Lyle stopping over for lunch again.  I’m so happy to be hanging with him again as he readies himself for his trip out west.  This is a very exciting time for him and his enthusiasm is energizing.

4)  Writing my blog.  I get very uplifted and joyful any day I write my blog. 

5)  Being able to turn my bad day into such a great day shows me that I’m really on to something here.  If I can shift the way I see a situation and then change the way I feel about it, then I can create anything I want in my life!  I’m not saying I should be happy when I’m not, I was miserable and wanted to be miserable.  But I now know I can create happiness when and if I want, and knowing that is very powerful. 

Anyone for a game of HIGH FIVE!? 

I hope it resonates for you as it has for me this week.

In Appreciation, Mike

Four Things about Yesterday

and my unexpected...

Wingman of the Week

6/1-6/8/2011 

     

Yesterday was a miserable day for me.  Not only did I get destroyed in the poker room, (and not just financially, but confidence breaking as well) but my car broke down on the Betsy Ross bridge.  I was miserable! And more than that… I wanted to be miserable.  I was miserable to be around and miserable to those around me.  It was, to use an Abraham term, a day of contrast.

Today, I woke up and as I took my first step into the woods I was inspired to name five things I loved about yesterday.  I got to 4, and was pretty happy about that.  Hmmm, maybe that's the fifth, how this little process got me in a much better mood, ready to meet some challenges, ready to go after and manifest what I truly desire. That’s actually a pretty good fifth.

So here are the other four...

1) I just added another leg to my trip out west as I’ll be meeting SARK for breakfast prior to flying to Las Vegas for the World Series of Poker. I can't think of a better person to speak with as I head to the WSOP.

2). My son, Lyle, stopped over after my ordeal and after leaving to grab some lunch actually came back for more of my friendly demeanor. As my fury had no bounds it was really good to see him return and hang with me.

3) Poker.  I played at a very good table yesterday and held my own for awhile but could not sustain it.  If I truly want to make my living in the arena of poker, it became very apparent that much more preparation is needed, especially in the area of patience and discipline.  Yes, just another way practice is necessary in my life.

4) I started realizing how much I’ve been thinking of my brother Stevie who died about 8 years ago.  We talked of him “finding” me at the World Series of Poker and this is the first time I will be attending it. I’m hoping to “connect” with him out there.  I’ve often said that the poker room has been a great classroom for me in my life and I fully expect this journey will add to my many lessons.

So… when desire springs forth from contrast I find it wise to pay attention.  My contrast began at the poker table against an excellent player whom I only know as “Big Belly”.  He schooled me on how much more training I need.  Like attracts like and my day continued in a downward spiral until I awoke today and challenged myself to find these 5 things that were fantastic about yesterday.

Therefore, for helping supply the contrast which led me to practice appreciation in the aftermath of a miserable day…

I bestow the honor of Wingman of the week to… “Big Belly”.

Thank you Big Belly, thank you for being my wingman this week.

In Appreciation, Mike

Wingman of the Week

5/24-5/31/2011

Brian Wendel, Lee Fulkerson,

T. Colin Campbell Ph.D. and Caldwell Esselstyn, Jr., M.D. 

"To keep the body in good health is a duty... otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear." (Buddha)

I realize this award is usually given to one who has inspired me in the world of spirituality.  Yet, as stated by Buddha, I realize to keep my mind strong and clear, I must keep my body in good health.

Therefore, this week’s Wingman of the week award goes to the creators of Forks over Knives, the new documentary that promotes the idea that a whole foods, plant based diet is not only the cure for heart disease, stress, diabetes and cancer but also the cure for our failing health system as well as our planet.

This discussion is not new, however with America paying more and more (the United States spends more on healthcare than any other country in the world) and continuing to have amongst the highest mortality rates in the world, it is a conversation we all need to hear.

Let me be clear, I am a “Philly” guy who absolutely LOVES cheese steaks and hoagies and currently has no plans to give them up (I just had one for breakfast).  However, after seeing this movie I have promised myself to go 50% plant based, meaning 50% of my meals will be plant based and whole, not processed, food.  Hopefully this change in diet will help keep me healthy as I continue on this wonderful journey called life.  Perhaps if you attempt to do so as well, together we can even help America get healthier, financially as well as physically.

Please see this movie.  I really enjoyed it as it was interesting, entertaining and really well done.  Hopefully the message will resonate for you as well.

I know I speak for many when I say…

Thank you, Brian Wendel, Lee Fulkerson, Dr. Campbell and Dr. Esselstyn.  Thank you for being my Wingman this week.

In Appreciation,

Mike