The Secret of Lasting Personal Change

Why do diets end up in gained weight? Why do some people fail again and again at business? And why do other people fall into one bad relationship after another ?- in spite of their honest desire for a "good" relationship?

Obviously no one *wishes* to fail in their personal or business life. Yet this is an all-too-common problem

We WANT to be in control! We WANT to make our lives a better place to be! We WANT success! We WANT a sense of security! We WANT a good relationship with ourselves and others.

Good grief ? we just WANT to be happy!

So what IS the problem?

** The "Basic Rule" of Lasting Personal Change

Trying to change the external conditions of your life can be an overwhelming challenge.

For example: Consider trying to lose weight by going on a "diet," and then keep it off.

Most of us know the final outcome of such a battle ?- failure!

The basic rule of personal change is this: Your efforts will *always* fail, or only be temporary, unless accompanied by a change of your internal thoughts and beliefs.

There are NO exceptions to this rule.

((To change your external conditions, you must first change your internal reality.))

For example: What's happening in your mind to make your business efforts end in failure? Or your relationships collapse? Or your waistline to continuously expand?

Unless you uncover and deal with the source, all your efforts will only be a band-aid over a festering wound.

This rule applies to anything you want to change in your life: From a fear of flying, to chronic underachievement and failure, lack of motivation, low energy, monetary lack, etc.

** How We Create Our Personal Reality

The old saying "you become what you think" is more than just a "saying." It is now solidly backed by years of sophisticated brain research.

Here's how it works:

Picture a foot path through a meadow. Frequent use creates a well-defined pathway. But if the path isn't used, it eventually disappears.

By its very nature, your mind is a creature of habit.

Just like a path through a meadow ?- pathways in your brain are "worn in" (strengthened) by frequent use. But unused pathways, on the other hand, will slowly disappear.

So ? if you give frequent attention to negative thoughts and conditions, they will grow stronger and more defined.

If you focus on the bright side of life, on the other hand, your "positive" neural pathways will gain strength and definition.

It really IS this simple.

((( What you focus on will grow )))

Your thoughts actually CREATE your external reality, because they determine how you will respond to what happens to you!

And your RESPONSES, in turn, directly determine your "personal reality."

** How Your Mind Works

Your conscious and subconscious minds are a team. They work together to create your "mental reality."

Picture your subconscious mind as a garden, and your conscious thoughts and beliefs as seeds. The subconscious mind does not question the seeds planted in it. It simply provides the soil in which they flourish and grow.

Your conscious mind, on the other hand, is the wise gardener. It chooses and plants healthy seeds, and removes the weeds that have grown in your mental garden.

It's important to remember that the subconscious mind does NOT *rationally analyze* the seeds planted in its soil. It simply works 24-hours a day to grow what has been planted in it.

Your subconscious will manifest failure, sickness, depression and misfortune -- just as easily as it will manifest success, abundance, and happiness.

** An "ANT-Stomping" Exercise

If you have not achieved the happiness and success you deserve in your life, you probably have some ANTs running around your subconscious mind.

ANTs (Automatic Negative Thoughts) can undo our most determined efforts to create a healthy, happy, successful, prosperous life. And they are the enemy of anyone desiring lasting personal change.

Here are four steps you can take to stomp out ANTs:

? First, build your awareness of what those ANTs are all about. What messages are they marching through your subconscious mind?

? Second, once you become aware of an ANT, drag it out into the sunlight of your conscious mind. Ask yourself: "Is it providing a message about something I should change? Or is it just spouting old stuff from my childhood that's no longer really true?"

? Third, create an anchor to either make the indicated change, or stomp that ANT. An anchor is a *signal* to yourself that will become automatic, once established. For example, you could instruct yourself to snap your fingers every time an ANT tries to undo your efforts to improve your life. Come up with your own anchor.

? Fourth, remember that your mind can only hold ONE thought at a time. Focus your conscious thoughts on what you WANT.

? Fifth, Do NOT focus on worry or limitation. Remember: What you focus on *will* grow!

? 2004 All Rights Reserved

The author, Dr Jill Ammon-Wexler, is a doctor of psychology, pioneer brain/mind researcher, and former advisor to the Pentagon, a Presidential Commission, and numerous top executives and executive teams. The author of several books and hundreds of articles, she is also the co-founder of quantum-self.com, and the Creative Director of the Self Discovery Community. She can be reached at: drjill@quantum-self.com

Come visit the exciting Self Discovery Community. Discover the most interesting, unusual, stimulating and creative methods of self discovery on the web today! Free sizzling weekly ezine, and the web's first Brain Gym ezone. drjill@quantum-self.com

efficient cleaning crew Northbrook ..
In The News:

Chinese hackers used Anthropic's Claude AI to launch autonomous cyberattacks on 30 organizations worldwide, marking a major shift in cybersecurity threats.
Apple's new Sleep Score feature gives you a rating for your nightly rest quality. Learn how to set it up on your Apple Watch and iPhone today.
Essential phone settings to enable before losing your device, including Find My network, location services and security features for iPhone and Android.
The Fox News AI Newsletter gives readers the latest AI technology advancements, covering the challenges and opportunities AI presents.
Cybersecurity research shows weak passwords remain a major threat, with simple patterns and number sequences putting millions of accounts at risk.
New Android malware BankBot YNRK silences phones, steals banking data and drains crypto wallets automatically. Learn how this advanced threat works.
FDA approves first human trial for Paradromics' brain-computer interface that could restore speech for paralyzed patients through neural technology.
New phishing platform QRR targets Microsoft 365 users across 1,000 domains in 90 countries. Learn how to spot fake login pages and protect your accounts.
OpenTable now uses AI to track your dining habits and share insights with restaurants. Learn what data they collect and how to protect your privacy.
Google's discontinued Nest thermostats still secretly upload home data to company servers despite losing smart features, raising serious privacy concerns.
New Android malware NGate steals NFC payment codes in real-time, allowing criminals to withdraw cash from ATMs without your card. Learn protection tips.
DoorDash confirms data breach exposing customer names, emails, addresses after social engineering attack. Learn how to protect yourself from scams.
Concerned about Google's AI scanning your Gmail? Learn how to disable Gemini features that access your emails, Drive files and Chat messages for privacy.
Google warns Android users about dangerous fake VPN apps hiding malware that steals passwords, banking details and personal data from phones and tablets.
Apple's digital passport feature lets iPhone users breeze through TSA checkpoints this holiday season using Digital ID technology at 250+ airports.
A new phishing scam targets family photos with fake "Cloud Storage Full" alerts. Criminals steal credit card information through fake sites. Learn protection tips.
South Korean scientists create ultra-thin fabric muscles that turn clothes into robotic assistants, lifting 33 pounds while weighing under half an ounce.
Archer Aviation has acquired Hawthorne Airport for $126M to launch an LA air taxi network ahead of the 2028 Olympics, featuring AI-powered eVTOL operations and next-gen aviation tech.
Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
Fake AI apps disguised as "ChatGPT" and "DALLĀ·E" are flooding app stores with dangerous malware that steals data and monitors users without detection.
Fake buyers demand specific vehicle reports from unknown sites to steal credit card information from car sellers, but warning signs can help identify these scams before paying.
Android users can now manage apps across multiple devices more easily with Google Play Store's updated remote uninstall button in the latest update.
NASA's Perseverance rover discovers shiny metallic rock on Mars that could be a meteorite from an ancient asteroid, containing high levels of iron and nickel.
Holiday scams spike during Black Friday and Cyber Monday as criminals exploit your leaked personal data. Learn how to protect yourself from fake stores and phishing.
Commerce Department proposes TP-Link router ban over Chinese security risks. Learn how this potential prohibition could affect your home network and devices.

Self-Improvement Secrets

* Perfectionism is a time waster.Strive for excellence on important... Read More

Finding Your Purpose

What is success? As author and speaker Earl Nightingale said,... Read More

Becoming a Success Giant!

IntroductionSuccess - we all read about it, hear it on... Read More

Accelerated Learning is Profitable

Accelerated learning is not only practical, it is profitable. Acquiring... Read More

Hip-Hop, Michael Phelps, and Peak Performance

I am unashamed to copy the peak performance techniques of... Read More

A Stop On the Road of Life

With three kids, a business, a husband with a business,... Read More

Creative Destruction

This past Memorial Day weekend I decided to revisit my... Read More

Remembering What You Read - Nine Effective Strategies

Reading lots these days? Having trouble remembering and recalling? For... Read More

Personal Development Legend Jim Rohn Turns 70 and Still Going Strong

Jim Rohn, noted leader and speaker in the personal development... Read More

It?s Sure to Succeed

There are "How to" seminars on virtually every business topic.... Read More

Success Lessons From Cricket That Can Improve Your Life

This summer (2005) huge crowds in England and Australia have... Read More

Reach Your Goals - Create A Soundtrack

Choose a personal theme song and soundtrack that stirs you... Read More

Take Care of Yourself to Achieve Maximum Results (part 1)

All too often, we push ourselves past the limits of... Read More

The 5-Minute Success Strategy - Transform Your Behavior Easily and Painlessly

Recently, I coached a young woman whom I'll call Mary... Read More

Top 10 Strategies Of Highly Successful Professionals

Last Thursday evening, I was the guest of a group... Read More

The Fuel That Drives The Ultimate Lifestyle

In a recent article (What is The Ultimate Lifestyle), I... Read More

10 Questions: Do You Have What It Takes?

Do you have what it takes to be really successful?Have... Read More

Characteristics of Successful People

Each human being, who exists above the level of simple... Read More

The Power Of Language: How To Language Your Future

Imagine living in the world that Helen Keller found herself... Read More

Elements of Success

There are twelve necessary elements involved in achieving success:1. Spend... Read More

Dont View Your Failures As Being Final

Do not make the mistake of looking at your failures... Read More

Reach Your Goals - Make A Game Out Of It

Make a game out of reaching your goals Go to... Read More

To Be is to Become

To make change effective, you have to BE what you... Read More

How To Use The Past, Future, And Present In Attaining Success

Did you know that your past, present, and future can... Read More

The Winner Walk

The Winner's Walk is a key strategy in the sport... Read More

cleaning lady near Wilmette ..