I came across a really great gal about a week or so ago. Her name is Marie Forleo and she is one of the “new rich”, as Tim Ferris calls them. I’ve been listening to some of the calls she has done over the past couple of years and it’s very good stuff!
Here’s what I have been learning for myself.
I’m learning to live in the moment, and realizing that I’ve been spending far too much of my time, energy, etc in the past and in the future. I spend so much time wishing and hoping for the future, or regretting and cringing over things I’ve done in the past. When I’m living in the past, I am unable to truly be here in my life in this moment. Which means I am missing my life here and now!
I’ve also learned that complaining and whining are very counter-productive to what I want to achieve! By focusing on the things that I don’t like, I just give them more power! What I focus on expands, so by focusing on the negative, that just helps it to grow and get bigger and bigger! Instead of complaining, why not pretend that this is exactly the way I want it – because I have, in fact, created this life that I am living! Everything that is in my life now is a result of things I have done or believed in the past. My present is a product of my past. And my future will be a product of my past and my present.
When I stop resisting the things I don’t want, and stop giving them that power over me, then I’ll be able to focus on what is truly important in the present moment.
Another thing I’ve learned is that I have a mind but I am not my mind! When I realized this it really shifted the way I think about things. I have now found myself looking at my thoughts from more of an outside perspective. When I notice myself thinking something negative, or some other undesirable or goofy thought, instead of trying to get that thought out of my head, I can now mentally step back and notice it.
For instance, if I catch my thoughts worrying about something, instead of telling myself not to worry, or instead of focusing on that worry and making it grow, I can simply think something like, “Hmmm, look at those worry thoughts. Isn’t it interesting how my mind likes to fixate on that.” It’s like how you should treat a child that is throwing a temper tantrum – you ignore the behavior! You might make a mental note or comment, but you don’t react to it and you don’t try to stop it. You don’t give it the attention it wants, so it will have to try something else to get that attention. And hopefully it will find the correct method to do so! 
As I have been learning these things and putting them into practice in my own life, I have already begun to see changes in my attitude and the way I think. It is exciting to find myself happier, more cheerful, and less overwhelmed with “stuff”.
For those of you who would like to check out Marie Forleo for yourself, you can visit her website at www.marieforleo.com.
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