April 2013 'Useletter'
Over the years this 'Useletter' has had many different 'feels' to it, some funny, others light-hearted, and some serious. Maybe that's why it's become so popular? Everything I write always comes from the heart and the 'space' I am in at the time of writing. I feed off the emails you send me coupled with what I see going on in the world at the time. A few days ago I started thinking about a topic for this month's 'Useletter', and spontaneously I decided to shoot a Quick Tip video on life. As I began uploading the video, an email came through from a subscriber, Ron who over the years has always shared his thoughts with me. However, this time, the story he mailed me was exactly the topic I had just discussed on tape – how's that for uncanny? It was a sign! Lately I have been thinking a lot about life, particularly my life and how fast the years have gone. As the big 'Five-O' approaches I have reached a point of reflection where I am taking stock and deciding whether I am happy with everything so far, and if not, what I am going to do about it. This self reflection has highlighted some very interesting life issues for me.
But before I tackle the topic of life, many people send me emails with queries and requests, the new Quick Tip videos below are my responses to these mails – do enjoy!
Firstly, I was asked to do something on coping with regret – click here to view my new video with 5 tips on doing this. Someone also asked me to give some practical advice on goal achievement, something more realistic and achievable – so check out my tips of achieving realistic goals here.
As a speaker, many people have asked me for advice and tips on public speaking, so guess what, click here for 15 Tips on professional speaking, plus a full speaking course.
LIFE
Click here to watch my 'unrehearsed video on insights about life!
For everyone over 50, I think this Useletter it going to touch home. If you are in your twenties, I would suggest you try save this Useletter and read it again when you reach your 50's. I can promise this - the day you read it you will know why I asked you to save it for all those years! Nevertheless, even if you are younger, read this edition slowly and try take in the depth of the message shared, for if you truly understand where I am coming from with this message, you will realise the importance of time and how you need to make the most of every moment. And if you are 50 or older I know this is going to hit home!
Is it just me or have you also noticed that time has a way of moving quickly and catching you unaware as the years pass by? It seems just yesterday that I was young, care free, just engaged and embarking on my new life with my mate. Even though it was 30 years ago, it doesn't feel like eons ago. If I am honest, it feels like maybe 10 years ago maximum. I often wonder where all the years went. I know that I lived them all. In fact I have tons of photos as reminders and glimpses of how it was back then, and of all my hopes and dreams.
But here I am now, some would even call this the period of introspection – it has caught me by surprise! How did I get here so fast? Where did the years go and where did my youth go? I clearly remember seeing older people and thinking this was years ahead of me – in fact it was so far off, I could not fathom it or imagine fully what it would be like.
I remember working with an elderly comedian on the cruise ships who told a joke about his youth and how his dad found certain actresses attractive, which he at the time as a youngster thought they were ugly. As he reached the same age of his dad at the time he found them attractive too. We used to laugh at this joke, but never fully comprehended the depth of it – today I think of my old friend often – as his words ring true as I am finding older woman really attractive too!
I met an old acquaintance at the circus yesterday. I hardly recognised him. I still joked and said, “My you've changed.” He looked at me and replied, “Your hair is all grey!” I turned around and thought he was talking about someone else! This is now my reality – all my friends are starting to think about retirement and getting grey! We move slower and people in our age group. When we talk about the world and what is happening to society and the youth... we sound like our parents!
Some of my friends are in better and some worse shape than me. The young and vibrant people of my memories don't exist anymore! Their age is beginning to show and we are now those older folks that we used to see and never thought we'd be. I bought a birthday card for my oldest daughter recently who had just turned 16. As I began looking for the card I first stumbled on the Happy 50th cards. I looked at them and had the same thoughts I had when I was 16, “Wow, imagine being that old.” Then I realised, “Hey, that's you!” This year alone I have been invited to eight 50th parties!
I remember socialising at events and having fun with those present – today I we savour the wine and whiskey, rather than gulp it down. Maybe because it takes us longer to recover if we don't! I could open any bottle of cold drink, and any jam jar, no matter how tight the lid was screwed on – now I have to ask my 16 year old daughter to do it for me! This has resulted in us buying those can/jar openers as we still love our bodies and independence, instead of asking our kids to it!
And so even I enter into this new season of my life, unprepared for all the aches and pains. Yes, even I have a few regrets and things I wish I had done/did differently. But there are also many many things I'm happy I did do. All in all I am content with my lot in life, however, should we have the opportunity to start all over again, we would have started sooner and would have done more.
None of us, not even the youngsters, has the promise that we will see all the seasons of our life! Hence the importance of living in the moment and living for today and saying all the things we need/want our loved ones to remember.
Today I see many older people that are unhappy at their lot in life. This saddens me as I often think about my friends that have passed on already and realise that not everyone has the opportunity of getting older. So my first bit of advice if you are older – be grateful that you have reached this age!
I often think back of that old saying, “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift, that is why it is called the present.” Live in the moment and make the most of today, for every today well lived gives you a great memory of yesterday and something to look forward to tomorrow. Kinda makes sense huh?
Also, remember that today is the oldest that you have ever been in your life, but it is also the youngest that you will ever be!
This “Useletter' is not meant to make you sad, but to inspire you that no matter what your age is, it ain't over yet! I am just reaching the 2nd phase of my life and intend achieving twice as much as in the first half – you can do the same too!
Appreciate what life has taught you up to this point and enjoy the comfort that comes with being older. Let the following 'plus' factors bring a smile to your face:
✔ Going out is good, coming home is always better!
✔ You may forget names, but it's okay because other people forgot they even knew you!
✔ Our confidence grows – we've been around the block.
✔ You sleep better on a lounge chair with the TV blaring than in bed. It's called 'pre-sleep'.
✔ You miss the days when everything worked with just an 'ON' and 'OFF' switch.
✔ We get better at relationships – we have more experience and we are comfortable with who we are and what we want out of life.
✔ You tend to use more 4 letter words, 'what?' and 'when?'
✔ We start caring more about others – isn't that the coolest thing ever?
✔ Now that you can afford expensive jewellery, you know that it's not important to wear anymore.
✔ We become more sensual – the body may go but our souls have expanded and taught us to live in the now and appreciate life and love on a much deeper level.
✔ What used to be freckles are now liver spots.
✔ Everybody whispers.
✔ You have 3 sizes of clothes in your closet – because you need a much bigger choice!
✔ It's not what you gather, but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have lived.
✔ We slow down, but we learn to appreciate more.
✔ But old is better in many things; old songs, old movies, and best of all, old friends!
Stay well and healthy, old friend!
I'll chat with you again next month!
Warmest regards
Wolfgang
PS! Some of you know that I am a Sage with Rock Your Life and they will be presenting their X-Factor in Johannesburg http://xfactor2013jburg.eventbrite.com on 27 May and in Cape Town http://xfactor2013ctown.eventbrite.com on29 May. If you visit the links and want to book, quote xfactor010
March 2013 'Useletter'
The first rule of focus is... wherever you are, be there! In today's hectic world, few people actually focus on one thing at a time. Schedules and deadlines are part of the norm. Many people wonder why they don't get anything done – they have too much on their plate! As long as I can remember, I have always scheduled my day in segments. If I have a number of projects on the go, I divide my day into hour slots, starting with the most important tasks first. In fact I will make sure I don't take phone calls before 10am (There is a thing such as an 'off' switch on your phone, as well as a messaging system). This enables me to focus 100% for those first two hours in the morning and really get things done. In fact, I find that by following this route those 1st two hours, I get more done than if I spent the entire day fiddling with tasks at random. Assume you have eight different goals and you tackle each one solidly for an hour. At the end of the day you have managed to do a little for each one. It might not feel like much, but at the end of the month when you look back, you have accomplished more than ever before. By haphazardly doing tasks during the day, one tends to get side tracked. Even if you start with the task that you consider most important, and want to finish it first, and then tackle the next task, there will always be another task that appears to be more important that then interferes with the first one. By religiously allocating time to everything and dividing your day into specified segments, you are creating a workable system. This doesn't mean you need to have eight tasks per day. Some of those hour slots can be social, creative or just 'me time' as well. The emphasis here is on focusing 100% in that moment as the quotation says... wherever you are, be there! As another quote so aptly puts it, a successful person, is the average person focused. This goes hand in hand with ordinary people think merely of spending time, great people think of using it. You cannot use time effectively if you don't have a plan! So stop talking and thinking about it and create a plan of action that is practical and doable! In the last month I have met up with some old friends and the topic of a 'Rainmaker' came up. Do you know what a 'Rainmaker' is? Simply put, it's someone that creates things from nothing. It's a person that takes an idea or thought and manifests it into something that is real and can be shared and experienced with everyone 'out there.' Whether it is about creating a book, a course, a study method, etc., I constantly receive emails from people wanting to know where I find the time and energy to constantly write and create new material. Well, I have just shared my secret with you – I plan and schedule my day. Rainmakers take control of their lives and make things happen. Rainmakers understand the simplicity, yet also the power of goals that are not written down are just wishes! I have many people saying to me that they are scared of failure and fear what others will think if they don't succeed. I appreciate the honesty, but I also become very frustrated at how many people have allowed themselves to be manipulated and conditioned by the messed up society out there, resulting in them severely impeding their own unlimited potential. You can achieve anything you want – you just need to try! My first response to friends and colleagues that approach me with this view in life is, Failure is never as scary as regret! And boy is that true! However, in all fairness, it's not always that easy. Hence my tip to you – don't tell anyone when you tackle a new dream or desire. Keep it private. Make a deal and set a timeline with yourself – not with everyone around you. In that way, no one can comment about it and put you down. Then once you've achieved it, everyone will be surprised. You'll get comments like, “We didn't know you were doing that!” It's a really great feeling when you can surprise everyone around you with something you created in your own space and time. View the possible as probable. You'll be surprised at what you can accomplish. Even if what I say is foreign to you and you feel that you are in a rut and cannot change, remember that rewards in life only go to those who are willing to give up the past. Way too many people on this earth are living in the past and brooding in it. You will NEVER move ahead if you keep blaming the past. You will never be happy if you constantly live in the past and most definitely never be able to move forward. By harping on the past, what are you really accomplishing in life? Zero, zip, nothing! You are just becoming more and more bitter and pulling yourself down into a rut. If your dreams are turning to dust, you need to vacuum! The future belongs to those who live intensely in the present and you can only do this by living in the present. Understand that NOW is the watchword of the wise! Time is the most precious asset that we have. Are you just going to sit there and let time go by, wasting it on regrets and hatred issues from the past? Or are you going to stand up and take responsibility for your own life and realise that the best way to predict your future is to create it! Life is built of the things we do. The only constructive material is POSITIVE ACTION. If you only look behind you, how can you possibly move forward? You need to turn your head around occasionally and look forward. It's amazing what you can see if you look! There are opportunities all around us every day, and even in the sad and the tragic events, there are always opportunities to be found. But these only go to those people that open their eyes and look. At times we may see our own lives as filled with challenges and feel that you cannot see the woods for the trees. However, you need to realise that the bigger the challenge, the greater the opportunity! Those days that I may doubt myself, or be unduly negatively influenced by some happening, or become suddenly annoyed by someone’s selfish intent, I always look up at the wall opposite me in my study at this quotation, we all leave footprints in the sand, the question is, will we be a big heal, or a great soul? Hand in hand with this awesome insight you also need to accept and understand that like farmers we need to learn that we cannot sow and reap on the same day. Whether it takes a day, a month or a year, as long as you take positive action and look ahead, you are living a life of forward movement. I much rather move forwards than backwards? Wouldn't you? And finally, don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened! Have an incredible March. Warmest wishes Wolfgang PS! I have another new Quicktip video on Table Mountain. Did you know that this mountain is one of the earth's energy centres and also known as a Spinner Wheel? Click here to be even more inspired.
February 2013 'Useletter'
It's February! How are the New Year's resolutions coming on? Still pushing ahead or have you given up? At the beginning of every year I make a concerted effort to follow through with all my New Year's resolutions. So far, so good, but the biggest one for me this year was to learn not to get annoyed by inconsiderate and annoying people around me, from associates, work colleagues, family members and my weak point - corrupt politicians.
We often joke about this, but how often in a day do you quietly curse someone in your thoughts, whether it's that inconsiderate driver that cut you off in morning traffic, or your boss that hasn't acknowledged that you were up the whole night sorting out a crises?
Here's the reality... we all have these feelings... everyday! Yes, even I have them! Sometimes I want to pop a blood vessel when I see the greed and corruption amongst our politicians. However, the only person getting upset is me! They are just carrying on as always, and no matter how much I jump up and down. When I scream at the driver and use foul language in the car and attempt to display every crude sign I can with my hands, odds are I am only enraging myself as the other person doesn't even realize it's them I am cursing at.
Unfortunately, most of the time we just annoy ourselves more than the other person. If anything I find this is the most difficult issue to come to terms with in my life. I have lectured, written about and put many videos on You Tube about dealing with hatred and letting go of the past. And I really try to practice what I preach. Nevertheless, there are ALWAYS and there always will be those people out there that WE ALL love to hate. Those people that ALWAYS annoy us, no matter how hard we try to remain calm. For weeks we can go about ignoring them, and then one day, out of the blue, grrrrr and all that pent up aggression explodes. The saddest thing of all is, we tend to take it out on those that are closest to us. Your spouse is cuddling next to you in front of the TV, completely relaxed and content in the moment, when you suddenly scream and jump up because of someone on the television, ruining the mood completely. Sound familiar? I've done it!
What about driving in the car and everyone is listening to a nice song on the radio, when suddenly someone three cars ahead does something stupid (which doesn't affect you) and you blurt out a string of abuse that would even embarrass a rap singer!
Hopefully I have put a little smile on your face as you maybe relate to what I am saying. At the time it's not funny, but afterwards, I have to embarrassingly laugh at myself acknowledging that I have just described me.
How do I learn to deal with this? Realistically, I feel there will always be inconsiderate people out there. However, it is up to us to try and control our reactions to them. Instead of blowing one's top ten times out of ten, don't you agree it would be better just to lose your cool one time out of ten. Of course it would be great if we could just all let go completely. But I am a realist... thus even if I only manage to half my outbursts – that's already an improvement.
With all of this in mind, I am going to share tips with you on how to cope with annoying people in your life. I have attached a PDF of my short E-Book: 25 Tips of Coping with Annoying People for you to enjoy. Should you want other E-Formats of the book, visit www.mindpowerpublications.com to download them for free.
Also, I have uploaded a new Quick Tips video with 3 tips on coping with Annoying People – although I must warn you, the 3rd tip (which I think is the most realistic and funny tip) may not be everyone's cup of tea – but I still think it's brilliant! Watch it at your own risk! Click here.
5 Tips on Coping with Annoying People
1. Becoming upset make you remember it longer
The more you acknowledge and think about the person or thing that has upset you, the more you etch that thought into your subconscious mind. You must remember that you are not dealing with a fleeting thought here, but a feeling that is filled with emotion, and intense emotion at that. This is powerful stuff and the more you harp on it, the better the odds of it becoming cemented into your long term memory and upsetting you for weeks and months to come. The solution is to give any irritation as little time and thought as possible.
2. Sometimes YOU are a fault too!
Admitting that one has made a mistake is a hard thing to do. The last thing you want to acknowledge is that you are weak and actually make mistakes too. If this is you – grow up and realize that ALL OF US are human. We ALL make mistakes. It takes a bigger person to admit when they are wrong. I have found that by being brutally honest with myself and actually admitting when I do make a mistake, that I have learnt to laugh at myself and not take myself so seriously. Those around me respect me for being so comfortable with myself and forgive me because I can acknowledge when I am wrong while at the same time (and this is so important) actually forgiving myself too.
3. Reacting can damage your reputation
Yes you may believe that you are in the right and have been falsely wronged! Guess what... if you lose your temper and start a fight, those around you will judge and see you in the same light as the aggressor. It may even make you look petty and unreasonable. Ever thought about it like that? Try not to react, you are better off for it.
4. Stand up for yourself and be clear about your boundaries
Nowhere is there a rule book that states that you must be friends with everyone around you. As humans we long for acknowledgement and recognition and many people fail to realize that not everyone will give you this. My dad always told me that I should not strive to have everyone love me, but instead I should strive to have them respect me. This is a very important point in life. We always try fit in everywhere, but never take a stand in what we believe. Then we wonder why people don't respect us. It is an unchangeable fact that not everyone will like you – there is NOTHING you can do to change this. However, you can get them to respect you. The only way you can do this is to stand up for what you believe in. One way to do this with annoying people is to clearly tell them what your boundaries are and what you will allow them to say to you. Letting others know about your feelings and boundaries helps them treat you in the manner you want to be treated.
5. Take your own advice
Instead of judging and giving advice to others, how about taking your own advice and practicing what you preach? Consider someone that is annoying right now. What exactly is it that annoys you about them and what advice would you give them to stop doing it? Now take your advice for this person, and apply it to yourself. Reality check – most of the time what you feel others should be doing, you need to apply in your own life.
That's it, the other 20 tips you can read in the attached E-Book. PS! Tip 25 is a bit rough, but it's the one that really works for me.
IMPORTANT NEWS! Everyone asks me when are you doing a live seminar for us to attend? Here's the deal, I intend doing a world tour soon. For now I will start in Cape Town and on 25 February 2013 at 18h30 at the Durbanville Golf Course. I will do an hour seminar on inspiration and teach you to Discover Your Magic. This is a once off FREE seminar and seats are limited. Do you want to learn how to fulfil your dreams and attain your goals? Then YOU need to attend! Please RSVP by Friday by replying to this email and booking your seat with your Name, Tel no. and number of people attending. I only have limited seats available – first come first served!
Thank you for reading to this point. I know it's Valentine's month and thus I want to offer you a special until 14 Feb on my book, The Art of Romance E-Book only. Spoil your loved one for ONLY €2.50. Learn how to be the dream romantic this Valentine's day for only €2.50! Click here.
Also, a very good friend of mine, Dorothy Ewels launched a new online magazine – it's FREE and this month it's all about Romance! Yours truly also has an article in it. Please view it at http://glossi.com/inspirante/6217-inspirante-feb-2013-editon
Have an incredible February.
Warmest wishes
Wolfgang
January 2013 'Useletter'
I thought I would give everyone a week before sending out the first Useletter of 2013. Most people I know only get back to work on the 7th, so I figured that's the best day to start the year on a positive note! I trust you had a brilliant and deserved break and that all the batteries are recharged. If anything, it did me good, I switched off completely and let my mind clear – it's amazing how one needs this. I find that if you do something totally different, suddenly your thought patterns start changing and the creative juices start flowing again. The only problem is that now I have too many ideas! A great problem to have!
What did you do on the last day of the year? I put processes in place to start the New Year completely fresh. For the first time ever I practiced that philosophy of throwing out the old and starting completely new. During the entire December my wife and I threw out everything we hadn't used in 6 months. When I say threw out, most we gave away to people in need, and a few things we even sold on the Internet. Bottom line, we cleared all the old energy out of the house. It was interesting to note that items such as clothing and old paperwork were what had piled up the most. I am constantly amazed at how much stuff we collect, and then we buy a bigger house to store all our extra stuff that we don't need! Sometimes humanity doesn't make sense to me.
If anything, you can only live in one room at a time. So what's the point of having a palace if all it does is create more stress in your life via higher mortgage payments, rates and maintenance costs? For what, just to store your stuff and impress your friends? They say wisdom comes with age. Kinda makes sense as the years start ticking by and you realise that you have passed the half way mark. Right now all my wife and I want to do is sell our big home and move into a lock up and go smaller place. In fact that's one of our New Year's resolutions. Many people, especially younger people, become slaves to their own homes and spend so much time maintaining them plus the expected image that goes with the lifestyle, that they forget to live. Check out my new Quick Tip video on starting fresh here.
So my first message to you for 2013 is... start living. Manage your life's time to enjoy life with those that are important to you, rather than be a slave to what society expects you to do. I said to my daughters before Christmas that I wanted us to spend time together as a family and do things we had never done before. In fact I asked them to list 10 things they had never done before and as a family we went out to achieve this. Weird, one of the things on the list was that they had never seen a corpse. It just happened that Dr Gunter von Hagen Body World's exhibition was in town. Well, what an experience and incredibly educational. Not only my daughters, but I too now have a better understanding of the human body. It was great to see that this exhibition was incredibly popular and that so many people are showing an interest in what we look like inside. In fact I was impressed at how many youngsters attended. Due to this plastination process this man is educating the world with his exhibition. I just wonder if I would have gone had I not asked my girls to make up this list.
My one daughter had never had sushi before... so off we went. Again I learnt something new, I always thought sushi only had raw fish in it. I never realised you could get vegetarian sushi. Suddenly my wife could eat it too and as a family we have discovered a new dining experience. All this happened because we as a family tried something new! What new things have you done recently? Check out my 2nd new Quick Tip video on bucket lists here.
Many people find the festive season commercialised and complain that the true spirit of Christmas has flown out of the window. In all fairness, I can understand where they are coming from. Hence my goal with my family for this festive season was to embrace that spirit again. First thing I planned was that all 4 of us, (myself, wife & 2 daughters) had a €5 gift budget each, per person. The challenge was to buy each other a gift for €5 or less, BUT, the gift had to have meaning to the person receiving it. It's so easy buying Xmas presents today, but how much thought really goes into this process? My challenge for the family (including myself) was that we had to take a ridiculously low sum of money and find something suitable for each other. Plus when the presents were opened on Christmas Eve, we had to motivate why we bought them. It took about 10 days for each of us to buy those 3 presents. I write this Useletter with tears of happiness in my eyes. It was a most special Christmas. We spent over an hour opening each other's presents and listening to the reason why we were given the items. My daughters had put so much thought into this and it was a bonding process second to none. We laughed and we shared. I believe we experienced the Christmas spirit. What touched me the most was that at the end of it all, both my girls told me it was the best Christmas ever. They were genuinely happy with the presents they had received. This is when I realised we had raised our daughters properly. They didn't need the big electronic gifts, branded clothing and newest cell phone – they were happy with the true spirit and meaning behind the gifts that they received. They understood that this was a lifelong special memory that had been embedded in their minds.
Hence the tears. I was so touched at their genuine contentment and love for what we had shared. Admittedly, I too am human and wasn't sure how this would go down with my young daughters. So I had secretly gone and bought all the 'other' conditioned expensive gifts the day before, in case it didn't work. I waited for about an hour after we had opened our special gifts before I surprised them with the new ones. Looking back, I needn't have done this! But hey, the commercial side of Xmas had even gotten the better of me too... but now I know better! Plus I have the best Christmas memory ever! What memories do you have of this Christmas? Is it the same as all others, or did you do something differently? Check out my 3rd new Quick Tip video on the meaning of Christmas here.
Talking of the new, I tend to be an extremist at times, this kind of goes with the territory and passion I have for life and living. Similarly, you will have picked up over the years of reading my scribbling’s that I am also a realist. One cannot always be up in the clouds – there are days that aren't as great as others and there are things that annoy all of us. I speak for myself here. Yet I believe that by being aware of what is going on 'out there' one can at least knowingly try to be objective and try to see the brighter side of things. Thus eventually having more good days than bad days and allowing the balance to start tipping in one's favour to becoming a more enlightened and positive person. I found it interesting that some readers last month emailed me and commented that they noticed a little less positivity in me than usual, because I had called a spade a spade with regard to people actually opening and reading this mail. I fully respect your views and chuckled as I read them. I like touching nerves and fluttering feathers on occasion – it makes people look up and notice things. Everything I wrote, I did with much thought and good reason. It's time to clean house!
If you sat on New Year’s Eve and made tons of resolutions, I really hope they work out for you. However, I have a question.... what changes have you brought about in your life to make these resolutions come true? You see, if you always do what you have always done, you will always have what you always had. Have you cleaned your internal house, i.e. your thought patterns, your mind, your bad habits, your approach to others, your views, etc?
Yes the world is in turmoil, times are tough... are they really? Or could it be that you have been conditioned to believe this. Maybe you have been conditioned to lead a certain life which includes eating out 3 times a week, driving the latest car, living in the best neighbourhood and are really struggling to make ends meet. This is causing high blood pressure, stress, family feuds and general unhappiness in your life. Wake up! Does the new car and big house really make you better than someone else? Do you really need to eat out 3 times a week? By having a smaller affordable home, a more affordable car and spending more time eating home cooked meals as a family, life could suddenly become simpler, less hectic and more fun. But you have to change your behaviour!
It's no use telling everyone that 2013 is going to be the year you make it big, if you have no plan of action. Nothing is going to happen if you follow the same route as last year! You have to change your behaviour. I find that the philosophy of starting 'fresh' is misunderstood by many. Most people think that they can still hang on to the past and still include old habits and behaviours when starting fresh. No! Starting fresh means learning from your past mistakes and making sure you don't do them again!
I tend to be a firm believer in energy. Especially in what comes around goes around. I also believe that negative people spread their negative energy and leave it behind if they visit you. Hence I stay very clear from them. Because everything on earth is made up of atoms (energy) I also believe that old items breed on old energy around them. Hence if I am content, I leave the old stuff around me and enjoy the old energy. If I am a dreamer and want something new, I create new energy. If I want to go on a Caribbean holiday, I buy myself a big Gonk shell and put it on my desk. I put a poster of the beach on the wall. I see this every day and let the new energy embrace me. Couple this with visualising your goals – and things change.
Remember, we are the only beings that can create something from nothing. From a mere thought we can create a reality! It's all about working the energy! Another thing I did to allow me that fresh start was to check all my emails, and by the 31st of Dec I had answered all the high priority mails. Guess what I did then? I went to 'select all' and deleted everything that was left! I am truly starting the year fresh! Are you still dragging old energy along with you? Drop it!
And finally, yes we are all still here! The world didn't end on 22 Dec. I know many people that had a huge party that night, and then another one the following night celebrating that they were still here. In fact I even know some doomsday believers that sold off everything and went and built new homes in the middle of the Namib Desert!
What did I do? What I do every day, I lived in the moment and enjoyed every day to the fullest. Not one of us knows when this is all coming to an end, regardless of Aztec predictions, and psychic's premonitions. If anything, go into 2013 and live life to the fullest. Truly learn to live in the moment by starting off with changing your behaviour today so that you have that fresh start.
Finally I want to thank those of you that follow my daily quotations and jokes on Facebook, especially those of you that sent good wishes and prayer for my dad who underwent an emergency operation on Christmas. I really really appreciate this and can report that he is recovering well. That was the best Christmas present ever for me.
I wish you a fantastic 2013.
Warmest regards
Wolfgang
PS! Don't forget if you are having an company event to plan the year ahead, Wolfgang has a great Keynote on goal setting! Contact me here.
December 2012 'Useletter'
That's it, the last 'Useletter' of 2012! I say this every year, but damn... this year went fast! This month I want to reflect over the past year and reinforce some of my past messages.
But firstly, as a holiday season gift I have attached a new e-book of mine called, “The Best Tips of 2011/12.” It's free and it's yours. Feel free to pass it onto your friends as well. If you don't like the pdf version and want a different e-reader version – you are welcome to download it free from here and hopefully it will be your preferred e-reader format. I trust you will enjoy the book.
Before I continue, there are two things I need to comment on:
1.) Thanks for the positive response to the new plain format. I never quite realized how many people had a problem reading the 'fancy' formats. Good to now know this works.
2.) As this year winds down and we recharge for 2013, I need to cover one more point. Is it just me that is noticing this, or is humanity becoming more selfish and self-centered? Since my health setback a year ago, I have changed my attitude to life somewhat, in the sense that I call a spade a spade and try not waste time on unimportant issues or negative people. Life really is too short. The great thing is, everyone now knows where they stand with me, plus I am now spending time with positive people that help me grow too!
Sadly, and I admit it, it took a heart attack to realize this and slow down. Last year I mentioned that 6 Dec will be my 2nd birthday embracing the year I have gained. Believe me, I am going to celebrate this new lease on life. It's weird when one thinks that one could have died a year ago!
During this last year I have also found that by sharing my inner emotions and thoughts, I have been receiving a better response and been able to touch more souls with my messages. I have also realized that even though my attitude to life has changed, the biggest gift we can get is to give back to others. Hence through sharing my messages with everyone, I have had an incredibly blessed year. If we connect and I change your life in even a small way, or even let you see an issue from a different point of view, I am glad and my goals are achieved.
Why do I make mention of this? I always try to remain positive and really try to help others live life to the fullest. Unfortunately it sometimes happens that one has to highlight a negative... but with the purpose of eventually turning it into a positive!
The company I use to send out this 'Useletter' gives me stats on how many people actually open the mail and read it. Sadly I see I have a 50% open rate. That means that 50% of the people receiving this don't read it. Um... why did you subscribe? I would prefer that these people 'unsubscribe' as they are wasting both our times. The only problem is they most probably aren't reading this mail! Plus, believe it or not, it costs me money to send out this free 'Useletter'. Rather let someone else subscribe that will read it and wants to benefit from it – then at least I am investing my time and money on people that really take an interest in keeping their lives positive. At the end of every 'Useletter' is an 'unsubscribe' link.
This is just one of the things that doesn’t make sense to me in life... why subscribe to something if you are not going to read it? Similarly, and this is a gem... last month you may recall that my topic was on 'respect'. My first point I made was, that we should not judge people of another country, race or religion. After all, how do you know you are right in what you believe? Guess what, I had over 1200 people unsubscribe because of the above comment! That was their free choice and I repeat, I respect that. However, what I found jaw dropping was that the majority were ALL from one particular religious group and many felt that they had to tell me where to get off. Mmmm, doesn't that kind of defeat the whole purpose of writing about respecting others? In hindsight though, what comes around goes around, and I actually had 1500 new subscribers join this month as well. Makes you think huh?
So… glad you are still here and I trust that you understood where I was coming from. If anything, I have gained a better understanding over the years of writing this 'Useletter' how people think and how views differ. Suddenly I see why there are so many wars, fighting and hatred in the world today. Way too many people have a problem being objective and putting themselves in someone else's shoes. If anything, 2012 has taught me to be more aware of other people's feelings, histories and beliefs. It has reminded me to count to ten before I react and above all it has taught me to ALWAYS put myself in someone else's shoes before I pass judgement. I really don't and never have believed that I am more intelligent or in any way better than anyone else. So how come I understand the concept of being non-judgmental and others don't? It doesn't make sense to me!
I hosted a World Aids Day concert on 1 Dec and was asked to make mention of the 16 consecutive days of non-violence towards woman. Apparently it's the first time in the world that this figure has been reached. I couldn't believe that I had to ask for a round of applause that this 16 day figure had been achieved! What is there to be proud of? Had it been 16 months, or 16 years I would have celebrated! Has the world become so sad that 16 days of non-violence towards women is seen as a milestone?
It all starts in the family how you bring up your children and how they see the relationship between their parents. It also starts with you standing up to your rights and not accepting violence and making your voice heard. Again, I don't want to sound negative, but we can't rely on politicians anymore, all they do is talk and don't take responsibility. The only option is that you take responsibility and stand up and respect your wife, girlfriend and ALL women around you. Do not tolerate disrespectful or violent behavior from other men at all. Next year on 1 Dec I want to stand on that stage and say that it's been 12 months of non-violence and not just 16 days... so stand up and respect all women everywhere... it all begins with YOU!
I have been pulling my hair out trying to figure out what makes people, selfish, disrespectful, judgmental, violent and basically nasty. Hence I sat and thought about this the entire November and have eventually come up with a possible explanation. Do you still believe in the Easter Bunny and Father Christmas? If not, I have a new character for you to believe in... And I have a huge internal debate to decide whether he/she is real or not. It's the 'Plunkey' (Pill + Monkey). Watch the FREE quick tip video by clicking here, or going to my You Tube Channel, 'inspiringtheworld'.
This is a mischievous monkey that carries a bag of 'idiot pills' with him wherever he goes, and he randomly sneaks them into people drinks, particularly on a Sunday night or early Monday morning! Ever watched how people behave in the traffic on a Monday morning? This 'Plunkey' also hangs out at airports and gives them to people before they board a plane. Ever noticed rude people in a store? Rude Boss?; Obnoxious work colleague?; Crazy family member?; ... the 'Plunkey!'
Added to that the 'Plunkey' buys his pills in bulk and as cheaply as possible. Hence he has some 'bad' batches of pills occasionally – these then don't result in 'stupid' behavior, but in 'judgmental' behavior.
There you have it – that's my explanation as to why certain people are so narrow minded and only see their way. In fact coming up with this explanation now makes me feel really sorry for these people and at the same time it gives me hope knowing that the effect of the tablet may eventually wear off – thus I should NEVER EVER give up and continue trying to make these individuals see the light!
This also means that anyone like this that you encounter can be cured! Don't give up on them. Kind words and understanding goes a long way! And if that doesn't work, silence is an incredibly powerful tool too! It reminds me of a great saying, “When arguing with an idiot, make sure you are not the idiot!” So sometimes silence is best.
What is the definition of insanity? To do what you have always done, and expect a different result!
Nice huh? During 2012 I have decided that I am going to live my life differently and take the advice of the Dalai Lama which is shared in February. In case you didn't read it, here it is again.
A question that was posed to the Dalai Lama which has had me thinking seriously on what is important in life. He was asked, “What thing about humanity surprises you the most?” His answer was as follows, “Man! Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices his money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he doesn't enjoy the present, As a result he doesn't live in the present or the future, but lives as if he’s never going to die, and then he dies having never really lived!”
It's been 10 months since I posted that story! So my question to you is, “Have you really lived this year?”
During December, while you decide on your New Year's resolutions for 2013, can I be so bold as to ask you to include respecting everyone around you and not being judgmental? Let's create magic in 2013. All the doomsday prophets are expecting the world to come to an end this month. Here's what I see. I believe that the world will and is changing and that all these predictions around the end of this year are about the beginning of a change in the mindset of humanity. More and more people are standing up to what is right. More and more speakers are doing what I am doing by sharing a positive and hope filled messages with everyone out there. I believe that slowly we are touching souls and people are spreading the positive message. Hence my prediction for the future is that this month is the beginning of a new mind shift change in humanity where people are beginning to become enlightened and the seeds are being planted for a better future world.
On that note I wish you a peaceful and relaxing festive season with family and friends. Whether you believe in Santa Clause or not, let the spirit and magic of this season rub off onto you so that you embrace the true gifts of giving and unconditional love over December and the year ahead.