Viral Happiness

I have a natural inclination to downplay my own success. It’s a trait leftover from my childhood, when I was taught not to brag. So, I tend to soften my successes.

But that won’t do you any good.

You need to know about my success. You need to know how I achieve it. You need to find the success clues and apply them in your own situation.

The time for downplaying success is over, because, if I am not successful, you need to move on and read someone else. If I haven’t figured out some basic principles for my own life, you don’t need my influence and teaching. If I am not willing to  stand up and say, “I’m more than just a nice guy; I’ve figured out some things that can help you live better,” then I’m not really worth your time. That’s simply the way it is.

You and I are not here to brag, that’s true. But we are here to learn, improve, and accomplish. Because, we can learn plenty of theory, but if the learning doesn’t lead to accomplishment, what good is that knowledge?

Consider these questions:

Why are you reading this blog?

Why do you read other blogs, articles and books?

What do you want to do with this information?

Even though we pursue information, we are not really after information as an end. We are after a better life. We are longing for more love, more money, more freedom, more fulfillment. We are longing for that elusive something that makes us say, “Ahhhh, here it is at last! Now, I have arrived!”

We are looking for  SUCCESS.

We long to live a successful life.

And that’s what I intend to discuss in my next few blog posts.

As we discuss success, please keep these three truths in mind:
1. SUCCESS leaves clues.
2. SUCCESS can be recreated.
3. SUCCESS occurs one success at a time.

If you think you’ve heard this all before…if you think you know what I’m going to share…you may be right. But you need to ask yourself one very important question: “Am I on a path to success?”

If you’re not, then pay attention. You either need knowledge, application, or action. And, over my next few blog posts, I intend to discuss all three.

But be forewarned -  the key is action!

And I’m not talking about taking action by buying something from me. I haven’t refined this information into a product yet. I’m not trying to sell you anything.

If you read these posts, you’ll be getting the real, raw, off-the-cuff deal. I’m teaching on the fly, strictly by the seat of my pants.

But the key for you is the willingness to take fearless action.

You’ve got to be willing to get up and do something. If you’re not willing, stop right now. Don’t read any further. You are wasting your time.

That may sound a little harsh coming from me. If you’ve read much of my teaching, you know that I am very open and loving. Love is the reason I do what I do.

But it’s time for a little tough love. If I really love you (which I do), I can’t be satisfied if you are living beneath your potential. It’s like the message of my favorite Mary Chapin Carpenter song,

“Why Walk When You Can Fly?”

Click on that link and listen to the words. Resolve that you are ready to fly. Refuse to  settle for less.

And be on the lookout for my next post.

Peace of  mind.

That’s it. That’s what everything else is about. The desire for love, the pursuit of abundance, the search for meaning. It’s all about peace of mind.

You have a gnawing feeling in your gut that there is more to life than you are experiencing. You think you need…well you’re not really sure…but you think it may be more money or love or some intangible something that you can’t quite realize.

But you know it’s out there, somewhere.

In truth, it’s not out there at all. It’s inside and more than inside.

It’s not just in you, it is you.

Take a moment right now to relax. Sit back, release the tension in your shoulders and concentrate on your breathing. Take deep, rythmic breaths. Inhale and exhale on purpose, not just as an afterthought.

Disengage your mind chatter. Release thoughts of the past and future, even the immediate past and future. Don’t consider what just happened or what may happen in  the next moment. There is no next moment. All we have is this moment. Focus on living in the now.

As chattering thoughts intrude, let them float through your thinking like clouds drifting across a deep blue sky. Don’t fret over them, just allow them to be.

Allow everything to be. Don’t engage in mind battles, mentally fighting people or situations and engaging in worry after worry, always wishing that this would change or that would change. Just allow it all to be, like a stream flowing past your feet. Just let it all drift by, without being swept up.

Know that in this present moment you are fine. If you are sick, know that the sickness is not in the real you. The you that is the real you is strong and eternal. If you are concerned about money or relationships, know that you can exchange this emotion of worry for peace of mind in this present moment.

Which is stronger: worry or peace? Which is proactive? Which is pleasant?

Refuse to think that you will acquire peace once all of the pieces fall into place. That’s not the way it works. Instead, it works like this:

Acquire peace, and then all of the pieces fall into place.

It begins with choosing the belief that this universe is a friendly place. Believe that God is not out to get you or play some kind of cosmic trick on you. Believe that God wants you to live an abundant life and to trust…simply trust.

Expect to prosper. Expect to excel. Expect to manifest.

You need action and a willingness to do, but that’s not as important as what takes place in your thinking. It all begins in your thoughts.

It all begins in choosing peace of mind in every present moment.

Be blessed!

Buz

P.S. These observations are part of what came out of my 28 Day Transformation Experiment. I promise to share more when my local election is over. The election is on May 5th (approximately one week away). There are a total of four people in my race, and I need over 50% of the vote to win without a runoff. So I’m asking anyone who might offer thoughts and prayers on my behalf to concentrate on me getting 50% plus. Fifty percent plus one vote will win it outright, but I would love a mandate, so fifty percent plus 100 votes (in this small community) would be huge. My local political pundits believe I will win, but they also think there will probably be a runoff. I would love for us to surprise them all!

It started as part of an experiment.

Now, it has grown into a daily practice.

And this practice is changing everything.

You may remember that I designed a ‘thinking sabbatical’ back in December to coincide with my 28 Day Transformation Experiment. It was all about transformation and manifestation, and the ‘thinking sabbatical’ aspect came about through a simple inner urge. The universe sang and I got up to dance.

I think I’m on to something big because everything has changed. My life has gone from ‘very good’ to ‘great,’ and I am enjoying more of the things we so often ‘work’ to get: more peace, more abundance, more passion, more zest, more joy, more happiness, more patience, more manifestation.

And it all started because I was willing to take carve out a specific time to simply be quiet and think. Now, my thinking sabbatical is an everyday habit. It is a joy to me.

I’m continuing to polish the process, and I will share it with you in the near future. First I have to get through my election in May (please see previous posts), and then I intend for my online life to get back to normal.

But, until I have the opportunity to share my process with you properly, why not start cultivating the habit now? Just take a few minutes to relax and breathe; quieten your mind and think. Just see what comes up.

Do you have specific questions?

If so, post them below or feel free to send an email to buz@viralhappiness.com.

You may know that I’m running for a position on the local governing board of my town. That’s why my blog posts have been scarce lately. Campaigning is time consuming work.

Part of my political approach involves knocking on every door in town, and, even though I live in a small town, that’s still a lot of people for one man to visit.

The experience has been amazing.

I’ve always had a heart for the well-being of others,  but this experience has increased those feelings.

In the past, I’ve wondered exactly what I could do to improve things in my community, and this experience has helped me discover real  needs community-wide.

It’s also helped me to discover the heart of this community. It has been my belief that most of the people in my small town are open and friendly and warm, and this experience has shown me that they are even more open and friendlier than I had ever imagined.

When this campaign is over, win or lose, I have received life lessons that have made the hard work worthwhile. It has been amazing.

As you go about your day, consider all of the people that you meet along your way. Take the time to say a prayer for them or to send them positive thoughts and energy. If you are open to the experience, smile as you pass…say hello…engage them in conversation.

There are opportunities for life lessons in each serendipitous connection.  If you pay attention and remain open, you will be amazed at what you can learn from each person you meet.

What are you waiting for?

What do you expect to happen that will suddenly propel you to where you want to be?

Are you waiting for the stars to align? Are you waiting for magic beans to sprout? Are you waiting for some final piece of the cosmic puzzle to fall in to place?

Transformation is real. Positive change is real. You are the transformation. You are the only source of positive change in your life. And it’s not going to happen by accident. You will not just stumble into the life you want. You must take it.

What do you want to do? Whatever it is, there are other people who are doing it right now. And they are no smarter than you. They are no more deserving than you. They are simply doing something besides talking and wishing.

Are you afraid that you might try and fail?

You can come up with a million reasons why you shouldn’t or you can’t. But why not come up with one good reason to do what you want to do. Why not see the possibilities instead of the problems. Change your perspective and change your world.

The people you see who are doing the things you wish to do are no different than you are. They aren’t any smarter. They aren’t more capable.  They are just willing to do something. They are willing to step out.

What has your current set of beliefs accomplished for you up to this point in your life? If life is working for you, keep doing that. If life is not working for you, it’s time to change.

There’s no mystery. There’s no secret. And, at this point, I’m not trying to sell you a thing.

Once I finish collating my information that has come out of my 28 day transformation, I’ll have a new package to sell, and it will be worthwhile, I assure you.  But that’s coming later. This is simply my word to you this evening.

Make tomorrow different.

Quit wasting your time doing all sorts of junk that has nothing to do with you leading the kind of life that you choose.

Your time is precious. Each moment is like gold…once you spend it, it’s gone. So please make it count.

Don’t allow yourself any more excuses. Design the life you want to live and live it.

Start right now.

Change.

We seem to be geared to resist it. We seem to be inclined to walk in place so long that our track becomes a rut. And our rut becomes a trap.

We claim to want to be calmer and more at peace, but we fall into those same old frustrations. We claim to want to do the things that we wish to do, but we don’t do them. We claim to want a direction change, and then we continue walking in the same old, tired direction.

And then often, after encountering frustration upon frustration, we give up. We throw in the towel. We quit. And to soothe ourselves, we make excuses. And, for those of us who have reached a certain age, the classic excuse is: “I guess it’s just too late for me. I’m too set in my ways. I cannot change.”

I just reread what I’ve written to this point, and, if I was inclined to get depressed, I would be. Has it been painful to read? It was painful to write, I can assure you.

It’s easy to get caught in a downward spiral. It’s easy to believe that the chance for change has passed you by. It’s easy to read guru after guru whose lives have been transformed and to wonder why you can’t transform your own life.

But if my 28 day transformation experiment has taught me anything, it’s that transformation is simple. To be honest, it’s not easy, as we define easy. It takes effort because you have to think, and thinking is the hardest work you’ll ever do. But it is simple.

Let me repeat that: ‘changing your life is simple.’

Today, while going through some papers, I found something I had written during my 28 day experiment. And it synchronistically complements the key to simple change. Here’s the quote:

“If you fear that you have wasted your life up until this point, then stop wasting it right now.”

Do you ever have the feeling that your life has been wasted? Do you ever feel that you have squandered your potential? Do you feel that your opportunity to make your mark on life has passed you by? Then NOW is the time to do things differently. Not tomorrow, not next week, but NOW.

Nothing is done ‘tomorrow.’ The only time to do anything is now. Action takes place now, and there’s never any type of change without action. So, if you feel that you have not done what you are capable of doing, begin doing it NOW!

During my 28 day transformation experiment (and beyond), I have been reading and studying voraciously. (I’ll share more about that in a subsequent post.) Last night I was reviewing some information from Wayne Dyer’s book, ‘The Power of Intention.” Here’s a quote that reveals the key to positive change.

“Act as if your desire is already here…treat yourself as if you already are what you’d like to become.”

Did you get that? Think about it this way, what kind of person do you need to be to accomplish what you’d like to accomplish? Do you need to be a person who is not addicted to TV, anger, and procrastination? Then give those things up. Do you need to be someone who is mindful, thoughtful, and meditative? Then take on those qualities immediately.

In a previous post, I have mentioned a good and wise friend of mine named Mr. 20/20. This is a man who is so dedicated to the importance of getting a ‘vision’ in his own life and helping others get their ‘vision,’ he legally changed his name to Mr. 20/20. He is also one of the most brilliant, loving, and open people I’ve ever met, and, one night on a conference call,  he spoke one phrase that totally captures the art of positive change.

During our conversation, I mentioned something I was trying to accomplish, and he offered the following insight:

“Buz, be your emerging self.”

That one phrase has helped me in countless situations, and that simple philosophy is key to my transformation and to your transformation. Whenever you are faced with a challenge or a decision of any kind, be your emerging self. Decide what the ‘dream you’ would do and do that. Don’t act like the person you’d like to change; act like the person you want to be.

Do you want to be a more positive person? Then act like a more positive person.

Do you want to be a more loving person? Then act like a more loving person.

Do you want to be wiser, happier, and calmer? Then act like a wiser, happier, and calmer person.

That’s how you become who you want to be.

And it’s never too late to change. It’s never too late to make decisions that will take you where you want to go. It’s never too late to make the choices that will transfrom you into the person you long to be. But you must start now. This very minute. Immediately begin making decisions like the person you want to be.

Are you resisting the possibility that you can change? Then this is your first practice. Decide if the ‘emerging you’ would resist or accept positive change, and then be that emerging you. I think the ‘you’ that you want to be would welcome and embrace positive change.

It really is that simple, and it’s never too late to begin.

The old year is gone. The New Year is now upon us.

What plans did you make at the beginning of 2008 that didn’t work out for you? What would you like to do in 2009?

We all make plans. We all have wishes, dreams, and desires, and the New Year tends to bring these wishes, dreams, and desires to the forefront of our thinking. Now is the time to do everything you can to pave the way for a better year. Now is the time to discover what has been stopping you from reaching those heights you know you should reach.

So, what’s stopping you?

I believe that the only thing that can keep you from achieving your dreams is………..

You.

That’s right. You are the culprit. You are the reason that you are not where you want to be. And I’m not saying this as a way of blaming or chastising. I’m preaching the exact same sermon to myself as I preach it to you.

I am the only person that can stop me from reaching my goals, from realizing the fulfillment of my desires. It’s me.

We may couch it in other terms. We may want to say that it’s because of our crappy jobs or the stock market or the government or a spouse or our negative upbringing or a million other superficial things that are easy to point to and blame.  But, none of that matters.

Once you cut away all the layers of excuse, we are at the core of our imagined reasons.

Now I understand that you may not be able to do everything you’d like to do immediately to change your life. But, you can do something everyday. You can decide where you’d like to be and begin taking steps in that direction.

I’ve been working on creating a system for transforming a life in 28 days, and I’ve pulled 10 specific directives for transformation out of that research and experimentation. One of these directives fits well with what I’m writing today. And that is…

Act now.

Now is the only time we have. It’s where all worthwhile action takes place. We can dream about the future and learn from the past, but the only time to act is now.

So, chart your course and act now. You don’t have to take giant steps. Just do those things everyday that take you in your desired direction.

Begin by taking ownership of your life. Accept the fact that you are the only person who ultimately gets in your way. Even if it seems that, for example, “I can’t enjoy a moment of quiet contemplation daily because my family won’t understand,” it’s not your family or anyone else that’s stopping you. It’s your concerns about how your family or boss or friends will react that’s stopping you, and that decision is your own.

There’s a Donovan song that’s a favorite of mine called “New Year’s Resovolution.” I’ve been listening to it a lot lately. Allow me to share some of the lyrics with you.

“So many times, I was the one who stopped myself from doing things.
So many times, I was the one who grounded myself and clipped my wings.”

Don’t ground yourself. Don’t clip your wings. In this ‘mystery’ of why we aren’t where we want to be, we are the culprit. We are the thief of our dreams.

It’s time to get out of your own way and soar.

This is day 28 of my 28 Day Transformation Experiment, and I offer you this initial thought:

‘Encompassing all progress and transformation is the practice of constant, never-ending education.’

Don’t become satisfied with what you think you know. If what you currently know is enough, then you would already be where you want to be. You would have already accomplished everything you wish to accomplish. Reach further by exploring more. Be willing to question your current beliefs.

Don’t be afraid of ideas. Good ideas will appeal to you and stick with you. Bad ideas will fall by the wayside. Knowledge is never something to fear.

I have much to share with you about the past 28 days. The full report will take more reflection and thought on my part, and I plan to offer insights as they are ready to share. But, initially, I want you to understand that over-arching all progress and all successful transformation is the practice of constant, never-ending education.

Expect another update within the next few days.

Today is December 14th, and I am at the half way point in my 28 day transformation experiment.

I’ve already learned a lot.

I am breaking down this process into ten distinct, easily followed directives. Each directive alone will lead to vast improvement. And once you put them all together, you will be a transformation machine!

Each day for ten days (beginning December 1st) I have concentrated on one distinct directive. Then, for the past few days, I’ve been letting my mind play wherever it wants to play. Beginning Monday (tomorrow), I’ll once again review one directive a day for the next ten days. That will leave a few days at the end of the process to mull things over once again.

Since today is a play day in this part of the process and I have allowed my thoughts to go where they will,  they have led me into the area of radical belief.

To paraphrase Wallace Wattles, thinking is the toughest job you’ll  ever undertake. And he wasn’t referring to just any type of thinking; he was referring to believing things that are not immediately supported by what we are currently seeing and experiencing.

People commonly say, “I’ll believe it when I see it.”

But uncommon thinkers say, “I’ll see it when I believe it.”

That’s radical belief – the kind of belief that you employ when you are successfully transforming and manifesting.

Here’s the simple breakdown. First, get a vision. Then, radically believe, no matter how things appear and no matter how hard it might be to hold  that belief. And sometimes, particularly when you first begin, believing in spite of what you see will be hard work, just like Wattles says.

But, like everything else, the more you learn, the easier it gets. And it also gets easier with practice, and, just as soon as  you experience some success, it’s downright fun!

Once I finish the 28 day process and put all of the pieces together, you’ll be able to easily see how radical belief works in this process. It’s one very important ingredient in your continuing transformation.

I believe in going with the flow.

When you go with the flow, you float effortlessly down life’s stream. When you fight the flow, it’s like struggling to swim upstream. So I decided a long time ago to try and not fight the flow. I always intend to just go with it.

Recently, I’ve been working hard on developing a teleseminar; actually, I’ve been planning to develop a series of teleseminars. And that work has been going fine, but, like I said in the previous sentence, I’ve been working “hard.” And if you are going with the flow, things should never be “hard.”

So when inspiration hit me a week or so ago, I gladly succumbed to its influence, because inspiration is never hard. Inspiration is fun and challenging and, yes, it puts you right in the flow. Inspiration occurs when your thinking and feeling and intending all come together in a glorious doing. And who could ever say no to that?

I said yes. And that decision has led to a 28 day experiment. I’m calling it my “Transformational Sabbatical.” I’m taking a sabbatical from the way I’ve been doing things (the hard way), and I’m designing a program that will transform specific areas of my life in easily measured ways; and this transformation will happen in 28 days.

For those who  have purchased ‘Mastering Your Power of Release,’ you already know that I’ve developed extremely effective methods for achieving happiness and success by releasing the baggage that holds you back. And I’m definitely using some of the same methods during my new 28 day experiment.

And I’ve been studying dynamic insights form some of the best transformational minds teaching today and from some of the great old classics. I’ve also been doing a lot of thinking; I mean really taking specific moments to just sit and think. And I’m integrating the best of what I’m learning into my 28 day transformation.

So far, it’s been a blast!

I’ll definitely have a lot to report when I’m done. I’ve set very specific goals, and I’m interested to see how this all works. My intention is that I will create a series of easily followed suggestions that will transform any life in 28 days.

I plan to offer updates as I go. And when I’m through with the 28 days, I’ll review all of the information. And I’ll ask for feedback as I tweak the process.

But, for now, the most exciting thing is that I’m working with my inspiration, and I’m going with the flow. And that approach always makes life more effortless, dynamic, and fun.