06. December 2010 Happiness Page
29.November 2010 Personal Matters
16.November 2010 Happiness Page
16.November 2010 Personal Matters
25.October 2010 Personal Matters
25.October 2010 Happiness Discovered, the book
22.October 2010 New link
Friday, October 22, 2010
Sunday, September 26, 2010
LAY OUT CHANGE
Please note that the following posts from beginning of August 2010 are the last ones on the Home page. From now you will find all posts on pages with their respective headings.
Older posts you will find in Archives.
Older posts you will find in Archives.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Powerful Communication / Personal Matters 2
First of all welcome, Mehul, to the still small band of followers of my blog; I hope you enjoy being here and I hope that you find my posts interesting, and perhaps even stimulating. I'd welcome your as well as all followers comments, be they positive or negative.
It's now just about a week when I wrote my last post. After I had been to the hospital to get the test results evaluated, I was attacked by some kind of virus. The virus won and I felt rather ill for a few days. Now I am getting better, but I had passed on the virus to my wife who is now feeling quite ill.
Well, the test results were partly disappointing for me and to another part encouraging. Of course I didn't get what I hoped for, which had been quite unrealistic. But I didn't get what I was certain to get either. Bad news is that the count for the tumor markers is up by about 50%. Another bad news is that I have to undergo another biopsy, and I really don't look forward to it. The reason for this second biopsy is that the test result was inconclusive in some way, which I see as good news. It means that I have an ever so tiny chance to still win. Therefore my battle continues; I increase my work using the power of my thoughts and the power of my mind as well as powerful communcation. I still intend to win.
This leads me nicely to Powerful Communication. In the last paragraph I gave you a few bad news and a few good ones. If I counted correctly there are 6 bad and 8 good news. When reading the message what kind of feeling do you have; is the message negative or positive? I use the word feeling intentionally. I am not saying that you should weigh the pros and cons in this message using logic and reason. If you did you would have to say that this message is rather bad. By using your feelings without using your cognitive abilities you would say that the message is overwhelmingly positive. What makes me assume this?
Firstly, I have placed the bad news to the beginning of the message and the good news to the end. The end, the last words, have the greatest impact.
Secondly, I used italics for the bad news, and bold for the good news. Bold overpowers italics. In verbal communication it means that I over-emphasize the good news and use appropriate tonality, body language and facial expression. The bad news I deliver without any emphasis.
Thirdly, I put emphasis on power of thought, mind and communication. But some cynics using their logic might say that this is exactly what I used before and it didn't help then either.
That's the difference between using intellect and using feelings.
Luckily, however, we respond to our feelings rather than to our intellect. We hear what we want to hear, we see what we want to see, we feel what we want to feel.
Knowing this puts us in a most powerful position. We can now use our intellect to use the feelings that we want to have, which are most useful for us, empower us and put us in a resourceful state of mind.
Happiness Discovered by Udo Stadtsbuchler
Download it in PDF at U.S. $19.95 go to http://happinessdiscovered.110mb.com/
Buy the book at U.S. $ 24.95 from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1451578784
or from Create Space at U.S. $24.95: https://www.createspace.com/3443453
For e-readers (EPUB etc) at U.S.$ 19.95: www.smashwords.com/books/view/20529
Now also available from http://www.amazon.co.uk/
and http://www.amazon.de/
It's now just about a week when I wrote my last post. After I had been to the hospital to get the test results evaluated, I was attacked by some kind of virus. The virus won and I felt rather ill for a few days. Now I am getting better, but I had passed on the virus to my wife who is now feeling quite ill.
Well, the test results were partly disappointing for me and to another part encouraging. Of course I didn't get what I hoped for, which had been quite unrealistic. But I didn't get what I was certain to get either. Bad news is that the count for the tumor markers is up by about 50%. Another bad news is that I have to undergo another biopsy, and I really don't look forward to it. The reason for this second biopsy is that the test result was inconclusive in some way, which I see as good news. It means that I have an ever so tiny chance to still win. Therefore my battle continues; I increase my work using the power of my thoughts and the power of my mind as well as powerful communcation. I still intend to win.
This leads me nicely to Powerful Communication. In the last paragraph I gave you a few bad news and a few good ones. If I counted correctly there are 6 bad and 8 good news. When reading the message what kind of feeling do you have; is the message negative or positive? I use the word feeling intentionally. I am not saying that you should weigh the pros and cons in this message using logic and reason. If you did you would have to say that this message is rather bad. By using your feelings without using your cognitive abilities you would say that the message is overwhelmingly positive. What makes me assume this?
Firstly, I have placed the bad news to the beginning of the message and the good news to the end. The end, the last words, have the greatest impact.
Secondly, I used italics for the bad news, and bold for the good news. Bold overpowers italics. In verbal communication it means that I over-emphasize the good news and use appropriate tonality, body language and facial expression. The bad news I deliver without any emphasis.
Thirdly, I put emphasis on power of thought, mind and communication. But some cynics using their logic might say that this is exactly what I used before and it didn't help then either.
That's the difference between using intellect and using feelings.
Luckily, however, we respond to our feelings rather than to our intellect. We hear what we want to hear, we see what we want to see, we feel what we want to feel.
Knowing this puts us in a most powerful position. We can now use our intellect to use the feelings that we want to have, which are most useful for us, empower us and put us in a resourceful state of mind.
Download it in PDF at U.S. $19.95 go to http://happinessdiscovered.110mb.com/
Buy the book at U.S. $ 24.95 from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1451578784
or from Create Space at U.S. $24.95: https://www.createspace.com/3443453
For e-readers (EPUB etc) at U.S.$ 19.95: www.smashwords.com/books/view/20529
Now also available from http://www.amazon.co.uk/
and http://www.amazon.de/
Monday, August 23, 2010
Powerful Communcation / Personal Matters
Before I expand on Powerful Communcation I will put it in context with my own current challenge.
Just for those of you who are only recent followers of my blog: I was diagnosed with neoplasm that had invaded my system. You can read more about it in older posts. Just to make it easier for you, neoplasm means cancer. . This coming Wednesday, 25th August, I will see the oncologist to learn what my latest test results reveal. When I last saw him he advised to do nothing but wait and that on the 25th we will see what course of action should be taken (chemo or radiotherapy, operation). However I resolved to deal with this challenge using diet, natural supplements and the powers of my mind and thoughts and not go the invasive medical route.
I am a great advocate of psychoneuroimmunology (PNI), previously known as behavioral medicine, that explores the mind - body connection and how we can use the knowledge of it to help our body to heal, to maintain or to improve health. One of the many examples that show the efficacy of PNI is our immune system, which is highly influenced by our feelings. When we experience stress, ill feelings of any kind or negativity, our immune system experiences a low and is open to be attacked by foreign invaders (i.e. viruses)When we are free of stress, are positive and are feeling good about ourselves our immune system expereieces a boost. I don't want to go into more detail. I have dedicated a whole chapter of Happiness Discovered to PNI.
I use the right words to create the right feelings that enable me to face up to the challenge I have on my hands. Therefore I talk about neoplasm rather than cancer. If I told someone I had cancer they would be shocked. If I told them I have a neoplasm most of them wouldn't know what it is. Then I'd explain in words that are not shocking what a neoplasm is. If I shock people, they would project their shock to me and my system will be affeted by it. When people ask me about my cancer I always reject ownership of it. It's not mine; on the contrary I'll gladly be rid of it. When I use mind work to deal with this challenge - which I regularly do 3 times a day in a very focused way - I do not shy away from a negative outcome, I go toward a positive one. I.e. I am not going to succumb to my illness is a terrible formulation that makes me feel ill just thinking about it; I deal with this challenge accurately and positively; I am winning is so much better.
I said so before, I am a very happy person. My wife and I have great fun together, there is lots of laughter in our home and lots of love. We both are happy and we both know that I am winning.
The day after tomorrow I'll see the oncologist and I am really looking forward to it. I am looking forward to hear by how much my condition has improved.
I'll let you know.
Download it in PDF at U.S. $19.95 go to http://happinessdiscovered.110mb.com/
Buy the book at U.S. $ 24.95 from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1451578784
or from Create Space at U.S. $24.95: https://www.createspace.com/3443453
For e-readers (EPUB etc) at U.S.$ 19.95: www.smashwords.com/books/view/20529
Now also available from http://www.amazon.co.uk%20and/ and http://www.amazon.de/
Just for those of you who are only recent followers of my blog: I was diagnosed with neoplasm that had invaded my system. You can read more about it in older posts. Just to make it easier for you, neoplasm means cancer. . This coming Wednesday, 25th August, I will see the oncologist to learn what my latest test results reveal. When I last saw him he advised to do nothing but wait and that on the 25th we will see what course of action should be taken (chemo or radiotherapy, operation). However I resolved to deal with this challenge using diet, natural supplements and the powers of my mind and thoughts and not go the invasive medical route.
I am a great advocate of psychoneuroimmunology (PNI), previously known as behavioral medicine, that explores the mind - body connection and how we can use the knowledge of it to help our body to heal, to maintain or to improve health. One of the many examples that show the efficacy of PNI is our immune system, which is highly influenced by our feelings. When we experience stress, ill feelings of any kind or negativity, our immune system experiences a low and is open to be attacked by foreign invaders (i.e. viruses)When we are free of stress, are positive and are feeling good about ourselves our immune system expereieces a boost. I don't want to go into more detail. I have dedicated a whole chapter of Happiness Discovered to PNI.
I use the right words to create the right feelings that enable me to face up to the challenge I have on my hands. Therefore I talk about neoplasm rather than cancer. If I told someone I had cancer they would be shocked. If I told them I have a neoplasm most of them wouldn't know what it is. Then I'd explain in words that are not shocking what a neoplasm is. If I shock people, they would project their shock to me and my system will be affeted by it. When people ask me about my cancer I always reject ownership of it. It's not mine; on the contrary I'll gladly be rid of it. When I use mind work to deal with this challenge - which I regularly do 3 times a day in a very focused way - I do not shy away from a negative outcome, I go toward a positive one. I.e. I am not going to succumb to my illness is a terrible formulation that makes me feel ill just thinking about it; I deal with this challenge accurately and positively; I am winning is so much better.
I said so before, I am a very happy person. My wife and I have great fun together, there is lots of laughter in our home and lots of love. We both are happy and we both know that I am winning.
The day after tomorrow I'll see the oncologist and I am really looking forward to it. I am looking forward to hear by how much my condition has improved.
I'll let you know.
Buy the book at U.S. $ 24.95 from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1451578784
or from Create Space at U.S. $24.95: https://www.createspace.com/3443453
For e-readers (EPUB etc) at U.S.$ 19.95: www.smashwords.com/books/view/20529
Now also available from http://www.amazon.co.uk%20and/ and http://www.amazon.de/
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Powerful Communication / Words 2
When choosing the right words or word assemblages you obviously want to choose those that fit best what you want to gain. For example if you want to feel wonderful it's not good enough to tell yourself that you feel pretty good. Be as precise as you possibly can be.
Moving away from something negative demotivates, moving toward a positive motivates. Telling yourself that you don't want to fall ill is not the same as telling yourself that you stay healthy. The one produces a different energy in you then the other.
You may have realized that I phrased the above in the present time, even though you may not expect some change to happen right now. I did this on purpose. What good does it do when you say I will be feeling wonderful or I will stay healthy? It puts what you want to gain somewhere into the future. You can repeat what you say ten times a day for every following day and nothing will change, because you always put it into the future.
There is much more about it in Happiness Discovered.
Until soon.
Download it in PDF at U.S. $19.95 go to http://happinessdiscovered.110mb.com/
Buy the book at U.S. $ 24.95 from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1451578784
or from Create Space at U.S. $24.95: https://www.createspace.com/3443453
For e-readers (EPUB etc) at U.S.$ 19.95: www.smashwords.com/books/view/20529
Now also available from http://www.amazon.co.uk/ and http://www.amazon.de/
Moving away from something negative demotivates, moving toward a positive motivates. Telling yourself that you don't want to fall ill is not the same as telling yourself that you stay healthy. The one produces a different energy in you then the other.
You may have realized that I phrased the above in the present time, even though you may not expect some change to happen right now. I did this on purpose. What good does it do when you say I will be feeling wonderful or I will stay healthy? It puts what you want to gain somewhere into the future. You can repeat what you say ten times a day for every following day and nothing will change, because you always put it into the future.
There is much more about it in Happiness Discovered.
Until soon.
Buy the book at U.S. $ 24.95 from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1451578784
or from Create Space at U.S. $24.95: https://www.createspace.com/3443453
For e-readers (EPUB etc) at U.S.$ 19.95: www.smashwords.com/books/view/20529
Now also available from http://www.amazon.co.uk/ and http://www.amazon.de/
Friday, August 20, 2010
Powerful Communication / Words
People who know me also know that I am not a religious person; far from it; indeed I am agnostic. However, John 1:1 "In the beginning was the word" is stuck in my mind forever. Why and how I found it is a long story and really irrelevant. But when I first read it - many years ago - I said to myself that this cannot be right. Surely there has to be thought first in order to formulate a word. But how is the thought produced? How can we think if we cannot use words? We know that most of the time we think in images, but not always. Sometimes verbal thinking is necessary. In this case words produce the thoughts, or do they? I was wrecking my brain over this chicken or egg question and didn't find the answer. There is only one quite simple part-answer to it: words produce thought, and thought produces words; a very typical bidirectional effect. Whereby of course the original question what came first remains unanswered.
Suffice to say that for our purpose - to change our interpretation of an experience - we use words to change our thought processes. It follows that by changing the interpretation we change also our feeling towards the experience. This works all the time and without exception, provided you practice doing it.
Let us take my previous example of the secretary and the boss, and I wrote that she should say STOP! THINK! EVALUATE! which undoubtedly are words. The first one made her stop, and the other ones made her think and evaluate in all likelihood also verbally. Then she would say to herself what to do in order to get the best possible result from this situation.
She could also enhance the feelings she wants to create by using words such as whatever he says, I am in control; or he is a funny man and makes me laugh; or whatever she needs to say to change the original feeling of perhaps awkwardness to something more useful for her.
You find more examples for using words and how to use them to change feelings in Happiness Discovered.
Until soon.
Download it in PDF at U.S. $19.95 go to http://happinessdiscovered.110mb.com/
Buy the book at U.S. $ 24.95 from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1451578784
or from Create Space at U.S. $24.95: https://www.createspace.com/3443453
For e-readers (EPUB etc) at U.S.$ 19.95: www.smashwords.com/books/view/20529
Now also available from www.amazon.co.uk and www.amazon.de
Suffice to say that for our purpose - to change our interpretation of an experience - we use words to change our thought processes. It follows that by changing the interpretation we change also our feeling towards the experience. This works all the time and without exception, provided you practice doing it.
Let us take my previous example of the secretary and the boss, and I wrote that she should say STOP! THINK! EVALUATE! which undoubtedly are words. The first one made her stop, and the other ones made her think and evaluate in all likelihood also verbally. Then she would say to herself what to do in order to get the best possible result from this situation.
She could also enhance the feelings she wants to create by using words such as whatever he says, I am in control; or he is a funny man and makes me laugh; or whatever she needs to say to change the original feeling of perhaps awkwardness to something more useful for her.
You find more examples for using words and how to use them to change feelings in Happiness Discovered.
Until soon.
Buy the book at U.S. $ 24.95 from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1451578784
or from Create Space at U.S. $24.95: https://www.createspace.com/3443453
For e-readers (EPUB etc) at U.S.$ 19.95: www.smashwords.com/books/view/20529
Now also available from www.amazon.co.uk and www.amazon.de
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Powerful Communication 2
What makes me (and Carl Jung) think that control over our feelings and emotions is desirable? Does control not mean suppression? Does it mean that we become unemotional and cold?
I said in a previous blog that our actions and reactions are governed by our feelings. We don't do what we need to do, but what we want to do. Acting according to our feelings is sometimes not the wisest thing to do. Reacting according to our feelings can be sometimes stupid or even self-destructive. Think of my example in a previous post of the sectretary and her boss. When it comes to serious decisions,actions and reactions I always advize to say to yourself STOP! STEP BACK! EVALUATE! and then do just that. Use your cognitive skills and think quickly if what you are about to do is the best thing for you to do. It does not need to take a long period of time. In most cases a second or two are good enough. Good enough to at least delay what you want to do for a further few seconds. Evaluate and think what course of action would be a better one. And then make your decision based on your intellect, your logic and your reason.
Control does not mean suppression, it means to exchange useless feelings that hinder you against useful feelings that put you in a resourceful state of mind, that encourage and empower you. The operative word is exchange.
When we exchange negative feelings for positive ones, we display the good ones emotionally. And we really feel these emotions, they are perfectly natural even though we have created them. But we create our feelings anyway. Remember, it is not events and experiences that create our feelings, but our interpretation of the events and experiences. We can at will make up our interpretations. We all do it anyway. But most of us are unaware of the fact that we do it. Now we can take complete control over this power that we quite naturally possess.
How do we go about it? By using words.
Happiness Discovered by Udo Stadtsbuchler
Download it in PDF at U.S. $19.95 go to http://happinessdiscovered.110mb.com/
Buy the book at U.S. $ 24.95 from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1451578784
or from Create Space at U.S. $24.95: https://www.createspace.com/3443453
For e-readers (EPUB etc) at U.S.$ 19.95: www.smashwords.com/books/view/20529
Now also available from http://www.amazon.co.uk/ and http://www.amazon.de/
I said in a previous blog that our actions and reactions are governed by our feelings. We don't do what we need to do, but what we want to do. Acting according to our feelings is sometimes not the wisest thing to do. Reacting according to our feelings can be sometimes stupid or even self-destructive. Think of my example in a previous post of the sectretary and her boss. When it comes to serious decisions,actions and reactions I always advize to say to yourself STOP! STEP BACK! EVALUATE! and then do just that. Use your cognitive skills and think quickly if what you are about to do is the best thing for you to do. It does not need to take a long period of time. In most cases a second or two are good enough. Good enough to at least delay what you want to do for a further few seconds. Evaluate and think what course of action would be a better one. And then make your decision based on your intellect, your logic and your reason.
Control does not mean suppression, it means to exchange useless feelings that hinder you against useful feelings that put you in a resourceful state of mind, that encourage and empower you. The operative word is exchange.
When we exchange negative feelings for positive ones, we display the good ones emotionally. And we really feel these emotions, they are perfectly natural even though we have created them. But we create our feelings anyway. Remember, it is not events and experiences that create our feelings, but our interpretation of the events and experiences. We can at will make up our interpretations. We all do it anyway. But most of us are unaware of the fact that we do it. Now we can take complete control over this power that we quite naturally possess.
How do we go about it? By using words.
But I will talk about this next time.
Download it in PDF at U.S. $19.95 go to http://happinessdiscovered.110mb.com/
Buy the book at U.S. $ 24.95 from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1451578784
or from Create Space at U.S. $24.95: https://www.createspace.com/3443453
For e-readers (EPUB etc) at U.S.$ 19.95: www.smashwords.com/books/view/20529
Now also available from http://www.amazon.co.uk/ and http://www.amazon.de/
Monday, August 16, 2010
Powerful Communication
I am not turning away from Change the Way You Think with this post. Communication is an essential part of change work. With this I mean the choice of words, how we string them together - whereby I prefer maximum power over correct grammar - our tone of voice, our facial expression and our body language in general. I also mean both external communication - the way we communicate with others - and internal communication - our internal dialogue, the way we communicate with ourselves. Much of the time we think in images and not with words. But often it is necessary to think verbally, in particular in the decision making process. Whether we think in images or in words we want to choose the "right" images and the "right" words together with the appropriate body language and tonality.
If we get it wrong in our internal communication our influence over our thought processes is weak.
If we get it wrong in our external communication, we create confusion in our listeners or conversation partners; we come across as being ambiguous, not persuasive and not convincing.
If we get it right in our internal communication we have made a gigantic step toward control over our feelings and emotions. I do not say that we want to suppress our feelings and emotions, but exchange useless feelings against feelings that empower us, are meaningful and put us in a resourceful state of mind.
Carl Jung (1875-1961): "Man likes to believe he is master of his soul, but without mastery over feelings and emotions we are still wandering in a wilderness in which only logical facts contain meaning."
If we get it right in our external communication we come across as being strong and powerful; we are convincing and can persuade people easily and elegantly.
Next time more about it.
Download it in PDF at U.S. $19.95 go to http://happinessdiscovered.110mb.com/
Buy the book at U.S. $ 24.95 from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1451578784
or from Create Space at U.S. $24.95: https://www.createspace.com/3443453
For e-readers (EPUB etc) at U.S.$ 19.95: www.smashwords.com/books/view/20529
Now also available from http://www.amazon.co.uk/ and http://www.amazon.de/
If we get it wrong in our internal communication our influence over our thought processes is weak.
If we get it wrong in our external communication, we create confusion in our listeners or conversation partners; we come across as being ambiguous, not persuasive and not convincing.
If we get it right in our internal communication we have made a gigantic step toward control over our feelings and emotions. I do not say that we want to suppress our feelings and emotions, but exchange useless feelings against feelings that empower us, are meaningful and put us in a resourceful state of mind.
Carl Jung (1875-1961): "Man likes to believe he is master of his soul, but without mastery over feelings and emotions we are still wandering in a wilderness in which only logical facts contain meaning."
If we get it right in our external communication we come across as being strong and powerful; we are convincing and can persuade people easily and elegantly.
Next time more about it.
Download it in PDF at U.S. $19.95 go to http://happinessdiscovered.110mb.com/ Buy the book at U.S. $ 24.95 from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1451578784
or from Create Space at U.S. $24.95: https://www.createspace.com/3443453
For e-readers (EPUB etc) at U.S.$ 19.95: www.smashwords.com/books/view/20529
Now also available from http://www.amazon.co.uk/ and http://www.amazon.de/
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Change the Way You Think 7
In my 5th post to this theme I said that words, events and experiences are absolutely meaningless until we as individuals put some kind of meaning to it. What meaning we give it depends on our mindset (6th post to this theme). If you want to change you need to first use your "meaning making" ability. This is one way and probably the easiest one to begin to change your mindset. Provided that you practice to change meanings of whatever happens in your life, even if it is not necessary to do so and then you practice, practice and practice some more.
How do you do it? If you are a woman you can take my example from my 5th post. Imagine that you are in the secretary's position. How would you react? Play the scenario in your mind; see it like a movie from the beginning when the boss said what he said and how he said it; hear it in your mind; observe how you feel. Now react according to your feelings, whatever they are. If you feel flattered, that's fine; indulge in it. If you feel insulted, that's fine too; imagine now what you are going to do to him - remember, it's just a movie and you can let your fantasy run wild. Now imagine what results both your actions could have had. For example if you felt flattered, from there on you might see your boss as a man who has a sexual interest in you. How would this affect you? Workwise and in your private life? On the other hand (you argue with yourself) he might have meant it differently and is not sexually interested in you. This would be quite confusing, wouldn't it? If you felt insulted and you reacted with violence, what could happen? How would it affect you? Consider - as with the previous example - that he may have meant his words differently. That would be quite embarrassing to say the least, wouldn't it?
In order not to be confused and not to change the dynamics of your work environment, you decide now that you are going to change the meaning of this experience. You play the same scenario in the movie theater of your mind, but knowing that your reactions - determined by your feelings - will have quite some impact on your life, you decide that a different reaction would be a wiser choice. You could think that you are not attracted to him, that your peace of mind is very important for you, that you actually enjoy working in this company, or whatever else you can think of to diminish or do away with your original reaction. You could say to yourself and also to him yeah, yeah, yeah I've heard that one before or words to this effect and change the focus of your thoughts from the compliment - if inded it was meant to be a compliment - to something unrelated, something completely different.
For a man something else will work in the same way.
Or you could go into the past and remember an example of a painful or frustrating experience and create your movie of it. Actually this works for both sexes. See, hear and feel what happened and your reaction to it. What would have happened, if you had reacted differently? Pick a few scenarios and experience your emotional reactions to them. Choose the one that is the most useful one for you. This is how you should have reacted in the first place. See it as a learning experience and value it highly, because you have now created a model that can serve you forever. Acknowledge this as a fact and be proud of it.
You see, Sigmund Freud was wrong: it is NEVER the event or the experience that creates your feelings, but your own individual interpretation of it. As you change your interpretation, you change your feelings.
You can read much more about it in Happiness Discovered.
Until next time.
Download it in PDF at U.S. $19.95 go to http://happinessdiscovered.110mb.com/
Buy the book at U.S. $ 24.95 from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1451578784
or from Create Space at U.S. $24.95: https://www.createspace.com/3443453
For e-readers (EPUB etc) at U.S.$ 19.95: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/20529
Now also available from www.amazon.co.uk and www.amazon.de
Friday, August 13, 2010
Change the Way You Think 6
The very first step toward change is that you really want to change. If you want circumstances to change, people to change, or whatever else to change, you'll fail if you don't change your mindset first. Because you are not in control over other people or over circumstances, but only in control over your thoughts. And in order to change your mindset you need to change the way you think.
If you don't, you cannot expect any significant changes in your life.
If you don't, your past will always be influencing your present and subsequently your future.
If you don't, you will always be hindered by your own self-limiting beliefs.
If you don't, you will continue to worry about your present and your future.
And most importantly:
If you don't, you will never be master over your feelings and emotions.
Is it easy to change? No, of course not; but it is doable.
It's not easy because we are programmed and conditioned to behave in certain ways. And this has served us well. After all, we are still alive! We may not have lived up to our potential, we may not be as happy as we want to be; but we are alive. That's something!
Who knows what's going to happen if we change the way we think, and with it our behavior? We might do things that we had never attempted to do before, and they could be dangerous. How would people close to us react to our change? What would the neighbors think?
If you develop your thought processes along these lines STOP! If you don't want to stop, that's fine too, but then you might as well give up thinking of change. Stay with the majority and indulge in apathy and lethargy; you will never change, but that's ok too.
But if you did put a STOP to the thought process that I have outlined, change quickly to a different thought process. Imagine what could be if you really changed to that person that you want to be? See yourself having achieved what you really wanted to achieve, whether it is in your business or in your private life. You could see yourself as the superbly confident and strong person that you deserve to be; being successful in all walks of life. Imagine what this would do to your self-esteem? Imagine what kind of impact it would have on those close to you. Imagine being on top of the world. Imagine being admired by many and envied by others. See all this imagery in the most glorious and vibrant colors; hear your favorite music playing and hear laughter; smell the scent of the flowers that surround you; and notice how this feels. Do you feel happy? Boost this feeling if you can and indulge in it.
So what if this was just a dream and not reality yet. Dreams can become visions, and visions can become reality. It is in your hands.
Next time more about it.
Happiness Discovered by Udo Stadtsbuchler
Download it in PDF at U.S. $19.95 go to http://happinessdiscovered.110mb.com/
Buy the book at U.S. $ 24.95 from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1451578784
or from Create Space at U.S. $24.95: https://www.createspace.com/3443453
For e-readers (EPUB etc) at U.S.$ 19.95: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/20529
Now also available from http://www.amazon.co.uk/ and http://www.amazon.de/
If you don't, you cannot expect any significant changes in your life.
If you don't, your past will always be influencing your present and subsequently your future.
If you don't, you will always be hindered by your own self-limiting beliefs.
If you don't, you will continue to worry about your present and your future.
And most importantly:
If you don't, you will never be master over your feelings and emotions.
Is it easy to change? No, of course not; but it is doable.
It's not easy because we are programmed and conditioned to behave in certain ways. And this has served us well. After all, we are still alive! We may not have lived up to our potential, we may not be as happy as we want to be; but we are alive. That's something!
Who knows what's going to happen if we change the way we think, and with it our behavior? We might do things that we had never attempted to do before, and they could be dangerous. How would people close to us react to our change? What would the neighbors think?
If you develop your thought processes along these lines STOP! If you don't want to stop, that's fine too, but then you might as well give up thinking of change. Stay with the majority and indulge in apathy and lethargy; you will never change, but that's ok too.
But if you did put a STOP to the thought process that I have outlined, change quickly to a different thought process. Imagine what could be if you really changed to that person that you want to be? See yourself having achieved what you really wanted to achieve, whether it is in your business or in your private life. You could see yourself as the superbly confident and strong person that you deserve to be; being successful in all walks of life. Imagine what this would do to your self-esteem? Imagine what kind of impact it would have on those close to you. Imagine being on top of the world. Imagine being admired by many and envied by others. See all this imagery in the most glorious and vibrant colors; hear your favorite music playing and hear laughter; smell the scent of the flowers that surround you; and notice how this feels. Do you feel happy? Boost this feeling if you can and indulge in it.
So what if this was just a dream and not reality yet. Dreams can become visions, and visions can become reality. It is in your hands.
Next time more about it.
Happiness Discovered by Udo Stadtsbuchler
Download it in PDF at U.S. $19.95 go to http://happinessdiscovered.110mb.com/
Buy the book at U.S. $ 24.95 from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1451578784
or from Create Space at U.S. $24.95: https://www.createspace.com/3443453
For e-readers (EPUB etc) at U.S.$ 19.95: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/20529
Now also available from http://www.amazon.co.uk/ and http://www.amazon.de/
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Change the Way You Think 5
A friend of mine is a photographer and she loves taking photographs that I felt were useless and at best self-indulging. For example she would see a stack of firewood, or some pebbles on the ground and she would photograph them. When I looked at that firewood or those pebbles I didn't see anything worth a second glance. Just firewood ready to be burned; and the pebbles I wouldn't have noticed at all. But then she pointed out a few things to me and then I learned to see this peculiar formation of this handful of pebbles, and I felt it was interesting and that there was some kind of beauty in this formation. And there was a certain order in the stack of firewood, a certain "rythm" if you will, which I felt was quite beautiful too.
My point is that I changed my feelings only because I looked at these pebbles and that firewood differently; somebody had told me how to see them to become aware of their beauty. I had changed the meaning of these objects from being pointless to something very meaningful.
Let's take a different example. The boss says to his (female) secretary that she is a highly intelligent and very beautiful woman. What kind of meaning does the secretary give to these words? She could think oh what I nice thing to say, or is this in lieu of a salary increase? or yeah, yeah, I heard that one before, or this is sexual harrassment. Whatever she thinks depends on her very own interpretation of the words. She does not really know what her boss meant. She is presented with data - words - and now she needs to interpret them.
You see, words are totally meaningless and so are events and experiences. Nothing has any meaning until you give meaning to it. What kind of meaning you give it depends on your mindset. And your mindset depends on your upbringing: what your parents told you, what your teachers taught you, which could have been in conflict with what your parents had told you; and what everyone else told or taught you who had any form of influence over you. Also past experiences and events and how they affected you form part of your mindset. And this hotchpotch of different influences, often conflicting, sometimes positive and sometimes negative, over time became your mindset. In other words you learned your mindset.
The thing about mindset is that it will forever influence your thinking, your biases, your prejudices, your likes and dislikes, your actions and reactions, your values, your beliefs, your priorities, in short your life.
Is this good or bad? Well, this depends on the individual. Some people are perfectly happy how their life is unfolding; perhaps they don't know any better, or perhaps there isn't any better. Other people are unhappy with their circumstances and they would give anything to change something or everything. But they cannot change anything until they have changed their mindset.
We have acquired our mindset. There may have been some little bit in it that we inherited from our parents, but the greatest portion by far comes from copying and learning.
But if our mindset is not given to us by nature - we are not born with it - then surely we can re-learn and create one that is superior to the one we had before.
Next time more about it.
Happiness Discovered by Udo Stadtsbuchler
Download it in PDF at U.S. $19.95 go to http://happinessdiscovered.110mb.com/
Buy the book at U.S. $ 24.95 from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1451578784
or from Create Space at U.S. $24.95: https://www.createspace.com/3443453
Now also available from http://www.amazon.co.uk%20and/, http://www.amazon.de/
My point is that I changed my feelings only because I looked at these pebbles and that firewood differently; somebody had told me how to see them to become aware of their beauty. I had changed the meaning of these objects from being pointless to something very meaningful.
Let's take a different example. The boss says to his (female) secretary that she is a highly intelligent and very beautiful woman. What kind of meaning does the secretary give to these words? She could think oh what I nice thing to say, or is this in lieu of a salary increase? or yeah, yeah, I heard that one before, or this is sexual harrassment. Whatever she thinks depends on her very own interpretation of the words. She does not really know what her boss meant. She is presented with data - words - and now she needs to interpret them.
You see, words are totally meaningless and so are events and experiences. Nothing has any meaning until you give meaning to it. What kind of meaning you give it depends on your mindset. And your mindset depends on your upbringing: what your parents told you, what your teachers taught you, which could have been in conflict with what your parents had told you; and what everyone else told or taught you who had any form of influence over you. Also past experiences and events and how they affected you form part of your mindset. And this hotchpotch of different influences, often conflicting, sometimes positive and sometimes negative, over time became your mindset. In other words you learned your mindset.
The thing about mindset is that it will forever influence your thinking, your biases, your prejudices, your likes and dislikes, your actions and reactions, your values, your beliefs, your priorities, in short your life.
Is this good or bad? Well, this depends on the individual. Some people are perfectly happy how their life is unfolding; perhaps they don't know any better, or perhaps there isn't any better. Other people are unhappy with their circumstances and they would give anything to change something or everything. But they cannot change anything until they have changed their mindset.
We have acquired our mindset. There may have been some little bit in it that we inherited from our parents, but the greatest portion by far comes from copying and learning.
But if our mindset is not given to us by nature - we are not born with it - then surely we can re-learn and create one that is superior to the one we had before.
Next time more about it.
Happiness Discovered by Udo Stadtsbuchler
Download it in PDF at U.S. $19.95 go to http://happinessdiscovered.110mb.com/
Buy the book at U.S. $ 24.95 from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1451578784
or from Create Space at U.S. $24.95: https://www.createspace.com/3443453
Now also available from http://www.amazon.co.uk%20and/, http://www.amazon.de/
Monday, August 9, 2010
Personal Matters
In one of my first blogs I have told you that a neoplasm had invaded one of my organs, which to me is a far better way of saying I have cancer, or even worse my cancer has returned. I have also told you that I am a very happy person; not because of this neoplasm - this would be mad - but in spite of it. I have done everything in my power to combat this illness, and I spoke about it in detail in some of last month's posts to this blog. More than any time before I have used the power of my thoughts, which of course is one reason why I am a very happy person. I have also used this power to help overcome my challenge.
Tomorrow I will have some blood test, and in about two weeks time I am going to see the oncologist who will tell me by how much my condition has improved. Those of you who have followed this blog from the beginning know that my immediate target was to improve my condition to such a degree that medical invasive intervention is not necessary. Long term I want to reduce the neoplasm to nothingness.
I keep you informed.
Tomorrow I will have some blood test, and in about two weeks time I am going to see the oncologist who will tell me by how much my condition has improved. Those of you who have followed this blog from the beginning know that my immediate target was to improve my condition to such a degree that medical invasive intervention is not necessary. Long term I want to reduce the neoplasm to nothingness.
I keep you informed.
Change the Way You Think 4
Typically our actions are governed by our feelings and not by our ability to use logic and reason. In other words we do what we want to do and not what we need to do. You will agree with me when you think of all your impulse buys, most of your spur-of-the-moment actions and reactions; when you think of the arguments that you have had and afterwards you wished you had handled them better and with more thought. How often did you regret those impulse buys and the spur-of-the-moment decisions?
STOP! THINK! That's the answer. Stop and step back from the decision and think. Think of the outcome that you want to achieve and ask yourself if the decision that you almost made is the right one. Think of its implications, how it will affect you and those close to you. Most importantly think if what you want to do fulfils your needs too. If your wants are not the same as your needs decide in favor of your needs. If this makes you feel bad, disappointed, sad or frustrated, change the feeling.
Actually this is one of the most important steps in any form of change work: change your feelings. Once you can do it, everything else becomes much easier and easier and easier still. As Carl Jung said:
"Man likes to believe he is the master of his soul, but without mastery over emotions and feelings, we are still wandering in a wilderness in which only logical facts contain meaning."
More about it next time.
Happiness Discovered by Udo Stadtsbuchler
Download it in PDF at U.S. $19.95 go to http://happinessdiscovered.110mb.com/
Buy the book at U.S. $ 24.95 from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1451578784
or from Create Space at U.S. $24.95: https://www.createspace.com/3443453
Now also available from:
http://www.amazon.co.uk%20and/, http://www.amazon.de/
STOP! THINK! That's the answer. Stop and step back from the decision and think. Think of the outcome that you want to achieve and ask yourself if the decision that you almost made is the right one. Think of its implications, how it will affect you and those close to you. Most importantly think if what you want to do fulfils your needs too. If your wants are not the same as your needs decide in favor of your needs. If this makes you feel bad, disappointed, sad or frustrated, change the feeling.
Actually this is one of the most important steps in any form of change work: change your feelings. Once you can do it, everything else becomes much easier and easier and easier still. As Carl Jung said:
"Man likes to believe he is the master of his soul, but without mastery over emotions and feelings, we are still wandering in a wilderness in which only logical facts contain meaning."
More about it next time.
Happiness Discovered by Udo Stadtsbuchler
Download it in PDF at U.S. $19.95 go to http://happinessdiscovered.110mb.com/
Buy the book at U.S. $ 24.95 from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1451578784
or from Create Space at U.S. $24.95: https://www.createspace.com/3443453
Now also available from:
http://www.amazon.co.uk%20and/, http://www.amazon.de/
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Change the Way You Think 3
sunsings1 commented on my last post that thoughts are the first step to self-realization. I have no argument with this. However, if I want to engage in a hair splitting exercise I could say that self-realization may or may not have something to do with the subject matter. It depends on one's interpretation of the word self-realization and also on the context. We could say that we need to first realize that something needs to be changed, or that we want to change something. With this interpretation of the word and in this context sunsings1 is absolutely right and I am most grateful for this comment.
Moving on. I wrote that we have total control over our thoughts and that this gives us enormous power. After all thoughts determine the actions that we take, and the actions that we take lead to the outcome of our actions. Simple, isn't it? Let us put this in the context of decision making. This is a daily occurence for most of us in our private life, certainly in our business or work life, and also in sport. If we take action with negative and pessimistic thoughts in our mind then there is an enormous likelihood that we will get a negative outcome. If we take the same action with positive and optimistic thoughts in our mind then we have a much greater chance to experience a positive outcome.
But what if we have a choice of two actions and both give us a 50:50 chance of success. How do we choose which one to take, and how can we avoid being full of doubt that this is the right choice?
Let us look at this next time.
Happiness Discovered by Udo Stadtsbuchler
Download it in PDF at U.S. $19.50 go to http://happinessdiscovered.110mb.com/
Buy the book at U.S. $ 29.50 from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1451578784
or from Create Space at U.S. $29.50: https://www.createspace.com/3443453
Moving on. I wrote that we have total control over our thoughts and that this gives us enormous power. After all thoughts determine the actions that we take, and the actions that we take lead to the outcome of our actions. Simple, isn't it? Let us put this in the context of decision making. This is a daily occurence for most of us in our private life, certainly in our business or work life, and also in sport. If we take action with negative and pessimistic thoughts in our mind then there is an enormous likelihood that we will get a negative outcome. If we take the same action with positive and optimistic thoughts in our mind then we have a much greater chance to experience a positive outcome.
But what if we have a choice of two actions and both give us a 50:50 chance of success. How do we choose which one to take, and how can we avoid being full of doubt that this is the right choice?
Let us look at this next time.
Happiness Discovered by Udo Stadtsbuchler
Download it in PDF at U.S. $19.50 go to http://happinessdiscovered.110mb.com/
Buy the book at U.S. $ 29.50 from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1451578784
or from Create Space at U.S. $29.50: https://www.createspace.com/3443453
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Change the Way You Think 2
We can influence much in our life; people and to some degree also events. But what can we control? Nothing really other than our thoughts. Think about it. You see, even though I told you to think about it, you didn't really need to do what I told you. You could have thought about the weather instead, or about your work schedule, a movie that you saw or want to see. But you chose to think about what I told you. It was your choice and yours alone.
By the same token you can introduce pictures in your mind and not only thoughts. These pictures can be anything you like; in your mind you can see a mile high tree, or elephants with pink ribbons around their necks. You can see yourself as being the emperor of China and you can think about how you would conduct your reign. And it does not matter one iota that this position no longer exists and hasn't existed for quite some time. You can think and you can see whatever you wish.
Of course this is something you knew anyway; I didn't give away any secrets by telling you. But do you realize how important it is? Do you know what you can do with it?
It is the foundation to my maxim Change the Way You Think and Change Your Life.
Let's explore this next time.
By the same token you can introduce pictures in your mind and not only thoughts. These pictures can be anything you like; in your mind you can see a mile high tree, or elephants with pink ribbons around their necks. You can see yourself as being the emperor of China and you can think about how you would conduct your reign. And it does not matter one iota that this position no longer exists and hasn't existed for quite some time. You can think and you can see whatever you wish.
Of course this is something you knew anyway; I didn't give away any secrets by telling you. But do you realize how important it is? Do you know what you can do with it?
It is the foundation to my maxim Change the Way You Think and Change Your Life.
Let's explore this next time.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Change the way you think and change your life
I have come across many people who wanted change; change their life style, change their behavior, or change who they are.
Change is difficult - and I write about it extensively in Happiness Discovered - but it is doable. Many people who wanted change said to me that they tried very hard, that they spent hours praying that their wish comes true, that they had this immense desire to be someone else, and nothing happened.
My answer is always that nothing is going to happen ever; that they will stay exactly where they are now. Because wishing or even desiring change is just not good enough, neither are prayers.
If you wait for change to happen, you are in for a very long wait indeed.
The only way to change is for you to take action. And with action I mean real action and not just wishing or praying. And it begins with changing the way you think.
Easy? No it's not, but it is most certainly doable. There are a few exercises - mind exercises - that you can do that will take you to the next step. You did the first step already: realizing that you need or want to change. I will talk about the subsequent steps in my next post/s.
There have been a few days between this post and the one before. Even though I want to post something almost every day, sometimes it's not possible. Right now I am reformatting Happiness Discovered for electronic reading devices, which takes up a lot of my time. Another big chunk of time is allocated to my wish to get well again. This is currently my wish for change - see, I take action, real action.
See you soon.
Happiness Discovered by Udo Stadtsbuchler
Download it in PDF at U.S. $19.50 go to http://happinessdiscovered.110mb.com/
Buy the book at U.S. $ 29.50 from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1451578784
or from Create Space at U.S. $29.50: https://www.createspace.com/3443453
Change is difficult - and I write about it extensively in Happiness Discovered - but it is doable. Many people who wanted change said to me that they tried very hard, that they spent hours praying that their wish comes true, that they had this immense desire to be someone else, and nothing happened.
My answer is always that nothing is going to happen ever; that they will stay exactly where they are now. Because wishing or even desiring change is just not good enough, neither are prayers.
If you wait for change to happen, you are in for a very long wait indeed.
The only way to change is for you to take action. And with action I mean real action and not just wishing or praying. And it begins with changing the way you think.
Easy? No it's not, but it is most certainly doable. There are a few exercises - mind exercises - that you can do that will take you to the next step. You did the first step already: realizing that you need or want to change. I will talk about the subsequent steps in my next post/s.
There have been a few days between this post and the one before. Even though I want to post something almost every day, sometimes it's not possible. Right now I am reformatting Happiness Discovered for electronic reading devices, which takes up a lot of my time. Another big chunk of time is allocated to my wish to get well again. This is currently my wish for change - see, I take action, real action.
See you soon.
Happiness Discovered by Udo StadtsbuchlerDownload it in PDF at U.S. $19.50 go to http://happinessdiscovered.110mb.com/
Buy the book at U.S. $ 29.50 from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1451578784
or from Create Space at U.S. $29.50: https://www.createspace.com/3443453
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Utilize the Power of your Thoughts 2
Referring to my previous blog, is there any guaranty that utilizing the power of your thoughts - your mind power, if you will - will overcome any serious or life threatening disease? No, of course not; however, not using this power won't change anything to the better either. And, as I explained, there is a huge body of research that proves the benefits of utilizing your power.
If you decide to use your mind power - and I urge you to do so - then do it wholeheartedly; don't hold back and believe in yourself. It most certainly does not mean that you should forgo everything else, such as medical care, diet and perhaps change of life style. It also does not mean that you should "hedge your bets" and do what somebody, whose name escapes me now, suggests in Cervan-Schreiber's Anti Cancer, which is to hope for the best and prepare for the worst. Maybe there are some who feel more comfortable to do so. However, I am absolutely opposed to it. Hope is good, but not good enough if you just hope that something will change out of the blue and without any input on your part. To hope and still prepare for the worst means sabotaging the positive effect that your mind power can have on the illness that had you befallen. Hoping that something will change, wishing it and desiring it with all your heart are not changing anything.
You need to take action and combine whatever tools you have at your disposal: medicine, diet, life style, exercises and, last but most certainly not least, the power of your mind.
I for one do it all, and I am about 6 weeks away from letting you know by how much my health has improved over the past 6 months.
If you want to comment on my thoughts, feel free to do so.
If you want to ask me anything that you don't want to ask publicly, send me an email to stadtsbuchler@telefonica.net I am known to answer all my emails.
Happiness Discovered by Udo Stadtsbuchler
If you decide to use your mind power - and I urge you to do so - then do it wholeheartedly; don't hold back and believe in yourself. It most certainly does not mean that you should forgo everything else, such as medical care, diet and perhaps change of life style. It also does not mean that you should "hedge your bets" and do what somebody, whose name escapes me now, suggests in Cervan-Schreiber's Anti Cancer, which is to hope for the best and prepare for the worst. Maybe there are some who feel more comfortable to do so. However, I am absolutely opposed to it. Hope is good, but not good enough if you just hope that something will change out of the blue and without any input on your part. To hope and still prepare for the worst means sabotaging the positive effect that your mind power can have on the illness that had you befallen. Hoping that something will change, wishing it and desiring it with all your heart are not changing anything.
You need to take action and combine whatever tools you have at your disposal: medicine, diet, life style, exercises and, last but most certainly not least, the power of your mind.
I for one do it all, and I am about 6 weeks away from letting you know by how much my health has improved over the past 6 months.
If you want to comment on my thoughts, feel free to do so.
If you want to ask me anything that you don't want to ask publicly, send me an email to stadtsbuchler@telefonica.net I am known to answer all my emails.
Happiness Discovered by Udo StadtsbuchlerDownload it in PDF at U.S. $19.50 go to http://happinessdiscovered.110mb.com/
Buy the book at U.S. $ 29.50 from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1451578784
or from Create Space at U.S. $29.50: https://www.createspace.com/3443453
Friday, July 16, 2010
Utilize the Power of your Thoughts
There is not one shadow of a doubt about the link between thoughts and feelings, and physical and mental health. I wrote about it in my book Happiness Discovered; Servan-Schreiber writes about it in his book Anti Cancer. We both quote numerous scientific research on this subject. You can click on the image on the right and you will get to Anti Cancer's Amazon site.
Thoughts are not just something that pop into our brain from nowhere and then they vanish again without a trace into the blue yonder. Thoughts are so much more than that; thoughts are indeed real forces and every thought that we think leaves a lasting mark in our brain. Not only in our mind, however we define it, but in the actual grey matter of the brain. The more we concentrate a particular thought on one particular subject, the more intensified is the force of this thought and the more pronounced this mark becomes. If an individual is confronted with a serious or life threatening disease, as I am, it makes sense for this individual to change their thought processes from gloom and doom, from a focus on all that's negative, to thought processes that are positive, uplifting and optimistic. There is a vast body of evidence that confirms this view; which you can see Happiness Discovered, Servan-Schreiber and all research in the field of PNI.
Let us look at it from my own personal point of view. I have mentioned in a previous post that I am looking forward to my next blood test with positive expectancy. I am certain that its outcome will be such that I can celebrate it with great joy. I have already discounted the possibility of a negative outcome; there are no ifs and if nots, and there are no buts. Of course I have not established this mindset only once I was told that I was ill. I have worked toward this attitude for many, many years. This does not mean that only those can be successful who have been working toward it as long as I did. No, of course not. Everyone can achieve this mindset within a few weeks, provided that they are determined and are prepared to put in the work every single day without exception. Affirmations and visualizations are great and easy to use tools to change your mindset; meditation, auto-hypnosis are more difficult for many people who may need guidance for it; reframing, meaning changing are essential to chnage your mindset and fairly easy to do, provided that you practice, practice, practice, and then you prarctice some more. All these tools are described in Happiness Discovered in great detail.
Let's talk about it tomorrow again.
Thoughts are not just something that pop into our brain from nowhere and then they vanish again without a trace into the blue yonder. Thoughts are so much more than that; thoughts are indeed real forces and every thought that we think leaves a lasting mark in our brain. Not only in our mind, however we define it, but in the actual grey matter of the brain. The more we concentrate a particular thought on one particular subject, the more intensified is the force of this thought and the more pronounced this mark becomes. If an individual is confronted with a serious or life threatening disease, as I am, it makes sense for this individual to change their thought processes from gloom and doom, from a focus on all that's negative, to thought processes that are positive, uplifting and optimistic. There is a vast body of evidence that confirms this view; which you can see Happiness Discovered, Servan-Schreiber and all research in the field of PNI.
Let us look at it from my own personal point of view. I have mentioned in a previous post that I am looking forward to my next blood test with positive expectancy. I am certain that its outcome will be such that I can celebrate it with great joy. I have already discounted the possibility of a negative outcome; there are no ifs and if nots, and there are no buts. Of course I have not established this mindset only once I was told that I was ill. I have worked toward this attitude for many, many years. This does not mean that only those can be successful who have been working toward it as long as I did. No, of course not. Everyone can achieve this mindset within a few weeks, provided that they are determined and are prepared to put in the work every single day without exception. Affirmations and visualizations are great and easy to use tools to change your mindset; meditation, auto-hypnosis are more difficult for many people who may need guidance for it; reframing, meaning changing are essential to chnage your mindset and fairly easy to do, provided that you practice, practice, practice, and then you prarctice some more. All these tools are described in Happiness Discovered in great detail.
Let's talk about it tomorrow again.
To download it in PDF at U.S. $19.50 go to http://happinessdiscovered.110mb.com/
Buy the book at U.S. $ 29.50 from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1451578784
or from Create Space at U.S. $29.50: https://www.createspace.com/3443453
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Power of Thoughts vs Illness
Therefore it makes sense to use the power of our thoughts to assist us in combating illness, to speed up recovery, or indeed to maintain our health.
This is the sentence that ended my last post from the day before yesterday. This is exactly what I do to fight the noeplasm in my body. In addition to a few other things, like diet for example and to take certain supplements. But certainly not any form of medical intervention. The medical profession has put me on the "watchful waiting" list anyway, and according to them that's all they can do. My next test will be mid August and it depends on its result, whether I continue to "wait watchfully" or if they suggest to do something different, i.e. operation, chemotherapy etc. However, as I see things there is the strong likelihood that the tumor markers will be lower, much lower. And that the medical profession will step back and I continue on my path of self healing. What makes me say it?
I need to go back to the emotional reaction that I had when I encountered my first cancer scare some six years ago. My GP had sent me to get X-rays done and I did not suspect any serious outcome. That's why it came as an enormous blow to me when the radiologist told me that I had cancer. The first thought that sprang to mind was how to protect my wife from knowing it. It lasted just the split of a second and then I realized of course that this was impossible anyway. From there on everything moved quite fast, tests, scans, interviews with the surgeon, and of course I had to make appointments for all of them. Plus I had my work to keep me busy. In this period I saw myself rather as a spectator, looking in from the outside. There was extremely little emotional involvement on my part, if any at all. I had acepted the fact that one kidney had to be removed and that was that. It was only when I was told that the stay in hospital would be between two and three weeks; an idea I didn't enjoy at all. That's when I all of a sudden remembered that I should really do something and take action. And I did.
I prepared my mind for a positive outcome of the operation, and that my hospital stay would end before the weekend - the operation was on a Tuesday morning. And this is exactly what happened. The operation was indeed successful, I live to tell the tale; and I left the hospital Friday afternoon.
When I was first confronted with my current challenge, my emotional reaction was cool, calm and feeling in control. I was of course better prepared for a negative message than the first time. And I acted immediately. I researched the subject matter extensively and I came to the conclusion that an operation or radio or chemotherapy was out of question; simply because the potential side effects were too ghastly to contemplate.
I also started right away using my mind power to help my physical body in the fight against the cancer cells.
Today I am not asking myself if the outcome of the next test will be good or bad for me. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that it will be good. The only question remains by how much I have improved.
Hopefully tomorrow I'll tell you what I did.
Happiness Discovered by Udo Stadtsbuchler
Download it in PDF at U.S. $19.50 go to http://happinessdiscovered.110mb.com/
Buy the book at U.S. $ 29.50 from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1451578784
or from Create Space at U.S. $29.50: https://www.createspace.com/3443453
This is the sentence that ended my last post from the day before yesterday. This is exactly what I do to fight the noeplasm in my body. In addition to a few other things, like diet for example and to take certain supplements. But certainly not any form of medical intervention. The medical profession has put me on the "watchful waiting" list anyway, and according to them that's all they can do. My next test will be mid August and it depends on its result, whether I continue to "wait watchfully" or if they suggest to do something different, i.e. operation, chemotherapy etc. However, as I see things there is the strong likelihood that the tumor markers will be lower, much lower. And that the medical profession will step back and I continue on my path of self healing. What makes me say it?
I need to go back to the emotional reaction that I had when I encountered my first cancer scare some six years ago. My GP had sent me to get X-rays done and I did not suspect any serious outcome. That's why it came as an enormous blow to me when the radiologist told me that I had cancer. The first thought that sprang to mind was how to protect my wife from knowing it. It lasted just the split of a second and then I realized of course that this was impossible anyway. From there on everything moved quite fast, tests, scans, interviews with the surgeon, and of course I had to make appointments for all of them. Plus I had my work to keep me busy. In this period I saw myself rather as a spectator, looking in from the outside. There was extremely little emotional involvement on my part, if any at all. I had acepted the fact that one kidney had to be removed and that was that. It was only when I was told that the stay in hospital would be between two and three weeks; an idea I didn't enjoy at all. That's when I all of a sudden remembered that I should really do something and take action. And I did.
I prepared my mind for a positive outcome of the operation, and that my hospital stay would end before the weekend - the operation was on a Tuesday morning. And this is exactly what happened. The operation was indeed successful, I live to tell the tale; and I left the hospital Friday afternoon.
When I was first confronted with my current challenge, my emotional reaction was cool, calm and feeling in control. I was of course better prepared for a negative message than the first time. And I acted immediately. I researched the subject matter extensively and I came to the conclusion that an operation or radio or chemotherapy was out of question; simply because the potential side effects were too ghastly to contemplate.
I also started right away using my mind power to help my physical body in the fight against the cancer cells.
Today I am not asking myself if the outcome of the next test will be good or bad for me. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that it will be good. The only question remains by how much I have improved.
Hopefully tomorrow I'll tell you what I did.
Happiness Discovered by Udo Stadtsbuchler
Download it in PDF at U.S. $19.50 go to http://happinessdiscovered.110mb.com/
Buy the book at U.S. $ 29.50 from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1451578784
or from Create Space at U.S. $29.50: https://www.createspace.com/3443453
Monday, July 12, 2010
Thoughts and Feelings
We control our thoughts; we can influence people and events, but we are not in control over them. Over our thoughts we have 100% control. No one can make you think something, unless you let them. Thoughts do not come out of the blue, and there is no higher power that puts thoughts into your mind. It's you and you only who is responsible for your thoughts. You determine if you want to think about disasters or about happy events. You decide if you see your future in black and white, or in the most glorious and vibrant colors. This maxim, that we are in control over our thoughts, is essential for what I am going to talk about from here on. Our thoughts determine the words that we use in our communication, both the internal as well as the external communication. Here we have a bidirectional effect: our words determine our thoughts; our thoughts determine our words. Whatever kind of thoughts we think affects our actions. Are the thoughts positive and optimistic our action will be different to the action that we take if our thoughts are negative and pessimistic. Can we expect a positive outcome of our action if we think negatively about it? Highly unlikely.
Our thoughts and words determine also our feelings. We can direct our thoughts to generate negative or sad feelings; or we can direct them toward positive and happy feelings. This is within our control.
PNI, about which I wrote in one of my previous posts, has found a very strong correlation about our feelings and our health. In my book Happiness Discovered I write extensively about this, and also about how our feelings affect not only our immune system, but our overall wellbeing and why this is so.
Therefore it makes sense to use the power of our thoughts to assist us in combating illness, to speed up recovery, or indeed to maintain our health.
Happiness Discovered by Udo Stadtsbuchler
Download it in PDF at U.S. $19.50 go to http://happinessdiscovered.110mb.com
Buy the book at U.S. $ 29.50 from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1451578784
or from Create Space at U.S. $29.50: https://www.createspace.com/3443453
Let's meet tomorrow again.
Our thoughts and words determine also our feelings. We can direct our thoughts to generate negative or sad feelings; or we can direct them toward positive and happy feelings. This is within our control.
Therefore it makes sense to use the power of our thoughts to assist us in combating illness, to speed up recovery, or indeed to maintain our health.
Happiness Discovered by Udo Stadtsbuchler
Download it in PDF at U.S. $19.50 go to http://happinessdiscovered.110mb.com
Buy the book at U.S. $ 29.50 from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1451578784
or from Create Space at U.S. $29.50: https://www.createspace.com/3443453
Let's meet tomorrow again.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Servan-Schreiber's Anti Cancer
BTW here is the book I highly recommend as a must read for everyone who has cancer, or as a need to read for eveyone who interested in the subject matter. I forgot to add it to the relevant article, but now it's here.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
What's "mind"?
I introduce here excerpts from my book Happiness Discovered, in which I extensively write about mind as well as about psychoneuroimmunology (PNI), previously called behavioral medicine, which explores the mind - body connection and its impact on health and wellbeing.
First, let us have a brief look at the definition of mind. What is this thing called mind? What does it do? How does it work? Are we in control of our mind? And if we don’t control it, who does?
Good questions and not new ones either; but disappointingly, there is not a single universally acceptable definition of mind. Aristotle, Buddha, Zarathustra, Plato and other theorists, from the ancient Greek culture to the Islamic and Indian culture proffered their views. In modern time one of the most eminent psychologists, the great Sigmund Freud opined extensively on the subject matter. Not surprisingly there are probably almost as many answers as there are theorists, and needless to say, some of them differ greatly from others. Explanations were sought in religion, the supernatural, the divine and luckily also in science. Some theorists favoured dualism, which means that body and mind are two separate entities. Others favoured monism, meaning that body and mind are not physiologically distinct.
Based on our modern understanding of the human brain, we say that mind is a product of the brain, and consists of the conscious and unconscious aspect; plus, according to followers of Freud, the preconscious aspect. Mind is a product of the brain but not restricted to the brain alone; it is in every cell of our physiology. Mind and the physical body are completely intertwined, dependent on one another and one cannot do without the other. This has become the view that most modern psychologists accept. It is this view that really was essential for the development of PNI. Without accepting that mind and body are completely dependent on each other, PNI or any form of energy therapy could not exist.
There are still arguments continuing as to what is governed by the conscious and what by the unconscious mind. As I said earlier, Sigmund Freud added to the debate a third element, the preconscious mind. 1932 he lectured: “... distinguish two kinds of unconscious - one which is easily, under frequently occurring circumstances, transformed into something conscious, and another one with which this transformation is difficult and takes place only subject to considerable expenditure of effort or possibly never at all ... We call the unconscious which is only latent, and thus becomes easily conscious, the “preconscious,” and retain the term” unconscious” for the other.”
The reason why I talk about mind is to emphasize that we can influence it; not only our conscious mind, but also our unconscious mind. We can do it directly using our own powers, the power of our thoughts; or indirectly using a third party, with the use of hypnosis.
We have here not only a bi-directional but a multi-directional effect: feelings created unconsciously by thoughts through the mind and brain connection, can be consciously changed by changing the thoughts, thereby exercising control over our mind and brain.
Happiness Discovered by Udo Stadtsbuchler
Download it in PDF at U.S. $19.50 go to http://happinessdiscovered.110mb.com/
click Downloads and follow instructions.
Buy the book at U.S. $ 29.50 from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1451578784
or from Create Space at U.S. $29.50: https://www.createspace.com/3443453
I look forward to seeing you again tomorrow.
First, let us have a brief look at the definition of mind. What is this thing called mind? What does it do? How does it work? Are we in control of our mind? And if we don’t control it, who does?
Good questions and not new ones either; but disappointingly, there is not a single universally acceptable definition of mind. Aristotle, Buddha, Zarathustra, Plato and other theorists, from the ancient Greek culture to the Islamic and Indian culture proffered their views. In modern time one of the most eminent psychologists, the great Sigmund Freud opined extensively on the subject matter. Not surprisingly there are probably almost as many answers as there are theorists, and needless to say, some of them differ greatly from others. Explanations were sought in religion, the supernatural, the divine and luckily also in science. Some theorists favoured dualism, which means that body and mind are two separate entities. Others favoured monism, meaning that body and mind are not physiologically distinct.
Based on our modern understanding of the human brain, we say that mind is a product of the brain, and consists of the conscious and unconscious aspect; plus, according to followers of Freud, the preconscious aspect. Mind is a product of the brain but not restricted to the brain alone; it is in every cell of our physiology. Mind and the physical body are completely intertwined, dependent on one another and one cannot do without the other. This has become the view that most modern psychologists accept. It is this view that really was essential for the development of PNI. Without accepting that mind and body are completely dependent on each other, PNI or any form of energy therapy could not exist.
There are still arguments continuing as to what is governed by the conscious and what by the unconscious mind. As I said earlier, Sigmund Freud added to the debate a third element, the preconscious mind. 1932 he lectured: “... distinguish two kinds of unconscious - one which is easily, under frequently occurring circumstances, transformed into something conscious, and another one with which this transformation is difficult and takes place only subject to considerable expenditure of effort or possibly never at all ... We call the unconscious which is only latent, and thus becomes easily conscious, the “preconscious,” and retain the term” unconscious” for the other.”
The reason why I talk about mind is to emphasize that we can influence it; not only our conscious mind, but also our unconscious mind. We can do it directly using our own powers, the power of our thoughts; or indirectly using a third party, with the use of hypnosis.
Happiness Discovered by Udo Stadtsbuchler
Download it in PDF at U.S. $19.50 go to http://happinessdiscovered.110mb.com/
click Downloads and follow instructions.
Buy the book at U.S. $ 29.50 from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1451578784
or from Create Space at U.S. $29.50: https://www.createspace.com/3443453
I look forward to seeing you again tomorrow.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Cancer cont.2
I am using most of Servan - Schreiber's advice on diet, which largely means vegetarian food, if possible organic, emphasizing foods with low glycemic value and high in protein, no sugar, and no dairy products. This diet is not prostate cancer specific, but for all forms of cancer. In addition I eat every day a large portion of tomato sauce, heavily spiced with garlic, turmeric, chilies and ginger. Tomato sauce (not raw or fried tomatoes) with olive oil added is the best source of Lycopene, which reduces PSA; turmeric is anti cell inflammation, all other spices have anti cancer properties. An additional reason for heavily spicing tomato sauce is that I deeply dislike tomato sauce; I dislike the taste, and I find the sickly sweet smell revolting. I also take Zyflamend and TurmericForce by New Chapter, and Modifilan to actively detoxify my body. All the products mentioned are natural supplements.
Does this regime work for me? Well, after having adhered to it for just over 3 months, I think so. I believe that some of the symptoms have at least eased off.
However, my most important tool is the power of my mind, which sounds rather grand, but it is actually something that we all have. Most of us have chosen to ignore it, or we were conditioned to ignore it. But we can rekindle it, and it's not all that difficult.
With mind power I don't mean one's ability to walk with bare feet on glowing coal (which I do), or broken glass (which I do); or the ability to bend spoons (which I also do). I mean the most important ability which is the ability to control one's feelings. Not by suppressing them, but by replacing unwanted feelings that are useless, with feelings that are useful and empowering.
More about this tomorrow.
Does this regime work for me? Well, after having adhered to it for just over 3 months, I think so. I believe that some of the symptoms have at least eased off.
However, my most important tool is the power of my mind, which sounds rather grand, but it is actually something that we all have. Most of us have chosen to ignore it, or we were conditioned to ignore it. But we can rekindle it, and it's not all that difficult.
With mind power I don't mean one's ability to walk with bare feet on glowing coal (which I do), or broken glass (which I do); or the ability to bend spoons (which I also do). I mean the most important ability which is the ability to control one's feelings. Not by suppressing them, but by replacing unwanted feelings that are useless, with feelings that are useful and empowering.
More about this tomorrow.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Cancer cont.
Yes, it was in February of this year that I felt some discomfort in my pelvic area, not pain but considerable discomfort. It was less discomfort then the one I had when my kidney started playing up some years before. But enough discomfort to see my doctor. A blood test revealed that PSA, the tumor marker for prostate cancer, was higher than it should have been. MRI scan confirmed and the eventual biopsy made it quite clear that there was a neoplasm in place. I was advised to do nothing about it, but wait for another 6 months for another test to see by how much the illness had advanced. This is called the "watchful waiting" period.
However, I am a "doer" and my mind is not at all designed to watchfully wait. Also this advice didn't make sense to me; I was certain that I could and should do something to help my body to overcome this challenge. But what? My general practitioner couldn't give me any useful advice, nor did the oncologist.
Because of my professional training I know of all the psychotherapeutic tools that I could use and I did and still do use them with great determination. Even though I know the strength of my mind power I felt the need to do more.
I cam across the book by Dr. Aaron Katz / Prostate Health, which helped with advice on diet and supplements. And I found it quite useful. But then I found Dr. David Servan-Schreiber / Anti Cancer a New Way of Life, which was a real eye opener for me. I recommend it as an absolute "must read" for everyone who has cancer; and I recommend it as a "need to read" for everyone who has an interest in the subject matter.
More about it probably tomorrow.
However, I am a "doer" and my mind is not at all designed to watchfully wait. Also this advice didn't make sense to me; I was certain that I could and should do something to help my body to overcome this challenge. But what? My general practitioner couldn't give me any useful advice, nor did the oncologist.
Because of my professional training I know of all the psychotherapeutic tools that I could use and I did and still do use them with great determination. Even though I know the strength of my mind power I felt the need to do more.
I cam across the book by Dr. Aaron Katz / Prostate Health, which helped with advice on diet and supplements. And I found it quite useful. But then I found Dr. David Servan-Schreiber / Anti Cancer a New Way of Life, which was a real eye opener for me. I recommend it as an absolute "must read" for everyone who has cancer; and I recommend it as a "need to read" for everyone who has an interest in the subject matter.
More about it probably tomorrow.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Cancer
I have cancer, or as I prefer to say, a neoplasm on the prostate gland. I have cancer means it is my possession, I own it. No, I don't own it, I gladly be rid of it. Neoplasm depersonalizes the thing; it's not mine. If I tell somebody that I have cancer, I create shock in the person and they don't know how to talk to me. If I say neoplasm I get a different reaction, because many people don't know what it means. When I am asked about it I'll explain of course, but with words that take the drama out of the situation. I never use the words I suffer cancer, because frankly I don't suffer; I am a very happy person. Certainly not because of the neoplasm, but in spite of it; it doesn't emotionally affect me. I will elaborate on this as we go along.
I will use this blog almost as a diary and will inform you of my progress through the whole process from the beginning to the point when I am free of this neoplasm. Yes, I am 100%convinced that I will beat it. Yes, I will beat it; I have decided not to go for chemo or radiotherapy, and I will not allow removal of this gland. I just don't like the potential side effects of it. I am going to use the support of natural remedies, a very strict diet and the most effective tool at my disposal; the power of my mind. I will share all these tools with you.
Let us start at the beginning, which is that I had the first neoplasm about six years ago and, as a result, one of my kidneys had to be removed. At that time I hadn't researched this illness and what one could do about it. Operation was the only option that I had, and I do not regret having had it. I did, however, exercise the power of my mind to shorten my hospital stay from predicted 14 days to three weeks to a mere three days. My wife was horrified and very angry with me when I called her from the hospital to come and pick me up, but luckily she did it anyway. Six months after the operation I had the first of the supposedly 6-monthly check-ups. I was clear, and from there on I never went back for more check-ups. At the time we lived in England, but moved to Spain about a year after the operation.
All was fine until February 2010 when I was diagnosed with another neoplasm.
I will use this blog almost as a diary and will inform you of my progress through the whole process from the beginning to the point when I am free of this neoplasm. Yes, I am 100%convinced that I will beat it. Yes, I will beat it; I have decided not to go for chemo or radiotherapy, and I will not allow removal of this gland. I just don't like the potential side effects of it. I am going to use the support of natural remedies, a very strict diet and the most effective tool at my disposal; the power of my mind. I will share all these tools with you.
Let us start at the beginning, which is that I had the first neoplasm about six years ago and, as a result, one of my kidneys had to be removed. At that time I hadn't researched this illness and what one could do about it. Operation was the only option that I had, and I do not regret having had it. I did, however, exercise the power of my mind to shorten my hospital stay from predicted 14 days to three weeks to a mere three days. My wife was horrified and very angry with me when I called her from the hospital to come and pick me up, but luckily she did it anyway. Six months after the operation I had the first of the supposedly 6-monthly check-ups. I was clear, and from there on I never went back for more check-ups. At the time we lived in England, but moved to Spain about a year after the operation.
All was fine until February 2010 when I was diagnosed with another neoplasm.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
With matters of the mind I mean anything that is governed by it; our behavior, feelings, and to some degree our physical and mental health; our actions and reactions, and our interpersonal relationships; our values, beliefs, and priorities; our biases and prejudices; well, in short it means just about everything in our life.
One of my main interests is happiness, and I will write about it quite a lot. I have written a book about it - Happiness Discovered - and you find details of it below.
Another of my main interests is how mind affects health or illness, and I have a vested interest in it. This interest is that I have cancer, or as I usually say, a neoplasm has established itself on my prostate gland. What makes me use these words rather than the simple word cancer, I'll explain as we go along. I have resolved that I am not going to use chemo or radiotherapy or the removal of this gland as a cure, but use my own power of mind plus a change of life style to become healthy again. I m going to use this blog as a kind of diary to inform you of the success of my "therapy" but also of the pitfalls should any occur.
Download it in PDF at U.S. $19.50 go to http://happinessdiscovered.110mb.com
click Downloads and follow instructions.
Buy the book at U.S. $ 29.50 from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1451578784
or from Create Space at U.S. $29.50: https://www.createspace.com/3443453
One of my main interests is happiness, and I will write about it quite a lot. I have written a book about it - Happiness Discovered - and you find details of it below.
Another of my main interests is how mind affects health or illness, and I have a vested interest in it. This interest is that I have cancer, or as I usually say, a neoplasm has established itself on my prostate gland. What makes me use these words rather than the simple word cancer, I'll explain as we go along. I have resolved that I am not going to use chemo or radiotherapy or the removal of this gland as a cure, but use my own power of mind plus a change of life style to become healthy again. I m going to use this blog as a kind of diary to inform you of the success of my "therapy" but also of the pitfalls should any occur.
Download it in PDF at U.S. $19.50 go to http://happinessdiscovered.110mb.com
click Downloads and follow instructions.
Buy the book at U.S. $ 29.50 from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1451578784
or from Create Space at U.S. $29.50: https://www.createspace.com/3443453
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