One can in this way attain to whatever ideals he would attain to. Two steps are necessary: first, as the days pass, to form one’s ideals; and second, to follow them continually whatever may arise, wherever they may lead him. Always remember that the great and strong character is the one who is ever ready to sacrifice the present pleasure for the future good. He who will thus follow his highest ideals as they present themselves to him day after day, year after year, will find that as Dante, following his beloved from world to world, finally found her at the gates of Paradise, so he will find himself eventually at the same gates. Life is not, we may say, for mere passing pleasure, but for the highest unfoldment that one can attain to, the noblest character that one can grow, and for the greatest service that one can render to all mankind. In this, however, we will find the highest pleasure, for in this the only real pleasure lies. He, who would find it by any short cuts, or by entering upon any other paths, will inevitably find that his last state is always worse than his first; and if he proceeds upon paths other than these he will find that he will never find real and lasting pleasure at all. The question is not, what are the conditions in our lives? But, how do we meet the conditions that we find there? And whatever the conditions are, it is unwise and profitless to look upon them, even if they are conditions that we would have otherwise, in the attitude of complaint, for complaint will bring depression, and depression will weaken and possibly even kill the spirit that would engender the power that would enable us to bring into our lives an entirely new set of conditions.

In order to be concrete, even at the risk of being personal, I will say that in my own experience there have come at various times into my life circumstances and conditions that I gladly would have run from at the time—conditions that caused at the time humiliation and shame and anguish of spirit. But invariably, as sufficient time has passed, I have been able to look back and see clearly the part which every experience of the type just mentioned had to play in my life. I have seen the lessons it was essential for me to learn; and the result is that now I would not drop a single one of these experiences from my life, humiliating and hard to bear as they were at the time; no, not for the world. And here is also a lesson I have learned: whatever conditions are in my life to-day that are not the easiest and most agreeable, and whatever conditions of this type all coming time may bring, I will take them just as they come, without complaint, without depression, and meet them in the wisest possible way; knowing that they are the best possible conditions that could be in my life at the time, or otherwise they would not be there; realizing the fact that, although I may not at the time see why they are in my life, although I may not see just what part they have to play, the time will Come, and when it comes I will see it all, and thank God for every condition just as it came.

Each one is so apt to think that his own conditions, his own trials or troubles or sorrows, or his own struggles, as the case may be, are greater than those of the great mass of mankind, or possibly greater than those of any one else in the world. He forgets that each one has his own peculiar trials or troubles or sorrows to bear, or struggles in habits to overcome, and that his is but the common lot of the entire human race. We are apt to make the mistake in this—in that we see and feel keenly our own trials, or adverse conditions, or characteristics to be overcome, while those of others we do not see so clearly and hence we are apt to think that they are not at all equal to our own. Each has his own problems to work out. Each must work out his own problems. Each must grow the insight that will enable him to see what the causes are that have brought the unfavorable conditions into his life; each must grow the strength that will enable him to face these conditions, and to set into operation forces that will bring about a different set of conditions. We may be of aid to one another by way of suggestion, by way of bringing to one another knowledge of certain higher laws and forces,—laws and forces that will make it easier to do that which we would do. The doing, however, must be done by each one for himself.

And so the way to get out of any conditions we have gotten into, either knowingly or inadvertently, either intentionally or unintentionally is to take time to look the conditions squarely in the face, and to find the law whereby they have come about. And when we have discovered the law, the thing to do is not to rebel against it, not to resist it, but to go with it by working in harmony with it. If we work in harmony with it, it will work for our highest good, and will take us wheresoever we desire. If we oppose it, if we resist it, if we fail to work in harmony with it, it will eventually break us to pieces. The law is immutable in its workings. Go with it, and it brings all things our way; resist it, and it brings suffering, pain, loss, and desolation.

But a few days ago I was talking with a lady; a most estimable lady living on a little New England farm of some five or six acres. Her husband died a few years ago, a good-hearted, industrious man, but one who spent practically all of his earnings in drink. When he died the little farm was unpaid for, and the wife found herself without any visible means of support, with a family of several to care for. Instead of being discouraged with what many would have called her hard lot, instead of rebelling against the circumstances in which she found herself, she faced the matter bravely, firmly believing that there were ways by which she could manage, though she could not see them clearly at the time. She took up her burden where she found it, and went bravely forward. For several years she has been taking care of summer boarders who come to that part of the country, getting up regularly, she told me, at from half-past three to four o’clock in the morning, and working until ten o’clock each night. In the wintertime, when this means of revenue is cut off, she has gone out to do nursing in the country round about. In this way the little farm is now almost paid for; her children have been kept in school, and they are now able to aid her to a greater or less extent. Through it all she has entertained neither fears nor forebodings; she has shown no rebellion of any kind. She has not kicked against the circumstances which brought about the conditions in which she found herself, but she has put herself into harmony with the law that would bring her into another set of conditions. And through it all, she told me, she had been continually grateful that she has been able to work, and that whatever her own circumstances have been, she has never yet failed to find some one whose circumstances were still a little worse than hers, and for whom it was not possible for her to render some little service.

Most heartily she appreciates the fact, and most grateful is she for it, that the little home is now almost paid for, and soon no more of her earnings will have to go out in that channel. The dear little home, she said, would be all the more precious to her by virtue of the fact that it was finally hers through her own efforts. The strength and nobility of character that have come to her during these years, the sweetness of disposition, the sympathy and care for others, her faith in the final triumph of all that is honest and true and pure and good, are qualities that thousands and hundreds of thousands of women, yes, of both men and women, who are apparently in better circumstances in life can justly envy. And should the little farm home be taken away to-morrow, she has gained something that a farm of a thousand acres could not buy. By going about her work in the way she has gone about it the burden of it all has been lightened, and her work has been made truly enjoyable.

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Everyone on this Earth has something valuable to offer another person. Everyone of us is capable of being very prosperous and contented. But nevertheless, so many of us struggle day after day. We’re caught in a cruel rat-race, and often we can barely come up for breath. Yet, to each of us, there’s hope. Applying the Law of Attraction, I want to teach you how to pull to yourself your Million Dollar Idea.

We all are here for a reason. We all have something that we alone can offer. To figure out our purpose is to discover that which both makes us happy and makes us wealthy. We were not meant to fear, hurt, or suffer. However, we all have been culpable of questioning ourselves, and we must learn to move through this. These are very basic things that you must realize before you’ll be able to even begin to reveal your million dollar idea. If you find it, but question yourself and do not follow up on it, you might not find it again for years.

You may want to create a list of things you know. You can list things that you have specific knowledge in. You might try to narrow the list down into something you believe is valuable in the market place. There are hundreds of books for that tactic. What I want to reveal to you today is a tactic that is much easier, but you must be willing to put in the effort and specifically to remain very mindful for the answer.

Find a time when you have half an hour to yourself. Find a comfortable, secluded spot that is quiet and relaxing. Sit (or lie) or get comfortable in any way you want. Listen very attentively to the sounds about you. If the room is silent, hear the silence. Become mindful of your breathing. Count thirty breaths (in-out one, in-out two). When you have completed this your body and mind will be very relaxedat ease and in the perfect state to proceed.

Close your eyes and repeat out loud, “I intend my million dollar idea to present itself to me now. My million dollar idea is here and now and I will that it show itself.” Now listen to the silence, centering on what you just said. Every few seconds when you begin to experience your mind meandering, repeat the procedure – say it aloud again, then listen and experience the power of your words as they echo through your being. Continue this for as long as you are able, then become aware of your breathing for ten breaths. Then you can get up and go about your life.

Now you’ve put out an emotional desire for your million dollar idea to present itself to you. I won’t go into it, but the world you perceive around you is actually within you – everything in your external world is merely a representation of something internal. So what you need to do now is to stay cognizant of what you’re doing throughout the day. When you’re talking to someone, listen very deeply to what they are saying. If you stumble across a book, a magazine, or a proposal of some sort, pay extra attention to it.

What will happen is that something in your external life will happen that will present the million dollar idea to you. Does your friend have a problem that you may have a solution to? Is that answer possibly your million dollar idea? Do you hear someone discussing something they wish they had, but nobody has created it? Do you hear anyone complaining about a lack of something that maybe you could supply?

The peculiar thing is, occasionally your million dollar idea won’t sound like a million dollar idea to you at first. As your day goes by (and the following day), write down everything you think could be a suggestion. Dreams are especially important. What you’ll start to discover is a pattern based around one definite idea, one certain need, that others have. You will start to recognize it over and over again. This is the process of your idea introducing itself to you. Once you’re certain you have it, then begin to develop it, and keep faith in yourself.

The simplicity of this exercise is deceiving. The universe, our external reality, is perpetually communicating to us on a personal level, because our external reality is in point of fact just a manifestation of our internal. The process of giving an intention and question and then really paying attention to personal messages appearing out of the world around you will help you open up to the process of life.

You see, the best million dollar ideas are not things that you think are fashionable or inspiring. They are things that others need – things that benefit others! That’s quite often the simple rule that we neglect in life.

The best moment is when you become aware that we don’t really have one million dollar idea. We have an infinite number of them at our fingertips! All we need to do is expect and listen. May your life be enriched and your dreams come true!

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There is a wise saying that says it is never too late to follow your dreams. This is especially true when it comes to completing your post high school college degree. Several adults drop out of college for different reasons and then wish later that they had finished their degrees. The truth is that you can still complete your college degree no matter what your age or circumstances. This is where goal setting will help you attain your dreams.

A college degree can enhance your life in ways that you can’t even imagine. Not only will it give you more options in your life, it will also help raise your sense of self-worth and self-confidence. That in itself will have large payoffs. Statistically those with a bachelor’s degree will earn about $1,000,000 more in their lifetimes than those who don’t. That’s a huge plus for finishing your degree.

Goal setting for returning to college to finish your degree requires several steps in order to be successful. First, make a list of all of the obstacles you are facing to complete your goal. Secondly, brainstorm ideas for overcoming those obstacles. Each person’s circumstances are different. However, there are some basic goal setting ideas that apply to just about every one.

First, most states have a two year community college system. If you live close to a major city, there is most often one within driving distance. Many returning students begin there. The reason is that it’s less costly as a four year college or university. Set an appointment to converse with a counselor at the school nearest you. This person should be able to assist you with your goal setting by outlining options.

One of the advantages of the community college system is that you don’t have to have a high school diploma to be able to attend. All you have to be is eighteen and older. Be sure and include this option in your goal setting.

The next step in your goal setting to is to decide which option is most beneficial for you. Many colleges and universities give the choice of online degree programs for those people who don’t have easy access to a college campus. You might keep in mind the combining of online and classroom classes. Again, a counselor will be able to assist you. Just make sure that the courses you have opted for are transferable to the degree that you have chosen as your goal.

Finding the time in your busy adult schedule is an obstacle that you will face in goal setting. You will require the help and assistance of your family and friends to attain your goal. Make sure everyone in your family is onboard and supports you. Everybody will have to make sacrifices, but they won’t be insurmountable.

Goal setting should involve everybody in your family. They need to have some ownership in your goal. Sit down with your family and look over the individual days and the weeks in your schedule. You will find the time if you try hard enough.

The good news is that you have many more choices available to you in your goal setting than were available even a few years ago. Evening classes are usually offered. There are also some colleges that offer weekend classes for working adults. Many colleges and universities are now providing accelerated courses where you focus on only one or two classes at a time until those are finished.

Most colleges have support groups available for adults who are returning to school after long periods of time. Take advantage of them. They can offer resources that you probably weren’t aware of in your initial planning. Remember, are able to attain your goal of a college degree and goal setting will help you reach your dream.

Dick Ingersoll is an eternal student, and is fired up to share what he is learning with others. He has pulled it all together for you at: Simple Goal Setting

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Looks may be the key element in attracting others to you. Shallow, but accurate. The very first notion anyone will ever have about you depends upon your physical appearance, and your visual aspect is determined in great measure by the type of clothing that you wear. Your clothes should give the feeling both of who you are and who you want to attract.

Probably the most crucial part of making sure your look will generate a positive first impression would be to appear clean and neat. Nobody is attracted to a slob; a lack of consideration of self is often indicative of apathy with regards to other folks and life in general. In addition, keep in mind that members of the opposite sex are most attracted towards the individuals that they think are at the top on the metaphorical food chain. Needless to say, no one is likely to feel that you are on the top of the food chain if you appear like you can’t get yourself dressed without having your mother’s assistance. Your clothing ought to be fresh, neat and properly fitting in order to present the image of oneself as somebody who cares about themselves and their belongings-and by default, the men and women who are around them (after all, you can care about yourself and not care about those around you, but it is very rare to care about those around you and not care a bit about yourself.)

This does not imply that you have to spend a small fortune on a wardrobe or spend three hours getting dressed in the morning to ensure that you’ll look like a runway model each and every time you go out. This is impractical and doesn’t allow the essence of your own personality to shine through. It is possible to attract the attention of the opposite sex in comfy clothing, and for most individuals jeans and sweatshirts are more comfortable for daily wear than their dress clothes. It is simply important to make sure that these outfits don’t make you seem to care less about comfort than you do about how you look.

If you’re not sure of an easy method to find your own style in clothes and use it to maximize your visual appeal there are a wide assortment of resources at your disposal. Product sales clerks, especially of retail establishments that only offer current fashion, are trained to possess a good eye for the size, color and style that will do the most to enhance their customer’s physical appearance. Most men and women do not truly know what looks good on them, and what seems appealing inside the shop dressing room frequently loses its appeal when placed in ordinary circumstances. If a customer isn’t happy with the way that their clothing makes them look they’re likely to blame the shop (after all, it could not possibly be their fault) which will cost the store business. On the other hand, if the sales clerk is able to steer a consumer towards the ideal ensemble they will bring their business back.

There is never a second chance to make a first impression, and if that first impression is really a bad one you’re likely to have difficulty convincing the object of your affection to reconsider; for that reason, the most effective thing you can do is be sure that you just have taken all possible steps to make sure that you put your best foot forward when stepping into the dating pool.

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Shall we notice another concrete case? A trite case, perhaps, but one in which we can see how habit is formed, and also how the same habit can be unformed. Here is a young man, he may be the son of poor parents, or he may be the son of rich parents; one in the ordinary ranks of life, or one of high social standing, whatever that means. He is good-hearted, one of good impulses, generally speaking,—a good fellow. He is out with some companions, companions of the same general type. They are out for a pleasant evening, out for a good time. They are apt at times to be thoughtless, even careless. The suggestion is made by one of the company, not that they get drunk, no, not at all; but merely that they go and have something to drink together. The young man whom we first mentioned, wanting to be genial, scarcely listens to the suggestion that comes to his inner consciousness—that it will be better for him not to fall in with the others in this. He does not stop long enough to realize the fact that the greatest strength and nobility of character lies always in taking a firm stand on the side of the right, and allow himself to be influenced by nothing that will weaken this stand. He goes, therefore, with his companions to the drinking place. With the same or with other companions this is repeated now and then; and each time it is repeated his power of saying “No” is gradually decreasing. In this way he has grown a little liking for intoxicants, and takes them perhaps now and then by himself. He does not dream, or in the slightest degree realize, what way he is tending, until there comes a day when he wakens to the consciousness of the fact that he hasn’t the power or even the impulse to resist the taste which has gradually grown into a minor form of craving for intoxicants. Thinking, however, that he will be able to stop when he is really in danger of getting into the drink habit, he goes thoughtlessly and carelessly on. We will pass over the various intervening steps and come to the time when we find him a confirmed drunkard. It is simply the same old story told a thousand or even a million times over.

He finally awakens to his true condition; and through the shame, the anguish, the degradation, and the want that comes upon him he longs for a return of the days when he was a free man. But hope has almost gone from his life. It would have been easier for him never to have begun, and easier for him to have stopped before he reached his present condition, but even in his present condition, be it the lowest and the most helpless and hopeless that can be imagined, he has the power to get out of it and be a free man once again. Let us see. The desire for drink comes upon him again. If he entertains the thought, the desire, he is lost again. His only hope, his only means of escape is this: the moment, aye, the very instant the thought comes to him, if he will put it out of his mind he will thereby put out the little flame of the match. If he entertains the thought the little flame will communicate itself until almost before he is aware of it a consuming fire is raging, and then effort is almost useless. The thought must be banished from the mind the instant it enters; dalliance with it means failure and defeat, or a fight that will be indescribably fiercer than it would be if the thought is ejected at the beginning.

And here we must say a word regarding a certain great law that we may call the “law of indirectness.” A thought can be put out of the mind easier and more successfully, not by dwelling upon it, not by attempting to put it out directly, but by throwing the mind on to some other object, by putting some other object of thought into the mind. This may be, for example, the ideal of full and perfect self-mastery, or it may be something of a nature entirely distinct from the thought which presents itself, something to which the mind goes easily and naturally. This will in time become the absorbing thought in the mind, and the danger is past. This same course of action repeated, will gradually grow the power of putting more readily out of mind the thought of drink as it presents itself, and will gradually grow the power of putting into the mind those objects of thought one most desires. The result will be that as time passes the thought of drink will present itself less and less, and when it does present itself it can be put out of the mind more easily. each succeeding time, until the time comes when it can be put out without difficulty, and eventually the time will come when the thought will enter the mind no more at all.

Still another case. You may be more or less of an irritable nature—naturally, perhaps, provoked easily to anger. Some one says something or does something that you dislike, and your first impulse is to show resentment and possibly to give way to anger. In the degree that you allow this resentment to display itself, that you allow yourself to give way to anger, in that degree will it become easier to do the same thing when any cause, even a very slight cause, presents itself. It will, moreover, become continually harder for you to refrain from it, until resentment, anger, and possibly even hatred and revenge become characteristics of your nature, robbing it of its sunniness, its charm, and its brightness for all with whom you come in contact. If, however, the instant the impulse to resentment and anger arises, you check it then and there, and throw the mind on to some other object of thought, the power will gradually grow itself of doing this same thing more readily, more easily, as succeeding like causes present themselves, until by and by the time will come when there will be scarcely anything that can irritate you, and nothing that can impel you to anger; until by and by a matchless brightness and charm of nature and disposition will become habitually yours, a brightness and charm you would scarcely think possible to-day. And so we might take up case after case, characteristic after characteristic, habit after habit. The habit of fault-finding and its opposite are grown in identically the same way; the characteristic of jealousy and its opposite; the characteristic of fear and its opposite. In this same way we grow either love or hatred; in this way we come to take a gloomy, pessimistic view of life, which objectifies itself in a nature, a disposition of this type, or we grow that sunny, hopeful, cheerful, buoyant nature that brings with it so much joy and beauty and power for ourselves, as well as so much hope and inspiration and joy for all the world.

There is nothing more true in connection with human life than that we grow into the likeness of those things we contemplate. Literally and scientifically and necessarily true is it that, “as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.” The “is” part is his character. His character is the sum total of his habits. His habits have been formed by his conscious acts; but every conscious act is, as we have found, preceded by a thought. And so we have it—thought on the one hand, character, life, destiny on the other. And simple it becomes when we bear in mind that it is simply the thought of the present moment, and the next moment when it is upon us, and then the next, and so on through all time.

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