Sunday, May 30, 2010

One of the biggest mistakes you could make would be trying to live without them.

The perfect answer to being perfect is that there are no perfect answers. One of the biggest (and most ironic) reasons why people fail is that they are afraid to fail. They might fear ridicule, or judgment; they might tie their self-worth into their ability to get something 'right' and then end up not even trying at all. All they're left with is a life of empty dreams and never-ending, never-fulfilled potential.

Mistakes are not only a part of Life, they're an integral part of the process. They help us define what works by showing us what does NOT work.

They also teach us patience and persistence and continually test us to make sure we still have our resolve. Success may not be assured through persistence, but failure is assured through quitting.

Remember the saying "fail forward fast" meaning get the mistakes done with as soon as possible. Getting a few really good mistakes over right away can save huge amounts of time later.

So don't fear them, revere them. Respect what they have to teach us.

Now go out and goof up... because the biggest success is waiting for you just beyond.

Keep the light on!

GuruStu

What do you want?

What do you want?
Can you feel it?

Saturday, May 29, 2010

People can't see the thanks you have, only the thanks you give.

There's all this talk about having gratitude... and that's great. I'm all for being thankful for what I have... but that's a private affair. It gives me the warm and fuzzies and helps we focus on manifesting more warm and fuzzies... but it does little for making the world a better place.

GIVING thanks is just that... it's sending gratitude out into the world to do MORE than just make me feel better. It's like the ripple in the pond... it just gets bigger and bigger the more it's out there. It surrounds more and more and is felt by anyone who comes in contact with it.

So remember that this holiday season is all about giving... so let your thanks be known.

Keep the light on!

GuruStu

Friday, May 28, 2010

To broaden your horizons, deepen your moments.

There's only so much time in a day. How many times have you heard it, or said it to yourself? You find yourself reaching the end of the day so quickly, wondering how you got here and how come nothing seems to have gotten done. Right?

Yet, how come some people seem to get so much done before noon?

The answer is "quality time". By that I don't mean the half hour before bedtime that an overworked parent spends reading to their kids... I mean making the most of every moment.

In order to succeed, you don't have to add more moments. You don't need to do double or triple the work than the next person. You don't even have to stop doing a lot of the stuff you do now.

Instead, just get more out of each moment.

How?

That's also quite simple...

Just put more INTO each moment.

Go into each moment knowing what you want to get out of it. Set a goal, even for the most mundane tasks. You know how to do dishes... so don't think about the dishes... and don't think about the laundry, or the day's problems while doing the dishes either... think about Love and about doing the things you love... let your mind flow over creative solutions, like the water flowing over the plate.

Or if that doesn't suit you, how about listening to a motivational CD or MP3 while you do your daily tasks?

Wouldn't that be putting more into the moment? It still takes the same amount of time it would have anyway... so see how different it is when you add to the moment?

Also, if you're going to some event, or have to do some particular project, plan out what lessons you'll get from it. Realize that even if the project you're about to work on isn't your ideal thing, you can learn the process of getting it done, so that you can use it for more important things later on.

So if you want to find more time, look inside each moment. Just go deeper.

Keep the light on!

GuruStu

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Your word is law. If you can't be trusted with the small stuff, how can you expect to be trusted with the big stuff?

So often we don't think anyone would notice... y'know, the little white lies, the forgotten promises, the excuses about traffic and some such. It's really no big deal, right? It happens to everyone...

That is, it happens to everyone who wonders why things aren't working out right for them...

These things are sometimes so small that we fail to notice the connection, or consider them exceptions, but the fact of the matter is, how we are with the little things reflect how we are with the big things.

Putting care into the details matter... a lot; not only because they make the bigger things better, but because they make YOU better in the process.

When you put integrity into your promises, you become Trustworthy... i.e. Worthy of Trust. And that worth makes you more valuable, to yourself and to others.

And the more value you put into the world, the more value you receive.

So say what you mean and mean what you say. When you say you're going to do something or be somewhere, then make sure it is done.

Remember, it's only small stuff when you belittle it. Respect it and you will be respected in return.

Keep your word... and the light on!

GuruStu

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Don't just make better choices; become a person who makes better choices.

We all make choices, every single moment, of every single day. Even those people who say "I don't have a choice" have a choice (they just decide to stick with the most 'obvious' choice, even if it's not one that they like). People make choices to succeed, and they make choices to fail. They choose to push their desires into reality, or they choose to let Life push their dreams into dust... but whatever they decide, and whatever results they get from that decision, is ultimately their choice.

Our choices are limited by our socio-economic conditions (e.g. "I don't have enough money") or because of our race, sex, nationality, preference, age... every single one of those conditions ABSOLUTELY LIMITS OUR CHOICES... they really, really do.

When we choose to let them.

Especially when it's easier to stick to the few choices before us and use them as an excuse for our failure... especially when going out to look for better choices is just "too much work" or "too far away". I mean, after all, sure, a better choice could be only a few feet away, but it might not be up the road at all, so why try, right?

Unless you really are tired of having limited choices and disappointing results. In that case, it might just be worth the effort to go out in search of more options.

Or, you don't have to go out anywhere... you could go INSIDE yourself in search of the decision makers. You know the ones, those beliefs that says you're not good enough, or not deserving enough, or that you can't do it because of (fill in the blank). You could... if you wanted to expand your life to unlimited choices... go inside and realize that the only limited choices you have are the choices that limit who you are.

You might discover that becoming a better decision maker gives you more choices... or that bigger better choices are available to those that become bigger and better first... but you really won't find that out unless you try.

It's your choice.

Keep the light on!

GuruStu

Monday, May 24, 2010

Negating the negative leaves you with nothing. Being positive is better than nothing.

It's not that you can't negate a negative. I just did. It's just that the best it will get you is nothing. Being positive is better than nothing.

When you negate a negative, like quitting smoking or drinking, you're left with a void. Without a replacement, it's often easier to just go back.

It's about doing something, not not-doing something.

The object is to turn the negated negative into its positive alternative. Instead of not smoking, become a non-smoker. Instead of losing weight, become your ideal weight. Both act the same, but who you are is vastly different.

Coming from that positive place, you have a goal, a vision, and outcome, already built in.You're not left in neutral, having to find something else to do. You'll not only be doing it, you'll be living it.

Now go out and be positive!!

Keep the light on!

GuruStu

PS Come visit my Facebook page and check out some of the latest interviews I did with Bob Proctor and John Assaraf at the world premiere of Three Feet From Gold (more to come!!)

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Don't focus on making a difference, focus on giving value. That'll make a huge difference.

A lot of people talk about "making a difference" in the world. That's really awesome... since what they intend is to make the world better in some way.

The only thing is... that's not very clear.

Anyone can make a difference... just go stand in the middle of the road and you'll make a difference in the way people drive... but that's not very positive, now is it?

The key is not to focus on making any sort of difference... none whatsoever.

Sounds radical, I know, but the difference you make is really none of your business.

Change is going to happen completely out of your control, so don't get caught up in it. You could find yourself so wrapped up in the results that you lose sight of what you're doing in the first place.

Instead, focus on giving value to the world. Just give. It doesn't matter if you think it's good enough or big enough or right enough. As long as you give from your heart and through your talent, it's enough.

And even there, don't focus on your talent or your heart... but instead focus on the NEED. Just find a need and fill it... to the best of your ability... from the purist of intentions.

Then, and only then, will you "make a difference".

Now go!

Keep the light on!

GuruStu

Perfect!

Perfect!
You're the best.

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Take care if yourself

We often think that rewards come from sacrifice. We put off eating right and sleeping well to pursue the money... or we think we're selfless and have to just keep giving to others, no matter what the cost. Well, the cost is you... and you're too valuable to lose.

Suffering is suffering; doesn't matter the goal. Regardless of whether or not the goal is reached, the path to it is just horrible. Life is so much more than that!



We are the vehicles of our dreams. Our goals and aspirations are created by us, and happen to us. If we slowly eat away at that vehicle, it won't matter what happens outside ourselves; we won't be able to enjoy it by the time it arrives. So we need to take care of our most valuable assets... our selves.

To do that we need to create BALANCE - which is a fair amount of effort in exchange for what we receive - and HARMONY - having each part of ourselves work well with everything else.

To achieve that, we need to fulfill each one of these areas - work, play, rest and growth. Each one feeds off of, and nurtures, the others... providing they stay in harmony and balance.

Why is it easier said than done?

Old habits get in the way; or somewhere along the way we were taught that thinking about ourselves was selfish and "selfish" is wrong.

It's also just easier to NOT take care of ourselves. Junk food is handy. Lack of exercise only needs a sofa. It's easier to come up with an excuse than it is to come up with a solution.

Why should I do it anyway?

Life decays when it's not cared for. The less we do, the less we're able to do.

The opposite is also true. The more we do, the more we are able to do. (Remember I'm saying "do" not "overdo"... keep thinking balance and harmony, balance and harmony)

Where do I begin?

Take note of all the stuff you do do... how much work, how much play, etc. Next, starts to find activities in the empty areas. Take time away from the bad things and start putting them into the good things. (That means "TAKE A BREAK" for you... and "GET OFF THAT COUCH" for you)

Start eating better, rather than stop eating poorly; start being active if you're not. Just keep track of what you're lacking and bring it in. Your balance will find itself.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Just 'cause someone agrees w/ you doesn't mean you're right; & just 'cause they disagree doesn't mean they're right either.

People like to be right... right? For the most part, people do... for many reasons. For some, it means validation; for others, love; and for still others, it at least means not having to backtrack and start over. That's why when we meet people of 'like minds' we're immediately attracted to one another. It feels comfortable, familiar... it just feels 'right'.

But just because someone agrees with your point of view, that doesn't make it any more 'real'. It just means you share common ideals. You could (theoretically) both be off track.

I'm not making this point to imply that you are 'wrong' by any means. I'm just bringing this up as a gentle reminder that all of life is perspective (even this sentence) and if we start to feel that we are 'right' we run the risk of believing that other people are 'wrong', or worse, 'less' than ourselves.

We also run the risk of easing up on our own growth, figuring that since we've already got all the answers, there's nothing else to look for.

Don't rob yourself of becoming a witness to your own Divinity, or the Divinity in others.

Life is too precious to worry about if it's right or not.

It's ALL RIGHT just the way it is.

And so are YOU.

But just remember, if you strive for everything to be ALL RIGHT, then you'll end up with NOTHING LEFT.

So I'm going now... and you can say that I ** LEFT ** you ** RIGHT ** where you started... somewhere securely in the ** MIDDLE ** of your Divine Life.

Keep the light on!

GuruStu

:-)

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

When you mistake YOUR truth for THE truth, you're not thinking BIG enough.

I saw this questions posed just the other day and I answered it as I had done to the many others who have posed it before them. The question was,

If there is only one Universal Truth, how come so many people have completely different perspectives?

I explained that the answer is simple... much simpler than you might think.

We're just looking at a portion of it from a single unique angle.

THE Truth is really, really big... and resides partially in the world that we can see, yet mostly in the world we cannot.

We see only 'visible' light, hear only a certain range of sounds... our five senses, however magical and mystical they are, automatically put us in a limited range of perception.

Add to that, the very angle from which we observe shapes our experience. Think of two people witnessing an accident... or think of how different a magic act would be if you saw it from backstage instead of from the front.

And so from the very start, the way we experience something is limited to whatever reaches us.

Once inside, those perceptions have to then travel through a whole series of beliefs in order to be understood. Think of two people having a heated discussion and you'll see how vastly different the same event is experienced.

Then add yet another layer on top of this... projection. We are beings who thrive on completion. Our understanding relies on us being able to complete the whole picture. If we can only see a portion of it, we fill in the blanks with our best guess. That's where faith often comes in (that can be faith in science just as much as it can be faith in some form of religion)

So you see, Truth is what it is... yet it's bigger than we are. It's big enough to include everyone else's opinion... and even bigger to embrace seeming contradictions.

The only problem that arises is when we assume that the truth that we know is the final answer... because from that point of view, all others are wrong... and those that hold those beliefs are bad... and that we are separate from one another.

So If you believe that you're alone and everyone else is alone... then we're all alike... in one giant group... which means we're not really alone, now are we?

Or it's the other way around.

And that's the truth!

Keep the light on!

GuruStu

Monday, May 17, 2010

'Where you came from' & 'Where you're going' make You who you are Today... Just as you make them what they are.

We come to understand ourselves through relationships. We see our 'Now' as it pertains to what came before and what we expect (hope) will come after. That connection to the past and the future can help us get a sense of continuity, a direction, a rightness of purpose. It can also help us to adjust our course whenever we veer from the line that connects our past and our desired future.

Yet where we come from and where we're headed are not just the leaders of our choices, they are also the followers. We decide what past to keep and what to forget and the future is waiting for our command... so while some choose to believe that we're all just victims of our situations and others choose to believe that we control every single blip of our existence... it's all one big cooperative plan. We need our past and future as much as they need us.

And the NOW is smack dab in the center of the past and the future... which is where you are... right here... right NOW.

Right ON!

GuruStu

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Time flies

What is time
Time flies when you do.

Successful people have problems that are bigger than most, yet still smaller than they are.

The problem is when the problem becomes a problem.

If you sit down and talk with anyone who has ever failed, they can give you a long list of the problems they face. If you sit down and talk with anyone who has succeeded, they can also give you a long list of the problems they face.

Problems happen. They happen because we live in three worlds... the one we dream of, the one we plan on and the one we get. Whenever and wherever they don't match, that's a 'problem'.

Because you have your three worlds, and everyone else in your life has their three worlds... and the world has its three worlds... well, that's going to make for a LOT of 'problems'. They're not really going to go away. They're actually an integral part of the system.

The nice thing is that you can avoid them, get over them, go around them or persevere through them. The 'problem' will still be 'there' but you'll be someplace else, where it won't be in your way.

The goal is to be able to handle the 'problems' that come your way... so that even when they may slow you down, they never stop you. And you allow them to teach you, and strengthen you, so that with each successive 'problem' they become smaller and you become larger.

You are not your problems. You are not your circumstances. You are a Dreamer, and a Planner and a Problem Solver. You are bigger and better and more beautiful than any problem will have you believe.

How do I know this?

Because you're here.

Keep that light on!

GuruStu

PS I had the honor and pleasure of seeing my friend and mentor Dave Corbin at the premiere of Three Feet From Gold. He has a new book, Illuminate: Harnessing the Positive Power of Negative Thinking which is one of the ways I'm making myself bigger, better and more beautiful. If you don't know this amazing man, or his awesome work, it's time for you to do so.

Friday, May 14, 2010

Get a Pet

Animals can be a wonderful addition to anyone's life. So full of personality and livelihood… and just so darn cute! They make us tap on the glass at the pet stores when we're not supposed to, they make us dribble on in our itty-bitty-cutsy-wootsie-widdle-baby-tawk… they just get us so INVOLVED, you know?

And it isn't until we get them home that we realize just how much we got ourselves in for.

Why is it easier said than done?
Pets are living, breathing souls who share their time with us. They have needs and they don't like to wait. They have to eat and go out and when there's play to be had, watch out! They require us to pay attention; to take away time from our busy schedules to take care of THEM.

They don't care what kind of day we've had. It's their world and that's all that matters.

Why should I do it anyway?
They don't care what kind of day we've had. We are their world… and that's all that matters.

Paying attention to them gets us out of ourselves. They can get us out of our heads for a while.

And they can get inside our hearts.

They love us unconditionally. How many people can we say that about?

Where do I begin?
It's important to figure out what kind of person we are, first. Are we Dog People? Cat People? Maybe we want a pet that's a bit lower maintenance, like a fish.

Next we should start to look around legitimate, loving places that help find homes for animals. Pet adoption days at pet stores, veterinarian offices and boarding homes for pets-on-vacation are just some of the places to find the right love of our life.

Then, when we meet the right pet… and we'll both know it when we do… that's the time to just open up our hearts and let the loving lifetime begin.
PS Don't forget to pick up the food, bowls, leashes, toys, litter (if need be); set up the vet appointment, start the list of pet sitters and get ready to quickly pet proof the house as soon as possible… phew!

When in doubt, get out of it.

Life is never certain... but then again, that doesn't mean we have to wallow around in uncertainty all the time either.

Now the saying above "When in doubt, get out of it" can have many meanings. Some people comments hinted that they saw it as "when in doubt, get out of the situation." That could be a job or relationship that makes you very unhappy.

But I have another meaning to that sentence.

"When in doubt, get out of doubt."

That means, when you find yourself in a state of uncertainty, go forth and discover 'certainty' (whatever that means to you). Explore your circumstances further, look within yourself deeper, ask others for guidance. In other words, get some answers to your questions. Quench your uncertainty with knowledge... so that you can make more informed decisions while traveling the road known as "Life".

Doubt is just a State of Mind... so hurry up and get across that border!

Keep the light on!

GuruStu

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Sometimes a wrong turn is the right way.

If you've ever been in Los Angeles, there's one thing you know for sure... traffic is bad (to put it mildly). From the very beginning of my evening commute, I knew it wasn't going to be bad, because it was already worse from the get-go.

Making the most of it, I turned off the mind-numbing radio, rolled down the windows and imagined myself on a back porch somewhere, enjoying a lazy summer evening (another thing about LA is that an October day can easily reach 95 degrees whenever it feels like it). Thanks to several days of rain, the air was now fresh (yeah, I know, LA... but it happens).

Driving through the canyons, the scent of hyacinth mixed with pine, the occasional rose from someone's garden... with short bursts of bus fumes to remind me I was still on the road.

It took me twice as long to get up the one side of the hill, so I thought about that short cut that winds parallel to the main boulevard. It greeted me with open arms and I smiled as I winded past the ranch style homes with their white picket fences; a little bit of country nestled inside this sprawling city.

I don't know if it was the daydreaming, or the desire to keep going on this road but I soon discovered that a simple turn had started me back down the mountain, heading away from my destination. Being discouraged by the long line of cars heading up, I figured I could wait until I got to famous Mulholland Drive, which was 'out of the way' but still on the way to where I needed to be.

I settled in again, knowing that there wasn't much I could do to get home faster, so I might as well enjoy the ride.

As the sun began to set, turning the sky into a sea of crimson and gold and mystical blue, I turned the bend and realized what a gift I had been given. Thousands of lights, like diamonds, sparkled below me... expanding in all directions, as if the stars came down to earth to lay before my feet. I understood why so many people wanted to live up here, with a view that just took my breath away.

I had to stop to take it all in... the stars, the lights, the hyacinth and honking cars. All of it was magical... and I saw that getting home wasn't the most important thing of the evening.

As I finished the last leg of my journey, I got to thinking about Life in general. How much do we miss when we take the same route at the same time, in the same way, every single day.

Just one 'wrong' turn can take us to places we hardly even imagine. The world's still the same no matter what, but the view we get is so much more spectacular just one step outside our norm.

So when are you going to take your turn?

Keep those lights on!

GuruStu

Monday, May 10, 2010

Don't get blinded by the present moment. It only looks bigger 'cause it's closer.

Have you ever looked at something in the distance, like a mountain, and then put your thumb up in front of your eye? It blocks the mountain, right? But if you ever compared sizes between your thumb and the mountain, the difference is pretty obvious.

It's the same thing with every moment in your life. The present moment always seems the biggest, intensifying the good, the bad and the ugly to ginormous proportions... to the point where we make decisions without having full sight of what lies beyond.

Take a step back when the moment gets too much... take the thumb away from your eyes, and look at the bigger picture. By keeping the distance in focus, you'll be able to keep your aim and your direction and not be distracted by the little things.

Thumbs up to you!

GuruStu

Saturday, May 08, 2010

Never confuse taking care of busyness with taking care of business.

I have a confession to make... something I'm notoriously guilty of... if you've ever asked me this question, you'll probably be able to guess my answer.

"How are you?"

What's my usual answer?

"Busy!"

Yup, busy... sometimes I mix it up and say "super busy" or "crazy busy" but that word... that busy busy word creeps in all the time?

Now why is that? Because somehow somewhere along the way I got to thinking that "busy" was a badge of honor... "busy" is popular, "busy" is productive and "busy" gets me out of doing other stuff that I don't want to do, cause y'know... "I'm busy".

But how productive is it really?

Of course I'd like to think that I'm busy taking care of all of the important business in my life. After all, I've had some pretty good results... and have had some truly amazing things happen that have brought great joy to my life... but!... it hasn't been all it's cracked up to be.

Some of the busy-ness has been just that, or better called busy-Mess... because the return I get just isn't worth the effort that went in.

So what to do?

For one, ask "is this worth it?" It might be hard to tell if it will be... and some things look more important than they really are... but if we all just ask that question at the beginning, the obvious NO's can be eliminated right off the bat.

If it has to get done, then ask "Do I have to do it?" It's quite possible that someone else can do it better than you can... and saving YOUR time is worth having someone else take care of it. For example, I once attended a Wealth Seminar where the speaker said "You're never going to get rich cleaning your own house" Her point was that someone else can take care of your cleaning while you take care of your business. (If you've ever seen my dust bunnies, you'd agree)

And finally, if it is worth doing, ask yourself, "Do I love doing it?" because something are worth doing, but they might not be worth it for you. Being a brain surgeon is certain a worthwhile cause, but do you want to do it?

So take a moment our of your busy schedule to think about everything I just said... see what fits and what doesn't, and go from there.

And, I know this note's been rather large, so I thank you for taking the time to read it all.

Keep the light on!

GuruStu

Thursday, May 06, 2010

The up-trodden needs your help too

There are people in this world in desperate need of help.

When you think about who that might be, you often imagine someone disheveled, homeless, addicted, elderly or infirmed. You call them the 'downtrodden.'

While it's a divine gift to serve these poor souls, they're not the ones I'm referring to now.

There are millions, even billions, of others out there... who make enough money to keep a roof over their head, food in their stomachs and put their children into good schools... there are a lot of really good-looking people out there... and really smart people with incredible educations...

... and they need your help desperately.

Among them, despite all appearances, are those that are in great pain; they feel disconnected from life, with no real sense of belonging, or purpose.

Yet do you think about them very much?

If a beautiful person says that they can't find love, do you feel sorry for them?

If a millionaire, or a billionaire, talks about their struggles, do you reply with "I wish I had their problems!"

If so, then it's time for you to look deeper into your self, to see the root of your own prejudgments.

Everyone wants, and needs, love. They want to feel 'right'; they want to belong... and without that, they suffer.

Having beauty or wealth or smarts doesn't exempt them from feeling the bitter cold of darkness.

So don't save your charity for people that you are think are beneath you.

Everyone deserves the light...

YOUR light.

So shine on!!

GuruStu

Tuesday, May 04, 2010

If you want to be nothing, feel free to do nothing. Everything else may require more of your attention.

Nothing in life requires you to do something or to be something... and that's actually the beauty of it all. We do things because we WANT to. We have this desire to have more and do more and be more...

And we can have it all... as long as we are will to give something of value first. When we give of ourselves, we open up to receiving. Action gets Results (Desires start actions, but desire alone only gets you a daydream).

So if you don't want anything more than what you already have, you can stop reading now. Otherwise, the next sentence is for you...

Do something.

Keep the light on!

GuruStu

Saturday, May 01, 2010

What appears to be a setback might just be Life's way of pulling back the bow.

Setbacks happen.

And when you look at them up close, it looks like everything is slipping away...

But Life is about the Big Picture.

From that perspective, it could just be a Pause, or a Settling, or an Adjustment... but certainly not an End.

Another way to look at it is like a bow and arrow. The bow must move back, in order for the arrow to catapult forward.

In fact, the more tension there is, the more powerful the flight.

The key is to keep your focus and your aim; to know when to let go of the tension...

... and let yourself fly.

Keep the light on!
GuruStu