If you’d like to fulfill your long-held dreams, try a radical approach. Radical people create their own breakthroughs for getting the job, love and health they really want. Nonconformists open to options for achieving “extraordinary� goals that others don’t see.

Take Christopher Columbus for example. Columbus played outside the box. When conventional wisdom proclaimed as fact the world was flat, he held the extreme notion that he could sail over the edge and land in China instead of deep space. This rebel sailed his clipper ships where no one had ever gone before—and reshaped people’s view of the world!

Discovering Fresh Options

Five centuries ago, Europeans reacted with disbelief when they heard that the world is round. So mind-blowing—and threatening to their current belief system—was the discovery that people wanted to discard the news as rubbish.

What about enlightened people of the 21st century? If Columbus were to sail into our modern lives with revolutionary factual information about our world, would people believe him now? Let’s see how open we are!

Besides demonstrating that the earth is round, Columbus made another equally mind-popping discovery. His revelation is about the power of cultural belief systems and how people see only what they believe they will see. And, like the Europeans, most people of our time want to discard Columbus’ radical news as rubbish.

What information could be so extreme that our educators and media—our mythmakers—would try to exclude this vital data from schoolbooks and public knowledge?

A World of Beliefs

Columbus’ arrival in the New World revealed how cultural belief systems determine what people see—or don’t see. Columbus found that the native people in this new land couldn’t see his clipper ships. The natives were unable to see the big ships because they didn’t believe that big ships existed!

You See What You Believe

In 1492, Columbus landed on the island of Hispaniola, now the countries of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Until Columbus’ arrival, the islanders had only seen and heard of small boats—like their own canoes. The tribe had never seen nor heard of large ocean-going sea craft. So when the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria arrived, the natives couldn’t see the big ships of Christopher Columbus! And the vessels were floating in plain sight right off shore!

“I Don’t See Any Big Ships!�

Why couldn’t the islanders see the big boats? Because nobody in their culture had ever seen big boats before. And nobody had ever written or talked about big boats in their society.

In any culture, the mythmakers—teachers, historians and media—decide people’s reality. The specific world that mythmakers talk and write about determines the aspects of reality that people are able to perceive. The world that these storytellers talk and write about creates a belief system unique to each culture. And this belief system acts as a filter, screening out realities that don’t fit into the cultural conditioning of the society.

The mythkeepers who shaped the islanders’ belief systems didn’t recognize the possibility that large ships might exist. And the filter of this belief prevented the natives from seeing the three large sea vessels. … At first!

3 Keys for Unlocking New Possibilities

The island shaman wasn’t able to see the ships when they first arrived. Like his tribespeople, the shaman medicine man wasn’t able to see past the filters of his cultural conditioning.

But unlike the common folk of his tribe, the medicine man was educated by radical mythmakers—shaman elders. These nonconformist teachers were always exploring “new worlds.�

From these elders, the shaman learned that a person only sees the elements in the world that the person’s mind has been exposed to. The ego-mind filters out realities that don’t fit its picture of what exists in the world. But the shaman also learned from his teachers how to bypass the limitations of the ego-mind.

The elders gave the shaman these 3 keys to help him see “outside the box� of his belief system—to perceive the world as it really exists.

Key 1 - Look for a Different Pattern

The 1st key, made famous in the movie Star Wars, is to notice “a disturbance in the force.�

Anchored just offshore, Columbus’ ships are creating out-of-the-ordinary patterns in the ocean waves. Even though he can’t see the ships, the observant shaman does notice unexplained variations in the waves.

Key 2 - Don’t Listen to Your Mind!

Curious, the shaman investigates the unusual wave patterns. As he begins his inquiry, he uses the 2nd key: “Don’t trust your mind!�

Generations of medicine men and women have passed down this key to happiness. The 2nd key alerts the shaman to the limitations of his ego-mind. The shaman understands that his mind only perceives realities that his mind has been exposed to by his culture. Limited by its belief system, the mind is unaware of a boundless world teeming with unfiltered possibilities.

Key 3 - Open to New Possibilities

From his elders, the medicine man learned that any unusual pattern in our world always indicates that something has changed in our reality. But, in this instance, the shaman is not yet seeing the specific element that has been added or taken away. In order to see what element has changed, he lets go of how his ego-mind “thinks� the world operates. He opens himself to making a fresh discovery—the 3rd key.

As a result of deciding to allow new possibilities into his life, the shaman sees the cause of the peculiar patterns: the never-before-imagined clipper ships! As soon as the shaman perceives the large ships, he tells his tribe the ships exist and points to exactly where they are. The rest of the islanders are then able to perceive the vessels.

Where Are Those Darn Car Keys?

This remarkable true story resonates with me as I recall comparable experiences in my life. There have been times when I haven’t seen my car keys sitting on a table—even though they were clearly visible.

The dynamics of my situation are similar to those of the islanders who don’t see the ships because of their limited belief system. At first, I don’t see my car keys on the table. So, I decide the keys aren’t there. Once I’ve decided the keys aren’t there, I’ve created a belief that “my keys aren’t on the table.� This belief then filters out my ability to perceive the keys sitting on the table in plain sight. Only when I let go of the belief that “my key’s aren’t on the table�—and decide to open to new possibilities—am I able to perceive the keys.

Freed of his limiting belief filter, the shaman was able to see the big ships. Then by pointing out the ships, he enabled his tribespeople to see the element—the ships—blocked by their belief filter. Free of my preconceived belief that “my keys aren’t on the table,� a friend of mine is able to see the keys on the table. Then by pointing out the keys, my friend enables me to see the element—the keys—blocked by my belief filter.

Live Your Dreams!

Columbus discovered a radical new world—a world that’s ever-changing based on what we believe is possible.

What “extraordinary� possibilities have you already decided don’t exist in your world? Have you quit looking for that dream job? Seeking great health? Searching for satisfying love? If you previously made up your mind that you’ll never have a terrific job, body or relationship, guess what … ?

Be Your Own Shaman

You don’t need a shaman to point out the opportunities you aren’t seeing in life. Become a shaman yourself! Use these 3 radical keys to see the world as it really exists—and to navigate onto a new, fun playground.

1st Key: Look for out-of-the-ordinary patterns in life. “A disturbance in the force� indicates that there’s an opportunity to see a solution or a course of action you haven’t yet seen in the situation.

2nd Key: Don’t trust your mind! The suggestions of your ego-mind are limited by what you’ve experienced in the past and learned from your cultural mythmakers—your teachers and media. The beliefs of your mind filter out many advantageous choices and options that are available in life.

3rd Key: Open to fresh possibilities. Invite the unexpected. Allow exciting new options to appear “out of nowhere!�

The island natives couldn’t see the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria clipper ships because the ships were filtered out by the islanders’ limited belief system. Why miss your boat because of the limited belief system of your island? Hop on board! Sail into a new world of fulfilled dreams!

About The Author

As a personal life coach and vision quest guide, Sulana Stone assists people to discover and express their life purpose through private sessions and workshops. Find out how to get more love in life, a more fulfilling job, or find a purpose beyond the mundane with a FREE Prosperity Ezine and FREE Empowerment Tape at www.SedonaVisionQuest.com. Contact her at sulanastone@yahoo.com or 602.861.2631 for free coaching.

Has anyone “rattled your cage” lately? You remember the phrase!

And you’ve certainly heard of ‘Think and Grow Rich,’ the success classic written by Napoleon Hill back in 1928. Though it’s sold countless copies over the years and is a perennial favorite that’s highly recommended to each succeeding crop of would-be entrepreneurs, it’s hardly made the kind of impact on the world a book of this nature is capable of making.

It kind of makes you wonder, do we think, or don’t we?

That’s a question worth considering!

Somewhere back in the 1600’s, French philosopher Rene Descartes made his famous observation: Cogito, ergo sum — “I think, therefore I am.”

Now, think about it!

Does that mean that if we don’t think, we aren’t?

At it’s depth, the statement holds a profound truth of its own.

But on its surface, a lot of us only think we are!

In this sense, most people really aren’t. In fact what we call society, isn’t! It’s all imagined, all a sham. It looks real because nearly everyone participates, but at its core, it’s no more than a conditioned illusion. The “emperor” really “has no clothes!”

Conditioned “thought” is not thinking! But if we “think” in this way, that is, responded to conditioning, we will most certainly grow poor! It’s why most everyone is poor — or in debt, which amounts to the same thing!

Most of what we do really isn’t based on thought, but on conditioning and emotions!

Of course, emotions do have a life of their own. It can easily be said, “I feel, therefore I am” or “I hurt, therefore I am.” And you may recognize the latter as a place where many find a false sense of life!

But emotions aside, most people are doomed to be poor because of their conditioned “thinking” — the way their minds have been trained and the way they put them to use or, rather, disuse.

For example…

If you think you need to watch some spectacle like the Superbowl instead of taking an active part in your own life, “think” and grow poor!

If you think lighting up a cigarette at $40 per carton is ‘cool’ or necessary, “think” and grow poor!

If you think this country is a ‘democracy,’ “think” and grow poor. (Clue: It’s a republic but you are being heavily lied to and conditioned against even knowing this, let alone realising just what that difference is and what that difference means. Hint: Ask yourself why?)

If you think the government is out to help you, “think” and grow poor!

If you think a job, a new job, any job is the ‘answer,’ “think” and grow poor!

If you think you have any ‘income,’ “think” and grow poor!

The list is endless!

There are people who are poor because they “think” all business is evil, Network Marketing is a scam, their friends, relatives, or neighbors who have never done anything with their lives know better than someone who has, that ‘you get what you pay for’, ‘the grass is always greener…’ or ‘don’t rock the boat.’

And if you’re a black or a woman who “thinks” you can’t make it, ask yourself why you want to make it THERE, anyway!

Making it ‘there’ is a struggle for most people, no matter the color or gender. “Here” to use the familiar phrase “is where it’s at.” If you realize that ‘here’ is your mind and then you actually use your mind, you can think and grow rich, for change!

Much success!

About The Author

Copyright 2001 Dr. Larry Stepanowicz - All World-Wide Rights Reserved

Dr. Larry Stepanowicz is the originator of the Grand-Slam Gold(tm) MLM sponsoring system. http://panographics.com/grandslam/?103

“It’s all about relationships!� proclaimed my father during our recent holiday visit with my parents. Santa Claus coffee cup in one hand and a wagging finger toward my wife, Elizabeth, with the other. “When you retire, that’s what you realize is most important in life� (okay, so that’s not him in the photo).

Dad recently retired from 30+ years as an orthopedic surgeon and the major shift in lifestyle seems to have brought about a significant shift in his outlook on life. For me, his statement about relationships became much broader and more profound than I thought such a simple and reasonable statement could ever become.

At first look, it makes sense that relationships are vital to our lives. Whether it is friendship, dating, marriage, family or community, relationships with others are a part of our everyday life. They give us belonging, meaning, companionship, intimacy and love. But, pulling back from this view and taking a broad gander at the subject I realized that relationships are more than just meaningful interactions with people. When we “relate� or interact with something we are, in fact, in relationship with it. For instance, our relationship with work, our relationship with ourselves, our relationship with our health and our relationship with our spirituality. By defining relationships from this broader perspective, our relationship list becomes almost endless.

You see, when we look at our relationships, we look at our interaction with every part of our lives; people, places, things, and events. So, what is our relationship to our work, ourselves, our environment, our health, our spirituality? How do we relate to these things? Or, better yet, if it is “all about relationships� how are our most important relationships?

Coming from the psychotherapy world, I often helped couples, families and individuals improve personal relationships by working through a series of 5 questions. Once I broadened my definition of relationships, I found that these questions are applicable to all types of relationships. The questions go something like this:

1. What relationships do you value most?

Be clear about what you value and which relationships are truly priorities to you.

2. Why do you value them?

Understanding the value these relationships have for you underscores the importance of the relationship and clarifies why a relationship “feels� important.

3. How do you nourish each relationship?

Now that you’ve identified how and why a relationship is important, you must define what it is that you do to keep that relationship alive and growing.

4. How do you maintain your commitment through the tough times?

Are the divorce stats really any different from the number of other relationships that end in our own lives (i.e., dropping the diet, “forgetting� exercise, leaving job after job, putting personal goals and dreams on hold, getting around to the God/spiritual thing when you have more time, etc)? These relationships may not necessarily be a marriage but like a marriage these relationships have their challenging times. Similar to a marital relationship, we must work through the difficult times in our other relationships rather than set them aside until a better time or just plain hope the struggles go away. This is often the point at which my coaching clients seek my assistance.

You will inevitably find that nurturing these relationships is often like a juggling act. Though, once we identify the key relationships in our lives and begin relating with them rather than leaving them on our “To Do� list, we will soon find that balance in life is an attainable goal and that, in fact, life truly is all about relationships.

About The Author

Robert A. Eubanks, Ph.D. is a personal coach whose mission is to help others balance their lives, achieve personal goals and begin living their passions. For a complimentary coaching session or more information about coaching, go to www.bridgetosolutions.com or call 561-385-9184.