Our thoughts create our experience. And the only way to improve our experience is to train our brains to consistently produce better thoughts. That’s the idea Judith Tramayne explores in Train Your Brain. She spent 37 years researching the subject before she was confident enough to share what she learned. Her belief is that spreading this knowledge will end famine, disease, and anything else that prevents “light (good)” from entering our lives.

Thoughts:

To lead a rich and fulfilling life, we need to understand two eternal and universal laws:

1. The Law of Abundance – “Every tree, plant, flower, and animal has enough reproductive capabilities in it to produce thousands of offspring,” Tramayne writes. No matter what we do to interfere, the universe will always be abundant.

2. The Law of Attraction – Everything is energy. That means we can attract anything we feel strongly about. “There is nothing mystical or magical about this knowledge,” Tramayne explains. “It’s merely a scientific fact.”

Whole Brain:

The mind can be divided into two parts: conscious and subconscious. But most of us give over to the conscious mind, which is why we struggle in life. Instead, we should make the conscious mind tell the subconscious mind what it wants and then have the conscious mind get out of the way so the subconscious mind can do the work.

Focus:

Most of our thoughts are repetitive and uncontrolled. That’s why they don’t give us what we want. The only way to get what we want is to control our thoughts. Seeing only the good we want in our lives allows the universe to bring us good things.

Faith:

Faith isn’t just about religion; it also means trusting in your sixth sense (inner voice). This is what guides us to make the right choices. Faith also puts us in a state of knowing that we’ll get what we ask for. This isn’t about luck; it’s about letting the laws of abundance and attraction work in our lives.

Trained Thoughts:

You can train your thoughts in three steps:

1. Quiet – meditate to find a sense of inner calm
2. Concentrate – discipline your conscious mind so you’re fully aware of all your thoughts
3. Replace – swap negative thoughts with an intense desire of what you want instead

This process isn’t easy. That’s because all the years of uncontrolled thinking are hard to change. But, with enough practice, it can become an automatic process.

Trained Focus:

To keep your focus and energise your thoughts, create your own collage of motivational pictures. Then take some time during the day to look over it. You don’t have to stare at it all the time; it’s just a way to get motivated and focus on what you want.

Rich Flow:

Sometimes the universe will bring you things you didn’t quite hope for. But you must say yes to these experiences too. Don’t stay in your comfort zone. Instead, follow your instinct. You never know where it may lead!

Rich Life:

There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be rich and happy. Just don’t feel as though you need to hold on to your wealth. There’s more than enough to go around for everyone. Sharing is a way to keep the good going around.

Rich Gratitude:

Most importantly, always remember to be thankful for what the universe has given in the past, is giving in the present, and will give in the future. Spend some time every day reflecting on how much you have in life. This keeps your thoughts focused on what matters most. It also makes you realise that life is beautiful if you just open your eyes.

Conclusion:

I’ve been reviewing a lot of books on the so-called ‘Law of Attraction’ as part of research for a new novel. Some of the old ones are pretty good but many of the new ones seem to be jumping on The Secret’s bandwagon by relying on vague statements and ideas instead of concrete facts. (Making up equations so the whole thing seems more scientific doesn’t count!)

There are many parts in this book when Tramayne starts a point that she doesn’t go on to explain. For example: “Some matter (furniture, cars, money, etc.) is denser in its vibration and because it is, seems solid. But once this denser material is seen using high powered microscopes, we discover the truth — it’s constantly in a state of flux (moving energy) and not solid at all. That’s why it’s easy for humans at a higher vibration level (less dense) to call into our reality the matter (things) we need to survive.” Um, what does this mean?!

Her attack on meditation also makes it seem like all the time monks spend in faraway temples is a waste. According to her, the best way to control your thoughts is to tell them to shut the f**k up. Yup, that’s all it takes. She tried this and found total silence. Since then, she’s been aware of every thought that goes through her mind. Personally, this feels like just another gimmick, much like the annoying tendency for each chapter to lure you into the next even when there’s not much of a connection between them.

Overall, this isn’t a great book for anyone who’s still unsure about the law of attraction. It also doesn’t teach anything new to the people who already buy into the idea. I’m still not sure which of those two groups I fall into. Some of the new research on quantum physics (as well as the recent experiment at CERN) might mean this is all true. But some of the other assertions, like that there’s no such thing as coincidence, give me doubts.

I hope to find more answers as I continue reading and reviewing. Mostly, I’m just glad I can put this book aside and move on to something better.

What are your thoughts on the law of attraction?

Eugene Yiga is a personal development writer and consultant. He’s on a quest to read the 100 greatest books of all time before he turns 30 and shares his love for reading by publishing book reviews every week at eugeneyiga.com. Follow Eugene on Twitter or join the mailing list for instant updates and alerts.

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Book Review: The 7 Laws of Success by Will Edwards

“No matter what you have been told, no matter what has happened to you, and no matter what mistakes you’ve made, you can completely change the way you live every day of your life. You can focus the majority of your time on the things you enjoy, and you can also make an incredi­ble difference in the lives of other people while you are at it.”

Taking over the world isn’t just for genetically modified mice; it’s for regular people too. After four years volunteering in Africa, Chris Guillebeau started a social movement called The Art of Nonconformity. His mission is to take over the world and to help you do the same. Taking the road less traveled can be scary, but letting go of our assumptions, expectations, and comfort zones is the only way we’ll ever have what really matters.

The Unremarkably Average Versus the Remarkable Few

“An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.” – Martin Luther king, Jr.

The two most important questions in the universe are:

1. What do I really want to get out of life? Your ultimate goal is what you’d do if you had unlimited resources like money and time. Close your eyes and picture the perfect day from start to end. How can you start turning this into a reality? “If you take the time to write out the description of your perfect day and then combine it with your long-term goals, you’ll have a pretty good idea of what you really want to get out of life,” Guillebeau writes.
2. What can I offer the world that no one else can? This question is a lot tougher than the first. The two also seem to be in conflict. But it’s possible to do something that’s good for you and that’s good for others. It’s the only way you’ll go to the next level.

The Crowded World and the Way to Break Through the Noise

Many might think there’s no point in following their dreams because so many others already are. But that’s not true: “When you finally come out with something truly worth caring about, people will notice.” The key is to silence the gatekeepers and critics. It’s about seeking out people who can help you so you can turn around and help others in return.

The Plan of Attack and How to Overcome the Challenges

“[If] you want to achieve your most significant goals, and you want to change the world for the better in the process, you really don’t need to jump through all the hoops that people hold up for you,” Gillebeau points out. The toolkit for world domination requires:

• Relentless Passion – This is the most important thing. “You have to be willing to give it your all, and for a long time with potentially few rewards,” Gillebeau explains. “In the short run, few people will notice, but in the long run, everyone will.”
• A Very Specific Goal – “If you had two minutes with anyone in the world who has the power to influence the rest of your life, what would you say to them?” Gillebeau asks. Think of this as your elevator pitch.
• Expert Status in Skills that Help Others – Since you need to work with and add value to others, you must have skills that radically improve their lives.
• A Small Army – Committed believers will add their own resources to support your cause. Don’t worry about the specific numbers because “a small, devoted army is far better than a large, uncommitted mob”.
• Friends of Friends – “A small army is critical, but in the long run, the friends of your friends may end up helping even more,” Gillebeau writes.
• Enough Money – Focus on the amount you need to accomplish the goal then figure out how to get it.
• Enough Time – To go from good to great, you need to spend a lot of time improving your skills.
• One-Way Communication – Speaking to your army will require a pulpit (e.g. website, blog, newsletter, etc.)

Work backwards from your outcome and break your large goal into small steps. Then take immediate action. The world will thank you for it.

Conclusion

This book was a nice read (and a very nicely formatted eBook for a change). There wasn’t much time to get into depth so you’ll have to go further if you want more.

Chris Gillebeau wrote this manifesto for “people who are serious about ruling – or at least changing – the world”. At times it’s hard to tell if he’s kidding or if he’s actually being literal. Maybe that’s why he held the hugely successful World Domination Summit and is on a quest to visit every country on the planet? Time will tell.

My only criticism was the tone sometimes came across as arrogant. Early on he offers the following instructions: “[Close] this report now if you’re comfortable with an unremarkably aver­age life… Thanks for your time! Have a great life.”

I’m all for independence and having strong opinions but isn’t there a point when you’re creating more dissension than you really need to? Or maybe this is the best way to weed out the people who won’t be serious soldiers in the exclusive club?

What do you think?

Eugene Yiga is a personal development writer and consultant. He’s on a quest to read the 100 greatest books of all time before he turns 30 and shares his love for reading by publishing book reviews every week at eugeneyiga.com. Follow Eugene on Twitter or join the mailing list for instant updates and alerts.

Don’t forget to sign up for the PickTheBrain NEWSLETTER!

Related reading:

Book Review: The 7 Laws of Success by Will Edwards

Gain pleasure. Avoid pain. That’s pretty much what we’re wired for. But is there more to life? Will Edwards considered the question and realized that there is. He realized that we need to wake up to our life purpose and dedicate ourselves to fulfilling it. That’s the only way we’ll live to the full. In 7 Keys to Success, he discusses what it takes to do just that:

1. Commitment

Most of us simply exist from one day to the next instead of really living. “To succeed, you must have a dream… and you must completely commit yourself to its ultimate fulfillment,” Edwards writes. The dream can be as big as you want as long as it’s your dream and not someone else’s.

2. An Open Mind

Once you’ve committed yourself to achieving your dream, the world will start helping you achieve it. But this only happens if your mind is open to see and experience this: “When you carry your own dream within, you too will be able to touch the hearts and minds of the people around you in much the same way; and it is a truly wonderful and uplifting experience when you find out for yourself that the universe does indeed help you to achieve your goal.”

3. Persistence

We can achieve even the biggest goals as long as we keep the end in mind and keep taking action to get there. No matter how tough things were in the past or our much we struggle in the present, persistence gives us power: “When you meet an obstacle, as you inevitably will, persistence determines what you will do; whether you will give up or keep going. Persistence is what gets you back on your feet, dusted down and ready to go again.”

4. Flexibility

If you keep doing what you’re doing, you’ll keep getting what you’ve got. The only way to get different results is to change the approach from what isn’t working to what is. That’s where flexibility comes in: “Whilst persistence is an important quality, persistence without flexibility can indeed be futile because, without some flexibility in your approach, you could end up trying to move an immovable object for the rest of your life.”

5. Faith

Instead of pursuing their big dreams, most people settle for less. Somewhere along the line they were convinced by the world that following their passion wasn’t possible. And now they’re on a mission to discourage you too: “That’s why you need faith – a deep-down belief that, regardless of the evidence, you are going to make it! You are going to achieve what you have set out to accomplish. You are going to make a difference in this life.”

6. Thankfulness

“Thankfulness is fundamentally related to positivity and negativity,” Edwards explains. “It is so much easier to be positive about your life and the things that are going on in it right now when you are grateful.” If you’re reading this, you’ve definitely got a number of things to be thankful for. By constantly reflecting on them (perhaps in a gratitude journal), you become a more cheerful person, which makes other people more likely to support you and your efforts.

7. Passion

In the past, many people were too busy making a living to spend much time pursuing ‘higher needs’.  But with all the opportunities of modern life, we can and should go further: “Deep within your heart, there is a desire, the pursuit of which will bring you all the happiness, success and fulfillment you really want. To find your passion is to identify your own unique purpose in life… You can achieve whatever you want. You can be the person you were meant to be; and you can really live the life of your dreams. Those are bold statements but they are true; and more and more people are discovering this wonderful truth for themselves.” Isn’t it about time you discovered it too?

Conclusion

The principles in this book are not remarkably new and the dictionary definitions at the start of every section seem a little out of place. The tendency for the points to spill into each other was also a little distracting. But the inspiring stories in every section were a nice touch.

In any case, it’s always good to be reminded that life can be whatever we want it to be: “Do not make the mistake of believing that life holds no purpose for you. Remember that you are here only once. This is your life – right now! So make sure you live the life you were born to live.”

Eugene Yiga is a personal development writer and consultant. He’s on a quest to read the 100 greatest books of all time before he turns 30 and shares his love for reading by publishing book reviews every week at eugeneyiga.com. He also gives away free stuff without making you join his mailing list. Follow Eugene on Twitter for instant updates and alerts.

“Public speaking is the art of diluting a two-minute idea with a two-hour vocabulary.” – Evan Esar

At some or other point in our lives, we’re likely to be called upon to make a speech, be it for a family wedding or a presentation at work. While maintaining a degree of spontaneity is crucial, winging the whole thing is probably not the best option. Instead, taking the time to prepare something solid can leave a memorable impression for years to come.

Two great resources on the subject are Alan Barker’s Improve Your Communication Skills as well as Dale Carnegie’s The Quick and Easy Way to Effective Speaking. Ultimately, it comes down to these things:

Research the audience. Knowing who you’ll be addressing allows you to use an appropriate style. That way, you’re more likely to connect with the specific group by using words and jargon they’ll understand. It also allows you to pick a topic they’ll be interested in hearing you speak about. That’s a must. What you have to say has to somehow tie into helping them solve a problem or achieve a goal. There has to be some sort of emotional connection or else the whole thing will turn into a bore.

Pick a topic. The best topics are obviously those you can be passionate about. We’ve all got a host of valuable struggles and successes from childhood, schooling, work, relationships, hobbies, and more. You’re bound to find something interesting. If not, try browsing through newspapers, magazines, websites, or simply listening to what other people have to say about their lives in the world today. The most important part is finding a simple topic you’re prepared to share passionately and defend if need be.

“No one qualification is so likely to make a good writer as the power of rejecting his own thoughts.” – Alexander Pope

Know your outcome. Every speech needs to have a brief and specific objective. Knowing what you hope to achieve and/or what action you want the audience to take acts as a starting point. It also allows you to organize your thoughts, limit the subject, and prevent talking about too many things. You’ve got to pick the most important points you want to make and talk about them one at a time.

Tell a story. The first draft should be done quickly with editing done a few days later. Grab their attention and arouse their suspense right from the start. Use vivid images to illustrate the points you want to get across. Make the audience feel what you felt when the experience you’re describing happened to you. Take them back in time and let them relate to your story. Make sure each one of your points leaps out and is supported with concrete examples. The more detailed and dramatic you can make it, the better. They’re far more likely to remember something personal that something detached.

“Talk low, talk slow, and don’t talk too much.” – John Wayne

Relax. Even professional speakers get nervous when it comes to public speaking. It’s been ranked as a fear higher than death! So remember that you’re not alone. Also remember that a certain amount of stage fright is useful. It shows you care about what you have to say. In addition to focusing on deep breathing and relaxation techniques, the best way to deal with stage fright is by practicing with family or friends. Get accustomed to what you’ll be exposed to, perhaps at the actual venue if you can manage to make that work.

Enjoy. You’ve got to have fun. Regular pep-talks leading up to the big day can be a big help and keep your mind off negative stimuli that may upset you. Be confident. Act as though the audience has begged and pleaded for you to be there in the first place. Know that they want to hear you talk. This allows you to open up and present yourself. While delivering the speech, make eye contact with people throughout the room or talk just over their heads if you prefer. Speak slowly and let your voice resonate. Most importantly, be yourself. Come alive by reliving the experience instead of simply reading from notes or reciting a memorized speech. Keep the passion and spontaneity alive. That’s what they’ll remember for sure.

About the author: this is a guest post by Eugene Yiga of Varsity Blah. To download your completely free copy of the South African or International edition of Work in Progress, right-click and save the relevant link. Then open, enjoy, and repeat as needed.

I arrived at the Callie Human Auditorium and after a brief introduction it was on to the first speaker. His name was Christo Greyling. He was a haemophilic and consequently needed regular blood transfusions. But everything changed in September 1987 when his doctor told him he was HIV positive. The news came as quite a shock to his four roommates and to his fiancé, Liesel, but it was ultimately their love and support that carried him through.

Shortly after he discovered he was HIV positive, Christo began thinking a great deal about his death. He even went as far as planning his own funeral. One thing he was very clear about was the plan he had for the rest of his life. And so to make sure things happened the way he intended, he wrote a detailed list of all the things he wanted to do, including piloting an aeroplane and going overseas.

Telling the rest of the community about his condition was a very difficult thing for Christo to do. Most of the people he confronted were disgusted and refused to have anything to do with him. But instead of being troubled by that he was able get past their views and still respect those people for their feelings.

While driving home on that still rainy evening, I began thinking about Christo’s talk. I recalled the list of goals, the respect he had for the people that turned him away and the way he was able to deal with the reality of the situation so well. That is when I began to understand the point he was trying to get across: The only way to live is to do so with a clear vision of what you want and an open and realistic mind to take you there.

Christo was very specific about the things he wanted to do and that is why he was able to stay healthy and focused for fourteen years. He was sensible enough to understand that not everyone would be comfortable with his condition and at the same time compassionate enough not to hate other people for the way they felt. All this enabled him to live his life with integrity and make a difference in the lives of others. All this would enable me to do the same.

(Eugene Yiga is the editor of Varsity Blah and his latest book is available free, exclusively from www.varsityblah.com/about)