The Secret to Expressing Yourself

If you recognize in yourself a special skill, talent, ability, or even a unique way of thinking, begin to express that quality in your daily life beginning NOW!

You do have greatness within you. Most people secretly yearn for the "opportunity" to express their great qualities. They are forever waiting for some grand moment to come along and welcome them, as if they need someone's permission to genuinely express themselves.

This is backwards thinking; in expressing your greatness now, YOU create that welcoming experience the moment you touch another soul. An idea in the mind is an unfocused idea, and so long as it remains only in the mind, it will remain unfocused.

You must begin the act of expression for the process of focus to come into play. It is in the ACT that your focus will become defined, even if your expression is simply words on the paper.

In fact, this is the standard procedure every writer knows only too well. A book is not written the first time, and what you the reader sees in reading a good book is but a fraction of what was originally written.

So if you have an idea but are not clear about it (especially the how), I suggest you grab a notebook and begin writing your idea out. What you first write may be the worst words you can imagine being written, but that does not matter at this point. What matters is that you are actually engaged in the process of expression.

Just continue to write without going back and editing what you have already written. There will be time for that soon enough. This is a process in which magic so often happens, but it needs a little time and patience. The more you are focused on the act of trying to express yourself on paper, the sooner your mind will connect with a deeper source within you, and clarity of thought will be the eventual result.

You will not ever get to this point without taking that first vital step, so get going.

Another point to make is that if your goal of expressing yourself has nothing to do with writing, you still might consider the above process just to inspire greater focus in your idea.

If your dream is of an oral nature, to be a speaker for example, then begin making a conscious effort to speak with others about what it is you are passionate about. Don't be shy, and begin to take note how people react when your passion genuinely comes through your voice.

Don't discuss your dreams as "if only...". Rather speak of what you enjoy most about expressing yourself through the spoken word, and just how much you are enjoying the path you are now on in doing so. Make your every expression show that you are now living on the path to greatness, whatever that means to you personally.

If your thing is art or craft, begin by showing your creations in your own home, or make gifts of your work to family, friends, and coworkers. Word will spread and you will be thrilled when that first "request" comes in that someone actually wants you to create something for them or to gift to someone else.

This will be a moment worth celebrating for sure!

Whatever it is about you that you wish the world to know, begin right now to express yourself, and be proud in doing so. This is what it means to begin living your dreams, and when you are living your dreams, everybody wins.

Jeffrey Brandt

Author of Close Your Eyes to Find Your Way

I would like to give a special Thank You to my good friend Michelle Colon Johnson who has been a great inspiration to me and who did specifically inspire this post. Michelle, you are the best!!!

All writings here are copyrighted by Jeffrey Brandt. You may not use them without written permission but you may link to the posts or give out a link to the posts.

Universal Laws of Success

Speed is necessary for an airplane to get lift off. We all know this. We also know there is more to it than mere speed. There are the laws of aerodynamics at work. As we became more familiar with these laws, and learned how to apply them in the design of our planes and patterns of take off and landing, our possibilities opened up immensely.

This same principal applies to getting a business off the ground or even bettering your life. Action is necessary, but there is more at work than mere action. As you become familiar with the Laws of success, and learn to apply them in your plans and patterns, you will get far better results. Real results.

I've been studying these Laws for many years, but only began actually applying them a little over a year ago. I can honestly say during this past year I have seen what I could only describe as miracles, had I not known that it was because of learning and applying these Laws.

I've learned, and relearned, and continue relearning these Laws, and I will still continue relearning these great Laws. For the more one can understand these Universal Laws on continually deeper levels, the better one can work with them. I see no limit to how far one may go.

I've found many sources of really good information about these Laws, but there is one source that I believe stands out more than any other that I have yet discovered. That is in the many programs of Bob Proctor. You may have already heard of Bob Proctor from the video, The Secret.

He's been studying these Laws for probably longer than anyone else who is alive today. I believe he began in 1961, when someone gave him a copy of Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich. He still reads this book!

Bob Proctor has written two very good books: You Were Born Rich, and It's Not About the Money. I highly recommend either one of these books. He also has a number of programs to share his teachings. One of his programs is called The 11 Forgotten Laws.

This program goes so much further than just the Law of Attraction. This program is jam-packed with a lot of information, and it is well presented. And I was very surprised at how little it costs for the value of what is shared. I am sharing a link for you to check it out for yourself.

I encourage you to follow this link and see what The 11 Forgotten Laws is all about.

I want YOU to succeed!!

Jeffrey Brandt

Author of Close Your Eyes to Find Your Way.

All writings here are copyrighted by Jeffrey Brandt. You may not use them without written permission but you may link to the posts or give out a link to the posts. If you enjoy the content of this blog, you can find more by Jeffrey Brandt by visiting My Website.

It's ALL Good! (Balance)

In a recent conversation with a good friend, the subject came up about balance. Referring to the balance of good and bad. The question was this person was not so sure about what comes back to you when you put something out there.

I can see how this question might come up in any inquisitive mind when looking to the world for answers. What we see in the media is often a sign of the most corrupt among us (putting out bad) enjoying the most reward (controlling what we might consider an obscene amount of money and freedom), although at the expense of others.

Let me start this off by saying it is not my intention to get into the motives behind the media and what stories they promote and why. That would be a whole other blog post, if not a book! The focus here then is on what constitutes balance and is there actually a balance.

When you give out good, an equal good must return to you. When you give out bad, an equal bad must return to you. This is Law, as I hope to explain. It does not matter if you are referring to an individual or to society as a whole. It all works the very same way.

What you do give out is compared to a seed, whether this seed be in the form of your thought, your attitude, or your beliefs. The same concept has been mirrored in nature with an apple seed, for example. You will never get anything but an apple from an apple seed. Period.

The world is filled with what we might consider good and what we might consider bad, equally at any time. The truth is that what is simply is. Good or bad are relative terms. It is kind of like the man who walked around all day long complaining about not having shoes to wear, until he met another man who had no feet.

If you choose to focus on the bad, you will find all the evidence you need to confirm that the world is bad (war, economy, social disintegration, etc.). If you focus on the good, you will find all the evidence you need to confirm that the world is good (opportunities for growth and improvement, emerging consciousness, the potential for free energy, etc.).

Approximately 95% of the focus may be on the negative, and only a mere 5% on the positive. However, with a positive thought being some 10 times more powerful than a negative thought, in the big picture of mass consciousness it all balances out. That 5% x 10 = 50%.

You may not be able to control what goes on in the world. But you do have complete control (if you choose to USE this control) of your own focus, your thoughts. A large percentage of the population freely allows their thinking to be controlled by outside sources. This IS their choice.

Make a determined effort to remain focused on what YOU decide. You have, in doing this, the power to create your own experience the way you choose. This is all based on the infallible Law of your being. Focus your thoughts on the good.

 Good will only produce good. This brings up a point that tends to frustrate many. What happens when we do a good deed, and we are betrayed? Did this Law suddenly stop working? No.

First of all, understand that you have many, many thoughts throughout your day. It is very likely that you have many good thoughts and you have a number of not-so-good thoughts. For this reason, your results tend to be mixed, some good and some bad. the goal should be for you to get your predominant thinking to a more positive level. This is when you will see real results.

Another point to consider is the Law of Gender and Gestation. It takes a certain amount of time for any thought to actually manifest. Again back to the seed analogy. It takes time for a seed to produce the plant. It takes time from the conception of a baby to when you're changing diapers.

In other words, as James Ray said in The Secret, "This is not who you are. This is who you were." You are living in a residual form of your previous thinking. If you could change and make ALL of your thoughts positive from this point on, you would still continue to have some not very pleasant experiences for a time to come.

One last point on this is that results do not have to come from where you expect them to come from. You may plant the seed of a good thought or deed in one place, and the result may come from somewhere totally off your radar. If you plant the good seeds of thought, you will get good results from those thoughts. Guaranteed.

If you begin to raise your awareness of your thinking, you will be able to prove all of this to yourself. This proof will mean so much more than anything I or someone else might say to you. Try it.

You should not expect to be able to control every thought throughout your day, at least not when you first begin to exercise this control. You have far too many thoughts to be able to do an efficient job of keeping track of them. However, their is an easier way.

Your thoughts initiate the manifestation process in your body in the form of feelings. When you are thinking harmonious thoughts, those in line with your own higher self, you feel good. When your thoughts are lacking in harmony, you are not thinking in line with your higher self, and you feel bad.

Feelings are much easier to recognize. Simply consider how you feel throughout the day. If you are feeling good, your thoughts are going where you want them to go. The moment you feel anything less than good, pay attention to your thoughts and consciously guide them back to something more positive. Begin by thinking of gratitude.

This may take some time if you are not accustomed to monitoring your own feelings. Have some fun with it. When you catch yourself feeling not good and are able to trace it to the conversation you just had earlier about the economy or a bad relationship, you will know that you are beginning to get a hold of your own thoughts.

You will begin to see how changing your focus in thought and in conversation will change your very state of being. When you feel better, you can know that you have discovered the true meaning of Balance.

I want YOU to Succeed!!

Jeffrey Brandt

Author of Close Your Eyes to Find Your Way

All writings here are copyrighted by Jeffrey Brandt. You may not use them without written permission but you may link to the posts or give out a link to the posts. If you enjoy the content of this blog, you can find more by Jeffrey Brandt by visiting My Website.

Out of the Comfort Zone

If you are on the path of Personal Growth, you must remember the obvious. This path entails Growth. That means that you will be stretching. You will be stepping into uncharted territory, at least for you. To put it bluntly, you will be required to do things you've not done before or at least doing things in a different way than you are accustomed.


What this means is that to grow you must step out of what is currently your comfort zone. Any time you do this, you will likely make mistakes, or at the very least, you may feel a bit awkward. This is normal and nothing unusual.


As you already know, it is my purpose to grow and to share with others what I have learned through my blog, my books, and my pages on Facebook. My journey actually began long before this. I have spent many years reading and studying the best sources I could find.


I knew I had much to learn and I continued to persevere in my studies until results to my liking began to emerge. It was a struggle, for sure. I came from a difficult past. In my faith, I grew until my circumstances began to change, and the change became increasingly rapid.


Soon a part of me knew it was time to begin expressing my perspective of this journey of life in a way that others would find helpful by applying these concepts in their own lives. I chose to do so using the medium of Facebook.


At the time, I knew next to nothing about this technology, but I went ahead and opened my personal page. As I became more comfortable with my ability to navigate, I began to reach out to others of like mind.


Mind you I really didn't know exactly what I was doing when I began, but it felt right. My own learning curve was accelerating rapidly by this time, and I knew I was doing the right thing. Was I comfortable with what I was doing? No. Looking back today, was it worth it? YES!


Less than one year ago I had only a dozen or so "friends" on Facebook. I had heard about blogging, but wasn't sure I was up to putting in the effort required to maintain a blog up to date. I looked inside myself and found the answer that I was not so sure I wanted to hear. I began my blog.


It actually took a couple of months before I saw any real results from what I felt was a Herculean effort on my part. Was I outside of my own comfort zone? Yes. Was it worth it? YES!


I had one book that I had previously published and it was selling pretty well. This was Close Your Eyes to Find Your Way. An unexpected benefit from my blogging and my Facebook encounters is that people that had not known about this book began asking about it and orders suddenly increased.


I am proud of my book, Close Your Eyes to Find Your Way; however, the topic of my blog is slightly different. It is more about developing your mindset to dream and to go after those dreams. Goal-setting and prosperity consciousness.


From this recognition, I wrote a second book by the same title as my blog, Manifest By Design Now. I chose to write this book rather quickly and get it out there as soon as I possibly could, because I knew there were many who were interested in and could benefit from this information. I was also learning that what Joe Vitale said in The Secret was true: The Universe likes speed.


Was I comfortable writing and releasing a book this quickly? No. Was it worth it? YES! I decided to be up front about this book and explain that it was actually only the essence of what I saw as the complete version. I offered it with the request that those who would read it would also offer me feedback, comments, and suggestions that I may use to improve the book with time.


I've been extremely pleased with the responses I've gotten. I've made several changes to the book since then. I've expanded on a few of the concepts to be clearer and added some points. This book is like a living book that just keeps getting better! I still plan on getting it published some time in 2011, and welcome any further feedback on the downloadable version.


More recently my journey has led me to even greater personal challenges. Perhaps you've seen a few of the videos I've been releasing on Facebook. I have a confession to make about this. But first let me give you a little background on where I am coming from.


I know this material very well. Not just from reading, listening to audios and watching videos and webinars, but I've been practicing these ideas with pretty decent success for some time. I also have years of experience in teaching and giving seminars to groups of people.


When I decided I wanted to create some videos, I didn't realize how different it was going to be talking to a camera rather than to real people in front of me. I found this extremely challenging for me. I am very aware that my camera presence needed (and still needs) a lot of work.


Now I could have just held off on putting the videos out there for the world to see how amateurish my first videos were. But, I believe in what I teach. I have often compared growing yourself to a child's learning to walk. They fall down a lot, but this doesn't faze them. They simply get back up again and go. So I let the world witness my struggle. I'm still having a challenging time, but I do feel better about each new video.


I guess what I'd like to say with all this rambling is that I am sincere in my message to you. What I teach is real. I am 100% confident that you can achieve ANYTHING you set your mind to do, if you approach it with the right attitude. This means focus, and this means persistence. It may take some time, but really who cares? The time is going to pass anyway. You may as well be doing something worthwhile and if you do, you can know that success awaits you, whatever success means to you.


YOU are the reason I do what I do. I owe you everything my friends. Thank you for following my blog, and please if you enjoy it take the time to click the icon to share it on your facebook page for others to see it as well. Even the videos I'll be creating every week or so. Thank you.



I want YOU to succeed!!



Jeffrey Brandt

Author of Close Your Eyes to Find Your Way.






All writings here are copyrighted by Jeffrey Brandt. You may not use them without written permission but you may link to the posts or give out a link to the posts. If you enjoy the content of this blog, you can find more by Jeffrey Brandt by visiting My Website.

How do you read a good book?

I was listening to an interview with Bob Proctor, of The Secret, the other day, and he said something that just jumped out at me like a ghost on Halloween. (I'm sorry, it's October 30th and I couldn't resist). Anyway, what Bob said was when most people read a book, they think they've read the book.


Now I know this may sound a little strange, but let me explain the context from which this statement came. Many people are seeking desperately for an answer. They want change in their life, and they think reading a good book will give them the answer they seek. And the truth is that there are a great many books out there that do answer the question of how. I've even written one of them.


Reading a good book is like getting into the mind of the writer. Depending on where this writer is coming from, that can mean having access to some very wise counsel. Take Napoleon Hill's famous book, Think and Grow Rich. Mr. Hill spent something like 12 years studying the 500 richest and most successful people of his time to put together a formula for others to follow to become successful themselves.


Evidently he did an excellent job at this too. After all, there are dozens of successful people today that credit this book as the basis for their own success. Bob Proctor repeatedly mentions this title as the initiating spark that set him on a path to success.


With testimonials like this, it is no wonder this book and others like it make their way to the best seller lists. There are thousands who want to have this same experience, or so we hear. But there really is more to the story.


Often times, someone will hear of a good book, and they will go out and buy it. They read it, and nothing happens. They may even do everything the book suggests. Still they get no real results. Then they may feel frustrated, but there is something more.


When Bob Proctor was given Think and Grow Rich, he didn't just read the book. He read it this book again and again and again. I've heard him say that he is still reading this book. He's also read a few other books. I heard him say he has something like 3,000 books in his personal library.


Beyond reading the book, Think and Grow Rich, Bob said he even got the recorded version. Mind you this was in the day of the vinyl records! He said he got an adapter to play this recording in his car as he was driving around. Came you imagine the dedication to not only receive the message of the book, but to get that message planted into his subconscious mind?


This is tenacity. Bob often mentions Wallace Wattles' The Science of Getting Rich as another book he has read countless times. One other was James Allen's As a Man Thinketh. By the way, I've read each of these books a number of times and agree that they are awesome books.


I have always been a rather voracious reader myself, and I do have certain books that I continue to read over and over again to the point I know them like the back of my hand. When I was really struggling I knew there had to be something in these books I was reading that would help me if I just kept at it long enough. This something I just knew instinctively.


It was when I was reading one of Brian Tracy's books that I learned I was doing the right thing. He suggested reading a book every week. He pointed out how far this would get you in the way of an education after a year, or after five years. It really is amazing when you stop to think about it. You can have the equivalent of a PhD after a few years of this. The years are going to pass by regardless of what you do, so why not get yourself a top rate education?


Dr. Joe Vitale is only too eager to point out his love for books. Les Brown says the same. The list goes on and on. The books are valuable, but you have to know how to use them. I don't know how others read but I do have a peculiar manner of reading a good book. I'd like to share it with you. You might want to try it. I'm not saying it is the best way for you, but I would suggest you give some thought as to how you read as well as what you read.


I really get into a good book while I am reading it. I want zero distractions. I demand this much. I'm thinking about the words and trying to get myself into the head of whoever wrote those words. When I come to something that is particularly deep or profound, I read that part through a second time and underline the words while I am reading them.


After I have done this, I pause to reflect on what I had just read for a few minutes. I first take in the depth of the meaning in its whole. Then I find a relation to the concept in my own life experience. I take my time on this. Sometimes I even write a short note in the margins of the page to remind me when I read this book again at a later date. I am in no hurry to move on when I am contemplating something profound.


Finally I will read this part through one more time before I do continue on. If the book I just finished reading was very good or intense, I will read it a second time immediately after finishing it. Then I usually move on to another book. At some future date, I will surely go back and read this book again.


I read daily. I do not read a new book every week any more. I did this for about five or six years. Now I am constantly going back and forth between new books and my many favorites, including the above mentioned titles. I also haev become a big fan on listening ot books on my MP3 Player. I will easily listen to the same book over and over again for a week straight and love every minute of it!


And by the way, I also read the books I've written, over and over again. I learn much from reading them as well. Reading is one of the best pass times you can choose. Especially when you are hungry to grow.



I want YOU to succeed!!



Jeffrey Brandt

Author of Close Your Eyes To Find Your Way, Manifest By Design Now.




All writings here are copyrighted by Jeffrey Brandt. You may not use them without written permission but you may link to the posts or give out a link to the posts. If you enjoy the content of this blog, you can find more by Jeffrey Brandt by visiting My Website.

Becoming successful

Becoming successful has absolutely nothing to do with luck or chance. It has almost nothing to do with the resources you have in this moment. It has been said that luck is nothing more than opportunity meeting up with preparation. I believe this with all my heart.


As for resources, they do play a factor; however, you have the resources you need to be successful already, if you are able to read this blog. It really is not so much a matter of what resources you have as it is how you use them. This is the message I would like to convey to you.


You can begin right now in this moment to build upon what you have and your opportunities will increase with every step forward. But you do have to begin taking those steps. Take account of what you have going for you in this moment and decide right now to begin using what you have.


Be bold and step out of your comfort zone. You cannot expect to grow if you are not willing to stretch. If you feel uncomfortable or even fearful to try something, so what? Do it anyway. What if you fail in your attempt? So what? Do it anyway. Decide right now that failure is simply a price you are willing to pay in order to learn the correct path.


Life is meant to be lived, not simply contemplated. To live means to experience. Experience only comes to those who are willing to try. You cannot write a book without writing! This sounds very obvious, but you wouldn't believe the number of people who have told me they wanted to write a book, but have not yet written anything.


The same goes for getting a business off the ground. It will never happen until you actually do it yourself. Dreaming is a wonderful thing to do. But a dream is only the beginning. Take your dream whatever it may be, get on it, and ride.


Look around and find what resources you have to use now. Don't worry if you don't see much that you can do in this moment. Do whatever you can. I guarantee that if you do, more resources will then make themselves available to you, but you will not see them until you first use the ones you now have.


This is the way it works. There really is no secret. If you remember in the film, The Secret, Jack Canfield used the analogy of driving from Los Angeles to New York in the night. Your headlights only reveal the next 150 feet or so at a time, but this is sufficient. As you move forward, more will be revealed to you, and you progress.


This has been my own personal experience and it is the same experience I have seen described by every successful person I know. Everybody has dreams, but few have the courage to make them happen. I believe this is because people want to see the whole path laid out in front of them.


The word faith comes to mind. Have the faith and take that first action. Really what do you have to lose? You won't be any worse off than you are now. With your new experience, you will be able to make a wiser choice next. One step at a time you will begin to walk. You have to walk before you can run. When you run fast enough, you will be able to fly.


You have much to offer the world, and I want you to begin expressing this truth. You do so through your actions. I am here to help and I look forward to doing so.



I want YOU to succeed!!



Jeffrey Brandt

Author of Close Your Eyes to Find Your Way.






All writings here are copyrighted by Jeffrey Brandt. You may not use them without written permission but you may link to the posts or give out a link to the posts. If you enjoy the content of this blog, you can find more by Jeffrey Brandt by visiting My Website.

The Power by Rhonda Byrne

I just received my copy of The Power by Rhonda Byrne in time to begin my weekend. I devoured it as I have done the same with every book of this caliber. I would like to share with you my take on this particular book now.


Let me start by giving you a little perspective on my perspective. I have read, reread, and studied literally dozens of books that deal specifically with the Law of Attraction, and hundreds more about success in general. This would include books on business, sales, management, psychology, marketing, spirituality, religion, and the mind.


On books that deal specifically with the Law of Attraction, I've seen very deep and profound books, such as the works of Thomas Troward, Charles Haanel, Prentice Mulford, Robert Collier and the like. I've read very practical books. I've read very scientific explanations of the subject. I've even read more esoteric works, religious works, feel-good works, etc.


I was my major plan, when I discovered this idea, to come at it from every angle possible to get a more comprehensive grasp on the subject. I'm a big advocate of applying accelerated learning techniques, one of which includes coming at something from several angles to increase the number of neuronal links in the brain. We get a much better understanding of something when we can see how it relates to other ideas.


Obviously, to do this requires a very strong commitment. I am definitely committed, and seeing the most amazing results from this commitment. I've spent years studying and learning to apply these concepts.


I'm very excited at the recent explosion of resources that are coming out into the market place and getting more widespread attention. I believe this has been due to the release of The Secret more than any other factor.


The Secret is what I would classify as a feel good approach. In the movie, each of the Secret teachers does an exemplary job of explaining what you need to do to put the Law of Attraction into operation for you to attract what you want. They tell you the what, and they do so in a way that makes you feel good, at least for the time being while you are watching it.


This was the reason this movie became so popular with so many millions and spread so rapidly. Even Rhonda Byrne explained that she used the Secret to create The Secret. Ingenious!


The Power really does go further. It does what it says it would do in the preview video, if you did get a chance to see it. In The Secret, they spoke of the importance of feeling good, but in The Power, this topic goes to new levels beyond the "what" to explain more the "why" and the "how" to accomplish this.


My hat's off to Rhonda Byrne on this one for sure. The power is exactly what it has been advertised to be. It is a Masterpiece. Because it was just released, I really don't want to explain in great detail what it is about. I would rather you go out, get it, and see for yourself.


But I will say this. If you understood The Secret enough to know that it has substance, even if you didn't get the full results you wanted, you have to get this book. If you read it with intention and feeling, you will gain an in depth understanding of the power behind the Secret. Maybe this is all you need to have a truly amazing life. I know I have.



I want YOU to succeed!



Jeffrey Brandt

Author of Close Your Eyes to Find Your Way: A Guide to Discovering Your Higher Self.






All writings here are copyrighted by Jeffrey Brandt. You may not use them without written permission but you may link to the posts or give out a link to the posts. If you enjoy the content of this blog, you can find more by Jeffrey Brandt by visiting my website.

A Conversation with Paul Martinelli

It is my sincerest desire to do all I can to give you the tools you need to discover and attain the success you desire and deserve. If you've been following my blog for any length of time, you will have found in it many nuggets to help you to this end. I've been doing a lot of thinking these past few weeks on how to upgrade the impact I may have on helping others on their journey.


I just got off the phone with Paul Martinelli, who just returned from a European tour. You may have seen him in the DVD Beyond The Secret. He is an amazing human being who travels the world helping people like you and I learn how to bring out the greatness we all hold inside. He is also a business partner with Les Brown, who is also very well known as a mentor and motivational speaker to many Fortune 500 companies.


In my conversation with Paul, he offered to do a phone call in which I am inviting you to listen in on and to ask any question you like relative to achieving your dreams. This presents an amazing opportunity for you. Just imagine, what is it you most want to know about how to create the life you truly desire!


But I do need your help right now. The topic of self-help/personal growth is vast. I'd like to hear from you what specific topic ideas you would like to hear Paul talk about. You may leave a comment here or on my page in Facebook. Just click the Facebook link to the right.


The exact time and date are to be determined, but it will be within the next couple of weeks, so do let me know your topic suggestions and questions. And don't forget one of the most important lessons of success is to avoid procrastination. Success does not stand still and wait for anybody. So let me know and we'll "see" you on the phone call!



I want YOU to succeed!!



Or as Paul Martinelli would say, "Hold your image!"



Jeffrey Brandt

Author of Close Your Eyes to Find Your Way: A Guide to Discovering Your Higher self.






All writings here are copyrighted by Jeffrey Brandt. You may not use them without written permission but you may link to the posts or give out a link to the posts. If you enjoy the content of this blog, you can find more by Jeffrey Brandt by visiting my website.

You can have all the Gold!

"You can have all the gold you want, if you are willing to dig for it." ~Jeffrey B. Brandt

If you ask around, most everybody will tell you they have a dream, something they would really like to be, do or have. If you ask them what they are doing to achieve that goal, they will immediately begin telling you why they are not doing anything, or there will simply be a moment of silence, an uncomfortable silence.


Achieving a dream, even a big dream does not have to be impossible. In fact, most dreams are very possible, more so than most realize. But these dreams are not just going to fall into your lap, without any effort on your part. Logic will tell you this, Common sense will tell you this. Anyone who has ever accomplished anything worthwhile will tell you this.


So why so do few people ever really go after their dreams? I don't know and I don't think it really matters. Why? Because I'm not one of those who doesn't do anything when it comes to dreams. You hear much about "the secret" to achieving your dreams. Do you want to know what the secret really comes down to is getting involved with your dream.


This involvement begins in your mind. You need to make a definite decision that you are going to go after your dream. Then comes determination to follow through with what you decided. You must keep the dream in the forefront of your mind, as you go through your day. Keep yourself open to ideas and act on those ideas when they come.


This sounds very simplistic, I know. And yes, there is more to it, but not in essence. This really is the basic secret. Of course, to follow through with this secret, you would be wise to delve into it more deeply. And that is the purpose of this blog. I invite you to read through the archives and you will find a veritable gold mine of information and inspiration.


Most importantly, you must get your mind set on the idea that achieving your dream, if it is a big one is that first, it is possible. It is! Secondly, it will require you to grow. this means you will have to learn new things, try new things, and so on. there will be some trials, some failures, and some successes. you will move a little closer, and you will feel, at times, that are moving further away.


Your dream may begin as a destination in your mind, but soon enough you will discover that it is a journey, in truth. Don't let this realization stop you from embarking upon the journey. Because as you discover that the journey involves more work than you might have considered originally, you will also discover that the achievement will involve more reward than you considered originally also.


If you are ready to begin your journey, you are in a good place. I am here to help you in everyway I can to make your journey one of growth and excitement as you will definitely learn more about yourself than you ever thought possible.


I want YOU to succeed!!



Jeffrey Brandt

Author of Close Your Eyes to Find Your Way: A Guide to Discovering Your Higher Self.






All writings here are copyrighted by Jeffrey Brandt. You may not use them without written permission but you may link to the posts or give out a link to the posts. If you enjoy the content of this blog, you can find more by Jeffrey Brandt by visiting my website.

Two very important points

It seems the number of people who are beginning to feel the urge to really get ahead in life is growing everyday. Maybe it’s the economy. Maybe it’s the state of affairs in the world. Maybe it’s divine intervention. It doesn’t really matter the reason why this is happening, but I do see it happening, and that is a good thing.



Another thing I have noticed is that many people who really want something better in their lives are not sure how to go about getting it. This is not a problem, however. It’s not a problem because the answers to what they are looking for are not that difficult to find.


I’d like to share with you two very important points that can help you, if you are someone who desires to better your life but don’t know where to start. The whole purpose of this blog is to help you to be the success you deserve to be. I want to help.



First point: I’ve found there is a very large and growing number of successful people in every area who are feeling the desire to share their ideas of how they became successful.



Second point: The ideas they each express are not at all difficult to grasp.



So how do you find this information? You can find it in the books they write or books that have been written about them. You can find audios, videos, online courses. You can speak directly with many of them or people who have access to them.


In fact, an entire field is opening up called life coaching, success coaching, mentoring programs and many other related programs. It truly is booming. Now, this brings up something I often hear from people in a tough spot in life. “What about people like me? I don’t have the money to invest in many of these programs, and how do I know which program will work best for me?”


First of all you need to recognize this kind of thinking is exactly the kind of thinking that is keeping you from becoming the success you desire to begin with. You’re thinking limitations. Limitations will keep you right where you are at right now. You need to expand your thinking in a way that you can know that somehow, someway, you are going to find the way!


This is so very important. And you will need to develop this mindset before you will even begin to move ahead. There is always a way, no matter where you are currently coming from. Even if you can’t see how just yet, at least take the time to meditate on this idea until you can open yourself to the possibility.


You may have heard of Joe Vitale, teacher in the hit DVD The Secret. He was living on the streets of Dallas when he began his journey. He began by going to the public library and reading books by and about successful people. Now that’s determination!


If you’re reading this blog, you’ve obviously got an internet connection. Use it to Google successful people. Begin with people that resonate with you, and expand from there. You might start with the names you’ve heard mentioned in The Secret. Or you might begin with the names of famous people in business, other writers. Just begin looking. This costs you nothing more than your time.


The idea is to begin something. Just complaining and not doing anything about it will get you no further than you are in this moment. You might be surprised how much good information is out there that won’t cost you a dime. This will at least be enough to get you started on your own road to success.


As you begin to grow, you will surely come across more opportunities, but these opportunities will never come into your awareness if you don’t first get out there and begin looking for them. You can start right here by looking back through these archived blogs. There is a wealth of very good information.


If you are seeking to achieve your goals, I also have an excellent book that tells you specifically how to attain the right mindset to quickly achieve those goals. Manifest By Design Now: A Better Way to Achieve Your Dreams in Five Easy Steps. You can find a downloadable ebook version at Jeffrey Brandt Products.



I want YOU to succeed!!

Jeffrey Brandt

Author of Close Your Eyes to Find Your Way: A Guide to Discovering Your Higher Self.








All writings here are copyrighted by Jeffrey Brandt. You may not use them without written permission but you may link to the posts or give out a link to the posts. If you enjoy the content of this blog, you can find more by Jeffrey Brandt by visiting Jeffrey Brandt Products.

Are YOU living below the neck?

I’ve seen or heard statistics that only about 5% of the population attains mega success. What about the other 95%? They would be the average and below. About 95% of the population watches TV on a regular basis. This leaves about 5% that rarely, if ever, watch TV. Did you know it is precisely the same 5% that are considered to be the most successful that watch the least TV?


About 95% of the population believes it is important to consider security when investing their money. And the other 5%? They are less concerned with security. They are really looking for potential return on investment (ROI). The 95% are thinking about saving for retirement. The 5% are thinking about creating multiple streams of income of the passive type.


How much do you really know about this 5%? If you don’t know much about the way they think, I suggest, no, I URGE you to begin looking into the way they think. YOUR future depends on it! Where do you find this information? Well, there may be many ways of doing so, but I’ll let you know an easy and efficient way to get an in depth understanding of their thinking processes, and how you can make these processes your own.

Books

I’ve read dozens of books on the topic, but I’ll just mention a few of the best I’ve read to get you started. If you’re anything like me, after reading a few of these you’ll want to continue reading more. If that is the case, let me know and I’ll be glad to share with you more titles. But one word of extremely IMPORTANT advice: Don’t stop at reading these books. Put them into ACTION!


The best book I know on this subject is one I’ve mentioned in one of my first blog posts. Secrets of the Millionaire Mind by T. Harv Eker. Wow, this book is loaded with all the ammunition you’ll need to take off, if you do as the book says. It is broken in down into seventeen “wealth files” that explain the most powerful differences between the thinking of the rich from the poor and middle class. This book is a must read for sure.


How To Think Like A Millionaire by Mark Fisher and Marc Allen is a short but important work that will give you great insight into new ways of thinking. This was one of the first books I’ve read by Marc Allen, who has written several very good books. He is also the founder and Publisher of New World Library.


If you enjoy reading fables you will definitely enjoy one written by Mark Fisher called The Instant Millionaire. This was one of the first I read on the topic and has had a most extraordinary impact on my life, and I don’t normally read fiction. I highly recommend it.


Bob Proctor has two books I cannot recommend enough: You Were Born Rich, and It’s Not About The Money. Bob really makes it clear the importance of changing the way you think and he eloquently explains how to do this in either one of these two books.


Now I could go on and make quite a list but rather I will say this. Read anything by any of the following writers: Dan Kennedy, Brian Tracy, Les Brown, Robert Allen, Mark Victor Hansen, or any of the teachers from The Secret.


The main goal of my blog is to help you change your mindset in a way to help you achieve your goals. Reading these books will help you immensely! I’ve only mentioned a few of the many I’ve read and use daily, but like I said, you will likely want to read more once you begin. That my friend is the key. Devour this information and your change will happen faster than you can imagine.




Now back to the title of this post: Are YOU living below the neck? What does it mean? Well, if you remember I was making a lot of comments about 95% vs. 5%. Your head consists of roughly 5% of your total body mass. 95% of the people are working in jobs that basically require their body but not so much their head. Those who use their heads are the ones who earn more and find their lives to be far more satisfactory. Think about everything you do in your daily life. Are YOU living below the neck? If so, know that you can change this right NOW.


Decide for once what it is you want and decide for once that you are going to get it. Decide for once that you are going to spend some time everyday learning something new that will lead you in the direction of what you want. Read books. Study them. Contemplate what you learn. Imagine your ideal. Open yourself to ideas and inspiration. Begin living in a new way. Begin living above the neck.


Send me message on Facebook and ask for my new book, Manifest By Design Now. I’ll give it to you for FREE because I want you to be successful. This offer will not last for long but I do want you to have it now so you can begin your new life. Show some initiative to better your life, and in the process help to make a better world for all. That’s what I’m asking. Do it now.



Jeffrey Brandt

Author of Close Your Eyes to Find Your Way: A Guide to Discovering Your Higher Self.




All writings here are copyrighted by Jeffrey Brandt. You may not use them without written permission but you may link to the posts or give out a link to the posts. If you enjoy the content of this blog, you can find more by Jeffrey Brandt by visiting Jeffrey Brandt Products.

The Test

Do yourself a favor!


When you study in school or in a university, you learn your lessons, and then you expect a test before receiving your prize, whether this prize be a title or diploma. When you begin studying the Law of Attraction, you might just as well expect the same treatment. You learn all about visualizing your goal and taking action. You also learn the importance of persistence. You learn there will be road blocks, but that you can overcome them with persistence.


Why is it then that so many learn well the necessary lessons, but then give up when the real test becomes evident in their experience? They run into a few road blocks and decide it’s too much work. Remember your lessons! Persistence is the one quality that when lacking brings people to shipwreck more than any other. They give up too soon to see real physical results manifest in their lives.


Know that you will be tested. You expect it in other areas of your life. You might as well know that this area will be no different. Prepare yourself with confidence to follow through no matter what. Know that after the test, you will come out with more than you ever had before.


Many people who have seen programs like The Secret get mislead by the positive energy of these shows. That positive energy is a very necessary element to activating the Law of Attraction. The more positive your energy, the more powerful you attract to you what it is you are seeking, however, what you are seeking will not likely come to you without your going through feelings of self-doubt or other negative emotions.


The key is to recognize this likely scenario and be ready for it. If and when your energy begins to drop, make sure you realize that allowing it to drop is not only going to stop the attractive force you were generating, it may also begin to repel what it is you were seeking.


If the negative energy you feel becomes too much for you to put off, at the very least, make a conscious decision that you will only take a break from your efforts long enough to experience what you really sense that is negative until you can work your way through it. Then you will get right back to attracting again! And follow through.


The idea is to sustain your positive energy indefinitely. When you see the teachers in the film The Secret, they appear as if their lives are simply wonderful every day. I can easily imagine that they are also. There may very well be a few bumps along the way every now and then, but nothing will bring them down for more than a short while.


I say this based on my own experience. I’ve seen a dramatic shift in my own energy that began several years ago. This shift was slow at first, but soon began to accelerate when I did decide that I was going to be positive on a continual basis. When I could not keep myself positive, for whatever reason, I simply made a deal with myself as I stated above.


I consciously decided that I would give in but only for a short time because I knew that being negative would not help me. The interesting thing was that when I began making this deal with myself my periods of feeling down dramatically decreased in both intensity and frequency. I felt more like I was in control even when I wasn’t in total control.


Very soon after, I noticed myself not being bothered by people or situations that would have driven me crazy with negative energy before. So please, give this idea some thought and see if it is something you might want to try. Consider it an experiment. Consider it a test. I am confident you will be pleasantly surprised.



Love your life experience,

Jeffrey Brandt

Author of Close Your Eyes to Find Your Way: A Guide to Discovering Your Higher Self.








All writings here are copyrighted by Jeffrey Brandt. You may not use them without written permission but you may link to the posts or give out a link to the posts. If you enjoy the content of this blog, you can find more by Jeffrey Brandt by visiting Jeffrey Brandt Products.

To be or not to be, that is the focus

“You can have, do, or be anything you want.”

~Dr. Joe Vitale

The Secret

This statement is true. You’ve probably heard said before. If not from Joe Vitale in The Secret, you’ve likely heard a variation of the words. Just hearing those words can make you conjure up images in your imagination of a wonderful life. Using your imagination in this way is called visualizing, one very powerful method of attracting to you what you want to have, do, or be.


Most people have no problems visualizing what they want to have: a new house, a fancy car, a perfect partner, lots of money, etc. Most people have no problems imagining themselves doing what they want to do: travel the world, sky dive, Spend lots of money, win a championship game, etc. Having and doing are ingrained in our very consciousness through the media and in our upbringing. We all want to have and do more.


Very little emphasis is placed on becoming the person it takes to achieve the dreams of having and doing what we want. Think about it.

What you currently have and are able to do is the result of who you are.

It is not the other way around. Getting this backwards is a common error due to the media influence we have received since were very young.


Think about the numerous commercials that transmit the message to you an a daily basis, buy our product and women will love you, people will respect you, impress your neighbors and friends when they see you driving this car, wearing these clothes, sporting this watch, etc. Buy these shoes and you’ll be a champion on the court. It all seems to point to the need to acquire something first, and then as if by magic you will suddenly become something better, a better person.


This concept was developed with the consumer in mind. Buy our product and receive the reward. Ask any champion of sports what their secret is, I’ll bet you don’t one of them saying it’s the shoes they wear, the cologne they use, or the car they drive. Their secret will come down to visualizing themselves as a champion, and a whole lot of hard work.


Whatever your goal in life, the recipe is the same. You must visualize yourself BEING the person you want to become, and you must work toward becoming that person. You didn’t hear me say you had to have anything because having is the result of doing (the work), and getting up the ambition to do the work is the result of being the person that it takes.


Long story short, in visualizing your goal, be sure to focus predominantly on you being the person you will need to be. When and only when you have this down, you will receive inspiration of what you need to do to become this person. Now you need to focus on your doing the right thing in a successful manner. If you follow these steps in the correct sequence, you will have what it is you desire much quicker and you will not so easily lose it.


How many times have you heard of someone coming into a little extra cash, winning the lottery, gambling, refund, or whatever, only to lose it as quickly as they gained it? This is because they did not change. Their financial thermostat remained set to have what they were comfortable with having. On a subconscious level, they had to get rid of that extra cash.


Sounds a lot like we’re talking about your self-image, doesn’t it? You’re right. Changing your self-image can take some time and effort, but it is something you will have to do, if you want to make any change last. If you neglect to mediate on being the right person that is in a vibrational match with that which you want to have, you will not be able to hold on to it, if you do ever get it.



In my new book, Manifest by design Now, I go into this in detail with a very effective method using your inner voice. This book can be purchased on my website, but since this book is new, I’m making a very special offer for a limited time. I am GIVING IT AWAY FOR FREE! How’s that for a special offer? Simply leave me a message on my personal page on Facebook. I will send the ebook (PDF) to your email address. And no worries, I respect your email privacy always. I will not share your information with anyone.



To your Infinite Abundance,

Jeffrey Brandt

Author of Close Your Eyes to Find Your Way: A Guide to Discovering Your Higher Self.








All writings here are copyrighted by Jeffrey Brandt. You may not use them without written permission but you may link to the posts or give out a link to the posts. If you enjoy the content of this blog, you can find more by Jeffrey Brandt by visiting Jeffrey Brandt Products.

To break free from limiting your resources

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I have often heard individuals on their path toward achievement of a great and challenging goal say that their ultimate success depends only upon one thing and one thing only. They say they need to acquire a certain thing or make a certain contact with someone or convince someone of something, etc. The point is this one thing always seems to be something that is outside themselves.


We all are aware that getting something from outside can make achieving our goals easier. It may appear more difficult to figure out an alternative plan. Let me tell you, you don’t have to give up on the idea of getting help. In fact, I would encourage anyone to seek help in whatever way they feel necessary, BUT don’t allow yourself to think that this is your only viable option. After all, it is said “ask and ye shall receive.” Or as Jack Canfield likes to say, “ask, ask, ask.”


People tend to give up when the path isn’t clear. This is especially so when they see a certain avenue as their only salvation. They figure it is this way or no way. That is limiting thinking. Bob Proctor, star of The Secret, said “most everyone who ever accomplished anything worthwhile had no idea how they were going to accomplish it when they began.” You don’t need to know how!


The “how” will be shown to you, but it will never do this if you do not express faith in your own abilities by acting on something. If you are one who is putting your dreams on hold or dedicating all of your energy into acquiring the assistance of someone else, consider your final desired result. Are you placing your energy in going toward that result or are you only throwing yourself into something that may or may not happen?


Remember you do not control other people. It will ultimately be their decision as to whether or not they decide to help you. Each person including yourself is a sovereign individual. You never know what is in their plan and it may be in an entirely different direction than one of joining you in your cause.


Send out your requests for assistance, whatever that may be, and then get busy developing yourself further to be ready for any opportunity that comes by. I could say you might get lucky, but luck really is only preparedness met by opportunity.


No matter what your current situation, there always exists something in which you can focus on to move you closer to your goal. It all comes down to how badly you really want that goal. I say go for it now. And don’t wait for the perfect conditions to arrive.



To your Infinite Abundance,

Jeffrey Brandt

Author of Close Your Eyes to Find Your Way: A Guide to Discovering Your Higher Self.









All writings here are copyrighted by Jeffrey Brandt. You may not use them without written permission but you may link to the posts or give out a link to the posts. If you enjoy the content of this blog, you can find more by Jeffrey Brandt by visiting Jeffrey Brandt Products.

The Power is in I Am

When you say the words “I am,” you are expressing your oneness with something. You acknowledge there is no separation. There is only one. Where there is only one, there is power in that what you are expressing is real. It is alive. It exists. “It” is YOU.


I am happy. Happiness exists because I am. I am bored. Or I am sad. I am sick. None of these exist in your world but that you expressed them as existing. I am is a powerful concept. Think about that.


I am bored. No, I am open to a new stimulus. I am seeking inspiration. I am sad. In truth, I am glad. I am glad for many things. I am sick. Scratch that. I am healing. I AM healthy.


Émile Coué said it well with the phrase “Each and every day in each and every way, I am becoming better and better.” What a beautiful phrase to start each day, and to repeat to yourself throughout the day. I did this for years, and I still catch myself saying it now and then.


I am peace. I am joy. I am God. I am love! I am…


What would you add?


I am complete. I am wealthy. I am prosperity.


Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton was convinced the biggest difference between the great and the insignificant is “energy” and “invincible determination.” Think about the power in those words: ENERGY and INVINCIBLE DETERMINATION! Wow. I can feel them coursing through my veins right NOW! Let’s add the I am: I am energy and invincible determination!! Now I AM Successful.


I AM.


The concept of I am is power, is love, is grace, and is connection. I am. I am all wisdom. I am all knowledge. I am ALL. Think about I am during the next few days. How do you use these most impressive words. Do you use them to empower your being? Or have you used them in a more disempowering way.


There is a tremendous key to be had and utilized by focusing on these two simple, seemingly insignificant terms. Insignificant they are NOT! I am.


I am glad you are reading this blog. I am appreciative that you find it inspiring, that you find ME inspiring. I am inspiring! I am inspired. I am the creation. And…


I am source.


Take these words with you as you begin your day, and create the I am you so deserve! Post your own I AM phrases here or on my Facebook page. How much power will WE create?



I am Thankful,


Jeffrey Brandt

Author of Close Your Eyes to Find Your Way: A Guide to Discovering Your Higher Self.






All writings here are copyrighted by Jeffrey Brandt. You may not use them without written permission but you may link to the posts or give out a link to the posts. If you enjoy the content of this blog, you can find more by Jeffrey Brandt by visiting Jeffrey Brandt Products.

Success is a family affair

You may have heard that is important to maintain balance in your life. I would agree, but with a disclaimer: continual balance will not get you far in life.


If you study any of the people who accomplished great things in life, you will find a drive in them to be envied, if you’re determined to do the same. Highly successful people have a certain discipline that borders on obsession. Perhaps more than a few have actually crossed over that line.


I believe this is necessary if one is to attain any great difference in his or her experience. James Ray, teacher of The Secret, went so far as to say balance is bogus. Understanding the human machine, we know that continually pushing it in any one direction will eventually cause it to break. At the very least, your batteries may become drained if you push yourself too hard in any endeavor, for a certain length of time.


Yes, balance is something good in the long run to maintain your sanity, and to maintain any relationships you may have. However, if you are determined to do something really great with your life, you’d better be prepared to throw off the chains of balance for a time and go headlong into overtime focusing exclusively on your dreams.

Great achievement requires great effort

Sounds fair, doesn’t it? If you have family, I would recommend getting this reality out in the open as soon as possible to discuss it thoroughly. A grand goal will likely require sacrifices that spill over onto those closest to you. It must become a family affair, and it must be something all agree on.


If you’ve got the blessings of your family, you are truly blessed. Be sure you show your appreciation every chance you get along the way. Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can wait until your ultimate goal is accomplished. You may not have anyone left to show that you appreciate. You will know when it is time to take a break. When that time comes, you really need to take that break seriously. Get your mind completely out of the goal mode for a while to make the most of your break.


This is when family can be a great thing to have. Do something fun, relaxing, exhilarating or whatever you feel. Then it will be time to get back in the saddle and ride once again. If you did a good job of shifting your energy during your break, you should be able to refocus on your goals with a renewed vigor.


Know the plan will require breaks if it is a large stretch of a plan. Take your breaks accordingly and continue. You will get there so long as you continue to reach. It is much easier to reach when you give yourself time to recharge, but know that real effort is required when you’re ready.


The rewards you will gain by keeping loved ones in the loop are truly priceless. Not everyone will be as supportive as they. Let them know it with your sincerest appreciation.



Family first,

Jeffrey Brandt

Author of Close Your Eyes to Find Your Way: A Guide to Discovering Your Higher Self.






All writings here are copyrighted by Jeffrey Brandt. You may not use them without written permission but you may link to the posts or give out a link to the posts.

Snap!

Ok, I’m going to let you in on a little secret. My wife had kind of a tough time growing up. Well, I guess I did too. Come to think of it, you probably did as well. What am I saying? I would imagine the great majority of us did not come from a totally blissful childhood. So what?



We are all adults now and none of that should matter anymore, right? Well it shouldn’t but for a great number of us, there still lingers the tendency to look outside ourselves for the cause when things don’t go our way. My computer crashed. The traffic was a nightmare this afternoon. These stupid rules don’t even make any sense! Why aren’t people more considerate? Etc., etc., etc.



Actually I’m quite a positive thinking guy nowadays, but it wasn’t always that way. I began reading self-help and personal growth books many years ago, and I’ve come a long way toward being immune to negative thinking. I do have moments, but that is all they ever amount to being. Just moments.



When I am around someone who does happen to be replaying negative events in their conversation with others, I try to distance myself. I will leave the area if I can. There are times or situations, however, when this is not always possible. What happens when we’re talking about family members? At the risk of upsetting my wife and daughter, I’m going to let you in on a recent experiment we did.



I always wake in the morning all bright eyed and bushy tailed, ready to start my day filled with enthusiasm. That’s just me. My wife and my daughter, on the other hand, seem to take a little while to get in the spirit of things when they first wake up in the morning. There we are sitting together eating breakfast, when out of nowhere one will make a comment about something, and the other will inject a sarcastic remark or something in a negative vein.



I am very sensitive to maintaining a positive mindset at all times with no exceptions. If I make it known that something said was not very pleasantly worded, (for the sake of an example let’s say by my wife) she will then say “well our daughter started it when she said…”



Then my daughter would jump to her own defense and explain that she only said that because of some other reason. It always reminds me of the “he started it, she started it” scenario. I just want to scream I don’t care who started it, I’m going to finish it!



Well, Thinking about all of this one morning while my wife and daughter were still sleeping, I got an idea. I went digging through some old drawers to find three rubber bands. I had just found them when they were getting up. I was in an unusually good mood this day, even for me.



My wife asked me what the rubber bands were for, but I told her to wait until we were all three ready to sit down and eat. After everybody was ready to sit down at the table to eat breakfast together, I gave each one a rubber band. I put mine on my wrist and asked them to do the same.



They did so, although I sensed a slight amount of trepidation. This time when my wife asked me what these rubber bands were for, I explained:



“Anytime you have a negative thought I want you to snap yourself with this rubber band, on your wrist just like this.” I snapped myself to give them an example. Then I added “anytime any one of us says something negative, each one of us must snap ourselves. All of us.”



At hearing this, my daughter claimed injustice in that if it wasn’t her saying the negative thing, why should she be made to suffer the wrath?



I went on to explain. In reading a book by Joe Vitale and Dr. Hew Lin, Zero Limits, I learned that we are all responsible for EVERYTHING in our experience. That means not only what we think, say, and do, but also whatever we are aware of no matter who or what was the “cause.” If we are aware of it, we somehow have attracted that experience to our lives.



This was a tough pill to swallow for sure. Especially for me who always considered myself to be so positive. How could I be responsible for my wife and daughter’s negative conversations at the breakfast table? But I do believe what Dr. Hew Lin was saying in his book. (You’ve got to read it if you haven’t yet done so).



Anyway, my wife and daughter agreed. My daughter actually thought it was kind of a cool little experiment once she thought about it. So there we were eating our ritualistic breakfast, when before long, something was said. I snapped my wrist, and I pointed out that they each had to do the same. Ouch!



They did it, and then whoever it was that made the negative comment added that she wasn’t really being negative. She was only expressing the truth. Snap! Again I snapped my wrist and asked them to do the same. Then we continued eating.



Before long, it became apparent that this was probably the longest stretch of non-conversation we had ever experienced at the breakfast table. I wasn’t the only one who noticed, because my wife began to snicker. Our daughter asked what was so funny. I explained that it seemed everyone was afraid to talk now, and that I was actually enjoying the silence.



Then the conversation started up again. It wasn’t long before my wife said something negative. My daughter caught it first this time. She snapped her wrist and made sure we did the same. This made me proud!



By the end of our breakfast this day, we were all laughing and having such a good time. It was truly a transformational experience.



When I decided on doing the rubber band experiment, I wasn’t sure how long it was going to last. They both seemed to enjoy it as it really has raised our awareness of just how many times we let little negatives enter our thoughts and speech. We still wear the rubber bands, and yes you will still hear a few snaps every now and then, but the change in energy around this house in the mornings especially, has completely changed for the better.




I’m sorry I don’t remember where I first heard about the rubber band idea. It’s not my idea. I’m thinking it was from a book by Mark Victor Hansen or Jack Canfield. But the idea of extending it to include the entire family was my own idea using what I learned from Zero Limits.


And by the way, I did run this blog by my wife before I went to publish it to make sure she was ok with it. She laughed all the way through reading it. She gave me permission to share it with you, my friends.


Jeffrey Brandt
Author of Close Your Eyes to Find Your Way: A Guide to Discovering Your Higher Self.




All writings here are copyrighted by Jeffrey Brandt. You may not use them without written permission but you may link to the posts or give out a link to the posts.

The Secret and the Law of Attraction

I don’t know how many books altogether I’ve read about the successful mindset and, more recently, about the Law of Attraction. I’ve read most all of the books by Joe Vitale, Bob Proctor, James Ray, John Assaraf, Jack Canfield, and the other teachers that were presented on the hit DVD, The Secret.


Beyond these teachers, I’ve delved deeply in to the writings that inspired them. I have read and studied the enduring works of Napoleon Hill, Robert Collier, Prentice Mulford, Wallace Wattles, James Allen, and numerous others who were less well known.


There are many who, although they were not a part of the mass attention garnered by The Secret, credit their own success to the very same principles. These would include Mark Victor Hansen, Robert Allen, Marc Allen, Dan Kennedy, T Harv Eker, and many others. I’ve read and studied them as well.


There are also teachers of the same ideals, but more with a spiritual focus, Wayne Dyer, Deepak Chopra, Eckhart Tolle, and others. Again, I’ve read and studied them.


I’ve studied, however briefly, the teachings of Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, Judaism Jainism, Christianity, and other less known religions. Again, I see the same message in their essence.


I’m not saying this to impress anybody, really. I’m saying this because I want to make a point about something that tends to cause trouble for so many. There are so many different sources of information that all point to the same thing: Our thoughts matter! Our words matter! Our feelings matter! Our actions matter! Our world is a reflection of the above.


By focusing more on our thoughts, words, feelings, and actions, we have the ability to transform our lives. This is what it is all saying. It doesn’t matter if you are reading the Bible, The Secret, Think and Grow Rich, etc.


Even with this being the case, there exists so much controversy surrounding this concept. When the subject of the Law of Attraction comes up, it never seems to fail that you will hear someone stating that it is all a bunch of rubbish. What is rubbish about thinking positively, about hoping for the best, and being attentive to ideas to help you get there?


That really is the gist of it. There is no magic in any of this. It is all about altering your perspective of yourself and your world. It is only asking you to become more in tune with the effect you may have on the outcome of reaching your dreams or not. This is the essence. In expressing the essence of anything, you will get a superficial understanding at best. You will certainly not get enough of an understanding to legitimately condemn something.


This was the problem when the DVD, The Secret, came out. There were many people, who were ready to hear this message that jumped on and took off to find great success. There were many others, who were simply not ready to hear the message that tried what they thought was the correct application of the secret and they failed. Did the secret fail them?


No. They simply didn’t have enough understanding of the depth of the Law of Attraction. The DVD, The Secret is what I like to consider an introductory level teaching of the Law of Attraction. The message is correct, but it is a simplified version. It did the most amazing job of bringing the idea to the masses. How many had never even heard of this concept before the movie’s release?


If you are one who has tried and failed, please understand this only means it was not applied correctly. There really is a lot of information in relation to how it works. What you may have is the “what” it is, but you need to learn more of the “how.” If this is the case, know that there is so much very good information out there. Check into any of the books I’ve recommended on the subject. Check out any of the writers I mentioned at the beginning of this posting.


If your desire is strong enough, you will find it. Keep your spirits up. Keep on reading this blog. Use your web browser. There are so many options for you. Don’t give up.



To your dreams,

Jeffrey Brandt






All writings here are copyrighted by Jeffrey Brandt. You may not use them without written permission but you may link to the posts or give out a link to the posts.