Meditate To Concentrate

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/06/070625193240.htm

ScienceDaily (June 26, 2007) — Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania say that practicing even small doses of daily meditation may improve focus and performance.

Meditation, according to Penn neuroscientist Amishi Jha and Michael Baime, director of Penn's Stress Management Program, is an active and effortful process that literally changes the way the brain works. Their study is the first to examine how meditation may modify the three subcomponents of attention, including the ability to prioritize and manage tasks and goals, the ability to voluntarily focus on specific information and the ability to stay alert to the environment.

In the Penn study, subjects were split into two categories. Those new to meditation, or "mindfulness training," took part in an eight-week course that included up to 30 minutes of daily meditation. The second group was more experienced with meditation and attended an intensive full-time, one-month retreat.

Researchers found that even for those new to the practice, meditation enhanced performance and the ability to focus attention. Performance-based measures of cognitive function demonstrated improvements in a matter of weeks. The study, to be published in the journal Cognitive, Affective, & Behavioral Neuroscience, suggests a new, non-medical means for improving focus and cognitive ability among disparate populations and has implications for workplace performance and learning.

Participants performed tasks at a computer that measured response speeds and accuracy. At the outset, retreat participants who were experienced in meditation demonstrated better executive functioning skills, the cognitive ability to voluntarily focus, manage tasks and prioritize goals. Upon completion of the eight-week training, participants new to meditation had greater improvement in their ability to quickly and accurately move and focus attention, a process known as "orienting." After the one-month intensive retreat, participants also improved their ability to keep attention "at the ready."

The results suggest that meditation, even as little as 30 minutes daily, may improve attention and focus for those with heavy demands on their time. While practicing meditation may itself may not be relaxing or restful, the attention-performance improvements that come with practice may paradoxically allow us to be more relaxed.

The research was supported by the National Institutes of Health and the Penn Stress Management Program.

Habits of Thought

An article taken from "Napoleon Hill Yesterday and Today Issue 208"

Written by Napoleon Hill

The drifter makes no attempt to discipline or control his thoughts, and he never learns the difference between positive thinking and negative thinking. He allows his mind to drift with any stray thought which may float into it. People who drift in connection with their thought habits are sure to drift on other subjects as well.

In an allegorical account of an interview with the devil it was stated that the devil said he feared nothing except that the world might sometime produce a thinker who would use his own mind, adding significantly that he controlled all drifters who neglected to use their own minds. The devil is not the only individual who exploits the drifter. And the drifter is the victim not only of all those who wish to exploit him, but he is also the victim of all the stray, negative thoughts which park themselves in his mind.

The non-drifter takes full possession of his own mind through self-discipline, and organizes definite plans and purposes. He directs his mind to whatever ends he desires, and he keeps his mind occupied with the things he wants and off the things he does not want.

A positive mental attitude is the first and the most important of the twelve riches of life, and it cannot be attained by the drifter. It can be attained only by a scrupulous regard for time, through habits of self-discipline. No amount of time devoted to one’s occupation can compensate for the benefits of a positive mental attitude, for this is the power which makes the use of time effective and productive.

A positive mental attitude does not grow voluntarily, like the weeds of the fields. It requires cultivation, through carefully disciplined habits of thought. And the greatest of all training grounds for the cultivation of a positive mental attitude is provided by one’s chosen occupation, where he spends the greatest part of his life. Here you may combine your efforts to make them financially productive and to develop a positive mental attitude.

When you get your own thought habits under control, you will have yourself under control, but you cannot do it by drifting. Organize your thoughts. Decide what you want, to what position in life you aspire. Then plan ways and means to express your thoughts in terms of organized action. Follow through with applied faith and unremitting persistence. This is the means by which you can become the master of your fate, the captain of your soul.

Waste no time worrying about what others may think. The important thing is what you think and do.

Source: PMA Science of Success Course. Published 1983. Pgs. 463-464.
 

How to Realize Your Goals

We all have goals whether we admit them to ourselves or anyone else, or not.. The question is, what are you doing about them? Have you written them down? Do you look at them often? Do you talk about them? Do you take action to achieve them?

Setting specific measurable goals is the way to go!

In Jack Canfield’s book "How to Get From Where You Are To Where You Want To Be" there's a funny / not funny comic: a drawing of a man lying in the road and under it is written, “Encumbered by a low self-image, Bob takes a job as a speed bump.”

Is this you...with a low self-image? If so, you’re probably not putting much effort into setting goals because you probably believe you can't have them. You may have a case of speed-bump-itis!

NOTICE:  It’s time to make a commitment with and to yourself. Most every successful person has set specific goals and then taken action - one step at a time - to achieve them. If they can do it, so can you.

1. Have a Goal Journal

Expensive or inexpensive, pretty or just aplain pad of paper, the important thing is that it's dedicated to only one thing: your goals.

2. Create your 'bucket list'

Write at least five, must-do-before-I-die goals, one per page.

3. Take the plunge

Be daring! Be bold! Write down what you really want to be, do and have for your life.

4. Be Specific

Goals are specific. “I want a good car” isn’t a goal. “I will have (a specific make/model) by XYZ date,” is. The more specific you are, the more clearly you program for success.

5. Say them!

Repeat your goals out loud to yourself three times a day, every day.

6. Find a 'buddy'

Find someone you trust to share your goals - an accountability partner. When you actually share your goals with someone else, you make a deeper level of commitment.

7. Take Action

For each goal, write down 5 or more, small, action-steps to take each week reach your goals.



Can You Turn One Red Paper Clip Into a House? YES

Can you turn a paper clip into a house?
Yes, this is a 'trick question' similar to: How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time!

Take a few minutes to watch this video and you'll see that this young man did exactly turn a paper clip into a house...not by 'magic' but my desire, intention, focus, belief and expectancy. Let's don't forget action too!

I'd love to have a conversation with you about HOW his situation mirrors using Silva techniques and follow through.

What are you going to manifest in 2011?

Alpha All The Time?

Often when talking to students of The Silva Method as well as other pursuits, I'm asked how to stay in alpha all the time. My answer is always "It's not necessary or appropriate to be in alpha all the time."  The following article from SIGA is on this very topic. Let's listen to Jose's thoughts on the subject:


Sometimes people ask us how they can remain at the alpha level all day.

We explain that they can learn to have alpha functioning at any time in order to detect information, make decisions, and correct problems.

Once we have obtained the information and made our decisions and correct problems mentally, then we need to use the 20 cycles per second beta frequency and get into action in order to manifest the solution in the physical dimension.

Here is the way that Jose Silva saw it:

by Jose Silva

Success is not for the timid. It is for those who seek guidance, make decisions, and take decisive action.

Many people learn how to program very effectively, and often they are able to get those things that they program for. Yet they still find their lives limited and unfulfilled.

Other people are very creative, and come up with many excellent ideas, yet never seem to achieve very much, or make money from their ideas, or help anybody with those ideas.

You find all kinds of people. There are those who are excellent at research, at digging out the facts, yet they never determine what to do with those things that they learn.

Some people are so paralyzed by indecision that they literally become nervous wrecks.

To achieve success - and by success I mean whatever you determine success to be for you - you must take appropriate action, for wishing does not make it so. Proper programming, coupled with appropriate action, makes things happen.

HOW TO PROCEED

Let's take it step by step.

First, seek guidance. You do this by entering your level, functioning in the subjective dimension where prayers are effective, where you can make contact with High Intelligence. Consider your qualifications, what you like, the things you are good at. Then ask what you should do to serve, how you can help the Creator. Be aware of your strong points, but do not limit yourself; expect creative guidance.

Then clear your mind; expect an answer. Some people spend all their time asking and talking. You must be a good listener. If necessary, use your Glass of Water Technique to obtain guidance. The guidance will come. Then you are ready for the second step.

Second, you decide how to fulfill your purpose in life. This involves both time at level, and action in the physical world. You must program for success, and you must also start doing something.

Some people want to wait until they are perfect before they are ready to fulfill their missions. This is a mistake. If you were perfect, you would not be here in this classroom called Earth. This is our training ground - on-the-job training.

It is very important to learn all you can while you are here. And it is important to love, and to express your love, to other humans on this planet. Learning how to interact better in relationships with other humans is something very important while we are here.

We have a choice about our relationships with others. We can compete, or we can cooperate. Throughout the world, many people are competing -- often with guns and bombs. It is important that we change this, and help bring peace to our planet.


(This column originally appeared in the Silva Method Newsletter in 1984.)

UltraSuccessful People, Their Books/Course and How To Get Their Techniques To Work For You

Here are some of Mr. Silva's thoughts on the ultra successful people and the "success" books and courses that they write... and what it takes to get their techniques to work for you.
This is part of an article written by Jose Silva.

There have been thousands of books and courses created to help people achieve more success, and they prove useful. for a very few people. In fact, only about one person in ten receives any significant benefit from most of these books and courses...

...let's look first at what makes successful people successful. Not the person with average success, but the person with outstanding success. And not just success in one field, but success in many fields.

These very successful people have goals, of course, and a strong commitment to reach their goals. They are persistent, and are hard workers. They are reasonably intelligent, and relate well to other people.

But many people with average success share these same traits.

So what is the difference?

It is this: People who achieve outstanding success use more of their brains and minds than those who achieve average success.

Most people, approximately ninety percent, use only the left half of the brain for thinking, while the other ten percent use both sides of the brain to think with.

Does this make the ninety percent who are left brain thinkers just half as effective? No, they are usually much less than half as effective. For example, try lifting a bulky object with just one arm instead of two.

Now back to the question of why the Silva Method has helped so many people. While most books and courses motivate people and tell them how to set goals and be more persistent in striving for them, these programs do not teach people how to use the right side of the brain.

The Silva Method is the first program ever created that guides people to start using the right side of the brain to think with.

To develop all of your potential, it is essential that you use both brain hemispheres to think with, because each functions in its own way.

The left brain hemisphere interprets everything logically. The right brain hemisphere perceives things differently: it senses patterns, it creates new combinations that are not limited by logic.

Just take a look at the people who achieve above average success. When they talk, they seem to have a better grasp of things, to understand more quickly. They are more sensitive to people, and seem to know exactly how to deal with them. And they make correct decisions. More correct decisions than the average person.

While the left brain hemisphere is limited by logic, the right brain hemisphere is not biased against any information. It considers everything, and in various combinations. And the right brain hemisphere has access to more information than the left brain hemisphere because it deals with information stored in the subconscious.

Intuition - hunches are a phenomenon of the right brain hemisphere. The right brain hemisphere perceives information that the logical left brain hemisphere misses. When you are able to think with both brain hemispheres, you have much more going for you than if you are limited to only one.

How can you learn to use your right brain hemisphere to think with?

First, learn to relax and slow your brain until you are at a level comparable to light sleep. Then practice using visualization and imagination, and you are using your right brain hemisphere.

With practice, you can learn to reach this level without going to sleep The fastest way to learn is by attending the Silva Method training where a lecturer guides you.

When you have practiced enough, the proper way, then you can evoke that special feeling associated with using the right brain hemisphere at any time, so you will have access to the right brain's abilities whenever you need them.

People who achieve outstanding success all do this, although they may not realize that most people do not function the same way they do. Remember this when you read their books and take their courses. If you apply their techniques with your right brain hemisphere, then you will achieve results the way they do.

Inspiring, exceptional video

This is probably the most popular of all the videos I've shared with my list and several people have said they are going to listen to it every morning!

Enjoy it and have a great day.

Better & Better,
Barbara

Welcome!

Welcome to my new blog!

Here we can share thoughts, ideas and information which enables us to live fuller, richer lives. Remember: Better and better, every day in every way.

More to come soon...

Barbara