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THIS Is The Real Way To Start Transforming Your Life

If you're ready to start transforming your life, Now's a good time. You don't need a sweat suit, sneakers and water bottle. It's all about the power of imagination to create change. Relax, unwind and prepare to enjoy yourself.
By 

Principal, Mind Acrobatics™ Coaching, & President, Marketing Network, Inc.

Principal, Mind Acrobatics™ Coaching, & President, Marketing Network, Inc.
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If you're ready to start transforming your life, Now's a good time.

You don't need a sweat suit, sneakers and water bottle. It's all about the power of imagination to create change. Relax, unwind and prepare to enjoy yourself.

Let the Mind Acrobatics™ begin.

This first exercise will help release the creativity buried deep inside your brain. Yes, you are creative. Trust me!

Exercise #1 -- Taste Buds Get Ready

  1. Stick out your tongue and imagine you've just sprinkled it with a light coating of sweet brown sugar mixed with a hint of vanilla.

  • Add crumpled graham crackers.

  • Now a bit of warm apple compote.

  • Drizzle on a few gooey lightly salted caramel pecans.

  • Top it off with a generous dollop of pure, creamery fresh whipped cream.

  • Swirl it all around a bit, use your tongue and push it up against the roof of your mouth, hold it there a moment, then swallow.

  • Stay with the sensation for a minute or two. Relish the mixture of textures and flavor. Savor the sweetness of the whipped cream and saltiness of the pecans. Feel the warmth of the apple compote. OK, cleanse your palate with a sip of your drink.
    • Great going, you've just completed your first Mind Acrobatics exercise, enjoyed a tasty dessert and gained no calories. Way to go!:)
    Although we dove right into the exercise in a lighthearted manner, don't be deceived. If you were able to attain even a slight sense of pleasure in the experience, you are one of the lucky ones possessing ability to harness the great power of the mind to transform your life.

    Whether you're a Baby Boomer, 20 or 90, you've had years of indoctrination into a belief system that may not be serving you well. Perhaps it was a combination of input from your parents. relatives, peers, television, magazines and how you experienced and internalized all this external data.

    Pile on top of that the variety of negative feedback all of us get growing up, and by adulthood we may not have any idea about who "the real me" is.

    Many an innately creative, bright, fun loving, spontaneous individual never gets the joy of experiencing this side of themselves.

    Have you ever mused, "who am I, what do I really want, something's missing, there must be more to life."

    This isn't a novel concept. A great deal has been written on the topic. What is different is the approach you are choosing to make all the small and large life changes you desire.

    The Mind Acrobatics premise is very simple:

    Learn about yourself through enjoyable exercises, then make changes based upon the real time data you've received from within. Most importantly... always start from the positive.

    Ask "what's right with me," not "what's wrong with me?    "

    About Transforming Your Life:

    The popular in vogue expression might be Life Makeover. It's not off target. Your mind is a powerful tool. Harnessing it effectively you'll:

    • Get in touch with the inner you

  • Discover what changes you'd like to make in your life

  • Set goals to turn those changes into reality

  • Accomplish all that you set out to do
    • When you're through, you will have experienced a self-directed life makeover.
    Changes made from the inside out stick with you.

    You'll be living life on your terms based upon the new and self actualized individual with whom you've recently become acquainted.

    Both enjoyable and incredibly transformational, Mind Acrobatics never presumes to tell you what or how to change. You're provided with a series of thought provoking exercises.

    You take the ball and run with it at a comfortable pace!

    Here's another exercise. You can do it now, after you've finished this article or whenever the mood feels right. You'll need a pen or pencil, a piece of paper or a journal and about 20 minutes.

    Exercise 2 -- What's Going Right in My Life!

    1. Dress in comfortable clothing then find your favorite nesting spot.

  • Sit upright, prone or however you are most comfortable.

  • Visualize a used coffee filter with wet grounds. (It represents all the pre-conceived notions you hold about yourself.)

  • Throw it away.

  • At the top of the page write these words. "What's Working Well In My Life."

  • Now without pausing to think begin writing whatever comes to mind.

  • Don't censor your thoughts with any doubts or negativity.

  • Continue writing for about 20 minutes.

  • Continue until you feel like ending the exercise.

    • Congratulations, you've just completed your 2nd Mind Acrobatics exercise and are on the way to reaping the rewards of an informed and mindful existence.

    Mind Acrobatics provides a self coaching blueprint for change that allows you to take charge and be the captain of your ship. You make all the great transformations and discoveries that will empower you, enhance and add new dimension to your life.

    You may opt to "exercise" on your own, with a partner or a friend. Everything is on your terms. You make of your life what you choose!

    Perhaps you'll come up with your own program and make the commitment right now to create change in your life. What's most important is to operate on an 'I can and will" premise and adopt "GDSA."

    Get in touch, Discover, Set Goals, Accomplish! That's all it takes!

    Please feel free to share thoughts about what works for you and to make suggestions of exercises and other activities that you've found helpful. We all learn and grow from each other's experiences!

    Excerpted from the forthcoming book: Comfy In My Skin... Transformation From The Inside Out! By Dave Kanegis

    Earlier on Huff/Post50:

    8 Things That Make Or Break Your Happiness: AARP Survey
    Health (01 of08)
    Open Image Modal
    Health was "extremely important" to happiness for 73 percent of respondents. People in "good or excellent" health are three times more likely to report being "very" happy. Interestingly, what may matter most is how healthy you think you are: The AARP found that the percentage of people reporting good health is relatively stable over the 35-80 age range, varying only seven percentage points. That's despite the fact that objectively, older people are in fact not as healthy: The number of people who report they are suffering two or more medical conditions increased 400 percent over the 35-80 age range. (People may be comparing their health to their peers who are in worse shape.) (credit:Alamy)
    Relationships(02 of08)
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    Some 68 percent of respondents called relationships "extremely important" to happiness. Some 72 percent of people who were married or in a relationship called themselves "very happy" or "pretty happy" -- compared to 60 percent of singles. AARP asked respondents to rank the importance of certain activities to happiness, and many of those scoring at the top were relationship-related: 72 percent said "kissing or hugging someone you love"; 72 percent said "watching your children, grandchildren or close relative succeed in what they want to do"; 69 percent said "spending time with your family and friends such as a meal or social gathering'; and 64 percent said "experiencing a special moment with a child." However, relationships did have to be real: "connecting with friends or family on a social media site like Facebook" came in 37th out of 38 activities in contributing to happiness.

     (credit:Alamy)
    Pleasure(03 of08)
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    Nearly half (47 percent) of respondents said pleasure was "extremely important" to happiness. Among the simple pleasures that were most important to the happiness of people 50 to 80: enjoying natural beauty like a sunset or ocean (64 percent); having someone do something nice for you unexpectedly (56 percent); practicing religious or spiritual faith (50 percent); making progress on personal goals (47%); and being absorbed in a favorite hobby or interest (42 percent).

     (credit:glindsay65/Flickr)
    Accomplishment(04 of08)
    Open Image Modal
    Four in ten of those surveyed called accomplishment "extremely important" to happiness. (credit:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/" role="link" rel="nofollow" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Flickr:" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bb6687be4b052715309274e" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="9" data-vars-position-in-unit="9">Flickr:</a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/athomeinscottsdale/" role="link" rel="nofollow" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name=" Dru Bloomfield - At Home in Scottsdale" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bb6687be4b052715309274e" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/people/athomeinscottsdale/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="10" data-vars-position-in-unit="10"> Dru Bloomfield - At Home in Scottsdale</a>)
    Meaning And Engagement(05 of08)
    Open Image Modal
    Meaning and engagement were considered "extremely important" to happiness among 38 and 37 percent of respondents, respectively. (credit:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/" role="link" rel="nofollow" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Flickr:" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bb6687be4b052715309274e" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="7" data-vars-position-in-unit="7">Flickr:</a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/mariya_umama_wethemba_monastery/" role="link" rel="nofollow" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name=" Randy OHC" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bb6687be4b052715309274e" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/people/mariya_umama_wethemba_monastery/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="8" data-vars-position-in-unit="8"> Randy OHC</a>)
    Money(06 of08)
    Open Image Modal
    Some 31 percent of respondents said money was "extremely important" to happiness. Money was slightly more important to people who earned $25,000 or less. As psychologist and Nobel Laureate Daniel Kahneman has noted, beyond a household income of $75,000, experienced well-being no longer increases, although people's judgment of how satisfied they are with their lives does continue to increase. At the same time, severe poverty amplifies life's misfortunes, such as illness or divorce. The AARP study found similar results: Income and happiness were positively correlated; when comparing the percentage of those "Very Happy" by income ranges, the slope increases up to the $75,000 mark, then continued to rise even more dramatically. Asked how they would spend $100 on something to increase happiness, most respondents said they would spend it on their family or going out to dinner. This correlates with findings that show buying experiences makes people happier than buying things. (credit:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/" role="link" rel="nofollow" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Flickr:" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bb6687be4b052715309274e" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="5" data-vars-position-in-unit="5">Flickr:</a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/9731367@N02/" role="link" rel="nofollow" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name=" Philip Taylor PT" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bb6687be4b052715309274e" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/people/9731367@N02/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="6" data-vars-position-in-unit="6"> Philip Taylor PT</a>)
    A Sense Of Control Over Happiness(07 of08)
    Open Image Modal
    People who feel they are in control of their happiness report that they are 2.5 times happier than those who believe happiness is out of their control. A sense of control is linked to higher income, higher education, good health and not experiencing a major life event in the past year. This finding also mirrors decades of research suggesting autonomy -- the feeling that your actions are self-chosen and self-endorsed -- is a core psychological need. Studies have found people who lack a sense of control -- prisoners, nursing home residents, people living under totalitarian governments -- suffer lower morale and poor health, according to David Myers, a professor at Hope College in Michigan and author of "The Pursuit of Happiness." Interestingly, a sense of control over one's happiness rises with age -- with 69 percent of people age 75 to 80 feeling they have control over their happiness, versus about half of people age 40 to 54. It may be that with the wisdom of the years, people recognize that happiness is a choice. (credit:Alamy)
    Pets(08 of08)
    Open Image Modal
    Spending time with a pet can be a substantial way to contribute to one's happiness, the survey found, especially for older women: 81 percent of women age 66 to 80 who own pets said spending time with them contributes "a lot" to personal happiness. It was also important to two-thirds of singles. (credit:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/" role="link" rel="nofollow" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Flickr:" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bb6687be4b052715309274e" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="0" data-vars-position-in-unit="0">Flickr:</a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/lumkness/" role="link" rel="nofollow" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name=" lumkness" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bb6687be4b052715309274e" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/people/lumkness/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="1" data-vars-position-in-unit="1"> lumkness</a>)

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