The key to transforming yourself -- Robert Greene at TEDxBrixton

Why do we fixate on the things we can see immediately when we crave change? In this passionate talk Robert Greene shares the key to transforming ourselves and also talks about his own personal transformation and his path to becoming a bestselling author.

About Robert Greene
Robert Greene is the internationally best-selling author of The 48 Laws of Power, The Art of Seduction, The 33 Strategies of War and The 50th Law (with rapper 50 Cent). His books have been translated into 17 languages. He has worked in New York as an editor and writer at several magazines; and in Hollywood as a story developer and writer. He has lived in Brixton, Paris, and Barcelona; speaks several languages and worked as a translator.

9 Brain Exercises to Strengthen Your Mind

SUMMARY: - #1. Repeat this exercise 15 times. Your breathing should be a bit faster than usual. The most important thing is to do the exercise smoothly and not to hurry. Try not to lower your hands, and coordinate your movements and breathing. - #2. Repeat each movement at least 10 times. Your breathing should be rhythmical, and your fingers should be spread as much as possible. - #3. Repeat these movements at least 10 times. Make sure you bend and straighten each finger thoroughly and completely. - #4. When the brain ages, your memory, attention span, and concentration weaken. Luckily, this finger workout can help you deal with this problem. The following exercises will help you improve your memory. - #5. First of all, tightly press together the fingertips of your thumb and index finger on your right hand. You should slightly curve the uppermost part of your index finger. Repeat this exercise 20 times for each hand. - #6. With the fingertip of the thumb on your right hand, press down on the bottom of your right index finger, middle finger, ring finger, and pinky in turn. You should apply effort to do this exercise. After you repeat this motion 20 times, do the same for your left hand. - #7. As you've probably understood, your brain is tightly connected to your hands. Since most people have one dominant hand, the brain hemisphere connected to this hand is more developed than the other one. Thus, lefties have a more active right hemisphere, and right-handed people enjoy a more developed left hemisphere. To activate both hemispheres, you can try the following exercises. - #8. Try to perform everyday activities like brushing your teeth, eating, opening doors, or writing with the help of your nondominant hand. This can develop new connections between the 2 hemispheres of your brain and encourage the activity of the less vigorous hemisphere. - #9. Start to write by hand more. This activity provides perfect brain stimulation and improves neuroplasticity. Specialists recommend this method to patients who suffer from memory issues or dementia.

The Secret to Success : Routine

The secret to success is consistency. Build a good daily routine and you are guaranteeing success.

For example , every day you could ask yourself -  What are my 3 goals for tomorrow?

Then at the end of tomorrow you could compare what you did with your goal.

This daily habit will start you focusing on what you want to achieve from the day. So throughout the day you can adjust your plans to ensure that your goals are reached as opposed to being a slave to other people's goal. 

Try it out and see how it works!

On the topic of daily routines, here is an interesting article by Katheryn Hobyn.

High Performance and Quality Equals Routine

Writer Stephen King, commits to writing two thousand words a day, and usually he does so between 8 am to 11:30 am every day. Swimmer Michael Phelps, gets up and does warm up exercises and creative visualization exercises every day before competition. Twitter and Square Founder Jack Dorsey, who had worked 8 hours per day at each company, created the "themed" day, where he worked on one area per day, such as product development. On Saturday he has a free day, and Sunday he sets aside for reflection, strategy, feedback and planning for the next week.

Benjamin Franklin, who helped write the US Constitution, and was the inventor of Bifocals, and the lightning Rod, asked two questions every day, "What good shall I do today?" and "What good have I done today?" Every day, he also had morning routine for himself of what he called an 'Air Bath.' In which he sat in the very cold air as a way to purify himself, and open his imagination.

Albert Einstein, the physicist who developed, The Theory of Relativity, took a daily walk. He lived in the present moment. He focused intensely on a task at hand. Apple Computer inventor, Steve Jobs looked in the mirror every day and asked the same question to himself: "If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I'm about to do today? If the answer was no, he would change his intention for the day. Nikola Tesla, the inventor of the electric motor and laser, walked up to eight to ten miles per day, he avoided acidic foods, and he used a technique of creative visualization called a mind box, in which he could fully design and manipulate a thought version of his invention to completion prior to him building it.

A daily routine is important as a catalyst, which leads to tasks of productivity and creativity. Your natural rhythm decides the order which works best for you and there is no right or wrong. Instead of thinking about what to do next put it into your daily schedule. Gary Keller who founded Keller Williams Realty stated, "If it's not in your schedule it doesn't exist."

Consistent daily tasks are accumulative. Stephen King, has written 55 books, and several short stories, by consistently writing two thousand words per day. Nikola Tesla's many amazing inventions are still impacting the world.

As a yoga teacher for the past twenty years, I have a daily routine to stretch each morning for ten minutes, and then before I go to sleep I do another ten minutes. Every night before I get into bed, I wash my feet, because I believe that a cleanse discharges any accumulation of negative energy. Along with that habit, I wash under my finger nails and toe nails which I feel has kept me healthy and free of germs.

As a real estate sales person, I know that every day I have to lead generate to bring in the income that I want. So I consistently research owners, and businesses to find good phone numbers. I make daily calls, I walk and talk to potential owners, and sellers. I practice my presentations, so that I'm ready. Each day, I make time, to meditate and visualize what I want as results. I also practice, in my mind how it will feel when I complete the task, and feel the reward when it's done. (The winning of a prize, earn a commission, find a really tough phone number, do a masterful presentation and get a listing.)

I've always had the ability and desire to write, and now, I'm making a daily routine to wake up at 5:30 a.m. to write. The writing part doesn't always happen, because my mind says go back to bed, check your e-mail, read the news because you don't have anything to write. The alarm goes off, and I get to my desk. I'm establishing a pattern and routine. The writing will come. First, I need to be sitting at my desk, and not dreaming. Daily, I say, "This is me trusting myself. The work that I'm doing is paying off."

My daily practice and routines makes me confident, happy and relaxed. Because of daily routines, I have accomplished many of my personal goals. If you desire more productivity, and to pass milestones, set up your daily routines. Remember if it's not in your schedule it doesn't exist. Time can only do one thing. It will pass into another moment; which becomes another day and another year.

If you are doing daily habits that are sabotaging, downright unhealthy and dangerous, stop and create new daily habits. Instead of reaching for the food, take a walk, write a journal entry. Put down the daily shot of whiskey, tequila or a needle and pray or meditate instead, lift light weights, or get out for some air. If you are watching content that is polluting your mind, and heart, choose to watch something that is 100% positive, uplifting and no one gets hurt.

Daily habitual routines create the real long-term results. Ordinary moments done daily, are just ordinary. Put all the ordinary together, and you might end up with extraordinary. An extraordinary life, income, practice, and amazing results beyond anything that you had previously achieved. Right now, decide upon one daily activity and commit to it.

Article by Katheryn Hoban

Article source: http://EzineArticles.com/9904676

How to learn anything deeper and faster - The Feynman Technique

Do you have trouble learning and remember things. Would you like to improve how you learn and  how you remember. Well have a read of  this article from Shane Parish talking about the  Feynman Technique and then you'll find your ability to learn will skyrocket!

The Secret Algorithm Behind Learning

I wasn’t always a good learner. I thought learning was all about the hours you put in. Then I discovered something that changed my life.

The famous Nobel winning physicist Richard Feynman understood the difference between “knowing something” and “knowing the name of something” and it’s one of the most important reasons for his success.

Feynman stumbled upon a formula for learning that ensured he understood something better than everyone else.

It’s called the Feynman Technique and it will help you learn anything deeper, and faster. The topic, subject, or concept you want to learn doesn’t matter. Pick anything. The Feynman Technique works for everything. Best of all, it’s incredibly simple to implement.

The catch: It’s ridiculously humbling.

Not only is this a wonderful method of learning but it’s also a window into a different way of thinking. Let me explain

There are four steps to the Feynman Technique.

Step 1: Teach it to a child

Take out a blank sheet of paper and write the subject you want to learn at the top. Write out what you know about the subject as if you were teaching it to a child. Not your smart adult friend but rather an 8-year-old who has just enough vocabulary and attention span to understand basic concepts and relationships.

A lot of people tend to use complicated vocabulary and jargon to mask when they don’t understand something. The problem is we only fool ourselves because we don’t know that we don’t understand. In addition, using jargon conceals our misunderstanding from those around us.

When you write out an idea from start to finish in simple language that a child can understand (tip: use only the most common words), you force yourself to understand the concept at a deeper level and simplify relationships and connections between ideas. If you struggle, you have a clear understanding of where you have some gaps. That tension is good –it heralds an opportunity to learn.

Step 2: Review

In step one, you will inevitably encounter gaps in your knowledge where you’re forgetting something important, are not able to explain it, or simply have trouble connecting an important concept.

This is invaluable feedback because you’ve discovered the edge of your knowledge. Competence is knowing the limit of your abilities, and you’ve just identified one!

This is where the learning starts. Now you know where you got stuck, go back to the source material and re-learn it until you can explain it in basic terms.

Identifying the boundaries of your understanding also limits the mistakes you’re liable to make and increases your chance of success when applying knowledge.

Step 3: Organize and Simplify

Now you have a set of hand-crafted notes. Review them to make sure you didn’t mistakenly borrow any of the jargon from the source material. Organize them into a simple story that flows.

Read them out loud. If the explanation isn’t simple or sounds confusing that’s a good indication that your understanding in that area still needs some work.

Step 4 (optional): Transmit

If you really want to be sure of your understanding, run it past someone (ideally who knows little of the subject –or find that 8-year-old!). The ultimate test of your knowledge is your capacity to convey it to another.



Feynman’s approach intuitively believes that intelligence is a process of growth, which dovetails nicely with the work of Carol Dweck, who beautifully describes the difference between a fixed and growth mindset 

Shane Parrish: https://medium.com/personal-growth/the-secret-algorithm-behind-learning-7c6f4eb702df

Just read an interesting article on pattern interrupts by Helen Roe. If you are not getting the right results in life you need to change your behaviour and change how you react to triggers. A pattern interrupt breaks you out of robot mode and gives you the awareness that you are taking the same path and  then you can try something else.

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Why a Pattern Interrupt Is Just What You Need

“If you think adventure is dangerous, try routine, it is lethal.”

~ Paulo Coelho

Routines are great for getting us out of bed in the morning and keeping the momentum alive. We know exactly what to do and when. But what about creativity in this busy predictable time? How do we make room for growth, expansion and new beginnings? It’s time, of course, to introduce a pattern interrupt.

A Pattern interrupt is a technique to change a particular thought, behavior or situation. Behavioral psychology and neuro linguistic programming use this technique to interrupt and change thought patterns and behaviors. It can be as simple as initiating a handshake or as definitive as seizing the moment to travel or fulfill your bucket list.

Humans have an average of up to 50,000 thoughts per day. Amazingly up to 95 percent are the same thoughts, repeated every day (according to the National Science Foundation). That’s a lot of repetition. And very little space for new thinking. Einstein summed it up nicely.

“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”

Turning my back on insanity, I recently embraced a pattern interrupt. One whole delicious month of travel overseas. Of course pattern interrupts don’t have to be saved for just holidays. Taking a week, a day or even an afternoon can still be of immense benefit.

Here are five truths about pattern interrupts and why, if you haven’t taken one recently, it might be just what you need.

Truth #1 A Fresh Perspective

A pattern interrupt transports you to enticing new places, physically and mentally. It jolts you out of your familiar thoughts and routines and into a vast openness of possibility. It’s like seeing things for the first time again.

Truth #2 Trust in the Future

Scheduling in a break for a walk or a yoga class is great for an hour but let’s face it, you’re still in your safe zone. You know what’s next. A pattern interrupt involves some risk, bravery and one hundred per cent committment, even when you don’t know what’s next.

Truth #3 Relinquish Control

An interruption to our schedule can be an inconvenience, don’t you think? All sorts of ‘What if’s?’ pop into our head. It’s so tempting to avoid these feelings and not rock the boat. Managing that challenge requires letting go and accepting we can’t control situations and outcomes all of the time.

Truth #4 Growth and Expansion

The big one. Where there is life, there is growth. But how much growth can really happen when we are on rinse and repeat, day after day? When we are programmed to perform we do what’s expected of us. Spread your wings and give yourself some space to grow. Imagine where that could take you.

Truth #5 Creativity Thrives

It’s a bit like the inspirational ideas that can often pop into our head in the shower, in the car or just before we fall asleep. Only magnified. Creativity is not on a schedule. It often appears when we least expect it. Sitting in silence, admiring a view, getting lost in a new city, savoring a great meal, lost in conversation, anytime anywhere.

Are you ready for a pattern interrupt? Start small, today. Go digital free and spark your energy, set your imagination alight, discover a new kind of silence or simply rest. You will receive what you need to, in ways that simply are not possible by following the same routines each day.

Helen Roe  https://www.huffingtonpost.com/helen-roe/why-a-pattern-interrupt-i_b_8075800.html

Rich Mindset

I've just read 'Secrets of the Millionaire Mind' by T. Harv Eker. It's very interesting. He talks about 17 principles (see below) to become rich in everything (opportunities, friendships and money). How many of these do you have? Why don't you try one of these beliefs for a month and see what happens?

• Rich people believe “I create my life.” Poor people believe “Life happens to me.“
• Rich people play the money game to win. Poor people play the money game to not lose.
• Rich people are committed to being rich. Poor people want to be rich.
• Rich people think big. Poor people think small.
• Rich people focus on opportunities. Poor people focus on obstacles.
• Rich people admire other rich and successful people. Poor people resent rich and successful people.
• Rich people associate with positive, successful people. Poor people associate with negative or unsuccessful people.
• Rich people are willing to promote themselves and their value. Poor people think negatively about selling and promotion.

• Rich people are bigger than their problems. Poor people are smaller than their problems.
• Rich people are excellent receivers. Poor people are poor receivers.
• Rich people choose to get paid based on results. Poor people choose to get paid based on time.
• Rich people think “both”. Poor people think “either/or”.
• Rich people focus on their net worth. Poor people focus on their working income.
• Rich people manage their money well. Poor people mismanage their money well.
• Rich people have their money work hard for them. Poor people work hard for their money.
• Rich people act in spite of fear. Poor people let fear stop them.
• Rich people constantly learn and grow. Poor people think “they already know.”

How To Feel More Confident In A Few Minutes According To A Harvard Lecturer

How to feel more confident in a few minutes. You should do this before every important meeting. Have you found any good confidence tips? See this Ted Talk from Amy Cuddy