Snooki’s Wisdom For Your Life

Ah Jersey Shore.

It’s like a car crash, you just have to look.

Which makes me wonder…

…Is there more closet Twilight fans or people who love Jersey Shore?

I think it’s too close to call.

And what about Snooki?

You’ve gotta love that girl. She’s awkward, adorable, and just a little bit broken.

She’s like a teeny lost kitten you find on the street. You want to take her home and care for her. But at the same time, you know eventually she’s going to trash your leather couch.

But you’re OK with that.

Snooki, the ultimate guidette, gets a bad rap.

But I think, if you take a moment to look a little deeper, you may be surprised by what you find.

4 Secrets To Living Your Life To The Fullest That I Learned From Snooki

1) Be You

“I’m not pissed off that they put pickles under my bed as a joke, but I’m pissed off that Mike and Pauly wasted two pickles.” ~ Snooki

Whether it’s her love of pickles, her big hair, or her trucker mouth, Snooki is Snooki through and through.

What you see is what you get.

She had the courage to get on national TV and just be herself.

When was the last time that you gave yourself permission to do the same?

2) Know What You Want

“My ideal man would be Italian, dark, muscles, juice-head, guido.” ~ Snooki

“My ultimate dream is to move to Jersey, find a nice juiced hot tanned guy and live my life.” ~ Snooki

Snooki is always on the prowl. But the big thing here is that she’s taken the time to identify what she wants. She’s got a clear picture of her ideal man and her perfect life.

What does your ideal life look like? Where are you living? What are you doing? How does your day unfold? If you’re looking for your soul mate what are the qualities they posses? What do they look like?

Snooks has created the ideal vision for her life. Take a moment to sit down and really think about what it is you want your life to look like.

3) Harpoon Those Opportunities When They Come

“It doesn’t leave your face greasy, and there’s no bad smell to it like other spray tans. I never used spray tanners until this one because I usually just went tanning. But you know after the taxing, you don’t want to deal with that, and friggin’ cancer—so this is a great product to replace all the bad stuff of tanning.” ~ Snooki

She’s already endorsed a spray tan product line and I’ve read that she’s in talks with her managers about a line of hair products, a book deal, and probably her own reality spin-off show.

There’s a saying, “Don’t wait for your ship to come in – swim out to it”

I’m not sure if she can swim, but Snooki’s really harpooning the opportunities from the shores of her new found fame.

Do the same for your life.

Now I don’t want you to be all, “Well it must be nice to have your own reality show. That’s why she’s getting all these deals.”

There’s opportunities everywhere.

Sometimes you’ve got to hunt them down.

And Snooki’s smart. She’s working within her niche. Choosing products that she actually uses and believes in. She is her own market.

So what are the problems that you have in your life? Is there any good solutions out there for them? If not why not create your own? And if there are some pretty good products out there why not use your influence to introduce them to your clique?

4) Try New Things

“I feel like I’m in the twilight zone right now.” ~ Snooki

Rachel Ray and the Jersey Shore girls. I would’ve never thought to put the two of them together. But they did and it was a huge success. Heck I stopped flipping the channels to tune in and I never watch that show. But I do think Rachel is adorable.

Rachel had the girls on the show for a make-under. Normally you see make-over shows. But since the Shore girls are pretty wild with their looks they figured seeing Snookums, JWoww, and Sammi toned down would be more of a shocker.

And it was.

Snooki hated her look. But she was game enough to give it a try.

When was the last time you tried something new?

You don’t have to do big changes. You can start small. Like try taking a new way home from work. If you usually read fiction try non-fiction. Or if you usually go out for Indian food try Italian instead.

Switch things up every so often. Get out there and test your limits. Challenge yourself to push past your boundaries. You never know what you’ll discover.

Are you surprised that all this wisdom was gleaned from Snooki?

Who would’ve thunk that behind all the make-up and cussing was a girl who may actually know a thing or two about life?

Be Inspirational!

Ian

p.s. If you’ve got any insights that you’ve learned from Snooki please feel free to share below.

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How To Move Forward In Your Life And Deal With The Unknown

I hate scary movies.

My wife loves them though. It’s an interesting dynamic. And every so often she’ll bat her eyes and sucker me into watching one.

The watching of the movies isn’t so bad. It’s what comes after-wards. The carry over of fear. How my mind will create monsters out of the smallest of things.

I’ll even have to keep the lights on until the last possible moment before I go to bed. And then, every noise in the house is transformed into a zombie coming to eat my brains.

Ghost movies are the worst!

Like paranormal activity. I was a basket case for days. And just thinking about that movie now gives me goose bumps.

I’ll usually freak out at some point and tell me wife that, “I’m never going to watch a scary movie again!”

And she smiles at me. You know that smile. The one that says, “Aren’t you so cute thinking that you’re going to get your way.”

And maybe for a couple of months I do. But eventually she’ll wear me down. Blind side me with those beautiful eyes of hers and that every so charming personality that made me propose.

Then the next thing I know, I’m curled up in the corner of the couch, squirming in my seat, watching another horror flick.

So what does scary movies have to do with stepping into the unknown?

In both situations we create monsters within our mind.

When we step into the unknown we have no reference point for what’s to come. We’re set adrift in the dark. Groping, blind and a little bit scared.

And when we’re alone in the dark, that’s when all the scary stuff that’s locked deep within our mind comes to the surface.

We may feel like…

We’re not good enough. We’re not smart enough. Or we’ll never get things right.

I’m here to tell you that you are good enough. You are smart enough. And eventually you will figure it out and everything will be fine.

All throughout your life you will journey from the known to the unknown.

From the light into the darkness and back again.

Edward Teller said that, “When you come to the end of all the light you know, and it’s time to step into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing that one of two things shall happen: Either you will be given something solid to stand on or you will be taught to fly.”

Faith can mean trust.

So when you’re stepping into the unknown you really have the chance to trust again.

To trust in yourself.

To trust that everything will be OK.

And to ultimately trust that the universe will conspire in your favor.

That whatever is to come will bring into your life more joy, more love and more abundance.

So take that next step and trust.

Trust that you’ll be given something solid to stand on or that you’ll be taught to fly.

Be Inspirational!

Ian

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Can You Pass The True Beauty Test?

Last night I watched the season finale of True Beauty. I had only seen one episode before and I have to admit that I mainly watched the show because I think Vanessa Mannillo, one of the hosts, is super beautiful.

The premise of the show is that they’re looking for someone who has true beauty. A person that’s beautiful on the inside and out.

The contestants are put through a series of challenges and the winners move on to the next round.

What the beauties don’t know is that their every move is being watched. Every single thing that they say and do is recorded on camera and scrutinized by the judges.

And these behind the scenes glimpses into their lives are the actual indicator of their worthiness to be called a True Beauty.

I started to think about my life and if I had a camera watching my every move would I be  judged as someone who’s truly beautiful?

For me my hangups are that I’m stubborn, I get frustrated and stressed out easily, and I’m super impatient when it comes down to myself and the projects that I’m working on.

Maybe it’s because I’m a Tiger in the chinese zodiac system born in the wood year? Or maybe these are the challenges I need to face in my life right now? Quirks that I can overcome if I’m gentle with myself and become more aware that they’re there.

The scrutiny that the contestants faced on the show made me remember a movie called Seven Pounds that I had seen last year starring Will Smith.

The main character Ben Thomas, played by Will, is looking for redemption. He blames himself for the deaths of his wife and six strangers in a horrible car crash. And he’s figured out that the only way to change this situation into a good one is to transform people’s lives. He’s going to donate his organs to people in need. People that have true beauty.

One of the scenes from that movie has stuck with me to this day. In it a man who’s about to receive this gift of life from Ben (Will) asks him why he’s doing this:

George Ristuccia: You know, Ben, I keep asking you this but why me?
Ben Thomas: Because you are a good man.
George Ristuccia: No, really.
Ben Thomas: Even when you don’t know that people are watching you.

So maybe the ultimate test of true beauty is just that: To be beautiful even when no one’s watching.

And how can we do that?

I think there may be three main qualities of truly beautiful people:

Three Qualities of True Beauty

Humility
Humility is the quality of being humble: modest, not proud, doing something out of the goodness of your heart.

Honesty
Honesty refers to a facet of moral character and denotes positive, virtuous attributes such as integrity, truthfulness, and straightforwardness along with the absence of lying, cheating, or theft.

Respectfulness
A courteous regard for other people’s feelings.

I know personally that it’s been a long road for me. It started when I was in grade school. I used to blow up and explode at my teachers about once a week. I was like a ticking time bomb. And over the years, after realizing this, I’ve worked on my self-growth. Figuring out ways to let the best of myself shine.

So what do you think are the main qualities of true beauty?

Be Inspirational!

Ian

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Never Too Old

When it comes to bar room brawls I’ve always tried to be the peace keeper. Jumping into the mix and trying to break up whatever ruckus some of my drunken friends may have gotten themselves into.

I generally hang out with people who are looking to have a good time and dance until the sun comes up. So for the 20 years that I’ve been clubbing I’ve pretty much always gone home without a scratch on me.

But if I were to need some back-up I now know someone who’d would have my back.

Her name is Ena Mallet, she’s 77 years old and she’s an expert in martial arts.

She has amazingly become the first woman to ever reach the seventh dan in Spirit Combat International Jiu-Jitsu. An award so rare that her belt had to be made especially for her.

Spirit Combat is Jiu-Jitsu based form of self-defense. It incorporates other fighting style like boxing, judo and karate.

She started out in 1979 learning Karate mainly to keep fit. In 1987 she began to teach Spirit Combat.

She had this to say about her age and participating in such a dangerous activity, “I love teaching it and I certainly have no plans to give it up. I don’t see why I should put my feet up.”

This type of attitude reminds me of a story I heard Wayne Dyer tell.

You’re Never To Old

He said that one day he was out at a track going for a run. His wife called him over to the bleachers for something. So he ran up to her and hopped over the rail that separated the two of them.

His wife freaked out saying something to the likes of, “A man of your age shouldn’t be doing things like that.”

And in his mind, Wayne didn’t see any reason why he couldn’t jump over a rail. His age was never a factor in his mind. He never let it stop him from doing what he wanted to do.

So is it time to drop those excuses and start doing what you love?

You’re never too old to follow your dreams.

Be Inspirational!

Ian

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Law of Attraction Tip – Part 1

This is Part One of Ten in a Law of Attraction Series that will be completed over the next couple of weeks.

10 Law of Attraction Tips

1. It’s OK to want, to be and to have more.
   The Universe seeks expression. That expression happens through you. Like Marianne Wilson said, “Your playing small does not serve the world.” It’s your dreams and accomplishments that inspire others to try to share the best of themselves with the world.
2. Don’t worry so much about the how.
   Just begin to take action now. What is one small step that you can take right now that’ll move you closer to your goal?
3. Get in alignment with your desires by being it now.
   You want to be rich then start respecting the laws of money. You want to attract your soul mate then start to be lovable now. You want a new job well be grateful for the one you have now.
4. Alignment is done through harmony.
   Your thoughts, words and action create that harmony. Listen to how you speak. Pay attention to how you act. And notice that type of inner chatter that’s happening within your mind now.
5. Go-givers get more.
   Nature is always giving of herself. She works from a place of abundance. Knowing well that there will always be more. So what have you given today?
6. The Universe will conspire in your favor.
   The more you come into vibrational alignment with your desire the more “coincidences” you’ll encounter. Act on those moments.
7. Desire is the fuel to move you to your goal.
   If your dream or goal doesn’t inspire you then when the going gets tough you’ll give up on those dreams. So make sure that you’re really revved up about what you’re going for.
   
8. Energy needs to be focused to be effective.
   Don’t try to do ten things at once. What is the most important thing that you can do today that will move you closer to your dream?
9. Getting clear on what you want sets the Law of Attraction in motion.
   If you don’t know where to go then the energy won’t know where to flow.
10. Allow yourself to dream.
    Don’t let the past determine your future. Now is the bouncing off place for so much more. The past lead you to this moment and it’s in this moment that you can guide yourself toward your future.

Be Inspirational!

Ian

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Fight Loneliness

Holding my two and a half year old son in my arms, we emerged from the underground to be overwhelmed by screams of triumph, cars honking wildly, and people wearing red soccer jersey’s jumping for joy.

Spain had just won the world cup and it seemed that their fans all wanted to come downtown to the intersection of Yonge and Dundas in Toronto to celebrate.

Me, my wife and two kids had gone down to go see the movie Despicable Me. Sundays are family day and we’re always figuring out new things to do with the kids. This Sunday was movie day.

But before we made it to the theater we had to make our way through a sea of smiling faces, red jerseys and Spanish flags.

The police had blocked off Yonge Street south of Dundas so the partiers could celebrate without worrying about being mowed down by crazy Toronto drivers.

And as I stared out at the sea of red, I thought about loneliness.

That in this day and age there are so many ways to fight it.

How To Fight Loneliness – Go Where Your People Are

Critics of the internet age have said that our technology breeds isolation. That we are becoming more and more isolated. Living in houses of glass.

But looking out at the sea of smiling faces yesterday made me realize that those kind of thoughts are just pure bull.

It’s never been easier to connect with your people.

Don’t know what I mean?

We all have things that we like to do, watch, and read.

And it’s never been easier to find other people who share those same interests. And once you do find them there are countless ways to connect with them and start to build solid friendships.

So if you want to fight loneliness find your people. Connect with them, share with them and celebrate with them.

Even the most isolated of people, if they loved Spain yesterday, they could have joined together with thousands of other like-minded people. Dancing and celebrating to the wee hours of the morning.

How To Find Your People

Below you’ll find three of the biggest and easiest online hubs for connecting with your people so you can have help fighting loneliness:

Facebook: I read a report that said there are more than 620 million facebook groups indexed by google. Now that’s a lot of people to connect with.

Yahoo Groups: is one of the world’s largest collections of online discussion boards in the world.

Meetup: Meetup.com is an amazing place to find your people and to connect with them in the real world.

So if you’re looking for ways to fight loneliness first figure out what you like or what you’re interested in. Second go to these three sites and and start making friends.

Be Inspirational!

Ian

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Are You Thinking About Changing Your Life?

We all get stuck sometimes. Becoming slaves to our own circumstances. Our days blurring into one, and our lives become dull and drab.

And even though it’s Monday and the week has just started we dream and long for the weekend.

After we suffer in silence for as long as our heart will allow we begin to think about changing our lives.

But changing your life is no easy task. And deep down we know that.

So is there something that you can do to help you with the process of changing your life?

Two researchers think they may have figured it out.

Kenneth Sheldon and Sonja Lyubomirsky studied people who had recently experienced one of two types of change in their life.

The first type of change, labeled ‘circumstantial change’, involved relatively important changes to an individuals overall circumstances. For example, moving to a new house, getting a raise, and buying a shiny new car.

The second type of change, labeled ‘intentional change’, involved changes that required effort to pursue a goal or initiate an activity. For example, joining a group, starting a hobby, or changing careers.

Both of the groups reported having an immediate rise in happiness, but those experiencing circumstantial change, the people in the new house or driving the new car, quickly reverted back to their initial levels of happiness or lack thereof.

Meanwhile those people who had made an intentional change remained happier for much longer.

Why?

Well novelty does wear off.

Sooner or later that new car smell, or having dinner in your new home will become more and more familiar. So you won’t be able to find as much pleasure from those shiny new things.

But when you pursue intentional change you create a constantly changing psychological landscape that actually prolongs your happiness.

So if you’re thinking about changing your life go for intentional change.

Join a club, learn a new skill, meet new people.

Create new experiences for yourself.

Seek out opportunities to push yourself past your past.

You’ll be happier because of it.

Be Inspirational!

Ian

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Yes You Can!

Whether you love or hate him, Barack Obama has captured the worlds attention.

In 2007 he announced his candidacy and intentions to become president with these words;

“And if you will join me in this improbable quest, if you feel destiny calling, and see as I see, a future of endless possibility stretching before us; if you sense, as I sense, that the time is now to shake off our slumber, and slough off our fear, and make good on the debt we owe past and future generations, then I’m ready to take up the cause, and march with you, and work with you. Together, starting today, let us finish the work that needs to be done, and usher in a new birth of freedom on this Earth.”

Beautiful words that fall softly into our hearts. And we connect with them because they speak to our hopes and dreams. To the ideals and visions that we keep secret and to ourselves.

And maybe for an hour, a day, a week those words will inspire us to greatness but after that what happens?

That was the question that Barack Obama’s campaign managers had to answer.

They needed a plan to take this virtually unknown senator from obscurity to greatness. And they came up with probably the greatest grassroots campaign in presidential history. Amassing and mobilizing 8 million volunteers.

Yes You Can Plan

This is exactly what you need to do when you’re going for your dreams.

You need to inspire, motivate and create a plan to achieve your goal.

Inspiration lifts you high and shows you a new vision of yourself. Dare to dream. Think lofty thoughts. Have high hopes. Don’t let your past dictate your future. What would your life look like with no limits? Give yourself permission to soar. When you’re lifted high you inspire others to do the same.

Motivation moves you forward. Breaking you free from the inertia of doubt and disbelief. Read inspiration books. Hang around inspirational people. Think about how it’ll feel when you achieve your dream. Remember that the now is your jumping off point for what’s to come.

And a plan gives you direction as you go for your goal. What’s step 1 step 2 step 3? A plan gives you something to fall back on when the way seems unclear. You don’t need to map out A-Z. Just try figuring out AB&C.

Why stumble around blindly?

Carve out the way ahead and be ready to seize the opportunities as they rise.

Inspire. Motivate. Plan.

Can you get there?

Yes you can!

Be Inspirational!

Ian

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The New Spiritual Awareness

We have begun to expand our awareness and our own conceptions of ourselves. Finding a new found freedom in those moments where our simple, everyday concerns dissolve into worlds far greater than our own.

The world itself is now within our reach. Our global technological connectivity is a metaphor for what is happening within our own consciousness.

What we are bearing witness to a world that’s always been there, hidden within the words of the mystics and prophets. It’s only now that we’re able to see it.

We’re beginning to tap into the global mind or grid of conscious awareness.

A divine matrix.

A web of life where we’re all connected in a giant field of light and resonance.

Our imagination is being stretched as we begin to explore an infinite field of consciousness that goes beyond our physical selves.

It’s an exciting time as we begin to venture forth into a wonderland of sorts.

The New Spiritual Awareness Dawning

Many people are starting to experience this within their dreams. Meeting friends, family and loved ones there. Sometimes foreseeing what’s to come in their future. At times working out karmic issues.

Some people can do this consciously.

They have tapped into the universal grid of awareness. This infinite field of connectivity that binds us all.

We have begun to see that the true world has no boundaries.

There is only one race, the human race. And our concepts about ourselves are being expanded. We’re moving beyond the limiting constructs of the past and embracing a new future that is fully present in this magical moment.

We’re all bound in oneness.

Connected in a dance of life.

This awareness usually starts small.

A feeling that someone is staring at you and when you turn around someone is.

You think of someone and they call.

You have a dream and it comes true.

Or maybe a heightened sense of intuition or knowing. A knowing that goes beyond words.

A reconnection with nature begins as well. We start to see the beauty of the world once more. The magic in the simplest of moments. And the fragile web of life that we’re all a part of.

The new world is a meeting of the heart, because love is blind to all appearances and seeks to come in contact with the true aspect of our source. A presence grounded in love.

A true wisdom that we’re all connected to each other is becoming apparent. But the depth of that awareness is just beginning to take root within us all. A knowledge that runs naked and free. Unashamed of its beauty.

For we now realize that our hearts do beat as one. Our fears of each other are completely unfounded. That the only way to survive is to work with each other in harmony. That we CAN make a difference and our efforts DO effect all the world.

We have found the healing hands of the angels and realized that they are our own. And we are beginning to know that when we reach out those hands we’re really reaching out to ourselves.

Our compassion is what binds us to all the world.

Learning From The Mayan Elders

“In Lak’ech Ala K’in”, is an ancient Mayan greeting that’s just amazing. A modern day translation would be “I am another you.” Another way that it’s interpreted would be the traditional Mayan understanding, “I am you and you are me.”

Use this wisdom as you create the life of your dreams. Work toward benefiting others and truly you will benefit yourself.

Connect With The Field Of Consciousness

Above I mentioned a process that we carelessly overlook. A sacred calling that beckons us all the time,

“This awareness usually starts small. A feeling that someone is staring at you and when you turn around someone is. You think of someone and they call. You have a dream and it comes true. Or maybe a heightened sense of intuition or knowing. A knowing that goes beyond words. A reconnection with nature begins as well. We start to see the beauty of the world once more, the magic in the simplest of moments, the fragile web of life that we are all a part of.”
Once we become aware of a new possibility for ourselves, we have taken the first step toward mastering it.

I want you to take these simple moments to the next level and here’s how…

Developing “Spiritual” Awareness

• You think of someone out of the blue — Call them
• You feel drawn to speak to someone across the room — Go over to them and introduce yourself
• You feel drawn to eat a certain type of food — Eat it
• Your waiting for the bus — Guess what time it’ll come
• Your waiting for your friend — Guess what they’ll be wearing

This is a very simple process that if you stick to it for about six months you’ll be completely amazed at the magical worlds that open up to you.

Be Inspirational!

Ian

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Benjamin Franklin’s 13 Virtues

From Benjamin Franklin’s autobiography…

Benjamin Franklin on his 13 Virtues, “My intention being to acquire the habitude of all these virtues, I judged it would be well not to distract my attention by attempting the whole at once, but to fix it on one of them at a time; and, when I should be master of that, then to proceed to another, and so on, till I should have gone through the thirteen; and, as the previous acquisition of some might facilitate the acquisition of certain others, I arranged them with that view, as they stand [below].”

The 13 Virtues

1. TEMPERANCE
   Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.
2. SILENCE
   Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid
   trifling conversation.
3. ORDER
   Let all your things have their places; let each part of
   your business have its time.
4. RESOLUTION
   Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without
   fail what you resolve.
5. FRUGALITY
   Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself;
   i.e., waste nothing.
6. INDUSTRY
   Lose no time; be always employed in something
   useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.
7. SINCERITY
   Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly; and,
   if you speak, speak accordingly.
8. JUSTICE
   Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits
   that are your duty.
9. MODERATION
   Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much
   as you think they deserve.
10. CLEANLINESS
    Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes, or habitation.
11. TRANQUILITY
    Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common
    or unavoidable.
12. CHASTITY
    Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to
    dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another’s
    peace or reputation.
13. HUMILITY
    Imitate Jesus and Socrates

These 13 Virtues appeared in Benjamin Franklin’s autobiography.

Be Inspirational!

Ian

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