July 13th, 2010 by Jim Donovan
Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions Albert Einstein
I recently posted this quotation from Einstein on Facebook. In thinking about it afterward I realized that, though Mr. Einstein was one of the smartest people in recent history, he neglected to caution people that it works both ways.
While imagining your ideal life is not only a good idea but a major component in creating the life you want, too many people spend their time doing the opposite. They imagine all sorts of horrible things that could happen.
“What if I lose my job,” so many are asking right now. “What if I get sick?” we worry. “What if I go for my goals but don’t succeed,” “What if I start my own business and fail?” And on and on.
The people I just described are using their imaginations but they’re using them against themselves. They’re using their imagination backwards. If you stop and think about this, I think that you’ll agree that it’s crazy to imagine what we don’t want. Isn’t it?
Consider that what you’re imagining (something that is not yet real) is pure fantasy. This being the case, why would anyone want to fantasize what they do not want?
If, when we imagine things, we’re making it all up anyway, why not make up great things? Why not see our most amazing life? Why not see (imagine) everything working out perfectly?
Doesn’t this make more sense? Of course it does, yet much of the time we do the opposite. We imagine everything that can go wrong. “For better or for worse” the wedding vows caution us. Why not rewrite them to be “For better and for better”
Our imagination, as Einstein was trying to teach us, is the most powerful tool we have for creating our life. therefore, it is important to use it wisely.
The next time you’re worried, which is just another word for imagining what you don’t want, do something to interrupt your thoughts long enough to replace them with something you do want.
As the late Lynn Grabhorn wrote in her wonderful book, Excuse Me, You’re Life is Waiting, learn to “flip switch” your attention to something you desire.
When you catch yourself imagining the worst, say to yourself “Cancel and clear” and then shift your attention to your ideal life.
Live Seminar in Philadelphia
I’m pleased to be part of an amazing lineup of speakers at the Get Rich and Happy event in Philadelphia, November 5th, 6th and 7th. You can see a partial listing of the speakers and reserve your seat here. This is sure to be a filled event so please reserve your seat now.
More resources to help you make 2010 your best year ever
Are you ready to start living the life you’ve always wanted?
This is Your Life, Not a Dress Rehearsal Workshop
Create your own economic recovery plan
Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck book and ebook — Learn how you can create immediate income now. Click here to learn more
A lot of our readers have used the 20 Ways to Make $100 per Day Online ebook to help them get new ideas and add income. If you missed the earlier information about this simple, yet powerful product, Click here to learn more
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June 11th, 2010 by Jim Donovan
It’s “game day” as I sit, waiting to start sending messages for my Amazon campaign launch for Don’t Let an Old Person Move Into Your Body. Since it’s also my birthday, I thought it appropriate to start today.
A lot of work has gone into this and I am grateful to all the partners who have been gracious enough to provide valuable bonus products for the people who do order the book during the campaign.
They are, in no particular order:
Peggy McColl, Gina Mollicone Long, Dr. Joe Rubino, Michelle Casto. Peter Fogel, Kathleen Gage, Sally Shields, Tracy Ecclesine Ivie, Michelle Cimino, Chaney Weiner, Jackie Jones, Terri Levine , Kevin Boyle, Shel Horowitz, Arupa Tesolin, Helene Rothschild, Millie Grenough
And special thanks to all my friends and social media colleagues who have stepped up and offered to help spread the word.
Here’s what my, usually neat and clean, desk looks like at the moment. 
Yesterday, I shot a short video about the idea of living an ageless and amazing life. I trust you will enjoy it. And, if you want to order the book and receive more than $785 in bonus gifts, follow this link
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May 19th, 2010 by Jim Donovan
“Most men die with their music still in them”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Whose life are you living? Are you living your dream or someone else’s?
How much of your life is being decided by someone else? Are you in a profession you dislike because it is expected of you? Do you engage in activities you would rather skip, simply because it is part of your “role” as a spouse or mother?
What about you?
Doesn’t your opinion count? It is not only reasonable but mentally healthy for you to direct your own life.
If you find yourself in a profession you do not especially like, try asking yourself the following question: If I were starting over in my career, what would I chose to do?
Some people retire and, because they can do whatever they want, begin a second career. This time, they do what they love and, many times, become highly successful.
Famous the second time around
You may not remember that Caroll O’Connor, the actor who created the role of Archie Bunker in “All In The Family” and later played the burly police chief in “In The Heat of the Night,” was a high school teacher until he was in his forties. While teaching is surely a noble profession, his greatest gifts to humanity were clearly to come from his acting talents. Fortunately, for those of us entertained by his talents, he followed his bliss and became an actor.
Another example of the second career is the comedian Phyliss Diller. She was a cleaning lady until she was 37. Incidentally, she was inspired by reading and acting on a self-help book, “The Magic of Believing,” by Claude Bristol. Interestingly enough, Liberace, the great pianist, attributed the strategies in this same book to his huge success and enormous wealth.
Take charge of your life
You owe it to yourself to run your own life. I am not suggesting that you go out and change everything overnight, however, you can begin to direct your life where you would like it to go.
For example, if you have always wanted to be an actress or actor, but have financial responsibilities which require you to work a “real job,” you could satisfy your need to act by joining a local theater group. Many a community theater performer works happily at a nine to five job Monday through Friday, knowing they have an outlet for their creative selves on the weekend.
If most of your time is being taken up in the role of wife and mother, you could begin to set aside time for yourself. Time to pursue your other dreams. You could arrange for your spouse or another person to care for your children while you take care of your own needs.
Taking care of yourself is not selfish. The Bible say we should love our neighbor as ourselves. It does not say instead of or more than. Begin to set aside time doing some of the things you want.
If you are in a job you strongly dislike, start devising a plan which will allow you to make a change. Perhaps you need to go for re-training in another profession. I know of several nurses who, when they realized they were spending more time filling out paperwork than caring for patients, began new careers as massage therapists. There, they were able to have the satisfaction of working directly with the people they wanted to help.
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April 21st, 2010 by Jim Donovan
The lights dimmed and the crowd roared as Leon Russell took to the stage of the theater in Sellersville, PA.
One could not help but notice the frailty of the, now 68 year old. Clearly his life and lifestyle had taken their toll on his physical health but the moment he stood at the keyboards, such a familiar site, he was that 28 year old performer once again.
The audience was transported back to a time when he shared the stage with the likes of George Harrison, John Lennon and Eric Clapton at Madison Square Garden’s Concert for Bangladesh in 1971.
The man playing music at the Sellersville theater, while a much smaller venue, was the same man who played the big rooms so many years ago.
How is this possible? How is it that, while the body of Leon Russell has aged and taken on physical ailments and limitations, the musician remains that young, vibrant singer songwriter of times past?
Passion is one of the key components to living a fulfilling life and Russell has as much passion for what he is doing as a man half his age. Clearly he is living his dream, whether it’s in front of 40,000 people at Madison Square Garden or 400 at the theater in rural Pennsylvania. He is doing something that matters to him and its’ apparent listening to his music.
He has passion, he has a dream and he’s living his life to the fullest. These are some of the keys to a living vibrantly as outlined in my new book, “Don’t Let an Old Person Move Into Your Body.”
Challenging the myths of aging - with stories of role models in their 80′s and beyond who are living vibrant, productive lives
Igniting your passion – exercises for exploring your gifts and redefining your purpose
Creating your vision – experiencing your dream life in full technicolor
Changing your beliefs - overcoming limiting beliefs with positive affirmations
Reclaiming your power – improving your life spiritually, mentally, emotionally and physically
Learn more about the “Ageless Living Method” and find out how you can use it to help you find passion in your life and create a future that excites you.
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April 20th, 2010 by Jim Donovan
Twenty four years ago today, I woke up looking at a smiley face on a slipper, attached to the end of my foot. Looking around it started to come back to me. Oh, yea, the birthday party and all that tequila. Ouch!
Scanning the room I remembered being admitted to the detox ward of the hospital, late the night before. I was at the bottom. I was sure my life was over – friendless, homeless, jobless, flat broke, with ailing health. I was spiritually, emotionally, mentally, physically, and financially bankrupt.
Today, all I feel is gratitude. A tremendous gratitude for the life I have.
Jim Donovan's Books Around the World
Today I am having a positive impact on the lives of hundreds of thousands of people throughout the world. My books are read worldwide and I have a magical life.
Having changed my life one day at a time, with the help of God and a lot of caring people, I have a wonderful wife who loves me and takes care of me, live in a comfortable home on pristine property in a quiet area, within easy reach of New York, Philadelphia and Washington DC.
I have the privilege of doing work that matters, am having a positive effect on people’s lives and am well compensated for it. I drive a luxury car and have all the material things I need.
I am truly blessed and totally appreciate every facet of my life.
If you want to know the exact step-by-step process I used to change my old life and create one that is beyond my wildest expectations, go here
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April 14th, 2010 by Jim Donovan
If you ask aging adults which illness they fear most, Alzheimer’s disease is likely to be at the top of the list, and for good reason – this devastating neurological condition slowly destroys people’s ability to think while robbing them of their memory.
Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia in those aged 65 or older, and current statistics indicate that this debilitating condition affects more than 15 million people worldwide.
With America’s rapidly aging population—an estimated 30% of the US population will be 65 or older by the year 2050—it is projected that 14 million people in the US alone will be affected by Alzheimer’s disease in the next few decades.
Having had experience with a family member with this dreaded illness, I can appreciate why it makes so many people concerned. While I believe there are precautions one can take like the aforementioned heavy metal testing and such, there are also some things you can do nutritionally to minimize the risks.
One of the most powerful brain nutrients I’ve found is Phatidylserine or “PS” for short. I first learned of this when, as I mentioned, I was doing research into Alzheimer’s for personal reasons.
There have been more than 60 human studies and 3,000 scientific papers confirming the results of an Italian study that first discovered its value in treating Alzhemier’s that found it not only prevented senile dementia and Alzhemier’s but reversed the symptoms.
According to Dr. James Balch, author of Prescription for Nutritional Healing, “As long as you have plenty of PS in your bloodstream, your body automatically builds billions of vibrant, healthy new brain cells at any age.” You can learn more about this powerful nutrient in our Web site’s resource section.
(Excerpt Don’t Let an Old Person Move Into Your Body by Jim Donovan, Austin Bay Publishing 2010)
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April 5th, 2010 by Jim Donovan
In the more than two decades that I have been studying and later writing about personal development, worthiness is something that I have not seen discussed very often. Sure we all talk about dreams, goals, visions and the like, but whether or not you feel worthy of receiving your good will make all the difference in the world.
Perhaps it’s not discussed widely because we make assumptions, “of course I feel worthy.” Or is it that the subject itself is so complex and highly charged?
Whatever the reason, it is the one thing that can sabotage your best efforts and will, most likely, rear its ugly head at the worst possible time. In my live seminars, I often conduct a simple test using Applied Kinesiology (muscle testing). It’s a quick and accurate way to test your inner response to a statement, a food substance, or anything else. You can learn more about this in the book “Power Verses Force” by Dr. David Hawkins.
In my demonstrations, I ask the audience who would like to have a million dollars. Not surprisingly, lots of hands go up. I ask for a volunteer from the audience. When I test them for the phrase, “I would like to receive a million dollars” they typically test strong. However, when we test the phrase, “I deserve to have a million dollars,” most test weak, indicating they are not congruent with the idea.
One of the ways to remedy this is by using an energy releasing technique like Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) or other energy releasing techniques. You can learn more about EFT at the web site of the person who developed it, Gary Craig, at www.emofree.org
What about you?
Do you fell worthy of receiving your good? Are you open to receiving or are you pushing it away saying things like, “Money is not important.”
Of course it’s important, however, it’s only important for those things for which money is used.
No, it’s not more important than love, but with it, you can do more for your loved ones. No, it’s not more important than health, but with it, you can afford the best heath care.
No, it’s not more important than happiness, but take it from someone who’s been there, it’s a lot easier to be happy when your basic needs are met than it is when you’re struggling just to survive.
The other day I was speaking with a friend about the idea of receiving and feeling worthy. He is also a student of personal development and he shared some interesting ideas with me. When I mentioned to him that it would be great to have a larger sum of money to devote to marketing my new book, he asked me why I didn’t just ask for a benefactor.
Wow! Talk about having your comfort zone and beliefs challenged! I could not in my wildest imagination see myself doing this. It made me way to uncomfortable. I guess I haven’t master worthiness either.
What I did do however, having seen it on Steve Pavlina’s Web site, was to add a “donate” button on my web site and blog. Steve, by the way, writes some great personal development articles.
This made me so uncomfortable that it’s been more than a week and I haven’t told anyone about it until now.
Since I believe we need to do the things that we are uncomfortable doing, I am telling you. I used to have a button from a Tony Robbins seminar that read, “If I can’t, then I must.” I guess it stuck.
What about you? Do you feel worthy of receiving the good that God wants to give you? When a friend offers to buy you dinner, do you graciously accept or do you feel it necessary to say, “Let’s split the check?”
One way to get better at receiving, is to practice simply saying “thank you” when someone offers to do something for you or pays you a compliment and let them.
Remember that giving and receiving are two polarities on the same continuum and it is just as important to receive, as it is to give.
Most of us have been taught that it’s better to give than receive, maybe so but receiving is important also. One thing I learned, after writing this newsletter for more than 19 years, is that if I’m facing a personal challenge, chances are, other people are as well. Therefore, let’s all work on being better receivers of the abundance that is part of God’s Divine plan for us all.
“I have come that you should have life; and that you should have it abundantly.” John 10:10
Please post your comments below. I look forward to reading your opinion on this volatile issue that seems to affect so many people.
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March 19th, 2010 by Jim Donovan
Have you ever noticed that there is no shortage of people willing to give you advice, whether or not you asked for it? I’ve developed some simple rules about from whom I will accept advice and suggestions.
I do not ask for heath advice from people who are sick, I do not ask for financial advice from people who are broke and I do not ask for business advice from people who are not in their own business.
Over the years I’ve watched hundreds of people go into a business venture and excitedly tell their family and friends about their new enterprise. Big mistake! How many of your friends and relatives own their own business? Probably few or none.
While they may be well intentioned and have your best interests at heart, their lack of knowledge and their own fears can sabotage your new venture.
If you want advice or input about a business, find someone who is successfully running their own business and ask them. Ask several people so you can obtain an objective view. When your choosing mentors or role models, be sure to seek out those people who have been there. Chose people who have “walked the walk” and have succeeded in doing what you want to do.
This applies as much to health, finance, education, relationships and pretty much any area of your life. If you want to be fit and healthy, do not seek advice from someone who is overweight, a smoker, and sick all the time.
Find a fit and healthy person and model them. I know this sounds overly simple and obvious, but it never ceases to amaze me how many people are listening to and even following the advice of people who do not know what they are talking about.
They are sadly listening to the person who is stuck in a dead-end job telling them why a business idea will not work.
They are listening to an overweight, sick person who is telling them that taking vitamins is a waste of money and they are listening to the person who is living paycheck to paycheck telling them how to become wealthy.
To ensure your success, make sure your role models are demonstrating in their own lives, the qualities you seek to develop.
If you want to learn the exact process that I used to change my life and create the life I now enjoy, take a look
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February 26th, 2010 by Jim Donovan
You’re probably asking yourself, “Why would anyone want to push their goals away?” After all, goals represent what we want in our lives, right? It would seem so but in reality, we often set ourselves up to fail every time we think about a goal or something we want to have or do in our lives.
Mary thinks to herself, “I would really like to write my book” (the goal). Then, instead of basking in the good feelings associated with that worthy ideal, the very next thought that comes into her mind is “How will I ever do it? I have to take care of the kids and all. I barely have time to eat much less write a book.”
She has literally pushed the goal away in her mind even before it had a chance to settle in.
Fred thinks, “I’d really like to drop a few pounds and get in better shape” (the goal). Then, before his sub-conscious has a chance to work on attracting the goal to him, he thinks, “That will be hard and will take up even more of my time. I don’t have enough time as it is now.”
The two cases above are typical examples of how we often push our goals away, usually before they even have time to germinate.
You think to yourself, “I’d like a new car.” The very next thought is, “That’s ridiculous! I can’t even afford the car I have now.” If you want to live a magical life, attract your goals to you and have everything you want in life, you must change this reaction.
Whenever the little voice in your head rears its ugly head, tell it to sit down and be quiet. You must silence the negative, limiting thoughts in your mind. Even if your goal is totally outrageous, you must remain open to the possibilities of achieving it if you intend to succeed. There will be plenty of time for a “reality check” later.
Exercise – Goal Attraction
When you have a thought about something you want to have, be or do, write it in your journal, in the form of a question. For example, in the case of writing your book, you might write: “What can I do, right now, to begin working on my book?” or in the case of an exercise program, “What can I do, starting today, to begin to get in better shape, reach my ideal weight and enjoy the process?”
Do It Daily
Invest fifteen or twenty minutes each day thinking about your goal and asking yourself how you might accomplish it. Jot down whatever pops up into your mind. Even if an idea seems absurd, write it down anyway.
This simple technique has been used successfully by some of the greatest achievers throughout history. People like Thomas Edison, Andrew Carnegie and Henry Ford used this simple technique.
They called it, “sitting for ideas.” Whatever you choose to call it, it is well worth the time you spend doing it. You will find that the first couple of days are easy. You come up with al the logical ways to do what it is you want to accomplish. After about the third or fourth day, however, you may begin to run out of ideas.
Don’t Give Up
Don’t quit. Just sit for your allotted time period and let your sub-conscious mind feed you ideas. You may have a thought “pop into” your consciousness. You will surely uncover creative ways to accomplish your goal.
If you do this simple exercise for thirty days, you’ll have an arsenal of creative ideas from which to draw and you’ll be on your way to attracting your most cherished goal.
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February 4th, 2010 by Jim Donovan
Last night, I had the pleasure of sharing my “Best Life Seminar” with the Huntingdon Valley Rotary group. As always, I had a great time, met some terrific people, had a nice meal (always a good thing) and got to share ideas with the group. Here’s what the group had to say:
“Tonight our guest speaker was Jim Donovan who lives in Upper Bucks County and is a best-selling author and inspiring motivational speaker.
Jim spoke about his recent book titled, “Don’t let an Old Person move into Your Body” which shares the recipe for living a long purpose filled life. Jim shared numerous real life people who started new careers while in their 80’s, 90’s and even at 106 years young.
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Tags: Albert Einstein, Facebook, Get RIch and Happy Seminar, imagination, Lynn Grabhorn, own business, Philadelphia
