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David R. Hamilton, Ph.D.

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10 Things I Have Learned in My Life

Posted: 06/21/11 07:35 PM ET

Life presents us with many different experiences. Sometimes they are wholly positive experiences and sometimes they really challenge us to dig inside ourselves and find something we never knew existed. What we learn from these experiences shapes our character.

Here is a list of some of the things I've learned in my life, as an author, public speaker, as a friend, and as a life partner.

1. Be the change
Yes, we've heard Gandhi's immortalized words so many times before, but that's because they are so true that people keep repeating them. It means to live by the principles that you want to see in others or in the world.

2. Be open to the possibility of miracles
They don't always happen to you; they often happen because of you. Our hopes, dreams, beliefs, and open minds invisibly build up momentum; then they reach tipping point.

3. The mind can heal the body
I have heard several hundred stories of people using their mind to facilitate healing in their body. The key is to imagine converting an internal picture of disease into an internal picture of health, and doing it repeatedly -- every day. The mind and body are connected. Every state of mind has consequences.

4. Count your blessings
We often get so caught up in life that we don't notice the wonderful people right in front of our eyes, but when we do, magic happens in our own lives. We experience internal joy as we seek the beauty in them.

5. Love can really make a difference
I have found that no matter how hard things get, love can make everything all right. A hug can make so many stressful situations feel better. Love builds spiritual strength.

6. People are inherently good inside
We are wired for empathy and kindness. The love of the human spirit is always there, no matter how well it is hidden. Our task is to reveal it, even in our enemies.

7. Take time for yourself
A quiet and balanced mind makes it much easier to deal with life's ups and downs.

8. Resist the temptation to see yourself as small in any way
I believe that we are all on a spiritual journey towards knowing ourselves in deeper and more profound ways.

9. Think about what you want and not what you don't want
You engineer -- both consciously and unconsciously -- what you give your attention to.

10. Being positive doesn't just mean believing you'll achieve your goals
It can mean that no matter how hard things get, you know that you'll get through it. There's always a way.

 
 
 

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12:59 PM on 06/26/2011
Good list. I also like this article and useful chart based on observations of older people by a clinical social worker in senior care. I thought it was good to think about now before getting there.
http://zestnow.com/view/health/211/How-To-Be-Happy-As-You-Grow-Older-Start-Now.html
12:47 PM on 06/26/2011
Beautiful.

If only any of it were true.
10:22 AM on 06/26/2011
Thank you for this lovely list-I agree with you!
researcher
researcher
03:31 AM on 06/24/2011
number 9 you may someday decide to rethink that want thing.

wanting and not wanting are two of the greatest causes of our suffering.

become interested but always be open that the universe has other plans for your life.

wanting and not wanting can become a very aggressive mode of being in the world.

wanting and not wanting can blind us to new ideas and information coming into our lives. ie I want! or I dont want!
12:39 AM on 06/24/2011
A great list! Took me awhile but I've been through all 10, plus.

#3 is good and should work for everyone. I've learned to use intense anger here, about the only
place I do use anger, and have actually gotten immediate results. Example: I shouted in anger
at a beginning tooth ache one morning "I DON'T NEED THIS THIS MORNING! I'VE GOT TO
MUCH WORK TO DO! GET THE HELL OUT OF THERE (to the nerve)! And it did! Much to my
surprise!!!!
I heard ripping flesh as it withdrew from the opening and the ache was gone and has tried only
once since then to come back. I won't let it.

# 9 is difficult. True, just difficult in this day and age of the information deluge. A concomitant
to this is when you 'want' something, it shouldn't be a desire for personal gain. How will or can
others benefit from what you want? Think of others first, yourself last. You increase the
probability of receiving what you want.

Excellent post!
researcher
researcher
03:35 AM on 06/24/2011
if we think of others first and then expect to receive what we want well that will not work out so well.

we are living our own lie so to speak.

religious people do this all the time some even in the collection plate to get what they want.

I am sure you did not mean it that way just thought I would clarify it.
11:36 PM on 06/24/2011
Is there some law (man's or nature's) that I am unfamiliar with that says to think
of others and how they will benefit from what I want (ex., peace) will automatically
deny me what I want (peace)? You don't state the connection.
I'm sure you thought you wrote a clear statement. Care to clarify your comments?
An example, maybe?
11:40 PM on 06/24/2011
PS
Please note that I did not exclude the self from what it wants, just put others first
and how both you and others will benefit from what you want.
03:01 PM on 06/22/2011
Thank you. Mindfulness and consideration are the cornerstones to strengthening social bonds, which in turn create positivity for everyone involved.
photo
Stuart1021
Author: The Seventh System (www.seventhsystem.ne
09:27 AM on 06/22/2011
#6, people are inherently good, is especially important and rarely heard. Viewing others this way makes us feel safe in the world, something that is harder to achieve when all the news is about what's going wrong. A corollary is that most unkind behavior comes from fear and insecurity. How many of the dumb things we've all done grew out of our fears instead of our hearts?
08:27 AM on 06/22/2011
I believe that what you speak/think, so shall become. Over the last 6/7 years I have gone from illness and not knowing what it was to being diagnosed with Cushing's Disease 2.5 yrs ago to finally having my adrenal glands removed 3 months ago as a final cure. I willingly admit that the anger and resentment that had built within me was affecting all aspects of my life. I didn't believe that life, my life, could or would be even remotley worth living, counselling has followed and to some extent my "issues" are resolved.

A close friend told me to "stop feeling sorry for myself", taking his words on board I realy felt like my life was moving positivley forward, weight was coming off but was having problems when I ate, felt realy full even after a small meal.

I ended up in hospital last week with a "stomach virus", that's all the doctor's could come up with , as tests revealed nothing. I am dependant on steroids daily to maintain life and when things go wrong in that department IV treatment is necessary. I have never been to the toilet so many times in one day in my entire life, yet it caused no friction if you know what I mean.

After years of resentment/anger build up, I had finally released it all, quite literally and therefore has totally reinforced my belief of your mind or what you say does create events in your life.