Why would I even ask that question? Well, let’s think about the differences between the two for a minute. A caterpillar crawls from leaf to leaf, eating, sleeping, and crawling. He does the same thing, day in and day out, not realizing that anything else is possible. A butterfly, on the other hand, goes where it wants to go, and drinks nectar from the choicest flowers. Some butterflies travel thousands of miles to spend the winter in a warm, sunny climate.

Clearly, the difference between the two is extraordinary. What is even more extraordinary is the fact that the butterfly was once an ordinary caterpillar.

Programmed by instinct

The caterpillar has no idea that, hidden in his genetic structure is the potential to become a beautiful butterfly. After all, he was born a caterpillar and that’s all he has ever known. Even if a butterfly lands right next to him on a leaf, the caterpillar simply cannot grasp the difference. It’s outside of his frame of reference.

When instinct finally moves him to build a cocoon around himself and begin a transformation that will forever change his life, he still doesn’t know what is going on. That is because everything he does is according to instinct. He does what he is programmed to do.  Unlike you and me, the caterpillar does not have a choice.

In the absence of instinct

In our case, instinct is not usually enough to bring about a complete life transformation. Fortunately we have something more than instinct. Unlike that caterpillar, we have freedom of choice. We also have the ability to comprehend that more is possible. Even if we have never lived the life we truly desire, we still recognize that such a life is possible.

Somewhere inside of us, we are all convinced that a life of true fulfillment and satisfaction is our birthright. So, for us, the question is not so much, “is it possible,” but rather, “how is it possible?” How do we go about transforming our current existence into the life of our dreams?

Never mind the odds, they’re irrelevant

If everybody around us was living a happy and satisfying life, it would seem like a much more realistic goal. But that’s not the case, is it? In fact, most people’s lives more closely resemble that of the caterpillar, rather than the butterfly.

Don’t let the lack of obvious examples lead you to believe that living the life of your dreams is not possible. The choices that other people make have nothing to do with what is possible for you to achieve. If you make different choices, you can achieve different results. So then, odds have absolutely nothing to do with it. In reality, it all comes down to personal choice. Of course, when we make a choice, we need the knowledge to back it up. I could choose to be a molecular biologist, but my choice would never become a reality if I did not acquire the right knowledge.

What kind of knowledge?

When it comes to transforming your life, certain uncommon skills are required. So, we usually need to acquire the right kind of knowledge and then apply what we learn to develop these uncommon skills. As you know, I call them advanced life skills.

Most of us have been denied this knowledge, and as a result, most are lacking in these skills. That doesn’t mean that these skills are difficult, it just means that through the normal course of our life we have never had the opportunity to learn them.

What would you do if you were given the opportunity?

The funny thing about opportunity is that it only has value if we take advantage of it. How many missed opportunities can you look back on? I think we’ve all missed our share for one reason or another.

If you were given the opportunity to break through your current obstacles and radically alter the quality of your life, would you take advantage of it? I am convinced that you would because everyone who reads this blog and subscribes to my newsletter is actively seeking ways to improve their lives.

Your choice, caterpillar or butterfly!

It’s my job to provide you with opportunities to gain the knowledge and develop those uncommon life skills for accelerated personal growth. It’s your job to choose what you want to do with those opportunities. At some point we all have to make a choice.

Do you want to go on searching or hoping as life passes you by? Do you want to continue gathering bits and pieces of useful information, and trying to put them all together for yourself? Or, are you finally ready to make a personal breakthrough?

Personally, I think you are ready!
What do you think?
The lines are open!

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What is it that prevents you from doing all the things you really want to do?  Is fear involved?  Fear is such a powerful emotion that it can literally put a stranglehold on our lives. That’s often true, even when our logical mind says, “you can do it.”

This is because our emotions are more powerful than our logic.  In a battle between our minds and our emotions, guess who is going to win?  You’ve probably experienced this in your own life.  Have you ever been presented with a great opportunity and logically concluded that you should take advantage of it? Was it fear that stopped you?

The fear factor

Fear comes in all shapes and sizes.  For example, fear of failure creates doubt and anxiety, which can paralyze us from taking action.  Even if we are 97% sure that something will work out favorably, that 3% fear factor can stop us in our tracks.

Then there’s fear of ridicule or of displeasing someone whose approval is
important to us.  Emotionally, approval represents pleasure and it’s something we all long for. On the other hand, ridicule and disapproval represent pain and the strongest human tendency is to move away from pain.

So even when our mind is 97% sure that acting on this opportunity will result in pleasure, the 3% possibility of pain can be very persuasive.  This is especially true under challenging circumstances.  For example: the current economic squeeze that is being felt by just about everyone. It’s much easier to muster up the confidence to try something new when our life feels stable and under control.

Economic influences

The current economic situation however, is chipping away at people’s sense of stability and security.  Things that they felt they could count on, such as jobs and investments, are suddenly gone.  This can create a massive sense of fear and insecurity.  When you’re unsure of the things that you thought you could count on, how are you supposed to feel confident about trying something else?

Many times it’s our perception of circumstance that will determine how they affect us emotionally.  Is the glass half full or half empty?  Has the economy just dealt a fatal blow, or has it opened up a new opportunity?  It’s all about perception.

It’s much easier to maintain an optimistic point of view when we’ve got all our bases covered, or at least most of them.  It’s difficult though, to adjust to challenges when they come suddenly and unexpectedly.  When you’ve invested years in a company, a business or a financial plan, the tendency to adopt a negative viewpoint can be very strong when these assets are threatened.

Advanced life skills

Learning to control how we perceive the events and circumstances going on around us can feel very challenging, if not impossible. Logically, you may reason that such control is possible, but how do you feel about it emotionally?

Once again we see that fear can create doubt, which in turn prevents us from taking action.  So any program that attempts to teach you how to exercise control over your perception would also need to show you how to change the way you channel negative, fearful energy.  I use the term channel because energy is energy, it can be used for good or bad.  It can serve us, or limit us.

Having someone tell you that you need to view some event as an opportunity instead of a catastrophe doesn’t really help much, does it?  Being told that you are in control of your own emotions, including fear, is a lot different than being shown how to exercise that control.

Learning Advanced life skills

All too often, those who are looking for real help only receive bits and pieces.  It’s a challenging prospect to transform the quality of your life.  But for those willing to put forth the effort, I honestly feel that you deserve more than the partial information and abstract concepts so common these days.

My goal in writing TRUE SELF was to give you a practical, down to earth, step-by-step guide that was easy to follow, and that would successfully walk you through the complete transformation process. As if that wasn’t challenging enough, I also wanted to refine it down to a manageable size so it would not be overwhelming. I am very pleased with the results, and I think you will be also. Why not have a look at the reviews and see how much this book has helped others to make empowering changes in their lives?

Has fear been getting in your way lately?
Do you feel like there are fewer opportunities available to you?
The lines are open!

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My book TRUE SELF is the fastest inexpensive way (coaching is the fastest) to make positive life changes very quickly. Do you want to discover your core passions, dismantle your hidden, limiting beliefs, and realize your most desired goals? TRUE SELF will guide you smoothly through the process.

What exactly is a personal transformation? The dictionary says that transformation is the act or process of being transformed.  So we are talking about change, but what kind of change?

Well, it could be anything from subtle changes in our personality to a complete, personal metamorphosis.

What do you want to change?

Maybe we want to change the way we look. Perhaps we feel that losing 10 or 15 pounds, and getting back in shape, would make a big difference.

We may want to change the way we relate to other people. Perhaps we feel that our life would be a more positive experience, if we could just improve the quality of our relationships. In other words, we want to develop more people skills.

Many people are hurting because of the economic downturn, and consequently, they are looking for a positive financial change, a financial transformation.

What does personal transformation mean to you?

When you think about a personal transformation, what comes to your mind?

Most of us probably think of some radical, all-encompassing change in a positive direction. We might think of elevating the quality of our whole life to an unprecedented degree.

That sounds really good, doesn’t it?

But, is such a transformation within the realm of reality, or is it just something to dream about? And, if it were within the realm of reality, what kinds of skills would be required to pull it off?

If it was possible, what would be involved?

Since a transformation is an ongoing process, obviously it requires some kind of systematic approach. A caterpillar does not become a butterfly by accident. Such a major transformation happens over a period of time, and involves a series of essential steps.

Doesn’t it seem logical that successfully elevating the quality of our life to an unprecedented degree would require a similar process? There are, in fact, certain essential steps that must be followed in the correct order. If we skip a step, or change the order, we won’t get the same results.

This does not necessarily mean the process is difficult. Making a cake requires a similar process, and yet, millions of people are capable of doing it. They simply follow a recipe that tells them what to do, and when.

Think about this next question carefully?

What if you had a life transformation recipe? Would you be willing to follow it?

If you had never made a cake before, would you try it without a recipe? If you did, what do you think would be your chances of success? How long would it take before you finally happened on the correct ingredients, and the right sequence?

Most of us are smart enough to realize the folly of such an approach.

Now, let’s apply that reasoning to creating the life we really want. Are we fumbling around in the kitchen trying to figure out what comes next, or are we following a recipe?

Designing a personal transformation is a lot more involved than making a cake. But, don’t be overwhelmed by the seeming complexity of such a challenge. It’s not as difficult as you might think, once you have the recipe.

When do you want it?

Life is far too short, and far too valuable to waste time trying to figure out what works, and what doesn’t if we don’t have to. The sooner we learn the life skills we need, the faster we will get the results we truly want.

Once we have a systematic approach, and know how to apply the skills we have learned, life becomes a whole new experience. Struggle is replaced by welcome challenges, and frustration gives way to purpose and satisfaction.

Regardless of what we want to change, all true transformation always begins on the inside. Once we become the person we want to be on the inside, our world rearranges itself accordingly. It doesn’t matter whether we want to be thinner, happier, richer, healthier, or all of those things, it always starts on the inside.

What can you do about it?

If you’re tired of fumbling around, looking for the answers, and wondering what comes next, now is a perfect chance to turn things around. Please, do yourself a favor – take a look at the recipe.

What area of your like would you like to transform?
How long have you felt that way?
The lines are open!

When it comes to making transformations in your life, what approach do you favor? Do you like to rush right in and shake things up, or do you prefer to ease into it at a slower pace?

Both of these approaches to personal transformation can produce good results. However, understanding and using the one that actually works for you can greatly increase those results. Let’s take a closer look at these two techniques.

The Personal Transformation Tortoise

This is usually the choice of those who are uncomfortable with change. They like the sense of security that comes from making small, calculated adjustments in a measured way. Rather than disrupting the orderliness of their world, they change one thing at a time and then evaluate.

If you reflect on the story of the tortoise and the hare, you will recall that this approach won the race. There are definite advantages to “slow and steady,” and in some situations this is the most reasonable approach for everyone.

For example, if you are out of shape and you want to take up running, it wouldn’t be very wise to run ten miles your first day. Slow and steady is obviously the better choice. And this same principal applies to many areas of life. So we should never underestimate the power of “slow and steady” when it comes to transforming your life.

The Personal Transformation Hare

For those who are more comfortable with radical change, this will often be the preferred approach. It’s a way of really shaking things up that basically amounts to a giant pattern interrupt. Instead of trying to maintain orderliness, this method approaches personal transformation with a more adventurous spirit.

Changing our established response patterns often requires this type of planned disruption. When attempting to break out of familiar or customary behavior, we may need to introduce a number of new elements into the picture to avoid responding “as usual.”

Don’t automatically assume that this approach is more haphazard or reckless. In reality, both approaches require preparation and forethought to be successful. It is always in our best interest to be adaptable enough to use whichever approach is likely be most effective in any given set of circumstances.

What works best for me!

As you can tell by the title of my book, I’m into Simple Steps to Quickly Transform Your Life. I like fast results where possible, but I am also after those long term benefits that come only with time. In other words, I use a combined approach whenever I can.

We have already established that both approaches have their strong points. Where possible, I use a system that allows me to enjoy the best of both worlds. Using this approach has allowed me to successfully transform many areas of my life in the shortest possible time, without sacrificing long term results. Here’s how I do it.

The interval approach to personal transformation

If you have ever used interval fitness training, then you know that it involves moving from one thing to another. That’s the approach I like to use when transforming any aspect of my life. If the situation allows for it, I will use some kind of disruptive approach to produce rapid change. Then I will adopt a more “steady as she goes” approach while I get my bearings.

Once I have adapted to my new level of change, I look for my next opportunity to make another quantum leap. To illustrate, if I were traveling on foot toward a predetermined destination, this is what I would do. I would run for awhile, then I would switch to walking just long enough to catch my breath and asses my progress. When I was ready, I would go back to running, followed by more walking.

The beauty of this approach is that my forward momentum never stops. I simply go from rapid progress to steady progress, and repeat.

The benefits of rapid transformation

Anytime you can experience fast results, it will encourage you to keep moving forward. I don’t care whether you are starting a new business, trying to lose weight, or mastering some new skill. The faster you see a reward for you efforts, the more likely you are to keep going.

Meaningful results are usually cumulative and require consistent effort. Anything that helps you hang in there for the long haul is going to raise your chances of success. Seeing positive results after a short period of focused effort can provide all the motivation you need to make it to the next milestone. This process is progressive, and is fueled by positive feedback in the form of continued results.

Personal transformation by design

Whatever your approach to creating a personal transformation, your preparation and forethought will have a direct influence on your results. So, before you take any action at all, I encourage you to design a tentative plan of action. I say tentative because you will need the flexibility to make adjustments as you progress.

Here are a five questions to consider when designing your personal transformation:

1) What exactly do you want to transform? You may have a good idea of what you want to change, but what will that change look like? If you want to get in better shape physically, for example, you need to specify what that means. If it means losing weight, then how much? If it means increasing your skill level in some activity, then how will you measure it?

2) How long will this transformation take? Time frames motivate us to take action. You need to assign a time limit to the transformational process. The only transformation that takes place without your input is aging, everything else happens by design. Give yourself the advantage that comes from creating a time frame and your results will increase exponentially.

3) How important is this transformation to you personally? We all have a variety of things demanding our attention. As a consequence, most of us operate on a priority system. In other words, we do whatever is most important at the time. To make a meaningful transformation in some important area of your life, you will need to assign it a high priority.

4) Why are you doing it? I always say that a person can do anything if they have a good enough reason. So, what’s your reason? Make sure you understand why making this transformation is important to you. Without a good reason you might give up when you encounter obstacles. Get clear on your reasons “why” before you start.

5) What approach are you going to use? Are you going to be a tortoise, a hare, or some combination of the two? If you are looking for rapid change then how will you accomplish that? Even if you are using the “slow and steady” approach, you will still need a way to measure progress against your time frame. If you choose intervals, what are they going to be.

Get some help if you need it

One of the main reasons why people are unable to transform different areas of their lives, is they simply don’t understand the process. Positive transformations do not happen by accident, they happen by design. Skills are involved, and these are not the kind of skills we were taught in school.

Transformational skills are not difficult, but they are highly specialized. If you don’t know these skills, then it can seem almost impossible to change the things you want to change. That’s why I wrote 7 Simple Steps, it is a step by step life transformation guide. It’s easy to follow and produces remarkable results.

The important point here is this; if you need to learn these skills so you can transform various areas of your life, then take the time to do so. Find a reputable source of reliable information and learn the skills you need to create the life you want. Please don’t settle for ordinary, because you really can have extraordinary.

What’s your favorite transformation technique?
How successful are you in this area of life?
The lines are open!

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Recently, popular Personal Development and Neuroscience blogger Stephen Mills did a review of my book, “7 Simple Steps – Life Transformation Guide” and posted it on his on his blog The Rat Race Trap. I wanted to go beyond the review, so I asked Stephen if he would be willing to answer some questions about his personal thoughts on the book and he agreed.

I came up with 10 questions that were designed to help you get a better feel for 7Simple Steps while also giving Stephen plenty of room to fully express his honest opinions. Rather than interview him in the traditional way, I sent him the questions so that he could give them some thought before answering. I have a lot of respect for Stephen and the work he does, so I was anxious to hear his thoughts and benefit from his feedback.

Here are my questions along with Stephens answers

Q. 1) I know that you have read quite a few personal development books. Is there anything about 7 Simple Steps that stands out as different or unique compared to other books you have read?

A) Yes, 7 Simple Steps is exactly that; simple to implement.  For example, Jack Canfield’s book Success Principles is almost 500 pages.  It’s great and it’s packed with a lot of content and great ideas, but I didn’t implement it.  It’s too overwhelming.  Your book makes it easy to actually do something. 

Q. 2) The first section includes a number of self-discovery exercises on values, passions, and beliefs both limiting and empowering. Was this section helpful?

A) I loved this part of your book.  I’ve gone through various purpose finding, what do you really want, and other similar types of exercises before.  Some of them were fantastic.  However, despite that I learned a number of things about myself going through your exercises.  Well, maybe not learned as in “I had no idea”, but became more aware and conscious of.  That’s probably a better way to put it.

I love to go back and read my 5 Guiding Principles for Internal Harmony.  One of my favorite parts was the top 10 passions list.  I’m am still surprised and delighted at what I find on that list.  I found the exercise to generate that list quite fun.  I’m curious as to what these exercises will show if I do them again five years from now.

Q. 3) Were there concepts in the book that were new to you, and if so could you share some of them?

A) Yes, two things jump immediately to mind.  Near the end of the first section there was an exercise where I went through an anchoring process on my empowering and limiting beliefs.  I’ve got to believe I’ve read about that before, but I certainly never went through the process.  I have those anchors written down on your worksheets and I consider them very valuable.  The second was the patterning process.  That was brand new to me and I found it fascinating and powerful.

As I answered that another one came to mind that I would like to mention.  I found the chapter on wants vs. intentions very insightful.  Your description of how saying “I want” was really a visualization of a negative was great.  I really liked that chapter and I never thought of it that way before.  I always thought saying “I want” was a good thing!

Q. 4) Did you feel that most of the information was practical and actionable, or was it more philosophical or academic?

A) Without question it was very practical.  You made it simple, taking us by the hand and leading us through it step by step.  I don’t want anyone to take that answer in a negative way though.  As someone who considers himself philosophical, I love philosophy and I appreciate it.  There is plenty of philosophical reasoning in your book.  That is a necessary part of anything I consider valuable.  You can’t just tell somebody what to do.  If they are going to accept and internalize it they have to know why they are doing it.  You find an almost perfect balance between the two.  I expect a lot of work went into that book.

Q. 5) If you were asked to classify 7 Simple Steps, would you say it was a how to book, a personal study course, or something else?

A) Actually I like your subtitle – “Life Transformation Guide”.  I consider it a “guide” book.  Of course it tells you “How to”.  The exercises and the way it makes you reflect make it more of a “course” book.  But I’m going to stick with “guide’.  That’s my gut reaction to what I would call it. 

Q. 6) In your opinion, who could benefit from 7 Simple Steps?

A) Everyone.  It does not contain prescriptions that would limit its audience.  If you force me to give a specific answer, I would say it would most help those who are struggling with how to get started.  It does take what many people would consider complicated and distill it down into simple steps.  However, even sophisticated veterans of self-development would benefit from the exercises and reflection you go through, especially early in the book.  Some people need to be taken by the hand and guided step-by-step.  I do not consider myself that type of person and yet I enjoyed and benefited a great deal from it.

Q. 7) In what areas of life could people apply this information?

A) I would have to say for me it was all areas, but I think it’s best in helping you develop an overall strategy for success.  I think it is more personal than business.  It’s not a time management book about how to do your email.  It’s a high-level life strategy and action type of book that can be applied generally.  I remember the chart that looked liked ascending stair steps.  I thought that was excellent and applicable to your whole life.

Q. Was it difficult to get through?

A) No, but it wasn’t a light read either.  I would categorize it as an “action read”.  I remember the first part being a little painful but not too bad.  I started reading it on a plane.  Keep in mind I’m a very impatient person and that is something I need to work on.  Anyway, I was really into it and loving it when I  got to a part that said I couldn’t go any further until I completed an exercise.  I remember being frustrated and thinking damn!  I wanted to read more and I didn’t want to try and start the exercise on the plane.  But I was good and put down the book and picked up another until I could sit down and go through the exercise.

Q. 9) Now that you have finished reading it, will it be of any further use to you in the future?

A) I certainly hope so.  Like I answered earlier, I’m very curious as to what the exercises will reveal after a few years.  I think this is true of almost any good self-development program.  They are applicable to any level of sophistication and each time you go through it you peel back another layer and discover something new.

Q. 10) If you were to summarize how you have personally benefited from 7 Simple Steps, what would you say?

A) Well, the biggest benefit was meeting you, but I’m sure that’s not the answer you were looking for me to provide!  I learned some new techniques from you and I crystallized and discovered some new knowledge about myself.  I think I answered earlier about how I loved to go back and read what is on my worksheets.  Learning is repetitive and when you learn from something like this you need to periodically review it to reinforce it.

Jonathan, your book is a new tool in my toolkit and it’s a valuable tool.  Ultimate success in transforming your life requires you get a variety of experience and tools and draw upon the best of them in various situations.  This book reinforced some things I already knew and provided me a new and unique perspective on some others.  I put it in a binder and it gets prominent position on my bookshelves.  If you knew how I feel about books and how obsessed I am with them, you would know that says more than anything I can say in words.

What do you think?

If you haven’t already read it and would like to, here’s a link to Stephen’s review. If you would like a peek inside 7 Simple Steps you can preview the table of contents. To read the story behind the creation of this Life Transformation Guide visit 7 Simple Steps.

I want to thank Stephen for sharing his thoughts with us and encourage you to see what he’s been up to by visiting him at The Rat Race Trap. If you already have a copy of 7 Simple Steps and would like to share your thoughts please do. If you have a question about the book, please feel free to leave a comment or send me a message and I will be happy to respond.

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