Get Resourceful and Break the Cycle of Doom and Gloom

Back in September of last year, Alan Greenspan, the former Federal Reserve Chair, claimed that we had entered the worst economic crisis he had ever seen. In the months that followed, economic indicators got a whole lot worse and the news media (you'll recall we discussed the "business of fear" in a previous blog) couldn't stop blaring the siren song of: "this is the worst it's been since the Great Depression, yada, yada, ya!" And, so the story continues. For those of us trying to stay rational, live without being on hyper alert or suffering daily panic attacks; what are we supposed to think, feel and do? Are these experts giving us responsible analysis of a dire situation, or is this economic doom and gloom a one-sided story that's perhaps doing us more harm than good? Both are true. But you have a lot more power than you think to not only survive this storm, but to thrive! Despite any real challenges you may be experiencing--and let's face it, they are out there--there are simple ways to empower yourself and start using your challenges to your advantage. Challenges are an integral part of life--so what are you going to do about them? By concentrating on something over which you have total control--your thoughts, feelings and actions--the positive changes can be swifter than you can imagine. You move towards what you focus on In last month's blog, I wrote about how energy flows where attention goes. Thankfully, that's a reality that's gained serious traction as of late. So, too, is that fact that what you focus on expands. Meaning: give anything your time and attention and suddenly you start seeing a lot more of it in your life--both bad and good. But even though these principles are becoming more accepted, that doesn't mean we don't need frequent reminders to place our attention on what we want and choose for our lives, and away from what we don't want. Particularly when life gets challenging, bad habits take over, don't they? So you've got to be vigilant and constantly on your game. For instance, there's a big difference between checking the online headlines each day to see what's happening in the world so that you're informed versus falling asleep to the news so that messages of murder, mayhem, sickness, and poverty replay like a soundtrack for eight hours in your unconscious mind. You may have to be informed; you don't have to be inundated. Moreover, there's a massive difference between looking at your finances and putting a debt reduction plan in place (realistic and proactive) versus staring at your bills every day until you're paralyzed by images of living in a cardboard box and pushing all your worldly goods around in a shopping cart (a fear-based self-fulfilling prophecy you don't want!). Bottom line reminder: FOCUS on what you WANT! See it. Feel it. Live it. Be it. Only you can safeguard what you allow into that fabulous mind of yours. At the risk of sounding like a broken record... energy flows where attention goes! Watch what the masses are doing and do the opposite This is not always easy. We're hammered every day with ideas from the media, our friends and associates. You've got to break out of this conversation if you ever hope to live up to your potential. Those who are currently thriving today know and believe that they can and will thrive regardless of economic indicators, and they're looking for opportunities. Warren Buffet said, "When other people are greedy be cautious. When other people are cautious be greedy." While I'd personally choose a different word than greedy, the philosophy is clear. Think, feel, and act opposite from the collective. I once saw a beautiful oceanfront home in Carmel, California, right on the famous Pebble Beach Golf Course--an estate worth many millions of dollars. The family who lived there had a tale to tell about how they acquired it. During WWII, the owners believed that German or Japanese soldiers would attack the West Coast of the U.S., so they sold their estate for a song--ten cents on the dollar, to be exact. The new owners, who had been there for fifty-plus years by the time I ran into them, were still celebrating their good fortune! Panic creates panic. Level heads open up the space for forward-thinking and forward movement. One of the most surprising historical truths from the much touted Great Depression is that more millionaires were created at that time than at any other time in our history. But that makes perfect sense when you think about it. When millions of people panic and sell their assets below market value, what happens? Value and opportunity and "deals" spring up like weeds after a spring rain. The same holds true today; there's never been a better time in our generation to find bargains--in real estate especially. The fact is that someone has to do well regardless of economic indicators... why not you? The people coming out ahead, not surprisingly, have one thing in common, which brings me to my our next topic... It's not about resources it's about resourcefulness Okay, if you don't have money, you're not going to be buying even inexpensive estates right now, no matter the "steal" of the listing price. I get it. But, what makes certain people thrive in tough times? Are they luckier or smarter than the average person? It's simple, really. They're resourceful. Resources always flow to he or she who is most resourceful. That may not seem possible, or even fair, but it's true nonetheless. Physics tells us that all there ever was or shall ever be is already here, and that there are plenty of resources because energy can never be created or destroyed. If you're having a problem wrapping your mind around that--having seen the haunting images of children without water or heat, for example--let me say that real answers to those problems abound. Maybe you haven't yet seen the Youtube videos (although a quick search will reveal them), but there are scientists who pull water straight from air vapor (no kidding), create clean fuel from burning salt water with very little heat (I know, that's a mind twister), and power entire factories on cow dung (that's some cool shit)! And, those are just a few of the innovations that only a few years ago would have seemed impossible. I wonder what magic you can create in your own life? We're constantly hearing that we're going to run out of oil. I say who cares! We have wind, solar, and plenty other resources we've not even yet thought of. We just need to get resourceful and quit hanging onto the past. T. Boone Pickens is so excited about wind power these days that he's putting billions of dollars into a wind farm in Texas. Now let me ask you: what would cause an oil billionaire to get that excited about wind? He's resourceful. Once again, resources always flow to he and she who are resourceful. Train yourself to look for opportunities I mentioned this earlier but it bears repeating, and repeating. Thermodynamics tells us that "that which you are seeking is also seeking you."As a species, we're not conditioned to look for opportunities in times of crisis. On the contrary, we're conditioned to play defense. Defense says, "I'm going to hold on; I'm going to pull-back, I'm going to hoard--even if what I'm hoarding is the most meager of results." That's a strategy... a strategy of scarcity. And it's a self-fulfilling prophecy of defeat. Clinging onto something to protect what little you have is focusing on the not having and the not enough. And, when you're focusing on not having something, you're not looking at what you can do to be resourceful. Most of us are constantly looking at external indicators, but your internal indicators are where your power resides. A wise prophet once said, "Judge not by appearances." While most of us in Western society have heard that a time or three... it's an entirely different thing to live it. What are you seeking? To create anything you desire and deserve you must practice what I call going 3 for 3. Notice anyone who's knocking it down, regardless of economic or any external indicators, and they're going 3 for 3. Their thoughts, feelings and actions are all firing in alignment. What are most people seeking right now with their 3 for 3 strategy? They're thinking defeated, they're feeling defeated, and they're acting defeated. Therefore, they're defeated. Let that not be you. Begin right now... this very moment... to constantly train yourself to think resourceful, feel resourceful, and act resourceful; and you'll very quickly see your life transform before your very eyes. Test me on this one, and watch the resources you seek seek you! To your continued wealth and happiness, James Arthur Ray President/CEO James Ray International, Inc. P.S. Weigh in with your comments below or at the Huffington Post.

The Business of Fear

For months now, we've been literally inundated with how crummy the economy is and how, in the words of many (including our president), it's the worst recession since the Great Depression. Now if that weren't enough, the media has a new drum to beat: Swine Flu. Look, let's be rational here for a minute (something the media can't really afford to do)... You have a greater chance of dying of lung cancer or diabetes than you do of swine flu. I wonder how many people are watching the news in the morning worrying about a pig virus while they eat their Krispy Kreme and smoke a Camel? If I come across as irreverent, my irreverence is directed at the media, not at those individuals being programmed daily with the latest scare tactic. It's time to wake up and take a look at the facts. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN's chief medical correspondent, stated, "In the United States, over 60,000 people per year contract the seasonal flu." According to the CDC, about 36,000 of those who contract seasonal flu worldwide actually die from it. In contrast, according to the latest USA Today tally, there are a grand total of 695 cases of verified swine flu across (get this) 15 countries! Yet, for the 30 minutes CNN was on during my morning workout, the anchors droned on for a full fifteen minutes about the swine flu. And the TV next to that one had Fox on... They were talking about (you guessed it) the potential "pandemic" that has less verified cases than the 822 people per day (300,000 per year) that die from obesity. But you know what? Fear is a business. And it's oh so sellable, isn't it? It's in the media's best interest to keep things dramatic. It draws us in and keeps us watching for fear we might miss something that will save us from being flat broke with a pig virus. I will also mention that it's in the Obama Administration's best interest to address the pig virus fast as well so they aren't perceived to be out of touch like our past administration was during Katrina. It's in the drug company's best interest to pump the fear of disease onto the airwaves consistently. Everyone has an agenda, but that agenda is rarely the harmony and well-being of our nation or our world. The world needs a voice of reason. We each individually need to wake up, take a stand and decide what type of life we choose to live. Those who continually take at face value what they're being fed will continually get smacked in the face. And what about the "economic crisis" we hear so much about? I'm not suggesting that we're not in a recession... But the greatest one since the Great Depression? Untrue! Just take a moment and reflect back on the 70's, and you'll recall that you couldn't even buy expensive gas. Remember the odd/even days and the lines at the pump? Gas is plentiful today. In the 70's, interest rates were 24% and unemployment was over 10% (as it also was in the early 80's). Today, you can get a 30-year fixed loan for around 5%, and unemployment is at about 8% nationwide. It's not the worst recession since the Great Depression. However, give the media long enough, and it'll scare us right into creating it. Energy flows where attention goes. What we neglect to remember (and what we're never reminded of) is that 8% unemployment means 92% percent of the people in this country are employed! I guarantee you'll be hard pressed to hear a news anchor on any station stating, "Great news today! 92% of the people in our country were employed and received their paycheck last week." The Wall Street game and the economy are as much psychological as financial. Peter Lynch, one of the greatest investors of all time, stated, "If you spend more than 15 minutes a year worrying about the market, you've wasted 12 minutes." How about you? The things you give attention come to life. In fact, attention equals love. Think about it. If you love your mate, do you give him or her attention? What about if you love your kids... Do you give them attention? The answer is obvious. Attention equals love. So what are you giving your attention to? If you're really honest, you may realize you're in love with your misery. That's right. You love your misery because you're attending to it all the time. So we continue to give attention to our crummy economy. "Give us more fear," we unconsciously plead... It keeps our endorphins pumping! What's worse than being broke? Being sick and broke. Oh boy, now that's really scary! Energy flows where attention goes. You think we'd learn our lesson after Y2K. Or how about the eight years of the "Global War on Terror." Are we any more at peace because of it? Not even close. Think about it... We haven't had one major terrorist issue since 9/11, and yet we're more terrorized then we've ever been. I'm on the road 200 days a year, and not one single day during the last eight years have I heard an announcement from TSA that the threat level was less than orange or yellow. What does orange mean anyway? Who knows, but it sounds pretty scary doesn't it? Our consistent focus of attention is feeding the bonfire of terror. It rages on, and we wonder why it never goes out. Let's wake up and take a stand. Your consistent thoughts, feelings and actions determine the results you create in all areas. In fact, the formula for success in any area is to: Think, Feel, Act. There's never been a time in recent history where it's been more vital to direct and control your attention. What you're allowing into your consistent thoughts and feelings is going to determine your subsequent actions, as well as the results you produce. Turn off the business of fear. Read good books, watch inspiring movies and listen to educational CDs. These practices make you better and more resourceful. When you change your thoughts and feelings, your actions must follow, and your life will change. The time is now to take action: big, bold, immediate. For fate favors the bold. When you let go of the fear and refuse to allow it to be pumped into your home and head on a daily basis, you can place your attention on becoming more creative, resourceful and empowered. Resources always flow to those who are more resourceful. They always have and always will. Get resourceful, lock your attention on what you say you love, and you'll have more to love. You deserve it... And so does our world. To your continued wealth and happiness, James Arthur Ray President/CEO James Ray International, Inc.

Stay Positive in Tough Times: Today Show Interview

Check out my appearance on the Today show from earlier this week, where I share with you how to make it through these tough times.

Tune in Today on Tuesday!

Catch me on the Today Show Tuesday morning! I'll be a guest on NBC's Today Show tomorrow morning, Tuesday February 24th. You won't want to miss this discussion, as I'll be sharing some timely tips and advice to make sure you thrive during the current economy. I really hope you'll be able to tune in to take advantage of this important information: NBC's Today Show Tuesday, February 24th Approximately 10:30 AM in your local time zone After that, you can also catch me in a special panel discussion about the state of the economy on Fox Strategy Room, a live daily show that streams on the web at Fox News. I'll be sharing my insights on wealth and operating with success, despite economic conditions: Fox Strategy Room Tuesday, February 24th 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm Eastern (12:00 pm Pacific) Tune in at: www.foxnews.com/strategyroom I'm looking forward to sharing some very useful, practical, and well-timed advice with you! To your continued wealth and happiness, James Arthur Ray President/CEO James Ray International

Ten Tips for Thriving This Economic Winter

Many of you have read and commented on our recent conversation about how it's a season to sow, how there's so much fear in our world right now and how it's related to some of the universal laws that modern society has forgotten. If you missed the conversation or need a refresher, check it out here: Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3. Well, you asked for some quick, easy-to-apply tips on how to thrive in this economic winter and on how to apply the knowledge you learned during our conversation... So here you go! Clearly define what inspires you. There's a big difference between taking action out of inspiration versus desperation. Use this season as an opportunity to hibernate into the recesses of your own mind and define what you choose to create in your next spring. Control your focus. Energy flows where attention goes. Are you focusing on lack or opportunity? Feed your mind. What's your constant mental diet? Do you spend hours in front of the scare news or are you reading good books, attending more positive seminars, watching uplifting DVDs and listening to powerful CDs? Strengthen your body. Your physical health and vitality have a tremendous impact on your performance as well as your mental and emotional fitness. Exercise releases stress as well as strengthen your body and mind. Inventory your friends. Doom and gloom attracts more doom and gloom. Jettison those "energy vampires" around you and surround yourself with opportunity seekers. Quiet your mind. Take time to meditate daily and to slow down if only for a few minutes. Ten to fifteen minutes of meditation will relieve hours of stress and increase creativity and resourcefulness. Rid your life of escapist activities. Overindulgence in TV, sleep and alcohol only accelerate the problems you're attempting to avoid. Make a daily gratitude list. Focusing on all the good, gifts and God in your life puts you in the right line of thought, feeling and their subsequent actions, which will attract and create more good, gifts and God. Change your attitude. Realize that everything that's happened in your life thus far is here to serve you, teach you and help you grow. Find the lessons in your past results, forgive yourself for anything you could have done better and apply the lesson to move forward and create a better future. Get resourceful. For the next three days, go to a place where you can have uninterrupted time... Come up with 20 new ideas to grow your income, create new results and improve your life. You cannot leave your spot until you have twenty. And no editing! All ideas are good ideas. Do this for three successive days with 20 new ideas each day. Now take your list of 60 unique ideas and pick the three to five most powerful and leveraged ones to put into action. Pick these three to five based on: ease of implementation, rate of return and speed of return. And so during this winter season, remember: It's not about resources... there are plenty of them. It's about resourcefulness. Get resourceful and get busy. To your continued wealth and happiness, James Arthur Ray President/CEO James Ray International P.S. I wanted to give a HUGE thanks to the members of the World Wealth® Society and the Journey Expansion Teams... Together, we were able to provide meals for over 1,300 families (5,300 people) this Thanksgiving! Here's to building a world-wide community... No matter the "season"!

It's a Season to Sow... (Conclusion)

I think Thanksgiving is the perfect day to wrap up the conversation we've been having surrounding the universal laws and our current economic situation. We talked about the Zodiac, the Aquarian Age, the seasons and how they all relate to your life. Please read Part 1 and Part 2 of this message before reading further. You'll be glad you did. Were you able to see the similar patterns of movement we're going through in our world and in our economy? Well, the cycles of our world and nation are longer than the cycles of our calendar year. Likewise, the precession of the cosmic ages is longer still than the cycles of our world. But the principles are the same: As above so below. We've just moved into winter in our world, which is fitting as the winter of 2008 approaches. By the way, for those naysayers and doomsday prophets... This is not the first "winter" of our economic life. The US has had six economic winters since the 1950s. Winter is never a time to despair. Quite the contrary, coming from a long run of sowing and reaping, it's now time to re-group, to reflect upon the lessons learned, to possibly spend more time with our family in celebration of what we've accomplished and most definitely plan for our next spring. Here's what we know: First, there will always be a winter. While some may wish for eternal spring and summer (and even move to California to experience longer periods of it), there's always a winter. Now if you choose to be depressed and in a negative-feeling vibration because of winter, that choice will do absolutely nothing to change the season... The season will run still its course. Likewise if you absolutely love summer and wish and want and hope it to always be... It does nothing to change natural rhythms. Seasons come and seasons go. Tide ebbs and flows. You can be Scrooge all day long and winter will not disappear. You can worry all day long about how you're going to get through winter... but you and I both know you can't worry enough to fix anything. So if "thinking positive" won't speed up winter, what's the point? Well, your negative fixation does majorly impact your current experience of the season. Likewise, it impacts in a negative way the seeds you're sowing for your future. You see, unlike the farmer... We're sowing and reaping all the time. You're sowing and reaping every single day, every single season. Second, there's never been two winters in a row--never. Oh yes, there's been some really long and tough winters (like in Winnipeg, Canada), but there's never been two winters in a row. And there never will be. Now how many people go into winter and start spouting end of the world predictions? How many people worry that winter is all that we're ever going to experience again? How many people predict in winter that we're basically screwed and we better liquidate our patio furniture and turn the pool into parking garage that we can rent out for extra income? Not those who are wise. And yet, how often do you recently see this type of mentality going on with many in our world? With a true wisdom and understanding, you can be one of those that utilize winter to your advantage... Because here's one final thing we always know. No matter what... following every single winter, what comes? That's right, spring--no exception. So what are you going to do while we're in winter? How can you align with the theme of a higher/spiritual mind and rise above appearances? Because I guarantee you that what you're doing now is determining your next spring. And I can assure you... Spring is coming. Maybe not as fast as you'd like (it usually never does) but it's coming nonetheless. Now. Get out a pad and pen and answer these questions... How can you use this time to more deeply explore the choices you made in our last economic spring and summer? How can you use this learning and grow for the upcoming sowing and reaping season? What will you do better or differently next time? How can you use this time to possibly get in better physical shape so you're ready to rumble when spring comes again? Your physical health and fitness will always have an impact on the results you produce. It either works for you or against you. How can you use this time to meditate and quiet your mind more after the busyness of summer? How can you read and journal more? Take that college course or attend that seminar you've put off for so long? How can you become more mentally fit? How about spending more time with your family or those you love? How about connecting with an old friend that you haven't had the chance to connect with during the busy summer? How about build a better and deeper relationship with those clients you've neglected? Now there's an opportunity worth its weight in gold! Take some time out of your day to ponder these types of questions deeply. Everything has a season and your opportunity is to celebrate and utilize the season to your advantage or to feel scared and miserable. There's never been a better time than right now to invest in your own consciousness... in your own mental and emotional mastery. That's what the wise are doing. You see, for nearly eight years in America, we've focused our entire attention upon war and terror to the exclusion of sound economic policies and regulations. And now that needs some attention. As individuals, we've focused our attention upon bigger mortgages and gambling in real estate to hopefully get a quick return to the exclusion of developing our mental and emotional mastery. And now, many don't know how to mentally and emotionally deal with a winter that they neglected to realize must come. It always does. So many are living in fear thinking that the Sun may never shine again, and please remember, you'll always attract and create whatever you're consistently going "3 for 3" on. Your predominant thoughts, feelings and actions will determine your results. What has to happen for you to take this winter season and make an investment in your future? Instead of living in fear and anxiety, know that the spring is coming and therefore grow your number one asset--your mind--in preparation for your next growth spurt. Either way, the season is going to go through its cycle, and it won't change until it's complete. The only thing that will change is your experience of the cycle and whether or not you're going to leverage it, enjoy it and reap the benefits. I promise the degree to which you take advantage of the unique qualities and characteristics of this season is the degree to which you will prosper now and in the future. Have a grateful Thanksgiving, James Arthur Ray President/CEO James Ray International P.S. Thanks to all of you who contributed to my Birthday Surprise last weekend... It completely blew me away! Check out the video of it here.

It's a season to sow... (Part 2)

Last Friday, we started discussing why there's so much fear in our world right now and how it's related to some of the universal laws that modern society has forgotten. We talked about the Zodiac, moon affecting the tides and the Aquarian Age... If you missed last week's message or need a refresher, please click to read the first part of this discussion before reading further. Now that you're up to speed, how does all this have a direct impact on your current experience? Well, first understand that at a larger level, we're moving into a new era or theme in the heavens according to the ancient traditions. And likewise, so are we moving as a society on Earth. Sciences such as fractal geometry, chaos theory, quantum physics and more understand the universe to be magnificently organized and beautifully orchestrated repeating patterns... From the Galaxy to the Universe to the Solar System to the Earth to the Atom. All is in harmony, and perfectly orchestrated. On a smaller scale than astronomical bodies, we experience yearly cycles on Earth that we call seasons, and each unique season has its own unique theme as well. Many of us in modern society neglect to realize these seasons were all created and designed from the original understanding of the procession of the Equinoxes and the cycles of the cosmos. First, there's the season of new planting and new ideas called spring. On the Spring (or Vernal) Equinox, which typically occurs around March 21st, the Sun rises exactly in the East, traveling through the sky for 12 hours and sets exactly in the West. Of course, the length of days depends on what latitude you're on, so I'll speak from a North American perspective for this discussion. Following the Spring Equinox, the Sun continues to follow a higher and higher path through the sky with the days growing longer and longer until it reaches the highest point around June 21st. This is called the Summer Solstice. While spring is the time to plant, summer is a time to enjoy and reap the harvest of work done prior to this season. Obviously, this is the time of year when most families take their vacations and have some fun in the sun. After the Summer Solstice, the Sun follows a lower and lower path through the sky each day until it reaches the point where it's in the sky for exactly 12 hours again. This is the fall or Autumnal Equinox, which happens around September 21st. Fall is when most families start to bring in their patio furniture... You cover the pool and barbecue, store the boat and put away the summer clothes to prepare for the soon-to-come winter months. Following the Fall Equinox, the Sun will continue to follow a lower and lower path through the sky and the days will grow shorter and shorter until it follows its lowest path and we reach the Winter Solstice. During winter, the days are short and the Sun is low in the sky. The shortest day of the year is the Winter Solstice around December 21st. On this day, the Sun is on the lowest path in the Southern sky. Afterward, the Sun follows a higher and higher path through the sky each day until it's in the sky for exactly 12 hours. Each day after the Winter Solstice, the Sun continues to rise closer to the East and set closer to the West until we reach the day it rises exactly East and sets exactly West. This day is the Spring Equinox, and the cycle begins again. So let's think about how these celestial changes have an impact on us on Earth. In springtime, you plant. The New Year is coming forth, so you set your resolutions to become a better person and to do more than you've done before. Personal development is at an all-time high for the year with more self-help books purchased, more seminars typically attended, more classes being enrolled in than any other time during the year. In the summer, you're out and about and busy lots of activity and fun in the sun. If you've done your homework, then you're actively reaping what you've sown in the early part of the year. In the fall, you typically begin to slow down a bit. It's time to let go, and old things are passing away. The year is winding down. You're parking the convertibles in the garage, storing the boats and preparing for the winter. And finally in the winter, many animals go into hibernation, which is symbolic of the time to go into the internal caves of your own consciousness... A time to contemplate what you've done up to this point and envision and design what you're going to do in the future. You prepare for the holidays, a celebration of where you've been, and you start planning to spend more time with the family after the busy times of spring and summer. You catch up with old friends, and share some holiday cheer. Now, with all that being said, do you see a similar pattern and movement we're going through in our world? In particular, do you see a similar pattern in our economy? Stay tuned for the conclusion to this discussion, where we'll tie together what we've learned so far with what it means for today's economic situation. To your continued wealth and happiness, James Arthur Ray President/CEO James Ray International P.S. Have you checked out my free Times of Change program? Click here to get started...

It's a season to sow...

As you're well aware, there's a tremendous amount of fear in our world right now regarding our current economy. The main reason is that, as a modern society, we've forgotten some of the universal laws that were clearly known to ancient man. A multitude of individuals have an extremely short-term myopic focus versus a long-term understanding and vision. Over the next week or so, we're going to converse about these universal laws and how you can apply them in your day-to-day life. Now I'm going to wax a bit esoteric, so stick with me. By the way, look up the word esoteric and you'll realize it just means "understood by a few." Contrary to popular opinion, all things esoteric are not voodoo or mumbo-jumbo. Interestingly enough, math and science were once esoteric teachings and only taught to the king, his family and his inner court. If you'll stick with me, I promise I'll teach you how to live in rhythm with nature and how to thrive in any economy. But we need some background first. Nearly every ancient culture looked to the Heavens, and while studying the stars and their paths, they noticed corresponding changes in the Earth below. Two-thousand years before the birth of Christ, Hermes Trismegistus observed these parallel changes in Heaven and Earth and carved the following truth into the Emerald Tablet: "That which is below is like that which is above." What can ancient teachings of the stars and heavenly bodies teach us today in a modern world? If properly understood, I assure you, there's plenty to be learned. So let's quickly discuss some of the things that we know. The Greek Hipparchus made astronomical observations in his publications dating from 147 BC to 127 BC and is widely considered the greatest overall astronomer of antiquity. Here's what he found. One round or cycle of the Zodiac in our Universe (called "the procession of the equinoxes") takes approximately 26,000 years or roughly 2,200 years per sign. This procession is basically a marker for where the pole of our Earth is in relation to the heavenly bodies. As an example, for quite some time, the North Pole has been pointing toward the North Star while the Southern Pole has been pointing toward the Southern Cross... But we're moving. The much-heralded Aquarian Age is thought to be an age of the development of the higher abstract or spiritualized mind. This energy field of mind is often called the mental body. The higher mind will be built upon the emotional base of love, which is the higher emotional body, supposedly ushered in by the prior Piscean Age. Now if you're one of those skeptics that believes the planets have no impact whatsoever upon us, I ask you to consider this... We know scientifically our bodies are comprised of 70% water. That being said, does the moon have an impact upon the tides? Of course it does. And so if the moon can have an effect upon large bodies of water like the oceans of the world, how can it not have an effect upon the little puddle that you call your body? Everything is energy and all energy vibrates. All frequencies and vibrations have an effect upon all others. Just like gravity, the greater the mass, the stronger the effect. Okay, so theoretically, the Aquarian Age is the age of bringing in the ability to operate more fully from this abstract mental body, experience the spiritual realms and ground and utilize this power into the emotions and physical form. Simply stated, the Age of Aquarius is ushering in the ability for us as a collective to access more of the spiritual unseen realms (what physics calls energy) and bring it into this world to create tangible results... The ability to be able to, as the Christian prophet told us, "Judge not by appearances," and to "be in this world but not of this world." This is the ability to quite practically see from a higher-level perspective than the short-term or myopic view of what's directly in front of our eyes. This high objective is the overarching theme in our world for the next 2,200 years or so, according to this teaching. Keep that thought in mind as we continue this conversation next week... We'll take it down from the macrocosm and bring it into the microcosm... In other words, we'll discuss how this all has a direct impact on your current experience. Stay tuned. To your continued wealth and happiness, James Arthur Ray President/CEO James Ray International P.S. Have you checked out my free Times of Change program? Click here to get started...

Warren Buffett: It's Time to Invest

I came across the following article by Warren Buffet that I really wanted to share with you... When it comes to the current economic crisis, Warren, like me, understands that there is a law of rhythm in place. This isn't the first time we've had challenges, and it won't be the last. It's how we react to these challenges that determines our success... Will you prosper by taking advantage of the fruitful opportunities out there, or will you take a backseat to fear and buy into the hype? Take a peek at this informative article and make the decision to be one of those who thrive during this, or any other economic climate.

In times of change... How to thrive in any economy.

In times of change, the resourceful control the resources... With all that's happening in today's economy, my great wish for you is that you'll have the knowledge to prosper and thrive no matter what's going on in the environment around you... That's why I've put together a brand-new, FREE 5-course video program, Times of Change, designed to give you principles and tools on how to not only survive, but literally thrive, in any economy. By enrolling in this high-impact program, over the next two weeks, I'll coach you to turn the fear-based mindset surrounding our current economy into one of opportunity and prosperity... Watch the first installment below and be sure to click here to subscribe to the series... Click here for the podcast. To your continued wealth and happiness, James Arthur Ray President/CEO James Ray International P.S. Remember, this program is completely free to join as my gift to you, so please do take advantage of it...

Don't be a victim of the circumstances around you...

No matter where you turn, nearly everyone you run into these days is talking about the world's financial situation... It's a constant barrage... From the media to around the water cooler... "Economic Meltdown" seems to be the topic... Headline after headline... Well, it doesn't have to sidetrack your life. My wish for you is that you, like me and many others, know how to prosper and thrive no matter what's going on in the world around you--in this or any economy... And I have the perfect tool to give you a head start... It's my famous Harmonic Wealth Home Study Course, and it's taking the world by storm... Tens of thousands of people have tapped into this secret weapon and learned: How to easily vanquish stress and fears that have held you stuck in place... How to eliminate procrastination--forever... How to create new internal programming and behavior patterns that have catapulted you to your goals at lightning speed... And that's just the tip of the iceberg. By putting this program to use for yourself, you won't just be dreaming about the way you'd like your life to be, you'll be creating it. You'll get step-by-step instructions on how to turn all your dreams into rock-solid reality. Yes, the real thing. In fact, you'll walk away with a perfectly designed strategic life blueprint to put in place right away, for immediate implementation and action. You'll produce real, hard-hitting results on exactly what it is you're seeking, but for whatever reason haven't quite yet been able to achieve... You'll see these results right there in front of you, crystal clear and more real than ever, while other people around you are still caught up in worry... Too fearful to live their lives, much less go after their most sought after dreams... Listen, this program has already transformed the lives of countless people... And now it's your turn. Go here to get all the details. It'll only take a few short minutes out of your day, but the payoffs are out of this world... Click here to see what I'm talking about... To your continued wealth and happiness, James Arthur Ray President/CEO James Ray International P.S. Oh yeah, I almost forgot... I'm offering a full $150 discount for a limited time, which should help to make your decision to invest in this life-changing program a complete no brainer. Go here to cash in on this enormous discount... Remember, the discount's only valid until October 15, 2008, at midnight Pacific.

Thrive in the face of economic challenges... The Recording!

We recorded the call! For those of you dialing in today, you know how full the conference lines were... I knew that what Jim Hansberger had to say about the current economy would be important, so I made sure the call got recorded. Frankly, all of the recent bailouts and drama surrounding the economic market isn't surprising to me because there's been so much attention on negativity and demise that we're feeding the very beast we say we'd like to kill. The media, as well as most viewers, are placing their attention on so much fear that it's doing nothing but creating the very thing we don't want. So... I got on the phone with my good friend (and personal investment advisor) Jim Hansberger. Jim is, as you may recall, one of the best-of-the-best. In fact, he advises numerous senators in Washington and speaks with them daily. To say he knows what's going on would be a gross understatement. So who could be better for me to get the inside scoop for you? Enough talk... Click below to listen to the interview online in its entirety or grab the podcast! To your continued wealth and happiness, James Arthur Ray President/CEO James Ray International

Thriving in the face of economic challenges...

In the last month or so, we've seen the US government bailout four troubled corporations... one after another. Bear Stearns, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, AIG... And now there's talk about a shocking $700 billion bailout plan where the government will buy all the bad mortgage loans from the banks to help "contain" the financial crisis... Frankly, it's not surprising to me because there's been so much attention on negativity and demise that we're feeding the very beast we say we'd like to kill. The media, as well as most viewers, are placing their attention on so much fear that it's doing nothing but creating the very thing we don't want. It's time to get the whole story and keep moving in the direction we choose. So... I got on the phone with my good friend (and personal investment advisor) Jim Hansberger. Jim is, as you may recall, one of the best-of-the-best. In fact, he advises numerous senators in Washington and speaks with them daily. To say he knows what's going on would be a gross understatement. So who could be better for me to get the inside scoop for you? And because I'm always looking for ways to go the extra mile for you, I've convinced Jim to do a free teleseminar on today's financial situation, and it's available exclusively for you, my reader. Here's where you'll find out the latest rubber-meets-the road information on what's going on in Wall Street and in Washington, which is sure to affect you in your hometown. This important information will help you not just to survive the current economy, but to actually thrive in it. Listen, if you're expecting the same type of stuff you'd hear on CNBC, CNN or FOX, forget about it. This is the inside scoop that you'll never hear in the mainstream media. That's why it's so important for you to make this call: Tuesday, September 30th, 2008 11:00 AM Pacific (2:00 PM Eastern) Click here to reserve your spot... (Spots are limited!) Remember I'm doing this for you, and it's no charge. But the info you'll get is (as MasterCard puts it) "priceless." Please make sure you're on this call, it's really that important. To your continued wealth and happiness, James Arthur Ray President/CEO James Ray International

Do you believe the hype or do you determine your own destiny?

If you've been paying any attention to the media, you know just how many so-called experts are ranting and raving that the economy is going to tank... So, why is it that so many people are succeeding massively in spite of the airwaves bombarding us with negative news regarding gas prices, war and a "bad economy?" How is it that some always win no matter what seems to be going on in the environment around them? It's because they know the secrets of how to not only survive, but to actually thrive in any economic situation or climate. And now you can too... This could be one of the most important emails I've ever sent to you. So please go here right now for the full details. Listen, if you aren't willing to at least go here and see what I'm talking about, then you can just buy in to the mass hypnosis and fall in line with the rest. But no matter what... you're more than that. Look, it'll only take you about 3 minutes to check it out, and it could have a huge impact on your life. If you're interested, that's fantastic, and if not, no big deal... It'll take less time than the commercials in your favorite television show. Please! Go here right now... I promise you'll be glad you did. You've really got to check this out! To your continued wealth and happiness, James Arthur Ray President/CEO James Ray International P.S. I apologize if the tone of this email seems a bit direct... It's just that I honestly believe this is so important for you, and I'll do anything I can to get you there.

The best-kept secret to financial wealth...

Contrary to popular opinion, creating unlimited financial wealth won't come from chasing more money. Now don't get me wrong, I can help you make more money--plenty of it! And if the statement above seems counterintuitive to you, then that's exactly why you and I need to spend more time together. Check this out... A recent Gallup poll posted in USA Today found that 55% of those surveyed state their families are worse off financially today than they were this same time last year. This is the highest number since 1976, and it's an eleven-point jump since February of this year. Interestingly enough, in the very same survey, 26% say they're better off than they were a year ago. What gives? How is it that in the same economy (with the same government officials, the same war, same gas prices, same housing market) that one group thinks their finances are doing poorly but another group actually believes things are better? Now you might think that the 26% are just some of the more privileged few... maybe. But just suppose there's more to it than that. The answer to this question resides in a money paradox that a distinct few understand and most may never grasp. We'll get to that in a minute. In my new book Harmonic Wealth: The Secret of Attracting the Life You Want, I share the little known truth that, while many people believe wealth is equated to vast sums of money, if you trace the root of the word wealth back to its origins, it literally translates as "well-being." Now I know you might be thinking, "Well James, if I had more money, I'd have more true wealth and well-being!" But studies show that this is not necessarily the case... In fact, most often it's not. A recent survey posted by US Private Banks surveyed individuals with a net worth of $38 million or more. Of those surveyed, 65% stated that they felt "financially insecure." Now get this... These are people with a net worth of at least $38 million! So maybe it's not just the privileged few that are feeling better off than last year. Think about it, if you have a net worth of $38M and wake up in the morning feeling financially insecure... with wealth being defined as well-being, are you truly wealthy? The obvious answer is a resounding "No!" Many Americans believe that a new president is the answer to our situation. Many believe that dealing with the oil and gas companies will make things better. Even more think that if we get out of the war in Iraq, all will become harmonious. While all of these issues may have an impact, they are in no way the answer. So what is the answer? What will bring more financial well-being into your life? The answer resides in the thoughts, feelings and actions of you as an individual. First, shift your focus of attention. Get your mind and continued thoughts off the economy and all the problems being pumped into your home by the mass media. As difficult as this may be, those who are truly wealthy--financially and otherwise--choose where they place their attention and stand guard like a watchdog at the gates of their mind. Peter Lynch once stated, "I don't spend more than 15 minutes a year thinking about the economy." Lynch's results speak for themselves. Stop. Just stop for a moment and think rationally... There's no way in hell that any company's true worth can fluctuate as dramatically on any given day as the New York Stock Exchange would indicate. It's nothing but an opinion--and other people's opinions are only predictions if you allow them to be. There's a principle in our universe which states: Energy flows where attention goes. So consider this: Where are you directing your energy and attention every single day? Regardless of what you answer, your current results will tell the truth... for your results are a reflection of you. Second, stop chasing the money. Science tells us that everything is vibration, including your thoughts, feelings and actions... And yes, even your money. Now think about this... If you're constantly thinking, feeling and acting (what I call going "3 for 3") as if you "need more, need more," what's the real message you're sending out energetically? You guessed correctly if you said the message is, "You don't have it." The universe hears the real message at the level of vibration and states, "Your wish is my command!" As a result, you'll end up living your life always wanting but never having. You'll never get financially wealthy with that strategy. Third, be grateful for all the good that currently exists in your life. If all things are an energetic vibration (which they are) and energy flows where attention goes (which it does), then to place your consistent attention upon the things for which you're grateful is one of the most powerful things you can do. Unlike the message of "I don't have it," when you place your attention with gratitude on all the goodness that currently exists, it's like stating, "Thank you for this. Send me more." When you get grateful, the universe sends you more to be grateful for. Finally, consistently focus on providing more value and service to the world. Take the attention off of "What can I get?" and place it upon "What can I give?" If you want to have more, give more. Winners always give ten times more value than they ask for in return. Doubt me? Look around. I challenge you to find a millionaire who's not surrounded by six-figure income earners. Likewise, find any billionaire and they'll be surrounded by multimillionaires. Why? Because you only profit handsomely in life by providing service and value to others. In other words, you'll only get your big dreams by helping others get theirs. I recently shared the stage with billionaire Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Records and Virgin Airlines. There were two things Richard stated that really reinforced what I knew to be true. First, he stated, "I've never done anything in my life to make money. I just always ask, 'Is it going to be fun?'" Next, Richard stated, "Money is just a convenient way of keeping score." If you truly understand this principle, you'll realize that in a capitalistic society, the amount of money you have (or don't have) is directly correlated to the depth and span of the value you provide. So here's the money paradox I mentioned earlier: The greatest way to attract and create more money (or anything for that matter) is to not need it. Now think it through again... If you need something, the real message you're sending out is, "I don't have it." Your neediness is like a raging bonfire, and you're throwing another log on it day after day, hoping it'll go out. The only way to squelch the fire of your lack of financial abundance is to not feed it. Just continually focus on providing tremendous value and service. Henry Ford so wisely put it years ago, "Money will never be achieved when sought after directly. It only comes as the by-product of providing a useful service." Truth is timeless. Get your attention off the economy and your problems, stop chasing the money, become continually grateful for all the goodness you currently have and consistently think, feel and act (going "3 for 3") on what you can give versus what you can get. You'll have true wealth and well-being in every area: relational, mental, physical, spiritual and yes, financial. And just like Branson and so many others who have figured it out, you'll have a lot of fun doing it. That's Harmonic Wealth, my friend, and that's what we all want. To your continued wealth and happiness, James Arthur Ray President/CEO James Ray International, Inc. P.S. Dive more deeply into the true meaning of wealth with my latest DVD, Harmonic Wealth: The Movie... When you do, you'll save $5 off, now through July 22, 2008. Click here to watch the trailer...

My 200th Blog Post: Have you received your "economic expansion" check yet?

This so-called "economic expansion" check is a tax rebate being offered to 130 million households in the United States. At the same time, there's talk of creating a "gas tax holiday." The first three words that crossed my mind when I heard about these two items were, "Please wake up!" In Harmonic Wealth: The Secret of Attracting the Life You Want, I quote that approximately 70% of those who win the lottery end up flat broke within a few short years. There's a reason this occurs, which I'll discuss in a moment, but before I do, please understand... I totally empathize with you if you're in a tough financial situation right now. I've been on the very verge of bankruptcy twice. And that being said... Do you really think these band-aids are going to solve the real issues? I mean seriously, a few hundred dollars per family to "stimulate the economy?" Wasn't spending money we didn't have in the first place the very thing that created the sub-prime mortgage issue? Do you think it's remotely possible that this rebate is an attempt to potentially quick fix an issue it's taken years to create? And how about a whopping $25-$28 dollar savings per person on a "gas tax holiday," while Exxon is posting record earnings? Shouldn't the focus be on cutting energy costs through more efficient use of our resources? So what's the solution? The solution is a shift in consciousness, both individually and collectively. To begin practicing "3 for 3" in a new direction... to think, feel and act differently than we've done to date. Then, and only then, will we see our personal and collective lives transform. In Harmonic Wealth, I discuss what I call the "now person" and the "later person." I submit that the "now" mentality is a major cause of many of our worlds current level of suffering. The "now" person wants all the spoils and returns immediately. This person is driven to do what feels good in the moment and is therefore a prisoner of his or her moods. The "later" person develops self-mastery and commits to living his or her values above and beyond moods. Over the long-term journey, the "later" person does what's necessary to guarantee they get what they truly desire and deserve. When asked, most people would tell you that they want more power, energy, money, health, fitness, love, harmony and well-being, right? These outcomes take focus and commitment over the long-term, don't they? In other words, to get what you want, you often have to do things that you don't like... And most people aren't willing to do the things they don't like. Do you follow? The "later" person develops self-mastery because they condition themselves to like to do the things that bring them what they want. Please read, re-read and understand that last statement. Paradoxically, by focusing upon their true values and desires (and living them!), the "later" person actually has more joy and harmony right now than the "now" person who is a prisoner of their moods, habits and lack of discipline. By delaying the pleasing activities short-term, you end up with pleasing outcomes. Be very aware of activities that feel good in the moment but don't move you toward your pleasing outcome... Activities such as lounging in front of the television, skipping the gym or spending more than you earn can be very seductive. Pleasing activities or pleasing outcomes... Which will you choose? Which will the world choose? By mastering your mood to like what brings you the results you want versus just doing the things you like, you create the life of your dreams. What will a "now" person do with a rebate check or a break in the gas tax? You guessed right if you said they'd most often do more of the same thing that got them in a limiting situation to begin with. A pleasing activity will capture their attention... and once again they'll want it now. This is the exact reason why people who win the lottery are broke in a few years. Anything you're given that you don't have the ability to create on your own will quickly be taken away. The age-old adage about giving a fish versus teaching to fish comes to mind. When we teach to fish, we shift the consciousness of the student and life is never the same. You see most of us want our life to transform right now... maybe even yesterday. We're addicted to the idea that we can get maximum return for the minimum effort. During one mellow afternoon, I remember sitting by the ocean in Hawaii with my family watching a cruise ship in the harbor. We were eating and chatting about anything and everything for several hours in the sun. None of us were paying much real attention to the cruise ship over our food and conversation, and by appearances, it was sitting motionless. Yet after an hour or so, we began to notice that it was actually turning around. After a few more hours, it completed a 180-degree turn. This is a great metaphor for life. We tend to overestimate what we can do in a year and underestimate what we can do in a lifetime. To make a lasting impact on your life and develop true harmonic wealth, you must clearly define a course and have the discipline to stick with it over days, months and years. Your life is not a speedboat that can turn on a dime... Your life is much more like the cruise ship that takes miles and miles and hours and hours of focus and commitment to move in the direction you've chosen. Once again, this takes a shift in consciousness... A shift in how you consistently think, feel and act. All profound shifts in our world, individually and collectively, begin with a shift in consciousness. The question we must ask ourselves individually and collectively is not, "What pleasing activity can I perform right now to do what I like?" It should really be, "What can I do right now that will guarantee I have pleasing outcomes?" And, "What has to happen for me to like doing the things that get me what I want?" Only when we begin to ask and answer the right questions (personally, as a nation and as a world) will the solutions emerge. Then and only then will we personally and collectively create Harmonic Wealth... True harmony and well-being in every single area. To your continued wealth and happiness, James Arthur Ray President/CEO James Ray International P.S. Order my bestselling book, Harmonic Wealth, today, and I'll throw in 3 bonuses for you: an online study guide, an online video course and a free online viewing of my new movie...