The Best Years of Your Life… Now!

A long time ago I came to the realization that the popular media had prostituted itself regarding what was real and not real…

I’m referring to the never ending barrage of contradicting news stories about the economy.

One day things look good the next day we’re in the middle of a recession.

The economy has its’ own biorhythm, one that isn’t so different from the ups and downs of our own day to day lives. As far as the economy is concerned, a “day” may be measured over a period of weeks or months and not 24 hours.

When I hear these sensationalist news stories change from day to day I just tune them out. I know better. What I understand is this: Unless we are facing imminent full scale war or collapse things are going to fluctuate about plus or minus 10%. (at the most)

This means in the worst case imaginable (barring an outright depression) 90% of the economy will still function.

Now I realize I’m using extreme numbers here…I don’t think we’ve had 10% unemployment (as measured by the government) in the last 20 or 30 years. (let me know if I’m wrong)

The single greatest cause for this fluctuation is perceived and not based on anything real. People put off buying something because they become fearful of the future not because they can’t afford the item. It’s loss of confidence that creates economic slowdown and that’s usually a purely emotional reaction.

Why am I bringing this up?

As I stated in an earlier blog posting, you can’t allow “today’s perception of reality” to determine your personal reality. Don’t let fear uncertainty and doubt (FUD) determine how you are going to live your life. Especially when it’s coming from the mass media!

Stay focused on your dreams no matter what the latest “headlines” are screaming. The timing of your personal success has little or nothing to do with the current economic wave. It has everything to do with your intent, determination and action.

The greater danger to you is when fear of the future robs you of hope and steals away your energy . Don’t let yourself fall into thinking that it’s not the right time to do what you want to do.

Just remember one simple truth:

No matter what the current economic conditions are there are always those who persevere and succeed. The reason for this is simple: They stay focused upon the certain reality of their dreams as they adjust and refine their actions as necessary to achieve their aspirations!

Create your own reality… Trust yourself and your dreams.

-Bob Baran

A couple of days ago I ran across a few video tapes I had all but forgotten about. They were from 1997. What made them unusual was the reason I had for making them.

I had just gone through a divorce and my life was to say the least upside down.

We’ve all gone through those times in our lives where you feel like you are in a free-fall. That was a period of my life where I felt like all of my “foundations” were crumbling and there was little I could do to stop it.

I recall making a decision during this period to purchase a video camera. The purpose was to record me giving myself a “pep talk” about what I was going through. Kind of like a high tech version of talking to yourself in the mirror.

I reasoned that in those moments when I was feeling the worst, the ability to see and hear me encouraging (myself) to continue pressing forward would be a powerful tool. I felt this would be a strong reminder that no matter how bad things may seem to be at any given moment, it was temporary and it was going to pass.

As I watched these short powerful “off the cuff” little videos (now 11 years later) I was astonished that what I was telling myself, in time, became my reality! In fact the decade between 1997 and 2007 has been the most astonishing time of my entire life.

Every dream I ever had, including the most important one, finding true love has all come true.

Video cameras can now be purchased for under $200. I urge you to consider creating your own ongoing video journal. The videos themselves don’t have to be long or clever. They just need to be real and honestly reflect who you are and what your dreams and aspirations are.

Most important, if you find yourself going through a challenging period of your life (as I was when I made my videos) I think you are going to find these little videos you make for yourself will be powerfully healing and prophetic.

The most empowering thing you can do for yourself is to tell yourself what you believe, what your dreams are and to encourage yourself to remember that the best is yet to come in your life…

It doesn’t matter how bad things may seem…You are right now moving into the very best years of your life.
Seeing and hearing yourself reminding you of this truth is nothing short of magical. One day you will appreciate being able to look back over time and see the courage and determination you had to keep moving forward toward your dreams.

And mark my words, you will one day find yourself looking back in time from a world where your dreams have come true or are in the process of coming true…

-Bob Baran

I posted a blog on November 30, 2007 about “shape shifting”.

What I call the process of making a conscious decision to “rapidly” transform your physical appearance. In the blog I proposed a simple 6 week self-directed program to lose 20 pounds for men and 10 pounds for women.

Well, it didn’t fall on deaf ears!

In fact, after I posted the blog the idea started to haunt me. So about a week before Christmas I announced to my wife Gwen that I was going to do some shape shifting myself! To which she responded that she too would do it with me… What a great woman! (she didn’t need to lose any weight)

Okay, today (as I am writing this) is the second day of week 5 and I’m down 16 lbs! I’m confident I’ll do 20+ by the end of the 6th week. Tomorrow I’m going to my regularly scheduled hair appointment and well I might take a look at one of those magazines with all the hair styles…but no promises!

I’m comfortably wearing a shirt I couldn’t wear for the last couple of years and my pants fall off me if I don’t put a belt on.

I’m really feeling good about myself and I see a change when I look in the mirror. So, we’ll be changing those pictures on the www.intentionalprosperity.com site in the coming days too. This is getting fun!

You know what?

The hardest part of the process is deciding to do it, picking the day to start and getting past the first three or four days. I was determined to at least get back to the way I look on my music sites. (Google my name) That picture was taken just two years ago …Twenty extra pounds can really age a guy!

So, I’m on a roll now. I’m thinking that the end week 6 will only be another milestone and not be the end of the process. Oh yeah, I’ve been working out almost everyday too. I never fully appreciated how quickly your body responds to consistent exercise.

Consistency really is the key! Incremental steps over time.

You know what? There are a few people who I haven’t seen in the past few weeks. It might be fun to walk up to them in a couple of months and watch their reaction… Hey maybe I should shave my goatee! …Hmm.

-Bob Baran

Some Routines Are Good…

I’ve written a lot about changing habits because for most of us those little things we do, without thinking, account for around 75% of our waking time. I believe that much of the time we are virtually sleepwalking through life. We don’t think, we react… and like it or not, our habits, not our hopes and dreams, is what reaffirms our day to day reality.

All habits aren’t bad! Some types of (habitual) activity is good. It can actually provides us with a level of freedom to focus upon things which can create the overall change we may desire in our lives.

There are certain repeatable things we do, routines or habits, that are in our best interest to continue doing. These are the things which deal with our basic life sustaining activities. You need to look at these things. If they are working in your best interest, don’t change them. If you recognize that they are not working in your best interest then by all means, change them.

Because of my engineering background I have a way of dealing with the things I decide to change. I start with my benchmark, which is a known quantity. Then I change only one thing. The reason for this is to determine a couple of things:

1. Does the change improve or cause a dysfunction of some kind?

2. Is the dysfunction the result of the “new thing” by itself or is it the result of a new synergy between those existing things which comprise the benchmark?

Obviously you don’t want to change anything that is already working!

What you want to do is to identify those things that can be improved which will provide an overall better life experience. In order to do this, you should only “experiment” with a singe “aspect” of yourself at a time.

There is good reason why an alcoholic is told not to quit smoking cigarettes or drinking coffee when they are attempting to “go sober”.

We humans do not respond well to wholesale change. On the other hand, incremental changes over time seems to be something we are “hard wired” to thrive on.

We “freak out” when to many things suddenly change. We flourish and grow if change happens in steps.

Ironically, incremental change is the fastest way to create overall change in your life. It brings about overall life change in the most efficient way possible. The reason is you are continually expanding your foundation (of reality) rather than attempting to radically alter it.

Do you understand this concept?

When it comes to your consciousness, it’s always easier to expand it than it is to chop part of it off!

-Bob Baran

When I was 21 years old I was worried that it was already too late to “make it” in the music business.

I had already been on the road playing music and was contemplating my next move.

By the time I put my first album out I was 37. I launched a record label with my wife Gwen at the age of 53. Less than two years later I had released 6 new albums. The latest release (a solo piano album) “Escape Music® A New Dawn” made it to four categories on the Grammy ballot!

My music is available all over the world.

So what did I do during the 32 years between 21 and 53? I lived my life! I took adventures …Did great things and stupid things. Every time I took a turn and began a new journey it was because I was following my passion. It was something I wanted and needed to explore so I found a way to do it. In fact I turned following my passion (and making a living doing it) into a formula that has always worked.

The point of this blog is to stress one absolutely essential truth: It is never too late to follow your dreams!

Sure, what changes over time are your motives (your agenda or purpose for doing it). Accomplishing something that was a dream earlier in your life and had to be placed on the back burner, is so much sweeter when you are able to return to it and accomplish it! Because your perspective now is so different. Your reasons for doing it have changed. They are deeper and more profound.

Don’t let the illusion of your age create a resistance to stepping out and trying something new!

If you have a passion for something, it’s a inner sign that you are ready to take that journey. Your heart lets you know through excitement, desire, and focus that you are “on the right road”. These are the essential ingredients of passion. Think of passion as a doorway into the next chapter of your life.

Your age and experience provides you with a much more profound and meaningful foundation upon which you will build your new reality. The reality which is always a byproduct of following your passion.

Knowing why you are doing something (following your passion) and trusting yourself to enjoy the journey getting there, is a pay-off for the life dues you’ve paid. The time you have already invested in your life creates a delicious flavor of self-fulfillment as you consciously achieve your dreams. They will mirror who you are and what you value now. A much tastier treat than the empty calorie whims and desires of your youth.

It’s never too late to follow your passion!

-Bob Baran