Free Gifts for Christmas

You can pick up lots of free gifts when you subscribe to Bradley Thompson's free Self-Development newsletter.

These gifts include:

E-books on:

Overcoming Addictions
Advanced Memory
Holistic Healing Secrets
47 Secret Herbal Remedies
EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) Manual

Software:

Motivator Software
Mind Mapping Software

Plus free motivational Audio and Video interviews with leading self-development mentors and coaches such as Joe Vitale and Brian Walsh.

And much more.

You can subscribe to the Self Development newsletter or simply find out more information here.

Catching the Big Fish: Meditation, Consciousness & Creativity by David Lynch

David Lynch has been a dedicated practitioner of Transcendental Meditation for over 30 years and has created the David Lynch Foundation for Consciousness-Based Education and World Peace. This organisation provides scholarships and resources for teaching children and teenagers the art of Transcendental Meditation.

In his book, Catching the Big Fish, David Lynch talks about how meditation has influenced his creativity and helped him to come up with the unusual ideas, iconic images and concepts that have populated his work throughout his career.

However the book deals more with the connection between meditation and the creative processes than the techniques of meditation itself.

It is a personal look at how meditation has influenced one artist's life.

David Lynch: Kids and Meditation

David Lynch, the creator of Twin Peaks and the director of the Elephant Man, is launching a campaign in the UK to promote the practice of Transcendental Meditation in schools.

Lynch believes that Transcendental Meditation helps to develop creativity and academic ability as well as improving the emotional well-being, health and stress levels of children.

He has already launched a similar campaign in the United States with approximately 20,000 schoolkids practising the two 20 minute sessions every day.

Read more about Transcendental Meditation here.

Inspirational Bookstore

Over the next few weeks, I'll be compiling a list of inspirational books and music that have empowered individuals, awakened the imagination and fed the soul.

Check out the list so far in the Creative Mentors Bookstore.

Selling the Impossible

In the late 90s, Dr Evoy, a Canadian physician developed a specialised investment software product which he knew would be "virtually impossible to sell" and that cost 1000 dollars.

He set himself the challenge to create a website that would be effective at encouraging people to buy the little known product.

In two years, he sold all 1000 copies of his software at $1000 each by developing the ultimate internet marketing techniques.

Now he teaches other people to create something out of nothing through his webhosting service, Sitesell.com

Over the past two weeks, I have been looking at the ingredients of success. So far I've observed that successful people never give up and don't know the meaning of the word impossible.

They also diversify, expand and never stop progressing once they reach a certain platform of success. For example, Dr Evoy teaches emergency medicine at McGill University, created a successful toy design business, taught golf, and coached baseball before eventually becoming one of the top internet gurus who has led many webmasters to success.

For me, I think the true meaning of success is defined by people who enjoy and celebrate their achievements, no matter how small and insignificant they may seem to others.

After all, what is the point of having a billion dollars if you're not enjoying it?

Impossible Dreams

I read this story a couple months ago on the blog Eric's Tips.

At 20 years old, Ladan Lashkari is a top internet marketing expert with over 20 websites which include newsletter publishing tips and self-improvement. She makes a profitable living from her online businesses in spite of many challenges and obstacles she faces such as not being able to have a credit card or merchant account or travel outside her country.

The ingredients of success in her case appear to be persistence, perseverance and immense positivity in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

In the book, Think and Grow Rich, the author Napoleon Hill said that he once removed the word 'impossible' from a dictionary. According to the article in Eric's Tips, Ladan Lashkari seems to share this philosophy. And in the past few weeks, when studying stories of success, I've discovered that many of the people who've realised great ambitions did not seem to know the meaning of the word 'impossible'.

But there are many people who dream big dreams but are not able to manifest them. So what is the ingredient that separates the fanciful Don Quixote style dreamers from those who actually realise their big ambitions?

I shall endeavour to find out.

Read the inspiring article about Ladan Lashkari.

The 7 Rules of Success

When striving to turn a big ambition into a reality, it can be helpful and inspiring to read about other people who have already achieved success (and who - most importantly - are HAPPY with what they have achieved).

It can be particularly inspiring to read about all the odds they had to overcome, all the setbacks, obstacles and difficulties they experienced before they attained success - especially if you may be on the verges of giving up.

In the book, The Seven Rules of Success, top Life Coach, Fiona Harrold, explores and interviews people who have achieved great success in diverse areas of life.

She identifies 7 factors which helped these people on their journey to success:

1) Passion about what they are doing
2) Great self-belief
3) Doing more & more
4) Being prepared to take risks
5) Being able to inspire others
6) Perserverance
7) Generosity

The 7 Rules of Success features about 28 success stories and is an inspiring and insightful read.

Simple Abundance

One of my favourite teachers came ten years ago in the form of a book by Sarah Ban Breathnach. I was intending to buy it as a Mother's Day present but ended up buying it for myself.

The book was called Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy. It is an inspirational book for women. It is all about finding your authentic self. The book is packed with information about creative mentors and teachers. It is full of quotations and meditations, amusing anecdotes and poignant stories. Each two month period is devoted to a particular theme such as gratitude, order, simplicity or joy.

This book can be a great companion to you both throughout the year as you read each day's passage and on any stage of your spiritual journey.

It is a particularly helpful book to have by your side if you are going through a transitional stage in life.

The Happiest Man in the World

Matthieu Ricard, Buddhist monk, photographer, author, former biologist and translator for the Dalai Lama, has written a new book called Happiness: A Guide To Developing Life's Most Important Skill which contains simple meditation exercises.

Matthieu Ricard is the son of artist Yahne Le Toumelin and philosopher and journalist, Jean-François Revel. He has led a fascinating life and is suitably qualified to write a book about Happiness.

He has been declared the Happiest Man in the World following rigorous clinical tests by neuroscientists at the University of Wisconsin using MRI scanning to monitor his brain activity. (Read the scientific ins and outs of the study and an interview here)