Michael's Blog Posts, Tweets, and Misc Musings...
The following quotations may be re-printed when credited as follows: -Michael Nitti, Author/Life Coach _______________________________________________________________
Recent Tweets ( "Tweeting Inspiration Daily" ) ----
It is normal to have doubts when striving for a grand outcome, It is extraordinary to not allow those doubts to stop you. Be extraordinary!
Train yourself to look for the good that is everywhere. Overide your default conditioning to look for what's wrong. What you "see" is what you'll get!
It's your ego-mind that stands guard at the door to your soul, preventing direct access to your true Self. I invite you to fire your door guard.
One isn't Excellent by accident. It isn't a function of ego. You can only be excellent on purpose. You create it, then it creates you!
Your ego compels you to prove your worth in comparison to others. Know that you are worthy, then quit comparing. There is nothing to prove.
You are already enlightened waiting to happen, yet living in the moment (free of the past) is a threat to your ego. Observe the ego, allow for it, override it, and be free!
You are whole & complete & magnificent beyond your wildest expectations. Call off any search outside yourSelf for what you think is lacking. It's already within you!
If you notice that something seems to be lacking, it is likely becuase you have come to expect it to be lacking. What is really lacking is your expectations...
The universe fills a receptive vessel (if you simply observe nature, you will observe that this is true). Be receptive and what you desire will find you!
If you plan for a worst case scenario, guess whats likely to show up? While it's certainly prudent to allow for speedbumbs, you must plan for and expect success!
You must tell the universe what you want in order to get it. You wouldn't wait at the pick-up window at McDonalds without placing an order first. The rest of life works the same way!
You and I are inclined to see things as weve always seen them, rather than newly in each moment. I invite you to hit your personal REFRESH key more often.
There’s nothing wrong with rules and boundaries, just so you are establishing them rather than them dictating to you. Who's leading your dance?
If you want to be UNhappy, notice what's wrong or isnt working & dwell (focus) on it. Guaranteed despair! If you want to be happy, focus on solutions, not what's wrong.
The key to happiness is to fill your life with great things (including stuff that already exists, such as nature, beauty, etc.) and FOCUS on them!
Most of us wait until others do something deserving before we treat them special. Treat others special first and you won't have to wait so long...
It's amazing how a women will "open" when a man makes her feel special, yet men rarely treat women special until they open. Men; Step up & treat her special first!
Supposing your strengths are like clubs in golf bag, how many do you use regularly? Most people rely on only 1 or 2. If your normal way of being doesn't always serve you, simply invent and "condition in" a new behavior - which is akin to adding a new club to your golf bag. You wouldn't use a driver to putt or a putter off the tee, so I invite you to see how life plays out when you begin using the appropriate club...
What part of your partner (lover or biz) are you trying to tame? Don't reign in their strength. Allow for it. Honor it. Overide any urge to control others.
LIfe cant go according to plan if you dont have a plan. Declare yourself! Create a plan. I invite you to use my Life Plan as a template: Michael's Life Plan
Although you may not be able to avoid "unpleasant" situations, you can always choose what you focus on and how you feel. YOU are the author your experience!
One man watches a sunset and is in awe, another simply sees the sun going down. One must INTEND to be inspired and joyful. Take pause and BE present to what's so.
If you want to overcome a specific habit, do not focus on stopping that behavior, but on creating a NEW behavior that replaces (obsoletes) the old one.
If you want to be happy, look forward with anticipation, backward in appreciation, and focus only on what's great in the moment (instead of what isn't).
When dieting, it's important to monitor what goes into your mouth. When you are in a relationship, it's important to monitor what comes out of it.
Most people wait until they "feel like it" before before engaging more fully in life. Yet you're much more likely to feel like it if you engage first!
Excellence lives on the other side of pushing beyond your natural inclination to play less than full out. Excellence is never an accident.
you are doubting your ability to achieve a new goal, you are likely focusing on a past failure. Shift your focus! Your history is NOT your destiny.
Most human beings create excuses for their failures even before they fail (just in case). You are much more likely to succeed if you prepare a victory speech instead.
None of us are born with a meaningful purpose. Our default purpose is survival (to make it safely to death). Unless you are satisfied with playing this small, create both a powerful purpose and a Life Plan to achieve it. You are in charge, not your mind!
What is driving you right now? Are you avoiding something or in pursuit of something grand? A worthy goal is much more likely to pull you out of bed!
You and I have been conditioned to see things other than how they really are. How does one break free of the conditioning? Observe it, allow for it, & let it go. Then, replace it with "Nothing." Our filters distort reality.
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Zen Stories ____________________________________________
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A student once asked his teacher, "Master, what is enlightenment?"
The master replied, "When hungry, eat. When tired, sleep."
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A university professor went to visit a famous Zen master. While the master quietly served tea, the professor talked about Zen. The master poured the visitor's cup to the brim, and then kept pouring.
The professor watched the overflowing cup until he could no longer restrain himself. "It's overfull! No more will go in!" the professor blurted. "You are like this cup," the master replied, "How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup."
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Two men were arguing about a flag flapping in the wind. "It's the wind that is really moving," stated the first one. "No, it is the flag that is moving," contended the second. A Zen master, who happened to be walking by, overheard the debate and interrupted them. "Neither the flag nor the wind is moving," he said, "It is MIND that moves."
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A student went to his meditation teacher and said, "My meditation is horrible! I feel so distracted, or my legs ache, or I'm constantly falling asleep. It's just horrible!" "It will pass," the teacher said matter-of-factly. A week later, the student came back to his teacher. "My meditation is wonderful! I feel so aware, so peaceful, so alive! It's just wonderful!' the teacher replied matter-of-factly, "it will pass."
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Word spread across the countryside about the wise Holy Man who lived in a small house atop the mountain. A man from the village decided to make the long and difficult journey to visit him. When he arrived at the house, he saw an old servant inside who greeting him at the door. "I would like to see the wise Holy Man," he said to the servant. The servant smiled and led him inside. As they walked through the house, the man from the village looked eagerly around the house, anticipating his encounter with the Holy Man. Before he knew it, he had been led to the back door and escorted outside. He stopped and turned to the servant, "But I want to see the Holy Man!" "You already have," said the old man. "Everyone you may meet in life, even if they appear plain and insignificant... see each of them as a wise Holy Man. If you do this, then whatever problem you brought here today will be solved."
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The emperor, who was a devout Buddhist, invited a great Zen master to the Palace in order to ask him questions about Buddhism. "What is the highest truth of the holy Buddhist doctrine?" the emperor inquired. "Vast emptiness... and not a trace of holiness," the master replied. "If there is no holiness," the emperor said, "then who or what are you?" "I do not know," the master replied.
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A beautiful girl in the village was pregnant. Her angry parents demanded to know who was the father. At first resistant to confess, the anxious and embarrassed girl finally pointed to Hakuin, the Zen master whom everyone previously revered for living such a pure life. When the outraged parents confronted Hakuin with their daughter's accusation, he simply replied "Is that so?" When the child was born, the parents brought it to the Hakuin, who now was viewed as a pariah by the whole village. They demanded that he take care of the child since it was his responsibility. "Is that so?" Hakuin said calmly as he accepted the child. For many months he took very good care of the child until the daughter could no longer withstand the lie she had told. She confessed that the real father was a young man in the village whom she had tried to protect. The parents immediately went to Hakuin to see if he would return the baby. With profuse apologies they explained what had happened. "Is that so?" Hakuin said as he handed them the child.
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A priest was in charge of the garden within a famous Zen temple. He had been given the job because he loved the flowers, shrubs, and trees. Next to the temple there was another, smaller temple where there lived a very old Zen master. One day, when the priest was expecting some special guests, he took extra care in tending to the garden. He pulled the weeds, trimmed the shrubs, combed the moss, and spent a long time meticulously raking up and carefully arranging all the dry autumn leaves. As he worked, the old master watched him with interest from across the wall that separated the temples. When he had finished, the priest stood back to admire his work. "Isn't it beautiful," he called out to the old master. "Yes," replied the old man, "but there is something missing. Help me over this wall and I'll put it right for you." After hesitating, the priest lifted the old fellow over and set him down. Slowly, the master walked to the tree near the center of the garden, grabbed it by the trunk, and shook it. Leaves showered down all over the garden. "There," said the old man, "you can put me back now."
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There is a Taoist story of an old farmer who had worked his crops for many years. One day his horse ran away. Upon hearing the news, his neighbors came to visit. "Such bad luck," they said sympathetically. "We'll see," the farmer replied. The next morning the horse returned, bringing with it three other wild horses. "How wonderful," the neighbors exclaimed. "We'll see," replied the old man. The following day, his son tried to ride one of the untamed horses, was thrown, and broke his leg. The neighbors again came to offer their sympathy on his misfortune. "We'll see," answered the farmer. The day after, military officials came to the village to draft young men into the army. Seeing that the son's leg was broken, they passed him by. The neighbors congratulated the farmer on how well things had turned out. "We'll see" said the farmer.
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Two monks were washing their bowls in the river when they noticed a scorpion that was drowning. One monk immediately scooped it up and set it upon the bank. In the process he was stung. He went back to washing his bowl and again the scorpion fell in. The monk saved the scorpion and was again stung. The other monk asked him, "Friend, why do you continue to save the scorpion when you know it's nature is to sting?" "Because," the monk replied, "to save it is my nature."
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A martial arts student went to his teacher and said earnestly, "I am devoted to studying your martial system. How long will it take me to master it." The teacher's reply was casual, "Ten years." Impatiently, the student answered, "But I want to master it faster than that. I will work very hard. I will practice everyday, ten or more hours a day if I have to. How long will it take then?" The teacher thought for a moment, "20 years."
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A famous spiritual teacher came to the front door of the King's palace. None of the guards tried to stop him as he entered and made his way to where the King himself was sitting on his throne. "What do you want?" asked the King, immediately recognizing the visitor. "I would like a place to sleep in this inn," replied the teacher. "But this is not an inn," said the King, "It is my palace." "May I ask who owned this palace before you?" "My father. He is dead." "And who owned it before him?" "My grandfather. He too is dead." "And this place where people live for a short time and then move on - did I hear you say that it is NOT an inn?"
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During the civil wars in feudal Japan, an invading army would quickly sweep into a town and take control. In one particular village, everyone fled just before the army arrived - everyone except the Zen master. Curious about this old fellow, the general went to the temple to see for himself what kind of man this master was. When he wasn't treated with the deference and submissiveness to which he was accustomed, the general burst into anger. "You fool," he shouted as he reached for his sword, "don't you realize you are standing before a man who could run you through without blinking an eye!" But despite the threat, the master seemed unmoved. "And do you realize," the master replied calmly, "that you are standing before a man who can be run through without blinking an eye?"
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The students in the monastery were in total awe of the elder monk, not because he was strict, but because nothing ever seemed to upset or ruffle him. So they found him a bit unearthly and even frightening. One day they decided to put him to a test. A bunch of them very quietly hid in a dark corner of one of the hallways, and waited for the monk to walk by. Within moments, the old man appeared, carrying a cup of hot tea. Just as he passed by, the students all rushed out at him screaming as loud as they could. But the monk showed no reaction whatsoever. He peacefully made his way to a small table at the end of the hall, gently placed the cup down, and then, leaning against the wall, cried out with shock, "Ohhhhh!"
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One day Chuang Tzu and a friend were walking by a river. "Look at the fish swimming about," said Chuang Tzu, "They are really enjoying themselves." "You are not a fish," replied the friend, "So you can't truly know that they are enjoying themselves." "You are not me," said Chuang Tzu. "So how do you know that I do not know that the fish are enjoying themselves?"
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Worth Sharing:
Friends: This email is from a Doctor in New York, whose 10-year old son was listening in while she attended a recent Trophy Effect Tele-class. I thank her for sharing...
Hi Michael,
Guess who was also listening on your teleconference. My 10 year old son. I put you on speaker and went to his room to tuck him in. I laid next to him and when I thought he was asleep went to my room. About 5 minutes later he came to my room and said "you didn't say good night". I told him that I thought he was asleep. He said no I was listening. So I went back to his room, and we listened to the rest of your teleconference. At the end he said, "That was deep". The next morning I woke him up for school. The first thing he said was, "I have alot of bad trophy's" I said you don't have to. He asked, "how do I get rid of them?" I said spend more time in the good trophy room.
Later that night, after my son refused to get my friend a drink, I told my boyfriend how he had cleared the table of all the dirty dishes on his own accord, Wednesday when my friends were over, my son said immediately that is a "good trophy" and asked me how I would rate it. I said a "10". He said he would rate it a "3". I told everyone that we tend to rate our own good trophy's low (like the lady your walked through the process did on the call).
Isn't that fabulous? You impacted my 10 year old. Cool deal. I am going to get your audiobook so the kids can listen in the car too.
Love Lots, K....
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