Tip#16: Take Stock Of Your Achievements

It is New Year's Eve as I write this tip and have stayed committed to keeping regular postings on Wednesday and Sunday mornings. The reason is that I've received many wonderful thank you emails letting me know I've been providing hope to people during this holiday season. So if you are reading this now here is a tip to help get you excited about your goals for the new year.

In order to move forward sometimes you have to take a step back. It's like the expression, 'stop and smell the roses', it's a chance for you to pause and take stock of your past year's achievements. Big or small accomplishments, everyone has had many breakthroughs and it is important to recognize and acknowledge your personal successes. It's a great way to build your self-esteem and self-confidence. Here are 3 steps to help you:

STEP 1
Look at where you were a year ago in your:
a) Career b) Relationships c) Life Challenges

Helpful triggers:
- Look back at each month via your emails, daytimer, etc.
- Remember the challenges you were going through at the time.
- Remind yourself of fears you faced or projects you had completed over the year.
- Ask a friend or family member if they remember any successes you had. Maybe it was something you were searching for and finally found.

STEP 2
Write as many successes down as you can under each category.

STEP 3
Celebrate these successes today by treating yourself to: a favourite beverage, food, movie, etc. This raises your positive energy, positive attitude and self-esteem to prepare you for bigger successes.

Here are my personal examples:

a) Career:
- Developed and launched new identity: motivatorman.com
- Discovered new passion for documenting my experiences through blogging
- Learning to say ‘no’ more confidently to jobs that are not in line with my vision
- Upgraded to hispeed internet service

b) Relationships:
- Let go of several toxic relationships even one that was a long time friend
- Learning to stand my ground and speak my mind faster
- Met key contacts for potentially ideal business allies

c) Life Challenges:
- Discovered Noni juice which has helped my immune system and energy levels
- Cleared a lot of old clothes and junk from my home I've had for too many years
- My relationship and trust with money continues to improve

Hopefully my personal examples of successes will show you that achievements can be anything you did that made you feel great and better about yourself as a person. Keep in mind that this feel good energy is what will fuel the success of your new year's resolutions or goals. This exercise builds your self-esteem and confidence levels and will start to work as a powerful magnet for more success. It's the law of attraction. Like attracts like.

Remember it takes courage to do something you may be uncomfortable with to achieve a successful outcome. You've done it before and you can do even more. So now I am raising a glass to toast all your successes this past year and wish you a happy new year full of even greater accomplishments in your life and career! Cheers!

Emmanuel Lopez
www.motivatorman.com
© Emmanuel Lopez 2006

Tip#15: Have A Goal - Spider-Man 2

If you are lucky to be in vacation mode during this holiday season then why not think of a new year's resolution for yourself. Play with the possibility for some positive change by focusing on at least one goal you'd like to achieve when the new year comes.

My workshops start off by asking people what their life or career goals are. For some individuals it comes easy to put into words what it is they want to achieve. Sometimes I get someone who can't think of any goals at all. For those people I always suggest they write down that their goal is TO HAVE A GOAL. It is an ironic but valid start.

Examples of goals:
• My goal for the new year is to increase my income.
• My goal for the new year is to be more self-confident.
• My goal for the new year is to have more supportive relationships.

Write out a similar goal statement for yourself. Use positive sounding words and what you want for yourself. Start with, "My goal for the new year is to..."

Spider-Man 2 (2004)

The superhero film, Spider-Man 2 continues the story of a young man possessing super spider powers and how difficult he finds to manage life as a student and hero. In this chapter he battles Doc Ock with visually stunning special effects.

I love the line in the movie Spider-Man 2after Peter Parker loses his powers and wants to get them back. He says to himself with a keen look in his eyes, "Strong focus on what I want." With that statement, Parker begins the first step to accomplishing his goal.

Part of the appeal of Peter Parker is that even though he is a superhero he is still human with all the same human flaws we all have. He too has ordinary things in life that he yearns to have in order to be happier. He too has goals of making a living and to express himself to the one he loves. Check out this film if you want to motivate yourself with your goals.

So start focusing on what you want. Write it down. Writing is the first step in manifesting into reality the thoughts in your head. Your mind is a powerful generator of thoughts and energy. Harness it and imagine a more satisfying life or career for yourself now.

"You need a plan to build a house. To build a life, it is even more important to have a plan or goal."
Zig Ziglar

Emmanuel Lopez
www.motivatorman.com
© Emmanuel Lopez 2006

Tip#14: It’s Okay To Slow Down - Local Hero

Sometimes it is tough to slow down when you are on a roll with work. It takes a lot of will power to just say no to the pile of work sitting in front of you. And if you are successful you will discover many hidden benefits.

For the past week I'd been busy sending holiday email greetings out and 1/4 of them auto responded that they were on vacation. I'd been working intensely this December that it only dawned on me at that moment Christmas day was right around the corner. This surprised me because normally I enjoy slowing down at this time of year and not think of business at all.

Local Hero (1983)

The comedy drama film, Local Hero is about an American businessman (Peter Riegert) sent to a Scottish village to make a major purchase of the land and beach area. What ends up happening is he slowly falls in love with the land. He lets go of his strict, regimented business attitude and allows the beautiful, new surroundings into his soul.

The quiet charm of the townsfolk and the open air land was a big contrast to the early scenes of a busy big city buzz. There is one scene where the businessman is in the town's tiny convenience store with just the essentials like toothpaste. There weren't several brands of toothpaste to choose from. Just one. Simple. Can you see how attractive that can be?

It was interesting to watch him day-by-day slowly let go of his usual routine of dressing in his suit like not wearing his tie one day and later his jacket and then his wrist watch. It's a wonderful metaphor that time slows down when you are away from technology. His spirit begins to breathe again. He realizes in the end how empty his old life and corporate world is after having experienced this unexpected vacation.

So even though I was surprised that the holidays were upon us I am grateful for the email auto responses reminding me that it was okay to slow down. I really wanted to keep working at full throttle but for now I've set myself on neutral to spend time with family, friends and catch up with my backed up list of movies I wanted to see.

Sometimes it's not easy to slow down but in the end it'll give you a chance to clear your head. You'll feel more energized. The yearly winter holidays are here to stay so allow yourself to go with the flow of the days your city or town shuts down.

Happy holidays to you all and hope you enjoy some quality time with your friends, family and maybe your favourite pastimes and passions.

Emmanuel Lopez
www.motivatorman.com
© Emmanuel Lopez 2006

Tip#13: Believe In Synchronicity, Pt.1 - 4 Movie Tips

Synchronicity:
Defined as a meaningful coincidence of two or more events, where something other than the probability of chance is involved.

I am a big believer in synchronicity and I love sharing stories about events that have happened to me that seem like they were part of an amazing movie script. In fact every movie or story involves some sort of synchronicity that propels the plot forward. Life can be accelerated just like that if you become more aware of your chance encounters and meaningful coincidences.

The Number 13

One of my stories involves the number 13 and since this is my 13th motivational tip it seems a perfect time to share it. Two months ago I gave a workshop at a conference retreat north of Toronto. When I arrived it was lunchtime so I went to the dining area where several hundred attendees had started their lunches.

Many of the round tables were already full except one with one man seated there. I decided to join him and we introduced ourselves. I told him about the topic I was going to speak on that afternoon and he was so excited about it that he decided to join my workshop instead of the one he had already signed up for.

Later as I set up my room I noticed that there were 12 people signed up for my workshop and that the new person would make 13. Some believe that number is bad luck but that day it was just the opposite as I will explain later.

The workshop went smoothly and, as always, I talked about synchronicity and of Carl Jung who coined the word to describe what he called "temporally coincident occurrences of acausal events" or meaningful coincidences.

I then shared the story about the 13th attendee who joined the group through our chance encounter at lunch and how he felt he was meant to be in my workshop. Our workshop was also in Room 13. Then someone noticed that there were 13 letters in the word synchronicity. Suddenly the whole group uttered a collective "Ohhhh!"

That really made my day because it's that spontaneous expression of childlike wonder that can allow amazing synchronicities to initiate positive changes in our lives.

Synchronicity Continues

To my surprise the synchronicities continued beyond the conference. It turned out this 13th attendee worked in downtown Toronto and astonishingly just down the street from me. Think carefully of the chances of this happening and you'll see that this coincidence deserves extra attention. At this point my gut was telling me that there was a higher reason we had met and we had to stay in contact.

Since then he has become a constant source of support with my career goals and always gives me feedback on my blog entries. In turn I have the opportunity to help him with his goals too. we are fast becoming the best of friends. What a great and unexpected gift we've both received from our chance encounter.

Signs (2002)

The sci fi drama, Signs explores synchronicity starring Mel Gibson. Gibson plays Graham a family man who has lost his faith. But through a series of meaningful coincidences within this thriller he sees a pattern of signs that leads to saving his family and re-ignites his faith.

Serendipity (2001)

The term synchronicity is similar to the term serendipity defined as a fortunate accident. The romantic comedy movie Serendipity stars Kate Beckinsale and John Cusack and explores how powerful coincidences can bring two people together if only they recognize and act on the signs presented to them. It takes courage to follow signs that do not make sense in your head but feel right in your heart.

The Truman Show (1998)8

Another movie that explores meaningful coincidences is the comedy drama The Truman Show starring Jim Carrey. Carrey plays Truman who is unwittingly the star of an ongoing TV show within a town of actors that revolves around everything he does. This becomes a powerful metaphor that there are actions going on behind the scenes in life that are setting up synchronistic events to occur for our benefit.

I Heart Huckabees (2004)

The fantasy comedy film, I Heart Huckabees explores how coincidences and chance meetings can lead someone towards their dreams and goals. Two existential detectives, played by Dustin Hoffman and Lily Tomlin, are hired to discover the meaning of a man’s coincidences. Their discoveries demonstrate how the universe is always at work helping people deal with the core issues preventing them from achieving what they desire most in life.

So Believe

So believe in synchronicity and that the people you meet happen for a reason. Remember that seemingly random events in your life are leading you somewhere meaningful. If something related happens twice ask yourself, "What is the message I am getting?"

And if something happens 3 times then the universe is really hitting you over the head to deliver a message or a sign! Like any great movie script nothing said or done is ever wasted. Make the most of your chance encounters and coincidences right now.

"The intellect has little to do on the road to discovery. There comes a leap in consciousness, call it Intuition or what you will, the solution comes to you and you don't know how or why."
Albert Einstein

"The first insight occurs when we become conscious of the coincidences in our lives and that some other process is operating… Chance coincidences are meant to happen."
The Celestine Prophecy

Related Tips:
Tip#13: Believe In Synchronicity, Pt.1 - 4 Movie Tips
Tip#554: Believe in Synchronicity, Pt.2 – Jeff, Who Lives at Home – Touch TV Series
Tip#639: Believe in Synchronicity, Pt. 3 – Grand Canyon
Tip#800: Believe In Synchronicity, Pt.4 - Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

Emmanuel Lopez
www.motivatorman.com
© Emmanuel Lopez 2006

Tip#12: Love Actually Is All Around - Love Actually

For some, the holidays are not a festive time. The season can magnify the things we don't have in our lives causing us to slip into dark, depressing moods. I know because I'm one of those people and this year it's a little more challenging then most.

Yes, even motivators need motivation sometimes and thankfully movies have always been there for me. And some movies are much more effective the second time around.

Love Actually (2003)

The romantic comedy, Love Actually is about several stories about family love and romantic love that intersect and connect in wonderful ways. This has become a Christmas classic and has an all-star cast that include Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Kiera Knightly and Bill Nighy.

I surprised myself recently by seeing the film, Love Actuallyagain and having it fill me with such laughter and hope. It feels like an epic movie without any earth shattering special effects or a cast of thousands. It simply tells the story of many relationship examples of love with all its extreme joys and pain at Christmas. Hugh Grant's character says it all in the introduction at the start of the movie...

"Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion's starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it's always there - fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends…

…When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge - they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I've got a sneaky feeling you'll find that love actually is all around."

I read later that the images on the screen during this introduction are of real-life greetings and reunions filmed at a real airport. That was a powerful start to a rich and playful story. Seeing it a second time gave me the chance to see the film in a new light and definitely at a time in my life when my soul really needed a boost.

I highly recommend this movie if you are feeling alone and lost, looking for love or just to share it with a loved one. Note though that some scenes are not suitable for a younger audience.

Love Actuallywill entertain as much as provoke you to look at how you define love. And at the very least the amazingly vibrant soundtrack and use of songs by the characters will fill you with a magical kind of hope.

Emmanuel Lopez
www.motivatorman.com
© Emmanuel Lopez 2006

Tip#11: Get A Glimpse Of The Life You Want - The Family Man

Wouldn't it be great if you could get a glimpse of a future life you could have? It's like peering into a whole new window of opportunities. Continuing with some of my favourite Christmas movies here is one that reflects more of my deepest wishes

The Family Man 2000

The romantic comedy film, The Family Manstars Nicholas Cage as single, work-focused Jack Campbell and is given a glimpse of what his life would look like if he married and had kids. It's a film about a financially successful single man who, at Christmas time, gets a glimpse of what it would be like to have a suburban family instead of his wealthy corporate executive lifestyle. It's a movie that shows the power of experiencing a different life then the one you have now.

"I know we could both go on with our lives and we'd both be fine, but I've seen what we could be like together. And I choose us."

This story became a powerful mirror for me because my early mid-life awakening 7 years ago (as of this writing) showed me that I had become a classic workaholic and time had passed so quickly that I was missing out on having a family life. I never took the time to think of any other lifestyle and yet felt empty inside despite my many career successes. This entertaining movie became a visual tool to help me picture the future I now wanted. It re-vitalized my goals in life.

That's why I love movies so much because they can show anyone futures they may want but couldn't imagine before. And what is great about The Family Manis the film makes no judgment over which is better: financial success or a family life. I now believe you can have both and believing is the first step towards making change happen.

As Dr. Wayne Dyer says "You’ll see it when you believe it." And believing becomes much easier if you can picture what you want. Movies are a fun and powerful way tool for doing that.

So my new take on Dyer's quote is, "You’ll see it when you believe it WHEN YOU PICTURE IT!" Allow yourself to look at the movies you love and see if they are showing you a future that you want. Take note of the excitement you feel from the scenes you are watching. Maybe they are showing you the house you want, the job you want or the kind of loving relationships that would make you the happiest.

Ponder the enjoyable images you are watching because maybe you are getting a glimpse at the world you are meant to have.

Emmanuel Lopez
www.motivatorman.com
© Emmanuel Lopez 2006

Tip#10: Re-Energize Through Christmas Movies - 3 Movie Tips

Holidays are meant to be special times when you can treat yourself to colourful sights and sounds to soothe your soul. For many, Christmas time can invoke a magical season bursting with happy and timeless memories.

The Christmas season can get me feeling this timeless vibe that always lifts my spirits. There is something heart warming in the holiday music I hear and the colourful Christmas lights that decorate the streets of Toronto. And, of course, I must mention some of my favourite holiday movies that come on every year at this time. They always take me to a happy and safe place in my past.

It's A Wonderful Life (1946)

As mentioned in tip#6, It's A Wonderful Lifeis a favourite film of mine with scenes that always move me deeply. Like the one where George Bailey finally breaks down sobbing and prays for help. I also love the finale when all his friends gather to help him graciously in his desperate time of need.

These scenes mirror times I have been in and go through once in awhile. They remind me that even though there are rough times there will always be uplifting ones too. And most importantly I am reminded that each of us are never ever alone in our darkest hour.

A Christmas Story (1983)

A Christmas Storyis another favourite and I love watching it with my brother and sister because it reminds me of us growing up. Some TV stations have back-to-back marathon showings of this movie which is a testament to its enduring popularity.

The music, characters and textures of A Christmas Story are so edible you can taste the Christmas warmth of childhood fun. The lead character, Ralphie is so perfect and funny reminding us all of the innocence and excitement of Christmas time. And yes, I admit that I was one of those silly kids who had my tongue stuck to an icy pole as depicted in the film!

I also remember enjoying the delicious taste of Ovaltine. I have fond memories of a childhood ritual of crushing the big chocolate grains into the sides of my milk glass. I can almost hear that chocolatey crackle today. Finally, I love that parts of the movie were filmed in Toronto. You can actually see an old TTC streetcar go by in the scene where the family is buying a Christmas tree.

Elf (2003)

Elfhas become an instant classic for me (see tip#8). Will Ferrell as Buddy the elf is so hysterically sincere and excited about life that he triggers healthy reminders inside me. And that is keeping my inner elf alive is the key to keeping a Christmas spirit alive all year round.

A favourite scene is Buddy's charming duet, Baby It's Cold Outsidewith his love interest. The movie also captures such heartwarming memories of classic stop-motion animated Christmas shows like Rudolf The Red Nosed Reindeer. You can see it clearly in the opening credits and in the scenery and elf costumes of the north pole sequences.

One other fun fact about the movie is the foreman elf at Santa's toy factory is played by a grown up Peter Billingsley. He played little Ralphie in A Christmas Story. That brilliant bit of casting represents the timeless feel-good-feeling I'm talking about. And that is in our adult lives we are always connected to these re-energizing feelings from movies we've loved since we were kids. We just have to allow ourselves the time during the holidays to drink in the nostalgia.

So treat yourself to your favourite holiday movies and the festive sights and sounds of your town. Let it trigger happy memories of the simpler times in life. During your busy days stop for a moment and breathe in the season. Re-energize your soul. Take it all in like a sponge and let it fill you up like a magical, tasty holiday elixir!

Emmanuel Lopez
www.motivatorman.com
© Emmanuel Lopez 2006

Tip#9: Law of Attraction, Part 1 - The Secret

Law of Attraction:
All your thoughts, all images in your mind, and all the feelings connected to your thoughts have, will and is currently manifesting as your reality.

Every now and then a concept comes along to excite the masses. One idea can suddenly create a chain reaction and a positive buzz that can spread like wildfire. That positive buzz is magnetic energy and is proof of what The Secretand the law of attraction is all about.

The Secret 2006

This movie features well-known motivational speakers, authors and new thought leaders such as Bob Proctor, Jack Canfield and Michael Beckwith all sharing their experiences with the law of attraction. The movie was designed to excite the viewer and offer many tips to start changing your mindset.

When I saw that The Ellen DeGeneres Show recently featured two of the stars from the new movie The SecretI knew the world would soon know the secret too. The Secretis actually what I taught myself to focus on in order to create my ideal career. It is also the core of what I speak about and help people learn for achieving their own goals. The secret is the law of attraction.

The key to the law of attraction starts with the act of BELIEVING in the possibilities. If you don't believe then nothing will happen.

But if you are ready to believe in the simplicity of what the movie is sharing then you can start the process of manifesting your ideal relationships, ideal income and ideal health conditions. It is a PROCESS and it begins with becoming aware of what you think about and how you attract more of these thoughts.

For years I didn't call it the law of attraction, I just happen to do it naturally and attracted all that I needed to achieve successes throughout my life and career. That's how Motivatorman was born and why my tagline is, "Visualize and magnetize what you want".

A Healthy Example

Here's an example of how it worked for me recently. For the past several years I noticed that my immune system was slowly breaking down and that I started to get colds much more quickly and frequently. It was frustrating and I could have accepted it as part of getting older.

But seeing The Secretmovie helped me focus on wanting to improve my health conditions instead of continuing to think negatively. That was the turning point, simply choosing to believe in another reality other than what someone else might say.

Now this past November I had the most speaker bookings I've received to date and knew I had to be in 100% shape to do my work. So two weeks before November I began using the same law of attraction tools I developed to manifest my dream career to start visualizing my ideal health conditions.

Steps:

So first I BELIEVED in the possibilities and second I VISUALIZED myself healthy and FEELING great. I was THINKING positively. I got excited about what it will be like to have a healthy body and being fully energized. That positive energy became a magnetic email request that went out into the universe.

Within days I was on the phone talking to a friend who synchronistically recommended this Noni juice that helps boost the immune system as well as your energy. My gut told me to buy some of this juice immediately and did so without talking myself out of it. I took ACTION.

By the time November rolled around I realized I had the vibrant energy I used to have years ago. In fact while a flu strain was circulating in the city many people around me were getting colds and the flu. Not me! I was just feeling fantastic! I was full of energy! I had attracted the future I wanted.

Take Action

So if you are THINKING and FEELING excited about the law of attraction after reading this than the law of attraction has already started it's magic. BELIEVE that this is real and the process of magnetizing what you want has already begun. Take ACTION with your positive thoughts now!

"You create your own universe as you go along."
Winston Churchill

"All that we are is a result of what we have thought."
Buddha

"Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life's coming attractions."
Albert Einstein

Emmanuel Lopez
www.motivatorman.com
© Emmanuel Lopez 2006

Tip#8: Celebrate The Little Things - Elf

One sure fire way in maintaining a positive attitude is to start celebrating the little things in life. Celebrate the great parking space you just got, celebrate the pay cheque you just received, celebrate the delicious meal you are about to eat. The act of conscious celebrating can transform your day for the better.

Elf (2003)

The Christmas comedy film, Elf, is about a human raised by elves at the north pole and travels to New York City to find his real father.
I love the movie because the main character Buddy (played with childlike zest by Will Ferrell) is always in a state of celebration. He radiates excitement all the time over the tiniest of things. You can see it shine in his wide-eyed expressions and his exuberant voice. It's an eternally childlike attitude I sometimes see missing in others who are stuck in their adult lives. They've lost the ability to play.

In fact I can see a little of myself in Buddy who never compromised his playful personality despite the unkind and unsupportive people he encounters. Though at times it can been difficult to 'not act serious' I now see that the 'state of play' is a primary benefit to my motivational career. Play is a necessary and important life skill. Yes, Elfis a big movie hero and role model for all stuck grown-ups!

Getting excited about the little things in life trains your mind to recognize the revitalizing energy of feeling good. This is such a simple key to success that some people are quick to dismiss it. They cannot see it's multiple, rejuvenating benefits. By getting excited about your little daily accomplishments and the little pleasures that comes your way you become more aware of a lightness inside you. That lightness fuels your enthusiasm, optimism and a positive attitude.

Magnetic Energy

And most importantly the 'state of play' ignites a very positive form of magnetic energy. Remember what it's like to see a kid having fun playing? They are so focused on the moment. That moment is blissful and you just want to join in. Everyone as a kid would naturally gravitate towards that energy.

The basic law of attraction is that like attracts like. Therefore if you are feeling good then you will attract more of feeling good within you. If you celebrate a little bit today you will attract more to celebrate tomorrow. Then after awhile you will store inside you the fuel for a positive attitude that magnetizes even more positives into your life.

So give it a try and start celebrating the little things in your life today. Celebrate the sun shining in the sky or the beauty of a rainfall. Celebrate your favourite colour or favourite song. Share any good news with a friend or raise your glass up in a toast and give a hearty 'Cheers!' to the little gifts that come to you today! Let that kid inside you come out to play!

"We elves try to stick to the four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns and syrup."
Elf

Emmanuel Lopez
www.motivatorman.com
© Emmanuel Lopez 2006