Tip#261: Synchronicity Stories – Zappos & Twitter – I Heart Huckabees

The magic of synchronicity is that you are given gifts in disguise that lead you down exciting new pathways in your life or career.

Another synchronicity story I'd like to share is how I connected with Zappos, North America’s #1 online shoe store. I have already written many blog entries on how this company has inspired me with their core values (see tips#213). And in my current keynotes and workshops I found myself sharing the story that led me to a tour of their head office in the US.

Here's how fast synchronicities can work...

1. In October 2008, My mother insisted I watch the latest Oprah Show episode because she was interviewing a CEO named Tony Hsieh about passion and his company Zappos.

2. I was so inspired by the CEO's message on passion that I wrote about it on my blog. (see tip#205)

3. Around the same time, one of my clients recommended I check out a social networking site I'd not heard about before called Twitter.

4. That's where I discovered that Zappos was big on using Twitter. So I started to connect or "follow" a few individuals from Zappos including the CEO.

5. Within a day the CEO was "following" me on Twitter. So the day I posted my blog about Zappos I sent the CEO a Twitter DM (direct mail) and he responded within minutes with this message: "funny you should dm me, i was in the middle of reading your blog post when i got your dm - great post! :)"

6. Then I realized their head office was in Las Vegas where I was synchronistically going to in December for my Christmas holidays. So I twittered to the CEO I was coming and he set up a tour of the company for me.

7. On the tour I learned more about the Zappos work culture and met several of the Zappos team. And at the very end of the tour I was able to meet the CEO and thank him personally. He just happened to be walking into the lobby as I was leaving.

I Heart Huckabees

Every story in literature and in the movies is filled with synchronicities that propel the plot forward. The movie I Heart Huckabees is not only filled with meaningful coincidences but the story itself is about discovering the messages behind them.

In the film, the main character named Albert had encountered the same stranger 3 times in a day. With the help of a pair of "existentialist detectives" they unravel a synchronistic pathway that introduces Albert to other individuals with answers to this mystery AND gives Albert powerful insights into overcoming the biggest blocks in his life.

Gifts

Synchronicities are always gifts from the universe. My gift from my experience with Zappos is that this company's passion and work culture has energized my spirit and I now share their success story to inspire others. The other gift is that social media networking like Twitter allowed me to connect with the CEO of a company featured on Oprah.

And now I can share this synchronicity story with you so it inspires you to be more aware of your own meaningful coincidences.

So remember that synchronicity is happening all the time giving you important signs and clues. Have a sense of fun with them. Sometimes you just have to turn off your logical mind and follow your gut to enter a new door.

And when these meaningful coincidences ask you to take action YOU MUST TAKE ACTION! It is these acts of faith that will lead you to directions in your life or career filled with amazing new experiences.

More tips about Zappos:
Tip#205: Follow Your Passion No Matter What - Zappos
Tip#213: Zappos Inspires, Part 1 - Office Space
Tip#214: Zappos Inspires, Part 2 – Patch Adams
Tip#238: The Importance of Team Spirit - Zappos – Watchmen
Tip#374: Create Your Own Universe – Tony Hsieh’s Delivering Happiness - Inception

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Emmanuel Lopez-Motivatorman
Motivational Specialist
www.motivatorman.com
© Emmanuel Lopez 2009

Tip#260: Be Resilient & Confident - You’ve Got Mail

Always remember that whenever you are hit by something unexpected you must stay resilient and confident.

This month I've received quite a number of speaker requests from several large organizations. Unexpectedly one by one they fell through for one reason or another. There was one specific deal I was about to close when I suddenly received a very apologetic call from the client that they simply had to cancel.

What amazed me was my immediate reaction to every situation was not one of disappointment, frustration or any other negative feelings. I actually felt positive and just knew deep inside that other job opportunities would come my way. I felt indestructible.

This was the resilient mindset I first wrote about in tip#47 and also in tip#200 where I outline the keys to achieving indestructible optimism. It takes time to develop but building an indestructible mindset a little bit every day will help you radiate a calm confidence when faced with unexpected change or crisis.

You've Got Mail (1998)

Strangely, these recent events made me think about the romantic comedy You've Got Mail starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. In the film Hanks plays Joe Fox the owner of a large bookstore chain out to put Ryan’s character, Kathleen Kelly, out of business. She is the owner of a small and famous children's bookstore in New York City.

The big corporation succeeds and Kathleen is devastated at losing a family business that her mother left her. What was inspiring is the scene where she sadly visits the children's section of Joe's new bookstore and witnesses the serious lack of knowledge of the sales person. You see how she helps this sales person with her obvious expertise of children's books.

Later you hear that Kathleen is being offered jobs as a book editor because of her expertise. She still had value that others recognized. It just goes to show that opportunities are everywhere as long as you keep believing in yourself and stay open to the possibilities.

So remember the key to dealing effectively with unexpected change and crisis is to build a resilient attitude and an optimistic mindset. Learn to be indestructible in your self-confidence and self-worth.

Be aware that you have strengths, skills and an expertise that has value. Never see a loss of work or any type of rejection as a negative situation. Someone somewhere will see your value. And they will only see your value if you remain absolutely confident that you see it too!

Related Tips on Resilience:
Tip#47: Resilience Is Your Hidden Super Power, Part 1 - 18 Movie Tips
Tip#689: Resilience Is Your Hidden Super Power, Part 2 – Riddick
Tip#741: Resilience Is Your Hidden Super Power, Part 3 – Film Critic Richard Crouse - Amazing Grace
Tip#742: Resilience Is Your Hidden Super Power, Part 4 – The Pianist 
Tip#801: Resilience Is Your Hidden Super Power, Part 5 - Whiplash
Tip#134: You Can Bounce Back - Resiliency - Pixar's Boundin'
Tip#260: Be Resilient & Absolutely Confident - You’ve Got Mail
Tip#725: Focus & Resilience – Hunger Games: Catching Fire - 42

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Emmanuel Lopez-Motivatorman
Motivational Specialist
www.motivatorman.com
© Emmanuel Lopez 2009

Tip#259: One Song Can Change Your Life – Music and Lyrics

When you hit a brick wall in life it is never a dead end despite what you see. There are always options available if you are open to take them.

It's almost a year now since I brought together 4 of my closest friends for a self-imposed intervention about my financial brick wall I had hit. It was the strong sense of friendship and support to unearth my options that have helped me move beyond that negative state of mind.

What amazed me most was the truth that even though I thought things APPEARED over they were not. My "money guru" was one of the 4 friends at the meeting and that's what he's learned from watching basketball. He reminded me, "It's not over even if you think it's over."

Positive change can happen at the flip of a dime as evident in this Youtube video someone sent me. It's a scene from Britain's Got Talent TV show with young contestant, Shaheen Jafargholi, who is faced with a brick wall and suddenly turns the dead end into a success. See video

Music and Lyrics

That amazing video demonstrated how one song could change your life. This reminded me of the kind of magic I felt from the movie Music and Lyrics starring Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore. In the film Grant plays a washed up 80's pop singer given the chance to resurrect his music career by writing a song for a current mega-pop star.

Understanding his limitations with lyrics he enlists the innate writing talents of Barrymore's character and together they create a beautiful ballad. The movie motivates because it shows how someone can avoid hitting a brick wall by asking for help when he needed it. And this one song changed both of their lives by helping each of them face personal fears and self-imposed limitations.

The ultimate bonus for the characters is that they fall in love. One had the talent for writing music and the other for lyrics. Together they created incredible music and a new life and career with each other.

So remember when you get stuck in your life, career or workplace it is not a dead end. It is only a self-imposed limitation. Remember you can always ask for help from people around you. You can always explore a different doorway to enter.

There are always options waiting for you. Stay open to choose them!

Emmanuel Lopez-Motivatorman
Motivational Specialist
www.motivatorman.com
© Emmanuel Lopez 2009

Tip#258: Are You Making A Living or a Dying? - Conversations With God

There comes a time in your life when you must decide to listen to your inner voice. You must decide if you are living a life you are truly happy with.

For the past 2 weeks I've been in an introspective mood or what I've called a "positive pause" in my life and career. These times are a gift because it allows me to review the road map of my life so far. More on the "positive pause" see: tip#153

This "positive pause" also led me to seeing a movie again that I first saw 2 years ago. It showed me how far I'd come in my confidence for trusting my inner voice and following my passions. And to me that is making a living not a dying.

Conversations With God (2005)

Conversations With God is based on the true story of Neale Donald Walsch and the adversities that led to writing his best-selling book of the same name. Walsch, played by Henry Czerny, suffered a broken neck from a car accident and was alone and unemployed. He was forced to live in a tent and collect tin cans in order to make money for food.

Walsch's perseverance is inspiring because it leads him to hear answers from what he believes to be the voice of God. And it is his leap of faith to trust in this voice that further inspires. He then writes the messages down on stacks of yellow legal pads that leads to getting published worldwide and a generous income. Here is one powerful statement:

"You are not to worry about making a living. True masters are those who have chosen to make a life - not a living. Go ahead - do whatever you really love. Do nothing else! You have so little time. Why would you want to waste it doing something you don't want to do? That isn't a living - it's a DYING."

Hearing this statement reminded me that I've been on the right path all my life especially with my career transition from illustrator to a motivational specialist. I've loved both professions because the passion I felt for these jobs energized my soul. And even during financial challenges I've learned to feel more optimistic rather than worried or stressed. I am trusting my inner voice.

So be inspired to persevere during difficult times knowing you will get through. Do your best to trust in your inner voice that urges you to keep moving forward. Your inner voice has the answers you are seeking. Whatever you call this inner voice let it's wisdom fill you with positive emotional energy and ignite your passion to live a life worth living!

Emmanuel Lopez-Motivatorman
Motivational Specialist
www.motivatorman.com
© Emmanuel Lopez 2009

Tip#257: The Optimism of Obama, Michael J. Fox and Superman – Superman The Movie

In times of personal or global crisis it is always inspiring to have optimistic role-models. These are the heroes that motivate us forward.

Barak Obama

"Who is Barack Obama? Contrary to the rumors you have heard, I was not born in a manger. I was actually born on Krypton and sent here by my father Jor-El to save the Planet Earth."
President Obama

I love this quote by President Obama because of its optimistic reference to Superman and how this comic book hero inspires hope on a global level. It's amazing to see how Obama arrived at a time when the economic crisis had hit the world. And it is his genuine positive energy that has inspired everyone to be optimistic in the face of uncertainty.

Superman The Movie 1978

Superman The Movie was the first superhero movie that brought the magic of a comic book character to life on the big screen for me. Starring Christopher Reeve this film fired up my imagination in my teens when I watched the man of steel do heroic acts. John William's rousing music added to the emotional power that stirs my soul every time I hear Superman's theme.

Later on Christopher Reeve would become a real-life hero by continuing to live a graceful and optimistic life despite a severe spinal injury. And though he finally passed away in 2004 he remains a hero for persevering.

Michael J. Fox

Another real-life hero is Michael J. Fox who continues to live positively since being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1991. Fox's heroic optimism is already his legacy that he shares in his 2nd memoirs called Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist.

Fox shares that his family has helped him stay optimistic and to persevere. Family is a tremendous source of positive emotional energy for anyone. And it was heartwarming to see him feature his wife and family in a recent TV special where Fox explored optimism with people from all walks of life around the world.

So if the pressures of the world are getting you down or you are feeling low on optimism remember that optimistic heroes are all around you. Listen to the rousing words of world leaders. Re-energize your spirit with cinematic role models.

And be inspired by real-life heroes who have faced overwhelming adversity. They are all helping you to activate the optimistic hero within you!

"Everybody loves a hero. People line up for them, cheer them, scream their names. And years later, they'll tell how they stood in the rain for hours just to get a glimpse of the one who taught them how to hold on a second longer."
Spider-Man 2

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Emmanuel Lopez-Motivatorman
Motivational Specialist
www.motivatorman.com
© Emmanuel Lopez 2009

Tip#256: Who Wants To Live Forever? - Highlander

The key to living a long life is much more than a healthy diet. It's about embodying a positive attitude and mindset that fills you every single day with positive emotional energy.

Shigeaki Hinohara, Age 97

Recently I synchronistically received messages about simple, useful tips for living longer. The first was a news article in the Japan Times of Author/Physician Shigeaki Hinohara with his tips for a long life at age 97. Here are some examples:

• Energy comes from feeling good, not from eating well or sleeping a lot.
• Pain is mysterious and having fun is the best way to forget it.
• Don't be crazy about amassing material things.

What was inspiring about these examples and the article is that Hinohara speaks of a lifestyle attitude that keeps him youthful more then just a healthy diet. Read article: click here

Blue Zones

Based on studies by Dan Buettner, Blue Zones are regions around the world where people commonly live active lives past the age of 100 years. The 5 Blue Zones include: Sardinia, Italy; Okinawa, Japan; Loma Linda, California; Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica; Ikaria, Greece.

Along with a healthy diet common factors among these Blue Zones was the positive attitude about aging. And cultivating a strong sense of community was also a lifestyle priority.

Again this project inspires by stating that living longer was about 70% lifestyle over 30% genes. It is the positive mental attitude we embody that will help us enjoy a long lasting life. See more in this CNN video: click here

Personally this is very exciting news because it further explains my unusually youthful appearance at the current age of 45. I've always had a tremendously optimistic mindset that developed even more by the challenges of my early mid-life crisis back in 2000.

Highlander

Living a longer, youthful life reminds me of the action-adventure film Highlander which stars Christopher Lambert and Sean Connery. They are immortal characters among other immortals fighting a duel that spans centuries on Earth.

Lambert plays the highlander originally born in 1518 Scotland. Living a long time for him was very adventurous. At the same time it was touching to see his sadness in outliving his true love. The rock group Queen composed the movie soundtrack and their song, "Who Wants To Live Forever" is a moving ballad.

So whether or not you want to live forever why not recognize the benefits of adapting a more conscious lifestyle. Be more aware of your lifestyle choices in the areas of diet, mindset attitudes and relationships. They all lead to a youthful and energized state of mind.

Be inspired by the idea you can enjoy what this world has to offer for a long, long time. How you live affects how long you live.

Emmanuel Lopez-Motivatorman
Motivational Specialist
www.motivatorman.com
© Emmanuel Lopez 2009

Tip#255: Take Command Now! – Star Trek 2009

Growing up we all learn to either take command of our lives or let others do that for us. Eventually we must all realize that YOU are responsible for taking command of the ship you call your life.

This continues to be a time for me where I am taking more command of areas I've ignored in my life. And my recent blog posts outline the inner energies necessary to ignite. In the previous post, Tip#254, I mentioned everyone's inner "testosterone" energy that activates your TAKE ACTION or TAKE COMMAND button. Your favourite cinematic role models can help you accomplish this.

I grew up loving Star Trek. As a child I was inspired by the the original TV series while in my teens I enjoyed the movie series. In my college years Star Trek: The Next Generation and the other TV offshoots continued to inspire my imagination. All in all, Star Trek fueled my positive emotional energy, my personal and professional skills development AND all the successful careers of my adult life.

Star Trek 2009

The 2009 movie Star Trek continues to electrify my imagination. And now the core elements of this universe are more accessible to the general movie going public. The film successfully fuses inspiring elements of the original TV show with Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock with the excitement of today's culture and special effects technology. The story also inspires the importance of taking command of your life.

The story involves the formative years before the crew of the USS Enterprise come together and features a young, rebellious James T. Kirk. For him he doesn't believe in the no-win scenario. This is the mindset that help Kirk in his heroic acts of this movie and in future adventures.

Kirk is about being in the moment. He doesn't dwell on the past and he doesn't worry about the future. He gets the job done. Kirk's attitude borders on arrogance but it is a form of confidence that is indestructible. And that confidence can deal with any adversity.

Be in the moment

So learn to be in the moment. Worrying about the future is not being present. Dwelling on the past takes you out of the now. And you must be in the now in order to make the effective decisions that overcome unexpected change or crisis.

Whether you are dealing with life, career or workplace challenges learn to take command of your thoughts and feelings. Learn to activate your inner testosterone energy and your resilient confidence will get you through anything.

Remember you are the captain of the ship that you called your life. Do something today to take charge!

Previous posts on how Star Trek motivates:

Tip#60: Favourite TV Shows Inspire Careers - Star Trek
Tip#150: How Full Is Your Bucket? - Star Trek
Tip#178: Childhood Passions - The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch - Star Trek

Emmanuel Lopez-Motivatorman
Motivational Specialist
www.motivatorman.com
© Emmanuel Lopez 2009

Tip#254: Activate Your Inner Drive - Rudy

Testosterone: A hormone that affects libido, energy and immune function.

In order to achieve your goals you sometimes have to tap into that primal, assertive side to you. It's the side of you that takes action and gets things done!

Recently I attended a networking event where several guys were excitedly talking about the May 2009 Manny/Hatton boxing match. Now if you've been reading this blog you'll recognize that I am not a big sports loving fan. But I knew there was a synchronistic message in looking into the success story of boxer Manny Pacquiao (see last tip#253).

Later at this networking event I met someone who had this primal, assertive energy about him. You could even classify him as the typical jock male overflowing with testosterone. He was aggressive when he talked, abrasive and even a little obnoxious with others around him. But I knew he had a powerful message for me.

Rudy

The movie Rudy stars Sean Astin as a young man who dreams of playing football for Notre Dame despite his small size. It's a powerful movie about being assertive, determined and persevering no matter how long it takes to reach a goal.

You see how others around him tried to keep Rudy down from a young age. He was always told he couldn't have his dream. But something deep within always told him he could have what he hungered for.

Rudy tapped into that inner primal energy that sustained his courage, confidence and resilience to persevere. I often talk about positive emotional energy and it is more than that. It's the affects of testosterone that fuels an animalistic drive to take action.

It's the same feeling you see when Rudy is grunting and rushing forward in football training. It's the same feeling you get watching a stimulating boxing match like Manny/Hatton. And it's that same feeling I get whenever I go to New York City where that confident, assertive energy flows (see tip#90).

In the end the powerful messages I've been receiving connects with answers I've been searching for about core issues holding me back in parts of my life (see tip#246). There's an inner connection I've been making with my own primal energies. And I know my goal now is to not hold back and to activate my inner testosterone power.

Activate Yourself

So if you are feeling stuck with achieving your dreams or goals become aware of inner energies you need to activate. And if what you lack is that assertive energy then you need to activate that primal side to you. Being aware of what is missing is the first step to getting unstuck.

And if you need inspiration just look at real-life heroes or favourite cinematic role models that personify the energies you desire. That will be the biggest clue for the hidden strengths within you waiting to be awakened!

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Emmanuel Lopez-Motivatorman
Motivational Specialist
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© Emmanuel Lopez 2009

Tip#253: Recognize Your Core Values – Where God Left His Shoes

No matter what challenges you are hit with you must recognize and maintain your core values.

Emmanuel (Manny) Pacquiao is a professional Filipino boxer. We have 2 things in common, we are both Filipino and we have the same first name. He has become a big inspiration to the world. Manny recently underlined his status as the world's best pound-for-pound boxer with a second round knockout of Britain's Ricky Hatton.

In December of 2008 Manny also achieved a victory over Oscar De La Hoya despite pre-fight analysts predicting otherwise. Manny proved them wrong with his ferocious stream of punches and a genuine positive attitude. He is also a down-to-earth family man.

There are many inspiring movies about boxers such as Rocky and Cinderella Man. Here's one that is an unexpected gem.

Where God Left His Shoes

The movie Where God Left His Shoes is about a failed boxer Frank, played by John Leguizamo, who struggles to find a job and an apartment for his family on Christmas Eve. The realism of this family's homeless challenges will move you deeply and help you be grateful for what you have in your life.

Frank must find a job in one day in order to qualify for an apartment and this becomes a journey in recognizing his ultimate core values of love and family. Our current economic crisis can also be the catalyst for each of us to identify our core values and use them to fuel our optimistic mindsets in order to persevere.

Shantytowns

One fact being kept out of the media is news of the shantytowns (tent cities of the Depression-era) growing in cities all over the US. Cities like Seattle and California's Fresno and Sacramento are showing a growing population of the homeless.

Recently President Obama responded to the tent cities saying it was "not acceptable for children and families to be without a roof over their heads in a country as wealthy as ours."

The realities of life's challenges can be overwhelming at times and can push you to the limits. Life can sometimes feel hopeless. That's why the hidden gifts within unexpected crisis are to identify your core values. Love and family are core values to be recognized and lived. They will keep you moving forward no matter what.

Look around you right now and be thankful for the home you have. Be grateful for the love that comes from your friends, families and neighbours. Feel the positive emotional energy that comes from recognizing the riches you have right now.

Emmanuel Lopez-Motivatorman
Motivational Specialist
www.motivatorman.com
© Emmanuel Lopez 2009

Tip#252: Shredding Your Old Life – 3 Movies

Spring is here and with it comes a chance to do some spring cleaning. Recently I borrowed a shredder and shredded 15 years of paper work for my business. It ended up being a profound experience for letting of an old life.

Not that there was anything wrong with my old career as a full-time illustrator. It's just that physically seeing years of paperwork cut into hundreds of pieces seemed to release me from any old energy holding me back. With each year's worth of invoices, receipts and documents I put into the shredder I felt more and more free.

I was making room for more abundance to flow into my life. I felt I made space for more exciting business to come my way. So is it really a coincidence that my work for Zoomer Magazine manifested recently or that I was asked to co-host a weekly live podcast show around the same time?

There are many movie heroes that mirror this idea of shredding an old life in order for the new to come. Here are some examples:

As Good As It Gets 1997
All the lives of the 3 main characters in As Good As It Gets transform when they let go of their old ways of living. Greg Kinnear's character feels ruined after a robbery destroys his home and leaves him hospitalized. But this later leads him to break free of old fears that were holding him back with issues with his parents. In the end you see him ripping away the cast on his arm as a powerful metaphor for new freedom.

Jerry Maguire 1996
Tom Cruise plays Jerry Maguire whose old life as a sports agent is shredded when he shares a controversial mission statement with his company. And though he is fired from the company it leads him to an even more fulfilling career. Because of the passion he wrote in his mission statement and the few people that believed in his vision you see his journey was worth making the change in his life.

Peaceful Warrior 2006
The main character in Peaceful Warrior dreams of being an Olympic gymnast but his negative mindset holds him back. So when he gets into a motorcycle accident it shatters more than his bones, it shatters that old mindset. You later see him smash his old competition trophies and let go of his old self. These important steps lead him to a new way of looking at life and achieving great success.

So do your best to let go of an old life, job or belief system that no longer serves you. Do your best to shred what you already know has to be eliminated from your life. If you don't the universe may do it for you.

And it may not be pleasant but the silver lining is you will make space for more abundance to flow into your life. Life is a series of chapters. Are you ready to let go of the old and step into a new, exciting chapter?

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Emmanuel Lopez-Motivatorman
Motivational Specialist
www.motivatorman.com
© Emmanuel Lopez 2009

Tip#251: Be Yourself - Fanboys

Authentic: Defined as not false or copied; genuine; real

Being yourself is all about being authentic. And being authentic is about standing your ground for anything that fills you with positive emotional energy.

As a kid I grew up loving the original Star Trek TV series and in my teens added a passion for Star Wars movies to my nerdy, geeky world. I was often laughed at by the "cool" kids at school for my personal interests. But no matter how much they made fun of me I focused on the passions that inspired my imagination. It didn't matter if they couldn't see my point of view.

Ultimately these passions growing up led me to my successes as a professional illustrator, recording artist and now a multimedia motivational specialist. They would later help sustain my spirit during times of depression and my mid-career transition.

Fanboys

The movie Fanboys celebrates every individual who is extremely and passionately devoted to favourite movies, TV shows, comics, etc. Set in 1998 this comedy is about a group of Star Wars fans who help one friend make a dream come true before he dies of cancer. They set out to steal the unreleased Star Wars movie, Episode 1: The Phantom Menace for him to see.

Along their road trip they encounter Star Trek fans they consider enemies. These confrontations are hilarious, exaggerated mirrors for real-life situations for anyone who has experienced persecution for their strong beliefs.

What is inspiring is witnessing the passion these fans feel for what they love. They are being authentic despite what others think of them.


Be Authentic

In the end being authentic in your life and career is something to strive for. It takes courage to stand your ground on something you feel strongly about especially when others do not agree with you.

What's most important is that your ideas or personal interests makes you feel good. They lift up your spirit. They feed your self-confidence. They fill you with positive emotional energy. And that is something no one can really take away from you.

So keep believing in your personal interests. Believe in your passions. Believe in the preferences you choose in your life even when no one else can see your point of view.

There are others in the world that share your interests and ideas so remember you are never, ever alone. Live an authentic life now!

MOTIVATORMAN IN ZOOMER MAGAZINE:
Read Emmanuel's new motivation column in the
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Emmanuel Lopez-Motivatorman
Motivational Specialist
www.motivatorman.com
© Emmanuel Lopez 2009

Tip#250: 7 Negative Emotions To Avoid - Twilight

Negative emotions can drain you of a positive attitude and your energy. So it's important to identify the emotions that can suck the life out of you.

In Tip#248 I outlined 7 major positive emotions that can help energize your self-confidence and self-esteem. Here I will discuss how negative emotions can deplete your energy whether the source is coming from yourself or others around you.

Some refer to these negative people as "energy stealers" or "energy vampires" because of how draining it feels to be around them. Napoleon Hill's classic book, Think and Grow Rich outlines lists for both positive and negative emotions to be aware of. Here are the negatives...

7 MAJOR NEGATIVE EMOTIONS
(To be avoided)

The emotion of FEAR
The emotion of JEALOUSY
The emotion of HATRED
The emotion of REVENGE
The emotion of GREED
The emotion of SUPERSTITION
The emotion of ANGER

Twilight

The movie Twilight explores most of these negative emotions in great cinematic style. The film is about the small town of Forks Washington and it's residents of modern day vampires. Through the relationships of humans and these mythical beings you can see many negative emotions played out.

Some emotions are obvious like FEAR, JEALOUSY and ANGER. While others like HATRED are quietly visible on certain faces. And yet they are still powerful because of the negative emotions that are boiling underneath. It's like the expression, "If looks could kill...". Negative emotion can radiate out on an unseen level to attack your energy.

What is ultimately inspiring about Twilight is the romantic relationship between the human Bella and vampire Edward. Despite all the negative emotions around them and within their own minds they are able to transform those feelings with the positive emotions of DESIRE, FAITH, LOVE and ROMANCE.

Transform Negative Emotions

Identifying negative emotions that come from others will help you recognize what to avoid. It will also help you recognize your own inner feelings that drain you. Remember it is always possible to flip those negative emotions into positive ones. It’s all about training yourself to have an optimistic mindset.

So look at the "energy vampires" in your life or workplace as a source of learning. You are learning about the negative energies you do not want. These people are a mirror for what you want less of in life.

Do your best to focus every single day on feeling positive emotions. Eventually you'll be able to transform negativity into empowering positive emotional energy!

See my new motivational video "Energy Stealers"
click here

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Emmanuel Lopez-Motivatorman
Motivational Specialist
www.motivatorman.com
© Emmanuel Lopez 2009

Tip#249: Synchronicity Stories – Zoomer Magazine – A Knight’s Tale

Meaningful coincidences are gifts and signs from the universe that lead you to your goals. All you have to do is take action whenever they arrive.

One of my dreams has been to see my motivational writing appear in print like newspapers, magazines and a self-help book. And I'm happy to say that synchronistic encounters and events have led me towards one of my goals.

This week marks my inclusion in the Experts section of the latest issue of Zoomer Magazine founded by media innovator Moses Znaimer. I now have a regular column that features a motivational tip and movie recommendation based on my blog entries.

I'm very excited and grateful that I recognized the meaningful coincidences that led me to this fantastic opportunity.

Here is the list of synchronicities:

SYNCHRONICITY #1

March 2007: I decide to go for my dream of publishing a self-help book after I saw author of The Pursuit of Happyness, Chris Gardner speak live in Toronto. Focusing on a goal is key to creating more synchronicities. Read more: Tip#40 Why Getting Stuck Is Good

SYNCHRONICITY #2

The day after seeing Chris Gardner I was invited to a new networking event. At first I wasn't going to attend but pushed myself to try something new. To my surprise it was filled with professional writers! That's where I met my "writing guru" friend who has helped support and develop my new writing career ever since. Read more: Tip#83: Fantastic Chain Reactions

SYNCHRONICITY #3

January 2009: On the very first day of 2009 my friend the Scone Queen gave me a copy of Zoomer Magazine as a new year's gift (read more: tip#219). I had never seen the magazine before but I always loved the new term Zoomer which refers to active baby boomers age 45+. I knew I'd be perfect to write motivational tips for them and looked at the masthead for the editor to contact.

A stunning synchronicity then led me to recognizing the name of the executive editor and remembered I had attended junior high school with her! And looking at the associate art director I realized that we had already worked together when I was a full time illustrator.

These synchronicities were undeniable. All I needed to do was take action with these meaningful coincidences and pitch my articles to the executive editor. So I took action and within a month I became Zoomer Magazine's motivational expert!

A Knight's Tale

I am reminded of the movie A Knight's Tale starring the late Heath Ledger as William Thatcher. In the film he has the dream of becoming a legitimate knight and along the way synchronistically meets the right people who can help make his dream come true.

Thatcher first meets a writer who is gifted in creating powerful speeches to promote him in the tournaments. And then he meets a blacksmith who helps create a special suit of armour that leads Thatcher to his victories in jousting.

So let the synchronicities of this movie or real-life stories like mine or from others inspire you. Start believing in meaningful coincidences.

Believe that some random events happen for a reason. Start recognizing the unexpected gifts that come your way from people you encounter. Most of all you must take action when synchronicities fall into your lap.

When you are passionate about a dream or goal you become magnetic. You attract the necessary steps towards your goals. Start saying yes to whatever the universe is sending you!

INVITE MOTIVATORMAN TO YOUR ORGANIZATION!
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Emmanuel Lopez-Motivatorman
Motivational Specialist
www.motivatorman.com
© Emmanuel Lopez 2009

Tip#248: 7 Positive Emotions That Energize – Stranger Than Fiction

Positive emotional energy is key to building self-confidence and self-esteem. So it is important to identify what those emotions are.

Recently I accidentally left the TV on and there was wave after wave of negative economic news. That heavy energy started to get me down and I got caught in a cycle of negative thinking. It was like being hypnotized by what I was allowing into my brain.

Luckily I was able to break out of that cycle, first by changing the TV channel and then start focusing on positive emotions to re-engage my optimistic mindset. It is the recognition of what makes you feel good that accelerates the process for positive change.

There is a great list of 7 major positive emotions in Napoleon Hill's classic book, Think and Grow Rich. Identifying these will help you remember the emotions that can help lift you up and feel more energized and positive.

7 Major Positive Emotions:

The emotion of DESIRE
The emotion of FAITH
The emotion of LOVE
The emotion of SEX
The emotion of ENTHUSIASM
The emotion of ROMANCE
The emotion of HOPE

Stranger Than Fiction

The movie Stranger Than Fiction is a real gem of a story that explores and demonstrates aspects of this list of positive emotions. Will Ferrell stars as Harold Crick who feels trapped in a very negative situation.

But by having FAITH he learns to overcome his unexpected crisis. Crick then surrenders to his DESIRES and ENTHUSIASM like playing the guitar, homemade cookies and pursuing a woman he is attracted to. This then leads him to experience the emotions of LOVE, ROMANCE and SEX.

Ultimately Crick experiences the emotion of HOPE which helps him become the hero of his own life story. The final narration at the end of the film by Emma Thompson provides an inspiring list of activities that re-energizes positive emotional energy.

So remember positive emotional energy activates an optimistic mindset. Remind yourself of Napoleon Hill's list of positive emotions for whenever you get stuck in a negative mindset. Let these positive emotions lift you up when you feel heavy and lost.

Just like your TV, it starts with switching off that negative channel to a program that makes you feel good. Feeling good is all you have to focus on.

"Positive and negative emotions cannot occupy the mind at the same time. One or the other must dominate."
Napoleon Hill
Think and Grow Rich

INVITE MOTIVATORMAN TO YOUR ORGANIZATION!
For more info on keynotes and seminars:
click here

Emmanuel Lopez-Motivatorman
Motivational Specialist
www.motivatorman.com
© Emmanuel Lopez 2009

Tip#247: Are You Holding Back? – Forrest Gump

Sometimes we can feel a paralysis that holds us back in our lives or careers. Why do we hold ourselves back?

Over the years I have learned to build an optimistic mindset wherein I can act quickly on opportunities that come my way. So it is very humbling to realize that I am still holding back in certain areas of my life and career.

That's why my blogs lately have featured motivating movies like Yes Man (see tip#245). I am doing my very best to break free of my inner blocks.

Co-Hosting A New Live Show

A few weeks ago a good friend of mine had asked me to co-host a live weekly video podcast show with him. The offer was an honour and a fantastic opportunity and yet I didn't say yes right away. I knew I was holding back.

It took awhile to accept the offer and now I look back at how silly I was being because the show has been a great source of fun and learning for me. I've also met amazing new business contacts from the guests interviewed. See more about the show: click here

Breaking A World Record

And recently my friends at Dailychallenge.org held a special event day to break the world record of paying for the person behind you a cup of coffee at a coffee shop. On that day the weather turned icy cold with freezing winds. I could feel myself holding back from participating because of the winter-like day but now so happy I pushed myself to participate. I helped break the world record of 602 people committing random acts of kindness. See more: click here

Here are 3 films about not holding back that inspire me to do better...

Forrest Gump
In this movie you'll notice that the movie hero always achieves great successes. And despite his simple mind he never, ever holds back. Whether he is learning ping pong, running a shrimp boat business or rushing into a war zone to save his platoon, Forrest always says yes and moves forward without hesitation.

Pleasantville
In this fantasy film you'll see how individuals in an entire town learn not to hold back with their true feelings and passions. And through amazing movie magic, when each person expresses what they truly desire they turn from black and white into full colour.

Unbreakable
This movie represents a type of superhero movie that explores how a man with super powers holds back from being who he was born to be. The story is about how he slowly accepts his role in life with the help of his son who believes in him.

So do your very best to break free of whatever is holding you back. Be inspired by movie heroes and real-life heroes who push forward no matter what. Be fearless with whatever comes your way.

And when you get stuck think about this question: What would you do if you knew you couldn't fail?

"While one hesitates because he feels inferior, the other is busy making mistakes and becoming superior."
Henry C. Link

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Emmanuel Lopez-Motivatorman
Motivational Specialist
www.motivatorman.com
© Emmanuel Lopez 2009