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You can find beauty, your life's true passion, and overcome obstacles -- all at the same time. (Dortmund-Ems Canal, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany . Wikimedia Commons photo.)
Find your life's priorities and passions with guidance from REAL,  Dr Chris Baker's book on life strategies and living on a grand scale. 
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"If you have enough  reasons, you can do  the most incredible things." - Jim Rohn
Jim Rohn's legendary little book "The Twelve Pillars," details how to set goals and motivate oneself towards success in life. 
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Here’s something to make your day brighter:

​It’s a lesson from master life coach Jim Rohn,  on overcoming challenges, finding your true passion and purpose in life, and “going for the gusto.”

​
He says, “If you have enough reasons, you can do the most incredible things.”


  •     Imagine your life filled with enough reasons to do the things that seem difficult or impossible now.
 
  •     Imagine how you would feel - AND ACT -  if you woke up with the energy and desire  to tackle any difficult challenges that you encounter.
 
  •     Imagine that you find yourself happy and passionate every day, achieving your goals!

You can.

You will.

IF - You find your reasons.

If you feel you have your reasons, your philosophy, and you’re not taking pain-free, easy decisions and actions toward your goals, they aren’t really YOUR reasons.

When you find YOUR reasons / philosophy, you’ll never look back.

How do you build YOUR new philosophy?  How do you commit yourself to YOUR new life?  How do you decide to change YOUR life?

Some experiences put you in a place where you experience emotions  that really cause you to change your old thoughts and habits,  and really take action.  (Another Rohn gem)

Disgust with yourself.

Making a decision when your back  is to the wall.

Desire that won’t be extinguished.

Resolve to do or die.

Here are 5 ways to help you develop YOUR reasons:

1. This is the greatest challenge: Think about what you are thinking about.  You get what you think about.  Your philosophy is the greatest determining factor in how your life works out.

2. Read everything you can.  Learn from people who do well!

3. Journal.  Write about your life.  It will slow down your thinking and let you realize what you are thinking about.

4. Spend your time wisely.  If you are watching videos or reading, and it’s not helping you grow and amend your philosophy, it’s hard to make the best choices in your life,

5. Practice gratitude.  When you are happy with what you have, the Universe will provide you with  more.

6.  Fill your day with decisions that take you to your goals - healthful foods, exercise, reading, journaling, gratitude.  “Neglect is the major reason people don’t have what they want. “ (Jim Rohn)

Focus on your daily disciplines. 

Keep looking forward. 

Never look back!
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Friedrich Eduard Meyerheim's 19th-century painting of three children playing hide and seek in a forest. 
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"Life's joy is masked by emotions. When the mask falls, you will inhale deeply and see how beautiful it all really is." -- Dr Chris Baker
Remember playing hide-and-seek?  

Remember how you could hide behind a tree, in plain sight? 

In your moments of sadness, fear, confusion, grief, desperation, loneliness, anger and worry,   the preciousness of life is hiding in plain sight.

How’s that?  

Life’s joy is masked by emotions.  When the mask falls, you will inhale deeply and see how beautiful it all really is.  

And when you once again see how beautiful and precious it is, even the emotions that belied the beauty will illuminate the sparkling treasures of your life.  

“Free!”

You’re “It!”    Ready or not, here I come!


Love,
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In Dr. Seuss’s story of the star-belly sneetches, all the sneetches wanted to be star-belly sneetches,   

​This was because the sneetches with stars on their bellies were considered - or considered themselves - the most significant.   That was, until the other sneetches started painting stars on their bellies too.  

Then it became the rage to NOT have a star on one’s belly.   So one could be considered - or consider oneself - significant.

One of the most driving human needs - significance (worth, importance).

How do you find significance?  

Idea: Stop searching and start seeing what's been there all along.

You are.   Significant.    Important.   Worthy.   A Love.   A Star-belly.  

Focus on those feelings within yourself and watch the Universe make you even more so!!


From one star-belly to another, I send love.
 
Love,
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Aspiring to build the world's tallest building in a small country in the Middle East  took vision, even during an economic downturn. Making it a reality -- Dubai's Burj Khalifa --  took dedication. 
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Walt Disney was turned down by 302 banks before finally getting a "yes" for the funds to build Disneyland. Persistence paid off. 
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Though broke at the age of 65, Col. Harland Sanders persisted in pursuing his dream. He founded KFC, a worldwide restaurant chain. 
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"Once you make a decision, the Universe conspires to make it happen."  
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson
1. Dream Big!  What is your dream, your vision?     
2.  Decide to believe.  This is commitment - this is your magic!     

“Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t — you’re right.”    ~ Henry Ford

Let the fear go.
Find your courage. 
Repeat.     


"All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them.”     
​
~ Walt Disney

  Being courageous doesn’t mean you’re unafraid.     It means acting in spite of your fear!
  
 For this little story, you need to know that after twenty-something years as a  pediatric dentist, I can tell you that MOST children are NOT afraid of their dental  appointments.  Most, like us adults, would rather be doing something else, but  they are not afraid. 

BUT - there are some who literally quiver and show their fear.      To those, I say, after their appointment,  “You are courageous. You are brave.  You know how I know?  You did your appointment even though you were  nervous!  That’s brave!”


 Being courageous is acting IN SPITE OF YOUR FEAR!

Take action.  Do it!   Repeat.      

Get up every morning and start.  Get up early.  Repeat.  Every day.

   
"
If you talk about it it’s a dream, if you envision it, it’s possible, but WHEN you schedule it, it’s real.”   ~ Tony Robbins

Get inspired by others.
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Someone first had a dream to build the tallest building in the world in a small Arabian country - THEN the Burj Khalifa was built.  Nothing could have been built without someone’s dream!
 

Never,   EVER give up.     Never quit.    
                                                               

Someone first had a dream to make Southwest Airlines into  a viable airline, and DIDN’T QUIT!   Despite massive challenges, Herb Kelleher had to really believe, let the fear go, and act.  And then repeat, repeat, repeat.

 Walt Disney had a dream to build Disneyland.  More than three hundred    banks turned him down!  But he kept going!

At age 65, Harland Sanders’ restaurant in Corbin, Kentucky had to be closed         because the new Interstate 75 passed over it so people no longer stopped there.  Colonel Sanders had some savings and $105 per month in Social Security.  Sleeping in the back of his car, he traveled to many restaurants and tried to get them to have him cook great chicken.  But, no one wanted him to cook for them. 

By the time Sanders was 73 years of age, young businessman John Y. Brown, Jr., bought the “finger-lickin’ good” KFC business from the Colonel and his wife Claudia.  Sanders kept going.  And going.  and going.  You can too!


By the way, competition helps you measure yourself and makes you stronger and better at what you are doing!  Embrace competition and do YOUR PERSONAL BEST ALWAYS!

“The difference in winning and losing is most often… not quitting.” ~ Walt Disney

"So many brilliant people gave up in life; they were totally brilliant, they were top of their class, they were the best students, they were the best of everything. They gave up.

"I've seen others who really didn't have talent or ability and they're among the most successful people today in the world because they never quit and they never gave up.”     ~ President Donald J. Trump

Get a new life.  Get rid of TV and other bad habits. Make your moments fantastic, full and wonderful!

Be grateful.   
                                                                                                   

The more gratitude you create and live with, the more you will have for which to be grateful!

Trust.  And live in amazement as the Universe conspires to help you achieve your dream.           

“Once you make a decision, the Universe conspires to make it happen.”     ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
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"Focus on what's beautiful in your life, inlc;uding your own beauty."
​-- Dr Chris Baker
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“It takes  discipline  to conquer the nagging voices of our minds, the fear of failure, the fear of success, the fear of poverty, the fear of a broken heart.  It takes discipline to keep trying when that nagging voice within us brings up the possibility of failure.”  ~ Jim Rohn
I tell my children not to worry about what others think of them; that “what the others think of you is none of your business.”  

And, I tell them that it pays to be gracious, loving, present well, dress well and behave with grace.  

But don't  these two bits of advice seem to contradict each other? 

Actually, they say the same thing.

To clarify:

It is due to fear that we worry what people think of us.  (Mostly the others are thinking more of themselves than of you, and their judgements come from their fears too.)

​ Your true self, your divine part is exactly as God created. It is important not to live your fears.  


So, because you are a loving and beloved, precious soul, as you are gracious, presenting to others as grace, beauty, compassion and loving, you allow the other people to know you as you are.

How do we “not live our fears?”

“It takes  discipline  to conquer the nagging voices of our minds, the fear of failure, the fear of success, the fear of poverty, the fear of a broken heart.  It takes discipline to keep trying when that nagging voice within us brings up the possibility of failure.”  ~ Jim Rohn

Focus on what’s beautiful in your life, including your beauty.  Live your dreams, instead of your fears.  Hang with happy people.  Why not?  

Remember, that "what the others think about you is none of your business," so do not dress for them, behave for them, or act in any certain way for them. Rather, live up to YOUR OWN level of excellence. 

Live in your beauty, your love, your courage, your divine part. This week, keep those parts front and center. Love will keep you ‘together,’ as the song says.

Love,
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"Here’s where the ego comes in:  Our ego notices others. ​"  -- Dr Wayne Dyer
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"This week, try living in bewilderment. Wonder about the stars, be amazed at your life, love each other soul you meet and know they are in their assigned earth suit and ego too."
-- Dr. Chris Baker
Several years ago, as our family stood graveside at the cemetery to say goodbye to Claude’s mother, Trey said, “Granny is gone.  Her earth-suit is in the coffin.”​

An "a-ha moment" for me, it gave me pause between the tears falling on my cheeks. Her earth-suit.  

A new perspective for me - we as souls, come here to take on an earth-suit (our body) and an ego (our human mind) and through these encumbrances, we begin our lessons in this school of life.  

“I came out alone on my way to my tryst. 

But who is this that follows me in the silent dark? 

I move aside to avoid his presence but I escape him not. 

He makes the dust rise from the earth with his swagger; 
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he adds his loud voice to every word that I utter. 

"He is my own little self, my lord, he knows no shame; 
but I am ashamed to come to thy door in his company.”
~ Rabindranath Tagore


"Here’s where the ego comes in:  Our ego notices others.  Our ego judges, criticizes, and condemns.  “If you can remove judgement,  criticism, condemnation, you can live the life of your dreams.”   
~  
 Dr. Wayne Dyer



“The implication of that is that if you can remove yourself from those three thought forms, you are living more in your divine part than in your ego part.”
~ Eckhart Tolle


This week, try living in bewilderment.  Wonder about the stars, be amazed at your life, love each other soul you meet and know they are in their assigned earth suit and ego too. 

​Meet them at the soul level.


Love,
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Scientists studying  the psychology of happiness have found that happiness is not genetic. Anyone can learn to be happy. 
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"Be grateful for luck. Pay the thunder no mind . Listen to the birds. And don't hate nobody."
​
-- Eubie Blake
We all want to be happy.  

Scientists studying the psychology of happiness have discovered that:

• Happiness isn’t genetic.
• Happiness isn’t dependent on our circumstances.
• Happiness is created by us.
• Happiness is created by simple disciplines practiced every day, over and over.  

And, unhappiness is created by errors in judgement repeated over and over.

Here are some traits to develop that can make you happier.  Develop them by practicing simple discipline every day, over and over.

Perseverance.  

Keep on keeping on.  Never give  up.  You have a purpose. Pursue your dreams.


Humor.   

Laugh and enjoy whenever and whatever you can.  


Gratitude. 

For everything.  For everyone.  For your life.  For the new day.  For your morning coffee, the spring flowers…


Curiosity.   

Notice.  Think about.  Wonder.  How does your puppy know you are coming home?  What makes us love so much?  Why does time go so fast? (Hint - stay totally in the moment and it will seem to slow down!!)


Care, empathy and compassion.   

Be kind.   Be supportive.   Encourage.   Love them. 


“Be grateful for luck. Pay the thunder no mind — listen to the birds. And don’t hate  nobody.” - Eubie Blake, American composer, lyricist and pianist of ragtime, jazz and popular music


Love,
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"You can never do a kindness too soon, because you never know how soon it will be too late."
 -- Ralph Waldo Emerson
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"Say, 'I love you' to each of your loved ones as soon and as often as possible."  -- Dr Chris Baker
“You can never do a kindness too soon, because you never know how soon it will be too late."   ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

You can change someone’s day - and maybe their whole life... 

• With a small kindness.

• Say “I love you” to each of your loved ones as soon and as often as possible.

• Help someone who is struggling to carry something.

• Say “good morning” or “good afternoon” to people around you.

• Hold a door for someone.

• Bring or pour coffee for your assistants.

• Say “Please,” and “Thank you," and really mean it.

• Allow a driver to merge into your lane.

• Take a stray shopping cart from the parking lot into the store, as you walk in.

• Bring some breakfast snacks to your office.

• Take time to give compliments about someone to their supervisor as you are shopping or traveling.

It will make people happy and you the happiest!!


Love,
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Those with a personal commitment to excellence live life differently than most.
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The best of the best, whether dentists, nurses, teachers, surgeons, lawyers, preachers, salesmen, musicians, soldiers or sailors, athletes, gardeners, artists, all do some things differently than most everybody else. ​

And they end up the best of the best.

And happier.

• They decide to live their dreams.

• They set goals and review them very frequently, at best, daily.

• One of their goals is CANI - Constant and Never-Ending Improvement

• They do course correction.  If things aren’t working, they change their strategy a bit, and don’t assume it will never work.  They don’t give up. Their goals await.

• They believe in possibility.  

• They are actively grateful.

• They smile - a lot.

You can be one of the best of the best.   Go for it!! 

Love,
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"We all appreciate encouragement -- every day."
Dr Chris' book, REAL, encourages readers to lead a life of positive action and change. 
Are you needing encouragement today?

We all appreciate encouragement - every day. How good does it feel when someone comments on how well you are doing? 

How incredible it is when someone notices you are kind.

Guess what? 

When you encourage others, their appreciation encourages YOU.

As you make them feel better, you feel better.  As you lift their spirits, not only do they go away more committed to doing well, so do you! 

​Uplift them and make them feel great!  


What an easy, easy thing to do for others - encourage them!  Tell them they can do it!  Tell them they ARE doing it!

It goes right into their hearts.  It is so easy.  And you walk away happier and more encouraged!

Be an encourager. Always. 

Love,
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Dr Chris Baker

America's most-trusted teacher of orthodontic continuing education, Dr. Chris Baker has practiced and taught for more than 30 years, and is a current or former faculty member of three U.S. dental schools.  She is a pediatric dentist, author, blogger, dental practice consultant, and mentor.  Dr. Chris is also Past President and Senior Instructor of the American Orthodontic Society.  She is based in Texas, USA, but lectures around the world.

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© 2024 Dr Chris Baker