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“If you keep doing what you’ve always been doing, you’ll keep getting what you’ve always been getting. – Unknown

We often forget the pen that creates our story rests in our own hand.” – Brook Noel

Although I write mostly nonfiction, I write fiction and short  stories for fun. One of the things I like most about writing  fiction is that you can rewrite, rework, change a word, a chapter  or an entire plot-line. As I have been traveling around the country  this past week, I realized that we can actually do the same thing  in the nonfiction of our lives; we often forget that the pen that  creates our story rests in our own hand.

I have done a lot of speaking at groups, expos and  conventions over the years. Thousands of women have embraced the  concepts in my books and the Make Today Matter Online program and  started implementing the positive steps in their lives. Yet, for  every woman that starts the program, there are likely women that  never will. There are women who will start the program and stop.

There are women who will laugh at the concept that change is even possible.

As someone who has seen this program change lives, and who seen  women transform themselves in numerous ways, I constantly wonder…  Why do some of us believe change isn’t possible? How do we forget  that the only place change can begin is right here and right now?
How do we quit accepting the cards that life deals and instead  challenge life to the fullest? And when we get off track in our  thinking, as we all will from time to time, how do we quickly return to our positive and affirming ways?

I don’t think the answer to these questions is simple, but multi-faceted and complex. However, I do believe that we can quickly get to the bottom of the problem by looking at our past. Many people make the mistake of letting their past create their future. Because we have “lived” a certain way or we have been expected to “be” a certain way, we give someone else the pen to write our story and we just turn the pages. We forget that for as long as we are on this earth, we have choices to make, and we can also choose change and growth and happiness.

Recently, I used an example similar to the one that follows in the Good Morning e-mail…

If you are hungry and your stomach is growling and you are sitting in the living room… what do you do? Odds are you will choose to get something to satiate your hunger. In that one moment (and hundreds of others throughout the day) you CHOOSE to make a change in your life. You CHOOSE to feed that hunger. What would happen if you didn’t choose to get that food? By not choosing to feed your hunger, you are by default choosing NOT to feed your hunger. As a result– guess what happens?? You will become hungrier and hungrier and emptier and emptier.

This example is a metaphor for happiness and change and dreams and choice.

Choice and change is that simple – we just make it complicated. Why? Because we give up our own control. We blame external circumstances and thus give those circumstances and people the pen to our story.

But guess what? Just as easy as you CHOOSE to get out of bed, or CHOOSE your clothes, or CHOOSE to eat, you can CHOOSE to be happy, you can CHOOSE to take another step forward, you can CHOOSE to make today count, you can CHOOSE to challenge life.

Your Turn: Pay attention to all the choices that come your way. Take positive action and make positive choices. Journal about who you have given the “pen” over to in your life. What steps do you need to take to take control of your life and challenge life? What  is one step you can take within the next hour? Think about it… then CHOOSE to take that step now.

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Around the Corner:			“Why compare yourself with others? No one in the entire world can do a better job of being you than you.” ~Anonymous
ONLINE CLASSES: Extreme Home Makeover – Summer Starts July 11th and Enroll Through July 18th – 10 Weeks Only $49 Learn more and register Searching For Something Starts July 11th and Enroll Through July 18th – 4 Weeks Only $39 Learn more and register Make Today Matter Enroll Anytime – Two Weeks Free Trial and Then Only $19.95/mo Learn more and register Make Today Matter: A complete program for getting organized, managing time, living by your priorities and building the life you want: Learn more and register or, Get Brook’s complete kit and get all you need in one package - LIMITED TIME ONLY – 20% OFF PLUS BONUSES! Learn more and order Current Special: Free, $28 Challenge Workbook on CD ROM with all Orders of $78+ Add the CD-ROM to your order and enter coupon code: CHALLENGE at checkout More to Explore: Make Today Matter on Facebook Brook Noel on Facebook Brook Noel on Twitter Make Today Matter on Twitter Brook Noel’s Blog Reading Room Archives			Good morning! I love this quote. How often do you spend comparing yourself to others? Perhaps measuring your success, health, will power, determination, wealth, beauty? Let me ask you this – what good can that possibly do? We cannot know the exact circumstances of another. We cannot understand their shoes for we have not walked in them. And at the end of the day, “No one in the entire word can do a better job of being you than you.” Your turn: As you find yourself comparing yourself to others, re-read this quote. The world would certainly be boring if we were all clones of one another. Do not relish in other’s success or envy their efforts. Instead, relish in who you are and your unique offerings to our world. Your affirmation: I do not compare myself to others. There is a beauty and uniqueness that only I can offer the world
(c) 2011 Brook Noel and Make Today Matter, LLC. For more information visit www.brooknoel.com

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8 Principles for Living Each Day with More Contentment and
Happiness! by Brook Noel

Part One of Two

Have you ever climbed into bed wondering, “Where did the day go?”
Have you ever felt you were on a treadmill–trying to a “somewhere”
that never arrives? In our busy world, we often find ourselves
living on auto-pilot with one day blurring into the next.

Several years ago, I implemented “8 Make Today Matter Life
Principles” into my daily routine. These Principles take very
little time and are so simple to implement–you could start using
them tomorrow if you like. The Principles have allowed me to
realize great contentment, happiness and meaning in every day. The
days of auto-pilot living have been replaced by purpose-filled
living through the application of these “Make Today Matter”
Principles.

MTM Principle 1: Good Morning: The first thing I do after opening
my eyes each morning is say (aloud or to myself): Something great
is going to happen today–I can’t wait to see what it is! When I
started this practice, it was a bit awkward–perhaps, because I was
at a low-point and didn’t fully believe the words. I said it
anyway. Everyday. Soon after, great things started happening. Why?
… because I was looking for them.

If we awake thinking about stressful events, the tough day ahead,
everything we need to get done, we start the day “on defense.” We
prime our life for a stressful day–we expect it–and we usually
find it. Even when little or large blessing bestow us, we often
miss them. After all, we aren’t look for blessings–we are looking
for stress.

Starting my day with this affirmation has proven an effective
method for turning my attention to blessings instead of barriers.

MTM Life Principle 2: The 3-Step Action List: For those who have
read the Change Your Life Challenge or taken part in MTM Online,
the 3-Step Action List will be familiar. Each day, I choose three
tasks to complete during the day that will MAKE TODAY MATTER…
even if everything else goes astray.

We all know how life can interrupt our well-made to-do lists.
Narrowing our focus to three priority action steps helps us focus
and prioritize our day. The items on this list needn’t be mountains
to overcome or extremely time consuming; … they simply need to
MATTER and move us forward.

I began this practice when I realized how busy my life had become.
I was always BUSY! BUSY! BUSY! Boy was I busy. What was even more
amazing than how busy I was…..is how LITTLE I was getting done!
We often confuse BUSYNESS with ACTION! We can be very busy and not
move forward…. (just look at a hamster)!

When we carefully choose 3 things that matter each day…we end up
with over 1,000 things done each year! Things that matter! How many
people can say this confidentially: Last year I completed over
1,000 task that mattered or moved me forward… and I am doing it
again this year.

You can have a mile-long to-do list if you like, but mark three
things! Stay focused! Life will interrupt and when it does, you
will be ready for it!

People often ask–what about when you are sick or not feeling
well? I still have a 3 step list. Every single day. On those days,
examples of 3 things I might choose to make the day matter and move
me forward might be:

1. Take my vitamins
2. Get extra rest!
3. Feel good for taking care of myself.

MTM Life Principle 3: Each Day, LEARN or TRY something new. This
“something” can be little. You don’t have learn a second language
or anything, but each day learn something new, try something new,
or see something you have not yet seen.

Examples include learning…
* a new word…
* a piece of trivia…
* see something you haven’t seen before on the drive home….
* try driving a different route,
* try a different store,
* try a different recipe,
* try a different type of book,
* read a book on a topic that interests you,
* do something fun–finger paint,
* color
* make a snow angel
* stop and look at the sunset versus walking (or driving) past it
* go stand under a tree in your yard and look at it from below
* make up a constellation, try to find it every night

We often get caught up in the same ol, same ol, and forget about
how exciting each day can be (if we let it be)! When we learn, try
or see something new, we awaken our senses to gather many of life’s
riches.

MTM Life Principle 4: Say YES! At least once each day or twice if
you are a parent, say YES instead of NO, or I CAN instead of I
CAN’T.

NO and I CAN’T have become auto-responses for many of us.

Can you come make a snow angel?
No, I can’t.

Can you play a game?
No, I can’t.

Can you meet me for dinner?
Sorry, I can’t, I’m busy.

While it is good to say NO to those who cross our boundaries, when
we are with those in our inner circle, or with our self, we need to
let go of these auto-barriers and say YES and I CAN!

I discovered this principle because I actually became tired of
hearing myself say “no” to my daughter when she was younger. When
she went through her “threes” she would ask if she could do
something. I would say “no,” on autopilot. She would ask: Why? I
didn’t have a good answer. Since “NO” didn’t seemed to be a good
reply, I tried “yes” instead.

By really being present and adding daily spontaneity, my life
changed. What a magical world kids (and pets) live in! I was so
happy to finally climb down from autopilot world and see that
perspective!

PART TWO COMING UP NEXT WEEK!

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Around the Corner:			“We all live in suspense, from day-to-day, from hour-to-hour; in other words, we are the hero of our own story.” ~Mary McCarthy
ONLINE CLASSES: Starts June 6th - Visual Journaling Enroll Through June 13th – Only $39 Order now and get a FREE CD ROM with nearly 200 images on it! Learn more and register Make Today Matter Independent Enroll Anytime – Two Weeks Free Trial and Then Only $19.95/mo Learn more and register Make Today Matter: A complete program for getting organized, managing time, living by your priorities and building the life you want: Learn more and register or, Get Brook’s complete kit and get all you need in one package: Learn more and order Current Special: Free, $28 Challenge Workbook on CD ROM with all Orders of $78+ Add the CD-ROM to your order and enter coupon code: CHALLENGE at checkout More to Explore: Make Today Matter on Facebook Brook Noel on Facebook Brook Noel on Twitter Make Today Matter on Twitter Brook Noel’s Blog Reading Room Archives			Good morning! My best friend shared this quote with me and I was very moved by the words. We truly are the hero of our own story. There is very little else to say— except one simple question: Are you living like the hero in your life? Or are you living like the victim? Your turn: You are in control of your story. What are you going to choose to live? Remember that those around you (including your children) emulate you. So are you the hero? Are you the victim? Are you somewhere in-between? Today is a great day to change, isn’t it? There is nothing holding you back from being a hero today. Your affirmation: Each day, I choose to be a hero instead of a victim.
(c) 2011 Brook Noel and Make Today Matter, LLC. For more information visit www.brooknoel.com

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Open Enrollment this Week – $39USD Click here to go to a detailed description or to order this class 5 Weeks to Get Control Over Your Bills, Notices, Statements and Other Routine Papers Creating A Customized and Efficient System for Managing Everyday Paper Are you drowning in paper? Do you spend more time looking for paper than you care to admit? Do you ever pay bills late or miss redeeming a coupon or offer because you have misplaced the paperwork? Does all of the “incoming paper” in your life land on the kitchen or dining room table? This class offers a new approach go deal with the paper piles in our life. In fact, the number one organizing question I hear is… “HOW DO I CONTROL THE PAPER in my life!?!” In Paper Piles & Files, I guide participants through a systematic approach for handling bulging file cabinets, piles of magazines, archives, and paper piles. In this course we turn our focus to creating a comprehensive system for handling day to day paper. We will cover: Week One: Setting Up Shop Week Two: Action and Catch-All Envelopes Week Three:  Finances, Bank-Statements and all that Stuff Week Four: Communication Central Week Five: Staying Organized! Click here to go to a detailed description or to order this class

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Of course there is no formula for success except, perhaps, an unconditional acceptance of life and what it brings. Arthur Rubenstein

Good morning! Throughout thmy Good Morning inspirations, I share what I have found to be formulas for successful living. Each formula I have shared has contained, in essence, intent-action-belief – faith-and then letting life happen. Reread today’s quote several times and really absorb what the words mean. Remove “success” and try “peace” or “happiness” or “contentment” or “joy” in its place.

When I seek success in something, I first focus on what I want and why I want it. When I know that it matches my mission of helping women create more positive lives, I then make an action plan. After all that homework is done, I believe with my heart and soul that nothing will stand in my way from realizing the vision. And then I do something else that many people forget to do when chasing a dream: I let it go.

It might seem odd to let a dream or vision go, especially right after we take our first action steps. And, I don’t mean that I literally let it go and never think of it again. It means that I have faith and trust in the mystery of miracles and life. When we hold onto what we want very tightly, we don’t give it room to grow into what it might be. Instead, we mold it and twist it to match only what we can see and believe. Yet life often has wonderful things in store for us that we may not yet be able to envision or believe. We have to let go of our limited scope of seeing a result in order to let life meet us halfway-to transform a goal into a vision.

 Your Turn: Where in your life is letting go the next step to moving forward?

Today’s Affirmation: I let go and trust.

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 ”Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.”-Ambrose Redmoon

Good morning! We often admire others we see as “courageous.” We admire their drive, their spirit, and their commitment. It is easy to wish we could live without fear and with such devotion.

I love this quote because I think it speaks an important about truth about courage. People are not courageous because they do not feel fear: people are courageous because they have found something that is more important than their fear. They have found something that awakens their heart, mind, and spirit. This “something” changes their perspective. The “something” becomes large, so their fear becomes small.

When we don’t have an important “something” in our lives-one that awakens mind, body and soul-fear will be overwhelming.

Your Turn: What drives you? What awakens your heart, mind, and soul so that your destination becomes more important than your fear?

Today’s Affirmation: I am courageous.

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  “How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and the strong. Because someday in life you will have been all of these.” -George Washington Carver

 Good morning! I love the simple and compassionate wisdom in these words. If, each day, each of us could strive to be understanding instead of being judgmental, and supportive rather than selfish, what a different world we would live in.

The choices aren’t difficult, and they often don’t take more time or energy: they are simply a matter of making that choice. The right choice always leaves us feeling better about our world and ourselves.

Your Turn:
When our lives move at a hectic and fast pace, it is easy to forget that we always have a choice. As you go throughout your day, strive to be aware of the choices you make and to choose compassion, support and tenderness.

Today’s Affirmation: I am compassionate, supportive and tender to those around me.

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