Weekly Thought Volume - 101 - Diamonds Diamonds Diamonds!

I’ve been told that diamonds form 75 to 120 miles below the earth’s surface. A short one-two hour drive by car, relatively speaking.

According to the science, the carbon that makes diamonds comes from the melting of pre-existing rocks in the earth’s upper mantle. Temperature reductions in the upper mantle force the very abundant carbon atoms to go deeper, where they melt and finally become new rock. When pressure and chemistry are just right, those carbon atoms in the melting crustal rock bond to build diamond crystals. But, there is no guarantee that these carbon atoms will turn into diamonds. If the temperature rises or the pressure drops by just the slightest amount, then the diamond crystals may melt partially or totally dissolve. Even if they do form, it takes thousands of years for those diamonds to come anywhere near the surface.

So diamonds need constant pressure, a little good fortune, and the time of Mother Nature toiling away for thousands of years to make just one diamond.

Yup… all good things take time. So, what can you possibly think you can accomplish in just one year? Plenty, Buckaroo……..

Here’s a to-do list to create a “diamond” year for yourself pulled from several blogs that I read:

1. Create a vision for your Primary Life Arena. This is the part of your life in which you invest the most emotions, time, energy, resources, thoughts, and feelings. Most of us consider our career, vocation, or job as a Primary Arena. Now, in your mind, go to 12/31/2011. You have had a “diamond” year. What did you accomplish? Can you see it in your mind? Can you feel what it will be like to accomplish it? Your Primary Arena with its vision and goals can change during the year.

2. Commit to your vision. This is accomplished by having your vision wake you up in the morning and put you to sleep at night. Full commitment must occur daily. You may need reminders such as email or text alerts. Try placing the vision on your bathroom mirror, in your purse or wallet, on the dashboard of your car, or anywhere else that will be a daily reminder for you.

3. Create pressure by setting goals with timelines. The champions, present and future, that I get to coach, place a lot of pressure on themselves. In fact, pressure or good stress attracts the peak performance mindset that athletes call the Zone. Here records are broken and dreams come true. Self-imposed goals act as stepping-stones to their vision. These goals are crystal clear. They funnel into the annual vision.

4. Work backward from B to A. What will you accomplish in December of 2011? How about November, October, September, August, etc.? Choose no more than three goals you will accomplish in each month. Work B to A, and an illuminated pathway will start to come into focus….and you can walk on it as if it’s so. And if you get off course, the illuminated pathway will remain as your compass.

5. Immunize against negativity. There are plenty of negatives swirling around us daily. They come in the form of other people’s attitudes, economic bad news, harsh weather, nagging past events, sleep deprivation, poor nutrition, and low self-esteem among others. Most certainly some of my demons are listed here. But if you can, try to fill your mind with positives. Sell yourself on reaching your vision or dreams. Immunization must occur daily. Make an effort to wake up happy. Go to bed happy. See the next day as a positive before it happens. Lord knows, it’s easier said than done, but I do believe it’s possible.

6. Plan each day and week. “I’ve never had a day I haven’t already had.” I heard that line for the first time just recently. I have never missed a night where I didn’t visualize my next day. Not once. It’s an integral part of my makeup….and every Sunday I envision the next week and what’s possible in all its manifestations. Plan for positivity. Tomorrow is 1/365ths of reaching that annual vision.

7. Reverse a poor attitude ASAP. Try. Just start with that. There are any number of proven, concrete tools that have been used to reverse poor performances of champions for decades. Many of them take less than 90 seconds to deploy.
The “Re-boot” is one of my favorites. It has saved me and many a staff member from the proverbial bad day because of me. I’d forgotten about it until researching this article. I can’t remember who or where I got this, but when you think about negativity or dwell too long in the past, do this:

• Close your eyes.
• Take 6 to 8 deep, long inhales and exhales.
• Unhinge your jaw.
• Turn off your brain. No thoughts. See only a black or blank screen.
• After at least 30 seconds, raise your chin.
• Open your eyes and focus on the task at hand.

8. Surround yourself with winners. Hey, we all know that success breeds success. Business creates Business. Mom was right! Be careful who your friends are. Do not accept negativity. Many friends, family, and associates are acting out the effects of being a victim or a judge. This is not acceptable if they want to run with a champion… YOU.

9. Say NO! Swiftly saying no to other people’s thoughts, plans, ideas, and concepts will eliminate 15% to 25% of your thoughts over a year. Remember: The simple truth is that you don’t have to have excuses for saying, no. Be blunt and be final. Be polite but be decisive!

10. Success is getting up one more time from defeat. Getting knocked down or off your course of success is always possible. Just remember to recover quickly. A great support group always helps. Get back up!

11. Make Mom happy. This may not apply to everyone, but when Momma isn’t happy, no one is happy. I have a Grandson about to become a teenager. I’m getting prepared, but not as much as my daughter is….and I HOPE that the Grandson learns that rule quickly. He’ll have a much happier life……because she is MY daughter and I know what she’s capable of!

12. Be a kid again. Striving for an awesome year is admirable but let’s face it…it’s definitely a lot of hard work. So, take time to play. Get lost in the moment once in awhile. Plan some fun time, and don’t let anything get in the way. This balance will strengthen your days. Hard to do, I know. Try.

13. Reward thyself. Treat yourself like a champion. And yes… champions reward themselves. Every month create a reward for a job well done. Make it a massage, a gift you typically wouldn’t buy, a lost weekend, etc. Make the reward a big deal. Go for it.

14. Stay healthy. Nothing can derail a vision quest more than poor health. I’m not going to preach about exercise at least 30 minutes daily or eating every 3 to 4 hours to avoid overeating and binging or drinking 6 to 8 glasses of water daily. Not me. I’m not even going to suggest you take vitamins or necessary supplements. Think healthy thoughts. Let the rest happen. Try.

15. Give. Maybe the most selfish activity is giving. That’s because it always comes back to you. You reap what you sow. Applying the “Golden Rule” will benefit you in ways you can’t imagine.. In business I’ve always had the same motto… show my clients how to make money, and they don’t mind letting me have a little money. But there are a lot of other ways to give. Giving the resource of time in a positive, charitable way will reap many benefits. Even the gift of a simple smile can cause positive change. Ok, a little corny, I admit….but, try.

I sat down with a calculator and figured out that in 2011, the average person will have more than a million thoughts. Imagine that! That’s 2,740 thoughts a day!

Like carbon atoms, they can form into a diamond under the right conditions. However, to form those diamonds, thoughts must be positive in thinking what you want as opposed to what you don’t want. Your “free will” can make those conditions right, so chip away at it daily.

There are 8,760 hours or 525,600 minutes in 2011. Admit it…you have the time. Plan and make positive use of it.

I see you eliminating 30% to 40% of your thoughts.

Gone are worry, anxiety, gossip, rumor, hearsay, jealousy, anger, hatred, impatience, procrastination, sickness, loneliness, sadness, despair, anguish, intolerance, disbelief, low self-esteem, mistrust, apathy, laziness, and fear.

C’mon…you can do it. Ommmmmmmmm………

Now I see you self-disciplined. Ommmmmmmmm………

I see you focused. Ommmmmmmmm………

I see you optimistic. Ommmmmmmmm………

I see you abundant. Ommmmmmmmm………

I see you balanced. Ommmmmmmmm………

I see a life simple for you. Ommmmmmmmm………

I see you relaxed. I see you happy. I see you indestructible. I see you radiating positive energy.

I see you successful.

I see a “diamond” year for you! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh………

Thanks for reading…may you shine brightly!