Vamptacular

This is my desert island book. The book that if I was allowed only one and stranded, I would take this. Why? Tony's words inspire self-empowerment, not simply self-improvement. They make you feel hope when all hope is lost and instill the value that you can believe in yourself and help yourself improve your own life. This was written at a time pivotal in Tony's own career where I really believe he was at the first peak of his own career mastery. This book carries a different energy than some of his others and I perhaps consider it his greatest written work (but I have yet to read "Money"- that's on my shelf to get to asap.) Some people have commented that Tony's written work can be dry and I agree that Tony Robbins is best absorbed by listening to his words or seeing him live. His presence and spoken charisma are unstoppable and he carries an enduring energy with him that does not always translate for all through his writings. I like his books, programs and videos because he is able to reach all people. He truly understands human beings perhaps like no other. A lot of teachers and coaches touch on subjects that we all face but Tony is a master at being able to drill right down with laser focus to pinpoint that hidden thing, the blind spots that not even those who know us well can see about us. He then empowers us to take control of our mental, emotional, physical, financial, spiritual, etc. selves and go forth in life being who we truly are, as a whole person. Anyway, if you missed this older book from 1991, it's a good solid read and it's a great reference read too. you can pick it up and enjoy one chapter and learn something new about you. Tony has a way of applying NLP, psychology and understands physiology, nutrition, human drive- enough that he cuts through all the psycho babble for you and approaches issues with real techniques that are applicable in the now. I hope to never be on that desert island alone, but if I am...I hope this book is somehow with me to keep me going in spirit. ;-)

While I love rock and metal mostly I will say Lindsey Sterling's "Spontaneous Me". Love that one, so empowering, energetic and uplifting.

Since you asked, I would recommend that if you think an affirmation might help you must hone and refine the affirmation to only focus exactly on what you do want. I do mean exact and I do mean "do want". Many people trip themselves up with wording their affirmations and then wonder why they never feel better or change their minds. First thing is first. This is a weird one that I learned when in a marketing thing 20+ years ago. Use this to begin affirmations when you have doubts about their efficacy but are open to using them: "My affirmations always work for me whether I believe they do or not." Next, start with some affirmations- since you indicated that is what you prefer to use. Something like this instead of what you mentioned that focused on the woman: "I am happy with my life and the improvements I make each day." The focus is solely on you and what you do want and reinforces positive progress you make without judgement. An improvement can be the smallest, smallest thing ever, so don't judge it. At any rate, I think you see how I am saying to word your affirmations if you are doing to do so. just remember the Einstein quote (to paraphrase it here) in that: the thinking that got you into the problem, won't get you out of it. Perhaps write a list and run it by your therapist or a very successful, respected friend to 'proofread' your list and help you refine the language at first. The more you get to writing these things and they work, the more you can write them on your own, or not write them at all once you are able to self-correct thinking at any single moment eventually (yes, it is possible, I know.)

There is a great little book that I read years ago when I was 17, called "What to Say When You Talk To Yourself" by Shad Helmstetter. check it out. ;-)

In reading many responses and not trying to reply with the same thing, my response is: think of 'why' you want/need the state change that pot and/or alcohol brings. That is the real question, not the substance at hand. The substances or distractions you might use are infinite; it's all about the why. You say you've begun meditating, so is that for relaxation? Do you have a night routine that is not conducive to helping you relax for bed? Do you have trouble sleeping? Ask all these questions as to the why for using the substances. Yes, long-term certain use of certain substances does in fact change brain chemistry and 'wiring'. Our habits- of any kind (better or worse) shape our neuropathways and the more you do something, the stronger "x" pathway becomes. It's up to you to see if you are strengthening yourself for the better or holding yourself back in creating poor habits period. In observing others and in my own life, I know that so many things serve to distract us from inner focus and making changes. Those things can be made doubly hard by adding someone else who does the same habitual thing- unless the habitual things are positive and promote successful outcomes.

Since I have been a Usui Reiki Master since 2008, I will answer from my point of view & experience. If you feel drawn towards something you should explore it, but at the same time explore the things within you that object to the fact that money is not inherently 'evil' or 'bad' in exchange for a service or someone's time. While over the years I have offered free energy channel/healings, I also charged since it takes my time and effort for this. I see no reason why people cannot be paid for their time and efforts. I think that those who struggle most in life have many predisposed notions of right and wrong and what must be in order for them to help someone. If you by chance want to offer your time and efforts in channeling Reiki to other for free, that is your decision and right. However, please do not knock others who might charge for their time/efforts because they need to pay bills in exchange for time and energy expended in life. Being a Usui style practitioner, I agree with Hawayo Takata (who brought Usui Reiki practice to America) in that some form of exchange should take place for people to value what they are getting in exchange. When you do a lot of research on how people react or treat things that they get for free, often people place little meaning on free things because they gave nothing of themselves in return for it. Granted, sometimes some people might appreciate free things, but the masses usually just expect to get something for nothing- which is possibly part of the cause of their illness/imbalance in the first place where Reiki might actually assist them.