Zap Your Life: Feel the Power! © Copyright 2007 Solución Máxima.

All Rights Reserved

Zap Your Life

Feel the Power!

By Dr. Jill Ammon-Wexler

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Zap Your Life: Feel the Power! © Copyright 2007 Solución Máxima. All Rights Reserved

CONTENTS Page

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 7

FORWARD 8

1. THE GREATEST MYSTERY OF ALL 9

Learn why you are already a "change master" and poised for
instant personal empowerment.

2. YOUR AMAZING QUANTUM SELF 21

The power of viewing yourself as an active player in quantum
reality.

3. WHAT’S GOING ON UP THERE? 33

An empowering tour through your mysterious brain, how it
"thinks," and how to get it on your side.

4. HOW WE CREATE “REALITY” 45

Why your self-concept is only 5 years old, and how to overcome
any negative thinking and rapidly overhaul your belief system.

5. SO WHO ARE YOU? 55

The surprising advantages of a tough childhood, and proof you
should stop being "realistic" about yourself and your potential.

6. THE INCREDIBLE POWER OF BELIEF 66

How your beliefs actually create what you call "reality," and how to
erase what you believe to be any personal limitations.

7. BECOME AN “INTELLIGENT OPTIMIST” 77

The quarter-sized part of your brain that makes the difference
between being "positive" and being "negative," and how to
immediately light it up.

8. UNLEASH YOUR NATURAL GENIUS 89

Scientific proof that geniuses are made, not born. How to
embrace your full range of intelligences and instantly expand
your mind power.

9. FIRE UP YOUR EMOTIONS 100

The brain-based reason emotions rule our behavior, and how
to get your emotions working for you.

10. THE TRUE SECRET OF MOTIVATION 113

The science behind what motivates you to take action, and how
to use it to achieve your life goals.

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11. SUPERCHARGE YOUR CONFIDENCE 124

Why it’s perfectly OK to be "imperfect," and how to supercharge
your self-confidence from the inside-out.

12. LIGHT YOUR CREATIVE SPARK 132

The scientific proof genius-level creativity is learnable, and steps
you can take to sharpen your creative skills and have more "ah-ha"
insights.

13. FEEL GREAT EVERY DAY 143

Proof anger can actually make you happy... plus how to "fake"
your way to happiness and start feeling good today.

14. TURN OFF THE BUBBLE MACHINE 152

Stress is not what you think it is. Not at all! Here's how to calm
the "monkey mind" and embrace change.

15. REACH BEYOND THE “ORDINARY” 164

The scientific world has now proved paranormal powers are very
real. Here's how to stretch your mind beyond the "ordinary."

16. TURN BACK THE CLOCK 173

Do you sometimes feel like you're "losing your mental edge?"
How to keep your brain sharp, regardless of your actual age.

17. WHAT DO YOU REALLY WANT? 187

Here's why feeling bored, restless or stuck is actually a very
good thing.

18. FLOW INTO HIGHER STATES 199

How to activate your brain to create super-achiever performance
levels.

19. YOUR QUANTUM LEAP 207

Step-by-step instructions on how to take an instant quantum
leap in your life or business. Amazingly simple!

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Zap Your Life: Feel the Power! © Copyright 2007 Solución Máxima. All Rights Reserved

FORWARD
“Let your mind start a journey thru a strange
new world. Leave all thoughts of the world you
knew before. Let your spirit start to soar, and
you’ll live as you’ve never lived before.”
~ Erich Fromm,
humanistic philosopher

Dear Reader…

We do live in a “strange new world” today. Many find themselves

caught up in a chaotic struggle to make sense of a world that’s changing
so fast it sometimes seems crazy.
Stress levels are at an all-time high. Companies are dissolving jobs
and moving off to other countries—at the same time the most seemingly
unlikely mavericks are becoming literally overnight multi-millionaires.
The weather has become unpredictably violent—at the same time that
the green revolution has created revolutionary business opportunities.
Our children are carrying guns to school—at the same time fifteen
year olds are becoming best-selling game designers. And we’re
surrounded by wars, rumors of wars, fear of terrorist actions, and
increasing global catastrophes—at the same time that more and more
people around the world are calling for change and new leadership.
On the surface this certainly does seems overwhelming. But challenge
always marks an opportunity to rise above and grow… just as crisis offers
the opportunity to literally discover the hero within.
Zap Your Life is about the business of LIFE. It’s about breaking
through confusion or overwhelm… blasting past any personal barriers…
and taking a quantum leap into an entirely new level of personal success.
And it’s about doing this by literally taking a quantum leap into an
entirely new personal reality.

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Here’s what you’ll want to know about this book…

First… The inspiration for the book came from the very sincere
advice I’ve heard many self-made millionaires and other highly achieved
people tell others who want to duplicate their success: BUILD
YOURSELF TO BUILD YOUR BUSINESS… OR TO IMPROVE YOUR
LIFE!
Second… Zap Your Life goes far beyond the concept of positive
thinking—straight into supercharged positive being and doing.
Third… This is not just a random collection of unproven theory or
pop psychology. Zap Your Life is the product over 35 years of passionate
study of the mysteries of the mind… plus the best of today’s exciting
neuroscience research into what makes some people outrageously
charismatic and successful, while others just plug along in their comfort
zone, never achieving their true potential.
Fourth… I’ve included chapters on ESP and longevity because you
are a person before you’re an entrepreneur, an executive, a jet pilot or
astronaut, a personal coach, an athlete, a student of psychology, a
success-seeker… or anything else. And the more powerful your
understanding of what it means to be a person on all levels, the bigger
your platform for success in life itself!
Fifth… The printed book is just the beginning. This is actually an
Interactive Adventure. At the end of each chapter you’ll find the
address of a live web page. Go ahead and type this address into your
computer’s online search bar. You’ll find a constantly expanding
resource of motivational and educational audios, videos, articles, new
research results, self-tests, and other resources to take you to the next
level.
Sixth… What you’ll discover in these pages has the potential to
literally transform your life and your personal (and business) success.
You’re about to master the key to taking a quantum leap… to instantly
create an entirely new vision of yourself and your potential.
And I’m not talking about gradual “over the years” transformation.
I’m talking about an instant quantum leap that will leave your old reality
in the dust—about instant personal empowerment and transformation.
Enjoy!

Dr. Jill Ammon-Wexler

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Zap Your Life: Feel the Power! © Copyright 2007 Solución Máxima. All Rights Reserved

ONE
THE GREATEST MYSTERY OF ALL
“Your thoughts are like the seeds you plant in your
garden. Your beliefs are like the soil in which you
plant these seeds.”
~~ Louise Hay, metaphysician and best-selling author

A MUSCULAR TRUCK driver wrestles with the door—jammed shut

from the impact. Flames lick at back of the car. It will obviously be all
over in a matter of seconds.
The young woman at the wheel is unconscious—a scarlet river of
blood streams down her forehead. Her 3-year-old daughter is screaming
and hysterically pounding against the window.
A white haired woman leaps from an old Chevy Cavalier and bolts
toward the wreck. She shoves the truck driver aside, grabs the edges of
the twisted door, and with one heave pulls it free. She grabs the little girl,
the truck driver pulls the woman from behind the wheel, and the two
dive into the ditch just as the twisted wreck explodes.
How did that 116 pound 78-year-old woman do what a strong 258
pound man in his prime couldn’t do?
What is the strange power of the mind that permits us to do
such impossible feats of courage and strength?

~~ Myth #1 ~~
Only the lucky few will ever discover their true
purpose and the meaning of life.
Is it true that only the lucky few will ever discover their true purpose
and meaning of life? Will only the “luck few” discover the power within

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to achieve the highest levels of personal or business success? That

assumption is a life (and business) destroyer.
If I could stand on Mount Everest and broadcast a message to every
person on the world I would shout this: Creating a powerful, fulfilled
version of yourself is not only possible—it’s entirely within your reach,
and is far easier than you might think!
You most certainly CAN tap into and unfold your own personal
purpose and passion… and that is exactly what this book is all about!
You’re capable of tapping into a whole new reality. Suddenly you’re
wildly charismatic… people and opportunities seem to be drawn to you…
your old limitations just fall away… and success in any life venture
follows in your footsteps like a eager puppy, wagging its tail and just
waiting to jump in your lap!

~~ Mystery ~~
Instant Transformations are the Easiest
“The purpose of life is to live a life of purpose.”
~~ Richard Leider, popular motivational speaker

The goal of this book is to reveal the secret of exactly how you can
instantly take a quantum leap into a more empowered, fulfilled and
exciting life… transforming your business world as you transform
yourself. Let’s start with the stories of two very real people I personally
know who did just this…

Sophie’s story begins at age six when her grandmother told her of
her grandfather’s dream of going to America to build a better future for
the family. He never made it, as WWII claimed his life. But hearing his
story was the beginning of Sophie’s dream of leaving her home on a
small South Pacific island and moving to the land of opportunity—
America.
An adventurous soul, Sophie left home for Tahiti at 20. Her fate
began to change just one short year later when one day at work a
handsome young American came into the store. He was hoping to find
someone who spoke English. Sophie came to his rescue, and they ended
up dating.

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“Just before he left two weeks later, I did a strange thing,” she
recalls. “I just opened my mouth and told him I would come to America
in one year to visit him. This wasn’t a conscious plan—it just popped
out.”
Shortly thereafter Sophie bought a book that would change her life—a
guide to the powers of the mind, and meditation in particular. “I came
home every day from work and went straight for that book,” she recalls,
“and began to meditate for several hours a day.”
Sophie recalls also constantly having the thought of going to America
on her mind. “I wasn’t concerned with how I was going to do it,” she
says. “I just knew I was going.”
Eleven months later—one month from her target date for leaving—
Sophie gave notice at work. But her final paycheck wasn’t enough to buy
a ticket to California. “I still wasn’t worried,” she recalls.
Sophie described her challenge to a friend. He helped her get a
discounted ticket to Hawaii, and gave her the phone number of some of
his friends in Los Angeles.
When Sophie arrived in Los Angeles she had $5 in her pocket, and
still trusted the fates to provide for her. Sure enough, a couple on the
plane bought her a motel room and fed her. The next day she called the
number in LA and was again taken in and cared for.
“From the very beginning it all just happened with no effort or worry
at all,” she recalls. “Everything just came together and fell in my hands.”
What enable Sophie to soar so effortlessly through such a dramatic
quantum leap? It all began with a decision. But from the very beginning
her decision went beyond goal setting—it was an absolute claim that a
different reality belonged to her. She was going to America, her land of
opportunity, on the announced date. The “how” was not an issue!
Sophie then consistently claimed this reality as true without worrying
about how it was going to happen. She constantly reminded herself that
it belonged to her.
Sophie’s life thereafter is filled with one “miracle” after another. She
is today an extremely successfully self-made entrepreneur, and “worry”
and “how” are still not part of her vocabulary!

Ralph’s story. Ralph’s story is quite different. Ralph had spent the
night barely clinging to life as an unbelievably enormous amount of

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cocaine surged through his veins. His heart had raced, stopped, and
started to race again. His cat sat on his chest all night staring at him—
actually throwing him a life line.
Ralph was heavily dependent on cocaine, and had become a dealer to
support his huge need for the drug. The night before he had tried to
control himself. He set an egg timer to try to wait three minutes between
lines. But he quit using the timer and simply chopped and snorted one
line after another—pausing in between only to slug down another huge
glass of red wine.
Ralph forced himself onto his feet that next morning to build a fire in
the wood stove “Something had to happen,” he recalls. “I was
undoubtedly dying. I was drinking a large bottle of wine every day and
not eating. And that morning I had blood in my urine, and coming out of
my nose and ears.”
What happened next had never been planned.
In a brief moment of life-affirming clarity, Ralph grabbed up what
was left of almost a pound of cocaine and his kit and threw it into the
fire. He then went to the phone and called his supplier and told him if he
ever sold him more cocaine he would turn him in to the police. He then
called his remaining three friends and told them the same.
The next three days were pure hell. “It was beyond withdrawal,” he
recalls. “It was a big blur… back and forth through death’s door.”
On the fourth morning Ralph took yet another quantum leap. “I felt
like I needed to make a new commitment to life,” he says. “The only
thing I could think of was going to a gym to work out, and maybe getting
some organic food and juice.”
What happened from there?
One year later almost to the day Ralph participated in a local novice
bodybuilding contest. He smiled when I asked him if he won. “I won in
here,” he beams, pointing to his heart.
Ralph, incidentally, is today a very successful motivational coach. He
brings an electrifying level of passion and clarity to his work, and has a
very long waiting list.
Here’s the interesting point about Sophie and Ralph. They each took
immediate and irreversible action on a passionate decision. They didn’t
struggle to decide ‘how” to dramatically change their lives or create new
business opportunities. They simply made a decision, committed to it,

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and leapt forward. And the new reality they landed in BECAME their
own winning life platform!

~~ A Winning Strategy ~~
Become a Change-Master
“The universe is change—our life is what our thoughts
make it.”
~~ Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor and philosopher

Most of us were taught that change is difficult, and takes struggle and
long years to accomplish. But there’s another type of personal change
possible—the instant transformation that comes from taking a quantum
leap.
A quantum leap is an instant change on a personal level—a jump
straight into an entirely new personal reality. Sophie and Ralph shared
the common source of all quantum leaps—a decisive personal
commitment backed by action.
And yes, quantum leaps really are real. They are an example of how a
focused mind can create instant and lasting positive change in your life.
A quantum leap can be as dramatic as one day quitting your job and
boarding a plane to create a new eco-business in the jungles of Costa
Rica. Or it can be as small as suddenly deciding to “make up” with an old
friend… instantly grabbing the phone to call them… and discovering
they’re eager to dive into a fabulous joint business venture.

Inside the Author’s Mind

Just for the records, I am not just a brain/mind specialist and doctor
of psychology. I am also a passionate business person. I’ve been told by
some of my European friends that this is very “American,” but I
personally think that the desire for success passes over country borders!
My first business was at age 12–when I created a Saturday morning
“orange route.” At that time our family lived in California and we had
several large orange trees in the back yard. One day I decided to create a
business, picked and polished 20 large navel oranges, got on my bike,
and sold them house-to-house. I ended up with a regular customer route,
and a great feeling of personal power.

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My second year in college I set up a small advertising agency that

financed my undergraduate education. Then once I had my Masters
degree I created an executive training and consulting center based in
California’s Silicon Valley.
From there it’s been one venture after another… from a successful
publishing house to one of the world’s first brain training centers. So like
any other self-made entrepreneur, I’ve had a roller coaster life. I’ve
earned and lost fortunes. I’ve lived in a tent in the forest… and owned
one of the West Coast’s premium lakeside properties.
Along the way I’ve learned both first-hand and from my many
fabulous mentors and teachers the one truth about achieving success.
Here it is:

You do not build your business or your life into a success …

you build YOURSELF into the person who OWNS a successful
business or a successful life!

That’s what this book is all about. It’s a road map to fully unleashing
your true power to succeed… to getting out of your own way and taking a
quantum leap into a truly empowered reality by building yourself!!!

Where It All Starts

So… is it really possible to take a quantum leap into a dramatically
empowered new personal reality? And what’s behind the “Build Yourself
to Build Your Business or Life” premise?
The answer is sitting right there on your shoulders. The potential for
a quantum leap is built right into your brain. But I’m not talking about
positive thinking… or the power of attraction…or manifestation… or
visualization… or any of the other commonly recommended self-growth
tools.
These are all incomplete by themselves!
The secret to taking a quantum leap comes from understanding
exactly how your brain creates your reality, and how you can take over
from here. The goal of this book is to provide you with a road map—steps
YOU can take to instantly make your personal life (and your business) a
dramatically empowered, more exciting and successful place to be.

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Your most amazing asset.

Your native brainpower

OK. Let’s start at the true source of success—your unusually powerful
physical brain.
In terms of sheer power and intricacy, your brain leaves the greatest
of today’s computers choking in the dust. Consider this: You have 30
billion (yes, billion) neurons in your brain. What are neurons? The
powerhouse little cells that let your brain dream, plan, analyze,
remember… and control every single cell in your miraculous body.
Plus… consider this: Each of those tiny neurons is actually a
miniature self-contained computer. Your brain is actually a
supercharged marvel. It processes an estimated 30 billion bits of
information every second.
But this gets even more amazing. Each of your brain cells can also
communicate with thousands of other brain cells. Each one! Your brain
contains 100,000 miles (yes, miles) of “communications cable” your
brain cells use to talk back and forth among themselves. Heard enough?

To the moon and back…

If we were to stretch out the brain cells (neurons) in your brain end
to end, they would actually reach from the surface of the earth all
the way to the moon and back. This is not an exaggeration. It’s a
scientific fact! And all of this is packed into only 3 pounds.

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So here’s an interesting question: With all this amazing mental

power, why don’t we all have everything we want in life? Why can’t we
just shake off sadness and discouragement and be happy? Why can’t we
easily change any behavior we want to change—or at least overcome any
limiting thoughts? And why do so many businesses fail… or just never
reach their true potential?
It’s not your fault. If you haven’t achieved your dreams, or feel you
can’t “get your life or business together,” there really isn’t anything
wrong with you.
You are not a failure, and you are not hopeless!
You’re just stuck in a mental reality that’s inappropriate for who you
can be! And the path to correcting that is not year after year of struggle
and gradual growth. You’ve already tried that.
The best answer is instant change and transformation—taking a
quantum leap!

Is instant change really possible?

Your brain naturally thrives on challenge and change.
Modern science now has proof our brains constantly grow and
change well into old age. The brain is actually so changeable that the
scientific world had to create a new term—“brain plasticity.”
Today’s high tech instruments actually let scientists watch a single
thought physically rewire our brains. This is real! And recent research
has proven our brains automatically rewire themselves within hours
following each new experience.
Why is this so important?
It’s important because we now have proof each of your thoughts
physically changes your brain—instantly. Here’s what this means to you:
The ability to re-create your self and manifest your dreams is right there
within your physical brain—at this very moment!
Imagine what it would be like to rewire your brain to enter a creative
state like Leonardo da Vinci… to experience business clarity like Bill
Gates… to tap into personal charisma like Oprah… or to experience the
powerful mental focus of Tiger Woods.
You will learn exactly how to do this as we go along. And once you
learn how to take control, you’ll learn how to actually choose the mental

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state you wish to experience! The strategy is to consciously become a

Change-Master.

You are already a Change-Master!

Let’s take a closer look at the nature of change, and how it personally
impacts you! On the most basic level, we are each active players in a
dynamic, constantly changing quantum universe. Like everything else in
the known universe, we are constantly being transformed from matter to
energy and back. In fact—we are change!
You are not an exception. You are already, at your very core, a
master of instant change.

~~ Plan of Action~~
Prepare for Open and Wild Rebellion
“If you don’t like something change it. If you can’t change it,
change the way you think about it.”
~~ Mary Engelbreit, millionaire greeting card entrepreneur

OK. Here’s a preview of coming chapters—a road map of the journey this
book is about take you on…

• How we create reality…

Chapter 2 challenges a very old myth based on the belief that “reality” is
beyond our ability to control or change. Realizing that this is absolutely
untrue is an important first step. You’ll gain clarity into how you
actually create your own reality—from the brain out.

• Expand your mind power…

Chapter 3 provides a user-friendly tour through the three most
important parts of your brain, how they work, and how you can
immediately begin to harness your own mind power.

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• Eliminate negative thinking…

For years psychologists have assumed there are parts of our lives that are
beyond our ability to change. Well it’s time for that old myth to fall in the
dust. In Chapter 4 you’ll learn exactly why your self-concept is only 5
years old and why you can’t remember your early years. Plus you’ll
discover a remarkable way to eliminate negative thinking and rapidly
overhauling your personal belief system.

• The advantages of a tough childhood…

Did you have a tough childhood? In chapter 5 you’ll learn why this is
often a huge plus to success seekers. Plus you’ll discover a remarkable
fact—that being “realistic” about yourself and your potential is one of the
worse things you can do!

• Eliminate limiting beliefs…

Your beliefs are the defining factor of who you are and who you can
become. In Chapter 6 you’ll explore how we create reality around our
beliefs. And you’ll discover an amazing way to erase any old limiting
beliefs that may be holding you back.

• Stop the worry cycle…

Ever notice that what you worry about often comes true? In chapter 7
you’ll learn how this works in your brain, and a fast way to stop the
worry cycle cold. You’ll also discover a new approach you can use to
immediate develop intelligent optimism.

• Unleash your natural genius…

There’s now solid scientific proof that geniuses are not born—they’re
made. In chapter 8 you’ll learn how to embrace your full range of
intelligences, and instantly expand your brain power.

• Turn on the burn…

One of the most powerful brain-based aspects of your personal power is
emotion. In chapter 9 you’ll learn how to tap into and use the amazing
power of emotion to get what you want in your life.

• Pump up your motivation…

Do you really understand what motivates you? Meet yourself in ten years
in chapter 10, and see what that does to your fire and desire.

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• Supercharge your confidence…

Learn why it’s perfectly OK to be imperfect. Chapter 11 introduces how to
immediately build your confidence and boost your self-esteem from the
inside-out.

• Light your creative spark…

Modern science has proven that genius-level creative skills are learnable.
In chapter 12 you’ll learn how to have more “ah-ha” insights, and a
simple way to conduct a valuable personal creative brainstorm.

• Feel great every day…

You’ll love this. Chapter 13 provides the latest scientific proof (and
simple proven techniques) you can use to “fake” your way to happiness.
This really works!

• Calm the monkey mind…

We live in a high-stress world. If you’ve ever felt your mind was running
off without you, here’s what’s happening—and how to get your control
back. Chapter 14 presents the real truth about what stress really is (it’s
not at all what you think), the true source of your stress, and how to get it
under immediate control.

• Reach beyond the ordinary…

Did you realize there’s strong evidence we all have “psychic” powers. In
chapter 15 learn what this is all about, and why many businesses and
governments are today using the services of people with refined
paranormal powers.

• Build a neural reserve…

There’s new evidence we begin to build Alzheimer’s brain tangles long
before any brain and memory problems are evident. A healthy brain and
good mind power are essential to your life success. In chapter 16 learn
how to build a neural reserve and avoid “losing your mind,” even if you
do get Alzheimer’s 5, 10, 20 or 40 years from now.

• Break out of the box…

In chapter 17 you’ll learn why feelings of restlessness, boredom and
feeling stuck are actually a great sign. Learn how to prepare yourself to
get out of the box and take a quantum leap into a powerful new reality.

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• Discover the flow…

There’s an old assumption that super-achiever performance is beyond
the reach of “ordinary” people. In chapter 18 you’ll learn why “the Flow”
is a natural brain state, and steps to take to pop yourself into this
remarkable high-performance experience.

• Take a quantum leap…

Do you assume its “impossible” to create an instant personal change and
have it last? Chapter 19 blasts that old myth… then and guides you step-
by-step into taking a very real personal quantum leap. Life will never be
the same!

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FIVE
SO WHO ARE YOU?
“Perhaps the only limits to the human mind are
those we believe in.”
~~ Willis Harman, futurist

WHEN HIS FATHER abandoned the family, his mother faced the
challenge of supporting a household on her own. But she totally lacked
job skills and education.
“We just kept moving back and forth because my mother never had a
steady job,” he recalls. “We kept getting kicked out of every house we
were in. I believe six months was the longest we ever lived in a house.”
He wasn’t a big kid, and was frequently bullied at school. When only
8 years old he was badly beaten by an older boy, and spent 10 days very
close to death. He turned to his uncle for moral support. But that too
ended badly when his uncle died. He failed 9th grade three times, and
finally gave up on continuing his formal education.
He recently wrote a song about his childhood experiences called
“Brain Dead.” Know who this is? The famous multi-millionaire rapper,
Eminem!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Many believe a tough childhood scars one forever. This does seem
true for some. But this is not always the case.
His childhood was filled with constant terror of a violent drunken
step-father. He survived years of unbelievable physical and emotional
abuse, and became a very violent young man. But he took hold of himself
and channeled his rage to become an Australian boxing champion.
When his childhood terror continued to haunt him he finally turned
to writing to sort out his life. And today? He’s now the creative director

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of one of the biggest advertising agencies in the world. His name? Shane
Weaver, also the successful author of Blacktown.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
She quit school to marry at 17 and promptly had three children, one
after the other. When her husband went off to fight WWII, she grabbed
the only job she could get selling books door-to-door. But this young
mother amazed everyone, earning an outrageous $25,000 in just six
months.
When her husband returned from the war they ended up divorcing.
Then in spite of her lack of a college education and no business
experience, she fought her way tooth-and-nail to become a top sales
director in a home products company.
But in 1963, after 25 years of being refused the promotions and pay
raises going to men, she quit. She then took her life savings of $5,000
and opened a small store in Dallas.
Who was this woman? Mary Kay Ash—the gutsy founder of today’s
huge worldwide personal care business—Mary Kay.

~~ Myth #5~~
A tough childhood makes personal success
both more difficult, and far less probable.

We all have obstacles and hardships—some of us far more than

others. The old belief is that if you had a tough childhood, you’ll likely
have problems over your entire lifetime—and have far less probability of
success.
Many psychologists do feel that childhood trauma “damages” a
person and makes their success and happiness far less likely.
There’s no doubt that difficult childhoods leave some people deeply
wounded and disadvantaged. But DOES a tough childhood necessarily
make success less probable?
Actually just the opposite may be true.

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Zap Your Life: Feel the Power! © Copyright 2007 Solución Máxima. All Rights Reserved

~~Mystery ~~
The Advantages of a Tough Childhood
“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”
~~ Eleanor Roosevelt, former USA First Lady

There’s a lot of evidence that intense difficulties, hardships and

obstacles are often major contributors to a person’s success. And for
some, their tough childhood seems to drive them to even more
outrageous achievement and success.
What makes these people so different? Let’s take a closer look at the
evidence…
In a classic book entitled Cradles of Eminence, co-authors Victor and
Mildred Goertzel reviewed the childhood family life of 700 of the world’s
most successful people. Their goal? To identify the early experiences that
contributed to their remarkable achievements.
All of their research subjects are quite well known and their names
are easily recognizable: Franklin D. Roosevelt, Helen Keller, Winston
Churchill, Albert Schweitzer, Gandhi, Albert Einstein, Sigmund Freud,
etc.
What the Goertzel’s discovered is fascinating. The majority of these
successful people (525 of the 700) came from deeply troubled
childhoods. They endured extreme poverty, broken homes, and even
serious physical and emotional parental abuse.
One out of every four (199 of the 700) had serious physical handicaps
such as deafness, disfigurations, blindness or crippled limbs. And in the
case of the successful writers and playwrights, over 80% watched their
parents struggle through intensely painful psychological dramas.
The Goertzel’s concluded that the drive to compensate for their
disadvantages drove these people straight into the arms of outrageous
personal achievement. A remarkable conclusion!

The triumph of a “homely” woman

Here’s an amazing true story…
Anna had a childhood of utter anguish. She was orphaned at age 10,
and was always painfully aware of being very homely. Her childhood
writings reveal that she never had a sense of “belonging” anywhere, or to
anyone.

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Zap Your Life: Feel the Power! © Copyright 2007 Solución Máxima. All Rights Reserved

Anna was described by a writer of her time as “a rather humorless

introvert… unbelievably shy… unable to overcome her personal
insecurity... and with a deep conviction of her own inadequacies.”
But this unattractive young woman refused to remain
“disadvantaged.” She took hold of her own bootstraps and began to pull
herself up into a higher, more powerful consciousness.
After marrying she courageously nursed her husband through
crippling polio. Then when he (Franklin Roosevelt) was elected to the
U.S. Presidency in the depth of the Great Depression, she immediately
transformed the position of First Lady.
So… do you consider yourself “too busy” to reach out and claim your
full potential? As the First Lady, this deeply compassionate woman
became an outspoken supporter for the downtrodden of all races,
religions and countries—at the same time managing the White House
and raising six children.
After her husband’s death she spent the remainder of her life as a
highly-respected spokesperson to the United Nations. At her death this
formerly shy, disadvantaged, homely and withdrawn woman had become
one of the most loved and revered women of her entire generation.
How and why did this happen?
It happened because she made a personal choice to lift herself
beyond her perceived “limitations.” As writer Victor Wilson said, “From
some inner wellspring, Eleanor Roosevelt summoned a tough, unyielding
courage, tempered by remarkable self-control and self-discipline.”
Anna Eleanor Roosevelt provides an excellent example of how
adversity can lead you to your own outrageous greatness.

Did you have a tough childhood?

This is interesting: Modern science has provided proof that “well-
being” is not necessarily an advantage to either plants or animals. Where
there is no challenge, obstacle or hardship—growth and development is
often limited. Biologists refer to this as the “adversity principle.”
You have the same transformational potential as Eleanor Roosevelt,
Eminem, Mary Kay Ash and all other self-made winners. Obstacles and
hardships do not have to lead to failure.
Adversity causes some people to break, and others to break records.
It’s a personal choice.

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Zap Your Life: Feel the Power! © Copyright 2007 Solución Máxima. All Rights Reserved

Consider these real-life examples:

Lou was such a clumsy kid that the boys in his neighborhood
wouldn’t let him play sandlot baseball with them. But Lou Gehrig tapped
into his own inner source of courage and determination. He’s today
listed in the “Baseball Hall of Fame” as one of the greatest ball players of
all time.
Woodrow Wilson couldn’t read until he was ten years old, yet went on
to become the twenty-eighth President of the United States. The great
inventor Thomas Edison was stone-cold deaf. The famed speaker and
activist Booker T. Washington was born into slavery. As a young child
the brilliant Albert Einstein was considered a hopeless dyslexic beyond
education. Alexander Pope had an unsightly hunchback. Julius Caesar
was an epileptic.
Yet each of these individuals became famous historic figures in spite
of—or perhaps because of—their serious handicaps.
And how about Helen Keller, who couldn’t hear or see, yet
transformed an entire nation when she graduated from college with
honors. Then there’s Ludwig Beethoven, who began to lose his hearing in
his 20s and was completely deaf by 50. Yet he created some of the
world’s most beautiful music. He was once overheard shouting at the top
of his voice, “I will take life by the throat!”

Boost your “happy emotion” center…

There are several ways to activate your brain’s happy emotion center—the
small portion of your left prefrontal cortex that’s naturally active in positive
thinkers.
One especially effective method has been around for some time—
mindfulness meditation. Don’t simply disregard the power of meditation or
mindful contemplation. A large body of very serious scientific research proves
it can create a very real and lasting positive state of mind.
Numerous studies have shown that meditation and contemplation
increase the activity in the left prefrontal cortex. These changes are stable over
time—even if you stop meditating for a while.

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Zap Your Life: Feel the Power! © Copyright 2007 Solución Máxima. All Rights Reserved

~~ A Winning Strategy ~~
Stop Being “Realistic”

“There is little difference in people, but that little difference

makes a big difference. The little difference is attitude. The
big difference is whether it is positive or negative.”

~~ W. Clement Stone, philanthropist and early self-help author

Most of us were taught that having a “realistic” opinion of ourselves is

basic to sound mental health. But is this necessarily true? Would we do
better to indulge in “self-illusions?”
It’s commonly assumed that normal, well-adjusted people have
realistic views of their own potential. And it is also commonly assumed
that those who do not have realistic self-concepts are very possibly
neurotic or unbalanced.
Are these assumptions true?
I’ll have to say absolutely not.
As a psychologist, the healthiest and happiest people I’ve known are
totally unrealistic about themselves. In short—they have what some
might call “unrealistically optimistic illusions” about their own
capabilities and potential.
So… could this actually be a good thing?
Let’s take a look at some recent research and clinical evidence.
A short self-evaluation test is used to divide a group of college
freshmen into two groups: Those who are “extremely optimistic” about
their probable success, and those who say they’re “more realistic” about
their chances for success. The research team then gives a series of
psychological tests to each group.
The results show that the “extremely optimistic” students tend to:

1. Exaggerate their positive qualities,

2. See themselves as more ethical, creative, imaginative and
intelligent than they really are, and
3. Tend to dismiss their personal flaws as unimportant.

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Zap Your Life: Feel the Power! © Copyright 2007 Solución Máxima. All Rights Reserved

Does that sound “healthy?” Yet the personal interviews of the

optimistic group show them to be very well-adjusted, happy, and not
focused on any negative aspects of their own personality.
Interesting!
So what about those who are more “realistic” about themselves? This
may come as quite a surprise. Their personal interviews reveal that many
of them suffer from depression and negativity, and they are less likely to
achieve their goals.
Humm. It seems that having an exaggerated view of your abilities and
potential might be better for your mental well-being than being
“realistic” about yourself.
I have personally also found that having “unrealistically high
optimism” about your own self also tends to increase your motivation
and persistence. It therefore increases the probability you’ll achieve your
goals. This obviously leads to a more satisfying life experience.
If you tend to be “realistic” about your own “limitations,” you might
want to take a few minutes to chew on this.

~~ Plan of Action ~~
Get Positive… Now
“It is good to have an end to journey towards; but it is the
journey that matters in the end.”
~~ Ursula Le Guin, American author

OK. Here’s a personal call to action: Your attitude toward any

personal “handicap” you believe you have determines its impact on your
life. That’s it! Your attitude. And your attitude is entirely under your
control.
Remember this the next time you’re tempted to focus on any personal
“weaknesses” or past pain to justify a “failure.”
If you feel sick and tired of settling for less in your life, this is a good
day to take action and claim more of your true potential. To move past
any old “negative stuff,” and fire yourself up. If not now, when?
Here are some tips to get you started today…

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Zap Your Life: Feel the Power! © Copyright 2007 Solución Máxima. All Rights Reserved

1. Got excuses?
To become all you can be, you’ll want to stop making excuses. Use
any personal adversity or perceived limitation to do what Beethoven
did—let lose with a life-affirming roar and just “grab life by the throat.”

2. OK self … now listen to this

Self-talk is a very powerful tool. Pick one of your less-desirable
personal beliefs. Start to challenge it using self-talk. “I’ll never make a
friend” becomes, “I’m a friendly person, and can make new friends
easily.”
This is not some Pollyanna approach—it’s actually a very powerful,
proven-effective mental reprogramming method. What you’re doing is
creating some very real new physical brain cell-to-cell pathways in your
brain.

3. Learn the Duchenne smile

Scientists have pinpointed the exact spot in your brain that controls
your ability to “think positive.” It’s a small portion of your left cerebral
cortex.
Some people seem to have a natural activation of this part of their
brain. And interestingly, they tend to be naturally positive and
optimistic.
Others have very low energy in this part of their brain, and tend to be
self-judging, negative, and depressed. Many of these folks were labeled
shy or withdrawn as children—so there’s evidence this starts very early in
life.
If you’re a “realist” who would rather be an optimist, you’ll want to
learn to turn on this portion of your left frontal lobe—the side
responsible for those great “unrealistic” feelings about your own
potential.
Brain scans have shown that laughter is a strong activator of this part
of the brain, and so is a genuine smile. The type of smile you’re after is
called the “Duchenne smile,” after a 19th century French researcher—
Guillaume Duchenne. Duchenne is credited with discovering the
difference between a “social smile” and the type of genuine smile now
known to light up the “happiness center” in your left cortex.

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Zap Your Life: Feel the Power! © Copyright 2007 Solución Máxima. All Rights Reserved

Polite social smiles don’t activate the same portions of your face, or
your brain. Go look at yourself in the mirror and watch the muscles
around your eyes as you smile. A Duchenne smile makes crinkles around
your eyes. Smile until your facial skin gathers inward toward your eye
sockets.
Duchenne smiles activate the portion of your brain associated with
happy, optimistic feelings. Each time you turn on this portion of your
brain, you pump up your brain’s ability to create positive, optimistic
thoughts. It really is that simple… and gives you the kind of smile that
lights up your face. Give it a try.

4. Put it into words

Picture yourself in a UCLA psychology laboratory. Your brain is being
monitored as you play a computer game called Cyberball.
You’re enjoying playing on-screen “catch” with two other people. For
a while the two others throw the ball regularly to your on-screen
character. You’re getting pretty good at it. Then suddenly the other two
players throw the ball only to each other, cutting you out of the game.
You feel the pain of social rejection. This turns on an area of your
brain that also lights up when you feel physical pain (the anterior
cingulate cortex). But when you then speak of your distress to the
researcher, the part of your brain tied to emotional distress is turned off.
The psychologist behind of this research—Dr. Matthew Lieberman—
laughingly told a convention of thousands of psychologists, “Tell your
troubles to a Guatemalan worry doll, place it beneath your pillow and,
according to legend, those worries will be gone by morning.”
The worry doll theory aside, Lieberman’s research did provide proof
that just putting our problems into words can actually ease emotional
pain.

5. Stomp those ants

ANTs (Automatic Negative Thoughts) can undo your most
determined efforts to create a healthy, happy, successful, prosperous life.
They are the enemy of anyone desiring lasting personal change. Here are
four steps you can take to stomp your ANTs…

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Zap Your Life: Feel the Power! © Copyright 2007 Solución Máxima. All Rights Reserved

First, build your awareness of what your ANTs are all about. What
messages are they marching through the back of your mind? Don’t just
“stuff” them back down for another day.
Also pay attention to the songs that float through the back of your
mind, and identify the words to the song. You may be very surprised at
the “theme songs” your subconscious mind is using to conceal ANTs—or
to try to lift you up.
Second, once you become aware of an ANT, drag it out into the
sunlight of your conscious mind. Ask yourself: Is it providing a message
about something I should change? Or is it just spouting “old stuff” from
age five that’s no longer really true?
Third, create an “anchor” to signal to yourself that you are stomping
an ANT. An anchor is a signal to your self that will become automatic
once established. For example, you could begin to snap your fingers
every time you beat down an ANT that tries to undo your efforts to
improve your life. Come up with your own anchors.
Fourth, remember that your brain can only focus on one thought at
a time. Focus your conscious thoughts on what you want. Do not focus
on worry or limitation. Worry is actually negative goal setting.
Remember: What you focus on will grow.
240 pages MORE………

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A PERSONAL INVITATION…
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