By
JAY BLOCK

Human beings are strange creatures when it comes to what they focus on. Isn't it true that 10 great things can happen to you today along with just one bad thing and, in most cases, you'll go home at the end of the day and burden your family - and yourself - with that one bad thing; while never even acknowledging the 10 good things? I know I've done that.

Times are tough today for so many people. Ellen and I work with people from around the globe and, without exception, when we speak with people who are struggling in one area - we also discover there are areas which should cause great joy. And all the while, the main focus is placed on what is going wrong; rather than what is going right !

In my newest CD audiobook, Courageous Health (www.courageoushealth.com), one of the most effective techniques I discuss to reduce stress, eliminate procrastination, overcome despair and daily frustrations, and to take back control of your life is Focus Management.

So why is it that most people tend NOT to focus on the positive and fully engage themselves on the negative? Why do most people spend 90% of their time focusing on the problem and only 10% on the solution? The answer's simple. It's the way they've been conditioned to think and react. But what's most exciting about the emotional channeling technique of Focus Management is that you can easily re-condition yourself to focus (or re-focus) on those things that will help you to heal, reduce stress, and manage emotional dis-ease. Yes, you can live a courageous, high quality life - regardless of what challenges you face - simply by paying attention to what you're paying attention to - and then, refocusing your thoughts when negativity prevails in the theater of your mind. In other words - YOU can control how you think and what you think about - 24-/7 !

Focus is Power

The key to this technique is to first be aware of all the gifts you have in your life; all those things you have to be grateful for. You must know that you have the power to control what your mind focuses on at any given time and in any given situation. When something comes up that creates fear and discomfort, you have the power to focus on other things that are going well in your life and things you have to be thankful for. When life isn't going the way you'd like, and your emotions begin to become unglued, you have the power to refocus on the positive things in your life to offset those negative emotions. You have the ability to disengage from any situation that causes stress, negativity or uncomfortable emotions. When you refocus your attention on the things that you are grateful for and those things that are going well in your life, the result will be a constructive balance to better address the difficult issues you have to face - with confidence and peace of mind.

When Ellen and I faced our most difficult days when she was battling breast cancer, we focused on our love. We focused on our children. Our first grandchild, Jack, was just 3 months old when Ellen was diagnosed. He became a central focus in Ellen's healing. We focused on a future with him full of adventure, passion, and purpose.

When my mother was on her deathbed, she focused on living in the moment with the love of her family around her. She focused on all the memories and gifts that life bestowed upon her. At age 60, life had dealt her a crushing blow - but she was courageous because she focused on what would make her - and those she loved happy. She focused on the precious time she had left.

In 1982, after a glorious boxing career, Muhammad Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. From that point on, Ali focused primarily on giving back to the world. He started the Muhammad Ali Parkinson's Foundation and made frequent appearances to raise money to find a cure. Ali's wife, Lonnie, focuses on the benefits and the blessing to having Parkinson's disease. She stated in People Magazine, "Muhammad knows he has this illness for a reason. It's not by chance. Parkinson's disease has made him a more spiritual person. Muhammad believes God gave it to him to bring him to another level, to create another destiny".

So, here's a question for you. Who do you love most in the world? The next time you get into an emotional state where you're focusing on something that upsets you or stresses you out, know that you have the power to instantly refocus your attention away from the negative emotion and onto the people you love most.

What do you have to be grateful for? The next time you get into an emotional state where you're focusing on something that's fearful; know that you have the power to instantly refocus your attention away from the fear and onto all that you have to be grateful for. It's that easy!

In the October 2007 edition of, The Oprah Magazine, the Cover Headline read: How to Calm Down, Cheer Up; Oprah's Guide to Soothing Your Mind. Oprah suggests that you "Distract Yourself. Put on music and dance, scrub the bathtub spotless, whatever engrosses you." In other words - what Oprah is saying is CHANGE YOUR FOCUS! Pope John Paul II's last words before his death were "Let me go to the house of the Father." You see, he empowered himself by focusing on "going home." He also focused on the millions of people whose lives he touched all around the globe. In death, he focused on gratitude - and found peace.

You too, can find peace of mind and the inner strength to deal with and overcome anything that is thrown your way. But it must begin with a positive and empowering state of mind. That's what Courageous Health is all about - 'HOW' to create a positive and empowering state of mind. And one of the techniques is to master the art of Focus Management - managing what you focus on throughout the day.

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COURAGEOUS HEALTH

How to Think Positive and Manage Your Fears
to Promote Healing, Recovery, and Peace of Mind

(A 5-hour, 5 CD audiobook) $59.95

This is Jay's most ambitious project in his 18 years as an author and coach. Health, stress, depression, and anxiety are prevalent throughout America today. Jay has produced a powerful 5- hour program teaching HOW to manage fear and overcome unhealthy emotions to achieve peace-of-mind and a sense of calm - to better face and overcome any health or life adversity.

This program has been praised as a breakthrough program by physicians, healthcare professionals, and those suffering from health and health-related challenges. The 5 CD, 5- hour program retails for only $59.95.

Dealers and Resellers Welcome: Visit the Website or call: (888) 687-0888

COACHES CORNER:

SHERYL CROW experienced a double whammy including a very public breakup with Lance Armstrong and then, six days following the breakup, was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her illness challenged her to refocus her attention. "Everything I was doing was made out of taking care of everyone else. There's a lot of fear in that - the fear of disappointing people if you say 'no' or of stepping on somebody's feelings. I realized that the only person who could go through that treatment was me. So, for the first time in my life, I focused all my attention on me - my health, my future, and a baby I desperately wanted." Two years later, Sheryl can be seen with Wyatt, her 14-month old and is enjoying her career with the release of her new hit album, Detours. "I focused on what I could control and let go of everything else because I can't control everything."

Sheryl used the emotional channeling technique of Focus Management to create miracles from adversities. And what does she focus on these days? Global warming. "When a baby comes into your life, the environment becomes so personal. Having (Wyatt) around, this little innocent spirit, really made me fearless (courageous) about writing what I wanted to write and about not being afraid of who I was going to piss off. It created a lot of urgency and a sense of responsibility."

email: ellen@jayblock.com

phone: 561 687-0888

web: http://www.jayblock.com