There seems to be a lot of mystery out there as to just how self-development, and self-help products work. As someone with a lot of experience in that department, I happen to have an opinion or two. I remember when the Tony Robbins Personal Power set was first advertised on TV. My, but I drooled over that tape course! I didn't get it right away, but most certainly, I did eventually. There was a time when I kept wanting everything I could get my hands on, believing each thing would be "the one" that magically transformed my life. I just knew there would be that elusive something that would make me rich, without any work; bring the love of my life knocking on my door; and keep delivering a daily dose of the good life, all on autopilot. Admittedly, I had a thing or two to learn at that point in my life.

I also went through a phase where I felt like all my favorite self-improvement toys had let me down, and thought the charmed life was just not for me. Fortunately, with all that reading, listening, and watching, with some follow-up exercises mixed in, some basics had taken root, and I came to a realization. All the self-improvement stuff seemed to have an underlying theme. It gradually dawned on me that what was really at play was an undoing of the bad mental programming, and some sort of replacement programming, of a more positive nature.

Usually, this replacement programming takes the form of positive affirmations, repeated until they sink in at the subconscious level. Positive affirmations such as: I attract wealth and abundance; I deserve the best things in life; I am happy and successful, can go a long way in damage control. Certainly the details and method for delivery would vary from book to course; CD to video, and so forth, but the common denominator was there. The big secret seems to be fixing, and/or replacing, all the negative beliefs we are taught from an early age. I'm sure each one of us has experienced a steady diet of these negative affirmations -you can't have it; you'll never amount to anything; money is the root of all evil-and I haven't even scratched the surface. The irony is that most of these negative affirmations have been chanted to us by those who sincerely believed it was for our own good. Haven't we all heard things like this from our family, friends, and educators? And since repetition is the key to the ideas moving in to our subconscious minds, (negative or positive), we have, in our society, the perfect ethereal storm.

But if we can replace the negative programming with positive programming, that's where the action is--in coming to grips, both consciously, and subconsciously, with this realization that we really can do better and have more-the "magic", if you will, is within each one of us, rather than in the self-help products, but usually it is in hiding. I'm of the opinion that each of us has a tendency to respond a little better to specific ways of learning. Some of us like to learn by reading; some of us retain more by listening; others of us like the motion of video, along with the sound. Because of this, I think some of us will reach our own unique perspective of how to live our ideal lives a little differently, much like all of us heading to a vacation spot together, but each of us getting there a little differently. I've amassed and used many name brand books, tapes and CDs over the years. But I still jot things down in a notebook--ideas, inspiration, plans, goals, action lists for goals--a technique that is generally recommended by all the self-help greats. I also still use positive affirmations on index cards. A spiral notebook, pen, and some index cards make a great self-improvement starter kit, for those that are interested in positive change, but don't have much self-improvement budget just yet.

A final thought that may go without saying, but I'll mention anyway, is that once we reprogram ourselves, we still need to work toward our goals. In other words, as important as it is to change the negative into positive consciously, and internalize it subconsciously, we still have to work for it. But, if we're doing it right, it won't seem like work. If you've listened to much Tony Robbins, you've probably heard him say to "make your vacation your vocation". When you can do that, my friend, you truly are a success!

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