Two boxers in a ring are fighting each other with great energy and enthusiasm. Within a short period of time they begin to feel the stress and strain of the game in every muscle of their being. Sweat covers their bodies, making their skin glisten in the bright lights of the fighting arena.

"Clang!" A bell rings loudly. It is the end of the round. A few minutes of time are given so the fighters can refresh themselves and focus their attention on what they need to do to win this fight. "Clang!" goes the bell. The fight begins anew. The pace is intense until "POW", the winning punch is landed and the "Winner" is declared.

We are very much like these boxers in our everyday life. However, our fighting ring is our brain and the boxers are the attitudes of "I Can" versus "I Can't"; "I'm Afraid" versus "I'm Courageous"; "What If" versus "Who Cares"; "I'm Good" versus "I'm Not So Good"; "I'm Lovable" versus "No One Wants Me"; "Take A Risk" versus "Not Take A Risk".
Unlike boxers who have their fights scheduled, we put ourselves into the boxing ring of mental wars every day. We battle ourselves frequently but how often, in the process of the mental conflict do we sound the 'bell' to refresh ourselves, gain perspective and reorient our thinking strategy?

Recently a client came to see me, highly stressed and concerned about an imminent negative condition. Fear had this individual by the mental throat and was strangling the very life out of them. This person was scared about being alone, loss of finances, their age and just about everything else you could imagine. Anger and resentment added energy to the conflicts within them. The sad effect was they were losing their
battle and were almost flat on the floor in the final emotional count. Beating oneself to a pulp, to the best of my knowledge, rarely accomplishes anything. It blinds us to the truth of what we really need to see.

If we can't perceive clearly what is in front of us how can we know how to deal with it?
Here are some of the suggestions I shared with my client and perhaps you may find them useful when conflicts enter your life.

1. Have a pad of paper and pen.

2. Write out the fear (or fears) in big letters at the top of the page

3. Now write out the worst case scenario you can possibly imagine that can happen. Write out everything you feel. Let the pen be your intimate expresser of your true concerns.

4. After Step 3, take another sheet of paper and put in capital letters "ACTION STEPS". Review your written words about your worst fears are, then ask yourself – what action can I take to turn things around?

5. Review what action steps you've written then make a plan to start doing them. You may not do all of them at once but who cares? This is your experience, your choice(s). Action begets more action, which in turn will produce results.

6. Final Step. Relax and be at peace with yourself. Understand that these boxing matches are necessary for your growth and development as an individual. Everyone has them but you will come out as a champion when you know you can choose your strategy and fight for yourself to win the 'Success' you desire.

The next time you find yourself in the Mental Madison Square Garden Boxing Ring and the bell sounds its loud "Clang" for stress, hassle and self-recrimination, - "STOP". Set up your plan, then go into the ring, giving your best effort with as many 'punches of action' you can muster.

Perhaps you'll have to fight a number of rounds but if you keep up with your plans for action, changing them if necessary, the moment will come when you will defeat your adversary, "fear", with one 'knock out punch' and see yourself as a "Winning Champion". What will your reward be? The personal badge of accomplishment,
strong self-esteem, belief in your talents and the satisfaction that you gave your best, winning over odds that seemed insurmountable.

PURE DEDUCTION

Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson went on a camping trip. After a good meal and a bottle of wine they lay down for the night and went to sleep. Some hours later Holmes awakened and nudged his faithful friend. "Watson, what do you see?"

Watson replied, "I see millions and millions of stars." "What does that tell you?" asked Holmes. Watson pondered for a minute. "Astronomically, it tells me that there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planet. Astrologically, I observe that Saturn is in Leo. Chronologically, I deduce that the time is approximately a quarter past three. Theologically, I can see that God is all-powerful and that we are small and insignificant. Meteorologically, I suspect that we will have a beautiful day tomorrow. What does it tell you?"

Holmes was silent for a minute, then spoke, "Watson, you horse! Somebody has stolen our tent!"

A woman in a faded gingham dress and her husband dressed in a homespun, threadbare suit, stepped off the train in Boston. They walked timidly without an appointment into the Harvard University President's outer office.

The secretary could tell in a moment that such backwoods, country hicks had no business at Harvard and probably didn't even deserve to be in Cambridge. She frowned as they approached her desk. "We want to see the President," the man said softly.

"He'll be busy all day." the secretary snapped.

"We'll wait," the lady replied.

For hours the secretary ignored them. She hoped that the couple would finally become discouraged and go away. They didn't and the secretary grew frustrated and finally decided to disturb the President, even though it was a chore she always regretted. "Maybe if they just see you for a few minutes, they'll leave", she told him. He sighed in exasperation and nodded. Someone of his importance obviously didn't have the time to spend with them but he detested gingham dresses and
homespun suits cluttering up his outer office.

The President, stern-faced with dignity, strutted toward the couple. The lady told him, "We had a son who attended Harvard for one year. He loved Harvard. He was so happy here. But about a year ago, he was accidentally killed. My husband and I would like to erect a memorial to him somewhere on campus."

The President wasn't touched, he was shocked. "Madam," he said gruffly, "we can't put up a statue for every person who attended Harvard and died. If we did, this place would look like a cemetery!"

"Oh no," the lady explained quickly, "we don't want to erect a statue. We thought we would like to give a building to Harvard." The President rolled his eyes. He glanced at the gingham dress and homespun suit, then exclaimed, "A building! Do you have any earthly idea how much a building costs? We have over seven and a half million
dollars in the physical plant at Harvard!"

For a moment the lady was silent. The President was pleased. He could get rid of them now. The lady turned to her husband and said quietly, "Is that all it costs to start a university? Why don't we just start our own? " Her husband nodded.

The President's face wilted in confusion and bewilderment. Mr. and Mrs. Leland Stanford walked away, traveling to Palo Alto, California where they established the university that bears their name, a memorial to a son that Harvard no longer cared about.

You can easily judge the character of others by how they treat those who can do nothing for them or to them. ............Malcolm Forbes

SPECIAL MENTION

Inquiries have been made about gift certificates for friends and family. They are available. Also, if you are interested in booking for private groups, parties or special events and want to know about fees and scheduling, please call (800) 872-8852 or (253) 582-5604..

If you are enjoying this newsletter and want to share it with friends, feel free to do so. Should a friend or any special person should be added to my mailing list just forward their address to the e-mail address listed below. I am always interested in your comments and suggestions. Special stories are welcome too. Your input is important and I always enjoy hearing from you.

ALSO........

I have had many inquiries about my traveling to different states. If you have a group of 20 people minimum, I will be happy to do a workshop and also be available for private consultations. To do a speaking appearance for a group or organization, please call or e-mail my office for information regarding fees and scheduling. See details at the end of this newsletter.

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Your comments, suggestions and stories are always welcome. I appreciate your ideas and love to hear your 'special' stories that can help other people deal with their experiences in life.

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Have a magnificent day and remember: "You Are The Master Of Your Fate, The Captain Of Your Soul".

Donna Seebo, P.O. Box 97272, Tacoma, WA 98497-0272
Delphi International & Mrs. Seebo's Classic's
www.delphiinternational.com
seeclassics@juno.com
(253) 582-5604 or (800) 872-8852 Fax(253)582-5597