Today, I'd like to share an excerpt from Andy's introduction to The
Butterfly Effect. Enjoy!

Excerpt from:
The Butterfly Effect...How Your Life Matters,
by Andy Andrews

 
Not long ago, I finally told the story of when, at the age of
twenty-three, homeless and scared, I was given guidance in a most
unusual fashion by an old man named Jones. What the old man told me did
nothing less than change my life and my future. He said..."With a
little perspective you can live a life of permanent purpose."
When I asked what he meant, the old man answered with a question.
"Do you sometimes find yourself unconsciously judging your actions by
level of importance?" I frowned a bit, not certain I understood. "For
instance, "he continued, "the time you spend with friends is important,
but the time you spend with family, is more important. You might rank
an hour fishing as very important, thirty minutes visiting a sick
friend in the hospital much more important than the fishing, and a
sixty second conversation with a convenience store clerk as not very
important at all." I nodded my understanding and he returned to his initial point.
"When you know that everything matters -that every move counts
as much as any other -you will begin living a life of permanent
purpose. A life of permanent purpose will make you a better parent, a
better spouse, and a more valuable friend. Your productivity and
financial success will soar to new heights while the old days of
uncertainty, doubt, and depression fade into the past." Of course, that conversation with Jones changed me. But even more,
it became the guiding force that produced the kind of speaker and
author I have become. You see, I understand fully that my very value as
an author and speaker must ultimately be judged by the success you
achieve. And as I consult with companies or speak to organizations
and teams, I am keenly aware that much of my client's (your) ability
to succeed beyond imagination depends upon my ability to prove this
very concept!When one lives a life of permanent purpose, sales figures soar, team
chemistry thrives, and teenage decisions become wiser and more
cautious. And these are just a few examples of what will happen...Simply
put, when we understand that every action matters, every result of our
actions immediately improves!3 minute movie on The Butterfly
Effect, or to watch an
excerpt of Andy Andrews telling the story to a live audience, just click
here.

quote:

New research published in the journal
Psychological Science suggests that for people with low self-esteem,
positive thinking and the repetition of affirmations can backfire.
Researchers at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada, found that
the repetition of positive statements only worked when reinforcing what
people already believed.
It appears that positive
self-statements, despite their widespread endorsement, may backfire for
the very people who need them the most, Joanne Wood, professor of
Psychology and author of the report, told The Times Online. I think
that what happens is that when a low-self-esteem person repeats positive
thoughts, all they do is contradict what is there already. So if
they?re saying, I'm a loveable person, they might then think, Well,
I'm not always loveable or I'm not loveable in this way. Then these
contradictory thoughts may overwhelm the positive thoughts.?
Think Again About Positive Thinking