Everyone wants to improve her or himself. Here are practices to achieve consistent advancement toward your goals. Modern research is verifying the wisdom of the ages. It shows that academic, vocational, performing arts, and athletic success will flourish along with improved inter-personal relations when we use these easy to apply and practical techniques for improving.

As you read and try these practices yourself, you'll more likely integrate them into your life. The following practices are used by legendary figures in our society both in sports and the world of vocations. Here are nine methods for breaking old habits and creating new, desirable ones. Just give them a try for several weeks and see what happens. When you are pleased with the results, then continue to apply them to your life and share them with your friends.

Volunteer

"Of this I am certain. The only ones among you who will be truly happy are those who have sought and found how to serve." Albert Schweitzer

Help others daily/weekly. This can be done by simply encouraging them to be all they can be -- volunteer the positive. Use three hours a week to volunteer at church, or some other community organization for those in need. See your Self in everyone, especially in the poorest of the poor or as the Chinese philosopher, Lao Tzu says, "The wise accept all people as their own family." While the famous Farmworker-activist, Cesar Chavez chides us with, "It is my deepest belief that only by giving our lives do we find life. I am convinced that the truest act of courage, the strongest act of humanity, is to sacrifice ourselves for others in a totally nonviolent struggle for justice. To be human is to suffer for others. God help us to be human."

Buddy System and Teamwork

Choose a friend, schoolmate or colleague to be a buddy: a person who will call or see you each day to find out how you are doing with practicing and applying the Techniques for Improving. These should be totally supportive and encouraging meetings/communications. Sharing in a friendly manner the attempts to achieve and the achievements. "The best way to cheer yourself is to try to cheer somebody else up," said Mark Twain.

Select a small group of no more than 7 people who will meet at least once a month -- preferably four times a month. Do the same things as you do with your buddy and have a great time doing some good and fun things together, like a volunteer project of sprouting, nurturing, and planting trees in your community or going to a fun place. For "As you sow, so shall you reap."

High Technology

Brain research has shown that using sound phasing for brain synchrony will adjust the brain waves to deeper states down to the delta wave pattern. This can open the sub-consciousness for repatterning. Biofeedback, Alpha Chambers, Alpha Stims., and Winning Ways Sychronicity Soundtrack all work for healing, peak performance states of mind, and stress management.

Suggested Reading:

Body, Mind & Sport, Douillard, Crown, 1994.
The Bliss of Freedom, Master Charles, Acacia, 1997.
Gandhi the Man, Ecknath Eswaran, Nilgiri Press.
The Practice of the Presence of God, Brother Lawrence, Doubleday, 1977.
Winning Ways, Kurt A. Krueger, in computer.

Winning Ways Sychronicity can be purchased through the High Technology Section of the Amazing Bookstore Catalog at this site.

5/29/98

Total Fitness was first published in the Journal of the California Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance, Feb. '97, Sacramento.

Success Systems International teaches the techniques of Peak Performance Training. SSI and its division of the Institute of Sports Psychology were founded in 1982 by the futurist, Kurt A. Krueger. He has been a University faculty member in Psychology and Physical Education, 11923 West Kagel Canyon, CA 91342 USA.