What do cows, trees and humans have in common? Unfortunately, nothing at all...

Ever wondered about your ability to be fully human? Bet you’re too busy living to really think about it. But there’s something seriously wrong with this picture. We’re designed to be autonomous, creative, self-directed beings; we’re built to thrive, excel and evolve. But we’re not exactly thriving, are we? Instead, we grapple with co-dependence, neediness, fear, despair, insecurity, self-destructive behaviour... we’re dysfunctional and disempowered in almost every area of our lives.

Why is that? The problem is not with the hardware. The body is, after all, the most sophisticated, most advanced piece of kit ever developed. It’s perfection itself, like all of nature. Yet despite our eons of evolution, we've failed to fully understand or master ourselves. The rest of nature seems to have got it sussed, though. I mean, have you ever seen a tree that didn’t know how to be a tree? You never see a tree trying to be an elephant, right? Ever seen a cow that didn’t know how to be 100% cow? Nope. But try finding a human being that actually knows how to be 100% human, full time, and you might have a problem. And we think cows are stupid? At least they know how to be what they are. Plus they’re placid, non-violent, and only make a fuss when they’re slaughtered.

So the problem is not with the hardware. It’s the software that we need to address—the software that runs our minds, bodies and lives; the software that’s been corrupted, messed with, filled with nasty viral messages that spread throughout our systems and get handed down from one misguided generation to the next. It’s the programming of our formative years—all those beliefs, fears, insecurities, projections and skewed perceptions passed on by parents, teachers, religion, society... We’re told what’s possible and how the world works; we’re told what to fear and how to make ourselves acceptable. We’re taught to shelve our dreams, be sensible and hunker down for some cut-throat living.

It may look as if we have endless problems in our world. But the only real problem is our negative programming—the root of all human dysfunction and disempowerment. Without that negative distortion, everything works just as it’s meant to. Our programming is the only thing that’s flawed—the only thing in the way of our happiness and fullfilment. When we change it, everything changes. Only problem is, you won’t believe that ...because you’ve been programmed to believe that stuff just happens and you’d best just deal with it.

Take a closer look at this picture we call life and see just how far we haven’t come as a race. Notice a certain discrepancy between our original blueprint and our current behaviour? We need to start being what we’re meant to be. (Cows can do it ...but that’s an udder story). Don’t keep running the same old, primitive, fear-based software of our Neanderthal ancestors. Been there, done that sabre-toothed-tiger-chasing thing. Life’s a little different now and we need to wise up. If you’re serious about being a fully functional, superlative human being, you need to upgrade to some 21st-century software. There’s a whole world waiting and it’s an awful lot more fun when we act—and interact—like real human beings.

Find out how to transform your negative programming at www.olgasheean.com or e-mail olga@olgasheean.com for more info.

"It's not the years, honey, it's the mileage."

It's that time of year again when everyone tries to turn over a new leaf or identify some positive commitments for the New Year. Been there, done that and bought a whole closet full of T-shirts. But I've realized that it's not the intention that counts or even the thoughts we have that make a difference. It's what we DO that matters. While what we say or think may send out one message, our actions can demonstrate something else altogether. There's no point in thinking positively if we're taking actions that demonstrate low self-worth or a lack of self-acceptance.

Thinking doesn't change us; action does. We can spend a lifetime trying to convince others that we are worthy or trying to get approval for who we are or want to be, but it's ourselves that we need to convince. We need to demonstrate to ourselves, through our actions, that we believe ourselves to be powerful, lovable and worthy. When we say or do things that demonstrate strong self-worth (even if we don't FEEL worthy), we start to attract positive, fulfilling opportunities and people into our lives. If, on the other hand, we think positively and keep affirming to ourselves that we're successful, loved and worthy, yet we're taking actions that negate these thoughts, we're wasting our time and our lives.

So make this a year of action. Decide what kinds of things you need to do or say in order to demonstrate strong self-worth and a belief in your ability to create the love, abundance, success, ease and fulfillment that you want. Walk the talk even if you don't think the thought. This will cancel out your negative thinking and change the negative programming that's prevented you from believing in yourself, and then everything around you will change.

That's the REAL secret.