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Below, I've listed some of the
resources that have helped me maintain a positive mental attitude and a
vibrant life since the onset of ALS eighteen years ago. I give a short
description as well as a link to where these items may be purchased.
DISCLAIMER
Please use the following resources with a healthy dose of common sense.
Often I see people give up on a fantastic resource because they don't
agree with sometimes a single sentence! Not only do I not agree with
everything said in every book or on every tape, I don't agree with
everything anybody says. Also, no one associated with Friends of Jeff
has any financial interest in any of the resources below.
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New American Standard Ryrie
Study Bible: Indexed (Red Letter Edition)
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I am amazed when people dismiss the Holy
Scriptures because they are "religious" writings. Common sense should
tell one that there is something pretty powerful packed between cover
and back of this tome. Regardless of your religious predisposition, the
book of Psalms will lift your spirit, and the book of Proverbs has more
wisdom for practical life decisions than any single place I have ever
found. DO NOT overlook the all-time bestseller!
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How To Stop Worrying And Start Living
Dale Carnegie
Book, Audio Tape or CD
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This is simply the finest book of its kind ever
written. It is simple, easy to read, and packed with scores of real
life examples of the concepts and techniques discussed in the book
being used by real people in everyday life.
A handful of intellectual snobs may look down
their noses at this book purely because of its simple and
straightforward approach. But I defy anyone to read this book,
inculcate the concepts in this book indelibly upon his or her mind, and
then live a miserable life. Go ahead. Make my day!
Must Own
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 It's
Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life
Lance Armstrong
Book, CD or Audio Tape
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This is a strangely inspiring book. Armstrong,
while a decent man, is not a saint, nor does he purport to be. And in
facing death, he does essentially what anyone would do- fight for his
life
What is so inspiring about this man is the way he
looks cancer in the face, screams an expletive, and refuses to die.
After being told that he will never ride again and will be lucky not to
end up a cripple from his extreme chemotherapy treatments, he not only
gets back on the bike, but he wins the Tour de France! If this man's
indomitable will does not inspire you, you need to check your pulse!
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How To Have Confidence And Power In Dealing
With People
Les Giblin
Book or Audio Tape
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Let's face it. When we are having trouble with
people in our lives, we are not happy campers. If difficulty and
friction with others has got you down, then you must own this
masterpiece. If you've got smooth interpersonal relationships in your
life, then... YOU STILL NEED IT!
The title of the book might leave some people cold
as it somehow seems to imply tactics you can employ to manipulate
people and gain control over them. Nothing could be further from the
truth. This book is about the psychology of dealing with people. We all
can improve on that.
Must Own
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As A Man Thinketh
James Allen
Book
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I'm not one to go in for the over the top new age
philosophies that tell you that through the power of the mind you can do
anything. This book does step over that line at times, especially
when it devotes an entire chapter to The Effect of Thought on Health
and the Body. As one of millions fighting a virulent physical
malady, I'm not all that keen on being told the cause of my trouble is
the application of incorrect thought.
So why am I so high on this book? Because this
book is completely unapologetic in demanding we take complete
responsibility for the quality of our own lives. What we thinketh about
and how we thinketh about what we're thinkething about does indeed
determine the quality of our lives.
Strongly Recommend
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Man's Search For Meaning
Viktor E. Frankl
Book or Audio Tape
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This
book is about as close to my heart as a book can be. Frankl, a
Holocaust survivor, imparts his experience in Nazi concentration camps
with riveting insight into the human condition and the mind of man. If
one needs convincing that quality of life is determined by one's
attitude, and that one's attitude is determined by a decision, simply
read this book.
Strongly Recommend
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Awaken The Giant Within
Anthony Robbins
Book or CD
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This guy gets it. His explanation of
neuro-associative conditioning is outstanding in delineating the
critical role the meaning we attach to events and circumstances plays
in determining their effect on our lives.
Should own this book or the program below, or
both
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Personal Power II
Anthony Robbins
Comprehensive Program:
CDs or Tapes, Video, Booklets, etc.
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I have not actually used this version of this
program. I own the previous version of Personal Power, but after
reviewing its contents, this program is not markedly different from its
predecessor.
Robbins takes the user by the hand and walks him
or her through a thirty day program intended to enable one to
consistently exercise his or her personal power. Personal power is
defined as being able to identify what it is that you truly want in
life, and being able to get yourself to take consistent action towards
attaining that desire. An excellent program for those driven by a
desire for personal success, the most valuable information to be
gleaned from Personal Power are the tools for managing your mental and
emotional states. Understanding the power of focus and how to use your
physiology are a couple such examples.
The program is expensive and takes the discipline
to do the daily exercises. If you are serious about personal
achievement or managing your mental and emotional states, then this
program is a MUST OWN. If you are just curious, then don't
waste your money.
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See You At The Top
Zig Ziglar
Book or Audio Tape
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This is one of the most comprehensive resources
for both personal achievement and attitude management I have come
across. You might find Ziglar's repetitive sloganeering a bit cheesey
at times, but the principles are dead on. Zig tells lots of stories and
uses lots of examples. The book is well laid out and easy to read.
Strongly Recommend
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The Master Key To Riches
Napoleon Hill
Book
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This might just be the best book I have ever read
as it relates to developing and feeding passion for the accomplishment
of a goal. If you got a goal, but can't stay focused or motivated, then
this is the book for you. One caveat- if you are somebody that has
trouble keeping your priorities straight, you might want to balance
this book with See You At The Top and possibly How
To Stop Worrying And Start Living.
Strongly Recommend
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How to Win Friends And Influence People
Dale Carnegie
Book, Audio Tape or CD
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This is obviously Carnegie's best known work. Like
How To Stop Worrying And Start Living,
this book is simple, fun, easy to read, and dripping with common sense.
If you do not value people, and/or you cannot get along with people,
then you got trouble in your life. This is the perfect companion book
to How To Have Confidence And Power In Dealing With People.
Master the principles in these two books and you'll be half way to
mastering life.
Must Own
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Think And Grow Rich
Napoleon Hill
Book, Audio Tape or CD
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I have to admit that I find Napoleon Hill to be
both bizarre and fascinating. I'm guessing that if you followed every
one of his principles religiously, you'd gain the world and lose your
soul. Still, this book has not sold six jillion copies for nothing.
Although I find The Master Key To Riches to be a bit
more focused, this book offers some powerful and invaluable insights
into the power we all possess once we learn to master the organ between
our ears.
Strongly Recommend
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A Better Way To Live
Og Mandino
Book
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If you've ever felt so low that life just isn't
worth living, or looked into the mirror and said, "My God, what have I
done with my life?", then you'll relate to Og Mandino.
Mandino was a homeless drunk living on the streets
of Cleveland, Ohio when he discovered something that revolutionized his
life. Simply trying to survive the brutal Midwest winter, he found
himself repeatedly staggering into the public library to stay warm.
Bored one day, he picked up a book entitled Success
Through A Positive Mental Attitude by Napoleon Hill and
W. Clement Stone. He soon found himself
devouring the pages and applying the principles found therein. The
story that follows is incredible as this one time drunken bum rises to
become the editor of Stone's Success Unlimited Magazine and has
now sold multiple millions of copies of more than a dozen of the most
inspirational books to be found. This is my personal favorite of the
lot.
Strongly Recommend
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Chicken Soup For The Soul
Jack Canfeild and Mark Victor Hansen
Book or Software
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Yes, the Chicken Soup book series has gotten
carried away- Chicken Soup For The Pet Lover, Chicken Soup For The Bald
And Lonely Dentist, Chicken Soup For The Mole Hair Collector, etc.
However, these true-life stories still offer great inspiration when
your spirit is in need of a lift. Simple and easy to read, your heart
will undoubtedly be touched.
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The Go Getter : A Story That
Tells You How to Be One
Peter B. Kyne
Book
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I imagine that the profound message of this book
will be lost on some people because of its simplicity. The Go-Getter
provides one of the most important messages we will ever have to learn
if we are determined to have a successful life. A story about rising
above circumstances to complete a mission, Kyne illustrates the
determination necessary to achieve an objective. When victory is a
must, obstacles should become mere nuisances on the way to triumph.
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Psycho-Cybernetics
Maxwell Maltz, M.D., F.I.C.S.
Book, Audio Tape or CD
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The observations of a plastic surgeon on the
affect of altering one's appearance on the psyche are fascinating.
While some of Maltz's observations seem a little much, the connection
between how one sees himself and how one attacks life is undeniable.
This is not the easiest book to read, but fascinating nonetheless.
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Feel The Fear And Do It Anyway
Susan Jeffers
Book, Audio Tape or CD
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Although this is a forty page book stretched to
two hundred twenty four pages, the title's admonition to Feel The Fear
And Do It Anyway is one of the most important lessons I have ever
learned. It is a blessed day when you finally realize that feeling
follows action and not the other way around. If your are waiting for
the fear or the discomfort to subside before taking a necessary or
desirable step, you will probably be waiting until Hell freezes over.
To conquer fear and stretch your comfort zone, you must first take
action. To conquer fear, take action in the face of it and when victory
is the result, you will be on your way to eliminating that fear and
expanding your comfort zone.
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A Gift of Hope : How We Survive
Our Tragedies
Robert L. Veninga
Book
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Although I did not find
this entire book inspiring, I do feel it lives up to its name. When I
experience my darkest hour, I found insight into my own tragedy in the
pages of this book. Understanding other's tragedies and the hope many
found in the face of those tragedies, inspired me to believe I could do
the same.
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How To Develop Self Confidence
And Influence People By Public Speaking
Dale Carnegie
Book
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This is the third Carnegie book on my list, so
that tells you how I feel about his work. Carnegie started as a public
speaking instructor and is adamant about its ability to instill
self-confidence in the endeavor of its mastery. Despite my severe
speech impediment, I followed Carnegie's advice and participated in
Toastmasters, a public speaking club. I can vouch for Carnegie's
assertion. If your are as frightened of public speaking as I was, you
might start by reading this fabulous and helpful piece of work.
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How to Get Control of Your Time
and Your Life
Alan Lakein
Book
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One thing I never hear anyone say they have too
much of is time. Not only will this book help you get control of your
time, but also it will help you prioritize your activities and
consequently your life. That alone is worth many times the price of
this book.
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How I Raised myself From
Failure To Success In Selling
Frank Bettger
Book
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If your are a salesperson you need to read this
book. If your are not a salesperson, you need to read this book. This
salesman's story of how he reinvented himself from a failure to a
success will inspire you to do the same. Every day is indeed another
opportunity to turn it all around.
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Unlimited Power
Anthony Robbins
Book
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This is the third resource I've listed by Anthony
Robbins. While this book is not as focused as the other two resources,
powerful and inspirational material still resides within. This book
helped me claw my way out of a dark hole of depression when I felt all
was lost.
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The Power Of Positive Thinking
Norman Vincent Peale
Book, Audio Tape or CD
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The first time I read this book, I couldn't
understand what all the fuss was about. It seemed trite and
lightweight. It was only after I had developed my understanding of
positive thinking that this book took hold of me. While not as profound
as some of the other works mentioned above, this book has not sold 6
jillion copies for no reason. Many will find it helpful and inspiring.
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Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young
Man, and Life's Greatest Lesson
Mitch Albom
Book, Audio Tape or CD
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Obviously I was able to relate to what Morrie
Schwartz was going through as he was inflicted with the same illness
that I have. This book recounts the last weeks of a dying man's life
and the lessons life has taught him.
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