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Welcome to the May 2006 issue of the Inner Brat Newsletter. Welcome, new readers. If you enjoy this newsletter, please forward it to your friends and encourage them to subscribe. All they need to do is to send a blank email message to innerbrat-subscribe@topica.com. If you have comments or questions, feel free to email me at drwallin@drwallin.com.
	IN THIS ISSUE • Not lucky? Maybe it's your inner brat • Need a speaker? • Proud mom • Inner brat tip of the month: 3 ways to boost your luck • Distribution information
• Not Lucky? Maybe It's Your Inner Brat •
Do you think of yourself as lucky? Would you like to be more lucky? I recently read a book by British psychologist, Richard Wiseman, Ph.D.: The Luck Factor: Changing Your Luck, Changing Your LIfe: The Four Essential Principles. It's a thought-provoking and entertaining book, and contains luck-inducing tips based on scientific research. What struck me most about the book was that the description of lucky people fits with those who are not ruled by their inner brats. Here are the 4 factors that differentiate lucky from unlucky people: 1. Lucky people maximize their opportunities. They are open to the world around them, notice things that unlucky people don't. In one experiment Dr. Wiseman placed a 5-pound note on the sidewalk in front of a London café. He had arranged for previously identified lucky and unlucky people to meet him at the café. Guess which one noticed the money and picked it up, and which one walked right over it without seeing it? 2. Lucky people make successful decisions by using their intuition and gut feelings. They have trained themselves to clear their minds so that they are more receptive to memories and experiences that register at an unconscious level. Thus they can "smell" a bad deal that seems good on the surface. But they don't just expect intuition to be there for them when they need it. They take steps to boost their intuition, such as meditation and other focusing techniques. 3. Lucky people expect things to turn out well. That doesn't mean that they never get sick, always win the lottery, and get whatever they want out of life. But with a more positive, optimistic attitude, they are more likely to persist in the face of difficulty, even if their chances seem slim. Dr. Wiseman found that unlucky people are apt to give up readily, such that their expectations of bad luck become self-fulfilling prophesies. 4. Lucky people can transform bad luck into good luck. When something bad happens they find something positive and constructive to do about it, such that in the end, everything works out for the best. Research has shown that expectations of success are more likely to breed success. And expectations of failure will undermine success. The main theme of Dr. Wiseman's book is that luck is not the same as chance. Luck does not simply happen repeatedly to someone through divine intervention. Lucky people live their lives in an active way that increases their chances of good fortune. They notice what's around them, create opportunities for themselves, and in general have a positive outlook on the world. They expect things to eventually work out, which boosts their persistence and zest. They also listen to their "inner voice" of intuition, but this inner voice is definitely not the inner brat. Think how your inner brat sabotages your luck: • Self-absorbed resentment and blaming others distract you from noticing positive opportunities. • Addictive impulses drown out the intuitive voice of truth that knows what's really best for you. • Anger and rage blind you to more constructive, relationship-building solutions to your problem. Don't spend your time focusing on what's wrong. Your brain has limits on how much it can notice at a given time. Would you rather have it notice the negative or the positive? When you shift your focus to the positive, you may be pleasantly surprised at how your luck improves.
Need a speaker for your next conference, luncheon meeting, or event? Send an email to: drwallin@drwallin.com or call me at 717-761-1814 for more information. In my book, "Taming Your Inner Brat: A Guide to Transforming Self-defeating Behavior," you can learn many different ways to decrease the negativism in your life. There are 3 ways to buy this book: ~Visit your local bookstore ~Order online from my web site: www.innerbrat.com ~Click here to go to Amazon.com
• INNER BRATS IN THE NEWS • According to a recent survey by CareerBuilder.com, 13% of workers get to work late at least once per week, and 24% at least once per month. Mondays are the most frequently late days. 1 in 5 workers admit to making up excuses, many of which were not very convincing. For example: - I had to take my cat to the dentist. - I went all the way to the office and realized I was still in my pajamas and had to go home to change. - I saw that you weren't in the office, so I went out looking for you. A Michigan woman sued CocaCola for eye injury. Upon opening a can of Diet Coke the liquid sprayed into her face and her eyes. As part of her complaint she stated that the can did not post a warning that "the beverage might exit the can at a high velocity upon opening." Road rage has become such a common problem that State Police in Michigan set up a website where people can report incidents of aggressive driving. For more stories about brats in the news visit my website.
Proud Mom My artistic daughter Janis, who does the nice HTML layout for this newsletter, is also a professional musician. She and her Chicago-based band, Family Groove Company, have just released their new album. It's called The Charmer, and it is. Click here to listen to samples from the album, and to order your copy. You'll love the music. The band is looking for people to help promote the album, so your support will be much appreciated.
• Inner Brat Tip of the Month: 3 Ways To Boost Your Luck • Here are 3 things that you can do to increase your luck: 1. Want more friends? Want more dates? Get out more and socialize. Increasing your social network boosts your chances of finding someone compatible. You won't meet people by staying home. 2. Want more success? Train yourself to persist when things get tough. Don't give up so easily. Your efforts will eventually pay off. 3. Want more good things to happen to you? Every day take time to notice 3 positive things around you. In this way you'll be training yourself to recognize opportunity. Click here to visit Dr. Richard Wiseman's website on the psychology of luck: http://www.psy.herts.ac.uk/wiseman/research/luckmain.html
Until next month, Pauline Wallin, Ph.D. www.innerbrat.com Copyright 2006
• Distribution Information • This newsletter may be quoted, reprinted, or forwarded to others as long as the content is not changed and the subscription, copyright, and contact information is included. If you would like to post this newsletter on a website, please contact me for permission at drwallin@drwallin.com. NOTE: The content in this newsletter is for informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for personal consultation with a professional, or as any type of psychological service. The inner brat is NOT a psychiatric diagnosis. If you are having difficulty just getting through the day, this is more than just your inner brat. In this case you are advised to consult a mental health professional. This newsletter is hosted by Topica.com. Topica may include advertisements for unrelated products. I have no control over these ads, but they do help pay for the expenses of distribution, which keeps the newsletter free of cost to you. Copyright 2006 Pauline Wallin. All rights reserved.