Planting seeds, literally and figuratively, is a magical thing. When tended to, given fertile soil and water, and nurtured, seeds grow into the bounty of life (again: literally and figuratively). With real seeds and plants, there is a caution that once we see the little sprouts, we must not tug on them to try and make them grow faster because that will simply kill them.



But with a figurative seed, the growth can be immediate or at the very least imminent. An idea or goal coming to fruition can manifest as quickly as you're ready to allow it to.

You can't go beyond where you have not yet begun. This simply means that in order to have the grown plant (business, relationship, idea), then you must start with the planting of the seed.

Now for the sowing. . . this is one of my absolute favorite exercises.

The only thing you'll need for this exercise is a stack of multi-colored 3 x 5 cards. For each "seed" choose a separate card. These can be single words, something as simple as a persuasion language pattern, or an affirmation.

The best way to make compose the sentences on your paper seeds is to apply them to an internal state. Here's one in relation to persuasion: 'I am aware of the things I need to do to persuade in every interaction I have with everyone I come into contact with.'

The aim of this affirmation is your awareness.

My students tell me all the time, 'I love all the stuff I'm learning with you. I just think it's brilliant and I'm thrilled to be studying with you. the problem is, I forget to use it.'

I still hear this from people who have worked with me for years. And I tell them all the same thing, 'It's okay. The conscious mind is a fickle thing. It takes time to remember to use the techniques.'

So you've got your statement written on the 3 x 5 card. Now take the card and cut it into about fifty little pieces. Cut it up so you have little bitty pieces of the card.

The next step is to take the card pieces and tape them up all over your house. Stick them on the steering wheel of your car. Stick them on your elliptical machine or treadmill. Stick a few up on your bathroom mirror. Everywhere you are, stick a little piece of the card.

There are all kinds of places you can put them. Put them all over the place and leave them there for a number of days, no less than seven, and tell yourself every time you see one of these pieces, you're going to think of the affirmation that you wrote.

This exercise is going to internalize and actualize your affirmation a hundred times faster than if you had just carried the card around with you. You've got fifty little reminders instead of just one, and each time you repeat it to yourself, you're one step closer to realizing it.

You can use this strategy to push anything into your brain in order to act more quickly and assuredly.

I'm absolutely certain if you try this, you'll have amazing flowering gardens of success.