"If you can imagine it, you can achieve it. If you can dream it, you can become it."
-William Arthur Ward

How many of us live our lives according to others expectations? How many of us have put our lives on hold to accommodate a spouse (current or past), our parents, our children, someone who is needier than us, for our job... How many of us wander through life, with one day the same as the next with little passion for living or purpose in life? How many of us know we could do better, if only we knew how to communicate – with ourselves and with others? Live Your Dreams... Let Reality Catch Up helps you discover who you are, what really motivates you and provides you with the knowledge and tools for you to choose what you want in life.

It all begins with communication – the conversation you have with yourself and then the conversation you have with someone else. Do you tell yourself how wonderful you are or do you focus on how things can go wrong, that you do not deserve to succeed? After you have had this conversation with yourself, how does this affect the conversation you have with someone else? And once more do you prove yourself right? And settle for less than you deserve?

NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming), the subject of this book, has helped thousands to discover their own potential, is it your turn? Are you ready?

This book does not pretend to know what is best for you, nor will it tell you how you should live your life. It provides a Toolkit for Transformation and is the Life Manual you didn’t get when you were born! It’s all about recognizing you have choice, you are always choosing. You have the choice of ‘continuing to do what you have always done and get the same results, or you can choose to do something different.

The Power of Thought

Look around you. Perhaps you see a chair. This chair is real and exists in time and space. Yet before it came into being, it first existed as a thought. In fact, everything in the room existed as a thought at some point in someone's mind. Who you are today and the reality you have created are a result of your thoughts - your thoughts about what is possible and what's not. These thoughts are influenced by your spirituality - your purpose - who you see yourself being, and your beliefs and values.

It is said that a person has over 60,000 thoughts every day. That's over forty thoughts a minute! Yet, of the 60,000 thoughts you have today, ninety percent of these are the same as the 60,000 you had yesterday and the day before, leaving little room for new thoughts. No wonder life can seem tedious at times. Unless you start to think differently, you are destined to continue to create and repeat the same old reality every day. Is it not time to change your thoughts, live your dreams and let reality catch up? Most of our thoughts and actions are habits, and we go through the same motions each day, with little change in our behaviors or outlook. What would happen if you challenged these habits or customs? If you were to step out of your comfort zone and explore new ideas or new ways of doing things? Would your life not change as a result?

Often our thoughts are about not measuring up, being incapable or inadequate, avoiding failure or beating ourselves up because we did not say or do the right thing. Just as thought preceded the creation of the chair, your thoughts precede the reality that you create for yourself.

The future lies ahead of you, determined by your current thoughts. These are the only thoughts over which you have any control. What thoughts will you choose for yourself that will result in a different future for you?

Thought is a form of energy. Does this energy propel you forward or hold you back? You have a choice about the thoughts you think. How many times in the past have you chosen to disregard your positive thoughts and focus on your negative thoughts? At this moment, if you were to be at cause and to focus on your positive thoughts while discounting your negative thoughts, how would your life change?

"You become what you think about."
- Earl Nightingale

To realize your dreams, pay attention to what is happening around you. Be curious. Notice how your thoughts about yourself, your thoughts about others and your thoughts about what others may be thinking of you influence what you are able to achieve. Start to think, see and experience things, people, places and events in new ways. Recognize what happens when you begin to think differently about yourself and what you are capable of achieving.

Roger Ellerton PhD, CMC is passionate about helping others get what they desire in life. As a longtime successful businessman, university professor, NLP trainer/coach, public speaker, author and parent, he has first-hand experience with the personal/professional balancing act required in these busy times. He is a former tenured faculty member at the University of New Brunswick, an executive in the Canadian federal government, a certified management consultant (CMC) and he has been listed in the International Who’s Who in Education.

Roger believes that each of us can achieve the success we desire by developing our authentic selves, mastering internal and external congruence and taking charge of our lives. He is the safe, helpful person next door whom everyone should have access to. He is a certified NLP trainer and has been delivering NLP and personal growth seminars and coaching services since 1996. Participants often remark how much fun it is being in his classes, how clearly he presents the material and how ready and willing he is to answer their questions and provide insights they have long been searching for.

For over twenty years, Roger has been a student of personal development methodologies. He continues to transform his own life while assisting others from all walks of life and all ages to learn, to address challenges at work and at home and to get more of what they desire in life. He is the father of four, an avid gardener and nature lover and he enjoys lending a hand to others.

He is the author of three books: Live Your Dreams Let Reality Catch Up: NLP and Common Sense for Coaches, Managers and You, Live Your Dreams Let Reality Catch Up: 5 Step Action Plan and Parents' Handbook: NLP and Common Sense for Family Well-Being and of over sixty articles on NLP. Roger received his BSc. and MSc. from Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, and his PhD from Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA.

Roger is the founder and managing partner of Renewal Technologies Inc. For more information on his seminars, coaching and public speaking services, visit www.renewal.ca.