Tag: love

My new favorite author just wrote the below “short explanation of nearly everything.” I love it and want to share it with you. It’s written by Dr. Loretta Graziano Breuning, author of Meet Your Happy Chemicals and other books I love. If the chart is hard to read, click on it to go to the author’s site, or download a full-sized PDF of the chart at http://www.innermammalinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/happy-chemicals-poster.pdf (Used here with her kind permission.)

Click for author's site

During the recent recording of my seventh album, titled Reflection, I mentioned the term “unconscious competence” to my band.

It refers to a mental state where you can perform without thinking; your body and mind automatically know what to do without concentration.

Since the term was new to the folks I was sharing it with, I thought it might be new to you, as well.

New album coming April

According to Wikipedia, the four stages of competence is a model of learning. It was created by Noel Burch in the 1970s for Gordon Training International. The four stages are —

• Unconscious incompetence – You can’t do something and aren’t aware that you can’t.
• Conscious incompetence – You can’t do something and are aware that you can’t.
• Conscious competence – You can do something but only with concentration.
• Unconscious Competence – You can do something without thought.

It’s useful to remember these steps when trying to do anything new.

For example, when you first learned how to drive a car, you were in the second stage: you can’t drive and you know you can’t. As you took lessons, you moved into the third stage.

Today, you probably drive your car without thinking about it. You are now an unconscious competent driver. That’s why you can drive and talk, listen to music, and even make a phone call. It’s second nature to you.

Driving is now automatic.

The problem in doing something new is wanting to be a master – unconsciously competent – when you don’t yet have the skills.

An example might be tossing you the keys to a huge tractor-trailer truck with 18 gears and telling you to drive it.

Good luck.

I’ve driven such rigs, and the eighteen gears are confusing.

I could urge you on, inspire you and motivate you, but if you have no practice with shifting eighteen gears, you won’t be able to do it.

No amount of pep talks will get you moving that rig.

No amount of saying “Trust your body” or “Your mind knows” or “You can do it!” will get you moving that tracker-trailer in a safe, reliable way.

Why?

You don’t yet have the skills to do so.

When I’m in the studio recording new music, I can’t jump to “unconsciously competent” in some areas yet because I haven’t learned the skills or put in the hours to make it as easy as breathing.

I have to slow down, focus, stay aware, and consciously become competent.

In time, I will move into unconscious competence as a performer.

My a-maz-ing band

Here’s another example:

Drummer Joe Vitale – the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame legend who plays with Joe Walsh, Neil Young and other icons – told me he can play the drums in his sleep. He is unconsciously competent in that area.

But he is not quite so certain on the keyboards.

There, he is a consciously competent performer.

He can do it but, as he told me, it takes concentration.

Baritone Saxophone

When we were recording, someone mentioned a baritone saxophone.

A what?

We called up the band Morphine, which leans on a bari sax to create its haunting sound, and listened.

I was instantly in love with the gutsy, sexy music.

I then looked at baritone saxes online.

Talk about intimidating.

Put one in my hands and I wouldn’t know how to hold it, let alone play it.

Of course, given enough time, lessons, and focused practice, I’d learn my way around that instrument.

So here’s how the four stages of learning look in this case:

• Unconscious incompetence – I never even heard of a baritone sax.
• Conscious incompetence – I know what it is but know I can’t play it.
• Conscious competence – If I took lessons and practiced, I could play it with focused awareness.
• Unconscious Competence – Given enough practice, I could pick it up and play it without thinking.

What did I do next?

I knew I loved the sound of the bari sax, so I found an Austin player and hired him. He came to the studio and added sultry spice to one of my songs. While I had his ear, I asked all kinds of questions about the sax and how to buy one, play one, etc.

I then contacted the sax instructor he told me was the best one.

I then ordered the book he told me to get: The Devil’s Horn.

And I then went online and researched vintage baritone saxophones, as I knew I wanted an investment grade instrument.

Do you see how this works?

I went from being oblivious about the bari sax (unconscious incompetence) to the second stage (conscious incompetence) and now moving into stage three (conscious competence). As long as I maintain lessons and practice, I can — given enough time — move into the fourth stage: Unconscious Competence, or “Mindless Sax.” (Couldn’t help myself). 🙂

But I couldn’t just pick up the sax and play!

All of this is a reminder to be easy with yourself.

As you learn any new skill, you need to relax, focus, absorb and keep practicing.

You can master virtually any skill, but it takes time, awareness, intent and discipline.

Just under three years ago, I couldn’t sing, play guitar, write songs or music, or record anything.

Today I have seven albums.

Seven!

The payoff of patience and practice is great success.

And you’re worth it.

Ao Akua,

joe

PS – My albums are described at these sites:

http://www.GetUpandStrut.com
http://www.HealingMojoMusic.com
http://www.AligningtoZero.info (a bestseller)
http://www.TheHealingSong.com
http://www.HealingRockMusic.com
http://www.AtZeroMusic.com (NEW)

Note: Album number seven is called Reflection. I’ll let you know when it’s available. 🙂

Member BBB 2003 - 2015

Talk about emotion.

The long awaited sequel to my book Zero Limits is out and boy is it pushing people’s buttons.

At Zero became a bestseller the first week of January and is now in the hands of lots of people.

Just like with the first book, At Zero is triggering anger in some people and awakening in others.

Where's the book?

But as I explain in the new book, what you experience is due to your own belief filters, not to the book itself.

For example —

One person says, “There’s nothing new in the book and it’s not real ho’oponopono at all.”

Yet another person reads the very same book (!) and declares, “Great new insights, advanced clearing methods, and a revelation about authentic ho’oponopono. Loved it!”

Here’s another —

One person says, “He just sells in this book.”

Yet another person reads the exact same book (!) and says, “He doesn’t sell at all in this one.”

And another —

“Joe tells stories of his struggles but doesn’t show how the practice of ho’oponopono helped him get out of them.”

Yet another person reading the very same book (!) says, “Joe shares incredible stories of his own tough times and reveals how his practice caused the problems to disappear like miracles.”

Another says —

“Joe puts down Dr. Hew Len”

Yet another person reads the exact same book (!) and says, “Joe compares Dr. Hew Len to Jesus.”

Gee, which is true?

Again, it’s not the book, but the person reading it.

You bring your own mindset to the pages.

Just like in real life. 🙂

I could show you all the expert praise for At Zero, such as —

“Joe’s new book was just as I knew it would be – FABULOUS!
The riveting stories and enlightening insights lifted my
spirits and filled my soul with love. This is indeed a path
to miracles!”
– Janet Bray Attwood, co/author NY Times bestseller,
The Passion Test

And —

“This book ought to be a movie. A masterpiece of story
telling and a revelation on how the Hawaiian healing
system of Ho’oponopono really works.”
~ Barnet Bain, movie producer, “What Dreams May Come”
and “The Celestine Prophecy”

And —

“In ‘At Zero’, Dr. Joe Vitale shares the catalyst of his
own awakening. He is vulnerable, insightful and shares
authentic Ho’oponopono secrets that are empowering and
inspiring. If you want to get to the state of zero, where
there are no limiting beliefs, I highly suggest you read
this book.”
– Dr. Steve G. Jones, Clinical Hypnotherapist

And –

“With ‘Zero Limits’, Joe Vitale introduced the world to
the incredible healing system of Ho’oponopono.  Now he’s
taking it all to the next level, going deeper and revealing
the real essence and magic behind these ancient secrets.
A must read!”
– Nick Ortner, NY Times Best-Selling Author of
The Tapping Solution

— but As E.M. Forster once wrote –

“A book is a mirror; if an ass peers into it, you can’t expect an apostle to peer out.”

I think E.M. Forster was a tad harsh, but his quote points to a truth that is in the very book people are reading:

You see what you are.

In At Zero, I explain that the book isn’t even real.

It is in fact a projection created from your mental programs.

What you see in the book is in you, not in the book.

This insight is at the very heart of ho’oponopono and my new book.

It’s the fact that you (and I) have programs (beliefs), and those programs need cleaned up in order to see any mutually agreed upon reality.

The best thing to do is find out for yourself why At Zero is so powerful.

If you want to see what all the fuss is about, and if you dare to face your own beliefs, then go see –

http://www.atzerobook.com

Get the book today and get a lot of freebies.

See the site for details.

Expect Miracles.

Ao Akua,

joe

PS — Yes, At Zero is available as a hardcover, Kindle ebook, and/or audio book, as well. All are being offered via Amazon. Go see – http://www.atzerobook.com

Member BBB 2003 - 2015

You can now get an app with my original music — including the songs I wrote and recorded that were nominated for the Posi Award (the Grammy’s of Positive Music) — that works on either iTunes or Android — and is yours FREE, over at — http://www.reverbnation.com/joevitale/app

It includes photos, videos, and the very popular songs —

• “Got a problem?” (The ho’oponopono song)
• “Today’s the Day!” (The wake up and do it song)
• “The Healing Song” (A hypnotic ode you’ll love)

It also includes my favorite songs —

• “Ghost Train” (Truly haunting)
• “Everybody’s Goin Thru Somethin” (My core message)
• “Sperichil” (Toe-tapping fun)

My band

And the songs were recorded with true legends of music, including rock ‘n roll Hall of Fame drummer Joe Vitale (yes, he has the same name as mine), bass player Glenn Fukunaga, and producer/guitar slinger Daniel Barrett. A few songs have guest appearances by Guitar Monk Mathew Dixon. Grammy winners helped mix and master much of the music.

All in all, it’s pretty a-maz-ing.

My singer-songwriter albums are on iTunes, and CD Baby, but the app has almost all of my songs on it — and it includes videos, photos, and more.

Again, the app is free.

Go get it at — http://www.reverbnation.com/joevitale/app

Enjoy!

Ao Akua,

joe

PS — If you prefer the actual CDs, the sites for all of them (with audio samples) are —

http://www.GetUpandStrut.com
http://www.HealingMojoMusic.com
http://www.AligningtoZero.info (a bestseller)
http://www.TheHealingSong.com
http://www.HealingRockMusic.com
http://www.AtZeroMusic.com (NEW)

Note: I’m currently recording my SEVENTH album!

Member BBB 2003 - 2015

The death of Las Vegas stage hypnotist, author and friend Dr. Scott Lewis has left me rattled.

When I heard of his sudden death in a freak accident in Australia early yesterday morning, I hoped it was a sick hoax.

But as I searched for reliable news bulletins, I realized it was true.

I am still processing this, as Scott was one of my best friends.

Scott began as a client of mine decades ago. Over the years, he became one of my closest friends. He took me to my first magic convention in Las Vegas. He bought me magic tricks for my birthday and Christmas. He introduced me to Vegas celebrities when he was their chiropractor.

Dr. Scott Lewis

He took me back stage at Vegas shows and had me hang out with the stars. He always introduced me as a star, and told legends like magician Lance Burton that I was a marketing genius and author of a book on P.T. Barnum. Scott always elevated my status in a room full of high level people.

He used to tell me his dream of having his own show. He had a lot of doubts, fears and reservations, but one day he decided to do it.

He was so scared, he dripped sweat and kept his notes on a stool on stage. Yet he got past his jitters and ended up with the longest running stage hypnosis show in Las Vegas history.

Many of my friends got to know Scott because he’d perform his comedy hypnosis show at marketing seminars. Many were hypnotized on stage, had a blast entertaining all of us, and still tell the stories of how it happened.

I loved his sense of humor. He was fun to be around. He visited me when I lived in Houston, and more recently outside of Austin. We talked for hours, shared stories, insights, hopes and dreams.

He was supportive of me when I went through family loss and health scares, and was supportive when I expressed my own big dreams. Numerous times he invited me to be his opening act at his Vegas show at the Riviera, where he said I could perform magic or sing my songs.

Though he turned to me for marketing advice, news releases, and encouragement, he was an idea machine and a product generator on the level of uber intelligent. Recently he sent me his new promotional flyer. I looked at it, shook my head in wonder, and wrote Scott a note, saying “It’s genius! I wouldn’t change a thing.” It was true.

We created hypnosis products together, coauthored a book on Las Vegas marketing secrets, worked together on a series of videos with Las Vegas show girls, and more.

Scott was very generous, too. He helped friends of mine quit smoking, lose weight, end pain, and stop bad habits, with hypnosis sessions he never charged to do.

We spoke on the phone a lot, emailed weekly, and continued to support each other in having fun as we make a difference in the world. He was very excited about getting to be in the Australia show he loved and admired, the one he was scheduled to perform in again when he fell to his death.

Scott was 50 years old. He didn’t smoke or drink, and was almost unhealthily concerned about health.

I remember giving him a ride in my Panoz roadster (the one Stephen Tyler owned and I later gave away). Scott had to lather sun block on his face before he’d get in. He was again doing his best to protect his health.

Yet what took his life was a fall off a balcony in Australia.

I’m still processing this news, and mourning the loss of my friend.

Is there a lesson here?

Here’s one —

I had a spiritual teacher once who said that in any moment, everything can be swept away with a pen stroke, an accident, or something else.

Knowing this reality, our job is to stay in the moment and do what needs to be done with gratitude, focus and passion.

I loved Scott Lewis, and will always miss him.

He lived his dream.

May you live yours.

Ao Akua,

joe

PS – Scott’s site is here. I just found this video of Scott and me playing and promoting from 2008. I laughed and cried at the same time. I loved the guy.

Member BBB 2003 - 2015