In this week’s Success Newsletter, I would like to introduce the first of a series on lifestyle success principles for New Year’s resolutions and goals, starting this week with “balance.”

First a quick update:

·         “The Top 10 Celebrity Meltdowns of 2008” Read the article I wrote for date.com and matchmaker.com on my blog. I also reveal that “no amount of fame, fortune or power will compensate for a lack of self-love, low self-esteem or unresolved issues. More money and more power only exaggerate and exacerbate our deeper subconscious problems.” www.patrickwanis.com/blog

·         “E! TV 10 Most Inappropriate Makeout Moments of Celebrities E! TV recently interviewed me as a feature body language expert to offer insights into still photos of celebrity couples to reveal the hidden subconscious message and communication of what is really going on in the relationship. The show airs on E! TV Friday January 9, 2009.

Now, let’s talk about the New Year.

I am sure that many people will be glad to be leaving behind 2008, and looking forward to the New Year, hoping to make a fresh start, wishing and planning for better things to come. Accordingly, many people will be acting out the tradition of making New Year’s Resolutions.

New Year’s Resolutions date back as far as 4,000 years, when the ancient Babylonians resolved to try to make amends for their wrongdoings of the past year, often also choosing to return to their rightful owners any farming equipment they borrowed during the year.

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In this week’s Success Newsletter, I would like to briefly talk about the greatest gift you can give today and every day.

First a quick update:

·         “E! TV 10 Most Inappropriate Makeout Moments of Celebrities E! TV recently interviewed me as a feature body language expert to offer insights into still photos of celebrity couples to reveal the hidden subconscious message and communication of what is really going on in the relationship. The show airs on E! TV Friday January 9, 2009.

Now, let’s talk about the giving of gifts.

This week and next, many people and families will be getting together to celebrate the Holidays. It won’t necessarily be a happy time for everyone based on the various challenges that we all are facing in these difficult times but, within every problem and challenge is the opportunity to benefit and gain something; within every pain or crisis, there can be a gift.

It is greed that has brought us to where we are – be it corporate greed, political greed, societal greed or individual greed and yes, we are all paying for it now, one way or another -since we are all affected. This is evident even in the example of many charities around the country that have collapsed as a result of the 50 billion dollar fraud committed by Bernard Madoff. Yes, one man’s actions have impacted not just his investors but even those people depending on charity and help such as The Gift of Life Foundation (a bone marrow registry) which is now appealing for help to stay afloat.

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In this week’s Success Newsletter, I would like to offer some suggestions and lessons from “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

First a quick update:

·         “Top 10 Celebrity Meltdowns of 2008” –my annual list is out on foxnews.com
 www.foxnews.com/photoessay/0,4644,5997,00.html

·         “Greed and Success at Any Price.” A new study of 29,000 randomly selected high school students reveals that students lie, cheat, steal, but think they’re good kids. Is this simply a reflection of the examples of poor character, greed and, success & achievement at any price being displayed by leaders, celebrities and role-models such as Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, New York Governor Eliot Spitzer, Rep. Tim Mahoney, Rep. Mark Foley, Senator John Edwards, Senator Ted Stevens, Barry Bonds, Plaxico Burres, Michael Vick or New York trader Bernard Madoff? Listen to the interview I give to Jim Peake of mysuccessgateway.com.
http://patrickwanis.com/RadioInterviews.asp#GreedPrice

Now, let’s talk about the Holidays.

One of my favorite movies is the classic “It’s a Wonderful Life.” James Stewart plays George Bailey who is deeply depressed and full of regrets. He is about to take his life when a guardian angel Clarence (played by Henry Travers) steps in to help George see his life from a new perspective and awaken to the realization that his life isn’t a waste after all.

This movie’s magnetic attraction is the message that no matter how bad things might be for us financially, as long as we have friends and people that love us and if we can recognize that we each make a contribution and difference to someone’s life and the world around us, then we can be grateful and recognize that yes, it’s a wonderful life.

However, few of us experience that. Why?

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In this week’s Success Newsletter, I would like to introduce the finale to the past two week’s newsletters: It’s all about you.

First a quick update:

·         “Shocking Celebrity Divorces” –I recently taped a TV show for VH1 analyzing  and offering insights into the causes and lessons from certain celebrity couples and their divorces. The show will air in February 2009. Exact date to be announced.

·         Make the Holidays Fun: Listen to my tips on how to handle the Holiday stress and family with the radio interview I gave to Sally Jessy Raphael – Easing Holiday Stress http://patrickwanis.com/RadioInterviews.asp  

Now, let’s talk about you: it’s all about you.

Three weeks ago, I issued the newsletter: It’s not your fault, explaining that the way other people respond to you has nothing to do with you. In other words, no matter what you do, people will make their own choices about how they will respond or react to you based on their own programming, personality and subconscious beliefs. Last week, I expanded on that theme by encouraging you not to take things personally, and to not get attached to people’s responses to you. I said that when we become attached to everything that people say about us – good or bad, then we lose our power because we become their puppet and they determine how we will act, behave and feel each day and possibly, each moment.

Now, I would like to introduce the paradox: it’s all about you.

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In this week’s Success Newsletter, I would like to follow up on last week’s letter by exploring a key principle to success and happiness –it’s not about you.

First a quick update:  

·        “Body Language Analysis of Celebrities” –I recently taped a TV show for E! TV analyzing what the body language reveals about certain celebrity couples. The show will air in January 2009. Exact date to be announced. 

·        “Personality Test” – Who are You – Talker, Doer, Thinker, Watcher? Are you an introvert or extrovert, optimistic or pessimistic? Are you born to be a leader or do you naturally follow and submit? Do you primarily seek praise, power, perfection or peace? Are you talkative, analytical, active or easy-going? Which personality type is your perfect match in a relationship? Do you clash with other people at work or home and wish you could understand how to motivate them, get along or handle them better than before? My detailed and comprehensive personality profile based on the Four Temperaments is now available
 http://patrickwanis.com/WhoAreYouPersonalityTest.asp  

Now, let’s talk about a challenge that faces most of us: taking things personally. 

In the 1999 movie, “Analyze This” Robert De Niro plays Paul Vitti, an insecure mob boss who seeks out help from Psychiatrist Dr. Ben Sobel played by Billy Crystal. In one scene, Vitti believes that Ben has ratted him out to the FBI and so he and his goons take Ben to a junkyard where they are about to kill him. One of Vitti’s goons, the affable “Jelly”, looks at Ben whom he actually likes, and as he prepares to knock him off, he says “Sorry, Doc. It’s not personal, you know.” Ben replies with “Don’t kid yourself, Jelly. It doesn’t get more personal than this.” (more…)