The 'Lemon Principle' Guide to Becoming a Whole-Life Warrior: Conquer Your Inner ‘Lemons’ to Successfully Face Life’s Ordinary and Extraordinary Challenges

By Leslie Jacobs

Got Lemons? Of course you do! Who doesn’t have lemons? Life is hard!

The key is Mindset: The way you choose to deal with your Lemons, your life’s challenges, and your personal struggles. So, when life hands or throws you your ‘Lemons’, What Then? What are your ‘Lemons’ and how do you choose to deal with them? Leslie will help you, with practical wisdom and strategies, to live the life you choose, ‘Lemons’ and All!

Leslie Jacobs is a Whole-Life Warrior, speaker, and author of The ‘Lemon Principle’ Guide to Becoming a Whole-Life Warrior. Leslie has developed the tried and true 'Lemon Principle' Method to help you develop your skills for making the best choices when dealing with the numerous ‘Lemons’ that life inevitably and regularly presents to you.

In 2002, Leslie and her family made global headlines and history, becoming the first family in the world to have lifesaving medical-information microchips implanted inside their bodies, sparking controversy. This ground-breaking event was covered live on NBC “Today”; featured in Time, People, and major global media. Leslie was prepared to handle life’s ups and downs with Clarity, Will, and Courage.

She courageously faced her husband’s recurring Cancer and still faces his progressing Neuromuscular Degeneration, plus her family’s battles with fatal Pancreatic Cancer, Parkinson’s, Stroke, Hip/Spine Surgeries, Autoimmune Diseases, and Dementia. But when her only child, Derek, the computer prodigy at the center of it all, tragically died at age 18, this was Leslie’s ultimate test in her quest to become a true Whole-Life Warrior.

Leslie shares her life-lessons, and a practical, effective, and straightforward three-step system, including the simple “Divide and Conquer: Dirty Laundry Strategy” technique to ‘Let Every Lemon Make You Stronger!’

Leslie’s self-help guide offers a way to train yourself to conquer your inner “Lemons” and successfully face life’s ordinary and extraordinary challenges. When you train yourself to be a Whole-Life Warrior you will have the ability to maintain clear-controlled-calm thinking every time you get hit with life’s aggravating and frustrating interruptions, road blocks, and unwanted intrusions, be they minor detours or major obstacles.

“I AM A WHOLE-LIFE WARRIOR” Mantra

I am a Whole-Life Warrior.
Today I continue my journey, yet
Each day I may set a new course.
I am strong, I am determined, I am confident;
I see and think with Clarity, my Will is steadfast,
Courage arises from my heart
so that I can take control of my own life.
I learn from the past, but don’t live in the past.
I plan for the future, but don’t worry about the future.
I strive to appreciate and be grateful for what I do have.
I live in the present,
taking full responsibility for my choices and actions.
I go forward and create the life I want.
Today I continue my journey.

Excerpt: Whenever you are tested, as you most certainly will be, you are given a chance to learn not only how to cope, but also how to evolve. This ability can help you to deal internally and externally with whatever Lemons are awaiting you in the future. When you hone your basic skills of Clarity, Will, and Courage, you acquire a level of mental power that will allow you to, with hard work and effort, have the capacity to persevere as a Whole-Life Warrior.

Let Every Lemon Make You Stronger!

TheLemonPrincipleGuide.com    WholeLifeWarrior.com    LeslieJacobsAuthor.com

• Language: English
• Publisher: Balboa Press
• Release date: Nov 4, 2019
• ISBN: 9781982232078

Leslie Jacobs

Leslie Jacobs is a Whole-Life Warrior, Motivational Speaker, and Author of The ‘Lemon Principle’ Guide to Becoming a Whole-Life Warrior. Leslie was a successful Advertising Sales and Marketing Executive in Major Media Companies in New York City and South Florida. She guides others to take control of their own “Lemons” and to become Whole-Life Warriors. In 2002, Leslie and her family made global headlines and history, becoming the first family in the world to have lifesaving medical-information microchips implanted inside their bodies, sparking controversy. This ground-breaking event was covered live on NBC “Today”; featured in Time, People and global media. Leslie courageously faced her husband’s recurring Cancer, plus her family’s battles with Pancreatic Cancer, Parkinson’s, Stroke, Hip/Spine Surgeries, Autoimmune Diseases, and Dementia. But when her only child, Derek, the computer prodigy at the center of it all, tragically died at age 18, this was Leslie’s ultimate test in her quest to become a true Whole-Life Warrior. Leslie has developed the tried and true ‘Lemon Principle’ Method to help you develop your skills for making the best choices when dealing with the numerous ‘Lemons’ that life inevitably and regularly presents to you. Learn to ‘Let Every Lemon Make You Stronger!’ Leslie lives in South Florida with her husband and 2 adorable chihuahuas, ‘Yin’ and ‘Yang’. TheLemonPrincipleGuide.com    WholeLifeWarrior.com    LeslieJacobsAuthor.com

Book preview

Copyright © 2019 Leslie Jacobs.

Cover Photography by Francesca Bliss Art & Photography

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Balboa Press

A Division of Hay House

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.balboapress.com

1 [phone]

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

The author of this book does not dispense medical advice or prescribe the use of any technique as a form of treatment for physical, emotional, or medical problems without the advice of a physician, either directly or indirectly. The intent of the author is only to offer information of a general nature to help you in your quest for emotional and spiritual well-being. In the event you use any of the information in this book for yourself, which is your constitutional right, the author and the publisher assume no responsibility for your actions.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

ISBN: 978-1-9822-3206-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-9822-3205-4 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-9822-3207-8 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2019910353

Balboa Press rev. date:  10/01/2019

I AM A WHOLE-LIFE WARRIOR MANTRA

I am a Whole-Life Warrior.

Today I continue my journey, yet

Each day I may set a new course.

I am strong, I am determined, I am confident;

I see and think with Clarity, my Will is steadfast,

Courage arises from my heart

so that I can take control of my own life.

I learn from the past, but don’t live in the past.

I plan for the future, but don’t worry about the future.

I strive to appreciate and be grateful for what I do have.

I live in the present,

taking full responsibility for my choices and actions.

I go forward and create the life I want.

Today I continue my journey.

DEDICATION

I dedicate this book to all who wish to learn the skills needed

to face and deal with their Life’s Lemons

with Honesty, Clarity, Will, and Courage

as a Whole-Life Warrior.

CONTENTS

I Am A Whole-Life Warrior Mantra

Dedication

Introduction

The Way You See Things Matters

The Wisdom of the Elders

Part One

What?

Lemons, Life, and You

49755.png

Chapter 1 My Story

How I Became a Whole-Life Warrior

Chapter 2 Become A Whole-Life Warrior

When Life Hands or Throws You ‘Lemons’ .…………

What Then?

Who is a Whole-Life Warrior?

Who is Responsible?

Chapter 3 Life Happens

Just Be Prepared

Practice Mindfulness

Dealing With Lemons

Learn Not to Squirm

Be Aware and Remain Calm

Chapter 4 The Inner Lemons

Mind-Traps & Self-Saboteurs

What Are They? Why Is It Important To Know Them?

Top Saboteurs

Emotionally-Driven Reactivity

Negativity Complex

I Am A Whole-Life Warrior Mantra

Part Two

How?

Practicing the Method

49734.png

Chapter 5 The Lemon Principle Method

For Self-Reprogramming

Step 1: Divide and Conquer

Step 2: Observe - Accept

Step 3: Flip the Switch

Chapter 6 How To Fail Successfully

Creating a New Mindset

Warrior Mindset

We Are Conditioned

The Whole-Life Warrior’s Armor and Arms

Alter or Falter!

Chapter 7 Stuck In The Past

Looking Backward

Zoom!!!!!!!

Regrets

Chapter 8 Fixating On The Future

Looking Forward

Expectations

Hope

Worrier to Warrior

Waiting To Be Happy

Still Waiting

Part Three

Why?

Essential Truths

49709.png

Chapter 9 Leslie’s Lessons Of Life’s Lemons

Introduction

Leslie’s Lessons Of Life’s Lemons

Essential Truths To Remember

Lesson 1: Life’s Not Fair!

Lesson 2: You Are Not a Cat –– You Do Not Have 9 Lives!

Lesson 3: Earn It!

Lesson 4: Be Realistic! Keep the Real in Reality!*

Lesson 5: Don’t Be Surprised BUT Be Prepared!

Lesson 6: Be Resilient!

Lesson 7: Be the Master of Yourself!

Lesson 8: Let It Go!

Lesson 9: Learn From the Past but Don’t Live in the Past!

Lesson 10: Don’t Squander Your Time!

Afterword

Definitions

About the Author

INTRODUCTION

The Way You See Things Matters

To begin with, my insights are not new to humanity;

this is not the first time people have heard these ideas.

But as you probably know,

There is nothing new under the sun*

–– *Book of Ecclesiastes 1:9 (NIV)

Thus, you can feel comfortable with the fact that I am re-presenting wisdom that is so important, yet so often unknown or ignored, that it must be told again and again.

I am, however, just giving it a new twist (of Lemon),

one I hope will resonate clearly with everyone.

Yes, these messages are timeless and universal,

and I am here to present these to you

in current-time relevance

so that you can relate to them directly and personally.

"It’s not what you look at that matters,

it’s what you see."

–– Henry David Thoreau

If you think you can, you can. And if you think you can’t, you’re right

–– Henry Ford

"A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities and an

optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties."

–– Harry S. Truman

"Change the way you look at things

and the things you look at change."

–– Wayne W. Dyer

The bottom line: face your Lemons (obstacles*) and keep moving forward!

*OBSTACLE (Lemon, Mind-Trap, Self-Saboteur, ...)

(noun): Something that blocks one’s way, hindering or preventing progress.

Note: No matter what you call it, an obstacle is still an obstacle. One can call it a bump, twist, turn, hiccup, detour, trap, pitfall, stumbling block, hurdle, brick wall, problem, snag, complication, hitch, quandary, dilemma, hindrance, obstruction, barrier, headache, pickle, stew, spot, predicament, jam, Lemon, Mind-Trap, Self-Saboteur, ...

Regardless of the name, it is in your way, hindering you from moving forward.

EXTRA NOTE: To help you better understand the meaning of certain words and the concepts that I use throughout the book, you can simply refer to the definition section in the back

Please refer to periodically, as your understanding will deepen as you grow.

The Wisdom of the Elders

Every day someone, somewhere, is sharing great words of wisdom with somebody, for the purpose of helping them deal with certain events in their life and to assist them in moving forward. There is worthwhile substance behind many readily available quotes, clichés, and famous proverbs. Believe it or not, the old wise sayings that we hear repeatedly, and often ad nauseam, can often provide us with practical wisdom from both the previous generations and the wise souls of today. If we contemplate these sayings, they will inspire and instruct us on how to successfully face life’s obstacles and challenges. With few words, they not only open our eyes and minds, but they also arm us with the appropriate shields and swords needed to survive life’s many ups-and-downs, be they minor or major. The shields protect us from further harm while the swords help us to cut through the delusions and attachments that blind us and hold us back.

Listen to and evaluate critically all that you hear: reject and discard what is useless, meaningless, misleading, or harmful; accept and utilize what is useful, meaningful, truthful, and humane.

The cliché phrase, When life gives you lemons, make lemonade., is about your attitude to give a negative situation a positive spin in the face of whatever adversity you experience. When you are faced with an unfortunate hindrance or crisis, it is possible to look at it with different eyes, view it from a different perspective, and approach the situation with an open and flexible mind. If you seize the moment, reinforcing the idea that with determination and fortitude your life can be uplifting, then you will continue to go forward and create new opportunities.

You must stay courageous in order to forge forward, no matter the circumstances. A setback is usually an opportunity to come back stronger. Friedrich Nietzsche, a 19th-century philosopher said, That which does not kill us makes us stronger. When a crisis hits, you have two choices; either you can give in, roll up in a ball, wave the white flag and surrender in despair, or you can see this challenge from a new perspective, offering you new opportunities to triumph. By bravely meeting the challenge in front of you, you come out mentally and emotionally stronger. So much depends on your attitude and the choices you make at the crossroads. Of course, life would be more pleasant if we did not have to go through any traumatic and difficult experiences. But, to think this way would be unrealistic and not necessarily the best for your journey, your raison d’etre (reason for being; the purpose of one’s existence).

Whenever you are tested, as you most certainly will be, you are given a chance to learn not only how to cope, but also how to evolve. This ability can help you to deal internally and externally with whatever Lemons are awaiting you in the future. When you hone your basic skills of Clarity, Will, and Courage, you acquire a level of mental power that will allow you to, with hard work and effort, have the capacity to persevere as a Whole-Life Warrior. You will succeed in your course of action even in the face of difficulties. You will find a way to carry on, to keep going the distance, regardless of whatever is in store for you.

If you remember nothing else, at least imprint this on your inner billboard:

The goal is to experience your journey as a Whole-Life Warrior, evolving as you go forward, no matter how long it takes, how far it takes you, or to where it might eventually lead. What you do with the Lemons presented to you on this journey is ultimately your choice, and yours alone.

PART ONE

WHAT?

LEMONS, LIFE, AND YOU

50682.png

CHAPTER 1

MY STORY

How I Became a Whole-Life Warrior

Hello and welcome to my world which, by the way, is no more special than your world.

We all have a story -- because life happens to each and every one of us.

My journey helped to mold me into the person I am today. By constantly challenging me, it gave me the opportunity to find my inner Whole-Life Warrior. With new strength and courage I forged ahead through all of the obstacles (LEMONS) that were thrown in my path. Experience has taught me that virtually anything can happen to any one of us at any time. Our lives are built on our total experience, and this includes that which is pleasant or unpleasant, expected or unexpected, and that which we call our ‘Mistakes’ and ‘Failures’ as well as what we call our ‘Successes’. Each one of us is on our own unique journey and each day life presents us with challenges and personal struggles. I know of no exception. Do you know of any person who can claim otherwise?

I am Leslie Jacobs.

I am a mother, a wife, a daughter, and

I am on my personal quest to evolve.

I choose to courageously face and take on life’s challenges every day!

– I am a Whole-Life Warrior –

This is my story…

My family made history in 2002 when we became the first family in the world to be implanted with the promising new medical-information microchip which has the potential to save millions of lives. This highly anticipated groundbreaking Chipping event was covered live on NBC ‘The Today Show’ with Katie Couric. Our story caught the attention of the media worldwide and was featured extensively globally, nationally, and locally.

Both the technology and our involvement as pioneers sparked conversation and controversy on so many levels. We felt privileged to have participated in this new positive unfolding of history through the use of this technology in medical emergency care. But just a few years later in 2006, in a bizarre twist of fate, the digital prodigy at the center, my son, Derek, my only child, tragically died at age 18.

So, how did this unexpected chapter in the life of our family begin?

It began when I was encouraged by our 14-year-old son, Derek, to watch an interview on TV about the future of medical microchips. Derek was already recognized in the tech world. He was featured in the media at 12 years of age as a Digital Prodigy,* which was not common back then for one so young. Yes, he was an avid computer and technology enthusiast, but, .… what mattered most to him was that he hated to see his Dad constantly struggling with serious health issues from years of fighting cancer and the aftermath of both the disease and the treatments.

Derek recognized the microchip’s importance in providing immediate access to crucial personal medical information in order to protect himself and others. It was obvious that one medical mistake, due to missing or mis-information, can completely change the course of one’s health, as well as create enormous difficulties for