Prosperity Attraction – you create your own reality

I find this article very inspiring and agree 100% with how the author distinguished the two kinds of love. I have been enslaved by “love” but it was also love that liberated me. I think many people have gone through the same experience. To those who are in love, and those who are broken-hearted, please [...]

on Manifesting Abundance at Manifesting with the Law of Attraction

What is it that brings about healing and attracts love, joy, peace and prosperity into our lives? As a journalist, writer and author, I’ve studied science and spirituality for decades and perhaps like you have formed a seamless belief system that makes sense of everything.

So I’m excited when I see proof of it, which comes over and over again and most recently in an e-mail message from a new friend of mine in Pittsburgh. He wrote to say that when we hugged, he felt the direct transfer of something from me into his chest. It didn’t carry any emotional impact, but a physical shift in his energies transpired and the next day rid him of a misconception that had caused him a great deal of anxiety.

Could I explain what had happened, he asked? Were these two events connected? What isn’t, I laughed in delight, replying with the lessons my inner voice of wisdom had just been teaching me!

Bearers of light

I spoke to David of liking him from the moment we met, as I’d sensed something very special in him. He was coordinating the Sunday service at his Unity church, and as he stood at the podium, speaking so gently of love, my heart opened and I became aware of the high spiritual energies in the room. I was there to speak and my travel fatigue instantly melted away.

During the “meet and greet” portion of the service, I hugged David gratefully for the love he had given me. So it was not I who healed him, but the Love in him that did the work. When we are open and ready for change, love responds and Light flows into and through us, bringing about the transformation we seek.

My seven-year-old grandson understands this perfectly. He delights in creating “pictures” to give away, and alongside many of his colorful airplanes and butterflies are the words, “Love is in the air.”

In this cosmic sea of spirit, composed of energetic waves of thought and feeling, love flows through every person and event. I bring to you some gift of wisdom, a loving thought or touch, and you say something that enlivens me, perhaps opens my heart to a new understanding of us both.

This is what the Hindu mystic-poet Kabir meant in saying, “Sometimes we are a wave, sometimes the ocean. We come here to bring each other to God.” When we are calm and peaceful, we float restfully in the ocean of the OneMind, immersed in its expanded perspectives and at-one with its rhythmic flow. When we are disconnected, we break into separate waves, but even then we call each other back to the One.

Waves in flow with the ocean

What separates us from the OneMind and its peace, joy and fulfillment? It is always stress, fatigue, fear and distrust, tensing us into waves of rigidity and resistance. Many of us fear being hurt and shrink away from life, closing our hearts to the healing Love in and all around us. At times we feel cold and alone, perhaps rejected, abandoned, unsure and confused. But in truth, Love has not abandoned us. We have become oblivious to its presence.

This separation is why we so often feel lost and unhappy. The closed heart, by virtue of its separation, cannot be enriched by All That Is. The law of magnetic resonance, governing the law of attraction, cannot bring riches to poverty, nor peace and happiness to a conflicted bodymind trapped in anger or judgment. When we are experiencing inner conflict and are out of integrity with our souls, we feel a gnawing hunger, a thirst for what is missing, and usually try to satisfy this craving with love relationships, euphoric chemicals, career achievement and/or material possessions. Our busyness almost distracts us from the cold internal knot of separation, but not quite.

The only way back to the ocean of the OneMind is to open our hearts to the light and unfold, petal by petal, into our blossoming.

Nature shows us what to do, especially in the springtime. Out of dark, quiet winter comes a season of warmth and renewal. Brightly colored plants and flowers draw us to the wondrous life force swirling into the curve of a leaf, colorful patches of wildflowers and the light mint greens of budding trees. Seeing the magic of spring, we remember how the Creative Force sweeps into every thing: in sheets of rain upon a rushing river; the pealing laughter in a child’s perfect cartwheel; the sparkling spiral star-dance of our magnificent Milky Way.

Because of this visible and invisible evidence of love, I trust and believe what my inner wisdom tells me: that all waves come to empty our darkness so that Light can flow into the bodymind, enabling us to gently unfold and flower into lives of beauty and joy. Our inner wisdom whispers that each and every wave helps us grow and is called, by our nature, into being.

When we listen to our souls very closely, we hear that this is our dearest wish and the work that we came here to do. The open heart knows this and does it willingly, with excitement and gratitude, understanding its soul’s purpose and the ultimate meaning of life.

The secrets of an open heart

All the same, life is sometimes like a banana peel. It seems that everything conspires to trip us up, throw us off-balance and slide us down some slippery slope, whereupon we close our tender hearts for our own protection. How to open the heart, then, when it closes suddenly or over time?

STEP 1.  The most immediate antidote is to breathe and relax inside the remembered assurance that every wave comes out the OneMind and so must be a wave of love calling us back to Love. Knowing this, we breathe deeply and evenly, becoming perfectly present to the flow of air into the nose and back out of the mouth.

Your can deepen this relaxed, peaceful state of consciousness by counting breaths or following the wind of your breath into your diaphragm and back out of your body. Research has shown that focusing on the breath relaxes us, and focusing on two things simultaneously, like counting and the movement of breath, produces a deeper state of consciousness akin to meditation.

Another heart-opening technique, especially useful during conflict, is to close your eyes and focus on the space between your ears. Try this now, to see for yourself how this diffuses thought and relaxes the body. It works just as well when we focus on the space between the eyes or any two objects. Just as in a guided meditation, the act of imagining space shifts our brainwaves into the alpha bandwidth of vibration. This relaxed peacefulness neutralizes the patterns of overexcited, hyper-aroused physical tension that create most if not all illness and disease, according to neurofeedback research.

STEP 2.  When we repeatedly experience this meditative state of mind, we extend it into everyday life and are better able to stay united with the OneMind. We are less upset by our own thoughts and by external events, so we live happier, healthier, more balanced lives.

Rooted in the transcendent perspectives of the OneMind, we consistently respond to life peacefully and the heart is better able to stay open. When conflict comes up, we breathe, relax and allow that wave of thought energy to wash into and through us, neither holding on to nor resisting it. This is called peaceful, nonviolent non-resistance. We “hold our seats,” as Buddhism teaches and remain peaceful.

It is easy to do this because we know who we are. We are souls observing our selves and what happens in this earth plane for the sake of learning. We are not trapped here, but choose to be here. In this sense of choice and freedom rests fearlessness, courage and the ability to stay peaceful.

By remaining open-hearted, we stay connected with our soul’s infinite wisdom and its creative solutions. We understand how to respond–what, if anything, to say–because our inner wisdom prompts us. In the silence we are able to listen to, hear, feel, sense and see the transcendent perspectives of our open, loving hearts.

Our intuition is an inner knowing of spiritual truth. It expands us beyond the ordinary thinking mind into the transcendent sixth-sense perspectives of inner knowing, feeling, sensing, hearing and seeing. Going deeper within our souls, we observe that any and all negative thoughts are erased from our minds and replaced by a clear sense of direction. At the same time, the Light heals physical discomfort, pain, stress and fatigue.

 

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Serenity through Forgiveness and Unconditional Love

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STEP 3.  Sometimes our hearts are opened by another person’s kindly word, smile or touch, as with my friend David. Sometimes the opening occurs during a walk in the woods, as nature delights us and points the way home.

But what if someone is yelling at or demeaning us in some way that causes pain?

We can ask that person to please calm down so that we may listen better to what he or she has to say. If the person does so and we wish to listen, but nevertheless begin to lose our peace, we can draw our full attention to the heart and center the busy mind in the heart.

The energy of the heart will relax our thinking. We can open to the heart’s love and ask for the OneMind to help us flow into Love, so that this light circulates into every atom and cell of our bodies. Be assured that it will. This heart-centering will help us listen better to the other person and return love. By the law of magnetic resonance, the other person will attune to our energies and grow more loving.

This has been proved in experiments conducted by The Mind-Life Institute in cooperation with the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibet. A Buddhist monk and veteran, 30-year meditator was placed in a room with a professor outraged by the idea of reincarnation. The man berated the monk loudly and to no avail. The monk listened placidly and did not flinch once; in fact, he was hooked up to electrodes and there was no “startle” response whatsoever. Finally the professor grew just as calm and willing to conduct a reasonable conversation.

Try this for yourself. Be the peacemaker and see what happens.

STEP 4.  We can keep our hearts open by freeing ourselves from judgment. The verbal thinking mind loves to name everything and remember similar situations that it then relives and discusses with itself. The ego says, “Aha, I recognize who this person is, because So-and-So was that way, too. This person is devious and dangerous.” Even if the ego is right, this judgment narrows our perspectives and our ability to clearly perceive the full truth about the other person, who, like us, is much more than what was done.

A single, solitary judgment triggers a volley of thinking that closes the heart, blocks inner wisdom and separates us from ourselves, the other person and God! Moreover, constantly reliving the past keeps us from being fully present to the now-moment and serving as a creative, shining light to other people.

The antidote is not to let the thinking mind name, categorize, judge and persecute anyone–us included. We can move the naming, thinking mind into silence by teaching it that no matter what comes up within us or in external reality–an angry person, the loss of a job, illness, the death of a loved one–it is a wave of experience that brings healing and growth. It comes to rid us of what is no longer needed and to evoke in us anything that might be missing. In the world of Spirit, nothing is lost. All is accounted for.

STEP 5. We can be at-one with goodness by keeping our hearts open, rejoicing in the beauty of the world and seeking something to love in every person we meet, including the derelict on the street who teaches us that this is not who we want to be. Even if we feel repulsed, we can look at this person closely enough to find something in him or her to love. Some facial characteristic, some trait…because if love is in the air, it is also in each of us, even at our worst.

Do we have to judge or detest that derelict? My inner wisdom says no, because this person has just given me the gift of knowing myself. I am grateful for that gift and can reach out to return love without needing or expecting appreciation.

In my experience, we come here to open our hearts and love ourselves, others and God. If we feel cold and aloof or separate and apart much of the time, there is a very good chance that our lives are cloudy and gray.

Do you have all of the love, money, happiness and peace that you want in your life? If not, check to see if your heart is open and joyfully aware of the abundance in each and every precious thing in you and your life.

If your heart is closed, you can open it easily with these mind-expansion techniques which enable us to become present to the present. In opening to Love, you will be enlivened by its joy and peace, so that everything you need and so richly deserve will come to you. All else will be pruned away, healed, to make room for fresh growth.

This is the simple and magical secret of life: You have within you all the Love needed to create and attract the life you want. Love calls you to shine your light, for love and love alone will heal our world.

If we stay peaceful, we can catch the waves of love upswelling in our hearts and ride them with perfect balance into our everyday choices and actions for economic parity, social justice and environmental responsibility.

To create a perfect planet of peace and love, all we have to do is remember that love is in the air. We can bring its Light into being with the thought of it, the need of it, the hope of Love that is it. In this wave is the spiritual awakening of our world.

Judith Pennington is a writer, singer and coast-to-coast teacher of meditation and the evolution of human consciousness. She is the author of a ground-breaking book, The Voice of the Soul, about her extraordinary journey into inspired writing, the guiding wisdom of the soul and the science of spirituality. Visit her primary website, www.eaglelife.com, to check for a workshop near you, sign up for her free e-newsletter, “The Still, Small Voice,” and read complementary articles in her paid-for e-magazine, OneWorld Spirit, devoted to art, beauty, truth, spiritual politics and global peace.

       

Take a moment alone and settle into your body. Close your eyes, relax and breathe… deeply, slowly.

Visualize yourself walking through the woods. Glistening, new-fallen snow carpets the trail beneath your feet. Breathe in the cool air and feel it refreshing you.

Exhale slowly, letting all your worries out with your breath. Spirit is with you and you are expanding your consciousness to take in the life-giving love that Spirit wants to share with you.

Up ahead, you see a beautiful, golden wildflower, standing tall, growing right in the middle of the snow. There is a glorious, warm, loving light beaming out from this amazing flower.

As you step closer to this flower you feel its light permeating you, and you feel lighter, like a weight has lifted. The purest love is flowing all through your entire body, energizing you.

Now think of something you’d like to change in your life. Imagine yourself experiencing this change in total harmony, success coming to you with incredible ease. See yourself celebrating your success. Feel the fulfillment, the joy, the peace that comes from living your dream. Take it all in. Let yourself bask in the glow of this feeling and continue breathing.

When you feel ready, give gratitude to your golden wildflower in the snow for its light and for helping you bring this wonderful change to fruition.

Walking back through the woods, you see that same loving light beaming out from you, too. Extend this light to everyone you meet.

Open your eyes, stretch and return to your day, renewed and energized.

Resource Box:

This 5-Minute Meditation by Avalon De Witt. Visit http://www.AskAvalon.com for more original content like this.

       

       

Speaking of Gratitude - my Thanksgiving post, and this post were both about gratitude - the folks at Mind Movies are offering 75% off of the digital version of their Video Vision Board creation kit. If you have not yet seen this offer, you’ll want to check it out now because it ends this Friday!

There is no better way to head into the New Year than with a shiny new vision board. And a video vision board that you can play each time you start up your computer is even better!

I know I’ll be starting 2009 off with a brand new video vision board. And now you can too. And fyi, they’ve also got about $700 worth of bonuses included in the offer.

So go check out the Mind Movies Creation Kit.

And just to be clear, this is the digital-only version of the creation kit. There is no physical product with this version. But still, you get all of the material included in the full version at an amazing price.

Oh, and if you do create a video vision board and post it online, I’d love to see it. Leave a comment below, or use the contact form to let me know where to view it.

Here in the US, the Thanksgiving holiday has come and gone. If you celebrated Thanksgiving, I hope your day was filled with gratitude, joy, love, and, oh yeah, lots of great food!

You could say that Thanksgiving is the holiday of Deliberate Creators. Gratitude is one of the most potent vibrations for attracting your desires. Unfortunately, for many people, Thanksgiving is the beginning and end of their connection with gratitude.

As the Deliberate Creator of your life you cannot leave your gratitude behind with the Thanksgiving holiday. In order to create the life you desire gratitude must be one of your dominant thoughts at all times.

The Native Americans, for whom the Thanksgiving holiday holds mixed messages, lived in a state of gratitude. For them, giving thanks was, and for many, still is, a way of life, a moment-by-moment attitude.

Just imagine, for a moment, that instead of needing a holiday to remind us to be grateful, that gratitude was our natural state. Imagine that with every breath we felt grateful for the air around us, with every step we gave thanks for the ground upon which we walked, with every bite of food we ate, we offered appreciation to the plants and animals who gave their lives so that we might continue to live and grow.

Just imagine how you would feel. Imagine how your life would be different.

Let Thanksgiving be a reminder a life of Deliberate Creation is meant to be lived in a state of gratitude. Gratitude is not a one-time event. It is a way of being.

The master of attraction lives in a state of appreciation at all times and for all things in her life. Yes, ALL things. The Buddha said:

Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn’t learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn’t learn a little, at least we didn’t get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn’t die; so, let us all be thankful.

And the master of attraction also holds in gratitude those things not yet in his life which he desires. The master of attraction says “thank you” for his desires rather than “please.”

Fill your desires with gratitude. Know that they are already created, even if you cannot yet see them in your life. Your gratitude will draw them to you as surely as a feeder in winter draws birds.

So don’t leave your gratitude behind. Practice the art of appreciation every day. Begin and end your day with gratitude. Share your gratitude with the people in your life. Stop throughout your day and offer gratitude for the breath you take.

Let your appreciation flow and watch your desires grow!

As we prepare for the Thanksgiving holiday here in the US I find myself in an interesting space with lots of opportunity for personal growth. This is the first Thanksgiving since my wife and I separated. So my daughter, Ella, and I will be hosting a small gathering at our house. We’ll be with some wonderful friends celebrating and offering our gratitude for the blessing in our lives.

But, even knowing this, as Ella and I spent time yesterday preparing for the holiday - shopping, cleaning, etc., - I felt a deep sadness threatening to overwhelm me: For the first time in 8 years I will not be celebrating the holiday with Melissa. And for the first time in at least 3 years, we will not be traveling east to join in the celebration with my parents, siblings and other family members.

While the holidays are “marketed” as a time of joy and love, they can also catalyze emotions at the other end of the emotional spectrum including sadness, grief, depression, anger and more. When these “darker” emotions show up, especially around the holidays, there can be a tendency to push them away. After all this is a time of giving thanks, a time for celebrating and appreciating family and friends. This is not the time to be grappling with sadness.

At least that’s what the prevailing “wisdom” says.

Yesterday, I found myself listening to that wisdom and attempting to deny the sadness. It was easy to justify the pushing away: I’ve already done plenty of grieving over the dissolution of our family. There’s no need for more. Especially not at this time of giving thanks.

I should be focusing on all of the blessings in my life, right?

Yes. Absolutely.

Of course the trap that most of us fall into is to give thanks for the things that we like while avoiding, denying or suppressing that which we don’t enjoy quite so much.

Perhaps we are thankful for the new car you have, but don’t feel quite so grateful each time we write the check to pay the car loan each month.

Maybe we give thanks for the way our partner holds us while we’re falling asleep, but don’t feel quite so grateful when he or she leaves dirty dishes in the sink.

Or perhaps, like me, you are grateful for the joy the holiday season brings, but not so willing to embrace the feelings of sadness that may also arrive.

Yesterday I got to watch myself turning my back on the sadness, attempting to push it back down into the shadows. I observed myself eating when I wasn’t hungry. I watched myself go shopping for Thanksgiving dinner and buy way more food than we needed. I saw myself calling friends, seeking the solace of connection.

And in all of these activities I was aware of my desire to fill the deep sadness and emptiness I felt inside.

It was not until late last night, after Ella was asleep, that I was able to let go of the resistance and allow myself to fully embrace that sadness.

The key for me was to stop running from the sadness, and to acknowledge it, appreciate it and allow it to flow, unrestricted, through me. And the interesting, though not surprising, thing is that as soon as I released my resistance, the intensity of the experience immediately decreased.

Once my resistance was gone, and the sadness could flow through me, unencumbered, there was no more pressure building up inside of me. Just like a river that encounters a fallen log on its journey to the ocean, my sadness encountered resistance in its path and had no choice but to push against it.

If you’ve ever seen a river smashing up against an obstacle you’ve seen how powerful that force can be. And if you have ever attempted to cross a river with a decent current you have actually felt that power.

Emotion is an equally powerful force.

It can be helpful to think of emotion as E - Motion or Energy in Motion. When you attempt to block or resist the emotional flow of energy it is like building a damn of logs and rocks in a very strong river: It might last for awhile, but eventually the force of the current is going to go over, around or through that resistance.

And when that happens, there’s going to be a big mess downstream as all of those rocks and logs start bashing into things as they get pushed along by that initial blast. And the longer you have been building that dam, the bigger the explosion will be.

Been there, done that!

In the past, I have been very good at resisting emotions. I became an expert at building dams and shoring them up as the pressure builds: Piling on more and more logs and boulders to hold that Energy in Motion back. And I have experienced the explosive destruction that happens when that dam finally breaks. When that happens there is nothing to do except hold on and hope you can ride out the wave without getting pounded by the tumbling rocks and logs!

Yesterday, when I realized what I was doing, I consciously chose to move the resistance out of the way and let the sadness continue on its journey. The beautiful thing is that when you take conscious control of the process, you can choose, to a certain extent, how much of that E-motion you want to flow.

There is, without a doubt, some unpredictability to emotion, but when you stop resisting it, and start acknowledging and appreciating it, you can choose to open up the flow bit by bit rather than all at once.

One of the keys, along with acknowledgment, is appreciation. When you appreciate your emotions, yes, all of them, you immediately dissolve the resistance. Resistance and appreciation cannot coexist.

Now you might wonder why you would want to appreciate sadness. After all, sadness doesn’t feel good. Right?

Wrong.

It’s not the sadness that feels bad, it’s the resistance to the sadness that feels bad.

Release the resistance and the E-Motion can move again. And any time emotions are flowing - the energy is in motion - it feels good. Yes, even sadness!

The strange thing I’ve discovered is that when I release my resistance and allow myself to really dive into the sadness, it actually feels good. Often, I find that the tears of sadness lead seamlessly into tears of joy. At some point, as the tears flow, I realize they have shifted from sadness to joy.

Not always. Sometimes it is just sadness that needs to flow. And that is all right as well. Because when the resistance is gone and the energy of sadness can be in motion, it does not get stuck anywhere. No pressure builds up and that movement of energy is awakening.

So my encouragement for you on this Thanksgiving is to appreciate everything in your life. Along with all of your obvious blessings, look to appreciate the blessings that come to you in “disguise.”

Appreciate the mess you have to clean up to get your house ready for the family. Appreciate the mess they leave after Thanksgiving dinner. Appreciate all the ways your family manages to get under your skin. Appreciate the arguments and the hugs, the bickering and the banter. Appreciate it all.

Yes, even appreciate any sadness or anger that comes up. Appreciation is the process that dissolves resistance. Appreciation removes those logs and boulders and allows your energy to flow - ALL of your energy.

And the amazing thing is that when you appreciate everything in your life, you begin to find more and more people, experiences, emotions, thoughts and things coming into your life to appreciate.

BE GREAT!

I recently received an email from a busy attorney that said simply, “Lynnea, help! I need abundance! Contact me.” Hmmm. What’s wrong with this picture? He’s busy, but he doesn’t feel like he has abundance in his life. How often do you feel that way? I believe that most of us yearn to feel “filled up” and overflowing with the greatness that life has to offer. If you feel this way, I have a question for you: What would greatness in yourself, your life, and your business, look like?

In order to achieve greatness, and be truly satisfied with yourself and your life, it’s important to cultivate abundance thinking.

You see, we can manifest abundance in our lives. “How?”, you ask. Well, it’s simple, because it’s already within us and around us. But, it’s difficult, because it means doing some work on ourselves. Below are 10 ways to begin creating abundance in your life.

Creating Abundance

Be grateful for what you have; all of it. Can you see? Can you read? Can you hear? Are there people who love you? Do your legs work? Do you have someplace to sleep tonight? There are myriad things for which we can be grateful; and we need to BE grateful before we can be entrusted with more.

Acknowledge abundance; be open to it as it occurs every day in little ways. Did someone give you free tickets to something, or treat you to lunch? That’s abundance. Did you receive an “atta-boy” or a compliment? Did you find a penny on the ground? That’s abundance. Look for it, be attuned to it in your life.

Practice being happy for what others have. There’s no shortage of success, love, money, possessions. Just because someone else has something doesn’t mean there’s less for you.

Be generous. Coming from a “scarcity mentality” only creates scarcity. Give others your praise, help others succeed by sharing your knowledge, your network, your caring, your time, talents, and treasures.

Cultivate a positive environment. Norman Vincent Peale said, “Change your thoughts and you change your world”. Thoughts are fed by everything around us: what we listen to, read, and watch; and by the people we hang out with.. You have the right to create an environment of abundance thinkers, books, tapes, pictures, words, and thoughts. Do it.

Get rid of what you don’t need. Holding onto “stuff” we don’t need feeds our fear of scarcity. Open up space in your physical, mental, and emotional environments for good stuff to flow in.

Help others less fortunate. Personally reach out to those who have less than you do…those who can’t see, read, hear, or walk, who have nowhere to sleep tonight. This helps put things in a bigger perspective, it expands your experience, it expands your world; it expands your gratitude.

Be gentle with yourself and others. Choose to assume the best– that you, and others, are doing the best they can, even when they’re not. Forgive yourself for what you don’t have, for what you haven’t done, and move on to the good stuff waiting for you. Being stuck in regret and guilt wastes your energy and talents. Be grateful for the lesson learned, and get over the rest.

Get your personal needs met. We each have individual, personal needs. These are not options. They are as necessary to us as water or air. They keep us emotionally and spiritually alive. If a need is not being met, a void exists within us, and we’ll look for things to fill the void. We may end up grasping for many things, feeling that we live in a world of scarcity. There are many assessments to help define your unique set of personal needs (if you are interested in using one of these, contact me). Once you know what you need to be and feel your best, you can start creating ways to have these needs met. The voids will disappear.

Daily affirm that you are a worthy and deserving person, who brings unique gifts and value to the world; and that the things you want are flowing to you. Every day, focus on what you want (NOT on what you don’t have!) Visualize it, plan for it, see it in Technicolor®, feel it, talk to it, make it come alive for you. Rev up your passion for it, and in time, you’ll joyfully experience “your cup running over”.

There truly is an abundance of all we want and need. Believe it, manifest it, be fully open to receive it. Because life’s too short to live it half-way!

Copyright 2006, Lynnea Hagen and abundancecoaching.net

As I get older, I realize how much more fun it is to give things away on my birthday than it is to get things. I constantly find myself in awe and appreciation that I am able to do what I love, share my gifts with you and get paid for it. That is such an incredible gift for me to be living and experiencing every day of my life that when my birthday comes around I usually feel like giving even more!

Now don’t get me wrong: I LOVE receiving gifts! And hey, if you really want to give ME something, you can get me an Amazon gift certificate so I can I buy some of my favorite things… Books! My Amazon email address is info@edwardmills.com).

My birthday is on Thursday (9/18) and, after the life-changing week I’ve just come through at the Enlightened Warrior Training Camp, I feel like having LOTS of fun this week! And that fun is going to start by giving away some birthday presents to you!

Everyone is going to get some great gifts and offers, but if you act really fast, there are some truly outrageous opportunities available over the next few days.

Remember, the Universe Loves speed.

Throughout the week I’ll be reminding you of the special gifts as well as the super-special birthday offers on other products and events. If you want to take advantage of them, you’ll want to make sure to be at the appropriate webpage ready to go when the time comes!

So here we go!

Gift #1 – Free Brainwave Entrainment CD Download

Between now and Satuerday morning, you can download the complete contents of my CD: An Introduction to Brainwave Entrainment Technology for Personal Growth and Success.

This CD normally costs $16.95, but through Saturday morning at 9:00 am (Pacific Time) you can access it for free!

Brainwave Entrainment technology is a safe and proven tool for enhancing your ability to reach specific brainwave states quickly and easily. If you have not experienced the power of Brainwave Entrainment you will definitely want to grab this one! Make sure you download your Brainwave Entrainment CD before Saturday morning.

Gift #2 - A Free Copy of My Essay On Becoming An Evolutionary Warrior

This essay was my contribution to the award winning, Amazon bestselling anthology Healing the Heart of the World: Harnessing the Power of Intention to Heal Yourself and Your World.

You can download a free PDF version of my essay, On Becoming An Evolutionary Warrior for free.

Gift #3 – Energetics of Attraction Special — PLUS 20 Fast Action Super Special spots!

Next up is the Energetics of Attraction

. The birthday special on this one begins Wednesday morning at 9:00 am (Pacific Time) and runs through Saturday at 9:00 am.

Here’s the deal. Go check out the Energetics of Attraction webpage. But if you’re interested, don’t order yet. Because from 9:00 am on Wednesday morning through 9:00 am on Saturday morning, the special birthday price for this life-changing Digital Learning Course will be just $79.00.

And to make it even more fun and just slightly crazy, if you’re really fast, the first 20 people to place their order on Wednesday morning will pay just $49!

Yes, that’s $100 off the regular price.

It’s my birthday gift to you but you’ll have to be fast to be one of the first 20 people.

Gift #4 – Awakening to Greatness 3-day retreat Special – PLUS 4 Fast Action Super Special spots!

On Thursday the BIG FUN kicks in! You see, I came out of my week at the Enlightened Warrior Training Camp renewed, rejuvenated, and ready to kick my game up a notch or 200!

And I can’t think of a better time to begin that process than my birthday! And the place I’m going to be focusing most of this ramped up energy is on my new Awakening to Greatness 3-Day retreats.

The one-day Awakening to Greatness retreat rocked! But one-day was definitely not enough. So I’ve turned it into a 3-day retreat with the first one coming up on October 10th - 12th at the incredible Granlibakken Resort and Conference Center on the North Shore of beautiful Lake Tahoe.

This 3-day retreat will change your life. The one-day seminar changed a whole bunch of lives and with the new content I’ve added to the weekend course, you’ll go even further!

At this retreat, you’ll uncover your core, limiting belief and have the opportunity to literally step through that belief into a new, empowering belief that will lead you to the life of your dreams. You’ll work hard and go deep at this retreat, but you’ll also meet some truly amazing people, have a ton of fun and you’ll leave on Sunday night ready to share and shine much more of your brilliance out into the world.

Now, here’s the deal: This is an all-inclusive retreat: It includes your lodging Friday and Saturday night. And this is definitely NOT dorm room lodging. The accommodations at Granlibakken are outstanding, and there will just be two of you to a room. The retreat also includes all your meals from Friday dinner through Sunday lunch. And, again, these are not Burger King meal. These are resort quality meals!

The 4-day retreat I just returned from cost me almost $3,000. And, without a doubt, it was worth every single penny. In fact, knowing what I know now, I would have paid 3-times as much for the event!

Awakening to Greatness will be equally transformative!

Now, because this is the first time I’m offering this 3-day event and I want to get the “buzz” going, I’ve already priced this Awakening to Greatness 3-day retreat at an extremely low price of just $997. (If you’ve been to any “all-inclusive” retreats, you know that’s an amazing price).

But for my birthday, I’m going to do something completely crazy! Actually, I think I might have blown a circuit at Warrior Camp or something! Look, I’m totally jazzed about this retreat and I want YOU to be there with us. I’ve been dreaming about and planning for a 3-day event for over 2-years. And now it’s right around the corner.

In my experience, when you begin something new, it’s good to give it a little jump-start, something to get it over that initial inertia and get the momentum going.

My birthday gift to you, will also be that jump-start for this new event.

Here’s the deal: from 9:00am Thursday 9/18 through 9:00am on Saturday 9/20, instead of paying the regular price of $997, you’ll pay just $595!

That’s a savings of over $400! And remember, that includes your lodging Friday and Saturday nights and all of your meals for the entire weekend! Believe me, at that price. I will not be making much money on your attendance at this retreat. But it’s worth it because I know that after you participate, you’re going to want to tell all your friends about it. And that’s how the buzz gets started. And I want there to be some big buzzing going on about this event!

And now for the truly crazy part: The Super Special, fast action offer!

The first 4-people to register, beginning at 9:00 am on Thursday, will pay just $479!

That’s not a typo! The first four people who register on Thursday morning will pay just $479!

That price is actually lower than my hard costs for this retreat. But, like I said, I feel like giving away some gifts for my birthday, and, personally, I can’t think of any better gift than the gift of greatness!

Now, in addition to those 4 super-special priced spots going quickly, I also have to tell you that there are only 17 spaces remaining in this event – which means that only 13 spaces will be  left after those 4 get snatched up. So even if you miss out on the 4 super-special spots, you want to jump on this offer as quickly as you can to make sure you get in at the birthday special pricing.

If you’re interested in the Energetics of Attraction and/or the Awakening to Greatness 3-day retreat you’ll want to bookmark those pages and make sure you’re ready to order at 9:00am on Wednesday and Thursday respectively. Here they are:

The Energetics of Attraction.

Awakening to Greatness 3-day retreat.

Much has been written about forgiveness. Everywhere you turn people are saying you have to forgive, yet few people likely understand the process of true forgiving. For true healing, forgiveness is essential. The same holds true for the idea of compassion. Yet I have learned that going from anger straight to compassion does not bring about true forgiveness. It only creates a sense of pseudo forgiveness. Many people try to go from hurt or anger straight to compassion.

It most often fails unless they fully understand the deeper process. In most cases the shortcut backfires or they have only repressed their anger. While you maintain an air of forgiveness, you may find yourself easily triggered when speaking of the original event, or you find yourself reacting emotionally when the issue is raised.

I have found that the following steps bring about lasting forgiveness when implemented and practiced on a daily basis. I’ve had many things to forgive, so I’ve had practice. I’ve noticed that it is easy to fall back into a trap of non-forgiveness and resentment unless you make it a daily habit to forgive. Why forgive? You forgive so that you can stop harming yourself through resentment and begin to move into a state of happiness and gratitude.

Stage 1- Admit You Are Angry!

Many of us will echo the thoughts “What? I’m not supposed to get angry! I’ve done all this healing work!” I’ve learned that it is harmful to get angry but it is more harmful to be angry and not admit it! The way to check if you are angry is to observe your inner dialogue about how you are relating to yourself and others. Are you finding yourself being negative, critical or frustrated? Do you find yourself being impatient with people and critical of how things are done? Are you constantly blaming others for your troubles, wishing that others would change? If so, then it is likely you are angry. Try to recognize what you are angry about. It may not be the little things, but something that happened months ago. Look back in time to what might have triggered your anger and where your expression has been blocked. Bitterness is anger with no outlet to be heard or feeling that you can not change anything. It is a form of helplessness. Try to discover what you are bitter about. Make a list of resentments. Don’t hold back or edit your thoughts. Being honest with yourself is the first step in healing anger.

Stage 2- Acknowledge the Loss and Consequences

In order to fully forgive, you need to look at the consequences of the event. By consequences, I do not mean just emotional pain. Look at the past and the present, and honestly note any changes. Were you physically injured? Were you emotionally hurt? Did you suffer financial loss? What other types of losses occurred? Was there harm to other relationships? To achieve lasting forgiveness it is important to acknowledge all the losses, otherwise forgiveness will have to be revisited. When listing the losses and consequences, try to look objectively at the incident without investing in the emotions around the losses at this time.

Stage 3 - Submit to a Feeling of Vulnerability

The next stage in forgiveness is to open your self up to change and dissonance. You can not spread butter when it is hard and cold. Forgiveness does not come easily when your ideas, thoughts of revenge or justice are hardened. You must retreat and re-examine your approach. Just like a pound of butter, if you want to forgive and heal, you need to let your ideas thaw and be molded into a new perspective, combined with other ideas and views. You need to admit that to harbor anger and resentments violates the laws of kindness and compassion both for yourself and other people. You must realize that in not forgiving, you are now betraying the person at whom you are angry. This is not an easy step. It can be painful to realize that it is you who needs to change, and that it is you who has the poison of anger and resentment. It is easy to build up a wall of justification around your thoughts, actions and feelings regarding the harm done to you. In order to heal and forgive, you need to break through the wall and tear it down completely!

This stage of forgiveness also requires you look at whether there was any responsibility on your part. In some cases there was none, in some cases, you may have taken action which contributed to the decision. In this case, it may be hard for you to admit that you caused part of your own suffering as it is easier to blame others than to take any responsibility. This stage requires an honest, fearless, kind and moral inventory of your own actions and behavior. Sometimes you may not like what you find, but facing your shadow can be one of the most powerful healing experiences. See if you can find some common ground.

Stage 4 – Stop Punishing

One of the common behaviors of people is to try to punish those who have harmed us. Most studies have shown that punishment rarely teaches anything other than to resent the person doing the punishing! Some of the ways you may punish are by withholding companionship, giving someone the silent treatment, or even giving compliments but then taking it back with an insult. You may try to go further with legal action, or you may try to damage things that the other person prizes. Another method of punishment is gossiping about the other person. In order to truly forgive, you need to give up the expectation that the other person will be punished. You can ask that the other person make amends for their harm, but if they refuse or are unable to make amends, then releasing them from the idea of punishment frees you from lingering resentment.

There is great wisdom in the following Buddhist teaching – “Should one person ignorantly do wrong, and another ignorantly becomes angry with him, who would be at fault? And who would be without fault?” It is far better to try to forgive, and reintegrate your friends back into community than to ostracize and alienate them through punishment. Try to practice compassion, work at developing a deeper understanding of how and why people behave. It seems that we prefer a simple explanation of things, yet you need to understand that human beings and the relationships between each other are complex. Understanding the ways of the world and the people in the world requires wisdom and self control. Use the opportunity to forgive as a means of growth!

Stage 5 – Identify Some Good in the Other Person

This step, finding some good in the other person is probably the most crucial step in bringing about lasting forgiveness. It can also be the hardest depending on the severity of the event you are trying to forgive.

According to Francis Bacon, the key to forgiveness is in “not expecting the other to change, to give love, to be kind and develop the ability to see that in everyone else’s eyes and heart there is some good.” In forgiving, you try not to think of yourself as being good and the other person bad. You can find it easier to forgive if you can understand that the other person has difficulties too, or was harmed in the past.

If you do not practice this step, then forgiveness will be futile because it will be done with a sense of contempt for the other person. If you can not find good in the other person, then at least pray for them. A wonderful technique for developing your vision of good in another is to imagine a seed of goodness in their heart, and in prayer imagine that both you and God are watering it to make it grow stronger. Better yet is to image that each person already has this great flower of goodness in them already. Admit that it has been obscured from your view because of your anger, resentment and justifications. Learn to look for the good. At first, like developing any skill, it is challenging. You will become better at it with practice!

Stage 6 – Develop Genuine Neutrality

Hopefully in the process of forgiveness you will come to resolve any negative emotions and thoughts about yourself and the other person or organization. To do so requires that you do not expect or demand any payment or restitution after forgiveness. You must assume that there is no debt owed to you. Mother Theresa once said “it is between God and myself, it was never between me and them anyway.” This must be practiced daily. It is easy to slip into anger and resentment if you do not cultivate a practice of neutrality. Depending on the severity of the event, you may choose to not have any further contact with the person, but if you meet them by chance, you want to have a sense of neutrality and a sense of calmness instead of avoidance.

Stage 7 – Stay in the Present

“Bury the hatchet” is a phrase you may have heard many times. There is wisdom to this phrase if you understand its original meaning. The phrase comes from spiritual traditions of North American Indians who would put all weapons out of site while smoking a peace pipe. For your own forgiveness work, you must keep the original wound out of sight, or out of present mind. It is necessary to acknowledge what happened, to not forget it, but also not drag it up again as a fresh wound. Resurrecting the event and bringing it up again with the person who harmed you will cause you to feel the associated feelings again. Balance your memory of the event with your memory of the forgiveness work you have done. Practice loving those you don’t feel warmth towards.

All of your forgiveness work can be undone, and the resentment rekindled if you begin to dwell on the event again. If you begin to rerun your mind’s movie of the harm, then you may find yourself in an angry and hurt state again. It is the nature of your mind to ruminate, and therefore you must develop self-discipline and remind yourself that you have completed forgiveness work around this issue. Thank your mind for the intrusive thought, and send it off into the far reaches of the universe! Refuse to bring the past into the present again, as it will re-trigger you back into hurt and anger. Continually rise above the injury! Practice compassion and unconditional love towards all people!

The Article Above is An Excerpt from
The Feeling Soul - A Roadmap to Healing and Living
By Mark Linden O’Meara
Available at Amazon.com

© Mark Linden O’Meara lives in Vancouver, where he loves to sing, write and teach.

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A few years ago I wrote a prayer that’s been circulating through the Internet for five plus years. I called it “The Prosperity Prayer,” and I’ve received countless notes and letters from all over the globe about its effectiveness. One thing everyone likes is the instant payoff — when you read it to yourself, you’ll feel better right away!

The Prosperity Prayer

Dear God -

I surrender my financial affairs and concerns about money to your Divine care and love.

I ask that you remove my worries, anxieties and fears about money, and replace them with faith.

I know and trust that my debts will be paid and money will flow into my life.

I have only to look to nature to see proof of the abundance you provide.

I release all negative thoughts about money, and know that prosperity is my true state.

I commit to being grateful for all that I now have in my life.

I learn to manage my finances wisely, seeking help where needed.

And finally, I ask you to help me to understand my purpose in life and to act on that purpose with courage and strength. I know that prosperity will come, in part, by doing work I love. Please help me use my skills and knowledge to be of service in the world. Thank you God. Amen

There is a great deal of research that indicates if you want to create a new paradigm in your life, repeat that “new thing” every day for thirty days. My suggestion for working with the Prosperity Prayer is that you say it at least once a day for a month. Say it quietly to yourself or out loud. Write it down on a slip of paper so you can read it when you begin to feel old worries about money arise.

Following is a more detailed explanation about the philosophy behind the prayer.

Dear God -

I believe that God is part of us, flows through us and animates the world surrounding us. We are programmed to receive God’s wisdom. Do you have to believe in God for this to work? Not really. Simply know that your words are heard and expect an answer.

I surrender my financial affairs and concerns about money to your Divine care and love.

Surrender is a difficult concept for many of us to grasp. At first, it sounds as if I might be suggesting you simply “give up” in defeat or to “let go” and pretend that your financial concerns do not matter. Neither is true. The Wisdom that controls the universe has created the human body and all its miraculous intricacies. This same wisdom knows how to bring prosperity into your life.

I ask that you remove my worries, anxieties and fears about money and replace them with faith.

Many of us labor under the illusion that if we worry enough about money, we’ll ward off debt. Nothing could be further from the truth. Worry, anxiety and fear create more worry, anxiety and fear. They don’t create more money. I’d like to suggest you go on a 30-day worry-free diet. Become aware when you have fear-based and anxious thoughts. Remember the prayer and stop the worry.

I know and trust that my debts will be paid and money will flow into my life.

Here’s a secret I’ve discovered in working with thousands of clients over twenty-plus years: there is tremendous power in images held in the mind. Those images (and the emotions they produce) begin to create the reality my clients experience in their lives. When you think about money, what pictures pop into your mind? Maxed out credit cards? Bag ladies? Overdue mortgage notices?

If any of the above sounds familiar, I’d like you to resolve to change these pictures in your mind. I’m asking you to accept much of this prayer philosophy on faith, but trust me when I tell you that those visualizations have a negative effect on your financial and emotional health.

I have only to look to nature to see proof of the abundance you provide.

Abundance is our natural state. We disallow this state through our fear and worry. We cut ourselves off from its flow.

When you begin to worry that there isn’t enough to go around or that God only doles out a limited supply of material to a deserving few, look around you. Take a deep breath and let in all of the abundance. Breathe the air (no limitations on that, right?). Look at your immediate environment. What do you see? Depending on the season and where you live, you’ll see leaves on the trees, snow on the ground, sand on the beach, grass on the lawns. Do you think God planned this amazing world and forgot to include the means for you to accomplish your purpose in life and to live your dreams?

I release all negative thoughts about money, and know that prosperity is my true state.

Your inner thoughts — what you say to yourself — make a big difference in your ability or inability to attract material wealth. When you consistently focus on negative thoughts you can count on attracting negativity into your life.

I commit to being grateful for all that I now have in my life.

There are two quotes that I absolutely love that relate to the issue of gratitude. The first is from Meister Eckhart, “If the only prayer you say in your life is ‘Thank you,’ that would suffice.” The second quote is from the famous writer, Anonymous, who said, “If you want to feel rich, just count all of the things you have that money can’t buy.”

I learn to manage my finances wisely, seeking help where needed. It’s been said that “God helps those who help themselves.” This is especially true in the area of finances. In my work with clients, I’ve seen a clear correlation between how well they manage their money and their ability to attract more. If this is difficult for you, ask for help.

Please help me use my skills to be of service in the world. You have a purpose in life. It is the thing about which you are excited, the thing you’d love to do if only you had a few million dollars and didn’t have to worry about money. When you are enthusiastic about something in your life, God is giving you a clue about the path to follow. The root of the word “enthusiasm” is from the Greek, “entheos.” It literally means, “God within.”

Thank you, God.

I know you are there to help me and I am grateful. Amen
=============================
Lynn Robinson, M.Ed., is one of the nation’s leading experts on the topic of intuition. Her most recent book is Trust Your Gut: How the Power of Intuition Can Grow Your Business. She works with individuals and businesses as an intuitive, providing insights into goals, decisions and strategies. Her free Intuition Newsletter is available at http://www.lynnrobinson.com . She also has an e-course entitled, “Dear God: Send Money.”

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Somehow it has become ingrained in us that negative thoughts are more realistic than positive thoughts. This is pure madness, especially since over 90% of what we worry about never happens!

We have to get our heads around the fact that being positive is actually far more realistic than being negative. This is such a difficult concept for most of us to grasp, and we have to purposefully work hard to re-train the brain to think more positively.

Think of it this way: if your body became out of shape you would probably view physical exercise as an effective way to improve its condition—and we must begin looking at the health of our mind in the same way.

Here are 7 valuable exercises that you can start implementing right now to re-train your thinking:

1. Use Verbal Affirmations EVERY Day

An affirmation is a positive statement that something is already happening, and is a very powerful tool you can use to shift your internal dialogue from negative to positive. Come up with a few statements like “I am creating a beautiful day” or “money and success flow to me” and spend 10 minutes every morning (and every night for extra credit) saying them aloud.

Come up with statements that make the most sense for you, and be sure to state them in the present tense, and in a positive form. This is self-talk in its highest sense, and can be very effective.

2. Use Positive Language

When it comes to the language we use, world-renowned author and lecturer Dr. Susan Jeffers says: “It doesn’t matter if we believe the words or not, the mere uttering of them makes the subconscious mind believe them to be true. It is as though the subconscious mind doesn’t know what is true or false, it doesn’t judge, it only reacts to the language that is being fed”.

Many researchers have shown this sentiment to be quite valid, and we must intentionally start using more positive language to shape the worldview of our subconscious mind.

3. Create a Vision Board

A vision board is the physical manifestation of the life you want to be leading. Find images of the house you desire, the places you want to travel, and the job you crave to work and tack them to a corkboard! Be creative and place words and images that are accurate expressions of your inner-most desires.

Constantly add to your vision board put it somewhere you can see it several times a day– even spend a few moments visualizing what it would be like to be living in this life you created. Isn’t this a better way to spend time than in your usual stress mode?

4. Surround Yourself with Positive Images

They could be famous quotes, inspiring pictures, or even your affirmations that you write out on note cards. The point is to always have physical reminders of things you deem positive close by. Print these items out and place them by your desk, near your bed, and in the car! When you get stressed out, give a glance to them and you will begin to get perspective on things and your mind will re-focus!

5. Say “Thank You” 50 Times a Day

Every night before you go to bed, spend 5 minutes saying thank you out loud for the experiences you had that day: the people you interacted with, the work you accomplished, the food you ate, etc…As you do this, really try and feel the gratitude emanate from within.

You can also say thank you 50 times in the morning and get yourself in an extremely grateful mindset for the coming day. These are wonderful practices for becoming more positive!

6. Listen to Inspirational Talks and Music in the Car

The car is the perfect place to flex your muscle of positive thought! Because many of us spend a lot of time driving, make an effort to listen to music that inspires you and makes you feel good. Purchase motivational personal development CD’s and play them while driving.

I mentioned Dr. Susan Jeffers above, and I recently listened to her CD “Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway” in my car three times in a row! Have your car become an oasis of learning and start using the time constructively.

7. Use Positive Thinking While Exercising

If you consistently exercise, this is an excellent time to practice your positive thinking. Say to yourself over and over again: “I am strong and durable” or “I am fast and powerful” and notice the immediate affect these utterances have on your workout. It is absolutely incredible how just saying these words increases your stamina and strength.

By implementing the recommendations in this article, you can literally begin to out talk your chatterbox! With practice, negative patterns of thought will transform to consistent positive thinking.

Even though you may begin to feel better quickly, positive thinking is a life-long pursuit and it is necessary to dedicate to this ”way of life” over the long-haul. Do not get complacent, or the negative chatter box will re-appear…and you don’t want that!

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Todd Goldfarb is a certified holistic health counselor, life coach, and founder of We The Change, one of the world’s fastest growing personal development blogs.

We’ve all had days when, for whatever reason, we seem to find ourselves living unconsciously, guided by outworn beliefs and feeling stuck in lower-energy vibrations. When these times occur, you can help yourself to shift into higher alignment by remembering the power of appreciation.

Gratitude, thankfulness, appreciation, blessing – these are all states of being that open the garden gate to abundance, prosperity, synchronicity… namely, Serendipity! Begin by paying appreciative attention to what truly matters: the things of your heart, your creative life and sense of self, your family and friends, your community.

Open yourself to engagement, and most especially enchantment. Here are six fun ways to re-connect with your power of appreciation:

1. Reduce your wants and needs to their most basic level. In other words, what is the feeling or quality that you most desire to expand? Beauty, joy, freedom, time, security? Allow yourself to take one small action today to increase that appreciated quality in your life.

2. Spend time alone in play with your inner artistic child. Do something you remember taking pleasure in as a kid. For me it’s things like glitter, iridescent paints, beads, or baking chocolate chip cookies. Ask yourself: “What did I have fun doing at the age of ten or so – what made the hours fly?” Connect with those inspired ideas that whisper “Oh, this might be fun!”

3. Take a healthy break from routine. Research indicates that we are actually more productive and efficient when we give ourselves regular “rest and relaxation” periods. Even a few moments of quiet contemplation in the midst of an activity-filled day can help to regenerate your spirit and your sense of gratitude.

4. Visualize the best possible outcome of an aspect of your life. Give it as much detail as you possibly can: color, texture, scent, temperature, touch, sound, and most especially the wonderful, ecstatic, positive feelings associated with your beautiful picture. Then let go of your attachment to “how” it’s all supposed to work out, and let the Divine take care of the details. Meanwhile, you’re listening for the gentle nudges of your intuition and bravely taking small steps every day on the path to your heart’s desire.

5. Consciously focus on the “Fun Factor.” Sometimes we get so wrapped up in “doing” it right, that we forget to “be” appreciative for all the wonderful things that already exist in our lives. Your creative desires are a gift to be savored and explored, they hold a key to limitless possibilities. Invest some time seeking your joy and discovering it delightedly and unabashedly.

6. Do something pleasurable and nourishing for your physical body- do it mindfully, with the awareness that you are deliberately appreciating and nurturing your wonderful self! Eat some healthy, delicious food; go for a brisk walk; or soak your feet in a bath of epsom salts and a few drops of a favorite essential oil.

Watch how the power of gratitude works to create peace, beauty and joy in your life!

==============================

Carolyn Beale is a freelance author and publisher of Serendipity’s Garden website, A Celebration of Abundance: Body, Mind & Spirit. Subscribe to her complimentary bi-weekly Ezine, a delightful assortment of tidbits to satisfy your senses, stimulate your curiosity, and soothe your spirit. Features include uplifting articles, empowering quotations, selected artwork, recommended websites, guest columnists, and much more.

How do you start your day? Is your first act intentional? Is it a reaction to something? Or is your first act of each completely random?

As a Deliberate Creator, every conscious act matters. And one way to get every day off to a great start is to make your first act of the day intentional. So here are a few suggestions that you might want to consider for your first conscious action of the day.

Smile: You’ll be amazed at how powerful that one act can be at setting the tone for your day. Do it no matter how tired you are, no matter how little sleep you got, no matter how much you’re dreading some aspect of your day. Smile. I love this quote from Thich Nhat Hanh: “Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.” When you think of something that brings you joy, a smile is likely to come naturally. Remember that a smile can brighten a person’s day. And if you wake up with a smile, it just might be your day that gets brighter.

Think of something joyful: Maybe you feel strange putting a smile on your face for no reason. (If you do, stop it!) But one alternative is to think of something that brings you joy and let that thought bring a smile to your face.

Think of your primary intention: What is the single most important intention that you have right now? How would your day change if your first thought upon arising was a positive thought about that intention?

Look at your primary intention: Remember Jack Canfield’s story in The Secret? He taped a “$100,000 bill” to the ceiling above his bed so the first thing he would see every morning would remind him of his primary intention. You can do something similar. Come up with an image, object or phrase that reminds you of your intention and tape it to the ceiling or place it beside your bed. And each morning, make sure your first act is looking at it and feeling it.

Send a positive thought to someone else: Sending a prayer or other positive thought to someone is a wonderful way to start your day. In order to send positive vibes to someone else, your vibration must be positive. So starting your day this way ensures that your vibration will start out positive.

Give thanks for what you have: One of the best ways to empower your day is to begin with gratitude. Instead of allowing your mind to jump to all the stuff you have to get done that day, intentionally guide your mind to focus on and express gratitude for all the wonderful things that you already have.

Say I love you: If you share a bed with a partner (and even if you don’t) one great way to set a positive tone for your day is to say “I love you” to them (or someone else) before you even get out of bed.

These are just a few suggestions. Any one of them will help you set a positive tone for the entire day… If you do it!