Mastering Your Mindset

God Is In Charge

2012-02-01T12:35:00.001-08:00

Last night I was reminded once again that God absolutely is in charge. You know the saying, "Man plans and God laughs"? That definitely applied to me yesterday. I had committed to a business trip last minute that would take me out of town Tuesday night through Thursday afternoon of this week. For some reason, I didn't have a good feeling about it but I chose to ignore that feeling and kept forging ahead. God reached in along the way as I planned, trying to give me indications the timing was not right. Every time I tried to make the airline reservation, the computer would time out. Then when I finally got through to the site in a back door way, the airfare had increased. Not a lot, but enough to make me think. I decided to still move forward.

God reached in again to cause me to question my plans. My daughter became ill Monday and by late Tuesday afternoon, it was unclear she was going to school today. To complicate matters, both my husband and I were traveling so where I thought I covered the bases and had each of my girls staying with friends, it now appeared one of us would have to cancel our trip to stay home with Jenny. We talked and my husband graciously offered to change his plans if need be but again that gnawing feeling came through which I chose to ignore.

Well, God decided that if wasn't going to respond to his subtle nudging, He'd have to take more drastic measures. When I got to the airport last night, my flight had been delayed which meant I wouldn't make my connecting flight. They tried to get me on an earlier flight but their computer kept timing out. Once they got through that, the attendant needed an override which we had to wait a few minutes for. When the supervisor came over to enter the override, he said we're now too late to book that flight, we had just missed it by a "few" minutes! I now was beginning to sense I really was not supposed to go on this trip. The final answer came when my only option was to fly out in the morning but that would cause me to miss half of the meeting. Yes God, I heard you. For whatever reason, I am not supposed to go on this trip.

While I was disappointed I wouldn't make the meeting, I did feel comforted in knowing that God is there providing us signs all the time on what direction we should take. It's our decision whether or not to follow those signs. What was even more comforting was the reassurance that God will step in and make sure we're on the right path. He truly is there to protect us when we open our heart to Him.

A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps - Proverbs 16:9

God is in Our Silence

2012-01-29T17:57:00.001-08:00

I was just reading something this morning that reminded me that God exists in our silence. All that has ever been created first emerged from silence. It is in the silence that life can takes form just like the notes in a symphony. Without the silence between the notes, we'd experience chaos and noise. It is in the silence that life and meaning are given to those notes.

The same holds true for our lives. We must embrace silence to fully experience the symphony God has created for us. If we are constantly pressing forward allowing no time for silence, we lose the music. It's no wonder we wonder aimlessly about searching for our purpose and sense an emptiness yearning to be filled. God reveals His unique purpose for us in our silence for that is where He resides and creates. We just need to allow ourselves to be still and silent to personally experience the incredible symphony He has created for us.

Be still and know that I am God – Psalm 46:10

Why Me?

2012-01-16T14:45:00.001-08:00

How many times have you uttered those words? Lately, I feel like I've been uttering them too much. When faced with struggles, it's easy to succumb to that mindset. You start wondering why this is happening, it is just happening to me, etc. and that starts to the cycle of dwelling on the problem rather then searching for a solution.

I just read something this morning from Rick Warren of the famed "The Purpose Driven Life" and he challenges us to not ask "Why me?" but instead to ask "What do I do with this, God?" Very powerful because in asking that question, you are automatically reaching within and focusing your thoughts on finding a solution.

God does not let things enter into our lives accidentally. While we may feel like the suffering at times is unbearable, there is a reason for our journey and that suffering is part of the journey to teach us and make us even stronger and more Christ like in the end. The next time you're feeling overwhelmed with a situation, stop and take the time to ask God what you need to do or learn from that situation. Have faith that God will indeed show you the way.

"We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." (2 Corinthians 4:8–9)

The Power of a Smile

2011-12-22T13:14:00.000-08:00

I never realized how powerful a smile could be until a random encounter last week. I took my daughter Jordan for a doctor’s appointment at Georgetown Hospital. The trip to Georgetown was not easy with stop and go traffic all the way in and stress levels rising as we watched our appointment time tick away while stranded in traffic.

Fortunately, the office was flexible and willing to still see us once we got there. We were quickly sent down to have x-rays taken. As we sat in a small room waiting to be called, I still felt so stressed from the ride in and then started thinking about all I had to do that day which only increased the stress level. I sat staring straight-ahead when this teenage boy, I’d guess to be about 14 years old, was wheeled around the corner. We instantly made eye contact and he immediately smiled at me. I smiled back but that moment will forever remain with me. This teen’s face was horribly disfigured. It wasn’t clear if he was badly burned or in a horrific accident but the injuries sustained were obviously very severe.

In light of that, he still managed to hold his head high and simply smile. He wasn’t going to let whatever had happened to him hold him back. So powerful!, This young teen found the strength and courage to move beyond his injuries and chose to be a light to the world.

How many of us choose to hide behind our problems rather than be that beacon of light to world? It’s amazing the power a simple smile can give. It reminds us that this world really is about kindness and love. We may spend our days stressing about everything else but when the day is done, none of that really matters. I feel so blessed by that encounter and he probably has no idea how important that smile was. I’m thankful he felt empowered to shine his inner light to world. Yes, a smile can change a life; he certainly changed mine!

Embracing Each Moment

2011-12-12T14:14:00.001-08:00

We are told the greatest gifts of life come when we can learn to live in the moment but doing so, especially in today's world, seems almost impossible. We have so many things pulling for our time and attention that it is so hard to shut it off and only focus on what's right in front of us, right now.

I was reading something earlier last week when I suddenly felt an acknowledgement from within that true happiness comes when we learn to live in the moment and embrace everything about that moment. It's funny, I wasn't even reading anything about "living in the moment"; it was as if someone randomly whispered it in my ear. I suddenly understood why we should not worry about the past or future, they honesty mean nothing. The only thing we really truly have is the moment we are presently in and there is always goodness in some form within that moment. If nothing else, that moment is bringing us another breath to experience life.

We are closest to God when we live in the moment. God does not bring fear, doubt or anxiety – those are emotions we bring on to ourselves when we live outside of the moment. They are byproducts of our thinking about the past or the future and distract us from fully experiencing all the goodness of that moment. We can absolutely experience the fullness of God when we learn to live in and embrace the moments of our day and in turn, acknowledge His divine presence in our lives.

Be Ready For The Blessings

2011-10-31T17:19:00.000-07:00

I was flipping through the channels the other night when I stumbled upon a new show hosted by Oprah on her OWN network. I can’t recall the name of the show but in true Oprah style, she said something within minutes of my tuning in that reached deep within.

“You have to be ready for the blessing when it shows up”. I felt her words reach deep to my core but wasn’t exactly sure what they meant. As I thought about it, I realized exactly what she meant and how timely it was for me to hear these very words. We’re often so busy planning ahead and looking towards our future that we don’t even recognize the blessings that are right in front of us each and every day. We keep moving forward failing to acknowledge the now and the blessings of the moment. The blessings continue to show up but we’re not ready or more likely, we’re not living in the moment to fully appreciate those blessings. We don’t expect the blessings so we don’t prepare for them.

The Bible has shown us that God has a multitude of blessings in store for us but we need to be fully aware and ready for them to show up. This doesn’t mean standing still and waiting for them to fall into our lap but rather being aware and thanking God for all those little blessings he sends our way each and every day!

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” - 2 Corinthians 9:8

It Takes Discipline of the Mind

2011-09-30T09:53:00.001-07:00

I'm reading "Working with the Law" by Raymond Holliwell for the third time now. I absolutely love this book-every time I pick it up, I find new insights!

My latest "aha moment" is around discipline. Holliwell writes of this one woman, "She lacked discipline in her mind except where others demanded it." The moment I read that sentence it really clarified something I've been allowing in my life. I am disciplined in meeting everyone else's needs but when it comes to being accountable to my own tasks and needs, I fall short. My tendency is to give attention to whoever or whatever enters my mind at the moment versus taking planned disciplined steps towards completing something. No wonder I have so many personal projects half way done. Had these projects been for a client, they would have been done!

That little distinction between allowing myself to be disciplined to respond to others needs and not when it comes to my own is tremendous. It's exactly the nudge I needed to bring clarity around why I always feel busy but not getting anything done. I need to give as much attention and relevance to my own tasks and projects as I do for others. I can then take planned action and start getting these things done. I need to make room for my life and start treating myself like a client. Sure enough, once again the answer lies in changing your mindset!

Remembering…

2011-09-12T13:16:00.001-07:00

As I sat remembering and watching the events of September 11th, it brought to mind a trip we took into New York City that following Thanksgiving. We were moving from CT to Virginia in the coming spring and it had been a wish of mine since a very young age to see The Macy's Thanksgiving Parade. I had grown up on Long Island and the events of 9/11 seemed so unreal, like a Hollywood movie playing out before our eyes. I knew it had really happened on one level but felt pulled to visit Ground Zero almost to seal it in my mind, "Yes, it's true". I just could not picture lower Manhattan without the sight of the Twin Towers in the skyline.

As much as 9/11 will stay in our minds forever, that day visiting Ground Zero will stay in my mind forever as well. I remember walking up to the site and shaking my head as I fully comprehended all the pictures on TV were indeed reality. What once were two gleaming beacons of NYC were now reduced to a smoldering pile of twisted steel. What once had been a bustling financial district in NYC was now a ghost town. The surrounding streets resembled what I would imagine a war zone would look like. We watched as workers and cranes carefully sifted through the pile. I found myself drawn to the only recognizable piece of the Twin Towers that stood in the midst of this pile and said a prayer, fully knowing a large number of those who perished on 9/11 were still under that pile.

Perhaps the most significant memory for me was all the signs posted around Ground Zero looking for loved ones lost on that tragic day. So many of these signs appeared to be fresh, showing their enduring hope that there still may be survivors. It broke my heart to read the detailed descriptions of their missing loved ones. It made the magnitude of the loss of life that much more real. I saw one person posting a new sign and just watched and cried imagining the intense pain they've had to endure. While we would go back to a Thanksgiving meal with our family by our side, this day would only intensify their grief and loss.

Amidst that scene one word kept coming to mind, "hope". The signs looking for missing loved ones represented hope, the workers carefully sifting through that huge pile of twisted and mangled metal represented hope. We had lost so much on 9/11 but the one thing that still remained was hope. As we walked away, I knew my life would be forever changed by not only what I witnessed on TV on 9/11 but more so what I saw firsthand at Ground Zero that Thanksgiving Day.

As I sat yesterday thinking how can I pay tribute to those who so innocently gave their lives on 9/11, I came up with the idea of setting a burning candle on my front porch that night to honor their lives and symbolize the power of light to always overcome darkness. I will do this now each September 11th, because we haven't forgotten and yes, we still have hope! I hope you will join me in remembering them next year.

Learning to Serve

2011-08-24T19:12:00.001-07:00

This morning I read a passage about asking how you can serve each and every day. It really resonated with me and as I journaled, I asked God to show me how I can serve in a powerful way today. Little did I realize God was about to teach me a lesson in learning to serve.

The morning continued like any other morning and I took our dog Toby for a walk. As we turned a corner I noticed a dog in the yard ahead who appeared to not be on a leash. I slowed down but the dog saw us and came running over. It was the sweetest little Shih Tzu, full of love and energy with his tail wagging a mile a minute. I talked briefly with a homeowner who shared that this dog had been hanging around their home for the past couple of days but it was not their dog or any of the surrounding neighbors. The dog followed us home and before I knew it, I was taking care of this little dog on our back patio. I felt the stress start to build as I watched the hours pass away caring for this dog, realizing yet another day's work was interrupted, the earthquake yesterday and now a stray dog. No sooner did I finish that thought when I heard a voice whisper, "You asked how you could serve in a powerful way, here it is".

I didn't recognize then how taking care of a stray dog would equate to serving in a powerful way but later in the afternoon when we were able to reunite the dog with its owner, I realized God was showing me exactly what that meant. That reunion was so heartwarming and as I watched I heard that same voice whisper, "The littlest acts of kindness can serve in the most powerful way."

God had taught me a very powerful lesson today! I felt the pull of work but made a conscious decision to focus on that dog and ignore my work, realizing where I was truly needed most at that moment. Oddly enough, I received very few emails today and no phone calls, unheard of! It was as if I agreed to answer God's call and He cleared my calendar so I could serve where I was needed most. Such a tremendous lesson! I now understand what is meant by serving in a powerful way. It's not our own measurement of what is significant that matters, it's being open to God's call to serve and then more importantly answering that call and following God's lead. If we commit to being open to serve, He will pave the way.

A Reminder from Toby

2011-08-11T09:05:00.001-07:00

Our dog Toby reminded me this week to slow down and begin each day with a spirit of love and thanksgiving. Toby is our one-year old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who is full of endless energy and always ready to play, with a toy in his mouth and tail wagging hard. He has these eyes that truly melt your heart as well - one look and you're done! His eyes convey nothing but pure love and devotion.

Toby has started this routine every morning now that requires me to stop and "show him some love" before we start our day. I'll open up his crate and call him for a walk but he will not come downstairs until we've said a "proper" good morning filled with lots of hugs, licks and "I love you's". I think he sensed I was moving too quick and not taking time for the things that really matter.

I've found the lessons of life often come to us disguised in our everyday activities and they remain hidden unless we're open to what truly is around us. Toby reminded me to take the time to greet each day with gratitude and love. It's so easy to just jump out of bed and begin full steam ahead into our daily routine. But that is not what God asks of us. I found this quote from Mother Teresa that sums it up so well, "There is more hunger for love and appreciation in this world than for bread." We need to take a few moments each morning to express our gratitude and love for all the blessings in our life and let those whom we care about know how much we appreciate them. When we do, our days begin on much more positive and peaceful note.

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." – Matthew 6:33

Look to the Things Unseen

2011-07-22T07:03:00.001-07:00

It is amazing how you can hear or read something again and again and then one day, suddenly connect with its true meaning. I've heard countless times, "Look to the things that are unseen, not to the things that are seen" (2 Corinthians 3:18) and I understood it at one level but reading this scripture this morning, I suddenly felt a much deeper understanding of what this verse is really trying to teach us.

We so often spend our days focused on what is around us, what is "seen" as the scripture says and base everything we do on that. We are logical creatures and we look for validation and answers employing logic. Logic is based on the seen, the facts. But often the next step we need to take resides in the "unseen". We need to step out of our logical mindset and move into a mindset of faith and trust. What is the definition of faith? Hebrews 11:1 says, "Faith is the assurance of things we hope for being the proof of things we do not see".

God is there to guide us every step of the way but His way commands we have faith in the unseen. If we feel the spirit within us move when we think about something, that is God's way of guiding us. We need to tune into that. I can't tell you how many times I've felt an inner assurance about something but didn't see the "how" or the "way" to make it happen. I took the chance anyway and stepped forward believing it would happen and it did!

When we "look to the things that are unseen, not to the things that are seen" the journey becomes more exciting and the pieces somehow always come together. Be willing to take the chance and let God's unique purpose for you unfold.

The Tranquility Within

2011-07-13T20:09:00.001-07:00

The tranquility of God is mirrored in us. It's so easy in the hectic pace of life today to forget that the peace of God is with us and ever present. We get caught up in the externals and move away from that inner peace because we forget to acknowledge His spirit within us.

Wayne Dyer has said EGO stands for edging God out. When we allow ego to control our thoughts and actions, we edge God out and move away from the peace and tranquility God has given us. Those who are living a life truly in Spirit outside of ego resonate that peace within. You feel a certain calmness and joy in their presence. That is the Holy Spirit working through them and that gift of true peace is available to us all. We just need to make the space to nurture and connect with God's presence within us each and every day.

"Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God. They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart." - Ecclesiastes 5:19-20

A Little Bug’s Journey

2011-06-16T05:53:00.001-07:00

Once again, a powerful lesson was taught to me just by quietly observing Mother Nature. I was sitting at my daughter's eighth grade promotion when a bug crawling on the floor caught my eye. It was busy scurrying to somewhere looking very determined to reach its destination. It then came upon the shoe of the person sitting next to me. It reacted in much the same way we often react when we hit a road block. The bug first stopped and sat for a moment and then tried to push through a few times as if the obstacle wasn't there. I then watched it step back as if to assess the situation and to my surprise, it turned right around and started marching straight back from where it came. Little did that bug know that if it tried going just a little to the left or just a little to the right, it would have easily gotten around the obstacle and continued on its journey. It chose however to go back to what was known and comfortable rather than chart out on a new course. How many of us do exactly the same thing when confronted with an obstacle in our life? Do we embrace it and look for the hidden opportunities or do we chose to retreat back into what feels safe and comfortable?

One thing that is guaranteed in life is that there will be obstacles to face. It is our choice to either chart a new course or retreat to safety. The opportunities are always there; we just need to have a willingness to open our hearts and minds to look for them within the obstacles. As this tiny little bug showed me, those opportunities are often just a little to the right or a just little to the left of our current path and require us to get outside our comfort zone to fully discover them.

The Impact of One Voice

2011-05-26T11:59:00.001-07:00

God can teach us a lesson when we least expect it! I was at church last Sunday reciting the traditional prayers and singing the hymns. The person behind me was doing the same but at a much faster rate – about a verse and half off from everyone else. What amazed me was how powerful that distraction was. Try as I might, I could not tune her out. All I heard was her voice over the hundred plus that were in unison.

I was starting to get agitated wondering why this woman was continuing to do this and more so, why I couldn't just block it out. Then, as if God whispered to me, "Do you choose to focus on the one negative distraction or the power and beauty of the hundred other voices around you?" Wow! Those words reached deep within and called out something I am guilty of. There is so much positive in our lives us but how many times do we choose to focus on the few negative things and allow that to distract us away from the positive? What we focus on clearly is a choice we make and God pointed that out to me this past Sunday in a very powerful way.

While it was hard to continue to block out her voice, I realized this is something I need to work on not just for that moment but for every moment in my life. We need to make a conscious decision to ignore the negative and focus on the positive until it becomes second nature. God has provided us with an abundance of the positive, we just need to be willing to tune into that and embrace its fullness.

Don’t Stop Believing

2011-05-19T15:18:00.001-07:00

I attended my daughter's concert earlier this week and it is amazing how God can reach out to us in places we least expect it. I've been feeling very tired and drained recently, partly due to a health condition but more so to do with my mindset.

These past few months have shown tremendous growth for my business, stretching me in new ways that are both exciting and challenging. It has been a wonderful ride but the passion and energy that was fueling me was now getting lost in all I had to do. I started wondering, "Can I do this?"; "Am I really meant to do this?" Self-doubt never helps a situation and once that starts creeping in, it can grow like a weed.

God, in His all-knowing wisdom, was very much aware the self-doubt was starting to take root and knew it was time to intervene. It was then He whispered the voice of encouragement in the most unexpected way.

I showed up to my daughter's concert, tired and frazzled from yet another day of running around in twenty different directions chasing down deadlines and "to do's". The concert had already started and my heart sank thinking I may have even missed their portion of the performance as I raced to into the building. As I got settled in, my ears suddenly tuned into what they were singing, "Don't Stop Believing" by Journey. These young children sang it with an energy and spirit that spoke directly to my heart. I knew this was more than a verse in a song; it was a message I was meant to hear. And as God often does, He placed that message in front of me again two more times within the next 24 hours; once on the radio and again in a reference to that song in the book I was reading. By the third time, I clearly understood, it's not for me to ask how can I do this, but rather to believe in the outcome and the gifts God has given me to fulfill His purpose.

Now, when self-doubt creeps in, I just simply tell myself, "Don't stop believing".

The Answer Lies Between the Waves

2011-04-20T09:21:00.001-07:00

I just got back from watching Soul Surfer – such an inspiring story on so many levels! The movie is based on the true story of then teenage surfer Beth Hamilton who tragically loses her arm in a shark attack just as her competitive surfing career is taking off. There are so many beautiful insights and words of wisdom in this movie as we watch Bethany come back stronger than ever. Her sheer will and determination are so inspiring and while her faith is truly challenged (tears rolled down my cheek as she asked "What kind of God would do this to me?"), she digs deep within and discovers so much about herself and her true purpose in the process.

There is one scene at the end of the movie when Beth is competing for Nationals that really spoke to me. Recognizing the pressure of this moment for Beth, her father simply tells her to "get to that quiet place between the waves, listen and then just trust your instincts". Don't follow the pack but rather go inside yourself and use your instincts to tell you where that next wave will be.

Such telling advice for us all! When we are looking for answers and feel the pressure of the moment, how many of us look for that space between the waves to connect with source and trust our instincts? We are quick to seek out others for their advice but fail to realize the true answer already lies within us. Her dad's advice reminded me once again just how important it is that we find that space to get quiet and allow ourselves to just listen and connect with source. That's where we will find our inspiration and that answer we've so desperately searched for. It's all there; we just need stop seeking outside and trust source to provide from within.

Let Your Purpose Lead the Way

2011-04-06T06:54:00.001-07:00

"Once you clarify your purpose for doing something, the way to it becomes clear". I just read these words from Oprah in her January issue of Oprah. Yes, I know I'm a little behind in my magazines J. Anyway, these words really struck a chord. We spend so much time trying to figure out "the way" when we should instead, be spending that time clarifying our purpose.

She goes on to point out that fear comes from uncertainty. When we know what we want, it helps release the fear that can so often stand in our way and sabotage our results. When desire to achieve is greater than our fears incredible things happen. The soul of that desire rests in your purpose. When you are confident and feel connected to your purpose that overrides everything and allows you to move forward in ways you never imagined having the strength or ability to do so.

I'm learning that there is such power and inspiration when we connect with our purpose and live our lives centered in that purpose. It truly does define "the way". We just need to be willing to step back and really focus on connecting with our divine nature that resides in that purpose and then step forward with complete faith and confidence that the way will show up.

It’s Not About Doing, It’s About Creating

2011-03-25T10:10:00.001-07:00

I've been feeling somewhat disconnected in my design work these past couple of weeks, almost like I'm going through the motions but not sensing that creative energy and flow. With so many projects on the plate right now, I have not allowed myself the time or thought to sort through those feelings and just keep pressing forward to get it all done. I've allowed deadlines to become the driver.

It wasn't until last night as I sat quietly listening to a concert my 5^th grade and 8^th grade daughters were participating in that I got that nudge to remind me where I've strayed.

The concert included students from 5^th grade all the way up through high school and to see the talent and passion in these young students was truly inspiring. Especially the high school students; their joy and passion for music shined as they performed. I watched one girl in particular close her eyes as she pulled the bow across her violin and I could see how deeply lost she was in the moment and I could feel her passion for the music she was creating all the way up in the bleachers. It was then I realized, it's not about doing, it's about creating.

We all "do" each and every day but how often do we stop to find inspiration and create? How often do we allow ourselves to get lost in what we love to do? We forget that we shine the most when we are living our passion and creating our lives from that passion. When we stray from that, we feel disconnected and life becomes hard and challenging. We find ourselves going through the motions, pushing for results versus letter our passion guide us to the answer.

It's amazing how God will place certain people or moments into our path to help get us back on course. I love that my reminder came in such a beautiful and meaningful way through the presence of a young violinist.

The Path of Least Resistance

2011-03-11T07:40:00.001-08:00

How do you respond to the obstacles in your life? Do you resist them or work around them? Our first instinct is to often push through them to force our desired outcome but the path of greatest resistance typically doesn't produce the desired result.

When we confront something head on, it creates resistance that in turn creates negative energy. That negative energy distracts us from our goal, shifting our focus away from our greater purpose. We become so preoccupied with being in a state of resistance that we lose sight of the real goal at hand. Resistance depletes our energy leaving us less to give to those the tasks that will truly make a difference in reaching our goals. Obstacles can ultimately strengthen and empower us when we learn to work around them versus through them.

Water is a perfect example of something that is so purely powerful yet embodies true nonresistance. As the creek travels to the stream, then the river and ultimately the ocean, it grows stronger with each obstacle it encounters, always choosing the path of least resistance. It quietly works its way around each obstacle and moves on. Eventually, its strength and power is no match for those obstacles further down its path. The obstacles encountered literally melt away and become part of the process.

If you were to map out a direct path from the creek to the ocean, it would look very different I'm sure from the one that nature has created. Obstacles are to be expected. Learning to work around them serves a greater purpose and is just simply part of the process. It's nature's way.

Faith Is In the Action

2011-02-24T06:41:00.001-08:00

I'm rereading "Working with the Law" by Raymond Holliwell and I'm convinced I'll read it many more times! It's one of those books that each time you read it, you uncover even more insights and wonder how they escaped your awareness before. I've heard people say your mind will receive that which it is ready to receive and I really do believe that.

Holliwell talks about faith but beyond just having faith, what it means to live in faith. He very simply states, "We have to believe in order to receive." In this second read through, that simple statement spoke so clearly and directly to me. Beyond just having faith, we have to act on that faith. Otherwise, our faith is meaningless. If we hold back in fear or uncertainty, then we do not believe in God's ability to provide that which we ask for. There is no middle ground. Faith is taking action despite our fears or challenges because we so completely believe and trust in the outcome. How many times do we sit on the sidelines and hope and wait for a sign before taking action? We sense the direction or the answer but want that final reassurance before boldly stepping into it. Holliwell points to the story of Peter following Jesus in walking on water. Peter was the only one to put his faith into action. The others sat in the boat wanting to believe but afraid to step into that. They let their fear compromise their faith. Did they really believe?

Demonstrate the true meaning of faith by your willingness to take action despite the circumstances. Don't wait for the sign, trust your instincts, that inner spirit that is there to guide us and be willing to step out of your comfort zone. God will see you through it and bring you the desired outcome in His timing and in His way as long as you put your trust in Him.

Whatever you ask for in prayer, BELIEVING, you shall receive. - Matthew 21:22

Receiving God’s Blessings

2011-01-31T09:41:00.001-08:00

In my last post, I shared how important it is to fully release our desires to God to truly realize their presence in our life. I want to build on that and talk more about how our failure to release our desires ultimately sabotages their realization.

In "Working with the Law", Holliwell points out that we allow ourselves to release the smaller desires in our life and when they show up we often brush them off as coincidence. But it's really the power of God working to fulfill our desire and because we were able to completely release that thought or desire, God was able to bring it to fruition. It's the bigger desires that we hold onto through doubt and anxiety that creates a wall to receiving God's blessings.

Holliwell writes, "Nothing worthwhile is accomplished. The mind is like a sponge. We squeeze it hard with our anxious thoughts, but not until we can release the pressure and allow the sponge to take its shape can't it become absorbent and receptive again." How many times have we watched someone literally brought to their knees before they start realizing their desires? When we are brought to our knees we are finally saying to God, "I completely hand this over to you, I can do no more". It is then that God can truly provide the abundance and blessings He has available to us. We need to allow ourselves to be completely open to receiving these blessings, letting go of doubt and fear so we can be open and receptive to His guidance, taking action on that which He has divinely arranged for us to lead us towards the realization of that desire.

"Do not fret or have anxiety about anything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God." – Philippians 4:7

Releasing Your Desires

2011-01-21T10:08:00.001-08:00

I just read a passage in "Working with the Law" by Raymond Holliwell that brought a new awareness to how we can sometimes sabotage our deepest desires.

Holliwell reminds us that we need to dream our biggest dreams and set intentions around those dreams but we then need then to release those thoughts outward to God through prayer believing in full faith they will come to pass. Ours is not to hope but to expect. I didn't realize until reading this passage how often I hold onto my desires. I set the intention but then moments of doubt and fear creep in. How many times have you had a strong desire for something to happen and then find yourself feeling anxiety or fear around that desire? Thoughts start running through your mind creating doubt in its possibility of realization. What if it doesn't happen? How will it happen? What if it doesn't show up in time? These are the very thoughts that are sabotaging our realization of that intention or desire. We need to get to a point where we can fully release our intentions to God in complete faith He will prevail to truly realize the overwhelming abundance He has made available to us. It's so hard to do but it is clear that is what God is asking us to do; to simply release and trust. He reminds us again and again through various scriptures in the Bible that this is how it works. As stated in Matthew 21:21-22, "And whatever you ask for in prayer, having FAITH and BELIEVING, you WILL receive".

What an amazing process God has given us, we just need to learn how to immerse ourselves in that process because once we do, God has promised He will do much more than anything we asked for or ever imagined. Amen!

God Will Lead Us

2010-12-22T08:19:00.001-08:00

I read something this morning that really spoke to me, "God will not drive us to do something, He will lead us." How many times do we try to drive something to happen only to be left mentally tired and disappointed in the end result? It's not above driving things to happen but rather connecting with God so we can be in the flow and allow Him to lead us to the desired and destined result.

The more I read, the more I'm coming to understand that this life is not about us taking control and making things happen. It's about connecting with our inner spirit and letting that lead us to a place of peace and prosperity. God wants nothing more than abundance for us. Think back to the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve were given pure abundance until they decided to move away from spirit and create their own desired results. It was only then that they became aware of their human nature. Prior to that, they were living in total peace and prosperity with God leading them.

It is not easy, especially in this day and age to step away from being driven. Society tells us we have to drive our results, take control and make things happen. That is all true to a certain extent in the sense that we need to be responsible for ourselves but more importantly we have to have God at the center. With God at the center, we are not doing those things alone. To drive is to exert a force and that is not God's way. God never forces anything upon us but rather He leads us to it if we keep our eyes and our heart open to His presence. The path is already there before us. It's kind of like that moving sidewalk at the airport. So often you'll see someone running through the crowds, bypassing the moving sidewalk, trying to get to their gate as fast as they can. The looked stressed as they push people aside trying to force their way to their destination. What I've noticed is that often times I end up arriving at the gate at about the same as they do however I took the moving sidewalk and just stayed the course. I literally went with the flow allowing that to carry me to my destination versus trying to force the outcome and I arrive at the destination without all the stress and exertion of extra energy to get there.

It's time to stop driving the results to happen and time to focus our energy and mindset on revealing that path God has set before us and allowing Him to lead the way.

The True Path to Success

2010-12-09T14:01:00.001-08:00

"Success is to work harder on yourself than you do on your job". I recently read this quote in the novel, The Twelve Pillars by Jim Rohn and Chris Widener. There is so much wisdom shared in all but 100+ pages and this sentence was the first of many in this book that led to some big "aha's" for me.

As I read this sentence for the first time, I really had to stop and think about it. How much have I been focusing solely on developing my business? Have I set aside any quality time to really develop myself? So many times we do indeed work harder on jobs than we do on ourselves and this one sentence brought that powerful realization to me. I have been spending the majority of my time lately focused on developing my business and devoting a lot less time to developing myself. I'm reading books and writing daily in my journal but that's not enough. The biggest growth for me has always come when I spend much more time developing myself and connecting with my purpose. And interestingly enough, as I look back, those times have directly translated into growth and upleveling in my business. This journey is not about learning how to run a business; it's about discovering your passion and purpose, learning to connect with that each and every day and building our lives around that through what we do.

Nature seems to always provide a perfect example of how God intended for us to live. In some ways nature is blessed without having the gift of choice. The plants, the animals, the ocean – they all exist solely for their specific purpose and spend their days and nights doing nothing but developing themselves towards the realization of that divine purpose. An acorn knows it will grow into an oak tree and doesn't question its purpose or ability. It just exists. We on the other hand, have been given a choice. We can either live and fully develop in our purpose or we can choose not to. The choice is clearly ours to make. Look at the harmony and beauty that is created by nature existing to reach its full potential and purpose. That same harmony and beauty is there for us if we spend quality time developing ourselves in knowing and connecting with our true purpose. True success doesn't lie in being busy and getting things done. That success is fleeting. True success comes when we take the time to discover and develop into our divine purpose, becoming the person God intended for us to be from the very beginning. Just as in nature, the path to our purpose will be revealed and will naturally flow once we take the time to nurture it and develop ourselves.

Giving Thanks

2010-11-24T11:10:00.001-08:00

I've been reading the follow up book to "The Secret" titled, "The Power" by Rhonda Byrne. It expands upon the basic principles taught in "The Secret" in what I've found to be a much more powerful and brilliant way. She made a connect for me the other day, and fitting given this time of year, that I perhaps always knew but never really was aware of. When we are grateful we are actually giving love. We are acknowledging the value and meaning around everything that comes into our life when we live from a place of gratitude which ultimately is a place of love. Every time we feel grateful we are giving love. Gratitude is probably one of the most sincere ways we can express our love. Whose heart doesn't warm up when someone takes the time to say "thank you" or "I appreciate you". The feeling that gratitude creates is the emotion of love. It brings forth an energy of joy, warmth and happiness and whatever energy you give out will return to you in abundance.

It seems fitting on this eve of Thanksgiving to really think about all that we have to be grateful for. The hectic pace of our lives and the negative presence of the media can very quickly move us away from a place of gratitude and thanksgiving. Take time this Thanksgiving to practice gratitude in everything you do, from having the ability to smell all the wonderful scents of Thanksgiving dinner to the warmth and fellowship of friends and loved ones. If you're stuck in traffic, take a deep breath and be thankful for the opportunity to have a car, for the amazing network of roads we have here in the States, for the ability to take off and go spend time with loved ones. If you find yourself alone this Thanksgiving, give thanks for your life and for this time to step back and quietly reflect. Be grateful for everything in your life – your past, your present and your future. Be grateful for the desires and passions of your heart for they are a glimpse into God's will for your life. Be grateful in everything you do!

Jesus provided us with a beautiful example of living a life purely from gratitude and thanksgiving. Jesus always began his prayer by thanking our Heavenly Father and spoke words of thanksgiving before performing every miracle. Gratitude is at the center of almost all religious faiths be it Christianity, Islam or Hindu. For example, Mohammad the founder of Islam is quoted as saying, "Gratitude for the abundance you have received is the best insurance that the abundance will continue." An attitude of gratitude prepares our heart to receive the love and abundance that we are sending forth. Whatever we give, will be multiplied in its return to us. Probably no other verse in the Bible captures the principle of gratitude better than this:

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." - 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18

May this Thanksgiving holiday hold an abundance of gratitude and blessings for you!

Learning to Let Go

2010-11-11T17:03:00.001-08:00

You cannot trust without letting go. It sounds so logical but I never realized the strong bond that exists between trust and letting go. You cannot have one without the other. We can say we trust but if we are still harboring feelings of worry, fear, uncertainty or anxiety, we are not fully trusting. Trust requires us to move forward in a deeply rooted faith and completely let go of those feelings, emotions or actions that are holding us back. We have to let go of the circumstances as we understand them and fully trust in the process of a higher power to see us through and bring us to where we are truly meant to be.

Trust comes from your heart and is centered in spirit. Those things that stand in the way of our ability to trust are just created in our mind and therefore not real. They are just mechanisms our ego develops to keep us safe, comfortable and what we perceive to be secure. To trust means to give a smaller voice to ego and a larger voice to spirit. It means releasing the grip ego has on us and not allowing it to inhibit us from moving forward. Letting go and trusting allows God's spirit to flow in our lives with unmeasured energy and confidence. To trust means to live from your heart and not from your mind. When you live from your heart you are truly connecting with spirit and a spirit led life will lead you to fulfilling your life's purpose. Learning to trust also means learning to let go.

Our Truth Is Revealed In Our “Buts”

2010-10-29T07:05:00.001-07:00

The excuse always seems to follow the "but". But is truly a powerful word because it points directly to what is holding us back. Think of how many times you think about doing something and then finish the thought with "but…". It literally shifts your mind from action to inaction. The thought before the "but" is your heartfelt desire but what follows the "but" typically shuts down that desire. But can almost be viewed as the transition from spirit-centered mindset to and ego-centered mindset. You begin in spirit but ego steps in to make sure you play it safe and stay in that place that is comfortable and predictable.

If you want to get clear on what's holding you back, start paying attention to the words you say after your "buts". For example if we say we want to do something and then finish the thought with "but it's too expensive" it very clearly calls out a lack mentality and that belief is probably showing up in many other decisions as well; decisions that could have a profound impact on your life and business. How you do anything is how you do everything so don't fool yourself by thinking the words you say after your buts are a one-time occurrence. Think about the "buts" in your life and become aware of how they are influencing your decisions. You might be surprised by what they reveal. Once you have an awareness around what's holding you back, you are that much stronger to confront the "buts" in your life head on and move through them. Our truth is most definitely revealed in our "buts"!

Resisting the Process

2010-10-13T10:07:00.001-07:00

I've been feeling very tired lately and not sure why. Business has been very good and I've just been brushing it off to some long work days lately. But as my tiredness continued, I was forced to step back and look deeper. What I learned was truly amazing.

I love to journal and decided to write about my tiredness. I wrote down everything I was feeling and the frustration of not having the energy and focus I so needed to get everything done. The answer that came back as I jotted down my thoughts was that resistance was the source of my tiredness. I immediately knew to what – ironically enough, hiring a design assistant to help me in my business! What flowed next was a powerful lesson for me and one that I want to share with you all.

I very clearly heard God say to me "For you spend much energy moving away from My purpose for you. The fight is what is draining you. Step into the process and your energy will return." Resistance to anything is draining. It takes so much more energy for us to resist something than to go with the direction we feel we are being led. Resistance takes a toll on our mindset as well as our physical health. We are all scared when presented with ideas or thoughts that create a vision of something bigger than we think we are or not within the scope of where we think we should be. The "who am I to think" mindset sets in and we start resisting all the opportunities that are laid before us to grow and fulfill our divine purpose. We may think we are maintaining the status quo when we don't take action but there is nothing further from the truth. When we resist, we start moving backwards. There is no such thing as standing still – the world is constantly in motion down to the smallest particle on this earth and we are no different. We are either growing or shrinking from who we are meant to be. When we resist, we are moving away from that divine path God has intended for us. If God has clearly pointed the direction and provided the next step, it is ours to take in trust and faith that God will continue to show the way and He will. He will not overburden us and will enable us to do all that He desires for us. He very clearly told me that He cannot give me any more until I take this next step because it will overburden me and that is not His way. Those words touched me deeply and opened my eyes to how I was actually standing in my own way.

God has so much to give all of us. He sees many steps beyond where we are at right now and knows the great potential that lies within all of us. We just need to trust and have the courage to step forward in faith.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." – Jeremiah 29:11

Life Lessons from a Little Bird

2010-09-24T06:57:00.001-07:00

My kids often tease me about how much I love birds; I find it so peaceful just sitting back and watching them. Well, I'm amused that God has chosen these little creatures to teach me yet again, another powerful life lesson. I guess He knows the connection I feel for them and knows I'll pay attention if the lesson comes through them. As I sipped my coffee this morning, I glanced out our kitchen window to watch the birds and noticed something didn't look right. My heart sunk because I saw a bird not moving on our bird feeder. I assumed the worst and went outside thinking "What a great start to my day, removing a dead bird". But to my surprise, he started fluttering all about as soon as I approached the feeder. His tiny little head was stuck inside and I could only imagine how he felt as he sat there trapped with all these other birds around him helpless to come to his rescue. I reached out to try and gently pull him out but each time, he fluttered around so much that any effort I did to rescue him was to no avail. In essence, he was standing in the way of his own success. I saw a very clear way to release him but he would have to relax and let me lead the way. I then opened the top of the feeder so his attention would be drawn upward and sure enough, he stopped fluttering and just quietly watched me. It was only then that I was able to free him. He popped out, definitely a little stunned and then flew away. I stood there with a big smile on face realizing the amazing message God had just given me through this little bird.

How many times has God tried to help me and move me along in realizing the bigger vision He has for me but instead I flutter about just like this little bird? I don't stop long enough to acknowledge or accept His help. Instead, I stay focused on doing it my way. I'm no different than that bird, wanting to know the next steps but too busy fluttering about to see God clearly pointing the way. It's only when I seek out the calm and silence do I feel His presence and see the way He is leading me to go. I know God has such a bigger vision for us all and we are all often guilty of keeping ourselves so busy and not relying more on God to show us the way. My little interaction with this bird today was such amazing life lesson for me and one I know I needed to hear. This bird taught me the power that resides in just being still. Rescuing that little bird showed me how we often stand in the way of our own success, feeling trapped by our own perceived circumstances and not realizing the way is right there in front of us. I feel so incredibly blessed to have been given the opportunity to experience God's word firsthand. He taught me how to just "be" today and quietly wait for His guidance. All the answers are truly right in front of us, we just need to open up and acknowledge His presence.

It’s Just a Matter of Time…

2010-09-16T10:32:00.001-07:00

My ezine article this week is all about time and how we make the choice to either let time define us or let us define time. As I working out this morning, I realized time is more than just something that we can either define or let it define us. Our perception of time really resides in whatever we are doing at a given moment. This thought occurred to me as I was told to go "all out" on a treadmill for just a mere two minutes but those two minutes dragged on with such a heaviness. I'd look at the clock thinking surely I must be done only to realize 30 seconds had passed by. Take that same two minute interval and apply it to something you love to do and it will fly by in a blink of an eye. So I found myself asking, "What is time?" When we say we don't have enough time, what are we really saying?

As a society, we've become so focused on time, scheduling our lives around it, constantly feeling like it's something we can catch if we just run fast enough. The Bible repeatedly tells us to not worry about tomorrow or fret over yesterday but to focus on the now. The now or the present moment is truly all we have. Is time then just that, the present moment and we've gotten caught up in labeling it and assigning it more power than need be? Rather than getting absorbed in the passing of minutes on a clock, what if we were to totally absorb ourselves in the moment, focusing our energy on experiencing everything that moment has to offer us? What if we could block out the thoughts of what we need to do later or feelings or hurt and regret for something we did in the past? Where did your last big inspiration or dream come from? It was probably in a place where you relaxed and allowed yourself to be lost in the moment. You blocked out everything else and just allowed yourself to totally be at one with the moment. Eckhart Tolle talks about the power of now in his book titled the same, The Power of Now. He encourages us to experience life through all our senses focusing on the present moment for that is where you truly connect with the divine source. As he writes, "The present moment is inseparable from life, so you are really deciding what kind a relationship you want to have with life." I now know why the Bible contains so many verses about living in the moment. God knows this is not our nature and He wants nothing more than for us to "get it". For in His all-knowing wisdom, that is where we can find Him, connect with Him and experience true inner peace and fulfill our life's purpose.

"I acquaint myself with Him and I am at peace; by that good shall come to me."- Job 22:21

The Clarity of Your Thoughts

2010-08-31T19:30:00.001-07:00

I recently read something that had such a profound impact on me that I just had to share it with you. So many times we're racing in so many different directions that our minds have gotten used to thinking this way as well. You start thinking about one thing and before you know it, your mind is wandering and you're thinking about something else or ego has stepped in and convinced you that your thought or desire is beyond your reach so you change your course. I never really paid much attention to this other than knowing the craziness of it all certainly didn't feel right.

Well, the other day I was reading a chapter from "A Happy Pocket Full of Money" by David Cameron Gikandi (also our recommended book of the month at Design For Your Success Now) and came across this statement that at first glance made sense, you know on that intellectual level but I didn't necessary feel a strong connection with it. But as I read further, my mind wouldn't let go of it. It was as if my mind was trying to say "Pay attention, you really need to hear this and understand what it means!" The statement simply said, "The clarity of your thoughts and desires determines your success." But it was what Gikandi offered up next to explain how powerful this concept is that truly captured my attention and allowed me to embrace this on a much deeper, meaningful level. He writes:

"Changing your mind all the time "confuses" the universe. Imagine walking into a travel agency and saying "I wish to travel." Then you look at the agent blankly. He or she would be ready to make your reservation, but they cannot until you tell them where you wish to go. Imagine you now say, "Well, I'd like to go to Moscow and Timbuktu, at the same time." Again, the travel agent cannot fulfill that request. Now imagine you say, "OK, then book me to Moscow. No wait, Timbuktu. No wait. Moscow. No wait; I am not sure if I can afford it. No, I can. No maybe I don't wish to go there and travel at all." This is how many people think all day."

I suddenly saw how my thought patterns were in essence, confusing my results and hindering my success. It's no wonder sometimes I felt like I was living in chaos and being pulled in twenty different directions. Imagine the traffic jam you create in the universe when you are not clear in your thoughts and constantly changing what you want. If I just took the time to stop and get clear on my thoughts and desires and then stay focused on them, the journey would be a lot more peaceful and I can truly see the connection that has with success now. When you can align your thoughts and desires with God's purpose, it just starts to flow and when you can continue to stay in that flow, the success just seems to come naturally. The struggles fade away and your dreams and desires become your reality. I'm just now starting to see that transform into my life and it truly is amazing. Take the time to get clear on your deepest desires, stay focused and believe in them and you'll find those very desires becoming your reality as well. God will provide when you know clearly want your desires are, you make those desires known to Him and are ready to receive His abundance. Proverbs 16:3, "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed."

A Tale of Two Birds

2010-08-19T19:58:00.001-07:00

It's funny, sometimes the best lessons in life are found in the most unexpected places. I recently was sitting at the pool when I noticed some birds poking around and looking for any stray crumbs or dropped food. One bird in particular caught my eye because he had found the big prize, a complete french fry! He tried repeatedly to pick it up, would take a few steps only to drop it. Another bird was very aware of the situation and was following him like a hawk ready to swoop in and take full advantage of the situation. The first bird just continued on his way, oblivious to this other bird following so closely behind. He simply focused on the task in front of him, trying to pick up the fry and fly to place where he could eat it in peace. He didn't seem rushed or fearful; he just was being in the moment. Finally, the second bird made his move, swooped in and grabbed the fry right out from under him. I was so caught up in their interaction that I actually sat up and yelled "wait" as the second bird made his move, as if trying to warn the first bird to grab and run. But I learned that is not nature's way; it's our way or rather the ego's way.

What happened next really taught me a valuable lesson. The first bird did not react in any way to what I perceived as an obvious injustice. He just simply moved on. He didn't get stuck, not even for a moment, in the emotion of what had just happened. He continued his journey, continuing to look for another stray fry. It was at that moment that I realized how many times I've allowed myself to get stuck in a moment because of anger, jealousy or any number of emotions that our ego brings forth. To truly be in spirit and focused on purpose, you need to go beyond the roadblocks our emotions can present. We just need to do what that little bird did, accept what is and simply move on. Those two birds will forever be imprinted on my mind and I'm thankful to have been given such a vivid example to help me understand that true success comes when we learn to just "be".

Stillness Speaks

2010-07-25T10:37:00.001-07:00

It seems like the message of "being still and silent" keeps showing up in my life so obviously it is a message I need to hear. It's been the primary message in the two books I'm reading right now and the focus of the last two homilies at church. Clearly, God is working on me and wants me to understand and practice the act of being still and silent. It is the one practice that truly allows you to connect to that inner spirit and be present and open to divine guidance. It is a place free of stress and anxiety. Being silent and still allows you to disengage from the constraints of time and space and just simply "be". I'm learning to discover that it is in that place of just "being" that the true essence of who we are can be found and heard.

In being completely still and silent, we disconnect from the endless mind chatter that seems to rule our thoughts every minute of the day and connect with the divine presence that is in each and every one of us. We can go searching everywhere outside for answers but the real answers lie within and we need to recognize that the inner-reflection and space we make to be silent will allow those answers to be heard. The answers don't lie in the past or in the future, they lie right here, right now in the present moment. When we go outside the present moment to seek the answer, we immediately disconnect from that divine presence and allow external thoughts and forces to guide us and it is in that moment that stress and anxiety enter into the process of finding the answer. God just "is"; He is not bounded by a past or a future, He just "is" as stated in Exodus, 3:14, "I AM THAT I AM" and we're reminded again in Revelation 22:13, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End." God is purely present and for us to connect with Him, we need to be purely present as well. The act of being purely present lies in the stillness of our hearts and minds as we are reminded again in Psalm 46:10, "Be still, and know that I am God." To know God is to be still and listen.

God knows the desires of our heart and is eagerly waiting to lead us to them. "For where you treasure is, there your heart will be also" – Luke 12:34. Our ego will not lead us to that treasure, we have to tap into our inner spirit and that happens when we become still and silent. I am awed by the realization of this and know it is a message worth spreading!

A new view on the “problems” in our life

2010-07-10T10:41:00.001-07:00

I just finished the chapter in Eckhart Tolle's "The Power of Now" that really stretched my thinking and radically shifted my concept of what a "problem" really is. Tolle initially makes a statement that "all problems are the illusions of the mind" which immediately took me aback and actually made me a little angry. My first thoughts where "Why would anyone want to create problems in their life?", "They are anything but an illusion!" and "Aren't problems a natural course of living and it is our role to learn how effectively find a solution"? But as I read further, I really began to understand where he was coming from in making this statement and it really shifted how I view problems now.

Problems simply exist when we are unwilling to take action. We live in indecision and as such are not living in the "NOW". What really helped me best understand this was his analogy about being in a life or death emergency situation. If you've ever been in that situation, you'll understand the concept that you're mind didn't have time to process it as "a problem". Your adrenalin is pumping and you are completely present in that moment. You are not weighing your options, you are taking immediate action. You not allowing past conditioning of your mind to play into your actions at that moment. You are totally aware and present and tapping into your intuitive response to that situation. For example, if a loved one was in a car crash and you had to quickly get them out of that vehicle, you would not sit there and postpone taking action to evaluate your options. You'd be fully present in that moment and immediately do whatever it takes to get that person out of the car. You'd trust that inner voice with complete faith and take immediate action based on its' guidance. I then understand what Tolle was referring to when he said problems exist when we're not willing to take action. "Problems really are just situations that need to be dealt with or accepted", as he puts it. When we add the element of time to that situation, our mind takes that situation and creates it into what we perceive to be "a problem". It means we have decided to not take action on that situation now and allow that situation to survive and take on an identity within our lives. And once we do this, we take on the burdens that come with carrying problems around – guilt, resentment, fear, anxiety just to name a few. I can now see the truth in his statement, "When we you are full of problems, there is no room for anything new to enter, no room for a solution."

While it will take me awhile to fully grasp this concept and consistently apply it in my life, I feel he's provided the seeds that will help nurture that process. I will forever be more aware and present anytime I perceive a problem to exist and try to separate it from the element of time by taking action on it right away.

Change the way you look at things

2010-06-26T10:37:00.001-07:00

Wayne Dyer, who is the author of this month's Design For Your Success NOW book recommendation, "This Shift" often says "Change the way you look at things and the things you look at will change". The first time I read this statement, it was instantly committed to memory. I remember thinking how odd that was. Typically I have to read something over and over again before it even begins to connect with my memory but my connection to this phrase was so strong that it was immediately memorized and available for instant recall. This phrase so completely resonated with me and as time goes by, I now understand why. Mindset has probably been one of my biggest challenges in starting and growing my business. It's amazing how much we can stand in the way of our own success! You'd think finding clients and figuring out all the paperwork would be the biggest challenge but for me, it was changing a mindset that questioned my abilities to be a designer and run my own business. Rather than focusing on what I needed to do to be successful, I was focused on what I lacked to be successful. I think God knew that phrase would play an important role in changing my mindset and serve as a powerful resource for me when I felt compelled to follow the negative self-talk. And that phrase has done just that. When I feel overwhelmed, stressed or as Wayne Dyer puts it, "moving away from source" I now hear that phrase being whispered ever so quietly in the background of my mind. It's as if God is saying, "Here is the answer but you have to quiet yourself to hear it". And when I do make that choice to quiet myself and listen, that phrase is ever so powerful in changing the situation and allowing me to focus on the good and opportunities before me.

In my ezine article this week, I talk about paying attention to what your self-talk is saying and if what you hear yourself repeating is not supportive and moving you forward in confidence than it's time to "change the way the you look at things". It's the old adage of the glass half full or half empty. We all know this adage well but we often get trapped in a mindset with the glass half empty and don't even realize it. Your thoughts do indeed become your words become your actions! Pay attention to those words or phrases that you randomly repeat in your head because they are creating your mindset. When you approach something that makes you feel anxious or fearful, what thoughts or words immediately come to your mind? Are those thoughts centered on a real threat or are they based on perceived negative outcome? When we're under pressure or not feeling confident, our thoughts and eventually our talk will start with the words "I can't". Replace the words "I can't" with "How can I make this happen" and you will immediately change the way you look at things and the things you look at WILL change as a result.

The next time you find yourself in a situation that is less than desirable, practice "changing the way you look at things". Find the opportunity that exists in that situation because it is always there. I'm not saying there will not be struggles but what I am saying is that when those struggles do arise, whether real or perceived, they will not define you and you will have the confidence and strength to move through them and not let them stand in the way of your success!

The silence between the notes

2010-06-12T06:19:00.001-07:00

"It's the silence between the notes that makes the music" – Zen proverb

I'm reading The Design For Your Success NOW book recommendation for this month, "The Shift" by Wayne Dyer, right along with you all. Dyer references this ancient Zen proverb at the very beginning of the book and it really captured my attention. I had to first think about what that proverb really means and then recognized as almost a big "aha" moment the beauty and truth that is contained in such few words. Dyer comments that without the silence to interrupt the sounds, we would have no music. I never thought of music in this light and how that translates to everything we do in life. We need those silent moments to create the music in our lives as well. That music is the purest reflection of our passion. Without those silent moments, our passion cannot be fully expressed. As Dyer writes, "Without the silence to interrupt the sounds – it would be only one long, continuous tone." How many times in our life do we feel like our passion is getting buried and before we know it, our days evolve into one continuous tone of monotony and frustration? We are more or less just going through the motions. Are we talking the time to create that silence and letting that speak to us so we can then create the music? So many times, God will speak to us in those silent moments but we have to be willing to create that silence in our lives and then be open to His guidance and direction. I truly believe that our biggest inspirations and answers come to us not when we're looking for them but when we surrender to being open and letting them flow into our lives. With that openness, we see things in a different light and rather than pushing for something to happen or come to us, we allow it to. There is a big distinction in that that is very powerful and fulfilling. There is as much potential for greatness in the silence as there is in the notes. Embrace that silence and allow it to connect the notes that ultimately will create the fullest expression of your passion which will be music to those around you.

A Cat’s Tale

2010-05-30T20:13:00.001-07:00

I was just listening to a talk by motivational speaker Wayne Dyer where he was explaining how our thoughts and our imaginations create our success and happiness. He shared a wonderful parable that really spoke to how success and happiness naturally follow us when we start imagining the life we feel called to live and move confidently towards that. The story begins:

There was a little kitten and an alley cat. They're out in the alley and the little kitten is chasing his tail round and round. The old alley cat comes up to him and says, "What are you doing?" The little kitten replies, "I've just returned from cat philosophy school and I learned two things; that the most important thing in a world for a cat is happiness and that it's located in my tail. And what I'm doing is chasing and chasing my tail and as soon as I get a hold of it, I will have a lock on eternal happiness."

The old alley cat looks at him and says, "You know, I didn't have the same benefits you did. I have been out in the alley always scratching for my food for thirteen years but it's funny, I've learned the same thing you did in school. I've learned that happiness is the most important thing in the world for a cat and indeed that it is located in my tail. "But", he said, "the only difference between you and I is that I've found that if I go about my business and live my life the way I want to, it follows after me where ever I go".

How true! We need to stop chasing after success and happiness and realize that when we focus on the life we feel called to lead, they will indeed follow.

God does not create our lives on a budget

2010-05-16T09:47:00.001-07:00

I heard someone say this recently and it felt like a big "aha" moment for me – it truly changed my mindset on how I approach living my purpose. We so often live our lives from a place of lack – lack of skills, lack of confidence, lack of money, lack of time, but we fail to recognize that our Creator is about abundance and not lack. He created us with the idea that we should lack for nothing. I truly believe we are part of a bigger divine purpose and once we understand what our unique purpose is within the context of a greater purpose, we can make a significant contribution that is not only fulfilling for us personally but allows that greater divine purpose to shine more fully.

God has a very special and unique plan for each and every one of us that is interwoven into the lives of those who we directly and indirectly touch. I knew God would support us in fulfilling that plan but my actions and inner beliefs showed I didn't fully embrace that belief. When presented with an opportunity that I sensed was being given to me for a very special purpose but yet made me feel very uncomfortable, I'd question my ability to do what I sensed I was being asked to do or hold back financially, wanting that reassurance and confirmation of the how and the why before proceeding. That one statement, "God does not create our lives on a budget" almost instantly brought an awareness of how my actions were not aligning with beliefs. I suddenly recognized that I was allowing a mindset of lack overshadow my decisions and that in order to truly step out in His purpose for me, I had to embrace on a much deeper level that God truly does not operate from a position of lack. He will provide all we need at exactly the right time to manifest His ultimate plan and purpose for our life. He wants nothing more than to see that purpose come to life and be fulfilled. With that in mind, why would He hold anything from us?

If we sense we're making decisions from a position of lack, we need to look inward and examine where that lack is coming from. Are we living outside of our purpose and that sense of lack might be God nudging us to realign with our purpose or are we not trusting in Him to provide what we need? He would not provide us with an opportunity to move forward in our purpose and then hold back on what we need to make it happen. More times than not, I've discovered that God works through providing us with opportunities. For example, we may be provided with an opportunity that requires us to make a financial investment that feels uncomfortable given our current finances but it you are truly living in your purpose, I can promise you God will present you with another opportunity that will more than make up for that investment. You first must step out in faith in accepting that initial opportunity to get to and reap the benefit of the second opportunity. Whether or not we take that opportunity purely rests on our shoulders. We just need to be in tune and aware enough to recognize when those opportunities are presented to us and then have a willingness to step forward in complete faith and trust that this is the next step we are required to take without get caught up in the how or why. Once we can fully embrace that, the lack goes away and we can begin truly living a life fulfilling His purpose and experiencing the abundance He has for us all.

Enthusiasm Leads to Greatness

2010-04-30T19:14:00.001-07:00

"Nothing great in life has ever been achieved without enthusiasm" – Ralph Waldo Emerson

I just read this quote in a book I'm reading, "A New Earth" by Eckart Tolle and it really resonated with me. While I know how great it feels to be enthusiastic about something, I never tied it to greatness. But, as I sit here and think about all those people who have achieved greatness throughout history, it is evident that enthusiasm is at the center of what they do. Winston Churchill for some reason comes to my mind. He was faced with the heavy weight of some incredible challenges, more than any of us will hopefully ever have to endure, but he approached each on of these challenges with a strong belief in his core values and with a sense of enthusiasm that what he was doing was ultimately for a higher purpose.

How often do we check in with ourselves to see if we're approaching our actions with enthusiasm? A great idea will initially excite us and the thoughts of how to bring that great idea to life just seem to flow. That is because we are operating from a place at that moment that is directly connected to the divine source and His vision and purpose for us are just flowing into our lives. When we live a life from a sense of purpose, you cannot help but be enthusiastic. You are riding on the current or energy of life. At that moment of inspiration, we are given a glimpse of the greatness we are each capable of and the guidance on how we can get there. We are of course open to that guidance at that time and allow those thoughts to flow freely. But all too quickly, our ego steps in and before you know it, the potential we saw and all the energy and enthusiasm that accompanied that is now replaced with doubt and uncertainty. "Who am I to think such things" creeps into our mind. Before we know it, we've stepped out of that flow from which inspiration and enthusiasm are born and allowed that inner critic to take over and direct our thoughts and actions. Once we give into that, the enthusiasm is gone. What once inspired us now feels unachievable and more like a burden. Rather than stepping into our greatness, we shrink from it and settle for something far less.

So how do we sustain that flow of inspiration and enthusiasm? First, know when that inner critic has taken over, stare it directly in the face and say "Who am I not to be great!". Embrace the dreams and ideas that are born from inspiration and recognize they were divinely given to you for a very specific reason because your purpose is meant to shine through them. Don't look for all the pieces to be in place before you take action but rather step out in faith without always having all the answers in front of you. Find some quiet time each day to connect to your dreams and ideas. Get lost in the possibilities of what could be. And finally, don't be afraid to ask for help. All too often we feel as though we have to go it alone. We're afraid to ask for help for fear it will allow others to see a perceived weakness or inadequacy within us. Learn to ask "who can help me" versus feeling like it has to be a personal struggle. God did not intend for any of us to go it alone and as such, the path to achieving our purpose will not be reached on our own. He endowed each and every one of us with a unique ability and when embraced and applied towards a much bigger whole, the results can be incredible. Inviting others in magnifies the potential for greatness that lies within us all and allows us to step into our purpose with energy and enthusiasm.

Change Your Reality

2010-04-14T08:00:00.001-07:00

"It's not who you are that holds you back, it's who you think you're not" – Anonymous

I included this quote in my ezine this week where I talked about how the tendency towards perfectionism can really be a disguise for feeling inadequate. But the issue of feeling inadequate goes much deeper. I think man has struggled since the beginning of time with believing in themselves. Why is this such a difficult concept for us to grasp? When we believe in ourselves, we feel good, energized and things just somehow start to fall in place. We get a taste of that inner peace we know about and hear people talk of and everything in our lives for just that moment feels right. But rather than living a life totally believing in ourselves and sharing our unique gifts with others, we tend to fall back into our habit of living in a reality that centers on lack and questioning our abilities. No one is immune to this struggle. Even the greatest athletes and actors who have clearly accomplished so much still confront this in their daily lives. I remember once listening to an interview with Meryl Streep and she said still questions her ability to be a good actress. I found that absolutely shocking how someone who has clearly accomplished so much in her career could even begin to question if she is good enough.

Many philosophers over the ages have provided us insightful quotes in an effort to share their wisdom and help us overcome this struggle. They have all deeply felt the pain and complexity of the struggle that lies within ourselves and hinders us for experiencing true peace. We all are familiar with, "I think, therefore I am" from 17^th century philosopher René Descartes who did his best to deny the existence of a divine source and searched for the meaning of man's presence. But his quote, which is just as relevant today as it was back in the 1500's, demonstrates this struggle is not bounded by time or place. I find it interesting that Descartes in all his efforts to find a meaning to man's existence came to the same conclusion that has already been provided for us in the Bible. Proverbs 23:7 says "For as he thinks in his heart, so is he". The reality of life most definitely resides in our thoughts and what we embrace as truth in our hearts. If we believe we are not good enough or can't do something, then that is our reality and unfortunately that is a reality too many of us have painted for ourselves and have grown accustomed to. But consider for a moment if you were to paint a different reality. Change those thoughts of not being good enough into positive affirmations that you are good enough and you can do whatever you put your mind to. Exercise those thoughts on a daily basis just as you would exercise a muscle and allow yourself to embrace a new reality of peace, abundance and success. Don't give into the struggle to go back to your old reality but rather press forward to overcome that struggle stay focused until you find yourself living in a new reality that provides you with deeper fulfillment and a sense of inner peace. We have been told since the beginning of time that that reality does exist and all we need to do is make the conscious decision to embrace it. God has a given each and every one of us a unique gift or talent to share with this world and our role is to uncover what that is for us and then live our lives in the reality of moving forward fulfilling that purpose. In God's eyes, you are more than good enough to fulfill that purpose, you were uniquely created just for that very reason!

Where Competition Doesn’t Exist

2010-03-28T13:49:00.001-07:00

When you are connected and in the flow of your purpose, competition does not exist. Competition stems from a mindset of lack. You are buying into a belief system that there is limited supply or resources and you need to compete to win your share or position. In God's eyes, there is nothing further from the truth. God has a unique purpose or calling for each one of us and he will provide all the resources we need to achieve that purpose and more times than not, provide whatever we need in abundance. If you feel the urge to compete for something, question where that is coming from. Competition moves us away from living a life on purpose and trusting God for the desired outcome. We become centered on ourselves and our relationships to others rather than looking inward and focusing our attention on our relationship with God and his desires for us. When you are truly living your life from a place of purpose and connection with God, you will find peace in trusting that all you need will be provided for at exactly that right moment.

The Lessons of Spring

2010-03-14T14:01:00.001-07:00

Spring has always been my favorite season but this year I look at it with a renewed sense of awe and purpose. I always enjoyed the beauty in the flowers and trees that Mother Nature unfolds for us each year but never really stopped to think about the process. It always just seems to happen without any fanfare or special preparation. But gazing out the window recently it really hit me what a miracle this process is and how it holds so many lessons for us to follow. It's like God has provided us a glorious example of how we are supposed to live right before our eyes. Each year, the nature that surrounds us moves from dull and lifeless and blooms into an incredible array of colors and textures. Think of all the energy it takes to make that happen, an energy that already exists within each plant. This energy is completely channeled to fulfilling its ultimate purpose. This energy trusts that the resources it needs to grow and survive will be provided at the appropriate time. It doesn't fear there may not be enough rain or the winds may be too strong. It fully and completely trusts in the process and each year, that process yields an abundance of beauty. Life in its purest form exists as we watch a flower grow or a tree blossom. We are no different. God has provided each and every one of us with a unique ability and purpose. It is our lack of trust and faith in the process that interferes in this divine process. We have been given the gift to think and analyze but this ability can also be our downfall. Rather than trusting the process, we question it. Rather than looking inward, we seek the advice of others. Imagine if a rose questioned its existence as a rose and wondered if would be better suited as a tulip? That divine energy that is channeled into making it a precious beautiful rose would be diluted and it would be something less than what it otherwise could have been. When we overanalyze and question, the result is the same. We sense our direction or purpose but allow externals to dictate our direction and we end up less than what we otherwise can be. Our instincts connect us to our ultimate purpose, we just need to be willing to trust in the process and follow that divine guidance. That same energy that exists in nature also exists in us. It is the energy of life that moves everything forward towards its ultimate purpose. We need to connect with that energy or spirit and allow it to guide us in our lives. God has provided us with a wonderful example of what is possible when we do. We too can truly blossom by trusting and moving forward in faith.

If you’re not living on the edge, you’re taking up too much room.

2010-02-27T10:30:00.001-08:00

David Neagle shared this quote recently and it really resonated with me. I've heard it before but like so many things we hear, we need to be in the right mindset to connect with it and really understand its true meaning. We often think life should be about getting comfortable but in reality, life is about doing just the opposite. It's about growing and to grow, we need to get "comfortable" with being uncomfortable. If we're not pushing ourselves to reach outside our comfort zone or go the extra distance, we're not just standing still, we're losing ground. With risk comes reward but being open to taking those risks is where the challenge lies. I found tremendous strength recently in learning how to step out and take those risks. It comes down to faith. It's not about worrying what others will think or do, it's trusting your instincts and moving forward despite your fears. All the answers truly do lie within us but we're programmed to always look outside of ourselves for the answer. Learning how to quiet ourselves and seek out the divine guidance that is within each of us will move us to reach our true potential and realize the success that has always been within our reach. Take the time to nurture your soul and learn how to connect with that inner voice and recognize its guidance. Once you learn to look within, you'll discover a new world of opportunities open to you. These opportunities may at first seem overwhelming or scary but moving forward in complete trust and faith allows you to really grow and realize the amazing abundance God has provided for us all.

The Magic of Snow

2010-02-07T10:42:00.001-08:00

It's no secret that the mid-Atlantic has gotten their fair share of snow this year. This past storm dropped just over 32" of snow on us. That's more than I can ever remember seeing in one storm in my life! Being from the northeast, I've always loved snow. That eager anticipation we all feel as a child hearing about the next big storm never left me. I still get excited every time I hear snow is in the forecast. It's like it has some magical quality that perks me up and just makes me feel happy.

As I look back on this winter so far, the snow days are my most memorable days. It's allowed us all to stop and just enjoy each other's company. I've rediscovered how the simplest things can be the most satisfying, a lesson my grandparents I know tried to impart on me a long time ago. A snowstorm magically gives us that precious gift of time to just talk to each other, play board games, and make incredible meals – activities that have almost become a luxury in today's society. We get so caught up in the future and what we need to be doing, we rarely take the time to just enjoy the present. A good snow day forces you to abandon your plans and give in to enjoying the present. It actually does more than just give you the gift time, it nourishes your soul. When all is said and done, it's the memories of how we spent our time that will remain with us. We need to remember that and make sure we spend time creating lasting memories of joy. I will forever hold onto the memory of the snowball fight we had walking our dog in the wake of this most recent snowstorm. The laughter and fun we had is priceless.

As I look out on to the year ahead, I've made a personal commitment to create "snow days" year round. To make sure I take the time to enjoy the present and just being together as a family; really nourish that bond that is like no other. I've often felt like I needed a vacation to get away and create those special moments but the snowstorms this year have truly taught me that like anything else in our lives, creating those special moments can happen anytime and anywhere. It has to start with us making the decision to make those times a priority. Doing so in a society today that almost seems to embrace stress and rushing around is not easy but I've realized this winter the benefits of doing so far outweigh the pressures of not doing so.

There's snow in our forecast again for Tuesday and even with 32" already on the ground, I'm eagerly awaiting it. I know that I will forever embrace the magic of snow!

Amazing Things Will Happen

2010-01-24T09:37:00.000-08:00

I couldn’t help but take notice of the drama that has unfolded these past couple of weeks between two unlikely people, Jay Leno and Conan O’Brien. Who would ever think these two comedians would be at the center of such controversy! I haven’t followed it too closely, only catching brief clips from their late night monologues which have been hilarious. I heard someone comment that some of their best jokes ever have come out of all us and I have to agree.
I watched Conan O’Brien’s farewell signoff yesterday and was deeply touched by his words. Hosting the Tonight Show is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream for him and I can only imagine how painful it must be to step down. He has handled this whole ordeal with such integrity and grace. If anyone has a right to complain, be cynical or angry he certainly does. But he has chosen not to go that route, knowing as we all should remind ourselves, nothing good ever comes of it.
His closing words really spoke to who he is and I think the qualities and mindset that have allowed him to be so successful. He spoke with complete conviction, directing his parting words at the younger views but I think his words are something we all need reminding of, “Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get but if you can work really hard and you’re kind, amazing things will happen. I’m telling you amazing things WILL happen.”
The one thing we can guarantee in life is that it will throw us the unexpected. Sometimes the unexpected is just a bend in the road and other times it’s a sharp curve we didn’t see coming, like in Conan’s case. It’s how we react to the unexpected that separates the winners from everyone else. We all have a purpose and I truly believe that when the unexpected comes up, it’s because in God’s plan, it’s time to move on. In essence, our work is done there and new opportunities await us. As they say, when one door closes, another one opens. We have a choice when the unexpected happens. We can stall out, get caught up in self-pity and allow it to divert us from our true purpose or we can choose to move forward in faith knowing something better is out there. It’s those sharp bends in the road that truly test our faith. We need to have enough faith to be still, place ourselves in God’s hands and allow Him to be the driver because when you do, as Conan says, “amazing things will happen”.

When You Wish Upon A Star

2010-01-10T15:14:00.000-08:00

This past week, we took a family vacation to Disney World. It was very cold but we still really enjoyed our time together and of course, visiting with Mickey and the gang. Disney truly is a magical place filled with the energy of dreams and possibilities. To think it all started with a mouse.

That thought keep going through my mind as we visited each of the parks. I've been to Disney before but it never struck me until now what an incredible individual Walt Disney truly was. Perhaps it was having older children now and not having to strategize for the next character greeting that allowed me to relax and really take in what Disney is all about.

Walt Disney had a dream and that dream did begin with a little character named Mickey Mouse but that dream didn't end there. He had a vision for so much more and lived everyday to make that vision come to life. When you look back on his life, it was by no means absent of criticism or judgment. What would stop many of us in our tracks he found the courage to press through. He never let fear stand in his way. He embraced his dreams with an enormous amount of energy and spirit that we should all aspire to and lived his life remaining true to his passion. Imagine if he surrendered his dreams to the person who told him a cartoon about a rodent would never make it, his animated feature film, "Snow White" had no place in the movies or gave into the critics when he bought swamp land in Florida to build a theme park. In fact, Snow White was dubbed "Disney's Folly" because the movie studios were certain it would be a failure.

He always moved forward despite what others thought, trusting his instincts and believing in his dreams to the fullest. He saw possibilities where others didn't. That was the secret to his success and I am awed by what he accomplished in his lifetime taking a no excuses approach to realize his vision. Disney showed us how believing in yourself and your dreams with an unwavering faith can accomplish what others deem impossible. I left Disney World this time with something more precious that I could have found in any of their gift shops. I left with a renewed appreciation of what living your passion is really all about.

In creating Disney World, I think Walt Disney wanted to give us glimpse into his world. How he thought and the magic and energy he saw in the world around him. He envisioned a place where people could be inspired to dream, believe in fairytales and make wishes come true. I wonder if he hoped we would take a bit of that magic home with us and carry it forward into our own lives. If that was part of his dream, he did succeed with me. Disney left a legacy that is magical and I'm truly grateful for that.

It’s All In How You Look At Things

2009-12-20T17:18:00.001-08:00

December is a time of both reflection and expectation. As the year draws to end, we can’t help but find ourselves reflecting on the events and activities of the past year and look forward with joyful expectation to the year ahead. We start thinking about what we’ll do differently next year, what goals we’ll set and how events from the prior year that either caused heartache or joy will influence us as we go forward.

I’m amazed the power that one day can have on our mindset. In reality, nothing has dramatically changed in our lives between December 31st and January 1st but how many of us wake up on January 1st feeling different and I’m not just taking about that New Year’s Eve hangover : ). We embrace the idea of a new beginning and a chance to make improvements in ourselves and our lives that somehow felt beyond us just 24 hours prior.

Never underestimate the power of our minds. Wayne Dyer has a quote I love, “Change the way you look at things and the things you look at will change.” We’ve been conditioned to look at the New Year as a new beginning and as such, we look out with excited anticipation of all the opportunity that awaits us. In reality, nothing has changed in our lives other than the passing of another 24 hours. But we embrace this time of year to self-reflect and make positive changes in our lives – we change the way we look at things and things we look at do indeed change. Tasks that burdened us before are now approached with a renewed sense of spirit and energy. Losing 10 pounds seems undoable on July 1st but January 1st; we’re ready to take that challenge on.

The biggest challenge is to maintain that sense of energy and excitement throughout the year. We have the power to do this as we’ve already demonstrated on January 1st. Hold onto those feelings and when you feel like that energy or excitement is waning, and it will because that is the reality of our life, repeat Wayne Dyer’s quote, “Change the way you look at things and the things you look at will change.” We have a choice in how react to the hardships, even the simplest ones that come into our daily lives. A traffic jam or a long checkout line can so easily throw us off course and change our mindsets. Don’t let it rob you of that magic you found on New Year’s Day – make the choice to continue looking at your world with the joyful expectations of the New Year!

The Magic Of The Moment

2009-12-06T10:06:00.001-08:00

We’re entering what probably is one of the busiest times of year for most of us. The holidays with all their treasured traditions have been officially ushered in now that Thanksgiving is over. I can remember feeling tortured as a child as this time between Thanksgiving and Christmas passed ever so slowly. What a different experience now as an adult! The days seem to go by in the blink of eye and I feel like we’re just putting away the Thanksgiving turkey when Christmas Eve comes knocking at our door.

As a child we had the gift of time and a free spirit to take everything in and experience life without limits. Perhaps that’s why time moved more slowly back then. Living in the moment came so naturally where now we have to make a concerted effort to do the same. When did we lose that childlike quality to live in the moment? When did we start moving away from the present moment and living our lives thinking about yesterday or worrying about tomorrow?

I don’t think we’ll ever know the answer to that but the ability to live in the moment is a precious gift we should all have on our “wish list” this holiday season. It’s easy to get lost in the hectic pace and extra demands of the holidays and when it all comes down to it, we do have a choice in how we respond. This time of year can be just a magical as when you were a child. The wonder and beauty of the holiday season is all around us but if we’re focused on everything we need to do or worried about what we haven’t done yet, we’ll most surely miss out on it.

As I write this, it’s snowing and I’m watching the neighborhood children outside my window happily playing. Mind you there’s probably two inches of snow at most on the ground, but that’s not stopping them from sledding and building snowmen and snow forts. All they see are possibilities and they are living in the moment to bring those possibilities to life. They are experiencing life without the self-limitations we’ve grown accustomed to as adults and their joy is contagious! We can most definitely learn a lesson by watching our children. Take time this holiday season to embrace your abundance and live in the moment. Let yourself reconnect with that inner child you lost so many years ago and watch the possibilities magically unfold this holiday season and throughout the new year!

A Story of Two Dogs

2009-11-21T10:25:00.000-08:00

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, I cannot help but start thinking about what I am grateful for. This past year has been an amazing journey for me, opening up my new design business, starting a coaching business and really experiencing a personal transformation in how I think. I am truly grateful for all the opportunities that have unfolded in my life this year. As they say “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear”. So many wonderful teachers have come into my life this year to truly help me understand and appreciate, “how I think is how I am”.

My journey started in January after I picked up the book The Energy Bus by Jon Gordon literally on whim. It is a quick read (my favorite) but the wisdom presented in these pages is beyond measure. I’ll share a simple story with you now from The Energy Bus that is truly profound and really opened my eyes and literally started me on my journey:

A man travels to the village to speak to the wise man. He says to the wise man, “I feel like there are two dogs inside me. One dog is positive, loving, kind and optimistic and then I have this fearful, pessimistic, angry and negative dog and they fight all the time. I don’t know who is going to win.” The wise man thinks for a moment and responds, “I know who is going to win. The one you feed the most. So feed the positive dog.”

We spend far too much time feeding our negative dog. The power of our mind is incredible. We so often live in our left brain, whose primary purpose is to connect our thoughts and experiences, forecast an outcome and protect ourselves from harm. But those thoughts and experiences are frequently interpreted in a negative light and instead of seeing possibilities; we experience anxiety, stress and become fearful of that which would require us to act in faith versus logic. Our right brain is our creative side, experiencing the here and now, seeing the possibilities and the goodness in everything. It doesn’t know fear or anxiety; it only understands positive energy and the light it brings to us to share with others.

Expressing our gratitude for all that we have is the first step to feeding our positive dog. As we begin this holiday season, take time out each day to acknowledge the good things in your life. Start a gratitude journal and write down ten things each day you are grateful for. We’ve all experienced the stress, anxiety and even sadness this time of year can bring. By focusing your minds now on gratitude and getting into the habit of gratitude, you’ll be amazed just how much more relaxed you’ll feel to really enjoy this holiday season.

A Burning Desire

2009-11-13T17:00:00.000-08:00

"If you feel something in your heart, if you have a vision for it, then it's no longer a risk." —Isaac Mizrahi

I found this quote earlier this week and it really resonated with me! To me, it speaks of being in the true presence of pure passion. When you have a burning desire for something, it takes over and literally propels you forward to take risks you may not otherwise take to turn your vision into reality. While fear exists, your desire is stronger and you’re able to move through the fear. But the key is to have a burning desire or as Isaac Mizrahi says, “to feel something in your heart”. It is given that life will present many obstacles and it is how we respond when confronted with those obstacles that sets our path. A burning desire sees you through those and puts you on the path to success. You no longer view obstacles as taking risks but rather part of the journey to achieving your vision. Rather than obstacles stopping you in your tracks, you move through it focused on the prize. You’ll be tasked with doing things that are well outside your comfort zone but moving outside your comfort zone is what allows you to do greater things. You’ll find your vision becomes that beacon of light to guide you and your burning desire is the fuel that allows you to move towards that beacon of light.

Embrace your vision and allow it to create a burning desire within your heart. The rewards are tremendous and the journey will be well worth it!

You Reap What You Sow

2009-10-02T14:49:00.000-07:00

"For whatever a man sows, that and that only, he will also reap." - Galatians 6:7

We reap what we sow. How many times have we heard this? I can still hear my mom saying this to me! Of course, then is was in the context of bugging my brother and then crying to my mom when he'd give it right back to me : ) While we all know and understand this on one level or another when it comes to our actions, how many of us really know and understand this as it applies to our beliefs and mindset?

I've always understood this to mean, "be kind to others and they will be kind to you" sort of thing but upon reading this scripture recently, I suddenly gained a deeper understanding that this goes beyond just our actions. Our thoughts and beliefs also determine our outcomes. When our thoughts and beliefs are focused on the positive, we reap the positive. When we focus on the negative, we reap the negative. God is asking us to not only think about what we sow in terms of our actions, but also in terms of our beliefs and mindset. Proverbs 4:23 very clearly reminds us of this, "Be careful what you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts".

In order to truly experience and receive all the abundance and success God has planned for our lives, we need to cultivate a healthy, positive mindset. When we do, we'll most surely reap the rewards. Make a commitment today to work on your mindset and embrace your future with excitement and anticipation. Don't let your fears override your dreams. Believe anything is possible, take action in faith and get ready to experience the abundance that God has planned for you. How do I know this? The Bible tells us so!

The Goal-Purpose Connection

2009-09-19T08:46:00.000-07:00

I just heard something from David Neagle, an extremely gifted life and success coach (www.DavidNeagle.com), that really gave me pause to think. “Your goals give direction to your purpose”. I never had looked at a goal in that manner and in fact, this statement totally turned my understanding of what a goal is upside down. We are so focused on setting and reaching goals but are we missing the mark? The more I thought about it, the more it made sense to me. I had always viewed goals in the short-term and self-contained within the project or whatever I was working on but now see goals are much bigger than that! Goals are in actuality the vehicle we use to fulfill our life’s purpose. Rather than focusing on setting the goals first, should we not first focus on our purpose and the form our goals around that? Something to think about.

What I’m coming to understand now is that goals actually are the stepping stones of life. When we set a goal, it gives us a sense of direction and purpose. But without a context to frame our goals, we often get off track and feel like we’re just going through the motions. Our goals should ignite a passion deep within us and not just be another task on our "to do" list. When we view our goals in the bigger context of our life’s purpose, we then realize that as each goal is set and achieved, we are closer to fulfilling our ultimate destiny.

Just as a rudder guides and directs a ship through the vastness of the sea, our goals guide and direct us through the vastness of our life. Understanding this concept has helped me tremendously to put my goals in perspective. Now, before setting any goal, I ask myself, “Does this align with my values and bring me closer to God’s purpose for my life”. If the answer is yes, I can be sure it will lead me to the next level and closer to fulfilling the ultimate destiny God has planned for me.

Embrace The Fear

2009-08-31T10:20:00.000-07:00

“To be the best, you have to be willing to be uncomfortable and embrace it as part of your growth process.”

I found this quote in on of my favorite inspirational books, “Training Camp” by Jon Gordon. To be the best at whatever we do requires going outside one’s comfort zone, which is definitely easier said than done. It’s so easy to get complacent and convince ourselves we don’t need to strive for better but life is a journey that’s meant to be revealed to us over time and with each new chapter, new opportunities emerge as we continue on our journey to become even better than we ever imagined.

But recognizing and embracing these opportunities usually requires us to get uncomfortable for a while. Our inner spirit can sense that something better is just within our reach, but stepping out into that is another story. All sorts of emotions come up when we’re ready to step out and that’s what makes us uncomfortable. Fear of the unknown and self-doubt are typically the biggest things that hold us back. The good news is that everyone is confronted with the same feelings. It’s what we do with those feelings that define the best of the best. I love this quote “Feel the fear and do it any way” (The Success Principles by Jack Canfield). And there in lies the key, the best of the best feel the fear and dot it anyway. It’s part of the process and the sooner we learn to accept it as part of the process, the quicker we’ll grow and experience all the exciting opportunities that await us.

The best of the best are passionate about what they do and are always striving to learn and improve. They don’t let being uncomfortable stand in their way for achieving their inner desire for greatness. They also do it with a sense of humility. They know that no matter how much they learn, there is always an opportunity to learn more and at the same time impart what they’ve learned with others.

Learn to embrace being uncomfortable; it really is sign that you’re heading in the right direction to achieving all that life has in store for you. Don’t let fear hold you back, move forward in spite of your fears and enjoy the wonderful rewards that await you at the other side of those fears.

Riding The Current

2009-08-10T11:16:00.000-07:00

A few you may have seen this recent post from me on Twitter and Facebook, “Living your life in complete faith and confidence feels like gliding on the current of God". This quote just so completely resonated with me in capturing the true essence of living a purposeful life that I felt compelled to share it and thought it would be great to expand on it through my blog.

One of my favorite mentors Ali Brown (www.alibrown.com) talked about this in terms of living your life effortlessly completely focused in faith and confidence. Her story is so inspiring to me because she started out just like so many of us – wanting more and sensing more was out there for her but not sure how to attain it or grasp her true purpose. She was frustrated where she was both personally and professionally and passionately wanted to make a change. It was when she truly embraced that desire and made the decision to start living her life by faith and not getting caught up in the “how” that her true path and essence for being started to unfold.

Today, she is the example of living a life completely based in faith and confidence in the outcome. She went from not having enough money to even withdraw from her ATM to now running a million dollar online marketing and coaching business and speaking internationally. She often jokes that she doesn’t know how it will happen, she just makes the decision that it will happen and has complete faith and confidence that the how will present itself at the right time.

This is really how God intended us to live. A scripture comes to mind that I’ve relied on when I feel unsure about anything. Proverbs 3:5-6 reads, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths”. And Psalm 37:5 clearly gets to the how, “Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He will do it.” Ali Brown finally connected the dots for me, taking what I understood intellectually but I now embrace with my heart and soul. God must laugh as He watches us toil and struggle knowing all we really need to do is quiet ourselves and listen for His direction. We are so programmed that everything we want in life has to be hard but that is clearly not God’s intention.

God has placed our dreams right in front of us - we just need to plug into His current to start experiencing them. How exciting is that?!! Living our lives completely trusting and confident He will provide allows us to ride the wave and enjoy all the abundance and greatness He has in store for us. This is where the magic begins to happen and as Ali so eloquently put it, when you start “riding on the current of God”.

The Power of Social Media

2009-07-16T20:44:00.000-07:00

Let’s be real. As design professionals, our world has changed dramatically over the past several years. With the internet now deeply entrenched in our lives, it has changed not only how we research and access information and products but also has changed how we market ourselves and our businesses, or so it should!

In a world where social networking and marketing are growing at an amazing rate, I often get asked if we, as design professionals should be using the various online social mediums in our business. There are many opinions out there as to which social mediums to use but the bottom line answer to using online social media is a resounding YES! Since this seems to be a very hot topic right now, I’ve decided to devote the next few blog articles to taking a look at the more common social networking and marketing tools out there and provide some real time information on why and how to use them as well as how to incorporate them into your overall marketing strategy for your design business.

This week, we’ll focus on Facebook. Let’s start with the latest statistics. According to insidefacebook.com, as of February 2009:

Facebook reported nearly 45.3 million active US users as of February 2009.
Facebook is growing in every age/gender demographic. Fastest growing segment: Women over 55.
Facebook is growing faster with women than men in almost every age group. Women comprise 56.2% of Facebook’s audience, up from 54.3% late last year.
45% of Facebook’s US audience is now 26 years old or older.

Now think about who typically purchases design services. With these statistics, we’d be foolish to ignore Facebook as a means of connecting with both current and prospective clients, not to mention networking opportunities with other businesses that compliment ours. Our business is based on relationship building, word of mouth has historically been our best source for clients and Facebook provides just that, an online means for promoting our services “word of mouth”. Not only can we create relationships, we can do it faster than ever through Facebook. And best of all, Facebook doesn’t cost any more than a little bit of your time each day; there is no financial investment required.

Promoting your business on Facebook begins with setting up a strong profile. It allows you to showcase what you can do, who you can help, what you have to offer. The next step is networking by reaching out to people in your industry on Facebook and start making connections. It's a great way to see what other businesses are out there in which you share similar interests and target market and see where you might be able to leverage that to help both your businesses. Set up your Facebook page with the intent on keeping it business focused. That doesn’t mean you cannot share anything personal but when communicating on Facebook, never say anything that you wouldn’t say to your clients in a face-to-face conversation. Invite your clients to join you on Facebook and use your posts to communicate design tips, great finds, inspirational thoughts, as well as aspects of your personal life that are funny, interesting, basically anything that would help them get to know you better. You can also post photos of your work or pictures of designs that really inspire you. To really start building relationships, post comments in response to other posts. It can be as simple as one or two words and gets your name out there to their Facebook friends.

Finally, post daily to keep you and your business in front of your Facebook network so when they or their friends need design services, you'll be top of mind : )

Get Uncomfortable

2009-07-13T10:36:00.000-07:00

If you want to experience the greatness life has to offer you, you have to be willing to get uncomfortable. What does that mean? It means stretching yourself beyond your capabilities knowing that in the end you’ll grow and your newly acquired strength and confidence will continue to propel you forward to reaching your vision. We all have this ability to go outside our comfort zone and persevere – otherwise we’d still be crawling on the floor : ) Think about a baby taking its first steps. Crawling around met our needs but we all knew there was something better. We’d struggle to pull ourselves up knowing this was the first step in walking but quickly realized it wasn’t as easy as it looked. We’d fall down time and time again, sometimes taking a nasty fall and getting injured. But we wouldn’t let that stop us because each time we tried, we’d gain that much more strength and feel our goal of walking that much closer until one day we’re able to easily stand. With renewed confidence, we take our first step only to fall once again. But we knew with commitment and perseverance, we somehow learned to pull ourselves up so surely we can walk! We practiced again and again, putting all our energy into taking that first step, not letting anything stand in the way of reaching our goal. Then one day we finally do it, our perseverance paid off and we take that first step, second step and before you know it, we’re running around elated that we’ve reached our goal and loving the new life we’ve arrived into!

But, how do we lose the ability to persevere through anything to reach our goals? Somewhere along the way, someone told us we can’t do it, made us feel inadequate or told us our dreams were too big for us and we began thinking small and living a life that was comfortable. Think of how amazing our lives would be if we employed the same level of commitment and perseverance we did as a young baby trying to walk into all that we do today! We can do this and those that have achieved greatness before us have tapped into this allowing nothing and no one to stop them from achieving their vision for their life. Think of some of the great sports figures of today. Tiger Woods started life not knowing how to swing a golf club, Michael Phelps didn’t swim before he walked, although some may disagree : ). They both started at the beginning, taking those first few strokes, experiencing the challenges along with the victories, and living a life that was probably more uncomfortable than comfortable in those early years. But it was that internal drive to go beyond their current capabilities that allowed them to excel, growing stronger both mentally and physically. They each embraced their sport and passionately committed to being the best at what they did. They had a vision of greatness and they didn’t let the challenges and setbacks that came their way stop them!

No one said the path to achieving greatness in life would be easy but the journey is well worth the results! Find that inner child in you that allowed you to persevere and not give up at the first challenge that came your way and reconnect with that belief and inner drive to achieve anything you put your mind to! Learn to ignore the naysayers, learn from your setbacks to make you stronger and let your vision of something better be your guiding light. Your greatness is within your reach!!

It's Time to Weed And Feed

2009-07-02T08:49:00.000-07:00

Many days we got so bogged down with all details of managing our business that it's easy to lose sight of our vision. In fact the vision you started out with that inspired and energized you can seem out of reach many days. You cannot underestimate the power that your vision has on your business and your life. Your vision is your beacon that you need to constantly keep in front of you, allowing it to guide and direct you. It reminds you of the higher purpose you have in your business and keeps you focused on the end result.

It is when we take our eyes off our vision that negativity, self doubt, fear and frustration creep into our mindset and drain us of our energy and purpose. How do you know when you've taken your eyes off your vision? Do you feel like you're treading water to stay afloat in your business? Are you afraid to stop doing what you're doing for fear you'll completely drown into the chaos and confusion that surround you? Do you feel like your thoughts are spiraling out of control telling you you'll never get it all done and feel paralyzed in your current situation? These are telltale signs that you are no longer focused on your vision.

So, how do you reign in the chaos and zoom in on your vision? The answer is very simple, just stop doing what your doing when these thoughts and feeling surface. I know saying that is easier said than done and like anything else, it takes practice. Our bodies and minds have learned to kick into survival mode when we feel overwhelmed. The negativity that creates feeds on itself and spirals us away from our vision. Rather than putting ourselves out there, growing and taking risks, we instead hold back and struggle to stay where we are. By training ourselves to simply stop, reassess and hone in on the bigger purpose for doing what we're doing, we will counteract the negativity and bring our vision back into focus. I heard a term the other day that sums up what we must do - "weed and feed". We must WEED out the self-doubt, fear and negative thoughts and replace with faith, trust and belief in our vision - FEED the positive. We can only do this by recognizing when we've lost focus and taking the extra effort to stop, weed and feed!

Stay Focused On The Next Pitch

2009-06-29T08:28:00.000-07:00

Life seems to have the uncanny knack of throwing us a curve ball at the most inopportune time. The dictionary defines a curve ball as a pitch that is released in such a way "which causes the ball to drop suddenly and deceptively veer away from home plate." This past week I definitely had a curve ball thrown my way! I love the words "drop suddenly" and "deceptively veer away". That's what curveballs do in our lives - they drop in suddenly and deceptively cause us to veer away from our focus or goal. It's how we respond to the curve ball that separates the winners from the losers.

This week, I attended a workshop and was relying on my iPhone to stay connected with my business. My iPhone had other plans for me. While in the midst of typing an email, the screen went blank and the icons froze. I initially shrugged it off, thought a simple restart would clear it up but that was to no avail. I had to coordinate a delivery for a client this week, schedule appointments as well as coordinate our teleseminar but my iPhone was not on the same page as me and decided it needed a break. Even more uncanny, when I tried to access my email via the internet, it wouldn't connect. It was only Tuesday and I couldn't imagine going through the week without access to email, important phone numbers, etc. I had things to get done and needed the info that was now locked away from me! I was absorbed in figuring out how to get connected again and stressing at the thought of not being able to get everything done. I mentally checked out on the first morning of my workshop, completely caught up in my own thoughts and distracted from the valuable training I was receiving. My unexpected curve ball had successfully veered me off course and no longer was I focused on the workshop I had rearranged my calendar for and driven 7 hours to attend!

It was then that I realized when life throws you a curve ball, you CANNOT allow it to veer you off course. You have to get over it quickly and focus on the next pitch. You may miss a perfect opportunity to hit a home run if you stay focused on the curve ball. Being disconnected from email and the internet was probably the best thing for me this past week. A majority of things I needed to do didn't get done but in the scheme of things, there were no disasters, just some delays. But more importantly, once I accepted the curve ball for what it was, I was able to hit a home run by being able to totally focus on what I was learning without any distractions and gain more from my workshop than I probably otherwise would have. Sometimes those curve balls can be exactly what we need. Learn to let the curve balls go by and stay focused on the next pitch so you can take a swing at your next home run!

The Passion Within

2009-06-27T13:58:00.000-07:00

Looking at Michael Jackson’s life, his passion for music and dance were self-evident. I can remember being completely mesmerized the first time I saw him do the moonwalk, totally blow away by that performance! He made every dance move appear to be just a natural extension of him. And in reality it was, he lived and breathed his passion for music and dance and he easily shared it with us in those early years.

As the years passed, it was hard for all us who grew up with the “Thriller” Michael Jackson to see his life take so many twists and turns, and suddenly that passion that so deeply burned inside him during the 80’s seemed to fade into our memories as headlines of a different Michael Jackson emerged. We’ll probably never know what or who caused him to stray from his inner passion. Was it fear of being too successful, surrounding himself with the wrong people, not living up to his own high standards? The same voices that plague all of us and keep us from being all that we could be were no stranger to Michael Jackson. With his much-anticipated return to the music world on July 13th, part of me wonders if he was trying to once again reach deep within himself, overcome those inner voices and emerge in his true passion once again. We’ll never know but in his passing, I want to pay tribute to and remember him for the true artist he was, sharing his passion with us and making everyone’s lives just a little bit happier.

Remember to stay focused on your inner passion and not let the little voices inside of you divert you from all the wonderful gifts and talents you have to share with the world around you.

Ever Have One of Those Days?

2009-06-17T12:38:00.000-07:00

How many times have we started the day feeling like our act is somewhat together but only to watch it quickly unravel. The best laid plans are often times cast to the wind testing our ability to roll with whatever life throws our direction. I just had one of those mornings today and it really made me step back and think how can I turn unexpected events or outcomes into something positive and not let feelings of frustration overshadow the rest of the day.

My day actually started yesterday. How you might ask? Well my youngest was sent home from school sick yesterday. By evening, it was apparent this was probably more than just a 24 hour bug so I decided to be proactive and reschedule my calendar to avoid having “one of those days” hit me in the morning. It was a juggling act but appointments were rescheduled and the calendar was cleared to be home. Well, much to my surprise my daughter woke up ready to go to school as I stood there in disbelief and frustration knowing that I now had cleared my calendar for nothing. In an attempt to avoid having “one of those days” I still managed to fall square into it and was indeed having “one of those days”. I started thinking about what I could pull back into the day that I had previously rescheduled and then a little voice inside reminded me to slow down, take the day for yourself and turn this moment into a positive experience. I’ve recently learned to really start trusting that little voice and sure enough, it was right. I scheduled coffee with a friend who we’ve forever been saying “let’s get together soon”, watched 30 minutes of All My Children, something I hadn’t done in 20 years and was surprised how many of the same characters were still around : ), read for pleasure without feeling like my eyelids were ready to shut, and just allowed myself to really take the day off.

What began as a frustration because the outcome didn’t fit my plans (even my best laid plans), turned out to be that gift of personal time we all secretly wish for. It allowed me to reenergize and start tomorrow feeling fresh rather than continue to move through the week tired and frazzled. Remember to embrace those unexpected moments and pause long enough to see the silver lining. It may truly hold exactly what you need at that moment in your life and allow you to carry on with renewed energy and enthusiasm!

It’s All About Passion

2009-06-10T16:20:00.001-07:00

Awhile back I saw Bruce Springsteen for the first time in concert. I was blown away by his energy and enthusiasm - he clearly is doing what he loves to do! In a day when concerts have less to do with the music and more to do with the “show”, I was impressed how Bruce just stuck to what he does best without all the showmanship. He and his band just simply took to the stage and played for the next three hours. No showy costumes, no fireworks, no big screens or cages coming down on stage, just simply Bruce and the E Street Band doing what they do best, having a good time just rocking out the arena. There is nothing more contagious or exciting than watching someone fully live in the moment of their passion. His music gave me the chills because it was coming from a place of pure passion. It caused me to pause and realize just how important following your passion is to achieving your best in life. God has equipped all of us with a very special gift to share and give to others – in that lies our passion. For Bruce, it’s been 30+ years of giving us very heartfelt, passionate songs that have become mainstays for our music culture. He passionately loves what he does, effortlessly sharing his talent with all of us.

Many of us struggle to figure out what that gift or passion may be, thinking it has to be big or transformational but many times, it lies in the everyday things we do. We need to honor our true selves by making sure we take the time to quiet our hearts and let God guide us to our passion and purpose; tune into that little voice that has been guiding us all along but we’re often too busy to listen to or trust. I spent many years looking for that purpose; something to be passionate about but often felt frustrated because nothing really clicked. I enjoyed what I did, but couldn’t say I was passionate about it. Sometimes you need to experience a little more life before God is ready to reveal your true purpose – I believe that was the case with me. But once He was ready to reveal it, I had to be ready to listen and follow in faith. And once you agree to follow, hang on because you will begin the most miraculous journey of your life! I’m not saying following your passion will be easy, but it will provide you the energy to get through the rough times and persevere. How do you know when you’ve found your passion and purpose in life? I equate it to feeling like that stars have finally aligned – everything suddenly comes together and you experience a renewed sense of energy and excitement. Take some time each day to get quiet, focus on discovering and staying connected to your passion and allow God to reveal life’s best for you – what you’ll discover will truly amaze you!

The Power of Three Little Words

2009-06-06T04:09:00.000-07:00

As designers we are always pressed for time and our days are typically filled to the brim with “to do’s”. If we’re not designing, we’re on appointments, doing research or the dreaded paperwork thing! I got so frustrated one day with my chronic lateness and really took a step back to see where I could adjust and make the day flow more smoothly and ultimately be less stressful. I discovered one habit I have that I’m sure many of you have. I tend to fill every minute with something, even when there really isn’t time. There are three little words that have led to my demise but also by eliminating them, have lead to renewed freedom!

“Let me just…” I started realizing every time I uttered these words to myself or out loud, it really translated to “I really don’t have time for this but I’ll squeeze it in anyway”. Every time I gave into a “Let me just…” the outcome was being late, getting behind schedule, getting stressed, etc., rather than being more productive which was what I was intending to be. “Let me just check the email”, or “Let me just check finish this up” are really not one-minute tasks and deep down I knew this. I’ve come to learn to stop myself from continuing any thoughts or actions that begin with the statement “let me just” and contrary to my original thinking, I am now less stressed, more productive and ultimately happier in what I’m doing.

Don’t fall into the trap of “let me just”. Those truly are three powerful little words that can throw you off track and make you less productive. Learn to stop yourself and enjoy those few moments during the day to just breathe rather than trying to fill every second. You’ll be amazed how you feel!