Friday, December 28, 2007
The Holidays
Even though I decided to take some time off from writing in order to fully absorb the holiday season, I felt the need to write once more in 2007. I will start up with more continuous postings after the New Year. Anyway, I wanted to write specifically about this time of year, the holidays, and the vast array of emotions that accompany the ending of the year. For me, the time between Christmas and New Year's is interesting, to say the least. It is a time in which I experience a dichotomy of moods (The holidays pretty much intensify my extremist nature). I can go from feeling a pure sense of closeness and comraderie to feeling independence and loneliness, from deep satisfaction and gratitude to a longingness and nostalgia, from hope and idealism to matter of fact realism. I asked myself today, "Why do I ride the rollercoaster of emotions at the end of every year?" My inner voice immediately replied, "Because you are releasing old emotions that do not serve you and trying on the new ones that do. You are preparing for the wonder that will come with the new year, and in order to be ready you have to sort yourself out." Finally, a sense of calm, balance, and purpose took me over. OH! It makes total sense. It's like when I buy some new clothes and I take a look at my closet and realize I have no room for my new stuff. I have to go through everything, make a big old mess, try things on, decide what I want to keep and what I want to give away. My closet becomes organized and it becomes a balance of my old stuff that still serves me and my new stuff that represents change. So, the holiday season for me is like reorganizing my emotional wardrobe! How's that for a metaphor. In light of this discovery, I am setting the intention that I will happily ride the rollercoaster with a healthy awareness and appreciation, and on January 1st I will look back and reflect on what I've learned.
Gratitude Review:
1. I appreciate family. My mom and sister came to visit for 5 days and we had the greatest time. I love that I have the kind of family that can embrace and laugh at our dysfunctions!
2. On that same note of finding humor in life's idiosyncracies, I love smart movies that favor the off-beat and individualistic nature of people. I just saw the movie, Juno. SO FUNNY! It reminds me how beautiful life is when we can accept who we truly are!
3. I can't say enough how much I love resale and vintage shopping. L.O.V.E., LOVE! Shopping for vintage is my favorite form of creative expression. I find it is such a fun way to be artistic. You look at a bunch of stuff, your brain sorts through to find the pieces that resonate as beautiful or special, and then you purchase them and make them your own. It involves imagination and and an artistic eye. I believe anything that in which you find, extract, or highlight beauty can be viewed as a form of creative expression...and resale and vintage shopping is one of mine!
Daily Musings:
Ride the holiday rollercoaster, and journal each day. Document the kaleidoscope of emotions you experience over the next few days. On the first day of the new year, before you make your resolutions, look back at your journal and reflect on what you learned. What emotional patterns can you let go of. Which ones are serving a purpose? What would you like to change, and commit to those changes. Make your resolutions, and make them thoughtful and reflective!
Have a wondeful day and a very very happy New Year's eve!
Monday, December 17, 2007
A Formula For Life
The Morning Muse:
How do you manifest your ideal life? I believe the secret to living a life of purpose, passion, and peace of mind comes down to a few concepts encompassed in one formula for life. INNER-EXPLORATION + OUTER EXPRESSION = THE MANIFESTATION OF TRUE HAPPINESS. In other words, the more clarity you gain on what you really want for your life (buried underneath limiting beliefs, expectations, and “shoulds”) and the more you creatively express those desires (as well as your gratitude for what you already have), the more you are able to attract the life that will bring you extreme happiness. The key to the success of this formula is to look deep enough within yourself to uncover your hidden passions and unique dreams. Once you connect with your authentic self, then you can focus your thoughts on the feeling of living in alignment with who you truly are and what you truly want…and creatively output those thoughts and feelings! When you are being creative you are able to be in the moment. You are able to get out of your head and into your heart. You can LET GO! And, if you can focus on what you want to achieve/accomplish/create AND simultaneously let go of your attachment to outcomes…what you want will actually come to you! That’s how you manifest true happiness, by attracting it. To recap… you first explore your authentic self, get a clear picture of what you really want, then you creatively express your desires, let go, and successfully attract whatever you had intended to manifest. Plus, you’ll have so much FUN creatively expressing your passions and dreams that you will often experience extreme happiness even before you manifest the “things” that you thought would bring you that same happiness. With that said… I want to tap into this formula today… I want to creatively express my desire to attract success and abundance while doing what I love…inspiring others. So, I intend to be creative with my expression of that desire (maybe create an affirmation plaque that says just that, or a goal card, or a small dream board, or a customized visualization…anything that allows me to be present with the feeling of what I want for the future). I encourage you to do the same…trust me, it is so much fun!
Gratitude Review:
1. I am grateful for the sense of completion I feel when I finish a book filled with insight and wisdom. This weekend I finished two books, The Success Principles and The Four Agreements. When I close a book after reading the last page I get a sense of accomplishment (If it’s a good book, especially fiction, I also feel a sense of loss that there is no more to read…but then I focus on the knowledge I gained by simply taking the time to read and I return to that sense of accomplishment). I am proud of myself for making it a priority to nourish my mind, for turning off the TV and picking up a book (or two books) long enough to finish them. So I am grateful for that sense of completion and acknowledgement I give myself, because that moment motivates me to pick up more and more and more books and complete them.
2. I am grateful for “Do Nothing” days. I was working extra hard last week, and even had to work on Sunday (which is my “do nothing” day). So, I made sure that I made up for it and did nothing on both Friday and Saturday. I felt refreshed and ready to get back to work. Taking the time to regroup and re-motivate is super important. I am grateful I honor that for myself.
3. I am so thankful to be living in
Daily Musings:
Create a Dream Board
A dream board is a collage on any type of board or paper that represents your dreams for the future. If you could have anything you want, what would it be? Buy some magazines; cut out words and pictures that resonate with your dreams. Add inspirational quotes. Decorate it. This is a way to start visually creating your ideal life!
Get Creative! Have fun! Let Go! Allow your dreams to start coming to you!
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Synchronicity
Synchronicity is a term coined by Swiss psychologist Carl Jung. He explained as the "'acausal connecting principle'" (i.e., a pattern of connection that cannot be explained by conventional, efficient causality).
In other words, it is when two or more events occur in a meaningful manner, seemingly coincidental but meaningful. The simplest way to describe it is the occurrence of meaningful coincidences. For example, a friend of mine, we'll call her Sue, was looking to launch an international campaign promoting water conservation and quality. I introduced her to another friend of mine, we'll call her Jane, who worked closely in the field of water quality in the greater San Diego area. Sue and Jane met, and Jane gave Sue the number of another woman, Ann. She told Sue that she should call Ann as soon as possible because she would be of great help to her campaign. A few days later, before Sue had called Ann, she ran into an old friend of hers that she hadn't seen in years. They met in a different state, and neither knew the other was in San Diego. After they got to talking for a little, Sue told her friend about her campaign and her friend recommended she talk to her sister. And get this, her sister turned out to be Ann. This is a true story that happened a few months ago. It is one of many that I hear all the time. I think moments of synchronicity are beautiful. They are moments in our lives that can tell us that we are on the right track, or sometimes they can tell us we need to turn around. The reason that I am talking about synchronicity is that I am setting my intention on encountering examples of synchronicity in the next few days. They don't need to involve me. They can be stories people relay to me about synchronistic events they experienced. I simply love hearing about the universe at work...and I truly believe...EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON. My intention for today is to keep this in mind. That way, even if things happen that don't seem to be in alignment with what I want or what I intended, I know that those events are serving a greater purpose. I encourage you to adopt this philosophy. Maybe the traffic that you get stuck in actually saves you from getting into an accident. Maybe the promotion that goes to your coworker is the incentive you need to start your own business. Maybe that heartbreak that you are feeling is teaching you something that will make it possible to love your next partner even more. All we can do is intend what we want, accept disappointments or frustrations as necessary parts of the journey or as messages to change course, and trust that what we manifest is in alignment with those original intentions and is serving our greater good. Listen to SYNCHRONICITY and remember that EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON!
GRATITUDE REVIEW:
1. I am so grateful for my health and my life. A friend of mine shared with me yesterday that she lost three of friends this past weekend and that it made her step back and appreciate her life. She said it made her want to chase her dreams even more, because life is short...why not fully live it! Amen. I am so happy to be alive and capable of chasing my dreams.
2. I am grateful for companies and small businesses that pride themselves on high quality service. I really appreciate anyone that pays attention to detail and that goes above and beyond what would be satisfactory. I wouldn't want a surgeon who wasn't focused on high quality service, why can't I expect the same thing from my printer, my banker, my waitress. I really do appreciate it, wholeheartedly, when someone is putting their all into a job. And I express my gratitude to them in any way I can.
3. I appreciate services like OnDemand and PayPerView. It is the best feeling to curl up with some of your girls to watch a chick flick and not have to go to the store to decide what to rent. That's what I did on Saturday night, and it was fabulous. We just scrolled down the list of options...AND we got to watch previews of the ones we liked! (We watched In the Land of Women, I give it a B+...but the fact that we chose it from the comfort of our home, I give that an A+) Love it!
Daily Musings:
Write down any experiences in your life that have been synchronistic. Ask yourself what that meaningful coincidence may have been telling you.
And/or...
Write down any times in your life where you were really frustrated, upset, disappointed, etc., and then looking back on that moment and all that has come after, ask yourself how that moment served a purpose. Did it teach you a lesson? Did it stop you from settling on mediocre? Did it force you to slow down and regroup? If you can't see the purpose clearly, brainstorm how it may have helped you or how it may still be helping you.
Ex. You got in a car accident last month. Ways it may have served a purpose: You needed to slow down and the accident forced you to recognize that. It also showed you how many people care about you. It taught you that life can be short and that you should start chasing your dreams. You got a new car that you love so much more, and that saves you tons of money on gas. Maybe the accident stopped you from reaching your destination because you should be going in a different direction with your life. Maybe you got in the accident so that you make sure everyone in you car wears a seatbelt from now on and that teaches one of your passengers a lesson that saves their life one day. The brainstorming possibilities can be endless...stop whenever you feel complete.
Have a wonderful day and notice synchronistic events as you remember that everything happens for a reason!
Monday, December 10, 2007
Growth Periods
Growth periods are periods of time when you are growing out of old beliefs or letting go of the past in order to move forward. They often occur after you've made some major strides forward with your life. Just like if your body is growing extra fast you can experience "growing pains". Well, if you are growing extra fast emotionally, mentally, and spiritually, you can also experience pain as you try to adjust to your new perspective. If you're on a journey of self-discovery or personal development, and you feel like you're often taking three steps forward and one step back, that one step back is a growth period. Growth periods can feel, for lack of a better word, ICKY. Some other feelings associated with growth periods are depressed, angry, irritable, sad, uncomfortable, anxious, and insecure. However, once you understand that these growth periods serve a purpose in your life, and that they are natural, it can help ease the discomfort. Take solace in knowing that a growth period is a time to catch-up, regroup, and process. Ever since I learned about growth periods I give myself permission to have them. If I am feeling sad, for example, and I know that a lot as been changing in my life (even if it has been changing for the better and it's not something that I would have thought would make me sad) I allow and honor that sadness. With the sadness I am processing the changes. And since I have given myself permission to have these growth periods, and I have released my resistance, my growth periods don't last as long as they once had and they are not nearly as intense. Always remember, "that which we resist, persists." So, today, for anyone who is feeling a little off, perhaps a little icky, I encourage you to embrace it. I am. I know that I have been flying high speed on my life journey lately and I need a little time to regroup. So I welcome this uncomfortable feeling I woke up with. It reminds me that I am making strides with my life. Yay!
Gratitude Review:
1. I am grateful that if I don't know how to do something I can easily find out how. I have access to the internet and to "how to" books. But, the best resource, and the one I call on the most, is my friends. My friends don't always know the answer, but they usually know someone who knows the answer or at least knows someone else who can help. It's kind of like the "six degrees of separation" concept. If I ask my friend how to do something and she doesn't know how but asks another friend, I will usually find someone within six people who knows the answer. And, it doesn't usually take six degrees. I often find it takes three degrees. Anyway, yesterday I asked my friend how to create CDs with recorded voice. She didn't know, but she called a good friend of hers. Her friend knew exactly how to do it, and I will be contacting her today. So, I am so grateful for how easy it is to attain knowledge, and I am grateful for the network of resources that start with having good friends.
2. I am so thankful for the 20% off coupon I got from Bed, Bath, and Beyond. It came in the mail last week. It was just sitting on my counter. I had no plans to use it. Then, my space heater broke yesterday. (If you've read my blog in the past, you know that my apartment gets really cold...apparently I've mentioned it a few times...as my friend pointed out to me yesterday) So, when my heater broke, even though it was a pretty shabby space heater to begin with, I was momentarily in shock....but then I saw the 20% off coupon. So, I went right over to BB & B. Now I have a heater that works even better and I am so happy. It was a fabulous lesson in life. Sometimes things have to fall apart in order to seek out newness in your life. So, thanks to the coupon, my old heater, my new heater, and BB&B for bringing warmth to my life...and reminding me that everything happens for a reason.
3. I am grateful for my family. My family lives on the East Coast and I only get to see them a few times a year. So...even though they are not part of my daily routine here in Cali, there are still on my mind and in my heart. My mom and sis are coming out to visit next week and I am really excited to see them and have some girl time (sorry pops).
Daily Musings:
If you find yourself in a growth period, be gentle with yourself and let go of your resistance. Remember this quote:
The best way out is always through.
-Robert FrostHave a wonderful day...give yourself permission to feel however you are feeling!!!
Thursday, December 6, 2007
The Company You Keep
The people you surround yourself with can either lift you up, bring you down, or keep you stuck just where you are. Now, of course, in an ideal world you are not affected by anything or anyone around you. But, that is the ideal and not the reality for most people. Be conscious of who you decide to spend your time with. Think about what you want to create in your life, your intentions, and ask yourself if the company you keep share those intentions for their life. If they do not, ask yourself if they support your intentions. Would they judge you if you shared your dreams with them? Would they impose their self-limiting beliefs on you? Would they crush your dreams with cynicism? I call these people "dream crushers." I choose to either cut out these "dream crushers" from my life, if and when I can, or I at least identify them to myself so I can be aware of it when they are trying to crush my dreams. I am not saying to kick all your friends to the curb if they don't share or support your visions, but I am saying you can be conscious of the amount of time you spend with them, the extent to which your share your dreams with them, and the role that they are serving in your life. You always want to keep that attitude of gratitude and unconditional love. Be grateful for the role they once served or the role they are still serving and send them love, but protect yourself with your awareness. In addition to assessing the support you are getting from the current company you are keeping, you can begin to think about the kinds of people you would like to surround yourself with. Are they creative types? Are they entrepreneurs? Are they intelligent, kind, supportive, successful, loving, giving, thoughtful? By even thinking about the kind of people you would like to surround yourself with you are attracting those people into your life. Think about your vision and your values. If you want to be a successful painter, you might want to focus your thoughts on meeting some successful artists. If you want to be a healer, you might want to focus your intention on loving, giving, and healing friends. Lastly, I want to make the point that for those of you who are blessed to already be surrounded by friends and family that support or share your intentions, first be very grateful and then begin to think about how you can harness this uplifting support or shared vision. My suggestion is to bring these people together to focus on that vision. Perhaps, you invite them over for dinner to discuss your dreams, and their dreams as well. And, to lift each other up! It is very powerful to combine love and intention in a group setting. If you don't have that support system yet, join a group with a shared goal. Many local women's groups, men's groups, support groups, etc.., can be found in a simple google search. If a group you are looking for doesn't exist, start one. I am! In January, I am starting a women's group in San Diego. My intention for the group is to support each other's needs and goals. To offer each other advice, and support, and help make each other's dreams a reality. That's my intention for the group in January, my intention for today is to bring people together. I intend to be a "connector". If I have a friend who needs something that I know another friend provides, I will bring them together. Or, if I know two people with a shared dream, I want to introduce them. I want to connect people all day today, whenever possible. Connecting people is extremely rewarding. It's like being a matchmaker, but with out all the drama!
Gratitude Review:
1. I am grateful for this blog. I am so thankful to have a place to set my intention. Yesterday, I set my intention on attracting money... guess what, a deal involving more money that I had been pushing for finally went through. YAY! It was incredible. So, believe me when I say... Money is easy to attract. After yesterday, I believe it more than I already had. So, now I can set my intention on even more abundance (I have to admit that I set a limit on the amount I was attracting). But, I am so appreciative of the money I've already created, and the fact that I have this blog to share my successes as examples for others. I feel blessed.
2. I have said it before, but because of my topic this morning I will say it again. I am so so so grateful for the company I keep. My inner circle of friends include visionaries and creators, which lift my visions and my creative power. I love you all.
3. I once wrote about my gratitude for my alarm clock, but I need to add something to that. I am so grateful for the snooze button on the alarm clock. My alarm clock makes sure I am on time, but the snooze button allows me to ease into the morning. I love how 8 minutes feels like forever when you are trying to get up. If I get an extra 8-16 minutes, I feel like it makes all the difference. It's so funny... the mind is powerful and silly!
Daily Musings:
The exercise for today is two-fold...
1. Make a list of the people you surround yourself with the most. As you are writing down their names, ask yourself if they uplift you, bring you down, keep you stuck, crush your dreams, support you dreams, share your intentions. You can write that down next to their names as well as what purpose they have served or are serving in your life. Express you gratitude for what they have given you. Make a conscious effort to surround yourself with the people on the lift that are uplifting, supportive, loving, or share your vision.
2. Bring those positive people together. For example, invite them over for dinner or to a restaurant or out for tea. Or, join an existing group. Or, start a group with a goal that's in alignment with your values, intentions, and visions.
Surround yourself with love and have the most wonderful day!
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Attracting More Money
MONEY IS EASY TO ATTRACT. This is my new mantra! Our thoughts are so very powerful. What we think, believe, and feel creates who we are, what we do in our lives, and WHAT WE HAVE (including financial abundance). It does not serve you well to hold on to limiting beliefs like, you have to work hard to make money or you need money to make money or only the rich get richer. Here's the deal... even if you don't buy into the "thoughts create things" mentally, how are your limiting beliefs around money helping you create money? The answer is... they are not. So, why not focus on the positive, start feeling like you are already living in financial abundance, and affirm that MONEY IS EASY TO ATTRACT. Also, be grateful. Start appreciating any money you do have. When you pay your bills, thank the universe for the fact that you are making the money to pay them (even if it just the minimums on your credit card bills). And, if you are having trouble paying your bills and/or you are in debt, please do not focus on your debt (I know this seems hard... but again, how is it serving you to focus on something negative?). Instead affirm to yourself that money is coming to you in abundance. How does it feel? See yourself writing the checks that give you your financial freedom. See your bank account growing! For anyone, who is hearing this for the first time...this may seem silly. But it works. A few years ago, I was in a bad place financially. During this time, there was a 1 year class I wanted to enroll in. It was expensive, and given my situation it seemed impossible for me to find the money for this course. Then, I was introduced to the power of my thoughts, beliefs, and feelings. I started focusing on the course and visualizing myself sitting in the room learning. I told myself the money was coming, and I accepted it as fact. I had certainty. Within the next few weeks, I had an influx of job opportunities and made a substantial amount of money. And, then what sealed the deal was I sold an old car of mine that I had never got around to advertising. It was just sitting across the street with a for sale sign in the window and my landlord at the time asked me who was selling that car. After I told him it was me, he promptly purchased it. Just like that. He came to me. The money came to me and I was able to take my class. After that, I was a believer, "thoughts create things!" So, today I am going to set my intention on attracting more money into my life, AN ABUNDANCE OF MONEY IS COMING TO ME! Tell yourself the same thing, and make sure to go to the feeling place of it. See yourself having what you want, and feel what that feels like. That is what I am going to do today. For me, right now, more money means more shopping (amongst other more selfless things) and visualizing that feels GREAT!
Gratitude Review:
1. In keeping with the theme of the Morning Muse, I am grateful for all the money I have and all the money I am attracting. There is a skewed mentally out there that it is "superficial" or "materialistic" to focus on money. Why? As long as you realize that money is not the answer to happiness, and that there are many other ways to bring happiness into your life, there is no reason you can't also realize that money creates amazing opportunities and possibilities. If your life can be abundant in love and creativity and wisdom, than it can also be abundant in money. I am thankful for the knowledge that our thoughts are powerful. I am grateful that MONEY IS EASY TO ATTRACT.
2. I am thankful that San Diego has amazing Mexican food. I am not saying that San Diego is lacking in the culinary area, but coming from New York I am a bit spoiled. So, instead of focusing on the lack... I am focusing on the abundance of yummy Mexican food. Also, there is an amazing Russian restaurant in North Park, Pomegranate, that I recommend you try if you are in San Diego. I love food!
3. I am grateful for the opportunity to help people transform their lives. As a life coach, it is amazing to see how the smallest shift in someone's perception can be a greater shift in their life's direction, a direction more in alignment with who they truly are. I am thankful be a part of that kind of transformation.
Daily Musings:
My tip for today is a recommendation for a book. It is called THINK AND GROW RICH by Napoleon Hill. The inside cover explains that "after interviewing more than five hundred of the most affluent men and women of his time (it was first published in 1937), Hill uncovered the secret to great wealth, based on the notion that if we can learn to think like the rich, we can discover wealth and success". It is really fabulous, and if you've never heard the concepts before, it can be life changing.
Have a wonderful day and enjoy the abundance of money you are attracting with your thoughts!!
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
The Secret Truth to Relationships #2
I don't know who told me as I was growing up that my partner needs to be "everything" in my life. I just know that I used to have this misconception that my partner needed to be my strength, my best friend, my love, my heart...etc. Now, I know this sounds romantic, to say to someone, "you are my everything," but this is a dangerous concept. The secret truth to relationships #2 is that your partner does not need to be everything to you... you are everything to yourself. Your partner may offer all of those things to you, which is wonderful, but my point is that we do not need to look outside of ourselves for all of those things . There may be days or moments in time when your partner is unable to be all of those things to you, because he/she is busy being "everything" to himself. If you don't understand the secret truth to relationships #2 then during those days or moments in time you will feel lost. If you knew that you are already your strength, your best friend, the love of your love, your heart... then you would be able to be there, to truly love your partner, when your partner has nothing to give and just needs support and patience. The old saying still holds true... the more you love yourself, the more you are able to love someone else. You are your everything! Your partner can add beauty to your life, but only you are at the core of your happiness and completeness. If you can accept the secret truth to relationships #2, you will not only feel a more whole love, but your partner will feel it to. Like with the secret truth to relationships #1 (You can only control yourself), the more you work on yourself, the richer your relationship becomes.
So, my intention for the day is to be "everything" to myself. This does not mean that I need to do everything for myself, and that I will try to be superwoman and not accept help. You can be "everything" to yourself and allow other people to help you be more. Just because you can be "everything," don't forget that other people bring beauty, knowledge, more love, and friendship to your life. Anyway, today is my day to practice being my best friend, my strength, my greatest love, and my heart! I will love myself, listen attentively to what I need, take care of myself, and support my dreams... all day long!
Gratitude Review:
1. Even though I can be "everything" to myself, I want to thank my boyfriend for taking the strong foundation I've created for myself and decorating it with extra love, support, and beauty. He adds so much to my life and I am so grateful to be able to share myself with him.
2. I am so very appreciative for having a vision for what I want for my future. Yesterday I wrote about my creative vision, and I set my intention to move along the path toward realizing that vision. Well, yesterday I got an e-mail from my friend, Vanessa, that's opening the personal development school in San Diego and she wanted me to attend a teacher's introduction tonight. This is definitely a step towards my vision. Watching and helping her create her Center for Higher Learning, as well as teaching at the center, will be invaluable when I am creating my creativity center. So, I am thankful for having a vision to move towards.
3. I am grateful for down comforters. It was so cold in my apartment last night that I had to sleep with two down comforters. I know that all of you outside of San Diego, especially my peeps from NY, are thinking that it couldn't possibly be that cold in SD. Well, it is freezing INSIDE. That's because a lot of apartments in San Diego, because it is warm enough 85% of the time, are made with ZERO insulation. I feel like I am sleeping outside. Probably because the windows that bring in so much natural light, the windows that sold me on the apartment, are so drafty (there is like a quarter of an inch of space open to the outside air!) Anyway, I am really not complaining... I am simply explaining why I am so grateful for my 2 down comforters!
Daily Musings:
One way to give to yourself to day is to make sure that your self-talk is affirming all your positive qualities, capabilities, and potential.
If you catch yourself mentally or verbally putting yourself down in any way, switch that statement to a positive one.
Try an affirmation for yourself:
An affirmation for yourself is a positive declaration of who you are or a statement of your goals as if they are already complete. An affirmation should be specific, like “I am a talented young woman who is excellent at photography” or "I am delighted with my new career as a professional photographer". Affirmations can also be beliefs you are adopting. For example, "Everything happens for a reason". Write out your affirmation. Hang it on your mirror, by your computer, or in your car. Start believing so you can start achieving!
Monday, December 3, 2007
Creative Vision
A creative vision is your greatest dream. It is what drives you. It is what you want to create in the future, what you want your future to look like. It is what you work towards. Do you have a creative vision? I do. I will share my creative vision with you. After a lot of self-exploration, I've realized what I value, what I have to offer to the world, and what makes my heart sing. My creative vision incorporates all of the above. My creative vision is to create a space, a physical environment, that is dedicated to fostering community and creativity amongst women. In this creativity center, I want to offer personal services (like life coaching or style consulting) and group workshops and classes (to educate women on various topics, like personal development, meditation, spirituality, manifestation, gratitude, arts and crafts...etc.). And, it will also be a boutique. So, women can also gather to shop for unique cards and gifts, vintage pieces (clothes, boots, jewelry), and spiritual/inspirational books. I can see it now... The MUSE Boutique and Creativity Center. I can see young women and women who are young at heart coming in and out all day...leaving more inspired and more educated, and perhaps with a fantastic vintage dress to wear on a date that night! The reason I am talking about my creative vision is to encourage you to start thinking about your own dreams for the future. And, since The Morning Muse is where I set my intention for the day... I wanted to set my intention on my creative vision. Today, I am setting the intention that whatever I do today, whoever I meet, and wherever I go it is in alignment with my creative vision. I am asking the universe...if anything needs to happen today to bring me closer to my dream, I will embrace it. Now, I must disclaim to all of you that I might not have anything big to report tomorrow, because when you are setting your intention on your greatest dream, even the smallest shift in one day can bring you closer to manifestation (but it may be a shift you don't even notice). So, I am saying, BRING IT ON, BIG OR SMALL!
Gratitude Review:
1. I am grateful for the bond women can create in a group setting. Yesterday, I held a creativity workshop in which we created dream boards (I call them Manifestation Boards). It was so wonderful to be around women, focusing on their dreams, chatting about their life, and supporting each other when necessary. It was fantastic! It inspired me to start a women's group that meets monthly on the last Friday of the month (starting in January). The intention of the group is to support each member with whatever they need at that given time. If you live in San Diego and you are interested, please e-mail me at... jk@themuselifecoaching.com. Anyway, I am so grateful for women's groups and for the particular group from yesterday. Thank you for sharing your feelings and your dreams with the group.
2. I am thankful for Ocean Beach. OB is the town that I live in, and I am very grateful to be living here. Of course, the main reason is that I live so close to the ocean and that even when I don't make it down to the water I can still feel the ocean in the air. However, there are other reasons. I've already mentioned in a previous posting how much I love the OB farmer's market. I also love the fact that there are always people, very very unique people, out and about (it kind of makes me nostalgic for NYC). But, the most recent reason I am grateful to be living in OB is...the OB Christmas Parade. Oh my...it is awesome. Nobody takes themselves too seriously, or seriously at all. The "floats" that went by or the groups that where "marching" where all there to HAVE FUN. If you live in the area, and you want to be surrounded by people that are simply looking to have fun and spread fun, then go the OB Christmas Parade next year. I am thankful I did.
3. I am grateful for my life, all of it. I always give gratitude for the aspects of my life that I am thankful for, but I am thankful for all of it (the seemingly good and the seemingly bad). Why not take a holistic approach to my Gratitude Review. I am thankful for everything that is a part of who I am, because I am happy with who that is!
Daily Musings:
Ask yourself this question... WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU KNEW YOU COULD NEVER FAIL?
Take out your journal, if you have one, or a piece of paper, if you don't. Start writing your response to the above question. Don't stop writing until you feel you've completely answered the question. When you are done writing, ask yourself a few more questions...
WHAT ARE SOME ASPECTS OF YOUR RESPONSE THAT YOU CAN START MANIFESTING TODAY? WHAT CAN BE INCLUDED IN YOUR CREATIVE VISION? HOW CAN YOU START LIVING IN ACCORDANCE WITH THAT VISION?
REMEMBER: Without a question, you'll never find your answer! Have a great day!
Friday, November 30, 2007
Cleansed and Grounded
It's been pouring rain this morning in San Diego. It's still funny to me that rain is something to talk about here in SD. But, it is. When it rains, it is an event. In NY, there was one spring that it rained almost every weekend. When there was a weekend without rain...that was something to talk about! Anyway, there is a reason I am bringing up the rain in the first place. When I woke up this morning, and I was lying in bed looking out my window, I watched the rain come down. It felt therapeutic. I felt calm and relaxed. Why did the rain have that effect on me? I thought about how the rain was coming down to wash away impurities and that the downward flow of the rain was extremely grounding. I guess, even by simply watching it come down outside my window, the rain had a powerful effect on me. I thought about how I also feel that way when I take a shower, cleansed and grounded! So, I thought that I should use the rain as the inspiration for my day. Aside from a shower, which is always on my agenda for the day, what else could I do to promote my cleansing and grounding? What I came up with is a fairly long list of possibilities. I will share a few with you.
-Meditate (visualize)
-Clean out and organize my desk
-Clean out the fridge
-Take a walk in the rain (I most likely won't choose to do this one! It's too cold.)
-Get a pedicure and foot massage
-Take a bubble bath
I am going to pick a few from my long list and incorporate them into my day. Also, I am setting my intention to attract activities and experiences that offer me that feeling of being cleansed and grounded.
Gratitude Review:
1. Of course, I have to give my thanks to the rain. Not only because it is free therapy, but because it has also become inspiration. Aspects of nature have always been inspiration for the arts...why not inspiration for the theme of our day!
2. I am so very grateful for my Mastermind Group. A Mastermind Group is a small group of like-minded people that get together for a common purpose, to help each of the individuals within that group accomplish their goals. Sometimes there are shared goals, joint ventures, sometimes one member's goal requires the assistance of the other members, or sometimes the members just offer each other emotional support and guidance on the path to accomplishing their goal. Anyway, my Mastermind Group is amazing. There are three of us and we often refer to ourselves as the "Happy Cats" (a reference to the Chinese cats that are symbols for prosperity). We met last night and I can't express how much I appreciate both of them. After every meeting I am always filled with gratitude. Not to mention that I am usually also left feeling super-motivated and excited about my path. Thank you Happy Cats.
3. I am grateful for the advancement in technology, specifically I am grateful for GoogleEarth. I downloaded it last night (for free) and spent an hour visiting places in the United States that I had either lived or visited. I was with my boyfriend and I was able to show him my childhood home and my high school. It was so much fun. Check it out...www.earth.google.com. Technology is so amazing!
Daily Musings:
Create a list of anything that makes you feel cleansed and grounded. The list can include things that make you feel one or the other, or preferably both. A lot of times when we clean up or clean out we will feel more grounded as a result. However, you know yourself better than anyone. Before you add anything to the list, ask yourself how you have felt after or would feel after you completed that action. Would you feel cleansed? Grounded? Get creative with your list, make it at least 10 items long. Once your list is complete, choose 2 of the items and incorporate them into your day (even if it is not raining where you are!)
Enjoy your day, set your intention, and find inspiration within nature!
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Random Acts of Kindness
Random acts of kindness are selfless, giving acts to help, uplift, or better someone else's life. They are often unplanned. They can be as simple as paying the toll of the car behind you or as grand as donating a large some of money to a charity that comes knocking at your door. There exists a theory (made popular in the Kevin Spacey movie, Pay it Forward) that if everyone sets their intention to practice three random acts of kindness as repayment for every one they receive, random acts of kindness would spread throughout society and create a social movement. Although, a social movement of kindness is motivation enough to start doing these random acts, there is another reason to practice random acts of kindness. And, ironically, it is a selfish reason. I know this goes against the definition of a random act of kindness being selfless. But, hear me out. I am the biggest supporter of personal development and self-growth (The self-improvement section of the bookstore is a very dangerous place for my wallet). I believe that one aspect of personal development is to look deeply at yourself, BUT... I believe that in order to truly grow, to raise your vibration, you need to embrace the power of altruism. Random acts of kindness are one way to start being altruistic on a daily basis. Outputting goodness into the world breaks self-absorbant and self-obsessive patterns. SO, even though random acts of kindness are supposed to be selfless, I don't see any harm in using them to better yourself and your spirit. It is a win/win situation. If we all practiced random acts of kindness, for selfless or selfish motivations, with the intention of changing the world or changing ourselves, we will ultimately accomplish both. The more we change the world for the better, the better we each become. The more we change ourselves for the better, the better the world becomes. This is the power of altruism! So, I am setting the intention to practice at least three random acts of kindness today, regardless if I have received one or not, and I encourage you to join me. Let's spread kindness together!
*Sidenote* I want to give you an example of how setting your intention in the morning really can work to create your day and change your life. Yesterday I met a wonderfully bright and enthusiastic girl, a friend of a friend, who had bean reading my blog. She was so excited to share her story with me about how she set her intention in the morning and all these amazing things started happening. She is a teacher and yesterday she set her intention on career development and she received not one but two opportunities to advance her career, one of which she had been waiting on for the longest time. See...setting your intention really works!
Gratitude Review:
1. I am grateful to be able to use my words to make a difference, however small, in someone's life. I have said it before, but I will say it again... knowledge is power. So, if you have insight, share it! I am so thankful to be given opportunities to convey my messages. I am grateful for the internet, for the schools that I teach classes, for the pads and pads of paper that I keep my notes. We are living in the information age, and although we need to filter the information we take in, I am so thankful to be living in this age.
2. I am extremely appreciative of farmer's markets. I live in Ocean Beach, here in San Diego, and they have a farmer's market every Wednesday night. In NYC, I used to go to the one in Union Square. Anyway, the OB farmer's market is particularly wonderful. I just love walking around and checking out all the organic fruit and yummy chocolates (oh, and I love, love, love all the samples). Also, there is always some local musician or musicians playing infectious music. There is a real feeling of community, and an amazing energy to the market scene. Even if I only buy one little thing, I am always happy I experienced it. So, I am thankful for all farmer's markets, but especially the OB farmer's market.
3. I am grateful for worn-in sweats. There is nothing better than coming home after a long day and slipping into my old West Virginia sweatshirt (which I think I might have actually gotten at a thrift store in West Virginia) and a pair of comfy sweatpants. I am especially thankful for my sweats when it gets colder in San Diego and I have drafts coming through my windows (my place may have lots of character, but what it doesn't have is insulation). So, thank you warm and comfy sweats!
Daily Musings:
Todays tip is to practice random acts of kindness (try to do at least three)!
- Tenzin Gyatso (the 14th Dalai Lama)
I believe that includes kindness! Have an amazingly altruistic day!
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
The Secret Truth to Relationships #1
There are secret truths to relationships that should've be taught to us before we even started dating as teenagers. I can't believe that after 15 years of dating and committed relationships I only recently started to learn and accept these truths.
Secret Truth to Relationships #1: You can't control your partners, you can only control yourself! This may seem like common sense, but ask yourself how many times you've tried to control your partners. You may not have even realized you were doing it. Have you ever been disappointed when your partner did not meet your expectations? Have you tried to get them to change something about themselves, even something little? Have you resorted to "game" techniques in an attempt to elicit a desired response? Those are all ways, however harmless the intention, that we try to control our partners. Here's the most amazing thing... if you focus on yourself, on making yourself a more evolved partner, and give your partner love and support instead of criticism, you are actually giving them the space to make changes (changes that make the relationship better). If you give up the control and give in to unconditional love, you are in turn getting a richer relationship. And, if your partner, after your gift of unconditional love combined with honest communication, does not evolve with you, then you have the power to choose to stay in the relationsip or find one that is more compatible. Again, the only thing you can control is yourself and your actions. So, if you are following the Secret Truth to Relationships #1, and find yourself in an unfilling relationship, you have the power to leave. Just know that you did all you could. However, being the optimist that I am, and being that I personally have seen my relationships improve by accepting that I can not control my partners, I believe that in some way your relationship will deepen even if is in unexpected ways. My intention for today is to remember Secret Truth to Relationships #1 and give my boyfriend extra love and support.
(If your interested in more Secret Truths to Relationships, keep reading my blog!)
Gratitude Review:
1. I am so thankful for the lessons I learn. I am thankful to come across people that teach me lessons and I am thankful to be the kind of person that is open to learning new lessons. I used to be a stubborn girl, but I have grown into an open-minded woman, and I am proud of that. I am constantly growing, my relationships are constantly deepening, and my life is constantly evolving! I am very grateful for that and I owe it to all the lessons I am taught and accept.
2. I am grateful for the generosity of friends. I am so thankful to have friends that want to lift up the people around them. They want success and happiness for their loved ones as much as they want it for themselves, and I am grateful to be surrounded by these people. For example, my friend, Vanessa, is opening a personal development school in San Diego this January. She has invited me to teach classes there, and I have welcomed the invitation. She asked me because she supports my dreams and the message I deliver to my students. I feel the same way about her mission. I am grateful to have a friend like her and to be able to give her the same support she gives me. If your interested, check out the classes on her website, www.illuminateyourlight.com, she will be having open houses in the month of December (and she has phone classes for distance learning).
3. I am so grateful for Wite-Out tape. It is the most amazing invention. you don't need to wait for the wite-out to dry and it makes the most perfect lines. I need to buy stock in this product because I am addicted to it. In fact, I probably use wite-out too much because I love using the wite-out tape. Oh well, it's freed me from worrying about being too perfect!
Daily Musings:
Rumi said it best when describing our quest for love and enriching relationships...
“Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.”
Have a wonderful day and make sure to give unconditional love whenever you can!
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Embrace Your Creativity!
Creativity is a core value to me. It is the basis of my coaching style, it is a powerful tool for self-growth, and if you know how to harness it...you can use it to attract the things you want in life. When I am being creative I am in a zone. My intention is at an all-time high. And, if I focus my intention on something while I am being creative I can attract that something into my life. Like what? Well, with creativity I have attracted the apartment I am living in, my roommate, my boyfriend, and my career, for example. How? I use various creative tools (Creative Visualizations, journaling techniques, Manifestation Boards, and a bunch of other tools that I teach people in my Artful Manifestation classes). It is very important to me to stay in touch with my creativity, but in order to guarantee myself creative time every week I have to set aside a special time to feed my creativity. It keeps my creative juices flowing. Right now, Tuesdays are my creative days. I am taking a class called "A Painterly Approach to Collage" at the San Diego Art Department. Collage is one of my favorite ways to be creative. And, since I also love acrylic painting, the class is a wonderful fit for me. I can use the collage techniques I am learning in this class whenever I am creating my Manifestation Boards! So exciting. Anyway, getting back on track, today I am setting the intention to 1. learn a cool, new technique in class tonight and 2. when I am in my creative zone, to focus my thoughts on something that I want to attract into my life (not sure yet what that will be...but I have the whole day to prepare!).
Gratitude Review:
1. Keeping in the line with the creativity theme, I am so grateful for all the imagination in the world. Sometimes I look around a room and I am blown away by the amount of creativity. I am looking around my room now and I see my antique dresser. My dresser has these intricate handles on every drawer. Somebody created these handles. They exist because first they existed in someones mind. I can also see my curtains. They are from India and they are stitched with gold thread (not real gold, but the color gold). They are stitched in the coolest pattern. And, again I think how amazing it is that someone first created that pattern in their mind and now that pattern is on curtains that are decorating my windows. I am so so so grateful for original thought. The products of innovation and imagination are everywhere around us! I LOVE IT!
2. I am thankful for my roommate. I live in the most wonderful apartment. It is not only wonderful because I live a block and half from the beach, or because we have huge windows that bring in the natural light, or because it is filled with eclectic decorations with so much personality...it is wonderful because it is filled with love. My roommate is one of my best friends and we manifested this apartment together and when we moved in we brought with us positivity and abundant love. I always feel at home when I am here. And, everyone that visits us always comments on how comfortable they feel it our apartment. I have an amazing roommate and I want to take this opportunity to thank her.
3. I am thankful for alarm clocks. Even though I don't feel gratitude when mine goes off in the morning, I am appreciative for its existence. For without my alarm clock I would not make it to early morning events or all the events that happen after a late afternoon nap. I would not make it on time for work. I would miss airplane flights. The list could go on and on. So, I am grateful for my alarm clock and all the alarm clocks that help run our world.
Daily Musings:
Here is a fabulous quote by F. Scott Fitzgerald:
Monday, November 26, 2007
Monday, Monday
The Monday morning after any holiday is the perfect time to set your intention. The holiday is over and it is back to work. There is that rebellious side in all of us that resists returning to our scheduled lives and has at least a little trouble letting go of the vacation mindset. Well, this is just the time to set your intention. Intend to have an exciting day amongst the routine. Intend to breeze through your day with confidence. Intend to laugh. Intend to accomplish all that you set out to and more. Intend to make a difference in somebody's life. Intend to have fun. However you want the day to unfold... intend it. Please, don't fall victim to the Monday Blues. Make this Monday different, create it the way you want. I am setting my intention on a productive, yet effortless Monday. I intend to complete some tasks that I had been putting off (Ex. renewing license, purchasing an airline ticket for an upcoming trip, returning calls from the weekend, and prepping the classes I teach). I intend to accomplish these goals with ease, in a timely manner, and while having fun! Why not throw in the fun part? So, I encourage all of you to set your intentions for the day, and throw in some unexpected fun while you are at it!
Gratitude Reviews:
1. I am so grateful to be healthy. I watched Michael Moore's Sicko last night and I was appalled at the state of our healthcare system here in America. Now, I must say that I make it a point to not immerse myself in the news, because I don't completely trust the information, but this documentary was straightforward and honest. He was presenting facts from the people, and showing the audience the alternative systems that are successful in other parts of the Western world. I have to say I am an optimist, and I am always trying to put a positive spin on everything. So here is my positive spin on the healthcare matter... Universal Healthcare works. Let's all be pro-Universal Healthcare. I refuse to focus on the corruption of the existing system. Instead I choose to think progressively. I will support universal healthcare and I will support politicians that support universal healthcare. The only way to move forward is to look forward. You can't move forward while looking back, focusing on the frustration, and wasting your energy on all that's negative. Let's look at what's working (even if it is in other countries) and put our energy on the positive. Anyway, I am sorry for the rant... I don't even consider myself political, but I wanted to use my optimism for the greater good. Let's all be pro-Universal Healthcare. And, I want to reiterate my gratitude for being healthy!
2. I am grateful for good conversation, intellectual, enlightening, and stimulating conversation. I love that moment when you are in a deep discussion with someone and you are both listening to each other without pretenses and you can feel the connection that you are sharing. So, I want to thank everyone that comes into my office and shares a bit of themselves with me through a simple conversation about life.
3. On a more supeficial note, I am extremely appreciative of e-bay. For without e-bay I would not have my very rockin', size 7, black leather motorcycle boots. And, I love love love these boots. I am wearing them right now and they make me very happy.
Daily Musings:
In the movie, The Secret, it is mentioned how Mother Theresa refused to attend any anti-war rally. However, she said if there was ever a pro-peace rally, she would attend that! Think about that. What cause could you greater support by taking a more "pro-" stance? It doesn't have to be a political cause. On any level, think of 3 things you've been resisting or fighting against. How can you spin it so that you are focusing your energy on the positive.
Ex. Let's say you are unappy with your current job. Instead of waking up every morning in resistance, saying "I don't want to go to this job," become the biggest propent of a new job opportunity for yourself. Be pro-New Job! (Sidenote- still be grateful for all that you do have... like the fact that you have a job and anything else you can be thankful for that comes along with that job.)
The Exercise:
1. Write down the three biggest things you've been fighting or resisting in your life.
2. Turn that negative thinking into positive thinking. Write down your positive stance for each of the three.
3. Name each "Pro-________".
4. For each of the three, write down anything associated with them for which you can be grateful.
(depending on what you are fighting or resisting, you might need to look very deep to find the gratitude...but it is there!)
Have a wonderful day and stay healthy and happy!
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Do Nothing
To me Sundays are about relaxation, restoration, and readying. RELAXATION is an important part of the day because you are giving yourself permission to be in the moment, to be present, and to enjoy THE ART OF DOING NOTHING. In today's society, we are constantly being stimulated, whether that stimulation comes from outside forces, like the media, car horns or huge billboards, or from inside ourselves, like when we lose ourselves in mental to-do lists, fixate on the future, or create drama just to feel intensity. But constant stimulation has its cost. It wreaks havoc on our minds and our bodies. Have you ever felt like you couldn't turn off the mental chatter about how to prepare for an upcoming event? Do past conversations run on a loop in your mind? Do you feel wound up? Or, are you so tired all the time that it is a chore to get yourself out of bed every morning? These are just some examples of what over-stimulation can do to the mind and body. If we can simply take the time to wind down, at least one day a week, we gift ourselves a scheduled time to RESTORE from the past few days and READY ourselves for the next few. I do it on Sundays. I do it in many different ways, I may do it at extra times during the week, but I make sure to always do it on Sundays. I cherish that time that I schedule for ME! So, what do I do.... NOTHING (well, that can be misleading...I do whatever feels like nothing, like no effort, like quiet, like peacefulness, like calm). Examples include, taking a nap in the middle of the day, sitting on the beach and watching the waves, getting a massage, taking a bubble bath, meditating or doing breathing exercises, getting a manicure and pedicure, or sometimes I'll do an art project that simply involves coloring or doodling. So, today I am setting my intention to relax, rejuvenate and ready myself for next week!
P.S. Yesterday I set my intention to get a phone call that would advance my career and one of my clients called me and offered a testimonial on the power of my words... it doesn't get much better than that!
Gratitude Reviews:
1. Today I want to give special thanks to my sister. She is an extremely talented graphic designer and is diligently working on my website, even as I am typing. I am grateful for her creativity and talent, as well as her friendship.
2. I am grateful for good food! I'll tell anyone who is interested that I love eating, but the truth is that I love eating good food. I am grateful that I get to experience bursts of flavor and intense satisfaction each time I have a good meal, like last night's sushi dinner. I am so appreciative that I have food on my plate every day, but I have to express my extra appreciation when that food is prepared well. So, thank you to my sushi chef last night!
3. I am so grateful for whoever invented hair clips, hair ties, scarfs, and head bands. I have so much hair. It hangs down way lower than my shoulder blades and it often seems to be everywhere around me. That's why I love anything that can control my hair, keep it out of my face, and still make me look cute. Thank you, thank you, thank you, for hair accessories.
Daily Musings:
Here's a tip for the day...
Catch yourself at random times throughout the day and notice your breathing patterns. Are you breathing really shallow? Are you holding your breath? Are you breathing from your chest instead of your diaphragm? In those moments that you catch yourself, take 7 deep breaths from your belly. Belly breathing is how we breathe when we are most relaxed, it is how babies breathe.
When you breathe in, make sure you breathe into your belly.
Watch your belly expand (not your chest).
You can put your hand on your belly and notice as your hand moves outward with your inhalation.
When you breathe out, make sure you breathe out from your belly.
Watch your belly contract.
Notice as your hand moves inward with your exhalation.
*Repeat 7 times*
Saturday, November 24, 2007
An Ideal Saturday
How would I like my day to unfold? Today I would like to experience a healthy balance of accomplishment and relaxation. To me that's the perfect Saturday! I usually like to cross things off my to-do list at the beginning of the day (I love the feeling of accomplishment I get from simply crossing something off my list...anyone who makes to-do lists knows that feeling) and then celebrate after by having some fun. Fun, for me, involves having brunch with my boyfriend or friends, walking to the ocean (if I was still living in New York this would be adapted to "walking to the East Village"), shopping at a flea market (in San Diego it's Kobey's Swap Meet and in NYC it used to be the flea market on 23rd and Broadway before it closed down, which on a side note was an extremely depressing moment in my life), or reading a book anywhere outside (a hammock or lounge chair are usually the best). So, for today... I want to cross at least two things of my list and then go to brunch, sit outside, and people watch (a favorite past-time of mine for as long as I can remember). I also want to set the intention that I will receive one phone call today involving the advancement in my career! I'll let you know tomorrow what it turns out to be.
Gratitude Review:
1. The first thing that comes to mind is to be grateful that the sun is shining and it is a beautiful day. I know this sounds so cliche and extremely corny, but the fact that it is two days after Thanksgiving and it is 70 degrees outside will never lose it's appeal to this girl from the East Coast.
2. I am also thankful that we are living in the information age. I think that knowledge is power. I think that the insight you find in books, from classes, on the internet, or from the people who cross your path each day, can change your life. Information expands your mind to possibilities you didn't even know existed before you become privy to that information. As your mind expands, and you see more options and alternatives for your life, you can change the direction your life is taking. I am thankful for every conversation I have every day. I am thankful for every line I read every day. I am thankful for every lesson I am taught every day. And I am open to new information every day! I am a sponge, and each new insight absorbed changes my life. Today I am specifically thankful to Jack Canfield for the lessons I am learning in his book, the Success Principles.
3. I am thankful that the people I love and surround myself with are positive, loving, creative, healthy, talented, and giving. This helps me to be more positive, loving, creative, healthy, talented, and giving. The people you surround yourself with can either lift you up or bring you down. I am so very grateful to have relationships that lift me higher than I could go by myself. Today I want to give special thanks to my boyfriend's mom, who is in town for the weekend. She exemplifies a successful woman with character and confidence. Being around her brings out the parts of myself that are the most successful, of the stongest character, and have the highest level of confidence. So, thank you to her and all my friends and family for making me a better person.
Daily Musings:
I love this quote by Benjamin Franklin...
Then do not squander time,
for that is the stuff life is made of.