Proof Doing What You Love Leads to Success

I LOVE finding proof that doing what you love leads to success, both in pleasure and also financially speaking. After all, we have to pay the rent, right?

Todd Geer is a local videographer and he of course likes to take photos, but he doesn't make much money from his stills.

Well, back in 2008 he took a photo of Loveland's beautiful Fourth of July fireworks display--without a tripod. He admits it isn't his best photo, but it is still an inspiring image.

He posted the photo online (panoramio.com) and Author Gish Jen saw the photo and asked for permission to use it on her book, "World and Town" and the publisher gave Geer a nice check ($2500) for the rights to it! Talk about putting it out to the Universe (or Cyber-Space) and money flowing in!

You can see the result on Amazon! Congrats to both Todd and Gish!

Horses and Holidays Video

Happy Holidays!

I love horses and the holidays...and I am a big sucker for commercials that feature them...even if I don't buy the product...plus I love dalmatians...so this video was sure to catch my attention...

But beyond the horses, holidays and hounds, I like the message...have a vision, pursue it and the Universe will support you in achieving it. You don't have to know HOW it will happen, just believe that it will! That's what the Law of Attraction is all about!



Do you think this little guy knows his life's purpose, or what?!

We can learn from him...be clear on what you want, visualize it--create your vision board, have photos that support your vision, whatever it takes to hold onto that image...believe it is possible, take steps to achieve it, then allow yourself to receive it!

Here's to all of us manifesting our dreams today and everyday...with a little help from our friends!

Fear: Message Received Loud and Clear!

This week I received a lot of messages around fear: irrational fears and rational ones, big fears and little fears, fears about health and safety, fears about the economy.

There are plenty of reasons people feel fearful these days...so maybe those messages don't seem that inspiring...but I'm usually pretty good at not tapping into those "national" fears....so I was keenly aware that I was keenly aware of receiving a lot of messages.

On top of that I was reading a book by Cheryl Richardson Life Makeovers: 52 Practical & Inspiring Ways to Improve Your Life One Week at a Time (you can get it through Amazon by clicking this link)...anyway the chapter I was on talked about...you guessed it...FEAR and how it can hold us back and what we can do to move through/past it.

One of the steps was to list what you are avoiding doing out of fear. Then you are to list who can help you to get over the stumbling blocks and what you might need to research so that you learn something that you didn't know...because sometimes that lack of knowledge is what is allowing the fear. So I wrote all these things down and then didn't move forward right away...hmmm, fear?

So, the universe kicked in...as it does when we allow it and pay attention...and another one of my mentors, Bob "The Teacher" Jenkins sent out information about learning how to do EXACTLY WHAT I WAS WANTING!

In one week I got messages about fears controlling us...fears that are usually based on the unknown and things that we have no control over...steps to take to move through the fears...and then someone actually handing me the tools I was looking for!

I am very excited...and still a bit fearful I will admit...but I am moving forward and have made a commitment. I have my friends and teachers in place so that I will have success.

Thanks to you all and to the wonderful universe for letting it all fall into place! I feel like I received two very valuable reminders this week--be open and you will know what to do & be given the tools to do it and don't let fear about things over which I have no control over take my life!

Give to Others from Love Not Obligation

Catherine Carey wrote in her blog, Taking Care of Yourself, yesterday about how good it feels to give to others...it is so true--but it is important that when we give we do so for the right reasons.

It definitely feels fantastic to support organizations that you believe in…it is so important to give back to the world…but we often get caught in the idea of “should” contribute.

When we are donating…either our time or our money…we (and the organizations we are supporting) deserve to be 100% behind the cause. Rather than giving out of “should” or obligation, when we give out of love our efforts are multiplied by the universe.

The good feelings we have when we donate out of love are sent out and others feel the energy and are inspired to give to organizations that they believe in, too!

Remember--it is your life, your time, your energy and your money. Give freely...let it circulate...and give in ways that uplift you so that you are circulating love in addition to money! In fact, the circulating of love is more important...and something that everyone can do--even if they don't have physical (fiscal) money to spare!

Grateful for a Gorgeous Start to My Day

This morning I woke to the most gorgeous sunrise.

It really made me STOP and LOOK and FEEL. And that is a wonderful thing!

I'm recommitting to noticing "gorgeous sunrises" throughout my day so that I reconnect with Source / the Universe more and more often.

What Do I Want in My Life

Are you wondering why your affirmations aren't manifesting? How come the Law of Attraction doesn't seem to be delivering...if it is the "law" then where is the result?

I find that one of the biggest reasons for this is when I am not clear on what I actually want in my life.

If I vacilate about my dream home or my ideal partner or what I want my body to look like, then how can I expect the Universe to know what to give me?

Get clear through exercises like Michael Losier's Clarity Through Contrast or by listening to Louise Hay or other wonderful teachers of the Law of Attraction.

Get really clear about the elements you require, the experience you want and how that feels. Then you are setting the stage for the Universe to deliver.

Listen to the Messages and Take Action

While we are contemplating the possibilities, it is also important to be open to the messages that we get from the Universe/Source /God /Infinite Intelligence...what you call it is not crucial.

These messages, if we listen, will tell us the step(s) that is in our best interest to take.

I've talked about this before, but it is worth repeating...

Sometimes this will come as a full-blown idea. Other times it will be a tiny step that may seem inconsequential.

The message may come when you are first waking up, in that foggy time between subconscious and consciousness. Or the message may come while you are relaxing in the shower or during meditation.

Or it may come in a physical form--you see or hear mention of the same thing repeatedly, say on the news, in the paper, in the mail, at the water cooler, in line at the store. Whenever we hear things repeatedly it deserves to be paid attention to. It may or may not be a message from the Universe, but if we don't hear it we won't know!

Another way to receive a message is that it may actually awaken you during the night...for example I have been woken up between 4:44 and 4:57 every morning for several weeks to use the bathroom. I believe that I am getting a message (that has nothing to do with the toilet!) My job is to be awake enough to write it down and then ACT UPON IT!

Positive thoughts and words are great...and they are a start...if and when we get the message and the impulse to act, then we must act. At that point the thoughts and words alone are not enough!

Getting Energy From the Universe

Today I got a wonderful shot of energy from the Universe.

Across the street from my house is a pasture that during the winter is home to about 30 head of horses. I love watching them play. I always get a big smile across my face when I see them. For me horses symbolize abundance--abundance in energy, in life, in joy, and in space.

This morning I walked over with some small apples I had leftover from visiting my brother. I had used the bigger ones and made myself a treat and decided the tiny ones were too small to make the effort worthwhile. So I brought my abundant supply of apples and some carrots over to the horses.

Of course they loved the treats! The horses got loving, great rubs and some nice eats. And I got to enjoy feeling their soft lips and warm, furry bodies. What a marvelous energy exchange.

If there aren't horses in your neighborhood, what in abundance in the universe can YOU get energy from--and give too?

Changing What I put in Pan "A"

In our series on "Why Don't I have What I Want?" We have determined that we have actually weighted our scale with the thoughts of what we do not want. So how do we change that? How do we fill our pan with thoughts of what we do want?

First, be aware of what you are putting in your pan. Some people are dogmatic in their approach to this and will tell you is you say "I want ________" then you are reinforcing lack (or wanting) of the desire, not the having of it. The bottom line is the emotion behind the words, not the words themselves. If it is easier for you to start off by carefully choosing your words when talking about your point of desire then do that.

However, I find many people who follow the dogmatic approach and still don't have success. How come? They are saying all the right words, but the feelings aren't there! For every positive statement or affirmation they are saying, their inner voice is shouting back 3 or 4 negative ones--as straight forward as "that's not true" or "you liar" or "oh right, don't you wish". Or they are feeling a sense of longing for or pining for the desire. This longing or pining is really an admission of lacking it.

So in this case, good words or not, you are filling pan A with feelings of lack. So again, I will encourage you to do things that bring you the feeling of having that desired outcome or object.

If you want a new car--cut out pictures of it, take it out for a test drive, take a photo of yourself in it, visualize yourself in it--driving it, owning it. See it parked in your driveway or your garage. By filling pan "A" with the joyful feelings of owning that car, pan "B" gets filled with the Universe's response to give you more opportunities to feel that--including actually getting that car!

Remember, the Universe is blindfolded. She doesn't know if you actually already have the car or if you are just pretending. She only feels to what you are feeling and responds accordingly.

While you are practicing this (because it does take some practice--most of us have drummed daydreaming out of our lives and aren't used to imagining any more) if you find that you are contradicting you positive thoughts with feelings of disbelief or lack, play with it and be gentle on yourself. Ask yourself, what if it were true? wouldn't it be nice if it were true? and use that as a starting point.

Will your results be instantaneous? Probably not! Whether your thoughts are positive or negative you will most likely experience a delay. It isn't a single thought that is going to bring you the car--it is the overall balance of thoughts. So keep it up and be open to receiving!

Why Haven't I Gotten What I Want

So you are clear on what it is you want. Awesome.

How come it isn't here yet?

Imagine a teeter-totter, like in the school yard.

The center point (the fulcrum if you want the technical term) is what we say we want. It doesn't matter what that is--more money, a great relationship, a better job, improved health....

On one side sits all our thoughts and feelings about having the object of our desire.

On the other side sits all our thoughts and feelings about the lack of the object of our desire (the not having it.)

Take a look at your teeter-totter. Which side has the bigger stack? For many of us, the side that is stacked higher is filled with thoughts and feelings about not having.

The side with the bigger stack has more energy and we attract more of that. This is the basic principle of the Law of Attraction.

I'll use money as an example because pretty much everyone can relate. Even if you don't want more money now, there probably was a time when you could use a little more.

When we give more energy or weight to the lack of money (our debt, the bills, how will I pay for the kids' braces, I can't afford that, etc) than to the having money we will actually attract more of the lack of money.

That is why great teachers encourage you to do what you can to get the feelings of having that object you desire. By generating those feelings of abundance you are stacking the teeter-totter in your favor!

Once you start to tip it in your favor, the Universe will start to bring you what you want instead of what you don't want.

Are You Clear About What You Want?

You don't have to tell the Universe over and over what you want. Repeatedly stating what we want is for US not the UNIVERSE.

This helps us to become more and more clear about what we want. It is a way to hone in on the specifics, like zooming in with a camera, getting tighter and tighter on the image, from the broad vista to the single blade of grass.

If you are not clear on what you want, how can the Universe bring it to you?

Get clear on what exactly it is you want. What does that feel like? And then be open and ready to receive it.

Mindset and Making Life Changes

I have used a lot of Mindset tools. They have helped to me completely change my life. In so many ways.

Without them, I am sure I would still be working for someone else instead of being self-employed. I wouldn't have taken the leap because it wasn't in the training I got growing up. I was taught that to be "safe" you had to work for a big company.

Without changing my mindset I would never have bought real estate other than my primary residence. It certainly was not the model I had at home.

With my old mindset, I would still be almost 300 pounds--or maybe I would be even more than that by now. I got there because I was trying to live the life I thought I "should" live...I was living for approval rather than for the joy of what I want in life.

I am not saying these things to complain about my upbringing or blame my parents or anything of the sort. My parents did a really good job--certainly the best they knew how to do. They weren't perfect, but then what human being is?

I'm just pointing out that what I call mindset tools have helped me change my life in multiple areas. Without making a change to ones mind, it is not possible to make permanent change in your life.

Change your thoughts and you change your world.
--Norman Vincent Peale (1898-1993)

Sometimes change requires physical effort. Mostly, I find it is emotional effort--which I think is even harder. I recently found that I was not practicing what I preached. I was "if not disgruntled, I was far from being gruntled" as an old friend used to say. Heck, I was disgruntled! And I think I was expecting someone else to pick me up out of it! Fortunately a friend pointed out to me the energy I was putting out to the universe. This led me to go back to some of the mindset tools I had successfully used in the past, but for whatever reason had let slide lately.

So yes, I have to physically read the books or listen to the audios or watch the DVDs or do the meditation and visualization. However, the biggest action I have to take is on my willingness and excitedness to take the action--my own attitude about it. If I chose to stay all "poop-y" the actions would not give me results because I wouldn't be open to them!

I have chosen to reopen my heart, mind and soul. I am back using the tools. I am seeing changes already. Guess some lessons are not learned with a single run through! I knew that, but it appears I needed a reminder!