At this time of year, we have been culturally persuaded to review the year that has past and prepare for the year that is ahead.  The general idea being that we have a clearing out of the fears, pains and disappointments of the previous year, thereby preparing the way for new goals, dreams and hopes for the year to come. I wrote about two processes last week that can assist you in this. (Out With The Old - Part 1 and In With The FANTASTIC - Part 2).

Co-incidentally, on January 2^nd , I participated in a panel discussion for the International Association of Solopreneurs where we discussed goal-setting, resolutions and intentions.  I stated my belief that resolutions are a set-up for failure from our monkey mind / ego.  My experience is that my resolve is based on lack and fear - something I don’t want to continue or feel I need to change - and a resolution leads to guilt when my new resolve waivers.  (NOTE:  Here’s a link to the discussion if you are interested.)

Resolve means “to decide firmly. “ Intent means “having one’s mind fixed on a purpose.” For me INTENTION comes from a heart place, a soul place.  When I set my intention I am making a decision to lean gently forward in the direction of my choice.  It is not about the HOW will I get there or the steps necessary to get there as is more commonplace with goal-setting.

I choose INTENTION because it allows space for the Universe and Divine Spirit to co-create with me!  When I tap into that Divine Intelligence and Wisdom - ideas, inspirations and opportunities manifest for me like magic!

Wayne Dyer frequently speaks of intention setting and its power.  He equates feeling good with “feeling God,” and believes that the key to happiness and success is aligning yourself with the force in the universe he calls “intention.”

Intention, he explains, is not something you do, but energy you’re a part of. Not only do you emanate from the field of intention, but if you align yourself to it, your desires become fulfilled and you find yourself at peace.

I find setting intentions so useful and powerful that I have included it as part of my daily spiritual practice each morning and evening.  For example, when I set my intention to have a peaceful, relaxing day -I usually have one!  In the evening I frequently set my intention to awake refreshed, inspired and filled with energy and like magic - that’s usually how I wake up!

I set intentions for big projects and even vacations.  We are about to leave on a two week cruise and I have been setting my intention that the travel will be extremely easy and it will be the best cruise we’ve ever taken!  (And I’ve been on over 30 cruises so I have a lot of experience to compare to!)

Will setting intention alone make it a great vacation?

Probably not.  But by setting my intention, I am designating my course - just like the ship sets theirs.

I am setting my spiritual compass to have a great time, to look for the good, to enjoy each moment. I will then more likely make choices that align with my intention and when I am aligned with the intention that this will be the best cruise ever, I consciously create a clear path that allows the Universe to intervene easily in my favor!

So what direction do you want to set YOUR spiritual compass in for 2009?

Bearing in mind the definition of intention as having one’s mind fixed on a purpose – what purpose will YOU be fixing your mind to? 

Set your clear intention and allow your Divine Spirit and all of the powers of the Universe to co-create your best year ever!

Namaste : )

Good vs. Evil

One Day the Devil challenged God to a baseball game.

Smiling God proclaimed, “You don’t have a chance, I have Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, and all the greatest players up here.”

“Yes,” snickered the devil, “but I have all the umpires!”

* * *

They Didn’t Have Nike’s In Those Days

A young boy had just gotten his driving permit. He asked his father, who was a minister, if they could discuss his use of the car. His father said to him, “I’ll make a deal with you. You bring your grades up, study the bible a little, and get your hair cut, then we’ll talk about it.”

A month later the boy came back and again asked his father if he could use the car. His father said, “Son, I’m really proud of you. You brought your grades up, studied the bible well, but you didn’t get your hair cut!”

The young man waited a moment and then replied, “You know dad, I’ve been thinking about that. Samson had long hair, Moses had long hair, Noah had long hair, and even Jesus had long hair.”

His father replied, “Yes son, and they walked everywhere they went.”

* * *

Executive Recruit

A successful female executive stood before the Pearly Gates, facing St. Peter himself. “Strange,” mused St. Peter, “we’ve never had an executive make it this far before. I’m not sure what to do with you. While I think it over, I’ll let you experience a day here and a day in Hell.”

So the female exec spent an entire day lounging on clouds, playing the harp, having intelligent civilized discussions with great philosophers. Her 24 hours passed quickly and she was then transported to Hell where the Devil took her to a beautiful country club where she found many of her old friends, dressed to the nines, drinking, joking, laughing, having a great time. They talked old times, played golf, had steak and lobster, drank Champagne and danced till dawn. Before she knew it, her 24 hours was up and she was back at the Pearly Gates.

St. Peter said, “I’ve considered your placement, and decided I’ll just let you choose where you wish to spend eternity.”

She thought only briefly before she replied. “Well, Heaven was nice, but, no offense, I had a great time in Hell.” And back down she went. But this time she found herself in a desolate wasteland covered with garbage. Her friends were still there, but now they were dressed in rags, picking up garbage and carrying it from one pile to another.

“Wait a minute,” stammered the woman to the Devil, “I don’t understand. Yesterday when I was here, there was a golf course and a country club and we ate lobster and drank Champagne and we danced the night away, having a wonderful time. Now everyone’s slaving away shoveling garbage.”

The Devil looked at her and smiled. “Yesterday we were recruiting you. Today, you’re staff!”

This is part 2 in a 2 part series of preparing for the New Year.  Part 1 offered you an exercise for clearing out the closet of your mind — dumping all the old stuff you never “wear” anymore and/or that leaves you feeling LESS THAN your Divinely Magnificent Self.  It’s about letting go of all the things that ZAP your spiritual energy — like anger, resentment, unforgiveness, shame, blame, embarrassment, etc.

Now the next part is REALLY fun — cuz now that you’ve cleared away all that old crappy stuff, you’ve made a bunch of clear, clean beautiful space to fill with all the good that you have every dreamed of! : )
So what do you want in there?

No I didn’t say what do you think you CAN GET in there.

And I didn’t say what do you think is POSSIBLE to have in there.

I said what do you WANT in there?

So using the same 5 categories listed in Part 1:

Work
Relationships
Health
Family
Money

- make a short list of what you REALLY REALLY REALLY want! : ) Just pretend for the purpose of this exercise that you are your own Fairy Godmother and with a whoosh of the magic wand - POOF! All your wishes come true (which they do but they may not MATERIALIZE all at once!).

Now - when you have that list. Here’s a really cool and REALLY powerful exercise that I’ve learned from one of my favorite coaches, Jeanna Gabellini.

Pretend you are at the end of 2009 - yes - a year from now.

You have just had the most incredible year of your life.

Like MAGIC soooo many wonderful things have happened to you that you feel like it must be a movie or a wonderful dream! : )

Get some paper and a pen, or go to the computer (or even use a voice recorder if you prefer) and tell your story THE WAY YOU WANT IT TO HAPPEN! You can do this as detailed as you want - the more detail the more real you can FEEL about it. Don’t let the “POO POO Monkeys” chatter away at you - the ones that say “yeah right! Like HELL that’s gonna happen.” — Go put them back in their cage, at the back of the closet with some bananas!

Tell the story from your child-like innocence. Remember the wonder you felt when you DID get that present you soooooo wanted at Xmas and thought Santa had brought it! Record your words from the magical side of you when you have witnessed a miracle in your life or a loved ones and you are just filled with AWE - like WOW — HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?

You don’t have to know the HOW (of making it happen) - just get into the feeling as if it already has.

Like this:

“WOW! WOW! WOW! WOW! WOW! WOW! I had the most amazing year! : ) It is really remarkable as I look back and see how many of my dreams came true this year! : ) I got that big paid speaking gig I’d been hoping for and it went FANTASTIC!!!!!! The audience loved me and gave me rave reviews and I felt SOOOO fantastic about being able to help so many people at one time! : ) And people were sooooo kind!!!!!! The letters I got afterwards really touched my heart in a very deep way! : ) I made a difference! I really really made a difference! : )

And then that led to another couple of great gigs and the same thing happened! : ) There was no way last Xmas that I actually believed this could happen but I wanted to believe it! And I created it! : ) I just kept staying positive and kept seeing myself in those big conference rooms with all the seats filled with smiling faces! And I felt the joy and spirit in the room! And I could feel the words pouring out of my heart! : ) IT WAS AMAZING!!!

That’s a sample. Write it like it really happened.

Feel the feelings of it happening.

Feel the gratitude.

Feel the joy.

Feel the POWER! Know that you DID IT!!! : )

The bigger and brighter and more you can get into the feeling that it has ALREADY happened - the closer it is to you! : )

These two processes RELEASE THE OLD and BRING IN THE NEW are very powerful and very useful. You can do them as often as you like - perhaps weekly or if that seems to much then monthly. Or perhaps you make it a ritual to mark the changing of the seasons. However you choose, I do hope you will CHOOSE to use them and watch how your life changes! : )

You have the power to make 2009 your best year yet!

Yes - FOR REAL!

You ABSOLUTELY HAVE THE POWER!

Use it! : )

And let me know if I can help of course! : )

HAPPY HAPPY NEW YEAR! : )

Blessings!

Release the old, bring on the new - traditional thoughts for a New Year’s week. In Part 1 of this 2-part series I’m going to share with you two rituals to help you do just that - leave the old stuff that no longer serves you behind in 2008 and bring on the new stuff that excites you and makes your spirit dance for 2009.

It makes sense at any time of the year really to drop the rocks we have been holding - because we cannot receive the “new” when our palms are clasped in a fist holding tightly to the old.

Old resentments, old hurts, old fears, old worries. YUCK!

Who wants to bring THAT energy into the New Year! On a conscious level most of us will readily choose to leave that gunk behind.

So here’s a ritual I have used OFTEN to do that . . . .

Make a list of everything you want to leave behind, release, let go of. I prefer to write each thing on a separate piece of paper (tear some slips up, use little post-its, or 3 x 5 cards), but you can do it all on one page also

Think about these areas:

Work
Relationships
Health
Family
Money

Those are just guidelines too - you don’t HAVE TO write anything in any category. Just list the stuff that is taking up valuable real estate on your brain cells and spiritual energy.

Keep writing until you feel you are really DONE! Maybe you will have to pause for a minute and get a drink of water, but concentrate and focus and get back to the list to be sure you have written down EVERYTHING that you are sick and tired of, that worries you, that makes you mad, that still hurts - get it ALL down.

Now you want to get rid of all that stuff symbolically right?

The easiest way is with fire. If you have a BBQ or a fireplace - PERFECT. If not I’ve used the kitchen sink quite effectively! Obviously you want to be EXTRA CAUTIOUS and careful. If burning doesn’t feel right to you - put the list or the slips in the shredder - or tear them up into tiny pieces and put them out in the trash IMMEDIATELY.

As you burn/shred the stuff that you have been holding onto say something like this:

I NOW RELEASE EVERYTHING THAT KEEPS ME FROM MY HIGHEST GOOD AND
EVERYTHING THAT KEEPS ME FROM MY HIGHEST GOOD RELEASES ME!

THANK YOU UNIVERSE! AND SO IT IS!

GREAT! Now you have cleared space for the new! Like cleaning out the closet! All that fresh space available waiting to be filled up with good! : )

WHOO HOO!!!

In part 2 we will look at what you want to put into all that new space you’ve cleared. For now though, soak in the luxury of knowing you have just taken a powerful, giant step forward into creating the year of your dreams.

Watch out world — 2009 is YOURS! : )

. . . .

A SUGGESTION:  to be sure you don’t miss Part 2, why don’t you consider subscribing to this blog and have it delivered right to your email? The subscribe box is in the upper right hand corner . . . . THANKS!

Just a Dumb Bird?

A burglar was cruising through a posh suburb looking for an opportunity. At one house he saw a truck unloading a big screen television, stereo, and video outfit. That night, without a moon in the sky and a heavy fog, he drove up to the house. He rang the doorbell and when no one answered, broke the lock on the kitchen door and went in.

It was pitch black inside as he made his way through the kitchen, then the dining room and into the den where he expected to find the things he wanted to steal.

“I see you and Jesus sees you,” a voice said. The burglar froze in his tracks.

“I see you and Jesus sees you,” the voice said again.

When nothing more happened, the burglar took out his flashlight and shined it in the direction of the voice. All he saw was a parrot on its perch.

“I see you and Jesus sees you.”

The burglar laughed. “Just a dumb bird,” he said. The burglar closed the drapes before turning on a lamp and that’s when he saw a big and mean looking Doberman Pincher sitting beneath the parrot’s perch.

“Sic him, Jesus!” the parrot said

* * *

Pennies And Seconds

A man was wandering in the woods, pondering all the mysteries of life and his own personal problems. The man couldn’t find the answers, so he sought help from God.

“God? You there, God?” he asked.

“Yes. What is it, my son?” God answered.

“Mind if I ask a few questions?” the man asked.

“Go ahead, my son, anything.”

“God, what is a million years to you?”

God answered, “A million years to me is only a second.”

The man asked, “God, what is a million dollars worth to you?”

God replied, “A million dollars to me is worth only a penny.”

The man lifted his eyebrows and asked his final question. “God, can I have a penny?”

God answered, “Sure, give me a second.”

I liked this definition when I researched this post:

A mixed emotion of reverence, respect, dread, and wonder inspired by authority, genius, great beauty, sublimity, or might.

This is how I felt as I watched it SNOW in LAS VEGAS last week!  Yes SNOW - and I don’t mean a little snow that melted when it hit the ground, I mean snow enough to photograph . . .

And even enough to video — on CNN!! : )

This is simply SPECTACULAR to me - a native Southern California girl until 1996 when I married my English husband and moved to HIS native England.  We lived in outer London until 2004 when we returned to the states and made Las Vegas our new home.

The last time there was significant snow in Las Vegas was over 30 years ago.  This is a city known to regularly reach 110F or higher in the summer months!  Our winters are mild compared to really cold climes - we are generally in the high 40sF during the day in December and January.

So for me, seeing it snow into my SWIMMING POOL was just mind-boggling in the very best and most AWEsome of ways! : )

I was just speechless and mesmerized - staring out of my office window - watching this white fluffy stuff as it started to weigh down the fronds on the massive palm trees, and capping my hedges!  Snow on PALM TREES?  Come on folks - not a sight usually seen right?

Here’s was the best thing for me - it brought me into a state of awe and wonder because to me - I was watching a miracle!  Snow in the lowlands of the Mojave Desert!  Not the HIGH desert - the LOW desert!  A miracle to me watching snow fall into my pool.

I love miracles!  I became a Christian because I believe in the miracle of Christ rising -Easter is my favorite holiday for that very reason.

I believe a very special child was born and we celebrate his birth on the 25^th of December each year.  I’m not going into the science or religion of it - I’m just speaking from MY personal beliefs.  I WANT to believe in the spirit of Jesus Christ.  I WANT to believe in his goodness and kindness.  I want to believe he healed the sick.  I want to believe that he taught people how to love unconditionally.

I WANT TO BELIEVE IT.

Because it makes me feel better.

Because it makes me BEHAVE better.

Because I think I’m a better person when I live by the principles he taught.

And so yes, I believe in miracles.

I choose miracles over science because it means ANYTHING is possible.  It opens up the realm of the unknown.  It allows for the magic of the Universe to “do its thing” and for manifestations that are unexplainable and usually wondrous.

Like oil lasting for eight days to keep the lamp lit when there was only enough for 1 day.

Like Christ rising from the grave.

Like people being cured of uncurable diseases.

And since A Course In Miracles states there is no difference in the order of miracles (i.e. all miracles are equal — none or “bigger” or “smaller”), and Abraham Hicks says the same energy can create a button or a castle . . .

Then I count snow in my swimming pool in the Mojave Desert as a miracle too!

May the God of Your Understanding bless you and your loved ones during this Season of Miracles and may you always manifest magic and miracles!

And remember –

I see the Light in you and I am in AWE of your Divine Spirit.

Namaste!

Wish You a Merry…Chrismukah?

Continuing the current trend of large-scale mergers and acquisitions, it was announced today at a press conference that Christmas and Hanukkah will merge. An industry source said that the deal had been in the works about 1300 years. While details were not available at press time, it is believed that the overhead cost of having twelve days of Christmas and eight days of Hanukkah was becoming prohibitive for both sides. By combining forces, we’re told, the world will be able to enjoy consistently high-quality service during the Fifteen Days of Chrismukah, as the new holiday is being called.

Massive layoffs are expected, with lords a-leaping and maids a-milking being the hardest hit. As part of the conditions of the agreement, the letters on the dreidel, currently in Hebrew, will be replaced by Latin, thus becoming unintelligible to a wider audience.

Also, instead of translating to “A great miracle happened there,” the message on the dreidel will be the more generic: “Miraculous stuff happens.” In exchange, it is believed that Jews will be allowed to use Santa Claus and his vast merchandising resources for buying and delivering their gifts.

He then closed the press conference by leading all present in a rousing rendition of “Oy Vey, All Ye Faithful.”

The other day when I was meditating about how I could best be of service to you, the message I received was SELF-ACCEPTANCE.

I thought about it and said back “Are you sure?” . . . then listened again and felt the confirmation — yup yup — that’s what I needed to write about.

Now you know that we teach what we have to learn right?

So isn’t it “interesting” that after completing this video Saturday night — Sunday and Monday my attitude went to hell in a hand basket?  It took me until Monday afternoon to get my head back out of my you-know-where and all the while I was remembering what I wrote [WISE WORD OF THE WEEK] and spoke!

So I guess the angels and the Universe needed me to take my own medicine! : )

Here . . . watch the video and then I’ll sum this up — it’s short — only 3 minutes!

Look . . .

I know it’s not easy sometimes to look yourself in the mirror — I’m being absolutely honest with you and telling you that for 36 hours — I just didn’t want to go there . . .

But the absolute Capital “T” Truth is that that exercise — helped bring me back around to who I really am.

Believing in ME.  In my inherent goodness.  In the God Within Me.

That God loves and adores me.

As He/She/It loves and adores YOU!

Period.

For absolute positive.

1 gazillion percent sure!

Bookmark this post.  Remember it the next time you notice you have forgotten who you are.

And as always — PLEASE share your successes (and comments) with me — cuz I love to support you when you need it and celebrate with you when you’ve achieved it! : )

Blessings!

P.S.  If this article made you feel good — you will LOVE my PassionatelyPOSITIVE radio show every Wednesday night at 6pm PT / 9pm ET.  Get all the info by registering here

This week’s WISE WORD is . . . .

One of the keys to living an extraordinary life is SELF ACCEPTANCE.  When you can truly know who you are, warts and wins, and treat both those imposters just the same (as Rudyard Kipling says in his poem “IF”)  . . . then the life of your dreams is probably well within your reach.

However, if you judge yourself without mercy (and then probably judge others by those same unreasonable standards); if you hold yourself to unreachable expectations; you probably will never taste the delightful deliciousness of your joyful desserts because you will never allow dessert to be served!

Your ego (the tiny mind, monkey mind, fearful mind) may try to convince you otherwise, but the Truth with a Capital “T” is that you ARE and ALWAYS HAVE BEEN a Glorious Child of a Loving God and it is your Father’s Good Pleasure To Give You The Kingdom.

Your job - your ONLY real job - is to REMEMBER that and then make your life choices accordingly - moment by moment by moment.

What if you just believed that you are Whole, Perfect and Complete just as you are?

I dare you to believe it for a week, a day, an hour, a minute and feel the magnificence within you.

I dare you! : )

Namaste : )

Fast Pope

The Pope arrives at JFK and he’s met at a baggage claim by a driver in a bad suit and a clip-on tie, holding a hand-lettered sign that says, “Pope.”

After getting all the Pope’s luggage loaded in the limo-and His Holiness doesn’t travel light, the driver notices that the Pope is still standing on the curb.

“Hey, Mr. Pope,” says the driver in accented English, “Why have you not seated yourself in the excellent limo?”

“Well, to tell you the truth,” says the Pope, “They never let me drive at the Vatican, and I’d really like to drive.”

“That is very much against the rules!” protested the driver, wishing he’d never left Calcutta.

“There might be something extra in it for you,” said the Pope.

Reluctantly, the driver got in the back as the Pope got in behind the wheel. The driver quickly regretted his decision when, after clearing the airport, the Pope accelerated the limo to 105 mph.

“Please be driving not so rapidly, Mr. Pope,” pleaded the worried driver, but the Pope kept the pedal to the metal. Then they heard the siren.

“Oh, my Gods, now I am surely losing my license,” moaned the driver.

The Pope pulled over and rolled down the window as the patrolman approached, but the cop took one look at him, went back to his motorcycle, and got on the radio.

“I need to talk to the Chief,” he said to the dispatch.

When the Chief got on the radio, the cop told him that he’d stopped a limo going a hundred and five.

“So bust him,” said the Chief.

“I think the guy’s a big shot,” said the cop.

“All the more reason.”

“No, I mean really a big shot,” said the cop.

“What’d ya got there, the Mayor?”

“Bigger.”

“Governor.”

“Bigger.”

“Well,” said the Chief, “Who is it?”

“I don’t know,” said the cop. “But he’s got the Pope driving for him.”

* * *

Rather Yell

After church on Sunday morning, a young boy suddenly announced to his mother, “Mom, I’ve decided I’m going to be a minister when I grow up.

“That’s okay with us,” the mother said, “But what made you decide to be a minister?”

“Well,” the boy replied, “I’ll have to go to church on Sunday anyway, and I figure it will be more fun to stand up and yell than to sit still and listen.