Welcome to Michele’s Daily Dash! I AM blessed to be on a beautiful and exhilarating path of continued self discovery, creativity, spirituality, spontaneity, and divine love. Aside from my “day job” as a Business & Creative Strategist, I am a professional observer, philosopher, traveler, daydreamer and writer.

Stepping onto the high wire

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 09:28:10 -0500

Several years ago there was a TV commercial featuring one woman’s hectic schedule from the time she woke up to the time she went to sleep. Throughout the commercial this woman was attempting to do 10 things at once, while these bubbles appeared over her head with scenes of what she still had left to do. You name the distraction and it was in this commercial. During the last few seconds you learn that the commercial was to bring awareness of Adult ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder); however, in my mind, I was watching a version of myself and the life of someone living in New York City. I wondered if it was a prerequisite to have ADD in order to live in a major metropolitan area, but then I thought about all of the friends and family I know living in other parts of the United States whose lives appeared to be just as multi-tasking, distracting and at times, overwhelming. I ended up taking an online quiz to find out if how I lived and worked was consistent with symptoms of ADD and was grateful to discover that I wouldn’t have an official label assigned to me. Yet, if I didn’t suffer from ADD what was the problem? Did it have a title?

I spent the next three months journaling and tracking my schedule (both personal and professional). I learned that I was always in a hurry for the next rush. I loved the feeling of accomplishment and the generation of an idea. While not yet tangible, I would spend hours daydreaming and visualizing its emergence. The challenge I faced as an imaginative person was the continued generation of new ideas. Some might think this isn’t the worst thing to happen to someone, but all of the divine ideas showing up doesn’t do me any good if I don’t do anything with them. All of these creative ideas were dancing in my heart, but when it came time to sit down and develop a plan of action I became overwhelmed. I was worried about step 10 and/or the final product before I dealt with steps 1 – 3. I questioned whether I had enough knowledge, so I lived at Barnes & Noble and on Amazon.com to find the right and perfect books to purchase ~ most of which never got read. I was concerned about having all of the answers to every possible scenario, as well as situations which I believed required a dynamic portfolio, website and mockup. I took a variety of classes with topics that ranged from multiple genres of writing to creative design to all areas of business. I have to say there was a lot of negative energy at these classes and not just from those in attendance. Those instructing would share why a particular field would be extremely tough and the likelihood of attaining any measured level of success would be minimal. Seriously, are you kidding me?

At some point I had to push aside the books, stop looking for answers and solutions via classes and other external influences and turn to the one person who came up with the idea and dream ~ myself. I had all of the answers I needed in order to begin, and while I didn’t have a precise map showing me every corner and sharp left, there was enough to begin exploration and discovery. I realized there was creative fun in brainstorming, which was just as exciting as daydreaming about the idea. I created a layout with my dream written at the top and broke it down to large and small goals. Each goal received thoughtful consideration and was filled with specificity, measurability, achievability, realistic expectations and a set time frame. While some might find setting a smart goal constricting to the creative flow, it actually is very much a part of the visualization process. Instead of saying “one day”, we are committing to a specific date where the intangible becomes tangible. If you’re like me and have multiple projects you want to achieve at the same time, you really need to take into consideration your time management skills, as well as an honest assessment of self-discipline and self-motivation. I ended up doing several exercises to determine which project I wanted to work on first ~ one of which was the tried and true pros and cons. What I found is by spending the time to creatively brainstorm and prioritize brought clarity. I was able to determine effortlessly which projects would be placed on the back burner while others were researched and tested out.

One of my favorite quotes comes from Oprah Winfrey, “Do the one thing you think you cannot do. Fail at it. Try again. Do better the second time. The only people who never tumble are those who never mount the high wire. This is your moment. Own it.” It’s time to mount the high wire and own these divine ideas and dreams. Stumbles and stresses and sharp curves and concerns are a part of the experience, but the end result is worth the journey.

The You You Never Were

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 07:52:14 -0500

Last night during class I witnessed a brave woman sharing, through tears, the personal journey she’s been on for the last seven weeks. This journey has required her to take a look at personal fears, old ways of thinking, forgiving the anger and resentment she’s felt for others, as well as herself, and shifting her consciousness from one of why me and I don’t know how to the realization that not only does she have amazing gifts in her life, but that it is her divine right to manifest her goals and dreams. What made her so courageous was admitting that as much as she was recognizing the good in her life, and aware of these tremendous new opportunities that were showing up in mass, she was afraid and feeling overwhelmed. I know this sounds crazy, but as happy as I am with how my life is changing, there’s a part of me that worries I won’t appreciate the me I’m growing into. There are times when I think it would be easier to stay the old me because I know and understand that person even if it limits me. How many of us have felt those same emotions? Our life couldn’t be better and yet we panic. We are happier and more filled with joy and love than ever before, but (isn’t there always a big ole but) the what ifs enter our thoughts, and we get weighed down with doubts over our deserving grand things and risking so much by stepping out on faith and into the unknown.

The reality is there isn’t an old you and a new you. There’s only ever been one you; however, you might not have believed it was possible to be the authentic you. What happens after years of denying what we want and deserve? Often times, we forget our passions and our natural essences, but only on a conscious level. Our heart hasn’t forgotten which is why we go through life wondering why we feel so damn uncomfortable in our skin. Yet one tiny moment can make all the difference to reawakening and reconnecting with our spirit and remembering the who we are. For me, it was my ex-husband asking for a divorce after close to 10 years together, with the added bonus of letting me know he hadn’t been in love with me in awhile. Although hearing those words wouldn’t be on anyone’s top ten list of fun times, I felt so calm and at peace. It was within seconds of hearing his words that I started to feel butterflies in my stomach. I began to feel lighter. The next morning I had friends comment on how good my skin looked. Are you sure he asked you for a divorce? For most of my life I had been utilizing maybe 10% of the unique gifts I’d been born with and the rest I had pushed down over the years out of fear that I wouldn’t be accepted by family, friends and my husband if the real me showed up. There were countless times when I would say to myself that I just didn’t fit anywhere. Well it’s difficult to fit when the you, you are isn’t the you, your living. While my divorce had moments of stress, angry, pain and sadness, my ex-husband initiating the end of our marriage was his most selfless act in our entire relationship.

Coming into our own and unveiling our authentic selves is liberating and empowering; however, this doesn’t mean we never experience fear or self-doubt again. On the contrary, often times as we’re receiving the very things we want and deserve we artfully get in our way. It’s our ego wanting attention and to regain control. The ego believes it was doing just fine and so what if your life was just “eh”, at least it was safe and secure. You’ll eventually learn to live with the nagging feeling that your life was meant for a grander purpose. You’ll get use to daydreaming and living vicariously through others. UGH! We are not meant to live so-so lives! It’s time to reconnect with your spirit! Start by making a list of everything that brings you joy (and I mean your joy not what you do to bring joy to your family, friends and loved ones). Take yourself out on an artists date (this means solo) and go where you find joy and inspiration, but make sure you bring a small notebook. The divine ideas and dreams will emerge from your heart often faster than you can write them down. And while you’re on this journey of discovery remember that you aren’t turning into the new you, you’re releasing the you you never were.

Celebrating Love

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 07:37:39 -0500

When I was seven years old I wrote a short story titled Valerie the Valentine’s Day Witch (complete with stick drawing illustrations) for show and tell. I don’t remember much of the story, but I can still see myself reading it to my fellow classmates, and I remember how excited I was to celebrate the day. Do you remember going to the store to purchase your pack of cards to hand out? It was the best part of the day for me (the giving and receiving of cards), and I took it seriously. I’m sure it felt like forever to my parents before I selected my pack of Valentine’s, and I remember feeling frustrated at the ones with characters from movies and cartoons. It didn’t feel very original. During the years of elementary school, I had some teachers who required we give a Valentine card to everyone and some who required they be anonymous. Whatever the “rules”, I didn’t just put my classmates name, but I also wrote a small note ~ usually one brief sentence. I wanted them to feel special because in my heart, as well as in my young mind, Valentine’s Day was an international holiday. It was the one day you were guaranteed to feel good because everyone stopped and focused on what was important ~ friendship.

Now at age 41, I still love Valentine’s Day and look forward to it every year ~ even those years when I was single. It’s a day dedicated to love and good; and if there wasn’t someone in my life to share it with, well, I would take myself out for a mani/pedi, massage or a delicious meal with close friends. It didn’t matter the naysayers who touted the commercialization of love because for me it’s never been about the heart shaped candy box and long stem red roses ~ I find both gifts lacking creativity. Valentine’s Day is about stopping and appreciating the love you have in your life ~ for yourself, as well as for others. We live in a world filled with nonstop movement; we’re always on the go and barely make time to take care of ourselves. For many couples, date night gets pushed aside because we’re too tired and celebrating the little things like monthly anniversaries begins to feel immature. Yet on February 14th we have an opportunity to push aside external influences and focus on the importance of love. It doesn’t have to mean a five-star restaurant; one of my favorite Valentine’s memories is a picnic in the middle of the living room.

This year a friend of ours decided to have his bachelor’s party in New Orleans during Mardi Gras, which coincided this year with Valentine’s Day. He’s been a confirmed bachelor for years and wanted to celebrate in a big way before their wedding in Toledo, Spain. Jim groaned at the news, and when he brought it to my attention, it was a no brainer. Our bachelor friend tried to convince me that Valentine’s Day wasn’t all that important, because his fiancé was okay with his going. I laughed and guaranteed that she wasn’t. (Guess who turned out to be correct?) Then there was the guilt on how many people were going ~ including married men and guys in committed relationships. My response… um, yay? I’ve never been controlling or the kind of woman who worries about guys night out, and if it had been any other weekend, I would have helped Jim pack. What I loved is that Jim didn’t want to go because he was looking forward to having a weekend where we turned off phones and got away just the two of us. After all, this was our first Valentine’s Day married. Would it have been easy to say, you know what, this is a big day for him and we will just make sure we’re together for the next Valentine’s, sure. But I find that once you begin to make excuses for putting other people, events and situations before your happiness then you’ve started a pattern that moves swiftly out of control. When was the last time you made sure you went to the gym or a yoga class? When was the last time you made time to call a loved one and tell them how much they mean to you? When was the last time you said no to an invitation because you wanted an evening where you got to sit still and unwind? We need to honor our spirit and take care of ourselves before we can give all we want to our friends, family and loved ones. We need to honor our relationships and shut out the outside world to make time for the very people we hold dear in our hearts. Valentine’s Day should serve as a reminder that to receive love we need to be love, as well as celebrating the power of love and the good which manifests from enveloping others and ourselves in it.

Scheduling time to breathe

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 07:38:09 -0500

Time. During my last few coaching sessions and workshops, I’ve been talking to a lot of my clients about the gift of time, and the importance of breathing in life, your experiences and allowing yourself to enjoy that which you are creating. And I believe it. However…. As I look back at the last few months of my life, it’s been a whirlwind of writing, planning, developing, organizing, networking, coaching, lecturing and reading. Of course, sleeping and eating were worked in when possible. Do I really need to schedule in time to take a deep breath?

We live in a world of accessibility. Think of how many ways you are reachable by family, friends and your career. How many email accounts do you use? Usually, the minimum is two: personal and professional. However, some of us have set up email accounts specifically for spam, created new email accounts because the old email accounts were riddled with said spam, have accounts that are a part of a social media network, and some even create specific email accounts directed toward marketing their dreams. We can be twittered, texted, linked, facebooked and blogged.

In this technology-driven world, we have the ability to multi-task and do more in less time. We love to create and engage the world ~ especially when we know we are affecting change, making a difference and manifesting our dreams. The energy generated is addicting and explains the football ankle syndrome from sitting at our desk for so long without movement while our creativity flows.

The interesting thing about time is we all have our own internal reality. For example, ten minutes watching a fabulous movie feels shorter than ten minutes stuck in traffic. We say things like there isn’t enough time and I’m too busy. Our thoughts are very powerful and can direct our day. If you focus on how busy you are, your brain becomes cluttered with the words “too busy” and not on the list of what you wish to accomplish. In reality, you do have plenty of time but are challenged with focusing and organizing.

Yesterday Jim and I took advantage of our first snow day together (complete with making our first snowman whom we named Irving Moskowitz). Although I participated in two conference calls, the rest of the time was spent relaxing, watching movies, playing in the snow and taking deep cleansing breaths. It felt good to play hookie with most of the city ~ something I’ve not done in over a decade. Yet when I woke up this morning I felt a familiar panic in the area of my solar plexus. My mind was filled with what I didn’t get done, what I should have gotten done, and how am I going to catch up. I began to beat myself up for not taking advantage of cancelled appointments and other closed businesses to work on creative projects. I stopped pacing the apartment long enough to grab my hot tea and take some very deep breaths. I replayed the events of my snowpocalypse day and my heart stopped racing and the rock in my stomach dissolved. I had fun, and more importantly, I had an unplanned date day with my husband whom I love ridiculously. The real result from yesterday was I felt renewed. In fact, I had forgotten that I jotted down ideas for upcoming talk topics and workshops ~ all because I got my brain out of the way!

When I looked at my calendar this morning, I found it not to be overwhelming. I’m thrilled for the appointments, my clients and the creative projects I have scheduled. There is more than enough time in the day to get done what I want and need, and the rest will get rescheduled. I stood up, stretched and took in a deep breath. It’s amazing what five minutes of deep breathing can do to re-center ourselves. With my mind removed from thoughts of lack, so goes the clutter that would have kept me scattered and frustrated today. Instead of getting up in the morning and jumping on my iPhone or computers to check email, I took a moment for a deep breath and set an intention for my day. Today the word is present. I will be present in each and every moment and not worry about yesterday or tomorrow. My breathing in this intention centers me for an amazing day ahead, whether it’s non-stop action or serene. I am filled with the gift of me and time is only in my head.

Are you ready?

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 08:50:29 -0500

Last night I met a dear friend, Bill Larson, for drinks at Flute in Midtown Manhattan to celebrate his guest appearance on the Dr. Oz Show, which is being taped this morning in the wee hours. A man with many talents, including writing, radio and public relations, Bill at one point weighed over 400 lbs. It took a photograph and impending health complications for him to go within and realize some serious changes needed to occur. Three years and 175 pounds lighter, Bill is a health advocate, movie reviewer, writer, podcast personality, and now making guest appearances on TV and Radio. While physically he’s not the man he was over three years ago, it was Bill’s shift in consciousness that opened the doors for him to discover his live purpose. Along his journey there’s been a mourning period for those who were not able to support the changes that were occurring, not because they didn’t love him but out of their own fear. Friends and loved ones are afraid to be left behind, and at the same time have their own unique journeys that move them in directions on a different path. The love is still there, but sometimes it’s from afar.

What I love about Bill’s story is how it unfolded. What started with a focus on his health pointed him in a direction toward his personal mission to give back, make a difference and help whomever he can by way of advice via the spoken and written word. His gifts as a listener and speaker were always inside; Bill was born with these unique talents. With regards to other careers in his life, these skills were utilized and he enjoyed what he did, but the key ingredients of passion, exuberance and a ridiculous amount of love for his life were missing. Now that he is living what he loves, his personal and professional worlds aren’t segmented. The Bill Larson that shows up for drinks in NYC is the same Bill Larson you hear on his podcast and read in his columns and blogs. His absolute truth of who he is and what he knows to be his reality has brought tremendous amount of good into his life ~ events, circumstances and people. Bill doesn’t take his life for granted and expresses his gratitude daily.

When was the last time you focused on your unique gifts and talents and how they are being utilized in your life? Are you even certain as to what they are? Have you only scratched the surface as to the discovery of what comes naturally to you ~ your essence? Creating a fulfilling life that envelopes doing and being what you love starts with asking questions. Are you ready to answer?

The Great Equalizer

Tue, 9 Feb 2010 07:16:51 -0500

In my work, I come across many people who are challenged by the thought of limitless possibilities. When I ask the question “What would you do now if you knew you could not fail?” with the instructions not to self-edit or worry about external influences like finances and time, they cannot move past constraining thoughts of impossibilities do to lack of money. Often the initial responses I receive from those who cannot tap into their inner child who would with great ease rattle off a list so fast one’s fingers couldn’t keep up is “If I were rich …” or “If I were Donald Trump …”. Before they can even close their eyes to allow their heart to dream, their mind has taken over and built a towering and solid wall of what is lacking. With zero visibility there isn’t an opportunity for a new vantage point ~ a way to see a situation or the potential of a divine dream manifesting from a fresh perspective. Their definition of the word prosperity or what it is to be prosperous is rigid and no doubt influenced by how they were raised that money equates to success. Yet it is the very consciousness of how we define prosperity and live prosperous lives that is the great equalizer.

Last night during class, the instructor asked for prosperity reports. He wanted to know what great stuff was going on in people’s lives. Out of close to 40 people, five raised their hands to share stories ~ only five! Since so few people raised their hands to share, his next question was for frustration reports from those who were feeling stagnant with their goals or within their lives in general. This time no one raised his or her hands. The teacher laughed and then said, okay we’re going to go around the room and each person will share something good that happened within the last seven days. I could see panic on the faces of the large group who did not contribute, and in the beginning many people came out and said that nothing happened worth sharing. The instructor offered up the following possibilities: did you have dinner with a friend, see a good movie, get asked out on a date, find $20 in a coat jacket or purse, etc. It took providing an alternative viewpoint of what a prosperous moment or event looked like that allowed those remaining to share what they believed were boring, mundane or not big enough stories. If they didn’t believe their report was inspiring or motivating, why would anyone else? One woman shared that she had gone from having no dates in January to being asked out by two different gentlemen for the same weekend. A man shared how he had been asked to collaborate with a friend on a creative project that involved one of his passions ~ filmmaking. My favorite story of the night was the person who participated in a career day at a local elementary school. A group of fifth graders had an assignment for creating a business doing what they loved. One little boy loved gum and decided he would purchase packs of gum from the grocery store and sell individual pieces. He sold them for fifty cents each! Everyone loved hearing all of the stories regardless of the size. Size does not make a prosperous moment. Our perception and consciousness does!

Within the last two weeks, I’ve been blessed with a television interview on NBC News to be aired during sweeps week, two interviews with a production company on a TV project currently in development, and awarded an opportunity to be a new book release reviewer for the Hay House. There are many who have asked me how lucky do I feel, but even more are asking what is my secret. I don’t have a secret. Right now I’m in the flow of tremendous prosperity because of my shift in consciousness toward what I witness and experience as grateful moments, events and people. I see my book reviewing just as prosperous as spending this past Sunday evening with old friends watching the Super Bowl. My playing with children before the kickoff where we got to color and paint was just as rewarding as receiving a new client yesterday evening. My income level, at this time, is no where near Donald Trump or Bill Gates, but what I do have that is infinitely more powerful and resourceful is my awareness of prosperity and willingness to receive and allow these fabulous events to enter my life. Further, I express gratitude every day for what showed up: from the door being held open for me as I exit a Starbucks to learning a friend is going to be able to spend her birthday in Albania with her husband she’s not seen in six months.

The great equalizer is your perception of what is good in your life, what is success, what is prosperous and what is in great abundance. If the only channel you look toward is your bank account, don’t be surprised if the very things you desire seem remote and unattainable. Recognizing prosperity in something as small as a thank you will lead to more situations and experiences. Living in the flow of prosperity means you are also drawing to you others who are expressing and seeing their lives as joy and love filled with limitless opportunities and the reality that their divine and delicious dreams will emerge. It doesn’t take much to begin the shift. Start today with the statement: I am willing!

Buddhist Meditation

Mon, 8 Feb 2010 07:40:00 -0500

Say 3 times a day for 12 weeks. We are extending loving kindness to ourselves and out to the world.

May I be happy. May I be free from suffering. May I be free from tension, fear, worry. May I be healed. May I be at peace.

Just as I wish to be happy, so you might be happy. May you be happy and free from suffering. May your tension, may your painfulness of heart, fall away. May your joy increase. May you be free from suffering.

May we all be happy. May we each come into the light. May we let go of the blocks. May we let go of our suffering and experience our perfect being. May we all be free from suffering. May we all be happy.

May all beings be happy. May all beings be clear-minded. May their hearts open. May they be free from suffering.

May all beings be free from sufferings. May they love themselves. May they come into their happiness. May the uncover the joy of the true self. All beings everywhere.

What do you choose?

Thu, 4 Feb 2010 06:27:35 -0500

During a lovely chat over tea, a friend and I were talking about the amazing world of synchronicities, connections and possibilities we experience. We both approach life with positivity and a belief that we receive all of the divine dreams we have the courage to order. Most recently, during an interview, I was asked how I respond to someone who tells me life doesn’t work as effortlessly as you claim it does. Wow, that’s some affirmation. There have been a few times where my assertions have brought about doubt and negative responses from others; however, it’s not something I take personally. The only path I place focus on is my own, and its direction is unique from anyone else’s. I’ve had moments where my own affirmations were based on pessimistic and fear-based ideas, which locked out growth opportunities.

One of life’s greatest gifts is the ability to make choices. Two separate couples, out on a date, can be sitting in the same busy, restaurant on a Friday night. One couple can spend the evening sighing, rolling their eyes and complaining to one another about the slow service, while the other couple is focused on each other and grateful for not being rushed through dinner. We can choose to see our lives filled with economic strife, jobs we hate, or “why does this always happen to me”, or we can choose to see our lives filled with change, stepping outside of our comfort zone, liberation from a strangling career, and the importance of getting involved. My friends and colleagues have transitioned to new careers, purchased homes, started families, started relationships, found the perfect apartment to rent without paying broker fees, discovered free classes being offered on cooking and decorating, published books, created ministries and began to volunteer in various ways to give back to their local communities. When I ask them, how did all of this good come to you during a time when many are struggling, the collective response is faith and trust in their hearts and knowing it’s about how they choose to react to challenges.

During a radio interview I was asked about the importance of working hard to get what we want. My references to good effortlessly entering our lives has been construed from time to time that I believe we put in our order for what we want and sit on the sofa and wait for it to happen. The image couldn’t be further from the truth. I’ve worked hard my whole life; however, the experiences have been significantly different based on my outlook. My working 10-hour days in a job where I complain about the hours, the people, the work, and not achieving the level of my potential isn’t the same as a 10-hour day where I’m building a career which feeds my spirit, accentuates my natural gifts and talents, and leads me to connections with amazing men and women from all industries and the establishment of a global network. While the time in both situations is the same 10-hours, the day where I’m doing what I love feels a lot shorter. The other factor is how much control I am trying to place on what I do and how I do it. Do I ignore the still, small voice speaking and guiding me in a direction which will make the journey filled with excitement and energy, or do I believe I can figure things out better and become physically and emotionally drained in the process? I’ve approached life both ways, and I’m a much bigger fan of the former.

State what you want. What you really,really want!

Wed, 3 Feb 2010 07:50:16 -0500

I was raised to believe I could do anything provided I gave 110%; however, I did not receive the tutorial that I can ask and expect to receive anything my heart desires. My lists to Santa Claus were never outrageous, and as I got older when friends and family would ask me what I wanted as gifts I would just sort of shrug my shoulders and say I don’t need anything or I don’t know. It never felt okay to state what I wanted. In my mind, I would come across as materialistic, greedy and selfish. What I’ve learned and practiced in the last five years is that we were put on this planet to live what we love, make a difference and receive the good we richly deserve.

When I work with my clients, I always start with the question: What would you do now if you knew you could not fail? Since we immediately begin to edit our dreams to make them “realistic”, I also add the caveat that money, time and energy are not obstacles ~ visualize they are limitless. We’re supposed to dream big, in fact, we should be dreaming as big as we did when we were five years old. These are exciting times and doing what you love should be an exhilarating and creative process! By opening the pathway between our hearts and our minds, divine ideas, dreams and goals effortlessly emerge. We begin to connect the dots and see how what comes naturally to us is aligned with a particular field of interest or several interests. By removing doubt of what isn’t possible, clarity sets in and we envision how we can create a career that envelops several of our unique gifts and talents or develop two business that can work alongside one another.

What happens when it comes time to list our goals? While we allowed ourselves the openness to creatively brainstorm big dreams when it comes time to goal setting, we often freeze up. The idea of putting down on paper that I want a three-floor apartment in New York City or I want a career that allows me to travel all over the world can make us feel self-serving. Initially, I’ll read or hear goals from people like I want clarity, I want peace of mind, I want love, or I want happiness. It makes them feel better listing non-material things. Please don’t get me wrong, it’s wonderful to want clarity, peace of mind, love and happiness; however, those aren’t goals; they’re choices. If you want clarity, choose to be clear with your words, thoughts and actions. If you want peace of mind, choose to be peaceful toward yourself and others. If you want love, be love. If you want happiness, choose to be happy and grateful for what is in your life now knowing good is on the way.

There is nothing wrong with wanting material things, and for that matter, you should center on how your good will benefit the lives of those around you. What is important to remember is when you’re setting goals is to be specific and listen to your heart. If your goal is to find a husband and you’re not specific about the when, where and how, you could end up with husbands showing up that are not available. By the way, these goals are your goals ~ not your families and not your friends. We cannot bring genuine joy into the lives of others when we deny ourselves our authentic self. When you think about something you want, does your heart start beating fast and you feel like you can’t sit still? Sounds like a divine goal to me! You deserve to live the life of your dreams. Shine on!

When opportunity knocks, do you answer?

Tue, 2 Feb 2010 07:32:08 -0500

It’s with great passion, enthusiasm and energy that I focus on my divine talents for words ~ both written and spoken. You know how I know my purpose? On my worst day, when I’m feeling under the weather, exhausted, or just plain grouchy, if I’m given an opportunity to speak in front of a group of people or asked to write a creative piece, I am on fire. My spirit takes over and for the next hour or more I feel whole and connected. The vibration rate of my body triples, and it propels me forward. There’s nothing greater then doing and living what you love. This past Saturday evening, I received a call asking if I would be available to speak the next morning at 9:45 am on the topic of inner change. Just the day before I was talking with a friend and mentor about my desire to speak more in front of groups and saw a large part of 2010 spent facilitating, lecturing, motivating and inspiring in many parts of the United States. With the divine idea clear, strong and filled with joy and love, opportunity knocked and I answered. In fact, I don’t believe I allowed for much of a pause between being asked to facilitate the discussion and my response. It was as if my heart tapped me on the shoulder and said, “I’ve got this one.”

I work with people every day who share their passions, goals and ideas, and they assure me this is what they want to do, be and/or how they want to live. Fabulous! Brainstorming, research and visualization of what they wish to manifest is equally exciting for them because it utilizes their inner artist and creative expression. Yet, when it comes time for action, whether it be to reach out and make a phone call, attend an event or receive and respond to an opportunity, many times they state: I’m not ready; maybe next time. If only I didn’t have plans. Oh I wouldn’t be right for that job, role, gig. There are also those times when opportunities show up by way of people, events and situations that go unnoticed. You were born with unique gifts and talents, as well as dreams and ideas. If you aren’t going to use them, if you’re going to shoot down every prospect, if your thoughts, actions and words are aligned with lack and limitation, then watch as the Universe moves your good onto others who are open and aware of receiving, grab hold, and with vigor and zeal go for it.