Mikaela

Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Where your thoughts are
Where are your thoughts going? That is where your life will soon be.
On what kinds of things are you focusing on? Those are the things that will form the reality of your life.

Life is endlessly abundant. The abundance that you can most fully imagine determines how life will be for you.

Every achievement exists first in your mind. Every disappointment also exists first in your mind.

So fill your mind with the best you can imagine, as often as you can. The possibilities to which you devote your focus and your energy are the ones you will experience for real.

Right this moment, your thoughts are setting the direction for your future. Choose the thoughts that will lead you to the life you most desire.

-- Ralph Marston

Live with quality
Making life faster does not make it better. Enjoy the opportunity to savor each moment, each encounter, each experience.
Having too much of something does not add any real value to your life. Choose to enjoy freedom from the excesses that would weigh you down.

Pretending to be someone you're not will gain you nothing. Live authentically, and put the power of truth on your side.

Worrying, fretting, fighting and resenting will never help to move you forward. Keep peace in your heart, in your thoughts, in your actions, and you'll add real value to your world.

Your life is a unique and most precious thing. Choose to live it with quality in every moment.

This is your day to fill with richness and meaning. Do what is right, what is real, what is true and what is you.

-- Ralph Marston

>"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a
>smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest
>compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which
>have the potential to turn a life around."
>
>- Leo F. Buscaglia
>
>
>"I had found a kind of serenity, a new maturity... I
>didn't feel better or stronger than anyone else, but it
>seemed no longer important whether everyone loved me or
>not--more important now was for me to love them.
>Feeling that way turns your whole life around; living
>becomes the act of giving."
>
>- Beverly Sills
>
>
>"When one begins to purposefully perform acts of
>kindness, the spirit changes, and soon doing good deeds
>becomes a focal point for our life; doing good begins
>to be the same as feeling good. The periods of
>emptiness when we search for the "meaning of it all"
>begin to fill with acts of kindness."
>
>- Gary Ryan Blair

(an excerpt from Veronica Hay's article)
We never know what is in another person's heart.
>What level of pain they may be going through. And in
>some cases, the pain may be so great that living no
>longer seems an option to them.
>
>We may never know the sometimes immense consequences
>upon another, of an unkind word, a thoughtless deed, or
>a hasty decision made from an unexamined heart.
>
>Each day, everyone of us, has a new opportunity to make
>a huge difference in this world. If I had one dream for
>humanity, it would be that tomorrow morning we would
>all wake up with amnesia. We would then see the world
>for the first time, with new eyes, the way a new born
>baby sees it, except that we would be in a grown up
>body.
>
>We would have no conception of what was considered
>beautiful or good or important according to society's
>ridiculous standard of worth. Everything and everyone
>would be a blessed opportunity for us, just the way
>they are.
>
>Life would be waiting with another possibility to be
>all that we could be. Another opportunity to practice
>the gift of kindness in every moment. Another chance to
>rise above our mere mortal existence and for that one
>grand moment in time to walk among the gods. Another
>day to love.
>
>Copyright 2006 by Veronica Hay.

"When a man takes a step towards god, god takes more steps towards that man than there are sounds in the world of time" Work of the Chariots

These are some of the most powerful words I have ever laid my eyes on, and not because of its religious undertones, but because it resignates the truth of how we co-create with the world our goals, our dreams, our lives. The greater force that is life wants to give us all that we are meant to have, but we must do our part and meet it half way by pursuing what we want.

Exciting projects are starting to take form that came as a result of me asking some bold questions, stepping out of my usual comfort bubble, and I realized how easy it was to just simply ask. Of course, ask with genuine intent and kindness, keeping your goal in mind, but just ask. I don't know why I didn't do more asking before.

We don't ask because we're afraid. Afraid of rejection, afraid of being out of line, and afraid of feeling like a fool for asking. But the truth is, those we ask might very well also want what we want, but just never thought about it until we asked. Since those who come across our path are ours for reasons our dreams know, what they want and what we want usually overlap somewhere, somehow. Ask until you find that common ground.

What is it you want right now? What are you wanting to go after? How can you ask for more? Are you willing?

Go ahead.

contemplate the possibilities...

entertain the mysteries...

play the fantasies...



Lola

This is an excerpt from Paula Onysko's June newsletter.

I wonder how our lives would be different if every decision we made was
all heart.if we could silence the logical mind and follow our heart's
desires. Would we occupy the same job? Foster the same relationships?
Worry about the same things? Dream the same dreams?

I wonder.

Would we experience more peace and love? More tenderness? More heart
ache?

I wonder.

As I follow my nose lately, I watch life unfold in amazement. To realize
all I miss when I'm not noticing the world around me. How unconsciously
we live sometimes. One big sleepwalk.

Do you stop to notice life? All the sights, smells and sounds around
you? Know that for all you can absorb with your senses, there is more
beyond. The more you become attuned, the more you shall experience.
Riches are available to us all.
.
.
.
I notice that it is easy to live a dream. The question is whose
dream are you living? I will easily pour my heart and soul into a
project at work, pushing myself to meet tight deadlines and produce
high-quality results. My friend Anne said to me lately, "What if you
invested that same energy into your own dreams? Imagine what you could
produce." She is right. And yet, when it comes to my own dreams, I
don't seem to have the same drive. Somehow, a pay cheque carries more
weight than my heart's desires. Why is that? Sure, there are bills to
pay. There always will be. Does that mean we are held victim to the
necessities of life? Are they all necessities or have we made them so?
And, even when I've built up a little dream fund, I still find reason to
not invest in my dreams. I've discovered that I tell myself I'm not
ready for my dreams to unfold. The conditions around me aren't quite
right. I operate as if dreams are something unattainable-something you dangle in front of you but never really achieve. It's time to change
my tune. because in my heart, I know that dreams are every bit as
powerful and real as this place we call reality. They are the juice of
life-the very reason we breathe.

Are your dreams your reality? Or do you hold them outside of yourself?
Are you like me waiting for it to stop raining? I think it's time to
dance despite the rain.

3. Speaking of rain, today I stepped outside onto my front porch and let
the raindrops tickle my nose. I love the smell of rain. The grass grins
from blade to blade, the flowers stand tall with pride. I thought of
the sun hiding behind the clouds. We all have days when we hide behind
a wall of grey, don't we? But most of the time, I notice how I don't
allow myself grey days. I feel uncomfortable in my own skin, wishing I
wasn't quite so moody, emotional, irritable or sad. I can't wait for the
sun to shine again. I forget that I too mirror the ebb and flow of all
things in nature. There is a natural pattern that we can either fight
or flow with. Find the treasures in the ebb-those days when turning
inward and basking in the silence is just what the doctor ordered. Let
it be okay to feel sad or mad. You'll be surprised at how quickly your
mood will change once you accept where you are at.

C 2005 Paula Onysko Consulting

In the course of an average day, each of us are given ample opportunities to face our fears, reach higher and step out further than we sometimes might like. It can be deeply encouraging to remember that it's often when we are going to the next level of our evolution that we are challenged to go beyond the cozy confines of our fears.

Risk

To move forward powerfully and achieve quantum results, we have to take risks. We must be willing to look at the ways we keep ourselves small and confront the resistance we have to entering the unknown. In other words, we have to do something different. Attaining the next level of success, fulfillment, intimacy or passion requires us to face our fear and risk appearing foolish, making a mistake, or asking for help. Remember the old saying, "Of course you have to go out on a limb sometimes, that's where the fruit is."
If you are one of those people who talk themselves out of taking risks because they are so scary, just think of the alternative: You could continue to create the same predictable results.



Your Assignment

This week, identify one place in your life where you are not getting the results you desire. Maybe it's in your career, with your family, with your health or in your intimate relationships. Allow yourself to see the approaches you've used to try to achieve your desired result.
Now, write down three actions you could take that would be outside your usual comfort zone that would produce quantum results. For example, could you ask someone for help? Do you need to hire a coach or put a structure of accountability in place?


Lastly, approach three people this week whose opinions you respect and ask them how they would go about achieving your goal. Remember, breakthrough results occur when we are willing to give up the old and embrace the new. This week, exercise your muscle of taking risks.

Life Coach, Debbie Ford

COMES THE DAWN

After a while you learn the subtle difference
between holding a hand and chaining a soul
and you learn that love does not mean security
and you learn that kisses aren't contracts and
and presents aren't promises.

And you begin to accept your defeats
with your head up and your eyes open
with the grace of a woman,
not the grief of a child.

And you learn to build all your roads on today
because tomorrow's ground is now uncertain -
and futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight.

After a while you learn that even sunshine burns if you get too much.
So you plant your own garden and decorate your own soul,
instead of waiting for someone else to bring you flowers.

And you learn that you really can endure
that you really are strong
that you really do have worth
and you learn and learn.
With every good bye you learn...

Written by: Veronica A. Shoffstall

Choosing Directions Daily
by Kiesha Campbell

Ask yourself this question frequently: In one sentence, what is my purpose for living on this earth--my special way of contributing value to my fellow human beings?

When you have a decision to make, look in all directions and decide quickly on a course of action. Then get busy. You might need to change directions at some point, but the important thing is to make a choice and begin moving.

When decisions are hard to make, seek help from someone who has traveled that road before you. Somewhere there is someone who has had to make the same decision or has
already solved the same problem you now face.

Look closely at your desires. Only you can make the final decision on your priorities and how you spend your time.

Remember that the paths to some dreams, especially the most compelling, could take years to complete. However, there will be unexpected shortcuts along the way. Carry
a "map" with you, a plan of your own design that will guide you. Then redraw your plan when needed, and take advantage of those unexpected shortcuts. Sometimes a temporary barrier will actually give you an advantage you were not expecting.

You can only do what you are able to do at any one time. Rather than attempting more tasks than you can complete, start with the most necessary and do fewer tasks with excellence.

When an emergency situation crops up, look to see if it is your responsibility. If there is something you can do to assist another human being, then it is certainly yours. Do what you are able to do in the best way you can. Most of all, never give up on your dreams. They are the ultimate guiding light, the essence of who you are and what you can accomplish with faith and perseverance.

Choose your directions wisely each day, enjoying all
the blessings along the way, and your destinations are
sure to reward you beyond expectation.

(C) 2005 by Kiesha Campbell

Tips on boosting your self-confidence

How you feel about yourself truly does affect your interaction with others.

It truly saddens me when I hear women using negative talk when referring to themselves. We aren't born with self confidence but it is something that we gain throughout our lives. There are many things that we encounter over the years to help build or break that confidence but ultimately it is up to us to maintain our own self-confidence. Those who lack self-confidence are truly losing out on opportunities for happiness, fun, growth and often love.

Here are just a few tips that anyone can use to help build self-confidence

- Start off each morning and end each day with a positive statement or thought. Create your own mantra. (i.e: "I am intelligent", "I will have a positive day", "I will succeed".)

- Get to know the TRUE you and accept yourself. The more you accept your true self the more others will do the same.

- Make a list of all your positive characteristics and achievements. Keep adding to this list as time goes on and be sure to keep your list in a place where you can access it and read it at will.

- Choose your words/thoughts carefully: Take time to replace negative thoughts with positive ones. If you are faced with a challenging task -- instead of saying something like: "I will never get this done on time" try to rephrase that and say something like: "When I finish this task I will treat myself to something nice" or "This may be challenging but I can do this".

- Take what you are good at and enhance it. Let others know about it! Hold you head up high and proud and know you have a special gift inside of you.

Building up self-confidence takes time and commitment but it is well worth it. You will soon find yourself embracing yourself and giving off a very positive energy that will surely come back to you.

=====================================
Aurelia Williams