Expect your Order.

There is a difference between trying and allowing. When we are in a restaurant, we place our order with the waiter in faith that we will receive the food we specified. We do not sit in anxious doubt, worry, and speculation about whether the food will arrive. We do not feel compelled to place the order again. We trust that the food will be delivered to our table. We asked and we expect we will receive it (as requested). The same principle applies to our wishes and desires.

Our job is to be clear about what we want, ask for it, and allow it to arrive. I am not foolishly suggesting that we do not continue to do what is within our power to bring our desire to fruition; but, I am suggesting that we move to a place of expectancy. Rather than continuing to fixate on how or when it will arrive, we must direct our faith to the fact that it is already on the way. It will arrive in the way and at the time that is perfect for us and our circumstances. Only when in a state of allowing do our dreams manifest.

Spend 15-20 minutes each day in meditation. Envision yourself in possession of that which you desire. Feel how good it is to have your wishes fulfilled. Bathe in the satisfaction.

Success or sabotage? Success shows up where it is easily received. If we remain in the question (or worry) of if/when it might arrive, we have essentially canceled the order.

Is this going to be an incredible day? What kind of day are you expecting?

Identify your Dream.

You are not here to live small. You know that. 

You may have used your fears, doubts, or insecurities in an attempt to escape your true desires, but you are called. There is a reason why you are dissatisfied. There is a reason why you feel unfulfilled. There is a reason why things never seem to work out for you. You have been lying to yourself by pretending that the life that you have is the one that you want. You have been cheating yourself by settling for what you can have instead of what you want.

The good news is that it is not too late. Where there is breath, there is possibility. But, like many things, the possibility comes with a caveat. There is a price for ignoring your soul. When you are inspired by an incessant urge to follow your desire and you do not follow through, there are repercussions. It may begin with the universe tapping on your shoulder, but, if ignored, it will end with an incredibly hard kick in the ass. That which you previously found uncomfortable will become unbearable. You are sabotaging your own joy and the universe is compassionately trying to remind you of that which you have fearfully ignored with tough love.

Today is your reminder. If this message is for you (which it probably is since you are reading this--that's no accident), consider this your wake-up call. You deserve better and it is time to take the steps necessary to get it. Rather than being consumed with how you are going to do it, begin by identifying the unlived dream. What is it that you would really like to be doing?  If your ego tells you that you do not know, that is a lie. Open the door with the list. First, begin by listing all of the things that you do not want or can no longer tolerate (that should be easy). Then, go back and review. For each item on your list, ask, "If I don't want this, what DO I want?"  Write it down. This will open the door of your subconscious and enable the ideas to begin to flow.

Once you have identified your dream, commit to one thing that you can and will do to move you a step closer to your dream. Next week, commit to another, etc. Take it slow. Remember, slow and steady wins the race!

Success or sabotage? Success is achieved when you are aligned with your true calling.

Is this going to be an incredible day? Answer the call. Explore your passion and remember what it feels like to experience joy again.

Share your Gifts.

We often place our gifts and talents to the side for use at some (yet to be determined) point in the future. For reasons that are often connected to fear, hopelessness or simply surrender, we tell ourselves that we must prioritize and be adults, attending to our responsibilities. We have no time or energy for the foolishness of heart’s desires. There is work that needs to be done. The simple joys that feed our souls will simply have to wait until another (more convenient) time.

It is fair to assume that there are others that share your gifts and talents, but there are enough variables that make them (in some capacity) unique to you. They are part of what makes you, Y-O-U. Many would suggest that they are, in large, part why you are here. If this is true, is it a betrayal of the gift of life for you to withhold your talents from the world?

We may not have the luxury of applying our gifts and talents to our vocation But, if not, shouldn’t we find a way to utilize them in our leisure time? At some point, we all need to decide whether we are creating a life or an existence. What is the best way that we can serve ourselves and the world? Surely, we have been provided these talents for a reason.

What are your gifts/talents? If you find this question difficult to answer, ask your friends and family to provide their perspectives. How will you infuse more of your gifts and talents into your life? Does the suggestion inspire excitement or resistance?

Success or sabotage? We must not allow our personal success to be defined by the limitations of others. Allow your talents to shine; watch the role that they play in the creation of greater success or you in ways that you may not have previously imagined.

Is this going to be an incredible day? Allow ALL of yourself to be present today and watch the doors open to greater possibilities.

Move beyond Logic.

The greatest achievers in the world have been those who denied the validity of statistics, odds, probabilities and the numerous opinions of countless naysayers. They remained clear in their intent, focused on their objectives and enthusiastic in their actions. They invested their hearts and souls into the fact that they had a calling that was directly linked to their dreams and desires.

What is your calling? Does the very thought of such a concept paralyze you? Rather than looking at it as if you might have been predestined for something that you will not suit you, think in terms of what brings you joy. What is it that makes your heart sing? The tendency is to allow judgments and criticisms to block this information from freely flowing through our consciousness. We vanquish the possibility with what we have categorized as "logic," reminding ourselves that such things are impossible, unlikely and ridiculous. We conclude that we are not <fill in the blank> and therefore could not possibly succeed. It is simply for other people.

Take some time today to list a couple of your personal qualities and talents and how you might incorporate them into your daily life. How could these talents benefit others? Does this lead you to some specific vocations or services in the world? Disregarding all of the things that you claim prevent you from moving forward (education, experience, ability), what might the ideal job look like if you were designing it yourself? Indulge yourself in the fantasy. What is the value of this exercise?

Success or sabotage? Success is not deterred by anything; limitations are perceptions of the mind and can ALWAYS be overcome.

Is this going to be an incredible day? Do not allow yourself to settle for the comforts of a "reasonable day." get out there and live a little. No, live A LOT!

Acknowledge your Growth.

Earlier in the week, I overheard a couple of people wishing that they were 21 again. "21, with all that I know now, that is!"  Everyone laughed. We may covet the youth and vitality of earlier years, but we would not want to repeat the lessons we were forced to learn.

As we grow older, we become more comfortable in our being. Like an old favorite pair of shoes, we know the stretch, level of endurance, and best use for the most comfort. With age and experience, we stop apologizing for who we are; we stop resisting and begin to embrace all we have become. It is one of life's greatest gifts.

Look at yourself today. What do you know now that you did not know then (when you were in your early 20s)? What do you know now that you did not know five years ago? Take a moment to acknowledge the growth and experience that you have achieved on this journey.  Aren't you glad that some of it is behind you?

Success or sabotage? Success comes easier to those who take the time for personal inventory; knowing what you have makes you better equipped to move forward.

Is this going to be an incredible day? Be all that you are and watch--how could it be anything else?

Get in Touch.

What is your "spiritual nature?" To be aligned with your spiritual nature is to be in touch with who you really are. Now this may not mean that you need to go on a vision quest, dance with the wolves or fast, but it does mean that you will need to allocate time to connect with your spirit.

Do you have time SCHEDULED in your daily planner for your spirit? If not, why not? Don't you think you're worth it?  If you don't give to yourself, what are you going to give to others?

If you don't know where to begin, simply sit in silence. Surround yourself with quiet and listen to your inner dialog. Don't try to rid yourself of your thoughts or empty your mind; simply observe your thoughts without trying to control them.

Today, I challenge you to sit ALONE in silence for 15 uninterrupted minutes. At the conclusion of this period, take 2 minutes to write down your thoughts. What messages or questions did you receive?

If you find yourself resisting this request, ask yourself, "why?" Why do you not feel that it is time effective or worthwhile to spend 15 minutes with yourself? What are you afraid of?

Success or sabotage? How can you define "success" if you never step away from the noise to be clear?

Is this going to be an incredible day? Make time for your spirit FIRST and allow the rest to fall into place.

Expand your Thinking.

Think of all the things that were once thought IMpossible; they are merely limitations of our experience, perspective, and mind. Did anyone really think we would be able to walk on the moon 50 years ago? It is interesting when you realize, for example, that all of the materials necessary for an automobile existed in ancient Rome, but they didn't have the consciousness to bring it into existence. God is omnipresent and has no limits. Our limitations are dictated by those with which we choose to subscribe. "These and greater things will ye do...."Those things that we categorize as miracles are only labeled as such because of our limited thinking.

Examine your own life and look at feats which you once thought as impossible. What changed your perspective? What stands before you that you now consider as impossible? How does this thinking serve you?

Success or sabotage?  Break free of the chains of limitations; you cannot have faith and subscribe to limitation. Success begins in the mind.

Is this going to be an incredible day?  Make the impossible possible and shape the day as you envision it for yourself.

Create greater Peace.

Peace is a concept that tends to evade people on a personal level. It is easy to think of peace in terms of world relations (war vs. peace), but if most were asked what they do to contribute to peace on a daily basis, they would be dumbstruck.  As long as we are unable to build a bridge between global consciousness and our personal daily interactions, we will be unsuccessful in our attempts to battle international unrest.

As Jonathan Larson so aptly stated in Rent, "the opposite of war isn't peace, it's creation."  If you want to examine the concept of peace in your own life, take a moment to examine what you are creating on a daily basis.  Let's take it to the micro level. You are driving in traffic, someone pulls out in front of you and you give them the "finger." The driver of the car gets upset and takes that emotion home to his/her partner. The partner, in turn, gets upset at the injustice of the emotion (now being exerted on him/her) and takes it to the supermarket where it is unleashed on an employee at the check-out. If you are unable to see that your words and actions may have global implications, you are fooling yourself.

Take some time today to examine the practice of peace in your life. Are you treating yourself with respect and dignity? Do you belittle yourself or put yourself down in your self-talk or in the presence of others? Do you engage anger as a means of releasing your emotion when things are upsetting or unpredictable? It is not a matter of validity; your emotions are always valid. It is a matter of your investment of energy. Is it an investment that serves you and the world that surrounds you?

Success or sabotage? Success is not created in a vacuum; one could argue that it is your responsibility to create joy and success in your life for your benefit and for the world.

Is this going to be an incredible day?  Look at your commitments today. are you creating greater peace or greater conflict?

Expect the Good.

YOU ARE CHARMED.

Do you believe in luck?

Luck is defined as "the seemingly chance happening of events which affect one; fortune; lot."  There are those who walk through the world as if they live a charmed life, surrendering worries and fears, and expecting prosperity and good fortune in their lives.  There are also those who believe that luck is for others; they envy those that seem to have the "magic touch."  Then, there are those of us that fall in-between.  We believe that luck in its classical definition does not exist. People create their own reality; if you expect good, you WILL receive good.  If you expect misfortune, you will find a way to support that expectation and belief. What do you believe? How does your belief system influence the way that you behave on a daily basis?

Today, emulate the charmed life. Live as if you have been blessed with the power of the Almighty to bring you your heart's desire. Release all worries, because you know that, no matter how things may temporarily appear, you are going to get all that you desire and more. The luck of the Irish is upon you! Wear it proudly and see where it takes you today.

Success or sabotage?  Are you willing to accept success and all of its responsibility?

Is this going to be an incredible day?  Aye, it is indeed!

Manage your Time.

Few consider themselves to be "all that," but, when you look at their actions, the truth may tell a different story. Many of us are socialized to be self-sufficient and independent. For many, this translates into a life less lived. All of our time is spent trying to be superheroes, doing everything that is required to create (what we have come to believe is) the ideal life. If you do not manage time, time will manage you.

Look at your daily activities. How many of these are imperative to your life and how many of them must be performed by you? Time, for many of us, has a value. If you can find others to pick up some of the items off of your task list, perhaps you can create a better quality of life for both you and those who assist you. If cleaning your home takes a considerable amount of time and it is not an activity that you enjoy, consider hiring a maid. If you hate lawn work, consider hiring a teen from the neighborhood to complete the work. If you look, you can find people who enjoy doing almost everything that you despise. You may be releasing something that drains you and, by doing so, feed another (figuratively and literally). Before you conclude that these luxuries are too expensive, what is the value of your time? Even if you do not have the funds right now, looking at the costs of such services will allow you to create new objectives for your future.

Success or sabotage? Too often our success is diffused by our martyrdom; we want to be all things because at some level we believe that success must be directly linked with burden and exhaustion. Check your assumptions!

Is this going to be an incredible day?  Create a plan to fill your day with the luxuries of self-interest. Notice how much you are then able to give to others.

Seek to Understand.

Skepticism is healthy if it is utilized as a means to gain clarity. All too often, however, skepticism becomes cynicism; it is often wielded as a weapon to fend off all that dare to challenge our beliefs and intellect. If one wished to attain wisdom, one must consider the balance that lies between judicious inquiry and belittling judgment. Instead of focusing on all that is NOT inherent in one's view, consider the possibility that it may illicit. There is value in all opinions if you choose to allow it.

Pay attention to the voice of criticism that you carry with you today. Is it being utilized to stretch your insights and nourish your wisdom? Is it feeding your ego so that you may feel superior to those around you by minimizing their intelligence? If you find that you are using your intellect as a means of elevating your ego, ask yourself how this truly serves you in your intentions. Is it a waste of energy that feeds an embedded insecurity?

Success or sabotage? For the next week (certainly for today), practice listening. When someone shares their views and opinions, listen and respond with what you heard (as an attempt to gain understanding). Refrain from sharing your views/opinions. How does it feel to listen without educating, criticizing, debating or even agreeing?

Is this going to be an incredible day? Doubt the power of fate and invest in the power that you have to choose. This day was created in large part for you.

Give up Attachment.

As much as we may long for the comfortable illusion of the status quo, it is in our nature to grow and evolve. It is the most joyful and painful part of the human condition. Despite the number of incremental moments of success that we have gained through (then) uncomfortable growth, we have difficulty remembering the benefits of change. We have a tendency to embrace the illusions of control and shy away from circumstances that have uncertain outcomes (in truth, this is all circumstances, but we are more comfortable in our assumptions about some more than others!).

What is your ideal vision for yourself? You may be excited by the very possibility of your answer. It is the remaining steps, however, that have a tendency to elicit our deepest, darkest fears.  What are you willing to sacrifice in order to get it?  Success requires sacrifice. In addition to giving up your attachment to what was (and who you were), you may have to create new habits (reconditioning) to solidify your circumstance--moving from vision to truth.

Success or sabotage? The only power that you will ever have is in this moment. Who are you going to be?

Is this going to be an incredible day? What are you willing to sacrifice to make it so?

Embrace the Polarity.

Life is a delicate balance of polarity. For every light, there is a shadow; with every shadow, there is a greater appreciation for light.  One cannot exist without the other.  Life is rich in ALL of its elements. Without cold, there can be no hot.  Without sorrow, there can be no joy.  It is only in the experience of the opposite that one can truly gain understanding of what is or might be. Your hand only casts a shadow when the light shines upon it (without one, there cannot be the other).  It is only when we can embrace the perfection of ALL that we will achieve true peace.

Take a moment to recall a painful memory.  What was the gift in this experience?  How did this experience contribute to your success or current journey?  If you cannot answer these questions, dig a little deeper.  Do you accept or reject your life experience as a necessary part of your journey?

Success or sabotage?  Success is achieved once you are able to reject the concept or notion of sabotage and see it all as integral steps on a larger path.

Is this going to be an incredible day?  What if you accept this day as perfect NO MATTER how it unfolds?