Bathe in Appreciation.

What if you were to stop coveting? What if you were to stand in appreciation and awe of your own life? Without diminishing the power of your intentions for the future, bathe in the glory of that which you have already created. You are blessed. You are gifted. You are unique. Do you even realize it?

Today, take the time to realize the power and possibility of where you are now. Check-in every three or four hours and ask yourself, "What am I doing well? What good have I created for myself today?" Look at yourself in the mirror and truly see yourself for who you are--a gifted human being with a lot to give.

Success or sabotage? Success is an elusive concept; it will evade you if you do not stop to affirm its presence.

Is this going to be an incredible day? Are you willing to stop long enough to see it as incredible in every moment?

Appreciate your Creation.

Step back and take a look at your life. What do you know for sure? What has your life taught you to date that is definitive beyond the influence of assumption? One of the greatest challenges of living in this hectic time is the ability to stay clear in the midst of apparent chaos. This is not to say that you will have the answer to all of the questions; it simply means that you know and continue to ask the right questions. Once you get caught up in the momentum of existence, you forget to live. It is easy to forget why you are doing what you are doing.

Take a moment today to appreciate all that you have created in your life. Look at what you have been able to accomplish. Isn't it amazing? Do you ever stop to wonder how you managed? Now, think about what you would like to create going forward. What is one thing you can do today to move more effectively in that direction?

Success or sabotage? If you cannot see or are unclear about where you are going, you are trapped in a loop of self-sabotage. Make a decision and go boldly into the unknown, realizing that you may be making a big "mistake." commit to doing it big!

Is this going to be an incredible day? Are you able to see all of the beauty in this day?

Declare your Appreciation.

If we want more joy in our lives, we must be willing to make it a priority. Rather than allowing conditions to dictate its presence, we must create the space for its arrival. We have to want it enough to create access to this gift on a daily basis, no matter what obstacles may arise at any particular moment. It begins with radical appreciation. Appreciation is the doorway to gratitude, which provides us with access to true joy.

Let's begin with a question: what do you appreciate? What fills your heart with joy? For what are you grateful? Who/what do you love? Begin to make a list. For many, this can feel like an overwhelming task. If this is the case for you, look around where you are now sitting/standing. Start there. Make a declaration of that which you love which is currently in your line of sight. Declare your appreciation aloud. "I love my television. I love my couch. I love my dog. I love the warmth of my apartment. I love my mocha latte...." Keep going for as long as possible. Notice how your mood begins to elevate as you move deeper into appreciation. You are raising your vibration.

Do something that brings you great joy. It can be something simple like playing with a dog or cat, painting a picture, dancing, or singing in your apartment. Make an effort to stretch beyond your routine to discover new sources of appreciation. Have something different for lunch. Eat the dessert first. Take the long way home.

Speak to and compliment strangers. Perform random acts of kindness. Find more to appreciate by stepping outside of your routine.

Success or sabotage? If joy is a goal, it must become a priority. We regain our power when we refrain from playing victim to circumstances and resume our position as the primary co-creator of our lives.

Is this going to be an incredible day? What are you doing to ensure the results that you desire?

Find the Blessings.

You are everything that you need. You do not need anyone or anything else. If you are unable to appreciate who you are and what you have, you will not gain additional appreciation for what you obtain; you will always feel in need of more. 

I am not suggesting that desires, wishes and dreams are unhealthy (quite the contrary!). It is simply a matter of finding peace, appreciation and gratitude for where you are in your life at any given moment. Any fulfillment that you are lacking in your existence will not be discovered outside of the body in which you now reside.

It is not about the circumstances in which you find yourself; it is how you choose to respond that makes all of the difference. Find the blessings and satisfaction in your life as it stands right now. Allow your desires to simply be additional gifts to an already rich existence. Often this requires a focused shift in perspective. Life is riddled with challenges, so this is not necessarily a simple task.

If you are not in the habit of maintaining a daily gratitude journal as part of your practice, now is the time. Before you retire each evening, list 5 things for which are grateful from your experience of that day (be as specific as possible). When you awaken each morning, take deep breaths and thank the universe for the gift of another day. As you are brushing your teeth, think of all of the things that you enjoy. Play music that lifts your spirit. Make an effort to perform random acts of kindness for strangers throughout the course of your week. This combination of focused actions will powerfully shift your perspective from one of lack and limitation to one of abundance and prosperity.

Success or sabotage? Go within or go without. You are the one for which you have been waiting. The "ruby slippers" have been with you all along.

Is this going to be an incredible day? By appreciating and magnifying that which you have, you become a magnet for more of the same. Like attracts like and "good" goes where it is loved.

Practice radical Appreciation.

If we want more joy in our lives, we must be willing to make it a priority. Rather than allowing conditions to dictate its presence, we must create the space for its arrival. We have to want it enough to create access to this gift on a daily basis, no matter what obstacles may arise at any particular moment. It begins with radical appreciation. Appreciation is the doorway to gratitude, which provides us with access to true joy.

Let's begin with a question: what do you appreciate? What fills your heart with joy? For what are you grateful? Who/what do you love? Begin to make a list. For many, this can feel like an overwhelming task. If this is the case for you, look around where you are now sitting/standing. Start there. Make a declaration of that which you love which is currently in your line of sight. Declare your appreciation aloud. "I love my television. I love my couch. I love my dog. I love the warmth of my apartment. I love my mocha latte...." Keep going for as long as possible. Notice how your mood begins to elevate as you move deeper into appreciation. You are raising your vibration.

Do something that brings you great joy. It can be something simple like playing with a dog or cat, painting a picture, dancing or singing in your apartment. Make an effort to stretch beyond your routine to discover new sources of appreciation. Have something different for lunch. Eat the dessert first. Take the long way home.

Speak to and compliment strangers. Perform random acts of kindness. Find more to appreciate by stepping outside of your routine.

Success or sabotage? If joy is a goal, it must become a priority. We regain our power when we refrain from playing victim to circumstances and resume our position as the primary co-creator of our lives.

Is this going to be an incredible day? What are you doing to ensure the results that you desire?

Maintain your Appreciation.

You are everything that you need. You do not need anyone or anything else. If you are unable to appreciate who you are and what you have, you will not gain additional appreciation for what you obtain; you will always feel in need of more. 

I am not suggesting that desires, wishes and dreams are unhealthy (quite the contrary!). It is simply a matter of finding peace, appreciation and gratitude for where you are in your life at any given moment. Any fulfillment that you are lacking in your existence will not be discovered outside of the body in which you now reside.

It is not about the circumstances in which you find yourself; it is how you choose to respond that makes all of the difference. Find the blessings and satisfaction in your life as it stands right now. Allow your desires to simply be additional gifts to an already rich existence. Often this requires a focused shift in perspective. Life is riddled with challenges, so this is not necessarily a simple task.

If you are not in the habit of maintaining a daily gratitude journal as part of your practice, now is the time. Before you retire each evening, list 5 things for which are grateful from your experience of that day (be as specific as possible). When you awaken each morning, take deep breaths and thank the universe for the gift of another day. As you are brushing your teeth, think of all of the things that you enjoy. Play music that lifts your spirit. Make an effort to perform random acts of kindness for strangers throughout the course of your week. This combination of focused actions will powerfully shift your perspective from one of lack and limitation to one of abundance and prosperity.

Success or sabotage? Go within or go without. You are the one for which you have been waiting. The "ruby slippers" have been with you all along.

Is this going to be an incredible day? By appreciating and magnifying that which you have, you become a magnet for more of the same. Like attracts like and "good" goes where it is loved.

Bathe in Appreciation.

If we want more joy in our lives, we must be willing to make it a priority. Rather than allowing conditions to dictate its presence, we must create the space for its arrival. We have to want it enough to create access to this gift on a daily basis, no matter what obstacles may arise at any particular moment. It begins with radical appreciation. Appreciation is the doorway to gratitude, which provides us with access to true joy.

Let's begin with a question: what do you appreciate? What fills your heart with joy? For what are you grateful? Who/what do you love? Begin to make a list. For many, this can feel like an overwhelming task. If this is the case for you, look around where you are now sitting/standing. Start there. Make a declaration of that which you love which is currently in your line of sight. Declare your appreciation aloud. "I love my television. I love my couch. I love my dog. I love the warmth of my apartment. I love my mocha latte...." Keep going for as long as possible. Notice how your mood begins to elevate as you move deeper into appreciation. You are raising your vibration.

Do something that brings you great joy. It can be something simple like playing with a dog or cat, painting a picture, dancing or singing in your apartment. Make an effort to stretch beyond your routine to discover new sources of appreciation. Have something different for lunch. Eat the dessert first. Take the long way home.

Speak to and compliment strangers. Perform random acts of kindness. Find more to appreciate by stepping outside of your routine.

Success or sabotage? If joy is a goal, it must become a priority. We regain our power when we refrain from playing victim to circumstances and resume our position as the primary co-creator of our lives.

Is this going to be an incredible day? What are you doing to ensure the results that you desire?

Live in Appreciation.

There will always be a gap between where we are and where we want to be. We always want more; it is part of the human condition. Desire for something bigger, better, greater and more aligned with our dreams is not unhealthy, as long as we are not deluding ourselves into believing that fulfilling that aspiration will finally result in happiness. We must be able to find peace, happiness and contentment where we are now standing.

It is easy for us to conclude that our happiness is being obstructed by our current life condition. If only we had a better job, a nicer home, more money, a loving partner…then, we would be whole, happy and complete. These conditions may bring satisfaction, joy and celebration, but they will not result in happiness. Aside from this fact, our focus on these desires as something that is necessary and missing will ultimately nurture our feelings of lack and limitation. This will actually prevent us from receiving them. It is not the desire that is the problem. It is our investment in the illusion that the fulfillment of these desires is the cure to all that is ailing us.

We must want what we have to get what we want. This may seem counter-intuitive, but it is true. We are at our most powerful when we are standing in a place of complete satisfaction, knowing that (in spite of whatever may be happening in our lives) all is well. It is in this place where those things that we want are simply additions to an already incredible existence—a dessert added to an already satisfying meal. It is in this space that our power of attraction is the strongest, when we are able to graciously receive out of complete appreciation for yet another gift to our existence.

There is no greater practice for appreciation than regular meditation and gratitude. Take the time each day to reflect, relish and honor all of the good that is in your life right now. Begin with the fact that you are breathing and still on the planet and work your way up from there. Allow yourself to feel that gratitude for every blessing on your list. When you have completed your meditation, make a list of all that has specifically occurred or caught your attention today in a heartfelt, positive way.

Success or sabotage? The most expedient way of achieving greater success is to honor the success that you have already achieved.

Is this going to be an incredible day? The level of joy that we attain from each day is directly correlated to the appreciation of our experience. When we notice and acknowledge more good, we receive more of it.

Witness your Greatness.

There are days when I am not quite sure what I am doing here (both on this planet and in this work). Sometimes I am clear that I was called and other times I conclude that there is a strong possibility that I conveniently constructed a viable frame around some marketable skills. In either case, you who have paid me time, attention, and mind have been more than gracious.

For those with whom I have had the pleasure to personally engage: you have brought so much joy into my life. We have shared many laughs, trials, tribulations, and growth. I have been given the privilege to witness your greatness as it continues to unfold. Because of you, I have had a life filled with purpose. Thank you for the honor of allowing me to see a glimpse of your soul. I truly appreciate you and am so blessed to have you in my life. I am not certain if you are aware of this or not, but you are a gift to so many. I hope that you will receive, remember, and honor that as you go about the business of your day.

Success or sabotage? You have created so much success for others; do not forget to create some for yourself!

Is this going to be an incredible day? The potential and possibility are simply awaiting your signal of willingness and approval. This day is yours to relish and indulge, knowing that it will never come again.

Appreciate it All.

There is no power greater than gratitude (except, perhaps, that of the choice to exercise it). When we engage the capability within us to appreciate all that we love, we are plugged into the infinite power of the universe. It is in this space, when we are solely focused on the good and how delighted we feel because of it, that we are able to transform the nature of our existence. It is here that we are at our most creative. It is here that we are able to conquer all that has been inhibiting us from being all that we are meant to be.

Like all muscles, appreciation must be exercised. The more that we flex the muscle, the stronger we will become. To that end, get out a piece of paper. Begin to list all of the things that you love and relish, all of the things that literally lift your spirit. Relish in each gift. Allow yourself to surrender to the joy that begins to bubble up within. Feel that vibration. Allow it to carry you to your deepest desires (those things which you will also love when they arrive).

Success or sabotage? Success is a destination that we will find downstream. If we choose to let go, rather than resisting the natural current that is our life, we will arrive happily and without injury.

Is this going to be an incredible day? Every day has a gift in its essence if we will simply take the time to give it our attention.

I appreciate you. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy life to indulge me and my musings. The essence of my message (today and every day) can easily be summarized: YOU’VE GOT THIS. Remember that and live accordingly because this day is never coming again.

Appreciate what IS.

We all have a story that we carry about ourselves. Most of us are unaware of the story, but it is affecting the way that we interact with others. With most of us, there is a part of the story that is about us not being enough in some capacity--not smart enough, not deserving enough, not cute enough, not ambitious enough, etc. It's usually a seed that was unintentionally planted by one or both of our parents. If the story remains dormant and unhealed, it will fester and influence the way that we see and respond to the world.

Here is what usually happens: When a person's response or reaction to us is aligned with that story that we are carrying (either in assumption or truth), it energizes the sponsoring thought embedded in that story. See: I am not smart enough! See: I am not attractive enough! Naturally, this reminder doesn't make us feel good. So, most of us surrender to the negative emotion. Once we do that, we deepen the power of that emotion and as a result, attract more circumstances—more evidence that validates what we now believe. It then becomes a cycle: experience elicits emotion, emotion elicits experience; experience elicits emotion and so on. Eventually, that story that we have about ourselves becomes truth.

In order to break the pattern, you have to accept what I believe is a philosophical truth: everything that happens to you, happens for you, should you allow it. You are always on your way to something wonderful, even when you are not enjoying where you are. There is always something good if you will allow yourself to live it. So, you can look beyond what you are not enjoying in the moment and appreciate all that is good in your life, including what you are not enjoying, realizing (or deciding if you would prefer to look at it that way) that more that you do enjoy is already on the way. 

This is where our true power lies: we have the power to direct our thoughts, words and attention to that which we appreciate, that which we want and that which we will have. By doing this, we actually diminish the power of the old story because we are no longer creating the evidence to support it. We write a new story and, as if by some mystical magic, little by little, we create a different, more enjoyable experience.

People are happy because they choose to be happy. I choose to be happy. By directing my attention to all that I appreciate in my present experience, I feel joy; because I feel joy, I create more joy in my life which inspires me to feel more joy. 

It sounds much simpler than it is in application. It requires an unyielding discipline and the ability to surrender any sense of victimization, no matter how much evidence exists to support it (if you're like most of us, your ego is probably already arguing the possibility--but, what about this...I have a reason to feel <insert negative emotion>. It's not about that. Life is not about what happens to you. It is about how you respond to it.

Success or sabotage? You stop sabotaging your success when you realize that the concept of sabotage is rhetorical. There is no sabotage out there. The only sabotage is your own, when you forget who you are and surrender your power in any circumstance.

Is this going to be an incredible day? The choice is always within your power.

Express your Appreciation.

If we all took a little bit of time each day or even each week extending our energy outside of ourselves to express gratitude and appreciation to others, the world would literally transform before our eyes. There are so many little things that we take for granted--so many gifts that remain unacknowledged. 

Today, I invite you to take notice of all that is given to you by others. Take the time to express your thanks either verbally or with a heartfelt note. Do you find yourself feeling discomfort at the thought of complimenting another? Do you find yourself putting it off until later? Don't wait another moment! Do it and do it now. Note how powerful you feel when you express love and appreciation to another.

Success or sabotage? Success is not an individual effort; it requires the cooperation of many to achieve even the smallest of victories.

 Is this going to be an incredible day? Show your appreciation for the power and potential of this day by giving it to another.

Bathe in Appreciation.

You are on the verge of something incredible...a convergence of your desires, passion and experience. The life that is awaiting you is the one that you have been creating. Before you can cross the threshold, you must lose the weight and burden of victimization. Those feelings of being undervalued and unappreciated are slowing your pace. Allow them to move through you, realizing that this is simply a part of the transformation. Direct your attention to the appreciation for all that you have created in excited anticipation for what is unfolding. Feel the gratitude for the doors that have opened and for those that are down the hall. No one or no thing can stand in the way of that which is yours to do. Every day, say “yes” and thank you for the gifts that are being provided, knowing that they are mere tokens of those that are coming. Everything is always working out for you because you allow it, remembering that the universe is your advocate...always on your side. You are powerful beyond measure and are walking in favor. Everything is and will always work out for you.

Take a moment to bathe in appreciation. Write a gratitude list, noting all of your blessings, gifts and opportunities big and small. Call (do not text! Call!) those that have been great sources of support and advocacy. Thank them. Tell them what they mean to you. Appreciate yourself. Take note of all of your progress. Look at how far you have come.

Is this going to be an incredibly day? Every day has seeds of greatness. Sometimes, we simply have to be willing to receive them.

Success or sabotage? You must want what you have to get what you want. You value and appreciate that which you have in a spirit of true mindfulness, you open the door to receive more of the same.