Be Like Bamboo

Feeling stress and the need for a quick recharge? Feeling blocked, stuck in your ways and the desire to be more flexible and forgiving? Do you have the desire to undo the energy drain of the life and work, start the year or business anew? If yes, it's time to be like bamboo

Want to be strong without being tough? Finding the strength to lead from a place that does not drain your joy or energy? Be like the bamboo.

As entrepreneurs we spend much of our time working, thinking, and creating from a place of busyness. We spend most of our time in the doing, and very little time in a space of quiet - between all the doing. So much of what we do is on autopilot, focused on goals, and getting things done. This is the path to stress and burnout.

At times we get so caught up in the many little tasks we are managing that we lose sight of our original intention and passion. The tasks take over and the big picture begins to blur.

Often, we are piloted by busy versus peaceful or productive energy. The days fly by, blending into each other. We look up and we are tired or lost.

We are so set on achieving what we set out to do that we often forget to take breaks, celebrate our successes, and enjoy what we have created.

I love the seasons as teachers for leadership and self-care. In the spirit of Spring and the 5 elements, I look to wood as the element of the season. Bamboo, a wood element, is one of the most sustainable, easily renewable resources. When in use, it is one of the most efficient resources - as virtually every part makes a valuable contribution. It thrives without harmful additives, in a variety of conditions. Once planted, the roots remain in place.

This is an invitation in the form of a metaphor. It is also a chance to live into the practice of inviting art, movement and play into your life. Consider it an opportunity to practice visualization - allowing this vision to lead you on your path to peace and clarity. To be like bamboo.

Visioning is a way to just breathe and be. Movement is a way to access our deepest, most enduring self. Letting go of our minds and allowing our bodies to just sway and flow. Connect imagination to this movement and allow it to lead.

When things get tough, take a breath. Move more slowly and see yourself as bamboo. Allowing the Spring element of wood to help you balance your energy.

Feel rooted and light.

Sway and bend gently with the wind.

Strong yet flexible.

Growing tall to reach the clouds.

Able to survive in diverse spaces.

Nourishing.

Healing.

Easily renewed.

Creative. Expansive.

Beautiful in your natural simplicity.

Just be.

Like bamboo.

Namaste'

https://ezinearticles.com/?Be-Like-Bamboo&id=7514723

Set Your Intention for A Great First Impression (By Madeline Frank)

When is the last time you consciously set out to make a fantastic first impression? We often think of first impressions as something we deploy for job interviews and first dates, however, your road to excellence and success (no matter how you define success) is paved with the conscious efforts of making a series of great impressions.

Recently, I was invited to speak to one of the largest and top performing real estate companies in Virginia. The audience was a mixture of seasoned pros and eager new representatives.

One exercise I frequently do with most audiences is I ask them to imagine they are about to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City. They are some of the top musicians in the world, and are about to perform a symphony to a sold-out audience.

What do you think would happen if they took the stage wearing workout clothes instead of formal wear? Would that affect the audience's perception of them?

For tonight's performance, we are summoning the legendary Frank Sinatra. I have had the honor of personally playing with Frank Sinatra, and one element that the entire orchestra agreed upon was that he intentionally set out to make a staggeringly awesome first impression.

Frank Sinatra walked out on stage with a big smile on his face, standing tall and fit, wearing a black tuxedo that fit him to perfection. He made eye contact with his audience, making them feel as if he were singing to them in his living room and they were honored guests. The audience were mesmerized by Sinatra.

One success example that everyone could use in their world today is to simply smile and dress in clothes that fit you. Also, stand or sit tall, don't slouch.

Tap into your Internal "Wow"

I asked my audience to imagine that they had just sold a half million-dollar property. (and earned a nice commission since they are Realtors).

Every one of them stood with their shoulders back, they made direct eye contact, and they spoke with clear enthusiasm.

The way you carry yourself creates a picture in people's mind. Your prospects don't know if you have sold everything you've touched in the past 72 hours or if you feel like you couldn't close a ziplock bag at this moment... other than the way you present yourself.

Takeaway from this example: Practice carrying yourself in a confident manner.

Becoming a conscious complimenter.

One of the best illustrations of the power of compliments came from Dr. George W. Crane's psychology class at Northwestern University. Dr. Crane believed in the application of his teachings, not just in the memorization of his lessons.

He created the Compliment Club. Every day his students were to pay an honest compliment to each of three different persons... for 30 consecutive days. He also had the students journal the experiences.

Dr. Crane required the students write a theme paper about their experiences. He wanted them to note the changes they noted in the people around them, as well as how this experience altered their own outlook.

The students realized that by consciously complimenting others, they were motivated, encouraged, and inspired as well. Dr. Crane believed that appreciative words are the most powerful force for good on earth.

Everyone in life needs positive encouragement to help them grow, inspire and motivate them to succeed.

Take away: compliment 3 people every day for the next week and notice how your life improves.

You will also notice that the more you compliment, the better you will connect with others.

Everyone loves to talk about themselves. Asking the right questions of the people you encounter on a daily basis will deepen your relationship with them and will also help uncover a few "undercover customers".

No matter what your job, maintain a positive attitude, think taller, dress well, compliment someone every day, and journal what happens each day!

Training yourself to give honest compliments to others is a fabulous door opener for your success. By talking to people, you otherwise would not talk to, you will be expanding your circle and building new and stronger relationships.

https://ezinearticles.com/?Set-Your-Intention-for-A-Great-First-Impression&id=10210633

Abraham Hicks 2021 ~ This Is What Source Energy Wants From You!! Your Purpose In Life Is SO CLOSE!!

You Are The Average Of Who You Meet & Keep In Life (By Dash Trembley)

This morning, while I was working out in the gym, I overheard a very interesting conversation that reminded me of the very wise old saying that, "you're the average of the 5 people you hang out with." So there's this man in my local gym who's always taking up one machine for long blocks of time, and I often see him on my workout days. He saw his "Gym buddy" coming over from the other end of the room and started a "conversation" with him. He complained about how much he drank the day before, and how he still feels like throwing up and that's why he's not doing his squats today. He went on incessantly.

Then "Gym buddy" joined in on complaining even more about his own current work and life on top of the man's drinking escapades yesterday. The man cut "Gym buddy" off in the middle of the conversation, realising he's not talking about him anymore and he wasn't ready to listen or provide his two cents so he invited him to go outside to take a "smoke break" instead. "Gym buddy" said to him, "I'm actually trying to quit smoking. I started yesterday." Then the man looked at him with a long disbelieving pause that was half-filled with genuine shock but I can tell he really wanted him to join him for a smoke. So "Gym buddy" made another feeble attempt to convince him once more, but this time in a much weaker tone, and he said again, "I'm serious. I'm really trying to quit." The man asked him "Why?" like it was a bad decision and foolish thing to do.

So this man started to tell him his own story about how he tried to quit for 4 (short) weeks suffering from all the most horrible withdrawal symptoms and then went back to smoking again. Even though there was no real moral or value to his story, he continued to justify and lay out all his reasons for quitting in great enthusiasm. Then "Gym buddy" turned to asked him, "Then what happened?" He simply said to him, "Nothing. I just went back to square one." "Gym buddy" paused for a split second and then said, "Fuck it, let's go." And they both started discussing about the brand of cigarettes they smoke and suggested to share and split it.

In just less than 2 minutes of sharing his experience of how he tried to quit and fail (in just 4 weeks) he has influenced and convinced someone else to give up their goal and intention in just less than 24 hours. The scary thing is, that was just an acquaintance he probably meet once a month at the gym. There was a period of time I actually preferred my customized workouts from home just so I didn't let in any chance to even come in contact with any energy that was negative. I became a "vibrational-snob".

I remember when I started my outdoor runs, (and by that, I mean my short sprints) strangers would just give me all sorts of funny looks like I lost my marbles. A few even came up to me and told me to slow down. "Don't run so fast." Perhaps it did come with good intentions, but sometimes, people who're offering you the most "opinions and advices" are the ones who're nowhere close to being happy, healthy, or abundant, to even be offering their two cents. They're usually the ones who're out of shape, emotionally, and mentally bankrupt. Can you imagine if that person was a friend or even a family member, which usually is the case, who's constantly talking you out of change? The good kind of change? Is someone in your life holding you back from becoming the best version of yourself?

https://ezinearticles.com/?You-Are-The-Average-Of-Who-You-Meet-and-Keep-In-Life&id=10115595

Waking Up Before It's Too Late! (By Madeline Frank)

Are you living on autopilot?

A friend of mine always says first, with a smile on his face, "I am grateful to be alive."

When I was in my late 20s, I went to the hospital to have a growth removed that the doctor thought might be cancerous. My Mom came to the hospital with me. Once I was on the operating table, the anesthesiologist gave me anesthesia to put me under. When the procedure was over and I was in the recovery area, the doctor and surgical staff could not wake me up and the doctor asked my Momma to come in.

Momma said to him in a clear loud excited voice "Wake her up!"

I came to with the doctor pounding on my chest and my Momma standing nearby!

I was having a happy dream and did not realize they were unable to wake me up! If not for my Momma I would have been dead!

The doctor said, "You are allergic to the anesthesia I gave you and I was not able to wake you up until your Mother insisted I wake you up."

"Do not ever allow them to give you this type of anesthesia again!"

They discovered that I was allergic to one of the drugs that I was given during surgery.

I nearly didn't wake up; but I was oblivious... because I was unconscious.

Open your eyes.

While this story was literally about waking up; most people are drifting through life on autopilot with their eyes closed.

And most people are oblivious to the fact that they are "unconscious" to their priorities and life.

By having your success habits in place, you release your tension!

When you have intention, you open up your eyes, gain clarity, and take action!

When you gain clarity, you are compelled to move forward.

When you begin to move forward, you generate momentum.

When you generate momentum, others take notice.

Have you ever been at a stop light with a person texting on their phone, or been in an accident caused by a distracted driver?

The benefits are quite obvious when a distracted driver chooses to "open their eyes" and "decides" to put their cell phone in the back seat before they begin driving to prevent them from having another accident.

I challenge anyone to argue the benefits of a driver soothing their boredom by gluing their attention to a screen rather than paying attention to driving. Put it away.

Do you know someone who listens to the news without stopping, 24 hours a day? If that is their only intake of information, they are likely quite bitter and angry.

What can you do to improve this situation?

Replace an hour of listening/watching/reading the news with something uplifting, growth oriented, or gratitude related. See how you feel after one week. How about after one month?

Are you still angry? Has your mood improved? Are you able to think clearly and focused?

Have you ever been in a home with drafty windows?

Not only is it uncomfortable, but they can let in bugs.

Sealing your home with new windows will not only make it more comfortable; it creates a cleaner environment.

Your relationships and your standards are the windows of your life. If you are willing to tolerate pests, bugs, and other nasty creatures into your home, you may also let in negative people, stagnant people, and those who drag you down.

How can you improve your relationships and connect with others?

1. Ask them how they are and then ask them how their family is?

2. Listen carefully to what they say and offer your thoughts when appropriate.

By having your success habits in place, you release your tension!

When you have intention, you open up your eyes, gain clarity, and are moved to take action!

https://ezinearticles.com/?Waking-Up-Before-Its-Too-Late!&id=10457413

Attention Women In Medicine: Wrap Up Your Day In A Powerful Way (By Dr Stephanie Wellington)

Women in medicine have a full agenda. Once your day begins you are on the go, whether it is clinical responsibilities or catching up with things at home. The high demands of a life as a doctor, nurse practitioner, or nurse with little time to regroup and re-energize contributes to a buildup of stress, overwhelm, and feeling like you are on a hamster wheel.

As important as it is to set an intention for the beginning of each day, it as crucial to set the intention to wrap up your day.

For women in medicine, wrapping up your day brings closure to the career part of your life as you re-enter the personal part of your life as a mother, wife, and the other roles you have. It is important to become mindful of the energy you absorb when working in high acuity, high demand settings of medicine. We are exposed to patient stressors, colleague complaints, and overwhelm as the clock ticks and patients still need to be examined and administrative responsibilities completed. There are also things we trouble shoot that are beyond our scope of practice. A wrap-up routine at the end of day releases that high stress energy. It honors your strengths as you move into your next role. It is a stress management tool that lends itself towards experiencing harmony in your life.

Here is are strategies my clients and I use.

Celebrate the everyday wins

When you have dedicated your life and career to serving others, it is imperative to focus on the cycle of giving and receiving. This shifts you from feeling like you are always giving and sacrificing and opens you to acknowledging what you receive. Celebrating your daily wins is one quick way to shift your energy. Ask any woman in medicine and she can tell you what she's done for the day. She often follows that with a long list of all the things left undone. Pause. Take a break and bask in the progress, little or big, that happened today.

• Maybe it was spending an extra 10 minutes with a patient and their family without worrying about how it will throw off the schedule.
• Maybe it was staying focused on your higher purpose as you brainstormed solutions for today's challenges in the unit.
• Maybe it was a few minutes of quality time with your family before heading off to the hospital.

Wrap up your day by celebrating what has gone well today.

Learn from the lessons

Medical professionals tend to be perfectionists and our own worse critic. We do most things ourselves because we want it done right. When it's not done right, we call it failure. Within the failure are the lessons. Lessons such as:

• How to honor and respect a colleague's point of view.
• How to delegate to the right team member, then release it and allow the end result to manifest.
• How to acknowledge a patient's ability to make the best decision for himself or herself and their family, particularly when it differs from our own.

From a place of lessons we are open to learn from others rather than judge and condemn. Wrap up your day in the hospital or office with the question, "What have I learned today that benefits me, my team, and my patients?"

Create a transition point to leave it all behind.

Confession. I am as guilty as my clients. During the commute home, I would replay my day, with all its stressors, frustrations, and things left incomplete. My inner critic had free reign to replay the day. The more I stayed in this space the less available I was for my children when I arrived home. Enjoying life was just beyond my reach. The shift came when I decided to put an end to my work day and move into my home life with ease and grace.

I created the transition point. The transition point is the place along my commute where I move out of doctor mode and into "Me" mode. Me as the woman, the mother, the daughter, and the other roles in my life. As a woman in medicine I lead the team, digest diagnostic lab tests and clinical data, and communicate with families about their newborns in the NICU. In "Me" mode I get to switch gears and lessen the demands of my life. I can say 'Yes' to top priority items and 'Not Yet' to less pressing items in favor of time with my children and things that bring more joy to my life. My transition point was a bridge that I crossed every day on my way from the hospital. Before approaching the bridge I gave myself permission to replay the day. Initially the replay was from a place of stressing about all that I had done and all that was left to do. Then I went deeper and looked for the lessons. Once I approached the bridge I was thankful for the lessons of the day and then released them.

https://ezinearticles.com/?Attention-Women-In-Medicine:-Wrap-Up-Your-Day-In-A-Powerful-Way&id=9736275

Abraham Hicks ~ Magical Ways To Receive Great Abundance

Abraham Hicks - It's The Next Step...

The Time For Self-Care Is Now

Everyone knows the importance of self-care however most people do not practice it on a daily basis. They may be participating in self-pampering or self-indulgence, but these are temporary fixes to a chronic issue. With the holidays approaching, it is important to remember that unless you make a conscious effort to put yourself first, you will continue down the path of stress and feeling overwhelmed. You must have a clear intention to take steps to nurture yourself in order to support others. As women, we tend to fall into the automatic role we have created for ourselves. This then leads us to placing others first, whether it's our children, spouse, friends, or family members. It is not until we end up physically ill, fatigued, depressed, or frustrated that we take that moment to stop because we have no choice.

Well the choice is yours. You can choose to allow yourself to believe you come first and not feel guilty about it. You can choose to see yourself as important enough to refuel and reenergize in order to give what you have to offer to loved ones. Trust me, they will be thankful for it. We all feed off each other's energy, so if you are moody, upset, or unhappy, those energies will have a domino effect to those around you. To change this dynamic you must accept your significance not just within your family and yourself but also in this life. Practicing self-care on a consistent basis improves overall health, makes one a better caregiver, and reduces stress.

What can you do to take better care of yourself? Well, first make the commitment to incorporate a self-care strategy at least once a week, and then slowly work up to a daily practice. Some strategies are:

• Meditation/Mindfulness- you don't need to sit still for 20 minutes while listening to calming music. You can simply be mentally present in every activity you engage in throughout the day. This helps to focus the mind, which allows you to enjoy the moment and relax.

• Journal Writing- writing can give us clarity and organization to our thoughts, which leads to a more focused, less overwrought mind.

• Practice Self-Compassion- be kind to yourself; love yourself; accept your imperfections because that is what makes you perfect!

• Just Say No- you do not have to accept every invitation and be everyone's go to person. For some it may be difficult at first to say no, however it becomes much easier when your realize the pressure has lessened and you have extra time for more enjoyable experiences.

https://ezinearticles.com/?The-Time-For-Self-Care-Is-Now&id=9592008

Power Of Intention With Words

The power of words is something most people tend to overlook. The mind works in incredible ways, with unlimited potential to create whatever it is that is desired and focused upon. One of the challenges people experience is based simply on what they choose to say. The words come from a thought pattern, which is what the mind is focused upon and as a result, will become reality. Some people are naturally positive in their thought patterns, keeping their chin up, focused on the end result, allowing for hurdles and obstacles to be learning experiences moving them toward success, instead of failures causing them to halt. Others, the majority of people, get wrapped up in the drama of daily life, forgetting about their dreams and desires, instead letting life lead them down whatever the path may be.

Some examples of unintentional speech include:

I'd rather die before I'd do...

You're killing me...

We'll just have to see what happens...

You never know what tomorrow will bring...

I'm so sick and tired...

I'm so broke...

I can't afford it...

I can't do...

I have no time...

The list goes on and on, and I am certain by now you have the gist of the idea and quite possibly you recognize a statement or two as something someone you may know (perhaps intimately?) says on a regular basis.

Changing your thought patterns takes time, consistency, deliberate focus and patience.

The first step is to become aware of your habits in relation to the words you choose. I have a friend who is constantly saying "I'll just do this and we'll see what happens." She never sets a specific intention as to what she envisions the result of her actions will be. That is a key part of shifting your life's direction to the path you desire.

Using statements that focus on a positive, specific outcome are critical. Feelings are a direct result of the connection between what your body and mind and the correlation between what you have been taught feels good v. what is stressful or negative. We have all been programmed through our life experiences - some good, some not so good. The beautiful thing about life is that we can CHANGE our programming with an intentional focus on what we CHOOSE to bring into our lives. And the only person who gets to CHOOSE what the life we live looks like, is YOU!!

Set your intentions, be specific, choose your speech wisely and for positive benefit to yourself and others and make it happen!!!

You can manifest all the bounty you desire NOW!!

https://ezinearticles.com/?Power-Of-Intention-With-Words&id=8618157

Intentional Change Theory and Beyond

"Welcome everyone," intones the Lama, who sits cross-legged while facing his students and guiding their meditation from the front of the hall. "You might want to remind yourself of your intention for being here. You're here to cultivate enlightenment, calmness and insight."

Intention is defined as a determination to act in a certain way toward a thing intended, such as an aim or plan. It is derived from the Latin word, intentio, meaning: stretching or purpose.

Intentional Change Theory is the methodology that organizational psychologist Dr. Richard Boyatzis presents in his book Resonant Leadership. He outlines the same theory in his class at Case Western Reserve University, Ohio, on Transformative Leadership through Emotional Intelligence available online through Coursera.com

Boyatzis sums up his lifelong study of leadership in these words: "There is no nobler goal than to lead people to excellence, fulfillment and collective achievement... We need people who can see beyond today, spark hope instead of despair, and draw others into an intentional journey of transformation."

According to Boyatzis, the ability to motivate people toward improving their lives is one of the most critical faculties to learn and understand. In his classes and books, he answers the questions about how people can improve their capacity for resonant leadership and how they might stay effective while facing daily challenges.

Integrating key ideas with research and case histories, Boyatzis leads us in powerful exercises designed to help us develop a personal vision for our life and work.

We learn that resonant leaders manage their stress through mindfulness, hope, compassion and renewal. Then we write essays designed to generate those same emotions within ourselves.

Focusing on our strengths, values and sense of purpose, the writing exercises fuel our desire to be a better person. This leads us into a personal vision which reveals our ideal self and desired future.

Looking at who we are now, we ask friends about times they remember us at our strongest and best. We examine the strengths we possess that support our desired future and consider the roles we play that have meaning for us. We note relevant insights based on our past experience. And finally, we ask what we need to do to bridge the gap between where we are now and where we want to be.

Devising a plan for intentional change culminates the training. Because we are set in our ways, we need to make a conscious effort to change. Our plan for change will focus our time and energy on making our dreams come true.

To reach our dreams we must know them and Boyatzis helps us open the door to this discovery. In the words of the Rinpoche, "You might want to remind yourself of your intention for being here... "

http://ezinearticles.com/?Intentional-Change-Theory-and-Beyond&id=9818325

Catharsis and the Creative Process

Creativity is the most intense path to catharsis. The mind must connect to the emotions and form an idea into a physical shape such as a book or painting. The mind and the emotions must unite into a single line of intention that fills the work of art completely. Similarly, the artist's body and his equipment must become one in a singular creative purpose.

Whether it's a new recipe, clothing design, or symphony, the creation must receive and retain the full intention of your concentrated effort. The result of any act of creation should always be the physical form of an aesthetic desire, which is the drive to see something become real that only exists in your imagination.

Every creative idea an artist can conceive of has an energetic center of gravity that pulls similar energies like it towards itself. So as we fill an aesthetic product with our desire to make it real, it forms a vacuum within us that is steadily filled with more ideas similar to the original. The human experience of this creative vacuum is felt as a surge of inspiration or illumination in spiritual circles. Others report it as a spiritual awakening, the seeing of transcendental visions, or catharsis.

As the inspiration fills us, it disturbs our balance of mind by generating wild undercurrents in our consciousness that eventually must find resolution in our work. This experience has many names because no one really knows it's true source, so each person attributes it to the source they most deeply value. But whatever the source, supernatural, extraterrestrial, or earthly, the human mind is the vehicle or conduit for the creativity that is flowing through them. To channel the complete creative desire into art is the nature of our work as artists.

To tap into this stream of creativity, the artist must treat his work as if it were a ritual or ceremony that deserves his utmost respect. He must enter a state of relaxed concentration and allow the ideas to pour through him and connect to his emotions in order to translate them into artistic products. Sometimes the creative stream is light, heavy, or overwhelming depending on many factors such as the time of day, our mood, the seasons, and our level of skill, but neither resistance nor total acceptance will prevent the eventual burst of catharsis, which restores balance to the mind.

The more expertly and efficient the artist can work, the quicker they can complete each product and prepare it for distribution. In the end, the ultimate goal for most artistic endeavors is to form our creativity into a physical shape. All of the objects that fill our world have been brought to us through the creative process and the work of human beings to make it solid and real.

For musicians, the goal is to shape an idea, message, or emotional experience with sound and solidify it in a recording. For an author, the goal might be to formulate a plot line complex enough to keep the readers guessing, while permitting various clues to surface throughout the story that make the readers believe they know who did it or what's going to happen next. For the entrepreneur, the goal will be to manufacture the good or develop the service to reach a targeted set of customers or clients. And for a singer, the goal could be to present lyrics with the correct balance between technical delivery, emotional display, and theatrics.

As the facet of our creative energies must be opened and closed for each work of our imagination, you must complete the creative process with the belief that the work you have done has assumed the physical shape of the idea you had been operating towards, and that there's nothing more inside of you to put into it. With balance of mind restored, the cathartic release subsides, and allows you to review the work you have just completed. The law of catharsis requires that you consider it done and never return to it again.

https://ezinearticles.com/?Catharsis-and-the-Creative-Process&id=9427138

Intention/Manifestation - Personal Development Power

You are about to learn the power of Intention and what you can make it do for you in your life!

In all areas of your life, whether it be personal development, career, relationships or finances the experiences you have are a direct result of what you have intended for yourself!

Have you ever expected something to go terribly wrong and it did? "Oh I just knew that was going to happen!" This simple statement is probably one you have used countless times throughout your life and I am going to show you just how and why you were right every time you used it!

Now expectation and intention are very similar in nature and you cannot have one without the other. Let me explain.

Conscious intention is when you not only desire something to occur but you also expect it to occur. Let us say you want to go to the shop for a new pair of shoes for a social occasion that is imminent. You set your intention that on Saturday you will head to your favourite shopping mall, browse a few shops and purchase a pair of shoes that are suitable. Because this intention fits into your view of what is normal and easy for you to achieve you release it and give it very little additional thought. You fully expect your intention to be fulfilled. You know that on Saturday you will go to the mall and buy a pair of shoes! There are little or no opposing thoughts.

So how does this relate to manifestation and intention in other areas of your life?

Well I am sure you have heard a lot recently about the Law of Attraction and how it works in your life. The basic premise of this great law states that you get more of what you focus on in life. Your very thoughts are attracting to you their physical equivalent and the amount of emotional energy you generate from these thoughts determines the speed at which they manifest in your life.

Many people find this concept very easy to accept. Yet, the great majority of people cannot effectively utilize it in their lives to create and attract those things, situations and people that they feel would make them happy. Are you one of them? Why is this?

The only reason you are currently lacking the ability to consistently manifest your desires consciously is because you are harbouring conscious and unconscious intentions that oppose your desires. The Universe and your subconscious do not know, nor do they care, whether a manifestation of thought is consciously wanted or unwanted. When your subconscious mind is feed a thought by your conscious mind, by the power of belief and emotion, it takes the thought as an intention and the law of attraction immediately begins its manifestation. The Universe itself starts to attract the physical equivalent of that thought to you! Some of your thoughts are stronger than others. Many of your thoughts attract similar thoughts to them depending on their strength. Other thoughts are loners and die quickly. Every thought that you think is sending out a request to the universe for its manifestation. However, many of your thoughts are opposing in nature and will therefore cancel each other out.

Therefore when you intend to attract something into your life it is natural and normal for it to come to you. You only run into trouble when your intentions become confused, cancelled or reversed because of your other thoughts. For example, you may set an intention to attract the ideal life partner. You create your internal vision of what that means to you. You generate the necessary positive emotions that such a relationship will evoke in you and you send out your request by focusing on those feelings and vision everyday in the belief that you are attracting it to you. This becomes your clear intention! You intend to have such a relationship in your life.

Unfortunately many problems can arise from the unmonitored thoughts you think as you go about your daily activities. You think thoughts like "how will this manifest", "this will never work", "I'm too ugly to find a person like that", "No-one like that would ever be interested in me", etc. These are taken by your subconscious mind and the Universe as intentions and are treated in the same way as your consciously directed intention. Therefore you will neutralize the effect that focusing on your vision had and stop its manifestation. In fact, if you remain in this negative frame of mind and allow these destructive thoughts to wander through your mind for the greater part of your day you will probably find that the exact opposite of what you consciously intended appears in your life!

Now such thoughts are easy to identify and reality easy to eliminate if you stay true to your inner vision and remain focused on your intention. When you have such negative thoughts it is merely a matter of recalling your vision and the positive feelings it generates in you and dwelling on that scene for a few moments. Within, anywhere from, a few days to a few weeks you will eliminate most if not all of these negative thought patterns and beliefs. However, there is another major damaging phenomenon at work in your life which you must learn to eradicate. You have very subtle and almost imperceptible unconscious thoughts that, unless removed, will stop your vision from ever being manifest!

Identifying thoughts that are in direct opposition to your intention is relatively easy - they stick out like a sore thumb. However, developing the skill to identify the more subtle, yet just as damaging, opposing thoughts is essential. Let us return to our example of intending to create a new loving relationship. You focus on your vision and dwell in the positive feelings for several minutes each day. All is good, you have set your intention and clearly signalled the Universe what you want and expect to get it. Now you go through your day as normal and every now and then you identify the thoughts that are in opposition to your intention, you quickly reverse those thoughts and feelings by re-focusing on your vision - all is well.

However, what are you doing when you cook and eat your diner? Do you give a sigh that you are eating alone again? Do you get despondent when you come home to an empty house or sleep alone in bed? Do you think thoughts like "I wish I had this relationship now"? Do you begin to wander how this relationship will manifest? Do you allow your mind to dwell on worries about your age or the length of time you have aleady spent alone? When you think about your holiday for next year are you mentally structuring your journey as a single person? Basically you need to identify if your everyday thoughts are reinforcing or opposing your intention. We have on average 50,000 thoughts everyday. Are your thoughts reflecting that of a single person?

Always keep in your mind that every thought you think is an intention! Every thought backed by expectation becomes a Universal request for its manifestation and every thought backed by strong emotion manifests quickly!

If you are diligent and look at, what until now were, your unconscious thoughts and begin to re-align them with your intentions you will be surprised and probably shocked at the effect it has on your life and your ability to consciously manifest.

The truth is this, when all your conscious and unconcious thoughts are in alignment on any one subject your intention will manifest instantly! The reason why it seems that time is needed to create and attract what you want is because you still harbour some opposing thoughts, beliefs and feelings. But this is fantastic news! You do not need to be 100% positive, clear and free from negativity to attract your intention. You just need to ensure that the majority of your thoughts are aligned with it! How fantastic is that?

Begin today to build one clear intention for yourself and your life. Create a clear precise vision of how your life will be when that vision is reality. Mentally step into your vision and evoke strong positive emotions around it. Expect to have it!

Then throughout your day ensure your thoughts are in alignment with your intention. Prepare yourself to have that vision. You will be surprised and empowered by the speed at which your vision becomes manifest.

What's More Important: Strategy or Intention?

"However beautiful your strategy, you should occasionally look at the results." - Winston Churchill

Strategy is a means to an end. However, a strategy without a clear vision for what the end game is can lead you to an endless path of doing things that give you no satisfaction. That would be like running in a race without ever knowing where the finish line is. It would be impossible to know if you were running at the correct pace. In your mind, you may think you are winning because you are running at a great pace for the 100-meter dash, except the race is 1 mile. Most likely, your strategy will not take you the distance.

To most, this may sound like common sense. Yet, everyday people take actions without knowing the final outcome they are seeking. As a rule, people ignore the importance of asking themselves what they and others involved want from a situation. People are eternally hopeful that chemistry will magically make it happen; the belief everyone should know.

So let's get this straight. Strategy is a process for achieving the final result. If you do not look up to see where your strategy has gotten you, you may find yourself in a place of unhappiness. Even Charlie Sheen would know that's not "winning."

Get clear about the final outcome you are seeking first. Do so without imposing all the reasons it can't happen. If the outcome you envision is a step to get you somewhere else, you still need to take steps to know the end game. Once you are clear about what you want, your strategy could change dramatically. Even if it doesn't change, still look up to see where you are.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Whats-More-Important:-Strategy-or-Intention?&id=9894268

Self-Care To Combat Compassion Fatigue

How do we take care of ourselves in our work place? This is an interesting question and now that it is spring and we are starting on a journey for a fresh new start of our lives after pulling out of the winter guise, it is time to start a new life. I would like to introduce the concept of having an intention each day to guide us to a more meditational shift within. This intention is like saying a positive affirmation that we keep with us throughout the day. It is how we get that intention that is interesting. I learned it at training and would like to share it with you. The credit goes to Mary Jo Barrett, LCSW-C. So, I give you her wise and sage advice. I hope you will be able to use it in your practice once you get a handle on it. It takes practice. It is a new way of doing things.

First: Sit comfortably in a chair with your feet flat uncrossed on the floor. Rest your arms comfortably. Close your eyes. Spend 3 minutes just focusing on your breath. Hold. Then breathe out to the count of 4. Then, begin a progressive relaxation exercise. Lift your shoulders up to your ears and hold them tight, then relax them. Clench your fists tightly and then relax your hands. Tighten your buttocks and then relax. Curl up your toes tight and then relax. Breathe in to the count of four hold and then breathe out to the count of four. Feel the tension leave your body and enjoy being relaxed.

Second: Keep your eyes closed. Now I want to take you on a journey. At the end of this journey a word will come to you-your intention. Do not worry about it now. Go to your safe place-- a place of calm and filled with peace and love. Notice what is a round you. Smell the air and breathe it in. Feel its freshness fill your lungs. Smell the sweetness of the air. Walk around your safe place whether it is the sea, a lake, a garden, the mountains, or wherever you feel safe. Take notice of everything around. You see a bright color. Go to it and touch it. Feel it, smell it, take its essence in. Enjoy it. What does it look like? How does it feel? Now slowly walk away from it and look around. Slowly bring yourself back and when you are ready open your eyes. What word comes to mind to you know?

Third: I want you to think of this word and spend 2 minutes writing a sentence with your word of intention. When this is done, I want you to put this intention on an index card and keep it with you for the rest of the day and pull this out and read it several times during the day.

This exercise should only take about 5-6 minutes. You do it every morning. The intention is to bring you back to centeredness when life begins getting hectic during the day. It is your own special meditation to take with you throughout the day. You get a new one each day.

This is an exercise in self-discipline and is here to help you in self-care. We need to take care of ourselves so we can be there for our clients. It helps keep us healthy and prevent burn out. We just have to take small steps out of our daily lives to take care of ourselves. It takes practice until it becomes a habit. This is one small step against compassion fatigue. Try it and see how it changes your life.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Self-Care-To-Combat-Compassion-Fatigue&id=8458018

Prosperity Tips: 3 Keys to Abundance

There are many keys to prosperous living, but the 3-pronged approach I shall call the PAG Effect is a quick game-changer for the willing student of abundance, ready to make a difference in their life and those of their loved ones.

The acronym PAG, stands for Purpose Action (and) Gratitude. To start with, if you want prosperity to show up in your life, then you must start with the intention to live a prosperous life. That means, to live with a sense of PURPOSE in making sure you think thoughts of prosperity, and hence, live the dream; in the words of Descartes "I think therefore I am"!

Truly you CANNOT fill your mind with thoughts of lack and doubt and at the same time manifest the glory of The Most Gracious, God! Think abundance both for yourself and those you come into contact with. There is abundant evidence that thoughts do make physical impressions on people and objects; so given the reality of the scientific law of actions creating reactions as taught by the legendary Albert Einstein, make it a HABIT, to think prosperous thoughts about yourself and those you interact with. The results will amaze you!

It is a fact, incontrovertible, that wishes and desires alone would not bring you results in the real physical world without ACTION. Therefore transform your thoughts into reality by taking the right steps in the right direction of prosperity. The results may not come out in one-to-one proportions for the Divine Grace has a great multiplier effect, but you must do the act to see the effect. It is true that the Good Lord feeds all the beasts of the fields, and the birds of the air neither sow nor reap, but they all must take the step towards the bounty out there in the fields. The bird leaves its nest and flies out to get its food. So do the beasts go out in search of their sustenance. Do not miss this lesson, as a human being blessed with more faculty of reasoning than the rest of creation. Do the part, act for yourself and share the grace by acting and giving out prosperity. Yours would be a result multiplied!

Now to the third key to Prosperity, GRATITUDE. In the Quran Allah tells us in the chapter called Abraham, verse 7, that if we are grateful, He would increase His blessings upon us; the exegetes explain this sense of gratitude to include thankfulness to God as well as humans who may be the vehicles that God uses, sometimes, to extend His Grace to us. So being thankful for gifts of God including the often overlooked blessings of life, breath, health and being able to read this essay itself can be an effective channel for creating and sustaining prosperity in our lives. So let us give thanks and praise to God as often, and as profoundly, as possible and the results will manifest in our lives.

Now go ahead and use the PAG approach to prosperity and abundance and see the result manifest itself in a beautiful, life. Just live it!

http://ezinearticles.com/?Prosperity-Tips:-3-Keys-to-Abundance&id=9727512

Attraction Is the Result of Planning and Action, Achieved in Passion - Fashion Your Passion Daily

*It seems that more and more these days we are hearing about attraction. Whether in a romantic sense or not, really makes no difference because the principles are the same...

A person is attracted by what sparks or energizes their passion through their sight and senses. The same concept holds true for attracting the life path meant for me and for you!

If we want to attract a lean, clean and healthy mate, then by all means, we must emulate what we want to attract or reap back to ourselves..Attraction is a concept that can be applied to most anything you want to bring back into your field of energy. The energy you release into the universe has a mirror-effect- Do you like what you see?~

***A powerful, positive, outstanding individual wants the same kind of rewarding energy that they send out into the world. Do you agree? If someone works hard at excelling in everything similar to where they send their intentions and energy- to plan, work, and finally to complete. Obviously they care about what they put into the universe. With that being said, an effective, hard- working person is going to want another judicious, hard- working person to live with, work with,or to a part of their bandwagon too! A resourceful person will do daily deeds to arrive to their chosen desired destiny by planting seeds of effort in the scope of their daily living. Planning and planting seeds, in our daily habits and accomplishments will grow future outcomes of desired success. IN remarkable passion, fashion your actions daily- climb the steps of ascension allow yourself to go or be led to the road of action or opportunity to where your heart feels the most liberating peace and happiness will surely follow you...

*So the point being made here is if you are ready to commit to doing the toil, work and effort to attract what you want into your life, you gotta be prepared to flow in the same field of effort and energy. Our desired person or outcomes do not wait for us to feel better- NO- Your desired outcome or person is first placed as a thought by your higher consciousness, to compel you and me to want to excel at something. To want to be better or live better is innate. We want enhancement to broaden our scope of life knowledge. Also, let it be noted that as we evolve mentally and spiritually, we crave to be around more and more people and situations of like mind. The higher your ways of thinking the more you and me are going to get fed-up or even frustrated by old ways of doing things. Or else totally lose appeal or interest in what no longer resonates with the new more powerful way that we are expanding our intuition. Our intuition has grown wings and in the discovery of our new thoughts we feel more awesome about our choices! We can all achieve this more by allowing ourselves to crave higher awareness and to put ourselves in an environment that is conducive to what acts and people have already achieved success in their chosen field of effort. Our very souls are craving new ways of dealing with old stories more than staying still and complacent. Have you started a business plan? Or, have you added an action plan for what you want to achieve before the years' end? With focus, effort, and determination, we can all attract anyone or anything into our field of energy and live more joyfully in the process of following the rules for the law of attraction..

Attraction is the result of planning and action, achieved in passion-Fashion your passion daily!The law of attraction works with intention, purpose, effort and action- attracting the attention of a person, many people or the profession that we feel brings us peace, comfort, ease and lastly enjoyment is a calculated risk. A chance that can invigorate your life, finances or renew your mindset is a good risk investment. Are you ready to attract more joy and abundance into your life?

The Art of Noticing: 3 Steps for Returning to Center

My mind is going a million miles a minute, in a dozen directions. As I lie on the yoga mat, I think:

"Stay here."

I manage it for 3-4 seconds and then I'm off on some thought train.

"Find your Stillness."

Yes, for 3-4 seconds more, and off again.

When meditating each morning, I count my breaths. I'm lucky if get to 5 before I lose track and have to start over. As I count, I'm present. I feel the breath come in and out. Then... I'm not.

That's the point. To notice and come back.

To return to center.

On the mat... and in life.

5 Steps for Returning to Center:

1) Notice you're not.

This is the first and most important step. If you don't notice, you'll never get to the others. Because of this, you want to notice with a smile. "Ah!" As Pema Chodron says, "I take delight." You are already returning to center -- just by noticing.

You want to get really good at this first step.

2) Transform Uncentered Moments Into Centering Practices

All the things that are uncentering now -- make each one a centering practice.

• That difficult person, the one who takes your center and runs away with it. "Ah! Thank you very much for this opportunity to practice." For 5 seconds -- can you center that long around this person? 10 seconds? When you make it interesting for yourself, you will begin to look forward to being in this person's presence so that you can practice.
• The driver who forgets to signal, drives too slow (or too fast!), who cuts you off. "Ah! Thank you very much for this moment. I have a choice. I can get hooked by this emotion or I can breathe, center and return to equanimity."
• Bad weather is one of my favorite teachers. Or unexpected frustrations. Being caught without my raincoat or my sense of humor. Once you notice, it is only and always a choice. All that is required is intention.

3) Practice Gratitude: Accept What Is

In the beginning, when I was first learning the art of centering, I would become disgruntled and angry with myself when I forgot to center, when I missed a ki moment that could have turned out so differently... if only... And, of course, I became even more uncentered.

I've learned to center sooner, to smile at myself more often, and to take myself less seriously. You can, too.

One of my favorite mantras is: Thank you very much. When I say this, I look for the gift that is usually present but that I'm missing by attaching myself to some other desire, by resisting what is. This is another way I have of returning to center.

One of my favorite quotations by Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of Aikido, is this:

Practice the Art of Peace in a vibrant and joyful manner.

Good ki!

http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Art-of-Noticing:-3-Steps-for-Returning-to-Center&id=8543042

Open The Floodgates of Abundance (By Jeanna Gabellini)

If you want the floodgates of abundance to open wide for you, here's a surefire way to do it.

It's truly not an intuitive strategy. Many of my coaching clients resist it. I also must confess that I sometimes resist it too. It's a hard one to swallow when your life or business gets intense.

Are you ready for the number-one secret to solving every challenge you have?

Chill out.

That's it. It's the best strategy on the planet to rake in the abundance.

Anytime you feel the push that you must work harder, take more action, or figure out how to solve a crisis, simply take a step away from your current focus.

I spent almost two decades working on my business whenever I felt inspired.

Now my time is very limited since I had two children. Gasp!

Early on I set my intention that my life would be more balanced as a result of having babies and that I would make more money. I've had to remind myself of that declaration many times as I practiced letting go of all my "to-dos."

I am thrilled to tell you that my business is currently the best it's ever been. The added bonus is that I started reading again as soon as I had baby #1. I used to only read business and self-improvement books. Now I read for fun. The more time I spend chilling, water-skiing, and out of my office, the more inspiration I have.

More opportunities and clients come my way, too!

I noticed this same phenomenon in the real estate industry. I was coaching a whole office of realtors, and they joked about how every time they went on vacation, their business thrived. They thought it was unique to their industry. Nope. It's a Universal Law.

When you release any resistance or stress in your life, you allow in the abundance that is your birthright.

This law is the reason we benefit from sleep, walks outside, meditation, movies, good music, and great conversations. These actions pull us away from any worries and toward more joy. Even an afternoon of hooky or play will allow you to get back to your life with a fresh perspective. Change your perspective and change your life.

Is there a topic in your life where you need to let go of all thought? A mini vacation from that issue will allow you to reconnect with your inner guidance. Once you've allowed yourself to come back to your power source, you'll easily and naturally find the next step to take.

As they say, "Let go and let God."

http://ezinearticles.com/?Open-The-Floodgates-of-Abundance&id=9801510

The Law of Intention (By Don McCoy)

Intention

Noun in•ten•tion in-ten(t)-shen

1. an act or instance of determining mentally uponsome action or result.

2. the end or object intended; purpose.

I sat in my car, having just pulled into the Trader Joe's parking lot. I just needed to go in to pick up a few things. Sitting there I weighed my emotions and what thoughts I was having. I understood that how I was feeling and what I was thinking would determine my experience while in the store.

I could walk in with the basic intention of picking up the items I needed, make some inconsequential small talk with the check-out person and leave. Or, I could set my intention to have a more pleasant experience.

How do I do this?

How can changing my intention change my experience in my daily life?

I can talk about meditative practices that would bring about peace and tranquility to those that practice daily. I can talk about holistic retreats and monasteries that foster tranquility and reverence for life.

But I'm not going to.

I'm back sitting in my car, some metal music playing on the radio and I'm feeling a bit indifferent. So, there is a simple practice that always turns things around for me. There is something that I do when I am feeling indifferent, or sad, or even angry, that changes my outlook and then changes my intention.

I smile.

First internally, I'm still sitting in the car looking at the shoppers walking into Trader Joe's. Some have their head down, a scowl on their face. Some walk in with what appears to be a purpose similar to what I described earlier; get in, and get out as quickly as possible.

So, I smile and open the door to my car and walk into the store. The smile never leaves my face. It's a subtle smile, not the shit-eaten grin of a slightly deranged person. Each person I make eye contact with I smile. Most smile back. Some even say hello, or even engage in small-talk with me.

So, what is the biology behind a smile?

A smile begins in our sensory corridors. When we hear a whispered kind word, our eyes notice an old friend at the store. Or our hand feels the warmth of another's hand, this emotional data funnels into the brain. It leaves the left anterior temporal region, then rises to the surface of the face, where two muscles, are ordered to action: Residing in the cheek is the zygomatic major, which tugs the lips upward, and encircling the eye socket is the orbicularis oculi, which squeezes the outside corners creating laugh lines or crow's feet on our face. The entire event is very brief - usually lasting from two-thirds of a second to four seconds - and those who witness it often respond by mirroring the action, and smiling back.

So the unintentional display of a smile is contagious. When we see another person smile, we often cannot help but smile back. So what if we create an intentional smile. It may start out as a fake representation. Maybe our moods are not the happiest sitting there in the parking lot. Maybe we had a bad day at work, or got into a fight with a loved one.

This is where the law of intention comes into play;

"Inherent in every intention and desire is the mechanics for its fulfillment... intention and desire in the field of pure potentiality have infinite organizing power. And when we introduce an intention in the fertile ground of pure potentiality, we put this infinite organizing power to work for us. __ Depak Chopra.

An amazing thing happens when we choose to smile even when we really aren't feeling it. The moment another person sees you smile at them, they invariably smile back. That instant and often involuntary response changes your thought pattern. Someone smiled at you! Your smile stays on your face a few seconds more. Maybe someone else smiles at you again...

What that little gesture has on the small society inside of that Trader Joe's is nothing short of a miracle. Someone else had a bad day. You chose to enter the store with a smile on your face. The person witnesses that and smiles back. Quite possibly this small and seemingly insignificant event could change how they feel and view their day from then on. Now, multiply this by all the people they meet.

I was told something many decades ago.

We have the opportunity to change the world at least once every day.

What if that smile was a singular event that carried to hundreds of people, even thousands of people, effectively changing their view of life and themselves?

We do not often see the results of our actions, of our emotions on others. But a smile.

A smile is free and priceless.

Try one on for size next time you are sitting in the car in the parking lot. Or anywhere else.

http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Law-of-Intention&id=9613941