“YOUR WISHES COME TRUE”

As the hustle and bustle of the holiday season winds down and we look forward to celebrating a New Year, here is a question for you. What is on your wish list this year? What do you want, desire or long for that would make 2009 the “best year ever” for you. Making a wish list is fun. It may even seem a little decadent since it requires us to focus on ourselves and our own desires – not someone else’s. So, go ahead take a moment and consider “what do I wish for myself”? You can wish for anything, there are no right or wrong wishes. The sky is the limit so wish BIG!

Perhaps your wishes are related to good health and fitness, or for financial or career success. You may be wishing for a more peaceful world or economic stability. You might even be wishing for a new car or a great family vacation this year. Whatever your wishes, they are yours and they are important.

Okay, now that you have your wish list, how would you like to find a way to make them come true? We may not have a magic wand or a fairy godmother but we do have access to something that can be just as powerful. We have the ability to create an “intention” around our wishes. An intention is an act or instance of determining mentally upon some action or result. In this case it could be determining mentally upon your “wish” to come true. Intention implies that we have a purpose or attitude toward doing something. When we turn our wishes into intentions we are one step closer to making those wishes come true because we have already taken an action. By turning your wish into an intention you will shift from waiting for your wish to come true, to deciding that you will create something in your life that you didn’t have before. Being intentional means living your life on purpose and gives you the power to make things happen for yourself, instead of wishing and waiting.

So let’s give it a try. Take a look at your wish list. Let’s say you wished for a better body. Next to that wish, write down something like “I intend to create a body that is in better health and more physically fit” Consider what would it take to be healthier and more physically fit. What specifically could you do to make that intention a reality? Then your intention may become “I intend to create body that is in better health and more fit by taking my lunch to work and exercising 3 times a week”. Now, you have taken a wish that may have seemed liked something that was so “out there” and turned it into a decision you have made for yourself and your life.

Here are some other examples of turning wishes into intentions: From, “I wish I could afford to take my family to the beach this year” to, “I intend to create income for a family vacation by finding ways to save on monthly expenses and creating a ‘vacation fund’ that the whole family can contribute to”; from “I wish I had a job that paid better and was more fulfilling” to, “I intend to create a better job opportunity for myself by making a list of all the types of jobs I would love, updating my resume and spending one hour a day researching job opportunities”. You get the idea. Remember, to ensure your success, “write it down” and read your intention every day!

Make 2009 “the best year ever” – turn your wishes into intention. Live your life on purpose and be powerful this year!

“Let Your Values Be Your Holiday Guide”

The holidays are here! The giant wave of anticipation, preparation and celebration is upon us. You may be wondering how they got here so fast and how you will manage to get everything done to make this year’s holiday season special. There is decorating to do, there are cards to send, gifts to buy and wrap, meals to plan and prepare, houses to clean and parties to plan and attend. There is much to do in a short time. With all of this “doing”, it’s clear to see how the meaning and joy of the season may get lost.

Before all you have to do this year overwhelms you, take a moment right now to reflect and define for yourself what is most important to you about this time of year. Pave the way for a soul-satisfying celebration by getting very clear about what you

value about the holidays A value is a belief, a mission, or a philosophy that is meaningful to you. Whether you are consciously aware of them or not, everyone has a core set of values. When you are clear about what your values are, it is easier to make decisions and find fulfillment. Let your values show you the way to planning a holiday celebration that is in harmony with your deepest beliefs and most expressive of who you are as an individual.

Here is a values-clarification exercise that will help you get in touch with your core values*:

Read the following ten value statements.

• The holidays are a time to be a peacemaker, within my family and world at large.
• The holidays are a time to enjoy being with my immediate family.
• The holidays are a time to celebrate my religious and spiritual beliefs.
• The holidays are a time to exchange gifts with my family and friends.
• The holidays are a time to help those who are less fortunate
• The holidays are a time for parties, entertaining, and visits with friends.
• The holidays are a time to strengthen bonds with my relatives.
• The holidays are a time to strengthen my community
• The holidays are a time to be relaxed and renewed.

First, cross off those that have no importance to you, and add any equally important ones that are not included. Now, decide which of the remaining values is the important to you. Put a “1” beside that statement. Then find the one that is next important to you and put a “2” beside it. Continue in this manner until each sentence has been assigned a different number. Even a value that h as a low priority can still be important to you. Remember, 1 is the highest and 10 is the lowest. Also remember, there are no “right” or “wrong” answers and there are no “shoulds”. This exercise is to help you remember what is most meaningful to you about the holiday season.

There is much to accomplish over the holiday season including personal satisfaction and fulfillment. Now that you have your values clearly defined and prioritized, use them to help you make choices about how you will focus your precious resources of time, energy and money this year. Be true to your core values and let the joy and meaning of the season find YOU this year.

As you gather around the table for the Thanksgiving meal this year it’s easy to be mindful and give thanks for the many blessings your have in your life. Friends and family, nourishing and comforting food and a wonderful excuse for a lazy afternoon nap – Thanksgiving provides a glorious opportunity to express and experience gratitude.

In the last “Bright Spots”, it was noted how wonderful it would be to keep the spirit of Thanksgiving and the feeling of family and thankfulness with us all year. By cultivating an “attitude of gratitude” and expressing gratitude daily, our lives could be so much more powerful and abundant. This is because gratitude is self- perpetuating – the more we are thankful for, the more we will find to be thankful for. However, much like learning any new skill or flexing an untapped muscle, acquiring an “attitude of gratitude” requires mental discipline and dedicated practice. It requires consistent and heartfelt effort.

So as promised, here are some ideas to keep gratitude and abundance flowing into your life all year long*.

û Start a wall of gratitude – whenever you are moved by something you are grateful for, write the source of your inspiration on a Post-it note and stick it on the wall. Gradually, you will build a mosaic of gratitude with plenty to remind you of what makes your life so special.

û Use you senses – each day, pick one of your five senses to focus on. Be aware of how many gifts come to you through that single port of entry.

û Set an alarm – use your cell phone to set an alarm once, twice or three times a day. Every time it goes off stop what you are doing, and for 30 seconds, focus on something or someone that you are thankful for.

û Pay a thank you visit – Go a step further than sending a

thank you note. Deliver your message in person and experience first hand the happiness your gratitude creates.

û See their secret goodness – pick three people you like and see

regularly. For one week observe their actions and gestures through the lens of seeing their innate goodness and best intentions. Notice how this new way of seeing changes your interactions with them. Once you have practiced, try it on strangers and difficult people too.

û Flip your complaints – every time you find yourself

complaining about something, stop. Think about one thing that you are learning from the inconvenience.

û Keep grateful company – become more aware of who you

spend your time with. Surround yourself with grateful people, and you will start noticing the brighter side of life yourself.

And finally,

û Start a gratitude journal – dedicate a place to “write down” daily what you are thankful for each day. Start with five things you are grateful for outside of yourself like other people, places or things, frame them in the positive and be specific. Find a time of day that is your best time like early in the morning or before you go to bed.

Warning: be prepared to sleep better, research shows that people who cultivate gratitude sleep better than those who don’t.

So, have fun cultivating your “attitude of gratitude” – remember the more gratitude you express, the more abundant you will feel.

Happy Thanksgiving!

* body + soul Magazine November 2008

With the current economic situation, the good news is that stock brokers and real estate agents all agree “it’s a great time to buy”. If you have some extra cash laying around, this is the perfect opportunity to “buy low” on some great stocks or get a real “steal” on that dream house..

Some more good news is that these uncertain economic times also provide an excellent opportunity to buy or invest in something even more worthwhile – our families, our community and ourselves! What better way to feel more powerful when there is uncertainty than to decide to take action and invest in what is nearest and dearest to our hearts.

We can buy and invest and not even spend a dime. We can invest our time, we can invest our skills and talents, we can invest our love. Here is a chance for us to reclaim our own internal resources and discard our old reliance on external, artificial modes of fulfillment.

It’s an opportunity to realize what we “do have” and “can do’ rather than what we “don’t have” and “can’t get”.

Let’s get back to basics! What better time to invest our time and love into our families by finding ways to re-connect at home and get creative about entertainment – looking at what we already have right under our roof rather that what’s out there to consume. Instead of ordering pizza for take out – get the whole family to make a pizza together at home for family game night. While playing a game of Monopoly, engage in an important conversation with your children about being responsible with money.

Spread your wealth around! Seize this time to reacquaint yourself with your unique skills and talents, re-identify with your own personal passion and find a way to share those gifts by investing in your community. Rather than spending Saturday afternoon roaming the mall for that great deal on something you don’t really need or at the movie theater watching a movie soon to be released on DVD anyway, spend your time and talent helping out on the local Habitat build, a community clean up day or another project that is special to you..

The best investment yet! When times get tough, it is important for us to be strong and resilient, offering us yet another opportunity to invest. Make an investment in yourself – shore up your most valuable resources, your mind, body and spirit. Get out that library card – boost your mind and brain power by reading up on financial planning, environmental issues or something important to you. Resurrect that treadmill in the basement or the jump rope in the closet and get to work on your body, building up your heart, lungs and muscles. Take a walk outside and feel the abundance. Breath in the fresh fall air, look up at the crisp, blue sky and listen to the crunch of the fallen leaves under your feet. Renew and replenish your spirit.

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There is no doubt about it – this is a great time to “buy”. Let’s get in on this deal and not let the opportunity pass us by. When the economic picture gets brighter, and we all know it will, we will be stronger, healthier, smarter and more connected than ever. Yes, this is a “tip” we can’t afford to miss out on.

erAre you ready to take a new look at your life? Are you re-examining where you are, where you want to go and who you want to be? Is it time to explore new choices available to you in your career; your relationships; your personal health or well being? Do you have a dream just waiting to be fulfilled?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions and if you are ready to embrace your life and make empowering choices that will create a life in which you are reaching your fullest potential and living an extraordinary life, you may want to take a look at life coaching.

Life coaching is a powerful professional service that offers on-going support to individuals who are looking to clarify and attain certain goals, manage transition either personally or professionally, create balance in their work or life or take a dream and make it a reality. It is an exciting, proactive tool that has been very successful in helping people fulfill their personal potential while they create a whole and balanced life.

People from all walks of life are realizing the tremendous benefits of coaching to improve their lives and make their dreams come true. Entrepreneurs, professionals, women and men in transition, managers, CEO’s and artists are among a full spectrum of individuals looking for change to bring out the best in them and their lives. Some people come to coaching for “more”, such as more satisfaction, more money, more clarity, more heart and or more organization. Some people come to coaching for “less”, like less stress, less procrastination, less drifting.

Life Coaching was founded in the 1980’s by Thomas Leonard who owned a financial planning business. He realized while he was working with his clients on how to manage their money issues, that they seemed especially interested in discussing life options outside the financial realm. As a result, he changed his practice to “life planning” and founded the first coach university. As the profession has emerged over the past 30 years, theories of psychology and business consulting have been adapted and merged to create the backbone of what coaching looks like today. Now, there are coaches for practically every aspect of life – there are: personal and career coaches; business coaches; relationship coaches; family coaches and wellness coaches – there are even retirement coaches - just to name a few!

Much like an athletic coach or personal trainer challenges their athletes to push themselves beyond their perceived abilities and to excel on the playing field, coaches do the same for their clients – encouraging and pushing them to stretch their untapped muscles, push beyond their personal comfort zones – get on the playing field of life and play all out!

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