Take a look above at the name and description of this regular column – it is called “Bright Spots – A Place to Find Information and Inspiration for Your Life”. The concept of this column is to provide positive, life-affirming reflections for the reader that will literally “brighten” your day and your life. In light of the recent economic realities, it has become increasingly apparent that as a country, as a society, as a community we are all in need of as many “bright spots” that we can get. So from now on this column will highlight some real “bright spots” from everyday life right here. This will be the place to come to read about all of the good stuff, the success stories that are happening right here all around us. Because there is good stuff happening – it just doesn’t make the news like the bad news does.

Just today three “bright spots” illuminated my day. I learned about an elderly person’s medical bill that was forgiven; a friend who got a great job after many months of searching and a client who was asked for an interview for a dream job.

For a moment I found it hard to believe that we were in any kind of a recession or unemployment crisis. The positive energy that I received from hearing about these “bright spots” created a momentum of their own and made my workday more productive and enjoyable.

Bright spots are always there, but often they are overshadowed by fear and anxiety so they are harder to find. For some reason it seems we can always identify what is “not working” or what is “not there” easier than we notice what “is working” and what “is there”. This rings true especially in our thoughts and feelings about ourselves. We tend to notice our own faults or our weaknesses more readily than strengths. Much of the time when we look at a situation, a problem or at our own lives, we can readily identify what “isn’t there”- what is missing instead of what “is there”. We completely miss the “bright spot”.

Imagine that it is nighttime and you are outside looking at the dark sky. At first, as you look around all you may notice is how vast the darkness seems – it is hard to see anything because it is dark. But as your eyes move up toward the sky, something catches your eye – a tiny spot, a flicker of light – it is a star shining so brightly through the darkness that you can see it from thousands of miles away – it is a “bright spot”. As your attention focus on that one star, suddenly you become aware of other points of light, shining stars, “bright spots” covering the sky.

This week, practice noticing the “bright spots”. Be a detective on a mission of finding or collecting as many “bright spots” as you can. Once you start noticing them they will pop up everywhere and soon you will be surrounded by positivity and light.

“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.