January 2009
Passions and Planning: Focus on
the End to Plan for Today
 The
new year is all about new beginnings. And, the best way to
know
where to begin is by first focusing on the end. Just as many
companies begin with a mission/vision statement before constructing
their business plans, you too should have a statement
of purpose for yourself. This statement is how you want to go
about
living
your life. This is a statement of your passions, your
desires,
your life purpose.
One of the best systems I have found to
identify and clarify your passions is The Passion Test™
by Janet Bray Attwood and Chris Attwood. As you work through
the
book or through the on-line test or with a Passion Test facilitator,
you will clarify the things you most want to have, do or be in your
life.
But this is just the start. What I find from
The Passion Test™ that has the greatest impact on your yearly goal
setting is the visualization of your life. There are two
particular exercises that help bring clarity to your life purpose; the
100th birthday speech and the vision board.
The 100th birthday speech
gives you the opportunity to look at your life through a rearview
mirror. When you allow yourself to reflect on what you would
want
those closest to you to say about your life; about the things that make
you special, that have had the greatest impact on those you love and
the world around you, you become more clear about how to construct your
life. The exercise is similar to others that have you write
your
eulogy, but this is a much more pleasant one given that it doesn’t make
you pretend you are dead.
The vision board
is an exercise that many have written about as of late.
Creating
a vision board entails visualizing your life with actual
pictures. Clipping pictures of the things you want to have,
to be
and to do make these “dreams” more of a reality. Perusing
magazines and the internet help you to see more clearly what you
want. And, finding just the right pictures bring clarity to
those
dreams.
So, how does this assist in creating your yearly
plan? Quite simply you work backwards from these pictures to
where you are now. These pictures are your end
game. How will they come
to fruition? What can you do to make them happen?
You will
have to break these down into short and long term goals. What
can
you plan this year that will move you closer to the life you have
described and pictured? We know that we are not in total
control of our life plan. However, to take action, to pay
“attention” to your passions, to your purpose, you must work a
plan. Just remember to let go at the same time. Be
open to
what may come.
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The Universal Laws: Clarity is Key with The
Law of Attraction
There
are 7 Universal laws (some say there are as many as 12) that govern all
that we do. Over the next 7 months
I will take each law separately and tried to explain as best i can how
these laws show up in your life and the affect they have.
I will start this featured article with the Law of Attraction.
This may be the most familiar, and possibly, most
misunderstood of all the laws.
It has come under attack from so many for so many different
reasons that I thought it best to dive right in a clear the air.
But,
before I begin with the law of attraction, let’s review 7
universal laws. These are the
laws
of:
1. Perpetual Transmutation
2. Relativity
3. Vibration (Attraction)
4. Polarity
5. Rhythm
6. Cause and Effect
7. Gender
So, let’s go in deeper into the law
of attraction.
We
create our own reality. We attract those things in our life (money,
relationships, employment, etc) that we focus on. I wish I could tell
you
that it is as simple as stating an affirmation, but no affirmation is
going to work if your thoughts, feelings and actions are not aligned.
When your thought is of being a millionaire, then your
actions
must be aligned with it. And, focused on the positive aspect
of
being a millionaire.
What
does that mean? It means that your thoughts should not be,
"if I
had a millionaire dollars I could pay off all these bills."
The
focus here is on the bills. Guess what you will get more of?
Bills. And, as Napolean Hill states in Think and
Grow Rich,
your emotions must be aligned with these thoughts. If your
thought is of being a millionaire, then you must "feel" like you are a
millionaire. When you tie emotion to thought, you have a
stronger
attraction to that thought.
The law of attraction is
primarily about "vibrations" or energy. Positive energy
vibrates
at a certain frequency. Its like tuning your radio to pick up
the
right channel. You want to tune to the channel of
the things
that you want to "pick up". So, you begin with your thought.
What is it that you think about. Because what you
think
about, comes about.
"Your
life right now is a reflection of your past thoughts. That
includes all the great things, and all the things you consider not so
great."
The Secret
by Rhonda Byrne
So,
how can you use the llaw of attraction? It's really quite
simple
and difficult at the same time. The steps are easy, the
execution
is difficult. Difficult in that you will have to change old
behaviors, bad habits. As outlined in The Secret you want to
do
the following steps:
Ask
- What is it that you want to be, do or have? Put it out
there. But, be clear. The law of attraction is a
law of nature as is impartial as the law of gravity. So, what
you ask for you will receive. If you ask for a new roommate
to help pay the bills, you will get a roommate. However, if
you aren't clear you may get a roommate from hell. Be clear
about exactly what you want.
Believe
- Have faith. Know that because you have asked, you have
received. In your mind, see yourself already in receipt of
what you want. Do not continue to fret over it.
When you continue to revisit your request, you add confusion
into your order. Be visualizing the receipt of what you
asked, you attract it to you. State what you want clearly and
have faith that you will receive. Don't concern yourself with
the how you will receive. You can make your plans, but
understand the unicerse will provide the ultimate how.
Receive
- When you receive what you want, you have a positive reaction.
You feel good. So, act as if you have received.
Put yourself in the positive mindset and be ready to receive.
What you are asking for in on a positive frequency.
You must be on the same positive frequency to receive.
So, remember, "Don't worry, be happy."
Try these steps and see what happens.
It does work. But, a word of caution, take the time
to gain clarity on what you want. Then relax. Have
faith!
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Get Out of Your Way: How to Keep
Your Limiting Beliefs at Bay
How
many times have you made New Year's resolutions just to see them fade
away in less than a month. In fact, one-third of those who make
resolutions have dropped them before the end of january.
Heck,
some people don't even start
them. They plan, they make their list, but they never take
action. One of the major culprits to this death of desires is limiting
beliefs.
Limiting beliefs are those internal
thoughts, that
inner dialogue with ourself, that keep us from being,
doing
or having what we desire. Our inner voice tells us that we
can't have it, do it or be it because of past judgments and experiences
both of our own making and of those cast on us from others.
What we perceive of the world is of our own making.
We see only what we want to see.
The good news here is that means
you are in charge of what you see. You can make whatever
happen happen. All of your experienes begin with your judgment about
that experience. Basically, if you think you are going to
have a bad time, you will. The experience would have been
different if you believed you were going to have a good time. The
experience is only limited by your belief. You will fail or
succeed based on your belief.
So, how do you change these limiting
beliefs? The next time you find yourself not doing something
that you want to do, complete the following
- State a belief you have that stops you
from doing, having being what you want (‘I can’t run a marathon’ for
instance)
- Write down the self-talk that goes with
this belief (‘I am clumpsy, slow and too overweight to run.’)
- Describe the comfort zone this places you
in (‘Running a marathon is too much work and I don't want to look like
a loser.I’)
- State the opposite of your limiting
belief (‘I can run a marathon and would enjoy the challenge of
competing.’)
- Write down the new and positive self-talk
that goes with this belief (‘Running a marathon is exilerating and a
challenge I can meet.")
- Describe the new and expanded comfort
zone this places you in. ("Running a marathon shows that I can set
goals, compete and feel proud of my accomplishments.")
- What is it like having this new belief?
(" I feel empowered, motivated and eager to start.")
- Describe how you are behaving when you
have this new belief (‘I see myself setting daily running goals, eating
better and feeling a sesnse of accomplishment. I am more
energetic and pleasing to be around. I have new found support
and encouragement for my goals. I am a runner!")
- As someone with this new found belief,
take a walk and act as if you are living this new belief; become your
new belief.
Remember, everything begins with a thought.
What negative thoughts are limiting your potential.
Take control. Take control of your thoughts and you life!
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Featured Reading: Success
Intelligence by Robert Holden, Ph.D.
"Success
Intelligence examines how to enjoy real, soulful success
while living in a manic, busy and hyped-up world.".
Robert Holden has written a book that helps
you to define what true succes means to you. Instead of
limiting ourselves to other's perception of what our success should be,
Robert Holden gives you practical advice, steps to determine your
meaning of success.
"Success is not about driving yourself
harder; it is about letting go of what blocks your heart," writes
Robert Holden. Success Intelligence focuses on three types of
intelligence
- IQ - Intellectual Intelligence (the
wisdom of your mind)
- EQ - Emotional Intelligence (the wisdom
of your heart)
- lSQ - Spiritual Intelligence (the wisdom
of your soul)
Once you read this book, you will have a new
definition of your success and a roadmap for its attainment.
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Featured Product: The Passion
Test Certification Program
Remember the old saying,
"To
really learn something you have to teach it."
I have never experienced that more
than with The Passion Test™. And, I have been teaching and
training for 20 years! If
you are turned on to your passions, but want to go deeper. Or, if you
want the world to experience the same joy you have through
discovering
your passions, then become a certified facilitator.
The certification program is a 3-day event
and is held throughout the year, through out the world. Janet
Bray Attwood and Chris Attwood, creators of The Passion Test™, have
developed a program that helps you develop a deeper understanding of
how to live a passionate life. And, they have prepared a
system for teaching this that is easily replicated by the novice and
professional trainer alike.
If you have a passion for spreading joy and
fullfilment, don't let this opportunity pass you by! Register
for any class in 2009 and save $1000!. But, you must register
by January 31. Hurry!
The
Passion Test™ Certification
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Links
Check out the links below for more
information,prodcuts and programs on defining your passions, success
strategies and other life coaching topics. And, don't forget
to register to receive all my lastest blog posts!
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