OUR GRATITUDE

Friday, February 29, 2008

YOU ARE WHAT YOU CHOOSE!

My First Powerful Intention

09:24 AM, 08 Mar 2007


This morning I was watching a PBS special that had Dr Wayne Dyer on it and when I heard this beautiful story about The Monarch Butterfly. I started laughing so hard, I paused the TV, and turned to my journal and wrote. Ellen DeGeneres should have him on her show. Then I took the TV off pause and re-watched that part of the show and, I, again started laughing and my hand hit the remote control and the TV guide menu came on and Ellen DeGeneres’ show was highlighted. I went downstairs to the computer, went on her web page, and sent my suggestion that she put Dr. Dyer on her show and tell the butterfly story.
I also told her that it was because the humor and the message of that story would be like something she would laugh at. I also told her I watch her everyday and she contributes such Joy to the world.

09:24 AM, 08 Mar 2007

YOU ARE WHAT YOU CHOOSE! FEBRUARY 29, 2008

I am so excited today! My very first intention has come to fruition. This morning Wayne Dyer was on The Ellen DeGeneres show! Although, he did not tell the particular butterfly story I had heard, he did tell one story about a butterfly.

He was talking about the ego and how "ego is an idea we carry around with us," it is the false self. When we are in the womb for 9 months we do not have to do any work, we just ALLOW, but when we are born our parents say, "Ok, God we can take over from here,” and that is when we start we start to edge God out. We are born without ego. We train our children "you are what you have," we spend a lot of time and energy believing we are what we accumulate” and so the more stuff that we get, the more valuable we are, and we begin to associate our value as a person, on what we accumulate, and what we have. Then we put more training in and we say, you are not only what you have, but "you are what you do," so we go to school learning how to do more of these things. The problem with that is when you believe that what you do, and you “do not,” then you believe you have no value anymore. We then begin to train our children with "You are what other people think of you" but that changes every time we speak.

Therefore, the three keys are:

You are what you have

You are what you do

You are your reputation

Wayne Dyer went on to say, how we want to try to remove the three things above as part of ourselves. The ego is the identifying mark of who we are and who we are being, we have edged God out, and what we want to do is try to remove that part of ourselves. When we do that the ego says, "You are separate from everyone else.” And so, “You are separate from God,” which is the most egregious thing the ego teaches us” “We are separate from our creator, but we came from our creator, so we must be like what we came from. We all have a divine soul within us, that we came from, that we'll return to.”

We must ask ourselves, "How does our “source” think?" Our source is always giving, offering, always providing, and never asking for anything from us. If we can learn to be like that, then we are letting go of ego, we are allowing. That is what we have to learn and practice. The more we are in the space of giving, offering, and letting go of our own desires to be better than someone else, our desires to win, and where we get our place to practice, he refers to as “radical humility.” He quoted a Persian poet that said, "Even after all this time, the sun never says to the earth, you owe me. Just think what a love like that can do. It lights up the world." That is what we have to practice and think. The more we are in this space of giving, offering, and letting go of our own desires to be better than someone else, and our desires to win; we choose to go to a place he calls radical humility, where we will take our ego out of the picture. When we stop trying to make ourselves better than anyone else, and we get into a practice of just giving, offering and serving, the irony is, the more we do of that, the more of that comes back to us.

The biggest problem with the ego is that it has a “mantra,” and the mantra of the ego says “MORE,” I MUST HAVE MORE, we are never satisfied, we never arrive, and we just strive. We are constantly striving to get some place else. We want to get to, “living in a space of contentment,” as Lao Tzu teaches us, in the Tao Te Ching.

He went on to tell the story of how the limo driver picked him up this morning and it was a 40-minute ride to the studio. They stopped at a light, and he was thinking to himself, “How can I be in a space of gratitude, even in these 40 minutes?” They stopped at a stoplight, there was this little white butterfly, flitting back and forth, then it came right up to the window, and he thought, “That’s what life really is, living in a space of appreciation.” He went on to explain that Rumi said, “Sell your cleverness and purchase bewilderment,” get in a state of awe, get in a state of total bewilderment about everything, and let that “ego” go. You don ‘t have to beat anybody else, you don’t have to be superior to anyone else, you just have to be a person, who thinks like God thinks, which is giving, offering, serving, and loving. That is what it is about.

Dr. Dyer went on to explain how people can get over the ego’s holds. He suggests that we let go of our need for reputation. Some great lines that we can remember in our life and say to ourselves, when someone else is criticizing us are, “What you think of me is none of my business” It is not our business what everyone is consumed with thinking. We also have this need to be right. He said, “When you have a choice to be right or be kind, ALWAYS PICK KIND.” CHOOSE THAT OPTION.” Winning and being right is stuff the ego has convinced us to believe. When we find ourselves in a situation where we have to be right, stop and remember to choose “kind” instead of “right.” As human beings, we believe we are having a spiritual experience, in actuality; we are spiritual beings having a human experience. We must remind ourselves that our essence is in this world of spirit. Jesus said, “It is the spirit that gives us light, the flesh counts for nothing.” He finished with “And that’s the ego.”

This was amazing to me yesterday, as I was walking by the TV, which was on, and I heard her promo for today’s show saying that he was going to be on. It was certainly, at that moment, that I was so very grateful for TIVO. (lol) I am grateful for everything in my life, I consider myself a child of gratitude. I am so grateful to Ellen for having him on, and the moment that I was in, when that announcement came on. It has made my day!

What he talked about today is very much like what Oprah’s Book Club Classroom will be discussing on Monday night. I love this new language and the idea that finally, people are opening their minds to express their spiritual side, without labels like freak, religious fanatic and so on. If we can begin now, today, by making a concerted effort to deliver the message that “our children that need to know now, that there is another way to think about everything that will change their behavior and their thought process to be more successful adults. I am elated to be in the world today. I can see the process of change taking place and it is through the great doers and motivators like, Ellen, Oprah, Dr. Wayne Dyer, Bob Proctor, Jack Canfield, John Assaraff, Michael Beckwith, Rhonda Byrne, Joe Vitale, Mike Dooley, Dennis Waitley, Mike Brescia, Zig Ziglar, Tony Robbins, Bill Harris, Louise Hay, Martha Beck, Cheryl Richardson and so many more.

Make a choice to watch it, read it or live it THE SECRET …but at least try it, and remember this:

Thoughts do become things.

There are no coincidences.
Miracles are all around us.
Ask, Believe and you will receive.
It all begins with baby steps.

Thursday, February 28, 2008

WHAT ARE FRIENDS FOR?

I have mentioned before how difficult it is for my friend who’s child has been diagnosed as having ODD (Oppositional Defiant Disorder). I recently discovered that it is under the umbrella of Autism and usually goes hand in hand with ADHD referred to as Comorbidity.”This is a very difficult diagnosis for parents to live with. I realize the emphasis should be on the treatment of the disorder and the child, but I think that most agencies and state wide resources are forgetting that parents are a crucial part of this disorder. It is parents that have to heal their children. It is parents that have to continually make excuses for their child’s behavior, or have discipline, at school and other places, make exceptions for their child. This is what my friend heard today. “Your daughter will be coming home in a few days and if you feel that you are not “capable” of taking care of her, we will place her in a foster family.” NO PARENT SHOULD EVER HAVE TO HEAR THOSE WORDS. These children are not responsible for this behavior and although parents must monitor their child’s behavior, eventually when things go back to normal for awhile, they begin to trust their child, and they are fooled into believing that they are doing everything they can, which in fact, they are not. (They do not ever realize this at the time, because their wish to believe that their child is taking his or hers medication is what they need to believe). I have seen many parents going through this when my youngest was in school. At some point, every parent has to trust their child in order for that child to get everything they should out of life. But for parents the only hope is disguised as manipulation on the part of the child, which is the most prevalent symptom in the diagnosis. This is a perfect Catch-22 and it is being over- looked on every level of care for these children.

Parents are having to alter their entire life styles. They are forced to sacrifice their own dreams, in order to focus on raising their child with crucial fail safes in place. And to be prepared for the cycling that inevitably takes place, with this disorder.

It is under the Department of Mental Health, which under that title, you would expect a great deal more available to parents raising children with ODD. Well, their method is not a solution. No one has offered my friend support in this. I know that they offer the support of DSS (Department of Social Services) in the form of intervention between parent and child, and frequent visits to gauge the child and the parent‘s behavior, but under that title there is only one solution, keep your child at home and go about daily life as if he or she does not suffer from this disorder, and when he or she cycles again, we can then give you more help by taking her off your hands for another week or two while they adjust her medication and then send her back home, where the parent sits waiting everyday for the other shoe to drop. This puts a lot of parents in the position of raising self indulgent children. Placating them to tone their behavior down, avoid explosions, and live in peace. The mere fact that these agencies are aware that this disorder cycles, should be enough to offer parents more resources.
I had to tell my friend today, that what she was being told was true, and that they were consistently telling her that there are no alternatives for her. However, that is not what my friend needed to hear, so she did not buy into that mind set. I was feeling so disconnected from her on the ride home. I could not find the “right” words to express to
her that I understood what she was trying to accomplish, but it was the “method” she was using to accomplish it. Parents, as well as children, have to know that, there are times when what you are doing is not going to get you anywhere, and continuing along the same lines of communication will only leave you, the parent, with a new label. The label will fall under the heading of inadequate parenting, and he or she will be told that they are the source of the rise in their child’s behavior. NO PARENT IS INADEQUATE WHEN THEY ARE PROACTIVELY TRYING TO GET HELP FOR THEIR CHILD! I am no expert, but I do believe that when a parent is doing everything possible to help their child, the help should come in a message that parents understand. A language that can be used to miraculously change their child’s behavior. It may be something as simple as changing the way that social workers explain the available resources to the parent. Or finding more resources for both the child and the parent.

I know this:

My friend is not the source of her child’s behavior, the disorder that her child has, is the source. Although my friend may not be communicating that well, considering how much pressure this puts on her, social workers should be ready to provide “more than just adequate resources” to aid parents through the most difficult and crucial time with this disorder. During the crisis, not after. After the crisis the whole cycle begins again and it will never end as long as it continues along these lines.

There are alternative methods for children with this disorder and they involve physical activity to raise their endorphin level and to experience deep and sometimes traumatic issues in their life. This is why most of them are sent to ‘Wilderness Programs”that are not covered by insurance and cost $6000. plus per month. Not every family, and in some areas, no family, is prepared to put out that much money. Most parents are saving for college education for their child. Are they supposed to use that resource to change this child’s behavior? Are they supposed to let their child fail in school and not see the child’s dream come to fruition? I do not see how this will work over time, if this is a cycling disorder.

I am not only curious, but I am determined to find, affordable alternative methods to help my friend and other parents like her, through this tragic period in their lives. I hope that as my readers, you will offer help and whatever resources you know of, to help me, help my friend and her daughter. I do see there are some new “self help digital programs” available to parents and teens and maybe my friend will consider one of these, but the important thing to remember is never give up…do not ever give up being the parent you are…try to become the source of your child’s recovery and enjoy the years of ahead with a closer happier relationship with your child.

I still laugh with my friends about my daughter at 15 and the knock, down, drag out fights that we had, while she went through puberty while I was going the menopause, not a road anyone wants to go on, believe me. But if my daughter’s behavior had not changed and I had to continue like that for years, we would not have the relationship we have now. I know my friend and her daughter will get through this and I hope everyone will help me by sending resources my way. Just respond below to the comments and I will be grateful for any help you send.

Make a choice to watch it, read it or live it…but at least try it, and remember this: “The Secret”

Thoughts do become things.

There are no coincidences.
Miracles are all around us.
Ask, Believe and you will receive.
It all begins with baby steps.

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

SELF-LIMITING BELIEFS

"Self pity is our worst enemy, and if we yield to it, we can never do anything wise in the world."
Helen Keller

"When you judge another, you do not define them, you define yourself." -
Wayne Dyer

"There is no reason to ever quit... unless of course you had no plans to ever succeed... that is called ‘Delusional Success’"
Doug Firebaugh

"Being challenged in life is inevitable, being defeated is optional."
Roger Crawford

The above is an excerpt from Beliefnet.

Self limiting beliefs are the things that keep us stuck in the same place for years on end. If we ever want to make the life that we dream about, then we must start by addressing beliefs like the ones above. “The Secret” to self limiting beliefs is “SELF.” No one else can make decisions for us. No one else can change our behavior. No one else knows EXACTLY what we want in our life, unless that some one is God! When we take ourselves out of the equation, meaning eliminate our needs, by trying to meet the needs of another, self limiting beliefs disappear. They take the focus off our own issues, dreams, desires, wants, and needs and gives the Universe time to bring our dreams to us.

When you least expect your dreams to come true~ ~ ~ they do!

We need to be thinking about our children when we make these life altering decisions. We don’t want to have top re-teach our children how to accomplish the things they choose to make them successful. Bob Proctor has come out with a new product to help our teens to start learning goal setting in all phases of their life. Check it out at: www.goal33.com .

I am working on a few of my own goals lately and maybe sharing them with you will motivate me even more for myself. In my choice to lose some weight and get back on track, I am considering purchasing the Walking Vest that Valerie Bertinelli uses in her new training program. , she mentioned it on the Oprah show.
I am joining in on the Oprah book club where she is reading “A New Earth, Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose.” I have begun my self esteem file and feel that I am in align with my new health regimen.


Make a choice to watch it, read it or live it…but at least try it, and remember this:


Thoughts do become things.
There are no coincidences.
Miracles are all around us.
Ask, Believe and you will receive.
It all begins with baby steps.

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR!

"do you think there is anywhere, in any language, / a word billowing enough /
for the pleasure / that fills you, / as the sun / reaches out, / as it warms you" --
Mary Olive

Taken from “Today’s Mission Calendar Inspiration”
(Oprah’s Newsletter02-26-2008)

The above quote struck me today, as the epitome of emotion. How much better can one feel, than what is expressed above?
I wish I could explain why it took me this many years to recognize the ability, we all have, to change our thoughts, to accomplish, or receive that which we desire.

“The Secret” hit the world with an explosion of new language that some are still trying to learn. The practice of “The Law of Attraction” must become habitual. It must be in everything you say and do, so that it comes back to you in the same way.

I find myself daily, reveling in the dreams that I am attracting into my life and the experience is so fulfilling. Twenty five or thirty minutes twice a day and my life transforms into the most majestic, abundant and glorious experience. It takes planning and direction to get your dreams to turn into reality, but never make light of the journey. The journey is the most magical part of the entire experience.

Never knowing that I had the ability to meditate, made me miss so much of my life. I never dreamt~~~ I could dream my life, into becoming the dream of my life.

Open yourself up to the new language, the new understanding, and the awakening of discoveries that have been hidden for years. Take a journey , a magical mystery ride through “The Secret”, and watch your dreams become the reality of your dreams.

Make a choice to watch it, read it or live it…but at least try it, and remember this:

Thoughts do become things.
There are no coincidences.
Miracles are all around us.
Ask, Believe and you will receive.
It all begins with baby steps.

Check out my new website
Just click and dream.

Monday, February 25, 2008

"WHEN THE WELL IS DRY, WE KNOW THE WORTH OF WATER"

“When the well's dry, we know the worth of water.”
Benjamin Franklin

“The Secret”
tells us when we apply The Law of Attraction to our life, one of the first things we learn is to express “GRATITUDE” for what we already have. Look around you, what do you see? Stop, take the time to think about what you already possess. I am not talking about material possessions, although gratitude for them, should be included. Keeping a Gratitude Journal is one of the first steps that most motivators will teach. Without gratitude for what you have, there is no room for the things you desire. Develop a “habit of gratitude.”

Keeping a gratitude journal is a good way, but find a method that works for you. Each night before you go to bed and each morning when you wake, state the things you are grateful for, and as time goes by, the things you are looking to attract into your life, will begin to appear.

With the resources in the world depleting, the very first thing we should be grateful for, is water. We do not always appreciate the things we have until they are gone. Showing gratitude in hindsight aids no one. We should already know the value of what we possess and if we do not, then we should not ask for more. While thinking about this quote today I ran across another quote that I find relevant to gratitude.

Water has no taste, no color, no odor; it cannot be defined, art relished while ever mysterious. Not necessary to life, but rather life itself. It fills us with a gratification that exceeds the delight of the senses.
ANTOINE DE SAINT-EXUPERY (1900-1944), Wind, Sand, and Stars, 1939

“Not necessary for life, but rather life itself,” and some of us have to look for something to be grateful for. How dare we? I am grateful for water, the air I breath, the sun, the rain, the clouds, the very existence of my human form on the earth. I am grateful, and feel humbled to enjoy the beauty of the life I see everyday.

What are you grateful for today?

Make a choice to watch it, read it or live it…but at least try it, and remember this:

Thoughts do become things.
There are no coincidences.
Miracles are all around us.
Ask, Believe and you will receive.
It all begins with baby steps.

Sunday, February 24, 2008

LOVE AND DO WHAT YOU WILL!

“Existing problems cannot be solved with the same mindset that created them.”

Everyday I get countless emails, and included with some, are quotations. I am sorry to say, this one slipped by me and I have no credit to offer with it, but the premise is something, I feel compelled to share.

“The Secret” is the tool I used to aid in my recovery, and from that I learned to apply The Law of Attraction to my life, and as a result, I am changing the information that I take in, to attract the environment of the world I want to live in. (PHEW) Today as I am sitting here reading "A New Earth, Awakening to your Life’s Purpose, “ by Eckhart Tolle, from Oprah's book club. I am reminded of a time, when the quotation above, would have just flashed through my mind and no thought would have been applied to it. It is the most direct and simple answer to what you experience when you apply LOA to your life. You change your mind set, which is a stepping stone.

An example of a situation in which, the above sentence would be clear is this:

I have had a disagreement with a friend and the disagreement is over something we both feel completely different about. When you reach that point, there is no need to continue the conversation. It should end right there. Trying to be right is not your purpose, your purpose is to be true~~ within. St. Augustine put it this way:

“Love and do what you will.” (Tolle, Penquin Group, 2005, p.72). In other words, LET IT GO. What relevance is there in disagreement? What purpose does it serve to say who is right or wrong? Tolle points out that there are “people addicted to upset and anger as others are to a drug.”(Tolle, p65). Once the impact of that statement connects with your mind, what else can you possibly do? Seriously, will you argue about that? No!

Wars are created by the mind set of “I am right, You are wrong”. If we go back and look through past war history, we will find that it was a disagreement to begin with. We, as Americans, insisting that all other nations not living as we are, are unjust. Our purpose is best served by studying peace instead of war. How many times have you heard that in the past year alone? Mother Theresa, when asked if she would attend an anti -war rally said, to let her know when there is a pro peace rally and she will go. (Nothing I say here can even touch the war we are all battling in our mind about 9/11). We have to change the mind set we have become too comfortable with. I am finding that applying the Law of Attraction has helped me in recovery and has also opened a new world of thought that I have always had, but misunderstood for so long. I want to attract the mind set of Mother Theresa or Eckhart Tolle, not leaders of war, but leaders of peace and peaceful thought. I want to adopt a mind set of frivolity and joy and I want parents everywhere to want that also. Our children should not be influenced by “the baggage of old thought,” (Tolle, p66), they should be influenced by the attraction of powerful peace, action, they should not be raised with the significance placed on right or wrong, it should be placed within.

When I was raised, the mind set that my parents had, was that of their own parents, whom they criticized openly. When I began to raise my own children I swore not to raise my children in the way of my parents, so I chose my own way. I raised my children to know the difference between right and wrong, but that was not where I placed the emphasis. I placed the emphasis on being a good person, being a person that would attract others that were good. I already had placed in my mind, the method by what I taught my children, but unknowingly.

The Law of Attraction
was the stepping stone I adopted to put the thoughts that were already in my mind, in place. When we begin to open our mind to what is within, we see that we have already set the patterns to right~~~within. Take the journey through your mind and discover the “baggage of old thought" and replace it with new thought from ~~within.

Faith is believing that the universe
is on our side, and that the universe
knows what it’s doing.
Author Unknown From an excerpt from one of Jack Canfield’s books.


Make a choice to watch it, read it or live it…but at least try it, and remember this:

Thoughts do become things.

There are no coincidences.
Miracles are all around us.
Ask, Believe and you will receive.
It all begins with baby steps.

THE WORLD WITHIN!

“In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.”

Albert Camus
Real Simple newsletter

When I first began to apply The Law of Attraction to my life, I was phobic and unable to live in the outside world. I was living within. Although living within is characterized as a disability, in relation to state of mind; I have found the most wonderful and clarifying state of being~~~within.

There is a world of people that walk the earth, never knowing the part of the mind I experience now. The creative function of our mind is where we should all live~~~ within. Quieting the mind and separating the messages, has given me the ability to attract into my life, an abundance of all that is desired. Losing fear, gave me the ability open my mind to the messages that most never get to hear. LOSE the fear, there is nothing in the mind that we should ever be afraid of, but most people never experience the quiet unwatched mind. It is truly an amazing place to explore and I Thank God, oh yes, and Oprah, for introducing me to the Law of Attraction through “The Secret.” I am in love with the journey I am on. I hope everyone will CHOOSE to explore it and remember this:

Make a choice to watch it, read it or live it…but at least try it,
Thoughts do become things.
There are no coincidences.
Miracles are all around us.
Ask, Believe and you will receive.
It all begins with baby steps.

Friday, February 22, 2008

FOR TO MISS THE JOY IS TO MISS ALL!

"And the true realism, always and everywhere, is that of the poets: to find out where joy resides, and give it a voice far beyond singing. For to miss the joy is to miss all."
Robert Louis Stevenson

Oprah
Magazine: Mission Statement

The above quote is taken from The Mission Statement that I receive from Oprah’s newsletter everyday.

While reading, “A New Earth, Awakening To Your Life’s Passion,” by Eckhart Tolle, thoughts like the one above, pass through my mind frequently in the course of my day.

When you apply The Law of Attraction to your life, joy comes to the surface and habitually stays there, making each moment of your reality, greater in size, day by day. The struggle to remain happy, becomes less of a struggle. The shift in your mind set is finding a place of rest in your mind. It becomes an old friend, as did, defeat, despair and depression. They are all replaced with new scenarios, as dreams come true, everyday.

My friend Kristine stopped by today, and brought with her, the envelope that the brochure of note, came in. Her husband still thinks I have a trick up my sleeve, but Kristine is living the Law of Attraction and her life is becoming not just tolerable, but steady and peaceful. She knows that all she needs is within her grasp, and a simple shift, will keep her there. I have never seen her so sure of herself, and we do a great deal more laughing than we ever did before. Living The Law of Attraction has helped us find a sense of humor about everything.

Joy , happiness, and abundance of all, are only a matter of changing how you think about things. Getting up everyday and having to struggle, just to feel happy, is old and over used. Change your thoughts to optimize happiness in your life, and you will never want to go back. Your mind will have only one direction, forward, closer to your dreams coming true. So Remember this:

Make a choice to watch it, read it or live it…but at least try it, and remember this:

Thoughts do become things.
Miracles are all around us.
Ask, Believe and you will receive.
It all begins with baby steps.

P.S. Have . you tried the “Self Esteem File” yet, I think that Therese Borchard’s file is a great idea. You just ask your friends to write a letter that states how they see you, what they think of you, what kind of person you are, and then you live and believe the positive things people say about you. It would give you a great kick start to applying LOA. Give it a try.

Thursday, February 21, 2008

HIPPIES ARE ALIVE AND WELL, LIVING WITHIN!

"Happiness is not something ready made... It comes from your own actions."

Dalai Lama
From Oprah’s Mission statement newsletter.

The ability of each individual to FIND happiness, WHEN IT DOES NOT EXIST WITHIN, is in itself, a life altering decision. Not every human being is capable of happiness without some amount of effort. There are people that go through all, or most of their life, content to recognize that what they experience without, is happiness. It becomes another process altogether, when happiness is not recognized within.

Having experienced both, I am fortunate to know the difference. It is those that have never experienced happiness within, that look their noses down, or judge those, that find happiness within.

Having been a child of the sixties, I have witnessed that judgment. Yes, there really were hippies and no, I would not really consider myself as having been one. Hippies were labeled, mainly as people who knew within. People that listened to their spiritual voice. People that connected with “The Divine.”

I ran across an article by Therese Borchard today, and there was a controversial discussion about mental health, how others view it, and what is being done in that field. I understand the controversy about medication vs “pulling up the bootstrap” theory, but can say, from personal experience this:

Unless a person is at therapeutic level they cannot accept responsibility for within. I believe that people should be able to live happily without medication, but it really depends on the individual. I believe that mental illness exists and I also believe, in most cases, it is necessary to maintain with medication, but stopping there is where I begin to disagree. It is necessary, as you take medication to reach therapeutic level, that you also find a method to study within, so that you learn to find happiness and satisfaction within, therefore happiness and satisfaction without.

I have been fortunate enough to have found ”The Secret,“ (first featured on Oprah) which became the tool that helped me in my recovery. Recovery does not have to be a temporary state of mind and medication does not have to become a permanent diet. State of mind can be controlled by adopting a mind set. We all have the same ability to choose the mind set from a therapeutic state of mind. My choice was to live in abundance of all things.

Make a choice to watch it, read it or live it…but at least try it, and remember this:

Thoughts do become things.
Miracles are all around us.
Ask, Believe and you will receivebelieve
It all begins with baby steps.

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Ok, I know I run off at the mouth a lot about “The Law of Attraction,”but the truth is,
IT ABSOLUTELY IS EVERYWHERE.
I was on the phone tonight, talking to my “pushy” friend Kristine, trying to help her focus away from her problems and before I knew it, we were choosing a new career for me. I have been putting off calling this particular online school and we started surfing, looking into different schools. She walked into her kitchen, and on the counter, was a brochure for online courses at a local college. We immediately started surfing looking at all the courses and we changed my entire career choice. I have been hesitant in defining my goals, because I was uncertain of my focus. I have known that I wanted to focus on a career in service, but I had not been able to actually make the connection because the thought of a local college~~~ never dawned on me. DUH!

A lot of colleges now, are offering online courses for convenience, and also for people that are unable to attend on campus classrooms. The online experience has been going well for me, but I had a slight set back around the holidays, and have been reluctant to address the issue. I am so glad she needed to change her focus and it was turned in my direction. If she had not received that brochure in the mail, we never would have found the answer I have been looking for. Thank God, there are no coincidences, thoughts become things, there are miracles all around us, and it all begins with baby steps.

It all reminded me of the seventies, when NOW (National Organization of Women) was formed by Gloria Steinem, companies started to open up more rights for women in the workplace. I was able to take advantage of the “token woman positions” that most companies had to implement, to show equality in the workplace. I have to say, there was a blessing in my first experience as a single MOM, because I was able to find jobs that were held predominately for men. A single Mom in the seventies, needed to make a man’s income, so a door closed and a window opened. Lucky Me~~~Thank God, oh, and Kristine too.

We managed to find a great deal of humor in this quest, which found both us, on our way to bed laughing, instead of focusing on the negative things around us. All it took was a simple shift in thinking and we were headed in a completely different direction. AHA!

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

HAVE YOU PACKED YOUR OWN CHUTE?

"I have always believed, and I still believe, that whatever good or bad fortune may come our way we can always give it meaning and transform it into something of value."

Hermann Hesse
1877-1962, Novelist and Poet

This thought creates these questions, “Is you glass half empty, or half full?” “Do you pack your own chute?”, “What side of the bed did you get up on?” These are all ways of asking “How’s that working for you?” Sorry Dr. Phil, it just seemed to make my point so well.

As we go through life, we find answers to those questions, and when it is not working for us, we try another way. However, there are some that really cannot just try another way, they have issues that keep them stuck in the “half empty” mode. have reasons why their life is always “half empty”, and they usually sound like this, “well, I had a bad childhood,” “I am not educated,” “I am not capable”, when the simple reason is they cannot just change their mind, or direction.

I learned to change my mind and my direction when I was first introduced to ”The Secret” on "The Oprah Show" and “The Law of Attraction.” I smoked for over 4o years, never knowing that the secret to quitting was already planted in my mind. I had playing the message for years, it was this: “I just want to wake up one day and never smoke again.” That is exactly what I did, with no withdrawal, no cravings, less trouble than anything I had ever done before. By the Way, I also quit drinking alcohol. I drank every night when I would get home from work. My thought was , “I need to relax”. I don’t need that any more either. I got that from just learning ONE OF THE LAWS OF THE UNIVERSE. There are so many more.

I have taken the messages I got from "The Secret" and used them to stop these behaviors. Let me help you. All you have to do is ask. And remember these things.

Thoughts do become things.
Miracles are all around you.
There are no coincidences.
It all begins with baby steps.

Monday, February 18, 2008

“The Secret”states that there are no coincidences. Take one day, of a single week, and believe that. Open your eyes and look around. If there are no coincidences, then life is one miracle after another.

The simple things that take place in your life become amusing, perplexing, exciting and miraculous.

I was talking to my friend Mrs. Blankety Blank-Blank, the other day about a camp she was considering sending one of her children to. She and Mr. Blank got home, that very day, and in their mailbox, was a brochure from the very camp we had been discussing. Mr. Blank now thinks, I am a witch (just kidding) and Mrs. Blankety Blank-Blank thinks that the Law of Attraction circles me like a halo and everything I come into contact with is touched by it.

What I am writing here are just words, or labels, but if you try what I suggest in the first paragraph, for one day, you can count the small miracles you see. Believe the existence of The Law of Attraction exists and watch the halo form around you and count the (coincidences?) in your day. The important word here is believe. Watch the movie, read the book and then do it again, until The Law of Attraction encircles you in it’s light.
“The Divine” is within, and releasing it to the Universe, brings it right back to you. Test it try it, live it and see the miracles all around you, thoughts become things, ask, believe and you will receive and it all starts with baby steps.

Sunday, February 17, 2008

DAYDREAM TURNS INTO REALITY!

The Master Key System suggests that a first step to reaching your goals, similar to “The Secret, is to create a day dream of your perfect day. It does not have to be realistic because it will change later on, as you learn to hone your focus, on the things you want to have in your life. I do not so much think about the material things I wish to have, but more on the essence of the life I choose to live.
You will notice though, that the material things are blended into my so called daydream.

I wake each day at 9:00 a.m., and the first thing I do, is have a cup of coffee (breakfast in bed does not appeal to me), on the lanai, while I eat my breakfast (part of my trainer’s program for weight control and physical fitness). While eating breakfast I peruse the headlines of the New York Times and take a gander at my stocks to see how they are faring. Learning to understand stocks too mind boggling for me, (that is in the category of math, argh), so I have people for that, but I like to see how things are looking and see what is available for my foundation grants. I like to know where the money is being used best, to serve the greatest amount of people. After my leisurely breakfast, I take a run on the treadmill. I like to keep in shape, and using the program my trainer set up for me, really works well. I love the thought patterns that play in my head. As I run, a lot of emotional issues come to light for me, wow…it‘s like the Doublemintä commercial from years ago, “two, two mints in one“). I jump into the shower and then dry my hair and apply makeup ( I am so glad I found this simple method to apply it and although Botox really made a huge difference, I am glad I found this new hydrating system for my skin, that also made me a fortune). I am careful to brush my beautiful porcelain veneers, loving my new smile, I look at myself in the mirror and love what I see. I read the little post its around the mirror to remind me of my current affirmations and then it is off to get dressed. I love the new closet system, it looks like a clothing store. My share in “aerie” and the other two subsidiaries really pay off, and it’s nice to know that my daughter has the dreams of her lifetime owning her own high couture line. Our trips to Paris and Rome each year for her couture collection is a wonderful time for us. The bond we have now is an amazing experience. How many women can say that about their life?
I have been truly blessed over and over. Thank You God!
Once made up and dressed, I go to my office and check my email, click a few buttons for my auto generated money machine and then I pick up the 3 books that I am reading along with my notebook and laptop and return to the lanai, my favorite place. When it is raining I go to my sunroom and work there. The lanai overlooks the pool. And although I can see it from my sunroom, bedroom, and living room, I still prefer the lanai on beautiful days. I am enjoying the beauty of nature wherever I am but I like to feel it too. I open one of the three books I am reading and stop occasionally, to take some notes, and work on my daily blogs. I love writing my blogs, because I know that I am delivering quality information and resources to millions of people everyday and that is what my life’s purpose really is. It is to help others awaken the world to a new consciousness and a place where joy and beauty reside, not death and disaster. By focusing on death and disaster, that is what will show up in your world. I learned that a longtime ago from studying The Law of Attraction! Thoughts become things, so choose good ones. I add a little to my blog during the day, at small intervals.
On Sunday, my children will be joining me for dinner. We have chosen to eat here so I have given a list to the cook for tonight’s meal and I also included one for the entire week, taking into consideration, the nights that I am expecting guests or the children. She is extremely efficient and very pleasant, I think of her more as a friend. We spend time during the day to have a cup of coffee together and share stories about our children with each other. I enjoy those moments and when I am away, they are missed.
I am meeting my friends, Kristine and Michele for lunch tomorrow, we are lunching at a local 5 star restaurant. We try to get together as often as possible but it is usually just one or 2 times per month, as they both have Nursing Degrees and work in hospitals. We talk about what is going on in our life and what functions we’ll be seeing each other at. I have some book signings this month, and, my daughter is putting on a fashion show of her new line for Spring. Kristine and Michele also have some seminars that they are teaching, to educate young parents to the dangers of misdiagnosing some rare disorders that teenagers suffer, this month it is a fund raiser for ODD (Oppositional Defiant Disorder).
My daughter’s fashion show will be a luncheon and then we will be going to my youngest son’s new franchise opening. He has a chain of carpet stores and also skateboard shops and parks. He is quite famous in the skateboard world. He has consulted on a few movies and instructed some up and coming boarders into competition. It is his passion and he loves it more than any of his other companies.
My oldest son has his business in the media world. He directs and produces movies. The genre is eclectic, and I try to take control sometimes, and argue him into making a movie that is based on the Laws of The Universe. I always get the same story. “Mother, people are sick to death hearing about The Laws of The Universe. If they do not know by now they never will.” I quickly come back with, “Tim, if that were true, then we would not be fighting a war in a country that still runs under a dictatorship, and there would be no starving hungry children anywhere. Everyone would have a home and enough food to eat, every single day. I always win, and we find a wonderful story that he transforms into the most amazing messages. He once told me, “mom, we are all abundantly in love with you.“ What mother has had the opportunity to hear that? I am truly blessed. All of my children are amazing at what they consider their passion, and that includes raising their own children.
Being a grandmother was not an experience I dared to dream about, but when I did enough wishing and praying, it was right there, in the form of 6 beautiful children, 4 boys and 2 girls. I thank God everyday for them, as I do for my children, my life, my friends, my family and my time on this earth.
I do pray quite a bit during the day, usually when I meditate, so I can silently speak with “The Divine” in my mind. My life is so overwhelmingly beautiful, that there is never enough gratitude flowing from me. My personal relationship with “The Divine” is the foundation of my life. I have been blessed with the insight and the knowledge to bring that message to the world.
I digress. I always get on my soapbox the minute I begin to think about my life and how powerfully beautiful it is. That is the reason I spend so much time, teaching others about how to see the world through their creative mind. It took me a long time to learn about that myself and I am so passionate about not letting a single person go through another day, without the knowledge that, Thoughts become things, Miracles are all around us, Ask, Believe and you will Receive, there are no coincidences and it all starts with baby steps.
My own childhood, while I was living it, was frightening and sad, but once I learned how to tap into the resources that my parents did not know how to use, my world transformed into a magical kingdom, and my abilities grew to such tremendously powerful messages. I am living my passion by sharing , with everyone, everywhere that I can reach. I have joined forces with so many powerful people that we are constantly finding new ways to get that message out. Children are now being raised in the new consciousness and the world is seeing the beauty that so few have seen before us. It is an amazing time to be alive, and I spend some part of everyday reinforcing that belief, and thanking God for the infinite wisdom that brought us all here, under this umbrella of mindfulness.
My afternoons are usually spent shopping or going over some travel details or seminar speeches. Being a motivational speaker, and having your dream comes true, is all I need when I sit down to write. I can always write or speak about, what I believe in, with such passion and power. I can see the minds of people changing right in front of me. (There I go again playing the “Power of The Universe”), it is hard to not feel so powerful when every dream in my life has come true. What more can anyone ask?
I try to do a little light reading at night, a little meditation and a wonderful soak in the Jacuzzi. My bedroom is a haven of light and peace, beautifully decorated in these soft greens and grey hues. It was designed by a master, who uses her insight, into the minds of others, to decorate. What a gift she has, I am so grateful to know her. She has designed most of the rooms in my home and she has done it by sitting and talking with me about how I see the world, who I am, what my passions are, and how I feel about the people around me. She is truly blessed with a miraculous gift.
Bedtime is peaceful and relaxing as I think about my day and what wonderful experiences I have had, and think about how I can change things for others in the world. Being blessed with the gift of gratitude, it is a simple thing for me to accomplish. I love that I have everything I have ever dreamed of, and I can share it with the world. How many people can say that about their life? I thank God, that this is now, the life I am able to live, and I close my eyes to sleep a peaceful, fulfilled sleep, only to awaken the next day to more joyous and beautiful beginnings.
How many people get to say that? I am truly grateful that this is my life and not a daydream.

Saturday, February 16, 2008

I think I have been living in a coma for about a week now. One of my friends is having a difficult time lately with a few major life issues. The fact that she is still walking around is proof enough to me, that she is talking a pro-active approach to the issues around her.

We both just discovered that there is a mental disorder called ODD. “Oppositional Defiance Disorder” is the term. She just put a name to it this morning. After spending close to 24 hours in a hospital, waiting for someone to see her teenage daughter, we were both saying how ridiculous it was that a child in crisis had to wait that long for proper attention. Well, it became clear to me, when she told me what the psychologist that saw her daughter told her about this disorder. Here we were thinking that he was just describing her daughter as if he knew her personally, and it turns out that she fits into that diagnosis so perfectly that he was speaking in general. How is it, that as parents, we had no idea that a diagnosis or disease like this existed. I raised three children, all grown now, but each has issues of their own, luckily for me, none as serious as this. It is all about LABELS. We never really absorb anything until a name is attached to it, mainly because it does not exist, until then. Cryptic, I know, but I will explain further in.

In the past year, one of the changes that I made in my life, was to let my children go (I think that is a hymn we used to sing in church or it is from an old movie) “Let my children go.” Anyway, case in point, my youngest had some substance issues, which I have discussed on my blog in the past, and I had to wrestle with the struggle of letting him go when he refused treatment. It was the hardest thing I ever had to do, but I would do it again tomorrow, now that I know what came to me, from that.

I remember as a young mother learning this: “You should begin to separate from your children when they are born, if you hope to raise independent children.” It was important to me to raise independent children. I never experienced independence until I was a young bride, with a child at 25, divorcing and being forced to live on my own. That is not to say that it was not my choice to do that, because it absolutely was. What I experienced after that, was the fear of living on my own, raising a child alone, paying bills, making enough money, feeling safe, and keeping my child safe, all things I had never learned. No one had ever taught me how to do that. I did all of that well, with my first husband, but when it was time to be on my own, the feeling was not empowering, it was frightening and it kept me from ever following through with the things that would keep me secure and safe, the tools to manage my life. I tried so many times to take that back, the feeling of security, safety and peace, but I had given it up to others in my life, my children, each of my husbands in two marriages, bosses, parents, teachers, anyone I could give it to, except MYSELF. The reality of that came so late in life. Forced to struggle so long, knowing something, but never really knowing what it was. Pushing me through so many emotional changes that were under the heading of, depression, mental illness, insecurity, immaturity, all negative LABELS, never knowing that what I was doing was fighting to live my own life, the one I had given away to so many. It is funny when I look back at it now and see the simplicity of getting to where I should have gone so many years ago, but I am there now and it is still not too late for me to leave that to my children. The vessel to contain that knowledge has not formed in my mind yet. However, the thought and the desire are present, as the first two steps to succeeding in anything or everything. (I will have to get back to you on THE LAST ONE).

All of this came to me as I watched my friend struggle with her daughter’s issues. Fed by information about things that I seemed to know and understand, realizing that I had experienced things like this before, I was able to offer support and hopefully, guidance into a dark place that she and I have both lived for so many years. In the process, we have found humor, Thank God, and understanding of things about ourselves as we struggle to learn more about her child and change things from the way we had to learn them. We are becoming more comfortable in our LABELS and moving further away from the fear of what is in our mind, in order to change things for the future of children like hers and mine.
ODD is a real issue among teens, and there is new information available. I am planning to help my friend find that information to share with other parents, but first by letting parents know that conditions like those that ODD contain, can be changed. Just putting a LABEL on it has made it clearer to those of us that have lived with other labels. We need to find a positive way to bring this message to parents and teens and teach them how to change their thoughts to change their behavior. It all begins with baby steps, and miracles are all around us, thoughts do become things and Ask, believe and you will receive.

The experiences that my friend and I went through this past week have been overwhelming to us. At times and we have struggled through sleep deprivation and sometimes fear of the unknown, but we have managed to keep ourselves sane with humor and support. The other night, while struggling with these issues and unable to sleep any longer for the night, I sent this email to her husband.
I hope it gives you the levity that we found in it, because it helped us to get through: I have removed the names to protect the innocent.


The subject line read: BILL FOR SERVICES RENDERED!


Dear MR. BLANK,

Below, is a list of services rendered to MRS.BLANKETY BLANK-BLANK. After her first consult, which was free, you were informed, that any further use of my services would come at a high price.

My services are valuable and should be recognized as such. I am a firm believer in payment of services rendered by the bartering system. Please take note that the payment for my additional services is now due and will accepted in payment by, 1 treadmill, and an office chair ( I spend a lot of time sitting in front of my computer doing research for the issues that your wife comes to me for. Additionally, there is a night differential which is imposed after 1:00 a.m. on all occasions.

Please do not let this matter reach the point where it will be necessary to serve you with a dunning notice. Prompt and courteous service will be rewarded with a discount on your next bill. SERVICE RENEDERED:
1. Several phone consults previous to 12:00 a.m.
2. Invaluable computer services.
3. A shoulder to cry on.
4. Valuable opinions and direct advice.
5. Sleep deprivation.

You should recall that, while I was performing these services, you were getting much needed sleep, (of which, I was denied, because once you wake me up…I am up). I’m sure you can see the value in these services and I am certain that you will consider prompt payment, knowing that my service will be needed a great deal in the next few weeks.
Sincerely,

Ann-Marie Cunniff
P.S. Woohoo, my first paid gig…I

Thursday, February 14, 2008

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

Although it is Valentines Day, and I have no special person, it is still a great day. Seeing so many that have the love of their life to share today with, gives me great joy. I am grateful for days like this, where others get the love they deserve. I get love everyday in so many ways and today is no diffferent.
I had a day full of those little miracles, the Law of Attraction is all around me. I spoke with my oldest son Tim, last night and he has been suffering with a sore throat for about a week now. We all went to dinner on Sunday and he sounded like the "Godfather". My daughter Elyse, kept making him repeat lines from the movie. It was fun. Anyway, I was watching tv and it turns out that Ellen DeGeneres lost her voice too. They sound so much alike, I had to call and tell him that. I also saw on the computer, that Matt Lauer lost his voice and was talking with hand signals on Jay Leno. Pretty funny stuff.
All through Ellen's show today there were little bits of pieces that were reminders to me to show that I am the "Power of the Universe".(just kidding) but The Law of Attraction is everywhere.
I have this little slip of the mouth that keeps showing up and I'm telling you it was on Ellen today. Don't believe ....just watch it...you can see her on your computer if you missed it on tv today. The Law of Attraction is everywhere.
Miracles do happen, Thoughts do become things, Ask, Believe and you will Receive, everything starts with baby steps.

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

I AM ATTRACTING!

I was writing a story today at my computer and new piece for the book I am writing with my family, and my daughter Elyse, called me from wherever she and her boyfriend, Josh were, to ask me a question. They do this quite regularly. I am pretty sure, though that she said, now that she has that fancy new phone they can just Google everything, but she must not have charged it.
Anyway, I had just finished writing this on the page (H--L), guess what the question was that she asked me? "Mom, what is purgatory?" They had just passed a place called Purgatory Road or something and my daughter said, "Yeah, that's a great place to live" (sarcastically) and Josh responded with, "Purgatory is a good place." So it began...I do not know how long it will take him to realize that she will challenge everything. That is one of the great things that I love about her.
So, I responded with "It is h--l," and then corrected myself and said "it is the place between here and h--l" and I heard her say, AHA! I guess she won again. So tell me, is that The Law of Attraction or what? It's just everywhere I look. It is in everything that I see and say. It is fun to be attracting little miracles like this. Get excited and take a peek. What can it hurt, just remember these things.
1. There is a time delay.
2. There are no coincidences.
3. It is working all the time.
4. You cannot do it wrong.
Don't you just want to slap me? Tell me how silly I'm being? Go ahead, send me an email, call me on the phone, comment on my websites. Whatever it takes to get you here, where everything is like a magnet. Miracles do happen, thoughts do become things, Ask, believe and you will receive, and it all starts with baby steps. Phew! Do it...(that works for Nike, and I thought I'd just throw it in).

Saturday, February 2, 2008

STOP FAILING!

STOP FAILING!
After yesterday (last night) I thought I would not find my way back. I was sitting there crying to God about how my life still doesn’t have what I need. But I also told him I was grateful for what I had, but I felt like there were people counting on me to do something BIG. And I felt because I had not gotten there, I had failed. Well, I remembered that “I took failure out of my dictionary.” Yup, just cut it right out! And I am back on track today having realized it is just not my time, I have more work to do.
Service is a crucial element in the journey to success. Learning to give before you ever think about getting. The thing is, I thought I was giving and servicing. I was following through with my intention to help one person everyday, even if it was just a matter of a little advice or something big like needing money or food or any kind of help. Truth is, that is still an excuse to not feel worthy of success. I do not mean that I should not be doing those things. I just mean by focusing only on that, I was not moving to what I determined to be my BURNING DESIRE. Oh, there were baby steps…I was taking those, but patience is never something I have been good at. So I need to do more work on developing patience. (That is a new intention)
I read an article this morning about an interview that Joe Vitaledid with Will Bowen and he asked him about his interview with Oprah. Bill said this:
“Between takes Oprah leaned over to me and said, ‘I have nothing to complain about’.
“At first I thought she meant she had nothing to complain about because she’s Oprah and life is good.
“But we talked and I learned that her life is so great because she doesn’t complain to begin with. She always focuses on what she wants. Her not complaining created the Oprah we see.”
When I read that article, I realized that “The Law of Attraction” was all over it and I thanked God that I know it exists and helped me to find that message.