“Everything you are against weakens you. 
Everything you are for empowers you.”
- Wayne Dyer

Celebrate the things which are meaningful to you. Tap into those juicy feelings of “yes!” Just for today, put aside thoughts of what you’d like to change and focus instead on strengthening all that is already right and good in your life. What are your strengths? What inspires you? What makes your heart glow?

What are you “for”?

Creative Exercise, Part One: The Discovery Map

Get out a bunch of magazines. (If you don’t have any, you’re not off the hook- get out a pen and a piece of paper… or grab your favorite bud to take dictation.)

Quickly (and I do mean “quicky”) flip through the pages and whenever something strikes you, tear out that page. What you’re pulling out are things you love… things of beauty… things which are meaningful to you… things you find comfort in … things that make you smile.

Don’t analyze too much. As a matter of fact, don’t analyze at all! Drop the thoughts and fly by the seat of your pants.

Time out.

As you may or may not know, I’m not a big fan of negative words … I’d rather suggest what to *do* than what *not* to do but get ready, we’re gonna break that rule a moment from now. I will ever so briefly be one of those “do as I say, not as I do” people. Consider yourself forewarned, here goes!

Little List of Nots:

• Do *not* judge what you choose. Think very little and instead, set your intuition free.
• Do *not* spend too much time on one picture. (If you have to stop and decide if this photo means something to you … it doesn’t.)
• Do *not* choose something unless it truly speaks to you. No second bests here, only the cream of the crop. Better to not choose anything at all than to choose images which don’t feel special to you.

This exercise may be done over the course of an hour or a month.  When satisified with your stack of pictures, create a collage, gluing all of the images onto a piece of paper or a large board. Or tack them to a bulletin board or your wall (if it is in fact “your” wall, approved for tacking! We want happy landlords!) My first assemblages were on long pieces of Contac paper and the last one was done on an artist’s canvas.

Those of you waiting patiently with your pens and paper (no, I didn’t forget about you!) will be writing down words or phrases which ring true to you. These can be quotes or words which conjure up pleasant memories for you or things which just have a nice ring to your ear.

Creative Exercise, Part Two: Nourish the Joy

This exercise can be put to work in two very important ways.

1. Use your pictoral or word collage as a roadmap to your joy. Now is the time for thought. Delve in and ask yourself:

What is it about this image that struck me? Why did I choose it? Was it the shape or the color? Did it bring back fond memories or remind me of my hopes and dreams? What does this say about what’s important to me?

When you discover what appeals to you, what really feels special and meaningful, surround yourself with it.  Ask, “How can I bring even more of that into my life?”

This may mean making a phone call to an old friend, planning a get-away or simply adding a certain color to your wardrobe or your surroundings. One daily activity might be dropped from your schedule, substituted with something which is important and joy-giving.

2. Get off on the vibes. Position your visual roadmap in an important place, somewhere you pass each day. Now is the time to drop thought … just take a look at it every once in a while and feel the feelings. By identifying and visualizing what brings you joy, you are already setting the wheels in motion. Behind the scenes, life will work its magic, attracting the very things needed to manifest these joys in your life.

Your Mission (should you choose to accept it)

This week, find ways to incorporate one of your discoveries into each day. Empower yourself by channeling your energies into things that make your heart glow. Tap in and look forward to blossoming more and more each day. Bask just a little … or a lot! … in things that feel good for you.

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Discover Real Magic by Wayne Dyer :: Learn more about Vision Boards

I just rediscovered one of my most beloved voices ever, Ralph Marston. What a beautiful light he shines. When my friend Christine was struggling with ms (I usually avoid the word “struggle” but in this case it feels right), I used to share his words with her all the time. When she died, her husband found dozens of pages with the things I had shared with her in the drawer next to her bed.

Ralph has a very special gift … beautiful, healing words.

Symptoms:

• Incessant underlying low-grade tension
• Scribbled lists on piles of post-it’s and papers
• Spinning thoughts
• Paralysis when you think of what you need to do today
• Overuse of the word “overwhelm”
• Constant concern that you’re forgetting something
• Jarring awake in the middle of the night realizing you HAVE in fact forgotten something

I’m here to tell you …

Today is a brand new day and it’s the perfect day for peace of mind.

Peace begins with separating out what is truly, truly important and what can fall away. And letting what can fall away fall.

Let’s get this party started

If you’re like me, you’re probably saying something that sounds a bit like this:

“But it’s ALL important!!!”

I hear ya. I’m with ya. And it’s true, it totally feels that way, right?

But here’s the thing: It’s not that way. I know it feels that way … but it’s not that way. There are certain things which, if left undone, the world would not come to an end. Really, it’s true.

Imagine this:

You’re having a dinner party. There’s all this stuff to be done.

People to invite. Food to buy. Decorations to put up. Gift bags to assemble. Recipes to cook. Plates and cups and utensils to be laid out. Hair to be washed. Clothes to put on. Big to-do list, right?

Now just say you’re jammin’ along on your list and suddenly you look up and … wow, the party’s starting in a half hour! Certain things would drop off the list.

And it would be ok.

I know, I know, you really want to get it all done, to have absolutely the most kick butt party in the whole wide world but …

• Maybe it’s ok for you to NOT make that crab dip your partygoers would so very much love. After all, you do already have the main course cooked and the drinks are so very delicious. And maybe it’s not ideal but maybe, just maybe, it would be totally fine.
• Maybe when your first guest comes they could help you put the utensils out. And maybe it’s not ideal but maybe, just maybe, it would be totally fine.
• Maybe a few of the things from your massive to-do list don’t get done. And maybe it’s not ideal but maybe, just maybe, it would be totally fine.

Separate the stones

Envision a glass jar. You’ve got stones and pebbles and sand. What’s the most efficient way to fill up that jar? If you fill up your jar with sand first, you’ll never get your stones in there.

Put the stones in first, then the pebbles. Last, the sand can flow in between the spaces.

First, let’s get acquainted with your stones, your pebbles and your sand. To determine which is which, ask yourself, “If this did not get done, what’s the worst that would happen?”

Essential stones:

Let’s face it, although very little on our to-do list is truly, truly life-altering, certain things definitely do feel that way. Essential stones are the things which, if not done … well, the party just would not happen.

These are the things that would make the most impact on your desired end result. They do not merely add to the experience … If one were to drop off the list, there would be no experience.

Example: If you were giving a party and didn’t invite anyone … no party. Sure sign that this is an essential stone.

Pebbles:

Pebbles do feel important but if one were to not fit into your jar, it wouldn’t be the end of the world. There would still be a party.

These things may feel like necessities but if one had to drop off, it would be ok. A different experience but ok.

Example: Of course it’s our intention for your guests to have something to drink but if they didn’t, would there still be a party? Of course there would!

Sand:

Sand is the minutia. These are the tiny details, the experience-enhancers, the wishes or the add-ons.

Examples: The tenth appetizer. The tea lights placed with care on the tables. The little place cards telling each guest where to sit.

Choose and let go.

You do not need to be in charge of doing every single last thing that can possibly be done.

Have you ever noticed … when you finally check off one to-do list, before you even breathe a sigh of relief there’s another list of to-do’s ready and waiting?

Your in-box will never be empty and you will never get it all done. Make peace with that.

The belief that you do need to get everything done and that you can actually one day accomplish that “all-is-done” state … This is what keeps you in stress.

And by you I mean me.   I was the worst of the worst. Talk about underlying stress. I still go there sometimes and so I make it a point to remind myself of this daily … and each time that I do, I feel relief.

Choose and then let go. Separate out the important things and the rest, delegate to the universe.

This is the path to peace.

A few final words of wisdom …

The journey is the reward

“If you’re obsessed with getting everything done, you’ll never have a sense of well-being! In reality, almost everything can wait. If I remind myself frequently that the purpose of life isn’t to get it all done but to enjoy each step along the way and live a life filled with love, it’s far easier for me to control my obsession with completing my list of things to do.”

–Richard Carlson
Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff

“You will never get it all done. How does that feel? If that feels like, ‘Oh good’ … then you are remembering that the destination has never been what it’s about. The destination just gives you something to focus upon so that energy flows, so that your journey is exhilarating.”

–  Abraham-Hicks
Excerpted from the workshop in Portland, OR on Tuesday, May 1st, 2001

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Special thanks to Jeanna Gabellini for imparting her wisdom (inspired by Stephen Covey / Seven Habits of Highly Effective People) … and for allowing me to share her right-on metaphor of the party. Download Jeanna’s FREE teleclass “Ready, set…VISUALIZE” at Abundance Abounds.

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“There once was a king who offered a prize to the artist who would paint the best picture of peace. Many artists tried. The king looked at all the pictures. But there were only two he really liked, and he had to choose between them.

One picture was of a calm lake. The lake was a perfect mirror for peaceful towering mountains all around it. Overhead was a blue sky with fluffy white clouds. All who saw this picture thought that it was a perfect picture of peace.

The other picture had mountains, too. But these were rugged and bare. Above was an angry sky, from which rain fell and in which lightning played. Down the side of the mountain tumbled a foaming waterfall. This did not look peaceful at all.

But when the king looked closely, he saw behind the waterfall a tiny bush growing in a crack in the rock. In the bush a mother bird had built her nest. There, in the midst of the rush of angry water, sat the mother bird on her nest – in perfect peace.

Which was the picture that won prize?

The second picture.

Why?

‘Because,’ explained the king, ‘peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. Peace means to be in the midst of all those things and still be calm in your heart. That is the real meaning of peace.’ ”

-Kashoo Tawseef

When I beckon joy, it follows me around wherever I go.

It dances and plays and calls me friend, pausing only long enough to kiss me on the forehead.

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Craving joy?

Read Happy for No Reason: 7 Steps to Being Happy from the Inside Out by Marci Shimoff. Brilliant exercises and insights.

Listen to Musings for the Soul to Remember by Petey Silveira. Inspiration to sooth your mind.

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“Joy Dancing” painting is from an illustration I created for the book cover of 365 Days of Gratitude by Sherrie Austin. Sherrie is a delightful, ebullient soul who absolutely radiates fun and joy.

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Guest post by Laina Orlando
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You can’t change a man but you can change a green smoothie.

My first green smoothie … not the first I’d ever HAD but the first I’d ever MADE … was very phhfft plffht phhlffft. (That is the sound of spitting it out.)

I actually got half way through it, only because I knew it was “good for me” … and then never wanted to ever venture anywhere near another one for the rest of my natural born life.

As I write this I sit happily sipping my TENTH green smoothie … not because I’m a changed woman (becoming happy with gagging down a miserable mess in a cup) but because my smoothie is a changed smoothie.

Out of this experience were borne …

Green-Smoothie-Luvin’ Tips

1. Texture, texture, texture: bananas.

   A smoothie which is not, well, smooth … can be a real bummer.

   Choking down gritty slime is not my idea of a good time. My first smoothie was this way. See, I like using the whole fruit or vegetable … because the “good for you stuff” is found in abundance in the peel.

   First timers may want to peel their apples if it’s really an issue but I found that I can leave my peels in if I add a banana to the mix.

   The first time I ever made a smoothie I didn’t use banana because I didn’t feel I needed that flavor. But the awesome thing about a banana is that it blends up ultra smooth. Try tossing one or two in there if you’re having texture issues.

2. Broccoli is not for the faint of heart.

   If you’re a first timer or easing yourself into this thing, do not, I say do NOT, add veggies which have pungent or strong flavors to your smoothie. Unless you just love, love, LOVE that flavor.

   Pineapple chunks are strong-in-a-good-way. Vegetables with strong flavors like broccoli, cabbage, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, kale and chard may be best saved for later.

   One thing which may surprise you is …

3. Spinach is your friend.

   The cool thing about spinach is that it’s jam packed with good stuff —folate, vitamins A, C, E, and K, and several anti-oxidants­—and better yet, it blends down pretty nicely into a relatively smooth consistency. And the flavor is pretty easily masked with other things.

   Such as …

4. Flavoriffic additions: ginger, lemon, mint.

   A little punch of flavor can be added by tossing in a hunk of fresh ginger, half a lemon or even some mint.

   Ginger is the one which surprised me most because when I’m at a sushi restaurant I only eat a tiny bit of the ginger and it’s not my absolute favorite. But when I’m drinking a smoothie and taste that little hint of ginger, it’s really delicious.

   Go figure.

5. Get good tools.

   Years ago, before my hard-core green smoothie experiment, I used to try making smoothies with my blender. Not good.

   I had to chop down my ingredients into small, small pieces … blending took forever … some things just didn’t want to blend at all … and the end result wasn’t even all that smooth.

   Tools like my HealthMaster really go a long way in determining whether or not you will actually MAKE these things more than once.

   The HealthMastersucks ingredients in effortlessly, makes your smoothie super-smooth and eliminates the need for wasting lots of time chopping. You can have a nice delicious and healthy smoothie on its way to your belly in minutes.

   And that’s the whole point, right?

And here it is now …
my new boyfriend, um, I mean, my green-smoothie-maker!

..

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For me, Santa Clause represents the beautiful
childlike magic of believing in things you cannot see.
How perfect!

Two of my most beloved friends, Rant and Sly, are giving away a special holiday treat … free digital download of The Vehicle’s entire album DigiTales … 10 catchy pop songs. They’ve been compared to Weezer, The Killers, and Jet. Download for free before January 1st.

Love and hugs to everyone who comes to visit and read my posts here.

Have a magical holiday!

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Download DigiTales. Thank you Rant & Sly, for the gift of your music. You two have the biggest hearts in the world and I’m so blessed to be your friend … plus there’s the talent thing! Wow, what a combo! :: Photograph by Rodica Nelson Purple Gift Box

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Pain can be a good thing.

Yes, you heard me right. A good thing.

To soften the impact of the word, I made it a character and began calling him “Mr. Payne”  … sounds harmless, right? “Mr. Payne just pulled up in his purple Maserati.”

This week I was going-going-going. Nothing bad really. Actually pretty wonderful things were unfolding.

I was following inspiration and creating … painting pictures for clients … birthing logos, building books, creating web pages … conspiring from afar with my teammate Steve, superman developer, able to leap tall computer towers in a single … well, you get the picture.

Where was I?

Ah yes.

Going going going.

When I say “going” I do mean “going” … the type of going where you forget to do the self-care thing.

Little things like, well … eating … sleeping …

My friends think I’m nuts when I get into this space. They don’t believe it’s humanly possible to be painting and creating and building and conspiring with superman developers all day and all night and not sleeping.

But any artist will tell you: It is possible. It is so possible!

And when you do that … and your body really needs that self-care … trust me, Mr. Payne will come knockin’ to make sure you remember.

And if you continue not to listen, he knocks HARD.

Last night he busted the door down.

At one point, I typed to Steve, “Ouch!”  By morning I couldn’t even type straight, I was forced to lie down. Literally forced. Mr. Payne was comin’ at me from all directions.

I took the cell phone into my bed and called mom, “I’m totally sick!” After all, if I were to die over here, somebody should know, right? 

My body took over and I passed out. Didn’t wake up til 9:30 pm.

9:30, people!

I woke to a note on my door (and food in my fridge!)

Not a note on the door to my house but a note on the door to my bedroom.

Not a note on the outside of the door to my bedroom but a note on the inside of the door to my bedroom.

Someone had come into my house, into my bedroom, and I didn’t even know it! That is sooo unlike me, the chick who wakes up when the sprinkler goes on outside. I must’ve really needed that rest.

In fact, I know that I did.

I woke up thinking, “My body is *SO* smart! Thank you, body!” (Give credit where credit is due: Mr. Payne is so smart. He gave me no other option but to lie down and get some rest.)

You see, Mr. Payne doesn’t just visit randomly. He stops by to say, “Hey!” with a message to share and he comes bearing gifts. Mostly the message is, “Stop!” Usually it’s that.

And how smart he is when he says that, right? Have you ever noticed when you get sick, it comes at a time when a break and a rest would really serve you well?

I have.

• Have you ever received the gift of forced-rest, right when you could use it most?
• How about the gift of support and deeper appreciation of the people in your world who really care?
• What gifts have you received from Mr. Payne?

Next time he comes knockin’, stop and say, “Well, hello Mr. Payne! What are you here to share with me?”

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Sleeping Soundly Art Print :: Visit We Are THAT Family for more Works-For-Me-Wednesday ideas! :: Special thanks goes out to Mr. Payne for his cameo appearance, momma ‘n dad for the gift of their love and support, superman Steve for saving the world with me (or at least the world’s web sites) and to YOU for reading this for sharing a bit of your time with me here. I so love receiving your comments!

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