Let's Talk About Money

Secret Message 1/31/08

A special 'Thank you!' to my Colleague Beverly for this article!


"It's so hot, you could fry an egg on the sidewalk!"

One hot summer day, my young hands reached into the refrigerator and sneaked a few eggs into my pocket. With great expectations, I cracked the shells open over a sidewalk and waited for them to start cooking.



Through the sting of disappointment, expressions are not always meant to be taken literally. My neighbor saw me playing with the eggs and mentioned it to my father. Our neighbor thought my experiment was funny. My father did
not! Dad casually asked me, "how much do you think those eggs that you took from the refrigerator cost?" I replied that I didn't know. Together, we calculated how much money I had wasted by ruining perfectly good eggs. The small amount was deducted from my allowance and I learned that next time I should be more secretive with my experiments. Okay, the bigger lesson I took away was that money is hard to come by and should never be wasted. I guess this is just one of the episodes from my childhood that shaped me into a "saver."


Usually, there is a core limiting belief that gets in a person's way of

accumulating money.



Often, the core belief is something along the lines of:

Love of money is the root of all evil.

I'll get my rewards in heaven, not now.

Money is scarce and hard to come by.

These perspectives are core limiting beliefs which are very effective at keeping money away from your bank account. Here are examples of positive perspectives around money.

Money is freedom and I deserve freedom.

I love money and money loves me.

I am a money magnet. I have the Midas touch!

Since we choose our perspective around money, why not choose a belief that is positive and affirming? You can reinforce your money magnetism by creating a structure that reminds you of your positive perspective on money. I recently moved into a new office and the window shade that was hanging on the window broke and fell to the floor. Instead of buying a new shade, I hung my money boa across the top of my window to serve as my reminder that money is abundant and constantly flowing to me.


I love looking at it and being reminded that money is always within my reach. Also, my money boa sparkles with joyful memories and energy because it was a gift from friend.

With a crazy stock market and fears of a recession floating around, it is even more tempting to fall into a negative perspective around money. Why not reflect on your core beliefs about money and see how they are working for you? If you find you are operating out of a limiting belief, try updating your belief and see what happens. There's not much to lose and everything to gain!

The #1 Mistake People Make When Using the Law of Attraction

Secret Message 1/24/08

Whenever you form an intention, that intention has two primary components. The first component is the content of the intention. The content is the information part of your desire. It's whatever you decide you want, such as a new career, a better relationship, or an extra $10,000. That part is pretty straightforward.

The second component of an intention is the energy you bring to the intention. Some people describe this as a feeling, like passion or gratitude, but the feeling is actually the result of the energy, not the energy itself. However, you know there is energy in your intention when you connect strong feelings to it.

I'll explain the energy component in more detail in a moment, but first let's address:

Failure experiences with the Law of Attraction

I often hear people complain that they've dutifully and correctly applied the Law of Attraction, but their intentions just aren't manifesting. Some of the more stubborn believers will continue beating their heads against the wall, using the same ineffective approach even though it generates no results week after week. (Please don't do that to yourself.) Others give up within a matter of hours when their cappuccino grande fails to manifest, concluding that the whole Law of Attraction concept is bogus. (Please don't do that to yourself either.)

Content alone is not enough

Here's the #1 mistake people make: They mistake content for complete intentions. The problem is that content alone isn't enough because energy is an essential component of every intention.

Great content + no energy = an intention that won't manifest anything but frustration.

Consider all the content that's available to you on the Internet these days. Does that content just whiz around the world by itself? Of course not. Electricity is required to deliver it to you. Without electricity that content is dead in the water.

Suppose I write a new article for this web site, and before I can post it, my electricity goes out. Initially I'm frustrated that my content isn't getting delivered to my readers. How do I solve this problem? Is the problem with the content itself? Do I need to improve the quality of the content - to write more content - or to post it on my wall? Those would be pretty stupid solutions, wouldn't they? But that's exactly what many people do when trying to "fix" their intentions that don't seem to be working.

If you're nitpicking the verbiage of your intentions, you're like a writer nitpicking the wording of a private journal entry that no one else is going to read. It just doesn't matter.

What is the energy component of an intention?

The energy of an intention isn't the same thing as electricity, but it's a good metaphor for understanding the concept. Don't get hung up on the exact term - it's the concept that's important.

Many people refer to energy as the emotional juice you bring to an intention. That's part of it, but strong emotions are the result, not the cause, of that energy.

If you want to see some high-energy intentions, look no further than children. Kids are intention-manifestation masters. When they really want something, there's no mistaking it. They'll ask for it, they'll jump up and down, and they'll drive everyone crazy expressing their desires. And assuming they don't give up, kids are pretty darned good at manifesting what they want.

What kind of energy do you bring to your intentions? Do you speak of them like you're talking about a piece of burnt toast? Or are you so juiced that you're just dripping with enthusiasm?

I'm not suggesting you should behave like a kid throwing a sugar tantrum, but if you get more excited about the coming weekend than you do about your intention, well - the weekend will be the only thing you manifest.

Emotions measure intentional energy

As I mentioned earlier, strong emotions are actually the result of energy, not the cause of it. The value of emotions is that they let you know how much energy you've managed to pack into your intention. If you're so gushingly enthusiastic about your intention that people keep telling you to shut up about it, you clearly have plenty of energy behind it.

So what's the real source of this energy then?

The source of this energy is actually the universe itself. The energy is already there. You just need to connect some of it with your intention.

Consider how electricity works. The electrons are already sitting there in the wires of your home, and they start flowing when you flip a switch to complete the circuit, thereby creating a current and providing usable electrical power to your appliances. Although the electrons as particles move at a fairly slow pace, the electric field moves at the speed of light, so your appliances turn on right away.

Your intentions work much the same way. The energy is already there. You just need to get the current flowing in the right direction. And this has virtually nothing to do with the actual content of your intentions. Electricity doesn't care whether it's powering a computer or a coffee maker, nor does intentional energy care whether you're building a business or a bomb.

Polarity

So how do you get this energy current flowing? First you need to understand the concept of polarity.

Going back to the electricity example. Imagine a battery. It has two terminals which are polar opposites of each other, one positive and one negative. If you hook the battery up to a circuit, electrons will flow in one direction, thereby creating a current. If you flip the battery around and hook it up the other way, you'll reverse the flow of electrons through the wires, thereby creating an identical current in the opposite direction. (I'm trying to keep this analogy simple, so if you feel the need to out-nerd me by bringing up things like differential resistance, manifest a life.)

Now what if you wanted to increase the current flowing through your circuit? You could do that by adding more batteries, right? But in order for this to work, the batteries must be aligned to create a current in the same direction. If you put batteries into a device with some facing the correct way and some facing the wrong way, the device won't work because you'll screw up the current.

So what does this have to do with intention-manifestation? Well, the energy you apply to your intentions also has polarity, much like a battery. It can flow one way or the other way. You'll know you have a strong intentional current when you experience strong emotions. No emotions means you have no current.

Many people screw up their intentional energy flow by trying to use both polarities in the same circuit. You can't do that and expect to get good results with the Law of Attraction. It just won't work. You must use either one polarity or the other, and you must remain congruent in your usage.

What Blocks You From the Positive Law of Attraction Gifts?

Secret Message 1/17/08

Have you ever been in a true gridlock situation? Frustrating, isn't it? You see where you need to go, you feel you have what you need to get you there, however you just can't move in the right direction. To add torment to your trouble, what if you ran out of gas during the gridlock?! Now even when the gridlock clears up, you will be unable to reach your goal without some aid.

Many of us go through life as if we were in cars stuck in a perpetual gridlock. We really believe we know where we need to go, and we are certain we have what it takes to get there, however we just don't seem to be making any forward motion. Why is that? Well, often, even if we think our plan has been thought out, and we have acquired the skills and tools necessary to proceed with it, there really is something blocking our way.

Our own negative emotions and feelings, translated into energy that crosses time and space, is blocking any positive force waiting to come into our realm. May I suggest a simple tool for your positive thinking path to all the riches the universe can offer you through the Law of Attraction? Begin today keeping a Victory Journal. Of course you have heard countless times the value of journaling. This is different, though, in a vitally important way. Nothing, no hint, not a single word, nothing at all negative ever goes into this book! This is strictly a volume for you to keep track of and celebrate your daily victories.

For some, this may be foreign soil. Perhaps you have always given more credence to the disappointments and disasters in your life than the wonderful and marvelous events surrounding you. For you, I say, breathe deep, this is not going to hurt a bit! Letting go of your negative viewpoint will open doors to the greatness of the life awaiting you. Start small with a child's smile, a faithful dog's wag, a beautiful flower in an unexpected location. These, and a myriad of other delights have always been yours for the noticing.

Soon, as every day brings new peace, joy, and satisfaction to your realization, you will naturally begin to experience and truly notice with pleasant astonishment the bliss your life consists of. Get out of life's gridlock of melancholy and situational sorrow, and spend today and all of your tomorrows on a path way destined for delight. To sum this all up, here is a lovely quote from Corinne Roosevelt Robinson, younger sister of former President of the United States Theodore Roosevelt and an aunt of former First Lady of the United States, Eleanor Roosevelt.

An accomplished poet and also the first woman to ever speak before a presidential nomination convention, Corinne reminds us to: `Stretch out our hand's and take the world's wide gift of Joy and Beauty.' May you experience true joy today and always.

Making Money with the Law of Attraction

Secret Message 1/9/08


There is a ton of information on the law of attraction but I wanted to talk specifically about making money with the law of attraction. The most important thing to remember about the law of attraction is, it is operating 24/7, meaning that you are creating your reality in every moment. For this reason it is crucial that you take stock of every though that enters your mind. Ok it might be a bit ambitious to assume you can be aware of every thought that enters your mind, especially when scientists believe the average human has around 50,000 thoughts per day, but what I'm trying to emphasis is that you need to at least start to take control of your wandering mind. The key to making money with the law of attraction is to raise your awareness.

Let me explain.
I read somewhere once that hatred doesn't cease by more hatred, it ceases by love. The same thing goes for making money with the law of attraction. If you don't have any money or not as much as you would like, thinking about not having enough money or trying to figure out how to get more money, is effectively going to keep you in the same financial position you are currently in. The law of attraction brings you exactly what you think. So if you habitually think about not having enough, that is exactly what you will attract, not having enough.

The law of attraction is a law that works on a principle, the same way the law of gravity works on this planet, it works on a principle. If you throw a ball up in the air, it is subject to the law of gravity principle and it will fall back down again. The law of gravity, like the law of attraction is working always and nobody can avoid them, ever. When I was trying to get my head around the concept of the law of attraction after first being introduced to the idea, I kept asking other people who knew about it "what if?" The reply was always the same "there are no what ifs, the law of attraction is always in effect and works on what ever you think about". It is not working for you or against you, it is just working. However, you can work it to your advantage if you can take control of your thoughts. By taking control of your thoughts this can help you make money with the law of attraction.

To make money using the law of attraction you need to focus on what it is you do want and the more emotion you put into your thoughts, visualizations or words will shorten the length of time it takes to see the new wealth appear in your life. If you want something in particular, the law of attraction works much quicker if your thoughts are more specific. For example, if you wanted a new car, you would attract this faster if you focused on the feeling of having it now, seeing yourself sitting in it, driving it along a street you normally use or see a friend commenting on what a beautiful car you have. If you want to go on a holiday, see your self there, smiling and having fun with your family or friends, sitting in the aero plane as it zooms down the runway, standing on the balcony of your hotel room admiring the view or just feeling the excitement of how happy you feel being on holidays. If you want to buy your own house, see yourself at the bank shaking the bank managers hand as he approves your home loan, hugging your partner or telling your best friend that you have just bought your own home and feel the emotion well up inside you when you do it, see yourself at the bank making your final payment on your house and imagine how wonderful it feels to own it. What ever it is you want, don't just think about it, you really need to feel deep down how good it feels when you have it.

If you don't want anything in particular but you do want more money, the idea is the same. In regards making money with the law of attraction you need to see your savings increase in your mind, see yourself looking at your bank statement at the end of each month and feeling overwhelmed with happiness, focus your attention on how much money you actually want and say that number over and over to yourself until you catch yourself saying it subconsciously without even being aware of it consciously. If you want more cash see yourself doing the things that you would only be doing if you already had that cash, if you can see it in your mind, your subconscious mind and the law of attraction will work together to make it appear in your reality. Make up simple affirmations and say them to yourself whenever you catch your thoughts drifting onto not having enough money. One very simple affirmation I like is "I'm a money magnet" because it's easy the say and the words are precise. You can choose what ever affirmation you like and the repetition of affirmations cannot be overstated. Even if you don't believe in the words at first, with repetition and especially repeating your affirmations before bed, you will impregnate your subconscious mind with the conviction to make it happen. Affirmations using only a mix of positive words work tremendously well with the law of attraction as they keep your thoughts focused on what you want, not on what you don't want.

It may be hard at first to implement and stay focused on this new way of thinking but when you catch yourself thinking about not having enough money, don't get upset about it as this negative emotion will only cause you to attract more negative emotion. Instead, when you realize your thoughts have wandered, have a pre planned or programmed response. By this I mean, go straight into your usual positive affirmation about having money or go immediately to your abundance visualization seeing yourself where you want to be, practicing these techniques will help with making money with the law of attraction. With practice this will become a good habit and in time you will think less and less about not having enough money. Another effective method is to imagine exactly how you felt the last time you received some money unexpectedly and try to recreate those feelings. The more time you spend thinking about what you want, the universe will respond with opportunities for you to capitalize on, and by taking these opportunities you will acquire the money you desire.

A few years ago I remember reading an interview with the comedian actor Jim Carrey. Jim was talking about his life before he became famous and said he was a struggling actor for years and this caused him a great deal of stress until one day he wrote himself a pretend check for ten million dollars on a piece of paper and put it in his wallet. He would look at this check regularly and imaged himself as a big time movie star, seeing himself walking the red carpet, seeing his name up in lights and hearing in his mind the screaming fans calling his name. Since Jim spent so much of his time thinking about it, the law of attraction simply attracted to him exactly what it was that he thought about. Jim said he would keep that check for the rest of his life as a reminder that you have the power to do what ever it is you put your mind. The reason this is so is due to the law of attraction.

So if things aren't going your way and you never seem to have enough money, don't get upset and think about your problem, this won't help towards making money with the law of attraction. Do the opposite and don't give it any thought at all.

Spend your time avoiding frustration and resentment about a lack of money and instead just think about what it is you want and this way you will see the powerful law of attraction working for you instead of against you. You have the power.

You Are What You Think About

Secret Message 1/3/08

You may have heard the saying "you are what you eat", meaning if you eat lean healthy foods you will be lean and healthy or if you eat fat laden foods you will be fat.
Well, the same principle applies to your thoughts. You are what you think about.

If you regularly think positive thoughts of happiness and abundance, you will experience a life filled with happiness and abundance.

The same thing goes for those who think negative thoughts of lack and despair. They will subsequently create an unhappy life for themselves. It sounds too simple to be true but it most definitely is.

This is not new information I have just recently discovered. We live in a thought based universe and civilizations have created their reality based on their thoughts since the beginning of time.
Albert Einstein knew this and wrote extensively on the topic. Everything in the universe travels in circles, from the electrons spinning around the nucleus of an atom to a human thought. Every thought you think, whether you are aware of it or not, is sent as a pulse or vibration out into the universe gaining energy and returning to you.

If you are a generally happy and positive person, your own personal vibration level will be relatively high and you will naturally emit positive thoughts or vibrations out into the universe and they will return to you more positive and happy experiences.

When you get caught in the rut of thinking negatively or spending a lot of time thinking about your problems, you are effectively creating more of the same.
Although it may seem necessary to think about your problems in order to solve them, this is not the case. The more you think about your problems, the more problems you create in your life.
Therefore, the best solution to overcoming your problems is to give them no thought at all.

In fact, to overcome your problems in the shortest possible time, your best plan of attack would be to focus your thoughts on exactly the life you do want.

This can be difficult for some people who have been caught up in a negative mindset for some time, so I suggest to you to write down on paper the things you would like in your life.
Some examples would be. If you currently have no partner and this makes you feel miserable, write down on paper the traits of your ideal partner, this doesn't need to be too specific, just some general traits you would prefer and then 2 or 3 times a day for about 10 minutes, spend some time thinking about being with that ideal partner. It's not necessary to have a clear picture in you mind of what they look like, it's more about concentrating on your happy feelings when you are with this ideal person, the more positive and happy your feelings are, the quicker you will see results.

The same goes for anyone who is bothered by a lack of money. As difficult as it may be to not think about your financial problems, understand that by the universals laws that govern the entire universe, it is not possible to solve your problems by worrying about them.

The law of attraction states that what you think about will be attracted to you and this goes for everything you think about whether it be good or bad.

If you are deep in debt you need to stop thinking about, thinking about how you can fix it will not solve the problem. You need to refocus your thoughts on exactly the opposite and really feel what it would be like to be prosperous and do this 2-3 times a day for about 10 minutes when you get a chance to relax. Perhaps before and after work and in your lunch break in a quiet place if possible. As you continue to do this you will realize you are what you think about.
When you spend some quiet time each day deliberately not thinking about your problems and instead focusing your thoughts with as much good feeling as possible, on what it is you want or will make you happy, you begin to break the constant cycle of sending negative thoughts out into the universe and returning with more negative experiences in your life. These short 10 minute bursts of positive energy bring back to you new positive ideas and opportunities at a later date for you to act on and help you improve the circumstances of your life.

So don't worry that these short periods of positive thinking will have no bearing on your life when you seem entrenched in worrying most of the time. I have been there, worrying about my problems seemingly all the time, but it was facing the problems that lead me to look for a way out and that put me on the spiritual path which lead me out of the darkness and into the light.

These short periods of positive thinking and creative visualization caused some positive energy to be sent back to me and as I noticed the opportunities arise I took action and in no time at all my life started to improve. At first it seemed like just a coincidence when I started to spend time feeling good and then I noticed some constructive opportunities come my way but there are no coincidences in life, there is only what you make yourself.

You create your own opportunities from your habitual thinking and those thoughts create your reality.

In essence, you can have the life you want, by just simply thinking about it. The key is to monitor your thoughts and catch yourself when you begin to think negatively and replace those thoughts with positive thoughts. Then you can confidently expect to see the rewards from your happy thinking as they manifest in your happy life.

Holiday Season Debrief - The Art of Allowing

The Secret Message 12/27/07


The holiday season is often referred to as "the season of giving." We're reminded of the importance of giving freely. There's just one slight problem with having all of the focus on giving: Without an equal amount of receiving, the process just doesn't work. Giving and receiving are two sides of the same coin. If they are out of balance, you've got a very strange looking coin!
And it's not just during this season that we focus on the giving side of that coin. One of our culture's most powerful beliefs about money and material goods is, "It's better to give than to receive."

Why? What makes giving better? After all, if there's no one to receive, there's not going to be a whole lot of giving going on!

It's interesting to note that the phrase "It's better to give than to receive," did not originate with the bible, as is most often suggested, but rather in ancient Greece. The correct translation of the Greek phrase was more along the lines of "It is better to be in a position where you are able to give, than to be in a position where you have to receive."

Now before you start flooding the comments with, well, comments, I'm not going to tell you to stop giving. Giving is wonderful. Giving is natural. Giving connects you with your sense of abundance and gratitude.

But giving is just one side of the coin. And to get the most value out of that coin, the sides need to be in balance.

I love T. Harv Ecker's declaration from the Secrets of the Millionaire Mind book and seminars. I'll paraphrase it here since I don't have the book in front of me: "Universe, if there is anything good that you are attempting to send to someone, and they are not ready or willing to receive it, please send it to me. I am open, ready and willing to receive all of your bountiful blessings."
In other words: "Bring it on!"

That is exactly why the Law of Attraction is so powerful: It's about receiving. After all, the title of the Abraham-Hicks book is Ask And It Is Given.

Here's the secret, though: The Law of Attraction is not about the "stuff." The Law of Attraction is about aligning yourself with the boundless abundance and infinite possibilities that exist in this Universe.

The stuff is just a way of measuring how aligned, or not, you are with Source! When you are receiving great "stuff" into your life - money, cars, great friends, unexpected gifts - it is a sure sign that you are aligned with Source.

The Art of Allowing is the master skill for aligning with Source. So as you look back on this holiday season, here are some questions you can ask yourself to determine how you well you did at aligning with Source and Allowing its blessing into your life.

Did you give more gifts or receive more?

Was it easier for you to give or to receive?

Was it more fun/comfortable/exciting for you to watch others open their gifts, or to open your own?

Did you feel any embarrassment about opening your presents?

Did you wish that you could open them up someone in private?

Did you want to open your gifts first to "get it over with" or last so that everyone else would be distracted by their gifts?

Did you catch yourself "comparing" gifts?

For instance, did you make calculations to see if the gift you gave someone was worth more or less than the gift they gave you?

There are no right or wrong answers. These questions are merely here to help you deepen your awareness about the Art of Allowing and point out possible opportunities for enhancing your ability to receive.

As we head into 2008, this is a wonderful time to set a clear intention to become a much better receiver. Perhaps we can come together and make 2008 the official Year of Allowing!

What Do You Want For Christmas: A Manifesting Guide

Secret Message 12/20/07


It is Christmas time once again. I always thought God is extra attentive to us at this time because it is a very special season. God however is always extra attentive if we but notice it. Anyway, Christmas has a rather spiritual effect on us not only because it is associated with Jesus, but most of all because it stirs that special feelings of joy & hope deep within our soul. We feel joyous, we feel excited, and we feel light. For most of us, it is the time for gathering, reunions, celebration, a time of giving gifts & receiving gifts, a time of healing, a time of making wishes & seeing them come true, a time for miracles. So what do you want for Christmas?

1.) Write it down. Start with the general term like, a new purse, or a new pair of shoes, or a lot of money.

2.) Refine it. Below a new purse or whatever you wrote from number 1, a new white square silk purse with a small gold chain strap. Describe it. If it is something you've seen already, recall the details and write it down. If it is money, how much is it. Do not wish for something that interferes in the natural flow of things, such as "marriage to brad pitt" or "want my dead husband to come back".

3.) Imagine it. Close your eyes - imagine it. Can you clearly see it in your mind? How big is it? Can you see a marking, like a logo?

4.) Own it. Close your eyes and imagine you are carrying, using, - enjoying your wish. If it is money, open your purse and see it there. See crisp $100 dollar bills in your hand. How does it feel? What is the texture?

5.) Affirm it. Write down a symbol, or a statement that will represent this wish. Like, I now have $10,000 in my bank account. Thank you. Formulate it such that it indicates that the money or thing is yours already. Say it, sing it, write it down, draw it, doodle it but don't tell anybody.

6.) Feel it. First answer this: How would you feel if your wish is already granted right now at this moment? Once you have answered this question, combine your emotion with your affirmations in number 5. It means whenever you affirm, do it as if it is already in your hand, so you should be feeling happy, joyful - thankful.

7.) Do not forget to live!

Activating Intention

The Secret Message 12/13/07


Activating intention is the key to unlocking the life of unlimited abundance. I remember when this first happened to me. I had just turned 21. My energy and inspiration were operating non-stop. This experience of energy was so new and exhilarating that for three months I hardly slept. I would doze off at 2 am and get up again at 3 am to play my sax.

My abilities as a musician skyrocketed over night. I discovered an inner life filled with ecstasy. I went back to school at the University of Cincinnati where I had dropped out a year before to join a band. For the first time I began writing poetry and short stories. I took an interest in the life of strangers and senior citizens. I remember listening to jazz on my stereo, playing my saxophone, and reading books all at the same time, such was my desire to learn and improve. This episode was the first time I had wholeheartedly said yes to life. What the shamans call intent became a reality within me. I didn't have any words for it at the time except bliss.

That was my introduction to my source of being. This creative force of energy that pervades the universe is within each one of us. In most people it exists as a latency. The key to turning on intent, or activating it so that it can be a creative force in your life, is to align yourself with it.

Like attracts like.

If intent is infinite then it behooves us to identify with our infinite self. And one way of doing that is through the use of imagination and metaphor.

For instance, if you have the habit, like most people do, of taking yourself as separate from the rest of existence, then you could use the metaphor of an ocean to represent infinity. And you, as the separate self that you identify with, can be represented as a drop in that ocean, separate from all the other drops.

But drops in the ocean are really nothing but ocean. Your dropness of separation is only a brief state of affairs, like a splash of a wave. For a moment it might seem like you are a finite separate drop, but when you are reunited with your oceanic state of existence, you know that you always were nothing but ocean.

This experience of ignorance as a drop does serve a purpose, however. For without ignorance, knowledge is not possible. You cannot have knowledge of light if you never had the experience of darkness. The fish that is taken out of the ocean, and then thrown back, gains a deep knowledge and appreciation of the ocean because of the experience of separation.
Use the metaphor of the drop and the ocean to deepen your connection with your source. I use it everyday and it makes a world of difference.

Identification with a drop instead of with the ocean comes from being identified with the ego-mind, with its nucleus of "I, me, and mine." This obviously enhances the sense of separateness. Contrast this to the athlete who gets into the zone. There is no thought of self, only effortless mastery.

I remember when Pete Sampras burst into the professional world of tennis by destroying Andre Aggasi at the US Open in 1990 for the championship. He had been given no chance to win, but after the first set, there was no doubt. Sampras was in the zone. And that is how he explained it in the post match interview.

The key to being in harmony with intent is to get away from ego and bring awareness into what you are doing. This is the way to develop an intuition that you can trust. And the more you trust it the more you can feel confident about your decisions. The poet Hafiz wrote, "If you want the presence of God, don't make yourself absent." That is good advice if you want to keep Intent activated in your life.

When you have confidence, it opens doors for you. Or rather, it gives you the strength to open doors that before you would not have attempted to open. This allows your true self to shine-your source of being-that infinite self. We have all had these experiences. But what is needed is to make them permanent.

This is the domain of genius, of inspiration, or enthusiasm. This is the playing ground of mystics and poets. This is where you might run into a Rumi or Hafiz or Emerson. It is in this playing field that you realize that the present moment is all there is. It's unlimited. This is where creativity and life unfold.

This is the realm of faster vibration and higher energies. It is creativity at the highest level. We can experience this when we get beyond our limited minds and tune into the infinite. Do you know the only way to travel at the speed of light? Einstein said it couldn't be done. But there is one way: Become light. We more we identify with consciousness and oneness, the more we become light.

Physicist David Bohm made a great contribution toward understanding oneness when he explained that there is an implicate order, where everything that is not yet manifested resides in a latent and unmanifested form. What you want to create already exists.
That is where inspiration comes from. That is where the music came from that Mozart recorded on paper as if he were taking dictation. Consciousness, in unmanifested form, is waiting for an opportunity of expression. If you want to be the next Mozart, you only have to be receptive to this.

Consciousness, as infinite intelligence, knows everything. It doesn't displace anything. You will always manifest into the world what you are most suited to manifest into the world. It's not a question of desire. It's a question of who you are. If you find intent, you will find your purpose.
Mother Theresa became the perfect Mother Theresa. What she manifested in the world was as natural to her as it is for a duck to swim in water. Her expression of life was what her consciousness was attuned to. Donald Trump is the perfect Donald Trump. What he expresses and manifests in the world is as natural to him as bathing a leper was to Mother Theresa.
Life will unfold itself in you. Follow your heart-for it is connected to intent. That is the way beyond the mind-the way to freedom and creativity, of activating intention.

To me, the idea of alignment with the power of intention boils down to acceptance. It's like the spirit of Albert Einstein showing up, willing to help one student write an essay paper on relativity.

Who would he choose to help?

Would he choose the student that just wants a passing grade and a good nights sleep, or the one who is willing to stay up all night trying to make a contribution to science that could change the world?

Do you want to just get by or do you want to give your whole heart and soul to a pursuit to make a difference in the world?

Intent is in all of us, but it is sleeping.

It wakes up when it has good reason to. Dare to be great and intent will be there waiting to help.
We only have to allow it to manifest in us. That's why we're here. It's easy once you get to that place of allowing, of acceptance, of surrender. But getting there can be the hard part.
The ego doesn't want to give up control. Just look at how few people there are that are true to themselves? How many people do in life what others expect of them rather than listening to that voice within?

How many people walk up to the plate like Babe Ruth did, point to the right field bleachers, and then deliver a home run into those bleachers? The ones that do are those who listen to that voice within and trust it implicitly. Intent doesn't err.

Being true to yourself is the key to activating intention. It's as if you have an infinitely powerful partner that will work with you only if you agree to live life wholeheartedly. And that sounds like a good partner to have.

~Gregory Allen Butler~

The Secret Message 12/6/07

Laws govern the Universe

Laws (*1) govern the Universe. They are basic principles of life and have been around since Creation. They are laws of the Divine Universe. Universal Laws apply to everyone, everywhere. They cannot be changed. They cannot be broken.

The Universal Law of Attraction (*2) (LOA) is the most powerful law in the universe. It is simple in concept but practice is necessary. But once you "get it", there is no looking back! It will be part of you forever.

The simplest definition of this law is "like attracts like."

Other definitions include:

You get what you think about, whether wanted or unwanted. The Law of Attraction is neutral.
All forms of matter and energy are attracted to that which is of a like vibration.
You are a living magnet.
You get what you put your energy and focus on, whether wanted or unwanted.
Energy attracts like energy
Everything draws to itself that which is like itself.
"As a man thinks in his heart, so is he." Proverbs 23:7

Here are some ways of expressing the Law of Attraction:

Birds of a feather flock together
Like attracts like
Whatever you want wants you
What you sow, you reap
What you put out you get back
What comes around goes around

The Law of Attraction is fun to learn and use because you are always watching, waiting expectantly for your desires to manifest. You can deliberately use this law to create your future! Universal Law of Attraction
This universal law is working in your life right now, whether you are aware of it or not. You are attracting the people, situations, jobs and much more into your life. Once you are aware of this law and how it works, you can start to use it to deliberately attract (*3) what you want into your life.

How do you create your desires using the powerful law? There are just a few basic steps.


1. Get very clear (*4) on what you want

2. Visualize and raise your vibration (*5) about it

3. Allow It (*6)

You must be very clear on exactly what your desire is. Focus on it (*7). Give it all your positive energy. Feel good!
A major factor behind this Universal Lawis the energy and vibrations of our emotions and feelings. Any thought you may have, when combined with emotion, vibrates out from you to the universe and will attract back what you want.
You can leave all the details to the universe. Let the Universe figure out the method of delivery, when you will receive it, etc. Now all you have to do is Allow It. Sounds easy, right? This can be the most difficult part to do. Be doubt-free. All you need to do is expect it. Act like you already have it. Be grateful.

And always take inspired action. If something feels right, then go ahead and do it. Taking action is an important step.
That is it! You can always be expectant of good things, your desires. Feel good knowing your desire is on its way to you.


Always expect your desires. Expect miracles.

*1) http://nymanuniversallawsexposed.blogspot.com/

*2) http://nymanuniversallaw.blogspot.com/

*3) http://nymathejoyofcreatingdeliberately.blogspot.com/

*4) http://nymanclaritythroughcontrast.blogspot.com/

*5) http://nymanvibration.blogspot.com/

*6) http://nymanthelawofallowing.blogspot.com/

*7) http://nymanthepoweroffocus.blogspot.com/

The Crucial Step in the Process of Manifestation

Secret Message 11/29/07

One of the fallacies that people make when it comes to utilizing the law of attraction is that they think all they need for manifestation is simply their intention. That is the reason why many people fail to manifest their intention. They are not taking one of the crucial steps in the process of manifestation. Taking action is not for the purpose of creating something we don't yet have. Everything we intend is already created, action is a means by which we receive it into physical reality. Action is the act of receiving.

In order to experience the complete manifestation of our intention, we need to be in complete vibrational harmony with it.

That includes our actions as well. We must act as if our desires have manifested and in the process of manifesting. If you intend wealth, you must act like you're a wealthy person and take actions to receive it. Wealthy people don't complain about lack but they use money when it is appropriate and feel abundant about it. Wealthy people set up businesses and systems to receive money.

Action is the means by which we experience the manifestation of our desires. We are the channels by which the process of manifestation occur through because the universe creates through us. It is a joy to be part of the manifestation process physically and seeing things happening through us as we watch ourselves create them. Taking physical action allows us to feel the joy of being a creator of reality as the work happens through our hands. That is why we are meant to enjoy the work of creating.

When you know the reason that manifestation in the physical universe happens through physical action is so that you can enjoy the experience of being physically part of the creation process, you will feel good about it and enthusiastically act out your dreams. Why would you want to avoid doing the work necessary for creating what you desire? You would love doing it because you want to be part of the process of manifestation. You want to be involved and immersed in the experience of creating reality.

Passion is the energy of physical action for manifesting our desires. The more passionate you are in what you do, the more energy you are channeling for the manifestation of your dreams. All our work of creation should come from the love that we have in our hearts. When we love what we do and what we are creating, the manifestation of our efforts will be filled with the energy of that love. The love that we put into our work will touch the hearts of those that experience it and be blessed by it.

Action is the expression of spirit. Action is the means by which the inner world gets translated into the outer world. Through action you physically become part of your creation. You are not just creating the thing or situation you desire, but you are also creating yourself in the process. Through action, you get to experience and develop yourself in a physical way. You sharpen the connection between your mental and physical capabilities and you hone your physical skills and body to much greater levels.

With the energy of passion, work is no longer work but it is the giving of yourself through your actions. You give yourself over to the process of manifestation as you allow the work of creation to happen through you in a physical way. You become the tool by which the universe uses along with every other tool involved as well. You are in harmony with the flow of creation as you physically co-create with the universe by doing your part in it. It is through the giving of yourself by which you receive your desire.

Intention alone does causes things to happen. It is not true that nothing happens when we do not put in any physical action. Intention rearranges the flow of events so that situations can show up as opportunities for us to physically act in it. These opportune situations seem like coincidences because they are incidences that are co-created and coordinated by our intentions. These synchronicities are only part of the process. Taking action is the other part. The door may appear but you have to walk through it.

We can cause certain things to happen by thought, and we can cause certain things to happen by action. Both are needed for things to happen completely. Thought without action is halfway manifestation. Action without thought is inaccurate manifestation. Thought is always the beginning of the manifestation process. Action is the finishing of the manifestation process. When you have your thoughts and actions fully aligned, you will have complete manifestation of your desire without any part lacking.

There are times when the manifestation of our intention can be purely mental without any physical action involved. That is possible when the universe intends it to be so, and we are intending in harmony with it. The rest of the time, the manifestation of our intention requires us to be physically involved in the process with our actions. It is a gift for us to experience the work of creation happening through our physical being and we should fully embrace it in every way possible.

Enjoy doing the work of creating.

The Gratitude Experiment

The Secret Message 11/22/07

By Stacey Robyn

A power now lies within you, waiting for your recognition, your call, your direct attention to spring to life and deliver whatever your pure heart desires.

Synchronistically-

You've just embarked on a universally unique adventure, experimenting with intentionally using the Master Key of Gratitude to unleash this source force within, giving life to your dreams, power to your passions, and prosperity to your pursuits!


Now, before we go further, allow me to give you a bit of insight on how Go Gratitude came to be.

This Spring, I took a 42 day retreat to clear my head, inspire my soul, and clarify my plans for pursuing a passionate life.

My retreat was a spur of the moment decision, so I sent a quick note to friends and family letting them know my plans for the next few weeks and that something "big! Big! BIG!" was coming. I remember feeling excited, wondering what 'big! Big! BIG!' really meant.

During these 6 weeks I daily dedicated time to honor my creative-ness, indulging in all sorts of artistic outlets such as drawing, painting, cloud gazing, and a whole lot of doodling.

Doodling? Well, yes. It's a favorite past time of mine. By releasing any expected outcome, I simply allow my creativity to freely flow - just me, the pen, and all possibility!

One evening, while musing on my doodles, I noted that many commonly recognized symbols were peeking through my orderly disorder.

And then, as if arranged by fate, I asked my Sweetheart, "What is the symbol for Gratitude?"

Think about it.

There's a symbol for the sun, the moon, love, peace - even a simple "swoosh" is recognizable world-wide.

There must be a symbol for Gratitude! - and Voila! I glanced down to witness this symbol of Gratitude being created by my very own hand. Immediately, I glimpsed a little 'g' in a circle. 'Gratitude begins with a G', I thought. Perfect! (I still get chills thinking about it! Wow!)

Well, let me tell you - between then and now I have witnessed a myriad of messages and confirmations revealed by this simple symbol, that prove beyond a doubt, Gratitude is everywhere. (these will be revealed in the "Knew Views on Gratitude" series - and I'm sure many, many more will emerge as creative minds converge to explore, expand and experiment with Gratitude.)

Now I must confess -

I'd been drawing this symbol for weeks. I had it "on the brain" you might say. It was fun to draw, all whirly-swirly and a challenge to get it JUST RIGHT. I suppose this fascination allowed me to easily recognize it when I finally thought to ask.

Can you say Divine providence? Serendipity? Magic? Perhaps all three!!!

Now, you might ask, "Why Gratitude? Where did this inquiry spring from?" It may seem random and yet, there is a beginning to all things.

Dr. Masaru Emoto was my Gratitude Muse.

You may be familiar with Emotos' work with water crystals, and the effect thoughts and words have on their appearance.

While relishing his awe-inspiring book, "The Hidden Messages in Water," I came upon an idea that will forever change my life, and perhaps yours, as well.

Emoto believes that Gratitude is a gift of Love - it is what Love returns to the world, as a symbol of appreciation for life, for being, for NOW. Emoto also feels that the "Love and Gratitude" water crystal is the most beautiful of all, for it exemplifies our highest nature, as Divine Creators.



As I pondered this possibility a wave rippled through me with force, passion, and understanding.

Immediately I envisioned a wake of Gratitude rolling across our planet,re-connecting our water bodies to Love . Passed person to person, heartbeat by heartbeat, thiswake would roll through our bodies - mostly water - to create a massive tide of change by simply focusing on Gratitude.

A vision to behold, indeed.

Quickly, I began to visualize what this wave might LOOK like, size-wise.
So I put a number to it - one million people. Here are a few calculations for you:
(Remember - on average, our bodies are 70% water)

One gallon of water weighs: 8.33 pounds
Approx water weight of 150 lb. person: 105 pounds
Gallons of water, per 150 lb person: 12.61

This means one million people gathered in Gratitude will create a 12.61 million gallon wave of water, weighing an impressive 105 million pounds, rolling across planet Earth.

No devastation, no destruction - just Love and Gratitude invisibly waking the heart of humanity.

Now - a wake of Gratitude connecting one million people is big! Big! BIG! I was beginning to catch a glimpse of my path, a passionate possibility fueling my inner fires crying 'yes! Yes! YES!

This is it! This is what I've been asking for!'

You may say one million sounds like an outrageously huge number. And, yes, by myself, it would take a long time to connect a million people to Gratitude.

This is where YOU play a crucial role.

By three's you and I might connect one million people in as little as 13 days.

Here is a graphic to illustrate the idea:





By simply sharing this concept, this gift, this Master Key with friends and family alike, YOU will be increasing the momentum of this experiment, while simultaneously tapping into a collective power growing greater with every person, because it springs from the love of Gratitude.

Plus! The sooner you pass this on, the more likely YOU will be the one they are thanking once they begin to realize the difference Gratitude is making in their daily lives!

I am deeply honored and filled with profound Gratitude to be here with You as we embark together on a journey that will deeply affect countless lives, alter the way we view our world, and open all doors of possibility!

Together now - Go Gratitude!

Law of Attraction: Gratitude

The Secret Message 11/1/07

Those of us here in the US, are about to celebrate our holiday of gratitude, Thanksgiving. Regardless of what you might think about the history and origin of the holiday, the intention of Giving Thanks is extremely powerful. Spending a day focused on gratitude is a wonderful way to experience the many benefits of gratitude.

When you acknowledge, experience and express gratitude for what you already have, you offer a powerfully attractive vibration to the Universe. The Universe hears gratitude as a request for more.

Ultimately our Joy is the best expression of gratitude that we have. And, just like a doting grandmother, the Universe loves to see and share in our joy and gratitude. So when we express joy and gratitude the Universe wants to give us more of what we are grateful for. We knew this as children, but unfortunately, as adults, we tend to make things more complicated than they really are.

Here is a very simple cause and effect equation for you (and me) to remember:

Feel more gratitude - manifest more to be grateful for!

During my Seminar 'The Secret about the Secret', all of the participants chose a 'Gratitude Stone'. It is a little stone that they can carry in their pockets wherever they go. Each time when they reach in their pockets, they are reminded to be grateful. How about you? What are you grateful for?

Some of my clients have to work with their 'Gratitude Journal'. Every morning, when they get up, they have to write 5 positive expectations they have for the day, and in the evening, they have to write down 5 things they are grateful for.

What great way to feed our mind with such a positive message!

Manifesting Intentions Without Resistance

Secret Message 10/25/07

Suppose you set a positive intention, focus your energy on its manifestation for the highest good of all, and then watch your results completely stagnate. Why did your intention fail to manifest as quickly as you desired?

Whenever this happens the root cause is that you failed to become a vibrational match for your intentions. Probably without even realizing it, you remained stuck in a pattern of intending for your desires NOT to manifest, thereby sabotaging yourself from making progress.

What creates this drag? The answer is your fears. Most of the time, your fears are subconscious. You aren't even aware of them, so they sabotage you from the shadows. Your fears act as intentions which keep your desires from manifesting.

The more you resonate with fear, the worse your results will be when consciously trying to apply the Law of Attraction.

The LoA is still working fine, but you'll be inclined to think it doesn't work because your fears will cause you to keep manifesting more of the same. And the harder you push, the more your fears push back.

In this article I'll offer you a process for bringing your fears to the surface and getting them out of your way, so you can stop them from interfering with your positive intentions. This will allow you to manifest your desires faster and more easily.

Intentions are a package deal

When you set a goal or an intention and begin moving towards it much more slowly than you'd like, the drag you experience comes from your fears, not the external world. If you put all your energy into changing your external circumstances without addressing your fears, your progress will be extremely slow, if you even move at all.

How can you identify the fears that interfere with your positive intentions? Here's a fairly straightforward way to do it:

First, imagine you've already manifested your intention in its entirety. Sit quietly and just imagine it as being real right now. Don't imagine it happening in the future - imagine it right now. You're already there. It's a done deal. Take a few minutes to make it as real as possible.

Now do some role-playing in your imagination. Mentally act out a few different scenarios to get a feel for what your life will really be like once this intention has become your present reality. Consider the major side effects.

How will the achievement of this goal affect your health, finances, relationships, career, spiritual practice, etc?

In what other ways will it change you?

No change occurs in isolation, so how will this change ripple outward and create other changes?

Try to get a clear sense of the whole package of changes, and see if you can figure out where your life might re-stabilize after the initial change.

For example, if your intention is to manifest a million dollars, imagine how that extra money will affect the other parts of your life.

How will it affect your family, your friendships, your living situation, your career, your taxes, your eating habits, your spending habits, your spirituality?

How will this one change create a tidal wave of other changes? Where will you actually end up when the dust finally settles?

Don't idealize or demonize these side effects. Do your best to imagine the most realistic results you can.

Manifesting a million dollars, losing 50 pounds, getting married, moving to a new city, or switching careers are significant changes.

A common mistake we make when putting out new intentions is that we consider those intentions in isolation, failing to account for the complete package of side effects.

If you spend even 10 minutes doing this exercise (longer is good too), you'll notice there's a lot more to your intentions than you initially realized. But if you don't consider these side effects when focusing on your intentions, then your intentions will have little power to manifest because deep down, you'll know they don't represent a realistic, stable situation.

If you want your intentions to manifest, then you need to understand that they're a package deal. You have to accept and intend the whole package, not just the convenient parts.

Uncovering hidden fears that sabotage your intentions

When you consider the whole package of your intentions, you'll notice some internal resistance. Some parts of your visualization will be wonderful, while other parts will seem undesirable. For example, if your intention is to manifest a million dollars, and you know deep down that one of your close friends simply won't be able to handle it because s/he responds negatively to anyone with that kind of money, then you may feel some resistance about manifesting the money. You want the intention, but you're unhappy with the side effects.

Any undesirable elements that come up during this exercise will be pointers to your fears.

What holds you back from being totally congruent with your intentions isn't the total package itself, since that package is (so far) only in your imagination.

What holds you back is the fear that arises when you consider the total package.

Going back to the example of your friend who responds negatively to financial wealth, your friend isn't holding you back at all. It's the fear of your friend's reaction that's the real culprit. Even if you never told your friend about your intention to manifest a million dollars, you'd still suffer the intention-blocking effects of your fear. Both your fears and your desires exist only within your consciousness at this point, not in the physical world, so the entire conflict is an internal one. But a lack of internal congruency is all it takes to kill your best intentions.

As you explore your visualization of the total package, take note of which parts you resist, and try to express them in words. For example, here are some fears you might list when you think about manifesting a million dollars:

• fear that you'll lose the money foolishly after putting so much energy into manifesting it
• fear that your life will become too complicated trying to manage the money
• fear that you'll be stingy with the money, thereby having to admit you're a stingy person
• fear that your accounting and tax situation will become more complicated
• fear that the money will strain your relationships
• fear that the money will distract you from what's most important to you
• fear that managing the money will be stressful
• fear that having more money will create more responsibility
• fear that the money will isolate you, distancing you from your peers and so on

Make a list like the one above for your own intentions.

What fears arise when you imagine the total package?

Where do you experience resistance?

One good fear is all it takes to keep your positive intentions from manifesting. Fear keeps you from becoming a vibrational match for your desires.

From fear to acceptance

If you want your intentions to manifest, you must eliminate the fears that conflict with your intentions. Once all the fear is gone, your intentions will manifest quite easily. But as long as you fail to address your fears, no amount of force will permit your intentions to manifest.

One of the simplest ways to eliminate your fears is to accept them. Stop feeding your fears with intentional energy, and just allow them to be. For example, if you simply accept that if you manifested $1 million, that yes, your tax situation would become more complicated, then you're no longer turning that drawback into a fear. You've downgraded the fear into a consequence.


The difference between a fear and a consequence is acceptance.

A fear is an outcome you resist. A consequence is an outcome you accept. When you fear part of the package that surrounds your desire, you effectively resist your desire, meaning that you intend it NOT to manifest. But when you accept the total package, you allow your desire to manifest without resistance. This is what it means to become a "vibrational match" for your intentions.

If you aren't ready to accept the total package surrounding your desires, then you aren't ready to manifest your desires.

This was a particularly difficult lesson for me to learn. Once I understood that if I wanted to manifest a new desire, I had to accept the whole package of side effects without resistance, I began getting noticeably better results with the Law of Attraction.

For example, if I fear having a million dollars because it will complicate my tax situation, I first accept it as a consequence by letting go of my resistance. I admit to myself, "OK, so more money will mean a more complicated tax situation. That's just a fact to be accepted, not something dreadful I need to fear. I can deal with it." Then I shift it over to an empowering belief by saying, "If I have more money, I can hire a good accountant to handle my taxes, so even though my situation may be more complicated, I'll be able to afford all the help I need."

As another example I worried that some people would react negatively to my attempts to attract greater financial abundance, misjudging my motives and assuming I'm "just in it for the money," especially as I reach beyond the survival income range and into the abundance range. But I realized this is totally my issue, not anyone else's. If my motives are honorable and genuinely focused on serving the highest good of all, then I needn't worry about anyone's opinion of me. The very fact that I'm so concerned about this issue indicates that I care far more about service than I do about money anyway. My external reputation is out of my control because it exists purely in other people's minds, so I can't allow myself to become attached to it. I can only do my best and accept the consequences. I choose to focus on the good I can do with more money, including finding new ways to explore and express my purpose.

This process requires some deep self-assessment and introspection, so it's not an overnight fix by any means. For me it's been extremely eye-opening though. I've been amazed at just how many fears came up that I needed to deal with. I realized that in order to overcome a fear, I must first identify it.

It's become abundantly clear that the more I work though my fears, the faster my results improve.

Manifest Your Dreams Today

The Secret Message - October 18th, 2007

A few weeks ago, I updated the inspirational-message board that hangs on the inside of my front door. It now reads:

Happiness
|
Manifestations
|
Intentions
|
Desires

The brief outline serves as a reminder to invert my expectations about achieving or getting happiness. We almost always think of happiness as existing at a distant point beyond initial desires, intentions, and finally - manifestations. The irony, of course, is that such a model really prevents you from ever becoming happy since happiness is forever connected to some outcome or goal. (Even once you've reached the goal, another replaces it.)

I decided to really start implementing the "Happiness First" model of living life after a strange but uplifting encounter with an old friend. I was visiting my hometown about one month ago and decided to stop in at a café. Inside, I ran into the friend. We had a brief conversation before parting ways. On his way out the door, quite unexpectedly, he looked at me with a sense of directness and said,

"Remember: If you want to be happy, just be happy."

Seems obvious enough, right? Most of us would agree that this simple statement contains profound truth. Yet, in this moment, I reached a new level of understanding about the meaning of "accept happiness now." There are likely many more similar realizations to come.

Happiness and The Law of Attraction

Much of my writing in the last few weeks has attempted to explain and interpret The Law of Attraction and the intention-manifestation model. These are great tools for inviting positive change into your life partly because they help clarify dreams and partly because they offer a taste or preview of those dreams today. This last component, I believe, is essential.

As a recent visitor expressed in his comment, we must improve our lives and situations from a position of strength. In other words, we must be happy now if we expect to be happy later after achieving a goal or reaching an objective.

I've titled this article "Manifest Your Dreams Today" to point out the real power each of us has to create what we want right now - to be happy right now. This is what The Law of Attraction and intention-manifestation is really about: creating a link between the present moment and our future desires.

The classic example for intention-manifestation is a new car. Let's suppose you want to manifest a new car into your life. That is your dream. If you want to manifest your dream today, you can do so at anytime. Of course, there's always visualization: Sit back and visualize the car you really want to have. See yourself driving it, feeling good, and looking good. Really focus on the feeling the new car brings into your life.

You may very well wish to have a new car. That can be part of your dream(s). But, in my view, the thing you really want is the feeling the new car will bring - the happiness it will deliver into your life. A big part of this is also having a sense of control. By getting the new car and experiencing the positive feelings, you will feel a sense of control in your life - a satisfying and empowering place to be.

My question is:

· Why wait until the new car arrives to start feeling good?

· Why put yourself in a position where you're always living at Point A and only allowing happiness to exist at Point B?

In a discussion about this concept last night, my girlfriend made an excellent point: Why not conceive of a path in terms of Point A, B, and C - where A is your point of departure, B your current position, and C your destination. At least that model illustrates some process or consistent growth.

Manifest Your Dreams NOW

I would take this idea a step further and package all three of these "points" in the present moment - in the NOW. This allows for a greater degree of congruence between all three and is consistent with the true nature of time. After all, where lies the past and future but inside the present moment? It's wonderful to look back on the past and make out a narrative of progress and growth that led you here, and then to look out on the future and project a similar narrative of progress and growth that will take you further ahead. But the point of departure is always NOW.

Take this concept with you into today. Acknowledge where you've come from. Look out onto the road ahead.

But remember to live your dreams today. Be happy today. Make that choice NOW.

The Law of Attraction: The Power of Intention

The Secret Message - October 11th, 2007

There is a distinct difference between intention and Intention. How many times have you set an intention only to realize a few days or weeks or months later that you were not fully committed to its manifestation? And how long have you continued to push even after you have lost the enthusiasm that caused you to embark on that path?

Small-i intentions come from the mind and from the will. They are those ideas that seem great in the moment but, for whatever reason, fail to ignite the spark within us that transforms them into sustainable Intentions.

Big-I Intentions, on the other hand, come from the heart and from our Source-connected, wise self. These big Intentions inspire us. They call to us and call us into a grander expression of who we are. These Intentions feel aligned with who we are and serve to draw us into our true nature. These Intentions are so powerful that there is no way we will allow them to remain unmanifested.

Wouldn't it be nice if all of our intentions were Big-I Intentions? My personal experiences and observations have led me to believe that in order to get to those inspiring, grand, big-I Intentions we've got to go through a few practice runs with some small-i intentions.

So if you find yourself setting intentions that fail to manifest, don't despair: You are getting ready to connect with a big one! Your small intentions are like the clothes you bring into the dressing room but decide you don't like. If you didn't try them on, you wouldn't know. And if you didn't try them on, you wouldn't recognize the outfit that truly inspires you when you found it.

So get out there and set some intentions. Big-I, small-i, doesn't matter. You've got to be in the game. And the way you get in the game is by setting intentions.

Clearly decide what you want.

I know what I want to accomplish and I know how to get there. The ultimate goal is to be the best. Whether that's the best ever, who knows? I hope so.

Dream bigger.

You must at least start with the Wow Factor in order to propel an idea's launch; you need big dreams with enough big energy and big excitement to have something to endure. But save the practical, bite-size mindset for executing steps on the long haul toward fruition.

BONUS

4 Steps to make it happen - every time

• What is your it?
• Do you want it?
• Are you determined?
• Will you dedicate your energy and focus towards it?

You can achieve it. You can be an entrepreneur. You can skyrocket your business to success. You can complete the big project and meet the deadline. You can go back to school. You can teach yourself a new skill. You can develop and sustain a relationship with the person God has for you. You can live without regret. You can make it happen, and you can do it now, with these four steps.

#1: Define it: What is your it? What drives you, what is it you dream of achieving? Think big. What will keep you motivated? Do you want to start your own business and be your own boss? Do you want to switch careers? Are you seeking the love of your life? Are you striving to be a better person? Label your it. Now, be sure this is the it for you, for now. Are you ready for it? What if your dream happened, would you be ready to handle the success it brings? Be confident that God gives you the strength to accomplish the dreams He lays on your heart (He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it - Philippians 1:6).

If it is the right dream for you, is this the right time for this it?

For example, starting a new business. Income opportunities are wide open for entrepreneurs. In addition to finding a niche for your company offline, the internet provides the opportunity for people to earn a good living with relatively little investment. But it requires initiative, something to contribute to the world, and a person smart enough to understand (or learn about) business, the content, and the internet. Is that you? You also have to check the timing. Before you quit your day job, try it out on a small scale and see if your it has found a place.

#2: Detail it- Create a step by step action plan for success. Investigate other successes in your area of focus. Searching for the love of your life? Read books on relationships. Spell out what type of person you are seeking, and be the person that type of person would desire. Looking to improve in business? List out exactly what needs improvement and devise strategies for success in increments, monitoring your progress at regular intervals. Be specific with yourself, so you have clear and practical goals to accomplish each day.

#3: Do it- do it better, do it more, or do it differently, but never stop striving. If you find obstacles impeding your success, find a way around them: do it better. If you find you had difficulty in a relationship, learn from this experience, and learn how to do it better for the next time. If you stumble, get back up. If you lose a contract or client, or find you are fumbling deadlines, invest more energy into it: do it more. If you are finding brick walls with every attempt, seek out advice and change your strategy: do it differently.

If you are sure this is the right it for you and for now, then whether you do it better, do it more, or do it differently, never give up, just keep going and do it.

Do what you determine to create. Make it happen! Attitude is everything. You will never succeed without an "I can do it!" attitude. Exude confidence inside and out. Let your clients, business contacts, and others involved in your it see your expectations of achievement. Believe it and keep your focus.

#4: Do a different it- If you have truly put forth the effort, and it is not happening, then change your it. Some it is unfolding, so learn what that is, and refocus your energy towards that: do a different it. For example, only 1% of those who try to run their own business succeed. Are you in that 1%? You never know until you try, and you just might change your life. If you never try, you will never succeed. Either way, you will succeed in your it. Success means seeing past failures as stepping stones on your journey to the mountain peak of your it.

When I ran my business years ago, I started with a determination to make it work because I had to make it work. I had picked up and moved to a new state, and started from scratch. God had given me the skills, the opportunity, and the business smarts, and it was up to me to do the work. And I did. I treated my clients with respect, balanced professionalism with personality, and in a very competitive niche, I received more business than I could handle. I chose my own hours, referred work to others when I wanted time off, and received positive feedback from others in the business community. It was the right it, at the right time, and I followed through with the details and did it. I had a great attitude and I kept my focus on the it. I made it happen.

God is showing me my it, my passion, and His faithfulness in completing His purpose for my life. The grant was just a stepping stone towards encountering and achieving my it.

Attitude makes all the difference. Are you giving up, just hanging on, or excited about your future? Seek out your it, and make it happen! I continue to pray for my readers as I write to encourage and help you find your it. You can do it!

You can succeed and make it happen! Why wait? Adjust your attitude with these four steps, and do it today.