You Can Be Free

GemeemDavis.com ....The BLOG!: Love Note: Forgiveness...How to do it!

2011-09-25T13:03:00.000-05:00

GemeemDavis.com ....The BLOG!: Love Note: Forgiveness...How to do it!

The Solution Lies Within

2011-01-15T09:24:00.000-06:00

"The solutions to the problems before us isn't more money or fewer difficult people in our lives, because the only real problem is disconnection from God. Solutions come as we connect with a higher level of thinking and knowing. When we lift ourselves in connection with God, an entirely new realm of thought becomes available to us." --Mary Manin Morrissey, "No Less than Greatness"

For many, the search for happiness and peace starts with what is happening in your life - the people, events, and circumstances in which you live. The external world, if you will. But you will never be satisfied by anything in the outside if you are not balanced on the inside.

How do you obtain inner balance? You first have to withdraw your attention from the external world, stop your mind by mediation or prayer, and just...be. Listen to the small, still voice that is always trying to communicate with you, but you can't hear it because of all the chattering noise that fills your head. When you stop the noise and just listen, you will discover that most miraculous thing of all - that God has been waiting for you to just stop and listen!

He has been waiting for you to open yourself and say "Yes!"

Practice remembering God. Remember Him in the small, mundane details of your life and you will discover a secret known throughout the ages - He cares about it all! Because He loves you - the complete, unadulterated, unfiltered, unpolished you. Want to know why? It is very simple - He made you. And the Creator of all things does not hate what He created!

So don't look outside for the next new thing to solve your problems. Go within and listen. God is waiting to help you, but you have to open the door to let Him in.

A New Year to a New You

2011-01-02T09:42:00.000-06:00

Happy New Year! Those words are filled with such promise and hope. A brand new shiny year of 365 days lies waiting in the future for you to discover, create and live joyously. It is almost like the most exciting present you received as a child, that you knew would stay with you forever.

Along with the shiny new toy comes responsibility - are there any old toys that should be thrown out, recycled or repurposed? Are there any old habits that need to be addressed and changed so they do not tarnish the shine of the New Year? Is there anything about yourself that you want to change?

Reflective questions usually lead to the topic of weight loss. If you looked in the mirror at the start of the New Year and you do not like what you see, isn't it time to decide to change yourself? Not with a diet, but with a proven system of healthy food, eaten six times a day. A healthy way to lose weight and keep it off forever.

It is like the gift of health that you give to yourself!

Imagine being at your target weight. What would you look like? How would your clothes fit and would you continue to notice the tight grip of your waistband like you do now? Would your energy level be much higher than it is now? How would you feel with the "weight monkey" off of your back? Just think of how much thought energy you spend on a daily basis thinking about your weight...

The 5 and 1 Plan from Take Shape for Life is doctor designed and approved. It features 5 Medifast meals (over 70 varieties) and one "lean and green" meal. You eat six times a day and you are not hungry because your body receives at least 11 gms of protein per meal. And the best part is -- you eliminate the "will power struggle" that usually defeats dieters!

As you lose weight, you notice subtle changes in your attitude toward food. You begin to recognize the situations where you would use food to salve a hurt, or fill a hole in your emotional world. Take Shape for Life teaches you to disengage from those behaviors and chose new responses (non-food related) the next time you are faced with those triggers. And that is how you loose the weight and keep it off - for life!

If you are ready to give yourself the gift of health, please go to Take Shape for Life and send us an email to get started. Make 2011 the year you created a New You!

The Space Between Here and There

2010-11-23T08:17:00.000-06:00

Have you ever thought about the space between here -- and there? The beat of time between the tick and tock of the clock (assuming you still have a mechanical clock). The silence between spoken words?

For example, you are sitting in front of your computer, reading the electronic pulses that form on the screen. Your eyes (and brain) interpret those impulses as letters that form words, sentences and meaning. As you sit in front of your computer, your eyes are physically about two feet away from the screen (unless you are extremely near-sighted but that doesn't change my analogy). What occupies that space between your physical body and the computer screen?

That is the space between "here" and "there."

It is empty space, just because a physical object does not occupy it? Or is it full of something else that we can't decipher with our five senses?

Those questions are the subject of a new book called Dance With the Divine. A fictional story about a teenager who was lost in her small world of misery, anger and loneliness, until she discovered that her world was actually much bigger and more wondrous than she ever imagined. Once Haven discovered that other world, her life tilted on its axis and she stepped into the space between her past and her future.

You will not find Dance With the Divine in the bookstores. It only exists in the digital world - from Amazon as a Kindle book. Don't worry - if you don't own a Kindle, you can still read the story on your pc by downloading the program "Kindle for PC." ! Do a search on Amazon for Dance With the Divine then enjoy a new way of looking at your life!

You have only to step into the space between here --- and there, to find what you have longed for since birth. To know Who You Really Are and to live as that person. Only then will your own dance with the Divine begin!

Snacking and Weight Loss

2010-09-19T08:52:00.000-05:00

Can you snack and still maintain your weight? Yes! But you have to chose wisely and understand what nutrition your body needs every 2-3 hours.

Aside from being popular sources of energy, snacks play an important role in our weight-loss program. Specifically, snacking gives the body an energy boost when needed, and is also beneficial for weight control. Research shows that snacking lowers both total and LDL (or "bad" cholesterol).

When you are in the weight-loss phase of your Medifast plan, your snacks will be your Medifast Meals. You will eat 5 small meals a day and one Lean & Green meal, so you are getting all the energy you need from these sources.

When you are on weight maintenance, healthy snacking is essential to keeping your metabolism going and your energy up. Good snacks include: fruits, vegetables, low-fat yogurts, crackers with low-fat cheese, cereals and small handfuls of raisins and nuts.

Here are some guidelines on how to maximize the health benefits of your snacks:

Select a snack with a combination of protein, carbohydrates and fat.
Pick a snack that is a good source of vitamins and minerals that you wouldn’t otherwise get from foods.
To help control your weight, choose snacks that are less than 200 calories.
Eat every two to three hours.

Maintenance of your ideal weight does not have to be hard or difficult. Good choices, made throughout the day, are essential to maintaining your healthy weight, feeling good and having lots of energy!

To learn more about Medifast and the 5 & 1 Plan, please visit Emoowered Weigh

Coincidence or a Wink?

2010-09-15T07:47:00.000-05:00

Recently, I came across a small, compact book about Christian living in the most unlikely place - a Dollar General store! They carry books from Thomas Nelson, the big Christian publisher. The copyrights may be several years old, but the wisdom that flows from these pages is timeless.

My current read is a book by Squire Rushnell called "When God Winks at You." He has collected stories over the years about coincidences, that he believes are really winks from God. In Squire's opinion (and mine), God is just waiting for you to ask him for help, so He can let you know He is thinking about you.

As Squire says, "Every time you receive what some call a coincidence or an answered prayer, it's a direct and personal message of reassurance from God to you - what I call a godwink."

Has that ever happened to you? Something so unbelievable that it can't be explained except by calling it a "godwink." (Let me know so I can write about it!)

This book is full of amazing stories that will leave you breathless in wonder. After reading "When God Winks at You," you will be filled with the desire to look for all the "godwinks" in your life that happen right before your eyes!

God's Window

2010-09-14T08:02:00.001-05:00

When I was young, my mother used to tell me a story about God, looking out of heaven's window. He would stand at the window and just watch all that went on the world he created. But she would always remind me that God could also look inside of what he created - into my heart and see my true intentions.

So if I misbehaved (which rarely occurred, because I was God's perfect child...) God could see instantly if I was truly sorry for hitting my brother or taking an extra piece of cake.

As an adult, this image of God standing at His window has shifted and aligned with new realizations about my life, my purpose and how I may serve Him. The childhood version made God seem too remote and uncaring. Instead of God standing passively at His window as my mother described, I now see myself and my relationship with Him in a different light.

Or through a different window pane, if you will.

The Universe is constantly changing, creating, growing and dying. The cells in your body change every minute of every day. Each breath you take causes a chain reaction of change in your body as oxygen is delivered to your cells and carbon dioxide is removed. You could say that each moment in time is a new creation - it has never occurred before and it will never be the exact same again.

Since we live in a Universe that is always creating something new and different, I realized that God must like change. Why else would He have created what he did? He could have just as easily made a static world, where nothing ever grows, evolves, dies and is reborn. But He didn't...so that leads us to the next logical step.

If I am a creation of God, then I must be part of the change that He likes to experience! But how does God experience life in this three dimensional world that I live in? That is when I had my break-through moment.

I am the window through which God sees this world!

God sees this world through my eyes, hears the cacophony of sounds through my ears, and tastes the flavors and textures of life through my tongue and skin. I am the window pane through which He experiences this world!

But wait - what if I have let my windows become caked over with guilt, shame, regret or anger? What if I my focus on the past or the future affects the clarity of the glass? What if my emotional pain has dirtied the window pane through which God sees the world? Is that really the way I want Him to see the world?

I control my thoughts and the direction of my focus and attention. If I spend too much time remembering a painful event or waiting for something to happen in the future so I can be happy, my glass is not clear. Only my focus on the present moment, with all of its gifts of love and wonder, will I keep the view open.

My awareness of this moment creates the transparency God needs!

I am the window for God to see my world. When I stay in the moment of Now, He can see through me. I can hear His guidance and feel His love, because I am in the moment with Him.

How clean are your windows?

Structural Tension

2010-08-26T14:54:00.000-05:00

Do you know what Structural Tension is? Sounds like a complicated, scientific term but it really is a simple concept. This concept comes from Robert Fritz, author of Your Life as Art. Dr. Wayne Andersen has also incorporated Structural Tension as one of his 8 Habits of Health.

Structural Tension is based on a basic law of nature - any tension between two things seeks resolution. Think of a rubber band stretched between your hands. The farther you pull it apart, the more stress is caused. One of two things will eventually happen - the rubber band will break and the tension released, or the rubber band shoots off into the air!

With this process, you are the creator of your life, not the victim. You decide the vision of your future reality, complete with all the details. If you want to lose weight and regain your health, for example, you might include your target weight, your waist measurement and clothing size. Make it realistic, authentic and set a time line or deadline to accomplish your vision.

Once you create the vision, then you have to assess your current reality. What is your current weight, waist measurement and clothing size. The discrepancy between your current and future reality creates the "tension" that has to be resolved.

After you have completed these steps, imagine what steps or decisions you would have to make differently on a daily basis to reach your vision. Start a walking program? Start on Medifast? Don't eat before bed? Whatever it is, use these new daily choices to advance toward your goal.

Structural Tension is explained in more detail in the Habits of Health recorded call. Please dial 512-505-6863 to listen in - it takes less than 30 minutes but the information could change your life!

Living well, beautifully!

For more information on Medifast and the Take Shape for Life program, please visit Empowered Weigh

It is Just Like Riding a Bicycle

2010-08-24T07:52:00.000-05:00

Remember the thrill of discovering your first "Big Kid" bicycle under the Christmas tree when you were six or seven years old? Even though you were still in your pajamas, you couldn't wait to take it outside and feel the wind in your hair. Oh, the adventures you would have on your magic carpet of two-wheels...

There was only one small problem. You had never ridden without the training wheels before!

Your parents gently explained that you would learn how to ride without the extra support. You wanted to believe them, you knew they had your best interests at heart, but still, there was that kernel of doubt in your heart.

Because YOU had not experienced it yourself.

No one can give you their own experience of something. They can describe it in rich detail, with all the emotion possible, but it still does not give you that same sensation as when you experience it for yourself.

This concept applies to everything. I may have been a great student in school and know all of the tricks to studying, but until you spend the time to learn the material and study, you won't experience the thrill of receiving your first "A". I can explain and show you on video how to ski down a slope, but until you actually feel your muscles tightened against the pull of gravity, and learn to pivot your hips as you make your turns, skiing won't be real to you.

Losing weight and creating health with Medifast is no different. You can read all of the stories of the millions of people who have lost weight and feel great, but it won't penetrate your awareness. You can taste the food and read the material on why it works, but you will always find an excuse not to go on the program.

That is how your mind works - you don't like change, you don't want to learn something new and you certainly don't want to eat food out of a box, or because you are a Vegan and this contains egg product, or its just not the right time, or you have too many other things in your life right now... The list of excuses goes on and on! And your waistline continues to grow and grow.

When is a good time to take control of your health? After you have had the heart attack or your cholesterol is so high that the Doctor shakes her head every time she sees you? Why wait for your external world to either be perfect or to suddenly face an extreme health crisis?

Did you wait for the perfect time to learn how to fly free on your bicycle? No - of course not! The vision of yourself on the back of the bike with a big grin on your face was strong enough to push you right past any excuses or fears. You may have been tenative at first as your feet turned the pedals, but once you realized that you were RIDING YOUR BIKE, you soared with the clouds.

The Magic of Medifast has to be experienced to be understood and believed. Once you see the extra weight and fat melt away, you will also be a believer. But no one can turn you into a believer without you first going on the program and experiencing the profound changes yourself.

It really isn't a hard thing to do, just visit Empowered Weigh or call me when you are ready to fly!

Living well, beautifully!

Kathy Eriksen
Certified Health Coach
Take Shape for Life

Can Freedom be Found Eating Out of a Box?

2010-08-19T08:17:00.000-05:00

A potential Take Shape for Life client made a comment that has stuck with me ever since. After showing her the program and having her taste some of the products, she turned to me and said, slightly exasperated, "I just don't know if I can eat out of a box!"

It took me back for a second, because I had already experienced the benefits of this program and the profound changes it made in my life. I mumbled something about "There is so much more to it than that" and we quickly parted.

I now have a much better answer to her statement that I would love to share with you (and her, if she is reading this post). So here goes...

We are here as God's children, experiencing our lives through the lens of our physical selves. When our bodies are out of balance, overweight, tired, listless and not thriving, it affects the lens through which we see ourselves and our world. The way to a joyful and loving life is so simple -- take action steps to feel better physically and your emotions will follow!

It boils down to a very basic issue - do you believe you are worthy of feeling better, physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually? Do you love yourself as a child of God? Or are you caught up in a self-imposed world of anger, frustration, doubt and fear? It is your choice - either way.

Only you can lift the veil that covers your "lens" and clear the fog that surrounds you. Only you can make the decision to step forward, arms raised and say, "I want to discover the real me!" No one else can do it for you. The answer does not lie in the external world, despite the messages we receive from car and clothing advertisers, fast food restaurants and cruise lines. The answer lies within, and your body is the entry door to discover your real hunger.

As Geneen Roth said in her best selling book, Women, Food & God, "It's never been true, not anywhere at any time, that the value of a soul, of a human spirit, is dependent on a number on a scale. We are unrepeatable beings of light and space and water who need these physical vehicles to get around. When we start defining ourselves by that which can be measured or weighed, something deep within us rebels."

The flip side of Ms. Roth's statement is that when we allow our physical bodies to be more in alignment with our spiritual selves, life works on all levels.

And that is the secret I discovered after I lost 18 pounds on Medifast. Because my body is lean and trim, I feel lighter and freer to express myself authentically. Self-imposed thoughts of "I don't want to go to that swim party and wear a bathing suit," have been replaced by "Wonder who's having a swim party this weekend?" Discouraging comments that I used to make to myself when my pants were too tight have morphed into the joy of finding clothes that now fit in my closet. The sense of freedom I feel in my new body has expanded my world view.

As my waist size shrank and the excess fat melted away, my spiritual size grew proportionally.

So, my friend, thank you for making your comment about "eating out of the box." It made me look harder at my own "box." As my body as gotten smaller, I have grown bigger. My "box" of negative thinking has dissolved in the radiant light of Myself.

Eating out of a box? It is the best thing that has ever happened to me!

You Can Be Free: The Greatest Contest of All

2010-08-10T09:59:00.000-05:00

You Can Be Free: The Greatest Contest of All: "Imagine that you just won the following contest: Each morning your bank would deposit $86,400 in your private bank account for your own use..."

The Greatest Contest of All

2010-08-10T09:56:00.000-05:00

Imagine that you just won the following contest:

Each morning your bank would deposit $86,400 in your private bank account for your own use. This prize has rules – actually two sets of rules.

The first set of rules:
1) Everything that you did not spend during each day would be automatically taken away from you.

2) You may not transfer money into some other account. You can only spend it.

3) Each morning upon awakening, the bank opens your account with another $86,400.00 for that day.

The second set of rules:
1) The bank can end the game without warning. At any time it can say, "It's over, the game is over!"

2) It can close the account in an instant and you will not receive a new one.

What would you personally do? You would buy anything and everything you wanted, right? Not only for yourself, but for all the people in your life, right? Maybe even for people you don't know, because you couldn't possibly spend it all on yourself and the people in your life, right? You would try to spend every single cent, and use it all up every day, right?

Actually, this game is a reality, but not with money!

Each of us is in possession of such a magical bank. We just don't seem to see it.

The MAGICAL BANK is TIME!

Each morning we awaken and receive 86,400 seconds as a gift of life, and when the day is done, any remaining time is gone and NOT credited to us. What we haven't lived up to that day is lost forever. Yesterday is forever gone.

Each morning the account is refilled, but the magical bank can dissolve our account at any time....WITHOUT WARNING.

SO, what will YOU do with your 86,400 seconds? Think about that, and always think of this: Enjoy every second of your life, because time races by so much quicker than we think. Take good care of yourself, and enjoy life. Live each day to the fullest, be kind to one another, and be forgiving. Harbor a positive attitude and always be the first to smile.

Here's wishing you a wonderful, beautiful day, each and every day!!!

K. Dawn Byrd, Author: Register to win Kathryn Eriksen's "Walk with the Master"

2010-08-03T16:18:00.000-05:00

K. Dawn Byrd, Author: Register to win Kathryn Eriksen's "Walk with the Master"

Our Hearts Beat Together

2010-08-02T08:05:00.000-05:00

My brother turns 60 years old today! He is the first born and is leading the way into the next stage of life. Yesterday, Charlie's girlfriend threw him a party, and here is what he said...

Always the mathematician, computer scientist and the most analytical person I know, Charlie used a profound image that resonated with me. He calculated the number of heartbeats he has experienced since birth, then used that as a connection to the people most important in his life. His "shared heartbeats" included everyone in the family, his girlfriend and friends.

It got me thinking about the heartbeats we have shared with those we love...good or bad, rich or poor, the haves and the have-nots, we all have something in common.

Our hearts beat together.

It is how you use the energy created from your heartbeat that creates your life. The choices you make, the paths you follow, can all be traced back to one single source -- your heartbeat. As long as your heart beats, you have choices. To see the good or bad in any situation. To hear the melody of the song bird or focus on the intrusive noise of the modern world. To taste joy in every moment or bitterness. To touch the lives of others with love or to withdraw into yourself. To smell the wonder of an approaching rainstorm or to turn away.

Our hearts beat together. Right now, in this moment. Not in the past, not in the future, but right now.

Listen to your heart beat. Thank it for its faithful service. Enjoy the vitality it creates for you. And chose wisely how you spend the currency of energy your heart has created - just for you!

The Cross in Our Bodies

2010-07-29T11:08:00.000-05:00

A friend forwarded this story to me and I had to comment on it. It is told by a medical doctor who made the connection between his scientific knowledge and religious beliefs. After you read the story, please scroll down to my thoughts...and please share yours as well!

A couple of days ago I was running (I use that term very loosely) on my treadmill, watching a DVD sermon by Louie Giglio... And I was BLOWN AWAY! I want to share what I learned....

He (Louie) was talking about how inconceivably BIG our God is... How He spoke the universe into being... How He breathes stars out of His mouth that are huge raging balls of fire.. Etc. Etc. Then He went on to speak of how this star-breathing, universe creating God ALSO knitted our human bodies together with amazing detail and wonder.

At this point I am LOVING it (fascinating from a medical standpoint, you know.) . And I was remembering how I was constantly amazed during medical school as I learned more and more about God's handiwork. I remember so many times thinking..'How can ANYONE deny that a Creator did all of this???

Louie went on to talk about how we can trust that the God who created all this, also has the power to hold it all together when things seem to be falling apart...how our loving Creator is also our sustainer.

And then I lost my breath. And it wasn't because I was running my treadmill, either!!!

It was because he started talking about laminin. I knew about laminin.. Here is how Wikipedia describes them: "Laminins are a family of proteins that are an integral part of the structural scaffolding of basement membranes in almost every animal tissue"

You see.... Laminins are what hold us together... LITERALLY.

They are cell adhesion molecules. They are what holds one cell of our bodies to the next cell. Without them, we would literally fall apart. And I knew all this already. But what I didn't know is what they LOOKED LIKE..

But now I do. And I have thought about it a thousand times since... Here is what the structure of laminin looks like... AND THIS IS NOT a 'Christian portrayal' of it.... If you look up laminin in any scientific/medical piece of literature, this is what you will see....

Now tell me that our God is not the coolest!!! Amazing. The glue that holds us together.... ALL of us..... Is in the shape of the cross.

Immediately Colossians 1:15-17 comes to mind.

"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created; things in heaven and on earth, visible And invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or Authorities; All things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together." ---Colossians 1:15-17

Call me crazy. I just think that is very, very, very cool.. Thousands of years before the world knew anything about laminin, Paul penned those words. And now we see that from a very literal standpoint, we are held together... One cell to another.... By the cross.

You would never in a quadrillion years convince me that is anything other than the mark of a Creator who knew EXACTLY what laminin 'glue' would look like long before Adam breathed his first breath!!

What I found when I googled laminin !!!!!!!!!!!

Isn't that amazing? God made the world so perfectly that He included as one of the building blocks the shape of the cross! Skeptics may disagree and just say it was coincidence, but out of all the shapes God could have chosen, he decided on the cross.

We are all truly children of God, safe in His arms and in His love. Live your life from the inside out and show God to your world. Imagine if everyone did this for even 1 minute a day? How much would the world change for the better???

Please feel free to pass this on, link to this blog or share with your friends. Let's spread the scientific evidence of God's love!

Living well, beautifully!

The Doorway to Yourself is Your Body

2010-07-23T09:22:00.000-05:00

There is a tendency to connect your body - its shape, size, mass and physicality - to your self worth. We hear adages such as "You are what you eat," and we believe that thin people are happier, healthier and enjoy themselves more. Striking images of fashion models with impossibly thin, sleek bodies bombard our conscious awareness from the time we can first assimilate these messages.

Have you ever stopped to question these messages? Or look behind the curtain to see who is pulling the levers? The Wizard of Oz turned out to be a wise old man who knew that people respond to images of authority. The Lion, Scarecrow and Tin Man already knew the answers to their perceived lack (courage, brains and a heart) but they had to be shown the way by someone they believed knew more than they did. They searched outside of themselves for a solution, but only found it when the Wizard pointed them back inward.

The one place where the Lion, Scarecrow and Tin Man failed to look for answers was inside themselves!

How well do you know YOU? When was the last time you felt a connection to something bigger than yourself (and I am not talking about eating a Double Pounder!) There is a spiritual YOU that is waiting to be expressed in this material world. If you don't believe me, try this simple experiment.

Do you like the number on the scale or does it ignite the Voice inside your head that tells you that you are not lovable because you are overweight? Take a deep breath the next time you are about to step on the scale and get centered in yourself. Tell yourself that you are going to watch your reaction to the number, just as an experiment. Listen as an attached observer to the messages that the Voice immediately sends. Notice their tone, their energy, whether the messages are critical and derisive or supportive and loving.

Did you experience a slight disconnect from your reaction and you? If you did, that is great! It means that you have just tasted the possibility that you are not the number on your bathroom scale. YOU are so much bigger than that!

YOU are a spiritual being living a physical experience. YOU are perfect in your wholeness, completeness and worthiness. YOU chose to live here on earth, at this particular moment in history, with the family, friends and circumstances you have already experienced.

"But I don't know myself that way!" you cry in desperation and hopelessness. "I have read books, gone to seminars, meditated and attended retreats. But nothing works!"

And that is where you use your body to find your way back to YOU!

When YOU step back from your physical self and just look, what do YOU see? If you are overweight, obese or even morbidly obese, YOU might see an unhappy, judgmental person who uses food to comfort and calm unnamed fears. Layer upon layer of fat cells have been piled up in an attempt to bury those fears. But the fears are still there, bubbling just beneath the surface. And it is that fear that you are avoiding through food that had kept you from being YOU.

How do you stop this cycle of self-destructive eating patterns long enough so you can discover who YOU are? What can you do to stop the endless struggle between your will power and the fears that cause you to overeat? Are you doomed to lead an unhappy life because you can't seem to control what goes into your mouth?

There is a simple, effective way to end the struggle with weight. You eat six portion controlled meals a day, provide your body with the correct balance of protein, carbohydrates and minimal sugar, and you will lose weight. It is a simple formula that works with your body's energy and fat storage system. You no longer fight your body or its cravings, because you feed it what it needs to thrive. And the fat just melts away, because your body no longer needs to store fat from the excess calories you gave it before.

As the weight and fat layers melt away, the real YOU will emerge. YOU will seek expression, love and joy in your life and your entire perspective will change. YOU will finally be living from YOUR purpose, not allowing outside forces or messages to direct your actions. YOU will have come home to YOU.

On the road back to discover YOU, the number on the scale becomes just a number, not a definition of your self-worth. The Yellow Brick Road truly does lead you home!

To learn more about this amazing, life-changing program, please visit Empowered Weigh. Or contact me!

Living well, beautifully!

Kathy Eriksen
Certified Health Coach
Take Shape for Life
Empowered Weigh

You Have Got to Read this Book!

2010-07-19T18:00:00.000-05:00

Have you heard about the latest book by Geneen Roth called Women Food and God? I just finished it and I am still assimilating all of its wisdom, insights and spiritual messages.

The premise of the book is that you are what you eat. Whatever you tend to eat, where you eat it, and the triggers that caused you to eat it are all clues to your relationship with others, yourself and God. Your relationship with food is an exact mirror of your feelings about love, fear, anger and God.

I was skeptical at first, but after reading about Ms. Roth's retreat students, thinking about her examples of when she cut off parts of herself because of pain, I became a believer. Gently, by use of metaphor and stories, she leads you to that place you knew of all along -- your bigger self.

Not the physical self that may have become large from poor eating habits. But your bigger self - the one you were born with and the one you are meant to show to the world. That part of you that knows you are bigger than your pain, or your loneliness or your depression, and she waits for you to see her.

Ms. Roth has walked the path of obsessive compulsive eating. Since she was a teenager, she has lost and gained over one thousand pounds! It was only when she was on the verge of suicide that she did something totally radical: she dropped the struggle, ended the war with herself, and began trusting her body and questioning her beliefs. The beauty of the process that Ms. Roth experienced shines on every page of this book.

Let me leave you with this quote from the book. If it resonates with you, then please buy and read this book (You can order it from Amazon for $13.00). If this statement does nothing for you, then don't bother. Here goes:

"It has never been true, not anywhere at any time, that the value of a soul, of a human spirit, is dependent on a number on a scale. We are unrepeatable beings of light and space and water who need these physical vehilces to get around. When we state defining ourselves by that which can be measured or weighed, something deep within us rebels.

"We don't want to eat hot fudge sundaes as much as we want our lives to BE hot fudge sundaes. We want to come home to ourselves. We want to know wonder and delight and passion, and if instead we've given up on ourselves, if we've vacated our longings, if we've left possibility behind, we will feel an emptiness we can't name. We will feel as if something is missing because something is missing - the connection to the source of all sweetness, all love, all power, all peace, all joy, all stillness. Since we had it once - we were born with it - it can't help but haunt us. It is as if our cells remember that home is a jeweled palace but we've been living as beggars for so long that we are no longer certain if the palace was a dream. And if it was a dream, then at least we can eat the memory of it." -- Geneen Roth, Women Food and God

Living well, beautifully!

My New Life

2010-07-15T13:47:00.001-05:00

My new life is unbelievably full of joy and love (which is so much better than that bloated,full feeling I had when I was 12 pounds heavier). The naysayers in the crowd are probably rolling their eyes right now, so allow me to explain.

When I mastered my body, I discovered that I changed more than just my clothes size. My entire perspective has cracked wide open and life's possibilities are flowing thru me. I see everyday as one of possibility and hope, instead of simply a repeat of the day before. Each encounter I have is infused with new enthusiasm and I feel joy radiating from me.

All this from a diet program???

First, Take Shape for Life is definitely NOT a diet program! It teaches how to set goals, focus on your values and structure your life around what is important to you. As the fat melts away from your body, your mind also sheds unwanted thinking patterns.

It is a transformation of the body and mind!

If you ready to claim your life and start living healthy, call me, send me a text or email. I can help you!

Go to www.davideriksen.tsfl.com to learn more.

Living well, beautifully!

The End or Is It Just the Beginning?

2010-07-06T10:28:00.000-05:00

Day 23 - Monday, July 5, 2010
Day 24 - Tuesday, July 6, 2010

We were out of town and did not have internet, so I had to combine both of these posts. This is the end of my weight loss journey, but it really is the beginning of a new way of living.

I almost reached my weight loss goal. I guess its true what they say - the last ten pounds are the hardest! I am happiest about the inches I lost from my stomach and waist! I truly feel as if I am ten years younger, because I know I look better in my clothes (I have been wearing items that I thought I would never wear again). And that confidence in my appearance shows in everything I do, including sharing my thoughts in this blog.

I am far from being discouraged, because I now know how to eat healthy, prepare simple but delicious meals and feel so much better! The difference, of course, was following the 5 and 1 Plan.

Why does that work so well? Because our bodies are designed to be fed in small increments throughout the day. We need protein, carbohydrates and small amounts of fat and sugar spread over 6 meals, so our blood sugar does not spike, but remains constant. My body knew that it was being fed properly, timely and well, so it gave up its fat stores. And the extra weight around my stomach just seemed to melt away!

I have found myself again! She never left, but she was covered up by my negative thinking ("You're over 50 - you're not supposed to look good!") And now that I have rediscovered my enthusiasm for living well, I am focusing on other areas of my life that need attention (my desk, for example). The ripple effect of losing the inches and weight continues to spread throughout my life.

I will leave it to a poet and philosopher to sum it up:

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters to what lies within us." Ralph Waldo Emerson

Rediscover what lies within you. Take the time to be gentle with yourself. Find out who you are. And if excess weight stands in your way, take action now to place your body back in its natural rhythm.

Live well, beautifully!

To learn more about the Take Shape for Life program, please visit Empowered Way

Declare Your Freedom From...

2010-07-06T10:10:00.000-05:00

Day 22 - Sunday, July 4, 2010

Happy Fourth of July! I always love this holiday, because it represents such a leap of faith into the unknown. No other country was formed the way the United States was - with a group of men who decided to try a different form of government that they created. It had never happened before, and will probably never happen again. (If you want to really appreciate how difficult it was for the Founding Fathers to take the steps necessary to break away from England, watch the movie, "1776.")

Today is another day to declare you freedom -- from your limiting beliefs, self-judgment and criticism about what you ate over the weekend. Take a minute to write down those thoughts, just to bring them out into the open. Then think about whether you will change your behavior just because of the harsh criticism you level at yourself at the slightest opportunity. If the answer is, "probably not," isn't it time to try something different?

Did you know that the more energy you put into something, the stronger it gets? Think about how often you judge your eating habits as "bad," "unhealthy," "stupid," or "weak." Whenever you focus on these negative thoughts, you reinforce them and you have just set yourself up for failure. You will never win the game of negative self-talk vs. willpower...because they are both sides of the same coin.

Instead, focus on positive behavior and ignore the negative self-talk and the ongoing contest it has with your willpower. Declare your freedom from the tyranny of self-loathing and step into a new world, one you have never tried before.

Wouldn't you rather get the weight off fast, easily and safely, while you are learning new eating habits? You see results in pounds and inches lost, have no contest with your willpower and know that you are eating healthy. You ignore the judgmental voice in your head, and after a while, you will notice that the volume has been turned way down! You are free from your old habits, therefore you are free from the judgmental voice.

How do you step into this new world of freedom?

Start on Medifast today. Eating 5 Medifast meals and one "lean and green" meal means you eat 6 times a day. You control your energy intake and manage your insulin pump, so you no longer crave highly processed, high-glycemic foods (soft drinks, candy bars, bagels, etc.) You no longer want those things, so you don't have a contest with your willpower and your desires.

The best part is that you are free to focus on other things in your life. The energy you once directed towards self-criticism can now be focused on more positive aspects of your life, like the clothes that were stuck way back in your closet that you can now wear!

There is no better day than the Fourth of July to declare your freedom - from yourself!

Freedom never tasted so sweet!

To learn more about the Take Shape for Life program, which uses Medifast meals, go to
Empowered Way

Living well, beautifully!

Weight Loss is the Biggest Gain of all

2010-07-03T11:19:00.000-05:00

Day 21 - July 3, 2010

Three weeks have flown by! As my body and eating habits have changed, I spend much less time and energy thinking about when I am going to "get in shape" or "start yoga." I am no longer obsessed with future action plans that will make me feel better -- I feel better right now!

And that gives me all the power I need to create my life, right now, in this moment.

How did eating portion controlled meal replacements rock my world? What is it about eating healthy that I missed before now?

There are many reasons that Medifast meals work so well, but I have distilled three main points from my own experience:

Medifast meals feed your body what it needs, so it is not overloaded with sugar and carbohydrates. Your body receives the nutrition, protein, fats and carbohydrates it needs, in the proper proportions, to allow the cells to do their job - process the food into energy, instead of fat storage.
Behavorial and eating changes are supported by physical evidence. When your body switches from fat storage to energy burning, physical changes take place rapidly and become very noticeable. Others in your life compliment you on your appearance, which only reinforces the new changes and increased motivation to continue.
Cravings and poor eating are no longer an option. When my body switched from fat storage to fat burning, there was a more subtle consequence that took me days to recognize. Cravings for sugar and carbohydrates simply disappeared into the ether! I never would have believed it, until I went back to my childhood haunt several weeks ago. This is the place where I ALWAYS over indulged, ate poorly and did not care, because it was the lake. I always gave myself permission at the lake to eat whatever I wanted, which was pretty much anything that was not tied down. And I would always be unhappy with myself after we returned home...until now. When we returned to the lake several weeks ago, the same cookies, soft drinks, chips and salsa were set out. BUT I DID NOT WANT ANY OF IT. There was no contest of will power or self-talk...I just did not want to eat it. So I skipped that food and stayed with my Medifast meals and a delicious lean and green meal of grilled chicken and vegetables. And I was free from the emotional habits I had formed many years ago in childhood!

If I were to sum up the effects I have experienced over the last three weeks while on Medifast, it would be this: I am free from my emotional eating habits to eat healthy, live well and thrive.

The Take Shape for Life Convention is only 5 days away! I am so glad I took the leap of faith and jumped into this program, because now I understand its power. And I can look Dr. Andersen (the founder of the TSFL Program and the guru) in the eye and say, "Thank you for creating TSFL - it has changed my life!"

To learn more about Take Shape for Life and Medifast meals, please visit Empowered Way or send me an email!

Living well, beautifully!

How Can I Survive?

2010-07-02T09:06:00.000-05:00

Day 20 - July 2, 2010

It's the start of the 4th of July weekend! Fun, fireworks...and lots of food. How can I survive?

What I have learned over the past 3 weeks are the following:

I now have a different vision of myself as healthy, vibrant and alive. If a poor food choice is available to me, I don't even give it a second glance because my vision is stronger than the temporary temptation.
I feel so much better - like I can take on the world! I never expected to experience such a strong sense of commitment, and it is to myself. This way of eating feeds me, both body and soul.
My cravings for sugar and carbohydrates are gone, caput, dissolved. I never realized I wanted the Cranberry Limeade from Sonic because I had to keep my blood sugar levels elevated...I did not see that my desire for cookies was the same thing. To be free of cravings is a marvelous thing!
When I see other people eating lots of carbohydrates, sugar and fat, I just want to tell them that they are slowly killing their bodies. When they stay on the merry-go-round of processed foods, sugar and carbohydrates, they continue to feed the furnace of stoking their glucose levels, and storing the excess energy as fat. There is absolutely a better way ---

That is all for now. We are off to the lake, for fireworks, fun, and food! I will survive and thrive!

Happy 4th of July - be safe!

Living well, beautifully.
Go to Empowered Way to learn more about Take Shape for Life.

A Lost Kitten and a Leap of Faith

2010-07-01T15:12:00.000-05:00

Day 19 - July 1, 2010

What does a lost kitten have to do with a leap of faith? More than you might think!

We came home from Colorado to a yowling kitten, stuck just over our heads in one of the pecan trees. He looked terrified, lonely, and hungry, because his world had just changed. His source of comfort and love was no longer there (his mama) and all he had for protection was his ability to climb a tree. When I stood under the tree and crooned to him, he took one long look, then jumped into my arms. Talk about a leap of faith!

When I started the Take Shape for Life program, I felt as if I had left the known and familiar world of many food choices, mindless eating and a "just enjoy the moment" type of attitude. The problem with my eating habits before this program is that...I never knew I had a problem! I ate healthy (sort of), I only gained 1-3 pounds a year (but they had all added up around my waist), and I was in good shape for a 51 year old woman (I turned a blind eye to the flabby arms and legs).

So what does my lack of insight into the state of my health have to do with a lost kitten?

For the kitten, being chased into the tree was a life changing experience. He trusted his instincts and leap forward into a new life. For me, having successfully been on the Take Shape for Life Program for 19 days has also been a life changing experience. The layers of self-denial have been peeled away and I now see the exact direction I was heading before I took my leap of faith. I was heading towards being overweight, unhealthy, tired and living a mediocre life. Basically, the epitome of middle age.

But now that I have discovered that I can lose fat while eating healthy, that I have more energy than when I was in my 40's, and I look great in a bathing suit, I feel like I have created a whole new life! None of this would have happened if I had not taken the leap of faith and tried the Take Shape for Life program.

I will never forget the courage it took for that kitten to leap off that branch right into my arms. I will never forget the moment when I decided to just "do it" and start on this program. Both were life changing decisions with profound consequences.

Are you ready to get started on your new life? Go to Empowered Way to learn more about the Take Shape for Life program. Or send me an email or message on FaceBook!

Oh, btw, does anyone want to give a beautiful, courageous kitten a loving home?

I did it! Be Sure to Read to the End...

2010-06-30T09:35:00.000-05:00

Day 18 - June 30, 2010

We arrived home late yesterday afternoon and discovered that the Texas heat was only in the 90's. Maybe we brought some of Colorado back with us!

For me, vacation usually means a suspension of my normal eating habits, and indulging in foods that I normally would not eat (dessert at dinner, for example). But I made a great discovery on this trip - I did not want those high calorie food items! My cravings for carbohydrates and sugar are gone, because I have shifted from fat storage to fat burning. Because I no longer crave those items, it was easy to tell the waitress that "we did not have room for dessert"!

I have had time to assess my choices while on vacation and I realized several things. When you are on the Take Shape for Life program, please feel free to refer back to this list for guidance and support:

It is essential to plan for the time spent traveling. I tend to eat mindlessly while I am sitting in the car or on an airplane, mostly because I am bored. The food choices at a gas station, convenience store or even in the airport are not conducive to healthy eating! (I challenge you to find a protein snack at a gas station, that does not contain high fructose corn syrup.) Before you leave on your trip, make sure you have enough Medifast snacks (cheese puffs, pretzels, etc.) That way, even if you overeat on those snacks, you are not taking in high carbohydrates or high fructose corn syrup... you are only consuming about 100 calories per bag!
Make snacks that you can take with you. We discovered that our usual snack of a brownie in the afternoon is difficult to enjoy when you are miles from a microwave! If I had thought about it ahead of time, I would have made several brownies for the trip to snack on while the miles flew under the tires. Other snacks I could have made would have been cookies made out of oatmeal, and pudding chilled and stored in a small cooler.
Bring a microwavable bowl with you. The hotels we stayed in had microwaves in the room, but there were no microwavable bowls available to make soup or oatmeal. It would have been so much easier to make a quick Medifast meal, but I forgot the bowl!
Eating out was easier than I expected. Usually, we ate our "lean and green meal" at dinner time. I had to be creative in my food selection, because several of the restaurants did not offer much in the way of low calorie, high protein meals. But if you know what to look for, you can find it! For example, we went to a steak place in Dumas, Texas. They offered fried catfish, but they were happy to grill it. Simple, and very delicious!
You can still do your exercise program. We set a goal of hiking every day. Of course, that was easy to accomplish because we were in Colorado! But even when we spent the night in Dumas (definitely NOT Colorado), we still walked. It is just a matter of your intention.

Hopefully, these tips are helpful to you in maintaining a healthy diet while away from home. Now that I know what I need while traveling, I will be much more prepared next time.

I saved the best part of this post for the last...

I braved the scale this morning, just to see what the damage was. GUESS WHAT!!! I have lost 8 pounds!!! But the best part is that I have lost inches - I can now wear clothes that I thought I would never wear again. I feel great in a pair of shorts and a sleeveless t-shirt, because I have lost a significant amount of skin (i.e., fat) in my arms and legs! I was on the verge of getting "Granny arms" but now that is history. WHOOOHOOOO! I feel like I am 40 years old again - how is that for a fringe benefit?

If you are feeling tired, sluggish and think you are getting old, there is a solution. Get on the Take Shape for Life Program, learn the Habits of Health, and turn your body into a fat burning machine. You will feel like you have found the Fountain of Youth!

To get started, please visit EmpoweredWay.com or send me an email.

Living well, beautifully!

This one will be short!

2010-06-28T09:20:00.000-05:00

We have been enjoying Colorado, seeing L and having a great time on vacation. The burning question of the hour is how did I do integrating Medifast into our trip?

When you are traveling in the car, be sure you have the snacks, such as the Cheese Puffs or pretzels. It is hard to make brownies when you don't have access microwave!

Try to stay in a room with a microwave. It makes it so much easier to enjoy the oatmeal or soup...

Eating out can be challenging but fun. Since I rediscoveredy taste buds on thus program, regular food is delicious! But I also notice the salt, salt, salt! Did I tell you about the salt??? It is unbelievable how much restaurants use this one simple seasoning.

Hope these few tips are helpful to you on your travels. Please forgive any typos in this entry...my iPhone is tricky to type in the spelling correctly!

Living well, beautifully!

Remember-go to www. Davideriksen.tsfl.com to get started!

Can A Diet Stay Alive on Vacation?

2010-06-24T10:40:00.000-05:00

Day 12 - June 24, 2010

We are packing the car and heading to Colorado -- ROAD TRIP!

Those two words bring back lots of memories of being stuck in the back seat with my brother, pinching and poking each other because we were bored. The license plate game had worn out about 200 miles ago, and the car windows no longer looked out on a magical world. Everything just seemed to be colored in the same shade of gray.

Boredom must be that color...

Fast forward to my adult life, and the words "road trip" carry an entirely different meaning. "Freedom," "fun," and "adventure" are just a few of the words that come to my mind when I plan a road trip.

Freedom from everyday responsibilities. Fun to explore and see new people and places. Adventure, because you never know what might be around the next corner!

I do have to admit, however, that this road trip is slightly different. I have never gone on vacation before when I was on a "diet" or "watching my weight." Will I be able to incorporate the five Medifast meals into our daily schedule and still eat healthy?

I promise I will continue this blog during the next five days, assuming I have access to a wi-fi connection. I also promise that I will report the good, the bad and the ugly while we are on this trip!

So stayed tuned, dear ones, for more stories from the wonderful world of Medifast!

Living well, beautifully!

To learn more about the Take Shape for Life Program and Medifast, please visit Empowered Weigh

Waist Not, Want Not

2010-06-23T09:57:00.000-05:00

Day 10 - June 23, 2010

For the faithful readers of this blog series, you have probably wondered why I have not posted my daily weight. I have never been one to wait with baited breath while the digital numbers flash and then appear on the scale. Too much like a verdict, in my opinion! Much better to wait and weigh in once a week. (Take Shape for Life recommends following the same regimen you had before you started the program).

So, after ten days of eating healthy, I figured it was finally time to find out the results - how much weight have I lost?

Well, today I discovered something unusual. The weight loss was not quite what I expected (4 pounds) but I can tell that I have lost inches. My clothes fit better, I feel slimmer and more fit. What I was most thrilled about is that the rolls of fat around my waist have all but disappeared!

How could this be?

Dr. A's Habits of Health explained what has happened to my body. The Take Shape for Life program is designed to use food intake as a stable energy source, a process that taps into 2 core principles of how our body stores energy:

Controlling your energy intake (i.e., food energy)
Managing your insulin pump

The simple answer to why I have not lost pounds but I have lost inches is that my body on Medifast has turned into a fat burning machine! Because I am eating 6 small meals a day, my body does not go into starvation mode and horde calories. Since I am only eating low-glycemic food (which is much closer to the ancient diet followed by our ancestors 10,000 years ago), my blood sugar is controlled and the insulin pump turned off. The end result is that my body has begun to turn loose of the fat it had stored up.

Contrast the Medifast lifestyle with how I was eating before. My diet was full of highly processed, high-glycemic foods (soft drinks, candy bars, etc.) that caused my blood sugar to dramatically rise. The insulin level also rose, which caused the blood sugar to drop below normal. An alarm would go off in my brain that caused cravings for anything sweet and full of calories. This pattern continued through out the day as my blood sugar would spike, decline, then spike again.

The end result of maintaining elevated insulin levels is that my body was constantly using glucose for fuel, instead of both glucose and fat. And when ingested fat is not used for fuel - guess where it goes? It gets laid down in fat cells and I became a fat storage factory!

What would you rather be - a fat storage warehouse or a fat burning machine?

If your answer is that you want to become a fat burning machine, then join me! For more information, go to Empowered Weigh. And be sure to send me an email or call me if you are ready to get started.

Living well, beautifully!

The Playful Search for Beauty

2010-06-22T09:50:00.002-05:00

Day 9 - June 22, 2010

I have always been fascinated by people who have lived more than a century - one hundred years of breathing, thinking and eating! What choices did they make that kept them healthy, vibrant and alive? Can I duplicate those same decisions with any accuracy? What is their secret - good genetics or something else?

I am not talking about the Fountain of Youth, that magical, mysterious spot on earth where only a privileged few can drink the elixer of eternity. No, what I have always found compelling are those ordinary people who live extraordinary lives, moment after moment, and who wake up one day to realize, "I am 100 years old!" Their age comes as a complete surprise because they have lived their lives for another purpose entirely.

One woman who just came to my attention that falls into this category is Eva Zeisel, the famous Hungarian designer and artist. You can meet Eva in a short video on her website at EvaZeiselOriginals.com When you hear her speak and watch her work at her design table, you would never guess that she was 93 years old in that video. Eva is now 103 years old, and she is still designing her art pieces!

Eva lived through 16 months of imprisonment by Stalin, just because she was an artist. She was a vagabond, drawn to the artistic centers of the world like a moth to a flame. But she never compromised on her passion for creating something that was beautiful to look at and to hold. In each piece of art, she gave a piece of herself. As one person described Eva's work, "She always had a playful search for beauty."

What does a 103 year old artist's playful search for beauty have to do with you?

Your life is a work of art and you are the sculptor. The passions, interests and talents that God gave to you are unique and only you can bring them out into the physical world. Do you know what those passions, interests and talents are? If not, then begin your search immediately! (to find your passions is the content of an entirely different article). If you do know, then what are you doing on a daily basis to bring them out for the world to share?

Take a moment and assess your life. What is holding you back? Is it a dead-end job, an unhappy marriage, excess weight? Whatever form the limitation has taken in your life, isn't it time to live from a well-spring of inspiration and wonder? What would it be like to devote every minute of your day to a "playful search of beauty?"

Eva's wisdom is worth noting. "The past has no cumulative effect," she says. "It is there, it is gone. It left memories...but you live in the present moment."

Have you ever heard messages from your past that have influenced your current behavior? For example, if a friend said something that hurt your feelings, did you immediately hear a distant voice from the past saying that you are "stupid," "an idiot," or "not worthy"? If you are nodding right now, then you have some inner work to do! Discovering the past messages that are driving your present behavior is the main key to changing your eating habits and living healthy. And the start of living in the moment.

Eva Zeisel is a woman who has lived her life in the present moment. She cautions that "One has to be careful that the present moment is not destroyed by disharmony or unkindness or ugliness. The present moment is very important."

The playful search for beauty is accomplished in the present moment. With each breath, you create your life. With each thought, you shape your life. And with each bite of food, you shape your body.

To learn more about how you can lose weight safely, effectively and permanently, please visit EmpoweredWeigh.com

Living well, beautifully!

One Small Victory

2010-06-21T10:44:00.000-05:00

Day 8 - June 21, 2010

I have discovered that as I clear up my mindless food habits, I now want to clear up other areas of my life.

For example, there is a room in our house that is filled with stuff. Mountains of boxes, toys, old clothes - you get the picture. Every day I would walk by that room and think, "I really have to get in there and clean all that stuff up." And of course, every day, I would keep walking right on by.

Well, today was different!

I decided to start on one small corner of the room, and managed to get it organized! A small victory but one that made me feel good. And I intend to continue this clean up, just as I am getting rid of my excess weight and limiting food habits.

You never know where you will end on your journey! But the important thing is to just start...

To learn more about the Take Shape for Life Program, please visit Empowered Weigh

I Walked Through the Minefields and Didn't Get Blown Up!

2010-06-20T18:25:00.000-05:00

Day 7 - June 20, 2010

This post is going up in the evening instead of the morning, because we spent the weekend at the lake with family. There was no internet service, just a lot of fun in the sun, visiting and great food. And you know what? I glided through the minefields, did not trip up once and I am still sailing on the Medifast sea of weight loss!

This program is easy to incorporate into your life. You just have to prepare and plan ahead. We brought our own meals, then made a request to the chef for a simple, grilled chicken breast with vegetables. Everyone ate the same thing, and loved it!

Just goes to show that you don't have to wait for that "perfect" block of time to start eating healthy. It can be started at any time and incorporated into anyone's schedule. For example, if you travel, the shakes and Crunch Bars are perfect traveling companions (be sure to put them inside a plastic baggy so they won't get on your clothes! The Puddings also work great for travelers - just add water, stir and enjoy!

What about for someone who has to eat out a lot for business? When you know you have that dinner that day, you just make sure that you eat your 5 Medifast meals at regular intervals during the rest of the day. At the restaurant, look for to see if they offer a Weight Watchers Menu. If not, then choose as if you were making a Lean and Green meal - grilled chicken breast with steamed vegetables, white fish with little or no sauce (especially not butter!), a lean cut of pork or turkey - again with no sauce.

Here is another tip: ask for the sauce to be placed on the side, so your main entree is not covered with it. Then you can dip your fork into the sauce, then take a small bit of food and you have all the flavor you need (without all the calories!). There are a lot more tips like this one that help you navigate the waters of temptation, still enjoy the social or business aspect of the meal and allow you to stay within your Medifast Universe of food choices.

As for my weekend, when I usually would be munching on chips and salsa that I really did not want, I went for another Medifast meal or fixed green tea with ice. Since I was no longer involved in mindless eating, I discovered that I could actually look at it objectively. My bigger goal of losing weight was much more compelling than a few seconds of salsa gratification!

And I must say, I looked great in my bathing suit!

To learn more about this life altering program, please visit Empowered Weigh.

Living well, beautifully!

Your Body is Shaped By Your Beliefs

2010-06-19T09:32:00.000-05:00

Day 6 - Saturday, June 19, 2010

"To change your body, you must first understand that which is shaping it. Not fight it. Not force it. Not deprive it. Not shame it." ---Geneen Roth, Women, Food & God

I discovered this wonderful gem of a book because of Oprah. I was curious about the connection the author makes between food and spirituality, so I ordered it off Amazon. I happened to start reading it just as I started on this journey to lose 15 pounds in 24 days, so I thought it might be worthwhile commenting on the connections between the two processes.

The book's premise is that whatever shows up on your plate during the day speaks volumes about your beliefs, because those beliefs shape your body. So you have to discover, look at and accept those limiting beliefs to finally be free of any food addictions or to stop using food for comfort.

When I first read that, I didn't believe it, at least not from my experience. "My beliefs don't determine why I eat the way I do," I thought to myself. "I make deliberate choices about food - and sometimes I deliberately make bad choices because that is what I want!"

One of my choices was a mid-afternoon snack. Sometimes yogurt, more often cookies, around 3:00 or 3:30 every afternoon, I am usually scrounging around the kitchen looking for something to eat. I felt entitled to have that snack, even if it was laden with sugar and fat. Then I started on Medifast, and of course, unhealthy choices were put on the shelf. But what happened next is the fascinating part.

I still wanted those cookies or brownies in mid-afternoon!

But why did I still want them? Was it just a habit I had slid into without thinking, or was there something else?

It is those kinds of inquiries that Ms. Roth encourages to discover why you are eating the types and kinds of food you enjoy. When you start digging around in your beliefs, you begin to discover some amazing truths about yourself.

I know I did! After deliberately choosing to skip the cookies for a Crunch Bar, I sat down and thought about what feelings or associations I had attached to that particular food choice. Why did I always want a snack in the mid-afternoon? And why was it usually something sweet?

You may have already guessed the answer, but of course it was tied to coming home from grade school and sitting down with a snack. The relief that school was over (I was not a popular kid), the knowledge that I could relax and not worry about someone picking on me had been transferred to that snack!

Of course, I no longer have bullies pick on me (at least, that I am aware of!) and I have become a completely different person. But I am amazed that an ancient belief I held about myself when I was 10 years old (I need food to give me comfort) was still running in my sub-conscious and affecting my behavior! It was not a destructive belief; it was not hurting anyone; it just was not true for me anymore. And because I never took it out and looked at it to see if it was still true, that belief was triggering my physical action of eating 2 cookies or 1 brownie at 3:00 p.m. every day.

Now I am on a hunt to discover what else has been lurking in my belief system that propels me to make unhealthy food choices. And the best time to discover those beliefs is while I am eating portion controlled meal replacements from Medifast. These meals create a new universe of food choices, all of which are healthy. As long as I choose within that universe, my old beliefs can be exposed. I am freed to look at the behavior that is run by old, outdated beliefs. The best part is that I can look behind that behavior and see what emotions are attached to it!

As Ms. Roth states in her book:

"[W]e all have a hunger that's hard to name. A lot of the people who come to my retreats have never named it before, or else they've named it in church, but they can't actually see the connection between what they're doing with food and this yearning. I call it "the flame" that they have: They yearn for big answers to live a big life. But they have to start with the most basic fears."

I have started to look at my most basic fear (rejection) and accept it. Acceptance causes it to dissolve into the illusion it always was. And now I am free of that fear and can move on to the next one.

Don't believe me? Why don't you try it and see what comes up for you? I would love to hear about your journey as well (either spiritual, emotional or weight loss), so please add a comment to this blog.

Thank you for acting as my listening board so I can express these ideas, processes and discoveries!

Living well, beautifully!

Kathryn Eriksen

This is Your Body on Good Nutrition

2010-06-18T10:16:00.000-05:00

Day 5 - Friday, June 18, 2010

In just five days, I have re-discovered what I knew all along, but had forgotten in the sea of processed food and fast food choices. My body does not react well to foods that are not as close to their natural state as possible. Let me explain...

I have always been able to maintain a constant weight, never really watching what I ate, just making sure I ate in moderation. But I never felt totally at peace with my body - there always seemed to be a disharmony or disconnect. I thought that was the way I was supposed to feel, but then I read something out of Dr. Andersen's book, Dr. A's Habits of Health, that changed my perspective. (Dr. Andersen is the spokesman for Take Shape for Life and this book is the foundation of the entire program).

What he discusses in Chapter 2 is the difference between "non-sick" and "healthy." Most medical doctors do not recognize anything other than "sick" or "healthy." But there is a third category - "non-sick" which most people fall into. I know I did!

Non-sickness is like purgatory. You are simply surviving, but not thriving. It is caused by eating too much nutritionally barren food, which overworks the pancreas and encourages your body to store fat. Low energy levels, weak and flabby muscles and poor sleep are the hallmarks of being non-sick. Eventually, over years of existing on nutritionally poor food, your body finally develops a disease - such as diabetes.

It boils down to the small, seemingly inconsequential choices you make every day. Do I eat an apple or crackers? Do I order water with lunch or sweet tea? Do I choose the lean meat option under the Weight Watchers portion of the menu, or go for the juicy, greasy hamburger?

The choice you make at that moment does not seem so huge - you may get indigestion, but there are pills for that. You may put on a pound or two, but you can diet, right? You worked hard all week and you deserve that steak, even when know your intestines will revolt tomorrow morning.

The problem is that these poor choices add up over time. The body has an amazing ability to handle a few bad choices. But over time, that heavy influx of saturated animal fat, high-fructose corn syrup and a lack of healthy vegetables, leads to a rise in insulin, cholesterol, triglycerides and inflammation. Your body can only handle so much of bad food, before it has to react.

For many years (I am too embarrassed to even write how many!) I have lived on processed food. Frozen meals that are easy to prepare, restaurant food that is over-salted, covered in butter and overcooked. I would occasionally try the latest diet - Atkins or South Beach, for example, just to see if I felt better. I would lose weight, but then go back to my old eating habits. And I never felt as if I was in tune with my body.

Now I see that I was existing in a state of numbness - non-sickness - that I thought was normal! After just five days on the Take Shape for Life program, I listen more to my body. Yesterday, for example, I came home after having lunch with my dad, and discovered that I felt slightly drained. Instead of pushing past that feeling, I laid down and took a nap! (Just ask my husband, and he will tell you that I NEVER do that). But rest was what my body needed at that moment. When I woke up, I felt refreshed and energized.

I have never listened to my body before! What a revelation - and a gift! My body is a finely tuned instrument. I am giving it the nutrition is needs to perform at its best. And it is responding (I have lost 4.5 lbs. since Monday). But I feel better and I know that as the next several weeks progress, that condition will improve. I do not ever want to go back to the way I was, just existing but not thriving.

Small lessons learned over time lead to better choices. Better choices made over time lead to optimal health.

To learn more about Take Shape for Life, please visit http://www.davideriksen.tsfl.com Or call me - you have my cell number!

Your 10,000 Year Old Body

2010-06-17T09:14:00.000-05:00

Day 4 - Thursday, June 17, 2010

Have you ever thought of your body as a machine or a finely tuned instrument? It is designed to work efficiently and fluently, all systems delicately balanced against each other. When one system gets out of balance (your gastro-intestional tract, for example) it affects the other systems.

Your body needs fuel in small quantities at regular intervals throughout the day. The reason is that we all have 10,000 year old bodies, living in the 21st Century. The two are in constant conflict with each other, because they operate from completely different needs.

Your body still has many of the same survival mechanisms that it had 10,000 years ago when humans first showed up on the planet. Food was scarce, difficult to find and took a lot of energy to acquire and consume. Large meals were rare and people ate in small quantities as they discovered a new food source. Men and women of 10,000 years ago did not a fat tire around their waist or cellulite on their thighs. The word "diet" did not exist, because there were no fat people! They only ate for nourishment and fuel, because starvation was always a demon riding on their shoulder.

Most people in our society today do not worry about starvation. Advertisers and big conglomerates have positioned food in our belief system to be a replacement or enhancement for a wide range of emotions. We have accepted the message that a warm cookie brings happiness, a rich meal means romance and snacking mindlessly on chips will make us popular. And none of these nutrition-starved calories were consumed because we were hungry!

Can you see why our 10,000 year old bodies have trouble processing the excessive amount of calories we eat - mindlessly? It is up to you to say, "Enough!" and make a decision to learn how your body works, what it needs and how you can best feed it so it operates at maximum efficiency, capacity and energy.

Fortunately, you don't have to go back to school to learn nutrition or take night classes to become healthy. All you have to do is make Medifast part of your life, and you will learn the healthy habits of living that are in perfect alignment with your body. The products and program are designed to work with your 10,000 year old body, helping you lose weight and regain the balance that is naturally yours.

I discovered this truth yesterday, on Day 3 of my Medifast Journey. I had a lot of work to do at the computer, and I missed my 10:00 a.m. Medifast meal. At 11:30 a.m., I realized that I was hungry and I felt light-headed. I ate a Crunch Bar and laid down to rest. As my blood sugar came back up, I realized two things:

Do not skip one of the 5 Medifast meals or I will not feel good; and
I am becoming more sensitive to my body and its needs.

That small glitch contained a big lesson. Pay more attention to the nutritional needs of my body, and I will feel great. Ignore those needs and my body responds by lowering all systems to compensate.

I also did something fun yesterday - I had lunch with my wonderful husband! We planned what we were going to order before we got to the restaurant (most restaurants post their menus online), which took away any temptation to make a non-approved food choice. Red Robin does not offer a Weight Watchers selection, so we chose the grilled chicken, mixed green salad. I tried a small bite of chicken with some of the salad, and discovered that I did not need the low fat dressing I had ordered! Another discovery that I made - thanks to Medifast!

You may wonder what I did for dinner. Since I already had my "lean and green" meal at lunch, I was happy to fix a bowl of Chicken and Rice soup for dinner. It tasted great, it was filling, and I was happy.

My body is getting thinner. I have not weighed myself yet, but I will tomorrow and let you know the results. The waist band on my pants is looser and I feel more vibrant and alive. Just noticing these results solidifies my vision of becoming my healthy self - slender, muscular and full of energy.

Why not help your body regain its natural balance? If you want to learn more about the Take Shape for Life program, that uses Medifast products, please visit http://www.davideriksen.tsfl.com or call me. If you are a friend, you have my cell phone number!

Living well, beautifully!

Kathy

I Found my Tastebuds!

2010-06-16T10:07:00.000-05:00

Day 3 - Wednesday, June 16, 2010

When was the last time you tasted food? I mean, REALLY tasted all the flavors, savored every distinct burst of flavor, and enjoyed the sensation of fresh food?

For me personally, it has been quite a while. And the sad part is that I did not even realize that I was not tasting food the way my tongue was designed to savor the differences.

Your taste buds can detect 4 different types of tastes, sweet, salty, sour and bitter. When you were a baby, you had taste buds on your tongue, as well as on the roof and sides of your mouth. That meant that you were extremely sensitive to different foods. But did you know that as you got older, the taste buds on the side and roof of your mouth disappear? So as an adult, you have less receptors in your mouth to taste the food. (I guess you can chalk that up to another casualty to living longer!)

Here are some interesting facts about your taste buds:

We have almost 10,000 taste buds inside our mouths; even on the roofs of our mouths.

Insects have the most highly developed sense of taste. They have taste organs on their feet, antennae, and mouth parts.

Fish can taste with their fins and tail as well as their mouth.

In general, girls have more taste buds than boys.

Taste is the weakest of the five senses.

Taste is such an important part of our eating experience. Some might say that it is the only reason why we eat - because it tastes good. But others might say that there is more to enjoying your food than just taste.

Think about baking cookies. You smell them before you ever take a bite; you see the golden brown cookie before you ever savor the taste of chocolate chips. You feel the texture of the cooked dough before you ever raise the warm cookie to your mouth. In my house, I usually hear someone saying, "I want the first one!" before anyone ever enjoys the treat. Finally, you taste it -- warm, gooey and delicious!

Even though taste may be at the last of the five senses to participate in the food experience, for me, last night, it became the star of my dinner!

After enjoying four Medifast meals throughout the day, I was ready for my lean and green meal. I decided to make the Shrimp Tomato Salad and stopped by the store for the ingredients. Frozen, deveined and peeled shrimp, bell peppers, spinach, and tomatoes were selected. I also had to find a special salad dressing that absolutely complimented the meal and joined all of the different flavors together - Paul Newman's Sun Dried Tomato Dressing (low fat, of course!)

The recipe was easy (it came from the Take Shape for Life cookbook - a must-have resource for anyone on this program!). Marinate the shrimp in 2 tsp of the salad dressing for 1-2 hours. Then cut up the vegetables; saute the shrimp, arrange on top of the salad and add another 2 tsp of dressing. Simple, easy and delicious!

I expected to enjoy this salad, but I was totally blown away by the burst of flavor! The combination of the marinated shrimp, bell pepper and tomatoes with the salad dressing was one of the most delicious things I have ever eaten. I could not believe what I was experiencing, and then I realized why.

I had not eaten any processed food in two days! No salt, no preservatives, no food that had been processed and all the vitamins removed. And my taste buds were rejoicing!

Rediscovering my taste buds was certainly not one of the benefits of this program that I anticipated. But there is no disputing what I experienced last night with a simple salad - Heaven!

Learn to Eat

2010-06-15T08:17:00.000-05:00

Day 2 - Tuesday, June 15, 2010

I made it through my first day of Medifast! It was not that hard, but it did take some concentration and attention to my food choices (which is actually the point of the overall program!). I am re-training myself to eat for fuel, not emotional support.

There were several interesting things I discoverd about myself and this process:

1. There were several times yesterday that I would have eaten something just because I was bored or slightly depressed. It would have been mindless eating, without any reason except emotional. When I stopped the urge to eat and walked away from the cabinet or refrigerator, I discovered that I felt freer (and certainly lighter - I had just refused to put extra calories in my body!). I will continue to notice these urges and identify the emotional triggers, to gain more insight into why I may have been eating for something other than nourishment.

2. This program is designed to have 6 meals, spread throughout the day in 2-3 hour increments. I am not used to eating that often, which quickly became apparent yesterday afternoon. I was out running errands and it was time for my 4th meal. But I did not have any Crunch Bars with me, so I had to wait until I got back home.

Not a good strategy, because then I was hungry. Medifast will not "satisfy your hunger" like the Snickers Bar advertisement. Instead, this program is designed to feed your body in small amounts throughout the day, so you never get hungry. Waiting until you are hungry to eat another Medifast meal is a big mistake and can lead to disappointing results.

What should I have done? Simple. Carry a Crunch Bar in my purse and when it was time to have my meal, I would have it with me. Lesson learned!

3. Drinking 64 ounces of water (8 glasses) was not as hard as I thought. Dansani makes water bottles in 20 oz. sizes. I drank one bottle in the morning, one in the afternoon and another after dinner. It's easy when you divide your day into increments...

Another thing I realized is that this program makes it easy to say "No." It clearly sets out what I can eat, the food is convenient and portable and it satisfied me. Instead of having a battle with myself over whether to stop by Chick-fil-a and pick up a sandwich and sweet tea, I just drive by, wave and smile. Those food choices will always be there, but I am not eating that right now.

People sometimes have the wrong impression about Medifast. "Isn't that the liquid diet?" they ask. That could not be farther from the truth. There are over 70 products available to support you on your weight loss journey! And as I discovered yesterday, you can even use the products to make something completely different.

I always like to have a dessert or something sweet after dinner. The brownie was an option, but I found some great recipes on the website and I decided to try the Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Cookies. You mix one packet of the Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal with baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla extract, water and Stevia. Plop dollops of cookie dough on the baking sheet, and after ten minutes in the oven, you have fresh, hot cookies that count as your 6th meal! There are lots of recipes just like this one, that add variety and give you a treat, while you still maintain the fat burning state and lose weight.

At the start of Day 2, I feel excited and proud of myself. I can handle this process and I can actually see myself weighing 15 pounds less. My clothes will fit better, I have more energy and I believe I can conquer the world (at least my world!)

A Journey of 15 Pounds Begins With One Sip

2010-06-14T08:04:00.001-05:00

Monday, June 14, 2010 - Day 1

Today is the the first day of a new journey. I have decided to lose 15 pounds in 24 days. And you, my friends are invited to join me on this journey. Why the self-imposed deadline and unusual time frame?

My husband and I have become Health Coaches with Take Shape for Life, a revolutionary, life-changing program that helps you lose weight while teaching you how to make wise food choices. (Forgive me - that is the one and only plug during this entire article!) After coaching several clients, I realized that I would not be effective unless I had also experienced the program personally and could say that I had lost weight as a result.

Problem is, did I need to lose weight? I have always been on the thin side, able to eat whatever I wanted to without gaining any pounds. (I know, you can hate me later). But I realized that that was then -- now I am 51 years old and my body had changed without sending me an announcement. Or had it?

When I look in the mirror (past the wrinkles and laugh lines) I see my thin self. My arms are taunt, my skin is vibrant and healthy and my legs should never been hidden behind a towel wrapped around my waist. But why do my shorts feel tight around my waist? Why am I constantly bloated, like someone could prick me and hot air would gush out of my stomach, like a balloon? And how to explain the lack of energy and vitality in my everyday life?

What was going on with my body? It almost seemed as if aliens taken over and I was the last one to know.

You are probably shaking your head in amazement - how could she be so dense? The clue to this conundrum is simple. Look at my age and that should explain it all. When I think about it, the changed did begin when I turned 50. I noticed subtle changes in my energy levels, my weight seemed to creep up and I somehow lost my waist to the dreaded "abdominal fat" that everyone is talking about.

I was also buying up one size - I have always been a size 8. Now I was buying size 10, and sometimes that did not even fit! At first, I blamed the clothing manufacturers. (What did the tiny women in Viet Nam and Taiwan know about the dimensions of an American woman?) But after almost two years of deluding myself, I realized that I was the one who had changed, not the people who made the clothes.

But is age the only thing I can blame? And do I have to accept my physical changes because I cannot stop the ravages of time on my body?

Fortunately, the answer is no.

I just have to allow my body time to adjust to hormonal changes, while still giving it the vitamins, minerals and nutrients it needs to function efficiently and effectively. Sounds easy but is it? That is what I am about to discover by going on the 5-and-1 plan. I will have 5 Medifast meals a day (about every 2-3 hours) and one "lean and green" meal at night. A Medifast meal can be either a shake (I use the one designed for menopausal women, because it contains natural herbs that help smooth out hormonal changes), soup, brownie or pudding. The "lean and green" meal is a piece of lean chicken, fish or pork with one of the approved vegetables.

For the next 24 days, my blog will be devoted to recording my daily experience on this program. Hopefully, while I gain insight and lose weight, you will also learn something from my experience. I promise to share the good, the bad and the ugly (but not my start weight - that is just too embarrassing!)

Why 24 days to accomplish this feat? On July 8-10, 2010, Take Shape for Life will
hold its National Convention right here in the North Texas area - at the Gaylord Texan. There is nothing like the company you represent holding its NATIONAL convention in your own backyard to motivate you to succeed!

Instead of the metaphorical first step, my weight loss journey began with a first sip. When I first woke up this morning, I mixed a Medifast shake with cold water in the handy shaker cup and that was breakfast. It took less than one minute and I still feel full one and a half hours later!

So there you have it - my goal (lose 15 pounds in 24 days), my motivation (look great at the National Convention) and my vision (a slimmer body that will fit easily into a size 8). This blog will help keep my focused so I can regain my slimmer, vital, more energetic body. I know its in there somewhere!

Blessings!

Kathryn Eriksen
www.davideriksen.tsfl.com

What Does It Feel Like to be a Spiritual Messenger?

2010-06-10T19:01:00.000-05:00

I am a Round 2 Contestant in the Next Top Spiritual Author Contest (out of 2,800 people who entered, only 271 remain). The Contest has been fun, tiring, thrilling, and motivating, but I have also experienced several unanticipated benefits.

I now realize that I am a Spiritual Messenger.

The gravity of that statement is only lessened by the mere fact I had the audacity to type it, bold face it and share it with the world! As I read over those words, it strikes me that they may sound ego-centric, but that could not be farther from the truth.

You see, for most of my life, I never believed I had anything worthwhile to say. My "Voice" was silent (by my own choosing, of course) but still, it remained quiet and hidden. Like a precious jewel that lay sleeping beneath the waters of life, my Voice waited for me to discover her. The funny part is...now that I have discovered her, I can't get her to be quiet!

Not that I am complaining, but recognizing that I do have something to share with people, that it does come from a Source much higher than my own puny intellect, is rather disconcerting. It tends to throw life off balance, out of kilter and into another gyration completely!

When I wrote the book proposal for the contest, for example, it felt like the words were coming from somewhere outside of my own consciousness. I simply listened and typed. When I finished and I read back through the document, I was astounded that those thoughts and ideas had even been created by my own hands.

But that is the point, isn't it? When I think about it, it really is not "my Voice" at all...I am just the physical embodiment of something much greater and much more spiritual. And guess what - you are too!

My spiritual journey will continue whether or not I make it into Round 3 of the contest. I have walked through the door toward my new life. I am awake, alive and a perfect Voice for the Source.

How about your journey? Where is it taking you?

Blessings,

Kathryn Eriksen
http://www.NextTopAuthor.com
Author ID # 545
http://www.KathrynEriksen.com

I need your help (again)!

2010-06-04T08:22:00.000-05:00

The Next Top Spiritual Author Contest continues to roll on -- we are now down to 271 authors (from 2,800!) and the voting is open again. My book, "Faces of God" is in the running, but for it to advance, you have to vote again.

Please visit www.NextTopAuthor.com and look for Author #545. Read the book proposal, detailed chapter outline and sample chapter. If you voted for me before, there is no need to register again. Just cast another vote -- and help propel me in to Round 3!

Blessings,

Kathryn Eriksen
www.KathrynEriksen.com

New Books on Spirituality - Check them out!

2010-04-19T10:20:00.001-05:00

I recently did a search on Amazon to see what new books have come out on spirituality. While I have not had an opportunity to read any of these works, their titles were intriguing. In no particular order:
Essential Spirituality: The 7 Central Practices to Awaken Heart and Mind
Dance of the Spirit: The Seven Stages of Women's Spirituality
The Spirituality of Imperfection: Storytelling and the Search for Meaning Women & Spirituality
Women Food and God: An Unexpected Path to Almost Everything

Let me know if you read any of these books...I just ordered the last one - "Women, Food and God," because it looks at weight loss through the lense of spirituality. Intriguing, isn't it?

Your Destiny Awaits

2010-04-09T09:15:00.002-05:00

You are meant to discover the special music that God gave you before you came here in physical form...When you play your own notes, you add to the Divine Symphony. No one can take away your music, and no one can play it for you. You have to reveal it yourself...just like Savannah Hartt, the troubled teenager who discovers a new way to look at her life, in Dance With the Divine. The following is an excerpt:

The fall air was still warm, but the tinge of winter’s bite was lurked at the edges of the morning. Savannah closed her eyes and let her body relax, as she wondered about what Ms. Andersen had said about asking the wrong question.

“If ‘why did this happen to me’ is the wrong question, what is the right question?” Savannah thought to herself.

“Don’t ever ask why,” a quiet voice inside her head exclaimed. “It will only lead to more ‘whys.’”

“Why is that?” Savannah asked with a mischievous smile playing on her lips, her eyes still closed.

“Oh, so you want to play word games, do you?” The voice answered with a hint of good humor.

Savannah felt herself drift off into a deep sleep. When she woke up, she was groggy and disoriented. She sat up slowly and looked around to get her bearings.

The sun had continued its upward path in the sky. Beams of light filtered through the trees, making dappled patterns of color on the ground. The air had warmed up and Savannah stood up to take off her jacket. When her left arm caught in the sleeve of her coat, she twisted around to get it off.

And that is when she saw her. Or rather, them.

The shadow lady stood on the other side of the pond, her back to Savannah. Her silhouette moved gracefully in flowing movements. She faced the sun and it looked almost like she was dancing with its sunrays of luminous light. The dog sat patiently under a tree, ears and nose perked toward her owner.

Savannah broke from her trance and sprung into action. She gathered all of her things and got her bike ready to ride. She had to find this person and discover who she was and how she could simply disappear. Besides, it was a lot more fun to solve a mystery than to wallow in her depressing misery.

As Savannah started to ride around the pond, she glanced to make sure that the mysterious woman was still there. Savannah just caught a glimpse of the woman’s silhouette. They were walking away!

“Darn it,” Savannah cried in frustration. “Not again!”

She rode as fast as she could through the thick grass, but never could catch up to them. She even tried calling out to them, but they continued to walk away calmly, not breaking their stride. The pair seemed to be from another world, their calm demeanor belying the fact that they traveled over a lot of ground without effort.

Savannah did all she could to catch up to them, standing on her pedals to get the most speed out of her bike. The handlebars waived back and forth and she used them to push herself harder and faster. Her long brown hair streamed out behind her like a banner, declaring to the world that she was on a mission. Despite all of her efforts, the woman and her dog disappeared around the next turn in the road.

After several minutes, Savannah finally had to stop and catch her breath. She looked around her and realized with a start that she did not know where she was. In her focused determination to reach the woman, she had not paid attention to where she was riding.

And now she was lost.

“Don’t panic,” she told herself sternly. “Why didn’t I bring my cell phone?” she moaned to herself.

The forest of pines, elms and oaks that surrounded her did not answer. It was much darker on this road, because the dense foliage blocked out the sun. Savannah was in the middle of a dirt road that twisted in front of her and behind her. She was just about to turn around, when she noticed a mailbox partially covered by smaller saplings. She parked her bike and walked over to see if she recognized the name on the box.

As she got closer, she noticed that the mailbox was shaped like a small house, complete with a front porch, windows and doors. Savannah had never seen a mailbox like this and she studied it intently. Painted a sunny yellow, it was complete with a bright red door and blue front porch. There were even two tiny rocking chairs waiting on the porch! Savannah half expected small, magical fairies to hang out the windows, asking in high voices what she was doing in their front yard.

“I must be losing my mind,” she muttered.

Just as she was about to turn away, she noticed the initials, “DWTD” painted next to the tiny front door. “What does that mean?” she wondered out loud.

She peeked down the driveway and discovered that she could see a short distance before it made a right hand turn. Savannah just caught a glimpse of a large tail as it turned the corner, and she knew that her mystery woman and dog had walked up this drive.

Savannah hesitated – should she follow them or turn around and go back home? She was scared of getting in trouble, but the pull of solving the mystery was too strong. With a shake of her head, she pushed her bike up the drive as quietly as she could. As she walked further down the driveway, she began to feel different. Her senses told her that this place was special.

She entered another world.

Leafy limbs gracefully formed a canopy over the dirt lane. Sunlight filtered through the trees in quiet grandeur, dappled rays of light sparkling down to the small dirt road. The drive was barely wide enough for a car, and it looked too natural to be man made. The liquid notes of a cardinal in full song filled the air with music.

Savannah took a deep breath of the sweet air and felt her entire body relax. She paused for a minute to admire the beauty of this forest, and her mind stopped its maddening dance of thoughts. She set her bike against a tree and stood in the middle of the lane, face upturned, eyes closed and palms relaxed by her side. The small frown of worry that had taken up residence between her eyebrows fell away.

For the first time in as long as she could remember, peace invaded her soul.

Time stopped and her world no longer felt like it was spinning out of control. She heard the same quiet voice again inside of her, and the two words it spoke to her infused her with happiness and joy.

“Welcome home.”

She smiled in gratitude and opened her arms wider, accepting her place in this new world. She did not think – she just reacted from her heart. Open and receptive, her heart stepped forward and seemed to grow and expand. Savannah began slowly twirling in a circle, eyes closed, arms outstretched, palms open and relaxed. She looked almost like a flower, eagerly waiting to receive the sun’s nourishment.

A solitary beam of sunlight filtered through the dense foliage and landed on Savannah. She felt its warmth and stopped her twirling so she could absorb its heat and strength. White light glowed from inside her eyelids. As Savannah watched the light, it collapsed into a glowing ball of blue.

She had never felt so happy and peaceful.

Time and matter stood still. It seemed as if the earth paused for an eternal instant and held its breath waiting for Savannah to choose and accept the message of the blue light.

Savannah’s body remained standing in the middle of the magical forest, but her spirit knew what to do. She knelt in homage and bowed her head.

As soon as her spirit acknowledged the blue light for what it was, Savannah felt such a rush of love pour over her that she gasped in awe at its magnificence. The strength and power of it stunned her so much that she gasped and broke the connection.

Savannah’s eyes sprang open involuntarily. She found herself back in the forest, back in herself, but she felt disoriented and confused. Her breathing quickened and adrenaline flooded her body. Savannah had no idea what had just happened to her, but she knew that she had had enough for one day.

She quickly grabbed her bike, turned it around and pedaled as fast as she could to the mailbox. If Savannah had thought to catch a quick look over her shoulder, she would have see two pairs of bright eyes glowing with the same love-force that she had just experienced in the forest.

She missed the clue. All she wanted to do was to get away from this place as fast as possible. A quick left hand turn and soon she was back on a familiar road, heading toward home.

Only to wonder about the other world she had temporarily touched. What was that all encompassing love that threatened to overwhelm her?

If you enjoyed reading this passage, please support me in the Next Top Spiritual Author Contest. The winner is awarded a book contract with Hampton Roads Publishing! Go to www.KathrynEriksen.com and click on the link to vote.

Blessings!
Kathryn Eriksen

Support Me in the Next Top Spiritual Author Contest!

2010-03-31T16:58:00.004-05:00

I am a contestant in the Next Top Spiritual Author Contest! This is an online event that involves participation from the authors and their fans. To move up from Round 1 to Round 2, I need your vote! The ultimate prize for the winner is a book contract with Hampton Roads Publishing!

Go to www.KathrynEriksen.com to watch my video message, that describes my new book, "Dance With the Divine". If the message of "Dance With the Divine" resonates with you, please follow the link to the web page where you have to register and vote (http://www.NextTopAuthor.com/?aid=545).

Thank you for your love and support. Please feel free to share this information with your friends, family and others so more people will hear about this project.

Blessings!

Kathy

The Eternal Part of You

2010-03-18T10:39:00.004-05:00

Have you ever wondered about the eternal part of you? That speck of the Divine that lives in your body, but is connected with something much bigger than what you can see, hear, taste, touch or feel?

Thomas Wilder spoke about it in his timeless play, "Our Town." The end scene is at the cemetery, and the narrator muses on life's vagaries and meaning, when he says,

"We all know that something is eternal. And it ain't houses and it ain't earth, and it ain't even the stars - everybody knows in their bones that something is eternal, and that something has to do with human beings...There is something way down deep that's eternal about every human being."

What is that "something eternal"? Philosophers,poets and scholars have tried to answer that question for thousands of years. The answer lies not in their wise words or orations - the answer is within all of us.

Every human being is born with "something eternal" as part of their DNA. You are connected to something bigger than yourself, but that connection can be buried under miles and miles of pain, anger, resentment and despair. Take the steps today to clear away and dissolve all of those things that stand in your way to re-connect with the eternal part of you.

Discover your Divine nature and live from that place. Your world will transform into a magical, wonderful taste of the Divine, here on earth!

Do Your Kids Understand Money?

2010-02-10T18:56:00.002-06:00

What do your kids think about money? Have you ever taken the time to ask them? See what they say to the following questions:

1. Where does money come from?
2. How much money is enough to be happy?
3. How do you make more money? Is it easy or hard?

Their answers to these questions may surprise you. It may be a wake up call to you that your kids may need additional tools to understand the purpose of money in their lives, the emotional charge they place on money and how to manage it.

I have discovered a wonderful little website that actually showcases new and innovative digital products that help teach kids about money. Check it out at www.MoneyKidz.com.

Just think of the impact it will have to teach your kids how to create, manage and use money as they grow up, instead of waiting until they are heavy into credit card debt or moving back home. Why not teach them now, instead of when it is too late???

The Blind Side

2010-02-05T21:58:00.002-06:00

They say that art imitates real life. But when life imitates art – that is an accomplishment to be noted. The real life story of Michael Oher has been captured on film in the new movie, The Blind Side. But the artistry woven between the characters is no imitation – it’s the real thing.

Although not strongly emphasized, the motivation for Leigh Anne Tuohy (played exquisitely by Sandra Boullock) is based on Christian principles. Her strong love for God places her in many awkward situations that most people would avoid in their worst nightmares. But Leigh Anne has a bigger vision – to be the kind of person who sees others in a Godly way. And Michael Oher, the poor, homeless kid with a nose for football, is the grateful recipient of Leigh Anne’s mission.

The Blind Side is a compelling story of love, respect…and well, blindness. There are many shades of blindness, just as there are many shades of people and issues. What you chose to remain blind to says a lot about you and your accepted values. It also speaks volumes about where you stand on your Christian journey.

This movie will make you think about your “blind sides,” those areas in your life where you just accept the pervading sentiment without questioning whether it is the right thing to do. Like walking by a homeless man without giving him a smile or any kind of acknowledgment. Or ignoring a person because they have different color skin than yours. It could be as simple as turning away from your child because you let anxiety over money control your life.

What are your blind sides? Have you taken the time to see them and decide if you agree with them? Or have you been complacent, not wanting to be bothered?

Go see The Blind Side. Then shine the light of truth on the ignored corners of your soul. You just might discover that your blindness was hiding something beautiful – a life that is artfully lived.

See the Lion in the Mirror

2010-02-05T08:57:00.004-06:00

In your moments of quiet time, do you ever get the feeling that there is a being of immense power within you? Do you ever feel a twinge of regret because you have lead a small life, when you know in your authentic core that you could have done so much more?

It's time to wake up the lion in the mirror!

There are as many paths to that goal as there are human hearts beating. There are also so many choices of teachers, mentors, gurus, etc. that it can make your mind spin. So what is a new born adventurer to do?

Listen to your inner lion.

I know that sounds weird, but stay with me for a minute. By "inner lion" I mean your authentic self, that voice inside you that knows what is best for you. Not your over-active, analytical mind; not your too-sensitive, too-fearful ego, but your Higher Self. The part of you that is directly connected to God.

Imagine a lion resting under a tree on the Serengeti. He knows exactly who he is, what his job on earth is and what he has to accomplish. He is at peace with his world, because he understands intuitively that he is an integral part of that world. He never questions or doubts himself and never, never, never applies the harsh spotlight of criticism or judgment to himself or others. He simply is what God made him to be - a magnificent creature.

You have a sleeping lion inside of you - waiting patiently for you to discover him. How do you do that? Here is a simple but profound exercise you can practice daily.

Take ten minutes every morning in a quiet place where you can practice deep breathing, be still and listen. Tune out the distractions, worries and fears that consume you and tune into the quiet, peaceful tranquility where your Higher Self is waiting. Just for you.

Then see what happens!

It might really surprise you what you learn from these brief moments in solitude. If you are still enough, you will hear your Higher Self. Not in fearful or anxious words like the mind or ego uses. Your Higher Self has an entirely new language of unconditional love, total acceptance, absolute joy and never-ending peace.

Keep a daily journal or diary of what you discover. Do this for 30 days, then read back over what you have learned. You will be amazed at the changes in yourself and in your perspective.

I promise you - if you do your ten minutes a day for 30 days, your sleeping lion will wake up. Or at least will open one eye!

Live your Life like a Dog!

2010-01-31T21:15:00.004-06:00

A dog's life is not so bad - he sleeps 22 hours a day, runs around and jumps for joy about 1 hour a day (unless a squirrel is within eyeshot - then he barks the entire time) and the last hour he spends loving you. Directly from the heart. No games, no contradictions, no obstructions.

Just pure love.

A dog does not judge you for your past failures or disappointments. He takes you just as you are, right at this moment, and shouts with his entire body, "I am so HAPPY to see YOU!" Even if you have only been gone for a minute, a dog will greet you like he hasn't seen you in days. You could say that a dog packs more pure love into the one hour a day than most people do in a month of Sundays!

Think about your dog - the one you had growing up that heard every deep, dark secret of your childhood. Or consider the one who is resting under your feet right now while you read this blog. Aren't you the center of his universe (especially at dinner time)? Then think about this:
Did you do anything to earn his love? Or does he give freely, without reservation, hesitation or manipulation?

You know the answer to that question as well as I do! So why not model your life after your dog's? It will do your heart (and your life) a world of good.

"Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole." Roger Caras

Its Time to Expand My Life!

2010-01-26T08:39:00.004-06:00

How are you doing, at the end of the first month of the new decade? Are you forging ahead on your New Year's Resolutions or have they been put up, along with the Christmas decorations? Time to check in and recalibrate!

Instead of stating the same old resolutions (lose weight, make more money, pay off debt, etc.) why not try a different approach? One that could recharge your life, your dreams and your goals! The place to start is not "out there" or after you get "_____" (fill in the blank). The place to start is right where you are -- right here, right now.

There is a quote that has had a profound impact on my life, which I now use to guide my choices throughout the day. You have to meditate on it, start using it as a template for your day, and the wisdom and spiritual energy will begin to seep into your consciousness. It goes to the heart of each of us and encourages us to choose well.

The quote is by Neale Donald Walsch, author of the "Conversation with God" series of books. It states:

Every decision you make - every decision - is not a decision about what to do. It is a decision about Who You Are. When you see this, when you understand it, everything changes. You begin to see life in a new way. All events, occurrences, and situations turn into opportunities to do what you came here to do.

Try reading this quote several times a day. Carry a copy of it with you to refer to in your free moments. Embed it on your consciousness, then make a note of the results. You will be amazed how a simple change in your perspective can totally change the direction of your life!

I think of it this way - in every moment of my day, I have two basic choices. I can either chose to expand myself, my purpose and my service to others, or I can chose to contract in fear, doubt, worry and anxiety. The expansive choice causes me to grow; the contractive choice makes me shrink. So, the basic question in each moment is, "Do I want to grow or shrink?" When I consistently make the expansive choice, my life is unbelievably, fantastically awesome. When I chose to listen to my fears, I shrink down into a smaller version of me.

Expand your life, and all of your New Year's Resolutions will come true in ways that you could never imagine. Try it yourself - make a comment back to this blog so we can all share our experiences!

Discover Your Spiritual Bridge

2010-01-08T17:22:00.003-06:00

The dawning of a new year (much less a new decade) is time for celebration and contemplation. You celebrate that you are still here, in your human body, aware of the passage of time. You contemplate the past and the future, wondering about missed opportunities or undiscovered joys.

In short, the new year is a moment in time when the world stops spinning and we can catch our breath before the frantic energy begins again.

If you ever have moments you just want to get off the carousel, pay attention! That is your body telling you to slow down, breath deeply and just be. Not do, not accomplish, not succeed. Just be.

The bridge to your spiritual self is waiting for you in the stillness of your inner world. When was the last time you visited?

The following quote from Elizabeth Fayt is instructive:

"When we become silent, we are able then to become truly still. Meditation is the best way to achieve this stillness, because silence is more than just silencing the outward noise. It is about silencing the thoughts within. It is in this silence, that God speaks to us."

There are many different meditative techniques. Do some research, experiment and find the one that works best for you. Then practice it every day. This one simple change will make this new year completely different than any that has passed before!

The Gratitude Train

2009-11-24T09:04:00.004-06:00

What are you thankful for today? With Thanksgiving just around the corner (have you bought your turkey yet?) thoughts naturally turn toward gratitude. So why don't you take a ride on the Gratitude Train and see what pops up?

The first stop is to look around your world - how many things can you give thanks for? A home, a car, a loving family, enough food on the table, a job in this sluggish economy. Gather your gratitude list together and hold on while the train chugs its way to the next stop on our journey.

The landscape has changed somewhat. Instead of lush, green grass and beautiful scenery, you now see a barren desert, windswept and desolate in its isolation. What is this place? It is the land of lack and limitation. Why are you stopping here? Isn't gratitude about giving thanks for the good things, not the bad?

Admit it - thoughts of fear, anxiety about money and knowledge of scarcity in your life or others had taken up residence in your mind. You can't escape the media's negative messages and after a while, you start to believe them (or not). But you can't blame the media - they are just doing their job. It is your choice to listen and believe. Or not.

To be wholeheartedly grateful, one hundred percent authentic, and completely in tune with the spirit of gratitude, you also have to give thanks for the negative things in your life. There are lessons hidden by the images of lack and limitation. Shadows, waiting to be discovered by the enlightened person who knows that everything is perfect, just as it is.

Think back on your life, to the most desperate and desolate time, when you thought you could not move forward another step. What happened? Somehow, you survived and moved on, right? Wasn't there a lesson hidden in the darkness that you did not see until you had moved back into the light? Perhaps you needed to be less judgmental or critical of another person, or more forgiving and loving. Or maybe you needed to be more loving of yourself?

The lesson is to be grateful for the bad times too. Who are you to judge whether an event is good or bad? Do you know all of the factors, the conditions that led up to that event that involved other people? Is your perspective so global in scope that you totally understand why that situation was created in the first place? Only if you can answer yes to questions like these, do you have the luxury to judge a situation or another person.

Fear, anxiety, and negativity are all creations of the ego trying to protect you. But the results of these limiting thoughts and beliefs is to dam up the flow of gratitude in your life. When you drop the judgmental thoughts and criticisms, gratitude comes rushing into your life.

Take a moment to reflect on the "bad" times and discover the beautiful lesson that lay hidden just underneath the surface. Only after you can look the bad times head on and say "thank you" will you be able to continue your journey on the gratitude train.

Look - you are back where you started! You just took a journey through your life and discovered new treasures you did not know existed. Peacefulness and joy are your constant companions, as thoughts about the past are replaced by living fully in the moment of now. Concentrate on being present, being grateful every time you take a breath, and your life will change forever.

Listen! The Train is leaving again. Want to go on another round?

Everything is Energy!

2009-11-10T08:36:00.003-06:00

This post is different than what I usually write, but I felt compelled to share this information with you.

Have you ever felt so fantastic-- so filled up with life-- that you just had to let out a huge “wooooo hoooo!” at the top of your lungs? Well if not, you’ve got to take a minute to read this because that is the way I’ve been living my life over the past few months.

I have discovered two of the most amazing Energy Coaches ever. David and Kristin Morelli are experts on aligning energy - which has made a huge difference in my life. They are also the founders of the radio show “Everything is Energy” and wow-wee did we make some big shifts!

Now they started a NEW program called The Prosperity Tribe. I can't tell you how amazing the shifts continue to be in my life (trust me, I wouldn't send this to you if it weren't true...). You've got to get in on this!

Life with the support and teachings of the Tribe has been like life with a set of brand new eyes ... and REAL prosperity.

I have been moving energy and breaking down my deepest blocks to abundance and authentic wealth like I have never done before. I am inspired to take leaps into the unknown - because I know that I have removed my long-standing blocks to abundance.

A little bit about Kristin and David: Kristin is a self-made multimillionaire (by age 30) and David is an energy worker of the highest caliber. He is sought after by many well-known teachers of the Law of Attraction to work with them on breaking through their own blocks to wealth and success. Together Kristin and David are an extraordinarily powerful team who have made it their dedication to help others make the shift from lack to abundance. They teach that True Abundance = an abundance that embraces money and ALL good things in life.

This couple and the work they do are nothing short of amazing! I am so grateful for having found them and for saying “YES!” to coming under their mentorship by joining The Prosperity Tribe.

You can get a glimpse into the power of the program and meet Kristin and David at this link:
http://bit.ly/2lkumy

You DEFINITELY have nothing to lose - And everything to gain!

Plus - Kristin and David are both so energetic that you can't help be feel better after listening to them!

Book Signings a Success!

2009-11-05T13:00:00.005-06:00

Guess what! When you put yourself out there --- abundance comes back tenfold!

In the last two weeks, I had three different book signings. Two of the events surrounded the Arcadia Publishing book called Images in America - Waxahachie and the other event was for my children's book, Walk With the Master.

What I learned after speaking to dozens of people is that there are alot of people out there who "have a book inside of them" but they do not know how to bring it into physical form. The lack of knowledge hampers their dream, and they tend to focus on how much they don't know, instead of taking action to learn the steps toward becoming an author. So to help out all those who have the dream of a book, but don't have a clue how to start, please read on.

Pledge to yourself that you will commit 30 minutes a day to pursue this dream. Spend 15 minutes searching the Internet for information, ideas, etc. Spend the other 15 minutes writing - whether it is a blog like this one, or in a journal, or the start of an outline. But WRITE EVERY DAY!!!

This is the simple recipe I followed to become the author of 3 books in 18 months and a successful online magazine!

Remember, you don't have to know all of the steps to reach the end result. You just have to see what the next step, immediately in front of you - is - then take the necessary action to make it happen. As you proceed step-by-step on your journey, the next action step will appear.

So - go make it happen! The world needs your voice - don't sit on the fence when you can add to the world's wisdom and knowledge!

Stop playing small and break out to your greater self.

A Mental Exercise Program

2009-10-29T11:13:00.004-05:00

How much time do you spend thinking about the past - or the future? Take five minutes to review what you thought about for the previous five minutes. Then see if you can't determine what percentage of time you just spent thinking about the past, the present and the future.

Here is the way it looked for me when I did this simple exercise:
Past thoughts 60%; Present thoughts 10%; Future thoughts 30%

Isn't that revealing? It certainly was to me! And to add to my dismay, I have also learned that about 90% of our thoughts are repetitive. Which means that I am thinking the same thoughts about the past and the future - over and over again! AGHHHHHH!

I am always the type to see the glass half full. So, to take the positive perspective, I stay in the present 10% of every moment. Not too great, but it is a place to start. So how do I shift my thoughts to focus on the present - the moment of Now?

Very simple, really. I just chose to. No bells or whistles, no clapping or heart-renching decisions. Just a simple intention that I practice over and over until it becomes a habit.

Because the way we think is habitual. You have a pattern to your thinking, just as I do. And the only way to change it is to treat it like any other habit. Identify what is unfavorable, make the decision to change, then follow through with action.

A mental exercise program - for the mind!

Try it for seven days, keep a journal to log your progress and see if your mind does not become clearer and more peaceful. Your inner journey is well worth the effort!

You are a Child of the Divine

2009-10-16T07:44:00.006-05:00

The Universe is constantly expanding, growing and creating. The same spiritual energy that created the stars, the solar systems and the galaxies also created each one of us.

Inside each one of us, lies a seed of Divine love, which blossoms when we remember who we really are. We are Children of the Divine. Children of God. But it is even more than that (as if that were possible!)

Each one of us is a unique, one-of-a-kind creation, living here on earth at this particular time and place, to become the highest version of ourselves possible while we are in physical form. God did not make one pattern to create each person - he made each person out of one pattern - then he threw it away and started over with a new, different pattern for the next person! And he did it all out of his abundant supply, enveloped in love.

Do you realize how special you are? There is not another person on the face of the planet just like you. There is not a single human being who has ever lived before you or after you who will be just like you! You are a magnificent, original creation - signed by the Divine artist himself.

Where did he leave his signature - his mark? It is imprinted in your very DNA. But it goes much deeper than that. God left his signature on your soul - you belong to him and you know it at the deepest, most elemental level of your being.

You are a child of the Divine. And that means you have Divinity running through your veins. Claim your birthright by declaring yourself free of limiting thoughts, beliefs and actions.

Go deep within yourself to discover your Divinity. Meditate, contemplate, take time to be still. Stop the mind chatter, the endless repetition of thoughts and just BE. Be still and God will emerge from behind the curtain thrown up by the ego's games. God is there, waiting for you to step in and pull back the cover.

You are more cherished than you have ever let yourself believe. Far more capable than you have allowed yourself to be. A world of infinite possibilities surrounds you, waiting for you to realize your next higher version of yourself.

You are a Child of the Divine. Isn't it time to start acting like one?

I Crossed the Finish Line But My Journey Has Just Begun!

2009-09-01T08:20:00.004-05:00

The end - finiti. So final, so definite. But is it?

Thirty days of mediation and saying a Prosperity Affirmation and what do I get? A strong desire to continue on this path!

Something has awakened in me that seeks expression. Perhaps you have felt that longing too, for a different way of life, different choices, dreams fulfilled. And to fulfill that longing, all you have to do is one thing. Nothing complicated, no magic formula.

Just one thing. Change your thoughts and you will change your world.

It is that simple!

A friend of mine sent me the following link to a YouTube video that explains the process beautifully. Check it out at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNXUOQLyX9Q

My journey has just begun - how about you?

The Difference of ONE Degree Can Change Your Life!

2009-08-30T20:54:00.002-05:00

Did you know that water boils at 212 degrees? Of course you did! But did you ever think how that one degree difference could impact your life and the vision you hold for yourself? Check out this email I received from Nightingale-Conant...and be sure to take 2 minutes to watch the movie!

The difference between hot water and boiling water is just one degree of heat. While that may not seem like much, it's the difference between a relaxing cup of tea... and being able to power a 50-ton steam locomotive up a mountain. The 212 Movie brilliantly illustrates how one extra degree of heat, that one extra degree of effort, can make all the difference in your life!

This short, 3-minute presentation will immediately energize you, focusing your efforts TODAY, while putting you on a path to out-perform, out-earn, and out-deliver in any area you desire... starting now. After watching the 212 Movie, you'll understand how putting forth just one extra degree of effort can put you over the top — no matter what your pursuit in life.

So... please turn up the volume on your PC, get ready to be energized, then click on the following link to watch "212 — The Extra Degree" (or cut and paste into your browser):

www.nc212movie.com

Best wishes for success,

Is that cool or what? Or should I say, is that hot or what? Thanks for reading and listening!

3 weeks and I am still here

2009-08-24T20:40:00.003-05:00

Three weeks into my Spiritual Exercise Program and I am still here! Funny, I feel somewhat off balance, like the rules have changed and I have not quite caught up. Or maybe I am just getting off my negative treadmill and stepping into new territory.

I do know that joy lies in the present moment, that instant of time I have been granted to live and breath in. I have found that my "monkey mind" is much calmer and quieter, which is a nice respite from its usual frantic behavior. The space that was once occupied by MM is now filling up with other things, such as a clearer vision of who I am and what I want to accomplish.

More vision = more focus = more results.

Just think about it - water from a lake spillway can either cover a large area without much results, or it can be channeled to form enough force to power a hydro-electric plant. Clear thinking, focused attention and unshakable belief and certainty is the formula to accomplish anything you desire.

Just watch what happens to me - I have one week to go.

Cause and Effect

2009-08-19T07:55:00.003-05:00

Everyone has heard of the Law of Cause and Effect. I always thought it was just a way to teach responsibility to children - if you drop something, it will break and there WILL be consequences. But the Law of Cause and Effect goes much deeper and runs more strongly through our lives than we have ever imagined.

If you look at nature, you will see constant examples of this law in action. Plant a pumpkin seed in good soil, water it and you will grow a pumpkin. Not a squash, not a cucumber, but a pumpkin. Gardeners and farmers understand this law perfectly and they use it to their advantage.

Why don't we use the Law of Cause and Effect to our advantage? Because most of us look at the wrong part of the equation. We tend to focus on the effects, the results of our thoughts, and not the thoughts themselves. If something goes wrong in our life, our first reaction is to look outside ourselves for the explanation.

We are looking the wrong way!

The reason why circumstances may not happen the way you want has nothing to do with the outside world. It has everything to do with your inner world - made up of your thoughts, beliefs and feelings. When you set an intention (I want to win the Lottery) and you don't get it, listen to your reaction to not getting it. If you find yourself saying things like, "It's rigged," or "I am the unluckiest person alive!" then you are focused on the Effect of not winning the Lottery. And you will continue to be disappointed because that was exactly what you intended to happen.

You have to shift your focus to the first half of the equation. Cause. You are the Cause of everything in your life!

What you think about, what you believe about yourself shapes your world. Your thoughts and beliefs are like magnets, attracting like energy from the ocean of potential that we live in. That energy that you attract is actually shaped by you! It becomes form and then materializes in your world.

What if you really want something, then don't get it? Make sure that you were clear in your intention and that all negative or limiting beliefs have been neutralized. If you ask for the Lottery but you do not believe you deserve wealth, what do you think is going to happen? The Lottery is not going to come to you -- your own limiting belief about your self-worth blocked it.

You have the capacity to create your greatest dream life, but you have to ask for it with unshakable faith, certain of the outcome and grateful to God for it having occurred.

It takes time for these new concepts to sink into your thoughts. You have lived your life under one set of beliefs; you can change that in an instant, but usually the ego resists such a drastic change in perspective. So give yourself time, continue to learn and grow.

One valuable tool that has really accelerated my growth is listening to the Ask, Believe and Receive relaxation CD from Dr. Patrick Porter. If you click on www.daretorelax.com and give your name and email, you can download the digital file instantly. Listen to it every day for at least 21 days, and you will begin to notice that you will see the world differently, you will hear the world differently. You will begin to realize that you are truly the Cause of your life. And the effects of that shift in thinking will begin to appear.

The Law of Cause and Effect works the same for everyone. It is the glue that holds the Universe together. Make it work for you, so you create the life of your dreams.

Remember - you are Cause - your life is the Effect.

Now - Go! Create your most wondrous life and be thankful to God for your capacity to be Cause. Joy will fill your heart and prosperity will follow you like a shadow.

Life is a Process

2009-08-13T07:04:00.004-05:00

We saw the new movie Julie and Julia last night. The main character, Julie (played by Amy Adams) is a lost young woman without purpose. She floats through life and wonders why she is not as successful as her friends. It is not until she sets up a challenge for herself that activates her passion for cooking that her life turns around.

The challenge? To cook all of Julia Child's 524 recipes in 365 days. And blog about her experiences.

Julie tries to jump ship several times, but she finally feels alive, so she keeps going. She meets the challenge and discovers herself in the process.

It is when we engage in life that life engages us. If we remain bystanders, there is no commitment and no passion. We can disengage at any time, because we never were truly engaged.

Take the time today to think about what truly fires up your passions - those things that make you sing with the energy of creation. Because when you are creating - you are living!

Life is truly a process, that reveals itself at each spin of the globe. To stay spinning on your axis, (instead of spinning out of control) identify and live your purpose. It's your life.

Go for it!

The Universe is a Mirror Image of Yourself

2009-08-11T07:37:00.003-05:00

What I am learning through my Spiritual Exercise Program is to be alert and aware, because the Universe always mirrors what I believe is true. Let me give you a quick example of what I mean.

About a year ago, we had new neighbors move in next door. They pretty much kept to themselves and so did we, until their dogs began getting out of their yard and staying in ours. I went over there several times and asked nicely if they would please keep their dogs in their own yard.

Well, several weeks passed and this still kept happening. I finally caught David (the guy next door) to find out what the problem was and he blamed it on the fence, which the landlord woul not fix. Of course, David would not pay for the repairs. (turns out that the dogs were digging under the fence, so there was nothing to wrong with the fence itself).

One day, I take my dogs out to the dog run (which shares the same fence as next door). There were two boards missing in the fence, which opened up a space for my dogs to go in his yard. I went back inside to get a hammer and nails, and went back over to the hole. I saw the two boards lying on the ground inside his yard, so I reached in and pulled them back to my side. As I was about to nail the boards back up, David comes running out of his house, yelling and cursing at me to leave those boards alone.

Now, mind you, I still haven't figured out what he is doing or how he did it. All I knew was that there was a hole in the fence and my dogs could get out. I asked him calmly what he was doing, and he snarled, "It's none of your d... business." Of course I told him that it did concern me, because of the dogs, etc. He then starts threatening to call the police because I had trespassed on his property. That's when the lawyer in me kicked in - I told him that he was a renter, that he had the right to possess that property for the length of his lease, but it was not "his" property.

Big mistake on my part.

If looks could kill, I would not be writing this blog right now. I was subjected to the worse verbal abuse you could imagine, all shouted through a foot-wide opening in an old wooden fence. I had to admit it that I used a few cuss words myself. The long and short of it was that he gave me back the boards and I nailed them up on my side of the fence. And we haven't spoken since.

But that's the rub for me - I have replayed that entire incident in my head at least a million times. Every time I think about it, my heart races and my blood pressure shoots to the moon. The emotional energy attached to that incident stayed strong for quite a while.

And then I read somewhere that the Universe reflects your own beliefs back to you. It is actually a mirror image of what you believe about yourself!

I decided to examine the incident from an observer perspective (without the emotional charge) and I saw what I was trying to tell myself. It had to do with money and my perception of rich people.

During David's tirade, he accused me of being "high and mighty" and looking down on "regular folks." He also said I thought I was so much above everyone else because I lived in the biggest house on the block. Basically, that I was a rich snob.

Me? A rich snob? You have got to be kidding - I am the nicest, kindest, most thoughtful...

When I reviewed this incident as an observer, I realized that those statements were EXACTLY what I thought about rich people. That they live in their own world and they have no idea what normal people go through because of money. They spend money on frivolous things when other people could really use that money for something important. That they think they are better than everyone else...

Guess what? If I truly believe those negative things about rich people, is it any wonder why I have not become a millionaire? Why would I want to become like the people I dislike and envy? I wouldn't, and that may be one of the core reasons why I have never made millions of dollars.

Does that leave me stuck in a middle-class world? No! Because all I have to do is change my beliefs about money and how it affects people. Money is simply a barometer that measures your internal success scale. When I know that "I am the source of all wealth..." that means that I create the thoughts and beliefs that the Universe responds to, without fail. And then I am on my way to a life of prosperity and abundance.

Come to think of it, that hole in the fence was the best thing that happened to me. Thanks David for being my mirror!

Life Got in the Way

2009-08-09T08:16:00.002-05:00

Remember my promise to you (and myself) that I would chronicle my progress in my Spiritual Exercise Program? On a daily basis? Well, I have a confession to make.

After Day 2, I blew it. I have listened faithfully to the meditation CD and said the Prosperity Affirmation every day, but I failed to write about it. Excuses abound in my mind (we've been busy, the dog ate my computer mouse...) but the whole point of this exercise is to learn to accept myself and stretch my spirit to become more than I am today.

Maybe self-forgiveness is the first place to start in that process.

My capacity to grow and evolve into a higher being is only limited by myself. If I censure myself to the point of inactivity (as in, why bother - it does not matter anyway) then I have just placed a lid on my own growth. By my own judgmental and critical thoughts, I have just perpetuated the very thing I am being so critical of - my lack of diligence.

It's as if I am creating the most wonderful pot of soup on the stove, letting it simmer and bubble to perfection. But the recipe calls for no lid - and I put a lid on anyway. Will it taste the same? No. Will it look the same? No. Will it smell the same? No. So why not follow the recipe and create something wonderful?

This is where Ego steps into the spotlight. Do you know that you are not your ego? You are not that collection of beliefs and thoughts that translate into the critical voice you hear inside your head. That voice is not the Spiritual You - the authentic you who knows what you are here to accomplish in this world while you are in physical form.

The subject of Ego is too massive to address here. If you want to learn more about why we all create an ego, how it controls our thoughts and what you can do to quiet that voice, the book by Ekhart Tolle, A New Earth, is a great read. It will change your perspective on your thoughts, your belief system and most importantly, your goals in life.

My goal is to focus on the spiritual side. But I still have to live in a world driven by stuff - demands made on my time, commitments to fulfill, back to school craziness. The difference is that I accept that sometimes, I just have to say, "It's O.K." pick myself up and go on. Life does get in the way, but I am the way to creating my life.

Day 2 - Spiritual Soreness

2009-08-05T22:13:00.002-05:00

Today is Day 2 of my "Spiritual Exercise Program." Just like any physical exercise regimen, the second day can be tough. Some of the excitement and newness has worn off and some soreness starts to set in.

My spiritual soreness began today when we had to pay for an unexpected car repair. A hit of $500 that comes out of the blue was enough to throw off my higher vibration and set me back several notches. All of my limiting beliefs about money and finances came flooding back into my consciousness!

But never fear, because I have a V-i-s-i-o-n. It is bigger than these small obstacles and better than where I am right now. Instead of lowering myself to my circumstances, I raise my circumstances up to my higher self.

The trick is to remember that I know what I need to know, when I need to know it. If that sounds like the chorus of a song, you are a genius! Karen Taylor Good is a fabulous song-writer/singer and she wrote a wonderful song with the same title.

I know that I am awash in abundance and wealth. I know that I deserve abundance and wealth of mind, body, spirit, and emotions. I know that my outer circumstances do not define my inner universe. Instead, my inner universe takes form when I manifest my desires into reality.

At least, that is what the Prosperity Affirmation says.

Maybe that is why I need 30 days to digest these concepts. My current belief system is based on lots of negativity about money, finances, and my ability to earn and keep such things. My vision is that I will replace such limiting concepts with liberating ideas about my value in the world.

A long road stretches ahead of me, to an endlessly distant horizon...where the golden orb of truth shimmers. I just hope I can make the journey without getting too discouraged... (dramatic sigh, hand held to forehead, worried expression creasing my brow while I swoon gracefully...)

Or I can just decide to throw away all the drama and start fresh. Think I'll just keep singing my song (thank you Karen Taylor Good) and see what happens.

"I know all that I need to know, when I need to know it.
And when I forget that's so, the Universe will show it.
There seems to be a plan at work and there's nothing I can throw it.
So all I know I need to know, when I need to know it."

Fade to dusk, as my silhouette skips happily along the yellow brick road into the fading sunlight...

Making My Soul Sing - A Spiritual Exercise Program

2009-08-04T22:45:00.004-05:00

Today I started an exercise program for my spirit. It is very simple and hopefully, very effective. I will listen to a 30 minute mediation and read a 5 minute Prosperity Affirmation every morning for the next 30 days. Hopefully, changes made on the inside will transform my life, on the outside.

Today is the first day. It bothered me that I hadn't thought to begin this program on August 1st; instead it began on August 4th. The lack of symmetry was appalling to a person of my highly developed anal-retentive nature, but I decided to let it go. It was my first act of freedom - to just let it go.

Maybe there is something to this...

Tonight we watched the movie, Confessions of a Shopaholic. I thought it was going to be a piece of fluff with alot of comedic gags thrown in to keep the audience happy. Instead, it was about relationships and how we allow them to define who we are. Rebecca Greenwood is a confirmed shopaholic who is swimming in credit card debt. Her view of the world is tainted by her relationships with things - expensive things that she can't afford. Through a series of mishaps and mayhem, she discovers what she should have known all along. It is the relationship with herself that defines her world, not the other way around.

And that is exactly why I am exercising my spirit - in the hopes that I will come to define myself. Without hestitation, without doubt and without judgment. Because you know what? The only person you can never divorce in the entire world is...yourself. So you had better get to know her and love her, because you are stuck with her.

Or you could fall in love. With yourself.

I have now added a new element to my exercise program. A new blog will be posted every night to chronicle my progress. It may prove boring or inspiring. There is simply no way to tell.

But we'll never know unless we begin the journey. Are you with me?

Who is on Your Bus?

2009-07-03T15:07:00.009-05:00

The following exercise is from The Dark Side of the Shadow Chasers by Debbie Ford. (A must read for anyone seeking to learn more about their spiritual side).

Imagine that you are about to get on a bus that is loaded with a strange and different set of people. They all seem to know you, but you may not recognize them. As you are seated on the bus, several people approach you and want your attention. For some reason, you chose the person who seems to need you the most. You walk off the bus and have a conversation. And you discover something remarkable - all the people on the bus represent one aspect of your life - the good and the bad, the light and the shadows. By taking the time to connect with each person, you discover parts of yourself and come to understand why you act the way you do or carry negative beliefs that harm your growth.

It sounds a little hookey, but try it for yourself. This exercise helps clear out old beliefs to make way for new, empowering ones. Debbie recommends that you name each person, describe him or her as precisely as you can and imagine the encounter happening right now. The following story is what I encountered after taking a ride on "my bus."

It has been awhile since my last bus ride. When I stepped inside, I knew exactly who I wanted to find - Polly Procrastinator. I walked down the aisle asking everyone else if they had seen her. Tina Tuneless said that she was supposed to be here. Dolly Darling agreed, but added that you could always count on Polly to not follow through.

I finally spotted Polly walking slowly toward the bus. I went outside and grabbed her arm, dragging her to the bench where we could sit and talk. Polly was not pleased with my direct approach. "Leave me alone," she cried. "I have better things to do than talk to you!"

I knew that these messages were all a ploy to distract me from my real purpose. My insistence became forceful and Polly finally sat down.

I studied her for a moment. Black hair streaked with grey flew around her face (no time to color the hair or get it cut). Her brown eyes were dull and listless, while her skin tone was almost ashen (no time to take care of herself). Polly's clothes were shapeless and hung from her skinny frame (no time to shop or work out). She wore a long black coat that made her look almost invisible. In short, she looked like an unkempt bag lady who was not engaged in the business of living.

"What do you need from me?" I asked her in all seriousness.

Suddenly, the pretense vanished. Polly's eyes shone like spot lights into mine as she said intensely, "I need for you to not get overwhelmed at projects. And don' t let fear of failure stop you from taking action."

I nodded my understanding. I have a tendency to take on too much at one time, and not focus on one project until it is completed. And my inner critic always works overtime whenever I am starting a new venture or project.

I asked the second question that would yield the treasure. "What is your gift?"

Polly immediately stood up and flung out her arms. "I am all of your negative beliefs about yourself," she cried. Her coat opened up and then I saw what had been hidden from my view. The entire inside lining of her coat was covered in badges and pins. Each one had an expression or saying, such as "You are not worthy," or "You can't make money being creative," or "You can't handle your money."

After reading about five of these messages, I had had enough. I could feel the fog of indecision roll over me, paralyzing me from taking action. "O.K. I get the picture!" I cried in desperation.

Polly just looked at me with a sad smile and shook her head. She closed the coat and turned to get on the bus.

Suddenly, I realized what I had just done. "Hey, you tricked me!"

Polly turned so quickly that her coat swirled out in a wave of motion. The badges and pins clinked together at the motion. She walked back and stopped in front of me.

"I have been doing that to you almost your entire life." She opened her coat again and asked gently, "Don't you think its time to change? I really don't have room for any more badges."

I realized I had a choice to make. Let Polly get back on my bus and continue to run my life, or take her up on her offer and change.

I chose change.

Polly raised her arms to heaven and sang "Allelieua" then started shaking like a tree caught in a hurricane. Badges and pins began falling from her coat in a rainstorm of metal. It did not take long for a rather large pile of badges to form.

"Hey - what are you doing?" I cried in alarm.

"You won't be needing these anymore," she said calmly. "Pick one up," she commanded.

I bent down and grabbed the first one at the top of the pile. I noticed for the first time that it had writing on both sides! The front said, "I am not worthy." When I slowly turned it over in my hand, the other side shone like gold. "I am worthy" glowed up at me. I smiled and turned to look at her.

"You are all of these things - the good and the bad. It is your decision which side you chose to focus on." Polly paused for effect as she gave her last bit of wisdom. "Good thoughts attract more good thoughts. Bad thoughts..."

I nodded my understanding and said, "Thank you for this gift!" Polly grinned in delight and walked away, skipping every other step. I turned back toward the bus, wondering what other gifts I would encounter.

Just as I was about to get onboard, I happened to glance back at the shiny metal pile. It was much smaller than I remembered, so I watched for a few minutes. Suddenly, the answer was in front of my eyes, and I laughed with joy. Everyone on the bus was watching the spectacle and soon there were many voices added to my own.

Several squirrels were standing around the pile, picking and chosing which badge to take back to their nest. What a great use of materials that I no longer needed - talk about recycling!

By taking the time to examine one of my shadows, I found the gift. Try this exerise for yourself - you will be amazed at the hidden treasures that are waiting for you to discover!

May you meet your shadows and discover the gifts that waits for you.

Live From the Inside-Out!

2009-06-18T07:57:00.006-05:00

Have you ever heard of an "inside-out" hamburger? The bun is in the middle and the meat, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, etc. are on the outside. Eating it with your hands is a challenge, but it tastes just the same as the traditional hamburger. All the same ingredients are there, just arranged in a different order. But you have a totally different experience!

Your life can be that way. Instead of making decisions because of outside factors or considerations, start from within. Take the time to connect with your true self and listen to what it needs. Then take action. Because you started from the inside, your final result will be different than if you started from the outside.

And isn't that what you want - different results?

Remember, we are spiritual beings living in a human form. What makes us unique is not what we can see, feel, taste, smell or touch. Our uniqueness lies within, and that is where we are connected. We all share the same droplet of spirit that came from the same source. You are no better or worse than me - we are equal beneficiaries of an amazing Universe!

Once your spirit awakens to your potential, it will not be satisfied until you live your life from your true source. Spend time with yourself and enjoy your company. Read books on spirituality, such as Michael Bernard Beckwith's Life Visioning Process or anything by Marianne Williamson, Joe Vitale, Lisa Nichols, James Arthur Ray or Jack Canfield. Listen to audio programs that expand your thinking, such as the 11Forgotten Laws by Bob Proctor. Once you begin your spiritual journey, your life will expand exponentially.

Your life can change one thought at a time. Let your inner spirit be your guide and miracles will happen. Live from the inside-out - and get your hands messy!

The Shadows of Forgiveness

2009-06-09T08:40:00.000-05:00

In my last post, I spoke about the shadows we all carry around with us. Events from our past, circumstances we blame for our present predicament, people who have hurt us. Can we ever be rid of these shadows and live a joyous life?

The short answer is --- YES!

The long answer is contained in the rest of this post. Shadows are a necessary part of our growth process. They are there for a reason - to stimulate your desire for change and evolution. When you embrace the gifts contained in your shadows, you will be free to create the life you were meant to live.

But how do you embrace a shadow? One of the best methods I have found is to follow the 13 Steps to Forgiveness contained in the book, Radical Forgiveness by Colin Tipping. It is a very simple process with profound results. Go to www.RadicalForgiveness.com and check it out for yourself. I promise you will experience a shift in your perspective and a change in your energy if you go through the 13 steps and complete a worksheet.

Remember, we are all spiritual beings having a human experience. When you realize that the person you are upset at is also a spiritual being, it changes things, doesn't it? And when you can recast the situation or events into a spiritual setting, you will be amazed at the insights that will come to you. And you will bless that person or those events for the lessons they taught you.

Come celebrate life with me - free of your old doubts, fears or worries.

Dance the dance of spirit - your shadows will join you!

Embrace Your Shadows and Be Free

2009-06-03T07:09:00.000-05:00

Shadows are elusive, without physical form and impossible to contain. They are as attached to us as our hair or skin. Just as light shines on our physical bodies, creating a shadow, so does the beam of enlightenment shine on our emotional shadows.

We learn from an early age that some emotions are not appropriate - jealousy, anger, pity, greed. Because of the training we receive, most of us shove these emotions under the surface of our awareness, into the "shadow world" of our self. But just like a ball that is held under water, these shadow feelings will pop up into our awareness so they can be acknowledged and processed. If we fail to understand that these emotions cannot stay repressed, however, we will always feel at the mercy of "events" and "others," instead of recognizing that we are trying to heal ourselves.

Shadow emotions hold gifts - they teach us things about ourselves that must be recognized to be whole. For example, greediness can hold the gift of abundance. When greediness takes over your psyche, you assume that there is not enough, so you must take all you can grab. Having experienced greediness, you can then step back and see that the universe is based on abundance principles, not limitation. Therefore, there is no need for greed or hoarding, because there is enough for everyone. Without acknowledging your shadow of greed, you will never discover the gift of abundance.

There are as many shadows as there are people. Your task is to discover your own particular shadows, call them forth, and acknowledge them. Ask to be shown the gifts they bring you, and honor it. The energy that you spent holding that emotion beneath the surface of your consciousness will shift.

And you will be free to be yourself.

You Can Be Free: Does the Bog Ever Get You?

2009-05-21T08:27:00.000-05:00

You Can Be Free: Does the Bog Ever Get You?
http://www.MiracleIncome.com

Does the Bog Ever Get You?

2009-05-21T08:15:00.000-05:00

Do you ever get "bogged down"? "Bog" stands for "Bad Ongoing Garbage" or in other words, those negative thought patterns and beliefs that keep you stuck in Victim Land.

Victim Land is a subtle place, where you are deceived into thinking that you are O.K., and the problem lies with everyone else. It's OUT THERE, not in here. And that, my friend is a huge mistake. No one ever grows in Victim Land - they just remain stuck in the garbage of blame, doubt, resentment and anger. Your ego may be happy for you to stay in Victim Land, but your spirit certainly is not.

When you are stuck in Victim Land, nothing seems to go right. You expect the worse to happen and it usually does. Confirmation of your "bog" thoughts is an easy thing to accomplish. But you can get off of that road and onto another highway.

How do you do it?

Easy - look around you and say "thank you" for the first thing you see for which you are grateful. It might be your cup of coffee; your computer; even your cat. But the very fact that you are breathing in oxygen and reading this blog is sufficient proof that you have things in your life for which to be grateful.

Watch your mood shift as you begin to speak your gratitude. Your cat may think you're strange, but your heart and spirit will rejoice. The resonance of your voice saying, "I am so thankful and grateful now that..." will lift your vibration to a higher level. And you will leave Victim Land behind.

Simple, yet very effective. It becomes a habit to get yourself out of the "bog."

Thanks for taking the time to read this tiny snippet of words. It certainly helped me to write them and it reminded me to follow my own advice!

Have you found your Rainbow?

2009-04-28T20:36:00.000-05:00

Have you found your rainbow yet?

It is there, waiting for the sunlight to find it.
Brilliant colors, magical spheres
Whisps of water surround it.

See your rainbow with your inner eye;
Hear the heavenly music with your inner ear;
And feel the rain mix with your tears.

Stop and listen, without censor or judgment.
Love the Divine that lives in you and see
The Glory of God in everything that surrounds you.

Have you found your rainbow yet...or has your rainbow found you?

The Path of Least Resistance

2009-04-26T09:44:00.000-05:00

I had a revelation on Friday. I discovered the truth about the phrase, "the path of least resistance" and learned something about myself in the process.

I returned home from work on Friday and as soon as I walked in the door, I felt all the negative thoughts, criticisms and judgments about my ability to successfully pursue my own path. I had a zillion little things to do that are all tiny steps on my path, and I made the mistake of thinking, "You'll never make any money from that, you never have." I felt that negative vortex start to pull me under and just I was about to give in (and give up), I stopped and sat down at the kitchen table.

I took a deep breath and asked, "What is going on here?" When my mind had quieted, I realized that my ego was doing its self-sabotaging dance and wanted me to be the partner. I was intimately familiar with this process, having accepted it without question for most of my life. But something inside me said, "No, let's take a look at this first."

I closed my eyes and saw two paths in front of me. The left path was difficult to see because of all the weeds growing over it. Vines hung like curtains from the trees that lined the path and I could only see a few feet ahead. The right path was clean, simple and free of debris. I could see for miles and there was noise and activity going on further down the path. I wanted to see what was happening, but realized I had to step on the right path first.

I realized that I had a choice in that moment. I could do what I had always done and go down the left side. I would become frustrated, angry, bitter and resentful because of all the obstacles in my way. I would eventually give up and decide that paths are not for everyone and then I would start over, at the beginning.

Or I could try something new and make a conscious choice to go down the right side. I am proud to say that I chose the right hand side.

My decision was based on many factors. I realized that I had never found happiness, joy or contentment by following the left path. I knew that way was not for me anymore. And I reached an important conclusion - why follow a path out of habit when it was not taking me to a better place?

After making my decision to follow a different path, my mood totally changed. I was happy again, eager to get started on my tasks. As I walked up the stairs to my office, I realized I had just stepped back from my beliefs, looked at them objectively, and discovered they no longer served me.

My Observer had finally appeared!

Many spiritual teachers talk about developing your own "Observer" to help identify the beliefs that are holding back your progress. You cannot identify those beliefs unless you step back from them and see how they impact your life. The Observer is the only way to do that.

The "path of least resistance" usually refers to someone who is trying to take a shortcut or cut corners. But on Friday, I realized that it can also mean "the path without old resistance."

Everyone on the planet is walking on their path - it may be cluttered with all kinds of resistance planted by the ego. But when you clear away your self-defeating belief patterns, your path becomes clear and open. Besides making it easier to pursue your journey, clearing the resistance also allows the Universe to supply you with the tools you need to continue.

You open your inner self to receive the flow of all good that is ever circulating around us!

So take out your inner machete and start clearing your path of resistance. Amazing things will start to happen!

To Expand or Contract? That is the Question.

2009-04-23T07:39:00.000-05:00

The famous quote from Shakespeare, "To be or not to be" has its place in immortality. Many things have been written about these five simple words. Philosophers, intellectuals and other esteemed people have placed their interpretation on this essential phrase. But what does it really mean?

We are human BEINGS, always in the act of creating our reality. The word "being" is a verb - active and expressive of an unseen force that flows through all of nature and through all of us. We are creative BEINGS, always in the act of creation. But what happens when we learn habits that smother our creative powers, merely because we start living our life automatically?

We become human BEANS.

The word "bean" sounds just like "being" but they represent two totally different concepts. A "bean" is an inanimate thing. It cannot chose how to react, nor can it chose to anything different than what it was made to be. The concept of free will does not apply to a bean; only to human beings.

But a bean is still alive. It can still grow, right? True, but it does not chose when to grow or sprout. It just does, just like it was programmed to do by the unseen force that underlies all of nature. A bean grows into what it was created to become. Nothing more, nothing less. And as long as it receives the nutrients it needs to grow, a bean cannot decide to become a different plant or animal. It has no say in the matter.

But we do have a say! The question is whether we realize our "being" or do we ignore it?

After listening to the audio course, "The 11 Forgotten Laws" I realized that in every waking moment, I am faced with a fundamental choice about my life. One basic decision stands behind my thoughts, which turn into beliefs, which then turn into action. That decision is whether or not I chose in that moment to "BE." Do I chose to become a higher version of myself, or do I decide "not to be" that person?

In other words, to paraphrase Shakespeare, "To expand or not to expand."

It does not have quite the same ring to it, does it? But the essential message is still expressed. In this moment (which is all I have) do I chose to expand my awareness and consciousness, by expressing my true self through my words and actions? Or do I chose to contract myself by being judgmental, critical, bitter, resentful, etc?

The decision is always left up to me. And the consequences are always my own.

Try this today - whenever you are faced with a situation where you could react either positively or negatively, ask yourself, "Do I expand or contract?" At first, this will seem awkward and perhaps may even upset you, but you will soon discover that you have been reacting habitually to situations instead of living in that moment. By forcing yourself to stop for a second to contemplate and deliberately chose your reaction, you begin to take back your life.

If you faithfully practice this simple process, you will start to accumulate moments in which you were totally present. Your thoughts were not distracted, you were not operating on automatic pilot, and you became aware of the consequences of your actions.

In other words, you were a human BEING in that moment.

And it feels great! Enthusiasm, joy, love and wonder will begin to fill your heart. You may even feel your very soul stand up, stretch, and say, "Finally! You woke up!"

"To be or not to be." That truly is the question for all of us.

You Can Be Free: The Cathedral Challenge

2009-04-17T08:52:00.000-05:00

You Can Be Free: The Cathedral Challenge
www.MiracleIncome.com

The Cathedral Challenge

2009-04-17T08:12:00.000-05:00

Have you ever walked into a cathedral when it was quiet and still? As soon as the wooden doors closed behind you, did you feel a sudden awareness that this space was special and holy? Did your soul quicken in excitement and whisper, "This is where you find me"?

I had this experience when I visited Nortre Dame Cathedral in Paris many years ago. It was August and the stifling heat of Paris was left behind as soon as we stepped inside the massive doors. Although the place was packed with tourists, their voices faded when I stepped from the nave into the main body of the church.

I was awestruck.

Alcoves lined the walls, each one dancing in its own candlelight. The main aisle lead up to the altar like an arrow, drawing me forward. Incense filled the air with a mystical scent. The art work and architecture were stunning, but it was the space - the vastness - of the interior that spoke to me.

I saw a vision of monks in their coarse, brown robes walking slowly up the aisles, chanting softly. Their reverence for each other, this special place and for God were tangible feelings that I somehow understood. As I watched, the perspective changed and instead of being an outsider watching a procession, I became one of the monks!

I was the last in line, the novice, trying to step in cadence with my brothers who led the way. I carried the latern in my right hand, and I held it high to light the way. Words of an unknown, but familiar chant fell from my lips and I felt as if I were one with these people, this place and with the Spirit of God that connected us.

The vision only lasted the span of several heartbeats. But I was transported to a different relm - a place where I was special, valued and loved. I have never had that experience before or since, but it has obviously stayed with me as a moment to ponder.

Life goes on and moments to ponder become few and far between. Until a passage in a book I was reading by Paulo Coelho startled me into remembering my vision. In the Zahir, Mr. Coelho describes a cathedral in Vitoria, Spain that started out as a small chapel. Over the years, the chapel became a church, then after more than a century, it became a Gothic cathedral. Over time, it was venerated and then neglected. Restoration work had taken place haphazardly over the years, but the cathedral withstood everything.

The main character's visit to this cathedral merged with my experience at Notre Dame. Let me quote the passage and see if you don't agree:

"And suddenly, in the middle of the central nave, I realize something very important; the cathedral is me, it is all of us. We are all growing and changing in shape, we notice certain weaknesses that need to be corrected, we don't always choose the best solution but we carry on regardless, trying to remain upright and decent, in order to do honor not to the walls or the doors or the windows, but to the empty space inside, the space where we worship and venerate what is dearest and most important to us." The Zahir, by Paulo Coelho, Page 54.''

It was an "aha" moment for me! Now I understood why that grand empty space called Nortre Dame affected me so deeply. My inner space yearned to expand and grow. Instead of focusing on what is important to my soul and creating an active inner life, I was focused on fixing the exterior - the doors, walls and windows of my life. But those are the trappings of a material world that dissolve when I pass from this world.

My cathedral, my space that is uniquely my own, requires focus and attention to expand and grow. My challenge is to find the way to do that, and to share my journey with others. Only then will the cathedral of my spirit be free to express itself in the material world of form.

Are you ready to begin your own Cathedral Challenge?

Change and the Stream of Life

2009-04-02T06:44:00.000-05:00

Change. It can be a word to dread or a condition to fear. Especially now, when it seems that the entire world is spinning on a different axis and all the rules are different.

But what about your personal life? What kind of changes have you spinning in confusion or fear? Everyone has their own personal list with the changes they have to face.

But let's take a step back and look at the bigger picture.

Have you ever heard of the Stream of Life? We are all immersed in it, but it is our personal choice whether to be in the middle, where the turbulent water is the most active, or to the side near the shore, where calmness prevails. But what is the Stream of Life?

It is an wonderful analogy that describes the ever abundant flow of the Universe. It acts as a model for our own reactions to events that seem to occur randomly in our lives. And finally, the Stream of Life connects us to the primal force that moves through all of us - love.

The Universe is ever expanding and increasing. Look at nature and you will see new growth on trees, plants and flowers. The birds are busy building new homes of their future young and calves, foals and baby goats can been seen frolicking in pastures, next to their mamas. Growth and change are part of the Universal language. Nature does not resist this inevitable fact of life, why do we?

Because we are the only one of all of God's creatures who have a choice about life. We can choose to be baker, a scientist or a candlestick maker. We can choose to be pessimistic or optimistic. We can choose where to live and what to wear. And we choose how we react to change.

Nature can't do that. An oak tree cannot say, "I'm tired of being an oak tree. I want to be a beautiful Aspen and live in the mountains." A cardinal can't say, "I am so sick of the color red. I want to be blue, like the Blue Jay." Well...you get the point.

Our ability to choose is our greatest freedom and our worst enemy. If we question our choices or debate about "what we should have done" we step out of the Stream of Life. If we feel guilty or angry about our choices, we block the flow of the Stream in our Life. And if our judgment about ourselves and our situation is too harsh, we deflate our own power.

Life stops flowing through us.

Close your eyes and picture a mountain stream. The water flows constantly towards its final destination, the ocean. When the water encounters a boulder or tree limb, it does not debate whether to go left or right. The water does not question why the obstacle is there or what the water did wrong to bring on such a disaster. The water does not question its own value and decrease its own power.

Instead, the water bends around the boulder, flows up or under the tree limb, and it keeps going, more powerful than before it came upon the obstacle!

What would happen if we followed the stream's example in our own life? Instead of resisting change, we decide to flow with it and look for the opportunities that wait to be discovered. Instead of playing the victim ("Why is this happening to me?") we ask ourselves, "What am I supposed to learn from this situation to become a bigger and better person?" Work on your reactions to change and you will begin to experience a different reality.

Change is inevitable. We can't change change! All we can do is accept that change will always be present in our life. It is our reaction to change that either propels us forward as part of the Stream of Life, or hampers our progress. Flow with changes and you will discover peace and happiness.

And you will be connected to your own source of power and goodness. Universal love.

Ever Heard of the Law of Attraction?

2009-03-23T07:58:00.000-05:00

If you are following this blog, then you have probably seen The Secret, the hit movie that came out in the summer of 2006 on the Internet. It spawned an entirely new industry of positive psychology experts who teach the Law of Attraction and other related concepts. If you have not seen The Secret, you can download a copy from your computer by visiting www.thesecret.tv. or buying a copy from that same website.

The Law of Attraction simply states that like energy attracts like energy. Every person on the planet operates his own "broadcasting" station, which sends out signals or vibrations to the Universe. The Universe always responds and events, people and things will emerge in your life based on the matches made between your broadcast signal and the Universe.

But what are the broadcast signals made of? Your thoughts! What you think determines your life. If you think, "I want to be rich" you know what you get? More wanting to "be rich." The Universe does not differentiate between "a want" and "a need." It will fulfill the strongest emotional content of your thought. And if your emotions are centered on wanting, that is what you get - more wanting.

Do you see how powerful you are? You determine what you get in your life!

The basic concept is that you are the cause of the events in your life. You are not "the effect" of something acting on you. You are the reason your life is the way it is. And if you are the cause, then you can change it. But how?

It's simple - just change the channel!

When you change your thoughts and perspective from "bad things keep happening to me" to "I am prosperous and energetic," guess what happens? A shift occurs and you start broadcsating an entirely different set of signals to the Universe. You have just stepped from "victimhood" to "causation." And you will start seeing different results in your life.

"But I have tried that," you cry in frustration. "It didn't work!"

You might have think you tried it, but I can guarantee you that your old pattern of limited thinking was still operating in the background. We all have a voice inside our heads that judges our actions, our goals and our life, usually in a negative and self-defeating tone. This voice is the voice of the ego - that mind creation that allows us to filter the millions of pieces of information that constantly bombards us. Unfortunately, the ego also plays games with us to stay in control. If the ego feels threatened or powerless, the onslaught of thoughts it spews forth is similar to "Old Faithful."

So how do you turn off the ego and its negative thought train?

Will power is not enough. The ego draws its energy from will power and is very good at convincing you that it is correct. The only way to deal with the ego is to bypass it.

Focus on listening to your Spiritual Intelligence - that inner voice who is your source. Dr. Michael Bernard Beckwith has just released his new book, called Spiritual Liberation. He describes this process beautifully and recommends that we ask the following questions when the ego is on a rampage:

1) What good can I find in this situation?
2) What good is trying to emerge from this situation?
3) What may I do to help it emerge?

Dr. Beckwith states that "your life unfolds, in part, according to the type of questions you place before yourself. By asking relevant questions...a whole new world of insight, beauty, intelligence and intuition will spring into expression through you."

Make a commitment to learn more about the Laws of the Universe and your place in it. As you change your perspective and begin to evolve more in consciousness, you will begin to "wake up" to your spiritual self. And your life will never be the same again!

The Garden of Your Mind

2009-02-28T07:21:00.000-06:00

Forgiveness. What images does that word raise up in your mind? A person with their head bowed, while another stands over them and smiles gently? The forgiver standing tall, being the bigger person, while the forgivee (the person being forgiven) bows in surrender, becoming smaller in the process?

I have another image of forgiveness I want you to consider. One that does nothing to the forgivee but everything for the forgiver.

A garden.

Think of all the transgressions against you, the hurts, the slights, the rejection by the one you most cared about, as the weeds in the garden of your mind. The more you dwell on the past, and feel those strong emotions that were triggered by the negative event, the more you water the weeds. Science has proven that thoughts are bundles of energy - if your thoughts are constantly reviewing, analyzing and reliving the past, you are directing energy (water) to your "weed thoughts."

And guess what? Weeds continue to grow if given water! (Heck, they grow without water, so why encourage them?)

How do you get rid of weeds? You pull them out by the roots. If you just pull out just the part you can see, the weed will grow back. It is the same thing with your thoughts.

We are programmed from childhood to hold onto our hurt. The "why" of that process is beyond the scope of this blog. But fortunately, the "how" of weeding your garden is not. Because the Universe is an orderly place and there are laws which keep the order. Follow the laws and you will get the results you seek!

When you plant good seed in your garden, nature will do her part and the seed will grow into what it is. Plant corn, and corn will grow. Plant cucumbers, and you will receive cucumbers. Can anyone tell me of a time when someone planted tomato seeds and received radishes instead? It just does not happen!

The Law of Cause of Effect will not let it happen.

This is a law that governs everything in form, but it also governs the formless. Your thoughts. The emotions that are triggered by your thoughts. And the actions you take because of the thoughts which triggered the emotions which compelled you to act.

Follow this logic with me. If thoughts are bundles of energy that are subject to the same laws as a tomato seed, and if I am in control of my thoughts, then I can control what type of thought I allow in my mind. And if I chose to have only positive, self-affirming thoughts about myself and every person and situation that I encounter, what do you suppose will be the result?

A beautiful life!

But what happens when the weeds (negative thoughts) keep reappearing? How do you pull them up by the roots so they are gone forever?

That is where forgiveness comes in. A Course in Miracles defines forgiveness in a unique way. To paraphrase, forgiveness is defined as a shift in perception that removes a block in me to the Divine. Forgiveness does not involve the other person who did you wrong - it directly impacts you! The weeds you hold onto so tight are a block in your own perception. And when you let them go - the block dissolves and you can see the situation clearly and from a different perspective.

I will tell you how to weed your mental garden in the next post. If you want to become immersed in this subject, go to www.MiracleIncome.com and click on the link to The 11 Forgotten Laws by Bob Proctor. The material included in that course will help you to wake up and plant only thoughts with good vibrations in the garden of your mind.

Enjoy the harvest!

Forgive the Mental Strips

2009-02-26T07:42:00.000-06:00

I was asked by a waiter at Chili's last night what I gave up for Lent (the ashes on my forehead were a dead giveaway). Such a casual question for such an important decision! I gave some flip answer but the question stayed with me.

What could I give up to enhance my evolution into the next higher and greater version of myself?

Today the answer came to me. I did not embrace the idea at first; in fact, there was an instant, strong resistance to the very suggestion. Why such a powerful reaction to such a simple concept? Then I realized what was happening. The very idea of it threatened my ego and it responded accordingly. Now I knew I was on the right track!

So what am I going to give up for Lent?

Forgiveness.

I am sure that strikes you as odd - why would someone give up an attribute that we are supposed to practice? That is the common perspective, and true up to a point. If the phrase "give up" means to abstain from, resist or avoid, then forgiveness is not something that should be "given up." The negative side of the "giving up" phrase is the one that most people understand. But there is a positive interpretation with a deeper meaning that dovetails nicely into the Easter message.

To "give up" also means "to offer" or "lift up" or "to release."

Do you see the difference? If I offer forgiveness to those people who hurt me, I release the hurt from my mind. I no longer devote precious energy to thinking about how much it hurt, or how I will get that person back for what they did. I actually free myself from myself!

It is just like those like those thin, metal strips in the junk yard I described in my last blog. Every time you are rejected, hurt or treated unfairly, another mental strip is added to your thought junk pile. After a while, (if you follow this practice religiously), you will discover that all of your thoughts involve the junk pile. And on occasion, when you are feeling really special, you might even dig through the pile to find your most special, most powerful and favorite mental strip to prove that you win the prize for The Best Victim!

This practice always originates in the ego - that mind creation that usually dominates the victim mindset. Think about why the ego wants you to be entrapped in always thinking about or searching your junk pile. If you are so caught up or immersed in holding on to past hurts, events or slights, then you can not live in the moment. Your past is polluting your present. And you ability to stay focused in the present moment is destroyed. (to learn more about the ego's games and their effects on the present moment, read Ekhart Tolle's The Power of Now and A New Earth).

But let's get back to the main topic for today - forgiveness.

I am not referring to being the "bigger" person and "granting" my forgiveness. That is a false definition - again, from the ego! If I forgive as the ego would have me do it, then I walk away thinking I am better than you. That even though you hurt me, I should be congratulated for taking the high road. The ego would have you focus on the effect of forgiveness on yourself - not the situation.

Ego forgiveness keeps you going back to your junk pile, removing a mental strip, then taking it and putting into a new pile of junk labeled "Forgiveness." Now you have two piles of polluting thoughts to go to whenever you want! You have just duplicated the first junk pile and stored it under a new heading.

Does that make any sense?

There is a spiritual dimension of forgiveness that takes away blame, condemnation and accusations. A Course in Miracles hit the nail on the head when it defined forgiveness as a "shift in perception." But what does that mean?

The forgiveness I want to offer to God is to go back through my mental junk pile, examine each and every strip I have been hoarding, embrace it as a necessary part of my spiritual evolvement, and then let it go. Literally!

Let me give you an example. This morning, I sat quietly and breathed deeply for several moments. When I felt calm and my mind was quiet, I saw myself walking over to my mental pile (I am embarrassed to say it stands taller than me!) and I chose one mental strip from the stack. I read the particular hurt that I had inscribed on it, recalled the incident in every detail, and felt again every emotion attached to that strip. I don't run from the strength of the emotion, or the type of emotion - I just let it bubble up. After all of the emotion that surrounded that event had surfaced, I smiled at it, thanked it for being part of my life, and walked away.

When I opened my eyes, I felt lighter - more vibrant and free. A slight energy shift had just taken place. Instead of holding onto that mental strip (and all of the emotion attached to it) I had released the energy surrounding it. I no longer stored the energy from that event to use in the future. And because I accepted the event and my emotional reaction to it, the energy transformed into something good. It became a small step in the stairway of my evolution to become the highest, best expression of myself. I am going to use this technique every day for the next 40 days, and at Easter, I will be the proud owner of a much smaller thought junk pile!

This new vision of higher self pulls me forward. It makes me excited to think of the possibilities.

Imagine, celebrating Easter and embracing its message of hope and renewal, without the weight and resistance created by your mental junk pile!

Forgive your mental strips and you will be free!

The Left or Right Trail - Junk or Treasure?

2009-02-24T08:49:00.000-06:00

During my morning walk on the hike-bike trail near our house, I noticed something peculiar. On the left side of the trail, a junk yard stood in all of its glory. Heaps of washing machines, dryers and refrigerators were piled in a line. Spools of wire were in another pile. But is was the third heap that caught my attention.

It was a man-made mountain of long, metal strips, each strip about 1 foot wide, 10 feet long and less than 2 inches thick. This debris stretched as least 30 feet long and more than 10 feet high. How many of those metal strips were in that pile? Hundreds? Thousands?

That pile was not created by itself. It started out flat, then as more and more metal strips were piled on top of each other, it grew in breath and scope. Until finally, it stood as a testament to man's wasteful habits.

Don't we do that to ourselves? We pile on judgment and criticism until our Real Self, our Essential Being, is so covered in piles of garbage that it can't breathe. Much less be expressed in our lives.

Let go of the metal (mental) strips that are hiding your Spiritual Self. They are the ego's creation to keep it on the throne of control in your life. Meditate on the fact that God made you, to live here right now and to be the greatest expression of You that is possible.

And then turn your attention to the right side of the trail.

My walk was not surrounded by ugliness. In fact, the right side of the trail is beautiful - large, old pecan and elm trees form a graceful canopy. Song birds flitted in and out of the tree branches, serenading me with beautiful music. A quiet breeze gently touched me before it played in the leaves on the side of the trail. Nature at its best.

When my attention was drawn back to the left side, I found "junkyard" thoughts started invading my mind. Money worries, family relationship conflicts, even chastising myself for not walking the dogs before I left, entered my thoughts. When I realized what I was doing, I immediately looked to the right side of the trail, and felt peace return.

The point is that we are surrounded by junk and treasure. But you get to chose which one to contemplate, consider and use to inspire you, or depress you. This choice is made every moment of every day for the rest of your life.

Chose to think thoughts that expand yourself through inspiration, creativity and love. Contracting thoughts stifle, judge and criticize - they are the metal strips of junk weighing you down. And you are a willing participant if you continue to give energy to negative thoughts or judgments that form a prison around the soul.

Breath in deeply. Do this often. It cleanses your mind and releases any toxins or anxiety you may be holding against yourself. Let yourself be nurtured by nature. Relax into your existence and be gentle with yourself.

The right trail for you is the one that makes you joyful, peaceful and happy.

Which one do you choose?

The Divine Spark

2009-02-19T09:23:00.000-06:00

Have you ever looked up into the night sky and felt a pull towards something greater than you? Do you realize that you have greatness within you that was given to you at birth?

A spark of the Divine is included in every baby that is born. It doesn't matter what the external circumstances are surrounding that birth; name, race and sex is immaterial. What culture or society that baby was born into does not change the fact that he or she was born with the Divine within them.

What are we supposed to do with this piece of God?

That question has kept a lot of people up at night, as they struggle for happiness amidst their particular circumstances. They cry out to God (or whoever they believe is supreme) and wonder why did all of these bad things happen to me?

Maybe there is another, more potent, more empowering question that should be asked.

"What is the good that I am to receive from this situation?"

Because no matter what the circumstance, no matter how much pain is involved, there is always good. Because we live in a world that exists because of opposites. We would not recognize pleasure without knowing pain. We would not know how to love unless hate had been experienced at some point. And we cannot feel happy without feeling sad.

So there is always something good that will arise from what looks like a bad situation. Because you can't have "bad" unless you also have "good."

So look for the good and you will discover the Divine.

And gratitude will fill you up to overflowing, because who wouldn't be grateful when they find their own, personal, piece of God?

What is your piece of the Divine?

2009-02-17T08:55:00.000-06:00

Have you ever wondered why you are here, at this time in history, in this particular place with the characteristics, talents and interests that only you possess? The answer lies within you, not somewhere outside.

When you were created, God put a small piece of himself in you. It is that drop of the Divine that urges you to seek meaning in your life. That Divine drop of eternal love will lead you to peace, joy and happiness. But how do you connect with it?

It can only be felt and heard in stillness. Silence.

The mind's constant chatter is like a repellent - the more noise that is allowed inside your head, the less likely you will be to connect to your own piece of the Divine.

So learn to be still - inside and out. Learn meditation and practice it as a daily habit. One simple technique is to just follow your breathing. As you breathe, let your thoughts go. Don't judge your thoughts, just be loose and let your thoughts flow out of your mind, as you breathe deeply in and out. After a while of quiet, you will begin to notice another source of energy inside.

That is your Divineness starting to emerge!

As you continue to practice meditation, you will notice that all of the external, worldly things that were once so very important in your life have faded to the background. As the layers of mind chatter, judgment and beliefs are peeled away, you will discover an inner glow of peace and love.

That is your own, personal drop of the Divine - cherish it.

And your life will never be the same again.

Your Mind is Not in Control

2009-01-27T08:26:00.000-06:00

Do you know how powerful your mind is? It can call up past mistakes in an instant and imprint them on your present moment. Or your mind can trigger great memories and then you feel on top of the world.

But have you ever asked yourself - Who controls my mind? Who controls my thoughts? Am I separate from my mind and my thoughts?

Just consider the idea that YOU are separate and distinct from your mind and your thoughts. Doesn't that open up new possibilities for your life? The essential YOU is not burdened by anything that happened in your past, or any anxiety about the future. The pure YOU existed before it came into this physical body and it will still exist when you leave the physical plane.

So why let your mind and your thoughts pollute the real and essential YOU?

Learn to just be in the moment, without mind chatter, without judgment or criticism, without thought. Just be. And in that beingness, you will discover the pure, essential, eternal YOU!