Future

The past can't see you,

but the future is listening.

~Terri Guillemets

Future

Where do you see yourself today? In a week from now? In a year from now? What does your future hold? Not sure are you? Well guess what, none of us are! Your future is just that, a place in time that you can't see and certainly can't quite grasp just yet. Isn't that the beauty of it though? Your future is not set in stone. It's an ever changing story depending on your choices and your experiences. What does it take for your future to turn out how you ultimate want it to? Well that's simple. You have to understand that you need to live for today in order to be at peace tomorrow. Learn how to pick yourself up from failure. Learn how to stay humble in the midst of success. Learn how to treat people with love and respect. All of this will help you create a future that is far better than you could have ever have imagined.

Forgiveness

Forgive all who have offended you, not for them, but for yourself.

~Harriet Nelson

Forgiveness

It's easy to hold a grudge. We think it makes us feel better to not let someone "off the hook" for making us feel bad about ourselves or a situation. We think that by not forgiving them, they somehow continue to suffer the pain like we are but the hard truth is that the only person suffering is us. Most likely that person doesn't even realize they caused us such pain or if they have, they have moved on. On the other hand, we sit here licking our wounds and staying in a place of discomfort and anger. What do you think this does to us? Yep, it weakens our body and spirit. Forgiveness is not easy and it doesn't come quickly but the more we can learn to release our pain, the more we open up our heart to healing and moving forward.

Take the time to assess all of the areas in your lives that need some forgiving. Maybe it's a person or a situation that you need to start to forgive or it might even be yourself. Start the healing process today so that tomorrow you can find the peace that you deserve.

Storms

For the man sound in body and serene of mind there is no such thing as bad weather; every day has its beauty, and storms which whip the blood do but make it pulse more vigorously.

~George Gissing, "Winter," The Private Papers of Henry Ryecroft, 1903

Storms

Life has its share of ups and downs. Sometimes we are blessed enough to have some smooth sailings and other times we have to traverse through stormy seas. It can be overwhelming and sometimes we may even be on the edge of giving up but we don't. We don't because we have a deeper understanding that through pain there is joy, through adversity there is love and through tragedy there is triumph. We become stronger individuals when we learn how to navigate through these storms. Isn't that what life is really about? Learning who we are, what we are made of how to handle difficulty when it presents itself to us. Let's never get stuck in the middle of the storm. Let's always break on through to the other side.

Opinions

They're certainly entitled to think that, and they're entitled to full respect for their opinions... but before I can live with other folks I've got to live with myself. The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience.

~Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, Chapter 11, spoken by the character Atticus

Opinions

Every single one of us has an opinion about almost everything! Part of life is going through experiences and gaining knowledge which forms what we think and how we feel. Opinions are important. They shape our journey from who we surround ourselves with to what professions we go in. We have to be careful though with our opinions. It's quite easy to feel so strong about something that it can become easy to stomp on someone else's ideas just because they have a different point of view. We might feel like arguing until someone relents (and probably not us) but who is really right in these situations? The answer would be all of us. See, opinions are just that ~ how we feel. No one can tell us that how we feel is good or bad, it's how we see the world. We may not always agree with other people and that's okay. People may not always agree with us and that needs to be okay too! In a world where so many people think it's normal to rip each other apart for feeling a different way, let us all try to understand each other a little bit more and have some civil conversations. It just might lead to new understandings!

Abundance

I keep the telephone of my mind open to peace, harmony, health, love and abundance. Then, whenever doubt, anxiety or fear try to call me, they keep getting a busy signal - and soon they'll forget my number.

~Edith Armstrong

Abundance

Why is it that we are afraid of having it all? Every day we proclaim that we are ready to have it all but in reality when the opportunity presents itself to get us closer to this goal, we usually clam up, shy away or just not do anything. We think we want it all and yet we constantly do things to make sure that doesn't happen. See, somewhere along the way, we believed the lie that everyone should strive to have it all but for some reason that couldn't have included us. Well here's a news flash: yes it does! You are meant to live a life full of abundance and when you fool yourself into thinking otherwise, you do yourself and your life an incredible disservice. Having it all doesn't necessarily mean three boats, five houses, two kids, a spouse and 22 acres of property. That's what people think but really, that's not what having it all means. You define what it means for yourself. We are all different and "having it all" should be many different things to each of us. We shouldn't strive to have what others have or be what others are. Strive to be your authentic self, live an authentic life and watch how abundance can't help but rush in to greet you. Today is the day to put down your worries, expectations and guilt. Redefine who you are, what you truly want and let life finally be able to answer you back in a way that will make you feel that you finally have it all.

Drive

Chase down your passion like it's the last bus of the night.

~Terri Guillemets

Drive

What are you most passionate about? What drives you to achieve greatness? What motivates you to keep pushing ahead? The answer always lies within your heart. Your mind may push you forward but your heart is what drives your spirit. Connecting our minds and hearts can sometimes be a very tricky task but if you can find a way to bring the two together, your life will be much more fulfilling. Remember, your heart will always guide in the right direction. You just need to learn how to really "hear" what its saying to you. You know and feel what's right, you just need to let your mind know that it's okay to take risks and it's okay to change direction. Let your heart drive you right into greatness.

Creativity

I saw the angel in the marble

and carved until I set him free.

~Michelangelo

Creativity

You have so much creativeness inside of you just waiting to be set free! Your ideas, thoughts and concepts are more than just a feeling, they are meant to manifest into action. Have you ever thought about doing something and got so excited about the prospect that it actual could come to fruition? Sadly, most of the time it just stays in your mind and doesn't go anywhere else. Well not anymore. You have so much to offer this world and it's about time you set your ideas free. The time has come to get out of your own way and give your creativity room to grow and flourish. Hey, you just may creative a whole new life for yourself!

Growth

Anyone who stops learning is old,

whether at twenty or eighty.

~Henry Ford

Growth

We are meant to keep learning, experiencing and growing as individuals. Balance can only come when we open ourselves up to the possibilities of change. The less flexible we are, the more our life will stay stagnant and we certainly don't want to strive for that! Growth is what happens when we try in life. Whether we succeed or fail, we learn and from that process we grow. Don't ever stop stretching your ideas and knowledge. Don't ever get too comfortable that you become complacent. Don't ever convince yourself that you can't do better, of course you can! The time has come to step out of our comfort zones and grow in leaps and bounds.

Ready

When the student is ready,

the master appears.

~Buddhist Proverb

Ready

How many of us are really ready in life? Whether it's starting the day, picking out what to wear, making an important decision, or making a change, are we really "ready"? Well, most of us have probably not even thought about this. We just think we are ready because that's how we are supposed to feel. Some of us even walk around saying, "I was born ready for this", but really, are we? Why is it then do we always seem to second guess ourselves or ask for a hundred opinions before we trust our own? When presented with a grand opportunity, why do we hesitate? What makes us ready to take action? What we really need to know is what is stopping us from being ready rather than what drives us in the first place. Most of the time the answer is fear. We spend so much time afraid to really live, really experience life and really love another individual with everything we have. Fear stops us from feeling and experiencing life like we were meant to. Well no more! Fear has no place within our spirit so it's time to rip it right out and throw it far away. Being ready in life means that we are up for the challenges and opportunities that present themselves to us. It also means that we create new doors to walk through when they are not there. So, you better get ready (and quick) because it's almost go time!

Faith

Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.

~Martin Luther King Jr.

Faith

When you let your spirit guide you, all things are possible. To some, this concept may be a little bit more difficult to swallow because it's not tangible. You can't see it, you can't hold it, you can only have faith that it is there. Having faith in something that cannot be measured can be difficult at times. But those who have practiced letting your "spirit" or "gut" guide you understand that the most powerful things in life cannot be physically grasped, only spiritually grasped. Having faith does not mean that you just sit around and wait for life to happen. It means that you are engaged in life, in people, in experiences all the while knowing that you are connecting to something much greater and higher than yourself that is guiding you along your journey. Faith gives us hope, meaning, understanding and love. It is in our darkest hours that all we need is a glimmer of opportunity to watch our lives change for the better. Faith is believing that this can happen at any moment...and it will.

Service

Everybody can be great. Because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve.... You don't have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.

~Martin Luther King, Jr.

Service

It doesn't take much to choose to live our lives with grace, compassion and the understanding that every individual counts in this world. There is not much that differentiates us from each other, especially when we are in need. It surely doesn't take a lot, no matter how much or little you have, to give of yourself to another person. It's usually in our own great hour of need that the best thing you can do for yourself is to help someone else. Compassion shows compassion. Letting your heart guide you opens it even wider. There is absolutely no greater feeling in this world then when you are able to help someone and ease their pain or discomfort even if for only a brief moment. Life celebrates when you serve others. It's time to be selfless. Take a look around and find someone that you can make a positive difference for. Today let's change the world together!

Crunch

Troubles are

a lot like people

- they grow bigger

if you nurse them.

~Author Unknown

Crunch

Do you feel lately like your life is in a vice grip that keeps getting tighter and tighter? The more you try to move, the more enclosed you feel. It can be overwhelming and you just can't see a way out. Well, there is. There is always a way out of a situation. Although it may not be the way you thought it would happen, a lot of times the only way out is one that requires you to get creative and think outside of the box. When life gets tight, it's time to step out of the vice grip. No, it's not always easy and yes, it does require some faith and hard work but you are up for the challenge. In the end you will be grateful you did and you just might find that you were capable of more than you could have ever imagined.

Resolve

It's a helluva start, being able to recognize what makes you happy.

~Lucille Ball

Resolve

It's time we stop thinking about taking positive actions in our lives and start actually doing something! We can over analyze things so much that we become paralyzed. Well not anymore. Now is the time to put your dreams and goals into motion. Now is the time to take that giant leap of faith. Now is the time to set your life on the right course.

You have the strength and the fortitude to charge ahead and create a life full of excitement, abundance, wellness and happiness. Take a look around you and start making those changes that will put you in a better state of mind and in a better place. Let this be your year to shine!

Stillness

Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak;

courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.

~Winston Churchill

Stillness

There is a time after every storm that everything gets very still. During this time, the quiet can be deafening and the beauty can be breathtaking. This is the time where everything seems to stop except your wonder and amazement. This is the time where you can truly feel the presence of God at work.

Let's always remember that after every storm in our own lives, there will be a time of stillness. It's in this time of quiet that we can truly reflect, rejuvenate and restore our faith in ourselves, humanity and with a higher source. Stillness is a gateway to your own soul. Embrace the quiet, soak in the stillness and let it refocus you on your journey.

Slow Down

Live in such a way that you would not be ashamed

to sell your parrot to the town gossip.

~Will Rogers

Slow Down

Life goes by so fast and it is easy to forget how to live in the moment each day. Most of the time we just go, go, go and rarely slow down enough to experience anything. Not anymore! It's time to change that. Slowing down doesn't mean stopping or postponing your goals. It just means that you need to slow down your pace enough so that you can truly experience all that happens around you throughout the day. You need to stay more present in the moment and not just finish your day saying to yourself what the heck did I really accomplish? That's not fair to you or anyone around you. Learning to slow down just enough will make you more aware of people, things, your own feelings and it will help you make wiser decisions. Slow it down a bit and let yourself experience all that life has to offer.

Life Purpose

So be sure when you step, Step with care and great tact. And remember that life's A Great Balancing Act. And will you succeed? Yes! You will, indeed! (98 and ¾ percent guaranteed) Kid, you'll move mountains.

— Dr. Seuss (Oh, the Places You'll Go!)

Life Purpose

Did you ever get the feeling deep down in your gut that you were supposed to be doing something different then what you are now? Have you ever had a thought or a dream pop into your mind that felt "right" and just so real? Well this is not a fleeting feeling, this is your higher self pointing you in the direction of your true life purpose. This is the time of your life that you are meant to embrace the changes that are occurring. Maybe you wanted them to happen or maybe they were forced upon you but either way it is time to listen to your gut and start moving into the direction of your dreams. Your life purpose can only be ignored for so long before it ends up knocking you over!

Maybe you were meant to help out those less fortunate. Maybe you were meant to be a teacher. Maybe you were meant to write the next best selling book that will change society for the better. Maybe you were meant to move to an area that will increase your quality of life. The time has come to listen to your own spirit and finally take the necessary action to get your life going on the right path. Now is the time to make those positive changes and start running, not crawling, toward your future!

Oh the Possibilities!

How you get so fly?

From not being afraid

to fall out of the sky...

Jay-Z

Oh the Possibilities!

The world has its arms wide open to you, why not jump right in? You will never know what you can accomplish until you push yourself over the edge of fear. You will never know what you are made of until you take that leap of faith. You will never feel freedom completely until you let yourself soar high above your own doubt. The possibilities are endless and so is your power. It's time to own who you are and go for it. The time is now. Your moment is today. There will be no stopping you once you take flight!

Authenticity

This above all:

To thine own self be true,

And it must follow,

as the night the day,

Thou canst not then be false to any man.

~Hamlet, Shakespeare

Authenticity

Why on Earth would you want to be anyone other than you? From the outside, other people may look like they have they life that you want but no one has your personality, creativity, thoughts, strength, resolve and motivation. There is only one you and guess what? You are supposed to put your imprint on the world. Don't try to be someone else and don't wish you had what someone else does. Charge your own path. Find you own voice. Make your own personal statement. Be your own biggest fan. You should wake up every morning realizing that you were just given a gift. You should take every day as another chance to be better and do better. Be your true authentic self and watch life rise up to meet your new found greatness!

Instruments

Life is an art we are required to practice without preparation, a score that we play at sight even before we have mastered our instruments.~ Lewis Mumford

Instruments

Life is one great symphony and although we all play different parts, every single one of us is just as important as the other in order to create greatness together. What we do, what we say, how we live, what we stand for, our goals, who we surround ourselves with and how we carry ourselves not only defines who we are but heavily influences those around us as well. If we are not "playing" at optimum capacity, then it's time to change our tune! Let our lives be a complete song that not only enhances our own journey but all of those around us as well.

Mercy

Where mercy is shown, mercy is given.

~Dog the Bounty Hunter

Mercy

Throughout some point in our lives, most of us have shown compassion to another human being. We have stopped to help someone out of a difficult situation or maybe we even showed overwhelming compassion that helped another soul get through a difficult time. Well then why is it that it can be so hard to ask someone else for help when we need it? Maybe it makes us feel vulnerable? Maybe it makes us feel like we can't handle life? Maybe we feel that it reflects poorly on our character? If that's how you feel then it's time to turn that belief on it's head! Asking for help does not show weakness, it actually shows strength. Sometimes life gets a little too hard for us to handle and we need to be able to say that aloud. If we did this, we would all realize that we are feeling the same way! It is our commonality that brings us together. It's our ability to help each other that solidifies our connection. Never be afraid to ask for help and never hesitate to be the one that can show mercy on someone else.

Vision

And will you succeed? Yes indeed, yes indeed!

Ninety-eight and three-quarters percent guaranteed!”

~Dr. Suess

(pic by my sister, Colleen)

Vision

Now that a new year is upon us, what is your vision for 2011? What are your goals and wishes for the next 363 days? A clean slate has been presented to you so what are you going to do with it?

Well don't take too long to decided! Write down your top goals for this year. Even better, create a "vision board" for yourself. Put affirmations, your dreams, your goals and positive words all over your board. Hang it somewhere that you will see several times a day. Keep referring back to it and add to it as you see fit. This will help you create a new reality for 2011.

Without vision, we can not grow. Without growth, we do not learn about ourselves. Without learning, we shut ourselves off to why we are really here. So let's all start of this new year creating a vision for ourselves and watch your life start to mirror what's on your board!

For examples on creating your own Vision Board and a great article about the power of intention, please cut and paste the link below.

http://dare2b4me.wordpress.com/2008/09/06/vision-board/