Dissolving Your Blocks to Success

I participated in a personal growth workshop recently and one of the exercises we did was a guided visualization, in which we were asked to visualize receiving a gift or important message that we particularly need at this time. While I didn’t see anything during the visualization in terms of an actual, physical gift, the following four words came to me repeatedly throughout:
Allow, Embrace, Include and Integrate. Obviously these words could mean entirely different things to different people, but for me these words spoke really clearly to me in terms of dissolving blocks to success.

I think it’s safe to say that when it comes to the blocks that each of us have that get in the way of achieving success (whatever that looks like for you: wealth, ideal career, self-confidence, etc.), most of us would do anything we can to get rid of these blocks. We figure that the block is what's holding us back from getting what we want, so we must eliminate and destroy it at all costs!! There are a TON of ways we do this, but the goal is always to label the block as "wrong" and try to wipe it out completely.

But what if instead of trying so desperately to get rid of these blocks or get them out of the way, we actually invite them into our awareness, thereby allowing them, embracing them, including them and integrating them into our experience. Rather than doing everything in our power to destroy them, what if we acknowledge and accept them, explore them, and even consider learning from them!

If you subscribe to my newsletter, then you know I’ve been on a self-love kick lately. What better way to increase our self-love than to love ALL of ourselves, blocks and all! Try out this exercise the next time you feel stuck and let me know what you think. I think you’ll really like it:)

Think of something you are currently trying to achieve in life, but are having trouble accomplishing. It could be your ideal relationship, your desired weight, a promotion at work, anything that is important to you right now. Got something? Now imagine that whatever is holding you back is an actual feeling in your body. Even if you’ve never thought of it this way before, do so now. This means that you can’t blame your stuckness on the economy, or a stubborn spouse, or an ignorant boss. Go ahead and imagine that whatever is holding you back from achieving your desire is an actual feeling or sensation in your body, and figure out where in your body that feeling is.

Once you’ve located that feeling, take some time to really get in touch with it and get to know it as best as you can. For example, how big is it? Does it have a color, and if so, what it is? What texture is it? Does it feel heavy and dense or light and airy? Does it change shape and move around while you observe it, or stay stationary in one spot? Keep exploring this feeling and learning as much about it as possible! Instead of trying so hard to completely destroy this block, see what happens if you take some time to familiarize with it and find out what it’s all about.

Next, take this one step further and see if you can reach out from within you and actually give this feeling a hug! This can feel a bit strange since it’s just a feeling and not a concrete person or thing, but try this anyway and you’ll be amazed at how much better you feel once you make friends with your block. You may even want to try imagining that you’re taking your block for a walk in the park, or that you’re on a swing set swinging back and forth with it.
Have fun with this!

Instead of running away from feelings that seem uncomfortable or burdensome, we can learn to make peace with them and accept them as they are. Once this happens, not only will you feel a lot better as a whole, but you’ll probably find that the feeling you were trying so desperately to get rid of actually dissolves all on its own! You may go looking for it and find that it's no longer anywhere to be found! "Whatever we resists persists,” so when we resist something we keep our attention focused on it and keep it stuck firmly in place. When you stop resisting something, however, and make friends with it or simply allow it to be there, you'll be pleasantly surprised to find that it usually takes a hike all by itself. Once that happens, your success is right around the corner. :)

"Money Mojo Magic"

Ever since I started my website, the two questions I’m constantly asked are, “How do I create more money in my life?” and “How can I find my ideal partner?” I’ve got several relationship resources listed on my site (including a few new ones), but if you’re looking to increase the amount of cash flowing into your life, look no further! Occasionally I’ll be highlighting specific resources on this blog that I think are particularly effective, and this is one of those times.

Money Mojo Magic, by Jeannette Maw, is one of the best products I’ve seen in a long time for attracting money into your experience, and I’ve seen a lot. I literally started making more money the exact same day I read the ebook! (It’s a quick read, so it won’t be long before you start noticing results, too). Even though I've been studying this stuff for years, somehow this program helped me grasp money creation in a whole new way. And it's a lot easier than we've all been told!

Jeannette is a highly-regarded master law of attraction coach, and as a result this program comes entirely from a law of attraction stance. Therefore, just to be clear, this is not a program that talks about the actual steps to take in the real world to increase money, like investing in the stock market, or saving a certain amount every month. There are plenty of resources out there for that! Instead, this product addresses the real cause of all your money struggles or successes: your mindset and your overall vibe regarding money.

The truth is, until you get your beliefs and energy lined up with attracting more money into your life, all the “real-world” actions you take just won’t help. Any money you might make will eventually slip through your fingers and you’ll be right back where you started! This explains why professional athletes and lottery winners typically lose all their money within two years of receiving it. Until you've prepared yourself internally for large amounts of money, you won't see large amounts of money on the outside, no matter how many jobs you work, how much you save, or how much you invest.

I’ve been actively practicing the law of attraction since way before the movie "The Secret" came out, and I can tell you that it works. Whenever I start putting more energy, attention, and focus on creating more money, my bank balance increases. Conversely, when I start worrying about losing money or not making enough, that’s exactly when unexpected expenses pop up or I find myself shopping more than normal! Money Mojo Magic helps explain the upper limit phenomenon, which is at the heart of this problem. You'll also love this product because it shows you how to use the law of attraction to create other things in life besides money, like your ideal relationship, more energy, great health, your dream home, etc.

To learn more about how to change your results with money once and for all, go here. A workbook is included to help you uncover your current patterns, as well an hour-long audio. You will love Jeannette’s high energy and infectious laugh!

Self-Love Saturdays!

If you follow me on Twitter, then you know that a few weeks ago I initiated a new tradition called Self-Love Saturdays! I’ve been on my own self-love kick the past couple months, and have been participating in the seven-week Self-Love Studio teleseminar series (there's still a few weeks left to participate). The addition of Self-Love Saturdays to my life has been a perfect complement to everything else I've been doing, and I'm highly considering making it a weekly occurrence!

For me, this basically means setting aside an entire day, just for me! I have the whole day to do whatever I like, no questions asked. On these days I’ve intentionally not made any plans, so I have the entire day for me, tending to and nurturing myself however I see fit. I’ve been doing things like napping, taking long baths, meditating, attending yoga classes, doing the mirror exercise, reading, watching movies by candlelight, listening to peaceful music and soothing visualizations, etc. You get the idea! Obviously, depending on what you like to do, these things may or may not appeal to you so feel free to substitute other activities.

The point of having a self-love day is to create some time and space for YOU, and indulge in whatever your heart desires. For me, it is rest and relaxation. For others, it is going for a long run or playing a game of tennis that they can’t normally fit into their schedule. Some people (not me!) might feel better running tons of errands and checking things off their to-do list. Whatever calls to you, that’s what you do on your self-love day.

By setting aside an entire day for yourself (or even an hour if that’s all you have), you are signaling to both yourself and the Universe that you are important and that you are making yourself a priority. Remember, the way we treat ourselves is the way the world around us will treat us, so the higher we value ourselves the higher everyone else will value us! If you have a family or children it may be unrealistic to dedicate an entire day to yourself, but I still encourage you to slip away for an hour or two if you can and devote that time to yourself. An on-the-go yoga class or a quick walk in the park will do wonders for your soul!

Above all, it’s important on your self-love day to periodically check in with yourself to make sure that what you’re doing is what your body needs at the time. You may have set aside time to take a nap or read a book, but then realize that what your body actually needs is a walk outside in the fresh air. Be flexible and open to changing your plans! Again, this is all about you and giving yourself whatever you need. No questions asked and no guilt allowed. :)

For additional resources to help increase the amount of self-love in your life, be sure to go here.

Writing a Letter from Your Future Self

I’m always looking for fun and effective self-help tools and techniques that will allow me to create my ideal life and manifest everything I could possibly desire, and I recently stumbled upon the exercise below. This is a variation of an old tool I’ve heard of before and I think you’ll have a lot of fun with this! Thanks to Apryl Jensen at www.creatingconsciously.com for this fabulous idea.

The instructions are simple, but don’t be fooled by the simplicity of this exercise. This is powerful stuff that can truly help you create the life of your dreams!

You’re going to write a letter to a friend or family member from ten years in the future, as if everything you are hoping will come true in the next ten years of your life has already come true. You're not going to actually send this letter (although you can if you want!), so pick anyone you feel comfortable with that you want to address this letter to. Once you've selected that individual, write a letter to them as if you haven't seen them in the past ten years and want to catch them up on everything wonderful that has been going on in your life. Tell them about all the amazing success you've had and all the goals you've accomplished since you last spoke with them.

For example, if you’re hoping to be married with children, write the letter as if you are already married with children and give the names and ages of your children. If you’re hoping to open a business or be financially free, write the letter from the standpoint of those things having already come to pass in your life. You might write about your booming business and describe all the fabulous vacations abroad you've taken!

Not only will this allow you to get in touch with what your goals and dreams are, but by writing them down you are actually increasing the odds that they’ll manifest in your reality! Research has shown time and time again that people who write down their goals are much more likely to achieve them than people who don’t.

If you already have a ten-year plan and know what you hope to achieve in the next ten years, great! You can go ahead and get started on your letter right away. If you’re like me, though, and haven’t put much thought into your five and ten-year plans, you may want to spend some time in meditation or do some journaling to get in touch with your deepest desires and uncover what you hope to see happen over the next several years of your life. Deciding what you want to happen is actually the most difficult part of the exercise. Sitting down and writing it is the fun part!

The key to this exercise is to use as much detail as possible and really get into it. It’s okay if you don’t know all the details of what you want to happen, just allow yourself to have fun with this. Start with what you already know and new ideas will surely come to you once you begin writing. Describe who will be in your life, where you will be living, what sort of career you have, what your financial situation is like, what you do for fun, etc. Be sure to include anything and everything that is important to you!

If the thought of writing this letter seems a bit daunting to you, you’re in good company. This exercise is actually a little frightening to me, because I know how effective this sort of tool is! Anyone who has done any pray rain journaling knows how quickly goals come to pass when you write them down as if they have already happened. Don’t be surprised if in ten years everything you wrote in your letter has come to pass exactly as you said it would. ;)

Keeping a Love Journal

One of my favorite techniques for creating my ideal life and making things happen is keeping an evidence journal (see #7). This is a journal in which you record evidence that whatever it is you are desiring is on its way to you. Not only does this help you keep your thoughts and feelings positive and in a good vibration, but it also speeds up your manifestation because it keeps you focused on what you are trying to create!

I have so much fun keeping evidence journals that awhile back I decided to create an evidence journal with a twist... I started keeping a love journal! Instead of listing all the evidence that a particular goal or thing is on its way to me, I list all the ways I am loved. And let me tell you, I have more love in my life than I ever realized!

To keep a love journal, all you need is a journal, a pen, and the willingness to open yourself up to more love then you ever imagined was possible! Every day at the end of the day, preferably right before going to bed, take out your journal and list 5-10 things that demonstrate how loved you really are. Not only will this show you how much love is already present in your life, but thanks to the law of attraction it will also allow you to start attracting even more love into your life! (Remember, whatever you focus on expands...)

Although you can certainly list ways that you feel loved by your significant other, you also want to focus on other ways you feel loved in general. Have fun with this and really let your imagination run wild with all the various ways you are loved. You can list ways you feel loved by individual people, your pets, random strangers, the Universe, God or your Higher Power, life as a whole, etc.

Some examples might be:

• That person at the bank let me go in front of them today.
• My significant other brought flowers home unexpectedly.
• My dog gave me sloppy kisses at the end of the day.
• I got a raise and promotion at work!

To really amp up your self-love, be sure to list ways you love yourself as well, like:

• I allowed myself to indulge in a warm bubble bath after work.
• I didn't beat myself up for missing my workout this morning.
• I did the mirror exercise every day this week.
(see article here for description of the mirror exercise)

Again, really allow yourself to get creative with all the different ways you are loved. Also, feel free to decorate the cover of your journal if it helps you get in the spirit!

Keep doing this exercise regularly and I think you will be astonished by how loved you really are, no matter what is currently going on in your life!

Feeling Overwhelmed? Take Back the Reins!

It’s official, folks… I’ve been feeling seriously overwhelmed lately, so I’m taking back the reins and taking back control of my life!! Who’s with me?

I started my website back in January and it was the fulfillment of a dream I've had for several years now. I’ve always wanted to have an on-line business where I compile and recommend the best self-help resources I’ve found over the years to create my ideal life. I love self-help books and could honestly spend hours upon hours reading them, and I wanted to create a place where I could share what I've learned with others. So I was super excited when I finally took the plunge and created my site, and even more excited when people really seemed to resonate with what I was doing!

At some point along the way, though, my website has started feeling more like a job than a creative and fun outlet for me. Writing blog posts and publishing my bi-weekly newsletter used to be rewarding and exciting for me, but now they just feel like extra tasks to add to my already lengthy to-do list. I find myself not wanting to get word out about my ebook, even though I know the information it contains can truly change lives and allow others to fulfill their wildest dreams!

As part of my plan to use fall as a time to reconnect with myself and my dreams, I took some time this weekend and curled up with my journal to figure out what’s really going on with me. I made some interesting discoveries, and I think what I discovered may help you, too!

I realized that I’ve been feeling so overwhelmed lately because I’ve lost touch with and control over my vision for my website. Initially I saw my site as a place where I would list products I had discovered along my journey and had received value from. Lately, though, people have been coming out of the woodwork to pitch products and resources they want me to list on my site! And while I am *extremely* grateful and appreciative that people want to be involved with my project and support what I'm doing, I’ve also realized that I’m losing control of what I envisioned for my website in the very beginning. Rather than being able to enjoy my on-line business as a means to explore my passion of self-help and personal growth, I feel like my website has turned into a means for other people to promote their products and put their interests first, while little old me is kind of getting pushed to the side!

Don't get me wrong, I am definitely happy to help others promote their materials (if they are worthwhile), but I don’t want to lose sight of my initial goal for my website. I think that part of what makes my website different than others, and special, is that I've been reading self-help books for years and can spot the real thing a mile away while weeding out the fluff. I don't want to take away the integrity I've been striving so hard to establish on my site.

So, all that to say I’m taking back the reins and I encourage you to do the same!

Are there areas in your life where you’re feeling overwhelmed and maybe even burnt out?

Check in with yourself to see if your needs and wants are still getting met, or if you are just existing to make others happy. Are the actions you're carrying out still in-line with the overall vision you have for your life (or your business, your relationship, etc.)? Are you still getting a sense of joy or exhiliration from the activities that used to make you happy? If not, find ways to reconnect with your larger desires and what you're trying to achieve. I'm going to be implementing some new practices with respect to my website that ensure that my needs and wants are still being seen and heard!

A good reminder is what they say on airplanes: Put on your oxygen mask before putting on your child’s oxygen mask! After all, we have to be able to breathe and flourish if we are going to be there to help others breathe and fully flourish.

Using Fall as a Time to Reconnect with Ourselves

I published this article in my last newsletter, but I thought it would be a good post to repeat here. (Be sure to sign up for my newsletter here!)

It’s just recently turned fall where I live (in Washington, DC) and I can definitely say that fall is my favorite time of the year. Time to put away the shorts and tank tops, and get out the jeans, comfy sweaters, and blankets to snuggle under while reading a good book! I love the colors of the changing leaves, the cooler temperatures, and just the overall slower pace of life (maybe that’s just me) as we prepare for winter.

Maybe one of the reasons I like fall so much is because the changing weather is a great excuse for me to stay in, catch up on my reading and to-do lists, and reconnect with my vision for myself and my life. I’d like to invite you to do the same, even it’s not the fall season where you live!

Let’s be honest, any time is a great time to reconnect with ourselves, check in on how we’re doing with our goals, and plot a strategy for the upcoming months before year’s end. Many of you may have set goals that you wanted to accomplish in 2009, and now’s a perfect time to monitor your progress on them and make any adjustments or changes to your goals if needed.

I’m not normally a “set measurable goals” type of person, although I’d like to become one! It's been said that the best goals are the ones that are specific, quantifiable, and measurable, so that you know exactly what you’re going after and will know exactly when you’ve achieved them. Normally I’m more of a “go with the flow” type of person, but I’m going to take some time this fall to come up with some measurable goals that I can go after before year’s end and also in the upcoming year. Heck, maybe I’ll even set goals for my five-year and ten-year plans! It’s never too early (or too late) to come up with a vision for your future and start pursuing it.

It’s also a good idea to periodically check in with yourself and see how you’re doing in the self-care arena. Summer is a time when a lot of people are outdoors all the time and extremely active. It’s easy to neglect ourselves and our bodies during the summer, so the fall is a great time to reconnect with our self-care practices. I’m going to make a firmer commitment to do yoga twice a week, and meditate as often as I can (even just for 5-minute stretches!). Sleep is always important to me, so I want to make sure I’m getting enough every night and on the weekends. What are some self-care practices you can recommit to in the coming months?

I also just signed up for a Conscious Loving & Living retreat with Gay & Kathlyn Hendricks at the beginning of October, which I am super excited about! I’ve been huge fans of theirs for years, and I can’t wait to learn from them first-hand. Personal growth conferences are also really restorative times for me because I get to connect with like-minded people, absorb as much information as possible, and just really get in touch with my authentic self. Are there any vacations you can take or retreats you can attend before winter arrives to help you reconnect with your authentic self?

I know some people don’t particularly like the fall because the leaves are falling off the trees, winter is quickly approaching, and it reminds them more of death or dying than possibility or opportunity. However, for me the fall is a great time to reconnect with ourselves, reconnect with our plans for the future, and take some time to be less active and go inward to find out what our latest inner yearnings are. I hope you’ll take some time to really enjoy the changing seasons, no matter where in the world you are!