The Placebo Effect

The Placebo Effect is evidence enough for me that our mind is a very powerful asset One that that we all posess (http://bit.ly/kBkwBG. We need to start to cultivate the power of our minds. Building the belief in ourselves that we can accomplish a goal that is the determining factor in our success to reaching that goal.
Make the attainment of your goal your dominant thought. Refer to that visual of your achievement often during the day. Spend time in visualizing it during your morning meditation and as you lie down in bed for a restful night's sleep. When the negative thoughts arrive, acknowledge them, but quickly turn to the picture and the affirmation of your success.
Harness the power of your Mind. Check out this short video. Refer to it often. http://bit.ly/kBkwBG

Enjoy Your Own Company

I crack up laughing whenever I hear someone say "I was bored out of my mind".
Why do we feel the need to be doing something all the time?
It's okay to be bored. When we notice ourselves feeling bored, that's the best time to work on enjoying our own company. It's time to reflect, plan, dream,
to connect with our divine side. Notice when you have nothing pressing to do. Sit for a minute or two and just be. Don't channel surf on the TV. Think. Reflect. Consider what you love about yourself. Consider the many ways in which you are blessed. Be happy with who you are.
It's a good thing to begin to enjoy your own company because for many of us that is what old age has in store.

Check out this video and enjoy one of nature's beauties.
http://bit.ly/lYEPZO

Happy Mother's Day

There are many kinds of mothers, just like there are many kinds of people. Most try to do their best. All need encouragement and support. All want the best for their children. Many are underappreciated and misunderstood. See the good in your mother. Try to overlook the unhappy stuff. Speak only good of your mother.

Be the best mother you can be. Love your kids no matter what. They need your love, no matter how old they are. Tell your kids how proud you are of them.

A Tale of Two Audiences

I delivered two talks this week and the results were miles apart. I learned a good lesson from the first one.
I was hired to give a talk at a dinner for a women's group last Wednesday and a Conference group on Thursday. The focus of the women's group was a social dinner to close out their season. I happened to be the speaker. Chatty women,sitting at round tables (some had their backs to me),eating dinner, enjoying a glass of wine or two do not make the most attentive of audiences. I was talking over a constant drone of conversation most of the time. Next time I will make my talk brief and hard hitting.
I got a lot of good feedback from those who listened but I felt it was a struggle the whole way.
Yesterday I spoke at a breakout session at the LI Library Conference, held at the Crest Hollow Country Club. Over 300 attended, (about 100 more that the sponsor had anticipated). I had them in the palm of my hand the entire time. It was one of the best audiences I've ever addressed. I even got a chance to be funny, reacting to the input from the folks. The feedback was enthusiastic as evidenced by my book sales and email signups.
It was indeed a Tale of Two Audiences. I've learned my lesson.

Forgiveness - Two Sides

Have mercy. Be open to forgiving, that is, asking for and granting forgiveness.
Why harbor a grudge? Nobody's perfect. Why let your family be split apart by stubbornness or a misunderstanding? Be the one to take the first step to begin the healing. Life is too short. Soften your position.
Forgive. Ask for forgiveness.

That was my "Aha Moment" for 5/4/11... This was a response I got.

"I have forgiven so many times only to be used and abused and mistreated
time and time again. He is an addict - and an alcoholic.
If the person you are forgiving will not get help to change, you will
spend a lifetime forgiving and staying in the vacuum which sucks you dry.
Sometimes forgiving is not the answer to preserve your own health and
well being. Sometimes you just need to walk away."

My response was:

You have hit on the other side of it. I agree. Forgiving doesn't mean being taken advantage of or being stepped on and walked over. Sometimes it means moving on with a clear conscience.

Your Natural State of Mind

We all have a Natural State of Mind. It's the place where peace, tranquility, solutions to problems, creativity, genius and serenity reside. Sounds like a good place, huh? It's the place we want to go when we notice the uncomfortable feeling of stress coming on. Imagine if we could access this place at will. How much less stress would we experience.
To be able to access this place when we need it we must first practice being in our Natural State of Mind. In order to experience more of those beautiful things we must intentionally go there. We go there by sitting quietly and breathing. We go there through the practice of meditation.
Our Natural State of Mind is available to all of us, but we must want to go there and we must practice being there. Let this blog be your invitation to the blissful state of your Natural State of Mind.

St. Francis of Assisi

Last week's "Aha Moment" was based on a quote from St. Francis of Assisi, one of the most beloved Catholic Saints. It goes like this, "In Medieval times the followers of St. Francis wanted to know what to do when they took to the streets. 'Tell everybody about the love of God,' St. Francis advised. 'If necessary, use words'".
I mentioned this to a priest I was speaking to this week. He said he had that quote on a plaque on his office wall. His wording was slightly different. His said, "Preach the Gospel. If necessary use words". The meaning is the same. We show our love for God by showing love to our neighbors.
Who are our neighbors? Well, in addition to those who live near us, it is everyone else: those we run into during the day: the guy at the gas station, the girl who fills our bagel order, the guy who cuts us off on the highway, the woman struggling with her groceries while wheeling two little ones around, those who seem to have more than us, those who seem to have less than us... and on and on and on. It's everyone.
Incorporating this concept into our daily lives is a great way to help us stay in the moment. Smile, be courteous, practice the Golden Rule. Tell everyone about the love of God by your actions. Let there be no doubt about it. Leave everyone you meet uplifted by having run into you. Your troubles will fade as you spread God's love. You were chosen to be His messenger.