I am so thrilled!  I won 4 tickets to take a ride on Thomas the Train!!  I’m excited for my little guys, but I’m super excited because I actually won something, and super duper excited about how I did it!

It’s a pretty cool story about how it all came about.

I have this video downloaded on my computer and it’s been sitting on my desktop for months and months now (maybe even years), but I hadn’t viewed it.  So last week, I realized it was there (for the 100th time) but this time I decided to check it out.  I had no idea what it was.  So I hit play and began listening to this 83 year old woman named Helene Hadsell (I had to google her to find out who she is!).  She blew me away.  She actually sorta kinda reminded me of my grandmother…Nanny B!  Anyway, she had my full attention.

She is known as the “Winning Sage“.  Her whole life she has been winning contests, sweepstakes, whatever you want to call them…she wins!  Here’s how she does it (and how I did it): S.P.E.C.

S: Select it.  (What is it that you want?  Pick it out.)

P: Project it.  (See yourself with the thing you selected.  How does it feel?  Visualize yourself wearing it, using it, riding on it (Thomas the Train), whatever it is, you have to project it out there.)

E:  Expect it.  (Have complete faith and trust that you will get what you want.)

C:  Collect it.  (It’s yours…go get it!)

This was taken in 2008 when we drove to Rusk, Tx to see Thomas.

So I watch the video, google her to find out who this amazing woman is, and then I decide to go to a site that I frequent called Moms Like Me.  Right there on the home page is a contest to win Thomas tickets.  So of course I enter!  I wanted to take the boys on this awesome train ride.  I saw us riding the train and visualized the reaction on my kids faces when they see it’s a real live Thomas.  I expected to win.  I would have bought tickets, but I just knew I was going to win so I didn’t.  Then yesterday I get an email saying I won and my tickets will be at will call for whatever day I want to go!!

HAHA I would say I can’t believe it, but I can!  I knew I would win.  I did exactly what Helene (my new grandmother, by the way told me to do.

I am just so thrilled by this!  You know, she’s really just using the Law of Attraction to get what she wants.  She never mentioned LOA on the video I viewed or anything that I saw online about her, but that’s exactly what she does.  I just love it!

——————————————————————————————————————————

Unfortunately the file size is too big for me to post the video.  I really wanted you to watch it, but doesn’t look like I’m going to be able to get it on here.  (I’ve been trying to get it to upload for some time now, but my server isn’t allowing me that space…my computer knowledge doesn’t extend beyond that

And as a side note…this picture of my family in front of Thomas was when we drove to Rusk, Tx in 2008.  Since the boys are older now and Miles (my little one) is totally diggin’ Thomas I think this time will be even better!

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STRESS.  A 6 letter word that is used so frequently…”I’m so stressed out”, “I’m sorry I yelled at you.  I’m just stressed right now”.  Really?  Is stress that prevalent in our world today?  I know it is, but sometimes I wonder if it’s just an overused word.  I wonder if sometimes the word stress is used instead of “busy” or “beat”.  Is stress used just because that’s what we’ve been taught or because we hear that word so frequently that we want to be part of the “stress crowd”?  Is it cool to be stressed?  Does being stressed mean we’re successful?

Absolutely NOT!

I rarely use the word to describe myself.  I guess mainly because I just don’t stress.  I may have a lot on my plate, or I may be under a time crunch but I wouldn’t say that I’m stressed.  I just know what I have to do and do my best to get it done.  But really I believe the secret to not being stressed is to believe in well-being, to believe that everything will be okay, to trust that it’ll all work out.  And this is what I do!

When we’re stressed, we’re basically feeling and thinking negative thoughts, our confidence is low (“I can’t do this”), and we’re dreaming up what an awful future we have.  And when we do this, we feel terrible.  We have anxiety and nothing is right.  If we continue this pessimistic view, what we will see is more of the same…more shit to be stressed about!

But it doesn’t have to be this way!  There’s really no need to stress, no matter what your situation is.

To believe in well-being is to be optimistic, and when you have optimism you have hope.  When you change your perspective to seeing the glass half full, it is!

So I’m not saying that you should look at something that is dark and yucky and call it light and shiny.  I’m just saying shift your gaze.  Instead of looking at your problems and stressing over them, look for the solutions.  When you take your focus off what you don’t want and focus on your well-being, then the Universe will bend over backwards to give it to you.

Next time you start to utter the word “stress”, or you feel stressed and overwhelmed just remember to look in another direction.  Think back to the last time you were stressed.  After the stressful situation ended, didn’t everything work out?  You’re still here, you’re still alive, and you have so much to be grateful for.  It really is okay.  No matter what happens, it all works out in the end.  It may not work out like you had planned, but it did work out and may actually even be better than you planned.

Have Faith.  Believe.  Have Hope.  Live Easy.  Now these are cool words!

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I just love Will Smith.  This is an awesome compilation of his wise, wise words!

Okay, so I’ve totally slacked on this.  I could easily just blog about my excuses as to why, but I’ll spare you.  Plus, it doesn’t matter.  So, what I’ve done is list the assignments in the 21 day gratitude challenge for the days that I slacked, plus today’s.

Day 16 – Stand in front of the mirror for five minutes and focus on at least five things that you love about yourself. Write them down in your journal.

5 minutes, really?  This was not as easy as it sounds.  Fortunately, it didn’t say stand naked for 5 minutes!!  Looking at myself in the mirror for 5 minutes…I interpretted that to mean “what are the 5 things physically that you love about yourself”.

1.  My hair

2.  My arms

3.  My ass

4.  My complexion

5.  My stomach

I’m truly grateful for these physical attributes, but more than that I’m grateful that my body is healthy, strong, and functions properly (without me knowing how it all works!).

Day 17 – Write about something you feel grateful for in your life today.

This was last Saturday and that day I had lots to be grateful for.  I taught a yoga class that morning.  I hung out with my niece & nephew, enjoyed some gorgeous weather, and had Max’s 4th birthday party.  I could go on and on, but I’d like to just focus on one thing this day.   I’m so, so thankful for the students that show up every week and allow me to guide them in their yoga practice.  They are extremely dedicated students and I’m inspired by them every week!  I’ve been teaching this group of students for many, many years now (I could figure out exactly how many, but it’s late! ) and I’m so thankful to have them in my life.  I learn so much from them.  They are great people, and I really do appreciate them.

Day 18 – For the past three days, you have focused on appreciating what makes you unique. Write about all the things that make you so lovable. Take a moment to appreciate your personal style, talents and charm.

I think what makes me “so lovable” is that I don’t take myself too seriously.  I have a great sense of humor.  I’m completely easy going and don’t get bothered by what others say or do.  I listen more than I talk, and for the most part I like everyone.  And ya know what??  I love all that stuff about myself.  I’m really thankful that I’m this way.  I haven’t always been all these things, but as I’ve grown I’ve really come to love myself more and more.  Thank you for this.  I think it’s a fantastic feeling!

Day 19 – Have confidence in the all the choices you have made today and be grateful for being able to believe in
yourself.

I’m grateful that I believe in myself.  It takes work and I’m glad that I work on it!  I, like you, have doubts.  I really try to identify those doubts, and doubt my doubts.  Sometimes it easily works and others not so much, but I do recognize that it’s all me; that I’m the one that holds myself back, that gets in my own way.  And for that I’m grateful.  I’m grateful that it’s in my hands, and I have control over it.  My confidence and belief in myself starts with me and ends with me.  I’m grateful for the awareness, the pep talks that I give myself, and for the choices I make.

Day 20 – As The Challenge winds down, write a thank you note to yourself. Thank yourself for taking the time to stop and focus on all the little things for which you feel grateful.

Dear Self,

I’m really glad I did this challenge.  Thank you so much for taking the time each day to be aware, to be grateful and to be challenged.  I have been reminded to appreciate the little things and the big things.  My eyes have been opened to just how great I have it.  I have an awesome life and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

I’m thankful that this challenge was brought to my attention, and that I’ve inspired others to take the challenge as well.  I’m thankful that on those days that I didn’t feel like actually blogging about my gratitude, or didn’t have time that I didn’t quit.  It never once entered my mind to quit.  Thank you!

I’m thankful that I’ve put myself out here, so to speak, and have been more exposed.  It has made me open up in ways that I would have normally kept to myself in a personal gratitude journal.

I’m thankful for the way this challenge has made me feel, and I’m so glad and grateful I did it!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

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Do you worry about things all the time?  Do you fret over everything?  Do you think of the worse possible scenarios?  If so, do you realize that worrying is just your imagination creating something that you don’t want?

I catch myself worrying about the craziest, most ridiculous stuff!  Actually, it’s not really worrying that I do so much, but I’ll just have crazy ideas pop in my head.  For instance, almost every time I drive over a train track I think, for just a brief moment, what if a train comes barreling down and slams into me.  Or if I’m driving behind a truck that has a ladder or something sticking off the back I might think what if that ladder slides off the truck and goes right into my windshield and nails me in the face.  Basically, I just think of freak accidents happening to me &/or my family.  It’s so weird.  I hate it.

Like I said, worrying is just the imagination creating scenarios that you don’t want!  So, when I have these wild thoughts I immediately catch myself doing it and I snap out of it.  “Only good things come to me” is one of my mantras!

Being a firm believer in the Law of Attraction, I understand that thinking about things I don’t want only brings those unwanted things to me.  So I stop in my tracks (not on the train tracks – haha) and I think about what I want.  I only want good things to come to me.  And honestly…only good things do come to me.

If you worry a lot all you’re doing is imagining things happening that you don’t want to happen.  With all that energy focused on those unwanted things, you’re likely to manifest what you don’t want.  Then you get this scenario that you don’t want and it causes more worry.  More worry, creates more worry.  It’s a vicious circle!

The good news is that this works in the opposite way as well.  The less you worry, the less stuff you have to worry about.

The worrying has to stop.  Seriously.  If you think about it, most of the things you worry about don’t ever happen anyway so what’s the point?  It’s wasted energy.  It’s puts you in a funk, and it causes stress.  And I won’t even get on the topic of what stress does to you!!  Worry cannot change your circumstance, it only enhances it.

So here’s the deal.  Next time you start to worry, notice what you’re doing, and immediately stop.  Give yourself a mantra or affirmation.  They’re extremely powerful.

Only good things come to me.

I choose to let go and allow goodness.

I am safe.

I choose to let go of things I have no control over.

I trust that everything will work out.

At first you may be saying these things as you’re rolling your eyes, but eventually you start to believe it.  When you start to believe it, you start to have faith that everything will work out.  That faith is what allows you to stop worrying.

**Side note: I sell charms that help you to remember your affirmation.  They work beautifully.  Click here.**

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As I’ve gone through my spiritual journey (and still on it!) I’ve learned so much.  Early on, though, there’s one thing I learned from a book by Don Miguel Ruiz called The Four Agreements that really changed my life.  Actually, his entire book changed my life, but one the the agreements, in particular, made my life easier!

DON’T TAKE ANYTHING PERSONALLY

“Nothing others do is because of you.  What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream.  When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.”

This is a HUGE statement!

Have you ever tried to do something only to have someone tell you what a terrible idea it is?  Have you ever been cussed at and wondered what the *%$? you did?  When you begin to understand that it’s not personal, you begin to have less stress in your life, and like the book says, you begin to suffer less.

I remember when my husband and I were just dating and he told me he “needed some space”.  What?  Really?  That freaked me out.  I took it so personally.  I would sit and stress about what I did wrong, and I truly suffered over it.  I felt awful.  Now, looking back on it, it had absolutely nothing to do with me.  He was going through whatever he was going through and it wasn’t about me at all.

It’s so refreshing to know that whatever someone says or does is not about you.  That person may be having a bad day and take it out on you, but if you know that it’s not you, it’s them, then it makes your life so much easier.  What that person most likely needs is compassion, rather than you yelling back, getting defensive, or copping an attitude.

I know this is easier said than done, so here’s a few tips to help you let it go and show compassion.

1.  You are inherently a good person, so have confidence.  What others say to you or about you does NOT define who you are!

2.  Take a few deep breaths before responding or reacting.  This will give you a few moments to relax and get grounded.  And, in that time the other person may cool down a bit too.

3.  Ignore the situation.  If you stay positive and don’t give attention to what the other person is saying or doing, this may actually help that person, and it’ll no doubt help you.

4.  Realize that the person may be exhausted, pressured, or just immature so what they really need is your help, advice, or a shoulder.

So the next time you’re feeling sensivite, just remember what Eleanor Roosevelt said “No one can make you feel inferior without your permission.” When you take things personally, you’re allowing someone else’s opinion of you be more important than the opinion of yourself.  What you think and believe about yourself is so important.  You are worthy.  You are love.  You deserve the best.  So don’t take anything personally!!

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Today, I sit outside on the patio taking in the slight breeze, sun, and perfect weather.  I love March.  It’s a time to reawaken, and a time for growth.  It’s a time to clear out the cob webs, not only in our closets, but in our minds.  Just like the tulips bloom, so can our minds!

I want to share with you a story I really enjoy and get a lot out of.  I hope you do too~

This story is about a farmer who worked really hard every single day to earn a meager wage for him and his family.  One day he saw a couple of men walk across his land and they stopped when they came to a stream of water.  One man scooped up some of it and drank it, and the other man put some of the water into a canteen.  The farmer was puzzled as to why anyone would be interested in the water .  The cows weren’t even interested because of the scum and filth that was in it.

A few weeks later a man called the farmer and offered him a great price for his farm.  The farmer thought this guy must be crazy.  How could he ever get his investment back by farming the land that the farmer had for years.  The farmer gladly sold the property and moved.

Well, it wasn’t long before word spread that oil had been found on that land, and millions of dollars was made because of it.  The farmer, however, remained poor and worked so hard because that’s all he knew.  He could only see that farm as stones and dirt.  He only knew how to scratch the surface and till the soil.  Nature had given this man an abundance, but he could only realize a small portion.  Man will always remain poor if he only demands a meager living, and sees life as a struggle.

Throughout my life, I’ve ran across many people like this.  They believe that life is hard, and it’s a daily struggle to make ends meet.  They work so hard living check to check.  And…(this is what really gets me), they teach their children this!  That yes, life is hard and you can’t have everything you want.

Since I have an economics degree I have to add a little supply and demand talk in here!  Demand determines supply.  We demand a more fuel efficient “green” car…automakers supply us with those now.  We demand a faster internet connection, we are given that.  We must open our minds and let it expand.  We would never have a “green” car or speedy internet connection if someone hadn’t educated their mind to open and to realize there’s something greater out there.

Supply is not the issue here – demand is!  Whatever it is we demand, it will be supplied.  If you ask any scientist, he will tell you there is plenty of food.  If you ask any farmer, he will tell you there is actually an oversupply of crops.  If you ask any miner, he will tell you there is way more silver, gold, and diamonds than is being demanded.  The supply is here.  Can we just open our minds a little, or a lot, and see that we may actually be sitting on abundance, sitting on all this undiscovered supply?  We just have to get out of our own way.  It’s right there waiting for us.

If the family struggling on a daily basis believes this is just how life is, then they don’t demand much and thus are not given much.  So, just like the farmer, we can choose to just scratch the surface OR we can be willing to break away from what we believe (life is tough), open our mind, and demand a great life, demand abundance.  It’s here waiting for us, we just have to step up to the plate!  Are you ready?

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If you watch the news, read the papers, or listen to any news media you’re sure to hear how bad the economy is right now.  This is why I don’t do these things!  It seems as if everywhere you turn there’s talk of bad things – worry of loosing jobs, homes, and cars.  I don’t want to hear it, and I choose not to!  And because of this…my personal economy is great!

Yours can be too, if you will put the work in.  Here’s what I mean:

Say there’s rumors flying around your company that layoffs are on the way.  Everyone is in a panic.  The water cooler talk is so dismal that you can’t even get things done because your mind is so full of fear.  What do you do?  First, you have to stop all the craziness flying around in your head.  You must go back to work and realize that you are an asset and you can create whatever it is you desire.  You must BELIEVE this.

When you live with fear, worry, and doubt you close yourself off to anything good.  This is so limiting and it brings about stress and anxiety, which then produces more fear, worry and doubt.  You have to realize that there is absolutely NO lack or limitation, only complete abundance.  There’s more than enough money, food, and prosperity to go around.  It’s our mind that limits us and tells us we have a finite amount of resources.  And, on the same token, it’s our mind that can expand and grow and create; giving us all that we desire.  When you begin to relax, the mind opens.  An open mind can and will receive.  There is an infinite supply of resources.  You just have to understand it and believe it so that eventually you see it!

When your mind focuses on the positive and you ignore the rumors and let everyone else fret over “the situation”, then things will all work out for the best.  If you go about your business and work as if the economy is booming  and you expect your work situation to improve, then it will.  Your employer will either see how valuable you are and keep you, or maybe you are let go, but another door will be open for you immediately.

Okay, so I hear you saying “Yeah, but this is reality.  Our economy is in a depression right now, companies are closing down and the market is crashing.”  (I really have no idea what’s happening out there since I don’t watch or read any bad news!  See “Katland” blog).  So, here’s what I have to say to you – you determine your own reality.  We all perceive things differently, and whatever we think about something is our reality.  It’s like you’re a magnet and you attract to you whatever you’re thinking.  If you’re thinking how bad things are and how you’re about to get fired, then guess what?  However, if your thoughts are constructive and good, then you’ll attract to you those good things.  It’s the Law of Attraction, and it’s a universal law, which means it’s happening whether you know it or not.

Here’s the work you’ll have to do.  You have to become aware of all the negative things you’re consuming.  You have to become aware of what negative things you’re telling yourself.  You have to immediately, the moment you’re aware of that negativity, change your thought to a positive one.  Then, you have to believe in your positivity and expect it.  This takes work.  It takes dedication, and it takes an open mind.  It takes a willingness, an allowing, and a surrendering.

I promise – it’s so worth it!

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Okay, so here’s the Volvo story!

A couple of years ago I learned about the book, The Secret.  I read it – loved it!  Watched the DVD – loved it!  Read it again – loved it!  So I decided to see if this “secret” really works.  It all made sense to me, even though at first it may seem silly, or on the surface could even seem absurd.  I mean you can just think about what you want and get it?  Yeah right!!  For some reason though, I really connected with the idea and the more I studied it (“it” being the Law of Attraction) the more it made sense.

There’s a part in the book where Mike Dooley talks about visualization, and how you should take a look at your hands and really study them, and then imagine your hands wrapped around the steering wheel of your brand new car.  So, I began to do this.  I found a picture of the car I wanted and posted it on a bulletin board.  Then it was really interesting because I would notice that car on the streets everywhere.  I started talking to my son about this car.  When we’d see a Volvo XC90 on the streets, I would say “look Max, that’s our next car”.  He was about a year old or less when I would talk to him about this car, so it was nice because he didn’t ask me why, when, or how!!

Now at the time I was visualizing this new car, the car I was driving was fairly new…maybe a year and a half old, and I actually loved that car.  I was truly grateful for it.  It was a 4-Runner and loaded out, so I didn’t need a car at all!  But like we all do, we’re always wanting something better (that’s a whole other blog!!).  So, I was always grateful for what I had but I also made it a point to be grateful for my new Volvo (which I knew would be my next car).  I had no idea how I was going to get this car, but that didn’t matter.

I really BELIEVED this Volvo would be my next car.  I had no idea how we were going to afford it and I already had an almost brand new car, but I didn’t care about all that.  All I knew was that my next car would be that Volvo.

About a month or two after I started this process of gratitude, visualization, and truly believing, I got a call from my husband, Ben.  It went something like this -

Ben: Hey Honey, How would you like to go out of town this weekend in a new car?  (I was headed to Austin)

Me: WHAT?

Ben: You want one of those Volvo SUV’s, right?

Me: WHAT?  Are you serious?  Don’t B.S. me!

Ben: What are you doing right now?  Can you come up to the dealership and switch out the cars and car seat?

Me:  WHAT?  Are you there now?  I’m on my way!

When I arrive at the dealership I hug & kiss my husband, cry, talk to the sales guy about the bells & whistles, cry some more, switch out the car seats, and drive off.  As I’m driving out of the lot I notice the radio is tuned into some random station that I’ve never listened to or even heard of.  The radio hosts were talking about The Secret!  I about lost it.  I can’t describe in words how I was feeling, but it was something of excitement, freaked out, and in awe.  I stopped the car to take a few deep breaths and gain my composure.  HOLY SH*%!!

This works…this really works!!

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