Daring To Take Risks

The first time anything new and creative is proposed, it gets labeled. And the label put on these novel things is likely to be "risky." Can't you just hear it?

"Let me get this straight, Orville. You and Wilbur are building a machine that will do what? Heavier-than-air flying machines are the riskiest hoax anybody ever palmed off on two gullible boys like you Wrights. Get a real job!"

Or maybe it was somebody's harebrained idea of talking pictures, black and white children attending the same school, or people walking on the moon. More than one person was berated simply for giving voice to such "silly" ideas.

It turns out that some of the people who dared to propose such outlandish possibilities are now regarded as geniuses - revolutionaries - heroes. And it was only because they dared to question others and to question themselves. They challenged the limitations others were willing to take for granted.

There is something in your profession or business, your family or church that could be done better. A situation could be more productive. A relationship could be healthier. An objective could be clarified. Some lofty ideal to which all in the group give lip service could actually be implemented. But I warn you up front: Like restoring a car or house, it will take twice as long as you thought, cost far more than you anticipated, and strain every important relationship in your life!

Only you can decide if it will be worth it to undertake something so ambitious and costly. There will be false starts. There will be embarrassing mistakes along the way. But the potential outcome could be as important to your personal situation as the achievements of the Wright brothers, Rosa Parks, and Neil Armstrong were to their time and place.

The problem with our world is not that there are no more frontiers to challenge and conquer. It's that there are too few explorers. There are too few people willing to ask the obvious questions and challenge the traditional wisdom. In a word, too few of us want to take the risks that could make us look stupid.

If you are fortunate enough to have a dream in your heart, be willing to make mistakes in pursuit of it. Be a risk-taker. You just might change the world.

By Rubel Shelly

Rubel Shelly is a Preacher and Professor of Religion and Philosophy located in Rochester Hills, Michigan. In addition to church and academic responsibilities, he has worked actively with such community projects as Habitat for Humanity, American Red Cross, From Nashville With Love, Metro (Nashville) Public Schools, Faith Family Medical Clinic, and Operation Andrew Ministries. To learn more about Rubel please go to: www.RubelShelly.com

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“Like the body, the soul must also be nourished daily.”

To Help Me Look Within God Sent Me an Angel

All I saw was a McDonald's bag. I could smell the obnoxious odor of fried beef and fried potatoes; I hated McDonald's food. I transferred this feeling to the person who entered the room because it was his fault that I was feeling like this. He was holding the bag. His name was Jeff. Jeff belongs to an anonymous family of people trying to reach serenity through a power greater than themselves with a vigilant pursuit in spiritual principles to find the best of life. I never saw the person because I had already built a boundary between us. How long did it take? How long does it take to smell? Not long. So, I transferred the feeling of doom to a person I didn't even know. The mind that is undirected in spiritual principles and not accompanied by a higher power responds to everyday life just this way.

On, December 31, 2010, Jeff was found dead on the floor in his bedroom. Now, how do I feel? I pushed him away because of my own prejudice. He was a happy spirit trapped in compulsive behavior that had made his life miserable. He had health problems, self-esteem problems, eating problems, back problems, leg problems, feet problems, and living arrangement problems. He had so many problems that I wondered how he mustered up the strength to attend meetings every day.

He walked with a limp sideways because his shoes were very old and worn which caused him to wobble. He was always carrying a big drink container with an oversized food bag full of goodies he snacked on during the meetings. He wore double-layered clothes and had a pair of gloves. He moved around many times during the meeting, going to the lavatory, getting up to put a used cup or paper in the trash, and sometimes he would just stand up for minutes at a time because his back hurt or he got sleepy.

But in spite of all the movement and all the distractions, Jeff was at every meeting. I remember one day in particular; he got up to go to the lavatory. I was talking during the time and he just stood in front of me like I could read his mind. He suddenly interrupted me and asked for the lavatory key. I became livid, but I handed him the keys. At the end of the meeting I said, "Jeff, don't ever interrupt me when I am talking." The look in his eyes were like big water drops; he felt he had hurt me and was sorry. In that moment I felt as tall as an ant.


Jeff would hug everyone at every meeting. He made his rounds like clock-work. I resented this spirit that he had. I got to the point that I didn't want him to hug me but I allowed him to hug me anyway. I didn't want him to say, "Hi, Brenda." Jeff always said, "Hi Brenda,” and I didn't tell him to stop. I didn't want what he had to give. I am truly a broken person for feeling like I did not deserve his love. I would do anything for a, “Hi” and one of his hugs right now. He was like me, broken and reaching out for love. Too often, I do not realize that the person I resent the most is me for needing other people. I needed Jeff and my higher power made sure I got a chance to meet him. I didn't understand that God sent me an angel so I could look at myself.

The last time I saw Jeff, he came into the meeting with a McDonald's bag. He came in late so I missed his hug that night. I missed his, “Hi.” I noticed he had on new shoes that were green and black. He didn't wobble anymore. He sat down and then he moved to a seat between two other people. He began his usual ritual -- eating chicken, french fires, and yogurt. He had his big drink and his oversized food bag. He had a smile on his face although he was very ill. He showed us how to work a program of love.

I will truly miss Jeff; I didn't know how much I cared for him until now. He never missed a meeting and I loved that about him. There is so much I loved about him and I never told him. But, I think Jeff knew I loved him because he never stopped giving me love. I watched him like a mother watches her own children. Jeff was one of my children. I will miss him. I will always love him.

Looking back on this experience I have learned that we don't pick the people that come into our lives and their presence is no accident. The universe is constantly giving us answers and sometimes we misunderstand the lesson at first, but the universe does not give up teaching us what we need to know or what we need to learn: to be human and share ourselves. Forgiveness is a learned experience that God gives us as a tool. We must first forgive ourselves before we can forgive others. We must love ourselves before we can love others. This is why I must always believe that the answers are right in front of me if I open my heart and listen.

Brenda T. Brown (Ms. B) has published her first poetry book entitled Every Mother’s Daughter. She continues to write, teach, and help others take steps in the direction of their dreams. Visit her website at: www.brendatbrown.webs.com

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“Like the body, the soul must also be nourished daily.”

Happy New Year! Link up your blog/website for the month of January:

Bringing Gratitude of 2010 into New Year’s Intention's for 2011

Whether you are ringing in the New Year with a loved or watching the ball drop in Times Square on TV in your jammies by yourself, revelry and resolutions have been essential to New Year’s Day.

The New Year did not always begin on January 1 and it does not begin on that date everywhere today.

In 2,000 BCE the ancient Babylonians celebrated New Year's on what is now March 23. It was an eleven day celebration and marked the new beginning of the spring season. Each day celebrated a different purpose such as returning borrowed items and repaying debts.

Originally, the Romans celebrated New Year’s Day on March 23rd as well, until they decided to synchronize their calendar with the sun. Around 154 BCE the Roman Senate declared January 1 the first day of the New Year. The first month of the year was renamed January in honor of Janus, who was the god of gates, doorways, beginnings, endings, and time. Janus is often depicted as having two heads, one looking forward and one looking behind. With two heads, Janus could look back on the past events and into the future simultaneously. Janus became the ancient symbol for resolutions and many Romans looked for forgiveness from their enemies and also exchanged gifts before the beginning of each year.

Once a tradition of celebrating life and performing simple deeds, people now make ostensible resolutions to quit smoking, lose weight, exercise more, be happier, spend more time with family, and to make the New Year better than the last. While improving yourself is a wonderful declaration, it is most notable to understand why you want to make these changes. Resolutions involve change and if one really has no desire to change, the new resolution becomes obsolete.

If you absolutely want to break bad habits and have big plans for 2011, then by all means shout out those declarations for all to hear. I believe you can do and achieve anything your heart desires. If you really want to make it so, it will become so. I never underestimate the determination and perseverance of another’s heart.

I on the other hand handle my New Year’s resolutions a little bit differently. Instead of becoming another unfulfilled promise to myself I make my intentions for the New Year very carefully. I think New Year’s resolutions should be fun and practical. I do not wish to set myself up for failure or disappointment so I know I am not going to make grandiose promises I cannot keep. I do not say I will climb Mount Everest by the end of 2011 because first: hell must freeze over, chickens must finally be able to fly, and my hair has to magically stop turning gray before I ever even contemplate such a feat. In short, if I genuinely have no desire to accomplish something it will not become a resolution.

What I like to do is to take some time and look back on the previous year and list what I have learned and most importantly what I was grateful for. This list becomes overwhelming in a good way and I get to see how much I have grown. I make an intention to continue this practice of reflective gratitude into the New Year. I look at my list and decide what I want to see more of in the year to come. By focusing on the goodness of the past and being grateful for it, I ensure that positivity continues into the future.

Some of my intentions for the New Year are:

• To continue to love myself – When I love me, I eat healthy, I go for walks, I take care of myself, etc.
• To continue to stay in contact with family and friends – I want my relationships to always remain strong so I know I must continue to nurture them.
• To continue to work on myself – For me this involves continuing to maintain an open heart and mind, writing, going to school, meditating, and other spiritual work for spiritual growth.
• To continue to read good books – Being partnered with a publisher makes this one fairly easy.
• To continue to focus on the present and enjoy it – The past is gone and the future is undetermined; all I have is now. I will continue to make plans for my future but I will not squander my energy by trying to live there.

These kinds of New Year’s resolutions work for me. They are not extravagant and I know I can succeed because they are a part of my life already. Although these intentions still involve changes, they are changes I am happy to continue to make. They are all about becoming better and that is always good.

Look to the past and bid it a fond farewell,

bring to the present that which you wish to keep, 

and intend a positive future by wishing it well.

At the stroke of midnight kiss your past, present, 

and future at once purifying and unifying it all.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

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“Like the body, the soul must also be nourished daily.”

Link up your blog/website for the month of December:

Book Review of The Power of Intention

The Power of Intention – Gift Edition
Learning to Co-create Your World Your Way
by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

Dr. Wayne W. Dyer’s book The Power of Intention has been re-released in a beautifully illustrated gift edition. In The Power of Intention Dr. Dyer writes about this force and how we can work with it to create the kind of life we have always wanted.

The Power of Intention is divided into three parts. In Part I, chapter one through six focuses on what intention is, obstacles connecting to intention, and how to connect to intention. Chapter One defines and describes intention in a new way. Here, intention is thought of as a powerful force which can help one manifest his or her desires if they are properly aligned with this energy. The remaining chapters continue to look at intention and explain attributes which are supposed to help define intention even further. In order to give a recognizable face to intention, Dr. Dyer lists the seven faces of intention which include creativity, kindness, love, beauty, expansion, unlimited abundance, and receptivity. All the chapters conclude with five suggestions for implementing the ideas in each chapter which are easily manageable. These suggestions also offer the reader a short summary of what was discussed in the chapter.

The second part includes chapters seven through fourteen and center on how to apply intention in one’s life. Each chapter focuses on intention in regards to self-respect, purpose, relationships, abundance, peace, positive connections, healing, and creative insight. Every chapter ends with Dr. Dyer’s ten step program for implementing the ideas into one’s daily life. In working with intention, manifesting, and understanding what helps the process work, it is no accident that Dr. Dyer’s tenth step in all the programs includes remaining in a state of gratitude.

The final part and the last chapter illustrate a person who is connected to the field of intention. A person who is connected is called a Connector. Though this person looks no different than any other person, he or she is different because of what is going on inside their minds. Dr. Dyer goes into the mind of the person who is connected to this higher vibrating force to give examples of what this person says and thinks and how this person feels and reacts. If one is aiming to become a Connector, this chapter demonstrates how to become embodied in spirit.

As part of Hay House’s New Release Reviewers Program, I received this book for free to review. About a month before I knew I was going to receive this book, I caught Dr. Dyer’s Power of Intention PBS special on TV one night. I thought it was phenomenal and thought to myself that I should really really read that book. It was just a thought and nothing more as I never got around to purchasing it. Four weeks later, to my great delight, I heard I was going to receive it to review.

I loved how this book was transformed into a piece of art. With each turn of the page, I found myself stopping to examine and appreciate the artist’s drawings and depictions of the chapters’ content. The book in itself is special however the vibrant illustrations add to the meaning of the message of this book and really allow it to come alive.

Overall I did enjoy many aspects of this book. It did take longer to read than most books, not because it was extensive, but the content was so rich that resting periods were needed to absorb the information. I have been immersed in the fields of personal and spiritual development so the concepts in this book were familiar and easily understood. It takes the philosophies of a higher power and manifestation and looks at them in a new perspective. I believe looking at an established idea in a new way brings new life to it. In this way it allows a person to relate to these principles whereas they might not have been able to before.

Many passages were memorable but these two were part of my top ten:

“Your willpower is so much less effective than your imagination, which is your link to the power of intention. Imagination is the movement of the universal mind within you. Your imagination creates the inner picture that allows you to participate in the act of creation. It’s the invisible connecting link to manifesting your own destiny.” (42)

“When you’re just like everybody else, you've nothing to offer other than your conformity.” (256)

In tradition, Dr. Dyer uses real life stories, personal experience, research, quotes, and poems to support and enhance the teachings in his work. I enjoy this writing technique which makes an idea easier to understand because the author is trying to help you relate to what they are trying to convey. I usually pass on the books I read to someone who I think would benefit from it however I will have to keep this book a little longer so I can read it again. The Power of Intention is filled with indispensible knowledge that should be looked at more than once.       

The Power of Intention can be purchased at the following websites:

Hay House

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Chapters Indigo

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“Like the body, the soul must also be nourished daily.”

Cool, Calm, Collected

by Ms. B

Being calm is a beautiful thing. It is so incomprehensible to so many but it remains the one thing that keeps us in touch with who we are. I was waiting and waiting, not as patiently as I could, but I was waiting. I ask my Higher Power to visit with me and grant me peace in my turbulent time. I remember thinking I must be still to hear the answer; I must remain calm. The universe is listening to my heart and translating my thoughts every second so I must be calm. Only this way could I hear an answer; only this way could I open up to the wisdom I was being given. If I did not stop to listen, I would have missed the message. It came to me like silent waters trickling through the brook. I felt the message in my soul. I could stay calm because I asked for this grace to be given to me. I laid my humble body down and vowed not to move until the answer came to me. I knew that I must be still. One phone call from an angel and I knew the blessings had arrived. It was not for me to know when it would happen; it was only for me to believe. Miracles happen every day. Sit still.

"The quieter you become, the more you can hear."

Brenda T. Brown (Ms. B) has published her first poetry book entitled Every Mother’s Daughter. She continues to write, teach, and help others take steps in the direction of their dreams. Visit her website at: www.brendatbrown.webs.com

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“Like the body, the soul must also be nourished daily.”

Can You Become a New Version of You?

I look in the mirror and see the same old me but yet I am not the old me. There are no visible scars or marks to tell the story of my progress because all the transformations occurred from within. My eyes that were flooded with tears of sadness dried. My heart that experienced loss healed. My mind which was once my enemy turned into my friend. The journey continues as does the spiritual growth and even after experiencing the highest of highs and the lowest of lows I choose to continue because I know I am on the right course. I am on my way to becoming the me I always wanted to be.

Can you become a new version of you? At the beginning of my transformative path I certainly wanted to become someone who could always find the good in any situation or person no matter what. Being positive is more than just being an optimist. It is creating a way of life that is grounded in love. When a person is embodied in love, he or she is happier, healthier, and able to have a positive impact on his or her surroundings.

I still recognize the negative aspects of things but I choose not to dwell in them. There is a flip side to everything and what you choose to focus on reflects back to you. If I allow myself to marinate in negativity or pessimism, then that is who I choose to become. With that intense focus, positivity has a hard time breaking through that tunnel vision. I do not hold onto the negative and in doing so the negative cannot hold onto me.

When something unexpected happens, which we immediately tend to judge as bad, it is better to step back from the situation and look at it twice. First, look at it through the eyes of a cynic or worrier. Go through the fear and all the worst case scenarios. Imagine the most horrible outcome coming true and see how that makes you feel.

Then look at the situation through the eyes of an idealist or visionary. Think about the untapped possibilities. Contemplate the what ifs and why nots. Imagine the great things that could happen and sit with those feelings awhile.

In an awful situation many people tend to wander off into a dark place. Learning how not to do that takes practice and time. Currently many people are out of work but have used this time as an opportunity to reinvent themselves. Some are going back to school to reignite an old dream. Others are going into business for themselves to fulfill a new dream. They are looking for the opportunity in the middle of a tragedy.

“See the blessings for they are there.”

What are you focusing on right now and how is that affecting your life?

Now for just a moment let go. Imagine the flip side to anything that is troubling you. Discover a new possibility that will benefit you. Focus on absolute positivity to your outcome and see how that makes a difference in your world.

Tragedy does not wish to harden us;

it helps us become more open and vulnerable

in order to discover the indomitable strength within.

Thank you for reading! If you have a story/message that you would like to share and it fits into the topics on Always Believe, please email us. Guest Writers are always welcome!

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“Like the body, the soul must also be nourished daily.”

10 Lessons I Learned in 30 Days of Introspection

I have reached my goal. I made it to day thirty! For the past 30 days I focused on discovering more about me. Of course it flew by as time always tends to do in the end. I believe I have made some useful discoveries doing this which was my hope in the beginning. If anything, it has been great to end each day reflecting on what I was grateful for. Anything that was not good diminished by focusing on the positive. Writing everyday just for me was also good. It was helpful to recap my day by writing down my thoughts and feelings. I was able to read what I had written and offer myself a new perspective on what was happening.

Taking a period of time to focus on yourself is a great way to become aware of what is not working in your life. It is also a good way to eliminate old beliefs which no longer serve you or the person you are looking to become. You may also discover ways that you have grown and not even realized it. As well as discovering areas which you would like to improve, you will find areas in which you excel.

After 30 days of focusing within, I came to realize a few things. Some of the most important lessons I will take with me are the following:

1. Always end the day on a positive note by reviewing what you were grateful for.

2. Do something every day that adds to your happiness – even if it’s as little as buying yourself a cup of coffee. Anything you are searching for has to be found within first. If you are searching for happiness, you need look no further than within. If you are not happy, nothing outside of you will make you happy. Happiness really does come from within. If you are not happy, ask yourself why. I would write what made me happy at the end of every day however I should have written what added to my happiness. On my sad days, reflecting on what I was grateful for sparked my inner happiness and lessened the sadness if not completely obliterated it.

3. Go out and interact with the outside world – I spent many days inside and became depressed by being cut off from others and nature. Even going for a short walk is useful and good exercise.

4. Make a point to have fun; schedule it in your calendar if you need to – I had to push myself some days to get out and do something fun. When I finally did, I was happy I gave myself a push.

5. Be open to life and receiving – Get rid of what does not work in your life and anything that makes you unhappy so new people, things, and experiences can enter.

6. Forgive yourself – Don’t be so hard on yourself. Mistakes are a part of life and it is okay to make them. Learn from your mistakes and move forward.

7. Ask yourself those tough questions: Does this really fulfill me? Am I living with purpose? What is my life purpose? What am I passionate about? Am I walking the right path for me? If this doesn’t make me happy, why am I doing it? – These questions should not be avoided because of fear. The answers may not come right away but putting a question out there in the open beckons the answer to come. If you are not happy, only you know why, so ask yourself.

8. It’s okay to be lost – By becoming lost you initiate a transformation that helps you find what you are looking for.

9. Take action – If you think you know what you want, take action. Even if you don’t know or you’re unsure, find out by taking action. Sometimes we can only know if something is right for us by trying it out first. Explore, experiment, and discover what is good for you.

10. Let go – One of the best things we can do for ourselves is to let go. Let go of the past, a person, an idea, a belief, a hurtful comment, another life, etc. Hanging on to something too long can prevent people from growing and moving forward. Letting go can bring great relief, strength, and joy. Let go and let God is a useful reminder of releasing a need to control life and allowing it to occur naturally.

Your Life is the sum of all your choices. ~Albert Camus

Thank you for reading! If you have a story/message that you would like to share and it fits into the topics on Always Believe, please email us. Guest Writers are always welcome!

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“Like the body, the soul must also be nourished daily.”

Coming Out of the Shadow

“To come out of the shadow become self nurturing by finding what brings you joy and fulfillment. Be willing to “not know”, to be empty, so that you may be filled with expanded consciousness. Befriend your mind.” This was sage advice I stumbled upon recently through an automated decoder. I was not expecting the results to resonate with me but in fact they had. I am still in this transition period where I am focusing on what brings me happiness or rather adds to my happiness. I have spent most of my life in the shadows where my heart’s needs were not met and I did many things that hurt my spirit for the sake of providing for my physical and emotional needs. I stayed in a career I loathed because it paid my bills. I remained in a city that depleted my energy because I was afraid to leave the familiar. I kept hurtful people in my life because I thought I did not have a choice to be free from them. This period of darkness was not without purpose. It allowed me to come to a point in my life and realize enough was enough. I finally recognized that I deserved to have joy and feel fulfilled in my life.

I learned that when I found one thing that made my truly happy that more discoveries soon followed. Writing has opened the path to joy and fulfillment for me and so has an impending move to a new city. Living in the present, and not knowing the future, was difficult for me to become accustomed to and still some days are easier than others. I am definitely someone who likes to know as much as possible but learning to surrender and allow great things to happen helps one become closer to God, Universe, Spirit, and Love. By remaining open to the unknown I have become aware of new interests. I am looking forward to delving into some new hobbies I never dreamed I would be interested in doing.

And lastly, making friends with your mind is a wonderful idea for anyone. There were many times when I let my mind get the best of me and sometimes it still tries. It would spiral out of control and become consumed with fearful thoughts. Instead of making the mind an enemy, I would suggest making it a friend. If something fearful comes up, treat your mind as your ally and try to understand where the fear is originating from. Ask yourself questions and intently listen for the answers. I make an effort everyday to live in the light so the shadow does not overcome me because in truth the shadow will always be there. I choose to focus my energy on the light.

Attracting and Manifesting from the Heart

Every Friday, a grand prize trip to Hawaii was given away by my favorite radio station to a committed listener. Monday through Thursday from 7 am – 11 pm, the DJ would say a word every hour which people had to text in to the station. If you were the 97^th texter, then you would qualify to be entered in the grand prize drawing that week and the radio station’s morning show would call you at 7 am on Friday to let you know you had won. At the end of every week the slate was wiped clean and people had to re-qualify to win the next grand prize.

This was the fifth week in the radio contest and I was determined to qualify for the final prize. This week the grand prize was a seven night trip to Waikiki. The first two trips were getaways to Kona for five days and the 3^rd and 4^th trip were to Maui for five days. I thought how fitting this prize would be for me since I had been to Waikiki before and loved it. I could go back to my island by the sun; a place which was like heaven for me. I thought that if I could just qualify, I could win the grand prize but qualifying was not easy. For some reason, Hawaii had been on my mind a lot, even before the contest, and I wondered if she was calling me back. My first trip to Hawaii was divinely orchestrated back in September of 2009. Prior to my first trip, I received many signs that I needed to go to Hawaii and with a surprise financial blessing I went. This time, I certainly did not have the funds to go again but I could feel an indescribable pull her way almost as if she was summoning me to return.

It was Thursday, the last day to qualify for the grand prize. It was around 9:45 am when I plugged in my straightening iron so it would be ready to flatten my curly hair after I checked something quickly on the computer. The radio was on as I was checking my email. I was about to get up to go do my hair when I heard the familiar radio promo that let me know the DJ was about to announce the word to text. I thought I might as well give it another shot before getting ready for my day so I waited for the word. I texted in the word ‘Yell’ three times and continued to check my email as I sat and waited for the results. A few seconds later, my phone went into its familiar text tune and I went to look at it without much expectation. I was so used to seeing, “We’ve gotten our winner,” that I could not stand to look at those words anymore. I focused in and I felt my eyes widen because something was different. The return text said, “Congrats you are the winner.”

I did it! I qualified for the grand prize! My heart began racing and my body became so excited I started shaking. I quickly called the number to enter my name for the trip to Waikiki. As I was talking to the DJ, telling her how ecstatic I was, my voice became higher and my words came out faster than ever. I gave her all my information, thanked her, and hung up. I jumped up and down rejoicing over my win and realized I rambled on and on and had no clue as to what I just said on the air. I went to the bathroom, where my straightening iron was as hot as could be and I was standing in front of the mirror amazed at what just occurred. My body was filled with so much enthusiasm I felt it buzzing. I had never been this excited before. It felt strange but spectacular. And then another feeling rushed through my body. It was a knowing feeling coming from my heart. As I picked up the iron, I looked at my heart chakra in the mirror and said out loud, “I’m going to win this trip!” It was not a wish I was making but a fact to be affirmed. The statement just flew out of my mouth causing my mind to be stunned by those very words that seemed to bypass all thinking. My heart was speaking to me and had just declared its intention. I fully trusted my heart and knew in my mind I would win as well.

The rest of my entire day was filled with thoughts of returning to Waikiki. I thought about where I would go again and places I would see that I missed last time. I pictured myself in Hawaii’s healing water and then basking in the sweet sun. Since I already visited the hotel that is included in the grand prize, I was easily able to picture myself there. I walked through its lobby, visited its stores, and sat on its benches. I considered what to pack in my suitcase and saw myself in the dresses I had bought in Hawaii. Every thought was filled with this new found enthusiasm. I then went online and visited the hotel’s website. I also logged onto the live webcams located in Hawaii. All of my senses were immersed in my visualization. I was in Hawaii. If a negative thought even tried to enter my mind, and some did try to creep in, they did not last. Since every ounce of my body was filled with this magical powerful passion, one tiny contrasting thought did not have a chance of survival. I was in such a high vibratory state that negativity was just bouncing off me so I did not have to give it a second thought. I also pictured myself jumping up and down screaming with joy and gratitude when the morning show from the radio station called me to tell me I had won. I saw myself happily updating my status on facebook to let everyone know I had just won an amazing trip. I could see myself cheerfully texting my friends and calling my family. The stage had been set and everything was done. As it is above, so it is below.

When it was time to go to bed, I had a hard time relaxing. The excitement would not wane. I imagined myself resting peacefully on Waikiki beach to trick my body into submission. I fell asleep somewhere around midnight only to wake up at 3:36 am. My body was still buzzing. My mind was engrossed in all things Hawaii. I began to laugh and thought, “Let 7 am come already so I can win my trip and relax.” I laid there wide awake and just let my mind and body did what they wanted. At 5:45 am, I turned on the radio and listened to the morning show settle into their usual routine. It was 6:30 am and I had to get up. I had to do something so I turned on my computer and waited for it to boot up. A few minutes later, I opened up an article I was working on the previous day and began to make revisions. It was now 6:45 am and the alarm I had set last night to be ready for today’s news was ringing so I got up and turned it off. My body began to get this nervous excited feeling similar to the butterflies in the stomach sensation. My palms felt clammy and my heart was starting to beat faster. I kept editing. It was 6:58 am and a song was playing. I knew when it was over they would return and be ready to give away the grand prize. The song was over and it was 7:03 am when I heard them say they were calling the winner now. In a blink of an eye, I heard my cell phone ringing and a smile quickly emerged on my face.

I jumped up from my desk and looked at the number knowing it was them. I immediately grabbed my phone and ran from my bedroom to the living room where I get better reception. I answered it and heard my name and I began to scream and jump up and down in total bliss. They did not even have to tell me I won because I knew. As I was screaming and rejoicing I kept shouting, “I knew it, I knew it, I knew I was going to win!”

In the midst of the joy and celebration the DJ asked, “How did you know you would win?”

And of course I earnestly replied, “I just did.” I thanked them and completed in reality what I had already done in my mind. I shared my news with everyone like I imagined I would. My vision was realized. What I knew in my heart would happen just manifested into my world. I was in awe of this phenomenon that just took place. I looked up and thanked God and my angels. I was connected to the Universe, God, and the angels like never before and I was humbled.

I have read many books on the law of attraction, manifestation, and the importance of visualization, belief, and enthusiasm. When I was actively doing all these things the day before, I did not consciously choose to do them. The process just began to happen so I know I had divine assistance to help me through this course of action and understand this lesson in manifestation. I considered myself to be excellent in the art of visualization and fully dedicated to my beliefs but having this winning experience has opened up a whole new appreciation for the importance of unrestrained enthusiasm and completely believing whatever your heart desires is already yours. To be so enthused that your body is literally buzzing was a first for me and something that was missing in my ability to manifest. And what is just as significant is the fact that I just needed that first triumph to open the door for me. After I qualified, there was a push within, a divine thrust that excelled the momentum of absolute enthusiasm and conviction. I had no idea why or how I was going to win but I did know for certain. Any other outcome was not a viable option. I could feel that knowingness coming from my heart. Something else occurred to me too. I was the fourth qualifier of the day on the fourth day of the contest. For those familiar with numbers you know that when fours appear angels are near. Afterwards, I could feel them celebrating with me wishing me their congratulations.

After this amazing experience, I felt miraculous. I felt that I successfully worked with the spiritual realm to draw to me what I desired. If I could do it once, then I can do it again. So what does my heart desire next? What do I passionately desire so much that it will create my body to buzz with enthusiasm, let my heart know it already is, and make my mind surrender to my heart and see it as done? From here on out the possibilities are endless.

Thank you for reading! If you have a story/message that you would like to share and it fits into the topics on Always Believe, please email us. Guest Writers are always welcome!

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“Like the body, the soul must also be nourished daily.”

Lean This Way

I love you, I am sorry, and I need help are said to be three of the hardest statements to say to someone else. All three invoke a state of vulnerability. Anyone who expresses their love for another is open to rejection if the other person does not feel the same way. Those who express their remorse for causing pain to another brave the chance of being denied forgiveness. A person in need of help, who already may feel guilty asking for assistance, may be exposed to someone who turns them down.

In the illusion of the ego driven world, being vulnerable is parallel to being weak and weakness in our society is deemed inexcusable. We are brought up to be the best and the brightest we possibly can be. We are raised in a competitive environment where there has to be a winner. Looking out for number one and separating from the group are thought to be good methods to achieve success.

For myself, my vulnerability would reside in asking for financial help. If I need any other kind of assistance, I have no problem shouting out a request for help from the mountain tops but asking for money turns my insides out. If I need financial support, I feel like a failure. I think about how I should have made better decisions and had planned a smarter financial portfolio for myself. I never learned about financial planning and my parents certainly never taught me how to manage money. I learned to do as they did. I could balance a checkbook but my savings account rounded zero more often than I would like to admit. Growing up with a single parent, money was always scarce and living paycheck to paycheck was common place. I grew up and repeated the same pattern. I was always working in order to live. I was a slave to money and its abundance was always out of reach. The last time I had to ask my mom for money, I cried. I cried in shame and in remorse because I knew she needed her income to pay her own bills. I was an adult and thought adults were supposed to be able to handle their own responsibilities without asking for help. I felt like a disgrace and a burden.

I thought about my feelings surrounding myself and money and was bothered by them. Financial abundance can never come into awareness with the underlying belief that money is hard to get or always out of reach. If one part of me thinks that money is a horrible master always inflicting pain and suffering on its servant, then abundance in all its glory is not anywhere in sight. If I think asking for financial help is shameful, then how can the Universe align me with it? I cannot ask the Universe for abundance and expect to get it if I really think I am doing a disgraceful thing by asking for it. The Universe does not differentiate between who I ask but in my sincerity of the request.

New thoughts and new beliefs were needed in how I related to money. First I needed to look at my feelings when I asked for financial help. At any point in someone’s life, no matter how much one has planned, unexpected events can happen where a person finds herself in a situation that requires her to ask for financial assistance. This humbled person courageously places herself in the hands of another in hopes that her request will be answered. Another’s ability to answer and accept the request shows compassion but the blessing comes in two parts. The first blessing was that the person was around to serve as support for her and the second was that the person had the means to provide assistance. Furthermore, I needed to believe that money did not define who I am. It does not outline my character or my worthiness as a human being. I needed to believe that money was an abundant blessing in my life and I am blessed to be able to pass on that blessing to others. In Doreen Virtue’s recent newsletter, she writes, “…when you allow yourself to receive, you have more available to give to others.”

I am blessed to have a support system to lift me up when I am down. We are a group and if one of us falters there is always someone to step in to encourage and provide assistance. If my supporters needed my help, I would gratefully offer it because I know how hard it is to ask. Some go a long time without needing support and forget what it feels like to reach out when it becomes necessary. When someone achieves victory, success does not depend on one; it is the accumulation of support given by all. Support comes in many forms and it is a gift to have a support system to lean on in times of distress. God is alive and well in this support. Depending on the season, sometimes a person is one who serves as the support system and at other times is the one who is supported.

I dedicate this to all of my supporters especially my mom and dad who are my two favorite heroes which I love deeply and hold in the utmost respect. I love all who have ever been there for me. I apologize to anyone in my past who I did not support or anyone I made feel like a burden. I was wrong and am happy to have seen the error in my ways so I never do it again. Please feel free to lean on me and I promise to stand strong until you are able to do so on your own. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

Friend and Foe

There are various reasons why people choose to stay in relationships which no longer serve either person. Maybe one does not want to feel alone, one is too dependent on the other, one feels the other cannot survive without them, or one feels deserving of the misery the relationship brings. The reasons are many and truth lies in none of them. A person can get to the root of their beliefs to understand why they have participated in a relationship that has run its course. She may use therapy, self-reflection, divine help or have a clear moment of thought such as an epiphany.

At the beginning of my spiritual transformation, I asked God to remove all the people in my life who no longer served a purpose or supported my spiritual development and He did. He also replaced them with great people. One friend, who was part of those who were removed, recently popped back into my life with a problem of her own making but one in which she blamed others for. I had not talked to her since she last called me many despicable childish names and wrongly accused me of transgressions heard through hearsay. She indifferently requested my help as if nothing had occurred between us. I struggled with her materialization and thought maybe she had been working on herself and was ready to move forward along her journey like I had. Giving her the benefit of the doubt, I made contact only to find nothing had changed. I was confused as to why she was back and then I understood. Although she had been removed many months ago, I did not learn the lesson or rather was not aware of the overall lesson regarding friendship, so she had to reappear. I was humbled by this revelation and certainly grateful for it.

I had my own “a-ha” moment. While my spiritual transformation continued, I found that certain friends were no longer supportive of who I was becoming. They could not understand or relate to what I was going through even when I tried to explain it. They were not where I was and no amount of explanation on my part could get them there. Their spiritual development was not developing as mine was and I could not wait around expecting them to catch up because that would be a disservice to me. It was not my duty. Each person is responsible for their own spiritual development and some choose to never go down that path.

I also had concerns with the character of certain friends. Some did things I could no longer ignore. I did not feel comfortable with friends who thought it was okay to lie or steal. I did not like being in the company of friends who participated in idle gossip. I did not appreciate friends who took no accountability for their actions, especially for mistakes that had been made. I did not understand why one would not choose to take responsibility for her life and always saw fit to blame others for everything that went wrong in her life.

I then stopped and looked at myself because when you are transforming it is important to understand where you have been and why you were there. Why was I friends with people like this? I was their friend because I felt a responsibility or rather a loyalty to be their friend. I never asked myself whether I really wanted to be their friend; instead I just assumed that position and in doing so made the assumption that all of their actions were acceptable. I came to resent them and became angry at them and myself but never understood why until now. They made plenty of mistakes but so did I. I never should have put myself in a passive position. I should not have been the one friends always depended upon to solve their problems. I made myself less than important by always putting their problems before my own. I also hurt them by not letting them solve their own problems, impeding their growth to learn how to resolve issues on their own. I should not have always turned the other cheek when a friend hurt me. I should have stood up for myself and held them accountable for their actions. I disrespected myself by not honoring my feelings. I let them believe that it does not matter how you treat people; something I am firmly against. It always matters how you treat others! Everyone deserves to be treated with respect. I let them use me and allowed myself to be used.

Well, it’s no wonder why I was so angry. I am still transforming and learning but I am becoming wiser everyday. I hold values and beliefs that are an important part of who I am now. They are not just words to preach; they are words to live by. I respect who I am and in doing so will gain the respect of others. I understand and take responsibility for the mistakes I have made in my friendships. I forgive all who have hurt me and apologize to all whom I have hurt. I also forgive myself. I fully release past relationships that no longer reflect who I am and send them all love and many blessings on their chosen paths. I am ready to move forward with more heart centered friendships.

During a spiritual transformation, certain relationships will come to an end because they do not support or enhance the spiritually connected person you are becoming. Whomever you are parting from is not a “bad” person but their spiritual development is not aligned with your own; so as you are growing and moving forward, the other person is moving along at a different pace which creates distance. Confusion, discord, and detachment can be found in this distance and instead of blaming each other, one or both, can choose to separate so each is still learning and emerging as they were intended. Although it would be lovely if each could grow together, spiritual development is designed specifically for each individual. Everyone experiences their path differently and mistakes, lessons, and understanding come at different times for each. The good news happens to be that the Universe will provide another relationship that is almost equivalent to where you are along your path. The Universe does not remove without replacing. Support, compassion, joy, and appreciation will be the foundation for all new relationships so your journey can be continued with greater ease. New friendships formed are created from the heart.

A Leap of Faith

When you come to the edge of all the light you know,
and are about to step off into the darkness of the unknown,
faith is knowing one of two things will happen:
There will be something solid to stand on,
or you will be taught how to fly.
~Barbara J. Winter

Taking a leap of faith is leaping without knowing what will happen but trusting that the outcome will be okay. There are no preparations, no safety nets, no calculations, there is just you, you making the choice to leap. The ego goes into overdrive because it knows it is about to lose its power over you. It will try to keep you shackled down in fear and so will other people’s egos. It’s as if the entire egos band together to try and stop you by using the ultimate vice of fear because they know someone is preparing to rise up to silence one of them. The egos will tell you lies and try to distort the messages that come from your higher self. The ego knows all of your fears and weaknesses and will use them to keep you enslaved in a false reality, in a false sense of self. The ego is relentless in its deviousness and will do whatever is necessary to remain in power.

In moments of clarity, I have been able to quiet my ego so I could hear what my higher self was saying. Those who try to dissuade me from leaping do not know what I know. They cannot feel what I feel or see what I see. They are still controlled by the ego yet they do not know they are. I could hear the angels reinforce what my heart already knew. I have come to a point in my journey where my chosen path entails taking a leap of faith so I can continue on in order to get to my desired end result. I am standing on the precipice and I feel the angels next to me supporting and encouraging me and I know on the other side more angels are there with welcoming open arms ready to embrace me even though I cannot see them yet. If I could see them, I imagine they are all jumping up and down in joy cheering me on but all I can see is this deep, dark chasm before me and it scares me which awakens the ego and of course hesitation and doubt, allies of the ego, follow. The deceit begins and I am just standing there frozen terrified to leap. My angelic support stands their ground. They will never leave my side. The angels try to tell me it is all going to be okay but their silent whispers are hard to hear over the treacherous chatter of the opposition. Standing there, my mind goes back and forth between what I see in front of me, which is nothing, to what I feel, which is a knowing everything will be just fine. I either trust what I see or trust what I feel. Having successfully enclosed me in a cloud of confusion, the chatter fades away for now. The angels patiently wait. I ask them what I should do and they lovingly respond, “Just go.” I do not know how. I ask for reassurance about what will happen after, however when taking a leap of faith, there is none. I wish the angels would just push me across and I hear, “We are all here for you yet we cannot make you leap. We cannot interfere with free will. It is your choice but know we are here for you, now and always.”

The time has come and the spotlight is on me. My next step determines whether or not I choose to continue down the path I have been on this past year. This path leads to fulfillment and it seems a waste to throw it away just because I am scared. Everything I have learned thus far has prepared me for this moment however the moment is here and I am unsure. Do I really trust that God, Source, Universe, will come through for me? Do I trust that I am courageous enough to handle what comes next? I can leap or I can stay where I am. What would be more frightening, to take a leap of faith or not to?

My decision is made. I choose to…

I Choose Who I Am

"To be nobody but yourself, in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else means to fight the hardest battle that any human being can fight; and never stop fighting." ~E.E. Cummings

I mentioned briefly in my last journal entry how I was working on being who I wanted to be and not who others thought I should be. A lovely comment was left that brought back this memory from my eighth grade retreat and the above insightful quote from E.E. Cummings. During this retreat, we were sitting around in our small groups talking about ourselves and this girl, to my surprise, was so envious of me because others thought me to be this quiet girl who didn’t say much so I was never expected to say much. She was what some would call the class clown and always felt the need to perform for others because that’s the role others expected her to play. She wished that she could just be quiet sometimes like me. Even then, she knew that when people put labels on us, we then naturally become what others expect us to be. What she didn’t know, and of course what I didn’t share at the time, was that I was not this shy quiet girl. I felt I was actually quite friendly and outgoing on the inside but it never came to the surface because from my childlike perspective I thought I must be wrong and what others saw must be right.

Moving into young adulthood, I carried that label with me until someone saw something different. I was in a marketing class I loved and at the end of the class my teacher told me how friendly, well spoken, and charismatic I was and it completely shattered the inaccurate mold I had been suffering in all those long years and reinforced what I had always believed deep in my heart. She never knew what an incredible gift she gave me by shining the light on who I truly was but I am indebted to her for her clear vision. One person absolutely helped changed my world and I promised myself to continue to live up to who I truly was thereafter. I think we spend so much time living up to others people’s expectations that we tend to forget who we really are and what we really want. Then there are times that we have been living with this mislabeled life so long that we do not know how to let our true selves out.

Fear and guilt may hinder our true light from shining. I was definitely the devoted daughter who always cleaned up everyone else’s mess. I was the friend who always said yes even when I didn’t want to. I was the passive girl who did not take a stand when I felt wronged. I was all these things and realized I was destroying myself by not honoring who I actually was. I learned that if I stepped back, the people I always used to take care of, would begin taking care of themselves; and if they didn’t know how then they would learn because that is part of being a responsible adult. It was not my job to take charge of anyone else’s life or to change it.

People will not fall apart without your help. They can and will go on but if you choose to remain in a role that enables them to misuse you then they will never learn what they need to. You are actually impeding their growth. I learned that people needed someone like me to take on a supporting role in their life because it made them feel better and it meant they didn’t have to work as hard. Upon this realization, I no longer felt obligated to play second best. There was no reason living a life less than I deserved. I was miserable existing with the label others placed upon me. I had my own life in which I was the starring role and it was time to start living it. Even though other people expect us to serve certain roles for their own purposes, we do not have to become them. I may entertain a character every so often but not so much that it overtakes who I am. 

The late, great Jim Rohn stated, “If you don't design your own life plan, chances are you'll fall into someone else's plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much."

Say it loud and proud: I deserve to be happy and I will no longer be what everyone else needs me to be. I am my own person who follows my heart and will become who I want to be. I will live my life, choose my role and make my rules all for me.

In certain moments, at certain times in your life, a stand must be taken and a choice must be made. You are never who others say you are. No one gets to decide who you are except you. It is always your choice to choose who you want to be. Who do you really want to be?

The Long Pauses

The period between the dream and the realization of the dream can be filled with excited anticipation on good days and permeated with frustration on other days. This waiting around can truly test a person’s patience and faith. I have often wondered what I should do when I experience a slight pause. I came across a new book, Infinite Possibilities, by Mike Dooley (www.tut.com) and found he had some insightful answers to my quandaries.

He writes, “Lulls can be looked at as gifts – the calm before the storms of glorious manifestation – and when you recast them in this light, they can even be transformed into some of the happier times of your life, almost as vacations between spurts of creative living.” (143-144) I believe this to be the most beneficial way to look at these pauses in between the idea and the actual completion of the goal. Instead of standing still waiting for something to happen, get moving and make your dream life happen. You don’t have to do everything but you do have to do something. A small action will create a great ripple effect within the Universe and help deliver to you what you desire. I ask myself what can I do that will add more happiness to my life. I can take a class I have always wanted to take. I can start planning vacations I wish to go on even though I may not have the funds as of yet; It doesn’t cost anything to do the research. I can go test drive a new car. I can review my vision board and make sure it serves as an accurate reflection of everything I want. I can review my thinking to make sure I actually believe I can have everything I desire so I can really help manifest it. I can start exercising again and not necessarily at the gym but rather outside in Mother Nature’s fresh air. The point is there are many things I can do besides sit around and wait. Misery doesn’t just love company; it also loves immobility so take action.

And of course, I can always choose to keep a positive frame of mind. “The lull you’re experiencing is just giving the Universe time to orchestrate a relatively complicated yet fantastic, ‘surprise party’”. (141) I’m ready for my surprise!

Focus Out

“Sometimes a miracle is a seed that is planted in time. Years later it manifests, and you never know what part of the sunlight you were to help it germinate to fruition. Maybe what you are currently doing is not about you but about the miracle you are creating for someone in need.” (What Is Your Life’s Mission)

I receive this monthly newsletter called, Angel Scribe, and the above story offered a perspective I easily overlook at times. In my current career, I hear wonderful things from my clients such as, “You are a blessing” and “We are so grateful we found you” and while I appreciate the comments I don’t really think I stop and actually “hear” them. Even though I am in the process of moving onto something else I need to recognize that I have served a great purpose for others. I am grateful for the opportunity to have been what people have needed at the time they needed it. We all serve a purpose and are placed in moments not necessarily for ourselves but to be of service to others. We are specifically chosen to be someone else’s miracle because of our unique talents, gifts, and character; no one else could do it better. That knowledge, in and of itself should make anyone feel like a star.

As Mary Ellen, from Angel Scribe has said, “So, the message is...not everything is about you. Be the sun's radiant magic to someone's miracle; change a life.”

Mind and Heart Exercise

You know you have a challenging week when you are already tired, frustrated and anxious on a Monday. This week is going to be a busy one and will require extra energy to stay calm, relaxed and balanced. Even if all I have time for is some deep breathing exercises I will be sure to fit that in. To balance the surplus amount of energy in my head and begin moving that energy toward my heart my Spiritual Counselor gave me the following exercise I thought others might benefit from as well.

Think of the busy energy in the head as a color that represents that. Maybe it's a mass of colors moving all around in the head area. Now send it LOVE, by sending PINK in from the top chakra (crown) pushing it down and mixing in with it until it is ALL pink, flowing down to your heart. Sending it all love, with thoughts of love and appreciating for how hard your mind works to take care of things in your life and you! Send the love back up into the head until you just feel peacefulness throughout.

Just For Today…Reiki Principles

I received my Reiki book yesterday and was thumbing through it when I came across this version (there are many) of the Reiki Principles by Larry Arnold Sandy Nevius:

Just for today I will give thanks for my many blessings.
Just for today I will not worry.
Just for today I will not be angry.
Just for today I will do my work honestly.
Just for today I will be kind to my neighbor and every living thing.

As I have written, I am working on being happy in my present situation so I will remain in a positive state of mind which will allow many new opportunities to enter my life. Being able to be present in the “Now” also invites open communication with the Spirit World because they are also in the present moment. I believe these principles are an excellent way to begin embracing the “Now”. It is also a great opportunity to make my own, “Just for today” mantras to be able to express my gratitude for anything and everything; and I am able to accept responsibility for my attitude and my actions.

Rejoice Celebrating

If you celebrate Christmas, as I do, this holiday can hold many different meanings for you. I know some people that can’t stand Christmas and their reasoning holds a perspective that may be valid for them but also has a negative connotation to it. They say Christmas is all about presents and commercialism. While this may appear to be true on the surface level, I choose to believe that upon a deeper awareness, Christmas celebrates a time of charity, goodwill, family, friends, hope, spirit and rebirth.

My Christmas tree isn’t a place where presents are placed. It’s a symbol of me inviting nature’s spirit into my home. I decorate my tree with beautiful lights to shed light on the darkness these months bring. When I see people decorate their houses, I see that as a generosity of spirit in sharing light with others. Santa Claus is not someone who brings the “good” children presents but is actually a reminder of someone who once served and protected others. I do not go out and buy gifts because the shops advertise great holiday deals. I buy and make my own gifts to bring joy to those I love. To help make someone else’s miracle happen, I give to charitable organizations. During this time, I also stop and reflect upon my own life and think about things I need to let go, people I need to forgive, what I want out of life for myself and what goals I would like to accomplish in the coming year. My soul conspires with God, the Angels and my whole Spiritual Entourage and goes into a spiritual hibernation only to awaken stronger, brighter and wiser than before.

Our experiences are what we think them to be so if we think Christmas is a greedy time of year then that is what will be reflected in ones reality however if we choose to see it as wonderful celebration of humanity then that will also be true. I choose to see the good and hopefully because I choose to see this perspective others will too. A favorite quote that comes to mind is from Scrooged (1998): “It's Christmas Eve. It's the one night of the year when we all act a little nicer, we smile a little easier, we cheer a little more. For a couple of hours out of the whole year we are the people that we always hoped we would be.”