Gratitude is powerful. Yes, gratitude is the ultimate expression of appreciation, and showing appreciation leads to receiving and attracting more and more of what you DO want.

But, gratitude is powerful for another reason. Taking the time to recognize what your grateful for, makes you acutely aware of all of the wonderful things you’ve ALREADY created and attracted into your life.

Think about it. Right now - list 5 things that you’re grateful for.

Now, look back over that list. At one time, weren’t those things mere thoughts? And, didn’t you somehow take action in order to bring you closer to those things? Look at your list and take a few moments to remember how each item came into your life - and really go back - all the way to the point where you started thinking about having those things.

Isn’t it amazing?  You thought about all of these wonderful things - and then - they were brought into your life by your actions.

So. If you can create all of those things, doesn’t it stand to reason that you can create ANYTHING else you want?

Ponder that thought for a little while and open yourself up to the absolutely endless possibilities that exist for you.

I want to take a minute and let you all know how profoundly grateful I am to have you all as part of my community. I adore hearing from you via the comments in this blog. I love the e-mails that I receive from you when something really moves you.

I am touched by each and every one of you - and for that I thank you.

I know - they seem like two completely opposite concepts. But, really, a regular meditation practice can help your business enormously.

And, with meditation - I’m not talking about sitting in lotus and chanting for hours on end waiting for the big lightening bolt to come down with endless inspiration! I’m simply talking about finding time and space to just be still, and reconnect with your authentic self.

Taking time to meditate each day can really help you focus. It can help you clear your mind, remember your connection (to God, Universe, yourself), and help you be even more productive.

You can focus on something if you’d like - if that helps to calm your mind. For example, your breathing is something you can easily focus on. When you notice your thoughts wandering (and they will - after all - your mind is built to think ), simply bring your focus back to your breath.

You can start out with just 5 minutes of meditation, or you can do 15, 30 - or even an hour  if you’re so inclined.

So how is this going to help your business?

By getting into this space where you can focus on only one thing, you will feel much calmer. You are basically practicing focus while you’re meditating. After you’ve been practicing meditating for a few days, you’ll notice that while your working, your mind doesn’t wander as much. You’ll notice that when you get that panicked or overwhelmed feeling, you can bring yourself back to the task at hand quicker.

And - you’ll feel more connected. You’ll feel more in the flow, and you’ll feel more deliberate in your actions. And we all know that deliberate action creates deliberate results!

So - let’s try it. For the next few days, take some time right before you start working, or right when you wake up, and just be still. Give yourself permission to be in this still, peaceful space. Decide how much time you’ll meditate for, and then sit comfortably and begin focusing on your breathing.

It may not be easy at first and that’s ok - no pressure. Just remember, meditation is a “practice” and they call it practice… because you have to practice! It gets easier with time. When your mind wanders, gently bring it back to your focus.

Come back after you’ve had a chance to practice, and share your results here. If you have questions, please feel free to ask. And, seasoned meditators, do share your advice and experience with us!

“Half the time, or better than half the time, when you think you’ve taken a wrong turn, a door opens that is a better door. It’s a new door you didn’t have access to before, because you were so oriented in the other direction. The majority of things you are beating yourself up about are things that are being answered by the Universe!” ~ Abraham-Hicks, 10-10-99

I just ran across this quote on The Garden Plum. And, it just so happens, I was having a conversation around this exact subject with a client of mine this week.

We were talking about what happens when you are pushing so hard in a certain direction - you’re insisting that this is the way you want to go - but nothing is working out to take you there.

Why is that? Why is it that sometimes, you just push and push and push and nothing moves?

One reason might be that you’re actually not matched to what it is you say you want. In other words, underneath all of that insisting, you’re actually resisting.

Another reason this appears to happen is that we can get so caught up, even obsessed in HOW our circumstances are going to change. When we obsess over the how, we may miss something really great that comes along to help us move forward.  When we obsess, we tend to block out our intuitive guidance - like a child with her hands over her ears who screams “I’m not listening to you ’cause I wanna do it MY way!”

Which of these instances do you resonate with? We’re going to dive deeper into this subject as the week goes on. I would love to hear your thoughts on this, and if you recognize yourself in one of these situations, let us know your thoughts!

I was bouncing around the internet this morning and happened upon this woman’s Flickr site:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/amma_maw/

One of her photos says:

“Peace… it alone can heal us.”

Wow. That is so true. Peace. That is a powerful word. And, when I let it sink into my being… I feel serene, and calm, and Empowered.

I know for me - this is my sacred word. When I’m feeling overly stressed about something, or I start thinking way too much, I bring myself back to Earth by sitting quietly and just repeating that word into my being.

It immediately brings me into the present moment - where I am in control. I can then come back to vibrational alignment for what I want, and I can move about my day in a more productive manner.

Try it. Sit quietly. And just let the vibration of Peace fill you.

How does your demeanor change? How do your thoughts change? How does your outlook change? Such a sacred word…

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Receiving is a huge part of the equation in life - without receiving, you become burnt out, stressed out, tired… you get the idea.

How do you know if you’re open to receiving? One big tell tale sign is to determine how you respond to compliments. When someone pays you a compliment - do you immediately dismiss it? Do you shrug it off and make an excuse? Do you graciously say thank you and then become a little embarrassed?

Or - do you accept their compliment and enjoy that feeling of love?

If you openly accept the compliment, you are in receiving mode. If, however you shrug it off, or dismiss it - you’re probably not a good receiver.

Why do we become bad receivers?

Sometimes, we’re afraid to appear better than someone else. Sometimes, we don’t feel worthy for one reason or another.

If you recognize that you have trouble receiving, I encourage you to spend some time determining why that might be.

If you make a habit of closing yourself off to simple things - like compliments, changes are good you’re closing yourself off to the bigger things the Universe is trying to give you as well.

How are you a good receiver? Do you know how to “allow” in your life - or do you always feel like you’re pushing against the current?

One thing entrepreneurs can struggle with is, how to stay focused, and how to not let negativity and stress take over during the times when it seems nothing is moving in their business. The key to attracting what you want in your business, and staying focused on your ultimate vision of success is to remain aligned with the things you want. And the key to staying in alignment with what you do want is to check in with your emotions.

When you are in a negative emotional pattern – for example, when you’re feeling angry, sad, or frustrated, it’s a sign that you are out of alignment, or that you are thinking about what you don’t want. During your day, if you realize you’re in a negative emotional pattern, tune in to what it is that you’re thinking about. If you find that you’re thinking about what you don’t want, shift your thinking. There are a few ways to do this.

First, be very clear about exactly what you want. Write down your goals, and write out a clear vision for the way you want your life to be. The more clear you can be, and the more details you can include in your vision, the easier it will be to shift your thinking from what you don’t want, to what you do want.

Another tool you can use to raise your emotional vibration is to keep a gratitude journal. Take some time each day and write out the things that you are grateful for. Not only will this remind you of all the wonderful things you have in your life, but it will show you all of the great things you’ve already attracted and accomplished. And if you can attract and accomplish all of these wonderful things – that’s proof that you can attract anything you want!

Action is also very powerful for changing your outlook. Even if you take a small step toward your goal, it can completely change your mood. For example, if you envision yourself writing and publishing a book, but just feel as though you’re too busy in your current schedule, begin your book by creating the outline. Just taking that small step will help you focus on what you do want, and will raise your emotional vibration.

There are many tools you can use to raise your vibration. Remember – your emotions are the key to determining what you’re focusing on – and therefore, what you’re attracting. When you are happy, and thinking about what you do want, you’re naturally taking steps to accomplish your goal.

If you would like more tips and tricks for getting into a positive mind-set, check out the podcast I did this week with my friend Tonya Ramsey. We talked about how to stay positive when life gets crazy. Also, if you’re looking for a way to integrate Law of Attraction concepts into your life, and make abundance your default setting, check out my Law of Attraction Immersion Kit – it’s the last product on that page.

Here is a question that I ran across in my journey this week, and wanted to post it here for discussion:

How can I sit back, breathe deep, and begin to draw toward me effortless clients?

I love this question. It really made me sit and think about exactly how the Law of Attraction, and my own actions would bring me effortless clients. And, in my mind, effortless clients are those clients who, are committed to their own growth - so they take action without hesitation, and ask for help and clarity when they need it. They are energized. And, effortless clients also encompasses having clients flowing toward me - as opposed to being chased down (LOL!).

So - my question to you is, how can you sit back, breathe deep, and begin to draw toward you effortless clients?