LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL – LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL – LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL – LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL – LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL. Said five times in the morning upon awakening, you will feel a smile spread across your face while you are saying it, leaving you smiling for no reason, other than remembering  that Life is Beautiful!

UPDATE on my children’s book:  I have chosen my wonderful artist from the submissions received, to do the illustrations for my children’s book, VIOLET’S MAGIC PURSE, the first in a trilogy. The moment I saw her illustration of Viuolet, for the book cover, I knew that’s how I would have sketched her, had I the time to do so. She was my perfect wild child! I’m so excited about getting together with the artist, Te Hsin (Cindy) Chiang today to review and refine the artwork, deciding what to change and where to place the 6 illustrations in the book.

UPDATE on my CREDIT SURVIVAL book, in final edit stage now…

I’ve put out another ‘Call for Illustrations’ to local high school art students to submit a cartoon mouse caught in a mousetrap, for the cover of this important book – ‘Credit Survival – Avoiding the 5 Major Credit Card Traps’.

If anyone out there reading this is interested in submitting artwork please contact me at my email address and I can send you the particulars. Deadline is March 15, 2011.

The reason I’ve decided to open art submission to high school art students, even local Art colleges like Lucas Center here in North Vancouver, is to provide an opportunity for art students to have their work in a published book if their illustration/s are chosen. Why? Because I never got the support for my artistic talent that may have made a huge difference while I was in high school. It provides them with an opportunity to add art in a published book to their portfolio. Besides, I may think Cosmically, but one starts by acting locally. Who better to support than young local artists? They’re more focused on developing their art rather than trying to make a living with their art. That challenge comes later …

inspirit, Elfie

I pick and choose, depending on what needs reinforcement in the moment. It works, along with the faith that we operate with Divine Guidence, providing we bet our own butts out of the way and allow this Celestial guidence to do its work, through us. Amazing how easy it is once you GET IT’. And she laughed heartily!

Belief is made of facts. Change the belief & the facts change…

Beliefs are facts you believe to be true about yourself and life in general. Affirmations are powerful tools in changing your beliefs and resulting self-image providing you reinforce each statement as if it already exists – even if it does not.

Say your affirmations aloud a few times and listen to the words you use. You can gather affirmations from any source but the words must sound believable to you based on what you intend to reinforce or change. Rephrase them if they do not sound right, for what comes from you – works for you. Just be sure you do not ‘I will’ your intentions away. Nothing will happen if you place your desire in the unspecific void of ‘I will’ or ‘I want’.  Every statement you make verbally must be voiced in the present tense – as if it already exists.

Using the phrase ‘I AM’  or ‘I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN’ is initially how you affect the greatest portion of yourself on a subconscious level. The more of your senses you use the more effective the results. If you write an affirmation and read it aloud with desire and conviction, you are using your visual, auditory and tactile conscious senses as well as 100% of your feeling desire to reinforce it.  It is also important to EXPECT and TRUST you will get what you say. You are just reminding the Universe that this condition already exists.

“If I had the power to change only one thing in my life right now, what would it be?”

Simplify your Approach

Concentrate on a few affirmations that address the most important things you wish to change or reinforce until change is evident. Then choose two or three more and add them to your daily affirmation mantra.

Once you establish the habit of saying your affirmations each morning, you can become crafty like I did and begin to create your own affirmations to reinforce your willingness to change whatever area of your self-image you feel you want to address. By making your statements vaguely specific and specifically vague, you can influence the greatest portion of yourself in many different aspects of your life and identity.

I was amazed at my progress once I affirmed I deserved to get what I asked for. Many things I wanted began to manifest as a by-product of this daily self-validation. A growing awareness of less desirable aspects of my identity I wanted to change enabled me to address and change them as well. There was no end to the lovely surprises Spirit awakened in me when I became interested in my own identity, feelings, and beliefs.

When to Say Your Affirmations

If you say your affirmations in the morning, you will establish your mind-set for the day. Once a day is all you need, though it may be helpful for the first few weeks to say them at bedtime as well.

It helps to group affirmations into segments that address specific aspects of your being, with a particular emphasis on your willingness to change previous patterns of thinking, attitude, and behavior.

How many affirmations you choose to say is entirely your choice. May I suggest you begin with one from each category to influence your beliefs on a spiritual, physical, mental and emotional level.  Alternate between affirmations that reinforce what you want as already existing and those whereby you give yourself permission to change your existing thinking patterns.

Powerful Key Words to Include

Starting your affirmation with ‘THIS DAY’, ensures you are grounding your statement in the point of power of NOW. The ‘I AM’ ensures your expectation will materialize in the present, and the word ‘ALWAYS’ reinforces consistent results. Since your mental processes do not judge the data coming in (see ‘Keys to Living from the Inside Out’ to understand how your mental systems process all information), 50% of assuring change is to trick your brain into believing these intentions already exist. The other 50% is the energy-motion of faith; that your new desire is an actuality, even if your outer reality does not yet reflect your intentions. Faith requires no reasons and you will see it when you believe it, not the other way around.

Energy will manifest exactly what you believe you deserve, in spite of what you may consciously ask for. Whatever your glass ceiling on how much prosperity, joy, love or success you can have, that is exactly how much you will get. So raise your ceiling on what you believe you deserve. The universe just provides neutral energy to manifest your thoughts – whatever they are. You are already getting exactly what you believe you deserve based on your existing inner self-image.

I contemplated the word ‘effortlessly’ and realized that based on my core life programming, I had always believed that to get what I wanted took hard work, time, and effort. Only then would I be deserving of having my wishes fulfilled. Many of you with European parents like my own have a similar core belief that you can only get what you want through hard sweat and tears. That is why the word ‘EFFORTLESSLY’ is so powerful at the end of each affirmation.

Some affirmations that have worked well for me are:

Affirming Spirituality

“I know I AM here for a very specific purpose and have much to contribute to life”
“I AM always in the right place, at the right time, for the right reasons, for my higher good”
“I know I AM, and have always been, a unique & valuable being”

Willingness to Change

“This day, I have always been open to change – effortlessly”
“This day, I have always been willing to change my mind as required
to enhance my physical experience – effortlessly”
“I AM continually discovering newness about me each and every day”

Reinforcing Self-Confidence

“This day, I have always felt confident and at ease
within all & every circumstance – effortlessly”
“This day, I have always been able to communicate well with others,
even if their beliefs are different from my own – effortlessly”
This day, I have always trusted my desires & curiosity lead me to
new creative adventures of self-discovery – effortlessly”

Expanding Your Personality

“This day, I have always been filled with so much love that it
spills over on everyone I meet and interact with – effortlessly”
“This day, I have always loved everything about me,
seen or unseen, known or unknown – effortlessly”
“This day, I have always loved
who I am and who I am becoming – effortlessly”

Enhancing Intuitive Abilities

“This day, I have always used all my extended senses
to enhance my physical experience – effortlessly”
“This day, I have always felt safe to
open my creative spiritual channels – effortlessly”
“This day, I have always been able to
direct my energy towards what I want to experience – effortlessly”

Increasing Wealth & Abundance

“This day my life has always been filled with
financial prosperity & continuous abundance in all ways – effortlessly”
“This day, I have always been able and willing to share with others
the abundance that continually flows into my life – effortlessly”
“This day, I have always been immensely successful in
all my business, personal & creative ventures – effortlessly”

Increasing Awareness of Self

“This day, I have always been willing and able to
expand and change my beliefs – effortlessly”
“This day, I have always embraced the changes necessary
for my continued growth – effortlessly”
“This day, I have always trusted that my feelings
are safe, beneficial & expand my awareness of myself – effortlessly”

Affirming Body Consciousness

“This day, I have always been immensely healthy – effortlessly”
“This day, I have always loved my body
the way it is & the way it is becoming – effortlessly”
“This day, I have always trusted my body
to tell me what it needs for its health & wellbeing – effortlessly”

Gratitude

“This day, I have always been immensely grateful for
all the blessings and abundance that continually flow into my life – effortlessly”
This day, I AM always feeling tremendous gratitude
for all that I AM, and that I am becoming – effortlessly”

Note: These affirmations and others are included in my book, ‘Keys to Living From the Inside Out’ with a more expansive explanation of how they work and why they sometimes do not work.

Desire and Action Creates Results…

In the morn when I awake
Sand of sleep from eyes do shake,
Like virgin birth, the day embrace
Fleeting thoughts of dreams no trace.

In the morn, I now arise
Anticipate each new surprise,
What will I do, who will I be?
Which role to play from inside me?

In the morn my soul peeks out
Like tender shoots, rays dance about,
My schemes in motion set with glee
What will I add to what is me?

In the morn when hopes are bright
Like glistening dewdrops of delight,
Achieve the things dreamed yesterday
But always with a sense of play.

In the morn, childlike am I
Delight in being and hope to spy,
A friend that’s new a lovely quest
To living things my life force send.

Not touched by sorrow or despair
Of shattering pains that linger there,
Expectancy – a light so bright
To play out plans set in the night.

What is a tree?
The trunk:
The power of our convictions and faith
The branches:
The many facets of our soul yet to be realized.
The leaves:
The fabric of our ideas, each perfect in their unique shape,
Expressing the intricate lacework of what we each are.
So, as we walk by a grove of trees,
Or by one alone,
We could see what we were, are, and still can be.
Yet, why is it that we can’t see the forest for the trees?

(this poem won the Editors Choice Award from The American Poetry Anthology)

Who are you my own girl child?
That I’ve known you for all time,
A part of who I may have been
In another life so fine.

For since your birth our souls reached out
From inner realms not known,
And recognized an old, old friend
Awareness not yet shown.

Who are you my own girl child?
That all you say and do,
Rings in my ears as if the words
By me were said, not you.

The mother I, the daughter, you,
It can be turned around,
And still we walk a path aligned
A new beginning found.

So who are you, my own girl child?
Our rhythms intertwined,
Are you the one that I once was
Or seek with hope to find
Through you, my own girl child?

The storm it grew, its seed was small
A breeze at first and that was all,
The restless leaves bounced just a mite
‘Neath pale blue skies where clouds hung light.
The air it felt a stillness grow
A silent pondering, sure and slow,
As blades of grass like sentinels stood
And insects crept beneath bough’s hood.
The scurry of small feet did tread
Haste over fields down to their bed,
Darkened lid, no longer blue
Ominous clouds, their rolling grew.
Massive like celestial power
The storm is come: this is the hour.
In a flash the Gods did rent
The sky with lightening, cymbals sent,
To earth the mass of all its being
Vibrant life – to trigger feeling.
Drenching earth with sheets of power
Ripping trees and wrenching flowers,
From the roots of soil’s deep well
Revealing age-old truths to tell.
Such a storm in each one grows
When we questions facts we know.

The lantern sat upon a shelf
Now dimmed with grime and dust,
Its wick not seen, it ‘twas so small
Its base now cracked with rust.
But ‘twas a time that it was new
Its metal shiny, bright,
Glowing on a window ledge
Its flame pure blue and white.
Had traveled far, from east to west
Its homes were many too,
As lovingly was wrapped in wools
A light with much to do.
It shone on births, at times on death
Soft light on joys and tears,
Weaving paths through cold dark nights
To comfort children’s fears.
But now it sits upon a shelf
Electricity takes its place,
Harshly lighting empty lives
In this world’s frantic pace.
Perhaps on day an eye will look
Pause, see and take it down,
Reflect upon its hidden warmth
Like an old friend newly found.

Upon a hilltop, swept by winds
A lonely flower grew,
Bravely braced between two rocks
So small that no one knew.

At its birth it looked about
The barren hills so high,
Wondering how it could survive
Or should it even try.

Sending timid roots beneath
The ground caked hard and dry,
She found a bed of faery dew
And knew she would not die.

Through day she slept as dry winds ripped
The moisture from her bed,
But as the cool night’s fingers fell
She slowly raised her head.

A pure white star that sat up high
Sent crystals from above,
And wrapped that little lovely flower
In celestial eternal love.

Slowly smiling at the stars
Her petal’s velvet face,
Embraced the night with joy and shared
The secrets of her charm.

A cause to be upon that hill
Not seen by sun’s daylight,
That lonely flower lives to share
Her beauty with the night.

Published in The American Poetry Anthology