Thursday, March 29, 2007

The Power of Gratitude

In our journey to attract wealth and prosperity, let's be grateful for what we have. What we have accomplished. For the small successes. For our capacity to excel -- to create. And the empowerment that comes from being!
Gratitude is among one of the most effective strategies useful to change our thinking, feeling and being.
But, it is a sacrifice.
It entails stepping out of our egocentric selves long enough to look beyond our lack, want, need, pain, past, etc. -- so we can focus on ALL the good that abound us.

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Life’s Like a Spinning Class (part one)

I finally took a spinning class! I’ve wanted to take one for a very long time.

I loved the idea of the intense workout -- the big time perspiration, toning and building muscle on my legs, and of course, resistance.

I looked into the spinning class studio week after week but wouldn't go in. I was too afraid. I didn’t think I’d have the stamina or strength for it. I was simply too intimidated by this thing.

Maybe if I came up with a plan. But nothing came to mind. I mean really, what plan could get me over the fear!

Until a week ago. I left home for the gym thinking I would “just do it.”

There was a line of people ready to go in. Classes fill up quickly.
I had butterflies in my stomach.

I approached two women in line and pretended to be curious.
I asked them a few questions about the class. When I observed their ease in talking with me, I shared with them how intimidated I felt.

Well, you know how it is when you show vulnerability to people. The reactions are random. Each woman had a different opinion. One was optimistic and encouraging. The other was cautious and warned it would be terribly challenging.

I decided to listen to the “good angel”. I wasn’t going to let a spinning class terrify me anymore!

I adjusted the bike, got on it and began to warm up. The instructor gave me some pointers before starting the class.

I’m not going to lie… the first fifteen minutes were extremely difficult. My legs were shaking. My knees hurt. I couldn’t pedal standing very long. Never mind trying to increase the tension or pedal to the music rhythm.

The instructor came over and spoke in my ear. She told me to relax -- to let the bike do the work for me. Whatever that meant, I didn’t understand how to do it.

A battle ensued in my mind.
Do I quit? How much longer should I go? Will I be able to come back to the class if I quit? Will it always be this painful? I don’t want these people to think I’m a wimp! Man, I wasn’t going to make it!

I kept looking at the clock.
Maybe twenty minutes was a decent amount of time for a beginner.
I would push another five minutes.

Fifteen minutes went by.
I rose to first position and all of a sudden… the pain on my knees was gone! The discomfort on my back disappeared. And it felt good! Yeah!

My mental conversation changed to: I’m doing it! I can really do this! Man, there’s no stopping me now. What a thrill! What a great feeling! Woohoo!!

I spinned the whole hour.
A couple of the people in the class and the instructor commented how great I’d done.
This was a major accomplishment! I felt really proud of myself.

The fear was gone!

Well, I’m not going to tell you how sore my legs were for four days after the class.
I am however going to share with you on my next post how this experience taught me a great big lesson about life’s challenges, fears of the unknown and self-imposed limitations in our journey to attract wealth and success.

How are you spinning in your journey to wealth and success?

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Nature's Gift

I went for a short walk today. I was having such a hard time concentrating I couldn’t get anything done.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that it’s a beautiful spring day! The sky is so clear it looks like crystal. The sun is shining bright. Oh, and the breeze made it so hard to get back inside.

I could actually smell the flowers. It is true! If our senses and consciousness are in tune, we can enjoy all nature has to offer.

What an awesome feeling… to absorb natures beauty. To let it uplift and reenergize us. Hey, this fifteen minute walk was better than a whole day at a spa!

Coming back feeling re-energized, I realized what a difference a short break with nature can make. It is one of life’s best gifts!

In our journey of attracting wealth, let us remember to take advantage and enjoy our natural resources. It will give us a “fresh” perspective.

Have you stopped to notice nature’s beauty today?

Favorite Quotes

  • "...the man whose sole object is to acquire wealth must be prepared to make great personal sacrfices before he can accomplish his object..." - from "As A Man Thinketh" by James Allen
  • "Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows." - Proverbs 13:11 NLT
  • "The best thinking has been done in solitude. The worst has been done in turmoil." Thomas A. Edison
  • "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." - Thomas A. Edison
  • "Being busy does not always mean real work. The object of all work is production or accomplishment and to either of these ends there must be forethought, system, planning, intelligence, and honest purpose, as well as perspiration. Seeming to do is not doing." - Thomas A. Edison
  • "I shall seize Fate by the throat; it shall certainly not bend and crush me completely." - Ludwig van Beethoven, July 1801
  • "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." - The USA Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776
  • "Little minds have little worries, big minds have no time for worries." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
  • "...the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world." - 1 John 4:4 NLT
  • "Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
  • "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit." - Proverbs 18:21 NKJV
  • "What you are comes to you." - Ralph Waldo Emerson