So, a few days ago I received a free sample of ZzzQuil from Influenster (this totally terrific site I've told you guys about!) I was skeptical at first...it isn't like I don't have trouble falling asleep, because I absolutely do! It is just that I cannot stand to be groggy the next day when I take something to help me sleep. Having tried natural solutions like Melatonin and Nyquil and other products specifically for nighttime before, I find that the grogginess is almost worse than the inability to sleep in the first place. But, like a good "sampler" I decided to give it a go. Besides, I was really tired of being tired, if you know what I mean:-) I wanted to try to get a good night's sleep and I didn't have to get up early the next morning, so what the heck!
Well, I was pleasantly surprised--to say the least. I was able to fall asleep quickly and wake feeling refreshed in the morning. Without the residual hangover feeling I so often get when I try to take any sleep products. I am definitely recommending that those of us who want an occasional boost to our sleep life invest in ZzzQuil from the maker's of Nyquil. Great product--great sleep!!
Thursday, July 7, 2016
Friday, April 29, 2016
Full circle?
My first baby, the one who turned my life around in the blink of an eye, is about to become a father. Which makes me a grandmother, right?! My mind is still trying to come to grips with that little fact and she'll be here in 3 weeks.
I can still remember, literally like it was yesterday, the anticipation, the fear, the excitement of my final weeks pregnant with him. Now I'm waiting for my grandchild to get here! How blessed am I to get to love and experience a new generation. A new life that comes from so many other little choices that were made far back before I was even thought of.
Think on that for a minute....so many choices were made, for my great-great-grandfather to turn down that hallway, to bump into that girl and ask her out for a soda. She had to decide to go that way and to say yes. And on and on and on.
Choices. Little, seemingly inconsequential moments, blinks of an eye really. They make up the large stories that are lives. Entire generations. Wow.
Friday, April 22, 2016
Sunday, April 17, 2016
Tuesday, April 12, 2016
What a ride!!
What a crazy week (or so!) it has been! I feel like I haven't stopped moving for the past week and a half--but it's been amazing! Happy, bittersweet moments that have made me stop and really appreciate how amazingly beautiful life really is. Every single second is beautiful. We often forget to appreciate the small moments in our lives--the touch of a little hand in ours when our kids are small; the beauty of a blooming flower--the vibrant colors, the delicate scent, the softness of the petals; the feeling of a good belly laugh when out with good friends; the incredible feeling we're left with when you finish a REALLY good book--the kind you get lost in and immerse yourself in so much that it actually feels as if you've been on a voyage when you're done; the little things.
Too often, we're caught up in the crises, in the major life events and we forget to really stop and appreciate the little ones. The ones that truly make a life. As I've gotten older, I've begun to realize that it wasn't the arguments, the collection calls when I had no money to even buy food for my kids--let alone worry about an old credit card debt, the times my jeans didn't fit just right, the breakups or embarrassment of falling in front of the class--well it isn't those things I've found myself remembering as I've gotten older. Those things are not even a blip on the radar of my mind any longer. Instead, I remember how excited my son was the first time he encountered a goose up close and personal. I remember the squeal of his laugh, how he tried to feed the goose his Doritos, and how his laugh turned a little less certain once he ran out of Doritos and the goose wasn't done. I remember how my mother and I laughed and laughed about that moment once we all scrambled into the car--in fear for our lives from one little goose.
I remember each of my children's first days of school. Their little bodies carrying a backpack that was almost as big as them, as they turned around to grin so hugely while walking up the steps of the school bus. I remember my first concert, with friends--more the trip there than the concert itself. I remember countless lazy days on the beach with my family growing up, and cookouts in the park. I remember the little moments; the happy moments--some sad, I'll admit, but mostly happy. And I realize how precious and how amazing my life has really been. I have more happy, little moments than big, bad, horrible moments. What's more--in those moments I think I felt like life was going to end; like things would never be all right again (you know those moments, when the "wolf is at the door, breathing down your neck, and you can't see a way out of this situation!), but it didn't--life went on, and it was happy again. Those moments do not break us--unless we let them. They are nothing more than the dips on the roller coaster of life. Just a quick dip to remind us to appreciate all the exciting, thrilling, beautiful moments that surround us in every other second.
This past week my children and I travelled to my nephew's graduation from boot camp. I cannot express to you how incredibly bittersweet it was for me. I remember the day this child was born; changing his diaper, watching him play baseball and basketball and football--and gradually getting better. Watching him come to grips with his mother's (my sister's) death from breast cancer--when she was only 28 and he was just a baby of 13--with no idea who his father was. He is now a man. And I am so proud of the man that little baby has become. Against all odds, he has not allowed adversity to get him down--when so many others would have. I know my sister was shining down on him as well.
Anyway, the point of this is to stop stressing over the seemingly monumental moments that are really inconsequential in the grand scheme of things. You will survive. And I promise you that down the road, when you look back on the days of your life--it won't be how many toys you bought your kids (or yourself if you don't have them); it won't be how many times you beat someone else that matters--it will be those little moments--the number of times you laughed or made someone laugh; the number of times you helped someone out, the small joys and pleasures in every day (fresh watermelon on a hot summer's day; biting into a juicy peach; watching the fireworks with family and friends). Those are the moments that matter. So, breathe and take it all in!
Too often, we're caught up in the crises, in the major life events and we forget to really stop and appreciate the little ones. The ones that truly make a life. As I've gotten older, I've begun to realize that it wasn't the arguments, the collection calls when I had no money to even buy food for my kids--let alone worry about an old credit card debt, the times my jeans didn't fit just right, the breakups or embarrassment of falling in front of the class--well it isn't those things I've found myself remembering as I've gotten older. Those things are not even a blip on the radar of my mind any longer. Instead, I remember how excited my son was the first time he encountered a goose up close and personal. I remember the squeal of his laugh, how he tried to feed the goose his Doritos, and how his laugh turned a little less certain once he ran out of Doritos and the goose wasn't done. I remember how my mother and I laughed and laughed about that moment once we all scrambled into the car--in fear for our lives from one little goose.
I remember each of my children's first days of school. Their little bodies carrying a backpack that was almost as big as them, as they turned around to grin so hugely while walking up the steps of the school bus. I remember my first concert, with friends--more the trip there than the concert itself. I remember countless lazy days on the beach with my family growing up, and cookouts in the park. I remember the little moments; the happy moments--some sad, I'll admit, but mostly happy. And I realize how precious and how amazing my life has really been. I have more happy, little moments than big, bad, horrible moments. What's more--in those moments I think I felt like life was going to end; like things would never be all right again (you know those moments, when the "wolf is at the door, breathing down your neck, and you can't see a way out of this situation!), but it didn't--life went on, and it was happy again. Those moments do not break us--unless we let them. They are nothing more than the dips on the roller coaster of life. Just a quick dip to remind us to appreciate all the exciting, thrilling, beautiful moments that surround us in every other second.
This past week my children and I travelled to my nephew's graduation from boot camp. I cannot express to you how incredibly bittersweet it was for me. I remember the day this child was born; changing his diaper, watching him play baseball and basketball and football--and gradually getting better. Watching him come to grips with his mother's (my sister's) death from breast cancer--when she was only 28 and he was just a baby of 13--with no idea who his father was. He is now a man. And I am so proud of the man that little baby has become. Against all odds, he has not allowed adversity to get him down--when so many others would have. I know my sister was shining down on him as well.
Anyway, the point of this is to stop stressing over the seemingly monumental moments that are really inconsequential in the grand scheme of things. You will survive. And I promise you that down the road, when you look back on the days of your life--it won't be how many toys you bought your kids (or yourself if you don't have them); it won't be how many times you beat someone else that matters--it will be those little moments--the number of times you laughed or made someone laugh; the number of times you helped someone out, the small joys and pleasures in every day (fresh watermelon on a hot summer's day; biting into a juicy peach; watching the fireworks with family and friends). Those are the moments that matter. So, breathe and take it all in!
Sunday, April 10, 2016
Interesting video
https://youtu.be/Xp02R9fgSKI
This was a rather interesting video I found that explained a bit about the law of attraction and why it isn't quite as easy as "The Secret" made it appear to manifest your deepest desires. Enjoy.
Tuesday, April 5, 2016
Sunday, April 3, 2016
Thank you FB friends
https://spoonuniversity.com/recipe/these-homemade-smiley-fries-will-hit-you-right-in-the-childhood/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=spoon-video-social
One more recipe to try out and thank you Facebook friends!
More food for thought.....
My Pinterest boards are filled with cool, inspirational quotes; life changing hacks and tips; awesome money making sites; and incredible places I can't wait to see in person. But....if you were to browse through my boards, you may think I was a bit bipolar at best;). I definitely have a rather eclectic taste.
Problem is, I find these images, quotes, and articles that really resonate with me, some on a literally soul-deep level, and then I promptly lose that feeling, or I just forget where I saved something and end up lost on the boards again.
Today though, I saw this pin I saved some time ago, and I remember how REAL and TRUE this felt for me at the time I first saw it, and how very strongly it STILL resonates in my soul. (Must be a good one, right!)
So, I hope it resonates with you as well. You can find it just before this post. I'm still learning to use blogger from my phone, so please bear with me through my growing pains!
Confronting our mortality
Another sad week--I lost another friend this week, unexpectedly. Another person I played on the playground with in Elementary School and only spoke to in the halls in high school and smiled and talked to for a few minutes when we saw each other at parties later. Those were the days when we were "invincible" and truly believed that 40 was ancient. My God, if you lived to be 40, one should be thankful for every second on Earth--as the Lord only knows you already have one foot in the grave.
Oh to be that foolish and innocent again. I've lost three friends in less than a month. Three people who were my age, or no more than a few years older. Three people in their very early 40s. And I've now realized that "WAIT! 40 years is not nearly enough time to inhabit this Earth.!!" 40 years is not enough time to live, to see everything there is to see, to hear everything there is to hear, to taste everything there is to taste. It isn't enough time to figure out your life; to get it right. Hell, I'm only just beginning to figure out what it is I really want to do with my life! It isn't enough time to spend with your family. It isn't enough time to be with the friends and people you love. It isn't enough time to watch your children grow up and become these amazing adults--who will be so much smarter than we were at their ages (God willing!) It just isn't enough.
If I had known back in my playground days, or even back in the days when we were sneaking out to go to parties in high school, how short time really was--how in just the blink of an eye, you went from being 17 and on top of the world to it all being over--I might have changed myself just a tiny bit. I might have visited my "embarrassing" grandparents just a little bit more once I could drive on my own--if only I had known they wouldn't be here forever. I might have listened to my grandmother's rambling stories that she repeated over and over again just one more time, and let my grandfather tease me with Slim Jims and Cheese crackers just one more day. I might have walked away instead of fighting with my sister over something stupid--most likely the phone or clothing--and told her I loved her instead of how much I detested her very presence, had I known she would die from breast cancer at the tender age of 28. I might have listened to my son telling me amazingly imaginative (and hard to follow) stories for just a few more minutes at night, instead of rushing to get everyone in bed so we could rush around tomorrow, if I only knew how quickly he would stop being that little boy with the huge imagination and the desire to share it with Mom. I might have spent a few more days just "being" with my kids, instead of working if I had known how quickly they would grow.
There's no point in regrets, in wishing we could go back and change things that have already gone. However, being confronted with mortality can either make us sad and depressed about the shortness of it all--or it can make us excited to wake up every day and get one more chance to get it right. I've heard the expression many times "Life is for living", but I have never really gotten it until this moment. Realizing how unpredictably short our time here can be makes me wonder what people--my family, my friends, customers and clients I've met, vendors, etc.--are going to remember about me. I realize I want them to remember that I was the person who always lived to the fullest--enjoying every second of every minute of every single day that I was blessed enough to be gifted with.
So today I will be sad for friends and loved ones that have passed, but realize that I am being given the gift of realization--realizing that I only have a set number of seconds to live--truly LIVE--my life. So I begin.
Oh to be that foolish and innocent again. I've lost three friends in less than a month. Three people who were my age, or no more than a few years older. Three people in their very early 40s. And I've now realized that "WAIT! 40 years is not nearly enough time to inhabit this Earth.!!" 40 years is not enough time to live, to see everything there is to see, to hear everything there is to hear, to taste everything there is to taste. It isn't enough time to figure out your life; to get it right. Hell, I'm only just beginning to figure out what it is I really want to do with my life! It isn't enough time to spend with your family. It isn't enough time to be with the friends and people you love. It isn't enough time to watch your children grow up and become these amazing adults--who will be so much smarter than we were at their ages (God willing!) It just isn't enough.
If I had known back in my playground days, or even back in the days when we were sneaking out to go to parties in high school, how short time really was--how in just the blink of an eye, you went from being 17 and on top of the world to it all being over--I might have changed myself just a tiny bit. I might have visited my "embarrassing" grandparents just a little bit more once I could drive on my own--if only I had known they wouldn't be here forever. I might have listened to my grandmother's rambling stories that she repeated over and over again just one more time, and let my grandfather tease me with Slim Jims and Cheese crackers just one more day. I might have walked away instead of fighting with my sister over something stupid--most likely the phone or clothing--and told her I loved her instead of how much I detested her very presence, had I known she would die from breast cancer at the tender age of 28. I might have listened to my son telling me amazingly imaginative (and hard to follow) stories for just a few more minutes at night, instead of rushing to get everyone in bed so we could rush around tomorrow, if I only knew how quickly he would stop being that little boy with the huge imagination and the desire to share it with Mom. I might have spent a few more days just "being" with my kids, instead of working if I had known how quickly they would grow.
There's no point in regrets, in wishing we could go back and change things that have already gone. However, being confronted with mortality can either make us sad and depressed about the shortness of it all--or it can make us excited to wake up every day and get one more chance to get it right. I've heard the expression many times "Life is for living", but I have never really gotten it until this moment. Realizing how unpredictably short our time here can be makes me wonder what people--my family, my friends, customers and clients I've met, vendors, etc.--are going to remember about me. I realize I want them to remember that I was the person who always lived to the fullest--enjoying every second of every minute of every single day that I was blessed enough to be gifted with.
So today I will be sad for friends and loved ones that have passed, but realize that I am being given the gift of realization--realizing that I only have a set number of seconds to live--truly LIVE--my life. So I begin.
Friday, April 1, 2016
Positivity and growth
This has been an incredible help in my personal journey. I first "met" Ike and Ande in the movie "The Abundance Factor". I'm now a subscriber and avidly devour every juicy email and article they send. Here is the link to their site. Take a look and feel the positive vibes flowing your way too!
http://www.avaiya.com/?ap_id=Musingson
Totally random (and totally awesome!)
This is an incredible idea I saw on Facebook. I just had to post this link for anyone else that might like to try this. I think I'll do a different type of soda (not a Dr Pepper fan personally), but can't wait to see everyone's reaction to this.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=WCNijE18X3k
Thursday, March 31, 2016
Extreme Couponing for a lazy shopper
So....I've been doing my best to save money in as many ways as I can come up with. I'm determined to be completely debt free, earning an incredible income, and done trading my precious minutes for someone else's scraps in no time. (Okay, at least by this time next year.)
I've watched that "Extreme Couponing" show before, and I'm always AMAZED at the haul these people take home for pennies. Each time I watch it, which admittedly hasn't been THAT many times, I turn the TV off and decide that I could absolutely do that! Why not?! I'm smart, determined, and if those people can pull that off so can I!
Well, that excitement lasts just about as long as it takes for my next payday to roll around. That's when I realize that Couponing on that level, the kind with the capital C, is A LOT of work. And anyone who knows me personally can certainly tell you how incredibly UNORGANIZED I can be. So I crash and burn on my first adventure at the store, and deem myself a loser for life in the coupon kingdom. I figure that's reserved for the real queens of saving.
That is, until recently. I finally realized that, as hard as it may be for me to admit, sometimes going "all in" before you know how to swim may not be the best advice. Sometimes, starting on a smaller scale is ~GASP~a good thing! Who knew?! So, I started by clipping a few coupons, for items my family would actually use, making a menu plan based on what we actually eat (and I actually have the time and skill to make), and matching my coupons to sales at the grocery store I actually shop at.
And guess what?! Week 1 I saved $67.00. Week 2 (actually week 3, as I get paid twice per month) another $59.00. The best part though was not the actual savings from rewards cards and coupons. The best part was the fact that when I shopped only for the things I would actually need and use, or for the things that were so cheap I couldn't pass on them, I actually ended up saving SO much more!
Just to show how incredibly intense this was for me.....typically I would spend about $350 every 14-15 days, not counting the odds and ends I had to stop and pick up in between my grocery store runs. I can safely say I would spend about $800 per month for my 4 person household. (And that's being VERY conservative!) We also had a lot of waste, food that was thrown away because we just didn't eat it before it spoiled.
Guess what I have spent on food and incidentals for the past 2 months, now that I'm making a plan and (mostly) sticking to it?! $567.92 the first month and $457.53 this month. And....we haven't run out of food. And....I haven't heard once "Mom what's for dinner?" or (my personal favorite) "There's nothing here to eat!" (After you just spent $400 at the store!) And I've been able to start stocking up on things like body was, diapers, wipes, etc. That to me is an awesome haul!
So I may never be the "Queen of Coupons" and I may never figure out how to get $1000 worth of groceries for ten bucks, or have a room full of stockpiled items. What I will have, and anyone else can as well, is a happy, healthy and well-fed family and a little extra money at the end of the month. It also makes for a WAY less stressed out me, with just about an hour of work on Sunday. That's a win-win in my book!
******Bonus for you lazy savers like me!!!! Download the ibotta app for your phone. Super easy and the cash back adds up so quickly! I use it for things I'm likely to buy anyway, I have my store cards linked so it's automatic. If I go to a store that doesn't use rewards cards, like Walmart, it's super simple to upload receipts. Voila....in 4 months (I started the month of December, and did use it for a lot before the holidays) I've cashed out $60.00 and I still have a $13 balance on my account. Pretty easy way to earn some cash! Enjoy!
I've watched that "Extreme Couponing" show before, and I'm always AMAZED at the haul these people take home for pennies. Each time I watch it, which admittedly hasn't been THAT many times, I turn the TV off and decide that I could absolutely do that! Why not?! I'm smart, determined, and if those people can pull that off so can I!
Well, that excitement lasts just about as long as it takes for my next payday to roll around. That's when I realize that Couponing on that level, the kind with the capital C, is A LOT of work. And anyone who knows me personally can certainly tell you how incredibly UNORGANIZED I can be. So I crash and burn on my first adventure at the store, and deem myself a loser for life in the coupon kingdom. I figure that's reserved for the real queens of saving.
That is, until recently. I finally realized that, as hard as it may be for me to admit, sometimes going "all in" before you know how to swim may not be the best advice. Sometimes, starting on a smaller scale is ~GASP~a good thing! Who knew?! So, I started by clipping a few coupons, for items my family would actually use, making a menu plan based on what we actually eat (and I actually have the time and skill to make), and matching my coupons to sales at the grocery store I actually shop at.
And guess what?! Week 1 I saved $67.00. Week 2 (actually week 3, as I get paid twice per month) another $59.00. The best part though was not the actual savings from rewards cards and coupons. The best part was the fact that when I shopped only for the things I would actually need and use, or for the things that were so cheap I couldn't pass on them, I actually ended up saving SO much more!
Just to show how incredibly intense this was for me.....typically I would spend about $350 every 14-15 days, not counting the odds and ends I had to stop and pick up in between my grocery store runs. I can safely say I would spend about $800 per month for my 4 person household. (And that's being VERY conservative!) We also had a lot of waste, food that was thrown away because we just didn't eat it before it spoiled.
Guess what I have spent on food and incidentals for the past 2 months, now that I'm making a plan and (mostly) sticking to it?! $567.92 the first month and $457.53 this month. And....we haven't run out of food. And....I haven't heard once "Mom what's for dinner?" or (my personal favorite) "There's nothing here to eat!" (After you just spent $400 at the store!) And I've been able to start stocking up on things like body was, diapers, wipes, etc. That to me is an awesome haul!
So I may never be the "Queen of Coupons" and I may never figure out how to get $1000 worth of groceries for ten bucks, or have a room full of stockpiled items. What I will have, and anyone else can as well, is a happy, healthy and well-fed family and a little extra money at the end of the month. It also makes for a WAY less stressed out me, with just about an hour of work on Sunday. That's a win-win in my book!
******Bonus for you lazy savers like me!!!! Download the ibotta app for your phone. Super easy and the cash back adds up so quickly! I use it for things I'm likely to buy anyway, I have my store cards linked so it's automatic. If I go to a store that doesn't use rewards cards, like Walmart, it's super simple to upload receipts. Voila....in 4 months (I started the month of December, and did use it for a lot before the holidays) I've cashed out $60.00 and I still have a $13 balance on my account. Pretty easy way to earn some cash! Enjoy!
Friday, March 25, 2016
"When something goes wrong in your life, just yell "PLOT TWIST!" and move on." ~FB/Joy of Dad
What an awesome way to look at life and its inevitable ups and downs, don't you think?
I saw this pin on Pinterest and it really resonated within. It made me smile and made me think, isn't that the way of the world? Things will be going along relatively well, and bam!, suddenly the tire goes flat, or your daughter gets strep right before the big family vacation, or you forgot that you wrote that check to the vet and your account is overdrawn--and you don't get paid for over a week.
Oh well, that's just a plot twist. One more thing to test your resolve and to add interesting tidbits to your life. Stories to tell. Experiences to overcome. Life to be lived.
As much as we like to think that we would want a "perfect" life--one where there was never teenagers with attitude; bosses in bad moods; customers who just can't be pleased; and where everything ran along smoothly every second of every single day--wouldn't that make for a very boring existence?!
Isn't it the very "bumps" along the road that end up leading us to some of the most amazing moments and adventures of our lives? The stuff that makes for laughter and growth further along in our journey?
Well, that's the thought for today fellow Phoenixes. Hope it's a blessed Easter for everyone!
What an awesome way to look at life and its inevitable ups and downs, don't you think?
I saw this pin on Pinterest and it really resonated within. It made me smile and made me think, isn't that the way of the world? Things will be going along relatively well, and bam!, suddenly the tire goes flat, or your daughter gets strep right before the big family vacation, or you forgot that you wrote that check to the vet and your account is overdrawn--and you don't get paid for over a week.
Oh well, that's just a plot twist. One more thing to test your resolve and to add interesting tidbits to your life. Stories to tell. Experiences to overcome. Life to be lived.
As much as we like to think that we would want a "perfect" life--one where there was never teenagers with attitude; bosses in bad moods; customers who just can't be pleased; and where everything ran along smoothly every second of every single day--wouldn't that make for a very boring existence?!
Isn't it the very "bumps" along the road that end up leading us to some of the most amazing moments and adventures of our lives? The stuff that makes for laughter and growth further along in our journey?
Well, that's the thought for today fellow Phoenixes. Hope it's a blessed Easter for everyone!
Thursday, March 24, 2016
I saw this last night and it really struck a chord with me. Today is just a quick little musing on this statement.
So many times we human beings lament our circumstances. We sit around bitching and complaining with our friends about our relationships--our husband is getting on our nerves, he doesn't appreciate us, he has become mean and cruel--we complain about our children--how disrespectful they are, how "entitled" they can be--we complain with our coworkers about our jobs; we even complain inside our own heads about how much we hate______(fill in the blank). I would venture to say that often we spend a sizable portion of our day just moaning and groaning about what is wrong with our lives.
However, when offered the chance to change one of the aspects we've been so frustrated over, we freeze. Oh no, we couldn't do x, y, or z! What would the neighbors think? What if it didn't work? What if things were actually worse? What if the world just stopped turning on its axis?! Sometimes we need to take a deep breath and realize that "Hey, this is just what I need to jump start that change and make my life a little bit more enjoyable. So what if it doesn't work out exactly like I imagine--WHAT IF IT'S EVEN MORE AMAZING?!"
At one time or another, every experience you have had came on the heels on some other experience's ending. Even though endings in and of themselves--ending of a relationship; kids going off to college; leaving a job; moving away from your home of so long--can be scary, and indeed there may be a tinge of sadness laced in there as well, they are also the BEGINNING of something new and exciting! Without endings there would be no beginnings and life and the world would never move forward. It would be stagnant and boring and stifling.
So, that's today's thought of the day. Embrace the endings in your life, and feel the excitement of new experiences and adventures that the Universe has in store for you.
And have a blessed day!!
Wednesday, March 23, 2016
You are a Phoenix
Are you feeling stuck? Like nothing you do EVER turns out right? You can pretty much predict beginning at Day One how every relationship; job; business endeavor; New Year's Resolution....pretty much anything and everything you attempt is going to end up exactly like it did yesterday, and the day before that, and the month before that--well you get the picture!
What if I were to tell you that you can change that. You can totally change that and you can do it actually quite simply--and absolutely free. Yep--not a single red cent, just some serious effort and a serious desire and willingness to work on the one thing you DO have control over, your thoughts and your belief system.
Have you heard of the legend of the Phoenix? For those who haven't, here is a brief (very brief) introduction to this incredibly powerful imagery. In Greek Mythology, the Phoenix was a beautiful and regal bird which lived very long. When the Phoenix felt it was near to the time of its death, it would build a funeral pyre and burst into flames. In its place, a young, powerful, and brand new bird would be born. Isn't that an amazingly powerful image to hold? Being reborn from the ashes of one's old life?
Well, you and I, we are like that legendary Phoenix. At any time, we have the power to completely deconstruct our old lives--our old selves, and be reborn as the person we want to be. The person we KNOW we really are deep down. The key is, we have to be willing to build that funeral pyre and completely destroy those old thoughts and beliefs. Pretty cool, right? Sounds simple enough so far.
Unfortunately, while it sounds incredibly simple--change around a few beliefs and poof, you become who and what you desire most in this world--it really does require some work on your part. Beliefs are tricky little things. They often hide so deeply within your subconscious mind that you may not even be AWARE that you hold that belief. While your conscious mind is busy working on affirmations and holding positive thoughts as much as possible; your subconscious is busy whispering like that devil on your shoulder--"Are you CRAZY?! You can't do that! Remember when you tried that thing five years ago? That didn't work out so well now did it you idiot! You must be ignorant to even think that you can ever be rich, thin, happy (fill in the blanks with whatever you've been trying to manifest)." And there you go. All the positive affirmations in the world; all the happy thoughts you could possibly muster..well they just can't do battle very well with an insidious little voice sweeping them away with every breath you take.
So, step one is not creating goals or writing positive affirmations, or just starting to make the changes you think you "should". Step one is working on the inside. It is on clearing away any and all negativity that is lying dormant in your subconscious. Sure goals are important. Believing you can do something (faith) is absolutely crucial as well. But again, all the faith and goals in the world will do you absolutely no good until you change what's lurking in the corridors and dark alleys of your mind. Phew...that's a lot for one day isn't it?! More on this later. For now just hold that image of the Phoenix in your mind. Put your own face on the face of that brilliant, regal bird. Know that, just as the Phoenix can be reborn when it realizes it is ready to be, so too can you. Science has proven it--all the cells of our bodies regenerate completely in time. Even neuroscience is beginning to catch up with the reality that has been posited for years--your brain is even moldable your entire life (neuroplasticity). Now it's time for you to catch up with science and quantum physics.
Because YOU are a PHOENIX!!!
What if I were to tell you that you can change that. You can totally change that and you can do it actually quite simply--and absolutely free. Yep--not a single red cent, just some serious effort and a serious desire and willingness to work on the one thing you DO have control over, your thoughts and your belief system.
Have you heard of the legend of the Phoenix? For those who haven't, here is a brief (very brief) introduction to this incredibly powerful imagery. In Greek Mythology, the Phoenix was a beautiful and regal bird which lived very long. When the Phoenix felt it was near to the time of its death, it would build a funeral pyre and burst into flames. In its place, a young, powerful, and brand new bird would be born. Isn't that an amazingly powerful image to hold? Being reborn from the ashes of one's old life?
Well, you and I, we are like that legendary Phoenix. At any time, we have the power to completely deconstruct our old lives--our old selves, and be reborn as the person we want to be. The person we KNOW we really are deep down. The key is, we have to be willing to build that funeral pyre and completely destroy those old thoughts and beliefs. Pretty cool, right? Sounds simple enough so far.
Unfortunately, while it sounds incredibly simple--change around a few beliefs and poof, you become who and what you desire most in this world--it really does require some work on your part. Beliefs are tricky little things. They often hide so deeply within your subconscious mind that you may not even be AWARE that you hold that belief. While your conscious mind is busy working on affirmations and holding positive thoughts as much as possible; your subconscious is busy whispering like that devil on your shoulder--"Are you CRAZY?! You can't do that! Remember when you tried that thing five years ago? That didn't work out so well now did it you idiot! You must be ignorant to even think that you can ever be rich, thin, happy (fill in the blanks with whatever you've been trying to manifest)." And there you go. All the positive affirmations in the world; all the happy thoughts you could possibly muster..well they just can't do battle very well with an insidious little voice sweeping them away with every breath you take.
So, step one is not creating goals or writing positive affirmations, or just starting to make the changes you think you "should". Step one is working on the inside. It is on clearing away any and all negativity that is lying dormant in your subconscious. Sure goals are important. Believing you can do something (faith) is absolutely crucial as well. But again, all the faith and goals in the world will do you absolutely no good until you change what's lurking in the corridors and dark alleys of your mind. Phew...that's a lot for one day isn't it?! More on this later. For now just hold that image of the Phoenix in your mind. Put your own face on the face of that brilliant, regal bird. Know that, just as the Phoenix can be reborn when it realizes it is ready to be, so too can you. Science has proven it--all the cells of our bodies regenerate completely in time. Even neuroscience is beginning to catch up with the reality that has been posited for years--your brain is even moldable your entire life (neuroplasticity). Now it's time for you to catch up with science and quantum physics.
Because YOU are a PHOENIX!!!
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