New Year Happy?

Happy New Year!  I’m sure you are expecting lots of positive clichés, so here they are:  It’s a time of new beginnings!  Out with the old, in with the new!  Make those resolutions and stick to ‘em!  The past is past, it’s a new day, a new year!  Create a ‘Dream Board’ for 2014!  What do you want to manifest this year?!

Okay, now that that’s done, I’m going to share a little of my reality.  The thought of adding anything new to my plate is simply exhausting.  What I really want for 2014 for myself is some happy endings.  It’s been a year of extremes.  Some very, very dark as well as some very, very bright and joyful.

The more I ponder “new beginnings”, the more the “unfinished business” comes to the forefront of my mind.  I’m finding it impossible to step into the delight of creating something new in my reality.  This is quite puzzling, but I’m starting to get a glimmer into how I can make this work for me.  I want the delight!

What I can do, and will do, is take a fresh, new look at what is in my reality right now.  Just maybe, I can “begin” again, create something “new” out of what can become old.  I can create my own happy endings and make room for some new possibilities.

I’m remembering that I am at choice in my labeling and how I believe the story will play out.  I decide what is old and what’s new.  I decide what is ‘an ending’ and what is a beginning.  I decide what is dark and what is light.

I’m deciding to have a marvelous, prosperous, joyful, peace-filled 2014.  What are you deciding?

Ah, I feel better.  I hope you do, too!  Thank you for letting me share, for letting me be real with you.  May all you desire manifest at great speed in the New Year, 2014.

Are You Serious? The Universe Wants to Know!

The Law of Attraction is alive and well.  Of course, it always was, always is, and always will be, whether we believe in the Laws of the Universe or not. "The Secret" introduced many to these Laws and some of us became conscious of how to use those Laws, and some of us played with it a bit then said "Phooey!"

I am a firm believer in the Laws, I just tend to get lazy, or disappointed when what I want doesn't show up right away - maybe discouraged is a better word. This is the problem with most of us, I think, in manifesting what we desire. Patience.

When you visit the Higher Self Bookstore, you will notice that we do everything by hand.  Book titles are written down on a yellow pad at time of sale, we search 3X5 cards to see if a book is in stock, we are still handwriting gift certificates, and there is a standard cash register.  I wanted to offer more to my customers.

I wanted a POS system.  POS stands for Point of Sale.  With a point of sale we could scan products for faster check out, record your purchases for loyalty programs, issue gift cards, and generate reports and orders and such to get me out of the office and visiting with you out in the store! And so much more!

In 2009, I almost committed to the purchase of a POS.  Luckily, my bookkeeper stopped me.  We really (really!) couldn't afford it.  I still wanted one, and for the next four years I desired, wished, wanted one.  I could even whip up the excitement the owning of one would have for me.

But this is only part of the Law of Attraction equation.  What I was missing was action.  I had in my head an already knowing of how much it cost and that it was out of my reach.  Over the last month I finally started working on a business plan - something I didn't really think I needed because I had it all in my head and why put it on paper for others to read?  Please list this under denial, laziness, and procrastination. 

Writing about my mission was easy.  Coming up with the numbers, not so much.  As I took action and started getting new quotes for POS systems, as well as new website, online store costs, etc., it actually felt good to know, really know, so I could continue to take steps from there. It included talking to actual people, too, instead of just the voice in my head. People who knew other people who were just waiting for me.  Just waiting.

So, the reason for this topic this month is - Law of Attraction works when you work it!  I'm so excited I've been jumping up and down all day! The Higher Self is getting a POS system!  Affordable and awesome!  Just wait until you see all we will be able to offer you!  I can hardly wait!

I think the Universe was waiting around to see if I was serious.  That is where the action part is so important.  Well, just as important as the desire and the feeling - you gotta give it all!  Wishin' and a-hopin' and thinkin' ain't gonna work - unless it does but those cases are rare.

Speaking of manifesting, there's a class here on January 11th on the Law of Attraction, offering you tools to make your desires a reality.  The tools won't do the work it for you, of course.

Wishing you all that you desire, this holiday season and all the days of your life!

Tis the Season - The Truth About It

Tis the Season of Holidays.  This week we take down the Halloween decorations and spruce up with fall colors and symbols of the harvest in preparation for Thanksgiving.  Already there are Christmas decorations, as well as Christmas music, in many of the stores (not at the Higher Self Bookstore)! 

We take a moment, sometimes a very short moment, to honor and contemplate the meaning of the season and the holiday.  Too often it is short-lived and we are distracted by the list of things to do that we’ve made for ourselves.  Busy, busy, busy.

I find myself taking on the responsibility of making sure those around me can be joyous, peaceful, comfortable and well fed, imaging I’m the only one who can do it.  I’m the only one who knows that my holiday company can only feel these things I desire for them if I deep clean, wash the glassware to a sparkle, plan the menu, shop for the best deals so there’s money available for some special treats, and coordinate my dates and times around everyone else so there is no stress and all can come and experience the joy and comfort I have prepared for them.

Am I listening to myself?  How arrogant to think only I know what will make you happy!  As I make myself crazy, you are sitting back without a clue as to what has gotten into me!  I’m guessing I am not the only one who puts themselves in this position.

I know it is “I” who feels more comfortable if the glasses sparkle.  It is “I” who feels good being able to give special gifts.  I am the one who enjoys cleaning and cooking for company.  Yep, it's all about me.  Unless, of course, it isn't.  Truth be said, when I remember that these things are not a “have to”, that I actually do it for the joy of it, this hostess is not crazy and nicer to be around.

I invite you to join me in doing it a little differently this year.  If doing a thing does not bring you joy, consider dropping it from your list or finding someone else to do it, someone who does find joy in it.  Dig for the truth of it:  the preparations and the gift giving, do I really have to or do I want to.

Make those moments of honor and contemplation stretch out longer, maybe do a little research to share with your holiday companions.  Create an environment of joy and peace, from the inside out.  Being joy and peace invites those around you to Be the same.

Breathe!  Make it fun!  Give the gift of peace, joy, and love – yours!

Awesome!

Sedona, Arizona.  Oh, my!  I was in “awe” the whole week I was there.  It was breathtaking, relaxing,   My eyes feasted and every cell in my body memorized the view as well as the feeling. And I remembered…

rejuvenating, peaceful, inspiring, calming – the mountains, the mesas, the red rock.

I remembered that this feeling always happens when I’m in mountains and water at the same time, this rejuvenation.  I also remembered that I can bring this feeling back, through visualization.

Sedona may be the most beautiful place I’ve seen so far, but I do remember other beautiful, awe-inspiring places I’ve seen in my lifetime.  These mind-pictures are in me forever, as well as the feeling, deep in my subconscious, in my soul.

There is a reason Law of Attraction teachers/authors advise you to create vision boards, to go sit in the car you desire, to stamp that bill “paid” and put it where you can see it.  The “visual” helps ingrain it into your subconscious, and your subconscious remembers everything.  More importantly, the subconscious remembers how you feel about what you are looking at, touching, listening.

That feeling of awe is mine to experience anytime I want.  I just have to remember with my head that it is there, inside me, always.

As I thought about this blog I also thought about the word “awesome”, derived from the word, awe, of course.  Many of us are so used to hearing this word, hearing it overused, in different tonalities, with different emotions behind the speaking of it – well, it’s lost its “awe.”  I, for one, an determined to quit misusing this “awe”some word!

Some of you are wondering when I’m going to get to the part about experiencing the vortexes in Sedona.  There are many, and yes, they are real.  It was Awesome!  I highly recommend you go if you get the chance.  In the meantime, find some pictures, sit quietly, and visualize – with feeling!

Anybody Have a Suggestion?

I am now certified as a Lifestyle Engineer, approved to offer the Virtual Gastric Band Program.  As I've
mentioned, I had this procedure (no surgery!) and continue to shrink!  Because I am so impressed and thrilled, I wanted to be able to offer this amazing program to others.  But, more on that later.  What I learned during the training last week provided subject material for several blogs!  One at a time...

Lifeskills was a personal growth training I took years ago that put me on a completely different path, one with an understanding that what I believe creates my life.  Since then, I've participated in various workshops, trainings, not to mention the mountains of books I've read, that all seem to bring me full circle to - what I believe creates my life.

The message comes in many packages, using different language, but it all comes down to the same thing.  I call it beliefs, ones I accepted to be true based on what I was told, what I read, what I felt, from the day I was born (maybe even before). Lifestyle Engineering uses hypnosis-based language, like suggestions.  Indoctrination is a term used by another personal growth training. These indoctrinated beliefs or suggestions are what the sub-conscious uses to run your programs.  It doesn't always make sense - it's the conscious mind that analyses.  Problem is, the conscious mind can't remember all the beliefs/suggestions we decided were truth.  That's the sub-conscious mind's job.

In Lifeskills, we used experiential exercises to help you remember and look at those beliefs you forgot.  Then, tools were offered to "discreate" those beliefs.  To fill the void, a new, workable belief was provided to create what you preferred.  The question was asked, once, did we really "discreate" it?  Yes and no.  Your conscious mind eventually either forgot it, or, it became so unimportant you just never thought about it again.

During the training last week, I was to give a hypnosis I did not want to do.  I didn't think I could do it and I was afraid,holding back tears.  We had a break just before so I was walking around in circles asking myself "What is wrong with you?"  A memory surfaced. In Lifeskills, I identified that I had a core belief that I was a dangerous person, and that if I did it wrong I could really hurt somebody.  Oh, Yeah!  I hadn't thought about that in years!  My response to the memory:  "I remember.  I also remember that - YOU DON'T LIVE HERE ANYMORE!"  Pop.  It was gone.  I returned to class confident.

Moral of the story, it doesn't matter if a belief was entirely dis-created.  The good news is that we can convince the sub-conscious to take on a new belief/suggestion, one better to help us create the life we prefer.  There are many ways, many modalities - one is perfect for you.

The experiences and knowledge I've acquired over these past years are a perfect fit for my new services as a Lifestyles Engineer.  The power of suggestion can change your thinking, change your life.  I know, you've heard this before.  Probably cause it's true!

For more information about Lifestyle Engineering and the Virtual Gastric Band Procedure, contact me at the Higher Self Bookstore, (231) 941-5805

The Baking Meditation

As a fundraiser for Kafi, our Tarot Reader Extraordinaire, I decided to have a bake sale.  I don't know how
to do a spaghetti dinner or pancake breakfast, but I do bake and know how to follow a recipe.  The Village Market in Elk Rapids donated ingredients, and my baking "meditation" started last Saturday.

Now, I can meditate sitting, being quiet, and I like it very much.  But I often find that a "doing" meditation gets me the best results when I am looking for answers.  Walking, washing dishes, cleaning house, knitting - the routine lets me be in the present moment and allows my mind to be still.  I must be intentional with this, otherwise I'd just be thinking, thinking, thinking...

I did get some insights as I continued to bake for six days straight - whenever I wasn't at the Higher Self Bookstore.  One that, to me, was huge had to do with my weight-loss hitting a plateau.  I realized that I was holding a belief that if I lost any more weight I'd have nothing to wear! Aha!

So I changed that belief, because it wasn't true - number one.  I also had to give myself permission to shop and spend some money on clothes.  It's okay!  Along with a little hypnosis tweaking, the scale is on the move down once again. I'm a firm believer that what one believes is what one experiences in their reality.  Identify the belief - if it is not working in getting what you want, change it.  If you need help with this, let me know.

The Bake Sale starts today, August 2, and goes until it's all gone.  If you happen to miss it, I have some ingredients left and would be happy to fill an order.  Kafi should be back to the store soon - until she does we are also selling gift certificates for sessions with her at a discounted price.

Meditation doesn't have to be hard, and less thinking gives you a chance to hear what the heart, and Source, has to say. 

It Should Feel Good

During a radio interview once, I was asked how does one know when they are following the dream that isn’t meant to be?  My reply was that if it is just too hard, if every obstacle imaginable is showing up at every turn then you need to take a good look at where it is you are trying to go.  I’m paraphrasing, but this is essentially what came out of my mouth.  I was allowing Divine guidance to speak through me that day.  But, what did it mean?  Was it the truth?

Sometimes the Universe has a different idea about the best way to realize your dream, and it doesn’t always look the way you think it should look.  The last few years have been difficult, financially, and keeping the doors open to the Higher Self Bookstore had become “hard.”  The more I pushed and worked and planned and schemed and put my focus on what the store wasn’t, the harder and harder it all seemed to get.  This made me think of the radio interview.

So, was this dream over?  Was there something else I was supposed to be doing? Was it true that if it is just too hard it must be the wrong dream for me?  How do I know for sure? 

It was apparent that I was not going to “figure this out” from the place of focusing on what wasn’t, what was lacking, and fear.  I went back to the basics and got clear on what it is I want, who I want to be, and how I want to feel.

I surrendered.  No, I didn’t quit, throw my hands in the air and say whatever happens - happens.  I surrendered to the Universe.  Then I allowed myself to be guided.  Instead of jumping on Facebook first thing in the morning under the guise of being productive, I started a gratitude journal and followed that with prayer and meditation.  I took care of myself with self-hypnosis and yoga.  Then, and only then, did I go to the store.

I open the doors to abundance as I enter, I express appreciation for another day to serve, and hold gratitude in my heart for all who enter.  Do I get it “right” everyday? No, but the more I practice and hold my focus the more I experience pleasure, harmony, and peace.

There are lots of changes happening at the Higher Self Bookstore, and it feels wonderful.  Have you been in lately?  Have you felt it?  How can it feel so good and not be the right dream?

Sometimes when we pick a path, then forget what the real result we are looking for is, we may take a little detour down a rocky road.  When we remember the highest purpose, we are Divinely guided back to the path of least resistance.

The doors are open!  The highest purpose of the Higher Self Bookstore is to support your personal growth and spiritual needs.  That is my purpose as well.  And don’t it feel good!