A friend of mine sent over an excerpt from a book that told me something I already knew. Yet there was that, “I KNOW, RIGHT?” thought screaming in my mind as I read it, and a, “Thank You!” to the person who put it out there, validating what I knew to be true.

Play is good for you!

I don’t mean competitive sports like tennis, football or even golf, where you are keeping score. I am referring to the kind of play you engaged in as a child. When you didn’t care about the outcome of your art project, you just loved DOING it! You tried cartwheels, giggling in fits when you would fall to the grass. There was no failure except the failure to participate.

This is when we are truly connected to our soul and to the divine universe. When we let go of judging ourselves and the outcome of what we do. When we give in to the moment and tap into the joy in our hearts. When we release all fear of past or future and breathe in the now.

Getting into that playful spirit allows us a huge release. Letting go of anything except what you are doing now is like meditation for your soul. It will refresh you, enabling you to come back to situations and see them from a clearer perspective and achieve better outcomes. Most importantly, you have time to unite with your higher self, which will allow you to develop a greater self-love and appreciation for yourself.

This is one of the reasons why adult coloring books, play shops (rather than “workshops”), painting parties and other creative outlets have gained rapidly in popularity. These fun activities aren’t just for the creative types anymore as more “A” personality types are seeing how it actually increases their productivity to take a time out. My friend Lisa Tishman holds amazing art classes and is the author of a great meditative coloring and journaling experience that you will love! (Click on the picture to learn more.)

I have always found this to be true, which is why you will often hear me say you have to “think like a kid to succeed like a rock star!”

Yes, I have tokens for Chucky Cheese, play cards for Boomers and tickets from both places. It’s been less than six months since I have ridden a carousel. But it has been almost a year since I have hit the playground. So if you pass a playground today and see a big kid with long blonde hair, honk and wave. I’ll wave back at ya!

As the year ends, many make resolutions for the coming year. Get in better shape, learn a language, spend more time with the family are just a few.

Another New Year tradition I have heard of is selecting a word to focus on and practice. One person told me their word was COURAGE. In a conversation with a friend, she revealed that ELEVATE was her word for the coming year. I love this idea, as I know that to fully absorb a lesson, characteristic or any habit of excellence, you must apply and practice it.

We aren’t born knowing how to walk, talk, write or any other skill. We learn, apply and practice. Yet as we get older, we are busy with what can feel like life’s demands and we look for shortcuts. And we get the results that come when you don’t put in the time to imprint what you learn. Which is why I have so many self-help programs on my shelves. It wasn’t until I took that Tony Robbin’s program, did all the exercises and CONTINUED to practice what I have learned, that I got the promised results.

You see, I love the idea of holding a word or intention in your focus for a prolonged period of time because I know it works.

Repeated action creates a habit. Habits create excellence.

This year I will hold a focus word of GRATITUDE. We know how gratitude will raise our vibrational frequency, keeping our energy in a great state. We know it makes us happier and healthier. We know that when our energy is vibrating at a high frequency, we will attract other high frequency things. For these reasons I have chosen that as one of my focus words for 2016. Yet I don’t want to hold that gratitude in, so I intend to share it through what I am referring to as My Gratitude Project. Please feel free to join me.

Project Gratitude

During the year 2016, it is my intention to have GRATITUDE at the center of my focus. I will take time to appreciate the little things and immerse myself in gratitude for the bigger things as well. I will actively seek to see the reasons I have to be grateful every minute of every day.

It is also my intention to share my gratitude my acknowledging one person a day in public. Most days it will be on social media. Other days, when taking time away from electronics, I will publicly acknowledge my appreciation for another human being.

I am grateful that I have the opportunity to let another soul know how valuable and valued they are.

Today, I start with YOU. Although this may seem generic because it is in a post, if you are reading this, it is definitely written for YOU.

Thank you so much… for all you are and all you have gone through. I know there were many times when it was not easy and even now, it may seem like it should be easier. You are doing great. Actually, you are doing better than great. You have overcome so much and are way stronger than you think you are. Look at all that you have learned and how much you have grown. You really are amazing and so many people need you in their lives. You make a difference with your words, with your actions and just because of the love in your heart. The world is better because you are in it, and I thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for being you.

This morning I listened to an audio of The Strangest Secret by Earl Nightingale, a book I had read some twenty years ago. There is a reason this book is still on the must read list of great minds. People often ask, how come some people seem to have all the luck and I don’t seem to be able to get ahead. The answer is explained in this book. While I have included a pdf download at the bottom of this blog, here are the Cliff notes.

There are 5 ESSENTIAL steps for becoming wealthy.

ONE
~ Master your thoughts ~
They say master your thoughts, I like to refer to it as becoming more selective of your thoughts. Thoughts are there, all the time, even when we sleep and our thoughts shape our future. It has taken a lifetime to condition your mind to be negative. Doubt and fear underlie the thoughts of most if they don’t actually take over all together. It’s also become a habit for many to focus on the problem, spending much more time engaged in those thoughts than selecting thoughts that are conducive to finding a solution. It takes time and practice to get really good at being able to select positive, solution based thoughts, yet it is the very first step mentioned in the book.

If you are looking for a program that will guide you into this way of thinking with fun practice as you develop this skill let me know. This is one of the key elements my Train Your Brain for Rock Star Success program focuses on.

TWO
~ Create Strong Empowering Beliefs ~

Changing your belief system is the foundation that all success is built on. You must be able to imagine a thing, create it in your mind, before you can bring it into your existence. You can only imagine a thing if you believe it is possible. Therefore, to do what seems impossible, you must believe that all things are possible. Not an easy task when so many of the things we have been told or experienced cause us to start believing that we are limited and have limitations. It takes time to develop a new habit, and you will find this investment to be one of your greatest investments in yourself and your future that you will ever make.

THREE
~ Think in Terms of Opportunities and Possibilities ~

Of course, I am paraphrasing what I listened to, but that is the idea they convey. I know how being able to think in terms of possibilities and opportunities will create such a degree of success that others will call you lucky and wonder why everything always seems to go your way. And things will be going your way when you spend the time to develop the skill of solution based thinking. This works because when you are focused on the problem 50% of the time and focused on the solution 50% of the time it will take you twice as long to find the right answer and you will miss many other opportunities during that time.

I loved listening to this audio because these are the result people get with my Train Your Brain program does. It allows you to transcend your life to the point where you feel like you have magic powers because everything is so fun, fast and easy.

FOUR
~ Save 10% of Everything You Make ~

I wish I had started this practice the first time I read this book. Actually, I did save it, then I would spend it when there was something big I felt would make my life better. Perhaps it should say save 10% of everything you make and do not touch it EVER. After a lifetime of doing this, you will be receiving some great pay outs on the principle!

It’s never too late to start!

FIVE
~ Take Action ~

When you are taking action, it is important to happily put 100% into everything you do. There is something about putting your all into actions that activates the universe to bring you what you truly want. This works because when the universe knows you are giving your all with the little things, it wants to bring you the big things.

With this fun, easy to follow course, Train Your Brain for Rock Star Success, you will practice and develop these skills until they become second nature to you. When you do this, the universe has no choice but to grant you your wishes and bring you your heart’s desires.

Are you ready to take action?

OR

Download your FREE copy of The Strangest Secret by clicking on Earl!

Mastermind groups are a new concept to many people, yet there is nothing new about them. As long ago as 1955, Napoleon Hill’s endorses this practice in his classic, Think and Grow Rich.

A mastermind is a group of people who come together to brainstorm for solutions to a problem or negative situation. By sharing ideas and combining resources, each member is elevated to a greater level of success than they could possibly achieve alone. The most successful entrepreneurs find this an essential element contributing to their success.

Masterminding has become more popular because of the many benefits. Here are 8 great reasons for you to join on today.

1st ~ Meet New People
In a mastermind group, you get the chance to meet and get to know new people who have the same intentions of bettering their lives. While you may see familiar faces, take the time to get to know the new people in a mastermind group or event.

2nd ~ Fresh Perspective
When laying out a situation you wish to improve upon to others, they will be able to offer you a fresh perspective. Each of us filters the information we get through our past experiences and belief system. Each of us has learned and experienced different information as well. The accumulation of our knowledge will be greater than our individual knowledge.

3rd ~ Specialized Knowledge & Experience
Being in a mastermind group allows you access to advice from people in other professions. The best part is that as a member of a mastermind, they will have an interested in your success. Having people on your team who are genuinely want you to rise above where you are now gives you a tremendous advantage. Entrepreneurs, solopreneurs and business people find that the unique experience each person has is a huge benefit to mastermind groups.

4th ~ Continue Learning
Mastermind groups may have a topic or point of learning before the focus turns to the individual. This is an added bonus as you will always learn a great deal just by listening to others share their past experiences and what they have learned.

5th ~Great Connections
In business and in life, who you know really is more important than what you know. The connections you make will give you access to their connections. In the mastermind environment, each member is giving your ideas and helping to shape your dream, bringing it more into focus and closer to you. Think of it like having a child. Those who help raise your child are going to be more interested in telling their friends about this brilliant young person they have helped to shape. It’s the same with business or personal goals.

6th ~ Think bigger
When the boundaries of your mind are stretched you will think bigger. Often other can see a bigger and better future for you than you can for yourself because they are not limited in what they see ahead for you by your fears.

7th ~ Encouragement
There is a lot to be said for encouragement. I know a wonderful woman who once paid a man to help her with her vision. Basically, he was a paid cheerleader, telling her how wonderful she was and how she could accomplish big things. Why was this gentleman able to stay in business and profit nicely? People need encouragement. They need to feel good about themselves and their goal.

8th ~ Accountability
What we are held accountable for we get done. Nobody wants to look foolish, so once you tell someone you are going to do something, there is a greater feeling of discomfort if you do not do it. Therefore, to avoid the discomfort, we will just do what needs to be done instead of finding ways to talk ourselves out of it. Whether it’s going to the gym, giving a friend a ride or business goals, once you have committed to another person, you are exponentially more likely to do it.

Join a Collective ~ Transcend Your World
Join me for a one of a kind, spiritually based mastermind. Meditate on the beach as we open the meeting. Intention setting for the meeting and the coming month follows the zen meditation. Masterminding at it’s finest occurs when you are at a table of 5 brilliant minds and you get a minimum of 10 minutes each to really dive into the improvements you want to make.
This is SOLUTION BASED MASTERMINDING. You start with what you perceive as an unwanted situation and take a positive, solution based approach.

The cost is $15 ($10 if you register before January 1, 2016) Brunch can be purchased from the restaurant. For more details and to claim your spot NOW click the beautiful picture below

We all know or at least have heard the many benefits that meditation has on our health and well-being.

• Decreases depression
• Reduces stress and anxiety
• Reduces symptoms of panic disorder
• Reduces alcohol and substance abuse
• Improves your focus and attention to detail
• Improves information processing and decision-making
• Improves memory and ability to learn
• Improves your mood and makes you happier

Many benefits can be scientifically measured as well.
• Increases grey matter concentration in the brain
• Reduces risk of heart disease and stroke
• Affects your immunity
• Reduces blood pressure
• Decreases inflammatory disorders

I could go on, but I want to talk about meditation and how it will help you make more money.

Health & Money

We know that meditation will make us healthier. When poor health requires and divides our attention, it stunts our growth and keeps us from accomplishing our goals as quickly and easily as we are meant to. When we are healthy, we can stay focused on our dreams and goals without the immediate tug of being unwell distracting us.

Meditation = Health. Health = More Money!

Focus & Money

Countless studies and personal experience say that when you meditate, your focus becomes better. The better your focus, the more quickly and proficiently you will complete what needs to be done to get where you wish to go.

Meditation = Focus. Focus = Money!

More importantly…

What we focus on will come to be. Why not focus on increasing our income? When you meditate, you are connecting with the oneness of the universe and you become part of that oneness. It is here that you will find all answers, including the ones about how to add more value to the world so you will be rewarded in turn monetarily. You can discover solutions to issues that have been placed in your path for you to learn from. You have access to the collective intelligence of the universe when you meditate. If you wish to make more money, this is where you want to go.

Keep in mind, we never know how the information will be presented to us in meditation. You may get an idea on how to implement the youth program you have wanted to start. Perhaps you think of a friend who specializes in an issue you need help with. Yet be assured, that when you meditate and get the information you need, the right people and opportunities will come in your path to allow you allow you to bring that which you meditated on to fruition.

If you have any misconceived ideas that meditation is supposed to be spiritual so therefore you should not meditate on money, I say BULL!

Meditation is spiritual and what could be more spiritual than finding a way to give so much to others that you have more than enough money to live the glorious life that the universe means for you to have! 

“The number one reason people don’t get what they want is that they don’t know what they want.”        ~T Harv Eker

When it comes to success, happiness, financial security and most things in life, the more clear you get on what you want and why you want it, the faster you will achieve that goal.

WHAT DO YOU WANT?

If you are looking for a new home you have to know how many bedrooms and bathrooms you want. Do you want a pool? Do you have special requirements about storage, kitchen space or yard space? If you were to tell a realtor that you want a new house and that is all, it is too vague for them to be able to help you. The clearer you become on the details, the more closely they be able to match you with a home that suits your needs.

If you wish to release some extra pounds you have been holding onto, how many pounds do you wish to release and when do you want to be free of that weight? Date it! When you put a date on when you intend to accomplish this goal by, it makes it real.

This is especially true when it comes to financial and career goals. People want to make more money. They want more clients. You may wish for more money and find a dollar on the sidewalk. You may wish for more clients but perhaps you really want clients who are easy to work with that pay on time.

Get clear. How much do you want to make each month? Is it free and clear or is that before taxes? Awesome. Now figure out what your expenses are and how much you will need to bring in to clear the amount you have decided on. Then decide what service or value you will give to others which will allow you to receive the amount you desire. If you are not exactly sure what you will do to earn it yet, that is alright. With total faith that it will happen, the answers and opportunities will come to you.

You also want to get clear on your why. Why do you want to eat better? Is it for your health, so you feel good, so you fit into your old jeans? Do you want more money so you can visit your loved ones who don’t live near? Do you have a charity that you wish to help out financially?

Being clear on what you want and why you want it will cause you to be more motivated, which is important because your motivation level will determine the amount of effort you will put into your goal. It also keeps you excited about achieving the outcome, which will keep you vibrating at the frequency of success and attracting more good things to you!