Christmas in My Dreams...

Remember that sad World War II Christmas ballad, I'll Be Home For Christmas? It seems like my theme song for these past few years, based on the line "...if only in my dreams."

Today, I salute everyone who is away from their loved ones on Christmas, especially those who are in harm's way. May you find something to make you smile, may you realize that you have friends who will stick closer than a brother, and may that peace that transcends all understanding guard your heart and your mind.

I do miss my parents and my four sisters and their families at this time. I miss getting together and having everyone in my kitchen - even though it was always Mom who brought the most important stuff. (Please don't tell her that I serve instant potatoes and canned cranberries down here in Tennessee!)

I miss those magical Christmases that beckoned us to come outside with hot cocoa and sleds. I miss having all the spouses and kids running around the house and cheering over football games. I miss the noisiness of it all; even if the parties required my sweet, quiet husband to decompress afterwards in a dark corner with muted video games. :)

"It is Christmas every time you let God love others through you… yes, it is Christmas every time you smile at your brother and offer him your hand." -- Mother Teresa

Thankfully, no distance or situation can take the spirit of Christmas away. Although I dream of the day that peace prevails over every family and world gathering, I rejoice that God became flesh and lived among us, and that he chose to never leave us as orphans. I'm thankful for my friends and family in our little home, in this little town. And I'm thankful for you. This Christmas, I'll see you in my dreams - and Mom will have brought enough food for all of us!

Till next time,

Merry Christmas.

How To Have Great Gain

To hear this blog instead of reading it, click here: (It is less than 5 min. long)

How to have great gain. That is my subject today. Not how to have "weight gain," which is an unatural result of the slippery slope between Halloween Candy and New Year's Resolutions. We'll talk about that later.

No, today, I want to share some good news about great financial gain, relationship gain, and happiness gain, because today, I woke up very rich - several times, I might add. Once at 1:00 am, exactly one hour after lying down for the night, again at 4:30, when the heat from all Paul's cast aside covers finally caused me to swelter into wakefulness, (This happens nightly, and I must admit that my response is not always a smile.) and again at 5:00, when I decided to go back to sleep for another hour. The funny thing was, each time I woke up, I was acutely aware of the prosperity all over my life, and my desire to stir up abundance in every one I meet.

What made me so rich? Was it the checks I've been getting in the mail? I don't think so, but that's a part of it. Was it the great deals I found on my kid's Christmas gifts? Nah. Was it the fact that I spend my days doing what I love? Why yes! And just what do I love? The small stuff!

I love to look back to all that I ever dreamed of when I was younger - finding a fabulous husband, having a home, and kids of our own, and having a career where I get to speak and write and help people, being able to do what I want, when I want. And alas, those days have been upon me for years. I am living my dreams. And here's the funny thing - most of the time the fulfillment of those great dreams is quite - daily.

There was nothing spactacular about one single thing that happened yesterday or today. In fact today, there was even some irritated squabbling as the two older kids looked for missing clothes. Few things are as irritating to Jordan as losing his expensive undershirts, except of course, losing all his sweatshirts. Some days I imagine he'll have nothing to wear to his winter baseball practice except his pajamas. And Kristan, well, she had her own issues surrounding her basketball game tonight, while Nathan nearly forgot his backpack, and poor Matthew was staying home with some stomach flu... No. The morning did not look blissful for about ten distinct minutes.

That is when I saw our riches in action. It is in the daily stuff. If you can embrace the daily-ness of every day life, then you can be rich indeed. None of us really has any guarantee of tomorrow, so why wait to be happy?

Why did I wake up rich? Because each time I awoke, I was aware of all the love that fills our home - even when we get on each other's nerves. I was aware of the fact that the worst sicknesses we've ever faced have been gone in 72 hours and I was aware that we have never gone without food and warm shelter. I was aware that my worst days are a hundred times better than most of the world's best days.

My friend Bill says that a man's prosperity is not shown by what he accumulates, but by what he is able to give away. You don't have to be rich to have that mindset. I've seen people in 3rd world countries, smile exuberantly as they give away one of their only chickens, and I've seen wealthy Americans in pain over giving away a hundred dollars. The contrast is remarkable.

Are you rich today? If you are reading this on your computer, and you know where your next meal is, you are richer than most of the world. The secret to great gain is to tune in to it - and enjoy it!

In this crazy, commercial season, I encourage you to slow down, count your blessings, and find something to do for somebody who is not in your immediate family and who can't pay you back. Your gift does not have to be about money.

If you have something to give, and you can give it with a happy heart, than you have great gain, for sure!

Success Verses a Successful Life

What makes a person a success? We are such a performance driven culture. I make my living as a peak performance coach. And yet, it is your success in life as a whole that means more than any successful performance.

As we draw near the close of the year, it is time to ask - was it a successful year? Did you come closer to the goals that matter to you? Did you make good on your promises to yourself and those around you? Are you living a successful life?

I read "success" books like most people listen to music. I read biographies and autobiographies of "great" people, but I've noticed that even for these, success is easier to come by than a successful life. They may become millionaires but lose their marriage, succeed in business but have children who despise them, succeed in sports or entertainment, yet have addictions that eat them alive. That, my friend, is not a successful life. It is not your inheritance to have public success at the expense of private peace. You can have both.

Today, I encourage you to look at all of your roles. Who are you as a spouse, a friend, a parent, a son or daughter, a sibling, a co-worker, an employee, a boss? How do you want to be remembered under each of these hats? What words would you like to have describe you? Hint - for this exercise you can not use the word "successful." Instead, I recommend quality-of-life words like, "Faithful, joyful, loving, satisfied, generous, fulfilled..." Think of who you want to be when no one is watching. That is authentic success.

Remember finding true success is not a matter of accomplishing some external goal to validate who you are. Rather, it is becoming who you want to be, and in so doing, attracting all of the pieces necessary to live the life of your dreams. You were created to live a life of purpose - a life on purpose. You were meant to be blessed in order to be a blessing. Toiling endlessly is a part of the curse. I choose to rejoice in the blessing purchased on the cross.

Enjoy the little things today. Count out loud, the things that make you smile. As you do, you will realize that your success has been available all along.

Until next time,

Enjoy the journey

Ephesians 1:18
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.

What Could You Do With No Limits?

Hello again!

Today I want to take about a minute to ask you a question that changed my life. Most of us operate with such limited thinking...but remember, if you ask the right questions, you will soon find, often to your surprise, the right answers!

This message is only about 4 minutes long. You can press the yellow arrow to listen now, or click the download link, to put it on your computer for later.

Have fun!

Gina

Overcoming Disappointment

Hello again my friends,

How are things going for you? I am enjoying
the lovely October air, and getting used to
the idea that the Rockies were just swept in
the World Series.

Frankly, watching it was a bit painful.

Disappointing.

I was wondering if any of you ever deal with
disappointment.

If so, what do you do?

Here are some ideas:

1. Focus on the positive:

What is great about the problem?

For the Rockies, it was great that they were
struggling in the WORLD SERIES, for Heaven's
sakes! Just getting there is remarkable.

2. Remember other times that you made it through:

Just today I called an old friend, and somehow our
conversation turned to all sorts of miracles we
have seen during times of real struggle.

I was so excited by the time I hung up with her.

How awesome to have friends that always stir up
the best in your faith.

3. Give yourself a gentle time line:

I often see athletes and business professionals
make this interesting mistake -

They OVERESTIMATE what they can do in a short period,
(and then they get frustrated and disappointed)...

while they UNDERESTIMATE what they could do if given
enough time.

Is there anything you are trying to do too fast?
What is the problem with doing it slowly, methodically.

Remember the wise old King who proclaimed that a
faithful man will be richly blessed, but one in a hurry
to get rich will quickly fail.

Enjoy the journey.

Can you get there with less struggle? Absolutely. Will you
get there faster if you have clearer focus. Yes, indeed.

So narrow your focus, but take small consistent action,
knowing that it will pay off in the end.

What one thing can you do today and the next to push yourself
harder?
Can you make a phone call? Can you add one name to
your contacts list?
Can you encourage someone around you to be their best?

I know you can do something. And when you do, you will
find disappointment losing its power and turning into a
stepping stone.

You're doing great, and I'm proud of you.

In your corner,

Gina

Galatians 6:9
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

From Dream to Distress...to Destiny!

Have you ever dreamed of success, taken steps towards that dream, and then wondered who in the world you were kidding?

I see it all the time.

I work with all kinds of people. People who have great success and those who have seen success turn to turmoil.

It matters not the arena - business, sports, relationships...you name it, tests and trials follow the dreamer.

Sometimes a struggler looks at a winner and thinks the other guy never faced failure. That is rediculous.

In fact, there is a regular pattern to winning - it goes like this...

1. Dream - Every great accomplishment began with a dream, a vision of what could be.

2. Distress - Some people call this the "death of the vision." I call it distress. It is the point where your experience has yet to catch up with the vision. The conflict can tear at your emotions and make you want to quit, give up. Cynicism rears its ugly head.

Maybe during this time, the bills pile up, the relationship goes sour, the team who counted on you suffers a loss because of you...and you feel sick.

Some people indeed, throw in the towel during this critical phase. It's heartbreaking, it really is. Because every successful person came out of that phase with a spirit of...

3. Determination -
This is where you say, "To stop me, you'll have to kill me." The determined individual can look at the pieces, learn from what worked and what didn't and move forward, in spite of fear and doubt. In those actions and renewed vision, faith is born, and the "mess" becomes their "message."

The answers were there all along, but it is this process that allows an individual to stand up and receive his good reward.

Abundance doesn't come on the one who dreams only, but the one who works out the dream. The individual through distress and determination is able to receive...

4. Divine Strategy -It is all the experience together that teaches you what to do next. At this point, the struggle is over, and you see yourself victorious before anything even changes physically.

You realize that the steps were ordered before hand, and now you can just walk in them.

Where is the battle? Ultimately, it is in your head. That's why the Bible tells us to "labor to enter into rest" because "faith has rest."

Success is not about striving, but more often about allowing.

If you are feeling stuck in any kind of distress, then I encourage you to see what needs to die.

Were you basing your identity on an external factor? Let it die.

Were you looking for happiness in another person? Let it go.

Was the feeling of freedom supposed to hit you after a certain dollar amount? Give it up.

Was your success tied to everyone else doing their job correctly? So what? Set them free.

It hurts to relinquish control, when we are used to holding all the reigns.

However, it is by laying them down in the moment and walking in the finished success that it becomes easy.

Yes, that is the true battle. To cease from striving so you can see the Divine strategy. You know, you were made to win this game, to enjoy...

5.Destiny-
This is where you look around and say, "I was born to do this!"

It is where you look at your business and realize that you're getting rich doing what you love.

You look at your relationships and say, "I never knew it could be this great," and you look at your game and say, "I knew I was a winner!"

Does success come raining down on every area all at once? Not usually. There will always be opportunity somewhere to refuse to be moved by what you see.

But it is a good fight.

Do you ever feel your dream has turned to distress? Congratulations! You're right on schedule, now...don't quit.

Until next time...

Keep playing hard, and enjoy your game.

Gina

Go Ahead, Make My Day!

Several years ago, there was a battery commercial where a super tough (and fairly young) Robert Conrad set an Eveready battery on his shoulder and growled into the camera. He snarled, "I dare ya to knock this battery off my shoulder. Go ahead - make my day!"

To tell you the truth, it was years before I even understood the commercial. (Shoot, I was only ten!) But I never forgot the line, "Go ahead, make my day."

I've learned something since then: There's a better way to live then waiting for someone to pick a fight so we can beat them up and make our day.

Instead, the real fun comes when we live to "Make their day."

Imagine for a moment...

Imagine a business, where the aim of every employee is the "make the day" of each person who comes in.

Imagine a classroom where the teacher is looking for excuses to praise the students, rather than humiliate. She knows she has the power to "make their day."

Imagine a household whose parents forget their own stress for a moment, while they honestly invest 15 minutes to listen intently to their child. They choose to "make his day."

Imagine a world where we no longer obsess over ourselves, but we look at the people around us and take up the challenge: "Go ahead, make their day."

Oh yes, it will take imagination; but we can do it. I'm up for it. How about you?

Go ahead...I dare ya!

Until next time - keep playing hard, and make their day!

How To Get Rid of Fear

Last week I talked about the executive who was considering starting his own business, and asked me, “What do you do about the fear?”

To hear this talked about in an 11 minute audio, click here:

The first idea is to just move ahead in spite of fear…or “do it afraid.” In some instances that can work fine, especially when your fears are unfounded.

However, we also said that the weakness of that strategy is made evident when the fears are well founded, instead. In that case, your fears, as powerful beliefs can downright sabotage your success. So, we need to eliminate those fears instead, so we can operate objectively.

Here are my keys to eliminating fear:

1. Make a decision. Like King David said in the Bible, “When I am afraid, I will not be afraid.”
Just because the emotion strikes your gut, doesn’t mean that you have to
give in to it. You can say out loud, “I choose to stay in faith.”

2. Vividly imagine in your mind, the perfect outcome of your situation. You don’t need to know how it could happen, just start dreaming of the best possible picture on the other side of this struggle. There is untold power in your ability to envision success instead of failure. Most people won’t take the time to do this continually. Successful people however, walk by faith, not just by sight.

3. Recognize that fear, like everything else, is just energy. On a biological level, some stimulus just caused your nervous system to release some peptides that vibrated on a certain frequency. These caused the fear receptors on your cell walls to open up to that vibration of fear. That’s all! You can clear that energy in a few steps.

1. Instead of fighting the energy of fear, choose to acknowledge and eliminate it. This is what we do in Flow On Demand, as outlined in the book –Flow On Demand.
2. So, while you are tapping on your fingertips, or the FOD targets, you mentally tune in to how rotten you are feeling. Then you say, “Even though I am afraid of loss and failure, I totally accept myself anyway, and I choose to stay calm and confident. Repeat that three times, and then as you keep tapping, keep focusing on the fear. Try to make that fear as big and powerful as possible, while you sit there.
3. Keep tapping as you think about it, or say it, “Fear of failure, fear of loss, fear of failure, fear of loss, you can get even more specific as certain images come to your mind. In fact you can speak the most ludicrous end of your fears. I.E. – “Afraid that I’ll end up living under a bridge in a cardboard box tomorrow…”
4. What you are doing is facing the fear itself, and watching it fade away. Take your time on this.
5. Then take a deep breath and see if it’s any better at all. Most likely, it is fairly faded.
6. Then start tapping and speaking your choice, “I choose to stay calm and confident, calm and confident…smart and inspired…rich and blessed…successful and happy…calm and confident.”
7. After another breath, tune in to see how the fear feels. Is there still a knot in your stomach? A tightness in your chest? If there is any physical symptom at all, then go through the process again, acknowledging the physical feeling, and reaffirm your decision to be calm and confident.

This is one of those exercises that is even more productive with a skilled coach or energy practitioner, but I want you to be able to empower yourself.

Ultimately, you have not been given a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind. So, I encourage you to stir up your gift of faith.

You can eliminate your fears most powerfully when you finally face them and realize that the emotion of fear is like the Wizard of Oz – an illusion. I sometimes remind myself that FEAR stands for False Evidence Appearing Real.

You have power to separate what is real from what is false, and in effect, create your own reality.

So, fear not, only believe!

If you would like to order the book, “Flow On Demand, The Athlete’s Edge –Play in the Zone and Unleash Your True Potential, you can do so right here:
http://www.flowondemand.com/ProductsServices/tabid/53/Default.aspx

The Secret about Jealousy

One of the twins lost a tooth today, which sent the other one into a slight tailspin of jealousy. Unfortunately, jealously creates exactly the opposite of what you want. What you want is abundance!
You can click here to listen as I describe their eventful back-seat exchange. The audio is only about 5 minutes long.

For those of you who get these posts in your email, you can simply cick right here:
http://www.audioacrobat.com/play/WPn9pywQ

Lessons from the Secret for A-Rod

I did happen to rewatch the Secret this morning. I must say, it is worth owning, even if you don't share the same world view as those speaking on the flick. You can download it over at www.thesecret.tv

So, going back to our list of 100 quotes...

1. We all work with one infinite power.

2. The Secret is the Law of Attraction.

2. Whatever is going on in your mind is what you are attracting.

4. We are like magnets- like attracts like. You become and attract what you think.
5. Every thought has a frequency. Thoughts send out magnetic energy.

Exactly! Every particle of the universe that we see, feel and touch is actually composed of energy.

If we break it all down, even the solid things like our muscles and blood and skin and bones, are just molecules of energy, vibrating with a magnetic resonance. With the right equipment you could even measure that vibration, or frequency. You could also say, "It's all BANDWIDTH!"

Just as importantly, the things you can not see are also composed of energy, or bandwidth...your thoughts, your emotions, your memories, your plans...they are just as powerful as what you can see in your current reality. In fact your current reality is absolutely dictated by your own perception of it. All of the data that you are interpreting, is subject to change. You can even change the meaning you attach to things you are looking at, or memories you hold.

How you see it, and how it makes you feel, dictates what becomes manifest or shown in your life.

Example - Let's say you are Alex Rodriguez, and you are sick and tired of playing in New York. So far, you are sending out a disempowering frequency. That negative energy will feed itself and attract more of the same.

So, you think the fans are against you, and then they write more stinging words against you in the paper. They say you're not worth your salary, and that you've lost your bat. So, you start believing those stories. (For Heaven's sakes, they're just stories!)

But as the season goes along, you get more and more pressure to perform in the post season, and you start focusing on your past failures. As you get up to bat, your body instantly releases amino acids that dock onto your cells as anxiety, and you fail to connect like you could.

-Failure!

This leads to more frustration, and less peak performance. It is not just a matter of positive or negative thinking...it involves emotion, and energy that is not related to your conscious thoughts.

Even if your name is not A-Rod, you have probably found yourself in a negative way here or there!

Unfortunately, most people tend to think about what they don't want more than about what they truly desire. They are loaded with conflicting emotions. As I said, in my book, Flow On Demand, conflict is the opposite of Flow!

Flow is that place where you are aligned with that beautiful, unbiased law of attraction. When you perform from flow, you find your game almost effortless and magical - a manifestation of all you have dreamed of and prepared for.

That is partly what makes sport so exciting in the first place - there is so much energy and intention and emotion in one place in two opposing directions. Go...fight...win! The one with the greatest harmony of talent, passion, and focus will win the contest, and come out stronger for it.

So what do you do with those negative thougts? How can you acknowledge them and cause them to lose power over your physiology? That is the subject of my book.

Some say you must just refuse to think them...however, in many cases, you are not consciously thinking them at all - they just vibrate right in your cells. I can help you with that.

For now, take the time to really sense what is triggering your emotions - both positive and negative. Then, take time to daydream about the best possible outcome.

As you dream, become aware of any doubts or conflicting energy. This time, think of the very worst that could happen. Let the fear have its chance to overwhelm your belly, your muscles, your mind. It's all energy....and this time you are sitting in control of it.

As you feel the anxiety, instead of fighting it, just observe it...you are its master. Let it try to get as big as possible, and then search for the center of it. Is it in your belly? Then go there in your mind, and look at that energy. Does it have a color? A shape? As you focus on it, it will probably dissipate. It is only energy. You have the power to control it.

This drill is so much better in person. If anyone wants to do this with me, I would love to record it on the phone. If you are an athlete, so much the better.

Anyway, as you zero in on this worst-case-scenario fear, you will find that it loses its power. You really could live with the worst.

However...

Everything in your life is a choice. So, CHOOOSE LIFE! Go back to that negative energy and say something like:

"Even though I don't like this feeling, I choose to be calm and confident." You can tap on your heart as you say it to feel the vibration.

Then breathe in and out, "Calm and confident...calm and confident."

You my friend, are dealing constantly in a universe that respects the Law of Attraction. You may as well learn to master it.

Until next time, keep playing hard!

-Gina Parris

One Hundred Quotes from The Secret

Well friends,
You won't believe what just happened. (Well, you may...) I just made a powerful 55 minute audio file for you all about these quotes from the Secret and how they are true, and how you can incorporate them into your life, and which ones have a more powerful truth spelled out in the Bible...but only the last 16 minutes of the audio was actually saved correctly! That means that if I have time, I'll have to attempt to do it later!

As I am meeting clients today and then leaving for vacation, I'm not sure I'll have time before Friday. So, here is your assignment, should you accept it. Read over the following 100 quotes (with all their typ-os) and post any questions or comments you have about them. I will either make a recording with my friends and upload it, or I will make a new one Friday. (Unless their Tech support can find it for me.)

Until then just look again at these verses from the Bible (Gina Parris translation):

In the Beginning was the Word, (Greek word -Logos = Universe) and the Universe was with God, and the Universe was God. He was with God in the beginning....The Universe became flesh (Jesus!) and dwelt among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. -John 1:1-2, 14


One Hundred Quotes from The Secret


1. ?We all work with one infinite power
2. The Secret is the Law of ?Attraction (LOA)
3. Whatever is going on in your mind is what you are ?attracting
4. We are like magnets - like attract like. You become AND ?attract what you think
5. Every thought has a frequency. Thoughts send ?out a magnetic energy
6. People think about what they don't want and ?attract more of the same
7. Thought = creation. If these thoughts are ?attached to powerful emotions (good or bad) that speeds the creation
8. ?You attract your dominant thoughts
9. Those who speak most of illness ?have illness, those who speak most of prosperity have it..etc..
10. It's ?not "wishful" thinking.
11. You can't have a universe without the mind ?entering into it
12. Choose your thoughts carefully .. you are a ?masterpiece of your life
13. It's OK that thoughts don't manifest into ?reality immediately (if we saw a picture of an elephant and it instantly ?appeared, that would be too soon)
14. EVERYTHING in your life you have ?attracted .. accept that fact .. it's true.
15. Your thoughts cause your ?feelings
16. We don't need to complicate all the "reasons" behind our ?emotions. It's much simpler than that. Two categories .. good feelings, bad ?feelings.
17. Thoughts that bring about good feelings mean you are on the ?right track. Thoughts that bring about bad feelings means you are not on the ?right track.
18. Whatever it is you are feeling is a perfect reflection ?of what is in the process of becoming
19. You get exactly what you are ?FEELING
20. Happy feelings will attract more happy ?circumstances
21. You can begin feeling whatever you want (even if it's ?not there).. the universe will correspond to the nature of your song
22. ?What you focus on with your thought and feeling is what you attract into your ?experience
23. What you think and what you feel and what actually ?manifests is ALWAYS a match - no exception
24. Shift your ?awareness
25. "You create your own universe as you go along" Winston ?Churchill
26. It's important to feel good ( ( ( (((good))) ) ) ?)
27. You can change your emotion immediately .. by thinking of something ?joyful, or singing a song, or remembering a happy experience
28. When you ?get the hang of this, before you know it you will KNOW you are the ?creator
29. Life can and should be phenomenal .. and it will be when you ?consciously apply the Law of Attraction
30. Universe will re-arrange ?itself accordingly
31. Start by using this sentence for all of your ?wants: "I'm so happy and grateful now that.... "
32. You don't need to ?know HOW the universe is going to rearrange itself
33. LOA is simply ?figuring out for yourself what will generate the positive feelings of having it NOW
34. You might get an inspired thought or idea to help you move towards what you want faster
35. The universe likes SPEED. Don't delay, ?don't second-guess, don't doubt..
36. When the opportunity or impulse is ?there .. ACT
37. You will attract everything you require - money, people, ?connections.. PAY ATTENTION to what's being set in front of you
38. You ?can start with nothing .. and out of nothing or no way - a WAY will be ?provided.
39. HOW LONG??? No rules on time .. the more aligned you are ?with positive feelings the quicker things happen
40. Size is nothing to ?the universe (unlimited abundance if that's what you wish) We make the rules on ?size and time
41. No rules according to the universe .. you provide the ?feelings of having it now and the universe will respond
42. Most people ?offer the majority of their thought in response to what they are observing ?(bills in the mail, being late, having bad luck...etc..)
43. You have to ?find a different approach to what is through a different vantage ?point
44. "All that we are is a result of what we have thought" - ?Buddha
45. What can you do right now to turn your life around?? ?Gratitude
46. Gratitude will bring more into our lives ?immediately
47. What we think about and THANK about is what we bring ?about
48. What are the things you are grateful for?? Feel the gratitude.. ?focus on what you have right now that you are grateful for
49. Play the ?picture in your mind - focus on the end result
50. VISUALIZE!!! Rehearse ?your future
51. VISUALIZE!!! See it, feel it! This is where action ?begins
52. Feel the joy .. feel the happiness :o)
53. An ?affirmative thought is 100 times more powerful than a negative one
54. ?"What this power is, I cannot say. All I know is that it exists." Alexander ?Graham Bell
55. Our job is not to worry about the "How". The "How" will ?show up out of the commitment and belief in the "what"
56. The Hows are ?the domain of the universe. It always knows the quickest, fastest, most ?harmonious way between you and your dream
57. If you turn it over to the ?universe, you will be surprised and dazzled by what is delivered .. this is ?where magic and miracles happen
58. Turn it over to the universe daily.. ?but it should never be a chore.
59. Feel exhilarated by the whole process ?.. high, happy, in tune
60. The only difference between people who are really living this way is they have habituated ways of being.
61. They remember to do it all the time
62. Create a Vision Board .. pictures of ?what you want to attract .. every day look at it and get into the feeling state ?of already having acquired these wants
63. "Imagination is everything. It ?is the preview of life's coming attractions." Albert Einstein
64. Decide ?what you want .. believe you can have it, believe you deserve it, believe it's ?possible for you
65. Close your eyes and visualize having what you ?already want - and the feeling of having it already.
66. Focus on being ?grateful for what you have already .. enjoy it!! Then release into the universe. ?The universe will manifest it.
67. "Whatever the mind of man can conceive, it can achieve" W. Clement Stone
68. Set a goal so big that if ?you achieved it, it would blow your mind.
69. When you have an inspired ?thought, you must trust it and act on it.
70. How can you become more ?prosperous?? INTEND IT!!
71. 'Checks are coming in the mail regularly'... ?or change your bank statement to whatever balance you want in there... and get ?behind the feeling of having it.
72. Life is meant to be abundant in ALL ?areas...
73. Go for the sense of inner joy and peace then all outside ?things appear
74. We are the creators of our universe
75. ?Relationships: Treat yourself the way you want to be treated by others .. love ?yourself and you will be loved
76. Healthy respect for ?yourself
77. For those you work with or interact with regularly .. get a ?notebook and write down positive aspects of each of those people.
78. ?Write down the things you like most about them (don't expect change from them). ?Law of attraction will not put you in the same space together if you frequencies ?don't match
79. When you realize your potential to feel good, you will ?ask no one to be different in order for you to feel good.
80. You will ?free yourself from the cumbersome impossibilities of needing to control the ?world, your friends, your mate, your children....
81. You are the only ?one that creates your reality
82. No one else can think or feel for you ?.. its YOU .. ONLY YOU.
83. Health: thank the universe for your own ?healing. Laugh, stress free happiness will keep you healthy.
84. Immune ?system will heal itself
85. Parts of our bodies are replace every day, ?every week..etc... Within a few years we have a brand new body
86. See yourself living in a new body. Hopeful = recovery. Happy = happier biochemistry. ?Stress degrades the bod.
87. Remove stress from the body and the body ?regenerates itself. You can heal yourself
88. Learn to become still .. ?and take your attention away from what you don't want, and place your attention ?on what you wish to experience
89. When the voice and vision on the ?inside become more profound and clear than the opinions on the outside, then you ?have mastered your life
90. You are not here to try to get the world to ?be just as you want it. You are here to create the world around you that you ?choose.
91. And allow the world as others choose to see it, exist as ?well
92. People think that if everyone knows the power of the LOA there ?won't be enough to go around .. This is a lie that's been ingrained in us and ?makes so many greedy.
93. The truth is there is more than enough love, ?creative ideas, power, joy, happiness to go around.
94. All of this ?abundance begins to shine through a mind that is aware of it's own infinite ?nature. There's enough for everyone. See it. Believe it. it will show up for ?you.
95. So let the variety of your reality thrill you as you choose all ?the things you want.. get behind the good feelings of all your wants.
96. ?Write your script. When you see things you don't want, don't think about them, write about them, talk about them, push against them, or join groups that focus ?on the don't wants... remove your attention from don't wants.. and place them on ?do wants
97. We are mass energy. Everything is energy. EVERYTHING.
98. Don't define yourself by your body .. it's the infinite ?being that's connected to everything in the universe.
99. One energy ?field. Our bodies have distracted us from our energy. We are the infinite field ?of unfolding possibilities. The creative force.
100. Are your thoughts ?worthy of you? If not - NOW is the time to change them. You can begin right were ?you are right now. Nothing matters but this moment and what you are focusing ?your attention on.

About This Time Tomorrow...

Hello, have you had a busy month like I have? I fear that I may have left my blog readers to wonder if I dropped off the face of the earth the last few weeks. According to all of the experts, this is very bad for blog popularity!

Unfortunately, I had a hard time balancing the building of the other website www.thezonecoach.com with posting here. That site is still under construction.

However, I have discovered that many of you actually like to hear me teach live. Yes, I know many of you have been in my audiences.

Therefore, I am going to start posting audio files if you like those. They will be under twenty minutes, unless I get feedback that you would like them to be longer.

I will also put up a new web form so you can subscribe to this site. A few of you signed up when I had a feedburner form up there, but I am going to use my buddies at aweber to help me instead.

Here is a 14 minute audio called "About This Time Tomorrow" I love this story!

If you would rather download it to your ipod or something, you can click here:


Let me know if you like the audios!

Until next time -

Keep the switch of faith turned on.

-Gina

Believe It, Say It, See It...

As far as accomplishing your dream, when do you call it finished? When you decide on it, or when you see it realized?

Most people feel they are lying to themselves (and everyone else) if they talk as if their dream is true before it is manifested for all to see.

I heard an interview with internet mogul, Alex Mondossian. He described a day when he was broke and sitting on a park bench in L.A. On that bench, Alex decided to become wealthy. At the end of the interview, the interviewer, T. Harv Eker, asked him, "When did you actually become a millionaire?"

Alex answered the question in reference to time, but he added, "In reality, I became a millionaire that day on the park bench, when I made the decision."

Faith calls those things that are not, as though they were.

This reminds me of an experience I had with some friends of mine:

When I was a teenager, I was often invited to speak at elementary schools and other convocations on the subject of success, and goal achievement. I usually spoke to fairly small audiences (less than 2thousand people.) However, I had some good friends who were also motivators who had much bigger vision. I usually traveled with them to give them my support, although their audiences were often small as well.

One day as we set up for an audience of about 100, the leader of that group said, "Next time we come to this city, we'll pack out the coliseum."

I tried not to laugh.

He went on to coach his announcer in how to describe him for his entrance, and let's just say, the introduction was not modest. In fact, it also, seemed laughable.

About three years later, I was attending college in a different city, when this man's wife called me to say they were in my town, and I should come see them at their high school assembly. I did, and we had a blast, so she encouraged me to come to their evening meeting. She named the auditoreum and the time.

"Wow!" My eyebrows shot up with surprise when she mentioned the venue. "That's huge!" I said.

"Yes," she replied, "Things are going well."

Since the auditorium was the same place used in that town for major concerts, I figured there would be tons of seats. I did not head over particularly early, as I knew I could go straight back stage when I got there. However...

I never got there. As I approached the meeting place, there was so much traffic, that traffic cops had to turn me, and hundreds of others away. Packed out. I was stunned.

I drove back to my apartment, and as I did, I heard my friends' ad on the radio. It included the same inflated, laughable description of the group leader, but this time, I wasn't laughing. It had all come true.

When I got home, I threw myself on my bed, and prayed that whatever lesson I had just witnessed, would be indelibly imprinted on my heart. What was the lesson?

1. Faith sees ahead and "calls those things that are not as though they were."
2. It doesn't matter how many other people doubt your vision. It's what you say and believe about yourself that matters.
3. When you combine commitment and action to your dream, nothing is impossible.

Over the next 18 years or so, I would occasionally learn a few more lessons from this man. Some were inspiring, others downright devastating. Right now I want to focus on the inspiration.

All of us were created with seeds of greatness inside. Your greatness does not need to be in front of thousands of people to be mighty. You just need to know that whatever dream keeps burning inside of you, is definitely possible, and available. It is yours for the taking.

Can you imagine it? Can you feel it? What about the doubts - your doubts?

Here is one solution for handling doubts. I call it, "grabbing the pain."

When you think of your dream, and you sense a big objection, doubt or fear, don't try to run away from it. Instead, do just the opposite.

Remember, every single thing we are dealing with is energy. Your emotion is an energy. So if you feel it at all, close your eyes and try to get really "in touch" with that negative energy. Feel where it is in your body. Does it feel like it is in your belly, or outside of you? Can you picture it? Can you make it stronger? Try to let it get as big as possible, as strong as it can...and then, go find the center of it, and try to "grab it."

Yes, this can seem like a very abstract exercise! However, if you can grab it, here's what you'll probably notice:

The center has opened up, and the negative energy is gone. It's power to mess you up is over.

In fact, the entire energy may have just faded away. Try to make your dream as vivid and stressful as possible. Try to dream again, and feel that same big doubt. If you can't find the doubt, you have done well. It probably will not return on that exact same vision.

So, remember to believe in your dream, and give voice to it. Take a few minutes a day to experience how it feels for that dream to be a reality. Believe it and say it. Certainly, before long, you will see it with your eyes.

Biblical reference - Abraham, who was enabled to have that baby, Isaac when he was 100 years old. God changed his name to mean, "Father of many nations" years before it looked true.

Romans 4:17
As it is written: "I have made you a father of many nations." He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed - the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.

How to Kill a Giant

Do you have any issues in your life that seem to be bigger than you?

Looking back on my life there have been some things that really used to overwhelm me. For example, some of you know that for a few years when I was between the ages of 16 and 22, I suffered from an eating disorder. Interestingly, the years that I spent at my last Bible College, contained almost no eating struggles at all. This was probably because I was constantly in the Word, and hanging around people who were filled with a spirit of faith. (I'm not sure what that says about my subsequent year as a full time minister...)

Ultimately, I learned to "repack my backpack" and think totally differently about food and my self. I haven't thought much about calories or my weight for the last 17 years or so, and I have had those four darling kids. Somehow, I still have ripped, "six-pack" abs.

But that is not really what this post is about.

I want to talk about killing giants. Bulimia was perhaps the most dominant giant in my life, but I always knew that overcoming it, would equip me to face anything else that came my way.

One thing I know for sure is that the company you keep plays a huge part in the success you will reap.

Let's look at the most famous giant killer in history- David. Before David publicly slew Goliath, he privately killed both a lion and a bear, who happened to be threatening the sheep in his care. David was just a giant killer, whether any one was watching or not.

Key #1: Remember that the battles you win in private grant you the right to win in public.

Poor Saul, never had that opportunity, so...

Soon after David's amazing public victory, the would-be king found himself running for over a dacade from King Saul who had gone perfectly mad with jealousy.

Key #2: Never cave in to jealousy.

It was during this season that all of the Losers of the Land joined themselves to David. He gathered about 400 men who were "in debt, distress, and discontented" and they became the mightiest fighters in history. Their exploits became legendary, and from among them arose more giant killers.

Key #3 -If you want to become a giant killer, then hang around true giant killers!

I have the most incredible relationships with some amazing "giant-slaying" types of people. They are so good for me. With them I can share my doubts and limiting beliefs and they can look me in the eye and laugh, not at me - but at the silly belief. And sometimes, in a moment, that giant is downed.

I hope you are surrounded by people like that.

If not, refuse to be intimidated by people who have conquered those giants that still prevail against you. Instead, befriend the giant killers. You may find out that in reality, those heroes are not bigger than you, they have just climbed a bit higher. Most likely, they will be happy to extend a hand to pull you up as well. (Besides, you can bet they still have a few issues of their own.)

If you can't spend time with them in person, than saturate yourself with their materials. Read their books; listen to their voice. You will soon share their spirit of faith.

Disclaimer - It goes without saying that the "enemies" and "giants" that we destroy in our lives are never people!

Now, go play!

See 1st Samuel 22, 1 Chron 20,

2 Samuel 22:38-40
38 "I pursued my enemies and crushed them; I did not turn back till they were destroyed.
39 I crushed them completely, and they could not rise; they fell beneath my feet.
40 You armed me with strength for battle; you made my adversaries bow at my feet.

Recognizing Value

Back in the 90's when Paul and I were living in Germany, we enjoyed an occasional care package from Paul's grandma, Paula. Usually they were filled with small surprises and several newspaper clippings regarding the Padres, the Chargers, or any other San Diego news of interest.

On one occasion, the contents included a single pair of women's full- coverage panties. They were 100% polyester, obviously not brand new, and they looked huge. Although they were not at all my style, they were clearly intended for me, so I curiously read the accompanying note out loud to Paul:

"My dearest Gina,

These perfectly good underwear washed up on the shore at La Jolla, so I took them home and washed them, and you are the only person I know who is small enough to wear them. Enjoy!"

My husband howled with laughter.

Now, over the years, Grandma blessed us with thousands of dollars in gifts, so this was just an occasion to smile at, and glean from her values. It is said that wealthy people recognize things of value.

Grandma certainly lived wealthier than we did. We used to chuckle that she would pull over on her way to the opera to pick up a discarded aluminum can.

What did I learn from her? I learned to appreciate the days of humble beginnings. I learned to stop and admire all things of value. Even today in her honor, if I see a small coin on the ground, I always pick it up and gratefully acknowledge that there is no shortage of money underneath my feet. Then I often place it back on the ground for the next value- spotting soul. It's my gift, to those who walk in gratitude.

Most people won't acknowledge that little coin. Most people lose sight of the abundance that is all around them.

Did I wear the washed-up underwear? Well no. Everyone asks me that! I did, however, cherish the memory for years to come.

Today, I hope you can enjoy the simple things...and then laugh a little!

-Gina

On Being Vulnerable

I have just returned from San Diego where I gathered with about 20 other coaches to launch our businesses to new heights.
I expected it to be a fruitful time. I was unprepared for the genuine love that would bond us all together so quickly.
How did we get so close to eachother? We let ourselves be vulnerable. We knew that we were safe.
As we tackeled the emotional barriers that keep us short of our potential, we cheered each other on. We gave to each other the kind of compassion and faith that we normally give our clients and loved ones.
It made me proud to be a coach; to work in a field with so many of pure heart.
It also made me wonder how any one in this world reaches their highest potential without a skilled and loving coach in their corner. Where else does one go week in and week out, where she is totally safe, can be totally vulnerable, and find healing, and unlimited success?
I know one thing for sure, I am committed to bringing increase to as many people as come my way. I want the world to know there is a safe place.

Proverbs 20:18
Make plans by seeking advice; if you wage war, obtain guidance.

When Your Worst Day is Still Pretty Good

Okay, it is Thursday night, and I have been in bed with the flu since sometime on Monday. I don't recall ever feeling this poorly this long, but I do know one thing: This too shall pass.

Today my heart goes out to all of the dear people who take chemotherapy to try to whip some cancer, and the treatment makes them feel so sick, for months at a time.

In light of that, a silly little flu is just no big deal at all.

I'll be back soon, stronger than ever.

Honoring What You Have

We want to establish the idea that in the money game there are strugglers and there are winners. The winners simply think and act in ways that bring victory.

As we said last time, winners focus on creating wealth, not accumulating stuff. (the stuff comes later - when they can pay cash for it.)

How does a winner treat his stuff? That's what I want to examine today.

A winner treats his material possessions with respect.

Have you ever held a garage sale? If so, was it huge? Some people recommend having a garage sale to make a little "extra cash." I have a different view of garage sales.

Let's imagine a garage sale. Your garage sale. You have decided it's time to declutter your home and so you go through every room, closet, and storage space to get rid of things you no longer need.

What kind of shape are these items in? How much of it simply needs to go in the trash? Don't throw anything away yet, just set it all out.

Now, take a look. Look at everything that is leaving your possession. In addition, think of all the things you got rid of throughout the year, because they no longer fit, or they broke, or you were tired of them. Is it a big pile?

How much money did all of these things cost new? How much money is actually represented there? (Okay, you don't have to count the hideous ceramic cat you got from Aunt Millie.) I do, however, want you to think about the message you are carrying about the value of money and things.

Chances are these things cost hundreds and hundreds of dollars. And now, you are selling them for pennies on the dollar. How much of it could you have lived without in the first place? Did you honor these items when they were in your possession?

If you purchased them with your own money, then you may have used money that you got from your job. You got this money in exchange for hours of your life...and now the fruit of it is lying on your garage floor. Is that what your life is worth? Is that really "extra cash?"

I'm not opposed to getting rid of things - we do it weekly, grateful that some items have served their purpose. If you are grateful for the way these items served you, then you are on the right track. If you are sorry that you purchased them, or sorry that you did not treat them with more care, that is important too.

I just want you to look with long term eyes when you part with your money in the first place. Financial winners always think longer term.

I had a friend named Stacey who was the queen of caring for her things. She and her husband did not have a high income, but her children's bedrooms looked like toy stores. They both had shelves all the way up their walls, and the shelves and the closets were beautifully organized with games in their original boxes, and toys arrayed with pride, and lovely clothes.

She explained to me, "People think my kids have a ton of stuff, but the truth is, I am just obsessive about taking care of what they have. We don't have money to buy them many gifts. This is all the toys and games that my parents and my children's friends have given them over the years for birthdays and Christmas. If every child in the neighborhood had all the things they'd ever received, they would have at least this much."

How right she was. Stacey came from a wealthy family.

I am inspired today, to ensure respectul treatment of the things in my care. I want to show that I respect money. I understand that is part of becoming a "money magnet." I will remember the lesson in a parable from Jesus,

"Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come share your master's happiness!" -Matthew 25:21

To your success,

Gina

Wealth Creation or Stuff Accumulation?

For those of you who need to pack up your bag for the land of abundance, here is a secret:

Focus on creating wealth, not on accumulating stuff. That is the secret of the rich, and the undoing of the broke.

For those who long to get stuff, their pay raises will never create financial freedom. They will only buy nicer and nicer things, and still leave the buyer with "more month at the end of his money."

Instead, put your money to work for you. Buy things that will go up in value, not down. Think of ways to make money passively - while you are busy living life. When your money is making money...then spend the cash you didn't have to work for.

That way your money-making machine will still be in a place to create wealth for you all the time.

That is the beginning of freedom.

Leadership - What are You Reproducing?

Leadership - many people aspire to it, but many fewer will thrive in it. Why is that? Why is it so difficult to find gifted leaders?

Perhaps the biggest reason is that many who want to lead others have failed to master themselves. They want the recognition and compensation that comes from being in charge, but they have not learned that great leadership is never about the leader. Instead, it is about the value one can create for the others on his team. You could call those others the "followers," but only if they are actually following you.

And if they are, then how much more should you develop yourself as a person worth reproducing?

If you are in a place of leadership, please remember this idea: You can teach what you know, but you reproduce what you are.

I have seen some military officers whose hearts seem to thrill at the guidance they can offer to those beneath them. I have seen this same passion in parents, coaches, teachers, bosses, athletes, and some very special ministers. The fruits of their leadership are gratifying indeed.

Obviously, you and I both, have seen other leaders in all of those same roles who did not "get it" at all.

We can't control other leaders today. All we can do is to look at ourselves, and ask, "Am I growing in ways that are worth reproducing?" And "How can I impart strength for growth to somebody else today?" Here's a hint: Lecturing doesn't count.

Let's challenge ourselves to keep our perspective clear, and to focus on things that are lasting. Are great leaders rare? Sure. That's what makes you so valuable!

Are You Rich?

Sometimes my kids comment on certain of their friends who are "really rich." I always chuckle at the things that demontrate wealth to their young minds. It has obviously been a long time since they've gone to a 3rd world country to see how MOST of the world lives.

Instead of comparing ourselves to those who have more "stuff" than us, could we simply take a moment to be grateful? I am reminded that:

If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep you are richer than 75% of this world. If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish, you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy. Perhaps only 2% of the worlds population or less, has the luxury of reading any kind of blog at all on their own computer.

Are some of our neighbors rich? Yes. And so are we...so are you, so let's celebrate with gratitude, and let's give with purpose!

Fearless

Do you ever let fear keep you from having fun?

I'll never forget Christmas 2002. The twins were just two years old, and we still called them "the babies." It was one of those magical Christmases in Washington state, where the perfect amount of snow falls for premium after -dinner sledding. Aaaaaaah. We packed up the family...or at least 15 or so of us, and trudged through the snow behind my sister's house to the most incredible sledding hill imaginable.

We all took turns flying down this steep, death-defying slope, screaming, laughing. The "babies" looked on in sheer delight. Then my brother-in-law planted Little Nathan on a saucer and sent him spinning down the hill. I nearly had heart failure.

As he sailed down the hill, he squeeled with joy. At the end, as he pulled himself out of the ride-stopping snow bank, he lept to his feet and shouted, "Dat wuz fun!!!"

Before I could blink, "Baby 'B, '" Matthew was also flying down the hill, on a dangerous little saucer, enjoying the ride of his young life. When he crashed at the end, he also lept up and shouted the exact same phrase. "...fun, fun, fun!!"

I think that was the day they became fearless.

Since then, they have often inspired me with their reckless abandon. They are only seven now, but they are as eager as their older siblings to live life to the fullest.

Very often in life, I get inspired by an idea that I think would bring joy and excitement...and then I think of all of the reasons it won't work. I'm sure that somewhere that is a great quality...but in this house - that is Paul's job. He can come up with problems and solutions without letting them slow him down.

As for me...I am going for it. What is my latest venture? Well, I used to only coach people who somehow heard me speak or heard about me, and came to me. But now, I offer my coaching services to people all the time. Why? Because it brings me great joy to see people thrive!

Yes, I might get rejected. Someone might think I'm pushy, or full of myself, or they might say, "NO THANKS." But even so, I believe they're better off because I helped them think of something new.

I love coaching! What do you love? I just want to encourage you...go after it and enjoy it. Be fearless!

"The one who fears has not been made perfect in love."

Adversity

"Adversity causes some men to break; others to break records."-- William A. Ward

Expect Miracles

Several weeks ago I was on a routine shopping trip at the Base Commissary. I don't go there often, but most of the baggers there know me any way. However, this day, a lady carried my groceries whom I've never seen.

As we walked to my car, I asked her about her children, and she told me some devestating news. Her teenage daughter had been very sick, and they thought she might be pregnant. She shook her head as she piled groceries into my car. "We were very disappointed in her," she said.

She continued telling me that it turned out not to be pregnancy. Instead her daughter was sent to Vanderbuilt for tests and the results had just come back that day.

"It turns out she has ovarian cancer, and there's nothing we can do." She looked at me and wept. "I wish it was pregnancy at this point," she mourned. "I haven't even told her yet." The tears fell down her face.

My heart broke open for her, and then it was filled with a special Love from the Father. Oh, that is my favorite substance in the whole world!

I asked if I could pray for her before I left. She hugged me tight, right in that parking lot, and cried, and received strength as I prayed quietly in her ear. When I looked her in the eye again, she was different, encouraged. I talked with her some more, and promised that I would be back to check on her.

I met my husband moments later. I told him that I just experienced a miracle! I knew that I knew it. I was in Heaven.

When I went back later, I couldn't find her. So I asked a cashier how my new friend was doing.

"Oh, yes." my cashier replied. "I know who you mean. " She shook her head. "They got really lucky. I don't know how, but it turns out that there is no cancer now."

I laughed out loud. "That's great!" I didn't comment about the "luck." I know when our Redeemer has been on the scene.

Do you need a miracle? It's even more fun to give one away. When you find your heart filled with an overwhelming love for someone else, you can trust that a miracle is not far away.

...Love never fails. 1 Cor 13:8

Find a Hiking Buddy

My Dad used to tell me that if I wanted to fly with the eagles, I would not do it by hanging around the turkeys. This was never a criticism of my friends. On the contrary, he always brought up the quote in response to his delight over meeting any of my buddies.

As I re-read my post about hiking up the waterfalls with Paul, it struck me that I would never have done that by myself. On my own, I stick to the comfortable. How about you? Left to your own devices, do you push yourself to your own max?

Today, I encourage you to find a "hiking buddy," who will challenge you on this year's goals. If you don't trust anyone in your life to push you hard enough, than hire a coach. There is no better way to fascilitate change and growth in your own life. Of course I believe in coaching. That's why I am one!

I have coaches and hiking buddies in my own life. One of them has asked me for three days in a row, what I did towards finishing my book this week. She knew I wanted to quit, and without her, I probably would have. Instead, I'm making good progress. We all need hiking buddies like that.

Keep it up. You can always e-mail me if you are interested in a free "jumpstart your success" coaching session.

Yours,

Gina
ginaparris@gmail.com

Proverbs 13:20
He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.

Be More Creative Than Your Obstacles

Anytime you set out to accomplish anything, you better be prepared for obstacles.

Paul and I went hiking a few weeks ago, and we met some obstacles. Several huge trees had been knocked down in a recent storm, and they totally blocked the path. Getting past them was not always easy. Eventually, the trail was completely unseen. As we hiked along the river, the path ceased to exist. I kept thinking we should turn back, rather than say...fall into a river in November.

Paul, just shrugged and kept going, "Anyone can turn around and find the easy trail," he said, "I think we can hike up the waterfalls."

Now, I began wondering why I even brought Paul in the first place. I was just going out for a little hike. He did however, have the foresight to actually grab a backpack with bottles of water in it. What a good process engineer! That's right, I usually bring him along for the practical reasons. He pays attention to details.

But this - hiking up the sides of waterfalls, this was evidence of Continuous Improvement run amuck! I was thinking this is what happens to guys who have spent way too much time leading Six Sigma Events. And yet, there I was, following along like a good little wife, wondering when I would fall in. I was thankful that at least the boy has packed on enough muscle in the last decade to carry me in an emergency.

Did I turn back? No way! The beauty of the waterfalls was too alluring. Besides, as I climbed and hiked and slipped around, I kept thinking of my natural tendency to quit things when they get difficult. I kept looking up the river, and I realized that eventually, we would get where we needed to go, if we just kept going, kept climbing. I enjoyed taking the road less traveled.

When we got back to the trail, I realized that only one shoe even got a bit wet. Why had I been afraid?

I also realized that we all carry "OBSTACLES" in our own backpacks. We may look at our lives and wonder what happened to the trail. We may feel like we've lost our footing, our direction, or just our faith in the future. These are just our temporary realities based on the way we are seeing things. "OBSTACLES" is a rock I choose to remove from my backpack.

"TENACITY" will be its replacement, like an apple of gold. I can eat well from the fruit of tenacity.

Of course I will confront uncomfortable situations in my pursuit of excellence. I don't need to carry around a fear of them. They only become obstacles if I choose to let them deter me. With a bit of creativity instead, they become lovely "climbing toys." Overcoming them is child's play!

Climb on my friend. The view is great from up there!

Proverbs 4:18
18But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, That shines brighter and brighter until the full day.

A Brand New Year

Okay, It's a New Year. Just the second day, in fact. I am still working on several projects. But I will make a commitment to blog more often. You may have to read my articles on ezinearticles.com, in order to see the larger postings, but I will try to keep us encouraged here several times a week.

One project for the year is called, "Repack your Backpack." This is one of my life themes, because I believe that everything we experience in our lives is a result of what is in our invisible backpack.

Most of us walk through life self-conscious. We are aware of our weaknesses. We feel the weight of doubt and insecurity. These are like heavy, life-sucking rocks that we carry around with us. They definitely hold us back from fulfilling our God-given destiny.

My goal for this year is for us to lose the baggage, and instead fill our backpacks with "apples of gold." When we are filled with good fruit, we can focus on others instead of ourselves.

We change our mantra to something like this, "I've got something. I'm going somewhere, and THINGS CHANGE WHEN I GET THERE!"


To your success,

Gina