Repack Your Backpack

Come Visit Me at GinaParris.com

2010-02-03T10:20:00.000-08:00

I am so glad that you somehow found yourself here at Repack Your Backpack. I no longer blog here, but I hope you will visit my newest blog over at www.GinaParris.com There I share my thoughts and secrets about building our winning livelihoods around our LIVES.

See you there!

Gina

FINISH FINANCIALY STRONG - Starting Right Now

2009-09-29T08:29:00.000-07:00

You know that there are less than 100 days left in 2009.
I want you to FINISH STRONG and LIVE YOUR PASSION.

Let's talk about your year- end breakthrough. I am
CONVINCED that your success in your life and livelihood
are determined by -

How CLEAR you are on what you do, followed by how
CLEARLY you communicate the value of that to your
prospects.

So, let me ask you, "What is it you REALLY DO?"

If you are an athlete, you are in the business of
ENTERTAINING your beloved FANS and giving them
something to cheer about.

If you are a retailer, you are in the business of making
PEOPLE FEEL GREAT about themselves, or helping them
accomplish something that matters to them.

If you are a service provider, you are in the business
of SOLVING PEOPLE'S PROBLEMS or PROVIDING
THEM SOME PLEASURE.

If you are a spouse or a parent, you are in the business
of BRINGING OUT GREATNESS in the ones entrusted to you!

Notice in each case, the more you are focused on meeting
the needs of others, the more valuable you become.
The more valuable you become, the more confident you
become. The more confident you become, the more you grow
in your ability to communicate you value!

I happen to be passionate about seeing people blast through
their doubts and fears to lay hold of their God-given potential
and purpose.

What is your passion? What is your business? How can you
connect the two?

There is power in answering those questions. Feel free to
reply to this email and share you answers with me. I WILL
HELP YOU HONOR YOUR PURPOSE.

Until next time, you KEEP PLAYING TO WIN, and I'll be right
here.

In your corner,

Gina

My new DVD set is now available! Enjoy 2 and a half hours
of a fantastic live workshop: REPACK YOUR BACKPACK-
to Lose the Limits and Live Your Dreams.
You will want to order it today! See more here as you scroll
down my products page
See Gina's Really Cool Products

Moving from Agony to Victory

2009-04-28T17:14:00.000-07:00

Are you old enough to remember the opening footage to the
Wide World of Sports on ABC?

I don't even remember what
they showed as the announcer crooned "The thrill of victory..."

But I sure do remember the snow skiier's wipeout to the words
"...and the agony of defeat!"

How about you? Do you have your own moments of agony?
Of course! All winners do.

You probably know what it's like to put months and years of
effort into a shot at something -and then fail.

The disappointment can be crushing.

The closer the victory, the greater the agony.

The more public the disappointment, the greater the shame.

How do you turn it around?

Since the defeat was both mental and tactical, the solution
is too. Here are four steps that I guarantee can take you to
the other side.

1." Zoom Out"

First of all, step back!

Look at your life with a generous "wide angle" lens.
Create a timeline of your whole life - past, present and
future decades. List important events to come and see
that this event you just endured is only a tiny blip on
the Time Line of your success story.

"This too shall pass" and you can use it to make
yourself stronger.

Perspective is quite a healer of disappointment

2. "Zoom In"

Now take that camera with a close up lens, and "zoom in"
to your most inward, invisible core. See the person that
you are, completely separate from all the external things
that define you.

Remember, that YOU ARE WHO YOU ARE WHEN NO
ONE IS LOOKING.

See the qualities about you that are bigger than your
game. You have infinite Power and Love dwelling inside
of you. You are a million times bigger on the inside than
you are on the outside.

When you nurture the winner inside of yourself, than you
will prevail against the adversaries on the outside.

3. Get Going

Successful people know that the true success comes from
FAILING as quickly as possible, learning from the loss, and
quickly executing with the new wisdom.

The faster you get up and move forward, the faster your
shame becomes part of your glory. Somebody else
needs to see you prevail so they can do it too. Your
success is never just about you.

As you run your race, enjoy each step. There is only power
in the present. Enjoy your breath, the sounds, the sights, the
fragrances of life. Enjoy the people you share it all with.

4. Get Coaching

More than ever, you must invest in yourself.
In times when bad news abounds,
you can NOT reach your peak alone. Look at those who have
created the greatest victories around you. I guarantee they've
had at least one coach.

Whether your sport is athletic, financial or personal, you
need a peak performance coach of your own.

Align yourself with someone who will pull you higher,
bring out your best and hold you accountable to your
own dreams. Find someone with whom you can be completely
honest and vulnerable.

It matters not the caliber of disappointment. You WILL move
from The Agony of Defeat to The Thrill of Victory by quickly
and continually executing these four steps.

Until next time, Keep playing hard - and enjoy your game!

I'm in your corner,

Gina

P.S. - Many of the Built To Win Friends have asked me when I
would release Royalty Within Meditation on a CD instead of
just mp3.
Well, that day is now.

If you want the life changing truths about who you REALLY
ARE in Christ, and you want to renew your mind without
struggle, than get this CD and listen to it whenever you are
in your car, or waking up in the morning!

Buy two so you can give one as a gift, and you will save.
(Plus you get an instant mp3 download link as well
when you order the CD.)

You can order it here:
www.BuiltToWinCoaching.com/products

P.P.S.
I have put more slots on my calendar for Life Changing Strategy
sessions. If you want to spend 50 minutes with me focusing
your goals and uncovering your obstacles to success, than
please go for it! These sessions are some of my favorite events
and I offer them for a discounted price from my coaching fees.
You can learn more about that here:
www.builttowincoaching.com/promo.html

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Gina Parris is an internationally sought-after
peak performance speaker, coach, and author.
She is the founder of Built To Win Coaching,
Where she equips athletes and entrepreneurs
to skyrocket their authentic success
through mindset mastery and strategic action.

http://www.BuiltToWinCoaching.com
Abundant Life - expressed in your livelihood
(931) 461-7836
Built To Win Coaching

You're ALREADY Hypnotized

2009-02-24T13:51:00.000-08:00

Brian is a professional athlete who made it all the way to the
top of his sport. However, when he got there, he struggled to perform.

Before his competitions, he got so nervous that finally he went
to see a hypnotist, who promised to change him with no effort on his
part.

"Did it work?" I asked.

"I don't know," he replied. "I still got really nervous - probably why I didn't get

put in the game."

What Brian came to realize is that HE WAS ALREADY HYPNOTIZED.

What he needed was someone (namely himself) to DE-HYPNOTIZE
him. What do I mean?

The fact is that all of us are hypnotized on one level or another. That is,we walk

around fulfilling our own B.S.

- belief systems.

When someone is hypnotized on stage and able to lift amazing amounts of weight,

or become incredibly weak, nothing changed about their inherent abilities. The only

thing that was temporarily suspended was their own beliefs and expectations

of outcome.

You ALWAYS ultimately perform according to your internal image
of yourself.

That's why everything that we do in our performance fields as mental coaches,

sports psychologists, or trainers is bent on enlarging your self-image.

Brian had experienced Performance Anxiety for so long that he

saw himself as "the guy who gets nervous." He had a conditioned response

of dreadful expectation, even though he loves his game.

In reality, the fact that Brian got nervous countless times in the past had NOTHING

to do with whether or not he would today.

At any moment he could shift his own self-image to that of a player who is calm

and confident and totally in his element around his sport.

When he made CONFIDENCE AND DESTINY his habit, everything changed.

He went longer and longer between "anxious moments" until he could be calm

under any pressure.

Plus, he learned to diffuse the anxiety when it did come up
by breathing, tapping, and shifting to gratitude.

Here's a step towards that for you:

1. Know that you formed this self image with no struggle on your part. You just

accepted certain ideas and they became conditioned.

2. As you learn to relax now, you can create a new mental movie of how you want

to perform under pressure.

3. Practice settling down, breathing deeply and just creating your own mental movie

every day for 15 minutes a day at least. Do this for 21 days.

Here's some tips for your mental movie:

a. See yourself as if you were watching on a theater screen and you were in the audience.

b. Then move to the character. Become that person and see everything from that perspective.

c. Always speak in line with your image. In other words, don't create this great movie and

then get all negative. If you do have conflicting emotions, than do our three steps that we

always talk about regarding negative emotions.

Acknowledge them, accept yourself anyway, and create an empowering choice.

Anxiety is no big deal! It DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING, accept that you have some

habitual emotion that you are ready to shift.

You are in control.

You can do this!

Now, go play - first in your mind, than in your game. Failure is not an option.

"What if I lose?" I'll answer that next time.

Until then,

Keep playing to win and enjoy your game.

In your corner,

Goal Achievement - It all comes down to this...

2009-02-17T15:33:00.000-08:00

I was thinking this week about this young guy named Kurt.

It was the wee hours in the morning when Kurt was carefully
placing canned goods on the grocery store shelves. His day
job didn't quite pay the bills, so he worked at the store at night.

As he worked, he thought about his dreams and his goals,
and once in awhile he shared them with his coworkers.

Finally one of them said, "Kurt, dude, it's time for you to get a new dream!"

Thankfully Kurt Warner didn't listen. Five years later he seemed to be an

"overnight wonder" when he was named Superbowl Champion and League

MVP as his St. Louis Rams defeated the Tennessee Titans.

Of course this season, 10 years later, he proved he is still a player.

The lesson? Never listen to people who are too small to dream
big themselves. All that matters is what YOU say and know
about yourself.

Here's what I know for sure...

EVERYBODY basically wants to know if they are "good enough" to
achieve their goals.

You may think you are the only one with certain questions.

The fact is, someone else is also asking...

"Am I worthy?"
"Can I do it?"
"What if I fail?"
"What if I get hurt?"

Is there a way to confidently answer all those questions?
Yes, I believe there is.

In decades of studying and working with winners, losers and
other kinds of players, I have found one underlying truth:

Your level of success is 100% related to the way you see
that person in the mirror.

All mental conditioning, sports psychology, self-help, and even
true ministry works to perfect this one thing-

Your Self Image

Your performance will never consistently outperform the
way you see yourself.

We have thought that self-image comes about as a result of
aptitude, but closer study reveals that aptitude is a result
of one's self image.

If you think you are made to be the league MVP, than you
will ultimately find a way to get there. If you doubt it at the
same time, than you may make poor decisions and get there
illegally. Eventually your position will correctly match your
internal image.

This is true whether you're talking about your weight, your
income, your relationships, or your sport. What you see on
the outside is a reflection of how you see yourself on the inside.

So, what is a person to do? Instead of fighting yourself, you
can grow into your vision. Here are some steps to make it
easier:

1. Create a crystal clear target. You want to know exactly
what you look like and feel like when you have achieved your desire.

Create a target that includes all of your senses, and as much
description as possible. Let it be something that on a scale of
1-10 gives you a 10 in pleasure and stretches you in believability.

In our SCORE guide, I ask you to write this target down. I call
it your vision.

2. Surround yourself with people who have done it -people who play
better than you.

It always amazes me how poor performers choose to feel better about

themselves by associating with people weaker than themselves.

Do what you can to spend time with and study from a distance,
people who have completely kicked butt in your field. Study
them so thoroughly that in your mind you could sit down and

have a conversation with them and actually learn something that
you didn't know before the daydream.

Is that possible? Of course. You become like the company you
keep. Or as I always say,

"You become what you behold."

3. Practice your own mental movie of your success story.

For at least 15 minutes a day, take some time to slow down,
breathe deeply, focusing only the present moment.

Then watch yourself as if you were in the audience and your
story was on the big screen. Watch every detail of your winning
performance. Perhaps it is winning an award. Perhaps it is
making the perfect presentation and closing a big sale. Perhaps
it is just enjoying every day life in the perfect state of health
and abundance.

Make one movie; and watch it again and again.

Then move from the audience to on the screen. See it from the
eyes of the performer.

4. Ask empowering questions.

When you get comfortable with your mind movie, ask yourself,
"How can this happen in the way that is best for every body involved?"

Or "What can I do today to move me closer to this vision?"

Or even,

"How did I find it so fun and easy to make this dream come true?"

You will find that when you ask the right questions, you will get the
right answers.

5. Practice Gratitude.

Finally remember this:

You probably are eager for the finished goal because of the feeling
you will have once you get there. Remarkably, you can choose to
enjoy that feeling right now. There is no reason to wait.

Anytime you feel anxious or doubtful about your journey, let that
be a trigger for you to get back to a place of gratitude.

Just start saying Thank You for all the great things you have right
now - Big Things and Little Things. There is no healthier emotion
than gratitude.

And now, I want to express my gratitude to YOU.

You are a reason that I get out of bed in the morning. I am so
excited for your success and your potential. Today is a new day,
and this is a new hour. Not one single limit is placed on you
by yesterday's experience.

If you have not downloaded your F R^ E E action guide to
guarantee your winning season, than do it now.

Then print it off and take a week to fill in the answers.
If you joined this list before we had the seven day
mini-course, than by all means, join again. You won't
get duplicate emails.

If you are in business or competing as an athlete
than click here:
http://tinyurl.com/athletesbusiness

If you are a market trader than use this action
guide right here:
http://tinyurl.com/SCOREtraders

Can you do the impossible? Sure - with enough
time, with enough preparation, and with crystal
clear confidence.

Until then, keep playing hard, enjoy your game
and strengthen the winner in you.

I'll be right here ...

In your corner,

PS - If you want to work on your own Self-Image and
uncover any blocks that are slowing you down, than
look into a strategy session with me. It will be the best
investment you can make in yourself, and you can
try it out at a rate that is much lower than my regular
fees. Here is a link to learn more:
http://www.builttowincoaching.com/promo.html

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

If you would like to quit spinning your
wheels and finally experience true breakthrough
in your life and business, than please visit:
http://www.BuiltToWinCoaching.com for your
free MINDSET MASTERY MINI-COURSE.

Gina Parris is an internationally sought-after
peak performance speaker, coach, and author.
She is the founder of Built To Win Coaching,
Where she equips business owners and
solo-preneurs to skyrocket their authentic
success through mindset mastery and strategic action.

http://www.BuiltToWinCoaching.com
Abundant Life - expressed in your livelihood
(931) 461-7836

Another FREE audio for you - and a question...

2009-02-03T13:12:00.000-08:00

What an awesome week of victories and defeats!
Football! Ultimate Fighting! Basketball playoffs!
I love it all - the fighting most of all - who knew? And who didn't love watching Georges St. Pierre beat the pants off of BJ Penn? I couldn't even find anyone to bet against me at the sports club.

But again, the real lessons were "Beneath the Surface,"
to quote the title of Micheal Phelp's first book.

Speaking of Micheal...What was he thinking?
Now the photos of him are plastered everywhere
as he is smoking pot from a bong (looking like quite
a pro at it) His fans were forgiving after his DUI,
but on this one, he lost a lot of them.

Love and respect your fans - when they're not around.

Why?

Because...

YOU ARE WHO YOU ARE - WHEN NO
ONE IS WATCHING!

And even if you're famous for what you do, people
want to believe in who you are.

The real hero of the week?

Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger -

Oh, not just because of his miraculous crash landing
on the Hudson River a few weeks ago, where his
cool head saved at least a hundred and fifty lives.

No, that was too public.

His hero award today?

He gets the award because through the chaos of
the crash landing, he lost his library book in the
plane cockpit.

Because of this, when no one was looking, he called
the library to inform them of the lost book and ask
for a waiver of late fees.

Um, he really didn't have to do that, but he did
because it was the "right thing."

What was the book about?

Professional ethics.

He probably could have written the book.

What made him a hero when the pressure was on
to crash-splash land an airplane? His character.

Lots of "winners" have the talent to take them
where their character can't keep them.

Not you. You have both - talent and character.

Be who you want to be - when no one is looking.

God sees everything - and...

The Game Knows.

Here's an audio about the Five Steps that make
you a real winner.

I'm sharing with a crowd of firefighters and cops -
so it's a fairly intimate setting with some of my
favorite heroes.

You can download it here:
http://sohappygina.audioacrobat.com/download/FirehouseSCORE.mp3

Or you can just listen through your computer right here:
http://www.audioacrobat.com/play/WTjbX8hs

I'll see you again next week. I am thankful for all our
new readers. Let me know how I can serve and support
you.

Remember that you were made to win - so keep playing
hard, and enjoy your game!

In your corner,

PS - If you don't know how to keep your cool under
pressure - than learn the secrets in Flow On Demand-
The Athlete's Edge. The same techniques that work
for professional athletes under fire, will work for you
too - whatever your game. You can get it here:
http://www.builttowincoaching.com/athletes/

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Coming up:
I know a majority of my readers on this list are testosterone- driven men who
cannot for the life of them relate to the romance project I'm releasing in the
next two weeks.

However, if you are married, than you will be really happy if your wife gets
a hold of it, (although I'm sure she wants you all the time...)
so please find a way to share it with her, and her girlfriends.
I'll keep you posted.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

If you would like to quit spinning your
wheels and finally experience true breakthrough
in your life and business, than please visit:
http://www.BuiltToWinCoaching.com for your
free MINDSET MASTERY MINI-COURSE.

Gina Parris is an internationally sought-after
peak performance speaker, coach, and author.
She is the founder of Built To Win Coaching,
Where she equips business owners and
solo-preneurs to skyrocket their authentic
success through mindset mastery and strategic action.

http://www.BuiltToWinCoaching.com
Abundant Life - expressed in your livelihood
(931) 461-7836

The Greatest Secret in the World #2 - Make Love...

2009-01-19T09:17:00.001-08:00

Of all the success books that I have on my shelves and that I have read over the last 20 years, nothing has impacted my life, who I am, and how I do business, like this chapter in this book. I will read just a small part of it. I hope you like it!

The Greatest Secret In The World #1 - Habits

2009-01-13T10:02:00.000-08:00

In 1983, I studied this book by Og Mandino and it set the course of my life for success. It is my oldest and dearest "Success Book" (Besides the Bible) and the secrets revealed here will make your success inevitable!

How To Triple Your Income in Down Market

2009-01-09T17:41:00.000-08:00

Karen sniffed as she pondered one of the questions. She felt
the tears rise up and finally she wept. There were so many people
whom she loved dearly; so many people who loved her back. But
they all had differing opinions about the areas that touched her
life - especially about finances.

Around some loved ones, she felt guilty for making money. Around
others she felt ashamed for not making more.

These feelings were subtle too -something she'd never really thought
about, but they had a direct affect on her results.

Can you relate?

Within a few months however, Karen was able to completely shift
the way she saw herself, her career and her contribution. Among
other results, she more than TRIPLED HER INCOME even though
she is a real estate agent in the so-called worst housing market
in decades.

Here's part of a letter she wrote me.

Imagine yourself writing a joyful letter in the months to come...

"Gina,

Wow, I just had my annual performance review with my Broker
today, going over last year's goals and achievements as well as
setting goals for 2009.

It was amazing to see everything in black and white:
I tripled the number of closings that I had in 2007, tripled
my sales volume and more than tripled my income this year! I also
added 50 people to my sphere of influence.

Considering the state of the economy and the media portrayal of
the housing market, this is truly astonishing.

You really helped me to clarify my "real values" in order to help me set
meaningful goals for myself. My outlook is so much more positive, and
I know at least three things that I didn't know before working with you:

1) It's not "what" I do that matters it's "why" I do it.
2) I truly can do anything I set my "heart" on. There are no physical
limitations, it's all energy!
3)"A rising tide lifts all boats".

Thank you for an amazing turn around in my career and personal life.
You are uniquely gifted to do what you do.

Sincerely,

Karen Tibbals
Century 21 Mid-State Realty, LLC "

Great job Karen!!

So today may you remember those same lessons can lift you up
as well!

-Find Your "WHY!"

-Remember it's all energy - there are no limits!

-Your success brings MORE success to everybody around you,
so go for it!

As you do, I'll be here - CHEERING YOU ON!

In your corner,

P.S. -
STRATEGY SESSION FOR FREE? Yes - for one more
week. Here's how:

Go to this link
http://www.builttowincoaching.com/promo.html
and when you order, there will be a place for
a coupon code: NEW YEAR

When you type NEW YEAR in the coupon code, it will take
off the $79 dollars and you can meet with me and take steps
towards your own success story.

You are worth it!

P.P.S.

I am creating a wonderful new product which is distinctly
FEMININE in its target. (Yes, it's all about S-E-X and

Romance) so please forward this letter to your girlfriends and

have them get on my list. You won't want to miss any of it.

Bless you!

GET MORE CLIENTS - Faster Than Ever

2008-12-08T08:29:00.000-08:00

Note: I will be hosting a complimentary
telephone seminar on this topic: Here's the
details:
Date: Tuesday Dec 9
Time: 7 PM Central Time

(5 PM Pacific / 6 PM Mountain / 8 PM Eastern)

Here's the phone number:
1 (712) 451-6000 access code: 664899#

GET MORE CLIENTS - Faster than Ever

Have you ever looked at your schedule and thought,
"I really wish I had some more clients right now?"

Well, let me share with you one of my favorite ways
to pick up new high paying clients and to grow my
list of subscribers:

GO SERVE SOMEONE ELSE'S CLIENTS WHO
DON'T CURRENTLY HAVE ACCESS TO WHAT
YOU OFFER.

Connect with a friend who already serves your same
ideal client in a non-competing way, and offer to serve
those people as a gift from your friend. That's called
a Joint Venture.

Here's How I like to do it:

I put on some high value seminars such as my favorite-
"Repack Your Backpack -for a Business Breakthrough" or
or "The Ultimate Marketing Makeover to Get Clients Now"

I also have friends in different cities through different
circles who have relationships with my ideal clients.
Some of these friends are financial planners, some are
bankers, some are other small business owners.

What we do is create an event for their list. This event
is a generous gift from my Joint Venture partner, because
when I'm hired by bigger corporations for these talks
they are pretty pricey. It is a way for my venture partner
to show their clients that they care about their success.

Here's some steps to make it work:

-Venue: Hold it in as lovely a place as possible. Your
country club, city club, or if you or your partner has
your own beautiful office suite with conference
room, that 's good too.
Snacks?
Yes.

-Marketing: Invest in high quality direct response flyers,
invitations, and letters that you prepare for your partner.
You may want to put a price on the tickets, to show that
its a valuable gift from your partner. Also, create press
releases for them to give their newspaper.

-Title: Make sure that your event is about something that
matters to the audience - not just to you. Use all the rules
that apply to creating great headlines.

-Outcome: Plan your desired outcome first and design your
presentation around that. Aim for a special offer for the
audience that the every day person can't get from you. I.E:
"To thank so-and-so for inviting you here today, I am throwing
in all these valuable bonuses
for free." (and make it truly special - be authentic here.)

-Content: This goes back to the Title - make it truly valuable
information that they can use right away.

In the end, your J.V. partners may reactivate their best prospects
(past clients), and also create a way to stand out from their
competition, and you will grow your platform and probably
pick up new clients as well. Your relationship with those partners
gives you instant credibility.

Assignment: Create a list of people you know who could benefit
from you serving their community. Then start calling them up
saying, "How would you like to give something of great value to
your clients that costs you very little?" and go from there.

If you would like more lessons in how to get more clients
quickly, than make a note of our COMPLIMENTARY
tele-seminar:
The Ultimate Marketing Makeover to Get Clients Now

Date: Tuesday Dec 9
Time: 7 PM Central Time

(5 PM Pacific / 6 PM Mountain / 8 PM Eastern)

Here's the phone number:
1 (712) 451-6000 access code: 664899#

Looking forward to it,

Gina

P.S. If you are reading this, thinking you would
like to host a seminar for your clients, let me know.
We can probably work it out.

P.P.S. - What is your favorite way to get new
clients?

How to LOVE a job you HATE

2008-11-25T12:46:00.000-08:00

How to LOVE a Task that You HATE

Successful people make a habit of doing those things
that unsuccessful people are unwilling to do.

Let's face it. If we are going to truly excel in our life and
business, than there are certain tasks that we simply
must do. Many of these tasks strike us as just plain
unpleasant, even painful.

Unfortunately, we are wired to avoid pain. This means
that unless we change our perspective on certain Peak
Performance behaviors, we will avoid them, and sabotage
our own success.

On the other hand, perhaps we will do our necessary
tasks, but complete them with clenched teeth, furrowed
brows and irritation coursing through our bodies. That
state is not very pleasant, and will seriously hurt our
productivity. What happens when we need to speak in
that mood? We say ugly, unproductive things!

What is the ideal solution? It's simple.

Learn to love the task that you hate.

Yes, you can. Remember, it is not the task that makes
your mood. It's what you tell yourself about that task.

Now, the first time I discovered this, I was in a moment
of motherhood- vexation. Since then, I've applied this strategy
to my business tasks with great success too.

Here's what happened...

I was in the mini-van driving all four of my children to all
kinds of different places. I felt like I had a hundred other
things that I should have been doing, and I realized that
I despised the thankless job of taxi-driver. As I sat there
scowling and driving, I realized that I needed help.

In a still agitated voice I shouted to the kids, "What is
great about car time?"

All four glanced at eachother, looked confused and asked

"What?"

"What is great about car time?" I asked, a little nicer.
"I know I need a new attitude and I'm feeling stuck."

Soon, they came up with some benefits:

"We get where we need to go."

"We get to listen to new music on the radio."

"We get to tell you about our day."

"We get to be together."

"We get to have our gratitude parties."

And on they went.

Somehow, after each idea, I felt better.

It was true. We so rarely got to be together at home
to talk and sing, and laugh. What a great opportunity
we had in the car. Why did I possibly hate it so much?

From that moment on, I have loved "car time." I've loved it
on long road trips when we were stuck in traffic, and I've
loved it when we were just coming straight home after school.

I find treasure in having all four of my kids in such close
proximity to me. When their dad is around, it's even
better.

I've learned to love a task that I once hated.

Since then, I've helped myself attach pleasure to all sorts
of unpleasant tasks, and the result has been what we're
all after anyway - greater peace, joy, and more profit.

What is it that you need to do? What is keeping you
from doing it with a smile?

I once had a staff member who made his living as a
tele-marketer. He totally hated it, until he used
his acting skills and started making his calls with
different foreign accents. He started setting records
at his company because he was having so much fun.

At that point, he got promoted to something he
truly enjoyed.

What is one success-habit that you dread, but which
could make you much more successful? Only
you know the answer to that.

Whatever it is, here are three empowering questions
regarding that task:

1. Why is this task important?
2. What is great about this task?
3. How can I do it in a way that is enjoyable?

Take a few minutes to answer those questions. We would
love to hear what you come up with.

Nothing is impossible. You can think, act, and feel
like successful people do, and achieve the same
results.

You're already successful.

Now, play to win.

How to REMEMBER Your Perfect Future

2008-11-11T10:10:00.000-08:00

How to REMEMBER Your Perfect Future

"NOW faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of
things not seen. " Hebrews 11:1

Almost a hundred years ago, magnificent mind boggling discoveries began
to be made in the field of quantum physics and quantum mechanics.
These laws seemed to defy regular physics.

Eventually it was discovered that all matter is part of a sea of connected atoms
and subatomic particles. What's more, these particles are simply frequencies
of energy spinning in "states of possibilities" Time does not even exist in
this realm. Everything past and future is spinning in a place of right NOW.

I could go on, and give you a resource guide of 70 books to read on the subject,
but the important thing is this:

This sub-atomic matter doesn't even exist in our dimension until we observe it.
That means we have to see the unseen before it becomes visible to our natural
eyes. The more clearly we observe in our imagination, the faster it becomes "real."

That place where you see the desired outcome, and feel the gratitude for it, is
the place of faith. Right now, your faith is giving substance to things hoped for.

On the negative side, your fears are giving substance to things dreaded. They
can't coexist without cancelling each other out. The frequencies of fear and faith
are opposite and equal.

You hear this physics when you slip on a pair of noise-cancelling headphones in
an airport. The headphones create equal and opposite frequencies to counter act
the airport noise that you hear. The result feels like silence to you, but all the energy
of those sounds is still around you. Your observation just changed.

Wow. I am trying to say this as simply as possible.

The point is: Your God-ordained future is yours to co-create, while your past is subject to new
interpretation.

No, you can't change the past, but you can change the meaning you give to
past events. You can change the power past memories have on your present
state, and on your future.

You can come into agreement with the "High and Lofty One who dwells in eternity"
and find out the plans he has for you. His plans are to prosper you and not to harm
you, to give you a future and a hope.

How do you do this and step into this Divine prosperity?

Here are the steps that have caused me and Paul to personally experience at least
20 miracles over the past 20 years.

1. Turn off all the noise and static.
Stop letting things into your eyes and ears that feed fear and confusion.
This seems obvious, but I'm amazed at how many people will fill their mind
with stuff that has nothing to do with where they want to go.

2. Find a promise and cling to it
I know this works for people who don't believe the Bible, but frankly, I don't
love or trust any other source. It was Jesus who said, "Whatever you desire
when you pray, believe that you have already received it and you shall have it."
Once I have a promise about something, I say it all the time, sing about it,
and write it on my mirror as already done.

3. Get clear on what you desire!
Remarkably most people don't get what they want, simply because they
don't really KNOW what they want. Get over the fears of your own desires.
If we all got what our hearts truly wanted, we would all get different and
correct stuff.
I'm not talking just about material things. However, it is fun to practice
using your faith on tangible stuff, because it's just so - TANGIBLE!

3. Be thankful BEFORE the answer arrives
Once you've asked for what you want, stay thankful. If doubts arise spend
more time practicing how you would feel if it were a "done deal."
Remember - Faith rejoices, gives thanks and is glad. Fear despairs,
complains and is sad. Stay in faith. Stay in gratitude.

4. Practice, practice, practice!
Practice acting like your ideal future is hear now. Practice
BEING the person who lives the ideal life. Practice having desires,
seeing mental images, and speaking words that are all in harmony
with each other.

5. Walk in love and forgiveness
Finally, it is important to stay completely free from resentment,
jealousy and strife. Remember, you can't change the past, but
you can change the meaning you give to past events. (or present
events!)
Forgive yourself and others for their shortcomings. Just about
everyone is doing the best they know how with the tools they have.
Receive God's love because His love NEVER fails, or disappoints.

As you do these steps, you will realize that your perfect future
has already been completed so there's nothing for you to struggle
over. You can get to the place where you simply...

REMEMBER!

Until next time, let me know how these steps work for you. You
can spend a lifetime practicing them. Some things will drop in
your heart more easily than others.

I'LL FEEL LIKE AN IDIOT!

2008-11-04T09:04:00.000-08:00

I'll FEEL LIKE AN IDIOT!

Jordan clutched his latest fundraising tickets in his hand as I watched the veins
popping out of his neck in utter frustration.

As part of the High School Varsity baseball team, he was expected to engage in
direct door to door selling to raise money for the program. I tried to teach him how
to leverage his efforts by selling where many sports fans would already be congregating.

Unfortunately, he would have nothing of it.

Finally the youthful athlete blurted out, "I'll feel like an idiot!"

Silence.

I'll feel like an idiot.

Have you ever avoided a critical task because you hated "feeling like an idiot?"

Of course you have. We all have.

The fact is, at any given time, you are doing what you are doing for one
of two reasons:

1. To avoid pain- as in feeling stupid
2. To gain pleasure - as in feeling great

I don't want any of my readers feeling like an idiot at any time, unless
of course they have the good sense to laugh at themselves and can
keep going painlessly.

Last week we talked about being heard in a noisy marketplace.

Some people don't truly want to be heard, because they are afraid
of rejection.

Let's see how to clear that up right now. Take a deep breath and
practice the following steps:

1. Acknowledge your distressing emotion

Even though certain emotions don't feel good, they are a part
of your psyche. They usually just display your learned response
to stress. At any rate, your subconscious mind is simply doing
its best to protect you, so let it know you're aware of the emotion.

2. Offer acceptance or forgiveness

It's easy to feel bad towards yourself or someone else when your
emotions are firing off into fear, anger or dread. This is the moment
to accept yourself in spite of the emotion, and offer forgiveness to
whatever has triggered your distress.

3. Create an empowering choice

You can't control what happens to you, but you can ultimately choose
how you will respond to it. Now that you've acknowledged your
physical state and offered acceptance anyway, you can choose the
response of your choice.

All together - put your hands on your heart and rub or tap there as
you make a power set up.

"Even though I hate feeling like an idiot, I totally accept myself
anyway, and I choose to be calm and confident."

Try to get as specific as possible behind the emotion as you repeat:

"Even though I hate feeling like an idiot, because I care what people
think about me, I totally accept myself anyway, and I forgive people
for judging me. Now I choose to be calm and confident."

Great.

Now if you want to take that further, we have a tapping technique
that is the hottest thing right now in the realm of peak performance.
You can learn about it in my book, Flow on Demand - the Athlete's
Edge.

The important thing is to get clear on those emotions and choose
love and peace anyway. Ultimately, you will reprogram yourself
so that the formerly stressful trigger now puts you in a state of
peace and confidence.

I help clients every week turn their mental blocks into breakthroughs.

It is my passion.

Until next time, keep playing hard...

And enjoy your game.

In your corner,

Gina

How To Be Heard in a Noisy Marketplace

2008-10-29T10:30:00.000-07:00

How to Be Heard in a Noisy Marketplace

One time I was in Japan at a popular tourist destination. I was with a few friends from the states, but other than that, the people around us were foreign to us. The foreigners were talking with each other so it was not a quiet place. Still, their words were meaningless to me.

Soon among the voices I heard a stranger call out to his friend in perfect English,

"Hey Tom, check this out."

The words were nothing spectacular. They were not even louder than anyone around them. But they were in my language. I instantly spun around to see who was talking. What were they "checking out?"

I smiled to see two American GI's, intrigued by a memorial. From across the crowd, they smiled back at me. We felt like friends.

In today's market place those who need to hear your message are bombarded by thousands of other messages all day long. How can you be heard among that marketing noise?

Here are a few tips:

Speak their own language

Show that you understand the pains and problems that your prospect needs to solve. Avoid technical jargon unless your prospect loves that secret "code language."

Focus on benefits, not features

Your number one job is to answer their unspoken question: "What's in it for me?" If possible arouse curiosity.

Say it with a smile

I once read that an average looking woman with a genuine smile is considered much more attractive to men than a stunning woman without one. That may be good news for you singles out there, but it's even more important for you service providers out there. Be genuine. Smile. Be attractive.

In the end, your prospects in the marketplace will do business with those they know, like, and trust. If you want to be heard you must put their need for your help above your own need for approval.

Afraid of rejection? I'll talk about that next week.

Until then, keep playing hard, keep smiling, and enjoy your game.

In Your Corner,

Gina

Remember Who You Are!

2008-10-24T12:19:00.000-07:00

Remember Who You Are!

When our son Jordan was little he used to watch Disney's The Lion King almost every day on his little TV. It is perhaps my all time favorite animated movie.

My favorite part of that movie is when young Simba is living on his own, still overcome with guilt and shame over the death of his father. Then he is confronted with his past and his identity. In some flurry of emotional leading he senses that his father is actually alive and he frantically runs to the water to see him for himself. Instead he's met with his own disappointing reflection. Then the reflection turns into his father who speaks to him, "Simba, remember who you are!" It is then that Simba steps into his destiny and returns to his land to lead his tribe back to freedom.

Today, I wish you would look into the mirror, and hear the Father's voice say, "Remember who you are - you are Mine." Right now there is so much noise in the world around us that fear is knocking on everyone's door. We're stuck asking "How? When?" While the question truly is "Who?" Who are you and whom are you called to serve? It's hard to answer those questions when all you can look to is your own weak past.

Instead make a decision that: 1. Your future will not be dictated by your past 2. Your identity will not be dictated by your failures You are created in the image of God, to rule and to reign in love.

Your power comes when you know that: 1. Your future (and your present) are created by your choices 2. Your identity is about who you truly are, and whose. Find out how God sees you.

You were never meant to struggle forever. You are given challenges to practice over-coming! Enjoy the challenge. Learn to look differently at yourself. You are a problem-solver. The bigger the problems, the bigger the profit. (if profit matters to you.)

Remember who you are!

Assignment: Write your own bio that you would want to accompany your name on some kind of award or product of yours. That's who you are. Until next time I'll be right here -

In Your Corner,
Gina

The NEED FOR SPEED

2008-10-21T12:28:00.000-07:00

This week I must say that finally, yes FINALLY, I am feeling SO REFRESHED!

In fact, I've had the Top Gun Theme song playing in my head all day,
"Highway to the Danger Zone."

You see, I came upon this quote:

"In real life, it is the hare who wins. Every time. Look around you. And in any case, it is my contention that Aesop was writing for the tortoise market (giving people the fable they wanted to believe in) - after all, hares have no time to read such things. They are busy winning the race."

Anita Brookner
British historian
and novelist

Anita Brookner, whoever you are, THANK YOU FOR SAYING THIS!

You see...

I am a hare.Perhaps you are one too.

You know Aesop's hare - the rabbit - she jackrabbits

out the starting gate, and then loses the race to M i s t e r S l o w - a n d
s t e a d y- t o r t o i s e.

And all my life, I have been laughed at for my absolute
compulsion to "GO AFTER" stuff. I didn't usually mind because
I was busy accomplishing lots of my goals.

Then I "grew up" and learned that "life is a marathon, not a sprint..."

and by golly someone insisted that

"slow and steady wins the race."

Huh?

Eventually my circle of "go-getter" friends went their ways
(mostly straight to the top)
and I went mine (into full time ministry)- where sometimes I could play
by my fast rules, and sometimes, I just played with the slow and small
team.

For the record, I want to that say SPEED IS GOOD!

Look at all the most successful people you know. They harness the
power of speed. They GET 'ER DONE!

What is it you want to accomplish in the next six months? What about
the next year? Do you want to double your income? If so, then make
up your mind AND DO IT!

Do you want to triple your income? IF SO, LET ME BE THE FIRST
TO SAY, "YES, YOU CAN!" My own 2008 income will be at least
double what '07 was. And I'm certain I'll double it again in '09.

I am weary of slow people putting their excuses on GOOD HARES!

Take off the limits. Remove the delay between great ideas and bold action,
and you will get succeed. Or, quit dreaming about one day acting on that
dream of yours and act like it is yours now. Cut the excuses and take some action.

I am looking for some people who are tired of spinning their wheels and are
ready to END THE EXCUSES, and TAKE BOLD ACTION!

You can be, do and have all the things that you were created for. You
were made for dominion, not for the bottom of the barrel.

Be bold. Be fast. Get it done.

Just DO IT ALREADY!!

2008-07-30T09:23:00.000-07:00

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines, Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. - Mark Twain

Last week I talked about cliff jumping with my kids and discovering that fear can turn into fun.

Today I want to help you find your breakthrough by encouraging you to take ACTION on something that you have been putting off.

If the fear of moving forward has you blocked into an unfulfilling corner, than think for a moment. (but just for a moment.) Think about the future. If you take no different action and you look back at yourself even one year or five years from now, will you be happy with no change? Will you have regrets?

As Mark Twain said,

"You will be more disapointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did."

Most people will stay in a place they hate, rather than risk the unknown. This is an IMPOSSIBLE way to unleash your full potential!

You were created for dominion. You were never meant to live "under the circumstances."
You have untold ability to make the world a better place. You have a creator who gives you the power to get wealth. He says he will bless the work of your hands - but you must put those hands to work with passion.

Now that you have thought about the pain of regret, please decide one action that you can take TODAY that will move you out of your comfort zone and closer to a worthy goal. Get information, build a relationship, shop for your investment, make a phone call, put your shoulders back, put your chin up and speak with confidence.

You can't control the outcome, but you can trust in diligent, consistent action. If you don't quit, you won't fail.

More importantly, you won't sit in regret.

What do you really want to do, be and have? Then get up, and GET GOING! You don't have to do it perfectly, just make a plan and start moving.

I'll be right here, cheering you on!

Turning Fear into Fun

2008-07-22T12:12:00.000-07:00

"What are you afraid of?"

Yesterday I took my four kids cliff jumping at a nearby waterfall. As we made our way down the trail, I was muttering to my daughter about what kind of rednecks we've become that we now play in "swimmin' holes." That is, until we actually descended to the river. The beauty was breathtaking. I was suddenly all smiles, and the little guys were all squeals of delight.

The three younger ones immediately followed their sixteen year old brother across the top of the waterfall and up a steep embankment on the other side. When he pointed to the most conservative jump, about twenty feet up, they each with total trust, stepped right up and leapt fearlessly into the water. They looked like little dolls. Gasps of surprise came up from all the local teenagers that were standing around me. The next few hours were filled with higher and higher, jumps, and dives and flips, with and without a rope swing.

Not every jump was painless, but each held its own triumph.

Later, when we were all home, sitting around, I commented to the twins on how gutsy they were out there. Little Matthew responded with surprising words of wisdom,

"Uh, excuse me Mom, but I was terrified."

"You're kidding. You sure didn't look like it!"

"Right. That's because I quickly found out that sheer terror can turn into sheer delight when you
just go for it!"

"Just Go For It."

How many times do we hold back in life because we are so afraid of all the things that can go wrong? (Yes, Mom, I'm aware of all those things.)

I talk to people every day who fail to live their dreams because they refuse to face the fear and just "go for it." They miss the sheer delight that awaits them on the other side of the leap.

On the other hand, I also talk to people every day who are taking off the limits of what is possible. They are aware that every reward comes wrapped up in risk. Their love for life overcomes their fear of failure.

Today I encourage you to re-consider your latent dreams. If you can find a way to answer yes to the following questions than you will be empowered to jump, to escape the mundane and find the sheer joy. The questions are:

1. Can I do it?
2. Will it be worth it?

Can you do it? Of course you can. The fact that you want to means that you have the ability on some level! Find someone who is doing what you want to do, and model them.

Will it be worth it? Only you can answer that. You might want to ask yourself, if you keep doing what you are currently doing, in just one more year - how will you feel? If the answer is something along the lines of "Sick!" then you know it's worth it to make a change. Leap!

A word of caution: The successful leap comes with an all out, full hearted effort. The one who jumps half-way finds greatest potential for injury. So create some momentum for yourself.

Can you really turn fear into fun? Absolutely!

Want to Feel Better Fast? - Stop Critisizing!

2008-07-08T12:33:00.000-07:00

Wouldn't it be great to feel good all the time...

Why do advertisers spend billions of dollars to make you want to buy things?
Because it puts money in their pockets. Duh!

What is the one thing they are promising you every single time?

A FEELING! That's it. A FEELING!

If they can convince you that you will feel -
-sexy
-powerful
-safe
-relieved
-loved
-happy
-peaceful

...then they know they can get you to buy. What a feeling!!

Think back to your last 10 DISCRETIONARY purchases.

Did they make you feel good, at least for a moment?

Now...here's today's tip:

Don't wait to feel good! You can feel good, loved, peaceful,
happy NOW. It's a decision. It marks a state of faith, and
absolute miracles happen in that positive state.

Now, here's a little known secret to staying in that place:

STOP CRITICIZING EVERYTHING AROUND YOU!

When you start noticing something that is wrong with someone
or something around you, and then you speak those negative
words, you find your positive energy going down the drain.

This removes you from the place of abundance and of miracles.
You put yourself in the path of lack. You could be surrounded by
beauty and not even see it.

ESPECIALLY STOP CRITICIZING YOURSELF!

People who criticize themselves can't help but criticize the people
and things around them. Then they steal not only their own joy,
but the joy and abundance of the people around them.

Instead, offer acceptance and empowerment.
"It is what it is, so I will be part of the solution."

Or, just change your focus all together and look for something
that makes you smile.

Your feelings may not change right away, but here is a secret that
all Peak Performers know -

It is much easier to ACT yourself into a place of feeling, than it is
to FEEL yourself into a place of acting.

So, right now, think about that thing or that person who sometimes
grates on you, and speak encouraging words.

When you notice what is wrong with your coworker, your spouse,
your kids, then immediately change your focus! Act, like you would
if they were as you wished.

You will be amazed that you not only feel better right away, but
good things happen to you as a result. You might not get everything
you want, but you will want most everything you get; and that
is nearly as powerful.

Yes, this tip is a stretch, but my passion is seeing you enjoy your
life! Please...don't wait to feel good. The breakthroughs are on their
way.

Gina

PS - Have you received your free gifts from my website yet?
If not, then head over to http://www.BuiltToWinCoaching.com
and get going!

How to Get What You Want - Be Thankful

2008-06-24T10:46:00.000-07:00

So, we are continuing our series on how to get what you really want.

There is nothing I love more than seeing supernatural success take over our mediocre circumstances. This is the place where you can't help but smile, and shake your head at the goodness of God.

What is the single biggest key to laying hold of the supernatural success? Well, after clearly seeing it with your imagination, the secret is to jump for joy with gratitude - before you see it with your physical eyes. Be grateful for the promise, and do not doubt.

Several years ago, Paul had a great job with a beautiful broadband company in Spokane, Wa.
At that time I heard a specific word from God in my spirit. "A famine is coming to this land, but don't worry. I will take care of you. Do not go get a job when it happens."

Oh boy. I was so excited to see what this meant. At the time I was staying home with our four little kids, and the finances, were a little tight, so I was sure it meant that Paul would get a promotion.

Instead, he got laid off. (this was shortly after 9/11 - Thanksgiving time.) Woo hoo! We both had faith, that promotion would come quickly.

The first month went by, what a time of amazing refreshing. But no new job. How strange. But we were thankful for what was coming!

The second month - same thing. Thank you! How strange that I was not to go work.

The third month - now, this seemed like an unfair vacation.

The fourth month - where in the world was the money coming from - we didn't know, but we hadn't lacked - not even through Christmas. Thank you!

The fifth month - we kept giving, and kept seeing supernatural provision. We were thankful.

The sixth month - this was amazing - having Paul home to help with the toddlers was a dream come true to me!

The seventh month - it began to feel like our 'vacation' was winding down. The anticipation was still building.

The eighth month - we kept rejoicing in the job to come, in the salary that would be at least a 20% raise, and finally...

Paul was hired by the company in Spokane that still employs him down here in Tennessee.
We were thankful!

Now, neither of us would have dreamed that we would have gone 8 months without a paycheck. The media was abuzz with the fact that there were no "family wage jobs," in Spokane." This made us all the more excited to see a miracle.

The idea that God would fail us was absolutely unthinkable. We had such a special grace for this time.

If it makes you feel any better, the day before Paul's new employer called, he did feel a crack in his faith! He slammed his Bible shut and hollered "It's not working. It shouldn't take this long!" Still I was able to stay strong for him, as he would for me in the next test we faced.

lesson - find someone to stand with you!

In the end, we enjoyed eight months together during a very special time in our children's lives. We never failed to give away ten percent of our little income, never paid a bill late, never went without a good meal, and we did not incur any debt. Paul's new job brought the 20% increase we were expecting. (yes, now we believe bigger.)

Several months later when we did our taxes, we looked at the numbers and I shook like a leaf. It was then that I felt a sickening wash of fear.

"Oh my gosh," I gasped "We were poor!"

By then, it was funny.

Now I know that money is just energy. It is spiritual. It comes in response to faith and gratitude, as does every good thing.

Today, our annual income is several times more than our "poor" year, but looking back, that may have been one of our richest seasons ever.

What is it you are believing for? Do you have a promise for it at all? If so, rejoice in the promise, forget about the problem, and you will see miracles.

Assignment:
Finish this sentence as specifically as possible, and then look at it constantly:

"I am SO happy and thankful now for..."

Put all the wonderful things you enjoy - past, present and future - and declare them all in present tense.

When it puts the smile on your face - you know you are in the right place to receive.

Until next time,

Gina

Phil 4:6 (New Life Version)
6 Do not worry. Learn to pray about everything. Give thanks to God as you ask Him for what you need.

Facing Obstacles on the Journey

2008-06-17T11:02:00.000-07:00

We've been talking about my mission to see you ENJOY your life and live it On Purpose. We talked about how important it is to be very specific about what exactly you want, and we talked about asking the right questions.

So, what about when you are faced with obstacles? What should you do with those big, insurmountable, highly stressful, events that seem to throw you off course and steal your joy?

DON'T PANIC -STAY IN A PLACE OF FAITH.

The obstacles that come against us seem bigger than they are. They seem insurmountable when they are not. They do not have to throw us off course, and they certainly do not have to stress us out and steal our joy. There is ALWAYS a way to get where we need to go.

Keep your eyes fixed on the final outcome. Where are you headed? More importantly - how will you feel when you get there? As much as possible, hold to that feeling now. Of course you will get there, and when you do, it would be a shame to have wasted so much time and energy feeling terrible along the way.

As I type this, my fifteen year old son is en route to Honolulu from Tennessee - by himself, to play baseball with a team of players that he doesn't know. He and another team mate whom he just met, have been re-routed to several different airports for one canceled flight after another. Their luggage is headed to the wrong city. They have had very little sleep, and multiple opportunities to panic throughout the past eight hours. At one point, it looked like they might have to spend the night in Dallas.

Now that is an obstacle on a journey!

Through the myriad of phone calls and text messages one thing is clear. He and his new buddy have managed to stay calm, as they find a way to get there. They just ate, and they are actually enjoying themselves. They are looking forward to getting to Hawaii.

How are they managing that? They have each other.

I can imagine that if Jordan were facing all of these issues by himself, he would be nearing emotional meltdown. It is amazing the power of just one friend, who also knows better than to panic.

Lesson:

1. Stay focused on the end goal
2. Keep your emotions in check
3. Ask for help from people who know what they're doing
4. Pick team mates who are positive

Obstacles come against everybody. We don't all face the same obstacles on the same journeys, but we all can use them as opportunities to learn something that we didn't know before.

I have faith in you. Whatever it is that you are dealing with - it is smaller than you. You are bigger than you look, stronger than you feel, and there is ALWAYS a way to get where you want to go. So do not panic. Stay in a place of faith.

I'll be here, cheering you on.

Until next time - Keep playing hard, and enjoy your game!

The Power of Questions to Get What You Want

2008-06-10T05:15:00.000-07:00

Remember when you were little? You probably drove the adults around you nuts by asking, "Why?" all the time. You were naturally curious, and you were learning at an astonishing rate. During your first four years of life, you learned more than most college students learn in four years of university study. In fact, you learned ideas that shaped your life - ideas about money, relationships, and your self.

Today, I want to encourage you to return to your curious nature. Ask more questions! In fact,
I really want your input today. I am asking you - what is the greatest question you have about
achieving your dreams, or creating wealth, or overcoming obstacles?

I am convinced that if we ask the right questions, we will discover the "right" answers.

Some people only ask un-empowering questions like:
"Why do bad things always happen to me?"
"What is wrong with me?"
"Why are people so stupid?"

These might be honest enough questions, but you will find greater power in asking more specific
questions like:

"How might I overcome my doubts about this project?"
"What must I do differently right now to achieve the result I want?"
"How might I influence my team to unleash their true potential?"

Often I step into the future when dealing with a problem, and I ask from there:
"How did I turn that around so powerfully?"
"How did I create so much freedom in my schedule?"
"How did I quit feeling so stressed-out all the time?"

Your mind is incredibly powerful. It will absolutely seek out the answers to the questions you pose.

Today, please let me know what questions you are asking. If you have any questions about
the Five Steps to Guarantee Your Victory - feel free to ask me those too.

I am committed to your success, and I'm working on some programs that you can study at
home!

Until next time, keep playing hard, keep the questions coming, and enjoy your game!

In your corner,

Gina

How to get what you REALLY want

2008-06-02T17:24:00.000-07:00

This is it.

After several conversations in a row with people who are struggling along in life, I am on a mission. It is a mission to see you ENJOY your life - and LIVE it ON PURPOSE.

I'm going to start with a posting every Tuesday for a while about How to Get What You Really Want. Much of what I say may not be new, but I pray you'll hear it in a new way, and be able to take some action to seize something precious that has been eluding you.

Take these ideas and apply them to whatever area resonates with you. It can be business, relationships, or your health and fitness. Whatever area - these steps are the same.

Step ONE -
Know what you REALLY want.

This seems obvious, but most people don't even know what excites them. They don't have a clear image of what they want in their career, in their business, in their home life, in their health, in their stuff.

This is why in the SCORE! guide - I encourage you to take a long time on step one. Spell out your vision.

A very important law here is the law of specificity. This means that you must be crystal clear on what you want. I'll give you an example from one of the first times I began getting specific with my desires.

I was 17, and tired of selling men's suits. (actually, I got that job this same way, but by now, I was ready for something new.) So, I started thinking and I wrote the following things down:
1. Work outside
2. Work full-time
3. Be done working by 4:30 each day
4. Get to wear comfortable clothes
5. Make more than I'm making now

So, then I started asking:
What jobs might fit this description?

Finally, I got an idea - I could work for the parks department in the summer kid's day- camp program. Perfect! And how fun. I was perfect for the job.

However, I didn't get hired. I couldn't believe it. Did they NOT read my application and see how perfect I was for this? I'd been tutoring kids and developing programs since the eighth grade! But alas, this job would have only paid minimum wage.

Instead within the week, I was hired by the school district to be a non-union gardener. "Gardener," mind you was a generous term for "lawn-mower," but the job suited me just fine.

I ended up getting to...
1. Work outside (when we weren't driving around trying to cram 4 hours of work into an eight hour day)

2. Work forty hours a week (and not a moment more - most of the crew WERE union members)

3. Get done each day by 3 pm

4. Wear jeans and "sneakers"

5. Make double what I made selling suits

So, I was a happy laborer. In fact, that summer I spent each day listening to motivational teaching tapes as I mowed the lawns, and this had a great impact on the direction of my life.

I have practiced this law of specificity on just about everything since then, from that Cutie -Pie that I would marry, to the homes that we would live in - and it has always worked.

Yes, there is more to it, but that is the imperative first step.

So, now it is your turn. What are you believing for right now? Get specific. Let me know about it. It thrills my heart to be able to believe with you.

Until next time - Get out that paper - and get writing!

Next Tuesday I'll tell you the next step!

Hint - it rhymes with Relieve....

Let me know how I can help you.

Gina

Get Huge and BE Somebody

2008-05-12T20:31:00.000-07:00

When I was in High School, I had a boyfriend who was a football player. He often wore a T-shirt from a local gym that read, "Get Huge and BE Somebody." He thought it was a hilarious slogan.

Puh-leese!

When he went to play college ball on a full-ride, the pressure to Get Huge and Be Somebody became even worse. The joke wasn't funny any more. At 6'2 and 215 pounds, he wasn't quite huge enough, or something. He left football, went to a different university, and became a minister.

"Get Huge and Be Somebody."

What a silly slogan. I could have had my own slogan for the next several years. My variation said, "Get Skinny and BE Somebody." I drove myself to disorder.

BE SOMEBODY!!

This is what the world tells us, and then they give us feeble attempts at how to prove that we are somebody at long last:

Get Huge. Get Skinny. Get Rich. Get Drunk.

And then what? Then are you somebody? Finally are you validated? I work with high-achieving clients every week who definitely feel like they swallowed a lie somewhere along the road.

I have a better idea.

YOU ARE SOMEBODY!

Be who you are created to be. Be the child of God. Be the answer to somebody's prayer. Be the friend who sticks closer than a brother. Be the mate who loves unconditionally. Be the parent who actually enjoys the moment. Be joyful. Be at peace. Be strong. Be courageous. Be faithful. Be who you are - when no one is looking.

That is the person you need to be-friend. The real you. The one who is worthy simply because of grace.

Amazing things happen when you become clear on who you want to be. You find resources to do what you want to do, and the power to leave a legacy. You even find it easy to acquire what you want to have.

Success in life is not so much about what you achieve, it's about who you become in the process.

That my friend, is huge.

You are somebody.

Don't wait to celebrate.

1 Corinthians 15:10
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain;

Focus on the Fun in Your "Game."

2008-04-29T11:51:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday my oldest son asked me to drive him to the baseball field to meet most of his High School teammates. (Unlike the others, he's too young to drive.)

"Mom, twelve of us are meeting at the Little League Field to play tennis ball baseball - can you drive me up there?"

The request made me laugh.

"You mean on your only day off from baseball, you want to play baseball?"

I thought of all the times that these boys battle horrible weather, endure extra long practices, and the many school nights that they get home close to midnight. Yet, today, they would be giants on a Little League Field, with no coaches to yell at them as they played purely for (gasp) fun!

With a broad smile he replied, "Exactly!"

It was a heartwarming sight, and a much needed break from what sometimes feels like baseball tedium.

What is the game that you are playing today? Has it lost any of its youthful exuberance? Do you find yourself trudging through the motions?

If so, I encourage you to close your eyes and remember a time when it was fresh and new. Remember former victories and celebrate them again. If possible, shake up the routine a little, get out the "tennis balls," and do something in a different way.

Each moment is precious, so you might want to tune in with all your senses, and focus on the fun in your game once again. Who knows, you just might hit a home run.

Until next time - keep playing hard,

and enjoy your game!

Gina

Trader Psychology Mastery

2008-04-18T16:35:00.000-07:00

To my friends in Nashville at the Options Linebacker Workshop...
(and everyone else who loves trading): I want to share ten minutes of Trader Psychology Mastery:

My Story How I Got Thin and Rich!

2008-04-15T10:04:00.000-07:00

First the Inner and then the Outer, my friend! In this six minute video, you'll hear my story. Whether your struggles are personal, or financial, it's THE SAME ROCKS IN YOUR BACKPACK! "Never enough," must give place to "MORE THAN ENOUGH!"

Overcoming Performance Anxiety - Enjoy the Adrenaline!

2008-03-25T12:05:00.000-07:00

Your Prosperity is Already in Your Hands

2008-03-18T10:27:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered what in the world you could do to come out ahead, right now? I believe the secret is not outside of yourself - it is right inside. Your prosperity is already in your hands.

A while ago, I wrote about King David as he slew the giant, Goliath. That story includes one of my favorite secrets - that "God in you makes you bigger than your enemy."

The other secret for today, is this: Your success is already in you - there is something that you have in your hand, in your heart, that is valuable.

In young David's case, King Saul tried to dress the boy in his armor and give him his great, big sword. However, that was not going to work for David. The armor didn't fit, and the only weapon he knew was a sling and stones. He defeated an entire army by knocking down their leader with a sling and a stone.

What is it that is in your hand? It is very tempting to hear about what is working for somebody else, and jump on their bandwagon. But your prosperity is within your own hand. Oh yes, you will learn new skills, but right now there is something inside you -worth money, worth sharing. Your experience is part of your gifting, and your gift is making a way for you.

One day I realized that energy psychology was a gift inside my own hand. I hadn't shared it publicly, because it seemed too odd. But all sorts of doors of increase have opened for me as I have shared this gift. What once seemed like a private tool for my own success has brought relief to hundreds -maybe more, just through my materials on the subject.

Don't underestimate what is inside of you. What you know is infinitely more valuable than what you do! We'll talk more about that in the future. For now, just start asking yourself, "What isinside of me, that is worth sharing with others?" Who knows, the answer just might be the key to slaying the giants in your life. So start sharing!

Until next time, keep playing hard - and enjoy your game!

In your corner,

Gina

A Success Meditation Audio for You

2008-03-14T11:13:00.000-07:00

I am posting this to all my online friends because I recently spent
three hours in a professional studio to make a very special audio gift
for you! It is a success meditation audio that is...

guaranteed to increase your success level by helping you
renew your mind from the inside out.

It’s often said that up to 96% of your behavior is driven by
your subconscious mind. That is why God tells us to
"meditate on his word day and night, so we’ll be careful to obey
it and then we’ll make our way prosperous and successful."*

He also says that we are transformed (metamorphed - like a butterfly)
by the renewing of our mind.* Well, most of my clients struggle with
a sort of poverty mindset, so I made this CD called ’Blessed to Be
a Blessing.’ It is a soothing track set to music that you can listen to
for 10 minutes to re-focus your day, or...

you can let it play and repeat
the affirmations three times as you go about your business, or even
as you nap.

You get over 30 minutes of powerful, Scriptural words spoken over
you to help you "Repack Your Backpack" and turn your dark, heavy rocks into apples of gold.

When that happens, you are able to walk out your God-given calling, and touch the hurting with abundant life. You are blessed to be
a blessing! I personally listen to this at least once a day - and everything
has changed for me, so I’m very excited to share it with you.

Please download this special, no-strings attached AUDIO. Feel free to burn it to a CD for you car. If it blesses
you, just share it with others, and send me a comment.

I’m always thinking of ways to help my friends.

Here is the player and download link:

If there is any way that I can serve or support you, please let me know.

In your corner,

Gina

P.S. - I know some people have a hard time with
the "prosperity gospel." This audio is not about
growing in materialism. It is about being a blessing!

P.P.S .- Many of you are not on my Built To Win list-
I would be so happy if you would join my inner-circle
by filling out the form on my FREE STUFF tab:
http://builttowincoaching.com/FreeStuff.aspx

Again here is the download link to Blessed to Be a Blessing

*For Scriptural support see Joshua 1:8 and Romans 12:1-2

Energy Psychology for Athletic Performance

2008-03-12T15:15:00.000-07:00

The above video demonstrates one Peak Performance technique that I use with great success for our athletes as well as business professionals. This is the Flow On Demand Energy Therapy that is written about in my Book. The Book is called Flow On Demand-the Athlete's Edge, and it is being downloaded every day on the internet with wonderful feedback.

Enjoy, and feel free to write with any questions:
Gina@BuiltToWinCoaching.com

Until next time - Keep playing hard and enjoy your game!

Practice Makes Perfect

2008-03-06T12:12:00.000-08:00

The other day I raised the question of subconscious sabotage. I wondered if the young catcher (my son) may have injured himself in response to unconscious inner conflict about his worthiness of starting over some seniors on his team. I still think it is a possibility. I can assure you, he has that conflict no more.

However, here is another possibility: lack of practice on that particular play. Have you ever grown comfortable with your performance and stopped practicing part of it?

I know in this case, the catchers have been so busy working with pitchers, that they have been robbed of their own defensive practice. It takes experience and repetition to anticipate certain move from a ball. Then it takes more practice to get it right.

"Practice makes perfect!" or so we are told. In reality, practice only makes perfect when we constantly learn from the feedback and make minor adjustments to improve. Otherwise, practice only makes permanent. How many times do we fail to read the feedback of our own "game," and choose instead to go through sloppy motions?

In conclusion, I don't know if Jordan's injury was totally a result of subconscious sabotage or just failure to practice that catch, or a combination of both. What I do know is that I am stirred to examine my own performance.

Even though my main game is not athletic, I also want to be free from every trace of self-sabotage, and I want to practice thinking, speaking and producing winning results. I choose to do better today than yesterday. And then - I'll be even better tomorrow. How about you? Are you willing to challenge yourself to new and improved levels of success?

Keep playing hard!

Gina

PS - many of you are enjoying the Athlete's Edge, Flow On Demand. Somehow we are having technical difficulties getting some little videos up for you to view and answer your questions. But stay tuned! If you haven't seen the book, you can check it out here: Flow On Demand

Unconscious Sabotage

2008-03-04T09:16:00.000-08:00

I usually write my Tuesday Tip first thing in the morning, but today was different.

I had to take my son to the doctor for an x Ray, to make sure his recent injury was not serious. I think there is a lesson in the injury in the first place. It may be a lesson on subconscious resistance to success.

Jordan is a sophomore in High School. That means obviously, that there are older boys than him who have worked very hard for their varsity slots. Whenever I would ask Jordan about starting, he would get agitated and talk about what is right and wrong about a sophomore starting over a senior. This is a clear case of conflict. Remember, as we talk about in my book, conflict is the opposite of Flow.

Well, right before this last game, his coach said, "Jordan, if you do well today, you'll probably be our starting catcher." Could that have triggered conflict? I think so, because on the very first play, the opposing hitter smacked a fly ball right between home and third, and as it tailed away from Jordan, he quickly tried to compensate and ended up falling with all his force on his elbow. It was the most bizarre looking thing I have ever witnessed on the field.

As we spent some time dealing with his deep disappointment, I also had him get clear on his "worthiness" issue. Thankfully he found out today that the bruised nerve is healing up, and nothing is fractured. But he will have to sit until it is completely recovered.

This is not just a baseball story. Unconscious sabotage happens in many arenas, including wealth creation, health and fitness, and relationship success. It is the same reason that 95% of all lottery winners find themselves back to their pre-lottery state within five years of winning. Because they never resolved the inner conflict about wealth. This is an invitation for you to look at your own "game," whether it is athletic, or financial, or personal, and look for hidden internal conflict.

Do you in any way see yourself as unworthy of success? Do you have conflicting emotions about how others may perceive you if you become very successful?

Today your assignment, should you choose to accept it, is to get clear again on what you want, and why you want it. And then, walk in gratitude for the ability to make it happen. It is a gift, after all. If you have any inner conflict, then practice our three steps:

1. Acknowledge your conflict
2. Accept yourself anyway
3. Create an empowering response

IE - "Even though, I'm not sure I deserve this success right now, I accept myself anyway, and I choose to receive it with thankfulness."

Whatever it is for you, write it down, and keep saying it, tapping on your targets so you can feel the energy of it.

Success is easy when you eliminate the barriers.

Until next time, I encourage you to keep playing hard, and enjoy your game!

In your corner,

Gina

PS - If you are not sure about the book, you can check it out right here:

2008-02-26T08:13:00.000-08:00

Hello again my friend,

It’s time for a quick Tuesday tip:

Question – Are you in a good mood right now?

Tip:

You can change your mental state, by changing your physiology.

If you are feeling stressed or annoyed, look at your body posture and countenance. How are you sitting, are your eyebrows furrowed? What are you thinking about?

Now, think of a moment when you were thoroughly enjoying yourself. What expression was on your face then? How were you breathing? (yes, breathing!) How did you sit or stand?

Now, just for fun, put that expression on your face. Let yourself smile. Sit up tall, enjoy the moment. Breathe!

Sure, your smile the first time was in response to something you enjoyed, but notice the power when you smile by choice. Your body is wired in a way that emotional triggers cause physical responses, but the opposite is also true. Physical triggers cause emotional responses. When you smile, you feel better, because your brain associates the smile with good things.

So, for very important reasons today, I encourage you to smile. You deserve to feel good, and your smile makes those around you feel better. When we feel good, productivity goes up, when productivity goes up profits rise, and when profits rise, we want to smile. So let’s just start with the smile, and start the ball rolling!

Smile - it increases your face value. ~Author Unknown

Please do not underestimate the value of this post. This one new habit could change your day, your week…your life!

Always remember to be happy because you never know who's falling in love with your smile. ~Author Unknown

Until next time, I’ll be…

In your corner (and in love with your smile),

-Gina

PS - Did you know I wrote a whole book about another way to master your mood and perform at your peak? It's called Flow On Demand, the Athlete's Edge. Although the techniques are used by elite and amateur athletes around the world, the instruction will help you win your financial and personal games as well. You can learn more and order it here: Flow On Demand, the Athlete's Edge

Attracting Winners To Your Circle

2008-02-19T09:54:00.000-08:00

Could you use more high-caliber friends and mentors in your life? Then think about this:

"The relationships we have with the world are largely determined by the relationships we have with ourselves." -- Greg Anderson

Did you know that this world is full of fascinating, intelligent and generous people who want to cheer you on and see you succeed? It’s true, there are winners all around you, ready to stand by your side. What is it you would like to learn this week? What would you like to do better? If you could talk to someone who was very successful, what would you ask?

“But I don’t have any friends like that!” you may lament. This may seem true, but in reality, if you will be that kind of friend to yourself and others, you will attract just the kind of people who will pull you up higher too. You will attract true winners into your circle.

This week, be a friend to yourself. Acknowledge your weaknesses, and affirm your unconditional self-love anyway. Look at others with grace. Believe in their strengths, and let them know it.

What you tend to see in yourself is what you will tend to see around you.

We’re all in this together – let’s keep climbing higher.

In your corner,

Gina

Peak Performance Speaker and Coach Gina Parris is passionate about seeing people move from frustration to freedom in their lives and livelihoods. Whether your game is

Athletic, financial, or personal, she can help you win it.

Choosing a Role Model

2008-01-08T11:03:00.000-08:00

To listen to this post, you can simply click above.

One thing I always advocate when it comes to being a great leader, is the idea that you want to be inspired by your own role model. When we are in the trenches committed to unleashing the winners around us, we can sometimes get overwhelmed with the status quo. We need those people who are able to pull us up and inspire us with the courage to make a difference.

I'd like to take a moment to mention one of my early role models, Norma LelaCheur. I was twelve years old when I first met this woman, in my hometown, of Spokane, Washington. We came to visit the little church that she and her husband pastored, and she got up to speak. Before she spoke however, she saw, me. I mean she saw me. I wasn't invisible to her. She made me feel special. And then she took the pulpit.

She spoke unlike anyone I had ever heard. She was captivating in a totally transparent way. Her humor was self-deprecating, and she showed that she had nothing to prove. As she laughed at some of her weaknesses, I thought, "Oh my goodness, she is like me!" And in that moment, I knew that one day, I wanted to speak and touch lives too. I wanted to be like her. I wanted to be powerful, godly, encouraging.

For the next decade, I continued to grow under her influence. I became a motivational speaker, and a minister, and then married and moved to Europe. I like to think that I continued to touch lives. She and her husband were very influential, not just in my life, but in thousands of lives all over the country.

When I was in my late thirties, Paul and I moved back to Spokane for awhile, to raise the kids around family. During that time, Norma got sick. The doctor said that she had an "enlarged heart." Those of us who knew her replied, "Well, duh!"

We didn't dream it would kill her, but on May 17, 2004, Norma went "home." She was seventy-three.

The church (which was quite large by now, and pastored by one of her sons) was packed, with people from all over the country. The amazing thing was that while Norma's body lay in the casket, her image and voice rang out from a giant video screen. Her message had been recorded just a few weeks previous. She spoke as passionately as ever, pleading with "everyone within the sound of my voice," to know that they could choose life. She spoke of a "Heaven to gain, and a Hell to shun," and she reminded us that "this life on earth is the short life."

With tears rolling down my cheeks, I thought about the last 25 years. I thought of all the wonderful young people that I had been privileged to work with over the years. I thought of the ones who told me, "I want to be like you!" As I looked at the woman on the screen, I thought, "Wow. This is the power of influence. Thank you Norma, for impacting my life, so that through me, you could bless even more. Thank you for teaching me to laugh at our weaknesses, to enjoy life, and to love God and people. Thank you for putting in me a passion for the Word."

Now, I want to ask you, my friend. Do you have someone who has touched your life? Who has inspired you to be all you can be, to unleash your greatness? If you haven't found someone yet, I encourage you to keep looking. Find someone who resonates with you.

You can be mentored by someone even from a distance by reading their materials, and soaking up their life. I have had many mentors like that.

Ultimately, you will be the leader that someone else names as their role model. That my friend, is a beautiful thing.

As we embark on a wonderful new year, I will still be here, in your corner. I believe it is a year for your business, your health, your relationships, to soar to new levels of success.

Until next time,

Keep playing hard, and enjoy your game!

Gina

Christmas in My Dreams...

2007-12-24T11:15:00.000-08:00

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

2007-12-17T10:20:00.001-08:00

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

2007-12-11T07:39:00.000-08:00

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?

2007-11-06T07:22:00.000-08:00

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

2007-10-29T11:23:00.000-07:00

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!

2007-10-03T08:15:00.000-07:00

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!

2007-08-19T17:21:00.000-07:00

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

2007-05-09T10:13:00.000-07:00

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

2007-04-11T12:08:00.000-07:00

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

2007-03-27T09:15:00.000-07:00

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

2007-03-19T08:37:00.000-07:00

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...

2007-03-16T06:45:00.000-07:00

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...

2007-02-23T07:31:00.000-08:00

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

2007-02-20T06:10:00.000-08:00

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

2007-02-17T10:48:00.000-08:00

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

2007-02-14T19:45:00.000-08:00

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

2007-02-01T20:00:00.000-08:00

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

2007-01-23T07:14:00.000-08:00

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?

2007-01-19T10:04:00.000-08:00

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?

2007-01-18T06:50:00.000-08:00

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?

2007-01-17T06:53:00.000-08:00

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

2007-01-12T14:08:00.000-08:00

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

2007-01-11T14:12:00.000-08:00

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

Expect Miracles

2007-01-06T19:42:00.000-08:00

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

2007-01-04T07:11:00.000-08:00

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

2007-01-03T19:44:00.000-08:00

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

2007-01-02T12:21:00.000-08:00

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

Forgiveness

2006-12-10T18:46:00.000-08:00

A few days ago we looked at the promise of living by faith. Anything and everything good and wonderful is possible by faith.

"Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."

You can receive whatever you can believe. But nothing will short-circuit your believing like unforgiveness.

Holding unforgiveness in your heart is like drinking poison and hoping that the other person will suffer.

You may protest, thinking that forgiveness is the same as condoning the wrong actions of another. To forgive another is not to say that he is innocent. It is to release your right to judge him.

Let God be the judge of another, not you. Why? Because you yourself will one day need mercy, not judgement.

We so often judge other people by their actions, while judging ourselves by our intentions. What hypocracy!

For your own sake, follow the Word. Forgive, from your heart. After all, the person who hurt you, was probably doing the best he knew, with what he had.

That's why Jesus was able to say it from the cross, "Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing."

It's not a feeling. It is a choice.

Bless you!

A Thanksgiving Meal

2006-11-25T07:44:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving was this week. My little family sat around the table thinking of all our favorite Thanksgiving days. Paul and I remembered Thanksgiving of '90, when we left Spokane for Germany. I remember my sister Susan, getting up early to join my parents in seeing us off at the airport.

We had a 24 hour layover in St. Louis, and since it was Thanksgiving day, we felt especially lonely there. We both cried in our strange hotel. Then we got up and went downstairs to the hotel restaurant. There was the most beautiful Thankgiving meal buffet, with linen tablecloths and real china and silverwear on the tables. Amazingly, we felt all better after eating! That was the first time I understood the term "comfort food!"

I also remember Thanksgiving days in different cities, enjoying the holiday with friends that were also away from family members.

I remember one special Thanksgiving meal in Spokane, with my dearest neighbors. Their family was from Pakistan, so my sister and I made them a full Thanksgiving meal at our house. Of course next to that tasty Middle Eastern food, our meal is bland and boring, but our guests were so gracious. They were also dressed in the most beautiful outfits, and I realized after I sat at the table, that I had not even remembered to change my clothes. There I was, eating in my home-maker uniform - sweats! Oh dear...why didn't Paul say something? In fact, I think I'm wearing the exact same sweatshirt, right now as I type this!

What dear friends, and how I miss them. Shaista, if you're out there, I sure wish you lived next door to me now! My prayers are with your precious Mama and your brothers too.

This Thanksgiving was quieter than I would have liked, but I will never get tired of a whole day devoted to an attitude of gratitude. I have so much to appreciate, that sometimes, the blessings leave me overwhelmed with God's goodness.

When I asked my kids what they're all grateful for, Kristan looked at me and cut right to the chase. "You mom. We're all thankful for you!"

That smarty-pants. She just wanted me to laugh...and pass her more turkey. It worked.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Gina

The Problem - or the Promiser?

2006-11-13T07:55:00.000-08:00

It has been said that struggling people often focus on their problems, while successful people focus on the solutions. I totally believe this. You could also say it this way, "You can either choose to focus on the problem, or on the promise."

A shortcoming of most people, is they are unaware of many promises. They spend little time in the Promise book, where their faith could be built up.

The easiest way I have found to receive a promise is to focus on The Promise-er! I love to read the Word, and sing songs about the Character of my Heavenly Father.

Abraham knew this secret. "By faith Abraham, even though he was past age, and Sarah herself was barren- was enabled to become a father, because he considered Him faithful who had made the promise." *

My very favorite attribute of God is his faithfulness. I was raised by some Pastors who must have said it to me hundreds of times, "God is faithful!"

One time my husband, Paul, was laid off work for 8 months. It turned out to be the most peaceful, precious, supernaturally provided-for time of our lives together. Why? Probably because night and day, my mind was racked with talk and thoughts of how Faith-ful God is. The thought that he might leave us to "go under" was unthinkable. It honestly did not cross my mind. Instead, I was excited to see what He had in mind.

Faithful, faithful, full of faith, unwavering, true...I can just think on that word and get happy! Hanging around a Father like that will naturally fill you with faith of your own. It's not something you strive for. It's just his DNA, manifesting in you, his child.

Then you understand the meaning of this: "Have the faith of God," Jesus answered. "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."*

Whew! We'll talk about forgiveness next time. But for now, understand, having the "God-kind" of faith, is an effortless biproduct of fellowship with the Faithful one.

Today, as always, there may be a few problems, nagging for my attention. But I only have time for the Promise-er. How about you?

Enjoy the journey!

Gina
* See Romans 11:11, *Mark 11:22-25

Your Future is Not Dictated by Your Past

2006-11-03T12:51:00.000-08:00

I have friends who are have had a hard life. Does it ever get any better? Yes. It can.

I love Timone and Pumba from the Lion King. They had wise words for poor Simba, whose past included some tradgedy, for sure. Simba's future didn't look very bright.

With a flourishing song and dance, Timone and Pumba encouraged the young lion. "That's why it's important to put your behind in your past!"

What good advice from some animated creatures.

Why do we dwell on the past? The good life is yours right now. If you open your heart to a spirit of gratitude instead of a spirit of dispair, you will find find your future is so bright, that you need sunglasses! How do you create a bright, wonderful future? The same way you create a bright, wonderful present - by giving voice to it.

Your words create your reality. Why? Because they affect the way you believe. Try saying some things right now.

"Right now I am blessed and not cursed."

"Right now I have more than enough!"

"My needs are met and I'm out of debt, and there's plenty today to give some away!"

"Today is the best day of my life."

"My future is brighter than my past!"

Keep it up. Your destiny is in your hands...and in your heart...and in your mouth!

Romans 10:10
For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

Closer to My Goal Tomorrow

2006-10-31T08:26:00.000-08:00

Are you a goal-oriented person? I used to be. When I was a young, idealistic teenager, I wrote my goals regarding every topic in my life. I was very specific about what I wanted, and I usually got it. My closest friends were also high achievers, and they spured me on towards my goals.

Then something happened - LIFE. I don't think it was one specific event, but the older I got, the more I realized that life doesn't always hand me my fulfilled goals on a platter. Sometimes life just hands us all a curve ball.

Sometimes my relationships failed. Sometimes my schoolwork just didn't make sense. Sometimes my fitness goals turned into dangerous obsessions. Sometimes my work filled me dread instead of joy. One time I suffered for months with a terrible case of depression.

So what happened? As a result of many disappointments, I lost my courage to set any more goals. I hated feeling like a failure when I didn't succeed within my timelines.

Now, I have a system that works for me. I list who I want to be in each of my roles. How do I want to look, act, feel, and what do I want to accomplish in each role? Those are my goals. And then I ask myself, "What can I do today to bring me closer to my goal?"

My action steps are simple: "By finishing a 20 minute workout today, I'll be closer to my goal tomorrow. By working for 1 solid hour on my book, I'll be closer to my goal tomorrow. By planning what I'll cook all week, I'll be closer to my goal tomorrow. (Homemaker is not my strongest role!)

Anyway, you get the idea. I have learned that small, purposeful actions add up. We often say that if you continue to do what you've always done, than you'll continue to get what you've always gotten. If I continue to do the things I've done for the last several years, than I will continue with slow but steady increase. Maybe soon, I'll open my heart back up to fast and steady increase...but one step at a time!

How about you? What can you do today that will take you closer to your goals tomorrow? Don't be afraid to write them down.

James 2:17, 19
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead... Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.

Single Minded Success

2006-10-25T11:58:00.000-07:00

If you are striving but not finding the success that you desire, then chances are you have internal conflict about the issue. It is not easy to change yourself out of sheer will power. You need to instead, face the conflicting emotions and get into a place of internal congruency. That is when you achieve effortless success from a state called Flow.

"A double minded man is unstable in all his ways." That is a quote from James chapter one. We're also told that anyone who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. The doubter should not think he will receive anything from the Lord!

Well. In order to eliminate your doubts, I recommend that you be very specific about putting them into words. Don't let them be just an emotion. Then find out if there is any promise that is greater than your doubt.

As you consider your doubting emotion, accept yourself, doubts and all, and make the choice to believe the Truth. Then meditate on that exchange.

For example: "Even though I doubt I'll succeed at ever finishing this book, I choose to believe that God's blessing is on all the works of my hands, and the things I do prosper and come to full fruition."

You can use those ideas in a round of Flow On Demand, but to understand Flow On Demand, you need my pocket guide to it, and right now, that exists only in my head! Hint: It's very similar to EFT.

Let's keep pulling for eachother.

Gina

When You're Happy to See Your Siblings

2006-10-05T17:34:00.000-07:00

Well, it is one of those weeks when friends and neighbors go on vacation, and my children go off to enrichment programs...all my children that is, except the oldest one. For some reason Jordan is usually the busiest of the four, but he has no baseball this week, (and no nifty "enrichment flyers" came home from the high school) and his best friend is in Florida. How pitiful. He roamed the neighborhood today looking for any of his buddies, but alas, none were available to "come out and play."

His little brothers and younger sister have been home for four hours now, and I think he has been playing with them the whole time. In fact, I think he plans to watch the twins during their Karate and Football programs tomorrow. I doubt he is desperate enough to watch Kristan play basketball tomorrow morning, but right now, anything beats sitting at home.

When are you happy to see your siblings? When there is nothing else to do! That is how you feel when you are fourteen.

Now that I'm nearly forty, I'd be ecstatic to see any of my siblings for any old reason in the world.

My parents are coming out on Monday to enjoy the second week of Fall break with us. Since they are so much fun to have around, their visit will be a treat for us all. Hopefully, we'll continue to enjoy the family fun, but next break...I'm planning a trip!

But What About Me??

2006-10-03T10:37:00.000-07:00

Well, Fall break is upon us. What a glorious time to go on a family vacation...and if you are less organized, than it is a good time to lament the fact that you didn't plan one. Such was the case yesterday.

Our next door neighbors departed for a week at Disneyworld. This realization brought my son Nathan, to tears as he came in the house.

"How come we NEVER go anywhere fun?"

This was a good time to remember our wonderful trip just a few months ago to Pigeon Forge, followed by a glorious trip with the baseball team to Virginia. It turns out, we DO go great places....just so far, not Disneyworld.

Amazingly, the more he complained, the less inclined I felt to take him anywhere. My annoyance grew into a threat to leave him home on our next vacation!

"Nathan!" I told him, "When we are thankful for what we have, then more wonderful things come to us. But self-pity destroys our joy, and the joy of everyone around us. It stops blessings from coming to us!"

About an hour later, he came and found me and apologized with a hug.

"Mom" he said, "I'm really sorry that I was feeling sorry for myself. I totally forgot that I get to go to football camp this week, and I am really, really excited for that!

That reminded me...

"Nathan, do you like it when we go out to restaurants that have all-you-can-eat buffets?"

"Yeah!"

"Me too. When you see someone ahead of you in line with a great plate of food, do you get jealous, or just excited at the possibilites?"

With a knowing smile he answered, "excited at the possibilities."

I asked, "Why don't you feel sorry for yourself then? I mean, that person has something you don't have, right?"

"Yeah, but my turn is coming!"

Right!

Today, if you compare yourself to someone else and feel tempted to ask, "But what about me?" I encourage you to rejoice with that person and expect that your turn is coming!

Romans 12:15
Rejoice with those who rejoice.

The Happy Bucks

2006-09-28T11:06:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, I was the guest at the Local Kiwanis club.

A portion of their meeting consisted of the most delightful thing: They call it their "Happy Bucks," and it's a time when members get to stand and give a few dollars in honor of something that made them happy that week. What a hoot! Many of the dollars were given in relation to football games, (and NFL cheerleaders) and the whoops and hollars seemed to grow with each gift. Two of the men were celebrating wedding anniversaries that week. One man gave forty bucks for forty great years, while his friend, who was a little less prepared, gave one dollar and sheepishly promised an IOU. Cheers!

Over a dozen people donated Happy Bucks that night. My host leaned over and explained to me that at the end of the year they give the money to a charity. I figured that was a lot of money over a year of weekly meetings. By the time they were finished giving, my cheeks hurt from laughing so hard. What a great approach to giving!

Giving in response to gratitude is one of the keys to prosperity, especially when it's done with great joy! This morning on the way to school, I launched an impromptu "gratitude party" in the car. I was amused at all the happy ideas that poured from my kids' mouths. They were interrupting each other with gratitude. As we drove, the happiness grew. Their day was off to a good start.

Did I give any money away in response to such thankfulness? Of course! But money is not the only thing you can give. I encourage you to stop and count your blessings today, and as you do, just ask yourself, "What could I give in response to this?" It is a fun way to live.

2 Corinthians 9:7
...for God loves a cheerful giver.

What to Expect from an EFT Workshop

2006-09-20T12:55:00.000-07:00

One day an acquaintance suggested some videos on this revolutionary "energy therapy" called Emotional Freedom Technique, which was refined by a Stanford trained engineer named Gary Craig. She told me that she was able to get through our grueling workouts due to this technique, and it helped her with all kinds of performance issues as well. So I ordered the first 13 hours of videos and eagerly watched the first one. As I watched, I thought it was so rediculous that I put it on the shelf and shared it with no one.

The idea is that all matter, including our bodies, is made up of energy, and all negative emotion is caused by a disruption in our energy system. So...we combine what we know about Western science and mix it with Eastern acupuncture meridians and perform a kind of "emotional acupuncture" on ourselves. We do this by tapping on these energy targets on our face and hands, while mentally tuning in to our distressing emotion or pain. As we do, the distressing thought loses its power to affect us any more. Absurd! ...Absurd?

Later one day while I was showering, I thought about the technique, and completed a "full round" on an issue that had bothered me for 15 years. Instantly, my life was changed in that area, and I couldn't believe it. I took the videos off the shelf, watched the other 12 hours (and then dozens more) and became a serious student of the subject. Soon, I started sharing it with my family and friends and then my coaching clients. The results were almost always amazing, and when they weren't, I went on a quest to find out why not. I have seen phobias cleared, athletes amazed, and limiting beliefs eliminated. This often results in weight loss for the overweight, freedom for the addicted, prosperity for the financially challenged, and peace for the distressed.

I have since learned so much about how our bodies and soul work, and I now love using EFT to help people get over all kinds of troubling issues where traditional therapy has failed. I even love using it with my Christian friends who have had a hard time walking in the reality of Biblical promises.

When you have unconscious, (or soulish) emotions that are contrary to the Truth, than your body or physical reality will line up with your soul, even if you try to "be positive." One way to renew that soul is to flood it with Truth. However, I have found that it is much faster to simply clear the conflicting emotion first, THEN install the Truth. Result - a desired state in response to a formerly distressing trigger. This can take place in moments! (or sometimes longer)

In an EFT workshop, we are able to identify those emotions and the beliefs behind them, and literally "tap away" their power. In their place, we choose the emotion or state that we desire. In the end, most participants discover that they are indeed fearfully and wonderfully made! They walk away with a new lasting freedom, and with a tool to help them any time they discover a feeling of distress.

I asked the Lord if this was a strange practice from a Kingdom perspective. He assured me that it is no stranger than an MD explaining to a Christian a proper view of nutrition. I am thrilled to be able to offer Emotional Freedom Technique to all who are open.

If the Son has made you free, then you are free indeed. It's time to put our spirit and soul and body into a place of perfect unity, that we all may be whole!

For more info you can check out Gary Craig's website at www.emofree.com

Feel free to post questions to this blog.

Yours,

Gina

You're Busted!

2006-09-17T15:55:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a perfect Saturday morning...I got to sleep in 'till 8, while Paul went to the gym. When I got up, the twins were ecstatic to greet me...they had already been tearin' it up for an hour! They were pretending to be cops- wearing superhero jammies and bearing light sabers.

"Mama, Mama! We've turned into house cops and we've already given Jordan four tickets!"

"Four tickets!" I replied, impressed.

"Yeah! Each one costs him a dollar. We're gonna be rich, RICH, RICH!!" squealed Matthew.

"You mean he's already broken the law four times?"

"Yes!" Exclaimed Nathan, as he gleefully counted off Big Brother's felonies:

"Number One- clothes on the bathroom floor!
Number Two - clothes on his bedroom floor!
Number Three- playing too much video games!
and Number Four - not making his bed!"

"Not making his bed! Well," I asked, "Where is he?"

"He's still SLEEPING!" they roared in unison.

Now that is the problem with the letter of the law. You're busted before you even wake up!

I told the twins that Jordan was allowed to seek legal counsel and since he's broke, I appointed Kristan to be his attorney.

"He'll never pay." She assured.

The law is pretty soft around here because the next time I looked up, there was my "accused" carrying his pajama-clad accusers under his arms, and tossing them onto the sofa.

They were all having way too much fun. So, they used all that energy to clean up the infractions and spent the rest of the day knee boarding, wake boarding and attempting to even sky-ski on the Lake.

I love it when Mercy triumphs over judgement!

My mega-thanks to Jim and Maggie Posey for showing us a fabulous time all day long. When I grow up I want to be just like them.

Romans 8:34
And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God's chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us.

Bobby, Come Home!

2006-09-08T11:18:00.000-07:00

This is a story that is told by gospel singer, Candy Hemphill Christmas. It is about a childhood friend of hers named Bobby:

Over the years Bobby had become rebellious and angry at God and his parents and his church. His life became consumed with drug abuse as he grew into a greater and greater prisoner of his addictions.

One day Bobby just disappeared. His broken hearted parents did not know if he had been murdered over a drug deal or if he killed himself, or just ran away. For two years they did not hear from him at all, not even one phone call or letter. He had just vanished.

Bobby's dad felt the crushing grip of months of pent-up frustration and pain while driving on the outskirts of the Arkansas city where he lived. He pulled his car off to the side of the road, got out and walked off some distance from the highway. He pointed his finger towards the north and yelled with all his might, "BOBBY, COME HOME!" Turning towards the south, he shouted in the wind, "BOBBY, COME HOME!" To the East and West, he did the same.

Two days later, this dad heard a knock at the door. There stood Bobby. BOBBY WAS HOME!

As his dad hugged him he asked, "Son, what brought you home?"

"Dad," Bobby said, "I was sitting on the front porch of an old shack on the edge of the desert in Arizona, stoned out of my mind. A wind started blowing and suddenly grew stronger. Dad I could have sworn that I heard your voice in the wind, 'BOBBY, COME HOME!' and so, I got here just as fast as I could."

Proverbs 18:21 Life and death are in the power of the tongue.

Story featured in The 2 Minute Miracle (Portal, GA: Portal Publishing Company) by Lynn Reddick

Honoring Those Who Have Gone Before Us

2006-08-28T05:37:00.000-07:00

Now that I live in Tennessee, I have become more familiar with the country music culture. My favorite quality of these current superstars is their undying reverence for those who have gone before them. Even though the modern songs sound different from the music of the older Grand Ole Opry stars, those musical forefathers hold a place of honor.

Did you know that you and I can benefit from looking at our own families and honoring those who have gone before us? The Bible tells us that honoring our father and mother is the first commandment with a promise of prosperity and long life.* I believe this goes beyond just one's immediate parents, and extends to honoring your forefathers as well.

We may have forefathers (and mothers) who were not perfect, and who had certain failings, but their hope was that things would be better for us. Have you honored them for doing the best they knew? I believe there is a place in that unseen realm where time and space do not exist. We can close our eyes and go to that place, and turn around and literally bless those of our blood line who went before us. In our blessing we can forgive them for their shortcomings, and release a measure of righteousness upon them.

It is interesting to note that one way that God manifests this blessing on them is to pour out on their offspring the "double portion" of blessing. They are actually vidicated by your success and prosperity. You may think that your inheritance from them was worthless, but the original plan said "A good man lays up a treasure for his children's children."* Perhaps they were not able to lay hold of that themselves, due to lack of understanding, but their inheritance is still available, flowing in your veins. Why is it that we are often more aware of any generational curses than blessings?

I have begun to walk in a new level of prosperity since blessing my forefathers, including those of my husband. We will honor them by faithfully handling all of the goodness that comes our way. We will fulfill our divine destiny. Something in that blessing has altered our DNA for good.

* See Ephesians 6:1-3
* See Proverbs 13:22
Isaiah 61:9
And their offspring shall be known among the nations and their descendants among the peoples. All who see them [in their prosperity] will recognize and acknowledge that they are the people whom the Lord has blessed.

They Might Not Like You!

2006-08-21T11:32:00.000-07:00

I was reminded of a conversation I had with a mom when I was 14 years old. We had just met this family and they invited my whole family to their home for dinner. I was excited because they had some kids close to our ages. I was enjoying the evening very much when this Mom said to me,
"Gina, you are the most interesting young girl I have ever seen. As I watch you, it's like it never even occurs to you that people may not like you!"
I stopped in my tracks, wondering what in the world she meant.
"Excuse me?" I asked.
She repeated her observation, and so I asked, "Do I bother you?"
"No." She said with a smile, "I just think it is interesting how easily you mix with everybody."
I left the room thinking what a bummer it would be to spend my life worrying about whether or not everyone liked me.
Over the years however, I have realized that most people have some sort of this fear of rejection. They fear reaching out to other people because they are not sure they have any internal value to offer. People who fail to see value in themselves are quick to see the weaknesses in others as well. This sometimes comes off as a critical spirit, and it makes the people around them feel badly.
As a result, the critical, under-confident person may indeed be unpopular. The fear fulfills itself.
The Great Commandment teaches us to love our neighbor as ourselves. There is nothing holy in not loving yourself. You cannot give away what you don't have, but you only get to keep what you give away.
Don't be afraid. God's love in you can not fail. If you get a revelation of how loved you are, it is easier to break the cycle of defeat.
And what about those people who really don't like you? Well, greater is the Love in you, than the hate in them! Choose the higher way -you'll know what to do.

Gina
1 John 4:19
We love because He first loved us.

You Have Not Because You Ask Not

2006-08-17T09:39:00.000-07:00

Yesterday while I was making dinner, my cell phone rang on my hip. The caller was one of my children, phoning from the bathroom down the hall. The toilet paper roll was empty and this child was requesting a refill - promptly! The other 3 siblings found this hysterically funny.

Personally, I am always proud when any one chooses to handle life's annoyances with creativity and humor.

How often do you and I face a situation of lack, and instead of just asking for what we need, we spend all of our energy getting annoyed and upset? Possibly, we just determine that our desire is out of reach.

I believe that nothing is out of reach, if you persist in faith and patience.

I currently have a desire to attend a conference in Seattle to take my Performance Coaching to a much higher level. This is because I want to effectively help thousands more people. The conference is on the 3rd weekend of October, and right now, attending looks out of reach.

I am asking my Heavenly Father to get me there. Since I am sharing it with all of you, you will see if I press through and lay hold of this one or not. Wow. I have not publicly shared an endeavor before it was reached.

For any of you who are also reaching for the impossible, GO FOR IT!

If at first you don't succeed, then try and try and try again. You may be surprised where your efforts take you, if your steps are indeed ordered by the Lord.

I want to leave you with a favorite Scripture today. I'll find a translation that does the best job interpreting the original Greek tense.

Keep the switch of faith turned on,

Gina

Luke 11:9-10 (Amplified Bible)

9So I say to you, Ask and keep on asking and it shall be given you; seek and keep on seeking and you shall find; knock and keep on knocking and the door shall be opened to you.
10For everyone who asks and keeps on asking receives; and he who seeks and keeps on seeking finds; and to him who knocks and keeps on knocking, the door shall be opened.

Footnotes:
Luke 11:9 Charles B. Williams, The New Testament: A Translation: The idea of continuing or repeated action is often carried by the present imperative and present participles in Greek.

The Posture of Defeat

2006-08-12T13:09:00.000-07:00

"Strike three!"
The inning was over and the player headed to the dugout, head down, face tense and shoulders slumped.
Worse yet, as the team took the field, the posture on all of the players looked remarkably similar - defeated.
I turned into the loud-mouthed performance coach, "Get those shoulders back! Put your chins in the air!" But it was to no avail. The players had frustration coursing in their muscles. They could not bring themselves to act in a way that was inconsistent with their emotions.
Here is the secret - YOUR ACTIONS CAN CHANGE YOUR EMOTIONS and THEY CAN ABSOLUTELY CHANGE YOUR PHYSIOLOGY.
Practice this exercise: Think of a specific time when you were feeling totally successful and victorious. Remember every detail as clearly and brightly as possible.
How did you stand? How did you breathe? What expression was on your face? What thoughts were you thinking just before your success?
Now stand up and remember a time you were totally frustrated and embarrassed. How did you stand then? How did you breathe? (Did you forget to breathe?) What expression was on your face just before your "crash?"
As you are reliving your frustrating moment, you should be able to feel the emotion of it.
Now, switch posture. Choose the empowering posture of your first memory - the great one. Just choose the posture and the breath, and the facial expression.
Did you feel a difference? You are the master of your fate. You can choose power at any moment. Chances are, you are perfectly equipped to face whatever it is that is confronting you right now.
Refuse to go at it in fear. Put your game face on.
Now, go play!

1 Corinthians 9:24
Run in such a way as to get the prize.

editor's note: the subject of this photo, Mr Jordan Parris, takes issue with being described as having "defeated posture" in this pic. He says that was not the case. (This is true, it was taken at a game where his team kicked some buns.) I say it was the only thing in my archives to stick up there. Sorry Jordan....now, go play!

The Hero of the Story

2006-08-02T06:49:00.000-07:00

My in-laws stopped by for a visit last week from San Diego. As they drove into our driveway, they were greeted by the twins. Matthew was wearing a shirt that said, "Robin Hood."
"Guess what." Matthew told them, "I was in a play called Robin Hood."
"You were? That is wonderful."
"Yes, and I was the HERO of the story!"
"The hero!" said Grandma. "You mean you were Robin Hood?"
"Well, no." He replied. "I was a skunk. Actually, I was Skunk Number Two."

You have to love a director who can convince a skunk that he is the hero of the story!

You are probably a hero to somebody. Today you can tell yourself, "I am the hero of this story!" And then create your day just as you desire.

We're going to Williamsburg Virginia for a week of baseball today. I will be a hero if I can stay cheerful with 4 kids in a car for 12 hours. Each Parris child will be a hero if he stays sweet. And the All-Stars will be heroes if they play like they know how...in 3 digit heat.

Pray for us,
Gina

The Limits are in Your Head

2006-07-27T09:40:00.000-07:00

I have had the privilege of working with a great baseball team these past few weeks. They are the 13 year old Babe Ruth all-star players from my town, and they were hosting the Tennessee State Championship last weekend. Since they were the hosts, they got to play, even though they didn't qualify at the district level.

They decided that with a little mental conditioning to go along with their outstanding fundamentals, they could win the state title.

We decided to address the beliefs that held them back before. I used the Flow On Demand Technique to get them to realize that all their limits were in their head, not in their muscles. They learned that they could hit with perfect vision and timing and form, and they could choose to "bury" the opponents when they got ahead, rather than fall apart. We spent about 20 minutes each practice, just on the mental game.

At the tournament, they came out every night and astounded the fans by doing exactly as they had mentally (and physically) prepared. They won all of their games handily, and went to bed the last night as State Champions! It is an experience they will never forget.

I love to see an underdog come out on top!

Do you ever feel like an "underdog?" Do you feel stress when you think of performing under certain pressures? Well, I assure you, the limits you place on yourself on in your mind. They are not in your ability. You can choose to shut off the limits.

Be blessed,
Gina

Phil 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

PS. Photo by Mike McGee at www.tullahomasports.com Used entirely without permission, so if you like it, go buy it, and check out his other archives as well!!

When Things Don't Work Out

2006-07-11T10:48:00.000-07:00

Sometimes life comes at us with heartache. At those times we have the opportunity to discover what we really believe. I am reminded of a Psalm that talks about the life of Joseph. Joseph went through terrible times that did not seem to support the promises that God had given him. Still, it was not God who was on trial.

Psalm 105:17-21 AMP

17He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold as a servant.
18His feet they hurt with fetters; he was laid in chains of iron and his soul entered into the iron,
19Until his word [to his cruel brothers] came true, until the word of the Lord tried and tested him.
20The king sent and loosed him, even the ruler of the peoples, and let him go free.
21He made Joseph lord of his house and ruler of all his substance,

Eventually, the promises over Joseph all came true. He was able to recount the worst of it and know that even though it was meant for evil, God used it for good.

I will never claim to understand why things don't always seem to work out in this life, but I know this: I am the one being tried and tested by the Word. God is not on trial. He already proved his limitless love for me by sending his son in the likeness of human flesh.

Sometimes we stand toe to toe against the adversary and declare, "I am not moved by what I see. I am not moved by what I feel. I am only moved by what I know."

1John 4:16
16And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.

Yes, I am convinced that joy will return in the morning. Healing will come. Comfort will come. You will look upon your enemy and say, "You hit me with your best shot. But look at me. I am still standing!"

Don't quit now. You are not alone.

Gina

The Washing Machine

2006-06-28T11:57:00.000-07:00

When I was in my second year of Bible College, my two roomates and I had our first faith victory together. We believed God for a washing machine. Here's how it happened.

We had just learned Hebrews 11:1 Which says: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." We were told that one translation of that verse reads, "Now faith is giving substance to things hoped for..."

We latched right on to that idea. At our house, we had a nice dryer for our clothes but no washing machine, so we were hauling our clothes to the laundry mat, and bringing them home all wet, to throw into the dryer. It was obvious to us, that our faith could "give substance" to a washing machine. So we started saying it all the time. We would go to the laundry mat and say, "I"m so glad our faith is giving substance to a washing machine!"

The boys that we hung out with, found this quite amusing. They would usually come over and say something like, "Hey, nice dryer. Where's the washing machine again?"

Without flinching, we were quick to reply, "Our faith is giving substance to one!"

One day I was at the home of one of these boys, who happened to live with his older sister. His sister happened to be one of the instructors at the school. Somehow the topic of our "faith project" came up and this boy chuckled at me again. "I love how you girls are giving substance to a washing machine!" he said.

"What?" His sister had overheard us. "Gina, do you need a washing machine?"

"Why, yes." I replied, "We are believing for one."

She looked right at her little brother. "Scott!" She ordered. "Go get Steven right this minute, get the washing machine that Mom and Dad gave me out of the garage, and take it to the girls."

I was surprised. "You've had an extra one this whole time?"

"I never thought about it! " Scott answered.

Within minutes, the brothers were delivering it to our house. My Texan roomate was so excited to see where it came from that she jumped up and down and screamed, "It's an anointed washing machine!" (That's Christianese for "Really Cool.")

The three of us enjoyed this washing machine for the whole year, and it served as a constant reminder of Hebrews 11:1.

Since then, my faith has given substance to nearly every good thing in my life. I know that every good and perfect gift comes from my Heavenly father, and all I have to do is receive it by faith.

Your beliefs are giving substance to some thing all the time - either good or bad!

Believe for the best!

Gina

Mark 11:24
24Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

The Pink Color

2006-06-20T07:46:00.000-07:00

Back in the summer of '94, my son Jordan was just 2 years old, and we were living in hot, dry, New Mexico.

Suddenly he was hysterically in need of something. "Mama, the Pink Color! I need the Pink Color!"

I thought this was odd, since he was not coloring at the time, but I grabbed a pink crayon and asked, "Here's the pink color, do you need this?"

"NO! The PINK Color!"

This went on for some time while I tried to comfort him with every pink thing I could find.

Finally, he tore off his t-shirt and ran outside to the SPRINKLER-where he was aching for some relief from the heat. He waved it in front of me, jumped up and down and with a big smile, said it again, "The Pink Color, the Pink Color!"

Well, that was easy enough! He just wanted to run through the sprinkler! (Those were the days!!) so on came the water, and all was good!

So often we hear people through our own perceptions, instead of really trying to understand what it is they are feeling and saying. How much better could our relationships be if we took the time to really listen to people, look them in the eyes as they speak, and hear from their perspective?

Remember, effective communication requires two things - acute observation and personal flexibility. You can make someone's day by giving your undivided attention long enough to really understand.

What does he need? The pink color, or the sprinkler? The difference is in understanding how he speaks!

James 1:19
dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,

Listen with your heart today, and your ears, and your eyes...

Bless you!

Gina

There is a Healer

2006-06-13T19:15:00.000-07:00

A few years ago I came home from a dinner where I was singing and playing the keyboards with our band, and I realized that Paul was not happy. In fact, I was pretty sure that somehow, I was in trouble! Something must have made for a tough night at home with the kids.

"I can't believe we have no children's tylenol in the house!" he finally blurted.

"Oh dear." I thought. Surely that is the kind of thing a more organized mother would keep on hand. " I hardly ever think to use tylenol," I replied. "What happened?"

"Well Nathan has a raging ear infection!" (The twins were four then.) "He screamed in pain for over an hour, just like the last time it was infected."

I winced again. "Ooh. Where is he now?"

"Well," Paul quietly smiled. "He went to Jordan, and as soon as Jordan prayed for him, Nate stopped crying and fell asleep, so he's sleeping next to him right now."

Way to go, Jordan! Big brother was just 10.

This was NOT the time to ask, "Goodness! Why didn't you pray first?" So I mentioned, "When we were little, Mom used to put iced cold water in our ears with a dropper to stop the pain."

Paul just looked at me like Mom was going to lose her nursing licence. "I have never heard of anything like that."

I grinned, "Well, if he's still hurting tomorrow I"ll take him to the doctor."

We were still in bed the next morning when we heard the triumphant yelling from Jordan's bedroom. It was Nathan. "Hey everybody!!! I'm healed!!!"

He tore into our bedroom and said, "Guess what! Last night Jesus came into the bedroom and he poured something in my ear, and he healed me!!"

I looked at Paul, "You went and put something in his ear?"

He was just as surprised, (and we are faith people!) "I didn't do it - it must have been Jesus."

Nathan turned into an evangelist - he had seen the Lord!

After telling all of the family members about his supernatural encounter, he got on the preschool bus with Matt, and joyfully told the whole bus crew, "I was sick with a bad ear ache, and Jesus came to me last night and healed me!"

After school was out, he saw all the school kids descending from their bus stop, and he ran out the door to holler out to them, "Hey guys, there is a Healer, and his name is Jesus! I know 'cause he healed me!"

For two whole days, Nathan had no other song but "I was in pain, and Jesus healed me."

It was a wonderful lesson for all of us. Why do we so often pray last? Would we possibly pray without believing for a miracle? Why bother?

Lord! Thank you for the faith of a child.

Matthew 18:3-4
And [Jesus] said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

The Benevolent Universe

2006-06-08T19:35:00.000-07:00

Man has made some remarkable discoveries about the world around us. We know that all things are composed of matter - smaller and smaller and smaller particles of matter. But what makes up the matter? Energy!

Everything you see with your eyes, as well as everything you can't see, is really just energy. Even solid things that you can hold in your hands, are made up of energy, held together in a certain order.

This begs the question to me, "What is holding everything together?"

"The Benevolent Universe," some will reply.

Yes. That is the Eastern mindset - that all is energy and all is one, and all is ultimately the Universe - the Benevolent Universe, the Divine. It's like The Force on Star Wars.

Oh! That is so beautiful, but the Bible elevates it even more. The Great Force is not the Universe, but the Creator of the Universe, who wants to fill you with his fullness and call you his friend, make you his child.

Colossians 1:16-17
For by him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities, all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things and in him all things hold together.

Who exactly is this Creator? Well, it is Jesus, who is also called the Living Word of God.

Hebrews 1:3
The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful Word.

Yes, He is "benevolent," because God is love. He does not posses love. He is love. He is light. He is life. He is Holy.

When you live in the presence of this Living God, and when His Word lives in you, you finally understand the meaning of Life. You operate on a supernatural level. You see miracles. You are more than a mere man or woman- you are a loved child of God, who has access to everything good in the universe!

It is all just energy! So fix your eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen - you can see farther that way.

Bless you.

Gina

Sowing "Good Seed."

2006-06-01T18:33:00.000-07:00

I was very pregnant with twins, exhausted from shopping, freezing cold, and ready to get my other tired children home. Paul was driving.

Suddenly, we noticed a woman was blocking traffic with her broken down car. Paul, true to form, jumped out to offer assistance.

"Honey!" I protested. "She already has a cop there to help her."

He leaned back in towards me, "Gina, one day it will be my sweet wife whose car gives her trouble, and I will want to know that someone is there to help you -so I'm sowing good seed!" and off he went with a smile.

As Paul and the officer moved the car out of the street, I marveled at how quickly the job was done. It took less than 3 minutes.

Only a few weeks later, I was coming home from a youth event, when I ran over something in the dark and felt my tire go completely flat. I pulled into a driveway where a woman was in front of her house talking on her cordless phone. I asked if I could use her phone to call my husband.

She smiled and nodded, and signaled that it would only be a minute. In that moment, her husband popped out of the house and changed my tire. He was so fast, I thought he worked for nascar!

He laughed and said, "I own the body shop down the street. I do this a hundred times a day."

When I got home and told Paul about it, he threw his jubilant hand in the air.

"Oh yes!" he exclaimed, "It's because I sowed good seed for that!"

I had to smile. Good seed indeed.

Galatians 6:7
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.

The Famous Flight of the Bumble Bee

2006-05-24T12:21:00.000-07:00

I was thinking about the bumble bee today. I have heard it said many times, that aerodynamically speaking, it is impossible for a bumble bee to fly, and yet it does.

The joy of the internet, is that now one can google such a subject, and read from a dozen physicists argue as to why we now believe a bumble bee can indeed fly. Isn't that a marvel?

There are two lessons there for me:

1. A bumble bee can fly even though his body is big and his wings are small, and he doesn't obey certain laws of aerodynamics.

2. Many scientists can study such a mystery and come up with different laws of physics that supercede certain other ones. Science is always evolving. New answers come through new ways of looking at things.

I find both lessons inspiring. Either way, if the bumble bee quits flapping his wings, or if the scientist quits looking for new answers, motion is halted.

You and I have opportunities every day to find ourselves stuck. Maybe you would like to fly out of an uncomfortable situation. Maybe you would like an answer to a puzzling dilemma.

I am convinced, that if you refuse to quit, anything is possible. Nobody needs to explain the reasons for your success. Only you have the ability to reach inside of yourself and develop the seeds of greatness that God put there.

You can live your dreams, even if the whole world says it can't be done.

The truth is out there.

"You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free." -John 8:32

Lessons from Aladdin

2006-05-19T10:08:00.000-07:00

I love to watch Disney's story of Aladdin.

It is a tale of a young orphan who dreams of finding himself in a better place with the woman of his dreams. The woman is of course, the princess.

The real show stealer is the genie, who would like to convince the boy that magic carpets and princely clothes, and mighty elephants are not what make him a prince worthy of the princess. It is his ability to be himself, brave and true.

Because the princess is already true royalty, she has the perception to see that this "street rat" belongs in the palace, despite his humble upbringing. She sees his royal qualities, even when he does not.

In the end, Alladin becomes the prince, not by the power of the genie, but by the power of his selfless love. His character was proven in the face of danger.

Many people see themselves as unworthy street rats, when in reality, they have been called to be royalty, seated in heavenly places.

It is said that you don't know what is inside of a teabag until you put it in hot water. The same can be true of a man or woman. Whether you are a prince or a pauper will be evident when the tough times come your way.

James 1:2-4
2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete,(royal) not lacking anything.

1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light

The Baseball Glove

2006-05-15T08:57:00.000-07:00

My youngest son's baseball glove had been missing for over a week. We had turned every corner upside down looking for it. In our house, the loss of a beloved glove is quite painful. We are not quick to run out and replace one. It was with sadness that I watched him play his games with a borrowed glove. Who in the world would take such a thing?

Yesterday, happiness filled the home when the glove was returned. While the children played out front climbing the trees, a stranger drove up and hollered out to them. She was someone's mother. She looked at Nathan and asked, "What is your last name?"

"Parris." He answered.

"Did you lose a glove?"

"Yes!"

She handed him the treasure, inscribed with his name, and drove off.

I love it when people do the right thing!

This morning, I looked at the dear glove, at home in the family room, cradling a baseball, and I rejoiced again.

Luke 15:8-10
"Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.' In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

And again I say, rejoice!

-Gina

What do you see?

2006-05-11T17:59:00.000-07:00

"A man without a vision is a man without a future. A man without a future is destined to repeat his past."

What is vision? Vision is the ability to look at what is and see what could be! Vision is that creative force that lies within the child of the Creator and designs a better reality.

Every thing that we see and behold with our eyes, existed first in someone's mind. It was vision.

God the Father is a God of vision. He looks at a childless old man named Abram, and calls him a Father of many nations, and it comes to pass.

He looks at a restless, compulsive young man named Simon, and calls him a Rock, and the man affects history.

He looks at you and sees not what you are, but what you can be in him. His reality is greater than your senses.

The best thing you can do for your life, is get in touch with a Vision Statement from Heaven. How? By getting to know the God of the Bible. If you can quit being self- conscious, and instead, be God-inside conscious, you will start to walk out a new vision of who you really are.

You are who He says you are - a royal, faithful, loved, child of the King. You were created to rule and reign in life by Christ Jesus.

Proverbs 29:11
18Where there is no vision [no redemptive revelation of God], the people perish; but he who keeps the law [of God, which includes that of man]--blessed (happy, fortunate, and enviable) is he.(A)

Be blessed.

-Gina

Time is Not Your Master

2006-05-05T06:55:00.000-07:00

I decided to write a post this past weekend on "Time," but I ran out of it! Nonetheless, I am boldly proclaiming to you today that time is not your master. Let us stop complaining that we don't have enough time, or that something is taking too long.

Time is a funny substance. Sometimes it "flies" and sometimes it "drags." When I am with certain friends, the time definitely flies, so I refuse to look at my watch when I'm with them. Why be time- conscious during a good thing?

But what about things that take too long?

Some of you have spent much time wondering, "When will my longing be fulfilled? Should I just quit hoping?"

No! Do not throw away your confidence! Build your faith for that desired thing. Expect it - do not be afraid of disappointment. Fearing is the worst thing you could do.

"Fear not. Only believe."

"At the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not faint."

Too many people quit before their miracle manifests because they just get tired of believing, of hoping, of waiting. But not you!

You consider it done. And then wait for it to appear.

Wait? Yes, wait. There is a Hebrew word that we interpret "wait," as in "wait on the Lord." It's the word "chiyl." One meaning of this word is to dance, whirl or twist!

For heaven's sakes, don't wait in agony! Do the dance of expectation! Dance upon the head of time...which tries to tick along to test you! If you are not there yet, there's no condemnation. Just get back into the Word and dwell on the promise that applies to you...until thinking of it causes you to dance and rejoice. Then it is on it's way!

Time is not your master. You will receive.

Carpe diem,

Gina

Gratitude Walk and the Turtle

2006-05-03T08:28:00.000-07:00

This morning I went on a walk. This is my daily "gratitude walk." I highly recommend this - for mental and physical fitness.

While I raced along the few miles, I gave thanks for all the beautiful things that I noticed - the freshly cut grass, the honeysuckle and daisies, the blue sky, friendly contractors (who never seem to be working! ) and the three different friends who honked and hollered out my name, reminding me that there are worse things than living in a small town.

And then...as I was cruising along, thinking about all I have to do today, a turtle nearly tripped me. Yes, he was almost crossing the paved walking path. I picked him up and he tucked his head and legs into his shell faster than you could say, "slow and steady." I did not know that turtles make a vacuuming sound when they do that. I must have stressed him.

I stared at his beauty and contemplated bringing him home. He could be my token reminder to slow down. I wondered if he belonged to the orthodontist, from whose multiple acres he was emerging. I considered a phone call:

"Hey Doc? I wondered if I could have this turtle in exchange for the four grand I just dropped on Jordan's already perfect teeth..." That could be fair.

But alas, I carefully placed my beautiful frightened buddy back on the huge lawn, and thought about his pace. Slow and steady, slow and steady.

Today, I take my lesson from the turtle. I will win the race. I will stay peaceful and diligent, and if I get stressed, I'll vacuum!

How about you?

Did you take a gratitude walk today? If so, or even if not...let's hear some things for which you are thankful! You can post right here.

Yours,

Gina

The Power to Choose

2006-04-27T16:28:00.000-07:00

We were created with an amazing free will. The angels long to look into the things available to us, for they were not made in the image of God, were not given the power to choose, and they do not sing the song of the redeemed.

To you God says:

"See, I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live..."

No matter what you are facing today, there is the opportunity to choose life. Death may call out to you in the form of loss, defeat, resentment or struggle, but at any moment, you can choose life. How?

"...by loving the Lord your God, listening to his voice and holding fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he promised..." (Deuteronomy 30:19-20)

If you have a promise for something, than refuse to accept anything less than fulfilment of it. For the Lord is your life. If you hide yourself in his love and his power, than death cannot consume you, for He has already conquered death, and Jesus' victory is your victory. Loss cannot overtake you, for abundance is within you.

Stay in faith! Keep faith- filled words on your tongue. Stay thankful! Stay in the precious present. Right now, the Life within you is creating the thing promised.

bless you!

Gina

photo by Ann Carrier

Love and Marriage - No Emotion Necessary

2006-04-24T21:22:00.000-07:00

For the past 16 years, I have been married to the most attractive man I have ever met. That is a great feeling. What surprises people who know us, is that even in a marriage as wonderful as ours, the "great feelings" come and go!

I was amused last week to realize that both Paul and I have been equally influenced all these years, by the following story. It's a story I've told dozens of times, but I don't remember us ever talking about it. If there is a secret to our success, it lies in this tale:

One day there was a wife who was wickedly angry at her husband. She was hurting bitterly from years of unmet needs, and disappointment in her husband's behavior. She dreamed of ways to get back at him, to make him hurt in return.

Somebody told her about a very old wise man, who sat atop the nearby mountain. Surely he would have a clever idea for her.

At the suggestion, the woman climbed the mountain and found the wise man.

"Sir," she told him. "All I want to do is to cause heartache for my husband. I don't think he even has feelings, but if he does, I want to hurt them!"

"Aaaaah, of course," he responded with great empathy. "I will tell you what to do. For the next 2 months, I want you to just pretend that you actually love him. This is just for a short time, and there is no emotion necessary. Just ask yourself often, 'what actions would I take if I loved him?' and then do those things...then, come back and see me, and I'll tell you what to do to hurt him fiercely."

"Okay," said the bitter wife. "I guess since it is just for a short time, and no emotion is necessary, I can act like I would if I loved him. Oh, boy!"

In the following weeks, she enacted the plan wholeheatedly. She faithfully acted like she was in love with her husband, and then she returned to the sage on the mount, for the rest of the plan.

"So you followed my advice? Good!" said the wise old man. Ready? Here is what you do next. You climb back down that mountain and you just leave your husband. That's it. He will be so shocked after your kind actions, that you will break his heart!"

"leave!" gasped the woman. "I can't leave now!"

"But why not?" he asked.

"Because..." she began, stunned at her own discovery. "...because now, I love him!"

"Aaaaah, yes." smiled the sage. "I suppose you do!" and he said no more.

"For God so loved he gave..." John 3:16

HOW TO GET RICH

2006-04-21T08:03:00.000-07:00

It seems to be the obsession of the industrialized world - GET RICH! Americans seem to be the wealthiest citizens on the planet, and also the most crazed for financial gain.

I work in a business that is especially appealing for its apparent promise of riches. I trade stocks on Wall street. Fortunes are made and lost all the time in the stock market. But you don't have to trade the markets to have financial gains and losses. You just have to live in a world with money.

The question is -why do some people win while others lose? Why do some become rich while others stay broke? It is all in the mindset.

If you are a believer like me, then you have a Father who promises you "the power to create wealth." He is not at all opposed to prosperity. If He were, then heaven would be a ghetto, and it is not. In fact, we are instructed to pray, "Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

What is remarkably lacking in heaven, are the two forces that drive men to poverty...even if they somehow attain financial gain. Those forces are Fear, and Greed.

Jesus said, "Watch out for all forms of greed. A mans' life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."

Some have taken that to mean that we can't have stuff. The point is that the stuff should not have us!

Freedom from greed was the Master's secret to you for wealth. Greed is born out of fear. A greedy person is the opposite of a prosperous person. She is like that little pauper that we set before the banquet table. She stuffed her face till she was sick, and hoarded food for later, because in her heart, she was poor, afraid that tomorrow would not come with its own provision.

What a sad way to live one's life. What a sad way to trade the markets. What sad way to build a career!

The wealthy or prosperous soul, has no fear of tomorrow, no striving to attain something that is far off. The wealthy soul is always receiving ideas to create more value.

How do you really get rich? Paradoxically, it is by knowing that you already are rich. You become a giver, not a taker, and the value you create, promotes you on every level. Riches flow to the rich! Money is the manifestation of a prosperous soul.

I can see we'll have to spend more time on this later!

3 John 1:2
2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.

also see: Deuteronomy 8:18, Matthew 6:10, Luke 12:15

Growing Up as Royalty

2006-04-19T07:59:00.001-07:00

The story is told of a young princess who stood on the castle balcony with her family one day. Thousands of people stood below, cheering the presence of the royal family. This princess would soon be queen.

"Mummy," She asked, "Do all these people belong to me?"

"Of course not, Darling!" her mother laughed, "You belong to all these people!"

Oh, to grow up as royalty! If only the children of God would recognize their own royal blood, instead of living like paupers. There is a marked difference in the mindset of each:

A princess grows up knowing that she is special. She has nothing to prove.

A pauper grows up insecure, fighting to avoid getting hurt.

A princess can serve from her position of honor. She knows she has something to give.

A pauper feels like a slave as she serves, resentfully striving for approval.

A princess grows up knowing that not everyone will love the royal family, but that is their right, not her problem.

A pauper assumes that people look down on her, so she shys away from authentic relationships.

If you put the princess and the pauper in the same room with a banquet table loaded with food, the princess will eat until she is comfortable. Abundance is all she knows.

The pauper will steal and hide food for later, and eat until she is sick, for fear there will be only lack tomorrow.

The truth is that every child of God is a prince or a princess. His kingdom is not of this world, but it supercedes this world! We are called to serve as members of the "royal family," while here on earth. In our heavenly palace, every thing we possibly need for life is available. No resource is ever lacking. We are loved and cherished, and we have something to offer the world - abundant, faith -filled life here, and in the life to come.

The psalmist said it this way:Psalm 37:25
25 I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.

Say this out loud, "I am a princess (or prince) today. I am not a pauper. I am a believer, not a doubter, a giver, not a taker!"

Enjoy the good life!

On Speaking Well of Your Friends

2006-04-17T19:47:00.000-07:00

"Gina, if you really knew her, you would like her, I promise. She has a good heart, and she is super loyal."

Those words were spoken to me by my friend, Jen, when we were 16 years old, about a mutual acquaintance. The girl she spoke of drove me nuts. I found her arrogant and offensive, and I really did not like being around her at all. That is, until Jen spoke highly of her.

"Hmm," I pondered, "Well, if you say so, I believe it." So I chose to believe the best about the girl and I treated her kindly.

It was a full TWENTY years later, when I ran into that other girl, Kris, in the mall. I had not seen her since her wedding.

"What are you doing now?" I asked.

"Well, you won't believe it," she replied. "I am a children's minister! I've thought of you often over the years."

"Wow!" Talk about a changed life!

Later, I visited her at work to see the amazing ministry she oversaw. Everything was excellent and beautiful. She had a volunteer staff bigger than most churches.

As she gave me a tour, she excitedly introduced me to other staff members, saying, "You remember my testimony, about the two "real" Christians in my high school? This is Gina. She is one of them!"

My jaw dropped, as I felt like Schmuck- of -the- Year. "You thought I was one of just two 'real' Christians?...I'm in your testimony?"

"Yep, you're part of my testimony!" She affirmed.

I thought of that day when Jen (her other 'real' Christian), spoke so highly of her. Jen's encouraging words caused me to act a little more like Jesus. What if I had kept my ugly opinions instead...and acted on them? What kind of influence would I have had then?

I will never forget the power of those kind words, spoken so long before, by one friend about another.

I hope that the people in my life will always be built up by my words, never cut down...especially when they are not around to defend themselves.

Proverbs 18:21Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.

Be blessed!

Jesus is Alive!

2006-04-16T14:18:00.000-07:00

I suppose I was nearly ten years old the day it hit me. I was getting ready to attend mass with my family like I did every week, except this week was Easter Sunday. The religious babble was meandering through my mind. "Jesus is alive today...Jesus is alive today...Jesus is alive today..."

Suddenly it became revelation to me, no longer a dead, religious idea in my head, but a truth to my heart that forever changed me. I knew that in reality, Jesus, as history points out, came, lived, died, and rose again...and then he never died again!
If he never died again, then indeed, He is alive right now, living for me, with me, in me, and I am in Him, with all the glorious love and power that He displayed in the Gospels.

Some have said for years that he didn't really conquer death, that his disciples stole his body, to fabricate this religion (which turned the world upside down.) I don't know if you know how those disciples all died, but they were brutally tortured to death for their faith. No one does that for a lie.

Still, it wouldn't matter to me, what any unbeliever might say, because for nearly three decades I have had the privilege of living with the reality of a risen redeemer. My life is a testament to his goodness. If I am wrong, then I have lost nothing. I have gained a life worth living - in fact, worth sharing, and beyond that, I have assurance of what waits for me on the "other side!"

Happy Easter!

The Lord of Your Breakthrough

2006-04-13T06:39:00.000-07:00

1 Chronicles 14:11 *
11 So David and his men went up to Baal Perazim, and there he defeated them. He said, "As waters break out, God has broken out against my enemies by my hand." So that place was called Baal Perazim. [Lord of the Breakthrough.]
There are times in your life when you just cry out for a "breakthrough!" You feel something needs to change big, where you can finally look at the defeat of your enemies of lack, and fear, and despair.
Well, there is good news today! The Lord of the Breakthrough is here for you. When you trust in him, and decide to do things his way, He can change things in a moment. He is the Lord of the Breakthrough. By His own hand he can open doors that no man can shut. He can shut the mouths of lions. He can bring promotion. He can totally change your perception of reality. He can bring deliverance, healing, restoration. He is More than Enough.
I will praise Him today because of all He is able and willing to do. I rest in the fact that everything I see can change in a moment, but His love endures forever. HE IS THE LORD OF THE BREAKTHROUGH!!

1 Chronicles 14:11 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
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