Do you remember your first day of 5^th grade? Do you recall the thoughts you had when you woke up on that first day of school? Think back, really think back. How did you feel? Were you excited? Scared? Nervous? All of the above?

I remember mine so clearly.  It was my first year at a new elementary school in Illinois. We had recently moved to a new neighborhood from Michigan and I remember feeling so worried. Can you believe it? As a ten year old…worried!?

Let me back up a bit. Three years prior to my first day of 5^th grade was my first day of 2^nd grade. I remember being very excited for my first day of 2^nd grade because I was not only starting a new school, but a new school in a NEW country. My family had just moved to America from the UK and this was super cool to me.

However, the exhilaration I felt on my first day of 2^nd grade quickly dissipated, in fact, it came to an abrupt halt. When I walked into my new American school, I realized that I was very different and that people were looking at me funny. I spoke differently, I dressed differently, and I looked differently. In a quick second, my excitement turned to fear and I did not want to let go of my Mom.

That first day of 2^nd grade left me feeling defeated and I remember thinking that I never wanted to be different again. And there it began. As a 7 year old, I already had my first limiting belief. Being different was bad.

So when my first day of 5^th grade came around, the same worrisome feelings struck me again. Am I too different? It’s amazing how many mind games we play with ourselves, even as 7 and 10 year olds.

Before the school year started, I had met a wonderful friend, Dana, who was also new to town. I was SO thankful that we would be starting a new year, at a new school together. Dana made that first day much easier for me!

Having said that however, I still could not suppress my worrisome feelings of “Will they like me?” “Am I too different?”

I remember vividly that we had to pick people to sit with at lunch as our lunch tables were to be assigned. No one wanted to sit with us. We did not have any friends except for one another and we did not feel welcomed at all

It wasn’t until out teacher, Mrs. Stahoviak, made three other girls sit with us that we had a full lunch table. It felt awful. Our teacher had to “enforce” people to sit with us…why?

In hindsight and with the knowledge I have now, I know that it was my insecurities that created the experience of feeling left out. If I had more confidence and self-esteem, my experience would have been completely different.

But again, that simple experience led to a new set of limiting beliefs and hurt emotions.

Was I not popular enough?

Was I not pretty enough?

Did I not wear the right clothes?

Was I not fun to be around?

Was I weird?

It may seem crazy, but it was true. The even crazier thing, however, is that even as a 29 year old, some of my 10 year old thoughts still enter my mind.

Thank goodness I have the right tools in my tool belt that enable me to “fight off” the bad thoughts, but I would be lying if I said they did not creep in every now and again. This is why the practice of affirmations is so imperative and needs to start from a very early age. If I had 25 years with access to empowering tools that would help me counteract my limiting beliefs, then I would be even further along in my journey than I am now.

Imagine if on that first day of school, I began my day by saying:

“I make new friends easily.”

“I celebrate everyone’s differences and they celebrate mine.”

“I am sweet, caring, and likeable.”

Imagine how different my experiences could have been!

The past is the past however, and I am incredibly grateful for it as it has shaped me into the woman I am today. These experiences have opened my eyes to my passion, which is to share my own experiences with others, especially children, to empower them to focus on their wonderful qualities, their positive experiences, and all the other blessings around them.

So, why should kids begin using affirmations?!

10. Limiting beliefs start from a very early age and affirmations are a great way of counteracting them.

9. Success is 90% attitude and 10% aptitude. Positive affirmations instill a positive attitude, which inevitably leads to success.

8. Positive affirmations = Positive Self-Image = Friendly and Happy Children = Positive environment in schools, on the playground, and at home.

7. A positive self-image leads to healthier lifestyle choices.

6. Positivity breeds positivity. One child’s positivity is contagious and will make a tremendous impact on their peers.

5. Positive affirmations create confidence from the inside-out.

4. Confidence leads to healthy relationships in all areas of life.

3. When children believe in themselves and maintain a healthy self-esteem, they know there is absolutely nothing they cannot accomplish.

2. Children are our future. When children love themselves, they have a greater potential of making a huge impact in the world.

1. Because children are amazing and we want them to live happy and healthy lives!!

Michele is doing an amazing job raising her kids using affirmations. She is cultivating an environment that is positive, happy and building her children up to be the best that they can be. Above all, she is teaching her children to truly love themselves. And when children love themselves, they are completely unstoppable in the best way possible!

HOW CUTE!!!

Some Affirmations for Children:

I can do anything I set my mind to.

I believe in myself.

I always do the best that I can do.

I make healthy choices.

I make new friends easily.

I celebrate everyone’s differences and they celebrate mine.

I am a loving and loyal friend.

I am beautiful from the inside-out.

I am making a positive difference in the world.

If you have additional thoughts or stories about how affirmations have made a difference in your child’s life, please share them with us. We are hoping to start a movement where affirmations and positive thought become an integral part of our children’s curriculum!

Manifesting is the art of taking a thought or idea and bringing it into the world for you can enjoy. It could be an experience you are looking to have (e.g. a new relationship, a vacation, a new job) or it can be a thing you want to possess (e.g. a bigger home, a better car, more clothes). It is the practice of using your mind to bring into your reality the things that you WANT. I call it a practice because it takes practice. It takes effort and will require you to do the things I describe as often as possible.

Question: What happens when you stop brushing your teeth for a few days? (think about it don’t try it!). Regardless of all the times in your past that you have brushed, unless you continue to brush you will not get the results you want! The secret to manifesting a clean and healthy mouth is the constant practice of applying hygiene. What about exercise? It makes no difference at all how much in the past you have exercised, once you stop, the results disappear. The same is true for manifesting your desires…

Manifesting Secret #1): You must think about it constantly

The second secret is in the duration of time you apply to the practice of manifesting. Again, like the teeth example, brushing for a few seconds is as useful as not brushing at all. The same is true with creating something that you want. In fact, anything less than 90 seconds of pure undiluted focus on having the thing or experience will yield such slow results that you’ll quit before you actualize anything. Imagine hitting the gym for 6 months with no results! You’d stop right? Well that’s what happens to so many people trying to use the Law of Attraction, they give up because they see no results…because they don’t do it long enough.

Manifesting Secret #2) Concentrate on what you want for at least 90 seconds each time

The third and final secret to manifesting delightful things into your life is emotion. Remember, this is stuff that you want!! So the idea of having it right now should be thrilling, exciting, and ridiculously fun!!  For me visualizing works best, and I get comfortable in my home and see myself enjoying the things and experiences I want in that moment. I am overwhelmed with joy and excitement and I leave the process feeling incredible. The speed to which something comes into your life is directly proportionate to the amount of emotion you attach to the thoughts.

Manifesting Secret #3) GET AS EXCITED AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN!!!!

Short and sweet, but with application of these three principles each time you are focusing on what you want, you will begin to experience things that are unexplainable. People will call it luck, or coincidence, but you will know differently.

Reflect Manifesting

“Health Notes” are daily, personalized messages delivered to your phone. They are designed to counteract limiting beliefs that prevent you from achieving optimum health and vitality. Consistently affirming your health goals with a “Health Note”, leads you to inspired action and positive results.

Get your first month of Caroline’s “Health Notes” for a penny with discount code: Caroline

Taking the Mystery out of Health and Wellness

Caroline Sutherland is a medical intuitive, author, radio host, teacher, and an innovative leader in the fields of nutrition and energy medicine.

• Would you like to know the source of your pain?
• Are you ready to address your food allergies once and for all?
• Would you like to know how to select the right supplements?
• Looking for a way to demystify menopause & hormone balancing?
• Want practical, lasting solutions for weight loss?

Caroline Sutherland, the popular author of The Body “Knows” books, has a vast clinical background as an allergy-testing technician in environmental medicine, which is where her intuitive gift developed.

Caroline’s father and grandfather were both medical doctors. As a child, the “blueprint” of her family lineage created important seeds for her future career as a medical intuitive.

For more than 25 years, she has lectured internationally, and her intuitive impressions have positively impacted the lives of thousands of people.

What is Medical Intuition?

Medical intuition is the ability to see beyond the normal levels of perception into the subtle levels below as it pertains to the physical body and its processes.

The key to medical intuition or any other intuitive ability is a quiet, receptive mind. The rational or trained mind becomes the filter through which the intuitive impressions are received. Meditation, prayer, and quiet receptivity are prerequisites for this ability. Medical intuition comes from the spiritual level; where everything is known.

My medical intuitive ability does not revolve around the emotional or spiritual levels. I focus on the physical. My eyes are wide open, I’m fully aware, and the practical suggestions drop into my mind. What does this body want? is the question that I ask myself.

While the emotions and the spiritual are taken into account, my strength seems to lie specifically on the physical level, probably as a result of my training in Environmental Medicine, where I worked as an allergy-testing technician for many years. This gift came to me suddenly when I was a physician’s assistant and allergy-testing technician in a busy clinic devoted to Environmental Medicine. I had been trained in the use of highly specialized allergy testing equipment. I began to hear a very distinct inner voice guiding me to areas of the body and specific substances to test which were not ordered on the test forms. I shared the information that I was hearing with the physician and because he was an open-minded individual, agreed to evaluate its validity. Then in a very short time, because of the finely tuned results, people were getting well and the clinic had a year-long waiting list.

As soon as I connect with the person I receive a flood of information…

I can perceive all the foods to which a person may be sensitive or allergic, environmental factors, key systems which may be out of balance – hormones, the GI tract, immunity, weight problems etc. as well as underlying causes and when they may have began and what precipitated them.

The information is very specific. The imbalances are only part of the picture. Perceptions regarding “correction” or what may be needed to bring the body back into balance in terms of diet, supplements, botanicals, homeopathy, lifestyle changes and associated modalities are also given to me. Among other things, I get a sense of timing – how long it will take the person to rebalance, their level of compliance or if indeed they are likely to recover.”

In over two decades of immersion in the complementary or alternative medical field, it has been clearly revealed to me that there are certain simple principles, which when implemented can make a tremendous difference to a person’s health and well-being.

In 1999 through a fortuitous meeting, my career took an important turn. Louise Hay, founder of Hay House publishing in California, was attracted to my work both as a client and a student. In the fall of 2001, “The Body Knows” – how to tune in to your body and improve your health was published and my career has escalated since then.

Optimum health is not a mystery. I look forward to meeting you in one of my workshops, interviews or teleconferences. Thank you for your interest in my work.

The first month will cost you just One Penny – that’s right – one cent for 30 days and you’ll receive a personal message from me, Caroline Sutherland, inviting you to orient your compass point in a healthy direction. After your initial trial month, the cost is only $3.99 per month for Health Notes delivered to you everyday. Here’s how you sign up: Enter my name “Caroline” in the discount coupon code box to receive the special introductory offer. Click Here Now

To get an understanding of this let’s first define what we mean. To affirm means to make firm, and in this context we are talking about in the mind. By adding the word positive, we are now making positive thoughts firm in our mind. Positive thoughts make us feel good and since feeling good is great place to be, having more good feeling thoughts makes for a happier life.

If more happiness wasn’t enough to inspire you to consider the use of positive affirmations as a practice, then this may. In recent years there has been popularized the idea of the Law of Attraction. In a nutshell this Law states you ‘Attract’ what you think about most of the time. So if you are thinking about having money, making money, enjoying money, spending money, all while feeling good, more opportunity to make money is going to come into your life. Thought precedes EVERYTHING in the world we see, so there can be no manifestation of something before the thought.

This really is very powerful and effective and by choosing a subject on which to affirm positively can create quick and lasting results. Take weight loss for example, many of us would love to be in great shape and feel good about our bodies. At the same time, there are so many delights that keep us from having what we desire. This is where using a positive affirmation can be the first step to getting what you want.

Not to go too much into detail about how the mind works, but there are two parts to the human brain, conscious and subconscious. The part that is vastly more powerful is the subconscious. It’s really the genius of the brain and figures out all the answers to your questions. The conscious part of the mind is what gets to choose your desires and preferences while the subconscious mind figures out how to bring them about. By directing the subconscious, you are really leaving it up to the creative genius within you to deliver what you want in a way that works for you.

Put this to the test, affirm something to yourself that you want that is believable and feels good. Since you get to choose whatever you want, you want to be sure that it feels good to you. I used a positive affirmation a few years back that had to do with getting in good shape. I would say to myself:

“I am in the best shape of my life”

Notice that this is relative to only one person, me! So getting in the best shape of my life was something that made me feel good and I could buy into. I repeated this everyday, in the beginning I was slow to start (like anything) but after a few weeks I found myself saying it more and more, and being excited at the prospect of being in great shape.

Needless to say, opportunities came about that led me to exactly that, and it didn’t feel like a struggle at all. It was the most fun I had ever experienced in getting to great physical form and to this date I feel young, fit, lean, and very very happy!

But don’t take my word for it…try it for yourself. Affirm something that you want in life. Say it such a way that is believable to achieve in the next 6 months, say it in a way that makes you feel good, and say it in the present tense. Do it often, and do it everyday, your results are guaranteed if you follow this formula.

A happier life is just around the corner…

Reflect Success!

Typically this word is linked to Religion, but being a non-religious person it has taken on a different meaning. Faith is the constant belief in an idea that has not yet materialized.

The deeper I go into entrepreneurship and business, the more I see the need for faith. In fact it is quickly becoming the missing ingredient in our success.

Charles Haanel in his acclaimed book “The Master Key System” writes:

“…Faith is not a shadow but a substance”

And so true when one holds to an idea, and believes strongly (has faith) that the idea comes into existence. Notice how the concept is holding on to the idea and not the manner in which the idea comes into fruition. In fact, being general is actually helpful in that there is more leeway for the faithful thought to come into your life.

I will say, however, that it does take time. And that’s where the discipline comes in. It could be months of holding onto an idea before things start to materialize. It’s been set up that way for a reason. Only the thoughts that we give rise to over and over and over again become a significant part of our lives.

That’s great news when you think about it. I wouldn’t want to watch a scary movie, or the news for that matter and go through the experience!

And this way, I get to refine my idea, shape it, clarify it, make it stronger such that my faith in it becomes more exiting and the act of believing becomes more of a thrill.

I’ve spent years in trying to understand the mind and how it relates to creating my reality…and I really, faithfully believe that one of the most significant components is my faith.

I’ll leave of with one of my favorite quotes on perseverance (a form of faith) by Calvin Coolidge, thirtieth President of the United States

“Nothing in this world can take the place of perseverance. Talent will not;
nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not;
unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of
education derelicts. Perseverance and determination alone are omnipotent.”

Reflect Faith

Srinivas work is always very insightful and he has done so much of the work for you in figuring it out. And by ‘it’ I mean to get some more happy in your life. No signups, no e-mail lists, just a genuine, bona fide freebie.

Not to mention all the great insights on Srini’s blog post today – get it all here

Happy Getting Happier

By Michelle Perry

Manifestation isn’t simply magical thinking; it’s a logical process.

You have a certain amount of mental energy created by your brain. If 70% of your attention is focused on the negative rather than the positive, what do you think your life is going to look like? When you’re focused on one thing (negativity, complaints, what you don’t want), you can’t focus on another thing (what you DO want). It’s cause and effect.

Look around you. For 10 seconds, count how many brown things you see. Brown table, brown car, brown paint.

Ok. Got your number?

How many blue things did you see?

There have been studies done showing that having  an open, positive attitude makes people more flexible and able to think and act more “chaotically.” This chaos opens you up to more opportunities. If you’re focused on finding brown, all you’re going to see is brown. If you’re open and aware and receptive to any color, you’ll see more. So the odds of you finding what you’re looking for in life are going to go up. It’s a numbers game. If you focus on the negative, you’re going to see more negative. It’s all about perspective and choice.

Not only can you increase your odds of getting what you want, you can choose what you’re going to focus on, and practice that. Every skill is acquired through practice. Happy people are happy because they’ve practiced being happy.

Look around you again. What do you see? Your computer? A lamp? A table? Each of these things was a THOUGHT before it was created. Someone had to think about the concept of a cell phone before they began to try and build it. Someone had to think about going surfing before they built a surfboard. This is the truth behind the concept thoughts turn into things.

So how, exactly, does one go about manifesting?

Here’s an equation: Clarity+Intention+Openness+Action=Manifestation.

Clarity

First you have to identify what exactly it is that you want. Many people focus on what they DON’T want; but if you haven’t clarified exactly what it is that you DO want, chances are you’re not going to notice it when it pops up in front of you.

So clarity is key. What do you want? Identify it. And then remind yourself. It’s really easy to forget – our world is full of a lot of garbage and distractions. Complaints, negativity, anger, hatred, celebrity gossip, political scandal. Do any of these things make your life better? Cut out all that trash. All it does is get in your way, distract you, block your vision of your ideal life, and pull you down.

Intention/Focus

Once you’ve clarified what it is that you want, it’s important to have the intention that you are going to get it. Intentions focus what you’ve realized through clarity. By letting yourself and others around you know what you want and that you intend to get it, you’re broadcasting it and putting it out there. And your odds of getting it are going to go up.

That’s where affirmations come in. We all know our own truth, deep down inside of us. But we get confused and lose sight of where we’re going. Affirmations can help to remind you to stay on your path. Know that you need to be more honest with people about your feelings? Use an affirmation like, “Every day I am more and more honest with the people in my life.” You only remember your name and address because you’ve said them to yourself over and over (though with the name, you did it at such a young age, you probably don’t remember). Affirmations become part of your mindscape. Whatever you say will become a part of who you are, since who you are is, for the most part, a story in your head.

Openness

This one might sound easy, but most people fear change. Change is scary because there is always some unknown element. So we actually block good things from coming into our lives, or sabotage them when they do. At its root, this is based in evolutionary biology – for most of human evolution, change and risk-taking  could get you killed. Nowadays most of the changes we’d like to make in our lives wouldn’t kill us, but our minds still react like it will.

When you are open, you notice more. You’re more receptive, you say Yes to more.  You’ll begin to be aware of the coincidences in your life. You might happen to strike up a conversation with someone who’s in line at the grocery store, and since you’ve clarified your intentions, you might mention that you’re looking for a certain thing, and that person’s brother might happen to be able to provide that (be it a job, a bookshelf, whatever).

You need to be receptive, and be clear enough with your intentions that you recognize when something is manifesting. It’s a numbers game – the more open you are, the more opportunities you’ll see, and the more chances there are that one of those opportunities is going to match up with what it is you’re looking for. And if you don’t say No immediately, what seems like an opportunity that doesn’t match up might turn out to be the thing you were looking for. Or it might connect you to what you’re looking for.

Action

Finally, you have to take action. Manifesting does not mean that you sit around and never do anything. Rather, you are inspired to step through fear and courageously pursue opportunities that match up with your intentions and your vision of your ideal life. Some things might manifest without your having to do lift a finger, but a powerful way to manifest huge things is to just take action. You form your own limits; your mind is what limits you. If you want something but don’t act on opportunities that you are seeing now that you know what you want, you’re not going to get very far. Action can be scary because it exposes you to for mistakes, judgment and criticism. But it is necessary if you want to manifest new things in your life.

So there you have it. Clarity+Intention+Openness+Action=Manifestation. Stay focused and happy manifesting!

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Move one step closer to living the life of your dreams!!

Wouldn’t most of us love to do something different than what we are currently doing? It seems that so many of us have a hidden dream that we just don’t believe is possible for us to achieve – or at least make any money doing.

Well, Caroline and I are set out to change that, if one man or woman can do it, then another man or woman can do it!

Meet Adrian, we recently got a letter from his wonderful wife Juliette regarding Adrian’s new found love in life…

“My husband purchased one of your “I create my reality” T-shirts at TheosoFEST in Wheaton, IL, this past September. I thought you might be interested in the reality he created for himself not long after he started wearing the shirt. It had been his desire for quite some time to work in wind farming. After purchasing his T-shirt, he went to Reno and got his climbing certification. Then he went to the Kennedy Ranch in Texas and did his first job on their wind farm!”

The full story is AMAZING and you can read it here in Adrian’s words

At the end of the day, a catalyst is all Adrian needed to start the chain reaction of events that led up to being, doing, and having what he wanted. Possible is only what you tell yourself it is. Look through your home and you’ll see possible in so many places that were once thought to be impossible.

A quick hint to moving closer to your dream. Focus on small steps, that will create both belief and momentum, and the journey is so much fun anyway you wouldn’t want to miss that.

Also, focus on ONE thing. Imagine 3 perfect seeds, planted in fertile soil, with plenty of sunshine. If you don’t give each seed the water it needs none of them will ever germinate. Put your attention and energy on one chief aim, and accomplish that, then plant another seed.

To living your Dreams!

Lately I’ve been thinking about what I want. I love to devour information and a recent course I took was very specific on what it is in life we all really want. That’s right each and every single one of us want only one thing…

I looked at my list and I saw the typical items

• Sports Car
• Beach House
• Exotic Vacations

Then with each item I asked why. Why do I want a Sports Car?

• So that I can feel my heart soar while accelerating.
• So I can experience the thrill of turning tight corners.
• So I can be exhilarated during the driving experience.

Looking at the sentance I saw emotions peppered in; exhilarated, feel my heart soar, thrill….hmm

Next one – Beach house.

• Feel comfortable in my home
• Experience the amazing sunsets
• Smell the fresh ocean air

Looking closely, I noticed that all of these too gave me a feeling…hmm.

In fact each and everything I wanted ultimately boiled down to giving me a good feelings. Call them excitement, exhilaration, joy, bliss, whatever you want.

Knowing what I know about how the Universe operates I realized that in order to create experiences that feel good, I need to be in that state now…to attract it. So I have made a commitment to myself to feel good in as many moments as possible. I want to attract more things that feel great to me and the only way to do that is to feel great now!

I have reminders set throughout the day to stop and feel gratitude. In only a few short weeks I realized that this is way more powerful than I originally thought. By giving all my attention to what’s working, what’s pleasing, what’s funny, what’s delicious, what’s thoughtful, what’s inspiring, what’s whatever I wish. The Universe goes nuts to bring me different experiences that will MATCH that feeling of gratitude.

Remember when you were little and your parents gave you a present you really really wanted? Well that feeling you felt, if you can practice feeling that often, will bring you something else to be wildly grateful for daily…It’s magical

To feeling good (as much as possible)!

Drew

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