Creativity has an enemy.

This enemy has the initials S.D.

(Spot the enemy in the picture.)

On first look, you may guess S.D. to be Sexual Disease but it is not.

If marketing guru, Seth Godin, is to write this post, he will tell you that S.D. comes from the lizard brain. It is the reptilian part of you that wishes to enforce safety by keeping you in the comfort zone.

I have noticed that S.D. likes to hang around often when I work on many of my creative projects.

It drops in in the midst of my self-talk.

There will be periods when S.D. would dominate the inner conversation.

And then, my entire self goes into a freeze.

I become paralyzed.

Unable to write, doodle or even utter another word.

S.D. is the single most important factor why I find it hard to hit the button “publish” sometimes.

With S.D. on the strike, I would put aside my entire project.

Saving it for another day, buried under piles of paper and also, giving myself plenty of excuses on why it is better that I spend my time watching tear-jerking Korean drama serials.

Do not underestimate S.D. therefore.

To conquer it, you will need to identify and confront your enemy.

Can you guess what S.D. is?

Love and Abundance Always,

Author. Adventurer. Life Coach. More About Me.

P.S. If you really really have no clue or would like to know what S.D. is, click here for the answer.

Share Your Experience

What prevents you from going forth in your creative ideas?

“We are, ourselves, creations. And we, in turn, are meant to continue creativity by being creative ourselves.” – Julia Cameron

(Scrapbook picture on the left: I am an artist. Photo: Min, my daughter.)

Making the choice to live creatively is to allow for inspiration, love and meaning into your life. Creativity is a conscious state. It is being, and not just doing. Certainly, it does not solely entail using your fingers to paint or your body to dance. Thus, it is not just about engaging in an artistic pursuit for a couple of hours.

Rather, you infuse creativity as a way of life. Creative living puts you in the flow. And you are in the seamless flow of making meaning from the story of your life. You are the artist, the writer, the one who weaves your life experiences into a beautiful tapestry.

Despite having developed an increased understanding in the recent years, I cannot profess to be now living with utmost creativity. As I have discovered, to be connected creatively is a journey that involves the intent of shifting towards greater authenticity. Thus, it is also a journey that takes me inwards in an unfolding manner. Nonetheless, I hope to share my perspectives on what creative living ultimately is.

Creative living means that you choose to live from the soul. By this, you are able to appreciate the beauty of life, in spite of its tragedies. You are able to see that where there is shadow, there is also light. And so you are able to embrace the shadows in creative ways for your healing, renewal and empowerment.

With creative living, you are able to
- perceive meaning in the most mundane tasks;
- experience beauty even in the heaviest of storms;
- receive inspiration even from the most ordinary events;
- see the invisible dots that connect two distant but related objects;
- feel love – the source essence – that connects everything.

So how can creative living be achieved in practical terms?

5 Tips for Creative Living

1. Slow down. Modern day lifestyles can be pretty stressful. There are many things that demand attention from you in a day. We complicate our lives further by reporting about the things we do to the minute on twitter or facebook. It just seems as if time is a luxury that few people have nowadays.

You do not want to be left behind and so you pack your days with activities that will make you more profitable, faster, and more efficient. From what I know, more is not necessarily better. When you are too much in a rush, it is hard to be creative. If you can allow yourself to slow down, you become more relaxed. Creative ideas usually come at a time when you are relaxed and not when you are stressed.

2. Set aside your worry. Recently someone said to me that it is impossible not to worry because it appears to be a human instinctual habit. The mind latches on from one worry thought to another to another. Eventually you get to feeling overwhelmed and may even experience a sense of panic.

Sure, it may be hard to not think about our kids, finances, future and so on without feeling a tinge of anxiety or discomfort. I don’t think it is wise not to acknowledge we are concerned either. However, my belief is that while it may not be possible to stop worrying altogether, it is very possible to bring down anxiety levels.

Worrying saps you of energy. Your mind becomes besieged with anxiety. You are prevented from thinking creatively.

3. Focus on the here and now. Your creative mind can only do one thing at a time. Creative living means being free to respond to the moment without putting in any resistance. Thus, you are spontaneous. Your creative mechanism works best only when it is fully present. You allow yourself the freedom to explore without fear to hold you back.

4. Try to do only one thing at a time. A cause for concern is the advice on “multi-tasking”. The student tries to watch TV and do his homework at the same time. A professional tries to get work done while surfing facebook at the same time. Or the part-timer who worries about what is going on at home while in the office. The resulting emotions range from nervousness, anxiety and stress from the absurd idea that it is productive to do multiple things in one given moment.

You stifle creativity by trying to accomplish too many things all at once. The truth is that you can only do one thing at one time. When you are fully present, you have better focus. Presence gives you the space to discover your innate creative soul.

5. Connect with nature. Nature has a lot to teach us on creativity. To begin with, there is a variety of species of everything known: flowers, birds, bees, butterflies, leaves and so on. There is no physical manifestation that is 100% alike.

Connecting with nature on a daily basis helps you live more creatively because you can draw your inspiration from its diversity, richness and abundance. Nature constantly renews itself and so you become renewed in its surroundings.

Make your life an art

Creative living involves giving the permission to see the self as a significant co-creator. For sure, creative living brings about greater fulfillment. You are aligned with purpose and passion. Everyday is an opportunity to express who you are beautifully. Everyday offers an opportunity to bring out the best in the self.

Your life is your molding clay. It is up to you to shape it as you desire. Making your life a masterpiece involves choice. You make the choice to infuse what you do with love. Taking charge, you direct the flow of love through you. You are living creatively because you have love for your art (in this case, your life). Read the article on 101 ways to love your life if you haven’t already done so.

Love is in your breath. It is how you came into being. You are a divine child of the Universe. With creative living, you are channeling pure love. You are living in your highest expression.

Love and abundance always,

Author. Adventurer. Life Coach. More About Me.

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Theme for the month: Creativity

To live in abundance is also to be creative. Grab a copy of my book, Abundance Alchemy: Journey of Gold for tips on creating a life of abundance.
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Share Your Thoughts

What inspires you to live creatively? What inspires you on a daily basis?

Share your ideas in the comment box below.

How is intuition related to creativity? In today’s post, I am featuring a guest article by Angela Artemis, an intuition coach, who will be helping us understand more about the relationship and also to share some of her useful exercises for cranking up creativity!

(Abundance Tapestry Photo: my art journal)

Read her contribution below….

When you create the intention to be more intuitive you automatically become more creative.

Intuition is defined as information that spontaneously appears in our awareness without any conscious effort on our part.

Both intuition and creative inspiration occur beneath the level of our conscious awareness. Intuition cannot “willed” in the mind nor can creativity. They arise spontaneously when you let go and allow your mind to search the subconscious and collective unconscious for the solutions you seek.

I say that intuition and creative inspiration arise spontaneously because both come to you outside of the rational, sequential thinking process. In other words they are not part of the logical “linear” thinking process that says, “If I do A then B is sure to follow and after that C.” Intuition comes to mind exactly as Jonas Salk, inventor of the polio vaccine describes it in this quote:

“It is always with excitement that I wake up in the morning wondering what my Intuition will toss up to me, like gifts from the sea. I work with it and rely on it. It’s my partner.” —Jonas Salk

The intuitive flash of inspiration and creative idea is thrown forth onto the shores of our consciousness whole and fully formed without the thinking mind’s involvement. This is why intuition and creative inspiration often feel like an “aha” moment.

When you decide to develop your intuition you will automatically find that you become more creative because the intuitive process also imparts creative ideas and solutions. Ideas that inspire you creatively will come to you constantly because you cannot be creative unless you are intuitive and you cannot be intuitive without also being creative. The two are intertwined.

To use your mind more creatively try these intuitive mind exercises:

Stop or go?

Here’s a simple creative exercise you can do to get a yes or no answer to a question.

Close your eyes and take a few deep relaxing breaths. When you feel calm and centered ask yourself a question in a manner so that you will have to get a yes or no answer. For example your question could be: Should I buy this house? Is it time to look for a new job? Is marrying Don a good idea?

Then picture yourself driving in your car toward an intersection where a policeman is directing traffic.

There is one car up ahead of you going through the intersection as you make your way toward it. Now ask yourself the question the way you have worded it to get a yes or no answer. As you approach the intersection notice if the police officer is waving you through the intersection or telling you to stop. That is your answer. Trust it!

Use the calendar

Do you want to choose the right time to proceed with a project or some undertaking? Close your eyes take a few relaxing breaths. When you are ready envision that you are walking into a room in your home with a large monthly calendar hanging on the wall. As you get close enough to read it notice what year and month it is on. Then notice if a particular day stands out more than any other. That is your answer. Trust it.

Use the clock

Not sure what time is best to make a phone call to someone or pay a visit somewhere? Close your eyes take a few relaxing breaths. When you are ready envision that you are walking through your house to your bedroom to look at the clock on your bedside table. When you walk in you see it. The time on the clock is the answer you seek. Trust it.

Seeking inspiration and guidance?

Would you like an animal symbol to inspire or guide you in the right direction? Close your eyes take a few relaxing breaths. When you are ready envision that you are walking through a beautiful forest. You see the trees stretched out before you and hear the crunch of leaves as you walk toward a sun filled clearing. As you enter the clearing you notice an ____________ at the edge of the clearing.

What animal did you see? Was it tame, did it come to you? Or, was it wild? Animals make wonderful symbols because each species has “traits” you can easily analyze to apply to the situation in which you are looking for an answer. To understand the meaning of the animal you can “Google” it for more information.

Open a book to a phrase

Do you need a direct answer? Close your eyes take a few relaxing breaths. When you are ready envision that you are walking through a large library. You walk past shelf after shelf of books. Finally you come to a shelf and one particular book that you are drawn to. You pluck it from the shelf and open up. On the page is a word or phrase. This is the answer you’ve been looking for. Trust it.

Complete this sentence

Complete this sentence…if money were of no concern I’d do… Or if I wasn’t afraid of upsetting so and so I’d do… Or, if I knew I couldn’t fail I’d undertake…….

Don’t think about it – just answer the questions. When you remove the “shoulds” meaning “what you think you should do or what is possible” your answers will come straight from you’re the heart of your intuition and guide you to what you truly wish for and want to do in your life. Removing the “shoulds” opens the door to your creativity.

Wondering who to partner with in your life?

Are you unsure about who to work with on a new venture, or what job to take, or who to trust with something? Close your eyes take a few relaxing breaths. When you are ready envision that you are walking up the stairs toward the entrance of a house or building. You have an important meeting at this location with a person or the people that will become important in your life. You ring the bell or use the knocker.

The door opens. Who is standing there? You are shown inside – who is there? The person answering the door and the people inside at this meeting are the ones you belong with. This is the answer. Trust it.

Use these exercises to stimulate your mind to think more creatively. The more often you use them the more you will become a consistent “idea machine” generating creative ideas spontaneously day after day.

Angela’s Bio:

Angela Artemis, an intuition coach, is on a mission to teach readers around the world to “speak intuition” so that they unlock all the brilliant potential that resides within. She blogs at www.PoweredbyIntuition.com and is an Amazon best-selling author. Readers are welcomed to download free bonus materials here.

Please also check out Angela’s The Reawakening Guided Meditation Series. Click here for more info or to make a purchase >>>

Love and abundance always,

Author. Adventurer. Life Coach. More About Me.

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Theme for the month: Creativity

To live in abundance is also to be creative. Grab a copy of my book, Abundance Alchemy: Journey of Gold for tips on creating a life of abundance.
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Share Your Thoughts about Intuition and Creativity

Any thoughts on using intuitive exercises to crank up creativity? Share them in the comment box below.

“There is no doubt that creativity is the most important human resource of all. Without creativity, there would be no progress, and we would be forever repeating the same patterns.” – Edward de Bono

Many people experienced blocks to creative thinking. If you are engaged in work or in an environment that encourages repetitive work for instance, there is no opportunity to be engaged creatively. In the old economy, creative thinking is not considered as important as getting the task on hand done. You are rewarded based on fulfilling numbers, following guidelines and rehashing the old. You do not gain extra points for thinking out-of-the-box.

(Note: Consider reading the book, Linchpin, by marketing genius Seth Godin should you wish to reinvent yourself or risk being laid off in today’s competitive environment.)

And so you are in the habit of keeping your ideas to yourself than risk being laughed at. You may eventually find yourself feeling stifled. Life becomes less interesting when there is no outlet for creativity.

In case you believe otherwise, you have the capacity to think creatively. When you are thinking creatively, you are employing both your left and right brain. You are getting them to work together. You may not have been using much of your right brain but that does not mean that you do not have one. Since you are born with both parts of the brain, then it is within your power and interest to use them effectively.

Creative thinking involves emotional intelligence. It happens when you are also connected with your feelings. Recent studies indicate that the heart is an intelligent organ. You may have been taught that the heart responds to “orders” from the brain. What has been recently found is that the heart sends more signals to the brain than it receives.

In fact, the heart have a significant effect on brain function including memory, problem solving and other cognitive faculties. You can read about these studies from the authority site, HeartMath. You will realize that the heart deserves a lot more of your attention than you have previously given it.

How to Enhance Creative Thinking

1. Avoid Getting Cluttered. When your mind is overly cluttered, it is hard to be creative. You become stuck in limited patterns of thinking. I know this to be true of myself. Whenever I feel bogged down with too many unnecessary details, I know that it is not the best time to be engaged in creative thinking.

Creative thinking usually does not happen when you are in the midst of stress or fear. Hence, learn to relax. When you are relaxed, you are better able to access your creative channels. You are able to reach alpha or theta levels; thus holding the space for creative ideas to drop in.

2. Get Rid Of Lazy Thinking Habits. In the past, I was engaged in lazy thinking habits. I had simply adopted other people’s opinions without question. I did not analyze if they are applicable for me. I had thought that since everyone has the same opinion, then the opinion must be right.

The thing is that lazy thinking patterns can keep you stuck. You lose your authentic voice. You do not allow yourself to explore possibilities.

3. Look for Hidden Meanings. Things aren’t always what they seem at first. I learned this through experience. Many times, I have failed to see accurately because I am trapped in the rush of activities.

So avoid jumping too quickly to conclusions. Look below the surface. Look out for signs, symbols and synchronicities. Hunt for hidden meanings.

4. Acknowledge Your Feelings. Don’t shove your negative emotions aside. Acknowledging these fully allows you the opportunity for release. Do exercises that aid you with connecting with your feelings.

With each event and situation that you encounter, ask yourself what you feel. There are no right or wrong answers. Being in touch with your feelings allows you to come up with heart-centered solutions.

5. Avoid Making Assumptions. Unfortunately, assumptions also lead to lazy thinking. If you adopt faulty assumptions, you are liable to make wrong conclusions or decisions. When you assume, you are thinking in terms of “must” and “should”. You also prevent yourself from considering new possibilities.

Learn to challenge your own assumptions. Avoid letting fear overwhelm your judgment. Ask what will happen if you let go of a certain assumption.

6. See The Details As Well As The Big Picture. You are not able to gain a big picture perspective when you become too bogged down by details. On the other hand, if you miss out in studying the details, you may miss out important information that can help you better understand relationships.

It is important to strike a balance. Creative thinking is enhanced when you are able to see the details as well as the big picture. The solution that you come up with is usually all encompassing, with creative thinking.

7. Be Child-like. I learn from my kids what it means to be open, curious and imaginative. It is easy to be child-like when you are around children. They can come up with the darkest ideas and things to say or do. With fewer inhibitions, they demonstrate an enviable freedom to explore.

Research shows that the number of synapses, or connections, in the brain is greater in a child of two than in an average adult. The reason for this is that a child of two has no limiting world view, as adults we do. See yourself as a child once again when you need to brainstorm or come up with solutions. You may just be amazed by what you can come up with.

8. Engage in Creative Pursuits. This is a favorite tip of mine. I enjoy being engaged in all kinds of creative pursuits. I come alive when I am in touch with my creative senses. As an Enneagram Personality Type 4, I am operating from home.

Creative pursuits do not even need to be directly related to your work. Hence, paint, sing, draw or dance. Find different ways to express yourself.

9. Allow For Time. I can feel blocked creatively when I allow myself to be hampered by a dateline. However, by giving myself the permission to sit through and revisit the topic over and over again, I find my creative ideas expanding.

While it is important to deliver on your project, rushing through it is not a good idea too. You may just compromise on the quality or standing. You need to allow yourself sufficient space to explore your ideas especially if it is a creative project – rather than a routine task – that you are involved in. Allowing for time does not mean that you do not publish, deliver or ship your product eventually. You still do but you give sufficient time for creativity.

10. Express Your Creative Idea in Different Ways.Sometimes, I may express an idea in different ways such as through drawing, telling a story, acting out the sequence or so on. From a single idea, I find myself getting new insights.

Avoid being in the trap of thinking what you should think. Don’t hold yourself back with fixed ideas. Let loose.

11. Be Willing to Make Mistakes. Desiring to be perfect or produce work that is impeccable can cause you to become paralyzed. I know this too well. You are not able to think clearly as a result.

Give yourself the latitude to make mistakes. After all, everyone who is human make mistakes. Just learn from your mistakes and move on.

12. The Problem May Also be the Solution. Sometimes, a solution lies within the folds of a problem. Take the example of Post-it Notes. 3M chemists were experimenting with adhesives and accidentally came up with one that was so weak you could peel it right back off.

Whenever a problem surfaces, don’t make excuses or find ways to cover it up. Instead, see if you can turn the problem around. Investigate if what is missing can possibly fill a market gap.

13. Avoid Judging. You may have the unconscious habit of judging too quickly. It happens to the vast majority of us. We tend to form opinions based on past information. However, making too quick a judgement can prevent us from being able to access creative solutions.

Hence, learn to suspend your opinions for a while. Give yourself the chance to observe without making a judgment. You may find that you are able to see things from different angles and having a wider perspective on things.

14. Discover the Good in the Bad. Creative thinkers are able to see the good in the bad. They are usually able to offer more ways than one with looking at a situation. They usually do not feel cornered.

Hence, whenever you encounter a situation that looks negative at first, ask yourself if something good is happening at the same time. Look for the gems. By thinking creatively, you are better able to discover deeper insights.

15. Avoid Self Criticism. Self-criticism is a creativity killer. When criticism becomes excessive, you can become immobilized. Struggling with massive self-doubt, you are not able to think clearly even.

Creativity is an affair of the heart. It involves love, passion and inspiration. And it all starts with self-love.

Use Your Creative Thinking Faculty

The old belief is that we lose vast number of brain cells as we age. However, scientists recently discovered that even into our seventies, our brains continue producing new neurons. Your mental functions are kept intact as you mature. In fact, you may also enjoy the advantage of what forms wisdom.

You will need to keep at stimulating your brain. Performing tasks on a repetitive basis won’t cut it. You will need to use your creative thinking faculty. Your brain can become rusty when you don’t. Just like a bicycle or any other equipment, regular use helps to prevent it from degenerating or malfunctioning. Consistent use of your creative thinking faculty results in optimal functioning.

Love and Abundance Always,

Author. Adventurer. Life Coach. More About Me.

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Theme for the month: Creativity

To live in abundance is also to be creative. Grab a copy of my book, Abundance Alchemy: Journey of Gold for tips on creating a life of abundance.
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Share Your Tips

How do you enhance creative thinking? What has worked for you?

You see things; and you say, ‘Why?’ But I dream things that never were; and I say, “Why not?”
- George Bernard Shaw

(Min’s Secret World)

Daydreaming is a form of using your creative imagination. When you daydream, you go into an imaginary world. You imagine yourself as capable of being, having and doing all that you desire. You imagine an utopian world. You imagine a world that has wondrous innovations, superb technology or advanced creations. You imagine living a life without a single worry.

You may have previously believed yourself as incapable of imagination. But this is incorrect thinking. Because anyone can daydream. When you daydream, you are able to visualize all kinds of possibilities. Daydreaming is an outlet for your creativity. You allow your mind to roam freely.

What has properly happened is that you find that you do not daydream anymore. You just do not have the time to. Perhaps when you were a child, you were scolded for daydreaming. Your teachers might have noticed your glassy eyes or found that you were not paying attention in class. Naturally, you had escaped into your own world because you had found their classes boring.

One of my daughters, Min (above picture), confessed to occasionally daydreaming. She would then doodle her fantasy world on the pages of her textbook during Chinese lessons in school. I responded with a grin it was much better than falling asleep at the back of her class like what her friend did!

You might have no control over what you dream at night but with daydreaming, you are in the driver’s seat. It is all up to your imagination. You do not hold yourself back with any of irrational doubts or fear. You actively build the movie set in your mind.

You could be Alice in Wonderland, a student attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry (Min’s favorite), a knight visiting mythical lands, an explorer of planets in the galaxy or have the ability to transport yourself to a different dimension. Or you could simply be projecting living a life as a multi-millionaire as your future self. You are the hero or heroine in your mental stories. Daydreaming is a great form of relaxation.

Daydreaming puts you in touch with creativity, intuition and play. When you actively imagine, you are able to see things that others do not see. An uncluttered mind also lends you greater clarity. You can connect the dots when others are not able to perceive that there is any relationship in the first place. In the real world, you become more creative for problem solving. New solutions, products or ideas are the result of using your creative imagination.

Daydreaming Quote for Inspiration

“Wishing is good for us.
Daydreams, fantasies, castles in the air, and aspirations
All drive us forward,
Impel us to make things happen.

They also tell us a lot about ourselves.
Our wishes come straight from our core,
And they are loaded with vital information
About who we are and who we can become.

Keeping track of our wishes
Helps us tap into the energy
That propels us to go after our happiness.”
— Barbara Ann Kipfer

Daydreaming 101

It’s been a long time since you daydream? Here are some tips to get you started again….

1. Exercise Your Imagination. The more you practice, the better you get. So start daydreaming. Play little scenarios in your mind. Imagine new frontiers. Allow yourself freedom to explore.

2. Set Aside Time. Luckily, this exercise can be fun. It can do you good by setting aside time for daydreaming, if you constantly find life stifling and stressful. Don’t forget what Napolean Hill said, “whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.” You may find your reality changing when you start to focus on your dreams.

3. Give Creativity Importance. If you emphasize too much on what is logical, rational and practical, you are downplaying the importance of what it means to be intuitive, creative and imaginative. It is no wonder that you find yourself constantly lacking creative ideas, inspiration and meaning. It is hard to feel alive, in this instance.

4. Explore New Adventures Physically. Adventures spark new ideas for daydreaming. Try writing a poem, go out to the park, travel to a new country and so on. Do things that you have not done before. You get more creative ideas through having more experiences. I find this to be true because many of my creative stories draw on things that I have tried, seen and done.

5. Play Creative Games. One such game uses a technique called “concept combination.” Alone or with other players, you combine random concepts or things in new ways, to see who has the best idea. For instance, combine the ideas of a broom and a chair and see what you can come up with.

6. Relax First. You cannot daydream until you start to relax. So put on some nice meditative music in the background. Then again, don’t fall asleep just yet. You want to actively engage your imagination. If you are too drowsy, sleep first. And then as you wake up, don’t jump right out of bed but spend some time exploring in your mind.

7. Let Your Ideas Run Wild. Avoid censoring your dreams. And certainly don’t let your analytical mind tell you that your dream is impossible. It does not cost you anything to dream, so give your imagination the freedom to explore. Challenge yourself by stretching your imagination a day at a time.

Daydreaming is Loads of Fun

Daydreaming is a fun activity that you can also do together with your family. Over meal times, we would often encourage our girls to share more about their dreams. Dream topics include dream holidays, dream homes, dream jobs, etc. They will light up whenever we touch on dreams. Everyone always has something to say about the things that they would like.

And so,

I hope that you can participate in the daydreaming exercise now.

Close your eyes.

Relax.

Let your imagination fly away.

Allow your mind to open a canvas of possibility.

Wait three seconds.

See: What is the world that you have escaped to like? Are you in the picture? If so, where are you? What are you being, doing and having?

Share: Comments below!

Love and abundance always,

Author. Adventurer. Life Coach. More About Me.

===============================
Theme for the month: Creativity

To live in abundance is also to be creative. Grab a copy of my book, Abundance Alchemy: Journey of Gold for tips on creating a life of abundance.
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“Welcome to Planet Earth. There is nothing that you cannot be, or do, or have. You are a magnificent creator.” – Abraham

2. “The Hows are the domain of the universe. It always knows the quickest, fastest, most harmonious way between you and your dream.” – From The Secret Movie

3. “You want to become aware of your thoughts, you want to choose your thoughts carefully and you want to have fun with this, because you are the masterpiece of your own life.” – Joe Vitale

4. “I turn my dreams into reality.” – Abundance Tapestry

5. “Richness is not about what you have. It is about who you are.” – Bob Proctor

6. “Our subconscious minds have no sense of humor, play no jokes and cannot tell the difference between reality and an imagined thought or image. What we continually think about eventually will manifest in our lives.” – Robert Collier

7. “You are a creator; you create with your every thought. You often create by default, for you are getting what you are giving your attention to wanted or unwanted but you know by how it feels if what you are getting (creating) is what you are wanting or if it is not what you are wanting. (Where is your attention focused?)” – Abraham Hicks

8. “When you offer a vibration, the Universal forces are working in concert with each other in order to satisfy you. You really are the center of the Universe.” – Abraham

Related article: Law of Attraction: Aligning with Vibrations

9. Follow your bliss and the Universe will open doors where there were walls.” – Joseph Campbell

10. Let a person radically alter his thoughts, and he will be astonished at the rapid transformation it will effect in the material conditions of his life. – Napoleon Hill

Related Article: How to Unleash the Power of Your Subconscious Mind

11. Whatever we plant in our subconscious mind and nourish with repetition and emotion will one day become a reality. – Earl Nightingale

Related Article: How to Unleash the Power of Your Subconscious Mind

12. “Be thankful for what you have, you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never ever have enough.” – Oprah Winfrey

13. “There is no right or wrong way to tell your improved story. It can be about your past, present, or future experiences. The only criterion that is important is that you be conscious of your intent to tell a better-feeling, improved version of your story. Telling many good-feeling short stories throughout your day will change your point of attraction. Just remember that the story you tell is the basis of your life. So tell it the way you want it to be.” – Abraham

Related Article: Law of Attraction: How to tell a Better-feeling Story

14. “You are joy, looking for a way to express. It’s not just that your purpose is joy, it is that you are joy. You are love and joy and freedom and clarity expressing. Energy—frolicking and eager—that’s who you are.” – Abraham

Related Article: Law of Attraction: Activate with Joy.

15. “Action that is inspired from aligned thought is joyful action. Action that is inspired from aligned thought is joyful action. Action that is offered from a place of contradicted thought is hard work that is not satisfying and does not yield good results. When you really feel like jumping into action, that is a clear sign that your vibration is pure and you are not offering contradicting thoughts to your own desire. When you are having a hard time making yourself do something, or when the action you offer does not produce the results you are seeking, it is always because you are offering thoughts in opposition to your desire.” – Abraham

16. “If you’re thinking of debt, that’s what you’re going to attract.” – Bob Proctor

17. When you offer a vibration, the Universal forces are working in concert with each other in order to satisfy you. You really are the center of the Universe. – Abraham

Related Article: Law of Attraction: Aligning with Vibration

18. What you focus on with your thought and feeling is what you attract into your experience. – The Secret Movie

19. “You have sole ownership of your vision. And the Universe will give you what you want within your vision. What happens with most people is that they muddy their vision with ‘reality’. Their vision becomes full of not only what they want but what everybody else thinks about what they want, too. Your work is to clarify and purify your vision so that the vibration that you are offering can then be answered.” – Abraham

20. “Whatever your mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.” – Napolean Hill

21. “Life is one big road with lots of signs. So when you riding through the ruts, don’t complicate your mind. Flee from hate, mischief and jealousy. Don’t bury your thoughts, put your vision to reality. Wake Up and Live!” – Bob Marley

Images and quotes are available on Facebook Page: Abundance Tapestry and Pinterest: Abundance Tapestry for sharing, in case you have missed them!

Enjoy!

Abundance always,

Author. Adventurer. Life Coach. More About Me.

Share Your Stories

I began learning more about quantum physics, energy healing and visioning ever since watching “The Secret” movie (which introduced me to the Law of Attraction). My life has changed ever since. Grab a copy of my book, Abundance Alchemy: Journey of Gold for tips on creating a life of abundance.

Theme for Next Month: Creativity. Do keep a lookout for articles, quotes and sayings on Creativity!

The “noise” of misinformation can make it difficult for you to discard what is false. I have been through the experience of being doubtful and unclear myself. There can be misconceptions about the Law of Attraction. Some people have even criticized it because they believe that the claims that it can be used to attract money are false. Others say that learning how to use the Law of Attraction promotes greed.

(Photo of the DVD cover: What the Bleep: Down the Rabbit Hole)

What is important to remember is that just because it may be used with intents that are not altruistic by some people does not make it any less true. This article is intended to help you gain greater clarity, in order to help dispel some common mistaken ideas associated with the Law of Attraction. I uncovered these, much through personal study, reflection and self-discovery.

Seven Misconceptions about Law of Attraction

1. Law of Attraction is not Based on Science

Perhaps our confusion is caused by holding on to traditional definitions of “science”. If we take science to be simply based on observable evidence, then we can say that the Law of Attraction has no proof. However, just because the Law of Attraction cannot be seen by the human eye, or the fact that it is not taught as part of the science subject in school, does not make it invalid.

While some of the theory has yet to be verified by scientific method, there are enough studies that support it. One example of such a study includes electroencephalogram images of brainwave frequencies (electrical impulses) and experimentation with ionic charges performed by well-known scientists such as Nicholas Tessla. If you need more scientific proof, you can watch the “What the Bleep” movie. There are enough detailed explanations in the movie to let you know that the Law of Attraction or quantum mechanics is not hocus pocus.

There is also a good deal of therapeutic evidence to support the physical benefits of mental visualization and affirmation. If you believe that there is such a thing as qi or energy flow, then there are good reasons to believe that there is such a thing as the Law of Attraction. A multitude of supporting anecdotal evidence also exists, in the form of personal testimonies and experiences.

2. The Law of Attraction Is Based on Greed

Some people think that Law of Attraction programs are get rich quick schemes because they promote the idea that you can get whatever you want. However, if you take the time to understand the Law of Attraction, then you will know that there is a lot more to Law of Attraction.

The core principles that underlie the Law of Attraction are based on gratitude, thinking and feeling positive, self-discovery, being in flow, abundance consciousness and love. Where greed often leads people to want more and more, teachings related to the Law of Attraction recommends that you start from being contented with what you already have.

3. Law of Attraction Does Not Work

Perhaps, why some people are skeptical is because they have not heard in school about the Law of Attraction being a natural law. Well, the laws of nature work all of the time, whether we realize it or not. And this includes the Law of Attraction.

Consider Newton’s first law: “An object set in motion tends to stay in motion and an object at rest tends to stay at rest, unless the object is acted upon by an outside force.” Newton realized that people and objects have influence upon the laws of nature. When an outside force stops a moving object, we don’t assume that Newton’s law failed to work. In the same way, energy, thoughts, emotions and human existence all have influence on the Law of Attraction, but none of things alter the fact that the law itself is valid.

4. Law of Attraction Requires too Much Effort

There is some work involved in learning to master your own thoughts and influencing your own destiny. Yet, this work should ultimately not put you in struggle. In fact, it can even help you improve your quality of living.

Consider the alternative. If you are not making an effort to direct your thoughts towards desired outcome, you will be led by your own random, temporary emotional and mental responses to life. Where traditional thinking leads to “getting whatever you get”, Law of Attraction proponents teaches you about focusing your mind, directing your path and taking charge of your own reality.

5. The Law of Attraction is a Current Fad

The law has been in existence since the beginning of time. A written narrative naming the “Law of Attraction” dates back to 1903. However if you consider the words of Christ “As you believe so it shall be done unto you” or “If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed you shall say unto this mountain ‘move’ and it shall move” then it would appear that the law has been taught since the last century BC.

6. Law of Attraction Principles are Self-Centered

Law of Attraction principles may seem self-centered because it involves finding out what you truly desire. However, it is also very much about your relationship with every other person and thing in the world. It is only when you come to realize that your thoughts have the ability to interact with what is around you, that in some way you are connected to every other element on earth.

You can only begin to improve your relationships with others once you find the connection with your true self from deep within. You learn to cherish and be thankful for what is inside you. As you begin to appreciate who you are, you will invariably develop an appreciation of others and everything that is around you. You will realize that you are no different from any other human on this planet.

7. Law of Attraction is Not for Everyone

In a bid to avoid getting into confusion, you may dismiss the Law of Attraction. Well, whether you want to be in the know or not, the Law of Attraction affects everyone. To say that the Law is not for everyone is like saying that gravity is not for everyone, or that fire does not always generate heat.

As long as we exist as human beings on earth, fire will always be hot to the touch, gravity will always keep us from floating in to space, and the Law of Attraction will always bring to us the things we focus our attention on. Since it is at work all the time, we can help ourselves by understanding what it is and how to apply it to our benefit.

Proving the Law of Attraction

There is no way of being absolutely convinced, not unless you have experienced it for yourself. Proof can be an entirely personal thing. If you are seeking proof that the law really exists, simply commit to testing its principles for your personal knowledge.

Anyone can master the principles of Law of Attraction. There is no complex formula or difficult mathematical equation to grasp. Some of the simple principles are:
1. Be thankful for what you have
2. Believe that everything that you could ever want has been provided for you
3. Visualize yourself where you want to be
4. Focus on abundance, rather than need or lack

Through experiential learning, you can find out if you are able to attract a different reality for yourself. Go down the rabbit hole and discover truths. Find out if you start experiencing benefits such as greater happiness, reduced stress levels and more empowerment.

Love and abundance always,

Author. Adventurer. Life Coach. More About Me.

Share Your Experience

Have you watched the movie, “The Secret” (you can watch a trailer when you click over) or “What the Bleep” yet?

Share about your journey. How has it been learning about and applying the Law of Attraction?

You can of course always read more about my journey in my downloadable book, Abundance Alchemy: Journey of Gold, here! It is also available in kindle – check it out!

The Fire Starter Sessions: A Soulful and Practical Guide to Creating Success on Your Own Terms, a book written by Danielle Laporte, arrived at my doorstep last week at a time when I needed it. I was feeling miserable from being ill. I had sulked because I disliked being stuck in bed. My hopes for an early recovery had been dashed as the days wore on. Numbing fever and excruciating tension headaches that originated from a throat infection struck for 5 straight days.

The book had arrived early in the week but at first, I just did not feel up to reading an entire book. Then, mid-week, after waking up from a restful afternoon nap, I decided to tear open the courier package. I proceeded to read the complimentary copy sent to me by its publishing house.

I was not expecting much but what happened was that I got hooked after reading the first few pages.

The book turned out to be a God-sent. I have not read any materials by Danielle Laporte before and it was a wonderful opportunity to be introduced to her and her work.

Kick-Ass Self-Help

In a fun, somewhat brazen and punchy manner, the Fire Starter Sessions certainly got me out of my rut. Danielle espouses plenty of the things I believe in but these had gotten tucked away in a forgotten part of my mind whilst I was in a self-pity mode from being ill. So much for authenticity, I had even chastised myself while in bed. Hence, it was nice to be inspired back into a healthy state of mind by her book.

If you are expecting a self-help book in the nurturing style of Mother Theresa, pink blankets and white teddy bears, then you will be disappointed. You won’t find it in this book. The Fire Starter Sessions is meant to motivate you to take action. So its language is kick-ass! It is possible to feel as if Danielle is looking straight into you and asking you to cut the crap and be totally honest with yourself (well at least that was how I felt *sheepish grin*).

Thought-Provoking Questions

If you have enjoyed Julia Cameron’s The Artist Way, you may just enjoy the Fire Starter Series. Danielle shares that we are all artists (something which I believe too). She challenges you to examine your existing beliefs, be authentic, to honor your creative soul and to redefine success. Danielle affirms that it is the only way to “really, truly, fully live.”

In 16 sessions, you are given a series of questions to get you thinking. For instance, in the chapter, declare your superpowers, you are asked the following:
- Would you rather be sufficient or masterful?
- Would you rather be bright or freaking supernova?
- Would you rather be well-rounded or on your own leading edge?

The point made is that competency is not nearly good enough. Forget about being normal. Instead be freaky excellent. The work that you do must ignite your spark. It must be who you really are. As Danielle Potter says, you must have “got the strength and pride to fly your superhero flag.”

The Fire Starter Series is not just a book for reading. It also comes with worksheets, to do tasks and cheat sheets. I believe that if you actually get round to doing the practical exercises, you will benefit a lot more.

Quotes Big, Black and Bold

What stands out about the book is that it puts important one-liners in fonts that are big, black and bold across the pages. It would seem like a lavish use of space but I guess this must have been done deliberately for highlighting purposes. As a person who likes reading inspired sayings, I rather like this feature.

In case you are wondering, I am not obliged to write any review just because I was sent a complimentary copy of the book. I won’t want to waste your time or recommend you something that I don’t myself like. You can be assured.

Win a Free Copy of The Fire Starter Sessions

What is great is that I have arranged with the publishing firm, Random House, to give a free copy away.

Only one lucky winner will be picked. The person who can best answer the following question wins the free copy….

What does success mean to you?

Simply post the answer in the comment box below. The contest will end on April 19,2012 at 6am EST. I will be taking the next few days to get my groove back (being away last week has resulted in a pile of things to attend to) but I will be back on Thursday to announce the winner.

Love and Abundance Always,

Author. Adventurer. Life Coach. More About Me.

P.S. Of course, you can always check Danielle’s book out at Amazon. Please click over here >>>

It was rather difficult to select the winner as everyone’s definition is equally valid. In the end, it was decided that we will put the short-listed submissions to a draw.

And the lucky winner is……(drumroll please)…..Janice Shephard. Congratulations!!

Thanks to those who have participated. You are all a success! Best wishes, Evelyn

“There is no right or wrong way to tell your improved story. It can be about your past, present, or future experiences. The only criterion that is important is that you be conscious of your intent to tell a better-feeling, improved version of your story. Telling many good-feeling short stories throughout your day will change your point of attraction. Just remember that the story you tell is the basis of your life. So tell it the way you want it to be.”
- Abraham

When you tell a better-feeling story, whether to yourself or others, you are more likely to attract better-feeling events into your life by virtue of the Law of Attraction. The problem with many of us is that we tell our story based on what-is rather than the way we would like it to be. And so we continue to attract the same circumstances that we have already been manifesting all along. Invariably, we find that our situations do not improve.

Time does fly; the past, present and future are here and gone in the blink of an eye. In between, however, are the memories you make, the moments you embrace and the dreams that you hold to; what we could say are the essential elements of your story. Essentially, this has the meaning of “If life is a book, then you are the author.” Ultimately, your life is your story and telling it should make you feel good. If it doesn’t, then maybe it is time to learn how to tell a better feeling story. When you tell a better-feeling story, you are better able to leverage on the Law of Attraction more positively.

What you need to know is that your subconscious mind cannot tell the difference between a real or imagined event and what you consistently tell yourself, you manifest. Since you cannot stop thinking non-stop, you may as well direct your focus to thinking better-feeling thoughts.

Better-feeling thoughts are those that help you shift positively upwards in your emotions. You reach for a thought that elicits a more positive feeling in a gradual way. One thought at a time, you raise your vibrations. For instance, from a state of anger, you reach for peace. And so you choose a thought that would help you with gaining peace. Next, from peace, you reach for a thought that is more positive; for example, joy.

Don’t be mistaken, however. Telling a better-feeling story does not involve lying. You may believe that it requires you to be inauthentic because you are not telling the truth on what is happening in your current reality or even about the past. Rather, telling a better-feeling story is about finding a way to reframe your perspective more positively. It means that you are able to pick out the good that is happening in your life right now and show your appreciation for them. It also means that you are able to tell a believable story of what can happen in the future.

Telling a Better Feeling Story of the Past, Present and Future

If you think that the past is set is stone, and cannot be altered in any way, you are right, and you are also wrong. Memory is subjective, meaning that much of how we remember an event from the past is based on our emotional interpretation. This explains why two witnesses at the scene of an accident can have two totally different explanations for what happened.

The significance you attach to a memory has a lot to do with the way you feel about that memory, even years later. When memories are attached to negative thoughts and emotions, they continue to affect you in negative ways. Reframing your memories helps you to rewrite your story, changing it from one that feels hurtful or painful to one that feels better.

Learning to tell a better story of the present can have a positive effect on the future. By removing the negative emotions associated, and learning to see those events in a new and positive way, you can begin to feel right now. You experience an energy shift from the moment of clarity.

If you are the author of your own story, then it stands to reason that you can also write the events of the future. There are billions of possibilities for your future stories. Tell them exactly as you want them to be. And from the exercise, you will realize that you have in you to change your reality.

How to Tell a Better-feeling Story Now

Remember the famous saying by Michael Althsuler, “The bad news is that time flies; the good news is you are the pilot”? Now is the moment you have total control over. Being mentally and emotionally positive right now puts you in the pilot seat, where you belong. Right now you are writing a page in your story, and only you can decide what to put in or leave out.

1. Adopt a New Perspective

To tell a better feeling story of the past, think about how the experience has benefited you. Did it make you stronger? Did you learn something from it? How did the event make you a better person? As you look back on the experience, decide that you will take away from it only what is positive and helpful to you. Apply the tips here. Once and for all, decide to leave what was harmful and negative in the past.

Practice telling your old story in a positive way. When you tell this story, keep your focus on positive aspects, rather than negative. “I am stronger because…” and “I am wiser because….”

2. A Visual Exercise of Erase and Replace

Tell your best feeling story right now. To do this, when negative thoughts intrude, envision them as part of your written story. See them as words on paper or as words on a blackboard. Write them out in your mind and then, imagine that you are erasing them. Next, write new words in their place.

- “I’m bored” becomes “I am relaxing and enjoying this moment”.

- “I feel sad” becomes “I am in charge of my own emotions. It is up to me to feel better.”

- “I am worried about tomorrow” becomes “Right now I have everything I need to be happy and content.”

- “I don’t know what to do” becomes “I have all of the wisdom, strength and intelligence I need to make good choices.”

Another option is to simply put a finger to your forehead, then swipe it across, as you say the word “erase” out loud. Once the thought is “erased” replace it with another, better feeling thought.

3. Telling Better Feeling Stories of the Future

What if the future has already happened? Look ahead as if, in another dimension somewhere, your tomorrow has already arrived. What are doing in that future time? Are you enjoying health, wealth, happiness and true love? Picture yourself in that place.

Tell your story as if you are there now. Allow the “future you” to direct your stories. When you do so, your resourceful subconscious will automatically draw what on what is necessary to guide you from where the “present you” becomes the “future you”. Your story is believable because you know that success is assured so long as you commit to staying positive and not giving up during challenging times.

By knowing and believing that you already have success, wealth, love, happiness and all of the other things that you were born to achieve, you will magnetize these via the law of attraction. When you tell better feeling stories of how you would like things to be, you are bringing forward more positive outcomes.

Abundance always,

Author. Adventurer. Life Coach. More About Me.

Share Your Better-Feeling Story

What can help you feel better right away? Tell your better-feeling story in the comments below.

“You are joy, looking for a way to express. It’s not just that your purpose is joy, it is that you are joy. You are love and joy and freedom and clarity expressing. Energy—frolicking and eager—that’s who you are. And so, if you’re always reaching for alignment with that, you’re always on your path, and your path will take you into all kinds of places. We will not deny that you will not discover miracles and create benefits and be involved in creation, and that you will not uplift humanity—we will not say that you will not find satisfaction in so many things that you create, but we can’t get away from the acknowledgment that you are Pure Positive Energy that translates into the human emotion of joy.” – Abraham, Abraham-Hicks

One excellent way to activate the Law of Attraction powerfully is with joy. Since the Universe operates on vibrations, joy is a positive-feeling state that can help magnetize more joy into your life. To be joyful, you can focus on your blessings, visualize for a brighter future, address your emotions and to let more laughter into your life. These are the very tips that have helped me make a shift from feeling poorly about things. Feeling joy mostly keeps me be positive all day.

Be Thankful

Take a moment to look around you. Notice all of the things in life that you can be thankful for. Whether it is health, wealth, family, friends or the beauty of the natural world, find the things in your life that most inspire your feelings of appreciation. Take time each day to meditate on these things, and on the gratitude you feel when you think of them. Start a gratitude journal.

You are joyous when you are thankful. You are unlikely to be in a negative emotional state when you are counting your blessings. Just imagine being positive the whole day. The signals sent out into the world can work as a magnet, drawing more abundance to you, generating new feelings of thankfulness.

Become more aware of your everyday thoughts. Counteract unappreciative thoughts with thoughts of thankfulness. If you find that you are experiencing feelings of anger, frustration or that you are feeling unfulfilled in any area of your life, turn the focus of your thoughts toward the things that bring you joy and happiness.

Art of Dreaming

The art of dreaming puts you in joy. Hence, envision your future in vivid detail: the future that you create, which is full of possibilities and opportunities. Visualize what you want your future to be. Visualize it in all of its glory and wonder. Be aware that the limits to your future rest only on those that you place upon.

Some people choose to write down their visualizations of the future. Others may draw or paint or otherwise recreate them. These physical tasks give you the sense that your future is tangible, possible and as close to real as you determine it to be.

You can also express your thanks when you visualize. Believe that it is already yours, and that the physical manifestation of your vision is only a matter of time. Express your thankfulness and gratitude for what you know you have already received, but have simply not yet seen.

Participate in Activities That Bring Joy

Take time to enjoy life and to participate in activities that bring you happiness and fulfillment. When you are enjoying an activity or taking pleasure in something you will be sending out signals of joy, without having to work at it or think about it all.

Read, listen to music, watch movies or engage in any activities that provoke feelings of joy, happiness and gratitude. Three favorite activities I like to do include looking through old photo albums with photographs of happy moments, playing with my children and watching comedies. I never fail to do these every week.

Laughter is the Best Medicine

Laughter is your soul expression of joy. Research suggests that laughter has healing benefits that counteract the consequences of anxiety and stress. The specific physiological changes that take place in your body when you are laughing cannot be duplicated by modern science. To laugh is to make use of your body’s natural ability to heal itself.

If you have ever felt the need to laugh because someone else in the room was laughing already, you may already realize that the laughter can be very contagious. Laughter is a great way to spread joy, in other words. When you are able to make others as happy as you are, you are more able to attract happy outcomes to yourself.

Joy and Gratitude Quotes

“We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.”
- Buddha

“Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls.”
- Mother Teresa

Whatever our individual troubles and challenges may be, it’s important to pause every now and then to appreciate all that we have, on every level. We need to literally “count our blessings,” give thanks for them, allow ourselves to enjoy them, and relish the experience of prosperity we already have. – Shakti Gawain

“What you focus on expands, and when you focus on the goodness in your life, you create more of it. Opportunities, relationships, even money flowed my way when I learned to be grateful no matter what happened in my life.” – Oprah Winfrey

More sayings: Law of Attraction Thanksgiving Quotes

Abundance always,

Author. Adventurer. Life Coach. More About Me.

Share Your Joy

Share about the things that make you joyful in the comments below.