Hey! How are you doing?
I am a little under the weather but other than that I am fine. In ’06 I didn’t make any resolutions because my goals hadn’t changed from the year before. ’06 was over all a great year for me.
I pushed myself beyond my limits by participating in a dragon boat race. I don’t know if I ever mentioned it but I was always the next to last person picked in gym class.
I went to California and Viva Las Vegas for the first time. I plan to go back to both places. I had a great time!!
I have been cultivating a stronger relationship with God. I found a church home, Grace AME. I am active in my church.
My family is well. I started dating, sort of, after three years of harboring hurt feelings. I met a lot of interesting characters this past year. Some I will keep for years to come. Others I am going to leave in '06. I realized that I can make more out of my 24hours by working 2 jobs and maintaining my other obligations. I learned that it is “ok to try something and decide that it is not for you.” I am a retired Mary Kay lady. I am proud to say that I am still a work in progress. I love new beginnings. I look forward to all the blessings that are coming my way. I am also anticipating being a blessing to others.
Have a Happy New Year. I wish you peace, blessings and prosperity in every area of your life.
Kenya
Quotes to end ’06 and start off ‘07People should think things out fresh and not just accept conventional terms and the conventional way of doing things.– R. Buckminster Fuller, 1895-1983, American Architect and Engineer
Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow.
– Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1803-1882, American Poet and Essayist
Every great mistake has a halfway moment, a split second when it can be recalled and perhaps remedied.
– Pearl S. Buck, 1892-1973, American Novelist and Pulitzer Prize Winner
Presence is more than just being there.– Malcolm S. Forbes, 1917-1990, American Publisher
Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it.
– George Halas, 1895-1983, Hall of Fame American Football Player/Coach/Owner
Best Thing I Read this WeekAwaken the Genie Within – By Linda Salazar
Ancient lore tells us that there's a magical Genie who lives in a lamp and that the person who possesses that lamp has the power to invoke wishes and desires beyond our wildest dreams. If I told you that Genie lives in you, would you believe me? Maybe not.
But if I told you that there was another character who lives in you and complains, whines, and was negative about your day-to-day life as well as your dreams, would you believe me then? I'll bet you would because we are all far too familiar with this character, whom I call the Gremlin.
The Gremlin is that part of you who keeps your fears, anxieties, and doubts alive and well. His entire purpose is to maintain control over you, keeping things status quo, even if you're not happy with the status quo. He believes his purpose is to keep you safe by not allowing you to take risks, to speak up for yourself, or to create changes in your life that you know in your heart need changing. And he definitely wants to make sure the Genie doesn't make an appearance because once the Genie shows up, the Gremlin knows he's no longer in charge.
For way too many years I lived with the Gremlin as the one in charge, until I learned how to quiet him enough to awaken my Genie within, making him my full-time partner and only allowing my Gremlin to visit occasionally. Now you may ask, "Why allow the Gremlin to visit even occasionally?" Because it's important to realize your Gremlin will always be there. You're human, and it's only natural to have both negative and positive thoughts show up throughout your life. But the trick is to be aware of your Gremlin when he's around so you can consciously quiet him enough to allow yourself to feel a little bit better about a situation. As you do this, you give the Genie within the chance to come to the surface and help you find better solutions, ask different questions, and attract into your life more of what you do want, instead of what you don't want, which, by the way, is what the Gremlin does--he attracts what you don't want.
To get you started in shifting from your Gremlin thinking to your Genie thinking, I'd like to share with you Five Tips to Quiet Your Gremlin and Five Questions to Awaken Your Genie.
Five Tips to Quiet Your Gremlin:
1. Let your Gremlin be when he starts up with you. Focus more on your body, and see where he's showing up in your body. Does your head hurt? Is your neck stiff? Is your stomach in a knot? Breathe into those areas until you feel some relief.
2. Give your Gremlin permission to rant and rave for a bit. Don't judge him; don't panic over what's being said or resist anything. Just let him be. Allow all the Gremlin's ranting to pour out. Sit back and enjoy it for a change. Put a smile on your face as you listen calmly. Separate yourself from that Gremlin who's doing all the whining and complaining.
3. Ask him questions. Get as intimate as you can with him. Find out what sets him off. Then give him answers as if you were talking to a four-year-old, trying to calm him of the dark before falling asleep.
4. Pick a name for your Gremlin and talk to him out loud. Using his name, tell him that everything is going to be fine and that he can take a rest for now. Keep talking to him until he's less noisy. Talking out loud will create a shift inside you that won't happen when you just think about the conversation. By the way, my Gremlin's name is Gertrude.
5. Be gentle with your Gremlin. Visualize your arm around him, soothing him, comforting him, allowing him to rest his head on your shoulder. Remember, he's scared--he doesn't want you to fall down, and he believes he's doing what's best for you.
Once your Gremlin is under your control, this is when you want to connect with the Genie within. Your Genie is that part of you that creates comments, ideas, and questions that allow you to feel like you're moving forward instead of being stuck. He'll have you feeling better about yourself overall.
Five Questions to Awaken Your Genie:
1. What's working in my life for me?
2. What's my intention in this moment?
3. What wants to be born from this?
4. What would be my best choice at this time?
5. What can I do for myself right now to feel a little bit better?
Learning to move from your Gremlin thinking into your Genie thinking takes time and patience. The Gremlin's been in charge a whole lot longer than the Genie, so be loving and gentle with yourself as you develop this skill. As you are, it'll occur to you one day that your Genie's been showing up more than your Gremlin!
About the Author
This article was written by Linda Salazar, contributing author to "101 GreatWays to Improve Your Life: Volume 2." Featured on radio, on TV, and in the LATimes, Linda is the founder of Awaken the Genie Within® Coaching. Clients ranging from CEOs to actors say that her unique coaching method harmonizes their work and souls. She received her coaching certification from Coach U and is a member of the International Coaching Federation. Visit
http://www.awakenthegeniewithin.com Her article above is one of 101 great chapters that can be found in "101 Great Ways to Improve Your Life: Volume 2." This powerful compilation book – with John Gray, Jack Canfield, Richard Carlson, Bob Proctor, Alan Cohen, and countless other experts -- contains 101 chapters of proven advice on how to improve your life.
Scripture of the Day
This is what the Lord says, ... "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland."
Isaiah 43:16,18-19/
NIVPrayer of the Day
Lord of all eternity, please help me to learn from my mistakes this past year, but not to dwell on them. Please help me not rest on my accomplishments in this past year, but use them to further your work in me and through me. Please help me not quarrel with those who injured me yesterday, last month, or this past year. Instead, O Father, lead me in your paths and help me see your mighty works this next year. In Jesus' name and by his power I ask it. Amen.
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