5 Ways to Face Fear and Doubt

The only thing worse than doing something new, is trying something new for the first time. And, the only thing scarier than that is taking your first step towards your dream. It could be a dream that you have held dear to your heart for years, or only five minutes, it doesn’t matter. At this point in my life I believe that if it is on your heart and stays on your mind than it is for you. You already have the wings to soar (succeed) you just need the courage to make them flutter. Once you get the courage you will be flying in no time.

1. Sincerely pray for confirmation and guidance. If your prayer is sincere than your path will become clear, there is nothing that can subside fear like the feeling that God is on your side. Being on purpose is one of the greatest feelings ever. I didn’t say that everything will become easy. Nothing ever is. With assurance you will have the courage to forge through any and all circumstances.

2. Write down exactly what you are scared of. Than read it. Have you ever had a thought that stopped all of your progress? Just as you start to become comfortable with the thought and lack of progress that comes with it, someone shares that doubt out loud about themselves. Than you realize how ridiculous it sounds. Don’t get me wrong, all of the things we fear are real. But, most of them loose power when they get exposure outside of our mind. And about another 90% are dismissed when you examine them.

3. Ask yourself questions. Be honest with your answers. Ask yourself: How will my life improve? How will I feel when I accomplish this goal? Am I now the person that I was meant to be? What is my heart yearning for? What is the worst thing that can happen? Can I live with that? If my life keeps going in the direction that it is now, can I live with that? What are my would have, could have, should have’s? Why aren’t I doing them? Remember, it is never too late to become the person you always wanted to be.

4. Seek guidance. Whatever you want to do, there is someone in this world that has done it before. Everyone’s experience is different. The road you travel doesn’t have to be as rough as someone else’s. Sometimes, meeting someone that has accomplished your goal is inspiration enough to take your life to the next level. For others, getting advice from someone that has done it before can set them on a good path. Find that person, they may be glad to hear from you.

5. Devise a plan. You know what you think you are a capable of. Now is the time to even surprise yourself with your abilities. Set a high goal with a realistic deadline. Give yourself weekly assignments. At the end of four weeks, check your progress. Reward yourself for what you have accomplished. Reexamine your goals. Sometimes, we start on a dirt road, only to discover that it leads to highway of opportunities. With that said, you never where life will lead you.

Once those wings start fluttering you will be surprised at how you start to view yourself. The higher you soar, with each goal accomplished, more and more will be in your reach. Will you have fear and doubts? Sure. Those are human emotions that we all feel but they will be that much easier to push aside.

Have a good one,
Kenya


Quotes of the Day

"There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique, and if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium; and be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is, not how it compares with other expression. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep open and aware directly to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open. No artist is pleased. There is no satisfaction whatever at any time. There is on a queer, divine dissatisfaction, a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than the others."
~ Martha Graham

"If you can dream it, you can do it. Always remember this whole thing was started by a mouse."
~ Walt Disney

"Do not wait; the time will never be "just right." Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along."
~ Napoleon Hill


K.M. Abney has been a featured writer on the web. She loves feedback and can be contacted at kenyascorner@hotmail.com.

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Long time no hear. A lot has been going on, and not much at the same time. For the second time in my adult life I went on vacation. Last weekend, I went to Viva Las Vegas. I had a blast. I recommend a vacation for everyone. If you go, I recommend bringing along comfortable walking shoes. I am not a gambler so I was more interested in seeing the sights.

I stayed at Bally’s which turned out to be the perfect location for a first timer. We were pretty much in the center of the strip. We went to all the casinos on the strip, old Vegas. Yes, I did see the Marlboro Man, his girl Wendy and the Golden Nugget. Did you know that the strip is being expanded? And, they are planning to build another airport. It is hot as hell, but an interesting place to go.

Other than walking, I went to the following places:

House of Blues – (Gospel Brunch - I recommend it for everyone. The food is excellent. The entertainment was excellent.

Commander’s Palace – the service is excellent. The food is excellent. The drinks are excellent. Please make reservations if you are going to Vegas. We had such a great time with the staff that we went there for drinks two nights in a row.

Mamma Mia - I wanted to see this show because I like ABBA. I expected it to be an okay. It exceeded my expectations. I had a really good time. It was really entertaining and lots of fun.

The shopping was fantastic everywhere. The strip has a Fashion Show Mall that has everything that you can think of. I also went to the Vegas outlet which is on the opposite end of the strip. There were a lot of great deals to be had there also.

Words to the wise, if someone tries to rope you into going to a timeshare presentation, don’t do it. It isn’t two hours. It is more like five. And, no doesn’t mean no. No, means another opportunity to present another deal.

You know me; I like to pass on good information. I was able to go to Vegas because I got a package deal that I paid for in March. My airfare and hotel was under $500. I don’t know if you are interested in a vacation or not but this something that I heard about that you might be interested in:

BEST OF BARBADOS 2006 PACKAGE FEATURES

1. An air credit of $200 per person - value $400 per couple
2. First night free at participating hotels - minimum value of $80 per couple
3. Free full breakfast daily - value of $280 per couple
4. $25.00 meal voucher per couple at the authentic Oistins Fish Fry or Moontown Fish Fry (Transfers not included)
5. Buy one get second at half price at participating Attractions
6. Minimum 7 night stay required
7. Effective dates: June 15 to December 2
8. Black out dates July 15 to August 12.

Total value - a minimum of $800 per couple

All prices are in US dollars.
"The Best of Barbados" is based on a maximum of 2 persons per room and is subject to change without notice.

With over 30 hotels participating across the island, "The Best of Barbados" program offers a wide range of accommodations to suit any traveler's budget and special interests.

For further information on "The Best of Barbados" program, travelers may call the Barbados Tourism Authority at 1 (800) 221-9831, or visit Barbados online at http://www.visitbarbados.org. For reservations, consumers should contact their favorite travel agent.
* "The Best of Barbados" offer available at time of release from http://www.travelzoo.com
For a list of participating hotels, restaurants and attractions, please visit http://www.visitbarbados.org.
** NOTE TO EDITORS: "The Best of Barbados" program is available for travel from the U.S. only, not from Canada. Passports are required for travel to Barbados.

Lastly, here are a few tips for boosting your confidence by Barbara De Angelis:

"There's a saying -- 'we either make ourselves miserable or make ourselves strong, but the amount of work is the same,'" says Barbara. "Learning how to use our personal power to boost our confidence rather then undermine it is one of the most important keys to happiness."

Barbara shares these tips for building confidence:

* Evaluate Your Day and Yourself From the Inside Out -- When you base your sense of accomplishment each day on the outer events of your life, which aren't always in your control, your self-esteem will go up and down. Stay grounded and define your success by how much wisdom, courage and clarity you've accumulated on the inside, not the outside.

* Small Improvements Can Make a Big Difference -- Little changes in how you present yourself to others can give you more confidence both professionally and socially. You can do simple things that will instantly boost your sense of self-esteem like whiten your smile with a tooth whitener like Crest Whitestrips.

* Focus on What You Have Accomplished and Not What You Haven't – There will always be tasks you don't complete or goals you haven't yet achieved. Focusing only on what we haven't done sabotages our sense of confidence. At the end of each day, celebrate your "wins" and identify three things you have achieved, whether it was choosing to eat healthy foods, making an important phone call, or comforting a friend in need.

* Dress To Reflect Your Most Confident Self -- When we are feeling insecure, nothing makes us feel worse than putting on the outfit that doesn't fit right, or the clothes that do nothing for us. Don't save your favorite attire for special occasions -- wear what you feel best in when you need a boost, even if you're just staying home!

* Conquer Fear By Taking Just One Step -- Don't get overwhelmed when goals seem out of reach. Take one step at a time and things will seem much more achievable.

By incorporating these simple tips into your daily life, you can become one step closer to emotional empowerment and to a happier, more confident you. Barbara's latest book, How Did I Get Here? in which she discusses how to build confidence by mastering change and challenge in our lives.

Have a good one

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I read this today, I had to share it. I am a work in progress, as are most people, I hope this aids in taking your life to the next level.

Kenya

10 Life and Leadership Lessons I Learned from Superman (and How They Changed My Life Forever)

– By Eric Taylor

For many, the actor who epitomized the character “Superman” is Christopher Reeve, and as millions know, at the height of his career he suffered a tragic accident that left him totally paralyzed, unable to care for himself or, initially, even to breathe unassisted.

With the support of his wife, Dana, Chris persevered and battled back, becoming a vigorous advocate and the public face for research that develops treatments and cures for paralysis caused by spinal cord injury and other central nervous system disorders. The foundation that now bears his name has awarded over $55 million in research grants to the world’s best neuroscientists and Quality of Life grants worth over $7 million to nonprofit organizations that help improve the daily lives of people living with paralysis, particularly spinal cord injuries.

Christopher Reeve redefined courage and hope. His strength, determination, and compassion inspired the world, but what I think is the superhuman part of the story has not been fully told. There’s more to this story for me and greater lessons for us all--in fact, 10 of them.

It was my distinct privilege to produce Chris’s last public appearance in New Jersey, where he filled a baseball stadium. I’ll never forget it—or him. He died 10 days later. He is my hero.

Chris Reeve taught me 10 lessons on that day. I know that they apply to you, and when you decide to take them to heart and act on them, they will change your life, too.

1. Empower yourself first! The only way to truly connect with another human is to connect with yourself first. Compassion, rapport, and caring all come from allowing, understanding, and knowing yourself first.

Action Idea: Take time out of each day (even if by self-appointment) to reflect on the day, week, month, or year, evaluate the words you chose to speak and the actions you chose to take, and ask yourself the critical question, “Am I being congruent with what I truly believe and value?”

2. Refuse absolutes. There are no absolutes! Anyone who says “that will never happen” doesn’t understand faith, persistence, and belief. The world was once thought to be flat; Christopher Columbus debunked that myth and created a paradigm shift for mankind. Christopher Reeve should not have survived as long as he did and accomplished as much as he did after his accident.

Action Idea: Have you embraced false absolutes with “security thinking,” believing that absolutes actually exist? Remove all self-imposed limitations and boundaries that you or someone else have placed in your mind.

3. Become a respected and feared competitor. Both are equally important. Have the respect of your peers, but be sure that they are aware that you are playing to win every time!

Action Idea: Get close to your competitors, and let them get close to you—but only in physical proximity! Treat them with kindness and respect, but keep your eye on the prize.

4. Get moving as soon as possible. There is never time to get ready. When you set a goal, make a decision, or experience adversity, get moving on it immediately! Christopher’s tragedy was something for which he could not have prepared. Chris knew that if he didn’t take action immediately to find a cure and to move toward walking again, he might begin to think that death was a better alternative.

Action Idea: Decide! Once you make up your mind to achieve a desired outcome or goal, never let anything or anyone stop you.

5. You have more talent and gifts than you realize. You possess all of the resources to lead an extraordinary life. Accept the gifts, and use them to serve.
Action Idea: Ask “what if” questions. “What if I could discover the cure for AIDS?” “What if I could run a three-minute mile?” “What if I give love first without expecting anything in return?”

6. Give yourself a chance--you are worthy. Let the people who love you, love you. Share your dreams and desires with those who can, will, and want to help you. Don’t beat yourself up when you fail or create an undesirable outcome.

Action Idea: Everything is an experience, not a test. The events that take place in our lives are not a thermometer to gauge our self-worth. The most important opinion you must possess in your life is the opinion you have of you!

7. Nothing is impossible--use your personal power, and have faith that you can overcome and achieve anything you set your mind to. The phrase “nothing is impossible” is a mind-set each of us should embrace.

Action Idea: Faith equals persistence. If you believe you can, you can.
Walt Disney said, “You will see it when you believe it.”

8. Ignore your own feelings of inadequacy. There is always someone doing better than you are. What’s more important is what you are doing and what your goals are. The grass always looks greener on the other side, and it is almost always a false assumption. If you honor self-promises and stick to your dreams and goals, your time will come. Beware of negative self-talk and negative thinking. The real truth is that the glass is always half full, and it is always partly sunny. These small distinctions can pay huge dividends in your life.

Action Idea: Protect your mind and your body and what you allow to enter it; they are your most prized possessions.

9. Negativity will kill empowerment. Avoid negativity at all costs: negative people, negative news, negative thoughts, and all the things and people in your life that are dream-stealers. You are a leader. Become a leader in your life first.

Action Idea: Just as empowerment begins with you, positivism in your world begins with you as well. Negativity drains energy, diminishes hope, blocks creativity, and steals faith and one’s ability to persist. Surround yourself with everything and everyone that makes you feel good. Life is too short not to be happy.

10. Giving up is not an option. After Dana told Chris, “I still love you, you are still you,” his giving up was not an option. He knew that he had only one choice and one life to leave his legacy. Quitting does last forever--quitters never win, and winners never quit. You are not automatically entitled to everything in this life, but you are entitled to become your personal best. What will your legacy be? What will you create? What is your purpose for being here?

Action Idea: If you have yet to discover your calling, get excited! It is about to be discovered. If you know your calling, go there with passion and serve!

Those, in a nutshell, are the 10 life and leadership lessons I learned from Superman--my real-life hero, Christopher Reeve. I strive to live them every day.

There’s one more quote from Chris that takes a bit of thinking to understand, but I’d like you to consider it.

“If there is no great glorious end to all this, if nothing we do matters, then all that matters is what we do.”

Now, go forward!

About the Author:
This article was written by Eric Taylor, contributing author to "101 Great Ways to Improve Your Life." Eric, known as "Mr. Energy," is frequently called upon by some of the most respected companies in the country for motivational speaking, training, and consulting.



Quote of the Day
"Just as a small fire is extinguished by the storm whereas a large fire is enhanced by it - likewise a weak faith is weakened by predicament and catastrophes whereas a strong faith is strengthened by them."
Viktor E. Frankl
1905-1997, Holocaust Survivor and Author of "Man's Search for Meaning"

Prayer of the Week
Dear heavenly Father, You created me, and you are well aware of the pressures and emotional turmoil that surround me everyday. God, thank you that before my circumstances were ever set in motion, you created a plan for my victory over them. Thank you for your wonderful word which promises special protection and deliverance when I am tempted to feel overwhelmed by stressful circumstances. Thank you for making it possible for me to walk in your divine health for my total being, body, mind, and spirit free from the physical and emotional ravages of stress. In Jesus’ name Amen.

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Hello, I am still alive and kicking. I had a Mary Kay party yesterday that went well. Thank you, Tanaya. I am preparing for Destiny's graduation day. Soon it will be summer time. I am looking forward to having time for me. Enjoy your week!! I'll type later.

Quote of the week

As you move through this day, make it a point to replace troubled thoughts with thoughts of peace. Replace thoughts of weakness with thoughts of strength.

Replace thoughts of limitation with thoughts of possibility. Replace thoughts of anger with thoughts of compassion.

Let go of any thoughts of frustration and helplessness. In their place, put thoughts of creativity and empowerment.

Gather your various and scattered thoughts together, and point them all in a positive, productive direction. You'll be amazed at the power that's yours when each thought is working to enhance the others.

Your thoughts determine what you decide to do with all that you have. And you determine what your thoughts will be.

So put them to work in a positive way, moment by moment, day by day. Make them all thoughts that serve you well.

-- Ralph Marston

Prayer of the Week

Dear heavenly Father, You created me, and you are well aware of the pressures and emotional turmoil that surround me everyday. God, thank you that before my circumstances were ever set in motion, you created a plan for my victory over them. Thank you for your wonderful word which promises special protection and deliverance when I am tempted to feel overwhelmed by stressful circumstances. Thank you for making it possible for me to walk in your divine health for my total being, body, mind, and spirit free from the physical and emotional ravages of stress. In Jesus’ name Amen.

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Did you know that this is National Women’s Health Week? Yeah, me either. I didn’t even know that we had a week. Well here are some tips that you can incorporate into your life from the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) and National Women’s Health Resource Center (NWHRC).

Mental health is as important as physical health. Apply the following tips to manage life's challenges:

~ Treat your body right by staying physically active and maintaining a healthy diet.
~ Don't expect to accomplish more than one task at a time -- create a "to do" list tackling those of highest priority first.
~ Set realistic goals by doing what is possible.
~ Cultivate a positive work environment to help alleviate stress.
~ Take time for yourself by relaxing for at least 15 minutes a day.
~ Talk about any negative feelings with a loved one or a friend.
~ Volunteer or get involved in an activity that is meaningful to you.
~ Participate in activities you enjoy and look forward to.

If you have adopted these tips and still feel overwhelmed, it may be necessary to seek professional help. A mental health professional, such as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist is trained to assess, diagnose and treat individuals with common mental health conditions, such as stress, anxiety, depression or an addiction. Therapy can help mitigate common sources of stress, including care giving for a loved one or an aging parent, financial worries, family problems, and heavy workloads.

NWHRC encourages women to implement the following activities into their daily routines:

Walk this way. Take an after dinner walk around the neighborhood. A brisk walk can help in achieving the recommended 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity on most days.

Keep the water flowing. Your body needs plenty of fluids to maintain good health -- for most women that's 2.7 liters (about 11 cups) of water from beverages and foods daily.

Check in for a checkup. Has it been more than a year since your last checkup? Call your health care professional this week and make an appointment for your annual health exam.

Pop on a pedometer. Pedometers count the number of steps you take in a day -- the more, the better.

Lather up with sun screen. Everyone needs to use sun block, regardless of race or skin tone. Wear broad-spectrum sun block (SPF 30 is a good choice), applied liberally to exposed skin up to a half-hour before going outdoors.

Think colorfully when you eat. Think about this easy rule when you're grocery shopping this week or dining out. Foods with bright colors -- red peppers, oranges, green broccoli, blueberries -- are healthier for you than white bread, mashed potatoes or pasta with cream sauce.

Substitute sugar and salt. Sugar tastes good to most of us, so it's easy to consume too much. That can add pounds and limit the intake of healthier foods. Salt not only tastes good, but also enhances other food flavors. Lowering salt in your diet can reduce high blood pressure and lessen overeating.

Last call for alcohol. Say no to that second glass of wine. Limiting your alcohol intake can have substantial health benefits.

Stretch out stress. If you're working this week, take a couple of minutes to get your blood flowing by stretching your back, neck and chest muscles. This will rejuvenate you during the work day and send you home ready for an active evening.

Get a multivitamin boost. Are you getting the vitamins and minerals you need to protect your health? Probably not. Indeed, research shows that most of us don't get all the vitamins we need through diet alone. Taking a daily multivitamin helps close that gap.

To subscribe to the HealthyWomen Take 10 e-newsletter and learn more about healthy lifestyle tips or the HealthyWomen Take 10 programs, please log on to http://www.healthywomen.org.

Have a great week!!!
Kenya

Quotes of the Day
Nobody realizes that some people expend tremendous energy merely to be normal.
– Albert Camus, 1913-1960, French Author/Philosopher/Nobel Prize Wïnner

Champions aren't made in the gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them -- a desire, a dream, a vision.
~ Muhammad Ali

Affirmation of the Week
I open to the gifts of the Universe.
I allow abundance to flow through me.
I accept support when I need it.
Dear God, please let me know what to do in a way that I can understand.
I accept peace and joy in all aspects of my life.

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I was going through old papers and came across the following. This is right up my alley because I sometimes over think things. I love to ask questions and figure out why people do the things that they do. If you are like me, in that way, this post is for you. Enjoy!

Reality Check – Questions to screw your head on straight
by Robert F. Sarmiento

Whenever you make yourself feel upset
(e.g. anxious, stressed, worried, depressed, angry, frustrated, embarrassed, insecure, jealous, etc.),

Or you behave in undesirable ways
(e.g. procrastinate, overeat, get high, lie, act impulsively, isolate, perfectionism, etc.),

Or you have physical symptoms of stress or depression
(e.g. headache, stomach ache, diarrhea, tension, hives, lack of energy, difficulty concentrating, sleep problems, etc.):

ASK YOURSELF THESE QUESTIONS:
What am I doing to create this situation?
Are my emotions helping me or hurting me?
What am I telling myself?
What are the facts?
Am I exaggerating or distorting?
Are there other explanations?
How likely are my worries?
Whose problem is this anyway?
What is the worst thing that can happen?
Am I awfulizing?
Am I taking this too seriously? Too personally?
Am I downing myself or others?
Am I unrealistically demanding success? Approval? Control? Perfection? Certainty? Comfort? Fairness? My way?
Do I need this or only want it?
Can I stand it?
Am I babying myself?
How can I think more realistically?
Am I stewing rather than doing?
What are my options?
What, if anything, can I do?

Reality Check for Worriers:
Am I playing “what if”?
How probable are my worries?
Am I worrying enough?
Will worrying do any good?
Do I equate worry with caring?
What, if anything, can I do?

Reality Check for Procrastinators:
What emotions do I have about what I am putting off?
What are the advantages of doing it now?
What are the disadvantages of procrastinating?
Am I making excuses?
Am I putting myself down for procrastinating?
Will it kill me to do it for five minutes?
Can I break this task down?
What consequences can I give myself?
Am I doing the worst first?
Am I babying myself?

Reality Check for Parents:
Am I overlooking good behavior?
Are my expectations realistic?
Am I demanding compliance or teaching responsibility?
Is this a battle of wills?
Am I disciplining out of anger or frustration?
Is my child capable of doing this by himself or herself?
Am I separating the doer from the deed?
What are the natural or logical consequences of this misbehavior?
Am I providing appropriate, rewarded alternatives?

Reality Check for Lovers:
Am I buying in to romantic fantasies?
Do I expect love to make me happy?
Am I bassing my self-worth on being loved?
Do I need or only want love?
Are we pushing each other’s buttons?
Am I listening actively?
Am I communicating in my partner’s preferred style?
Are we taking each other for granted?
Am I ignoring what I want?
Are we playing the “who’s right and who’s wrong” game?
As I being aggressive or assertive?
How can we negotiate a “win/win” solution?
What kind of relationship can we create?

Adapted from: Reality Check: Twenty Questions to Screw Your Head on Straight by Dr/ Robert F. Sarmiento, Ph.D. You can visit his website at http://www.cyberpsych.com

Quotes of the Day
Happy the man/woman who early learns the wide chasm that lies between his wishes and his powers.
~ Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

A habit cannot be tossed out the window; it must be coaxed down the stairs a step at a time.
– Mark Twain, 1835-1910, American Writer and Humorist

Affirmation of the Week
There is limitless supply and it is mine
I am financially secure
I am surrounded by loving, giving people
I am healthy and wealthy
I allow myself to prosper
I create abundance
I have more than I need in every area of my life

Kenya Abney has been a featured writer on the web. She loves feedback and can be contacted at kenmoab1@verizon.net.

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Today I started my “Growing in Christ” Class. I think that it is going to be a real blessing for me. In case you didn’t know, I finally joined a church, Grace AME . It is a small church with really nice people. If you are ever in Baltimore, you should not hesitate to stop by.

I have always had a relationship with Christ. It has not always been what it should be but it has been great. So, I am looking forward to learning scriptures and exercising my spiritual muscles. They are not as strong as they should be. Speaking of exercising, I am still hanging tough with the Taebo DVD. Eight minutes in the morning. 45 minutes in the evening, three times a week at least. People have told me that I look like I am losing weight. I thought that people were just being nice until I saw a picture of myself from last year. I still have work to do but I am not where I used to be. I am determined to be Ms. Lovesexy by my Vegas trip.

Spring break is officially over. Destiny is returning tomorrow. She had a ball in the NYC. She went to Ellis Island, her favorite park in the world, Central Park and some place else I can’t remember. She met Marissa Jaret Winokur Destiny saw her shooting a scene in Central Park. Destiny was very excited to meet an actress that she has seen on tv before. I on the other hand had an opportunity to hang out with some good friends. Catch a very funny movie, Wedding Crashers. If you have not seen it, than you need to rent it. I saw it this week at a friend’s house. I bought a copy today, it is one of those movies that I know I am going to want to see again.

I got my performance review at work this week. I am pleased. I need to work on having a neater work area. I need to work on being neater all around so I can’t wrinkle my nose at that. There are a lot of positive things that I thought my boss didn’t notice because he didn’t say anything. But, he documented them on my review. Moral of that story: just because someone doesn’t say something doesn’t mean they haven’t noticed.

I am still hanging in there with Mary Kay. Please feel free to shop at my site: www.marykay.com/kabney4 I am having a debut, basically an open house to drum up business and sell the product that I have. I will let you know how that goes next week.

You know that I like to share resources. Check this site out: www.insiderentertainment.com

If you are looking for something to do, want to read a review, or promote your own event, that is the site for you.

Have a great weekend.



Affirmation of the Week
I am prosperity!
My supply is wherever I am.
It comes to me from every direction.
I accept this abundance bounty and opulence today.
I know that it is externalizing itself in my life and affairs.
Wherever I go, I shall meet prosperous people and prosperous conditions.
Whatever I think, I shall think with joy, optimism, happiness, and peace.
Whatever I do, I will do with wisdom, authority, power, and right action.
I separate my thought from any belief in want, in capacity, and in ability.
I disclaim the idea that I am broke, despondent, poor, crushed, defeated, or dependent.
All financial obligations, debts, and pressures are being liquidated.
All unhappy circumstances, conditions, and misunderstandings are being harmonized.
New opportunities and opening to me.
My whole mind, soul, and spirit accept these truths.
I am made rich!

Kenya Abney has been a featured writer on the web. She loves feedback and can be contacted at kenmoab1@verizon.net.

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- by Chris Green
(c) Chris Green - All Rights reserved http://www.conqueringfear.net ============================================
You know the old saying "variety is the spice of life", and although many such phrases are just nonsense, this one is anything but. Because let's be honest, sometimes our lives can become routine. We settle into a comfort zone and boredom and dissatisfaction can soon follow. If you're looking for some exciting ideas to spice up your life, here's my top 5 tips - go on, give them a try!

1. Once a week, visit somewhere you've never been before. A city, town or village, a museum, a theater, a restaurant, café, or bar, a park, a zoo, a wood or forest - get the idea? Visiting new places broadens your horizons and helps to keep life fresh and interesting.

2. The biggest thief that will ever enter your home does so by your invitation. Your television can steal something more valuable from you than any other thief on the planet: Your precious, non-renewable life time. Time to stop this little thief from pilfering any more! At least once a month, spend an entire week without watching any television and use the time to do something much more life-enhancing. You could workout, read books, learn a new subject - languages, cookery, swimming, diving, computers, wine-tasting, crafts, astronomy, astrology, music, advanced driving, drama, take up a new sport - the list is endless. You'll meet people, you'll develop more skills, you'll add to your knowledge and you'll develop more confidence. And you'll feel more alive! Beats sitting indoors watching soaps, the news, repeats and a barrage of commercials doesn't it? I'm sure you've heard people say "I'd love to try something new but I just haven't the time". It's common isn't it? Yet many people are totally unaware of how much television they watch. Let's be conservative and say it's an average 4 hours a day. 4 x 7 = 28 hours. Imagine what you could achieve if you devoted 28 hours a week to doing something far more constructive?

3. Fancy a challenge - something that will test you to the limit? How about a survival weekend? There are many courses available for this, from basic outdoor survival to more specialized ones for arctic, desert and jungle survival. You'll learn more about the environment, you'll develop survival skills and again, you'll meet new people and share a highly rewarding experience. To find courses, use the Internet search engines - "survival weekend", "survival courses" and "learn basic survival" as search terms.

4. Spontaneity can bring excitement and adventure into life. Doing things on the spur of the moment is fun too! So why not just do something totally unplanned? Get in the car and drive somewhere, go to the train station and take a train journey somewhere, or, for a holiday, just visit your travel broker or go direct to the airport and see what deals they've got for you to go there and then. Have your bags packed and ready and don't forget your passport! This brings the unknown into our lives, and although this can be a little bit frightening, it's also very exciting too. Enjoy the adventure!

5. I've saved the best till last! When it comes to living a happy, fulfilled life, a life where you do all things you really want to do, fear is the biggest threat you will have to face. It ruins the hopes and dreams of millions and millions of people. Every time you give in to a fear, you lose. You miss out on opportunity, experience and happiness. So do something you are afraid of. Yes, I know it is very hard to do this but the alternative - giving in - is much more painful. If you're afraid of heights, learn to abseil or climb. If you're afraid of water, learn to swim. Flying - attend a fear of flying course. Frightened of driving? Start to learn. If you want to start a business, devote the time to become fully informed and start your research. Whatever it is, TAKE ACTION to beat it. Fear only exists in one place - YOUR MIND. It is an illusion that will set boundaries on your happiness. The only way to break through these boundaries is to confront fear and overcome it. When you do, your confidence will increase, and you will experience more happiness and my word will you feel alive!

And there you are five great ideas for you to try. Make them work for you by putting them into action and don't forget: Knowledge isn't power, it is putting our knowledge in to action so it works for us is what empowers us!

Until next time.

Author Bio: Chris Green is the author of the new acclaimed book "Conquering Fear", the complete guide to overcoming fear and attracting more success, prosperity and happiness into your life.

Quotes of the Day
Life is not holding a good hand; Life is playing a poor hand well.
- Danish proverb

"Everything existing in the universe is the fruit of chance and necessity."
-Democritus

Affirmation of the Week
I am prosperity!
My supply is wherever I am.
It comes to me from every direction.
I accept this abundance bounty and opulence today.
I know that it is externalizing itself in my life and affairs.
Wherever I go, I shall meet prosperous people and prosperous conditions.
Whatever I think, I shall think with joy, optimism, happiness, and peace.
Whatever I do, I will do with wisdom, authority, power, and right action.
I separate my thought from any belief in want, in capacity, and in ability.
I disclaim the idea that I am broke, despondent, poor, crushed, defeated, or dependent.
All financial obligations, debts, and pressures are being liquidated.
All unhappy circumstances, conditions, and misunderstandings are being harmonized.
New opportunities and opening to me.
My whole mind, soul, and spirit accept these truths.
I am made rich!

Kenya Abney has been a featured writer on the web. She loves feedback and can be contacted at kenmoab1@verizon.net.

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I will let life distract me in a heart beat. I can be focused for weeks. One, maybe two, things will happen and I am sidetracked for months. I am a true believer that things happen when they are supposed to. There are two factors that can discount that statement: (1) Never starting and (2) stopping once you have started. When you aren’t working toward a goal than nothing special or new can come to fruition in your life.

As for never starting: start!! Commit to doing one thing every day. Give yourself 30 minutes a day. Some days you may do more. Others you may do less.
Are you a morning person? Get up 30 minutes earlier than usual.
Afternoon thinker? Do something during your lunch break.
When the sun goes down your brain turns on? Turn off the TV and put on music that doesn’t have words. 30 minutes is not that long and you will be surprised what you can accomplish in a week.

As for stopping: You have already started. That is half the battle. Look back on the progress that you have made. Pat yourself on the back. Recharge yourself by giving yourself a treat for taking some steps. Now review your goal and action plan. Maybe you need to revise them. Something can work for you one day and not the next. Don’t fret. That means you are making progress. Progress means you are closer to reaching your goal or developing an even better one. Once you have reevaluated and recommitted yourself it is time to work.

Your assignment, if you choose to accept it is to: recharge, review, revise, recommit and get to work.

Quotes of the Day
" “Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education alone will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. "
~ Calvin Coolidge, 30th President

""Permanence, perseverance and persistence in spite of all obstacles, discouragements, and impossibilities: It is this, that in all things distinguishes the strong soul from the weak."
~ Thomas Carlyle

Affirmation of the Week
I am prosperity!
My supply is wherever I am.
It comes to me from every direction.
I accept this abundance bounty and opulence today.
I know that it is externalizing itself in my life and affairs.
Wherever I go, I shall meet prosperous people and prosperous conditions.
Whatever I think, I shall think with joy, optimism, happiness, and peace.
Whatever I do, I will do with wisdom, authority, power, and right action.
I separate my thought from any belief in want, in capacity, and in ability.
I disclaim the idea that I am broke, despondent, poor, crushed, defeated, or dependent.
All financial obligations, debts, and pressures are being liquidated.
All unhappy circumstances, conditions, and misunderstandings are being harmonized.
New opportunities and opening to me.
My whole mind, soul, and spirit accept these truths.
I am made rich!

Kenya Abney has been a featured writer on the web. She loves feedback and can be contacted at kenmoab1@verizon.net.

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Are you fortunate in the opportunities that are presented to you? Do you recognize opportunities? I once read that an opportunity usually comes disguised as hard work. That is one of the truest statements ever spoken.

I know someone that didn’t maximize an opportunity because she was looking at the journey and not the end result. She was in a position to sit in for someone and get valuable face time, or at least phone time, with Executives in her company. She didn’t do it because, at the time, she thought it was a waste of her time. Now fast forward several months, she is looking for a job and one of the persons hiring, is someone that she could have potentially built a relationship with if she had sat in for that person. Actually, that is how I got a promotion. I filled in for someone over an extended period of time through good, bad and even ugly times for me. When someone was looking for an assistant, I came to mind because I was fortunate enough to maximize the opportunity. I had made connections with people that did speak on my behalf. Don’t look at the potholes, dips and detours on the road to your destination; focus on your arrival point.


My sister has been presented with an opportunity to be a stylist for a movie. This is something that she always wanted to do. As far back as I can remember she has been dong hair. She is a licensed beautician. She is into make-up so much that she collects tips. And, she consults with make up artists on how to look her best all the time. She can design and make clothes. She even made a blouse to wear for a junior high school picture. With all that experience, she currently works in human resources for a hospital. How did she get presented with an opportunity to be a stylist? Someone had heard about her. She has a reputation as someone that has the skills to be a stylist. She has demonstrated a willingness to work and learn about a field that she isn’t making money…in yet. This is an opportunity that is bundled up with a whole heap of work. If you ask her she is overjoyed for the chance. She will be doing what she wants and finally getting paid for it. Work hard, work diligently because you never know who is watching and waiting to give you a chance.

How do you recognize an opportunity? Contrary to what people think, it doesn’t knock or ring the doorbell. Opportunities are all around us. Some are good opportunities, others are not right for you at the time but they are hard to pass up. Here are four ways to determine if an opportunity is for you:

1. The end result gets you closer to one of your goals.
Closer to a goal is better than never starting. If you want to be a filmmaker being an intern at a production company is closer than just talking about it. Are you going to be Spike Lee when it is all said and done probably not? But, you will be able to make contacts, expand your reputation and obtain skills that you didn’t have before.

2. You can develop a network of people that you can grow a “give and take” relationship with.
“No man is an island.” “You can do anything; you just can’t do it alone.” I know you have heard those phrases before. They are true. There is always a team of people behind any success. And, with a network, you can learn from others and others can learn from you. It is a good thing to know people you can reach out to. And, even better to know that someone wants to reach out to you.

3. You are able to increase your reputation.
Everyone wants to work with someone that they have heard good things about. It doesn’t hurt to be endorsed by several people. In any area of your life, if you want the spotlight than you have to get on stage and perform. People won’t work with you if they don’t know what you can do.

4. You are able to learn and grow skills that can take you to the next level.
Not every opportunity is going to get you exactly where you want to be. Some opportunities put you in a position to get the piece that you are lacking, or a skill that is necessary that you didn’t know you needed. Think about what you can get out of the experience.


Quotes of the Day
"Opportunity... often it comes in the form of misfortune, or temporary defeat."
-Napoleon Hill

"Opportunities? They are all around us... There is power lying latent everywhere waiting for the observant eye to discover it."
-Orison Swett Marden

Affirmation of the Week
I am prosperity!
My supply is wherever I am.
It comes to me from every direction.
I accept this abundance bounty and opulence today.
I know that it is externalizing itself in my life and affairs.
Wherever I go, I shall meet prosperous people and prosperous conditions.
Whatever I think, I shall think with joy, optimism, happiness, and peace.
Whatever I do, I will do with wisdom, authority, power, and right action.
I separate my thought from any belief in want, in capacity, and in ability.
I disclaim the idea that I am broke, despondent, poor, crushed, defeated, or dependent.
All financial obligations, debts, and pressures are being liquidated.
All unhappy circumstances, conditions, and misunderstandings are being harmonized.
New opportunities and opening to me.
My whole mind, soul, and spirit accept these truths.
I am made rich!

Kenya Abney has been a featured writer on the web. She loves feedback and can be contacted at kenmoab1@verizon.net.

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I love to solicit opinions. I call myself an idea person. It is natural for me to come up with an idea and ask for several opinions before I do something. Or, if I have a problem, I like to find out what other people have done when they were faced with a similar situation. Or, what someone thinks that they would do. Usually, people have a lot to say when you ask them their opinion. Some tell you too much.

Mothers are well known for giving unsolicited advice and opinions when no one is asking them. Not my Mother. Even when I would ask her for advice she would tell me, “I can only live one life at a time. Right now I’m having a time living mine. So, don’t look at me to tell you what to do with yours. What do you think you should do?” That is the problem. I didn’t know what to do. I was looking for someone else to give me answers.

Here are a few things to keep in mind, if you are looking for answers from someone else that you need to answer for yourself:

1. You have to live with the consequences of your actions.
Regardless of who came up with the idea, you have to look at yourself for the success and failure of the decision. Can’t blame Momma or your Cousin Lisa, you have to put a “H” on your chest and handle whatever comes your way as a direct result of your decision.

2. Ultimately, no one else knows what is best for you than you.
Most people mean well, but no one knows you or your situation as intimately as you do. Regardless if you share your situation with 10 people, you will tell it 10 different ways depending on who you are talking. And, since you know the situation and you know yourself, who do you think is most qualified to decide what you should do? Ding. Ding. Ding. That is right you. You know what you are willing to live with it. And, what you are not.

3. People will tell you to do things that they wouldn’t do in a million, billion years.
We have all heard it before: “If that were me” or “I would have done ABC instead XYZ”. Give that person the opportunity and they would have done the same thing you did. So, consider the source. Look at the choices that they have made. Would they really do the things that they would tell you? If they would, do they live a productive or destructive life? Would you want to live with their consequences? Proceed with caution.

4. Beware of peoples motives when they give you advice.
Not all advice comes from a good supportive place. Some people look only at their own interest. They don’t really care about what is best, or at least good, for you. They only want your actions to help them. Nine times out of 10 when you examine the situation for yourself you can tell when you are being used. It is not going to feel right. Follow that feeling; it is not leading you down the wrong path.

A good way to make a decision is to:
Pray on it. Give it to Jesus for real. And seek His guidance.
Break out a piece of paper and pen. And ask myself three questions:

1. What is the absolute worst thing that can happen as a result of me doing XYZ? (Really think on this one. Don’t tell yourself the worst that can happen is someone will tell me “no”, when you know that the consequences can be far more dire than that.)

2. What is the absolute best thing that can happen as a result of me doing ABC?

3. Can I handle the worst possible outcome if it happened? Am I willing to deal with sacrifice, ridicule or loss that might be a result of taking this action?


If I can’t live with the worst possible outcome than it is time to get back to the drawing board. Progress sometimes requires discomfort but you know what you can handle. And there is a strong possibility that the situation may have a favorable outcome for you.

Honestly, usually a happy medium between the two outcomes happens for me. I like to think about the best possible outcome of any situation because miracles only happen to people that believe they are in their realm of possibility. So why not contemplate the best happening to you?

Quote of the Day

There is just one life for each of us: our own.
- Euripides, 484-406 B.C., Greek Tragic Dramatist

If you aren't going all the way, why go at all?
- Joe Namath, Hall of Fame American Football Player


Affirmation of the Week
I am prosperity!
My supply is wherever I am.
It comes to me from every direction.
I accept this abundance bounty and opulence today.
I know that it is externalizing itself in my life and affairs.
Wherever I go, I shall meet prosperous people and prosperous conditions.
Whatever I think, I shall think with joy, optimism, happiness, and peace.
Whatever I do, I will do with wisdom, authority, power, and right action.
I separate my thought from any belief in want, in capacity, and in ability.
I disclaim the idea that I am broke, despondent, poor, crushed, defeated, or dependent.
All financial obligations, debts, and pressures are being liquidated.
All unhappy circumstances, conditions, and misunderstandings are being harmonized.
New opportunities and opening to me.
My whole mind, soul, and spirit accept these truths.
I am made rich!

Kenya Abney has been a featured writer on the web. She loves feedback and can be contacted at kenmoab1@verizon.net.

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by Eva Gregory

Do you find yourself wondering why your life is what it is? How is it that some folks seem to get whatever they want, while you seem to be stuck in a rut? Have you been asking how to turn your life around?

Not surprising, one of the things that many successful people have in common is confidence. The confidence to believe that they will achieve the things they set out to, they will get all they feel entitled to, or they will create the things that they desire. They do not allow doubt or negativity to sabotage their plans. Most have become masters at focusing on the positive and refuse to let the "little voice" within feed them negativity for them to buy into. So how have they mastered the power of positive thinking or even more difficult the skill of positive self-talk?

Perhaps you should first LISTEN to the things that you tell yourself on a daily basis. Do you realize how true the saying that "we are our own worse critic" is? Try this, close your eyes and listen to what message YOUR self-talk is delivering. Are you happy with what you are hearing? If not, why not try implementing some of the hints outlined below.

Write down five of the things that you catch your self-talk voice telling you. For each negative thing you write down, change the tone to make it a positive by using "I am," "I will," and "I can" instead. Be sure to make these affirmations positive, believable and realistic for you personally. Now feel what it is like to have it actually be the way you want it to be. Get excited about the possibility. Build on the affirmations that creates a story about how it all unfolds the way you intend for it to often and in time, you will come to believe them. The more you believe the positive, the more success you will have. You will begin to attract it literally!

While evaluating your self-talk voice, did you discover that you spend a great deal of time thinking in "What ifs?" What ifs are typically a big waste of time because you spend valuable time focusing on things that have either already taken place, or may or may not happen. What if (sorry--couldn't resist) I show you how to make What ifs productive? Try this:

Every time you find yourself focused on negative thoughts or a default reaction of "What if....?" Play the "What If-UP Game!" This is a highly successful game that I use with my coaching clients. It goes like this:

Whenever you start thinking..."What If":
• I can't meet payroll?
• I can't pay my bills?
• I can't complete this task?

Flip the thought around to:
What if "IT COULD BE THE WAY I WANT IT!"
• What if I meet payroll in spite of the way things look in the moment?
• What if, money begins to flow to me and I can pay my bills the way that I want?
• What if this task gets completed in perfect timing even if it isn't what I thought it would be?

See how it works? The game is designed to get you thinking about the positive and letting go of the negative. Using the word "could" eliminates self-imposed pressure and opens the door to unlimited possibilities.

The key to positive thought and self-talk is recognizing what you are currently doing, and learning to deliberately change it. Once it is learned it will have a profound impact on the things you would like to accomplish in life. As William Shakespeare once said, "Nothing is good or bad, but thinking makes it so." So, think of this as the first day of the rest of your life, and start thinking powerfully and putting out a positive attitude in each aspect of your life.

Eva Gregory is the author of The Feel Good Guide to Prosperity
All rights reserved. http://www.feelgoodguide.com
© 2006 Leading Edge Coaching

Quotes for the Day
They deem me mad because I will not sell my days for gold; and I deem them mad because they think my days have a price.
- Kahlil Gibran, 1883-1931, Lebanese Poet and Novelist

In order to create there must be a dynamic force, and what force is more potent than love?
- Igor Stravinsky, 1882-1971, Russian-born Musical Composer


Affirmation of the Week
I am prosperity!
My supply is wherever I am.
It comes to me from every direction.
I accept this abundance bounty and opulence today.
I know that it is externalizing itself in my life and affairs.
Wherever I go, I shall meet prosperous people and prosperous conditions.
Whatever I think, I shall think with joy, optimism, happiness, and peace.
Whatever I do, I will do with wisdom, authority, power, and right action.
I separate my thought from any belief in want, in capacity, and in ability.
I disclaim the idea that I am broke, despondent, poor, crushed, defeated, or dependent.
All financial obligations, debts, and pressures are being liquidated.
All unhappy circumstances, conditions, and misunderstandings are being harmonized.
New opportunities and opening to me.
My whole mind, soul, and spirit accept these truths.
I am made rich!

K.M. Abney has been a featured writer on the web. She loves feedback and can be contacted at kenmoab1@verizon.net.

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Have you been thinking about starting your own business? Ever thought about what it takes? We all know that it takes capital. There is one more essential element that you need to have on track. It is your attitude.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 56% of all small businesses fail within their first four years. We don’t want that to be you. So, review your business plan and list of traits that have been compiled by Stephen Covey, and leap into your destiny as a successful small business entrepreneur.

Stephen Covey's Top 10 Key Traits of Successful Small Business Entrepreneurs

1. Value teamwork
Successful entrepreneurs recognize that it takes a team to produce success. They know it is never just one person who is responsible for the success of any business venture. They are gracious, appreciative, humble and give people the credit they deserve.

2. Are willing to change
They understand that change is inevitable, and they understand how to adapt to the changes around them in order to make their business grow.

3. Surround themselves with diversity
Successful entrepreneurs maximize the productivity of their business by hiring people who make their own weaknesses irrelevant. They see other peoples' strengths as opportunities rather than threats.

4. Communicate effectively through feedback and active listening
They give instruction and feedback in a manner that empowers people rather than belittles them. In return, they are willing to listen and accept feedback from others.

5. Have a vision and plan for reaching their goals
Successful entrepreneurs know what they want. They have identified what is most important in order to achieve success and are not willing to sacrifice what is most important for what is merely important. They have created a strategic plan that defines how they will achieve their most important goals and by what deadline.

6. Proactively seek opportunities
Entrepreneurs do not sit and wait for opportunities to come their way. They are proactive and prepared for anything that comes along.

7. Are tireless, ceaseless, determined workers
To avoid becoming workaholics, successful entrepreneurs are highly effective during all of their working hours and know when it is time to go home. They seek balance in all aspects of their lives.

8. Understand that removing barriers is a necessary event
They are not afraid to terminate an employee who is the wrong person for the job, or if they simply resist the changes pertinent to company growth.

9. Are high-energy people
Entrepreneurs reach into the depths of their souls to find the energy they need to keep going and growing. Their energy is enough to motivate and inspire others to join or stay with the new venture.

10. Continually nurture the entrepreneurial spirit by taking risks and learning from mistakes
They willingly take risks and learn from others' as well as their own mistakes. Entrepreneurs make decisions quickly and effectively by avoiding the bureaucracy and structure commonly found in large organizations.

"Those small-business entrepreneurs who are humble and willing to learn from their past mistakes and then apply that learning to their future endeavors will be successful over time. Businesses are not only built on success, but also on what is learned from failure," says Covey.

FranklinCovey offers small businesses training and products to increase productivity and effectiveness and to create sustained superior performance over time. For more information on FranklinCovey training or products for small businesses, visit http://www.franklincovey.com .


Kenya Abney has been a featured writer on the web. She is also a Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant. Beauty is only a click a way: http://www.marykay.com/kabney4. Please feel free to shop at her site.

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Someone sent this to me. You know I like to pass on positive messages. Here is a little something to start your week off right:

Today, fall in love with yourself. Let your heart beat faster at the prospect of spending an hour alone with such a fascinating, intricate and complex person. Let your heart fill with love as you think about how precious you are, how lovable, how compassionate and caring you are. Let your eyes sparkle with joy as you consider your sense of humor, that quirky way you have of looking at things.

Ah, how blessed you are to have this lover, always with you, always there. Someone who cares deeply and does everything possible for you. Someone who loves and appreciates you exactly as you are. Someone who requires nothing from you to give love and approval. For you are perfect exactly as you are. You are infinitely lovable, right now.

Fall in love with yourself. Give to yourself everything you have been hoping to get from others. Give lavishly. Shower praise upon yourself. You are so blessed, right now, just as you are. Let yourself feel and know this. Let yourself fall in love unconditionally, right now.

Here is a little prayer for today:

I love myself completely and absolutely. I love everything about myself, exactly as I am.

I give myself permission to be me, glowing with a fire inside, a fire bright enough to light up the world. I give myself permission to shine, to shine forth with all my wonder, letting others see what I know so well, that I am deeply precious and infinitely lovable.

I am acceptance and love. I am joy. I am.


K.M. Abney has been a featured writer on the web. She is also a Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant. Please feel free to visit her website at http://www.marykay.com/kabney4

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• Appreciate everyone who shows up on your path
• Believe in yourself at all times
• Create your vision
• Declare what you want and go after it with all your might
• Experience every moment & observe those that are less than pleasant
• Flow with the current; it's a lot more fun than paddling up river
• Go, start, begin - just do it, moving onward and upward
• Help your neighbor and teach others how to fish
• Inspire children by being the example - life by demonstration
• Just be in the moment, accept, allow, forgive and be grateful
• Keep your faith, trust and know all is always well
• Listen to the voice within, your inner coach - you're full of wisdom
• Make every moment magical by just being who you are
• Namaste - we are all one pure and divine, protected and loved
• Open up to oneness, the essence of joy
• Polarity exists in everything. It's diversity that adds spice to life
• Quit whining. Quiet your mind and have a real heart-to-heart with yourself
• Reach for the thought that always feels better. It's out there
• Serve others unselfishly and you serve yourself. Givers do gain
• Teach others, learn from others. Share, share, share and grow!
• Utilize your powers of observation
• Value the uniqueness of 'you' and share the 'you' with others
• Willpower is within you to create anything you want to be, have or do
• X-ray yourself through visualizations and see all the possibilities that exist
• Yield to the child in you. Play, laugh, giggle a lot and have fun
• Zap some zeal and zest in your life - amp up your positive energy!
- Dory Willer, The Inner Connection Coach

Quote of the Day
"Everyone has inside of him/her a piece of good news. The good news is that you don't know how great you can be! How much you can love! What you can accomplish! And what your potential is!"
~ Anne Frank

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My new thing for ’06 is “Get it right, get it tight” I know that doesn’t rhyme with ’06. But, I have already decided that that is going to be my battle cry for the year.

’05 has been a good year for me personally. I did a lot of growing within this year. I learned that it is okay to think about myself. Life is easier when I don’t do things that I don’t want to do. The world isn’t going to end if I say, “No”. Also, you shouldn’t say, “No” to everything because you could be blocking your blessings. When you choose yourself than others will you choose you. Sometimes people are in your life for a reason and a season. It is okay to let people go. And, most importantly, you should celebrate yourself! Everyday is a new opportunity for something wonderful and fantastic to happen to you.

I came across some information that may be useful to you to start your New Year off right:

I believe that we are all Superstars, in one way or the other, so why not receive fan mail confirming that belief. Sign up at http://www.markkaye.com/ you can receive some! Mark Kaye loves getting fan mail. He loves it so much he thinks everybody should get some! Type in your name and email and Mark Kaye will send YOU fan mail every week to remind you how great you are!

Is being more organized on your list of must do’s for the New Year. With help from Office Depot, in 30 minutes a day for five days you can become more organized in your business life. Some of the tips can also be used in your personal life as well, you can download a free copy of "The Office Depot Five-Day Office Makeover Plan" at http://www.officedepot.com/getorganized


Whether you want to lose weight, maintain where you are or you need a little motivation to take yourself to the next level, here is some help. From January 2 – January 8 between the hours of 3 p.m. and 11 p.m. EST, consumers can dial in to the “Fresh Resolution Hotline,” 1-877-Now Fresh (877-669-3737) and receive free support, advice and resources from ADA nutritionist. Also, you can sign up at http://www.subwayfreshresolutions.com to receive free daily telephone reminders and motivational recordings from Jared throughout the month of January.


Here are some really useful tips for Career, Health and Maintaining Goals

TIPS FOR JOB HUNTING ON THE INTERNET
Here are Job-Hunt.org's seven rules for searching for a job using the internet:
Protect your privacy.

1. For your job search, use an anonymous e-mail address (HotMail, Yahoo, etc.), and limit the contact information in your resume to your e-mail address and cell phone or other unlisted phone number.

2. Don't look for a job with a new employer while you are at work.
That's a quick and easy way to get fired. According to a 2005 American Management Association survey, 76% of employers monitored employee Web surfing, and 25% fired employees for inappropriate use of the Web or e-mail.

3. Use the Web to research an employer before you apply for a job.
Visit the employer's Website to see what they do, and find job postings. Also visit Yahoo Finance, BusinessWire.com, PRNewsWire.com, Hoover's, etc. to discover the latest news about their industry, competition and financial situation. Don't be the last person hired before layoffs begin. Guess who'll be first out?

4. Don't depend on any Web job site (large or small) to find you a job.
Job boards can be very effective, but recruiters receive an overwhelming number of resumes for every job. Instead, differentiate yourself from the crowd by following these rules and following up on every application, politely but relentlessly.

5. Use the Web to expand and renew your personal network.
Check your school's career center, local job search support group, former employer's "alumni" network, and/or any professional or industry organizations you have joined. Post privacy-sensitive profiles with sites like LinkedIn, Ziggs, ZoomInfo, etc., but be cautious about disclosing information irrelevant to your job search.

6. Leverage technology to differentiate yourself from the pack.
Use the computer combined with your research to create resumes and cover letters customized for specific opportunities. Unless directed otherwise, copy the text of your resume and cover letter into an e-mail. Don't attach them.

7. Don't expect e-mail to be reliable. Most organizations protect their e-mail systems with spam filters that might send your message to the junk mail folder. And their messages to you may meet the same fate. Follow up via phone, and check your junk mail folders often.

Find more information on using e-mail, protecting privacy, and online networking at http://www.Job-Hunt.org, recipient of several prestigious awards including Forbes Magazine's "Best of the Web" and PC Magazine's "Best of the Internet."


10 TIPS FROM CAROL ESPEL, National Director of Group Fitness and Exercise Physiologist

1. Create your own contract. Write a contract to yourself with your resolutions and all the reasons why you want to keep them, and then sign it! By signing the contract your have committed to yourself that you are going to stick to your Resolutions.

2. Make small, attainable goals. If weight loss is your goal then consider starting out with 20 minutes of cardiovascular activity 2-3 times a week, then slowly increase your time to 30 minutes each session. You will begin to see and feel a difference in a few short weeks!

3. Hire a certified personal trainer. Having a trainer will keep you on track and give you the motivation and direction you need to obtain your goals.

4. Clear your shelves and fridge! Throw out all of the junk food in your house; if it isn't in the house you won't be able to eat it when you feel the urge. Replace old snack foods with new ones like cut veggies and fresh fruit.

5. Stay off the scale. Use the way your clothes fit to judge your progress, not the bathroom scale. Muscle is denser than fat. You may be losing inches without significant weight loss.

6. Chose an activity that you really enjoy doing. Participating in activities that you enjoy such as walking, riding a bike or going to group exercise classes will not only keep you motivated, but, by mixing them up, will keep boredom from setting in.

7. Make it part of your day. Schedule exercise as if it were lunch. No one likes skipping meals right? Then don't skip your exercise appointment.

8. Motivate yourself by listening to music while you exercise. Putting on your favorite music while you exercise will lift your spirits and put some pep in your step.

9. Exercise with a friend. Having someone that needs you to motivate them as you much as you need motivation helps you both stay on track.

10. Reward yourself. Once you achieve a short-term goal, do something nice for yourself ... perhaps buy a new piece of clothing that makes you feel great.

Enjoy the process and arrive at your goals in a timely manner. As your lifestyle changes, your activity and strength will naturally increase and results will come in an easeful and enjoyable progression.

SOURCE Equinox Fitness Club
Web Site: http://www.equinoxfitness.com


SIX TIPS THAT CAN HELP ANY GOAL SETTING EXERCISE LEAD TO MORE EFFECTIVE RESULTS

1. Fix in the mind, the exact goal. One must be able to imagine what it will feel like to have achieved the goal. This is the mental picture which will provide the "compass" towards its attainment.

2. Determine exactly what will be done to achieve this goal.

3. Establish a date for when this goal will be achieved.

4. Create a detailed plan and take some action immediately.

5. Write out a clear statement of the goal.

6. Review the goal, preferably out loud, twice a day.

You can get more insights about this topic from Dave Saunders’ website http://www.the-time-management-guy.com.


The Harvard Women's Health Watch suggests six reasons to get enough sleep:

1. Learning and memory: Sleep helps the brain commit new information to memory through a process called memory consolidation. In studies, people who'd slept after learning a task did better on tests later.

2. Metabolism and weight: Chronic sleep deprivation may cause weight gain by affecting the way our bodies process and store carbohydrates, and by altering levels of hormones that affect our appetite.

3. Safety: Sleep debt contributes to a greater tendency to fall asleep during the daytime. These lapses may cause falls and mistakes such as medical errors, air traffic mishaps, and road accidents.

4. Mood: Sleep loss may result in irritability, impatience, inability to concentrate, and moodiness. Too little sleep can also leave you too tired to do the things you like to do.

5. Cardiovascular health: Serious sleep disorders have been linked to hypertension, increased stress hormone levels,and irregular heartbeat.

6. Disease: Sleep deprivation alters immune function, including the activity of the body's killer cells. Keeping up with sleep may also help fight cancer.

Harvard Women's Health Watch is available from Harvard Health Publications, the publishing division of Harvard Medical School, for $24 per year. Subscribe at http://www.health.harvard.edu/women or by calling 1-877- 649-9457 (toll free).

Quote for the Day

"When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid."
-Audre Lorde, Poet (1934-1992)

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I know that I have not written in awhile. I really didn’t have much going on. Thanks to a very good friend of mine, I had a wonderful fantastic Christmas. Thank you, Deborah! She had great company! Great food! And, great wine! It was true celebration. Since my last birthday, anyone that knows me knows that I am all for celebrating. I came across some great entertaining tips from Valorie Luther of White Linen Events. You can use these tips to create and organize a New Year’s Eve Party, your next Birthday Party or anything else that you can think of that deserves a celebration.

Here are some tips to help you create and organize any party, especially New Year's Eve.

Food: Make it easy. If you love to cook then go for the complicated menu, but for those of us who have had it with the big meals from the holidays, make party planning effortless and either order in or prepare simple dishes. Last year, I made pizzas on pre-made pizza crust. I got creative with the ingredients which made it fun and easy for me and satisfying for my guests (have you ever tried humus, spinach sautéed in garlic, northern white beans and parmesan cheese on a crust or strips of steak on a crust covered with 3 different cheeses?). Stress free is the key here because if you are happy, your guests will be delighted.

Drinks: Drinks don't have to be complicated either. With such a small and familiar group of guests, it should be easy to serve them. Go to your regular liquor store to get some advice on new and different red, white and sparkling wines. Go to http://www.bartender.com to get some new ideas on fun drinks and go to http://www.floras-hideout.com for some original non alcoholic drinks. Whether you go with the usual or the unusual, just make sure your guests are comfortable with the choices you provide.

Decorating: Again, make it simple and fun. A good friend and amazing event designer Ruth Ridgeway of Ruth Ridgeway Designs goes for an Asian theme on New Year's Eve. She gets two large blocks of homosote, a pressed fiber board that is heat proof and easy to cut, and she puts a couple of low saw horses underneath to make a big table. She covers it with some interesting fabric and throws pillows on the floor for seating. Ruth uses fun chargers, plates, rice bowls and sake cups she has bought from Chinatown in New York City along with candles and orchids to add a special touch to the table. She then orders in Chinese and is ready for a relaxing evening with close friends. Make the theme simple and make it your own!

Entertainment: For a New Year's Eve casual get together, again, make it simple. Good conversation, a favorite line up of music piped in from your CD system, and confetti and blowers for the midnight celebration will do it. Less is always more. It's the connection that the hosts have with the guests that really counts at that moment when the hand strikes midnight.

You are now on your way to having a relaxing low-key yet festive party for your family and/or friends. New Year's Eve only comes around once a year so give yourself a gift of enjoying yourself and your guests by planning ahead and making it simple.

About White Linen Events
Valorie Luther is Principal of White Linen Events which is an event management company specializing in weddings, private parties, corporate functions and fundraisers where the mission, through the experience and skills of Valorie Luther and her team, is to understand the client's vision and goals and then exceed their expectations by creating and managing an exceptional event!

Valorie Luther is available for speaking engagements and writing assignments on Entertaining. For more go to her blog:
http://Entertainingnews.blogspot.com

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By Valerie Young

This fall marks a momentous occasion. I’m proud to say that in a few short weeks I’ll be joining the ranks of baby boomers turning fifty.

If popular culture is any indication, I should find this particular milestone cause for great consternation. From the distress of new found wrinkles to the regrets of unrealized dreams to the reality of one’s mortality, they don’t call it “The Big 5-0” for nothing.

So why am I so unfazed? Maybe it’s because I feel happier, healthier, and in the ways that really count, more attractive than at any other time in my life. Mostly though, what I’ve noticed is a profound sense of clarity about who I am and what I want. And I have every intention of getting it.

Are You Settling?
When you’re younger, I find, you’re more apt to settle. We settle in relationships (“It’s better than being alone”), we settled for high-stress, low-satisfaction jobs (“It could be worse”), we settle for all kinds of things that later in life would be simply unacceptable. Now that I’m pushing 50, settling feels entirely, well, uninteresting.

Settling is not the same as compromise. Healthy relationships require a certain degree of compromise from both partners. And while I think you can get darned close, no job is perfect. There are times I’d rather curl up in the big chair in my living room and nap – or do just about anything else than hustle to meet some deadline. But life is all about trade-offs.

Settling is different. When you settle, you unwittingly or wittingly check your true needs, desires, feelings, and gifts at the door. By settling you’re essentially telling yourself, “This is the best I can do.” You don’t even try to get your needs met, or realize your true desires, or express your feelings, or bring your gifts into the world because you either don’t think a) it’s possible or b) that you deserve to get what you want.

The “pathological optimist” in me is here to tell you that far more is possible than you think and everyone – including you – deserves to go after what they want. (You’ll be hearing from the “pathological pragmatist” in me shortly.)

How to Get What You Want
In my experience, getting what you want is a three-step process that involves clarity, action, and hope. Here are some questions to help you navigate each step:

1. Getting clear.
The first and most obvious question to ask here is, “What do I really want and need?” You may be surprised at your own answers. For example, when I asked workshop participants to name the three things they absolutely had to have in their work life I expected to hear the big
three: Flexibility, balance, and satisfaction. Instead they cited a delightful range of wants and needs from having their pet by their side while they work to frequent travel to intellectual stimulation to the need to help make the world a better place.

Getting clear is not just about your work life. There’s no time like the present to clarify what you want in all realms of your life. For
example:

~What do you need in terms of your physical surroundings… your home, your neighborhood, your community? (Me, I’m in hot pursuit of a house with a view.)

~What do you want and need in a relationship? (Or, perhaps what you really need right now is to have a relationship with yourself.)

~What do you need to achieve or maintain your well being – emotionally, physically, spiritually?

~What about financially? (Money is always a good place to be clear on the difference between wants and needs. You may want to make six figures but you need far less to meet your basic needs.)

Consider too the things that interfere with you getting what you want. One question that can help here is, “What am I tolerating?” It might be an unreasonable boss or workload, a stressful commute, a less than supportive family, the lack of alone time, a self-limiting belief, or a refusal to let yourself let go of the past and embrace what could be.

Once you get clear on what you want, do yourself a favor and put it in writing. That’s what Dilbert cartoonist Scott Adams did. Adams desperately wanted to escape his corporate cubicle to become a syndicated cartoonist. To keep his goal front and center he wrote his goal not once, not twice, but 15 times – a day!

2. Take steps to get what you want.
Adams wasn’t just engaging in wishful thinking. The guy backed up his goal with action. Before heading off to his corporate cubicle, Adams would work on his cartoons from 5:00 to 7:00am until he had compiled enough to put in an envelope and send off to United Feature Syndicate.
The rest, as they say, is history. Today Adams is, in his words, “obscenely wealthy,” doing exactly what he loves, and using his gifts to make millions of other corporate drones laugh at the absurdities of modern organizational life.

Sometimes the action can be as simple as asking for what you want. Depending on what it is you want and need, you might ask for time, respect, information, resources, space, affection, validation, compensation, further explanation, assistance, understanding… the list can go on and on. The key is to ask!

3. Have hope.
I promised you’d hear from the “pathological pragmatist” in me, so here it is. Just because you know what you want and ask, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get it. You can ask your boss for a raise, but that doesn’t mean you’ll get that raise. In fact, the things you’re least likely to get are those that are solely dependent on someone else’s cooperation and needs.

If you’re feeling discouraged by the idea of not getting what you want, don’t be. Have you heard the expression “Be careful what you ask for”? Think about it. If you always got what you thought you wanted, you’d be “married” to your first youthful crush (now that’s a scary thought). You don’t necessarily get what you want, but as the Rolling Stones famously reminded us, you do always get what you need.

So where does hope come in? Noted playwright, poet, political dissident, and former president of Czechoslovakia and later the Czech Republic, Vaclac Havel, once wrote:

“Hope is an orientation of the spirit, an orientation of the heart. It is not the conviction that something will turn out well, but the certainty that something makes sense, regardless of how it turns out.”

What do Havel’s words mean to you? How can you develop an orientation of the heart that allows you to believe that no matter what happens, regardless of how things turn out – even if you are disappointed – that things have meaning?

If you are serious in your intention to change course, you must do so with a hopeful spirit. Expect bumps in the road. At the same time, have faith that there is a reason for everything and that, even if the reason is not clear at the time, everything really does makes sense.

You don’t have to wait to turn 50 to experience the serenity and the power that comes with knowing what you want. Life is just too short to settle for less.

About the Author
“Off the beaten career path” consultant, Valerie Young, abandoned her corporate cubicle to become the Dreamer in Residence at http://www.ChangingCourse.com, offering free resources to help you discover your life mission and live it. Her career change tips have been cited The Wall Street Journal, USA Today Weekend, Redbook, Entrepreneur’s Business Start Ups, and on-line at MSN, CareerBuilder, and iVillage.com. An expert on the Impostor Syndrome, she’s presented her How to Feel as Bright and Capable as Everyone Seems to Think You Are program to thousands of people.

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by Brian Tracy

After having studied top achievers and peak performers over the past 25 years, I've concluded that these unique men and women have, in most cases, mastered what I call the Seven C's of Success.

Clarity - Eighty percent of success comes from being clear on who you are, what you believe in and what you want.

Competence - You can't climb to the next rung on the ladder until you are excellent at what you do now.

Constraints - Eighty percent of all obstacles to success come from within. Find out what is constraining in you or your company and deal with it.

Concentration - The ability to focus on one thing single-mindedly and see it through until its done takes more character than anything else.

Creativity - Flood your life with ideas from many sources. Creativity needs to be exercised like a muscle, if you don't use it you'll lose it.

Courage - Most in demand and least in supply, courage is the willingness to do the things you know are right.

Continuous learning - Read, at the very least, one book a week on business to keep you miles ahead of the competition. And just as you eat and bathe, organize your time so you spend 30 minutes a day exploring e-mail, sending messages, going through web sites, because like exercise, it's the only way you can keep on top of technology. If you get away from it, you'll lose your edge.

Quote of the Day
The purposes in the human mind are like deep water, but the intelligent [man] will draw them out.
- Proverbs 20:5 NRS

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Hello,

Long time, no update. Not too many new and exciting things have been happening with me. I found a new church home, Grace AME. My daughter has joined the choir, she sang over the weekend. I joined the women's ministry. I plan on joining the Usher Board. I am loosing with Weight Watchers. Yeah!!!!! My writing has been slipping. But, I have been preparing for November (Write a Novel in a Month Challenge). And, I do keep an idea journal so the juices are flowing and stewing. Life is good. Today, I am posting an old favorite(Are you STILL dating?)and a new message that was passed on to me today. I don't have quotes for you but I will next time. I hope that you enjoy the following posts.

Are you STILL dating?
As we embark on the weekend, I have a question. (As I always do) Are you still dating God?

I know I am all in your business but I just want to know. You know He's a great guy. He looks out for you. He gives you great advice and words of encouragement when you are feeling down. He's even man enough to stand up to you when you know you're wrong. That's a good thing right? Nobody wants a wimp. So why haven't you gotten together yet?

I know how it can be. You can like a person, know they're good for you but not really take the time to get to know them. I know you hang out with Him from time to time and sometimes on Sundays but are you getting serious yet? I know He calls you, but do you call Him back? Then when you do talk to Him, do you talk or do you just sit there listening?

Look, I'm here to tell you, the man is really interested. He loves you. He's been in love with you for a while. He even said so, Jeremiah 31:3

Stop Cutting Yourself Down!
Discussing his low self-esteem, cartoon character Charlie Brown says,
"It goes back to when I first set foot on the stage of life. They looked at me and said, 'He's just not right for the part!'" You may smile, but when you've spent your life engaged in self-flagellation you know exactly what he means. The man in the tombs spent his days "cutting himself" because he thought he was worthless. And many of us who wear a game face in public spend our days doing the same thing.

Your self-image is second only to your faith in God. It doesn't matter what others think of you, what matters is what you think of yourself -based on what God thinks! Self-esteem has to come from self. That's why it's hard to believe the good things people say about you when you can't see them in yourself. Plus, how you treat others flows directly from your reservoir of personal dignity and self-respect. It's impossible to "Love your neighbour as yourself" (Mt 19:19 NIV) when you don't even like yourself. Paul says a man should love his wife like he loves himself (See Eph 5:28). But when you detest yourself how can you love your mate?

The only time any of us even comes close to perfection is on a job application! Stop cutting yourself down! God made you the way you are in order to use you the way He planned. Start complimenting Him on the great job He did. And remember, He loves you unconditionally - and that's the only reason you need for loving yourself!

Bible-in-a-year Reading: Gen 24:1-51, 2 Cor 6:14 - 7:1

K.M. Abney has been a featured writer on the web. She is a member of the Black Writers Guild and Toastmasters. She loves feedback and can be contacted at kenmoab1@verizon.net.

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