Abraham-Hicks on the Financial Crisis

Hi, everyone;

How are you doing financially and emotionally these days?

With every TV station on the continent covering the current 'financial crisis,' it can be difficult to focus on the abundance you want for yourself and your loved ones. When you are worrying about foreclosures, job losses and rapidly dwindling or fluctuating retirment savings, remaining positive and keeping your spirits up can be a tall order.





To remind you how to keep your thoughts on what you WANT and to attract the prosperity and security you seek, here is a video recently posted by Abraham-Hicks. Enjoy!



**Also of great inspiration in remembering what is important and in pursuing goals that are bigger than we are - goals that are important to our planet and our children's future - is the following movie:

THE SHIFT MOVIE

Abraham-Hicks on the Financial Crisis

Exploring Your Influences

You are what you eat, they say...and you are also who you hang out with.

It can also be said you are the books you read, the TV you watch and, in general, the influences you allow into your daily life.

Every little thing that floats across our awareness - conscious or subconscious - affects how we think and behave, which in turn affects the results we achieve (or don't!). For those of you interested in fine tuning your results in life, I encourage you to explore the influences which surround you. In fact, it's the subconscious influences which have the deepest affect - doubly so because we don't notice them.

For instance, most of us have heard all our lives that the slim, beautiful women in magazines affect the self-image of 'normal' girls and ladies. I simply have never felt that this influence applied to me. I'm too smart for that, I thought; too confident, too happy and centered to worry about such things. In fact, I find myself inspired by slim, beautiful women most of the time. However, I recently discovered how deep these influences go while pondering the seemingly simple choice of changing my hairstyle. My mind began regurgitating judgements about what is feminine, how old is too old to have 'x' length of hair, etc. etc.. Where did I get all this from?? Answer: TV, magazines, in-store posters ... in short, every ad I've ever seen that attempts to tell me what I 'should' look like at my age. What we REALLY should be doing, always, is looking to ourselves and deciding what we love and what is best for us.

TIP: If you don't listen to your own inner voice very often, start now. Your inner self knows more than you do, and this is one important skill that develops with practice. In fact, it's one of the most important things you can do on your journey to create your own authentic, powerful future life. There has never been an occasion when I asked my 'self' for an answer and didn't receive it. Without fail, I have received answers or suggestions that are right on the mark.

As another example, a woman in a Law of Attraction group I am a part of was trying to overcome some financial problems. She was learning about finances and maintaining a positive attitude, but felt she was being held back for some reason. One day, she was cleaning off her desk at home and it hit her like a ton of bricks that she was surrounding herself with negative influences. She related that all over her desk were piles of bills that needed to be paid. Imagine the draining and negative subconscious messages being imprinted in the brain of someone sitting at a desk looking at piles of bills all day!

The Untapped Positive

While we may all have people or situations in our lives that are less than ideal, there is much we can do to we can widen our perspective and explore ways to increase the positive influences.

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

As just one example of things you may be missing, I was recently brainstorming for a book a I am writing. As part of my research, I decided to interview any and all millionaires I know personally. While my few millionaire friends automatically made the list, I began to wonder if there was anyone I might have overlooked. As I considered people I know or have known, quite a few names 'popped' as I realized that these people likely have at least a million dollars' net worth. There's the quiet, unassuming executive who lives in a modest home but takes his wife to places like Venice on the occasional weekend, and the owner of the factory, and my uncle who has always handled his money carefully ... isn't it possible - even likely - that these people and possibly many more I know are millionaires? Most of the time I am lamenting that I don't know/hang out with nearly enough wealthy people, knowing how important our influences are. With this fun new discovery, not only am I bound to get some fantastic insights from these inspiring people, I got a lasting infusion of encouragement and connectedness from the realization that so many like-minded people surround me. This is also a brilliant and inspiring story I can share with my blog and book readers ... after all, surely YOU are surrounded by such people too!

Go ahead and explore your influences, both positive and negative. Such personal development work can lead to exciting and powerful insights, which in turn can lead to quick and lasting changes. Whatever influences you'd LIKE to have in your life are closer and more possible than you think, and by also eliminating some of the negatives, you are well on your way to creating your dreams with more power and energy than ever. Enjoy!

Recommended books:

Exploring Your Influences

The Power of Underachieving

What? UNDERachieving?

That's right. I've made a fun discovery, and I want to share it with you. No doubt many others have discovered this before me, however in my years of studying and applying personal development tenets I have recently read this for the first time, so I'm guessing it's a little-known idea compared to other, more well-known principles. Perhaps we have heard it but put another way, and if even one person reading this has a light-bulb moment, then my sharing it is worthwhile.

I credit one of my mentors, Robert Kiyosaki of the famous Rich Dad franchise for introducing me to this, and he in turn credits Canada's Raymond Aaron. Both gentlemen are very successful, so there must be something to this advice. Robert Kiyosaki has helped me profitably change my mindset when it comes to money, business, and what really matters financially, and Raymond Aaron's advice has helped me with consistency, which in turn has helped me accomplish far more than I otherwise would have. Who knew?

Questions: Do you have big dreams and goals? Are you on the path to amazing and awe-inspiring achievements? If you look inside and are honest, are your goals and dreams so big that they sometimes intimidate and overwhelm you with their enormity?

While we have all been focusing on our goals, reaching for the stars, striving to change our thoughts and behaviors and achieve ever more, this new (to me) idea brings up the opposite point of view. In a simple and stunning swipe at everything I have believed to this point, Aaron tells me to try underachieving. After my double-take, I began to think about what he was saying. It doesn't actually conflict with my beliefs, but complements them. Essentially, the point is reiterated that we put so much pressure on ourselves to accomplish things that sometimes it can be overwhelming. If this feeling of 'too much' begins to feel too heavy, often people will end up doing nothing at all, rather than taking the necessary steps to pursue their dreams.
Solution: try taking the pressure off. What if, every day when you contemplated going to the gym, for instance, instead of thinking you must lift heavier or run faster or last longer ('But I'm still sore from yesterday!' you're thinking), you just said to yourself 'Well, as long as I do a little something, I'm satisfied,'? If you might have even skipped your workout because the prospect was so intimidating, perhaps now you might do that 'little something' and not feel so guilty about not doing more.

You know what? LITTLE SOMETHINGS every day are what add up to success in the long-term.

While this idea seems to fly in the face of conventional wisdom, in reality it fully supports them - and you! With less pressure on yourself, you can feel OK just performing little tasks every day which lead you toward your dreams. The world was not meant to be conquered in a day. Haven't you read a million times that it's the little steps you take every day which lead to your dreams being fulfilled? So why do we try to do so much, and often end up curled up in bed whimpering?

The proof: Since reading this, I have been more consistent with almost every important aspect of my life: exercise, eating habits, cleaning, communication, work and goal-achieving activities...you name it, I've been doing little bits every day. With the pressure off, I can relax and just do what feels right in the moment, and somehow everything gets done, little by little. It's amazing! I feel better about things that have been weighing on me, and they are getting done. A huge pile of filing I'd been avoiding, for instance, is slowly going down, because instead of hiding from what seemed like an insurmountable pile, I'm doing a portion each day.

Perhaps with this new idea you'll even enjoy goal setting and thinking about your future more. Instead of being secretly scared or feeling incompetent, you can relax and assure yourself that with every little bit you do, you're moving along just fine, thank you. And it's OK this way. Slow and steady turtle, anyone?

The Power of Underachieving

$$$ I Need a LOT More Money $$$

I travel a LOT. It's a focal point of the lifestyle I have created for myself in the past few years, now that I am 'following my own path.' I have completely revamped my life, from being (what felt like) a slave-like 9 to 5 employee to living with freedom and choice...in fact, I am getting choked up just writing about it, filled with gratitude and the realization of how far I have come.

If you had talked to me several years ago, you would have heard me lamenting about how I longed for freedom and travel...and now here I am, living that. THANK YOU, past self, for struggling through all the challenges and doubt that come with such a creative journey. This is one main reason I write this blog - I want to share my passionate belief in the beauty and power of forging your own unique path in life; one which reflects your personal style and dreams.

I also struggled for many years with the typical challenges of wanting more money, and discovering the process of eliminating my negative beliefs and habits. I have come to believe - and experience - that money is abundant in this world, and I have huge wants and desires for experiences and things which bring me sheer pleasure. I feel no guilt about any of this, and I am very generous with my money. In fact, on a cruise I just returned from yesterday (see picture of my daughter jumping up and down on the bed in excitement), I probably spent as much in tips and gifts as I did on necessary expenditures. I am well aware that the people who work on such ships and live in the port cities are not wealthy, and I like to share kindness and money where I can.

That being said, I came across some BEAUTIFUL things to add to my Christmas list, and I am happy to say that I can look forward to choosing to get them - or not - when I have raised my wealth mentality enough that the price is not an issue. The point is, I need WAY more money. This is a good thing! It means I have reached a new level and now need to reach for more. This is not the blind and endless striving of the past; it is growing and stretching with pleasure and pain and whatever emotions accompany the journey. Money, for me, is one outward symbol of how far I have come in my abundance mentality.

**TIP: If you are reading this and thinking anything judgmental (selfish! greedy! lack lack lack), this is a fantastic opportunity to look at your OWN judgments and see what they may say about you and your mentality when it comes to money. I list some of my favorites below so you can examine what thoughts may come up when you see them.

The Ocean 'waterfall' necklace from Mikimoto: Oh, so beautiful. Blue sapphires and cultured pearls...and only $26,000! There is such beauty and creativity in this world, and Iwemust remember to focus on what we love and want, not on the stark contrast between these beautiful things and the depravity and lack that exists in the world. This is a lesson in focus, not on right or wrong, nor greed, nor generosity nor virtue.

Gucci Horsebit Ring, Smoky Quartz, Approx. $3400: How stunning is that? I loved this ring from the moment I laid eyes on it, and I shall have it someday. Either that, or I shall grow out of the desire for it...we'll see!



Necklace from the Marina Collection by Valente Milano, approx. $26,000: The picture isn't that great, but trust me - it's beautiful! Onyx, ivory, glittering precious stones and little gems...oh, how it makes my heart sing.

The truth, of course, is that we all love different things. My Mom hates the Milano necklace, and that's the way it should be. The necklace is just a physical thing, and it happens to bring me delight. We each have our own exquisitely unique version of delight, and there are enough people, places, feelings and things in this beautiful world to make the perfect recipe for each of us. All we have to do is get out there and begin exploring. Best wishes to you as you begin formulating your plan for the coming year...be sure it revolves around YOU.

$$$ I Need a LOT More Money $$$

Retirement and the Five Percent Return

All your life, you have likely been exposed to the concept of retirement. Save for retirement, you are told. Plan your life and your finances intelligently, so you'll have enough to last you in retirement. While this may all be very good advice, have you ever stopped to consider the pre-assumptions involved? It may seem intelligent, but it actually assumes a lack of intelligence in all of us.

Background

The entire concept of retirement is based on an antiquated system, where people used to work for one company all their lives. These loyal employees would work hard, build their pension and eventually retire and enjoy the benefits of those pre-paid and usually government-subsidized pension payments. In their golden years, the many decades of hard work one put in would be rewarded with time off and some income to ensure they would be OK to enjoy it.

We all know the dynamics of the workplace have changed very significantly, with more people changing jobs regularly, tasks being effectively outsourced and individuals choosing to consult rather than be employees. One can no longer rely on any corporation to provide for their future; we are each truly responsible for our own financial well-being.

Is Retirement a Four Letter Word?

There is a further issue to consider here, one that is largely unspoken, and that is the pre-assumption that you will have to work until you are old/er. It is presumed that you will not have or take control of your finances and create an asset base to serve you. You are not smart or capable enough to come up with ideas on your own; to start a lucrative business - or five! What about investing? Not 5% investing but 1000% investing? It is presumed that you will remain ignorant financially and will have a long, slow slog towards a day when you can finally (if you're lucky! - and have been good) quit your job and enjoy a little freedom. You, the average citizen, are not smart or capable enough to figure out another way. You believe (and will continue to believe) that the rich are just 'lucky' and that it is impossible or very difficult to become wealthy.

That the same institutions who perpetuate this myth purvey 'financial freedom' products is a cruel joke. The retirement industry keeps people ignorant and relies on that ignorance to continue selling low-yielding products such as GIC's, bonds and mutual funds. Has anyone ever told you to invest in bank STOCKS rather than bank products? Investing in bank products keeps the bankers laughing all the way to the bank.

5% = 0.05

The key to financial freedom, as I mention often at my new blog Women & Money, is EDUCATION: education that is applied with confidence and persistence. The internet has made it so easy to obtain good financial education that there is no excuse to be ignorant any longer. [Hint: Try investopedia.com and the myriad financial sites such as CBNC and Yahoo! finance for a start.] Even without the internet, we have libraries full of FREE books on everything from various stock market strategies to real estate investing and more. Further, there are means to wealth that the mutual fund companies and banks never mention. Now why is that? It's because they NEED naive investors to continue buying their products so they can - literally - bank the profits. Have you ever considered what they do with your money to make themselves more of it? Money can grow, and should.

Many people find numbers boring or intimidating, on top of the fact that they believe they have no control. However, control and freedom are within the grasp of each of us, if we only reach for them with determination. The incredible joy and hope you will feel when the 'numbers' go from boring or scary to beautiful - because they represent the wielding of control and understanding - is second to none. It is empowering, inspiring, and something we should ALL feel.

YOU CANNOT GET WEALTHY ON A 5% RETURN.

Retirement and the Five Percent Return

I'm Not Who I Say I Am! (An Exploration)

Smelling the Flowers

If I want to be someone who is free to choose my daily activities and who enjoys life to the fullest each moment, then why am I not? ... I thought I was.

I have spent the past few years arranging and creating my life so that I work (play) from home, travel regularly, and can stop and smell the roses, so to speak, whenever I want. It has been a struggle, and a journey, and a marvelous learning adventure. One cannot create the life of their dreams without consciously doing so, and in the process learning and defining a LOT about themselves.

So why is it that I recently felt a strange pang of guilt as I watched people going off to work dressed in business attire and looking at me jealously or perhaps with - what was it? - disdain? As if, dressed in my casual clothes I was 'just a housewife' or something, and not contributing to normal society. Where did all these thoughts come from? Obviously from inside of myself, but I am shocked that they are there at all.

I had just sent my daughter off to school, and it was such a beautiful morning that I decided to take a walk around the neighborhood before returning to my computer. I live in a very vibrant and bustling community which was busy with commuters walking to the subway and driving past me to go to their workplaces. In my flowing summer skirt, t-shirt and flip-flops, I looked very separate from this rushing world. I have a been a part of it and chose to leave and pursue my very personal and ambitious dreams. I am home because I have exercised my personal power and created a life that is aligned with my highest value of freedom. Thus, this scene represented the results of that choice; I had the freedom to enjoy the little birds and the flowers and the stunning sunrise at my leisure, while people still 'trapped' rushed past me. So why did I feel guilty?...

Inner Conflict

This is a lesson in conflicting thoughts. It's good when they surface, because you can recognize them and straighten out your beliefs so they align with your values and desires. What I realised on this morning was that I am not who I say I am, at least not 100%. The reason I felt odd or awkward about not going to 'work' was that part of me must still be identifying with that ethic. Part of me must still believe that you have to work from 9 to 5 for a living, and that anyone who thinks otherwise is fooling themselves, or perhaps is lazy. This was an opportunity to see that my beliefs were not aligned with my desires. I was not identifying with what I say I am.

Do you think truly wealthy, free and happy people feel guilty about being so? Wouldn't that defeat the purpose?

I have noticed this as well when speaking with friends of my husband's. When they ask me 'what I do,' I somehow feel I must justify my existence by saying I work from home, or I own and operate a network of internet-based businesses, etc.. However, if my goal is to be independently wealthy, to just have fun investing my money and just be...well, HAPPY...then why should I feel the need to justify anything at all? Perhaps there is a need to fit in by having something to say with which they can identify. I need to give some thought to what I might be comfortable saying that speaks of who I am without attaching some job or label to it.

For now, I'm grateful for the opportunity to have noticed a limiting or misaligned belief, so that I can explore and change it to something that serves me better. This is the process by which we grow and change into the people we want to be - the people who are living the lives of our dreams!

I'm Not Who I Say I Am! (An Exploration)