You Are the Message

The amount of time it takes you to read this first sentence is all the time you have to make a first impression on someone new. Seven seconds. That's it. Time's up.

We formulate judgments and opinions of each other so fast that we rarely have time to think about the significance of our processing. Think about the last time you met someone new. How did you feel even before the other person uttered their first word? Was your initial intuition confirmed when they spoke to you or did you misjudge? Did they make eye contact with you as they approached? What did you think of their demeanor, their posture, their gestures, and the tone and delivery of their words? What judgments did you make based on their appearance? Did they "exude" a commanding presence or an unenviable timidity?

Whatever you may have been feeling as you spent those precious first seven seconds coming to your initial conclusion, something else was taking place at the very same time—You were also being analyzed.
 

Human interaction is an amazing concept of study. While most of us tend to see ourselves cast in a favorable light that others must surely see, we rarely consider the alternative perspective others really have of us. Why is that? One reason is simply based on the fact that we're so busy analyzing others that we fail to consider that we too are being analyzed. The other, more often overlooked reason is that every one of us have "hidden windows" or areas that we simply cannot see or are not yet aware of.

Based on the psychological concept of the Johari Window, the theory uses the Johari House, with four windows leading to corresponding rooms. Each room metaphorically represents a part of who we are with respect to our personality, mannerisms, and the interpersonal energy we convey to others as well as the level of awareness and insight we, and others, have upon each area.

Room 1 is that part of ourselves we see and others see.
Room 2 contains the elements that others see but we are not (yet) aware of.
Room 3 is the most mysterious room in that the subconscious part of us is seen by neither ourselves nor others.
Room 4 is our private space, which we know but keep hidden from others.

Knowing that you have areas you cannot see, for one reason or another, is significant in that you are unable to see yourself in the totality of how you are perceived by others. While you may consider yourself to be considerate and open-minded, others may see you as an arrogant know-it-all. This typically occurs when others detect a mismatch in your delivery and your words, for example. It therefore goes to show that we must continually take steps to discover the truth of who we are if we intend to project an accurate reflection of who (and how) we wish to be considered.

One of the greatest gifts we can give to ourselves is to seek, find, and apply truth in our life. Aligning ourselves with truth permits a better person to emerge from within. One of the best ways to accomplish this is through introspection—that is, being honest with ourselves about what we know and don't know. Pay careful attention to how others react when you're around. Confide in someone you can trust to give you an honest assessment of what they see that you cannot. Be careful not to overreact to the honesty of your trusted confidant and be prepared to accept the changes you must make. These changes will most likely lead to improvements you need to hear and will make it easier to cast a better impression upon yourself.

The impression you make upon others is an integral part of human interaction. The process of conveying an accurate impression is not merely limited to the words we select. While dialogue, tone and delivery are important, they are by no means the only aspects of communication that matter. We communicate with our entire being whether we care to admit it or not. We send signals or convey messages with every conceivable aspect of ourselves. Eye contact, gestures and mannerisms, posture, personal appearance—they are all considered in the amazingly fast seven-second analogy of an initial encounter.
Consider these aspects of human interaction as you look for ways to improve your chances of an accurate analysis (and a positive impression) by others when you meet for the first time:

• Optimism
• Eye Contact
• Comfort Level
• Active Listening
• Gestures
• Physical Space and Contact

These aspects are but a few of the elements that make a clear difference in how you are received, or subtlety rejected, in the First Seven Seconds. Think about the differences in the message you have been conveying against the message you wish to convey from this point forward. The time you spend making subtle changes may be worth the introspection.

Until next time!

-G-

                                                                                                                                          


Just released: KEY HORIZON the second novel in the G. Weston spy series.
Get your copy of my first novel Dream Operative.

Visit my website (www.gwestfal.com) or Amazon.com and order your copy of these exciting novels today!

If you'd like to receive a notification anytime I publish a new blog (currently about every two weeks), visit my Facebook page: G. Gary Westfal, Writer, Artist Educator

Once there, click on "Get Update via RSS" on the bottom left of the column. You'll be subscribed and will receive a notification anytime I publish a new blog or provide updates to my novel series. Please help me by recommending this blog to others and by "liking" my Facebook page.

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Your Circle of Influence

You've seen it written many times in this blog and may have even heard it countless times through other sources...

Our lives are largely determined by the choices we make.

Makes sense, right?

The fact that our decisions play such a pivotal role in shaping our lives isn't all that difficult of a concept to accept if you really think about it. But here's an often overlooked aspect to the power of choice that's just as instrumental in charting the course and construct of our lives...

The company we keep, or more aptly stated, the people with whom we decide to associate, can have a profound effect on the kind life we lead.

The people we (choose to) associate with have more of an influence on the direction and construct of our life than most of us realize or readily recognize. Associate or align yourself with the right person, group, or relationship and your life is positively influenced through challenge, commonality, encouragement, compassion and creativity. Make the wrong choice however, and just the opposite will inevitably occur. And make no mistake, we have the power of choice when it comes to whom we associate with...in other words, we choose our friends and relationships, they don't choose us.

The biggest reason most people choose to stay in bad relationships is because of fear. Face it, most of us absolutely despise even the thought of hurting someone's feelings. More often than not, we consciously choose to stay in a relationship or maintain a friendship out of fear than to muster the courage to move on, even if it knowingly sacrifices our desire for a happier, more meaningful life better suited to the ideals we envision or rightfully deserve.

When it comes to choosing positive relationships, we should keep the following points in mind:

Choose positive influencers - "As iron shapes iron, so one person sharpens another." (Proverbs 27:17) The right person or relationship builds upon the strengths you inherently possess. This type of relationship should sharpen you, encourage you, motivate you, and better you. It should be additive in value and should never be a source of frustration, fear, or consternation.

Choose compassionate people - Is your partner or friend a source you can rely on when you're psychologically, physically, or spiritually drained? Will they listen to you compassionately as they help you find the answers that inherently lie within you? Are they a source of positive energy and genuine joy? These kinds of relationships will do more to help you stay on track without derailing your desires to become all you can become.

Choose acceptance-minded people - The best relationships occur between people who allow each other to be "real" and accept each other for whom they are as well as whom they are yet to become. There's a lot to be said about the value of a friend who understands and accepts you, complete with your imperfections, when you need them most. "A real friend loves at all times." (Proverbs 17:17)

Choose centered people - Centered people are not "self-centered"; they are centered and well-grounded and confident with themselves. They are not in relationships to compete or compare. Centered people are honest and unselfish. They know how to communicate on a level that is both meaningful and influential. These people have earned your trust and respect and are able to help you through positive feedback and helpful guidance.

The best relationships should be ones that add value to your life and contain some or most of the above qualities. You have the power to define that. You have the power to remain in bad  relationships inasmuch as you do to escape them and establish better, more loving or meaningful ones. Don't allow fear to keep you tied to relationships that are counterproductive to living a successful, happy life.

The greatest power we possess is the power of choice. You have the power to shape your life through the choices you make and the relationships you keep.

Choose wisely.

Until next time!

-G-

"People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. When you figure out which it is, you will know exactly what to do." ~Michelle Ventor                 
                                                                                                                                                 


Just released: KEY HORIZON the second novel in the G. Weston spy series.
Get your copy of my first novel Dream Operative.

Visit my website (www.gwestfal.com) or Amazon.com and order your copy of these exciting novels today!

If you'd like to receive a notification anytime I publish a new blog (currently about every two weeks), visit my Facebook page: G. Gary Westfal, Writer, Artist Educator

Once there, click on "Get Update via RSS" on the bottom left of the column. You'll be subscribed and will receive a notification anytime I publish a new blog or provide updates to my novel series. Please help me by recommending this blog to others and by "liking" my Facebook page.

If you enjoyed this article you can help by recommending it on Google by pressing the "g+1" button below...

The Magic of Teamwork

Just about everywhere we look these days we see messages that promote the power of personal achievement, the significance of introspection, and the importance of empowerment. The fact that we're seeing more of these kinds of messages indicates a positive trend in the expansion of an awareness among the masses that attests to the significance of our potential. While these messages are absolute essentials in the advancement of ideals, initiatives, and endeavors, they form a unilateral framework for the achievement of those very ideals, initiatives, and endeavors. In other words, when it comes to the achievement of just about anything you can imagine it is rarely, if ever, the result of the act or idea of just one person.

The leading paragraph above speaks of society's advancement of the individual through intellect and personal awareness and places great emphasis on individual learning. Colleges drive home the point of individualism through messages and instructional methodologies that emphasize how much a person should know in order to achieve a scholastic degree or academic standing. We're consistently told to "be the best," "you can do anything..." etc. only to arrive into the real world where few are adequately equipped to function collaboratively. For some of us, this comes as a huge surprise as we suddenly realize that little, if anything, can be effectively realized without some kind of teamwork. For those few of us who were fortunate enough to be exposed to team sports and other civic groups, organizations, or memberships, we come better prepared...not fully prepared, but better prepared.

Teamwork is loosely defined as "work done by several associates or like-minded people, each doing their own part according to their strengths or expertise, each contributing a part of whom they are, consciously subordinating personal prominence, to the objective or entirety of the whole." Big breath...in other words, two or more people that work well with each other.

It is a fundamental truth that time and effort are leveraged when two or more people collaborate ideas, ideals, resources, and labor. A myriad of examples immediately come to mind ranging from two like-minded people seeking to create a business to a married couple looking for common ground upon which to build their dreams. The commonality among virtually any of these rests with an ability to build an effective team. At the heart of effective team building lie some fundamental truths that, if applied, will undoubtedly better equip your team for success.

Communication - An absolute essential element in any successful team, communication conveys vital information, discloses the objectives, and inspires. This process doesn't require lengthy diatribes and "death-by-power point" meetings or infer one-sided pronouncements and proclamations. Instead, effective communication should be issue-centric, informative, and support the sharing of essential elements and ideas that will promote the objectives of the team.

Respect - In order to experience the fullness of teamwork and the effective flow of communication, there must be mutual respect among the members. Whether your team is comprised of one other member aside from yourself (a business partner, friend, or a spouse) or is made up of several members, every member must respect the views of the others. Every member must feel as though they have relevance. Relevance supports commitment and loyalty, both of which reinforces a team's overall construct. However, respect is a bi-lateral concept whereby each member should be aware of and reactive to both the strengths and weaknesses of the team, hence the need for the team's existence in the first place. 

Decentralized personal focus - While each member is to be considered a vital part of the whole, the process of team collaboration should never become personal. As soon as it does, it becomes fragile and is in danger of failing. This fundamental truth ties back to the second truth of respect. Ideas and concepts can be scrutinized and analyzed but personalities should never take center stage. Remaining clearly focused on the objectives will always result in team cohesiveness, learning, maturity, and success. I've found that, no matter what the topic, a decentralized personal focus almost always yields positive results while avoiding the sting of personal targeting.  

Define the win - While the concept of teamwork typically will advance the objective, rarely will one member's ideas be fully adopted. More often than not, there will be both adoptions and concessions that will not always be agreed to by one or more members. Defining the win ties back to the first truth - communication. There must be an agreement among the members of the team on the definition of a "win." In other words, whether or not ideas or concepts are adopted or rejected must be subordinated to the overall aspect of progression in terms of moving closer to an objective - the win.

Who do you have on your team? Are you employing the sound principles and truths that will yield the best, most effective results? If not, maybe an adjustment is in order. Start with an open discussion and take it from there. The fact that you bring awareness to the team will begin to pay huge dividends from the start.

Until next time!

-G-

"Teamwork is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results." ~Andrew Carnegie                 
                                                                                                                                                 


Just released: KEY HORIZON the second novel in the G. Weston series.
Get your copy of my first novel Dream Operative.

Visit my website (www.gwestfal.com) or Amazon.com and order your copy of these exciting novels today!

If you'd like to receive a notification anytime I publish a new blog (currently about every two weeks), visit my Facebook page: G. Gary Westfal, Writer, Artist Educator

Once there, click on "Get Update via RSS" on the bottom left of the column. You'll be subscribed and will receive a notification anytime I publish a new blog or provide updates to my novel series. Please help me by recommending this blog to others and by "liking" my Facebook page.

If you enjoyed this article you can help by recommending it on Google by pressing the "g+1" button below...

Find Your Center

Spirituality...if that word spooks you or sends up a proverbial warning flag, hang with me for a bit longer as I take you away from what most readers will expect to be a blog post about religion.

Far from it...

The essence of why I ever started the Introspection series rests with my desire to raise a "spiritual" level of awareness of the connectivity we have with a higher plane of consciousness we all possess, whether we know it yet or not.

Our subconscious is connected to a powerful source of energy that allows us to disconnect from the daily "noise" that dominates, diffuses and competes for our attention. The source is a place where that still, small voice of reason and wisdom resides. Some call it God—hence the religious implications—while others refer to it as the Higher Self, Chi, the Universe, Superconsciousness, or the Center. What you personally call it isn't as important or as relevant as the fact that it is very real and very powerful.

Your Center is something you can access at will. It is highly sensitive to the universal flow of energy we call life. It is a container of many sublime virtues, some of which are; joy, creativity, intuition, trust, love, integrity, compassion, and aspiration to name just a few.

Far too many of us are searching for something outside ourselves in an effort to satisfy an internal deficiency. We feel alienated, lonely, empty...incomplete. This feeling should serve as a clear indicator that we are out of synch or off course with our true and intended purpose and that a course correction is in order. Our typical first reaction is to look outside ourselves for solutions—a new car, a new mate, a better job—all of which typically result in only temporary and/or hollow satisfaction at best.

One of the best ways to address an internal deficiency is with an internal approach—an introspection. Simply defined, an introspection is an honest examination or observation of our innermost self from both a conscious and emotional perspective. "Great," you may say, "So how do I go about conducting an introspection?" Good question...

In order to hear the quiet leading of that still, small voice we must enlist the faculties of our Higher Self, or our spirit. The best way to go about doing that is to seek wisdom through meditation, prayer, or contemplative mindful awareness. Unfortunately, society continually bombards us with "conscious overload" placing a high emphasis on conscious and physical interactions that are designed to "stimulate" us and provide fulfillment. Yet, I think we can all agree that despite the array of options we have to achieve that objective, something remains amiss. That something lies at the center of who we truly are.

You may have heard the terms "body, mind, and spirit," yet, there are few sources that teach anything having to do with the imbalance that exists by the absence of a focus on the spiritual. Sure, one could argue that there are religious sources designed to address the spiritual aspect, but as a reminder, this article is not so much about the spirit from a religious point of view as it is from the broader context of a higher plane of consciousness that connects us with the divine resources of love, wisdom, knowledge, happiness...and to one another.

A powerful sense of peace and wisdom exists as we connect with our Center. So how do we access it? An overly simplistic answer can be found through the practice of meditation. Our Center contains a veritable storehouse of valuable insight the likes of which can only be found within a deeper level of consciousness. Meditation allows us to connect with our Center in such a way that connects us with infinite wisdom. Keeping things simple, you should find a quiet place to spend a few moments each day solely for the purpose of introspection through meditation or prayer or mindful awareness. Focus on your breathing while remaining alert to stray thoughts that distract you from being fully present, or aware, in the moment. The benefits of introspection are life-altering. Whatever answers or solace you seek is already an inherent part of you and will be there waiting for you in some form or fashion. All you have to do is make an effort to discover the prize that awaits.

It is true that life will bring us exactly what we ask of it. That which connects us with a higher power of consciousness lies at the Center of who we are and drives us to act according to its leading. So, be careful what you ask while knowing that whatever you ask, you shall indeed receive.  

Until next time!

-G-

"Your Center is that place where your story lies...that place where the truest essence of you resides."                     ~ G. Westfal
                                                                                                                                                 


Just released: KEY HORIZON the second novel in the G. Weston series.
Get your copy of my first novel Dream Operative.

Visit my website (www.gwestfal.com) or Amazon.com and order your copy of these exciting novels today!

If you'd like to receive a notification anytime I publish a new blog (currently about every two weeks), visit my Facebook page: G. Gary Westfal, Writer, Artist Educator

Once there, click on "Get Update via RSS" on the bottom left of the column. You'll be subscribed and will receive a notification anytime I publish a new blog or provide updates to my novel series. Please help me by recommending this blog to others and by "liking" my Facebook page.

If you enjoyed this article you can help by recommending it on Google by pressing the "g+1" button below...

Why Character is Important

Good character is built upon sound moral principles. The concept of character can imply a variety of personal attributes including the existence or lack of ethical principles such as honesty, courage, fortitude, loyalty, or sincerity. Character describes a set of virtues or qualities that distinguishes one person from another given varying situations that "test" the parameters of an individual's behavior.

Personal success and achievement is predicated upon the foundation of character, and character is often the result of choices we make that effectively define who we are during a given situation. If a good character-based decision-making process is not present, we'll likely know it from the moment we make a decision that is incongruent with the kind of character that is inconsistent with the foundational principles of success and achievement. Good character can literally help transform us from who we are into whom we wish to become.

Character is the culmination of learned traits. It's not something we're born with. It is something we must take full responsibility for creating. We build character by the standards we uphold, given the varying circumstances we find ourselves in during our lives, no matter what. The character traits we adopt is a personal choice that reflects outwardly inasmuch as it reflects inwardly. In other words, our character is evident to others inasmuch as it is to us. Our character traits are distinguishable between and among us all.

Our character defines who we are and sets the moral standards we uphold as the model for our lives. We build character from certain qualities that we must adopt and instill within ourselves. An honest introspection is typically in order as we face new decisions that require us to form new character traits. Much like the careful nurturing of our mind, body, and spirit, we must also be careful to nurture the qualities we desire to uphold as we form new character traits that define who we are and whom we wish to become.

The really amazing thing about character is that if we're sincerely committed to transforming ourselves into the person we wish to become, we'll not only create those good character qualities, but we'll also strengthen them and re-chart the very course of our lives.

Commit to building your character, starting today. Be mindful of the manner in which you react to given situations while keeping in mind that the manner in which you act or react defines who you are as well as who you wish to become.

Until next time!

-G-

"Character is how you treat those who can do nothing for you."



Just released: KEY HORIZON the second novel in the G. Weston series.
Get your copy of my first novel Dream Operative.

Visit my website (www.gwestfal.com) or Amazon.com and order your copy of these exciting novels today!

If you'd like to receive a notification anytime I publish a new blog (currently about every two weeks), visit my Facebook page: G. Gary Westfal, Writer, Artist Educator

Once there, click on "Get Update via RSS" on the bottom left of the column. You'll be subscribed and will receive a notification anytime I publish a new blog or provide updates to my novel series. Please help me by recommending this blog to others and by "liking" my Facebook page.

If you enjoyed this article you can help by recommending it on Google by pressing the "g+1" button below...



   

 

The Power of Choice

Wherever you are right now, this very moment, whatever circumstance you're in, it's important to understand that your life is defined by the sum total of the choices you have made to this point. That may be tough for some of us to comprehend. After all, you could probably think of a number of things that are purely "circumstantial". Yet, at any time we wish, we can discipline ourselves to change it all because we are not defined by our circumstances but by our reaction to the circumstances of life. We can choose to open our mind to new knowledge, concepts, attitudes, or beliefs. At any time we wish, we can begin a new activity or chart a totally new course for our lives. We can make subtle changes or radical shifts that will literally re-chart the course of our lives. We can do it now with one single source of power - Choice!

Every one of us has the power of choice but only a select few recognize the differences it can make in our lives if we'll just use it effectively. Far too many yield to the pressures of life and choose comfort over effort, entertainment over education, doubt over conviction. Every one of us has the power to have anything we can imagine from life. It all begins and ends with...Choice!

We cannot allow our fears or uncertainties to lead us down the wrong path and prevents us from making the right choices for our lives, because concession or denial is also a choice and can be just as powerful. Instead, why not make choices that make the biggest difference in the construct of our lives? We have both the ability and the responsibility to make better choices beginning right NOW! So decide right now to make one choice that will bring change, happiness and joy into your life. Then repeat the process until you form a new habit of making wise choices and watch your life begin to transform.

Another thing to consider is a practice referred to as mindfulness. It's a simple but powerful concept that refreshes (or awakens) the mind to the gift of life that surrounds us all right now. Begin by pushing irrelevant thoughts from your mind and stepping into the present moment. In so doing, you focus less on the fears that drive your life but the very things that bring you real happiness. More on this topic in a later blog. For now, choose wisely...after all, the course of your very life depends upon it.  

What are your thoughts? Post a comment below...

Until next time!

- G -

"You can make a decision...or not. Either way, you have chosen."   G. Westfal -

If you enjoyed this article, you can help by recommending it on Google by pressing the "g+1" button below...

----------------------------------

Get your copy of my first novel Dream Operative.
Visit my website (www.gwestfal.com) and order your copy today!
And look for my next novel, Key Horizon, to be released soon.
 

Receive a notification anytime I publish a new blog, visit my Facebook page:
 G. Gary Westfal, Writer, Artist Educator

Once there, click on "Get Update via RSS" on the bottom of the left column. You'll be subscribed and will receive notification whenever I publish a new blog or provide updates to my next novel Key Horizon. And help me by recommending this blog to others and "liking" my FB page.

How Do We get From Here to There?

How do we get from here to there?  Where exactly is “there” anyway? If you’ve ever wondered how some people just seem to have a knack for having more in life, you’re not alone.

It’s not inherently wrong to desire more. We can’t help it actually. We’re naturally programmed toward “more” as a basic tenet of our survival instinct. If this is true then why are we consistently met with obstacles in our pursuit of more? One of the least obvious reasons is that we haven’t given ourselves permission. Oh sure, we may “think” we’re ready. After all, who among us isn’t ready to handle a boatload of lottery winnings for example?

Answer: Most every one of us.

Reason: Our limited programming is almost always in the way.

It’s an accepted fact that our subconscious mind does not know the difference between reality and imagination. Think of the many times you watched a movie. How many times were your emotions stirred, your fears ignited or your adrenaline spiked as a result of watching the scenes play out? The proof of our psychological and physiological reactions to a movie is the proof of the power of our subconscious mind over our conscious mind.

It does not know the difference between real and imagined because there are no filters at the subconscious level. It simply reacts according to the stimulus it is exposed to because everything it is exposed to is believed to be real. You can use this fact to your advantage in your personal development efforts.

In order to affect change in your own life you must begin to play your own movie by visualizing the changes you desire. Begin by incorporating as many of the five senses as you can into your visualizations. The more vivid your visualizations, the better your results will be. I hear many achievement experts talking about creating a burning desire. I believe a burning desire is a basic element of creating an effective and convincing visualization and is essential in keeping us on track to achieving more. This is the first step toward reprogramming your mind for real and lasting change. The more you fight for a belief, the more you own it.

It has been said that the subconscious mind is five times more powerful than the conscious mind. Yet very few people are even aware of the power they have to control the direction of their lives using their own conscious thoughts (think choices and decisions), let alone the potential that exists in the subconscious mind.

Remember, you can AFFECT more as you BECOME more. Your sphere of influence is increased commensurately as your limited thinking is decreased. The only way it’s going to decrease however, is if you take control of your thoughts and actions and redirect them in a manner that supports your desire to achieve more.  

Our thoughts send energy outward from ourselves into the universe toward what I call “the Source.” The Source is that which we originated from and that which we truly are. It is our wisdom connection. Some may choose to believe that the Source is God, while others believe it is a collective of human consciousness. However you personally decide to believe is up to you as long as you understand there is a higher power that is ready and willing to facilitate your every desire. I know because I live it and experience it daily. You already have the knowledge you need. You can choose to change any aspect of your life that you desire at any time. You can even go for a total makeover if that’s your desire. The only limitation is your own limited thinking telling you that change is not possible.

We’ve been taught throughout our lives that our best form of learning is through experience, sometimes painful experiences. What if I told you there was a different way, a better and an even faster way? What if you could learn with grace and ease without chaos and confusion? Remember, you already have the answers within.

You are the sum total of the decisions and choices you’ve made to this very point in your life. The “circumstances” you find yourself in right now are the collective result of how you see your life. But we must remember that we are not defined by our circumstances, rather by our attitude in those circumstances and our resolve to change them. For some of us, that’s a good thing as we’ve manifested good things by the decisions and choices we’ve made in our lives. These decisions and choices manifest our circumstances and affect the very manner we see and experience life. We demonstrate our own reality to ourselves every day of our life. If we have sadness, poor health, lack or deficiency in our finances, we tend to adopt this perspective and begin to consider it our reality. The reason we create this reality is that we’re good people doing the wrong thing for the right reason. The right reason is that we want to be loved and to perpetuate good. The wrong thing, fortunately, is rather simple to fix.

It’s time for you to WAKE UP to the fact that YOU are the creator of your own experience. That’s powerful enough for you to read it again. You have the ability to create your own experiences. And today, I’m here to tell you how to do that. You can touch, feel, taste, and experience anything you desire. In fact, if it’s a desire, it’s already meant for you. You could go so far as to say, it’s your destiny. You just have to acknowledge it and step out of the way and allow it to perpetuate, materialize, and manifest itself. The truth is that you only need to change one person in your life to improve your life: yourself.

In order to connect to the Source you must program your subconscious mind to accept your conscious thoughts. You must get out of your own way in order to bring about the very changes you seek. Your inherent biases must be effectively dealt with and set aside in order to fully manifest your desires. You must SHIFT the energy of acceptance by removing doubt, fear, and uncertainty. You deserve more.

We’re told to avoid negative thinking “at all costs.” I take that lesson pretty seriously in my own life. However, it’s OK to engage your negative thinking in order to affectively eliminate it. These limiting thoughts are in the way of your desires so they must be dealt with in order to make room for new things that are on their way to you the second you begin to visualize your desires.

Here are some real steps you can take TODAY to affect change in your life, to empower yourself to achieve more. I call it the Empowerment Process. Approach this process with an open mind and an expectation that your desires will come to fruition. The are absolutely no reasons for them not to materialize.

Find a quiet and relaxing place and time to conduct the following simple exercise to connect with your source.

1.       Accept the fact that you’re already in relationship with a higher power.

2.      Relax and visualize. This has a grounding effect through a connection with that which has come before us: earth, minerals, the wisdom of generations, energy. Begin to see yourself firmly “grounded” to the earth beneath your feet.

3.      Radiate: You are an abundant source of energy that radiates from within. Turn up the radiation dial of your energy. Watch as the aura that surrounds you increases its intensity. Bask in the warmth that radiates from your core. This is a precursor to the transitory state of aligning yourself with what you already are: energy.

4.      Transition: Close your eyes, tilt your head back slightly, and look up as if looking into your subconscious mind. Imagine an intense golden beam of light emanating from your body through your forehead, through the ceiling, through the clouds, the stars, and the edge of the universe where everything transitions from blue to black. You notice a speck of light in the distance and project yourself to it instantly. Welcome to the Source. This is the place of limitless possibilities; a place where you can create anything you desire. A place where “more” is automatically assumed and freely granted.

5.      Expression: Silently communicate to the Source. Say these words:

“I don’t know how I’m going to achieve more, I only know I will, and I am grateful.”

As you say these words focus on the very reason you are here. Is it poor health, insufficiency, failing relationships, the need for inspiration? Let go of the burden and allow the solution to find its way to you. It is here where you’ll find it.

6.      Expand: You are in the presence of the Source so why not spend a moment to allow your mind to enjoy the experience. It’s as important to listen as much as it is to communicate. As you absorb the experience of this place, allow your mind to absorb the wisdom that exists here. Be perceptive to any insights or inspiration you may gather. It’s not unrealistic for your desires to begin to materialize even before you return to a fully conscious state of mind. Before you return, silently thank the Source.

7.      Gratitude: Begin to relax your eyes and return your eyes and head to a more natural and comfortable position as you unwind and allow the energy of your experience to find its way into every fiber of your being, every part of your physical, emotional, and intellectual body. Watch with a confident smile as your old limiting beliefs recede to make room for your new empowering insights, thoughts, and inspiration. Become aware of your physical body once again, and when you’re ready, open your eyes once again.

After following these simple but powerful steps you should know with confidence that you have downloaded new programming into your mind. Unlike affirmations, you won’t need to repeat your command because it is now part of you. Pretty cool, huh? Your only responsibility at this point is to know that you are positioned to receive.

Should any doubts emerge, meet them in the moment by declaring an opposing statement that supports your desires. Your doubts and uncertainties will fade as you begin to see the power of this process. In fact, the experience of the empowerment process is typically more joyous than the results it brings. You’ll want to repeat the process often as it is, after all, who we truly are.  

Until next time!

- G -


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