Here’s a revealing exercise. How would you complete the sentence: I’d love to make more money, but_______________.
You probably came up with some perfectly good reasons why you can’t: “I’m too old. I’m too young. I don’t have time. I have little kids. I don’t want to work that hard.”
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Your reasons may feel rational. But they are not the truth. They are simply deep-seated beliefs, messages you repeatedly heard growing up that have become deeply embedded in your brain. |
A friend, after several difficult setbacks followed by an extended period of self-improvement, finally came to a profound realization.
“My primary business in my life is taking care of me!” she declared.
That statement may, on the surface, sound appallingly selfish. But in truth, it’s admirable and wise.
You can never fully help another until you first take care of yourself.
Even if you have young kids, elderly parents, or an overgrown garden depending on you, you must put your oxygen mask on first to be in any condition to take care of them.
What scares us most about financial success is not that we may fall short, but that we may actually take flight.
I see it in so many women. I saw it myself. We’re terrified to discover that we might be ‘powerful beyond measure.’ And for good reason.
When we claim our power, we raise the stakes. Power insists we become responsible adults, the primary authority in our life…autonomous, accountable, and as singer/songwriter Helen Reddy crooned, “too big to ignore.”
For the first time in 30 years, I’m teaching a class that’s not about money. It’s based on A Course of Miracles (ACIM), a profound spiritual text.
I believe this book was written precisely for these turbulent, conflict-ridden times. And I’m convinced, if the masses lived by the Course’s message, we’d see a saner world.
ACIM calls itself a course in mind training. It’s stated purpose is “to restore the awareness of the power of the mind.’
“What you do comes from what you think,” the Course explains. “All power is given to you through your mind.”
This is great news. Because your mind is the only thing you can control. I certainly can’t stop the fighting in the middle east, but it doesn’t have to destroy my peace. And this applies not only to global disasters but to daily annoyances.
You’re eager to play a bigger game. You’re smart, ambitious, with a solid plan in place. But, damn it, you can’t seem to make any headway.
Want to know what’s holding you back? Those devilish how-to’s, the belief that you must have it all figured out before you even begin.
Plotting every step in advance may feel safe, even smart. But it’ll blind you to all the unexpected opportunities that will inevitably appear.
I was stuck in this mindset most of my life…until I interviewed six-figure women.
Their stellar success followed a three-step strategy:
Step 2 is the game changer. Commitment acts like a magnet, attracting opportunities that often come disguised as coincidences. If you’re not seeing coincidences, it’s likely a sign that you’re not totally committed.
She was a high-level executive who hated her job. Her boss was a bully, the work was boring at best, and despite her massive salary, she could barely cover expenses. The thought of leaving terrified her.
I could tell she didn’t expect my first question.
“What was it like for you growing up?” I asked.
She paused before replying: “My mother was abusive. My father an alcoholic. Money was a huge source of stress. I was always walking on eggshells,”
“It sounds like you’re recreating your childhood in your job,” I pointed out.
“OMG,” she gasped. “I did the same in my marriage.”
She was shocked. I wasn’t.
I recently fell for a scam. It started with a Facebook ad for a pair of purple Skechers. The shoes were adorable. The ad looked legit. I made an impulsive decision without second-guessing.
When the shoes finally came, they were clearly crappy knock-offs. My requests for a refund met with stony silence.
Angry and frustrated, I shared my plight on Facebook, and received an outpouring of support and advice. I trashed the shoes, disputed the charges, and the credit card company reimbursed me immediately.
This ordeal taught me a valuable lesson: Never trust social media ads.
But more importantly, the experience served as a profound symbol for a spiritual principle…a sort of metaphysical wake-up call.
I’ve long been a student of A Course in Miracles, a spiritual text centered around mind training. It emphasizes the power of the mind and the importance of distinguishing between the voice of fear (or Ego) and the voice of love (or Soul).
Is there anyone on the planet who hasn’t heard of the ‘Law of Attraction’. It’s the buzzword of the decade. I see it everywhere—books, articles, YouTube gurus—all singing its praises.
Simply put, the Law of Attraction says: you attract whatever you want into your life through your ability to feel good, think positively, and focus only on the desired outcome.
So, if you want to be rich, don’t focus on lack.
But there’s a catch: How many people—maybe you’re one—really want wealth, focus only on abundance….and yet, their bills pile up, their savings shrink?
While cleaning out my files, I discovered a crumpled-up article from the Wall Street Journal, with no date, but faded with age. The subject quickly grabbed my attention.
The reporter asked a bevy of the biggest super stars the secret to their stellar success. What he found surprised him…and fascinated me.
These luminaries—mostly pop singers, pro athletes, and movie stars–gave God all the credit.
Have you ever wondered if you might be settling for less than you truly desire? It’s a daunting question, isn’t it?
But the bigger question is, how do you even know what you genuinely want?
I bring this up because I feel like I’m hearing more women wondering if they’re in the right job, the right relationship, the right city….then inevitably asking: “But how do I even figure out what I really want?
If you’re wrestling with uncertainty, let me share a profound process I used years ago, when I was miserably unhappy and utterly confused.
I asked myself 3 questions. I’m not sure where I found those questions, but they proved to be a game changer as I sat quietly, pondering each one, allowing the answers to emerge until I had clarity:
