“I learned this, at least, by my experiment; that if one advances confidently in the direction of [her] dreams, and endeavors to live the life which [she] has imagined, [she] will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.”
Henry David Thoreau (Simple Abundance, Sarah Ban Breathnach)

We don’t have all the answers, we don’t know exactly how it will unfold, but if we just keep plugging along on our path with our dreams in mind, we will eventually get where we want to go. And it will happen when we least expect it. You must have faith. You must believe in your dreams. Always believe in your dreams.

“Telling the future by looking at the past assumes that conditions remain constant. This is like driving a car by looking in the rearview mirror.” ?— Herb Brody

With the New Year just around the corner some people might be focusing their attention on what the future holds for them. Everyone has their own way of trying to figure out what will happen in the months to come — some go to psychics while others listen to Dr. Phil and think that the best determiner of future behavior is past behavior.

First I would like to recommend not living in the past at all. Live in the present moment. As Dr. Wayne W. Dyer suggests in Your Sacred Self, “Having a personal history keeps us from now. This is a radical idea perhaps, but I am asking you to consider the possibility of totally eradicating your personal history from your consciousness and simply living completely in the present moment.”

Then take it to the next step and try not to project into the future. Instead relax about the future and just let it go. Enjoy this day a little more knowing that this very moment is creating your life just as you want it.

“A good conscience is a continual Christmas.”
— Benjamin Franklin (1706 - 1790)

Turn the radio on today and I can almost bet that you will hear a song hoping to keep the feeling of Christmas alive all year long. Keeping the joy and giving spirit that comes with Christmas alive is a wonderful wish for us all throughout the year. Make it your conscious choice to spread goodwill, peace, and abundance to every aspect of your life, to everyone you meet. If we all do this small thing, we can make glorious waves of love resound around the world.

“For every person who wants to teach there are approximately thirty people who don’t want to learn — much.” — W.C. Sellar and R.J. Yeatman, And Now All This (1932) introduction

How many of you want to grow? And what is growing? Is staying the same a part of growing? Or does the actual word “growing” imply change? The thing is, you are only going to grow if you are uncomfortable — by stepping out of your comfort zone and doing things that are different from what you are doing right now.

So what is holding you back from growing? The number one phrase that will keep you exactly the way you are is, “I know that”. But do you really “know” it? Or have you heard about it, talked about it, read about it. You only really “know” it if you are living it.

I repeat, you only know it if you are living it.

So take a look. Are you living what you say you know? Be open to learning. At at the same time, be open to UNlearning all that doesn’t serve you in your quest to grow.

“Nothing is more tragic than someone who has sight, but no vision.”
— Helen Keller

What is the vision of your future? If you were to project yourself into the future, say five years from now, on the current path you are heading, what do you see? Are you happy, are you living to your fullest potential?

Now, take this one step further. If you were to make some changes in your life that you have been contemplating but haven’t quite made the leap in that direction — see yourself in five years from that point with these changes influencing your path. What’s different? What’s better?

I had help projecting myself into the future and was pleased and motivated by the second level of being. If I were to leave my inhibitions behind and just go for it, what a difference it would make in my life, even five years down the road.

Sometimes even the most logical changes to be made are difficult to commit to since they are not immediately rewarded. Quitting smoking, losing weight, building a successful business, to name but a few goals, these take time and considerable effort to achieve and then maintain. A month or even a year down the road doesn’t necessarily mark the end of the goal or the complete rewards for your efforts. But five years, ten years, twenty years will definitely see the mark of these positive changes.

“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness concerning all acts of initiative and creation. There is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans; that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too.

All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen events, meetings and material assistance which no one could have dreamed would have come their way.

I have learned a deep respect for one of Goethe’s couplets: “Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now!””
— W.H. Murray

How easy is it for you to commit to things or people in your life? It’s usually easier to commit to something when it is free of challenges. The true show of commitment comes when things aren’t that easy. Commitment has to apply to the good times and the not so good times.

It doesn’t really matter what we are working with — marriage, raising children, careers and businesses, spirituality, weight loss, health and well-being. They all require commitment and they all can present us with the greatest challenges of our lives.

When you truly commit to something or someone, the universe does respond to that vibration and things will begin to happen in your favor almost by magic. The key is to remain firm and unwavering in your commitment. Keep the message strong and clear to the universe that this is your direction no matter what. That is the type of commitment that will survive the day-to-day reality and reap the best rewards.

Be bold and go for the gold because that is where the genius, power, and magic will be found.

“Life is change… Growth is optional… Choose wisely.”
— Karen Kaiser Clark

Life is really all about change. Everything is constantly in a state of change: our planet, the weather, the water, our hair, our nails, everything. The list goes on and on. That is what it is to be alive.

And this change can be for the better or for the worse. It happens both ways. Perhaps with nature we have less to say or do about all the changes taking place on our planet (other than being as environmentally aware and active as possible). With people we do have more control over the direction.

Realize this: Change will happen. So use that to your advantage and look for the positive things you can get from the process. Rethink everything. Continue to educate yourself on all your options. Let change guide you and move you steadily forward and upward in life.

“Today is a most unusual day, because we have never lived it before; we will never live it again; it is the only day we have. Today can be a healthy unusual day for you — and for others — if you take time to give someone a smile… to express a word of kindness… to lend a helping hand to someone in need… to write a note of gratitude… to give a word of encouragement to someone who is temporarily overcome with problems… to share a portion of your material possessions with others.”
— William Arthur Ward

Change is something that everyone can do. In simplistic terms, you create results every day of your life. Flip the switch and the light will go on. Push the cart and it will move forward. What happens when you don’t know where the light switch is and it’s dark in the room? What if there is too much on the cart for you to push by yourself?

Do you give up and stumble through the dark hoping someday you will discover where the switch is hiding? Do you leave the load on the cart behind and hope there was nothing of importance below the piles?

Or do you reach out and ask for help. Maybe someone else knows a faster way to find the switch or better yet they came prepared with a flashlight to help you search. Maybe someone knows how to sort through your load and can help you discard all the heavy and unnecessary burdens on your cart.

The world is full of wonderful helpers just like that, so seek them out, call out to them, pray for them, and they will be there for you. You can do it — just know when to ask for help.

“I am open to the guidance of synchronicity, and do not let expectations hinder my path.”
— Dalai Lama

You may have heard people say, there is no such thing as coincidence. And I truly believe things always happen for a reason. The definition of synchronicity is “A coincidence of events that seem to be meaningfully related.” And this happens more often than we may realize.

Keep your eyes open for synchronicity in our daily life as they may lead us to the answers to our questions — both conscious and subconscious. And using this technique may allow you to propel faster to your goals than if you allow the clues to slip by you.

“So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth.”
— Bahá’u'lláh (1817-1892)

Sometimes it may seem easier to sit back and watch as the world goes through it’s paces, both up and down. How much better would it be to become an active participant instead? What can you offer? What gifts can you show the world?

Talk to people about your views and thoughts. Come together and become an active part of the world and you will begin to see the power of oneness. Bring people together who can use the support and wisdom of many.

Go out and get involved, make a difference to even just one person. Put meaning into your life and value into your surroundings by giving all that is within you.