Within that cycle, of course, variations exist—a dry winter or a mild fall—but we always can rely on the rhythm. One season follows the other. It’s a comfortable predictability in a world that often seems to be wildly unpredictable.

Luckily, it is possible to tap into that natural cycle, to bring into both our personal and professional lives a greater sense of flow and order.

It’s time for one of my favorite seasons. Is spring one of yours? In spring, everything is glistening, green and new. There is a feeling of expansion and a sense of renewal and reawakening. Seeds start to grow. People get outside more, becoming reacquainted with their gardens. We take on spring-cleaning projects and clear out clutter.

Have you considered how this season of new beginnings will impact you? Are you ready to reap what you sow? Here are some ideas to consider for both your personal and professional growth.

A few personal activities that align with spring:

What have you always longed to do? Perhaps you want to write a book or teach a class or foster a child. Let this be the year you take action on your dream! Find out what is keeping you from moving forward. Allow the rebirth of spring to inspire you to achieve your dreams and passions!

Is this the time to start developing a healthier lifestyle? We see our neighbors out walking dogs, jogging down the sidewalk or even playing an adult softball game. Challenge yourself to move from inspiration to action! Best of all, you’ll be able to leverage your new, invigorated burst of energy as you work toward meeting your other goals.

Notice, as well, if the seeds you’ve already planted are starting to sprout. Tend to them carefully, giving them ample time to grow. Perhaps this is a personal relationship. Have you noticed a positive change? Remember, it doesn’t have to be the BIG one. Are you curious about where this could lead? Take a risk and see where it takes you!

As a parent we are always looking for those sprouts of change. Celebrate the opportunity to cultivate the crops of our future! Recently I attended a Broadway History Class with my dramatic daughter and a Bible study class with my very intuitive daughter. You can imagine the conversation that followed each session! However, you can have unexpected quality time during a ride home from a practice, at the dinner table or even when you are planting a garden together. Spring is a perfect season for exploring these opportunities.

A few professional activities that align with spring:

Plant your own seeds by designing one or two new products or services for your organization. It’s a gift to allow you to dream. Always imagine how your success will look and feel. We often miss our own successes. What may seem crazy in the beginning could be the start of a really positive idea. So, give yourself lots of time for brainstorming and collaboration before honing your ideas. Sometimes it even helps to conceive the idea, walk away from it, and then edit your creation. Fine-tuning is the key!

When you’re ready, create a detailed launch plan with action steps and a timeline. Have you ever seen a brilliant idea die because the implementation seemed overwhelming? As we coaches suggest, break it down into manageable parts. Maybe even “storyboard” the process using simple post-its to organize (and re-organize) your tasks and timelines. However, as a special mentor of mine always reminded me, you eventually you have to “shoot.” You simply can’t wait for the ultimate perfection.

By tailoring some of what you do to the natural rhythms that allow, sustain and renew all life on earth, you might just find that your life and work are likewise supported, as they deepen, grow and prosper.

Ask yourself what other seeds you would like to sow—and what others already are starting to sprout. I encourage you to post your stories on the P3 Power Blast blog. You may be the one to plant the right seed and harvest an opportunity for another powerful, passionate and purposeful woman!

Jeannette Rudy Fitzwater, CEO and Founder of JR Fitzwater and Associates, is a Registered Corporate Coach who assists individuals and organizations transition through key changes. For additional information we invite you to visit www.jrfitzwater.com.

The month of February seems to bring most people into the presence of love because Valentine’s day is around the corner. I’ve often wondered why it is such a big deal now rather than just a natural part of our lives. I’m sure there is some historical monumental moment that has generated such buzz for a holiday and there was a decision made to have it be celebrated yearly. However love is such an emotion that deserves full recognition throughout the year, don’t you think?

Imagine simply showing love on February 14th and not fully engaging or being present any other time of year – wouldn’t those you love miss the depth of meaning they are to you?

My husband, Jonn and I have been married now for 16 years. This year we embark on 17 and it has been an amazing journey being with such a caring, thoughtful individual. I think I grow fonder of him as the years go by. In the early years, I’d say being in love was certainly an experience we both felt, however amazingly over the years our relationship has grown beyond being in love. There’s a deep profound kind of friendship that has been born as well. I truly can’t think of a better friend than him. His commitment to me and my work/vision is unwavering and mine to his the same.

We’ve worked very diligently at having our relationship be one of loyalty, support, commitment and kindness. I’m shocked when I hear couples say they don’t talk or they talk at each other. I sit and wonder exactly  how that works. I couldn’t imagine being in a relationship where we had unresolved issues, felt afraid to broach a subject or skipping around to ensure no one’s feathers were ruffled, but unfortunately some people do. It’s like hoping issues will resolve themselves without your input.

Most end in divorce because they are fairly positional about who’s right and who’s wrong.  No war was ever resolved with both parties on a position unwilling to be open for a discussion.

In light of our heart beating month of love, I’d like to offer our power, passion and purpose for staying together and keeping love alive throughout the year.

First, we have purpose:  We both know who we are individually and who we are as a couple. Jonn has a vision that everyone has what they need to be who they are. My personal vision is “every woman lives a life of power, passion and dreams come true”. Collectively we are a “beacon for spiritual and financial prosperity creating wealth for generations to come.”  Purpose drives us to be great to each other and for each other. Purpose drives our relationship to be great. Greatness exemplifies our collective vision.

Next, we have passion:  Individually and collectively we have a passion for making a difference in the lives of others.  Our desire and passion drives us to make the difference for others and also for ourselves. Each conversation we have is filled with passionate desire to be better than we were when we entered the dialogue. Passion drives successful communication leaving no stone unturned.

Finally, we have power: Personal power lies in choice. We choose life as it is presented. We choose to love each other in moments when it seems impossible. We choose to live life powerfully through the challenges. We choose each other and all that comes with the choice. We accept each other for who we are and who we’re not. The power of having an extraordinary juicy and incredible relationship lies in choice. Love exists in the moment you create it to be there. And we create it as a practice.

Give it a try yourself. Power, Passion and Purpose in every relationship is worth having. It brings more love to you when you choose to create it. Let’s celebrate this heart beating month of love with choice, shall we?

Lisa Thomas provides Life Coaching For Women. Her mission is empowering women worldwide.

Lisa  is the President and CEO of The P3 Group, Inc, Vision and Leadership Support Coach and Visionary for Women. Featured on NBC’s My Carolina Today, Charlotte Today, World Puja Network, Dr. Pat Show and Conscious Talk Radio. For more information about this segment or a 60 min Power Session, contact Lisa at 910 221 9294 or 704 909 7663. Visit the website at http://www.TheP3Group.com.

For media inquiries or speaking engagements, contact Annika Murray at 678 807 9486.

The Power of Closure by Lisa Thomas
©Copyright 2010..

The Power of Closure is important and critical when you’re creating a new. They say “out with the old and in with the new”, but what happens when you don’t say goodbye to the old?

In reflecting on the close of 2010 while embracing the newness of 2011, I asked myself how to bring a complete close to a wonderful year so that I can begin painting on a clean canvas for 2011? It is a great question for everyone finishing up something old and preparing for something new.

Can you imagine trying to paint a new picture on an old used canvas? Often we do that when we make New Year’s resolutions. The resolutions from 2010 are still lingering – incomplete and unfulfilled, yet we try to start new ones as though they will magically manifest.

Every three years I do a deep introspective, but this year something seemed different. We’re about to embark on the year 2011 and I thought wow, for me this is the beginning of a new decade.  Others began last year, but for me it begins this year.

So, in my deep retrospect this time around, I reviewed my 10 year list. I had accomplished a lot and felt some enormous successes, met some incredible people and had many exciting times.  I’d also been met with some of life’s greatest challenges, let some people go in the process and felt some of the most disappointing and saddest of times. But more importantly, within the last 10 years, I found my purpose and my voice.

I felt the intense desire to include what I’ve called the “P3 Cleanse” in my process of closure.  Most hear the word cleanse and immediately think detox. Yes, to some degree it is a detox. However, cleansing for me is all about mind, body, spirit. It is indeed a spiritual, emotional and physical cleanse. I start with all things informing my intellect of information to distract my cause.   I cleanse my body of those things which conflict with the pureness of healthy living and I mentally cleanse all self imposing thoughts that plague my ability to achieve the greatness I deserve.

I’d engaged in this triple cleanse last year and this year I was ready to take it to another level.  I usually give myself three months to bring closure to all that has happened good or bad. I believe that to fully open up to the process of closure, there is preparation and a good P3 cleanse system provides that opening.

The P3 Cleansing system includes the following steps:

Step 1. Stop watching TV and engaging in other information technology to cleanse your mind and spirit.  You will have to encourage your family to support your efforts by including them in your cleansing process or asking them to respect your process by allowing you to fully implement your cleanse system.

Step 2. Remove all self imposing thoughts and comments from others who plague your ability to think clearly to promote cleansing of your emotions.  This means you will deliberately “stop” all negative, limited thinking. To succeed, you should journal your thoughts and issue a cancellation notice to your mind. The cancellation notice forces you to acknowledge the self imposing thoughts as such. So, the cancellation notice is an imperative part of the system.

Step 3. Eliminate all foods that do not foster energy, good health and vibrant living to cleanse your physical body. First research and exercise a good detox program so you begin your food eliminations with ease. After the detox, usually 7 to 10 days, simply notice your energy levels and keep a journal of all foods consumed. Eliminate those that seem to slow you down or zap your energy.

I suggest you do this for three months. However, you can implement the cleansing system at any time. Cleansing the mind, body, and spirit opens you up to new found energy, problem solving, thought process and effective decision making.

All occurrences have emotions attached to them whether we choose to process them at the time they happen or push them back to process later. To go forward effectively and embrace the future, we have to completely process them all.  And because you’re now in the space of answering three sets of very pointed questions, you can fully and completely navigate through the closure process:

What do I really want?
Where am I unbalanced?
What are my happiest moments in life?
Where is my heart pulling me?
In what direction do I know within my soul am I being led or pulled?
Where am I agitated in life?
Where am I fulfilled?
Where am I unfulfilled?

I follow those with the big questions:

Why am I unfulfilled?
Why am I agitated?
What elements make up the happiest moments in my life?

And lastly, four important and paramount questions come to mind:

What responsibility do I play in it?
What, if anything, am I willing or going to do about it?
How can I make my life line up with what I want it to be?
How do I put myself in the driver’s seat of my own life?

Most of us make New Year’s resolutions without first bringing closure to what has happened. Often we decide we want a different result without first identifying old habits and cycles that continue to lead to our demise.  When we fail to produce, we can easily become cynical and resigned to simply settling for whatever we can get.

I think it’s critical to honor and acknowledge the following:

What have I accomplished and what have I not accomplished?
What is my honest assessment of my accomplishment pros and cons?
How do I make improvements and adjustments for the future?

As you answer these questions, please be cautioned that guilt may arise. Make sure you are in a place to embrace the answers and to become empowered by them. Feelings of guilt or chastisement do not bring closure but, rather deepening in-completion. It is also critical to acknowledge in authentic truth what you will change and what you are not yet willing to change. Also, what you can and cannot commit to; really owning the whole enchilada.

Keep the process going until you feel whole inside and a sense of completion. When you feel a sense of completion, you are settled and at peace in your state of mind and being.

This closure process cleanses out all of the impurities of your life. It brings about the truest most authentic you and creates a clean slate to work from. When you finally make a decision to have something in your life for the New Year, you actually do it with integrity and power attached to it rather than adding it to a pile of words that never manifest. Cleansing actually starts to wipe away all of the old paint and gives rise to a new canvas ready for a new creation.

I am excited about what the days of 2011 will bring now after the closure process is complete. I’ve vowed to make closure a part of everyday living. The daily question becomes “what masterpiece will I create today?”.

Let’s create the absolute best year ever, shall we?

Lisa Thomas provides Life Coaching For Women. Her mission is empowering women worldwide.

Lisa is a Expert Success and Leadership Support Coach, Visionary for Women and  Inspirational Speaker. Featured on NBC’s My Carolina Today , Charlotte Today, World Puja Network, Dr. Pat Show and Conscious Talk Radio. For more information about navigating through the closure process contact Lisa at 910 221 9294 or 704 909 7663. Visit the website at http://www.TheP3Group.com

Every year I do a  list of things I’m thankful for and post them on FaceBook.

Before I get to my pretty basic list with my witty commentary I have to get down to what’s happened over the last month.   The biggest change was that my roommate  moved out, abruptly.  By the time you read this I’ll be twiddling my thumbs in an empty common room. She was uncomfortable with our living situation.  Some people do not react to change very well and she is one of them.  Also once you’ve inhabited a place longer than the other roommates you kinda mark your territory.

This move out was and still is the biggest inconvenience for one there’s a hunt for furniture (it was all hers), appliances, kitchenware, etc., but that’s somewhat of an easy fix.  What’s not an easy fix is sitting in the dark because all the bills are under her name.  We (my other roommate and I) were given short notice to her transferring service which happened on a Tuesday and the notice on a Monday.  Her excuse?  Apparently the representatives told her that this day was all they had available(yeah, the soonest).  Well that part is over and I’m still switching the lights to make sure they work.

The one thing I’ve learned in living with other people is that you need to know when to pick  your battles.  People are going to do whatever they want and you can’t spend time trying to make them do what makes you think they should.  I’m not saying to let everything roll off, by all means let it be known what makes you uncomfortable.  Sometimes if you can live with it just let it go.  However, I’m for open communication and I don’t mean sending me an email after you’ve walked by me 3 times (yep, she did this).  This would be my second awkward roommate experience and I’m glad it’s over.

This leads me into the first thing I’m thankful for…

Peace where I live.  It really did suck having to come home to tension.

One-day jobs.  They always pop up at the most convenient times and really makes me think a higher power is at work.

Understanding the meaning of friendship because I know when to invest time and energy.

This extra push to get on the right path.  Things are not fabulous and I’m struggling (who isn’t these days?), but it’s actually made me want to do more.

Music.  If I’m feeling blah it’s an instant pick-me-up.

Having a place to live even though I’m annoyed with the drafts and horrible cell phone service.  It’s a pretty cool place actually.

Holidays are here it’s really time to look on the bright side of things.

Chia-Li Chien | August 27, 2010

On Aug. 26, 1920, after a 72-year struggle, the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution was finally ratified, granting women the right to vote nationwide. This week, we celebrated the 90th anniversary of that struggle with Women’s Equality Day.

It’s fair to say much progress has been made since the days of the suffragettes.

If women-owned businesses based in the United States were part of their own country, they would have the fifth-largest gross domestic product in the world. They would trail closely the German economy, and be ahead of countries including France, the United Kingdom and Italy, according to the Center for Women’s Business Research.

Unconvinced about women’s role in our economy? Women-owned firms have an economic impact of $3 trillion annually, which creates or supports more than 23 million jobs. That’s 16% of all jobs in the United States, according to Center for Women’s Business Research.

This means that in the last 90 years, women have progressed from gaining voting rights to becoming an economic power.

These are great wins, but the annual celebration should observe more than accomplishments. Women’s Equality Day should serve to remind all people there’s more that needs to be done.

There are many opportunities for women in business to help build a better world, not just for themselves, but for all people.

In the 2009 Women’s Advisory Board annual report (http://bit.ly/bQ5oEu) to the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners early this year, there are two recommendations to provide help for women in business:

•Hire women with pay equal to that of men. On average, women make 77 cents for every dollar earned by men (based on Census Bureau figures of median wages of full-time, year-round workers). The wage gap is generally more pronounced for women of color.

•Get your voice heard and get involved. Some 19% of Mecklenburg County boards and commissions have no women members, according to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Women’s Summit’s 2008 Action Book.

Here are some other steps to support this sector of our economy:

•Buy from women. Collectively we can create more jobs if we buy and support each other. Together, we’ll have substantial economic impact, not just in the United States, but also globally.

•Lend to women. Women-owned businesses also need access to private capital to fuel expansion and growth. Many women use their business credit cards, personal bank loans, SBA loans and commercial loans to grow. Yet many don’t know where to look for private capital.

The lack of investment in women-led ventures limits the opportunity for women to grow their businesses and create wealth, according to The Diana Project, which advocates for female entrepreneurs. This diminishes opportunities for women to build wealth and create assets for future generations.

•Invest in women. Nonprofit organizations such as Springboard Enterprises does this. It helps venture capitalists invest in women entrepreneurs’ business expansion, from startup to exit.

Little of this can be accomplished without putting more women in science, engineering and higher education. We can’t fix our education system overnight, but we can certainly start in our businesses.

•Mentor women. Twice as many men-owned firms have annual revenue of $1 million or more than women-owned firms (6% vs. 3%), according to Center for Women’s Business Research.

The best way to grow your business is learn from successful fellow women business owners. If you don’t have a mentor, get one. If you are not mentoring, find a woman business owner to mentor.

This is the most valuable form of informal education, and an effective way to make a difference in our world.

As we approach a century of Women’s Equality Day, we can take a leadership role in our homes, businesses, schools, neighborhoods, states, country and world. Women helping women is the best way to celebrate and perpetuate our success.

Chia-Li Chien of Chien Associates provides growth strategies for women entrepreneurs. She can be reached at jolly@chialichien.com or .

This article is published at Charlotte Business Journal URL:

http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/stories/2010/08/30/editorial1.html

By Rev. Diannia Baty

For a few weeks now I have been struggling with getting my thoughts on Thanksgiving so I could get it down and bring it to life. For some reason that has escaped me until now I have been blocked and could not write about it. I am blessed as a writer to write about anything at anytime but not with the subject of one of our major holiday celebrations.

Finally it came to me this morning that a block is something temporary and if I just delved into my emotions and thoughts that I would find the reason for the block. Once I exposed it to the light and stood toe to toe with it I would take the power of the block away.

While growing up in a large family a lot of my days were on survival mode. There was a lot of trauma and drama. Suffice it to say that I am amazed I made it out alive. Holidays are difficult for me because for all the rest of the days of the year, fear, pain and anxiety were prevalent. Then a holidays roll around and it is Picture Perfect for that one day and then back to the craziness. Don’t get me wrong I would enjoy these rare Norman Rockwell Days with a bittersweet taste because I knew it was short lived and that the next day all hell would break through once again.

So, in retrospect it has occurred to me that I didn’t trust the concept of Thanksgiving because it felt like some sort of sham. For a while after I left home I would make an effort to establish my own tradition but my heart was never in it. I was always quick to accept an invitation from someone to break bread with them on this day. I didn’t need to make an effort that way.

I do remember how my mother would cook a feast fit for royalty. The table would groan with the weight of the food. All the uncles, aunts, cousins, grandparents etc. would be crowding the house and gossiping about one another. It was a day like most families would have and for that one day we were like regular folks and were truly nice to one another but the next day I had to come back to the reality of our crazy dysfunctional

family and my life as it was. I resented that so much and wondered why we couldn’t be loving, thankful and kind the rest of the year?

Now I am going to honor this day in the spirit that it is and that is giving thanks and being grateful for absolutely everything and to do it everyday of the year not just this one day. Every day should be Thanksgiving Day! While I fill my stomach every day I should be grateful that I do not go hungry while others are dying of starvation. I should be grateful for friends and a roof over my head when there are so many who are homeless right now.

I should be grateful, grateful, and grateful. Gratitude and giving thanks should be the mantra we hear and live every day of our lives. Love should be out most powerful thought and action of every day. War, economic upheaval, global warming, oil spills and all manner of horrible stuff is going on right now. I will not sugar coat that and pretend it is not happening but imagine a global movement of love, acceptance, generosity and giving thanks spreading from land to land, across borders, country to country. Imagine billions jumping on board with that. Now, imagine a world of peace where no one goes hungry for a single day. There are 60 billion of us and by the sheer numbers of us we have immense power to bring about change. Be your own leader, teacher, student and love ambassador for the world. Stand up and show up for humanity and yourself in any way that you can every day.

I declare that every day is Thanksgiving Day in my life. How about you? Is there someone or something you need to forgive, validate, express love to, volunteer for, give something to or let go of? Every day of our life choices are presented to us to do these things yet we wait for one day a year to do it and usually with a heavy heart so it never sticks. You know if this is you and if it is this may give you a different way to look at it.

I declare to live thanksgiving in my life.

I also want to add…”THANK YOU, GOD.”

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

www.makeachoicenow.com

Thoughts on Depression

By Rev. Diannia Baty

Depression is so prevalent right now that I thought it would be a good idea to share my thoughts on it. It affects every area of your life and make no mistake; it also affects every single person you are in contact with. I have been there and it is an awful space to be in. I am sharing my view and experience so you can see another way to deal with this. This way is through God, prayer, meditation and the power of thoughts.

There are very few people who have not experienced this emotional roller coaster at some point in their lives. In one form or another from the mild to the extreme, this dark force will visit like a vampire in the dark and slowly suck your life force dry.  For me, just the memory of that time is enough to make me break out into a sweat. I never want to experience it again.

I remember getting no joy or peace. Nothing gave me even a tiny morsel of freedom from the prison of my thoughts. The finest food was nothing. I ate only to stay alive. Food was like cardboard to me. Hunger became a thing of the past. I did not want to eat. I could not be tempted by my favorites. Lobster is a rare delicacy for me. I love it. If a plate full of steaming lobster with drawn butter had been placed in front of me, it would have meant nothing. It would have only depressed me further because I would know that at one time it made me happy to indulge myself. I couldn’t concentrate to read or watch a television program. Opening my eyes to face another day filed me with dread because when I looked at the sky, I could see no beautiful blue color. I could only see another day to drag myself through.

Trying to describe how I felt was difficult. It was like being in a nightmare of lifelessness. I felt totally empty inside. I did contemplate doing myself in so I could escape the pain of being alive in this black state. I just wanted it to end.

I do understand this feeling of never ending despair. I felt that I was being unfairly punished by some cosmic entity. I was being delivered the punch line with no joke attached.

I hated being around people because it was such a monumental effort to interact with the “ Normals. ” I resented them for being able to be normal because I was anything but. I   knew if I heard one more time to just snap out of it, I would hurt someone. I could feel someone’s discomfort and frustration when they were around me. The worst part of all of this was the fact that I could pinpoint no reason for me to feel this way.

I know there are different forms of depression caused by many things but the bottom line is it feels the same to anyone suffering from it. You are not flawed or crazy if you suffer from this. Many suffer in silence telling no one but it is something you can’t hide and it causes problems for anyone who is around you.

I have a few suggestions for anyone who is suffering through this.

Get Help! Please don’t think you can just make it go away on it’s own. If you ignore it many times it gets much worse.

1. If medication is needed take it and don’t suddenly stop it. Ask for a mood elevator to take in the interim while waiting for the other medication to take hold. Why more physicians don’t prescribe this tiny little pill is beyond me. For me it was a life saver. Within thirty minutes after swallowing this, the lights came on and I felt NORMAL.
2. Journal…Journal…Journal. Writing about you feelings will help you to focus.
3. Pray, Pray, Pray. Pray as often as you can. God doesn’t care if you make sense but is always listening.
4. Eat, even if you don’t want to. Get something in your stomach or you will get weak and sick.
5. Get outside in the sunshine and fresh air. Your brain needs light.
6. Do not neglect personal hygiene. It will only make you feel worse.
7. Watch only uplifting movies and listen to music every day…soothing music is best. Limit the media.
8. Force yourself to do something positive every single day, no matter how small.
9. Meditate! There are many guided meditation cd’s available. All you have to do is close your eyes and listen.

Well, in closing it is imperative that you not ignore this and do everything you can to help yourself. There are books galore on this subject so educate yourself.

After a while I was able to come back and the sky turned blue once more. The joy and peace flooded in and I am okay. Even though this was a long time ago, I never want to go through it again. There is a light at the end of the tunnel and it is not the train coming at you. God will help you to bring back the color in your life but you must help yourself first.

to contact…go to…  www.makeachoicenow.com

I know we have all heard the verse “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you”

Some may have even heard this one “Faith without works is dead!!!”

In the new world of today, some of us have heard this: “have an attitude of gratitude; be grateful for what you have and then you will attract more of what you want.”

You’ve probably even heard me say, “know your vision and focus with great intention.”

All good stuff but what’s missing is a strategic plan, belief along with dedicated, concentrated action.

So here’s the deal, use what God gave you. Matthew 7:7 says “Ask and it shall be given you. Seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be open unto you.”

Well what are you asking for? Are you clear about “what to ask for”? Are you actually knocking on doors or waiting for god to mysteriously bestow your wants on you for your good samaritan attitude? Some believe if you’re just a good person, you practice gratitude or you pray, you will eventually get what you want.

Well James 2:20 says,  ”But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?”

I don’t care how good you are at being grateful, praying or the good deeds you do – you cannot escape the work; the dedicated concentrated work.

We tend the fail in this part of our daily responsibilities.

Even God worked 6 days and he rested on the 7th day. So we don’t get to sit back and not take consistent action everyday thinking he is going to reward us because we prayed or we worked a little bit.
So here’s what I’m saying:

Believe – you must believe in your vision and destiny. You must believe without doubt that god will deliver you to your destiny.

Matthew 21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, “BELIEVING” it shall be done.

And Matthew:21;21 Verily I say unto you, if ye have faith and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree but also if ye shall say unto the mountain, be thou removed and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.

So belief is critical, it makes the impossible possible.

De-mystify manifesting – the problem with the word “manifesting” is it can be unclear. There’s no “how” to do it. So you find yourself manifesting with no real knowing of “how to do it”.

But if you look at one of the definitions in Dictionary.com on manifesting, it will offer the following:

“to make clear or evident to the eye or the understanding; show plainly”

Which leads me to the next step:

Make your path plain and create a strategic plan – no vision or purpose manifested without a plan of action.

And here’s the clincher, you must execute the plan. There’s no escaping the plan. You have to take the actions laid out.

Think about it – here’s a great example and I’m going to be brutal to take the point home. 

So you read the scripture as it is written which is  “ask and it is given unto you. Seek and ye shall find; knock the door will be open unto you.”

 And no sooner than you ask, you get the answer to take seven steps but for some reason you do not do all seven steps you are given. You stop at 2, then you might go into a state of gratitude to manifest your destiny, or pray to ask god to help you or you stop and do something totally off the beating path when what there is to do is step 3,4,5,6, and 7.

That’s what really makes your destiny manifest itself.

Nothing happens by osmosis or in a vacuum. Prayer works, yes; God answers prayers. Meditation works, yes. In the solitude of moments you are given peace and answers to your prayers however nothing happens without action; deliberate consistent concentrated planned action. NOTHING!

No beautiful masterpiece of art, landscape or building ever just appeared. It became a reality by someone laying a foundation and building on it through work or action.

So go to “work” on making things happen.

Your destiny is in YOUR hands. Everything you want is awaiting you, now go get it!

Lisa Thomas is a Vision and Leadership Support Coach, Visionary for Women, Contributing Coach for NBC’s My Carolina Today and Inspirational Speaker. 

For media inquiries or speaking engagement bookings, contact -bookings@thep3group.com. 

Feel free to contact her directly for your P3 Power Session where you will begin the journey of discovery. It will be the best 60 minutes of your life. Remember, power, purpose and vision begins within the spirit of who you are. Contact information for sessions at 910 221 9294 or 704 909 7663

I internalize a lot of things that makes me a hardcore thinker. As a writer I do a lot of reflecting and believe that the holiday season is the best time to do this specifically New Year’s. I didn’t expect to be in the city throughout the entire season, but life happens and it goes on.

2010 was an absolute rollercoaster of changes, discoveries, and growing pains. I’m thankful for what I’ve learned and understand the importance of making myself happy. I’m nervous about this new year, but whatever is will build character and turn me into the woman I want to be.

I started this month’s entry on the brink of a break through and it‘s only fitting that I share it with you.

Some time last week

As of last night I’ve uncovered another flaw of myself. For the longest time I used to be afraid of the real me mainly because I knew I wasn’t the greatest person I‘ve fooled myself to be . I stopped being afraid and started facing myself head on. There were some things that desperately needed to be fixed so I could function as an adult in the world. One of the biggest things I’ve learned is how to be alone, but what I also learned is that I don’t do well when I’m alone. Instead of going off the deep end I have found ways to deal with it and every now and then I forget how, but managed to get back on the wagon.

Here’s the breakthrough I’ve discovered why my relationships fail, I’m selfish. In a conversation with a friend who isn’t afraid to be honest with me told me that there are two types of people selfish and selfless. It’s amazing how concepts are easily forgotten. Apparently they both are givers, but selfish people expect something back. I’ll go back to myself for a moment, I honestly thought (and kind still do) things are given evenly in a relationship. What my friend told me was that sometimes the perception of even is skewed. If the relationship works then there’s balance and there is always someone giving more.

I’ll gladly say I want to find the one, spend years enjoying each others company then having my twins and drink sweet tea on my porch. Don’t get me wrong my happiness isn’t defined in another person, learned that the hard way. I guess it all goes back to me in this alone factor. I’m still having a hard time maintaining a close circle of friends. I blame conflicting schedules, but if the friendship works then it’s balanced. Everyone has to put in some work, but I can only make the call of how much I want to put in.

Now that I’ve found the source of failed relationships now I have to decided if I want to change it. I do.

This is my life and I chose to be a better person….the things I want in life are depending on it.

From the time I came of age, I have learned to see and enjoy the world as a bounty, a place purposely designed by the Almighty Creator for humanity to cherish, work for, and be excited about.

I would think that it is this same powerful positive feeling about the world’s divine design that has given most people the intent and the drive to maximize the world’s endowments. We have considered the world as a providential gift befitting continued transformation so that we can live our life to the fullest. In essence, we are in a changing world where we have so much to value despite its man-made imperfections.

What then are in this world that we can greatly appreciate and love as human beings?

The following are the ten things that I love about the world we live in:

1. Faith in God and sense of righteousness
No less than 90% of the world’s population believes in God, or in the existence of a supreme being, a divine someone who has orchestrated the earth’s creation and how it should be nurtured and managed. This overwhelming recognition of God has given humanity a deep sense of righteousness.

The people’s abiding belief in the Ten Commandments has been the cornerstone of most laws and statutes that seek to install order, rights, equality, freedom, liberty, and industry among people of divergent races. Religion has flourished amidst unprecedented gains in science and technology, uniquely strengthening the moral fiber of the global society.

Without faith in God and the sense of righteousness it evokes among people, chaos and anarchy could have prevented the evolution of our world, which is a product of man’s faith, character, discipline, and ingenuity. Man’s relationship with God takes the form of a powerful binding contract for man to do good things.

2. Human capacity: To think, act, relate, and learn
As humans, we are four-dimensional. We were given the body through which we can live, the mind through which we can learn, the heart through which we can love, and the spirit through which we can leave a legacy. In such human configuration, we have the capacity to think, act, relate, and learn. Our creation was a well-thought plan, for us to enjoy and share everything that this world can offer.

I also delight my being able to see, smell, touch, hear, and taste. They are marvelous endowments. I could not imagine how I could be in a position to write and communicate for the greater good without my gift of human capacity.

3. Inherent freedom to choose
When Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, we had been given the complete freedom to chart our own destiny through the voluntary exercise of our human capacity. We had been granted the unlimited freedom to work for our living, to reproduce and fill the earth with humans, and to live in a manner we deem best. That freedom stays up to now. We are at liberty to choose our vocation or profession in life, find our place of abode, seek the friends we like, build the family we dream about, and think of our strategies in life.

Even if we are bound to follow the rules of society, we still have the freedom to ignore them subject to our being accountable for the adverse results of our act.

4. Abundance of new knowledge and learning
Our continuing quest for new knowledge has kept on producing new technologies and meaningful information that help us acquire new competencies as we try to improve our quality of life.

Right after my retirement 10 years ago, after having been operationally focused on telecommunication management for about 20 years, I felt some sort of a dearth of knowledge about other industries that would be the ambit of my new discipline as I go into business consulting. Despite having done purposeful reading of books, journals and periodicals, I had found the Internet to be the greatest repository of new knowledge that I had always needed. Had it not been for the immense power of the Internet to provide abundant fingertip-level new information, I could not have acquired competent knowledge about other industries in a short span of time.

The preponderance of databases, websites, blogs, and other online tools, including “how to” tutorial articles, all rich in knowledge-building content, has accelerated the pace of new learning on earth. This development will continue over an infinite duration, and surfing the Net will be much more informative, exciting, and contributive to society.

5. Unlimited opportunities in life
Regardless of our position in life, the world seems not to run out of opportunities that can help us address our needs and satisfy our wants in life. Even in the face of failure, there are always opportunities that pop up and bring good fortune.

When for some uncontrollable reasons I failed in two successive start-up businesses, a partner of mine in the failed ventures invited me to join him in two major business research projects, which we were able to impressively complete. These consulting engagements led to the setting up my own business consulting firm that up to now continues to operate and give me refreshing intellectual renewal. In this turnaround, the more I learned to love the thought that our world always lets failure to be the start of success.

6. The goodness of people and community
If life is predicated on collaboration, sharing, and coaching to help others succeed, the essence of being in community with people becomes an inspiring preoccupation that brings intense personal fulfillment.

When I started doing pro-bono business consulting work for some underprivileged new entrants in small business, I was amazed and exalted with the new circle of clients, people, and friends that I had built for myself. When my wife and I decided to join a Christian community, we were moved by the intensity of a concerted mindset to do good things for the greater good. My interconnection with people has reinforced my endearment to people, as well as my appreciation for their transformational value to society.

7. The value of the family
The family is one of the reasons why we work hard and persevere in life. We want to give our loved ones the security, comfort, stability, status, and recognition they rightfully deserve. Our family is a source of energy and inspiration in whatever we think and do. And societies flourish because of the dominant value of the family as a basic social unit, and its proven trans-generational impact. 

I enjoy being in an active “extended family” loop where the exercise of love, mutual care, understanding, solidarity, sharing, kindness, and warmth transcends my own family, reaching and encircling grandparents, godparents, uncles, aunties, cousins, nephews, and nieces. It is a wonderful world of a family, always vibrant, hopeful, and ecstatic about each member. I love seeing my children being a part of this awesome family union.

8. Work as a fact of life
I love the fundamental idea behind our creation, with work being inherently attached to our life. It stimulates my senses in recognizing the fact that for us to achieve our lofty ideals, we have to work for them. Work and achieving its purpose gives me a strong feeling of self-respect, for having done something positive by utilizing my own human faculties for the welfare of my individuality, my family, and the community that I serve. Work refreshes me as it sharpens my competencies in facing life’s opportunities and challenges. 

9. Arts as a balancing medium
As we commonly say: “work with no play makes a man dull and gray.” I uphold the value of this seemingly overused, yet very valuable, immortal quip. “Arts” is a “play medium” that enables us to achieve some work-life balance. Music, painting, sculpture, antique collection, hiking, mountain climbing, travels, vintage car restoration, and even sports are common emotional outlets that relieve us of the stress and pressure of regular work, or of leading a regimented life.

I love writing as an art. Writing leads me to a creative thinking mode and gives me the freedom to ventilate my thoughts regardless of the point of view that I stand for. I enjoy music too. Its lyrics and melody give me the positive mood and the joy of understanding humanity in a more pleasant way.

10. Presence of life-giving remedies
Health is important to our full enjoyment of the world’s bounty. Without it, we would miss a lot of what the world offers and has to offer. I delight man’s capacity and inventiveness to produce countless life-giving remedies for health maintenance and improvement, disease prevention, and illness cure. Had it not been for the breakthroughs in medical science, life could have been too short, depriving us of the boon and beauty of the contemporary world.