Drug addiction was one of many addictions.  My first addiction was love.  No matter what the cost, if my attention fixated on one particular man, I would do anything to make him love me.  I look back now, and can’t believe the crap I accepted from the men in my life, thinking, hoping, praying, wishing that they loved me.  More importantly, I have compassion for myself with the understanding that at that time, I didn’t love me, or think that I was worthy of love.  The men in my life mirrored back to me exactly the way I felt about myself.  They showed up as my angels clothed in the form of my deepest wounds.

Excerpt from soon to be released “She Lives” This wasn’t the first time Mark put his hands on me in a violent way.  I’ll never forget when he spent the night at my house verbally and physically abusing me.  He tried to ram my head into a concrete wall.  I was able to escape his grasp and run down the street to the telephone booth to call the police.  I ran past a few guys coming outside of a store, and I said to them “please help me, my boyfriend is beating me up”, and one of the guys looked at me and said, “a man has a right to do what he wants with is woman”.  Even then, I couldn’t believe it.   I made it to the telephone booth and dialed 911, but Mark came up behind me and slammed the phone down before I could talk to the dispatcher.  I fought him off and picked up the phone and dialed again.  He slammed the phone down again.  So, I gave up.  He took me by the hand to lead me back to my apartment, but before we got there, five police cars surrounded us.  They had traced the call I had tried to make.  They jumped out of their cars and asked if I was the one who made the call.  I told them yes, and that I was having a problem with my boyfriend.  This one police woman looked me straight in the eye and said “did he hit you”?  Mark looked like a deer in headlights.  He was scared shitless.  I averted my eyes from the policewoman, and said, “No, he did not hit me”. So, I would go and get high, blow all my money and then sleep with a stranger for drugs.  I would tell myself it served him right for being such a jerk, but of course, the real reason was, it paid for my drugs when I was out of money.  But I was also trying to make myself feel better about being so powerless and out of control.  I was hurting so badly, and felt so rejected and abandoned, I thought if I slept with someone else, even though drugs was one of the payoffs, it would somehow hurt this man that held my distorted attention in every waking moment, and who one minute gave me his heart, and the next, would leave me, abandoned, beaten and broken again.

Domestic violence was a huge part of my life growing up.  The way things were handled in my family, in particular with my siblings, were with violence.  I saw family members with black eyes and bloody noses one day, and cuddled up with the spouse that did it the next. I thought this was love.  I thought this was how it was done in relationships.  I thought the way you responded to a disagreement was with rage, screaming and hitting.  So, I lived that pattern out in my own life.  I attracted men in my life, where we were perfect mirrors for each other’s sorrow, rage and ignorance.

Healing is possible.  It’s a long road from such a depth of low self-worth to self-love, and there are days when you might feel like you can never have anything better, because the scars are so deep, and the patterns are so etched in your consciousness.  You might feel like giving up, but don’t. Keep on growing, keep going, you’ll make it.  In quoting another amazing woman, Hillary Clinton in her 2008 democratic speech, she says “By following the example of a brave New Yorker , a woman who risked her life to shepherd slaves along the Underground Railroad.   And on that path to freedom, Harriett Tubman had one piece of advice.  If you hear the dogs, keep going.  If you see the torches in the woods, keep going.  If they’re shouting after you, keep going.  Don’t ever stop. Keep going. If you want a taste of freedom, keep going.”

So, I say to you, no matter what anyone tries to tell you, or what your own habitual negative thinking is telling you, you are worthy, you are deserving of an amazing, loving, healthy life.  The road will seem dark and endless, but your life is right down that road.  Don’t give up on yourself before the miracle happens.  You’re worth it. I’ll be your testimony, until you can be your own.

Peace to you beloved,

Ester

So let me share a scenario with you. A woman is entering her “empty nest” period. She has been very accomplished and recognized in her area of expertise. However, for some reason, she increasingly feels a sense of unrest. With her new freedom comes a time to explore what comes next in her life. It may be partially what she will do in personal life, but it also centers on how she views herself and her career. Even more importantly, how will she make a difference? When someone speaks of her accomplishments, just what will they say? Do you know someone like this? Or perhaps, is this a description of you?

Career transitions, whether voluntary or involuntary, can be stressful. If you have had the security of a previous success, it is often difficult to “step out” to the next stage. After all, you have worked for years to become comfortable. Perhaps being comfortable is no longer enough! If you are embarking on a major mid-life career transition, I offer some tips to consider:

1. Take an honest look at yourself. What are your strengths, challenges, marketable skills? Evaluate your past experiences—volunteer successes, workplace accomplishments and valuable family experiences. How have these influenced—positively or negatively—your transitions? How can they help you with your next transition? Which skills may you transfer?

2. Step up your self-care. Major changes are both physically and emotionally taxing. You need self-care now more than ever. It’s ok to be inwardly focused during this time. Many women find that it is an ideal time to engage in some career or personality assessments. Give yourself the gift of self-exploration and appreciation.

3. Engage your curiosity. What went wrong, or right? What could you have done better? What worked really well? Is there anything you would change, if you could? Your world is an empty palate. Paint your own portrait!

4. Focus on what you want and less on what you don’t want. Keep your eye on the prize. The investment you make in focus will pay you multiple dividends.

5. Find support. Since your transition affects your family as well, it may be better to seek the outside support of friends or professionals. An outside resource may just give you the objective viewpoint that could make the difference for you. They will push you to next level when your loved ones are too “polite” to be assertive.

6. Work on your own thoughts. Often your own “self-talk” can be your worst enemy. Calm your fears and reinforce your sense of hope and happiness. A positive attitude is a great benefit.

7. Reassure (or avoid) those who are threatened by, or jealous of, the change. It’s too easy to be pulled down by negative influences. Be protective of your environment. You desire to be in a supportive and forward-thinking atmosphere.

8. Create your own rite of passage. Ceremony and ritual help with all transitions. Celebrate your small successes! Eventually they will add up to your milestones toward achievement.

9. Let go of how things were “supposed to be” and accept “how things are.” Don’t allow your mind to keep replaying those same mistakes from your past. Find appreciation for what is. By now you have lots of stories and experiences. Focus on the future while appreciating the experience you have gained from the past.

10. Keep things in perspective. Or try on a new perspective. Don’t get stuck. Remember, the only constant is change. Wouldn’t you rather drive change than be driven by it? Relish the opportunity to control your destiny!

A successful career transition is just that. It doesn’t happen overnight. There will be ups and downs. However, you’ve been through this. You are at an ideal stage to consider a little risk. Enjoy what lies ahead. In the end, only you will be the one to judge the success of your next transition!

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

When I was working for an $8 billion publicly traded company as a Director of Information Systems (IS) years ago, I reported to a Vice President of the IS. He was a great guy to work for, but I felt like I wasn’t learning much from him. In addition to that, there was a very slim chance be promoted to the next higher level, let alone to CIO (Chief Information Officer). I knew there must be something I could do and learn regardless of my next corporate career move.

So, I did the unthinkable. I called my boss’s boss, Barbara, the CIO. We met and I expressed that I needed some help. Although, I did not know what I needed help with, I asked Barbara point blank, “Would you be my mentor?” Barbara said, “YES.”

She opened up many doors for me, but not from a promotion stand point. She helped me connect with outside industry mentors and nominated me to be a member of the Society of Information Management (SIM). She also enrolled me in the Regional Leadership Forum (RLF), a 9-month long leadership forum with industry peers. During that 9-month RLF program, I read 35 books and presented as well as facilitated many discussions. Most importantly, I gained peer support as well as great mentors nationwide. The entire experience helped me clarify my goals, and shortly after my graduation from the RLF, I restarted my business.

“Surround yourself with helpful people” is my motto. We can’t do things alone. We need plenty of helpful people to help us along the journey.

I’ve used many coaches, consultants, advisors and mentors throughout my career in corporate America and in my business. Some people who identify themselves as mentors when they are actually a coach, or a consultant who claims to be a coach do often confuse me. I’ve created this “helpful people locator” to help me decide who will be of most help to me at any particular time and place along in my journey.

You’ll see the “Technical skills or Knowledge” on the vertical axis and “Leadership skills or Knowledge” on the horizontal axis.

• Consultant: Someone who has high technical skills or knowledge with low leadership skills or knowledge. They are so technical that you can expect the work they do for you to be delivered in a tactical nature. For example, I have an I.S. consultant working for me today, Akhilesh knows exactly what to do when it comes to our website programming. But he gets direction from me, and provides consulting in a tactical nature.
• Advisor: Someone who has high technical skills or knowledge with high leadership skills or knowledge. They can do work for you as well as provide strategic thinking. For example, I have a CPA firm as an advisor who advises me on any company finance decision. Ed doesn’t get into my detailed accounting, but certainly has provided me great strategic advice over the years in matters such as licensing, pricing structure, etc.

• Coach: Someone who has low technical skills or knowledge and low leadership skills or knowledge. (This is from my personal experience with no reflection regarding how or if the coach has been certified.) A Coach is someone who helps YOU get the answer out of YOU, often tactical in nature. They believe you already have the answers and strive to get them out of you and put them in application. For example, I worked with my marketing coach Ravel for two years. He helped me create a solid branding message, taught me how networking plays a part and showed me how to put together my 1-minute commercial. All the answers are from me, but he was so good at getting them out of me. Today, I work with entirely different marketing coach, who focuses on external communication with proper tension.
• Mentor: Someone who has low technical skills or knowledge and high leadership skills or knowledge. A mentor has “been there and done that” and knows what the path is. Barbara, my CIO example, is a mentor. Today, I have two business owner mentors who have been successful not only in their field, but also successful in the sale of many of their businesses.  Our conversation is on a strategic level. Most importantly, my mentors are great connections to other industry top guns.

No matter who you decide to surround yourself with, take some time to determine what you actually need before you decide who to work with. You might want to consider the following:

1.       Have one or two mentors any time during your career. They’re your sounding board and your connectors.

2.       Mentor one or two people and pay it forward. The more you teach, the more you learn.

3.       Work with a coach to help obtain your vision and clarify your goals, but remember they are not your therapists. I agree with a coach’s approach in that you do have all the answers within you. You need a coach to help you sort that through. They’re great for personal development.

Surround yourself with helpful people! Why do it alone?

Chia-Li Chien, CFP®, CRPC, PMP; helps women entrepreneurs to convert their business into meaningful personal wealth.  She is the author of Show Me The Money and columnist for WomenEntrepreneur.com & Fox Business online.   She is available for consulting, speaking engagements and workshops.  She can be reached at http://www.chialichien.com or jolly@chialichien.com.

You know about the Law of Attraction. It’s simple. What we think about, we bring about. It’s simple, almost deceptively so. In the first place, it’s not as easy as it seems to focus on what we want (over what we don’t want). In the second place, thinking alone doesn’t always make it so.

That is where the Law of Action comes in. It’s also simple. It says, if you want it, you have to take an action to get it and then once you have taken action, you have to follow-through.

Attraction + Action = Transformation

Like many people, I read and watched The Secret. I was excited by the prospect of using my mind to create my reality. Since I am a computer girl, I created my vision board in PowerPoint. I had slides for everything that I wanted for myself: my house (got it), my car (got it), my husband (still waiting on that one) and money, lots of money.

I made the PowerPoint into my screen saver and set it up so that it came on often. I also printed it out and placed all of the slides on my bathroom door and in my kitchen. About a month after I had completed the vision board, I was rushing home from work. I had a lot of little things I needed to do (return emails, write blogs, work on my newsletter). Not wanting to be distracted, I decided to do it without the television in the background. Yet, something told me to turn it one.

I followed my intuition and tuned into Who Wants to be a Millionaire. It was midway through the episode, during a commercial break, they announced they were coming to my town to conduct auditions. Immediately, I went to the site and got the details. The next day at work, I told my boss I’d be late that day because I was going to audition for the show.

A friend of mine said she would audition to. I was excited! The day before the auditions, my friend backed out. She just had too much work to do to take the time off. I understood but I was still up super early so I could get a good spot in line. I was #47, part of the first group. We completed our questionnaires and then were tested. We used SAT-like answer cards so they were graded quickly. Once we passed, they took our photos and we each spent a few minutes talking to a producer. I was back at work by 10:30 a.m.

A month later, I got the call to be on the show. To make this long story short, I won $100,00.

I tell you this story not to brag or boast (half of the money went to taxes and $50,000 doesn’t go as far as you think it would. I tell this story to show you how the Laws of Attraction and Action work.

I believe that the Law of Attraction brought the opportunity to audition to me. However, if it weren’t for the Law of Action, that opportunity would have passed me by. I had to act. I had to get the information. I had to take off of work. I had to get up and show up at the audition. Later, I had to figure out the cheapest way to get to New York for the taping.

As a result of that action, I got the house and furnished it; I got the car; and, I got my core coaching certification.

Attraction may start the process but it’s action that finishes it.

Karyn Beach is a corporate trainer and success coach who publishes the Lose the Excuses blog and newsletter.

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

By Lisa Thomas

It was a bright sunny morning when I spoke with this dynamic P3 Pearl. I was awe struck with her presence. She’s such a soft spoken young woman with a passion that exudes from her inner core. When introduced I wasn’t surprised to find a fascinating story in Anna Levesque. I knew her triumph would offer women inner strength and courage like none other.

During our time together Anna chronicles her life as a woman who found her passion and pursued it in spite of a few naysayers. She speaks of the pressure from those closest to her to find something more meaningful or more real. Many doubted her abilities but Anna paddled against the current of all of those who did not believe. She discovered that more meaning lies in her truth than anything else.  

Anna is an avid Kayaker and has made it her mission to empower women to build courage, confidence and strength through Kayaking classes and workshops.  While she loves the sport, it hasn’t come without challenge. Kayaking is a male dominated sport and considered an extreme sport. However Anna saw it as an opportunity to find her truest most authentic voice.

During my time with Anna, she shared the moment she embraced her femininity in a male dominated world. She honored who she is and in the process transformed lives.

I’m excited you’ll listen in on this candid interview with Anna Levesque. Anna’s life  seems to be an experience of paddling against the current with extreme rewards and pleasures. How fun! What would life be like if  “you” chose to go against the current for a change?!?

Prepare to be inspired, to learn the lessons of being true to who you are no matter what and how bringing your faith into alignment with your desires produces extraordinary results.

Anna shares what she knows for sure, two favorite quotes and the best advice for all women pursuing their passion. Enjoy !

Click here to listen to the interview!

Watch Anna in action below! Enjoy!

By Rev. Lady Dannia Baty Copyright 2010

I won’t argue the fact that there are some big changes happening on our world but the fact is changes have been happening for a long time now and this is nothing new. While the wheels are turning, we don’t notice much until the wheels stop turning. Remember any long car trip and at some point the driver slows down to exit somewhere. We may be fast asleep but when the car stops, we wake up most of the time. Some where in our brain is registered the fact that something has changed and we need to come out of our dozing state and pay attention.

It is a similar situation when someone falls asleep in front of the television. We walk in and notice that you are asleep and when it is turned off, you wake up! Everyone is waking up because the wheels have slowed or stopped turning for a while but only for a while. All I hear is how bad everything is. Where have all the positive people gone? What is needed now are conversations that spread hope and love. If you are nearby when the conversation turns to how awful things are the best thing to do is move on or change the subject. Don’t join in!

We have reached a state of what is called critical mass. The way we have lived our lives in relative spiritual unconsciousness has slowed down the wheels of the bus. It is time to take in the scenery of your creations.

If you are having issues and troubles right now then what is going on in your life is in your face in such a big way that can no longer be ignored. The tiger is no longer in the bushes. It is right in front of you and growling and baring its teeth.
Across the board this is true for almost everyone alive right now.

The fact of the matter is spiritually speaking, you are being prodded and pushed to make some changes. You are not alone. You know this to be true and some of us just don’t know how to move forward. You are like a deer in the headlights frozen and not knowing what to do. We all know what happens to most deer when this happens.

Sadly, being in denial or ignoring any suffering you may be experiencing is an option many of you take. To quote Dr. Phil, “ How is that working for you? ”
It is not working at all and you know it. If you have lived this way for a long time then you have adapted yourself to your current way of thinking and living your life.
One of the ways you have adapted is to constantly feed yourself negativity. It is time to take stock of what media you are watching and reading and how much. Let’s not kid each other. Most of the media is negative, frightening and if you believed all of it, you would be jumping off a bridge.
The surge toward spirituality is stronger now than ever before as the seekers are many who want to understand themselves, the universe and God.

We’ve lost ourselves. We’ve lost the truth of who we are as spiritual beings. We have dumbed down our connection to God. We’ve turned our power over to negative thought forms and beliefs put into place thousands of years ago. These negative thought forms and beliefs were created with a single purpose in mind—to control our thoughts, actions and behaviors to the benefit of those who would wield power over us. We have all seen it and experienced it but have turned a blind eye to it. We have shook our heads at our dwindling resources but as long as it didn’t affect us personally we didn’t make any changes. Well now, it is affecting you personally as a person, a nation and a planet.

It is time that we took our power back! It is a social imperative that we all share the responsibility for. Do you truly want to be happy, joyous, abundant and free? Do you want to see peace reign in the world? Do you want to see our dwindling environmental resources begin to replenish and flourish? Do you want to have the power to manifest abundance in your life?

There is a way, as a collective humanity to co-create sustainable abundance in every area of our lives. It requires a Quantum Shift in perspective and a desire and willingness to frame our beliefs about who we inherently are as spiritual beings. It saddens me greatly when I repeatedly and continuously hear the following from the beautiful, radiantly talented people that cross my path:

• As human beings we are imperfect, flawed and weak
• No pain, no gain
• One cannot transcend or grow without suffering
• I don’t know what it would take for me to be happy. I have everything and I feel confused and alone.
• I feel like I am a prisoner in my own life and I don’t know how to undo it
• If only I had the right woman/man in my life, I’d feel okay
• If only I had money, I’d be free.
• I feel like I’m being punished for who I am
• If only I had a house, I’d be secure.

With great sadness in my heart I write to you to implore you to begin anew. To wipe the slate clean and to create a new reality and imprint upon it that which is truly your birthright and destiny as a human being! You are a bundle of pure divinity. You are a perfect, precious creation of unlimited intelligence, creativity and divine power to be the alchemist mixing and creating precious energies, thoughts, forms and materials into divine material form. You are God’s perfect creation. You were given such incredible gifts of free will and to power to create anew in every moment.

Every one of us is a teacher and a leader but we are not using it. You are a teacher and a leader within your own life experience.

Now is the time for change…Now!
The true disease of our humanity causing the dwindling resources of our environment, increasingly aggressive warring among political and religious factions and early death due to diseases born out of our own behaviors, is our belief that we are flawed, imperfect and victims of our circumstances. The other disease is apathy.

My divine fellow brothers and sisters, where, when and why did we decide to buy into the very belief that is causing the deconstruction and destruction of everything that we hold dear in life! Whatever happens anywhere in this world affects every one of us.

Not until we REMEMBER and EMBRACE the truth of our divinity and LET GO of someone’s self-motivated spin that continues to dominate and control us, will we begin to be free. As we begin to embrace the truth of our wholeness, we will begin to feel the rise of a new era, a rise in health, wealth and well-being in our hearts, homes, communities and the world we live and breathe in.

The spin of human form as broken, flawed and in need of being saved is what perpetuates living from a place of fear. The belief that as human beings we are a stain on the fabric of the world is truly tragic and commits us to a barren future. The belief that only through pain, we rise, is yet another negative thought form which has as its’ goal to behavior modify us into a malleable controllable collective. It keeps us immobilized where institutions can lead us into arenas that only serve their thirst for power, dominance and control.

Fear breeds more fear and increased fear in the world gives rise to those who want to capitalize on our fears. They control our minds, actions, behaviors and pocketbooks! Conquer and divide is the dish of the day if we continue to buy into the belief that our greatest strength as a human being is our weakness!

Living from fear allows us to be controlled. It controls what we are able to accomplish in the world. We strive to create security and success from a place of fear and when security and success is built on a foundation of fear, it is at risk of collapse and destruction. The only way to create SUSTAINABLE abundance is through living from a place of our own power and divinity. We must understand that as human beings we ARE PERFECT and we hold the power to the expansion of not only our lives, but the world around us.

When we begin to feel the rightness, beauty and brilliance of who we are, fear begins to slip away and we begin to feel a new surge of the divine running through our hearts, souls, and spirits. We begin to see life through a new lens. Everything comes vibrantly alive and a new energy moves through us giving birth to our own unique creative intelligence. We begin to live in flow and trust and not in fear. We begin to manifest a new reality of our own choosing! An abundant Universe where supply far exceeds demand! Just envision that for a moment. What would the World become having all the supply that we could ever need to meet demand? I know you know the answer. War, famine, disease, ego and fear would become ancient history! Humanity would rise to a new consciousness where abundance would be allowed to expand and flourish and we would become the generation of a new era of enlightenment!

We, the people, ARE the mass consciousness that have the power to create permanent quantum shift for a new tomorrow. Believe it, embrace it and manifest it now!

We’ve also bought into the belief that change is a painful process. When we even think of the word “change” it evokes a feeling of dread and fear. We, again, become immobilized and choose to stay stuck rather than facing the supposedly inevitable trauma of change. This is a belief that we have to shift and let go of in order to become proactive participants in the creation of a new abundant landscape of life.

Change is invigorating, energizing, exciting, and expansive and creates innovation and genius when you are the one instituting and creating the change.

The reason why most of us see change as a threat rather than the opportunity for expansion is because most of us let change happen to us rather than being the proactive person promoting the shift. It is the difference between being the victim of circumstances or the victor of circumstances. Which will you choose going forward? To be the person who allows change to be thrust upon them or the person who creates positive change?

Again, it is a matter of living in faith of yourself as a creator and not as a fear-based person who is being manipulated and controlled by those who would seek power over you.

True and right use of power comes from within with a purity of intention to manifest abundance for the greater good of the whole. It starts in your heart, soul and home and trickles out into the world. Change brings about incredible transformation. God is always there to guide and assist.

As you believe, others believe. As you live your divinity, others will live their divinity. As you radiate the new reality of our divine humanity, others see it, feel it and move into it. You have the power to change your mind, thoughts, beliefs, deeds, actions and reactions. You have the power to manifest a new reality that sustains your existence in the highest, most abundant form imaginable.

As the world changes and our consciousness shifts into a higher state of being, we will all come to know God as never before in the history of the world. God is patiently waiting for his children to know and feel with absolute clarity that we all have the power to affect change and create. If you have been waiting for signs and omens, they are all around us so what are you waiting for? This is just something to think about.

By Lisa Thomas

A New Day and a New Dawn,

As we embark upon a day of independence, I ask what shall you declare and take back as your own independence – what shall you reclaim, what shall you take back into your hands?

As the days come and go we find many trials and tribulations amongst us. The oil tragedy, healthcare, economic downturns, upturns and side turns, wars and fighting among leaders, countries, citizens, business owners, loved ones – competition and separation in our own communities, strife in marriages, friendships and families.

Where does it end?

We must be the change we want to see. A declaration begins with you. So some time ago, I declared freedom from all concerns other than my own; letting go of the burden and weight to nurture those who wouldn’t nurture themselves and helping those succeed who wanted a free ride. I declared success started with me and then through my success others would follow.

It’s amazing what I’ve seen in retrospect to the declaration. I believe God and universe was waiting on me to declare my own independence! And now, Independence is bliss!

So as we embark on a new day of independence, what shall you declare this day and days to come?

Make it good because remember when you ask, you shall receive!

Blessings to all and a safe holiday!

RE: the photo: I took this photo last year. This plague sits in my sunroom so that I might see it daily. “Believing today is a mirror of receiving tomorrow. So believe in that which you ask, and you shall receive!”..Lisa H. Thomas

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 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