Your Mindset Dictates Your Outcome

"Whether you think you can or you think you can't, you're right." ~Henry Ford

"That which you are seeking, is seeking you." ~Rumi

What do these famous quotes have in common? Mindset, to put it simply.

The Law of Attraction has been quite the buzz for the last few years. People's awareness is increasing and many people are capitalizing on it. And why not? There have always been those who are meant to teach, and those who are meant to learn. And, the "law" is an amazing lesson to learn! It is interesting to me, however, that the message has been around for centuries, coming in and out of fashion, with a fancy "catch phrase" here and there... The Secret, anyone? But, the message is hardly a secret. It's known. It's talked about. And, it works. Unfortunately, it's also underutilized.

So what makes the Law of Attraction so compelling again now? The last forty years or so has been a pivotal time in history. Things are shaking up, rules have been broken and re-wrote and are still being re-written every day. So why now does more than half the world's population know what the law of attraction is, and yet... so many people are still struggling to utilize it? In a word, perception. Many of us were taught things like "If it seems to good to be true, then it probably is" (says who?), "easy come, easy go" (really?), "there is nothing for free" (except Costco samples). All of these sentiments have value and are totally accurate and appropriate... within certain contexts. For example, if a dashing man tells you of a shady investment that will only cost you most of your life savings, but the chances of making millions off of this deal are 100 to 1, but the facts and fictions don't add up very well, then perhaps you should pay heed to the old saying of something being too good to be true! But, to hold the idea in your head that every potential investment that you could partake in is a 'too good to be true' deal, just because you could make a nice profit, is likely just a fear mindset pattern that will hold you back from ever maximizing your earning potential.

There is a time and a place to apply the old adages. This is where using common sense, listening to your intuition, holding sacred space for the possible, and maybe hedging your bets a little... come into play. We aren't foolproof 100% of the time. Nor does the Law of Attraction work for every possible scenario all the time. The Universe is a glorious, vast expanse of amazing opportunities. You have to give a little wiggle room for the scenes to play out the many ways they could. How boring would Adam Sandler or Will Ferrell be if the movie director never let them add-lib or run with their comedic brilliance? Let the Universe have a little play room with It's brilliance!

Explore attraction. Look into the seat of your soul and excavate your most passionate desires. Take that desire and create an outline of how your can express your desire. Be specific without being rigid. Then open yourself up to it happening! Let the Universe show you how and where, and when it will unfold!

I have to share a little personal story now... I knew that it was time to leave Spokane, my hometown. My ex-husband and I had all these wonderful adventures that we were going to manifest together that would take us to other parts of the world, but then we had the "stuff" come up between us that ultimately ended our marriage. I was left with still wanting to create an adventurous life. I felt like an eagle with a broken wing--I knew I had it in me to soar, I just needed to mend and change my environment first. So, I started writing up a manifestation, otherwise known as, a loose outline of what I desired and where I desired to live. I explored different areas of the world that were curious to me and narrowed my search for a new town down to a few geographic areas.

And then, I went on a vacation with a couple of old friends that I had reconnected with through the mysteries of Facebook. We had an absolutely marvelous time and in the course of the vacation, I shared with them about my desire to move. They insisted that I come and visit them in their beloved beach town of Santa Cruz, CA. I had never even considered living in the Bay area because of the high cost of living, but San Francisco had been one of my favorite all-time cities in the world, and so I was a little curious to see if I would like living in the area. So, I went for a visit, fell in love with the area and the proximity to the city, set a move date and viola! Moved to Santa Cruz less than six months later! And, my life has gone into overdrive with that of loving friendships, male affection, interesting and wonderful clients, opportunities knocking around every corner... it's been a dream come true!

Those two friends were a catalyst for change for me. They were so incredibly there for me when I was vulnerable and scared in a new, exciting transition--and the Universe knew that that was what I needed to move me into this life of opportunity that I was meant for! You never know what or who will come up or how it will manifest, unless you keep open and let the Universe do it's magic!

Life is an adventure. Just like in Willy Wonka's chocolate factory, there is a delicious surprise around every corner. If you can allow a shift to occur in your thinking that will accommodate that perception. You allow that shift in thinking to happen one thought at a time. When a negative thought, or lack mentality idea comes to you, recognize it for what it is, then let it go... laugh it off as ancient history... reframe it into a positive viewpoint... maybe even make up a short mantra that you can repeat over and over so it sticks...

In fact, repeat after me:

I am capable... I am amazing... I am love... I attract opportunities... I am happy... I am love.....

Good Massage News

What makes a massage a good massage?

So often I have people come to me that tell me how much they love being massaged. Or, conversely, they tell me that they don't really care for massage, but perhaps they have a pain in their shoulder that they can't tolerate anymore and decided to try again. In essence, any type of touch therapy that you walk away happy with, is a good massage. However, to discriminating massage connoisseurs, there are several areas that distinguish between a so-so massage and and oh-so-wonderful one! Here are some things to consider when receiving a massage so you too can be an official massage aficionado!

~As a general rule, massages should feel good, like pain is being released, not pain being inflicted! (there are occasional exceptions to this rule that a good therapist will go over with you)

~The contact and firmness of the massage should be at a level that you enjoy. If you feel like you are being bruised or like your bones are being pushed on aggressively, it's important that you speak up and let the therapist know it isn't working for you. If the pressure is too light, let the therapist know that more pressure would be appreciated, and keep telling them until they get it right! This is your dollar that is buying this massage, it needs to be about your needs!

~A good massage therapist will direct the flow towards your heart. The lymphatic system goes in both ways, but the veins have valves that only open in one direction, towards your heart. It's important to keep the blood flow in that direction, rather than against those delicate valves. Light pressure massages will not affect the valves negatively, but a deep tissue massage can, so just be conscientious.

~If you feel a little sore for a day or two after a massage, don't worry! It means that your muscles were really worked over and your body has created some lactic acid to aid in the healing process. Just like working out, massages work the body. More massages and/or workouts, the less sore you will be after. If you aren't sore at all, you may have the type of body composition that just doesn't get sore easily, or you may want to try a firmer pressure massage next time.

~Conversation. Sometimes conversation happens during a massage, and that's okay...as long as that is what you want to happen. A good massage therapist should follow your cues. If you ask questions and stimulate conversation, she should follow until you cease to ask anymore questions. If you get quiet, so should she. Unless she needs to check- in with something massage related. Then, it is important for her to know how the pressure is, if you like something special, or are disliking a specific technique. It's important for her to use active listening skills, both verbal and non-verbal. Just know that you control what ultimately happens during your massage, you're paying for it! So, if you aren't wanting to talk, say so. Gently, of course...

~Temperature, music, and oils... they all play an important role in your receiving a good massage. If you are cold, you won't be able to relax as thoroughly as is optimal, so speak up and ask for a blanket. If you aren't digging the tunes, have her turn them off, change CD's, or at least turn the volume down. If you don't like the massage oil or lotion of choice, ask her if she has another option. Often times, there are alternatives available for your enjoyment.

The bottom line is this, you can't necessarily control the ability of the therapist, but you can at least control the atmosphere and tone of the massage by making your expectations and desires clear. And, if you still don't get the type of massage that you are hoping for, please try again with someone else. Each therapist will have a unique style and technique. So, get a recommendations from someone you know. Or, look at the reviews on Yelp! or Google, or Yahoo! They are real people, with real reviews of services they have received.

Recharge Your Battery

Have you ever noticed how incredibly delicious and refreshing a good nights' sleep can be? Of course you have! And, do you know why a good rest makes you feel so good? Below you will find just a sampling of what happens to you and your body when you become sleep deprived.

1. Stress:

Our bodies naturally go into a "high alert" zone when we don't get enough sleep. Imagine your cells working triple overtime to accomplish even the smallest of tasks. A decent runner can for a few miles without being overtaxed, but if you were to ask the same runner to sprint those same few miles, the result would be very different. When you don't get enough consistent (optimal word!) sleep, it's like sprinting on your body and brain. Eventually, we just hit a wall and can't go anymore.

2. Inflammation:

Our body self-repairs while we sleep. When we don't get enough uninterrupted sleep, it prohibits the organs from doing an efficient job of cellular repair. Inflammation is one result. Inflammation is linked to cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. It also increases aging... and we all can admit (can't we???) that we want to look as young and beautiful for as long as we can!

3. Memory Enhancement:

Sleeping and dreaming are key aspects of memory. When we sleep and dream we process information we accrue throughout our days and create links and memories that stabilize our perception of reality. Lack of sleep is directly connected to Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia.

4. Weight Management:

Sleep helps to balance hormones in the body. When our hormones are not balanced, or we aren't producing enough of one kind or the other, our appetite will be affected. Hormones play a huge role in our overall function and management of our bodies and minds. Next time you want to lose weight, try increasing your sleep to 7-9 hours per night in conjunction with a healthy diet and some form of exercise and see where that takes you.

There are so many reasons to get a good night sleep. In fact, if you are interested in learning more, be sure to visit http://www.supermemo.com/articles/sleep.htm. It's a highly informative article that details valuable information about sleep and wellness.

And, I want to include a few tips to enhance your ability to have a good night's sleep...

1. Take care of your body. Stretch out, exercise, get a massage. Your body's little aches and pains, tight muscles and pinched nerves all contribute to discomfort, creating wakefulness periodically throughout the night.

2. Stop having caffeine after noon. Caffeine, even in small doses, can stimulate the brain making it harder to fall asleep.

3. Take supplements such as Melatonin, Valerian Root, or Kava Kava. Let the herbs naturally relax you into an impressive slumber.

4. Drink herbal tea. Not only are there wonderful antioxidants in many herbal tea formulas, but they can also relax and encourage a good nights rest. Try Traditional Medicinals, it's easily found in grocery stores and natural food markets and boasts premium quality herbs. To find out more or to order try this link http://www.traditionalmedicinals.com/calming_teas.

5. Have sex. Yes, I said it. Sex. It's wonderful for releasing hormones, endorphins, and natural relaxants. Not to mention, you can burn a few calories too!

Sleep well my friends!