“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us most. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and famous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that people won't feel insecure around you.

We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in all of us. And when we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” -  Mary Ann Wiliamson
 
Challenges in life offer many opportunities to face the "dark night of the soul". These dark nights are blessings that wake us up to awareness of the power of our inner being - our spirit. I am constantly amazed at the power I have found within my soul - once I opted into living life to the fullest. All things begin at the spiritual level before they can manifest into the physical. Therefore, whatever we focus on, we get more of. 

God did not send us here to "survive" life. He sent us to explore the power of the spirit over the physical... and to explore the joy of being creators. Our mission is to discover our gifts and give them for the benefit of all. 

Some of my favorite books for personal growth: "Remembering Wholeness" by Carol Tuttle; "Power vs Force" by David Hawkins; "Energy Medicine" by Donna Eden; "Secrets of the Millionaire Mind" by T.Harv Eker; and "Hidden Messages of Water" by Emotu. 

Blessings!
 
"This year, mend a quarrel.
Seek out a forgotton friend.
Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust. 
Write a letter.
Give a soft answer.
Encourage youth.
Manifest your loyalty in word and deed.
Keep a promise.
Forgo a grudge.
Forgive an enemy. 
Apologize. 
Try to understand.
Examine your demands on others.
Think first of someone else.
Be kind.  Be gentle. 
Laugh a little more.
Express your gratitude.
Welcome a stranger.
Gladden the heart of a child.
Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth.
Speak your love and then speak it again." 
-Howard W. Hunter, December 1994, share with me by my friend, Palma Davis
 
Saint Theresa's Prayer 
May today there be peace within. 
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be
..
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith. 
May you use those gifts that you have received, 

and pass on the love that has been given to you.. 
May you be content knowing you are a child of God.. 
Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, 
Dance, praise and love. 
It is there for each and every one of us.
 
"Only when we come understand that our purpose is more than the struggle to survive, do we become able to fully share the gifts we were born with and create something wonderful." - Jo Lyn Cornelsen
 

This was forwarded to me from the Early to Rise newsletter
published at www.earlytorise.com. I've heard the story before in church - it's a great New Year reminder to focus on things that are most important in life...


"A philosophy professor and his student stand in a warehouse. A large
tin bucket and several boxes are in front of them.

The professor picks up a box that contains large rocks, each one about
four inches in diameter, and pours them into the bucket. The stones
reach the top of the bucket, and he asks the student if it is full.

"It is," the student replies.

The professor takes another box, this one containing stones about one
inch in diameter, and pours them over the rocks in the bucket. The
smaller stones fill in the spaces between the rocks. Again, he asks
the student if the bucket is full.

The student looks and says, "It is."

The professor then pours in the contents of a third box, this one
containing small pebbles. Again, the student looks in and agrees that
the bucket is full.

Finally, the professor pours a box of sand on top of the rocks,
stones, and pebbles. And once more, for the fourth time, the student
has to acknowledge that the bucket is full.

"The lesson," the professor tells the student, "is to do the most
important thing first, and each lesser thing in order of its priority.
In this way, you will be able to fill up your life four times, instead
of just once. If you do the unimportant things first, you'll be
filling your bucket with sand... and there won't be room for anything
else."


This was forwarded to me from the Early to Rise newsletter
published at www.earlytorise.com. I picked it out as a New Year
reminder of the things that are most important in life...
 
Today Is Yesterday's Tomorrow 
by Jim Rohn

The problem with waiting until tomorrow is that when it finally arrives, it is called today. Today is yesterday's tomorrow. The question is what did we do with its opportunity? All too often we will waste tomorrow as we wasted yesterday, and as we are wasting today. 

All that could have been accomplished can easily elude us, despite our intentions, until we inevitably discover that the things that might have been have slipped from our embrace a single, unused day at a time.

Each of us must pause frequently to remind ourselves that the clock is ticking. The same clock that began to tick from the moment we drew our first breath will also someday cease.

Time is the great equalizer of all mankind. It has taken away the best and the worst of us without regard for either. Time offers opportunity but demands a sense of urgency.

When the game of life is finally over, there is no second chance to correct our errors. The clock that is ticking away the moments of our lives does not care about winners and losers. It does not care about who succeeds or who fails. It does not care about excuses, fairness or equality. The only essential issue is how we played the game.

Regardless of a person's current age, there is a sense of urgency that should drive them into action now - this very moment. We should be constantly aware of the value of each and every moment of our lives - moments that seem so insignificant that their loss often goes unnoticed.

We still have all the time we need. We still have lots of chances - lots of opportunities - lots of years to show what we can do. For most of us, there will be a tomorrow, a next week, a next month, and a next year. But unless we develop a sense of urgency, those brief windows of time will be sadly wasted, as were the weeks and months and years before them. 

There isn't an endless supply!

So as you think of your dreams and goals of your future tomorrow, begin today to take those very important first steps to making them all come to life. 

To Your Success, 
Jim Rohn