WANT OR INTENTION?

I consider the act of wanting as passive. It is defined as “the desire to possess or do something.”  I equate this to children at Christmas time or around their birthday making a list of what they want to receive for gifts and then just waiting around for the special day to hopefully receive their  requests.

iStock_000012723220XSmallIntention is the grown-up version of wanting. The definition of “intention” is “an aim that guides action; an objective; a course of action that one intends to follow.  Therefore, instead of just sitting around and waiting for it to happen, we put forth effort to ensure that what we desire comes to fruition.

In the physical sense of intending, we study hard while in school to get the grades required to be accepted into the college of our choice, we perfect our craft with a multitude of practice hours on the football field or dance studio and we are conscientious once in the ranks of the workforce in order to climb the ladder to management.

Have you thought about intention in the metaphysical sense to up the score? It is also possible to increase the probability of our desired outcome by setting forth intentions to ourselves, God and the Universe for what we are going to manifest.  Doing this solidifies a determination and, more importantly, a belief, that what you desire will be yours.

You can send your intention out into the world by visualizing the manifestation of your desire with great detail. Be very specific in all the minute details.  Putting your visions and dreams down on paper, either in a story or picture format, also helps solidify your thoughts, turning them into beliefs, giving you something more concrete to keep by your side.

For successful intending and living, it is important to nurture our body, mind and spirit in order to be open to receive. God and the Universe are always on our side and will bend over backwards to align the stars for us.  However, we need to make sure we first align ourselves by being as healthy as possible in order for the energy to flow through, unobstructed.  Keeping our body healthy is best accomplished by eating pure, unprocessed foods, as close to their original source as possible, to give us the needed nutrients to function at optimal health.  It is also a wonderful idea to slow down and really give thought about what we are eating as well as bless the food, its source and the energy it possesses, before taking that first bite.  We also need to keep our muscles strong, our bodies limber, and our heart pumping through cardio, stretching and resistance-training exercises.  Our spirit can be exercised, as well, through singing praise, prayer, meditation, journaling, attending church services plus whatever methods you prefer in order to stay connected to your source.  Our minds will stay healthy by allowing positive messages to come in while excluding the negative, continuing to learn and keeping an open mind.

Intention can be used for every facet of our lives from intending to have a fabulous day when you wake up in the morning, to intending to travel safely with no incidents or accidents on the way to work, to meeting just the right people to help you catapult your business into the heavens, to finding your soul mate.  You are limited only by your desire and imagination.

Don’t live passively through life…live with intention.

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Leslie Brice is a certified Life Coach and founder of Pathway to Passion and Purpose.  She specializes in working with women who are going through a life transition by supporting and empowering them to move in a positive, forward direction through realization of their passions, purpose and infinite potential.  She is also working with JB Glossinger and morningcoach.com to keep people improving 1% a day.

Pathway to Passion and Purpose ; leslie@pathwaytopassionandpurpose.com

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Become Purpose Driven

iStock_000016880083XSmallFinding our life purpose is not really about finding our dream job or career.  It is much greater than that.  It is really more of a way of connecting with God and his love.  Rick Warren, author of The Purpose Driven Life, reminds us of the passage from 1 Corinthians 13:3 that states “No matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.”  It is learning to include love in whatever relationship, job or career we choose that leads us to discover our life-purpose. This is not a check off the “to-do list” type of love.  This is rather more about a deep connection to God since it is said by all faiths around the world that “God is love.”

When you show up with love as your intention, the true purpose or reason for being in that job, with that person, or in that situation is revealed and manifested.  This is getting deep I know, and maybe I lost a few of you already, but….when we show up with love, we show up with God, since he is love.  God now is in that job, in that relationship, in that situation, or whatever it might be.  That is when we discover that  what we thought was impossible becomes possible, and where we discover a serendipitous flow that feels extraordinary.  That is what true life purpose is all about. It is in connecting with this type of love, where we discover our purpose.

Practically speaking, if you are working in a job that you don’t love or even show up representing love in any shape or size, how do you expect to achieve abundance or true success there?  We just saw in the passage above that we are bankrupt without love.  Without love as our purpose, our lives are bankrupt.

I invite you to think about these things today.  How do you show up at work or in relationships? Do you feel bankrupt in life? What is your life-purpose? Contact a coach if you would like to learn more about discovering your purpose in life.

Traci Vincent

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Have Faith!

iStock_000014923612XSmall[1]What is faith and what does it mean to you? Faith is defined as “trust, hope and belief in the goodness, trustworthiness or reliability of a person, concept or entity”.  I, like so many others have had many challenges in my life and what has never changed is my unwavering faith.  I knew with faith to keep moving despite the low periods of hurt in my life.  In the book, A Course in Miracles, “There is no problem in any situation that faith will not solve”.  One thing is for certain, this profound statement has helped me through thick and thin and continues to resonate with me today.  I know that the God, Spirit and the Universe are conspiring for my greater good and these tools have helped me along the way. 

Change Your Beliefs.  James Allen’s quote: “by changing my beliefs, I change who I am.”  With faith I started once again to believe in myself and had the perseverance to change my beliefs in order to attract the many splendid things and wonderful people that have manifested in my life.  

Ditch the Attitude.  The one question I kept asking myself, “What kind of life do I want to be living?” With faith my resolute answer to this question, “the creation of life and all its beauty and bounty is a miracle and I want to live enjoying life.” When the student is ready the teacher will come.  When I focused with faith and determination, I learned to ditch my stinking thinking attitude.  Every lesson is a blessing and you have to grow through what you go through.  Yes, I sure had my days to go through and learned valuable lessons along the way.

Charity.  During the low time in my life I could always turn to charity and helping others to pick my spirit up.  Giving to others takes the focus off you.  I went through my days asking “How may I serve?” It felt good in my heart when I was helping others and eventually found my purpose in life.  I found that becoming a Personal Development Coach I could provide a service with good intention to  the world.  With my faith, spreading love and kindness while helping others.

One of the reasons I joined Morning Coach is that it’s very spiritual and not religious. Like-minded people “open to life”. They have faith in the big picture of life and they are living in faith ultimately eliminating fear, worry and doubt from their lives.  What I know for sure is that we are never alone.  Sharon Salzberg, Faith: Trusting Your Own Deepest Experience, teaches: “In contrast, faith helps us approach life with a sense of possibility rather than foreboding or helplessness. It dares us to imagine what we might be capable of. It enables us to reach for what we don’t yet know with a measure of courage.  It gives us resilience in times of difficulty, and the ability to respond to challenges without feeling trapped.”  My own faith has taught me that whatever challenges I face, I pick myself up, dust the hurt off, and try again, trust again, and love again.

 

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Peace of Mind

iStock_000003178724XSmall[1]There are so many people in today’s society disconnected from their extraordinary lives and living worrying about not being good enough, not having the right car, can’t find the right partner,  the house is not big enough you get the picture I’m drawing?  The sad truth is that they are relentlessly trying to keep up with the Jones next door and wishing their lives away waiting and hoping for what may or may not come and not being of peace of mind to accept and be happy and grateful for what they have right now.  Former Zen priest, Josh Baran, Tao of Now teaches, “We can find magic, the spiritual and peace of mind in the ordinary.” 

Staying mindful.  When you stay mindful in the present moment it helps you focus and stop the incessant chatter of Ego in your head.  “Peace is an attribute in you.”  Whenever I need to stay focused and stop the chatter I repeat these affirmations from the A Course of Miracles, “I could see peace instead of this” and   “this is my life and my time is right now “when I catch myself wondering into the past or worrying about the future.

Forgivness.  Marianne Williamson, A Return to Love eloquently teaches forgiveness and summarizes: “Forgiveness is a full time job, and sometimes very difficult. Few of us always succeed; yet making the effort is our most noble calling. It is the world’s only real chance to begin again.  A radical forgiveness is a complete letting go of the past, in any personal relationship, as well as in any collective drama.”  Affirm, “All that has offended me I forgive and I fully and freely release you.”

Gratitude.  I choose meaning, responsibility and contribution going forward and live with profound love and gratitude for what I have in my life.  There is not one thing I would change during my lifetime.  I love the woman I have become and what I am blessed with and enjoy on a daily basis.  The trials and tribulations I have endured have shaped me into a person who can promote good in the world.  Living in gratitude has given me peace of mind.

In the Dalai Lama’s book, The Art of Happiness, compassion is the key to tranquility and peace of mind.  He teaches “that being compassionate is actually in your own best interest. And a symptom of your own peace of mind is that you can share comfort with others around you.”  As I continue on my path, I aspire to live with more compassion for those around me, with humility, forgiveness and gratitude.  Peace of mind is an internal matter and I truly believe that I would rather have peace than be right.  A beautiful lesson learned.

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What is Spiritual Peace?

iStock_000016168344XSmall[1]What is spiritual peace? What does that really mean anyway? In today’s society we are so busy going from here to there even our children are busy.  It’s the environment we have created and live in.  Spiritual peace for me is the connection to God within. By connecting I have learned to “Let go and let God” during difficult times. Nhat Han, Zen Buddhist Master, teaches “You need the practice of mindfulness to bring your mind back to the body and establish yourself in the moment.  If you are fully present, you need only make a step or take a breath in order to enter the kingdom of God. And once you have the kingdom, you don’t need to run after objects of your craving, like power, fame, sensual pleasure, and so on. Peace is possible. Happiness is possible. And this practice is simple enough for everyone to do.  Mindfulness is freedom from your regret concerning the past, and freedom from your fear about the future.”

Spiritual teachers and masters Nhat Han, Deepak Chopra and Eckhart Tolle all teach one guiding principle and that is being present in the now and living mindfully.  I am continually learning to live more mindfully.  It takes practice and faith and I try to practice these daily rituals.

Gratitude.  I have learned to live with an attitude of gratitude.  Living a life filled with gratitude is so deeply gratifying on a spiritual level.  I am blessed with what surrounds me and the more you live with this attitude the more at peace you will become as you reach that deeper level of spiritual connectivity.    

Spiritual reading.   I keep learning from the Masters and read and continue to learn from the great spiritual texts of our time.  I am currently working with A Course of Miracles and it has helped me tremendously with my spiritual growth. Living with love and no judgment in the world is what I aspire to live by and in the text it teaches “there is no time, no place, no state where God is absent. God is the love within us.”

Believe in yourself.  Get out of lack consciousness and believe in yourself and your own self-worth.  It starts by taking care of ourselves.  Love yourself wherever you are at in your life. It’s about choice and it starts within.  When you live consciously and take control of your thoughts and feelings, open your heart and truly believe that you are enough, you are kind to yourself, you love yourself first then you will truly get the love you want.  You go out in the world a more loving person; it will come back to you. This shows the universe that you are an abundant person.  It is all intertwined.  

Take time for yourself on your journey to personal evolution to connect with your Spirit.  Have faith and know that the universe is open for you to receive all the bounty and gifts that is intended for you.  As you move forward and grow spiritually you will find that peace and be able to handle whatever comes your way.

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