Postcard from the Universe

Today's mail brought a wonderful surprise ... a postcard of Africa. In amongst the credit card bills and the junk mail -- this beautiful golden and crimson postcard chanting "A F R I C A ". It caught my eye immediately.

A moment of pause to ponder who sent this to me -- someone from Africa? Someone visiting Africa? A travel agency? A quick flip solved the mystery. An African themed spa where I had my nails done a few years ago was sending the postcards out to former clients as a promotion.

I smiled. My spirits were not dampened. I excitedly waved it at hubby and told him that I thought this was a wonderful sign (in light of my current goal). He simply smiled that "whatever you want to believe" half smile he has. I don't care who sent it. I GOT THE MESSAGE... Africa in my hands. I placed this postcard up on our open shelf in our buffet for all to see (especially me). I am going to take that postcard with me to Kenya next summer and mail it back to myself.

Thank you Universe. Write again soon!

Tell Me What I Want -- What I Really, Really Want

What do I want?
Sometimes that is the hardest question to answer. We have dreams of a better life, or the life we want to be living, but often those are thoughts we let drift around loosely, like fluffy clouds on a breezy day. We admire them. We desire them. But we simply shrug off that we can't have them - because they are unreachable.

Make a list
With lots of coaching, advice and practice I have learned that this is simply not the case. For years now I have been making lists of what I want in my life, what I need to change, what I need to do, and when. If big money was involved, I would scribble the amount (no matter how outlandish) in next to the goal, with the date by which I was targeting to achieve it. This was a regular exercise for me and used to make my husband very nervous.

Here's how it worked for me
I remember concluding that a pool was in order to give my daughters memorable summers while both their workaholic parents did their thing. I estimated that we would need 20K for the pool and landscaping. (I also penciled in another 13K to put 10% down on our mortgage). My husband went on record that he wasn't going into debt for a pool ... and where were we going to get the money for all of that?? I had no reason to think that we would have the cash ... but as my mom had taught me, I didn't limit myself in the dream. Instead - I wrote it down and internalized it. I could feel the desire churning in that special part of my being where my optimism resides.

Within months of making my list, our sales manager left my company unexpectedly and I was offered the position even though I had no sales or marketing experience. I was told that I wouldn't get a raise in my base salary as I was so inexperienced, but that there would be opportunity for bonuses if I achieved/exceeded my goals. That's all I needed to hear.

I worked out exactly what sales results would reap the financial rewards I needed to get the pool. The very first commission cheque I received was for $33,000 - exactly the amount I had earmarked for the pool AND the mortgage payment. Funny enough, even though I was absolutely over the moon to get such a lump sum of money - a part of me wasn't surprised. It reinforced what I had always been taught, and what I knew to be true.

Keep in mind
Over my lifetime I have created numerous lists. Once most of the goals became realized, I would retire the list and create a new one, carrying over any other unattained (but desired) goals. I think some of the most important things to keep in minds are:

• don't get hung up on the dates - if you need more time, so be it. Don't use it as an excuse to abandon the goal.
• don't be afraid to write down exactly what you want - or that it will be proof of failure. The failure is in not setting your sights for what you want, and trying.
• don't limit yourself when you are setting your goals. Get to the core of what you want. For example, sometimes we may say we want a cottage, but what we really want is a peaceful place to recharge. The universe may have something bigger in store for you so just identify what you want - and not the form that would take (if you are not sure).
• nothing is too trivial for the list ... I had getting my molars crowned on my list for years -- and it is still there.
• sometimes we can't see how we could possibly achieve the dream -- but don't let that stop you from dreaming. Decide you want; write it down; internalize it; release it to the universe; and be mindful of ways to work towards it. Set a course and navigate in the general direction. Trust. You may just experience an intervention to get you the rest of the way.

No lecture intended
Sorry if this sounds like a lecture. The post ended up being so much longer that I intended. It's just that I have had such success with this and I wanted to share it with you. The first time it works, it will feel like luck - and maybe the second time too. By the third time, you will know that you are making it happen for yourself.

Honestly, the biggest challenge I have is dreaming up new dreams to add to the list. All of my dreams have come true. Really. And they can for you too.

Laws of Attraction in Action

It's been nice lately to have someone to chat with about the laws of attraction, dreams, books and what is important is this life. My new cube neighbour at work and I share a belief in the principles of creating your own reality, power of thought, visualization and much more. Before our day gets started we exchange "success" stories and anecdotes, coffee mugs in hand. It reminds me how important it is to have someone to share with. Those lively heart-to-heart chats reinforce and inject positive energy into the otherwise stale office air and help set the compass for the day.

Today we were talking about how we can look back on what seemed like times of chaos and disorder and see it all as pieces of a puzzle fitting together perfectly. That unplanned pregnancy that lead to a bigger apartment. That first job with a tough boss that taught us our work ethic. Sometimes our "vision" is limiting -- so defined that we don't leave room for even greater possibility.

At lunch we joked about the laws of attraction -- as she tried to take one piece of bread, but got two stuck together. She really wanted that extra starch! But as Richard Bach says in his book Illusions, "every person, all the events of your live in our life are there because you have drawn them there. What you choose to do with them is up to you". My cube colleague and I -- have something to learn from one another -and that's no accident!