Category Archives: New Thought

What’s My Theme: I Put On a Happy Face

Posted on by Michelle Mains

I heard a story about a coach who started her practice by giving a friends and family rate to clients.  “Maya,” a smart, engaging entrepreneur who had a multi-level marketing business, was one of her first consultations.  They were having a great time getting to know one another, but different parts of Maya’s story didn’t seem to add up.  Midway through their session the Coach quietly said, “You’re a faker.”

Maya hit the roof.  “What?!  How can you say that to me?  Authenticity is one of my highest priorities!  I have integrity in everything I do! That’s totally wrong!”

The Coach was taken aback.  “Oh, I’m so sorry.  I didn’t mean that you were inauthentic.  I mean you try to make everything all right, no matter how challenging things are.  You have a hard time admitting when you’re facing something tough – that’s why you fake it.  Why do you feel like you always have to put on a happy face?”

Maya was surprised, but she immediately understood the Coach’s feedback.  She was a little embarassed.  And then annoyed.  And ultimately humbled.  As she went through different areas of her life, she knew the Coach was right.  She also understood that it meant coming clean in places where she had put on the happy face.  This was an especially challenging task since she was in business with her family.  Over the next month, she had meeting after meeting with the family explaining the details of the business, even the ones that weren’t so pretty.

I think we all have Maya’s theme someplace in our life.  Maya was the strong, competent businesswoman to her affiliates.  In an effort to encourage them when business was down, she would gloss over financial realities which were their common concern.  At home, she was the playful little sister.  However, she felt compelled to cheer everyone up as her parents’ marriage disintegrated.  And she was the fun-loving adventurer to her friends.  Even when things didn’t go as planned, she had to reassure the rest of the group about how much fun they were having.  From the outside looking in, her life seemed to be working, but ultimately she was exhausted.

This week, take a look at your world and see where you may be putting on a happy face.  It’s a little different than being positive in the face of adversity and recognizing the cyclic nature of life. (As Joel Osteen likes to joke, “This problem didn’t come to stay, it came to pass!”)  Putting on a happy face means that you’re fearful about being honest.  You’re afraid what might happen if you faced the truth.  And you’re worried about what will happen next if you admit what’s really going on.

Be brave!  You may have some difficult moments, but working through problems when they’re small is so much better than facing a harsh reality that could have been avoided.  I’ll leave you with an affirmation from one of my favorite authors, Sandra Anne Taylor: “I expect the best, and I am equipped to deal with the rest!”

What’s My Theme: I Play It Cool

Posted on by Michelle Mains

Have you ever found yourself in the middle of a heated situation where emotions keep escalating?  This is what happened to me over the last few weeks.  In spite of the tension, my colleague, “Jay”, showed an incredible amount of poise.  You could say his theme was: “I play it cool”.

Many people are incorporating the practice of detachment into their spiritual lives.  It’s true that we often hold on much too tightly to our ideal outcome.  However, detachment may become so watered down that it results in apathy like my earlier column, “Too Motivated By the Miracle.”  Is there anyone in your world who doesn’t take much action?  Instead they insist dreamily, “If it’s meant to be…it will be.”  It’s wonderful to state your intention and be open to what comes next.  However, if you have no interest in what actually shows up, are you too detached?  Have you missed an opportunity to direct your gifts, intellect and passion?

Jay demonstrated detachment beautifully.  Day after day, week after week, the work scenarios would change.  The project manager was a spur of the moment, free spirit.  She was light on details and couldn’t understand Jay’s growing frustration with the churn.  After all, everything would eventually come together – right?

There were a few tense moments, but Jay never lost his temper. As I thought back, I recalled one hard project after another we’ve encountered.  They all had the same hallmarks – his behavior was consistently positive.  His actions quietly showed: “I know what’s important.”  “I know who I am and stay in peace, no matter what’s going on around me.”  “I ride the wave.  I respond to circumstances instead of fighting them.”

My blood pressure levels dropped as his calm, direct responses trickled in.  Let’s be honest – most of us start to fly off the handle when people are pushy.  Instead, the dynamics were reshaped and constantly transformed.  Here are a few examples:

  • Deadline moved up a week?  Let me see what I can do to finish this early.
  • Documents need to modified and reviewed again?  I only have time to make a few small changes, but it will keep us on track.
  • Hiring a new vendor?  Next time use someone pre-approved, but here are some talking points about our policies in the meantime.  Let me know how things go.

Alternately, think about the questions above with answers like, “How could you do this to me!” or “Why are you even suggesting that!”  Being outrageous may be colorful in the moment, but it rarely solves problems.  Instead of remembering brilliant solutions, the only story people tell is, “Wow – that guy is really a screamer.”  Jay was the opposite – as the emails piled up, he would often catch me in the hall, shake his head and make a quick joke about the latest development, and then peacefully move on with his day.

This week, I encourage you to find your own best expression of detachment.  No matter what comes your way, resolve to stay cool!  Remember the counsel of sculptor Auguste Rodin, “Patience is also a form of action.”

What’s My Theme: I Love a Project

Posted on by Michelle Mains

I was watching a retrospective about Lucille Ball, and her co-star Gale Gordon told a funny story about how Lucy often bore no resemblance to her onscreen characters.  Rather than being absent minded and a laugh a minute, she was usually on task.  Her famously strong work ethic only became more pronounced following her divorce from Desi Arnaz.  He reminisced about cutting up with the cast and crew while they waited for Lucy to finish in the make-up chair.  Things would be loose on the set until the door flew open.  “And then Madame would hit the floor…,” he smiled and trailed off, shaking his head at the memory.

This story inspired the topic for May, “What’s My Theme?”  Like Lucy, my friends will tell you that I love a project.  My calendar usually includes many active contract negotiations at work, reorganizing at home, and lots of creative writing.  Do your days have the same kind of variety? Projects shouldn’t be vanilla, boring and neutral; they should be alive with your talents and imagination.  Clearing out your closet or making dinner is only dull if you approach it that way.  However, there can be a shadow side if your project love results in endlessly churning one responsibility after another.

Years ago I worked with a woman who was hyper, hyper productive.  I was in constant admiration of how quickly she would return email.  She had an uncanny ability to process data, think through options quickly, and propose several solutions.  She seemed so inventive.  So engaged.  It was really remarkable how many plates she could keep spinning.  For a while.

I began to see how her initiatives started with a lot of enthusiasm, but few had long-term impact.  Her team picked up on the same trend and began to dread the endless stream of requests.  Since she could process through hundreds of emails a day, she thought it would be a breeze for everyone else.  It never occurred to her that no one really enjoyed working through note after note she lobbed and hammered over the net.  Instead of seeing her assignments as meticulous attention to detail, they viewed her as petty and unrelenting.  Her insecurity about never having enough accomplishments pushed her to constantly kick-off more and more projects. After a while, people began to avoid working with her.

In the story above, I give Lucille Ball all the credit in the world.  There may be people who were disappointed by her behavior after having pre-conceived notions about how fun she would be.  But let’s be clear – there’s a time to get to work.  Lucy was keenly aware of her responsibilities after she bought Desi Arnaz out of his share of Desilu and became the first woman to lead a studio.  Whether you’re negotiating a contract or remodeling a kitchen, all projects have moments which call for diligence and discipline.

This week, you may be walking a fine line between Project Manager and Firestarter.  I’m confident you’ll find your own perfect blend of either following through or knowing when to rest and be satisfied with the results at hand.  There’s no need to power through life like a 1-speed blender.  I’m inspired by Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, “When you waste a moment, you have killed it in a sense, squandering an irreplaceable opportunity.  But when you use the moment properly, filling it with purpose and productivity, it lives on forever.”

The Beautiful Miss

Posted on by Michelle Mains

I was watching QVC the other day, and one of the show hosts was talking about dressing around her figure problems after she had a baby.  She said, “I thought I was doing pretty well the first year back from maternity leave, and then one of the guys passed me in the cafeteria.  He called out – “Hey, when’s the new baby due?”  I thought – oh, no!  Back to Pilates class for me!”  (As you’ve probably figured out, she wasn’t pregnant.)

Talk about the beautiful miss!  Luckily it was clear to the host that her co-worker wasn’t trying to be insensitive.  Instead of waiting for offense, she was able to laugh it off.  She just had a few more pounds around her middle than usual, and he blurted out the first thing that came into his head.

Have you ever found yourself in a similar situation?  Sometimes things are simply awkward, and you’re not sure what to say.  On a more serious note, you may be so stunned by someone’s news that you’re speechless trying to process.  Worse yet, perhaps someone is deliberately putting you on the spot.

What do you say when things are still in flux?  When situations are still developing, and you have no idea what the future holds?  Perhaps having the right words at the right time simply means communicating as authentically as possible, embracing ambiguity instead of trying to avoid it.  Culturally we’re oriented to the quick fix.  However, it’s all right to recognize that you don’t have to have the perfect answer in seconds.  Nervous chatter is the junk food of communication – it fills space, but rarely satisfies. 

I wanted to end this series by giving you some elegant responses I’ve heard in the last few months.  They appeal to me since they are “bridge” statements.  None of them are a complete or final answer.  They give plenty of space for the other person to respond as the situation unfolds:

  • To a man whose mother has been diagnosed with breast cancer: “I don’t know what the future holds, but I am here for you.”
  • During a contentious negotiation: “We agree on x and y.  Why don’t we give z some thought and reconvene on Friday?”
  • For a couple who found out their child was abusing drugs: “That’s a really difficult situation.  Will you let me know how things go with your first counseling visit this week?”

This week I’m going to employ the “WAIT” (“Why Am I Talking?”) tactic.  Before I jump in with a snappy comeback or outworn cliche, I’m going to take a breath.  I want my comments to be welcome and well received.   In the gentle words of Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, “Be kind whenever possible.  It is always possible.”

Would You Say That To Me?

Posted on by Michelle Mains

One of my colleagues has a teen-age daughter.  She’s a beautiful girl.  Smart and fun, she has a warm, friendly personality, but she’s really struggling trying to keep up.

Her Mom mentioned one week that the mantra had become, “I’m ugly.  I’ll never be as pretty as Jordan.”

Next week: “I just can’t learn geometry!  I’m so stupid.  I’m never going to pass this class.”

And the week after that: “I never get invited to the best parties.  I guess I’m just not cool enough for the right people to like me.”

Did you have a similar adolescence?  I moaned as the stories kept coming in.  For a while, her Mom tried to comfort her.  But suddenly, she threw up her hands.  I was a little shocked – “What did you do instead?” I asked.  “I told her to knock it off.  I said – would you say that to me?”

“What did she say?”  I said.  My colleague answered: “Well, what could she say?  Of course she wouldn’t talk that way to me.  I told her if she wouldn’t talk that way to me then she shouldn’t talk that way to herself.  I realize she’s just complaining to her parents night after night, but I have to think there’s more to it.  If this is what she’s saying, what is she truly thinking?  She’s not perfect, but it’s hardly as bad as she’s making it sound.”

Do you find yourself getting into a loop like her daughter, even when things aren’t terrible?  Here are some of the everyday phrases I hear from people:

  • I wish I could go to Europe.  I never have enough money to take a great vacation.
  • I’d love to improve my golf game.  But I’m always too busy at work.
  • Well, I guess it’s back to the Gulag.  That’s what I call the office.

Can you imagine if you made similar assertions over someone else’s life?  Think of seeing beautiful travel pictures but saying to your friend, “Well, forget it – you’ll never be able to take a trip like that.”  Or saying to your brother, “I’d be happy to meet you at the driving range for a bucket of balls, but I know you haven’t done a good enough job at work today to leave at 6:00.  Why don’t you just stay at your desk?”  It may sound ridiculous, but mindless babbling can become your reality when you least expect it.

As I listened these casual statements, I thought how small changes could make such a difference.  How about – “I wish I could go to Europe.  I don’t have enough money this year, but I know a great vacation is coming.”  Or, “I’d love to improve my golf game.  I’m so busy at my job that I’ll have to make sure I book time for Saturday before the week gets away from me.”  And for that last bullet above?  Just drop it – don’t curse your workplace.

This week, I encourage you to turn some of that negative internal chatter around with affirmations, or better yet, stop before you speak it.  In the words of Mother Teresa, “Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.”

My Say = My Way

Posted on by Michelle Mains

My friend, “Suzanne”, fell in love early and thought she was set for life.  Her husband, “Matt”, was a great guy. Well, most of the time.  Matt had a mistaken impression that Suzanne’s offhand comment, “I want you to be happy” meant “Feel free to do whatever you want.  If you’re happy, that’s all that matters.”  For Matt, being happy translated into spending long hours at the office, and out at dinners and events with clients.  He gave Suzanne whatever time and energy was left, which wasn’t much.  Their relationship cratered in short order.

Talking in the car one day about her starter marriage, she made an interesting comment.  “The problem in my marriage is that I didn’t have a voice,” she said defiantly.

I understood the importance of having an equal voice in the partnership.  At the same time, I was concerned about the way she was rewriting history.  Her husband was a very stubborn guy, not given to much compromise.  I worried about her romanticizing the situation.

We talked some more, and then I said, “Suzanne, if you had had a bigger voice in your marriage, you would have gotten divorced even earlier.”

I could tell she was stunned.  But after thinking about it for a couple of minutes, she reluctantly agreed.

Have you ever run into people with a similar belief?  Regrettably many people have gone too far and convinced themselves that simply speaking their truth is all that is needed in a situation.  As a professional negotiator, I can assure you that’s rarely the case.  Somehow people have forgotten that your opening presentation is just that – the opening.  There’s often a fair amount of listening and compromising that goes on before a contract gets signed.  I’ve almost never seen situations where my say = my way.

Think of the couple in “Speaking the Truth in Divine Timing” trying to discuss vacation plans.  Can you imagine the wife suggesting going to Hawaii and expecting to be met by her husband responding, “Oh yes.  Just go ahead and plan whatever you want.  After all, you’re speaking your truth!”

It may be a silly illustration above, but a couple of themes came forward as we talked more.  They’re worth remembering, whether you’re negotiating a big deal or a week long vacation.

There’s a joke about the electoral process in Chicago: “Vote early and often”.  In the first blush of love, Suzanne let her husband dominate conversations with his confidence and enthusiasm.  She often lacked the right words at the right time, waiting until she thought of the perfect expression hours or days later.  She usually wasn’t successful reviving the conversation; Matt thought everything was settled.  As the years progressed, once she voiced her opinion, it wasn’t a whisper, it was a roar.

Also, in forcing her point with Matt, Suzanne forgot to leave room for a better idea, even if it wasn’t her ideal scene.  After all, Matt was a sharp guy.  He was fantastic about finding clever and amicable solutions.  But having been turned down over small things time and again, Suzanne refused to give an inch to Matt’s suggestions.  She began to see even the smallest compromise as selling out.  The bitter root of resentment began to grow, and it bore fruit in every area: their words, their actions and everything in their home had the same bitterness.

I’m sorry things didn’t work out for Suzanne, but she’s found her true voice, and it’s a beautiful one.  This week, think about using the ideas above before you issue an ultimatum.  In the words of Winston Churchill, “Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary.  It fulfills the same function as pain in the human body.  It calls attention to an unhealthy state of things.”

Waiting For Offense

Posted on by Michelle Mains

On one of my trips to New York, I saw the fabulous Janet McTeer and Harriet Walter in the American debut of “Mary Stuart.”  This historical drama is yet another fictionalized account of the troubled relationship between Mary, Queen of Scots and Elizabeth I.  What a night – dramatic and intense, with incredible performances.  But also long…

I found myself in a row with a couple and their father-in-law.  The play was going along nicely until late in the second act.  We were closing in on the three hour mark, and I heard the woman sneeze.  And sneeze again.  And again.  I glanced over to see her husband shuffle in his seat.  For a moment I thought he was going to offer her a handkerchief.  But he just sat there.  In fact, he shot an annoyed glance in her direction.

I have allergies from time to time, so I usually carry some Kleenex around.  I reached into my bag, pulled out the Kleenex and gave it to the father-in-law sitting next to me.  He looked at me oddly until I pointed at his daughter-in-law.  He quietly shook his head in agreement and gave her the tissue.

I almost didn’t pass it down to her.  As I reached in my bag, a couple of things quickly crossed my mind: “Are you sure you want to do this?  It’s New York.  She’s probably going to be incensed!”  On the other hand, she really seemed to be struggling.  I expected a “How dare you…” as the curtain came up.  Instead, she turned to me before heading down the aisle, gave a big smile and gushed, “Oh – thanks so much for that tissue!  I could tell the play wasn’t wrapping up soon and I just kept sneezing!”  Her reaction was the total opposite of what I expected; she couldn’t have been nicer.

It’s a simple story, but a good illustration about waiting for offense.  Do you know people who seem to have one confrontation after another?  No matter where they go, they always seem to run into someone or something that really bothers them.  And then they just have to say something.  Here are some situations that have crossed my path in the last couple of months:

  • A sales clerk offers to help someone as they make their way through a high end department store, only to be met with, “Are you following me?”  (Sorry, that can happen when people work on commission.)
  • A friend offers to help their neighbor shovel the sidewalk, only to hear an irritable response of, “I keep my place up – you don’t need to do that!”
  • A co-worker makes a flip comment trying to be funny, and then the conversation turns ugly.  Suddenly they’re met with, “Are you insulting me?!”

This week, take a breath if a conversation goes south.  It’s possible the person you’re dealing with just doesn’t have the right words at the right time.  Or maybe it’s just a simple mistake.  Give them the benefit of the doubt and consider that their intentions are good, even if their actions are lacking. Before you lash out, or if you’re worried about extending yourself in the first place like I was, recall that nice lady in New York.  Remember the warning of “Peter Principle” author, Dr. Laurence J. Peter: Speak when you are angry, and you’ll make the best speech you’ll ever regret.

Speaking the Truth in Divine Timing

Posted on by Michelle Mains

One of the gals at the office, “Linda,” got married a year ago, and we were catching up about married life over lunch.  “I finally learned not to talk to my husband about anything serious after 9:00.”

“Really – what’s the problem?” I asked, fearing the worst.

“Oh – it’s not as bad as it sounds.  He just doesn’t listen to me at that time of night.  He’s tired, he’s ready to watch SportsCenter and just go to bed.  I think I’m finally getting the hang of it, though.”

“You are?” I said.   “What’s the trick?”

“I give him time to process.  I usually warn him a couple of days ahead.  I’ll say – We’re sitting down on Tuesday night and discussing vacation over dinner.  In 10 minutes we work out vacation plans that would have taken us a week in half-baked hallway conversations.  I like having things resolved, and he gets to crash at night.  It’s the perfect arrangement,” she laughed.

Linda makes a good point, and she gave me the theme for this month: The right words at the right time.  Speaking your truth is a popular topic.  Getting things off your chest can be important, but it’s only half the battle.  Iyanla Vanzant uses a four question process before having a heart-to-heart conversation:

  • Does something need to be said?
  • Does something need to be said by me?
  • Does something need to be said by me right now?
  • Can I say it in a way that I would like to hear it?

When I first heard this method, I struggled with the last question.  After a while, it hit me – it’s probably more important to speak your truth in a way the other person can hear it.

This is what happened to Linda.  She’s a natural night owl, so she wanted to have long, intricate conversations as she was hitting her stride after sundown.  Her husband, on the other hand, is winding down the minute the dinner dishes are done.  They needed to find some common ground for communication, especially when it was a sensitive subject.

Linda’s open-minded, intentional approach also gave them a chance to really listen to each other and have a dialogue.  Can you imagine the response Linda would have received if she insisted that they go to Hawaii at 10:00 at night?  She may have thought she was suggesting a romantic, relaxing vacation while her husband felt badgered and manipulated into a high ticket, big decision as he was trying to go to bed.  Or can you see the spontaneous, bitter argument they might have had if he was adamant about going camping instead?  Since they weren’t rushing or having a sniper conversation in the hallway, they could amicably and even gently work through contentious points before they became hardened grievances.

This week, consider asking for some Divine guidance about not only what to say, but how and when to say it.  Ask for help in sending your message in a way that can be fully received by the other person.  Here’s a quick 5-sentence affirmative prayer to take with you:

I affirm that I am communicating authentically, with grace and ease.

The right time for this conversation is making itself apparent, and I am so grateful.

I am open to the highest solution, even if it isn’t what I have in mind right now. 

Everyone involved will be blessed and satisfied by the outcome.

And so it is.

Get a Style Icon

Posted on by Michelle Mains

Career coach Betsy Gutting recently told a heartbreaking story on her radio show about her daughter’s college art class.  The professor had a unique way to provide feedback.  He liked to critique everyone’s project in front of the rest of the class.  Stroke by stroke, one by one.  Talk about nerve wracking.  It was no surprise when her daughter began to get anxious about going to class.  Instead of being inspired by the work of others and encouraged by her teacher, she anticipated the worst.  Unfortunately her intuition was right.  One day her professor asked her after a minutes long tirade, “So, what do you think about this painting is right?”

I groaned aloud as I listened.  I had been a victim of a similar teacher in grade school.  My cooking skills are fine, but sewing has never been a great talent of mine.  At one point my Home Economics teacher turned to me and said, “Do you feel like a failure?”  Luckily I was able to let her comments go in one ear and out the other. My adolescent snark was in full bloom as I thought to myself, “I play multiple instruments.  I sing in more than one choir.  I do things every day that you don’t even consider doing.  Don’t you feel like a failure?”  She was only interested in my results in her class, not the whole student.

The college art teacher reminded me of the “You’re Not Special” high school commencement speaker last year.  Have you had a similar experience?  What I’ll encourage you to do, as I would encourage Betsy’s daughter, is to listen politely, then pick yourself up, move on and find a style icon.  This phrase is usually used in fashion, but I’ve found it helpful to find style icons throughout my life, especially if you’re working on manifesting certain experiences.

Sometimes my style icons are celebrities.  When I think about wanting to age with grace, good humor and constant creativity, I think of Chita Rivera, Rita Moreno and Betty White.  When I look at a successful writer embracing a corporate career, I think of Scott Turow (still practicing pro bono in between books).  And when I consider people who are the picture of health, I instantly see vibrant Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz from Florida, a breast cancer survivor.

And don’t forget the style icons down the hall or in your neighborhood.  You know the people I’m talking about.  The person who uses humor well in a meeting.  The neighbor who always has a beautiful front lawn and a kind word.  And the colleague who takes an extra minute after a meeting to ask sincerely, “How are things going? Are you doing all right?”  It’s as important to manifest these qualities as it is to manifest experiences or material things.

It’s possible that the now famous critiqued painting could have been better, but that’s not the takeaway here.  Likewise, I may still be a failure in the eyes of my Home Ec teacher: no one would ever hire me to hem their pants.  But I’m happy to tell you in the years since that conversation I’ve not only grown, I’ve thrived.  This week, try creating a life where you’re demonstrating all the best elements of your style icons in your own unique way.  As author Steve Maraboli says, “Make a pact with yourself today to not be defined by your past.  Sometimes the greatest thing to come out of all your hard work isn’t what you get for it, but what you become from it.”

Too Motivated By the Miracle

Posted on by Michelle Mains

During the recession, my friend “Jill” got laid off.  She has a deep spiritual practice, so I wasn’t surprised to hear her talk about things positively.

“I know my boss had been struggling for quite a while.  There were rumors he would let the administrative staff go.  After all, the company is so small that a lot of our work can be done by the sales reps.” I admired her compassion.  Jill continued, “I’m sure something new will come up.  I’m always taken care of.”  There was something about that last phrase that made me pause, but I let the comment pass.

We ended our conversation, and I checked in with her a few weeks later.  “Hey – how’s the job hunt going?” I asked.  “Well, kind of slow.  I haven’t really found anything interesting.”  “That’s too bad,” I said.  Do you have any interview requests?”  “No,” she answered.  “There’s nothing worth applying for,” before she quickly changed the subject.  Again, I was a little surprise by her response, but I figured she needed to do things at her own pace.

About a month later we had the same conversation.  I finally had to ask – “Umm…how are things going financially?  I mean, are you ok?”  Jill answered, “The severance package is drying up, but I’m not worried.  I know I’m always taken care of.”

I had to admire her faith, but her passive behavior concerned me.  Have you ever known someone like this?  Someone who is so convinced in Divine intervention that they don’t take earthly actions? Maybe they’re too motivated by the miracle.

I’m in favor of miracles.  I’m a firm believer of synchronicities, but I’ve also come to understand that there are plenty of situations that may be a little more miraculous than they appear.

As the months wore on, it was painful to watch Jill insist on navigating her situation alone.  She was so sure that the Universe would line things up for her that she didn’t stay in touch with former colleagues.  They may have known about a miraculous opening for her, but they didn’t know she was still looking for work.

She also brushed off her intuition about other industries.  There was a spark as we talked one afternoon about using her skills in a new business, but she didn’t apply for something unless it was a perfect fit with her past.  Her rational mind overruled miraculous inspiration from Spirit every time.

Unfortunately Jill’s unemployment stretch lasted for years.  But she was able to manifest one thing – she has been taken care of as she consistently affirmed.  She’s currently living with her parents.

This week, engage Spirit as your partner and marry manifesting with the small, beautiful miracles waiting to happen all around you.  That piece of information that comes just in time for the difficult meeting.  The person who calls you out of the blue and gives you 2 minutes of encouragement that suddenly lifts your whole day.  The changes in nature as Spring is determined to break through.  Keep an open mind like Dr. Robert Schuller: “Impossible situations can become possible miracles.”