I live on a hill about 1400 feet above sea level. To give an idea of the incline, the city at the bottom of the hill, two miles away, is at approximately 700 feet. I set an intention recently to be more active on a daily basis, so the steep incline in front of me is seen as an exciting challenge. The beginning of my exercise routine is easy, pleasant, and relaxing. I step down the hill gently and quickly; my breath is free; my gaze is up through the trees, at the blue, cloudless sky. My body feels light and strong at the same time. My arms swing loosely at my sides. My mind is able to drift into a state of gratitude, as I realize that I am surrounded by nature, in a healthy body, with an open heart.

I walk down about a quarter of a mile where a voice signals inside me, “remember: you still have to go back up”. I acknowledge the message; assess how my body feels; and decide I can go further. Another quarter of a mile down the hill, the signal is louder, more insistent, and includes “turn around now”. This time, I listen to my instinctual cry and I turn around.

Before I start back up the half-mile trek, I take a moment to scan my body from head to toe. I sense that while walking down hill, my shoulders were broad and pushed back. I stood tall and the majority of my body weight lay upon the heels of my feet. I adjust my center of balance and take my first step back up the incline. Instantly, I’m aware of the contrast in difficulty between cruising down and climbing up the slope. Now my shoulders are forward; I seem to only be able to look down at the ground in front of me; and my weight sits on the balls of my feet.

It doesn’t take long for me to grow weary. I realize that I’m kind of far from home and the only way to reach my destination is by walking up a steep hill, without water. Sweat forms on my body and worrisome thoughts enter my mind. I am in anguish over how long it will take me to get back home. What if I get a headache from the heat and exhaustion? Will anyone drive by to save me if I collapse from fatigue? The more I torment myself about the difficulties of this endeavor, the harder it becomes.

But then, something happens. I shift my thinking back into my body. I notice that the back of my legs tingle with activation. I take note of that and imagine the area healing. I visualize the muscle being massaged and woken up by my activity. I acknowledge that this sensation is the reason I set the intention to be more active in the first place.  I understand that my fears were focused on something distant from me (my end destination), which was causing me to miss out on experiencing anything real about the individual moments.

So, instead of agonizing over how many thousands of footsteps I would have to take before water could quench my thirst, I shift my attention to the feeling in my right foot as it makes contact with the paved street. Then, as my left foot touches ground, I notice how multiple muscles in my leg allow this action to happen. Then, I observe how my fists are clenched. I spread my fingers wide, loosen my shoulders, and address any and all areas of my body that seem tense or uncomfortable. I release all tension with my exhale. I grasp at life energy with every inhale.

I pay attention to my breath, making sure that it is harmonious with my body’s motions. I scrutinize how far apart each step is, matching the left stride with the right. I create a rhythm but maintain focus on the individual beats. Each step presents a new piece of scenery in front of my eyes. Birds chirp and sing while bugs and bees buzz overhead and around me. I take each moment as it is. Everything that is real in each moment is fully available for me to experience.

I hold fast to consistency while adapting to the variety of every passing second. Eventually, I become fully preoccupied in the present moment: where I am; what I’m doing; how I’m doing it; and why. And then, before I know it, I’m home, celebrating how easy that was; excited to do it again the next day. I check the clock to see that my one mile hike up and down a really steep hill took just a little over fifteen minutes. At the end of it, I am comfortable, resting, and rejuvenating in the solace of my home. The fear-voices in my mind initially shared horror stories of exhaustion and fatigue. Not only did I avoid struggling up the hill, I was able to embrace each moment and enjoy every labored step.

Stepping back to look at a bigger picture, I now attempt to apply this philosophy to all of my life goals. When I think about a particular dream or goal (it could be a healthier diet; a financial goal; something I’d like to accomplish, etc), I stroll lightly down to the valley floor, building the dream piece by piece in my mind. When I’m ready to do the work, I turn around and prepare myself for the long, arduous flight up the steady incline. I avoid being discouraged by the thousands of steps I must take in order to succeed, by simply directing my focus on one baby step at a time. I tred lightly, with a soft and open heart, and a smile on my face.

I notice the end goal, and set my course towards that destination, but I do not dwell on how I will get there, or even when. I am present with the unique moments as I move through them. I pay attention to my pacing, as I do not want to charge up a steep hill only to be burned out. I let each moment express itself to me as it is. I observe it; I welcome it; I return gratitude. Before I know it, I am at my destination, looking back at the joyous journey I took in order to manifest this dream. It will not have been a struggle, because of an understanding of how to avoid suffering, by simply choosing to be happy.

Misty is a teacher, student, wife, and mother to three amazing boys. Her list of accomplishments is inspirational! She has a Masters Degree in Elementary Education focusing on Middle Childhood; an endorsement in Structured English Immersion; and two Bachelors of Science degrees in Business Administration and Project Management. Misty also manages a blog that offers design services for other teachers. That’s where I come in. She contacted me through my Etsy store for blog background graphics. Through our interactions, I just knew that she was the perfect model for “My Dreams Matter” Inspirational Interviews. While her career paints a picture of a strong, independent, successful woman… her path getting here was anything but easy.

Tell me a little bit about your upbringing…

My childhood was anything but a fairytale. In fact, many would consider it a nightmare beyond understanding. To survive, I learned to adapt. My coping mechanism was to please those around me to stay safe. Safety lies in observation and anticipating the needs of others. When I was finally free and truly safe, I forgot to turn off survival mode. 

As a result, I spent many years making others happy only to find myself miserable. I married a man I never should have, never wanted to but I was afraid to make him unhappy. It took until my 30s and a divorce for me to realize that I was important. I mattered. I needed to make me a priority. And so, I finally flipped the switch.

How do the people in your life influence your dream lifestyle?

The thing I value most is family. I never had one growing up. I spent time in foster homes or group homes or the hospital. All I ever wanted was a place to belong. I wanted to give my sons all that I never had.

When I look at my sons, I am reminded that I am their role model. The choices I make determine how they will treat themselves in the future. How I allow myself to be treated will determine how they treat their wives in their future. Everything I do is watched and monitored. For so long, I sacrificed everything for others and it resulted in personal disaster. As I have grown, they have grown. It is a constant reminder.

When I remarried, I married a man who is truly my best friend. He reminds me when I forget to turn off my survival mode. He reminds me to put myself first, not last. After enduring cancer treatments and entering remission, he advised me to follow my dreams instead of running from them. So, I went back to school to follow my passion.

How do you deal with fear, doubt and worry?

Bubbles baths, chocolate, and books! When I have had too much stress, I take a long walk with my family and boys. Afterwards, I come home and relax in a nice warm bubble bath. This is me taking care of me. It is setting aside everything else that needs my attention and remembering that I am important. I discovered that by being the best me that I can be, by being my own best friend, that is the way to take care of those that matter most to me.

“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning how to dance in the rain.” ~ Greene

What steps are you taking towards reaching your goals?

Just over a year ago, I called up my local university and enrolled in Graduate School to pursue a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education. I currently have a 4.0 GPA and am scheduled to finish my last semester of student teaching in 3rd grade this fall. I will graduate summa cum laude and am a 2013 promising student teacher finalist. I am loving every minute of it.

To share my journey from Corporate Office to Graduate School to Classroom, I created a blog. Through that site I have been able to network with teachers around the world and many others. It has also led to some part-time employment opportunities that help support my family while I complete school and student teach.

Anything else you would like to add for the Dreamers who read this blog?

We have a choice in how we live. We can either choose to live our dreams or to dream of the life we could live. The road is not easy, things may not always go according to plan but how we respond matters. For me, I choose to smile, to laugh, to dance, and to live my dream. Each moment counts.. make those moments worth living.

Be sure to check out Misty’s portfolio website. As well as her resources for helping the technically challenged. 

Mixed Media (Digital Art & Ink Illustration) © 1996
Lynnette Rozine Prock

From the day I was born, I knew I was an artist. At the age of 8 or 9, I  wanted to teach art and have students around me. For many years, I thought teaching was a very practical way to make a living as an artist, even though my soul wanted to be so much more. I longed to be famous and have my art hanging in museums around the world, like Van Gogh, Rembrandt, and Picasso. I feel as though this desire will never change. I am attracted to creativity the way hummingbirds are drawn to red and deep pink flowers.

In high school, while studying artists like Salvador Dali, I would imagine a long life of painting and experimenting with life. I visualized the stockpile of art that one might collect after 73 years of living as an artist. How many pieces of art did Dali create in his life? Thousands? Hundreds of thousands? Millions? The freakishly large number inspired me! I longed for my own life to unfold this way, with a stockpile of canvas and collections distributed around the planet in different estates and museums.

Mixed Media (Digital Art & Ink Illustration) © 1996 Lynnette Rozine Prock change is good

But, in college, I was introduced to computers and the virtual world. I know, I’m aging myself by admitting this…  I was taught using Photoshop 4.0 (which was released in 1996). The reason I’m pointing this out is because, at the time, this software, and the computer it was on, were top of the line and almost sci-fi. Remember how beautiful that turquoise Mac G3 was? Cell phones were just becoming mainstream at the time.

Mixed Media (Digital Art & Ink Illustration) © 1996 Lynnette Rozine Prock

I was scared of this new thing. I believed that computers were evil. I cursed them and swore I would not let this metallic tool into my daily life. My fear was that the computer world would eventually be obsolete. Even if it wasn’t for 1,000 years, it seemed inevitable. And that meant that whatever artwork I created on a computer, would disappear and be gone forever. I thought “how can I ever be like Salvador Dali, (with hundreds of thousands of pieces of art created after 73 years of experimenting with life as an artist), if my art exists only virtually?”

But did this new change really mean that? The oldest art known to man was created in a cave over 40,000 years ago. At some point, humans stopped painting on rocks and started using paper, then canvas. How funny would it be if people chose not to evolve from rock to paper? Salvador Dali and other artists would have painted on empty cave walls, in the name of tradition. It really was silly for me to hold on to an old thought pattern (my art must physically hang in a museum) and block any new (virtual) creativity from happening.

Looking back, I’m proud that I was able to see that computers weren’t evil. In fact, they have become quite the blessing in my life. I look forward to standing one day in a virtual art gallery, or however it is in the future. I am not tied to one specific way of unfolding. Who knows, one day, 40,000 years from now, a being may find my hard drive with 80GB of graphic design files, figure out how to interpret the digital language, and expose an ancient civilization to a world that didn’t know we exist. I know, that last bit was a little deep.

Mixed Media (Digital Art & Ink Illustration) © 1996 Lynnette Rozine Prock change is good

The point of this memoir is that change is to be embraced, not rejected. Hanging on to old thought patterns and demanding that things should be only one way, creates failure in an opportunity to grow into a more evolved, mature being. Even Van Gogh has his own website… something he would probably enjoy knowing, but could have never imagined.

1. Focus On Gratitude. 

Let’s say you are building a garden in your yard. You spend hours digging, sowing, weeding and planting. At the end of the day, you feel satisfied and accomplished. You wake the next morning to find that animals have destroyed everything by digging holes in and around the plants. Some seedlings have been dug up, torn to shreds, or simply removed from the ground. Looking around at the ruined plot of land, frustration sets in. You wonder why you bothered and proclaim that you’ll never attempt something like this again, knowing you can’t lose what you don’t have. The mind closes and all opportunity to learn from this is lost. You blame the animals and complain about how unfair the situation is.

What happens when your attention drifts towards the gratitude at having a piece of land large enough to make a garden? You had free time in your life to build this garden, isn’t that something to be thankful for? You were healthy enough to be moving shovels full of soil. After the hard work, you bathed in an indoor shower, with warm, running water and luxury soap. And, even if they are causing more work, isn’t it nice to know that Earth houses a variety of life forms? Sure, you have to start again, but couldn’t that somehow be a wonderful thing? Now there is an opportunity to create a better garden, one that is animal-proof. Good thing they got in and destroyed the garden early on, rather than after months of hard labor tending to these plants… right?!

By harnessing control over your own perception of an event, you can find peace in any turmoil.

It’s interesting that neither optimism or pessimism change the fact that animals tore up this garden. The only thing that changes is our experience. By training our minds to focus on the joy, beauty, and excitement – we encounter joy, beauty, and excitement. The same is true about paying attention only to lack, fear, and limitation. We endure frustration, anger, and jealousy when our thoughts reside in those dark places. Bring your attention back to the light by remaining grateful for what is right (or possible).

2. Fake it ’til you make it.

For the first few days, or even weeks, after planting seeds, nothing is visible in a garden. This is a critical stage for a garden to be watered thoroughly and regularly. Let’s say that you’ve figured out how to keep the animals out, and you’ve completely resown your garden. A passerby who knows nothing of your efforts, might find it quite strange to see you watering an empty plot of soil day after day. But since you’ve built this garden, you know exactly which plants will bloom where and when. Even if you explain your gardening intentions to your neighbor, they may still miss the full picture the way you see it with your mind’s eye.

Watering seeds which are hidden underground, with the understanding that green leafy bits will eventually burst through, is one way to describe faith. At this stage, you don’t know which seeds will sprout, or even if any will. But, you do know enough about biology to know they “might” make it and surely your watering habits can contribute to the success, or failure. Once again, an awareness and focus on the possibilities (rather than a focus on the lack of sprouts showing), allows abundance to exist.

Similarly, when we visualize or say positive affirmations with an image of our garden (our goal) at it’s fullest potential, we are able to keep faith in the possibilities. If all we can see is an empty plot of soil, we create our own mental roadblocks.

3. Don’t give up. 

Some plants take only 3-5 days to germinate. Others can take weeks. Some perennial bulbs and flowers don’t even sprout until the year after they are planted. Patience is a virtue, one that can be developed if not inherited. Just as in gardening, dreams take time. Goals need to be nurtured and maintained; tended to and supported. When patience is matched with perseverance, magic happens.

Instead of groaning and complaining about the destruction of the garden by wild animals, start rebuilding. Move forward without looking back. Keep your eyes on the prize and extinguish any questions of fear, doubt, or worry. Remind yourself of the joy you get from being in the garden. Acknowledge what feels right in your heart and build faith from that. Do not let those pesky animals distract you from your purpose.

Imagine if after 2 weeks of watering every day, your garden shows no signs of germination, motivating you to throw in the towel and give up. How ironic would it be to know that the seeds were only one day away from sprouting? Despite what your eyes see (the empty plot of soil), trust the vision that is inside you, showing the garden in full bloom.

Let’s continue this discussion over on the “Dreamers” Facebook fan page. What does the garden symbolize in your life? What suggestions would you give to someone who feels defeated or frustrated? How do you handle thoughts of fear, doubt, and worry?

The secret ingredient for manifesting all of our dreams come true is permission. When we allow belief in our creative thoughts, magic happens. By saying “yes!” to a dream, instead of doubting the opportunity, creation materializes. As a small girl, in a rural town in the midwest, the dream of living in Los Angeles as an Art Director on movie sets, seemed unreachable. Yet, here I am today, making those dreams come true.

I remember in college, during a portfolio class, our professor handed out a packet of potential jobs in the Commercial Art industry. She encouraged us to not limit ourselves while perusing the dream jobs we would like to have after graduation. I specifically recall highlighting “Scenic Art” and “Set Design” jobs located in Burbank and Los Angeles, California.

In that moment, it’s actually discouraging to think big. The dream seems so far off. In most people’s reality, having a Commercial Art degree from a community college in Wisconsin, means working at print shops and in offices, neither of which are very creative. And, both of which I did, for many years. Questions of fear, doubt, and worry add to the frustration and it’s almost easier to just give up and give in.

I couldn’t let that happen. The dream of working in theatre or movies tickled my fancy. Besides, it is my intention to do things in life that I enjoy. It’s been more than ten years since I highlighted those Art Department jobs. It certainly didn’t happen overnight. Whenever something led in the direction of my dreams come true, I accepted, instead of rejected. To balance saying yes to dreams, I am learning also when to say no to paths that don’t direct me toward pure bliss. Life is full of choices. When we choose to do what we like, we find we manifest our dreams come true.

1. Repeat Positive Affirmations, Daily

You’re probably not aware that you’ve been saying affirmations your entire life. If you struggle with self-worth, you are probably affirming negative statements. After awhile, you begin to believe the negativity. For example, the fear-voice says, “You’re not good enough for that. You don’t deserve this thing you want.” That fear voice in your head can be masked and even eliminated with the power of saying positive affirmations. A positive affirmation reinforces, “I deserve abundance, love, recognition, admiration, success. I am worthy and capable!” Imagine if you had been saying positive words of encouragement to yourself for years. Your confidence would be spiking through the roof! Start today. Even if saying the statements creates inner conflict at first, say it anyway. Repeat the affirmations with gusto and enthusiasm. Over time, the questions of doubt and worry will fade and you will transform into a powerfully positive being.

Here are some positive affirmations offered by MyDreamsMatter.com:

Click here for affirmations about ABUNDANCE.

Click here for affirmations for ACTORS.

Click here for affirmations for DESIGNERS.

Click here for affirmations for DIETING, NUTRITION, and FITNESS.

Click here for affirmations to attract HEALING ENERGY.

Click here for affirmations to attract LOVE into your life.

Click here for affirmations to attract HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS.

Click here for affirmations to attract SUCCESS!

2. Ask For Support From Friends & Family

Don’t be shy about asking for help. It is not a sign of weakness. In fact, sharing vulnerability with others demonstrates strength. How will anyone ever know that you need support or encouragement if fears are kept hidden? Explain to your friends and family what it is you’re struggling with. Be open and available. Sometimes people won’t know what it is you need to hear. Don’t be shy about describing the words, phrases, and gestures that would be helpful for your success. You will discover that your friends and family want you to succeed. And, people naturally want to help others. You’ll feel better knowing you’re surrounded by love. Your friends and family will feel a sense of community by helping you. It’s a win-win situation.

3. Seek Inspiration & Mentorship From Other Successful People

No matter how unconventional your dream is, I promise that someone, somewhere is already successfully doing it. Find that source of inspiration and study their path in order to soak up experience points without actually having to go through some of the tougher battles. If you approach your mentors with envious thoughts of “How come they got the goods and I don’t?” you’re closing yourself off to the opportunity to learn from them. Instead, bask in knowing that because they are doing that thing you dream of, that is proof that it is possible! The next step to this tip is to reach out to your mentor and ask to have a conversation about your hopes and fears. As I mentioned in Tip #2, people naturally want to help others. One day, you’ll be the mentor, relieving someone else’s worries (but only if you ignore those imagined fears!). I talk about this in greater detail in my book, “Live Life For A Living“. Download the PDF here:

4. Be Present & Self-Aware

No matter how confident you become in your gifts and talents, there will be curve balls and moments of questioning. That’s the journey of life. The good news is that you don’t have to let these moment affect your intentions. Developing self-awareness is key. The moment that your fear-voice approaches, recognize it. Cancel it out with a positive affirmation. If that’s too difficult, simply take a deep breath and smile. It’s amazing how powerful a smile can be. A smile can eradicate the heaviest sadness. Think that you can’t force a smile? Think of a fond memory; a person you love; pull up a silly picture of your favorite animal; imagine being spoiled like a king or queen.

5. Get To Know Your Goal

As I’ve mentioned, a fear is simply an imagined thought. It may be “real” in the sense that there is a possibility of coming true. A possibility does not mean that it is for certain and these tips are here to help make sure that fear cannot manifest. Understanding your goal is important so that you can prepare yourself. Before public speaking, for example, it helps to practice in front of a mirror or an imaginary audience. Gather a few of your friends or family and ask them to sit through your nervousness until you become comfortable standing up in front of people. Familiarizing yourself with the goal on an imaginary level first, develops confidence so that when you’re there in the real moment your thought is, “I know what I’m doing, I’ve done this a thousand times!” Play the event in your mind again and again. Create your own imaginary thoughts that are centered on the beauty of this thing that you think is scary. Focus on the joy you will feel after you overcome fear. Imagine the audience clapping. Visualize an influential person approaching you to congratulate you on your speech.

Our egos create fear. The ego is afraid of growth and change. It gets very comfortable with routine and the safety that that brings. Once you’re aware of this notion, you will be able to re-interpret the fear-voice as an amazingly incredible opportunity for growth and expansion. Instead of allowing fear to stop you in your tracks, you will propel yourself forward with the confidence of knowing that something fantastically unimaginable is about to change your life – for the better!

The thought about the first day of school gave me butterflies. Not the actual event. My mind was playing tricks on me. The unknown and unforeseen is unsettling to our minds in the form of questions that we can’t answer. We don’t know because we’re not there… yet. The moment we are in a situation, we are instantly at ease. We have no choice but to endure our environment. We give ourselves permission to accept our surroundings.

I experienced this same dilapidating fear for days before giving my first public speech in front of more than 150 people. Similarly to the first day of school as a child, I had nervous butterflies in my stomach and couldn’t sleep. I prepared. I practiced. Yet, every thought prior to the event’s manifestation made me anxious, nervous, and full of “what if” questions. Yet, the instant I started speaking, my anxiety faded. Like a wispy cloud in the wind – gone. The icing on the cake? I was well received. It felt great! I would have missed an amazing opportunity, had I choose not to do this event based on the mind-tricks of fear.

Now. I will be aggressively bold and ask you to admit to a time (or several) when you said “no” to an exciting opportunity due to fears of the unknown. Developing a self-awareness is key to overcoming fearful mind-tricks. Start by recognizing a time when you said no to the possibility of a dream come true (a relationship; a life-changing move; spiritual development; financial growth; self-love; inspired thought… etc). Then, consider these suggestions to help overcome those silly fears that, trust me, you are imagining. They are not real.

A few months ago, a very motivational friend, Monique Carmona and I decided to challenge each other to do really big things before our next birthdays (we are both pisces). One big challenge that Monique presented me with was hosting a book signing with an audience of more than 30 people – who are not my friends. Yikes! I felt confident about organizing an event with my friends there to support me. How could I ever get 30 strangers to come to an event for a self-published author that they’d never heard of? Oh, how I love a good, healthy challenge. But where to begin?

This is where the beauty of the law of attraction comes in. I had no idea “how” I was going to make this challenge come to life. I just knew with all of my heart that it would. And I remained open and flexible to the possibilities and opportunities that the Universe presented to me. At a private get-together in our home one night, I was showing my books to friends. We decided to do an activity from “Quiet The Mind” called “The Five Universal Signs of Life“. It’s a personality test that gives insight to the areas of your life where you place the most (and least) amounts of energy.  Two friends that night bought my books after that entertaining exercise. How exciting!

What happened next is the miracle and magic of manifestation. Our friend, Chris, suggested that I speak about my books at an event in Santa Monica held once a month, called FRED Talks. It’s loosely modeled after the bigger, and more well-known TED Talks. Except this event is held in the creator’s home with roughly 200 people scattered throughout the open floor plan of his Living Home. Initially, I gawked at such a notion. Speaking publicly in front of 200 people? But then I remembered the challenge given to me by Monique. I had to do this.

My husband and I attended the December FRED Talk to get a feel for the space and the community. We fell in love with the entire concept, including the place where the event happens, Steve Glenn’s Living Home. We were fascinated to hear at the end of the night that the January event would have a theme of “HAPPINESS”. I mean, could the Universe be any more obvious and direct? I had to speak here! I emailed Steve soon after that event and waited… very patiently. Three days before the event (weeks after my initial email), I received confirmation that I was chosen to be one of the speakers for the January 2nd event. If you live in Los Angeles and can attend this FREE event, simply RSVP here.

Miracles and magic surround me every where I go. Why? Because I invited that energy into my life. I did not let the fear of public speaking stop me. I did not doubt my ability to be successful. I did not worry about what might go wrong. Yes, all of those negative thoughts entered my mind-space. I may have even entertained one or two of them for a brief period. But I did not, and will not let any of them be stronger than the thrill of being able to share my gifts and talents. I believe in myself strongly. I visualize the potential that may come from this one event. I am excited about unforeseen opportunities that will come from this good, healthy challenge.

New Years Resolutions are all about changing our bad habits into good, right? The most common resolutions deal with health: losing more weight; getting into better shape; quitting smoking; eating better; exercising more. But those tasks are daunting. That’s why they are not already being done. The thing that works against New Year’s Resolutions is a focus on the thousands of steps it will take to get to our goal. We interpret that as hard and it’s easy to give up before we’ve even begun.

What I encourage you to do instead is focus on that end goal that you want to attain. What is that picture of perfect health for you? How does your body feel after months of exercising daily? Having a clear idea of what your goal is helps develop positive habits. By reminding yourself on a daily basis of the feeling of being healthy, fit, and vibrant, you’re better able to make choices that reflect those goals.

Since I’m a visual person, I like to strengthen my imagination with photos and images that reflect my end-goals. I learned about vision boards a few years ago and that seemed to speak intimately to me. Except that I found my first few dream boards were imbalanced. I visualized all these great career advances, but didn’t put any attention to my health or spiritual development. Around this time, I was also studying the energy placements of feng shui. I had an “ah ha” moment and the Feng Shui Vision Board was born.

The idea of feng shui is creating an equal balance of energy in all areas of life in order to experience harmony and balance. There are nine areas of feng shui: legacy; romance; imagination; social interaction; career; knowledge; health; and finance. The ninth area is the center which encompasses all eight areas to create harmony and balance. By focusing equally on each area, we can attain harmony in our lives.

Last year, I helped about a dozen people create their own personalized Feng Shui Vision Board. I am excited to extend that FREE offer this year, too. But don’t get too excited. You actually have to do most of the work. I’m simply going to help with the graphic layout of your Perfect Life Compilation.

What To Do:

You know that feeling you get when you see the perfect pair of shoes; a beautifully decked out sports car; or a perfect day with family and friends? Each image on your vision board should invoke that feeling. Go online to any image search engine (Google; Bing; etc). Search for eight pictures, each from the categories below, that speak to your heart in regards to your biggest dream for 2013.

FAME :: REPUTATION :: LEGACY ::
(top row, center)
How would you represent the lasting impression you want to leave on this planet? My vision board shows innovative thought. I want to encourage people to think outside of their comfort zone. My legacy involves changing the way people think about things. The picture might not say that to you, but it speaks volumes to me, and that’s all that matters.

ROMANCE :: LOVE :: RELATIONSHIPS ::
(top row, right)
How would you visually describe your ideal relationship for 2013? For me, this involves a celebration of the union. The image I’ve chosen creates joy in my heart.

CHILDREN :: IMAGINATION :: CREATIVITY ::
(middle row, right)
What stimulates your creativity and imagination? In traditional feng shui, this area is usually titled “children”. Think innocence and no inhibitions. Children dream big with little resistance. How would you represent this feeling? For my vision board, I’ve chosen an illustration from a coloring book that I am in the process of developing, called Robot World.

SOCIAL :: NETWORKING :: MENTORS ::
(bottom row, right)
Who do you want to be surrounded by in 2013? Who are your heros? Remember this exercise is about dreaming big, so don’t hold back. I have chosen to include a picture of a social event that to me represents a celebration of gathering. I want to see more of that in 2013 and this photo helps me remember the fun I have when surrounded by good people.

CAREER :: GOALS :: PROSPECTS ::
(bottom row, center)
Where do you want to be with your career in 2013? Are you looking for a new job? Or a promotion? I selected a photo of my books on display at Handmade Galleries in Sherman Oaks, California. They have been well received there and are selling well. I want to be in thousands more stores like this and this photo helps me imagine that.

WISDOM :: EDUCATION :: KNOWLEDGE ::
(bottom row, left)
Where do you get your source of information from? Okay, a better question is, where would you like to be gaining wisdom from? Hopefully not Facebook and/or Fox News! Then again, who am I to judge? For me, personally, I am in a phase in my life where I am experimenting with gaining knowledge and wisdom from within. I have chosen a picture that depicts spiritual insight, as that is my chosen teacher for 2013.

HEALTH :: FITNESS :: NUTRITION ::
(center row, left)
What does health mean to you? Is it food only? Or more involved with exercise? What physical activity do you wish to do more of in 2013? Bicycling? Yoga? A totally raw, vegan diet? I’ve recently watched the documentary Vegucated and have developed a new compassion for the humane treatment of animals, which is resulting in an adaptation of a fully vegan diet. The image I’ve chosen depicts nutritious fruits and vegetables. It’s a double-win for me, since my health will also benefit from such a diet.

WEALTH :: FINANCES :: SUCCESS ::
(top row, left)
What image says “Yay! I made it!”? Is it a house? A stack of money? A fancy car? A closet full of shoes? I’ve been having visions of this beach front home that includes a glass bathroom, allowing me to shower facing the ocean. It’s secluded and private and completely serene.

HARMONY :: BALANCE :: YIN YANG ::
(center)
This one might be the trickiest image to find. If you were completely fulfilled in every area of your life (from the sections above), what would that picture look like? What does harmony mean to you? How would you visually describe balance? Traditionally, this is depicted with a yin-yang, understandably. A yin-yang accurately represents the push and pull of black and white, but in a harmonious, flowing way. Ideally, this photo should be abstract and should not lean towards romance, success, or health (for example). It really needs to represent your whole entirety.

Now What?

You’ve gathered the nine photos above, now what do you do? Change the file name to title the section that it represents (WEALTH :: HEALTH :: KNOWLEDGE :: CAREER :: SOCIAL :: CREATIVITY :: ROMANCE :: LEGACY :: HARMONY). Email them to inspiration@MyDreamsMatter.com and await your FREE 2013 Feng Shui Vision Board.

Then it is your responsibility to visualize on a daily basis, each area on your dream board. Imagine having, owning, and being the things on your vision board. Don’t interrupt yourself with thoughts of “how?” or “when?”. Visualize these things fully and regularly. You should discover that your decisions are affected and before you know it, you’ll experience dreams coming true!

If you have any questions or want some more direction or clarification, just let me know. I’m happy to do what I can to help make your dreams come true! That’s part of my career and legacy goals.

We all have creative ideas. We dream of writing novels, or playing sold-out shows in huge arenas. Or maybe we just dream of a entire day, filled with friends and family. Everyone is smiling, laughing, or hugging. We all have those types of thoughts that make our hearts swell with excitement. There really is no lack to anyone’s imagination, regardless of how creative you think you aren’t. It is in you. The inspired thought exists in every single being. We all have thoughts.

Where most people lack in fulfilling meaningful dreams, is the follow through. We have the idea and then instantly think of one thousand reasons why that can’t or won’t happen. “Yea, but…” or even “Yea, right!” thoughts immediately come to mind. Why is that? What is stopping us from giving ourselves permission to say “Yes!”?

I give myself permission to say YES! to all opportunities and every success.

This is not necessarily a conversation about saying yes to the entire big thing, the dream, the creative idea. But rather about stopping the NO that immediately comes up after the inspired thought. Even giving ourselves a solid “maybe” is stronger than simply giving up. Because, that’s what it is. When we allow our mind to listen to the “Yea, but…” or the “Yea, right!” statements, we give up on our creative dreams. There is not a chance in the world for a dream to exist if it isn’t first given permission.

We must give ourselves permission to say “Huh. That’s a pretty good idea!” and “Yea, I’m willing to try that!” Practice saying Yes! on a regular basis to experience the magic of the law of attraction. I’m curious to hear your stories about how amazing opportunities have suddenly opened up for you. Let’s have that conversation over on the My Dreams Matter Facebook page. Shall we? YES!

This post was inspired by Amro Salama, who’s birthday request was for my husband and me to host a “Yes!” party in his honor. We gathered in our home and shared our insights on areas where we needed to give ourselves permission to say “yes!” We celebrated each other’s dreams and supported and encouraged the follow through of each and every idea. Thank you, Amro! Happy Birthday!