Close Your Eyes

"Close your eyes and make a wish!"

Do you remember doing that after the candles on your birthday cake were lit?

Did you ever wonder why your eyes should be closed?

That's because you can see or visualize your wishes and dreams better without your eyes open.

Our eyes take in a lot of data every day and most of it is important and vital for our well being.

But when it comes to 'seeing' our goals and dreams, it's best to close your eyes and open your minds.

Sometimes, and sadly, our eyes will 'see' all the imperfections in our 'story' or maybe even the actual smirks or patronizing smiles of family and friends when we share our dreams.

Just remember-- eyes come with lids so we can shut out the distractions that surround us and actually 'see' the 'story' that is alive inside us.

Don't Pick Multiple Choice

Life is not multiple choice.

You cannot choose what someone else has already imagined, created, or defined for you.

You have a unique purpose, a life 'story' that casts you in the starring role. It's not a one-size-fits-all scenario.

When you think about...

--living your 'story'
--impacting the world with your uniqueness
--having your life filled with power and purpose

....be sure to pick all of the above.

You Are Here

Are you ready to start writing your life 'story?'

Maybe you would like some practical advice on where to start or how to continue moving forward.

The best first step is to write -- in one sentence  -- what your 'story' is about.

Writing down your goals is the most important part of your journey. When you commit your words to paper, you are actually transferring the energy of your thoughts to the physical realm.

That may sound kind of 'out there' but this is something you do all the time in different areas of your life.

Here's an example: You buy gas for your car. The gas is potential energy and sits in the tank until you start your car. At that point, the potential energy of the gas is converted to kinetic energy when the gas is used by the engine. (Yes, this is a very simple explanation of how this process.)

Now, think of your life's goal. It is stored in your mind --as potential energy-- until it enters the physical realm. The first step of that process is writing it down.

Do that today.

Then every single day do something to move yourself closer to that goal.

And what kinds of things should you do?

Ask yourself. Yes, that's right. Trust your instincts. Look for opportunities.

The steps will reveal themselves. All you need to do is keep walking.

Skip the Scarcity

We have all done it.

We have saved something for a better day. Like your grandmother's crystal goblets or an outfit that is definitely too good for wearing to the office or even your best friend's house.

By saving these things, we are telling ourselves that our resources are limited. We are living a life of scarcity.

And that's just not true.

The Universe is limitless. Can you count the grains of sand on a beach? Or the trees in a forest?

But wait, you say, those things don't cost money. If I break my grandmother's crystal, how can I afford to replace it?

Why are you using money as a benchmark of your available resources?

Your life 'story' is more than a financial statement. It's you living out the purpose for which you were born.

Don't tell yourself that your resources are scarce; they are abundant beyond measure.

Remember, your life will reflect your beliefs. If you think you are 'short' on resources, you will be.

So, put on that outfit you were saving, pour a drink in a crystal goblet and toast your limitless life and abundant future.

Never as Bad as Imagined

The historic blizzard turned out to be just a storm. At least in my part of the state.

And believe me, I am not complaining.

Life is like that too. Our default thinking goes right to the worst case scenario.

Yesterday, I was imaging power loss, running out of  white bread, and of course, losing one of the pugs in a snow drift.

But this morning, I am enjoying my time on the computer with a slice of white toast and my pugs snuggled in the chair next to me.

Life is often better than we imagine.

When it comes to living your 'story', I encourage you to live beyond any negative or self-limiting beliefs that flit through your mind.

Let your imagination soar free and place yourself in wonderful and awesome scenarios. It's just as easy to be positive as it is to be negative.

Stop trying to dig out of a snow drift; you may find that the drift isn't really there at all.

Storm Warning

We are just about to step into history with a blizzard of enormous proportions. That's doesn't sound like a good thing at all.

But as I am watching the storm forecast, I see an analogy to living my life 'story'.

Once we recognize our purpose and prepare to move forward, the first few steps are amazing and exciting. But then the 'storm' comes and disrupts our momentum.

What is a storm? Technically, it's an assortment of energy fields that come together to create havoc. Actually, the storm is neutral and doesn't realize it's creating any problems; the storm is just acting naturally given the circumstances.

And that's a good way to look at the storms that threaten to veer you from the course of living your 'story.'

Don't take setbacks and problems personally. They are merely avenues of energy that move in your world and push or pull you in ways that you don't want to go.

Hold fast to an attitude that sees storms are temporary; they are not the norm and neither do they have the staying power to keep you off course indefinitely.

As I shovel out from this historic blizzard, I will remember that in reality, it's only a blip or a moment in my 'story.'

My life has been created with an infinite energy potential that will move me through the storm... and beyond.

Zigzag

The shortest distance between two points may be a straight line, but life doesn't work that way.

The reason is simple: life is more than a destination; it's a journey. Achieving your life's goal and writing your 'story' may take you on a seemingly convoluted route, but one that is necessary.

Think of an explorer packing his bag with a compass, water, protein bars, and of course, duct tape. In a similar way, you pack things into your life that will be needed as your set off to fulfill your unique purpose.

Do you need patience? Confidence? Or maybe an attitude that says yes-I-can.

Each experience in life equips you, as does each person that is put on your path.

No, you won't be moving in a straight line, but you will be moving with purpose.

Don't consider the zigzags as detours; think of them as branches in your tree of life. It's all good and it's all connected.

Never is a Fighting Word

If 'never' were a person, it would be a bully.

Its origin is from the Old English and it was originally a compound word joining 'not' and 'ever'.

Never is very emphatic and literally means no way, not ever, or not under any condition.

If this word gets into your life 'story', you will be spending hours or even years trying to silence it.

The words that travel through our minds and out of our mouths contain power and energy to shape our lives.

'Never' will try to trip you like a bully in school.

Better to be on speaking terms with positive words like 'always' which will give you hope.

Choose your words just like you choose your friends.

From Boring to Boing

I love to play with words, (much to my older daughter's chagrin) so bear with me on today's post, okay?

I saw something interesting when I looked at the words 'boring' and 'boing.'

First, let's start with the definitions:

Boring- dull, tiresome

Boing- represents the noise of a compressed spring suddenly released

I also think of these words as symbols of inactivity and activity.

Now, what is the difference between the word spellings?

Yes. the letter 'R'.

And to make this word play even more interesting 'R' as a word is spelled 'are.'

And  'are' is the plural form of the present tense of the word 'be'.

When considering your life 'story' let's get beyond the 'boring' (or inactivity) and move to the 'boing' (that wonderful state of motion unleashed).

And here's the cool part: to do that stay in the present (are).

Accept each moment as a gift that is bestowed on you to give you time to complete your unique life goal. Look for ways to move forward and write your life 'story'.

Going from boring to boing is the only way to live. Okay, I may have had some fun with these words, but I bet you won't ever forget the idea of adding some 'boing' to your life 'story.'

Don't Walk?

You've seen the sign that cautions you against walking in certain traffic conditions, but are you stopping yourself unintentionally when it comes to living your life 'story'?

Do you see danger in the form of failure when you think of achieving your goals? Are you afraid of getting hurt, emotionally or psychologically, if you pursue goals that might be considered unattainable?

STOP! Don't even go there.

We are our biggest critic, but we can become our biggest ally if we learn different ways of moving forward.

Your life 'story' is your unique purpose. There is no right or wrong in it; it is merely what you were born to do.

No stop sign can halt your progress because your goal is inside you. You are the only one who can stop or go.

The next time you want to give in to the fear that holds you back, think of this analogy.

Pretend you can make your television stop receiving signals. So, every time your turn it on, you expect to see a black screen. Hmmm....not too good, right?

You are actually doing the same thing when you expect your life to be less than it is. Let your life receive the signal that is was meant to.

Perhaps the saddest idea is to be stuck in "status quo" which literally means "the way things are now."

If your life isn't overflowing with your purpose, step boldly off the curb and enter the flow of purpose that awaits you.

Fear of Success?

If I were to give you a ticket to either your life 'story' unfolded and in glorious 3D Technicolor or a ticket to a seminar that teaches the skills needed to achieve your life's goals, what would you choose?

Hmmm...I bet you thought about attending that seminar, didn't you?

Fear of success can be a paralyzing source of resistance. And I don't mean moderate success. I am talking about mind-blowing, I-can't-believe-this-is-really-happening-to-me success.

For some awful reason, we tend to be shy of accomplishing something on a grand scale. It may be due to our innate fear of being vulnerable. We want certain things in our lives, but to do so means putting ourselves "out there" for everyone to see. And, yes, possibly to criticize or critique.

But there are absolutely no shortcuts around this dilemma. The only remedy for the fear is to move forward. Make the love for your life 'story' your armor.

Start today. Tell at least one person what your life 'story' is about.

The Sky is Not the Limit

You are familiar with the expression: "The sky's the limit." But that statement really has no basis in science since no one can compute the exact dimensions of the universe.

As technology evolved, scientists realized that the universe is much bigger than previously estimated. A lot depends on whether the universe is flat or spherical. This would alter the dimensions of time and distance considerably, but there is really no way to accurately measure this.

But what does this have to do with living your life 'story?'

Actually, quite a bit.

Some scientists believe that the universe is infinite and ever-changing. But let's not forget that during Galileo's time, renowned scientists were positive that the sun revolved around the earth in a finite atmosphere.

Since perception is the key to determining the size of the universe, that same principle can be used to achieving life's goals. Do you see finite possibilities or infinite ones? Or perhaps a better question would be: Can you imagine possibilities that are larger, grander, or more awesome than previously thought?

What's your perception of living out your life 'story?'

Just like the universe, your particular 'story' exists and is waiting to be fully discovered.

No travelling required; all that's needed is an honest look at yourself, your goals, and the enormous possibilities that are all around you.

What's the Opposite of Fear?

Did you just say courage?

Wrong.

Let's back up a minute and see how this question relates to living your life 'story.'

When you first envisioned your ultimate goal, you probably felt happiness and joy. At this point, you knew with complete certainty that you would someday be living the life for which you were born.

But fast forward a bit and that joy turns to fear when you or some well-meaning friend or family member starts to question whether you could ever actually achieve such a monumental goal.

That's fear.

Now, our initial instinct may be to go into warrior mode and fight for what's ours. That can be good, but there is another emotion that is even stronger than bravery.

And that's love. Yes, love is the opposite of fear and is tremendously more powerful.

When you feel fear about not living your life 'story' because you may be a.) inadequate b.) inferior
c.) crazy to have even thought about such a lofty goal or d.) all of the above, reach inside yourself for love.

Remember the passion that you felt when you knew that this was the 'story' of your life.

Your goal plus your love combine in perfect harmony to keep you moving forward.

Remember that with every beat of your heart.

Start at the End

Today you get some practical advice on living your 'story.'

And it's going to seem a bit weird. Okay, it goes against linear thought which is why it might seem strange.

Start with the end.

To achieve your life's goal and live your 'story', start with a vision of where you want to be.

In fact, write down what you see. Describe the state of mind you are in when you reach your ultimate state of satisfaction.

Then work backwards to be there.

The principle is simple:

If you don't know where you are going, you will never get there.

Once you have your destination in mind (literally) you will be in the best position to move forward.

You will also be able to discard thoughts, feelings, and actions that do not line up with this goal.

Your 'story' is already completed; now you need to see it and live it.

Mapless

Wouldn't it be wonderful if your life 'story' came with a detailed set of instructions? Sort of like a GPS for achieving your goals?

It might seem like a good thing, but having your life mapped out like that would make it very limiting.

And limits stop you from achieving the most awesome, wonderful, and amazing things that you were meant to do.

Believing the unbelievable and stepping off the cliff of certainty is the best and only way to write your 'story.' If you are looking for a map to follow, you are not going to live your 'story' but only make a cameo appearance in it.

Being safe behind a life that has been strategically organized may seem like the logical thing to do but life is never logical. Instead, it is a series of events that may seem strangely disconnected and sometimes, discouraging, but always moving forward to the prize of an impassioned existence.

Imagine your 'story' and write it in your heart. Then take a deep breath and live it.

Unsure of Your Story?

You definitely have a life 'story' or  purpose that has been programmed into your being before you were even born.

But are you having trouble discovering it?

Here are two places to look.

If you were to pick one thing that has been with you throughout your life, what would it be?

In my case, it would be books. I have loved the written word since childhood and I feel at peace and completely connected when I am reading or writing.

Secondly, what is the one activity in which you get the most resistance?

With me, it's when I try to carve out some time to write. It is only then that my mind thinks of other more 'important' things or I am interrupted by gotta-get-this-done-now kind of moments.

But that's okay since this confirms that I am on the right track to living out my life 'story' with me in the starring role of writer.

What role will you be?

Resistance Training

Resistance training uses the principle of actively working against a force to build and strengthen muscles.

This concept can be applied to achieving your goals. By working against anything that 'resists' you moving forward, you strengthen your will and create powerful habits.

First, identify your enemies. Resistance is a repelling force and can be internal or external.

Procrastination and self-doubt come from within, while negative opinions of family and friends create external resistance.

Oftentimes, the best weapons to overcome these enemies are phrases that train your brain to think in a different way. Try speaking these sentences out loud when you encounter these resisters.

Procrastination: If not now, when?

Self-doubt: I have been created for success.

Negativity from family and friends: I choose to believe in myself and my dreams.

And most importantly, don't sweat it. Fulfilling your life's purpose and writing your 'story' has already been programmed into your being. You really can do it.

Corral the OK

Okay is a nice word, but it seems to have become our default status.

How are you? Okay.

How are things at work? Okay.

How's your life 'story' coming along?  ummmm....okay?

Okay is also a word that is usually said with the least amount of emotion. And often it's said with a sigh.

It's like this OK button on a remote control. Useful, sure. But kind of boring and basic.

Do you want to go through life dragging along an 'okay' in every situation?

The best way to get replace 'okay' is by first expanding your vocabulary which, in turn, will expand your thoughts.

Instead of 'okay' how about using excellent, astounding, stupendous, or terrific?

Your brain actually listens to the words that come out of your mouth. Make those adjectives interesting and your life story will be too.

Living by a List?

What do you need to achieve your goals and write your life 'story?'

More time?

More money?

A new location?

How about....

Renewed passion?

Dedication?

And a can-do outlook?

Many times we think things will fix us. Like money or time, when in reality, we already have all that we need.

Think of your life as a treasure box that is waiting to be opened. Look inside yourself to find the skills, courage, and hope that you need to live your 'story.'

Scrap the wish list; live the to-do list. Now.

The Power of Yes

Do you want to know a secret to success?

I assume you just said "yes."

That's the secret.

Huh?

"Yes." That's the secret.

If you say "yes" to something, your brain automatically decides that this is something positive, and therefore, doable.

Would you like to achieve your life's goals?

Yes.

Would you be willing to spend minutes a day toward achieving those goals?

Yes.

Would you be deliriously happy when your goals are reached and you are living the 'story' of your dreams?

Yes.

Keep your brain in "yes" mode. It's a choice you can make every day.

Stop or Go

Sometimes it's vital that we stop.

If you don't stop at a red light, you could cause an accident.

If you don't stop smoking, you could have serious health issues.

But sometimes, stopping isn't beneficial.

When you are truly seeking to write your life 'story' and achieve your ultimate purpose, stopping is quitting. And final.

When you must stop, like at a traffic light, you do so because you don't want negative consequences. And those consequences have been clearly defined through statistics.

But when you stop actively pursuing your goals, you do so because you fear a negative outcome.

Or, in other words, you fear something that has no verifiable negative consequences.

Fear of failure is a mindset that can be overcome. There are absolutely no statistics that claim you cannot achieve your goal.

Drive right through the stop sign that is holding you back.

It's time to go forward.

The Compound Effect

Baby steps aren't only for babies.

A baby's first steps have the potential to someday take that baby across the finish line of a marathon. But it takes time and of course, a determined course of action to keep moving forward--literally.

This principle of adding up small 'steps' to create a larger value is called the compound effect.

Here's a quick way to remember that little things really do matter.

If I were to ask you if you wanted a the value of a penny doubled every day for 30 days or 1 million dollars right now, which would you choose?

The large amount of cash sounds tempting but it isn't the best value. A penny doubled every day for a month adds up to $5,368,709.20.

Waiting a month for more than 5 million dollars doesn't sound so bad, does it?

Now, think about how the compound effect can help you achieve your life's goals. What can you do every single day to write your 'story' and have the life that you were destined to live?

I have decided to write every day. I smile whenever someone says, "A penny for your thoughts."

I know exactly how all those pennies are adding up in my life.

Whether Report

No, I didn't misspell the title. I am not going to be talking about the weather.

Because that kind of weather is not going to affect you achieving your life's goals.

But if you are often consulting the 'whether' in your life, then you may need to move your focus elsewhere.

By definition, 'whether' is used to introduce an alternative. Shakespeare used that word very well in this famous line from Hamlet.

 "Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer

The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing end them?”

Basically, Hamlet is deciding if he should accept things as they are or fight against them.

And that's the same decision we face every day when we think about our life's goals. Do we fight against the status quo to write the 'story' we want or....not.

We all heard the expression, "You can't change the weather." 

But we can change our view of the 'whether' that often stops us from going forward.

Make Your Life Story a Page-Turner

Every successful story starts the same way: with a beginning.

In your 'story,' (that is, your progression toward the ultimate achievement of your life's goal) you have already moved beyond the beginning. Now, it's time to zap it into a page-turner.

A page-turner is a story so exciting and gripping that you don't want to put it down for a moment. Does that sound like your life 'story?'

If your 'story' is not racing toward a satisfying conclusion, think about Issac Newton for a moment.


He said:

Every object in a state of uniform motion tends to remain in that state of motion unless an external force is applied to it.

Or, to put it simply, to get from Point A to Point B, you need to start moving and let your momentum continue to propel you forward.

Motion is contagious.

Motion is the game-changer that takes a would-be 'story' into a wow-gotta-see-how-this-all-ends one.

Set your goal.

See your goal.

Step toward your goal. 

Every single day.

And that's the purpose of this blog. I want to be a successful writer and my steps toward that goal include writing every single day. 

Make your momentum work for you. I'm going to.

What's the View From Your Window?

When you look out your window in the morning, what's your first thought?

Are you excited about a new day with new opportunities?

Or do you immediately see your neighbor's house and are reminded that you really don't like them? Or their dog. Or even the people who lived in that house before.

Whew...

What we see determines how we act.

If you see wonderful possibilities, you will act with optimism.

If you see problems, you will be pessimistic and on the defensive. And if you are defensive, you can't move forward.

When you think of your life 'story,' what do you see?

'See' what you want to 'be.'

The Odd Thing About "Odds"

Have you ever made a decision based on the 'odds' of it bettering yourself?

I'm sure you do it all the time.

Just to clarify, the definition of odds is:

"...the ratio that compares the number of favorable outcomes of an event to the number of unfavorable outcomes..."

You can compute the odds of winning the Powerball lottery since there is a finite number of possible Powerball combinations. You have a 1 in 175 million chance.

Want to know the odds of getting hit by lightning in a given year? That is a 1 in 500,000 chance and is computed by factoring in the past data of previous lightning strikes.

On a smaller scale, you may forgo the office party since everyone is sick and the odds are against you staying well. This is strictly a numbers game.

But what are the odds of you achieving your goal? Of writing a bestselling book? Or starring in a Broadway show? Or becoming nationally recognized for a brilliant new invention?

Here's the odd thing: you cannot compute those odds because there are no unfavorable outcomes to put into the equation.

Either you write that book or you don't. This has nothing to do with odds but everything to do with you.

Do. Or do not. There are no odds against you.

Living your story is always in your favor.

Crushed by Choices?

I wonder how many times we make choices each day. From choosing what to eat for breakfast to deciding when to change lines on the highway.

Those kinds of choices all have an immediate result, but when we have to choose to move our life's 'story' forward, we can become intellectually paralyzed by the choices.

Do we need a certain degree? Or make more money? Or move to another location? These choices carry more of a risk and have no immediate benefit.

So, how do we achieve our goals?

Our ability to choose comes from within. Think of your heart beating. You are doing nothing to promote that action but it has been programmed since your conception.

So has your 'story.' You are uniquely designed to accomplish something in this world.

Take a deep breath and trust your heart to help you make the best choices.

What is Your Life Worth?

Did you just think of a dollar amount to answer that question? Then I will rephrase it:

What is the value of your life?

Perhaps an accountant can compute your net worth but only you can determine the value of your life.

Our life's value comes from what we do, not what we have.

The start of a new year reminds us of the end of the old year. Our lives are full of these juxtapositions and they help us to make choices that move us forward in our 'story.' Time gives us the ability to step into the life we want, while moving away from past choices that hold us back.

If you do just one thing today to get closer to your goal, your life will increase in value.

And that's something you can bank on.

Free and Fearless

The best things in life may be free, but the really awesome things come to those who are fearless.

And by fearless I do not mean reckless or careless. By definition fearless means "strength of mind to carry on in spite of danger."

So the ability to be fearless comes from our mind. I'm sure we're all on board with that idea.

But the "danger" part is a little trickier. Fearless does not have to look like this.

To constitute danger, something has to not be in your best interests.

Perhaps you are in a job that is not working for you, or in relationship that you really can't relate to anymore.

I encourage you to be fearless. Step off the path of the known and familiar and jump into a place that is more in tune with your 'story' and your goals.

This year, the I Wish Princess has joined an in-person writing group, an online writing community, and is happily blogging away here.

I am putting myself and my time where my dreams are. I am being fearless in my pursuit of my 'story.'

We Become Our Choices

I know that I will be making choices this year, all of which will be based on the 'story' I am living.

Since writing is my focus, my choices will center on ways to improve my craft and connect with like-minded people. That is my 'story.'

But I have come to believe that I can't make bad choices if l always choose in favor of my goals or 'story.' My life is not like that television show, "Let's Make a Deal," where a wrong choice could mean winning a clunker of a prize.

As long as I see myself in my story, I will instinctively pick the best ways to maintain that vision.

This year, my story is set in the world of writing, with me as a successful author.

The spotlight is on the I Wish Princess.

Happy New Year!

I used to think the new year was a blank page waiting for me to write in it.

Now, I know that it's really a set of situations and experiences that I will discover day after day.

This year, 2015, has been set in motion, sort of like what happens when you blow on a dandelion and make a wish.

The dandelion dust takes your dreams and hopes and scatters them throughout your world as a sign of promised fulfillment. In like manner, this year holds innumerable moments in time that will challenge me, change me, or create the "me" I was meant to be. I need to be watchful and bold enough to embrace those moments and make them mine.

This year, I am the I Wish Princess, telling the Universe what I want and then capturing the dreams that have been unleashed and designed especially for me.

My first wish? To be a writer worthy to be read.