Kelly Epperson's Blog, page 18

What the heck is “security” anyway?

From IRS to JOY

Written by Kelly Epperson

It’s been twenty-six years since I first started my journey into the work world. Well, I started employment at age fourteen at Mister Donut and babysitting before that, but my first “real job” was at the Internal Revenue Service after college graduation.

It was by all accounts a “good job,” Good hours, good pay, good benefits. Everyone told me a government job offered security.

Hmm. What the hell is security anyway?

One definition of security is freedom from fear or anxiety. I say that fear is part of life, no matter what job we have or who we are or what we do. More on that in a minute.

IRS basic training back then was classroom, textbooks and tests. I enjoyed that arena, my comfort level, and did well. After training, we started with office audits: Face-to-face interaction with taxpayers reviewing their tax returns and telling them they owed money when they could not substantiate their deductions.

As I drove to work that first day of auditing, I was anxious and laughed to myself. People receiving an IRS notice know fear and anxiety. They have no idea that the newbies on the other side of the desk are nervous too.

As with any job, we learn and settle into the routine. I got over my anxiety but I never enjoyed auditing. After the office training, we went out into the field, going to businesses to audit on site.

I’d go to different places and meet different business owners each week, but for the most part I was in a conference room, alone, with books and records all day. It was not exactly a fun job.

I knew this job was sucking the life out of me. The voice inside me said there was something better for me. Yet I stifled that voice. It was a “good job,” after all.

Little by little, bit by bit, my confidence in me grew. I knew that I didn’t want to stay at this job forever. Heck with “security.” I quit. I let go of the good to make way for the great.

I’ve learned that my security is in me. No job can promise anything. It’s up to me to find fulfillment. I’ve realized that fear and anxiety are part of life. I still get anxious from time to time. I still have fears, doubts, and insecurities. How I handle them is the key.

I’ve learned that life is indeed a journey. Mine has taken me from IRS agent to JOY agent. That’s pretty cool.

I could have listened to the masses and stayed. Instead I listened to me. Now I teach women how to listen to their inner guidance. Some will say that is not without fear or anxiety, yet they also are glad when they too let go of the good to allow the great.

My writing (originally had fear submitting my work) led to speaking (originally had fear with public speaking) which led to joy programs and coaching (originally had fear with “who am I” to help anyone).

If I had stopped when I felt anxiety, I would not be living the fun life I have now. We all can learn to work through the fears, to breathe and relax, to not get so caught up in ourselves. We can learn how to allow in the great.

As you contemplate fear and anxiety, as you contemplate letting go of the good to have the great, as you contemplate your life, what comes up for you? What “yeah but” retort do you have for me?

Some people look at me now and think it was easy for me. Wrong-o. Leaving a “secure” job was not easy. Leaving a “secure” marriage was not easy. Taking risks to put myself out there as a writer, speaker, coach was not easy. And because of that, I know what it feels like to be in your shoes. When the world is telling us one thing and our heart is saying something else – that’s not easy.

But it gets easier. Just as we learn and settle into a job, we learn how to embrace our inner guidance. We learn how to act on it when we know it is the right thing to do. We learn how to accept ourselves with ease, grace, and confidence.

We know there will be curves ahead and fear will greet us again. We know that have stepped out in faith before and more great came to us. We know it will again.

What do you really want for yourself? What word pops into your mind? Jot it down, Many women I work with say similar things. Peace. Freedom. Calm. Health. Wealth. Love. Contentment.

Write your word down on an index card and carry it with you. Every time you read it, tell yourself: I can have that.

Peace. I can have that. Wealth. I can have that. Love. I can have that.

You can.

What are you ready to let go of? What are you waiting for?

(Kelly Epperson Simmons works with women to create their life of joy. JOY JUMPSTART program launches August 27! http://kellyepperson.com/programs/ Write info@kellyepperson,com or call toll free 888-637-3563.)

Who Was Really Born Happy?

“Not many people are born happy.”

Yes and no. Babies seem pretty happy. Toddlers seem pretty happy. Pre-schoolers and kindergartners seem pretty happy. Then, somewhere along the way, we are taught to squash it.  Squash the exuberance. Squash the tears. Squash the self-expression.

Happy gets squeezed out as we grow up.

The good news is you can get it back. The tricky part is believing that you deserve it.

Read that again.

Many people’s life experiences have “trained” them to think they will never be happy or they don’t deserve to be happy.

[image error]Maybe you have never really thought about. Maybe the “I don’t deserve to be happy” belief is buried in you and you don’t even realize it. You just feel a complacency, a shrug, an acceptance that this is as good as it gets.

What if you could find out just how good life really could get? What if you could be happy on a daily basis and feel excited about life? What if you faced every day with no fears, no complaints, no worries?

Happiness and confidence and self-worth are intertwined. Worth is defined as the level at which someone or something is valued. Learning to value yourself is the golden ticket.

As my confidence in me has increased, my happiness increased. As my happiness increased, my confidence increased. And on and on, the upward spiral.

Believe me, I know all about the downward spiral. Been there, done that, still go there sometimes. Now I recognize it. Now I am aware of how I am spinning. Now I know I have the tools to get back on track on again. I learned how to be confident, how to be happy, and how to get there again again when I go astray.

It started with me investing in my personal growth. Taking classes, reading books, going on retreats, joining masterminds, working with coaches. Doing things and learning terminology that were new and different to me. And holy crap (my own old term), has my life opened up!

Living life with intention has made all the difference. I have awareness of my thoughts now and it is up to me to use my velcro to grab onto whatever thought I want to hold on to.

My biggest obstacle is me and how hard I am on myself. Working with mentors, I’ve learned to lighten up and play and enjoy life as it comes to me each day. That has led to a business and personal life that is fun and fulfilling.

Discovering that I do deserve to be happy, and that we all do, has opened doors. Ideas, people, and opportunities come when we discover our self-worth. Happy comes before success. Happy leads to success, however you define that success for you. Happy is the kick that knocks down the obstacles.

And it doesn’t hurt.

We are taught that life is supposed to be hard. That making money and having a good life only come to those who sacrifice and toil. I have found the opposite to be true. When I embrace me, quirks and all, that is when money and fun come.

I tried it the “traditional” way. I did the checklist of marriage, mortgage, mommyhood. Sure, there are joys in there, but the real joy came when I decided to be me, when I accepted me, and when I liked me.

Now I teach the tools that work for me. Pretty cool life. As I type, working from my home office, a butterfly lingers on the butterfly bush outside my window. I see turkeys every day. I wear what I want. I listen to what music I want. I go to lunch with who I want. The real joy is that I get to help people every day. A far cry from my days at the IRS.

So if you are feeling a little low, a shade blue, a little mystified, please believe that you have it in you to truly see how good life can get. My experience proves that it keeps getting better. If working with me doesn’t resonate with you, find a book, a class, a coach that does. Take that first baby step. You won’t regret it.

Maybe we were born happy. Maybe we weren’t. But we can be now. Start now.

 

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Tips, tools, techniques to learn right now to get happy, be happy, stay happy.

Joy Beyond Your Dreams life mastery class (sign up here) starts September 17.

JOY JUMPSTART begins August 27. (sign up here)

 

How to start saying — and believing — “I’m worth it”

JOY JUMPSTART is a crash course in confidence and self-worth. If you hesitate to spend money on yourself, if you waffle over decisions, if you think everyone else has their act together and you’re the only one feeling self-doubt, this program is custom-made for you.

As a recovering self-doubting waffler, I know your dance with yourself, the inner dialogue that goes on. I also know how I overcame it.

Practical, purposeful lessons from my heart to yours will open your eyes, your head and your heart to a new way of being. All you need is the willingness to receive. Believe me, being open to receive is something many of us, me included, don’t do inherently. Once I learned the fine art of allowing, life cracked open for me.

Every time we’ve launched the Joy Beyond Your Dreams life mastery program, some women write in and say they would LOVE to do it, NEED to do it, WANT to do it, but can’t spend money on themselves.

My business coach tells me the reason for this objection is that I’m not properly conveying the program’s worth. I get that. (It’s priceless, by the way!) I also get that I was that woman who was chicken to invest in myself. So JOY JUMPSTART is a way for you to ease into the journey of self-discovery. You’ll get to see what it’s like to work with me and start your personal growth without paying more than what you’d pay for a groovy pair of shoes. Shoes wear out. Self-worth never does.

Learning how to like yourself, trust yourself, and invest in yourself is the beginning of a joyful life. You have a whole lotta years ahead of you. Something inside you is saying START NOW.

So let’s do it. Say it with me: I deserve to be happy.

What the JOY JUMPSTART gives you:

August 27 begins the first week of daily emails from me. Deep, insightful, fun, straight-shooting.

There will be audio/video too so you can hear and see me as I teach you.

The next week is integration week because I know some people feel overwhelmed. This allows you to breathe, relax, and really start to let the lessons internalize within you. Little light bulbs will start going off over your head. Synchronicities will appear. Heck, you might even see a shooting star. During this week, there will be fun surprises in your inbox, but no lessons.

September 8 begins another week of daily growth work, with lessons and a little whimsy. Fun is an important element in life. Never forget that.

There will be two live Q&A calls with me too. Anything that comes up for you as you process and digest the material, fire away. All calls are recorded so you can listen again and again if you choose.

Also you will have email access to me 24/7 too. That is quite a coaching bonus! My clients love that I’m the “journal that writes back”!

For less than a hundred bucks, this should be a no-brainer for you. How to feel better in your own skin for less than what you pay for your cell phone or cable television bill. You can buy a pair of spiffy new shoes. You can have a fun night on the town. You can also spend your smackeroos on this investment in you and your happily-ever-after.

Ready to give it a whirl?

What the JOY JUMPSTART really gives you:

Tools to use immediately to raise your confidence, your happiness level, your self-worth.

What If

in 21 days you could develop:

-a sense of humor?

-a sense of self?

-a sense of “I’m okay with me”?

YOU CAN.

What If

in 21 days you could learn:

-ways to overcome your fears?

-skills to change your life forever?

-that you are worth way more $97?

And because I was in your shoes, I know how much I waffled over these kinds of decisions. That is why I give you a money-back guarantee. If you fully show up, ready to receive, I am ready to deliver. If you give your all and you feel I did not give my all, you get your money back. If you are not wowed by the content, if you do not feel the love oozing from me, if you feel this program did not help you one teeny bit, you get a refund.

NOW, if that does not make it a no-brainer, what will?

It’s up to you. Ready to say it with me? I deserve to be happy. I want to learn how. I’m in.

Ready to start living happy?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HCcXulFMT0

I want to talk you about getting happy. Interested?

Happiness and Confidence is a Way of Being

One of the results that women get from coaching with me and after the 7-week Joy Beyond Your Dreams life mastery program (starting Sept 17!) is increased confidence. Confidence and happiness go hand in hand, intertwined. If you feel confident, you feel happier. If you are happy with your life, you feel more confident.

Does that make sense?

People simply want to feel good about themselves. “Comfortable in their own skin” is a phrase used often to describe confidence. It took me a lot of years to really to be comfortable with me. To accept me, to like me.

Being able to make a decision and not waffle, that’s confidence. Trying new things, be it a relationship, a job, a business, a move, a new haircut, that’s confidence. Investing in oneself, that’s confidence.

There’s something about women, in general. We’ve been taught to be demure, defer, and deflect: Be modest and not draw too much attention. Allow others to influence decisions. Poo-poo any compliments that come our way.

Sound familiar?

Graciously accepting a compliment with a sincere thank you and no commentary is confidence.

The dictionary defines confidence as full trust. I love that. Trust is a biggee. We first have to trust ourselves before we can truly trust in anyone or anything else.

Learning to trust in me again was part of my journey and what I teach. Trust is still my go-to word when I find myself wavering on a decision. I know the steps now in how to guide my life; I do my head/heart review and I trust.

When it comes to love, business, or letting our kids fly away from the nest, the cornerstone is trust. My trust in me and my confidence and my happiness are the interrelated foundational bricks of a joyful life. Joy compounds more joy. I love teaching other women how to get their joyful life.

Wikipedia (!) says confidence is a state of being. I give that a big hell-yez.

I never thought I’d quote words of wisdom from Wikepedia, but here goes: “When one does not dwell on negative consequences, one can be more ‘self-confident’ because one is worrying far less about failure or the disapproval of others. One is then more likely to focus on the actual situation which means that enjoyment and success in that situation is also more probable.”

When we get out of our heads (or in certain vernacular, get your head out of your butt), we can get clear and focus on the here and now. Learning to do so does indeed make life more enjoyable. Success is more probable too.

My personal and my professional success are directly linked to me putting the halt to dwelling on the negative. Getting my head out of my … way. It’s a learned process. We can train our brain new habits and science proves that we can rewire the way we think.

Holy Bat Logic, Batman. That’s pretty astounding.

What we think rules our feelings, our actions, our life. If we can do a little “mind control” and feel better, why not?! I call it brain washing in the very best way.

Implementing new habits is not as hard as it can sometimes seem. If you brush your teeth, make your bed, and put milk back in the fridge, you have what it takes to get your happy on.

Start by having your brain be a search engine that is on your team. Instead of saying that you’re an idiot and sending your brain off on a search for all the ways and times you acted like an idiot, (believe me, your brain will give you some examples!), focus on what you do know how to do.

If you asked the simple question: What do I know how to do? Your brain will give over a million hits of all the things you know how to do. You rarely give yourself credit for knowing how to tie your shoes, sharpen a pencil, or wash the dishes.

You take for granted so much about you.

Pretend I just arrived from Planet Pink Purple Sparkle and I asked you ten things you know how to do. You could that. So, Earthling, give me ten things you are good at. On my planet, there is no cooking, crocheting, or Karoake, and I bet you know those things.

Now imagine, you have been just entrusted with an infant from my planet who loves and adores you and absolutely believes in you. I need you to teach this innocent, trusting creature ten things that you love. You could do that.

So your joy assignment this week is to stop selling yourself short. Stop putting yourself down. Stop dwelling in negative.

If you catch yourself saying: I can’t do that; I’m not good at that; I suck at that; stop in your tracks. Ask your brain what you can do, what you are good at, what you don’t suck at.

Small stuff counts. We gotta start somewhere. I can bake a cake. I am good at writing. I don’t suck at vacuuming.

Now do it again. I can change a light bulb. I am good at filing my nails. I don’t suck at mowing the grass.

One more time. I can use a calculator. I am good at blowing bubbles. I don’t suck at spelling.

Think of all the “mundane” stuff you know. Now go crazy and keep thinking of all the stuff you do that you enjoy. No grading, no comparing, no judging. Does it make you feel happy thinking of these things?

Happiness and confidence so hand in hand. Take your brain in hand too and start it on its new path. Questions? Give me holler!

(Joy Beyond Your Dreams life mastery program begins Sept 17. Seven weeks of me and you growing in confidence and joy. Life changing! See www.kellyepperson.com/programs or call 888-637-3563.)

Happiness Happens

That’s the motto of the Secret Society of Happy People who are promoting Happiness Happens Day on August 8. The mission is to spread five happy comments/posts on your social media and in your real life encounters.

We can also make every day a “happiness happens” day. Let a little happiness happen to you right now. Do you notice it?

Maybe it’s a smile from a stranger. Maybe it’s a kind word from a coworker. Maybe it’s a surprise hug from one of your kids. Maybe it’s a show of affection from your partner. Maybe it’s a squirrel scampering in your yard.

Happiness happens moments are everywhere. We just have to train ourselves to see them.

See them and be in them. I’m a “happiness expert” and on vacation last week, I caught myself not being present in some pretty great happiness moments.

I was writing stories in my head about what I was doing instead of simply being in the moment -and in the joy – of what I was doing.

As I walking along the path mesmerized by waterfalls, I was mentally drafting my newspaper column and blog posts about the beauty all around me. I stopped myself. A big part of happiness is enjoying what you are doing when you are doing it.

Does that make sense?

I read a lot about “being present” and I’m making great strides. Now I catch myself when I’m out of the moment. Even if my purpose is “good,” for example, wanting to capture the joy in prose in my head to share later, the real purpose of life is to experience the darn joy as it happens.

Prince Charming and I purposefully went unplugged for the week, not doing the play by play with photos and comments on Facebook or Twitter. We took plenty of pictures and kept a log book of our adventures that we may or may not ever share with anyone else. The joy was ours and we delighted in each other and our surroundings.

Certainly, we humans want to share our happy moments with others, that does expand the joy. The balancing act is to fully be in the joy ourselves.

I can write my stories about waterfalls and babbling brooks after the fact. While I am there, I want to feel the experience with all my senses. That includes my mind.

We don’t chew gum when we eat a meal because we want our taste buds focused on the food we are eating. I don’t have my iPod in my ears when I walk through a forest because I want to experience the sounds of nature. I would be limiting my experience if I had headphones on.

It’s the same thing with our brains. Our minds are prone to wander so we need to bring it back to the here and now so we can take in the full joy of the moment. We unwittingly limit our experiences by not being fully attentive.

Research shows that at least 50% of the time, our thoughts are either back in the past or projecting into the future. I would venture to guess it’s higher than that. That mental drifting is a real buzz kill. Our happiness increases when we are present.

Distractions happen. So does happiness. We get can caught up in the distractions of life. Or we can bring ourselves back to the present moment and let happiness happen. Right here, right now.

Imagine being on a roller coaster. The car is climbing up the track to the top of the hill. As it climbs, your mind may be compiling thoughts to put on a postcard to send back home to tell of your trip. Once the car hits the top and goes screaming down the steep incline and loop-de-loops and turns you upside down and over, your thoughts are Bam, back to here and now.

I don’t think many people riding a thrill coaster are contemplating what color to paint the bedroom. They are in the moment.

Not every moment has the adrenaline rush of a roller coaster, but let’s practice being in the moment. The past is gone, the future does not exist. Focus on this moment. When you are talking with someone, be engaged. Listen. Don’t be thinking of what you need to buy at the store on your way home.

Be present. The more we can live in the moment, the happier we are. Let this be your experiment this month. Start to notice how often you are not really here. Where is your mind right now?

Happiness happens. Let it. We simply have to pay attention. Start now. And if you want to share, give your comments on August 8. Or send them to me anytime.

Right here, right now, I am happy to be writing to you.

Thank you!

A Life of Abundance Starts Now

Abundance means more than just having “plenty.” If you wander the aisles of an American grocery store, you will see fifty kinds of cereal and three-pound bottles of ketchup. Certainly we live in a land of abundance.

When I talk life of abundance, I thump my heart and know it means a life of abundant joy. A life of abundance means feeling groovy and living the life of my dreams.

My life intention is to be rolling in love, wealth, and beauty. I am living that right now.

I desired a house of books and music. Pretties. No ESPN. I have it. I desired a man who gets me. I have him. I desired to be published regularly. I am, in all kinds of ways.

First I had to think it, I had to decide that I wanted those things. Start thinking about what you really want for yourself. Many times, we are too chicken to let ourselves dream.

I am a wealthy woman, with riches galore. That doesn’t mean I’m talking about my bank balance. My wealth is tangible and intangible.

I’m living “the good life” in ways big and small. I have never enjoyed grocery shopping (ask my mom, she’ll tell you.) Now Prince Charming and I do it together. It’s no longer a chore. It’s time spent together with an added bonus of his help in carrying in all the bags and putting it all away. A thing that I used to dread is now delightful.

Prince Charming is a creative cook who likes to try new things. My palette has expanded and I have learned new things. The drudgery of what to make for dinner has now been taken off my shoulders.

There are countless small things that this man does that make my life rich. When burdens are removed, isn’t that wealth? When more is added to your life, isn’t that wealth? I sure think so.

I work from home. I do work that I love. I write. I speak. I listen. I help others. That brings me joy. Abundant joy.

I love to travel and explore new things. We take day trips. We spent a day in Chicago at a glass blowing workshop with an artisan who teaches all over the world. Very cool. (Actually it was quite hot.)

We spent a day at Lake Geneva zipping around the lake in a power boat that we rented. It dawned on me that afternoon that here I was in the middle of the week in the middle of a lake with the man I love surrounded by luxurious mansions and sunshine. I am indeed rolling in wealth, love, and beauty.

My wealth has everything to do with my attitude and my gratitude.

I still have debt. My numbers are not yet where I desire and yet I have let go of the freak-out over money. I am realizing every day what I have and it is all that I have dreamed and even more.

We want money because it provides us certain things. Start focusing on those things instead of the dollars. Start to realize what you already have and be grateful for that. Start to understand that it is the experiences and the feelings that you want, not the greenbacks.

When that clicks in your head, that’s when the money starts to come in. First comes understanding and appreciation, then the experiences, then the cash.

This is not what we have been taught. Our culture does not operate under the abundance mentality. We tend to focus on what we do not have and perpetuate that feeling. Focus on what you do have and see what starts to shift.

It always circles back to gratitude. We first appreciate, and then we allow. So many people do not experience material wealth because somewhere deep inside we somehow don’t think we are worth it. That’s a topic for another day.

You are worth it. You came here to live a life of joy. Somewhere along the line that message got garbled. You can be wealthy. Right now. Start to pay attention to all the little things that make your life easier. Notice all that brings you joy.

Feel that gratitude deep inside you. Savor it. Close your eyes and imagine that good feeling radiating out of you. Imagine that energy as a magnet drawing more of that good feeling to you. It is.

The more you dwell on the good, the more good shows up. Bit by bit, a life of wealth falls into place. You start to realize the pieces of paradise you experience every day and your life becomes that peaceful paradise.

For example, you can have the experience of travel without having the bank account to pay for it. I know two people this week who are living proof. Two different women shared with me that poof out of nowhere, they each were invited on trips – with all expenses paid by another party who wanted a travel companion.

So when you dream of money because you want to travel, really you want to travel. So dream of travel with a heart of thanks and let that come to you, in any form it shows up. There are many tales like this of how things happen when we relax and let go. We live from appreciation and abundance appears.

If you are a business owner, instead of worrying about the money to pay the bills, focus on the joy you get from doing what you love. Bask in the feeling you get from doing what you do in the world. When you do your life’s work with joy, that is when the money shift happens.

Anyone and everyone, say thank you for your work, thank you for the paycheck, and let more come to you.

When you live from a place of gratitude and allowing, that is when wealth comes.

Start to tally up all your riches this week. Do you have material things that you love? Are you grateful for those possessions? Do you have people in your life that you love? Are you grateful for those people? Do you have experiences that you love? Are you grateful for those experiences?

Focus on what you have that you love. Focus on the feelings you have when you’re doing something you love or spending time with someone you love or using something you love. If you love that kitchen knife, feel grateful for it. You are wealthy to have kitchen utensils that make life easy. Be grateful for “small” wealth and watch it increase.

I know some of you will think my brain has fried in this drought. All I ask is that you entertain the thought. Play with this. Pay attention. Start to notice all the wealth you already have and then notice how it begins to multiply. Let me know what happens!

“Let’s Talk Turkey”

“The world is full of abundance and opportunity, but far too many people come to the fountain of life with a sieve instead of a tank car… a teaspoon instead of a steam shovel. They expect little and as a result they get little.”

~ Ben Sweetland

Do you expect all your needs to be met? What about your desires too? What if your life kept getting better and better?

Mine sure does. Yours can, too.

I have turkeys in my yard every day and just learned they are a sign of abundance. That delights me. I read that turkeys also represent generosity and awareness. Turkeys also represent new beginnings.

All that rings true for me. My self-awareness increases daily and as I tap into that, my cup overflows. I love the new beginnings of my life.

One website states: “When the turkey visits us, it is a sign to be mindful of the blessings bestowed upon us each day. Further, it is a message to express our strength and brilliance – it’s time to show our own plumage and reveal our true selves.”

That is the nature of my work. As I express my true self, I work with others to gain the courage to express their brilliance. The results are amazing and awe inspiring.

My life and my abundance continues to expand. Yours can too. I recently wrote my weekly newspaper column on a variation of this theme. An excerpt:

“Oh my gosh, I used up the heat. Oh dear, I used up the last of the air conditioning.

Honey, you breathed all the air, now it’s all gone.”

We understand the concept of abundance in certain areas. We cannot exhaust the supply of air. You never monitor your daily intake of oxygen, in fear that you used more than your share.

The same goes for love. No supply, no quota, no ration. There are no units doled out and once it’s gone, it’s gone. Love is abundant.

I had a baby. I loved him beyond anything I had ever known. I had a second baby. Did I tell him, “Sorry, I gave all my love already, there is none for you”? Of course not.

A mother of one or a mother of ten has love for everyone. People who have remarried know that love is amazing the next time around too. If you break up with your lover, you may fret about finding a new mate, but you don’t fret that the world ran out of love and you will never have any more ever again.

If I love 101 people, you can only love 99 people because I took an extra unit of love from the heap. That’s silly, right?

I can love a million people and you can love a million people. My loves do not diminish your love. We all can love. The world will never run out of love.

When it comes to money, do you think the same way? Most people don’t. When it comes to money, people get all tangled up in fears and worries, instead of believing in the abundance available to all.

The world will never run out of money. (Let’s not talk about Greece or Spain here.) Stay with me. I can make a million dollars. You can make a million dollars. My million does not affect yours. There is no allotment. There is no universal banker keeping tick marks.

When Bill Gates made a million bucks, we didn’t say, “Dang him, now there’s no money left for me!” Bill can make millions, Warren Buffet can make millions, Donald Trump can make millions. There’s still money. The world didn’t run out of money.

Wealth is like air or love. There is enough for everyone.

We tend to think that a life of abundance is only for some people, “other people.” Why not start to think that wealth can be for all, just like love or breathing.

I can fall in love, breathe the air, and make oodles and gobs of money. It does not take away from your ability to fall in love, breathe the air, and make oodles and gobs of money. There is love, air, and money for all.

There is enough for everyone.

If I am happy, that does not mean you have to be sad. It’s not like we count off by two’s and the ones get to be happy and the twos are miserable. Happiness is limitless. So is wealth. It’s available for all.

We show up with a teaspoon, thinking that is all we get. Who says? Why not show up expecting a whole lot more?

Start to wrap your head and heart around this. Life can give you everything you want. You can live it now.

Maybe you don’t have turkeys strutting your yard, but you can be mindful of all your blessings. A heart of gratitude paves the way for more and more abundance.

Your life expands as you fan out your plumage. As you get the courage to express your true self, your joy will come. The feedback I get my from clients, and in my own experience, confirms it.

Show up to the fountain of life ready to take a big drink. You won’t be disappointed.

“Feeling Lucky, Punk?”

The sunflowers have turned their backs on me. That’s a line I wrote in my journal six years ago when I was moving back to the States after a year in France.

That year was a defining year for me in so many ways. How lucky I was to live in the south of France for an entire year. How lucky I was to be able to travel around Europe, racking up twelve countries in twelve months. How lucky I was to have a few of my short stories and poems published in a little thing called the French Literary Review.

How lucky I was.

How lucky I am.

My year of wonderful luck did not begin in France and it did not end in France. My luck is with me all the time.

The memories of the first few days of arrival in France are deeply etched in my soul. Fields upon fields sunflowers welcomed us. I had never truly appreciated the sunflower until that moment.

Images of sunflowers now always bring me back there, to that feeling. I was immersed in beauty. I was living a new adventure every day. I was excited to be there.

When I arrived in France, I knew nothing. I didn’t know the language. I didn’t know anyone. I didn’t know my way around.

I learned.

And I loved it.

The beauty, the sense of adventure, the excitement didn’t wane. Discovery kept on continuing. Outer discovery led to inner discovery.

My husband’s job assignment ended and one year later, we moved back. I wasn’t ready to come back just yet. When we returned, I felt as if I was entering new territory again. I had come alive that year away and had gotten in touch with my inner voice. Moving back to the same old surroundings seemed to stifle it.

Yet I had learned to trust myself. I had learned I could navigate new waters and succeed. I had learned that I could learn a new language, a new way of being. I was ready to keep learning.

I launched my freelance career. I learned a new language of editors, contracts, and deadlines.

I started saying no to things, people, and situation that didn’t feel right for me. I learned a new language of self-discovery and speaking up for me.

I got divorced. I learned a new language of speaking my truth.

Life is like that. We follow our instincts. We keep learning. We learn that we can speak a new language, meet new people, and find our way around. We learn to trust, and most importantly we learn to trust ourselves.

I learned that life is full of beauty, a sense of adventure, and unending discovery. I don’t have to live in a foreign country to experience that.

The life I have crafted for myself now includes beauty, various levels of adventure, and constant self-discovery. Not only do I do work that I love, with a man that I love, in surroundings that I love, I am discovering new interesting people, places, and ideas all the time. I get opportunities to learn and grow.

How lucky I am.

We all are. It simply requires opening one’s eyes to behold, to speak the new language of gratitude.

You don’t have to travel to the south of France to discover anything. It’s right where you are.

This picture of sunflowers is taken by Joy Spreader Sylvia Waldsmith. It’s a country road in northern Illinois. I bet you have a field of beauty or an ocean or a mountain or a patch of wildflowers in your neck of the woods.

Beauty is everywhere. Adventure is anything new and exciting to you. Discovery happens with a sudden insight.

Recognizing it and being thankful, that’s when you know you are really lucky. The better it gets, the better it gets. How lucky I am.

How about you?

Do You Enjoy Your Favorite Things Every Day?

What are your favorite things? Make a list. Seriously, right now. Get a piece of paper. I’ll wait.

Now jot down all the things that come to mind. What do you enjoy?

Pizza

Bubble gum

Walks around pretty neighborhoods

Snow boarding (this isn’t MY list, this is just to get you thinking)

Bubble baths

[image error]Clean sheets

Long stemmed wine glasses

Rum punch

Roller coasters

Silly putty

Pedicures

Mac and cheese

Talking with a funny friend

Twinkle lights

The beach

Ice fishing

Roller blading

Hopscotch

Maybe you enjoy hula hoops, jump rope, and playing jacks. Maybe you enjoy Scrabble, Bingo, and spoons. Maybe you enjoy Shark Week, Julia Roberts movies, and Wheel of Fortune.

Maybe you enjoy hot tea, hot baths, and a hot romance novel. Maybe you enjoy cool showers, cool lemonade, and classical music. Maybe you enjoy crossword puzzles, word finds, and mad libs.

Maybe you enjoy fixing computers, vintage buttons, and Monty Python. Maybe you enjoy gardening, crocheting, and finger painting. Maybe you enjoy jigsaw puzzles, shopping antique stores, and kayaking.

Write down ten things that you enjoy. Write down ten more. Ten more. And one more. You know have 31 things on your list. And that is just the beginning. Keep adding to it whenever anything comes to mind. Once you get your thinking down this path, the brain will accommodate.

The point is that there are many, many, many things you enjoy. The purpose of the list is to have a tangible, visible reminder to do them.

I enjoy travel. So I do it. Even a day trip an hour from home counts.

Every day, every single day, do something that you enjoy. Do several things. Last night, I went for a long walk with Prince Charming. I enjoy walks and I enjoy his company. That’s two things. We walked along the river. That’s one more thing. I enjoy house gawking and garden gawking. Check. Check. We strolled to the ice cream place and got a twist cone AND a cherry slushie. Two more things I enjoy. That’s at least seven things in one evening walk.

This is not a bucket list that you check off. This is a reminder list to include the things you love into your normal daily life.

I love twinkle lights. We have a string draped across our bed. I love pretty glassware. I use it every day. I love candles. We usually light a candle at dinner just because.

There is no need to wait for any “occasion” to incorporate your joys into your every day world. If you love bubble baths, make a date with yourself to do that this week. If you like flea markets, make a date with yourself to do that this month. If you like canoeing, make a date with yourself to do that this summer.

If you like to write, write for ten a minutes a day. If you like to knit, start a project. If you like to get together with friends, pick up the phone and extend an invitation.

We let ourselves get in our way. Shut off your thinker and tune in to your heart. What do you enjoy? Do you do enough of things you love?

We think our “to do” list outranks the “enjoy” list. Who says?

You can add joys to the humdrum. You can pay bills while listening to your favorite music. You can fold laundry while watching your favorite show. You can wait in the orthodontist while reading your favorite magazine. (I bring my own reading material everywhere.)

Don’t sit around waiting for enjoyable things to happen. Be deliberate. Know what you enjoy and do a bit every day.

I enjoy dark chocolate with almonds. Guess what sits on my desk? And I keep it in a container that is pretty and says Bliss. Just glancing at it makes me feel good.

Joy is not something that is obtained someday, somewhere. It’s right here. It’s the big things like a grand vacation, a newborn baby, and a family reunion. And it’s the little things like eating a fudgsicle on a comfy patio chair.

Savor the moments. Invite more of them into your life. It starts now with making your list and making up your mind to partake. Adding a bit of joy into each day adds up to a life of more joy. Want some?

Ten more things….

Flowers, sparkly nail polish, outdoor movies, …..