Lesson 8: Goals

As usual, this lesson was exactly what I needed TODAY. At the beginning of the year I set out to accomplish several things, and I have been steadily plugging away at them. But, despite the leaders continually telling us to write them down on our goal cards and review them every single day, I haven't done it!!!!

Well, today, I finally did--thanks to this lesson in Beyond Freedom. Here are my short term, medium term, and long term goals:

Short term (one day, one week or one month)
I am so grateful and happy now that I have received $50,000 in Liberty League income and have 8 people scheduled to join us at our first Freedom Retreat.

Medium term (90 days to six months)
I am so grateful and happy now that I have completed a triathlon and I have enjoyed an abundant and relaxing trip with my children and my mom to the Liberty Conference in Hawaii, as well as have 20 people schedule to join us at our next Freedom Retreat.

Long term (a year or more)
I am so grateful and happy now that Dan and I have a net worth of $1 million, that I am a known author, and that I have so many leads coming in each day that I can't possibly call them all back.

This lesson also includes calling or writing to a person who has ever assisted you in any way and telling them how much you appreciate them.

Today I have chosen my friend Elisa. Elisa understands what it takes to build and maintain friendship and has taught me more on the subject than I ever knew. Elisa is amazing when it comes to staying in touch with people and making them feel loved and included. Though she and I have not been as close the last year or so as we used to be, it's because I have not followed through on being a good friend to her. I sent her an e-card a few weeks ago telling her how much I miss her and suggested we get together before Passover. She called me, but I never called her back. I will call her today.

Daily Gratitude

"And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more." (Doctrine and Covenants 78:19)

Life is perfect and awesome and wonderful and fantastic. Thank you for this amazing life! Thank you for the vision and clarity (more of this, please). Thank you for the vibration. Thank you for another calm morning (more of this, please!). Thank you for an incredible run. Thank you for the exquisitely beautiful morning--the trees, the blossoms, the cool breeze, the sunshine. Thank you for Huntley Meadows Park. Thank you for Esther. Thank you for Aisza. Thank you for Michael. Thank you for Brent and Shane. Thank you for Linea. Thank you for Habiba and Tony. Thank you for every person who has gone before on the leading edge of thought. Thank you for Jerry. It's working, it's working, it's WORKING!!!! Thank you!!!

Lesson 8: Focus

This lesson talks about how powerful focussed energy can be.

Here is another example of "the gap between knowing and doing"! It is obvious to see how diffused light is harmless, but focussed light becomes a laser beam that can cut through anything. This is true with any force--including personal energy. And yet, sometimes we (I!) get so caught up in day to day living that we diffuse our energy and don't get done what we had set out to do. I see this as a pattern in my life, and I am making a conscious effort to stay focussed. I have come to realize in the past few weeks that when I stay concentrated, the power I have to affect my reality is amazing.

Here are my answers to the fill-in-the blanks for this lesson:

• Each day is another opportunity.
• People I meet are basically wonderful becoming.
• Honesty is best policy, yes or no. Not in every situation, but always when it comes to accepting responsibility.
• I am a child of God by human nature.

Exercise: Media Fast

One of the side benefits of being at the theatre every night is that it has weaned me of any desire to watch TV. I watch The Office and Dr. Who with Dan, and that's it. I have even stopped listening to talk radio (which used to be my favorite), because I'm just not in vibrational alignment with it anymore.

By the way, one of the great things that has come from my personal development path is that I am more and more aware of my vibrational alignment. I understand, now, what the Lamanites meant when they declared "that their hearts had been changed; [and]that they had no more desire to do evil." (Alma 19:33, Book of Mormon)

I used to be so amazed at that. Wow, I thought, what would it be like to not even have an inkling of wanting to do wrong or make a wrong choice? I get it now--their vibrational alignment was strident to that notion.

This Week's Promise

Part of Lesson 7 on "The Gap Between Knowing and Doing" is an exercise about making a once a week promise to yourself. So I will start doing this in addition to my Daily Gratitude.

This Week's Promise: I will finish Donna's article and get it distributed.

Next week I make a new promise and write an update on how this one turned out.

Daily Gratitude

"And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more." (Doctrine and Covenants 78:19)

Ah...life is perfect. Every moment is perfect, and I am perfectly in this moment. Thank you!

Thank you for the beautiful sunshine and for the cool breeze. Thank you for so much beauty!

Thank you for another wonderful, calm morning with my children (more of this, please!). Thank you for all the people who smiled and said hello to me today. Thank you that I (finally) got to talk to the woman on the elliptical today! Thank you for Don--please bless him and his family. Thank you for working hard on the bike--and talking to others so it went quickly! Thank you for Aisza and Dani and the understanding that we must bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ (2 Cor 10:5). Thank you for the bike shop today--the timing on the bike shorts was amazing! (More of this, please!) Thank you the idea to get a bike pack, instead of a backpack. Thank you for Target. Thank you for the boxes. Thank you for my wonderful, clean, empty home--it's just what I always imagined (more of this, please!). Thank you for Kacsper! Thank you for everything I have ever learned from everyone I have ever met. Life is perfect, and I am perfect in this moment. Thank you thank you thank you!!!!

Daily Gratitude

"And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more." (Doctrine and Covenants 78:19)

Thank you for this beautiful, amazing, wonderful, perfect day. Thank you for the rain. Thank you for the springtime. Thank you for a fantastic, calm morning--everyone got up on time, everything got done on time, everyone was calm, pleasant, and energetic (more like this, please!). Thank you for the indoor pool. Thank you for my parents and my swimming lessons. Thank you for the triathlon. Thank you for the training program. Thank you for my parking spot! Thank you for the increasing knowledge of my power. I am a child of God! Thank you for Amy. Thank you for Linea. Thank you for Sabine. Thank you for Beyond Freedom. Thank you for Liberty League! Thank you for Suzanne. Thank you for my body. Thank you for my health. Thank you for correct knowledge and principles. Thank you for the organization of the church. Thank you for my precious children. Thank you for my life--for every opportunity, for every experience, for every joy, and for every sorrow. Thank you thank you thank you!!!!!!!!!!

Just ask...

The Universe will give you whatever you ask for. But are you really asking? Or do you just think you are...?

THE STORY

Every day, I hear at least one of the following (or something similar) from my kids:

Mom, I'm hungry/thirsty.
My (body part) hurts.
I can't open this/get this knot out/or some other task.
I can't see (eg., the TV).
He's bugging/hitting/kissing/annoying me.

Do you hear the same things?

My answers typically sound like this:

So? (or And?)
That's terrible.
I'm sorry to hear it.
What do you think you should do about it?

Now, before you present me with the "Worst Mother of the Year" award for not getting them any food, drink, bandaids, etc., let me point out that in these examples, they never actually asked me for anything! All they did was state the situation. Why should I be expected to solve it?

My children somehow think that if they complain about something, it will miraculously get resolved. By answering as I do, I am teaching them a valuable life lesson.

You see, what I want to hear them say is:

Mom, can I have something to eat/drink, please?
Can you look at this/get me a bandaid/give me a kiss, please?
Can I have some help, please?
Would you move out of my way, please?
Please stop.

What I am teaching them is to stop complaining about what's wrong and ask for it to be different.

THE LESSON

You really can have what you want. But you must ask for it.

How much time do you spend complaining about something you don't like, without ever asking (God, the Universe, your spouse, your children, or whatever) for something else? See if you hear yourself saying these things:

I'm too busy.
No one likes me.
I can't afford it.
Everyone says no.

What to do? Well, you can start by asking. Just ask for it to be different. You are in charge of your life--so be in charge of it.

Would you like a million dollars? Ask for it. Would you like a new home? Ask for it. Would you like a healthy, satisfying relationship? Ask for it.

My grandfather used to say, "You'll never know unless you ask."

TAKE ACTION

Are you frustrated with the results you are getting in some area of your life? Take action!

Today's action step: Pick one thing you really want, and ask for it!

Many people spend so much time dealing with what they have, that they have forgotten what they really want. Is that you? If so, spend a few solitary minutes--in the shower, if you have to!--and begin to think about what you'd really like in some area of your life: your body, your relationships, your home, your financial condition, etc.

Pick one thing and really concentrate on it. What does it look like, feel like, sound like? Be as specific as possible. What does it feel like to have it? Once you have hit on exactly the thing, just ask for it. If you have a faith tradition, include it in prayer form. If you don't, you don't need to address anyone in particular, just say "Please send me..." and fill in as many details as you can. (And kids, be sure to say "thank you" at the end of your request!)

Jesus said, "What man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?..How much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" (Matt 7:9-11)

Just like you give your children what they ask for, so the Universe will give it to you.

So what do you want? Just ask.

© 2008, Margie Remmers, http://www.YouCanHaveWhatYouWant.com/

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Gratitude & Ho'oponopono

"And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more." (Doctrine and Covenants 78:19)

Ah...life is wonderful and magical and awesome and amazing and fantastic!

And the best part is...it just keeps getting better and better!!!! :o)

Over the past several months someting called Ho'oponopono has been showing up in my life.

I first heard of Ho'oponopono through an article by Joe Vitale (one of the teachers of The Secret). It is an ancient Hawaiian forgiveness ritual that consists of simply saying the phrases "I love you. I'm sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you." over and over again.

The idea is that who we are and what we do affects everything everywhere. Therefore, if we see something undesirable, we need to take responsibility for the part of us that created that undesirable thing.

Dr. Ihaleakala Hew Len, the therapist that Joe Vitale had encountered, says:

I operate my life and my relationships according to the following insights:

1. The physical universe is an actualization of my thoughts.
2. If my thoughts are cancerous, they create a cancerous physical reality.
3. If my thoughts are perfect, they create a physical reality brimming with LOVE.
4. I am 100% responsible for creating my physical universe the way it is.
5. I am 100% responsible for correcting the cancerous thoughts that create a diseased reality. 6. There is no such thing as out there. Everything exists as thoughts in my mind.

(http://www.hooponopono.org/Articles/self_i-dentity.html )

Though this kept show up in my life (I kept running across websites, getting emails about it, etc.), I honestly wasn't sure it would work, and I had some pretty deep issues with the idea of being "responsible." After all, one of the things that kept me so stressed out for so many years was that I thought I was reponsible for everything! I honestly felt that if I did not personally hold the world up, it would come crashing down. Part of my healing has been to learn to "let go and let God," as they say, so the task of actually taking responsibility back on myself was pretty uncomfortable.

Still, I had a situation this morning where I could see clearly the posibility that I had contributed or caused what had happened, so I decided to give it a try.

Let me just say that not only did it work, but the SPEED with which it worked nearly knocked me to the ground!!! (Actually, it DID knock me to the ground in praise and gratitude...!)

Here's the story...

My 7yo daughter came into my bedroom this morning at 7:30am. This is unusual in itself--not only does she rarely come in the room in the morning, but she rarely gets up that early. She walked in, clearly upset about something and climbed into bed with us.

As we talked to her, she was so incoherent that we thought she might be sleepwalking--but she wasn't. She was upset that she had set her alarm but wasn't able to get out of bed, and now she was going to be late to school. (None of this was true--in fact, she HAD gotten out of bed, obviously, and there was plenty of time to get ready for school.) But what struck me about her was that she just seemed so DEPRESSED...sooooo sad. She said her tummy hurt, but I chalked it up to the anguish.

She could barely get dressed, she hardly ate any breakfast, and when she spilled on her shirt and had to change, she just sat on her bed kind of a trance. She said she didn't want to go to school this morning, but maybe she would go this afternoon. I told her that would be fine, and she crawled back in bed.

My husband took my son to the bus stop, and when he returned, I told him what had happened. We had a fairly long discussion about hormones (she's only 7) and depression and the fact that we didn't want to set a precedent by giving attention to a bad mood--it would just spiral as she grew older!

Anyway, I said I would talk to her about it, and my husband left for work.

After he left, the thought occurred to me that perhaps I had contributed to her behavior. After all, I have noticed that whenever I am in a good mood, my kids are in a good mood. Whenever I am grumpy, they are grumpy. In fact, my kids are a perfect reflection of how I am feeling at any given moment.

But it didn't make any sense. Far from being grumpy or depressed, I have spent the last several weeks in a state of utter elation!

Still, I opened up my mind to the possibility that I had some responsibility for her condition. And because of that, I saw that it was the perfect opportunity to experience ho'oponopono.

I went in my room and thought of her. I repeated the phrases maybe 4 or 5 times, each time concentrating on healing the part of myself that was causing this in her.

Almost immediately, she called me to her room. She was throwing up.

I got her and the bed cleaned up, and I noticed that she was immediately happy and chipper. Literally, it was like she was her regular self again. I was astounded!!! After I got her taken care of, I fell to my knees in praise and gratitude. Will I ever cease to be amazed at how wonderful and powerful I am in this perfect universe?

It is now 2 hours later, and there is no sign that she was ever sick.

"My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise." (Psalm 57:7)

Daily Gratitude

"And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more." (Doctrine and Covenants 78:19)

There are times in my life when I am so overcome with the power of the Universe and my power in it, so filled with gratitude for every single thing around me, so close to divinity, that it seems I cannot bear it in my physical frame. I cannot move, I cannot speak, I can do nothing but soak up with awe all of God's wonder. Today is one of those days. There are no words--only feelings, and I do not want to get up off of my knees!!!!!

It's working, it's working, it's WORKING!!!! Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Daily Gratitude

"And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more." (Doctrine and Covenants 78:19)

It's working, it's working, it's WORKING!!!! Thank you!!!!!!!!!! :o)

Thank you for Aisza. Thank you for Michael. Thank you for Tony. Thank you for Habiba. Thank you for my wonderful, beautiful, healthy, fit body. Thank you for the beautiful sunshine--the beautiful spring. Thank you for my days off, but thank you for when my training begins again. Very exciting!

Thank you for the Avon walk. Thank you for the One Acts. Thank you for my wonderful, amazing, supportive family. Thank you for everything I am learning. Thank you for every inch of my home. Thank you for the clutter--it gives me the opportunity to experience the clearing. Thank you for the clearning! Thank you for my new found purpose, passion, and determination in so many areas of my life. Thank you for every moment of my life.

Thank you thank you thank you!

Margie

To Tame a Fox

You cannot tame anything by chasing after it. When you really want something, sometimes you must be still and let it come to you.

THE STORY

I have always loved Gene Wilder. His piercing blue eyes always seemed so kind and inviting.

I don't remember when I first fell in love with him--like most kids my age, it may have been when he played the eccentric chocolatier in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, or it may have been when he played The Waco Kid in the side-splittingly funny Blazing Saddles--but I know for sure that my heart was sealed when he played The Fox in The Little Prince.

Though the novella by Antoine de Saint Exupéry was well-known to most, for many years my only exposure to this inspiring story was through this 1974 movie, which was nominated for two Academy Awards and won a Golden Globe.

The plot consists of a pilot who is stranded in the Sahara desert and comes across an "extraterrestrial (though entirely human-appearing) prince. In their conversations, the author reveals his own views about the follies of mankind and the simple truths that people seem to forget as they grow older." (Wikipedia)

The prince tells the pilot of many of his adventures, including his visit to earth and the many creatures he has met here.

One of them was a fox. Enter Gene Wilder.

Gene Wilder's Fox is cautious but caring (those eyes!), as he teaches the little Prince how he could tame him and they could become friends. Amazingly, this same exchange can teach us some of the exact principles of getting whatever we want in life to come to us.

"Every day, you would come and sit where you're sitting now.

"You'd always come at the same time at, let's say, four in the afternoon.

"I could start getting excited about, oh about, 3 o'clock.

"If you came any old time, I wouldn't have a chance to get keyed up."

"But what would I do at 4 o'clock?" asks the Prince.

"Nothing," the Fox replies.

"Nothing?"

"Of course not, if you did anything, I would get frightened, and I wouldn't come out."

THE LESSON

You really can have what you want. But to get it, there are a few principles you must apply from learning how to tame a fox.

First, you must be consistent. The Prince was to come every day at the same time. He could not come "at any old time." He must be consistent. Consistent action shows the Universe that you're serious about your desire.

Second, you must be still and allow it to come to you. If you have ever chased anything (or anyone, for that matter!), you know that doing so only causes it to run the other direction. You work harder and have less results when you chase after something. Ah, but if you're still...if you're still, and you are behaving in ways that make you attractive, people and things will naturally be drawn to you.

And what if things don't come to you the way you had hoped, or they disappear just as you see them around the corner? Then you can be sure to hear the Fox saying to you, just like he said to the little Prince:

"You moved!"

TAKE ACTION

Are you frustrated with the results you are getting in some area of your life? Take action!

Today's action step: Set a timer for five minutes. Sit comfortably and close your eyes. Visualize what it is you want and, in your mind, allow it to come to you. You may even want to stretch out your arms and visualize it running to you for an embrace.

Notice as you do this how good it makes you feel--how much better, in fact, than if you were to run after it. Of course, you may want to do this visualization for more than five minutes. If you're like me, it will feel so good, it will be hard for you to want to do anything else!

© 2008, Margie Remmers, http://www.YouCanHaveWhatYouWant.com/

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You have permission to reprint/distribute this article as long as the above contact/copyright information remains in tact.

Daily Gratitude

"And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more." (Doctrine and Covenants 78:19)

Thank you for JP and the leadership I am growing into. Thank you for clearing. Thank you for the kids getting up early and being ready for school with no hassle! (More like this, please!) Thank you for teachers, the books, and all I have learned about conscious creation. Thank you for everything I have created so far. Thank you for the wisdom that I can control what I am creating! Thank you for this wonderful, beautiful, perfect life. Thank you for my health. Thank you for my two weeks off of training! Thank you for the triathlon, for Tim, for Jim and Tony, for Caroline, and for all who have helped and inspired me along this path. Thank you for Alison. Thank you for Michael. Thank you for Aisza. Thank you for all the blessings these people have brought into and continue to bring into my life. Thank you for the community and all the people who are willing to take a stand for me and my greatness. Thank you for fingernail polish remover. Thank you for my creation box. Thank you for Esther and Jerry. Thank you for Joseph. Thank you for Matt. Thank you for all of the inspiration I have received in my life and thank you for the courage to follow it! Thank you for beautiful green. Thank you for the soft rain. Thank you for Wallace D. Wattles, and the technology of books on tape. Thank you for everyone that worked together to bring this to me. Thank you for the understanding of "mourn with those that mourn." Thank you thank you thank you.

Lesson 7: The Gap Between Knowing and Doing

Life is perfect. Everything is perfect. And every day I awaken to this fact even more.

This is the perfect lesson for me right now.

When we got back from Rome, Tony's theme on the wakeup calls was just this--the gap between knowing and doing, or applying what we had learned there and not just sitting back thinking "wow, that was great--I learned a lot."

And amazingly, one of the speakers talked about WHY we sometimes have this gap. Harvard lecturer Shawn Achor referred to it as "activation energy." Basically he said that as humans we have a natural instinct to decide on an activity based on how much energy it takes to start it, rather than on the long term result.

He cited a study where a group of athletes were given the choice to play basketball or watch TV. Even though they knew they would feel better, have more energy, and sleep well after playing basketball, the majority of them choice to watch TV instead. Why? Because it took less energy to START watching TV than to suit up and go to the court.

Shawn also talked about how he decided to practice the guitar for 90 days. He said he practiced about two times and then never again for the rest of the time. Why? Because it took too long to get the guitar out of his closet and out of it's case.

Said Shawn, "Once I timed myself found that it took 20 seconds to get ready to practice. Just 20 seconds! That was the activation energy barrier to me doing something I really wanted to do."

So what did he do? He went out and bought a $2 music stand and kept his guitar out all the time. He said the next 90 days he practiced almost every single day.

Shawn's point really hit home when during the final Q&A, someone asked him if there were any books he would recommend. Shawn said that while there were some books listed on his website, he really encouraged us to apply what we've learned, rather than just read about it.

"I mean, I have spent more hours reading about the value of meditating than I have actually meditating. There is less activation energy required to read!"

Wow. When he said that, I realized that "activation energy"answered soooo many questions about why I do certain things (and end up frustrated!). For example, why it is that even though I KNOW I will feel better, be thinner, and have more energy if I eat two salads per day, more often I will let the lettuce rot in the refrigerator and eat bread instead? Because of the activation energy required to wash it! Why do I spend way more hours checking and sorting email than I do writing the stories that are my livelihood? Less activation energy!

The list goes on and on and on. It was a powerful insight into the workings of my life.

And here we are, studying the lesson of "The Gap Between Knowing and Doing." Shortening or even eliminating that gap is one of the most important keys to success in anything.

Exercise -- The 5 Steps

Beyond Freedom says that there are five steps to greatly increasing our chances of success in any endeavor. In this exercise, we apply them to one of our goals. My goal: To become a known author and have so many people contacting me for help that I need an army of people just to get back to them.

Step 1: My Why

• When people contact me, that means that they have already prepared their hearts and are open to what I have to offer them. They already know I'm genuine. They already know a little about what I do. They already see me as an authority figure.
• If I am known as an author, then I do not pay for advertising--it is a natural outcome of the service I provide.
• If I have so many leads that I can't call them all back myself, then I have something to provide to my team family so that they can experience talking to an open, receptive prospect.

Step 2: My Comfort Zone

When I first started writing, there was a little voice that told me my articles were going to be intrusive. That people wouldn't like them popping up in their email. That people would complain that I was selling something. I was afraid people would think I was ingenuine.

As Ona Brown told us in Rome, however, I simply said to that little voice, "Thank you for sharing, now go away."

I concentrate on making my articles valuable in and of themselves. I KNOW that people find them valuable. I publish them anyway.

Step 3: Think of Your Excuses and Plan Around Them

Excuse: I don't have time. I have too many other things to do.
Plan: Do it anyway--even if it is 5 minutes of daily gratitude. Writing is the MOST important. Do majority of writing early in the week/day so it is out of the way and I can focus on other things the rest of the time. The more it is hanging over my head, the less I enjoy anything else I do.

Excuse: I don't have time. It takes too long to boot up the computer.
Plan: Keep an empty notebook handy, so that I can write by hand when I need to (I hate this so much, perhaps it will motivate me to turn on the computer!)

Excuse: I'm too tired.
Plan 1: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Take care of myself. Get plenty of sound sleep. Exercise. Take my vitamins. Eat salad!
Plan 2: When I do feel tired, do one thing or spend 5 minutes doing something that I would not otherwise do--that I feel too tired to do.

Step 4: 5 Ways I Will be Supported

1. The world has provided Yahoo! groups, which easily allow me to distribute my articles.
2. I have free access to the Simpleology Best Selling Author Blueprint.
3. I am constantly finding new people to interview, who will distribute my articles to the people they know.
4. I have to be at the theatre every night--a wonderful opportunity to "get away from it all" and get writing done!
5. I am blessed that I don't have to have a job and have time at home to be able to write--I don't have to "squeeze" it in.

Step 5: Start Now

I will continue the pattern of writing one general article and one interview article each week. I will be consistent in doing this. I will write first and then check for responses afterward. I am water--I flow to whatever receptable is open.

Daily Gratitude

"And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more." (Doctrine and Covenants 78:19)

Thank you for my beautiful, wonderful, amazing children. Thank you for love. Thank you for inspiration. Thank you for growth. Thank you for action. Thank you for the power of surrender. Thank you for my body. Thank you for cooling rain. Thank you for so much beauty. Thank you for Tony. Thank you for Habiba. Thank you for Rome. Thank you for clearning. Thank you for understanding. Thank you for this wonderful, amazing, fantastic, incredible experience we call LIFE!

Daily Gratitude & The Power of Surrender

"And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more." (Doctrine and Covenants 78:19)

It has been a few days since I have written my Daily Gratitude. It is not because I have not had the time. It is not because I not been feeling gratitude. On the contrary, it's because my gratitude has been so intense that I have not wanted to get off my knees.

Only one other time in my life have I experienced such a deeply profound emotion. Oh, sure, I have had some powerful, eye-opening, and even "miraculous" experiences. I have heard "the still small voice," acted on what I heard, and my life has been completely transformed because of it. But only once, until now, have I been so enlightened, so inspired, so overcome with emotion that I have been unable to marry my spiritual experience with my physical one. As a result, I have been weak. I have been unable to function normally. I have been swept up and unwilling to do anything that would jeopardize the feeling that has overcome me.

The first time this happened was in December of 2006. I was in the car, driving to the second day of a three day business training seminar--I say business, but it was much more than business training, it was LIFE training--and as I was pondering the things I had learned the day before, the heavens opened unto me. I was swept away for a time (heaven only knows how I did not crash the car) and for a moment I saw and understood more about God and life and the Universe than I ever thought possible. I understood how things worked. I received answers to questions that had been plaguing me my whole life. I understood, really understood, who I am--who WE are--and the potential that lies within us.

Two days later, I tried to put into words some of what I had learned when I wrote The Parable of the Clothes.

For a week, I was unable to function--I was so overcome with emotion and grandeur and possibility. I could see things that I had been unable to see before--like how some people had about them a special light. I deeply appreciated everything I saw, touched, tasted, heard, smelled. I understood in a way I never had before how we are all connected--how we really are brothers and sisters sharing in a grand journey. I wanted to hug everyone and congratulate them for being here.

But, over time, life got in the way and the clarity of the experience faded. And for the last year or so, though I can look back on the experience fondly, I have not felt what I felt then.

Until now.

I came home from Rome a week ago yesterday. It was an amazing, wonderful, powerful, rejuvinating experience. I met and spent quality time with many extraordinary people.

On Sunday morning, I hopped on the shuttle to the airport and sat next to a woman who introduced herself as Cathleen. Cathleen told me a little bit about herself--how she was a successful interior designer, but the work had become too physical for her, and that while she had become qualified at the Summit level just by positioning herself correctly, she had not yet made her two training sales.

Then she said, "But I know I will. I was talking to Beau Reed about it, and he said, 'Would you like to know what I see?' Of course, I told him I would, so he said, 'You're accomplished, but you're closed.'" Then Cathleen, with a knowing smile, opened up her arms, as if accepting all the Universe would give her.

Cathleen and I continued to chat for the rest of drive to the airport--about life and business and interior design--but for the rest of my trip I reflected on Beau's words: You're accomplished, but you're closed. It was as if he were talking through Cathleen to me. No...it was as if God was talking through Beau, through Cathleen to me.

"Accomplished, but closed." Of course, that's me exactly, I thought. In fact, all week I had been ruminating on the idea of resistance--how I had spent a lifetime of resisting many things, but abundance in particular. I spent a lifetime trying to stop things from coming into my life because I felt I had too much to handle already!

When I returned home, I began the task of reading through my piled up email. Luckily I had hired an assistant before I left to clear out the junk, so what was left was a manageable amount.

In my email was an article by Helene Rothschild titled, The Power of Surrender. In the article, Helene describes an exercise that entails lying on the floor with the arms outstretched and the palms facing upward. It reminded me of Cathleen, and the opening of her arms as she told me of her conversation with Beau.

The coincidence was too powerful to resist, and, like all coincidences, it really was not a coincidence at all.

The next day, when the kids had left for school and the house was quiet, I found an open space on the floor and began my meditation and personal development.

My mind guided me to Helene's exercise, and I promptly lay down on the floor and opened my body as she described.

What happened next was truly nothing short of Divine. Though my eyes were closed, I saw clearly what lay before me. My previous vision had been about who I am--my divine heritage. This vision was about what I am to do.

The information came fast and furious--as if I had opened the floodgates to something that had been waiting all along for me just open the door. Despite the force and the volume of what was coming toward me, I did not resist. I stayed open and continued to receive. And when I felt I had received enough and it was time to start acting, I opened my eyes.

I was filled.

I was overflowing.

I was in awe.

I could not move.

I could not speak.

I knew, now, what I needed to do--how I would affect the lives of thousands, how I would receive the recognition I had been seeking for so long, how the abundance that would be coming into my life would bless generations. And though, as usual, I was not told HOW I was going to do it, the vision was clear. The path directly in front me. Now all I must do is walk.

Today, as I finally have the strength and the presence of mind to express my gratitude in words, I find I am without words after all.

And so, this will have to suffice:

For every thing I have ever done...
For every person I have ever known...
For every moment I have ever been given...
For every breath I take...
For every beauty I behold...
For every song I hear...
For yesterday...
For tomorrow...
For right now...

THANK YOU!

Daily Gratitude

"And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more." (Doctrine and Covenants 78:19)

Thank you for this wondrous, beautiful day. Thank you for Linea, and the amazing joy and energy she brings to my life. Thank you for my life!!!! Thank you for the opportunity to relax and enjoy the morning. Thank you for the inspiration and magic that continues to come into my life. Thank you for Aisza and for "forcing" me to get out and buy my new books! Thank you for my talent and ability to write. Thank you for the inspiration and the joy. Thank you for these good vibrations!!! Thank you for my wonderful family. Thank you for the opportunity to produce the one-acts. Thank you for my beautiful children that bring so much job into my life. Thank you for the opportunity to be their mother. Thank you for the spring, and the reminder that despite what we may see, there is life and beauty all around us, just below the surface, that will one day blossom into glory. Thank you for the rennaisance, and the opportunity I have to live right here right now and experience it. Thank you for my body--my hair, my skin. Thank you for allowing me to live in time where there are so many wonderful modern conveniences and "toys." Thank you for Rome...thank you for Rome...thank you for Rome!!!

To Make an Apple Pie

THE STORY

When my husband and I were first dating, I decided to impress upon him my culinary skills and bake him an apple pie.

Though I had not made a lot of pies in my life--apple or otherwise--I was confident in my ability to pull it off. I got out my cookbook, carefully selected my ingredients, and set about the task of measuring, sifting, rolling, washing, slicing, mixing, and baking.

The finished product looked just like an apple pie was supposed to look. I had done it.

When my husband came in after our date, I proudly presented him with the pie. He was duly impressed that I had gone to such effort for him, and I remember clearly his asking, "Did you do this for me?"

No one had ever baked anything for him--let alone a pie.

I carefully cut the pie, served it, and waited eagerly for his response. He took one bite and said, "You should get my grandmother's recipe."

Now, if you are of the male persuasion and you are reading this, you might be thinking, "How nice that he would offer such great advice!"

If you are female, however, chances are you reacted the same way I did--shocked and appalled that he would dare say such a thing!

I mean, how rude! I had gone to all this work! I had slaved away in the kitchen for him!

How dare he infer that someone else could make a better pie than me!

Hmpf!

I tell this story frequently--when I feel the need to poke fun at the difference between men and women or make a jab at my husband's "cluelessness." It's a harmless little incident that I look back on and laugh.

But my husband is quick to point out that my pie was, in fact, not the best pie in the world, and that his grandmother did, in fact, make pies that were heavenly, and that it's always a good idea, in fact, to rely on someone else's expertise when trying to improve your own skill set.

Ugh. I hate it when he is right.

THE LESSON

No matter what you are trying to do in life, chances are someone has already done it or done something similar.

And, as the saying goes, "Success leaves clues." If someone else is doing what you want to do--whether it's making money, starting a business, being in a happy marriage, raising amazing kids, or baking a pie-what good is it to try and forge your own way? Just ask for the recipe.

Too many people look at the results of failures to judge whether or not they themselves can do something.

These are the people who look at Uncle Joe, who started a business and lost his shirt, or who look at divorce statistics and decide marriage is not for them.

This is nuts.

If Martha Stewart can bake a pie, I can, too. And a hundred or a thousand people could tell me that it's impossible to bake a pie, that "that pie baking stuff never works," and that I might as well quit before I begin, and it wouldn't matter. Why? Because Martha did it, and she gave me the recipe.

You see, you really can have what you want. But you must turn a deaf ear to the naysayers and turn all your attention to those who have gone before, who have laid the path, and have left clues.

TAKE ACTION

Are you frustrated with the results you are getting in some area of your life? Take action!

Today's action step: Actively seek out people who have done what you are trying to do. Listen to them, and only to them!

You wouldn't take medical advice from someone who has only been to the doctor. You wouldn't take career advice from someone who flips burgers at MacDonald's. Only take advice from people who are successful at what you want to be successful at. Period.

© 2008, Margie Remmers, http://www.YouCanHaveWhatYouWant.com/

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Daily Gratitude

"And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more." (Doctrine and Covenants 78:19)

Thank you for the inspiration (and necessity) to buy new clothes for Rome. Now every time that I wear them I will think of my trip! Thank you for the Summit Conference. Thank you for all the life changing knowledge I received there, and thank you for the certainty that I will apply them now. Thank you for Liberty League and all of the amazing, wonderful, positive, inspiring people in the community. Thank you for all those I met and spent time with, and thank you for those whom I did not meet, but added their positive energy to the experience. Thank you for an amazing, wonderful, supportive husband who took care of everything while I was gone. Thank you for my delightful, smart, enjoyable children who make life such a joy--even when Mommy is gone. Thank you for my body. Thank you for the ability I have to see things and do things and experience all that I set out to do. Thank you for my hair, which grows thicker every day. Thank you for the inspiration to compete in a triathlon. Thank you for for Susan and Sabrina. Thank you for all of the athletes who have gone before me and who have provided the knowledge I need to do it, too. Thank you for all the swimming lessons. Thank you for my love of water and the joy I feel being near it. Thank you for the hot tub! Thank you for my amazing life, all my wonderful blessings, and all that is yet to be.