That's what I said when my new foster kitty leapt up to tackle the "Serenity" card on the bulletin board.  "Just what I thought!"

When I picked him up last night from Humane Society along with two other orphans, the shelter workers warned, "Watch out, one of them is a terror."

Really?  A twelve ounce terror?  Hard to believe.

But on the way home one tried breaking out of the carrier with an angry meow the entire trip.  That must be the one, I thought.  The other two kitties huddled together in the back of the carrier trying to get as far away from him as possible.  He even attacked the syringe I offered through a hole as entertainment.  Things that make you go hmmm ....

Once home he wasn't any happier to be out of the carrier and in the cat tower.  He wasn't even content when I gave him free rein in the office.  In fact, he didn't stop complaining until he had the entire house to explore.

Which is when he hissed at every cat who came near him, and even those he approached on his own.  He jumped right in the middle of my snake plant, which never looked this bad - even after several other active litters.  Then he peed in the cat bed while I pleaded "no no no no no."

Okay, so maybe he's a terror after all.  I called the volunteer coordinator (my ex-boyfriend) and suggested maybe this little guy would do better with someone else.  (Actually, I was thinking the rest of us would do better if he were gone.)  He said he'd see what he could arrange.

I began justifying my wimp out call.  "He'll destroy the office.  I can't leave him loose in here - if I did he'd take down everything on the board and the bookshelves.  These two other kittens won't get any peace.  And I can't lock him up in the tower because he'll cry the whole time.  And I can't have that background noise for phone sessions."

So this morning when this lonely little guy jumped up to take down the "Serenity" card from the bulletin board, the words that went through my head were, "Just what I thought!"

• Just what I thought. 
• I KNEW it. 
• Told you so. 
• That's what I expected.
• even "I always wondered ..."

These phrases are tip-offs to where we use our creative power.  Because if it's Just What We Thought, then we've obviously been flowing energy toward that manifestation, and that makes us responsible for it.

Not the Kitty of Terror.

That guy got labeled from the get-go and here he is just living up to his label.  As we think, so shall it be. 

I helped create this Terror - by thinking him to be one.

So when I returned him to hopefully a new foster home today, I asked my ex to please not use the words Terror or Monster with whoever handles him next.  How about "feisty" or "playfully active"?  Instead of justifying my returning him by explaining how awful he was, I told how he slept peacefully in my lap this morning next to one of the other kitties.  And that he'd probably just had a rough couple of days and was undoubtedly not himself, and that he'd make a great cat for someone who appreciated a "front and center" feline friend.

Which leads me to ask, who have you labeled in life?  Whether it's our Nice Boss, Bitter Ex Wife, Inexperienced President or our Slow Student - check in on whether those labels serve or not.  Since it is as we think, let's be sure we think something that takes us TOWARD what we want, rather than away from it.

(Says the girl who just returned her terror.)

Former terror, that is.  From now on, I'm thinking of him as the one who gets what he wants and brings smiles everywhere he goes.  Ah, that feels better!

I realized my thoughts also sabotaged me yesterday when my bank wouldn't cash a check from one of my clients.  ("Just what I expected," I realized while waiting for the teller to return - although it was too late to effectively turn it around.) 

These thoughts of ours - the whole world unfolds according to them!  Isn't that fascinating?!  And fun?!  It sure can be when we learn how to play this game.

Would love to hear what you've been thinking repeatedly, and how labels are working (or not) in your life.  We all know awareness is the ticket - so let's increase it here and now!

Couple things after last night's election.  Although I didn't see McCain's concession speech, I read several tweets from folks who were super impressed with it. 

Some even said if they had seen this (gracious and classy) side of McCain during the campaign, we may have had different results.

That's interesting.  It made me wonder how much of what McCain did and said during the campaign came from him and how much was directed by others (who told him what to do & say to improve his chances).  ?

And how some of the criticism of Palin was that her "handlers" scripted her every move and word; that they'd taken the likeable Sarah out of the equation and ruined her confidence in the process.  Many said she'd be better off just being her natural self.

On a related vein, I've noticed occasionally when someone interviews me, the conversation before (and after) the recording is often more relaxed, casual and entertaining.  When we're live the discussion sometimes gets more stilted, formal, and careful.  Not always, but sometimes.  (I love the exceptions, which I've had many of recently!)

Have you noticed that at times in your own life?  When we think we're "on," or when something "big" is at stake, our energy sometimes shifts in ways that doesn't always serve.  Sometimes it makes us tense or anxious, or leads us to behave out of character.  (Certainly it does the opposite, as well, like when a "high stakes" situation calls us forth in a positive way - and we are unusually brilliant or eloquent or considerate.) 

What I'm getting at is that when we aren't true to ourselves it doesn't lead us to where we want to go.  When we start pretending or cautioning or taking action that isn't in alignment with who we really are, we don't come out winners - however we personally define that.

It's crucial to remain true to yourself - no matter what's happening. 

How else could we enjoy the ride, anyway?  And isn't that what it's all about? 

Our true selves are fueled by love.  If we take any action that isn't in alignment with love, we leave our true selves behind and we're not aligning with results that thrill and delight us.

Doncha think?

Example, all my best dates were when I was being myself, rather than being a good date.  (And I know the difference!)  My best writing is when I write from the heart, not from what I think my editor or clients want to hear.  My best days are when I follow the inspiration within, rather than let something else guide my choices.

Why would it be any different when the stakes get higher?  (Which is just a perception, not a reality.  Although I admit, to me last night's election did feel like lots was at stake.)

Am I making this up - or do you also have experiences that show being true to your nature serves you best?  I'd love to hear about it ...

PS - in the meantime, I have to admit I'm puzzling over how Abraham didn't find much hope with a candidate who inspired feelings like this all over the globe, not just here in the U.S. 

Although I like to think of myself as a quick study, there have been some Law of Attraction-related truths that I was slow on the take with.  In hopes of shortening your learning curve, I offering three here and also inviting you to post YOUR favorite LOA lessons for the benefit of others: 

1. It's easy to mistake the vibe. 

Even when I was making a full time living as an LOA Coach I occasionally managed to fool myself about what my vibration really was. 

Example from years ago: One day a client slot opened up, so I vibed "new client."  Said the words I always said, felt the feeling I always felt.  That's how I filled every opening.  And they always manifested within 24-48 hours. 

Two days later there was still no new client.  I was like, "What?!"  They're always here by now!

But I knew enough not to get hung up on "they're not here" since I'd just reinforce that reality, and I went about my business not giving it any more attention. 

Five days later I finished the second of two big projects I'd been working on for a while.  As the last email was sent off, I took a deep breath of relief, put my hands behind my head, leaned back in my chair, and spontaneously said, "NOW I'm ready for my new client."

And in that moment I felt the TRUTH of my "new client" vibe.  It wasn't until then I realized although I said the words the week prior, I didn't really FEEL the new client feeling.  What I felt was more like "got an open slot, should probably fill it, I'm super busy, but gotta fill the slot."  It was a mixture of "should" and "brakes."  Know what I mean?  I was oblivious to it.  And I do this stuff for a LIVING.

Not until I felt the pure clean easy desire for it that day did I realize I'd been fooling myself the week prior.  And with that true new client vibe, within two days I had three wonderful folks show up, one of which was my first celebrity!  (woo hoo!)

I remember Jeanna saying she was in the hot seat telling Abraham that she was vibing "milk" for her step-daughter but getting "pop."  (Step daughter was intaking much more sugar than Jeanna thought healthy.)  Abe said Jeanna was confused about her real vibe - that was she stuck on pop, nowhere near milk.  Made me feel better that I have good company in this misidentifying-the-vibe thing.

2. Acceptance is the first step to change.

This one took a while to sink in, too, even though I was well versed on "Resist = Persist" and the importance of releasing resistance in order to allow what we want.  I knew it intellectually, but what it looked like and how to manage it was a long learning curve.

Needing something to change is in and of itself resistance. 

There was plenty of practice for me when it came to dropping ten pounds.  I thought I could just manifest a couple pounds right off, but when that didn't happen immediately, I eventually understood it was my opposition to them - my lack of acceptance and love of them - that kept them firmly in place.

I've also noticed this when I need foster kitties to be healthy, or my foster dog to get adopted, or my boyfriend to be amenable.  All that need for change has to go before any of it can happen.  When I make peace with sick kitties, bad dogs, and irritable boyfriends, guess what?  They get better, get adopted, and get friendly.

Pretty cool how that works - although it took me a while to remember this in (what I considered) high stakes situations. 

3. We're doing this ALL the time. 

Every moment creates the next.  All thoughts count, not just the ones we pick on purpose when we sit down to do our formal manifesting work.

In virtually every moment we're anticipating the future; visioning what we see happening.  And usually we're very realistic and practical about it.  (If not downright negative.)

That habit of anticipating what's coming next doesn't leverage our creative power - unless we tend to envision dream come true outcomes.  Which, some people do.  I don't happen to be one of them.

And I'm not saying we should always reach for the highest thought possible - but at least recognize those mundane thoughts (let alone the negative ones) take up valuable real estate.

So when I anticipate a busy day, or imagine someone reacting badly to what I'm about to say, or wonder whether the restaurant will be closed ...  hello!  Use your power, girlfriend!  (That's me talking to myself.)

Let's hear it from you folks.  What were the eye-opening realizations that led you to harness your creative powers?

Since I was there when Oprah first learned about what a vision board was, I especially enjoyed hearing that she was putting it into practice!  This from John Assaraf's Blog:

Dreams do come true! Talk show star Oprah Winfrey revealed this week that she uses a vision board to visualize her goals and harness the power of intention. So what did Oprah have on her vision board? The gown she intended to wear to a very special event - the Obama inauguration.

Here's what Oprah told a New York radio station on Tuesday:

"I was speaking with Michelle (Obama) and Caroline Kennedy and Maria Shriver - we were all doing a big rally out in California. At the end of the rally Michelle Obama said something powerful, 'and I want you to leave here and envision Barack Obama taking the oath of office.' I created a vision board. I had never had a vision board before. I came home, I got me a board and put Barack Obama's picture on it and I put a picture of my dress I want to wear to the inauguration."

So, everyone, what's on YOUR vision board?

WAIT A FREAKIN' MINUTE!

What's even MORE cool about this story?!  That our soon to be First Lady practices - and encourages others to practice - powerful visualizations!!  HOLY HANNAH!!!

Anyone else got goose bumps???

A new college graduate's question to Abraham about how to stay grounded in a money hungry world is worth checking out:

Abraham on Wall Street

Don't you love it?! "Strong asking and a little allowing goes a LONG LONG way!" 

woo hoo!! 

(And with this I am now inspired to learn how to post video on this blog!  But in the meantime, just click on the link above and enjoy!)

Before I can get MY post out of my head and into this cyberspace blog, I keep thinking how much I want to share these great LOA related posts with you:

Steve Pavlina on how sharing your shame (being 100% authentic) can release the resistance

Kim Falconer on how astrology is law of attraction in action

Philip Harris on why the Dog Whisperer should be part of Obama's administration, since if we emplemented Cesar's understanding of energy we could turn this economy around!

So much great material out there!  In fact, please share your favorites with us as well, whether you wrote them yourself or found them in your internet meanderings ...

Thanks in advance for sharing the info wealth! 

Anyone else gearing up for challenging interactions with family next week? 

I didn't think I'd be in that category (since my folks stopped doing dinner at their house years ago), but minutes ago I realized I am facing a challenge this year.   

I've got some manifesting to do before the holiday!

In fact, I'm getting a little heated because of what just transpired between me and this year's Thanksgiving dinner hostess, my sister-in-law.

What's got my panties in a twist?   The email she just sent.  Here's how it went down:

(Backstory is I challenged her during an innocent girls' lunch out a couple months ago when she said Obama was a Muslim and a terrorist and had a black aura.  I said he was not and did not, and things have been funny between us ever since.  And I don't mean funny "ha ha.")

When I recently ran across this interview, I thought she might appreciate hearing straight from The Man himself what his religious perspective and affiliation was, so I sent this note:

thought you might be interested in knowing more ...
http://blog.beliefnet.com/stevenwaldman/2008/11/obamas-interview-with-cathleen.html

(It's an insightful interview with Obama from 2004 on his experience with religion and spirituality.) 

She sent this back (yes, I do feel like a schoolgirl right now, thank you very much):

Not interested.....:)  But I did read some of it.... No one can tell me that someone that attends a 'church' where the pastor totally hates America (why is still living here?) and goes there for over 20 years and is now the president elect....and won't put his hand over his heart and say the pledge of alligiance....anyway, I am glad he got elected.  I am really tired of Bush bashing and it would have continued for McCain...but the media is so far left, that Obama and the democratic congress can do no wrong........  I hope for the working people of this country that Obama is successful and his regime is able to what is it I heard 'heal the country'....

I haven't heard you comment on his comment about shelter dogs....that they are all mutts and he has to have a special hypo-allergenic dog for his family....so, he won't be rescuing a dog for the white house....:(

So then I said (yes, this was an intentional jab):

Oh my gosh, your aura feels a little black to me!!  lol

Hey, are you going to the West Valley council meeting tomorrow re the gas chamber?

(More backstory: animal care has always been our FIRM and SOLID common ground, as she's an active foster mom and would likely strongly support the meeting on stopping the new shelter from incorporating a gas chamber as a method of euthanization.)

She responded that she was going, but why was I? 

Which I took as an insult; like why would I care about stopping animals from dying horrible deaths in the gas chamber, since I have been Obamanized - that's what she called me a while ago.  Obamanized.

(I realize now she likely didn't mean it that way, but rather as a "you don't live in that district, so why would you go" question.)

Then, still trying to find our mutual feel good, I asked if she'd signed the petition encouraging Obama to adopt a hypo-allergenic dog from a shelter, and she said:

haven't seen the petition....I just heard his comments and knew it would be interesting...from what I still here, they are still looking for their dog....but I am sure they have several breeders lined up already....:(

Which, in an animal rescue person's world, breeder is a four letter word.  (I'm not saying in MY world, but those in rescue generally don't feel kindly toward breeders.)

That's when I realized I don't want to eat with her.  I'd rather have mac and cheese with friendly dogs.

So here I am, where I know lots of people go (mentally/emotionally) for the holidays, and usually am so grateful that I am not.

I'd love to hear your strategies and solutions for enjoying challenging holiday interactions with family you might be priveleged to avoid the rest of the year.  Here's what I'm going with in the meantime:

1. Deep breath.  (ah, even just ONE feels better!!  RELIEF!)

2. What do I love about my sister-in-law?  Well, she's willing to cook for someone who's been Obamanized.  She's going to the council meeting to voice her opinion for animal welfare.  She remarried her ex-husband, which shows she's capable of forgiving and loving despite challenges.  That feels better.  She's got a huge heart for animals, too.  That automatically makes her easy to love!

3. General appreciation next: cute kitties sleeping on my lap.  Who can be upset with these two contentedly purring away right here??

4. When my sweetie called just now I told him all about my exchange with his sister.  (Russ is also suspicious of Obama, until he saw the 60 Minutes interview last night.  "Seems like a good guy," he says.  Yay!  One more Obamanized!) 

After I recounted the exchange, all Russ laughingly said was, "Would you like a break tonight?"  I thought that was so sweet of him to ask.  "Yes, I'd LOVE a break."  Great, he said, meet me at 5:30 wherever you want and please bring my bowling ball that I left at home.

Oh, he's not thinking of me as much as he doesn't want to drive all the way home for his bowling ball.

And that made me laugh - that he totally wasn't buying into my big bad story.  Gotta love that guy sometimes.  Refusing to go with me where it doesn't feel good, which loosens my hold on the negative as well.

With that I'm feeling it shift.  This exchange is already part of my past.  I'm in charge of my holiday again. 

I'm in charge of me.  And how I feel. 

And I get to have dinner at my favorite Mexican restaurant tonight because I'm bringing the ball!  lol

When I'm feeling even better, I'll probably remember how to focus on what I want, release judgment, see the mirror, let go of the charge, not care what others think, hang out with folks who don't buy into my sad stories and question my thoughts and all that good stuff, but in the meantime, I'm just happy not to be sweating it out any more.

So let's hear it - what are YOUR coping strategies? 

PS - the caption on this great photo says "Set Aside Your Differences." This is an image I'll take with me to dinner next week!  I mean, if Hans Solo can toast a Stormtrooper - surely I can too!
 

When a friend of a friend saw my "I lose weight while I sleep" mantra, she patted her back side and said she needed to do the same.  Said she'd been fighting extra pounds ever since her last pregnancy, and asked how to make the affirmation work for her. 

But I told her it wouldn't.

At least not now. 

The same reason it wouldn't have worked for me had I used it at the point she's at.

Which is not loving those extra pounds. 

I could tell the way she said "fighting extra pounds" and grimaced when patting her posterior that she was not pleased with that body of hers. 

(Easy to recognize because I've been there.)

And if I know anything, it's that weight does not move (effortlessly) until we make peace with it.

Before she started a weight loss mantra, her first work was to love those extra pounds.

(That's when I lost her.) 

But it's true.  The reason my "I lose weight while I sleep" mantra worked is because I spent the entire prior year working on loving this whole body, including those extra pounds I wanted to melt off.  (Yes, it took a year to realize that's what my trip-up was, that's what I needed to achieve first, and then to pull it off.  It was WORK.  But the diet and workouts didn't work, so that's all there was left.)

Bottom line is we can't wish weight away until we accept it.  We've got to love our body just as it is before we can effortlessly manifest change for it. 

(Most folks would say we can't wish weight away period, but that's ridiculously untrue.  It's our thoughts that got it there in the first place -  why wouldn't our thoughts unload it?!)

Loving what's "wrong" is a bit of a trick, if you haven't tried it.  Especially, it seems, for women because we sometimes get more hung up about body image in our culture.  (And my word, how refreshing you exceptions are!)

But in order to practice successful deliberate creation in weight loss, we have to stop seeing our body as "wrong" or needing change. 

By the time we accomplish that (making peace and loving it just as it is), we no longer need anything to change because it's all so RIGHT.  So gorgeous and beautiful and RIGHT!

Which is when a little mantra makes a HUGE difference.  (Which, I know, is when you don't need it any more.  And that's the KEY.)

You've gotta love those pounds before you can lose them.  That's how it works. 

If you try loving them with the agenda of losing them - that doesn't fly either.

You have to fall in "for real true love" with yourself. 

Cutting corners doesn't work.

That's not to say people don't drop weight by fighting against extra pounds.  Some prove it possible as they force themselves through gym workouts and starve themselves meal after meal.  It sometimes works, but it's not easy, it's not fun, it's not fast, and it usually doesn't last.  (And even when it does work, if we haven't practiced the vibration of loving ourselves, when we hit the "target" we still aren't satisfied.)

Because ... (drum roll) .. you know what I'm gonna say next, right?  ... what we resist, persists.

I know it's an overused phrase - especially by me, but it's true and incredibly helpful to remember.

My friend of a friend can't be in resistance to those curvy new hips of hers and shift back to her pre-pregnancy size at the same time.

The same way we don't create peace through war, or build love through anger.

Besides, what could be more rewarding than loving ourselves through and through, huh?  Extra curvy butts and all.  It's a peaceful, non-resistant place to live in that space of complete self love and appreciation.  And that's where ridiculous things like losing weight while we sleep is completely possible.  Just because we said so.

Your turn now ...  Let's hear what you manifested by practicing total acceptance, whether it was getting out of a speeding ticket by getting okay with it, or finding the new love by making peace with solitude.  Share your thoughts and inspiration!

What do you love about life?  What really makes your day? 

No matter how big or small, how recent an experience or old a memory, whether it's person, place or thing - share with us what's wonderful about your life.

I'll start by sharing my "fab life flick" I included in today's Get What You Want ezine issue.

(Created with Animoto; music credits to Cat Stevens.)

As highlighted in the ezine, please know that YOU have much to do with my complete enjoyment of my life!  Thanks for being partners in the journey.  :)

I suspect most folks wanting to work with me wouldn't be in the market for an LOA coach if they'd been asking (and answering) this question for themselves each day:

"What does it look like?"

I mean, what are you creating?  What are the details of it?  What does it look like?

As you hold the pictures of what you want, seeing it happen in your mind, it eventually unfolds in physicality.  It has to.  That's how manifestation works - it starts as an idea that we give life to and grow vibrationally. 

When we deliberately manage our vibration, atoms rearrange in the physical world to match our vision.  Yes, your daydreams are that powerful.

With every episode you entertain of what your fulfilled desire looks like, you add strength to it until pretty soon you're rendezvousing with it in real life. 

Which we all know, right?

Right.

And yet, I KNOW lots of us don't regularly hold those end result pictures in mind.  (I know, because I ASK when you inquire for help about how to make things happen.)

"How often are you spending time with the vision of it?  What kind of detail are you seeing?"  And I often hear, "Mm, well, now that you ask, I guess I haven't really been doing that."

(Which I coulda guessed back when you said nothing was happening.)

It doesn't take much - just once or twice a day - playing with the details of what your successful scene looks like (or sounds, tastes, feels like, whatever).  Immersing yourself in the vibration of it brings it closer to you in ways more magical than you could dream of. 

(Which isn't what you're thinking about, remember - you're not on the HOW of it, you're on the end result WHAT of it.)

I mean, this is the EASY part!  This is LOA basics.  Whatever excuses we have for not practicing this at least daily are lame.  We can find 30 seconds to invest in helping our dream come true, right?

And the whole party starts by simply answering the question, "What does it look like?"

What does it look like?  Isn't that a delicious place to go?! 

When I recognize my mind has wandered off track to a "don't want," I mentally say "No, that's not it.  What it looks like is ..." and I go back to seeing what I'm creating.  I hear the sounds of it; feel the feelings of it.  Each time there might be a new or different detail.  And each time I go there, I get more comfortable and familiar with this scene.  Eventually it's where I belong.  It's mine. 

All I gotta do next is whatever feels good.

Which is why I'm here now, typing this post.  This is part of what feels good for me after I hold in mind the vision I'm bringing to real life.  Massive upliftment, enthusiastic encouragement for embracing our creative powers, incredible connections and camaraderie, confident expert support all leading to infinite magic and endless possibilities for anyone game to play.

But that's just me ... what are YOU creating?  Tell us what it looks like, if you care to share!

And tonight, as you're drifting off to sleep, remember to ask yourself, "What does it look like?"

Have fun with your answer.  :)