Make a difference: You can make a difference living your dream

Ever stopped to wonder why you have the talents that you do? The gifts and dreams you have were not embedded in your make up just for your own enjoyment. You were born for this time period on the earth to make a difference living your dream easily and effortlessly.

Some things you do naturally while others struggle to do the same. That's because it's part of who you are; a part of your unique makeup. No one on earth is exactly like you. You are one of a kind. And with this knowledge, you are here for a divine purpose, whether or not you are aware of that.

Your talents and dreams have a place to enhance the lives of others and create a living, not only for yourself, but for many others. Think of it. What if you developed your gifts or your ideas whose life could you change? Whose life could you enhance? Whose life could you save?

Because we are all so interconnected on one level or another, your contribution could make such an impact locally, on a generation, on a global scale or maybe in the life of one child that will change the world. Give yourself permission to create wealth from your gifts, ideas and dreams.

How to make a difference

Charitable Donations

Many reputable charitable organizations are available where you can make a sizable contribution to aid in hunger and/or emergency relief. You can choose one or as many of these to sponsor a child or a family.

Environmental Organizations

Advocates for the protection of our environment have made it their life mission to care for our precious resources and ensure that the future of our world remains healthy and safe for our children and their children. You can join in and support their efforts.

Community Programs

Local programs have been put in place to provide the needs of local families; many of them struggling to make ends meet. By using your gifts to create wealth, you can make a difference in the lives of those who are facing temporary or even long term setbacks.

Educational Programs

Many educational programs have been cut due of lack of funding leaving children and families who rely on them in dire straits. One such program which has been brought to my attention by a friend is funding for the education of special needs children in the Bahamas and on an international level. What can you do to help if your ideas created such a financial stream of income to support this project and aid these children and their families?

Small Business Investor

How about being an investor to support small business ventures in need of necessary funds previously denied by the banks. You can help a small business owner realize his/her dreams.

I'm sure you could think of other areas that you can make a difference other than in your own back yard. The possibilities are endless, and besides, your act of kindness will live on in the lives of others long after you're gone.

Whose life would you change if you lived your dreams and materialized your ideas?

Want to learn how you can create unconditional miracles in your everyday life? Follow the link to find out how
http://www.creatingunconditionalmiracles.com

Turn Your Ideas Into Cash and Live Your Dreams

We all have ideas embedded inside of us from birth - those dreams we've had perhaps since childhood or realized as we got older. But they're a part of who we are and come from the essence of our divine makeup and life purpose.

Many may not follow them because we've been programmed to believe that we have to follow someone else's dream and that what others have is better than ours. But you are here for a divine purpose and whether your divinity is expressed through a musical instrument, singing, acts of kindness, dancing, speaking, teaching, writing, becoming an astronaut, computer programmer, an archaeologist or whatever, you can use those talents and turn your ideas into cash and live your dreams.

"So," you say, "How then do I turn my ideas into cash?" The following steps will give you a ground work where you can start:

1) Decision

As with all things, make a firm decision that you will use your talents and ideas to generate the monetary equivalent you desire. It's amazing when you make a firm decision to do something how doors open and information come to you one step at a time to get you closer to your goal.

2) Begin with what you have

Say your desire is to be a dress maker and you want to have a manufacture making clothing locally. Look around for what you already possess. If you know something about dressmaking, begin to look around at what's on the market, become creative and come up with and draft your own unique designs. Make up a few of these clothing items and show them around to friends and others in the community to see what they think. If your design is a winner make more.

3) Get the knowledge you need

If you feel that you don't have enough skills to carry out your desire, look around for others who you can partner with or look for ways through which you can acquire the additional skills needed, i.e. take a community course, go to the library and do some research, look on the internet. Whatever you do, don't allow lack of skills to be an objection to achieving your dreams.

4) Organize your thoughts

Putting your thoughts on paper will give you some clarity in the direction you want to take your idea. E.g. using the dress making idea above. Do you want to have a boutique and also supply local stores or do you want to sell on an international level? When you organize your thoughts on paper, you know exactly what you're going to do and have a clear picture of what steps you should take next or what other information you need to gather.

5) Putting your plan into action

Begin at once to put your plan into action. The more steps you take each day build momentum and move you closer to your goal. Be determined to keep going until your goal is materialized.

These are obviously a rough outline of the steps you can take to turn your ideas into cash and live your dreams. If you'd like some help to gain clarity in putting your specific desire into action steps, I invite you to join our Think and Grow Rich Mastermind Group at
http://www.changinginsideoutnow.ning.com.

I work with you to help you gain clarity in the direction you'd like to go and also share valuable action steps you can take to achieve your goals. Previous telecalls are recorded and are on the main wall of the Ning network so you could listen to at your convenience.

Looking forward to helping you reach your goals.

Change You - If you had to live with you, would you throw you out?

Do you live with a difficult spouse? Are you in a difficult relationship? Is your child giving you ‘grief’? How about that pesky neighbour of yours? Yes, the one that’s always nosing into your ‘business’? How are you dealing with these people? Do you feel like you’d rather go for a walk instead of dealing with their bickering, fault finding and all the other annoyances? Do you feel like you want to throw them out?

We all have difficult situations that we have to deal with and overcome in our relationships with others, especially the ones we live with. But have you ever stopped to consider you? Yes, you. Step out of yourself for a bit and switch roles here. If you lived with you, how would life be? Those bad days; you know, the ones when you got off on the ‘wrong side of the bed’, the moodiness? The hormones are doing summersaults and you feel like you’re losing it; on a high one minute, and suddenly dropping to 5 below. How do you ever keep up with you?

Take some time to examine you from the eyes of another and take this into consideration when you’re complaining about the spouse that’s controlling, negative, arrogant or rude, the child that does not listen, or is messy, when you’re agitated with their short comings, their faults and flaws. How about you? Are you portraying these same characteristics that you’re complaining about - picky, critical, negative, playing the blame game?

Are you trying to change the people around you to suit your liking in order to make you feel happy, comfortable? Happiness and joy truly comes from within. Our discontent of others is really a discontent of ourselves.

If each one of us were to take stock of our lives and focus on changing ourselves, there would be less fussing and fighting. Yes, there are difficult spouses, children and situations? But why not consider changing you first. After all, it is the only power and right that you’re allotted in the earth - the power to change you from the inside, and as you begin to change and radiate on the outside, you liberate others to do the same.

Forgive: Stop Fuelling The Fire of Anger and Learn How to Forgive

Who do you need to release and forgive?

Saturday Tunespiration - Change your Mindset and Help to Heal the World

Many of humanity's ills exist because of the way we think, our mindset. When we realize that we are all connected to and are a part of each other and what one does affects the whole, we'll begin to treat each other differently. We'd take care of the world around us because everything is interconnected.

The global mindset is that we are individuals and that we are separate. But how can a hand function if it thinks it's separate from the body? How would the feet walk if detached? How would the eyes see if they didn't rely on other connective tissues?

Although we may feel like we could do anything and it does not have any significant impact, it does. You cannot throw a stone into the water without causing a ripple effect, whether the ripple is small or large. The energy wave of each of us affects the whole.

When we see the animals, the trees and each other as part of ourselves, we'd think differently about destroying the other.

The more conscious we become of our connectedness, the more we can rally ourselves together in harmony changing our mindset and help heal the world.

Today's tunespiration comes from Michael Jackson's Earth Song. Let his message continue to ring out in our hearts as we come together, one heart and one mind at a time to heal our world.

Click here to listen

Getting my body back Friday - You're using weights, right?

Serena Williams

Serena and Venus Williams are leading contenders on the tennis court. Observe the strength and muscle mass of these awesome looking ladies.

If you're trying to get into shape and lose off those extra pounds, you may want to consider increasing your muscle mass. Even though we may not be on the court like the Venus sisters, we could also enjoy the benefits of a great looking body too.

So if you're not doing any weight training, you're missing out on a whole lot. Aerobic exercise is great, but after you've stopped exercising, your body isn't continuing to burn that fat. As a matter of fact, muscles take more energy to maintain and as a result when you weight train, you continue to burn fat long after the workout is over.

My daughter Gracelee got me some new weights. These ones I could actually add and take off the weights. Now I'm alternating them with the old ones.

If you're considering adding weights to your routine, which you should, make it high intensity. Add some extra movements in there.

Oh, yeah, I've done some skipping ropes this week captivating the children's attention. Wow Mommy can skip? I'm really bringing out the kid in me lol. It's all about having fun when you workout, right? So combining the skipping and weight training, alternating between the heavier weights and lighter weights, I'm getting a good work out and building muscles.

Venus Williams

We may not look like these sexy ladies just yet, but we can be inspired by their level of dedication and keep moving forward to achieve our goals.

How do you feel about weight training?

Born for a Purpose: How to Determine your Purpose

We've all at one point or another asked, "Why am I here? What's my purpose?" But how exactly do you determine your purpose?

Everyone of us came to planet earth for a purpose. You were designed and structured to add value to the earth in the space and time you are here. You may say, "I have nothing special or valuable to contribute." Not because you do not yet see the value in your special abilities, style of doing things and personality makes you insignificant.

You may be the one to create a shift in thinking and bridge the gap between the old and the new. In spite of political indifference, like many others, President Obama's life has helped to bridge the racial gap, taking us on a global scale to a new level of forward thinking, whether or not we as a people collectively embrace this change. Perhaps in time the seed of this change will mature into great fruit in the future.

Your purpose may not be designed to be president, but you could make a difference right where you are; in your home, with your children - shaping and molding the next generation with your unique blend of wit and charisma.

So, then, how do you determine your purpose?

1) Get to know who you are

Knowing who you are, is such a critical point. No, I'm not talking about the person that everyone says you should be or think who you are, but the real you inside; the one who has dreams and visions. Perhaps these dreams, no one in your current circle of friends and family know about them because they'd probably laugh or say, "You can't do that." Or, "That's wishful thinking." Take the time to get to really look into the heart of you, search your soul. What is longing you feel in your soul? If you've never done that before and this feels foreign to you, now's the time to start.

2) Become quiet

In the silence of your soul connect with your heart. How? By giving yourself permission to feel what your emotions feel inside. No, not all the debris of disappointments, regrets and failures, but the true feeling of hope and dreams within you. Oh yes, they're still there. You may have to shift all the negativity aside. If you only, just for a moment, allow yourself to look within with the anticipation of a child, what will you find?

3) What are you passionate about?

Now that you've cleared the debris out of the way, it's time to ask, "What are you passionate about?" Look at the things that gets you excited, the meaningful conversations that gets your attention, those things that impact you deeply, that move you. Take a closer look and grab a pen and paper and write those things down.

4) Comb through your past experiences?

Look at your experiences and things you've always been involved in. Write these down as well. Look for patterns, those things that are consistent with you. Yes, they make up a part of who you are. Some may not be favourable experiences and some may be mountain top experiences, but each experience contains hidden gems and clues to the design of your life purpose.

5) Change your perspective

Begin to look at your negative experiences through positive spectacles. Don't discard them. Someone else may be going through the same thing and you may hold the key to help them. What good could you see from your negative experiences? You've heard the term, 'seek and you will find', it's time to search diligently and draw out the vital lessons learned through your adverse situation.

6) Ask your family and friends

Whether or not you think your family and friends are initially supportive of your dream, ask them what they think gets you excited. Sometimes your family or your friends may know certain things about you that you may not realize yourself. So don't discard asking them and don't become defensive if it may be negative. It may be a negativity that you can turn into a positive to help you determine your purpose.

7) Putting it all together

Once you begin to see a connection, begin to move in that direction. Get as much information as you can on your specific area. Look for ways where you can get involved, even if it's one step at a time. Keep moving forward and doors will begin to open for you.

When you begin to life your life on purpose, you'll feel a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment instead of sitting back and watching others enjoy life. Share with humanity the special flavour of you.

What's your flavour?

New Book Launch - Ascension

Read your way to enlightenment.

There is such a resurgence in spirituality that this book will touch many people. It's Ascension, Connecting with the Immortal Masters and Beings of Light by Dr. Susan Shumsky. It leads you into the depths of your being to recover what might be called your higher self, guardian angel, inner guru, spiritual guide, master-teacher, or God within.

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There are realms that we have not yet tapped in to and that's because of our own personal and societal limitations and conditioning. When we take the time to become quiet and connect with the Spirit within, we deepen our connection and our awareness of the deeper depths of spiritual enlightenment and open the door to our own inner spiritual guidance.

http://tinyurl.com/yf9zffl

Black History Month - Nelson Mandela - How Do You Embrace Freedom?

You've probably heard the term, 'embrace freedom'. But how do you truly embrace freedom?

First of all, in order for you to embrace freedom you must first believe that you are free. Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years. How do you suppose he maintained his sanity for such a long time and rose to the top to become President of South Africa?

There had to be something greater than his natural surroundings, his circumstances. He was physically imprisoned, but no one can truly imprison one who's free in his soul, whose freedom is not dependent on external circumstances but who has freed his mind and has embraced freedom in his heart and mind and found his freedom within himself.

Freedom must first come from within, then, no one can limit you because you are coming from a place where no human hands can touch and keep you in bondage; the place where the Holy One dwells and where you are hidden in Christ in God - the place where you discover that you are one with the Master Freedom. What bars can hold such a person who is so connected. Who can enter into that realm to hold you hostage?

There is where you find your freedom. Therefore, no matter what your external conditions try to say to you, you shift your mental focus to the inward voice and become one with it. Then, you can truly say to your external circumstances that you are free. Free to live and be. Because he that dwells within, whom you have become one with and heed the voice, has given you the freedom to be you.

It took Mandela 27 years of preparation for what was to be a major change in modern history. Once you've acknowledged and embraced your freedom, let your freedom be your state of heart and mind regardless of what the external says. As Mandela did, use this time as the preparatory period for the manifestation of your freedom.

It is imperative that you hold on until the inner reality becomes physically visible so that you may be a demonstration and testimony to others that freedom truly exists.

Shake off the shackles from your mind. Let your mind line up with the voice, the creator that is one with your spirit. Then you would see your world from a different view point and live the life you were placed to live; a true ambassador of the kingdom of heaven.

What internal shackles do you need to break free from your mind?

Black History Month - Sidney Poitier - 1st Black Actor to Win Academy Award for Best Actor

Sidney Poitier, Bahamian-American actor, film director, author and diplomat, started out from humble beginnings.

He was born premature in Miami, Florida and was not expected to survive. His parents stayed in Miami until he got better. Sidney Poitier grew up with his family in the Bahamas and later on moved to Miami at the age of 15 to live with his older brother.

A couple years later, Sidney Poitier move to New York City where he got menial jobs but was later on arrested for vagrancy due to being homeless because he could not pay his rent. He later joined the army and worked as a dishwasher. Sidney Poitier later got a job with the American Negro Theater.

In those days, black actors sang and danced but Sidney Poitier was tone deaf and therefore did not get the approval of the audience. Due to his commitment to his dream, determination and persistence, Sidney Poitier turned his adversities into opportunities, working hard to improve his skills and got rid of his Bahamian accent.

Sidney Poitier became the 1st Black actor to win the Academy Award for Best Actor for Lilies of the Field in 1963. His continued rise to fame became evident in later films; Guess Who is Coming to Dinner, In the Heat of the Night and my favourite, To Sir with Love.

He later on expanded his acting into directing films like Stir Crazy, Buck and the Preacher and Ghost Dad.

Sidney Poitier became ambassador of the Bahamas to Japan and also to UNESCO. He recently received the Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama.

It does not matter how you start, it is how you finish that counts.

What is evident in his life is that despite the setbacks, despite the seeming odds stacked against him - the colour of his skin, his Bahamian accent, his humble beginnings - he did not let any of these stop him from realizing his dream. He knew what he wanted and once he had found a way to realize his dream, he stopped at nothing and did not allow anything to hinder him from reaching his goal.

I am sure during that time that he had faced many more obstacles than indicated here but his mindset and determination kept him pressing forward, shooting for the stars and going beyond. His achievements and successes have influenced the lives of many blacks, not only in America but all across the globe.

In spite of your current situation, if you make a determined decision about what you desire to achieve in life, and back that with persistent continuous action regardless of obstacles, you will reach your goal. And even more so, you will influence and inspire the lives of others around you.

Whose life could you influence if you lived your dream today?

http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidney_Poitier